Shevek

Well, that explains it. I dont PoE is the mess you seem to think it is, then. I also like Icewind Dale. Frankly, some non dogpile ai and the proposed changes to health/stamina will fix most of my issues. Would some better combat feedback help? Sure. Do I want them to balance attributes? Sure. Will the game be Duke Nukem Forever if those things dont happen? No.

Giving praise often felt odd to me too at first but that changes through practice. I am sure you can do a series of videos comparing the one dimensional encounter mechanics of the ie games with the tactical depth of poe. You could also look at how op wisdom was in pst or how ridiculous strength was in the ie games compared to dex to the proposed changes to attributes in poe (once they are patched in). You can compare the limited dialog system of the ie games to what poe does. Etc etc etc. Doing this can be very natural, does not need to be all negative or positive and could be of great value. I find pillars to be a very good game in need of small tweaks. However, if one just sat through your videos as a casual bystander, it would seem like the worst thing since the atari version of ET. Also, I am not saying I dont like you vids or that they arent appreciated. I do think your message may get more play if its balancd a bit more though.

Things dont have to be perfect to be praised. Also, I dont see praise as obtuse or as irrelevant to a beta. All problems are "betas." They are works in progress. In solving these issues, the same collaborative, team-based principles apply. Ive recently moved out of the classroom and into educational administration. I find the need for praise even greater when working with adults than with working with kids.

Its not JUST pandering. But, hey, its your message, man. Its up to you how you want to deliver it. http://blogs.hbr.org/2013/03/the-ideal-praise-to-criticism/

I actually like the the per encounter stuff. The key is to use it at the right time and in concert with other characters. So, save those knockdowns for when an enemy is casting. Also, when enemy ai is fixed, knockdown could be instrumental in ensuring enemies dont go after weaker party members.

I disagree on several counts. Praise can be very helpful to do two things: 1. Stroke egos 2. Outline what works This is true inside and outside of the classroom. Devs still have egos and still need reinforcement on what works.

Yes, but in each individual video you might consider exploring what works and what doesnt. Rather than just what doesnt. I dont think devs are balancing out those vids with your post history. In all likelihood, they may just watch a video or two rather than pour through every nook and cranny to get the context of every post of yours on the forum. In other words, put your best foot forward on those vids. You come off reasoned and all that but I do believe, on whole, a bit too critical.

That statement, when taken on its own, suggests combat is all bad and exploration is all bad and ui is all bad. This how some of your videos come off. Frankly, Im a hardcore crpg gamer and I dont think the UI blows just because the text box is on the right. That just sounds silly. (I actually think its mostly pretty good...) Instead, some discussion could be had around what parts of combat, exploration and ui are rather good and should be expanded upon before delving the parts that, IN YOUR OPINION, could use some fixes. You do a pretty good job of itemizing things you feel should be fixed. Yet you might get further if you balance every negative thing you say with a positive thing you would like to see more of. You get more flies with honey and all that.

I do think that there should be more discussion around what is working well. Coming from a teacher, criticism and praise are both useful in helping establish understanding.

It seems pretty dumb to me. I would be much happier if they put in talents to approximate the style (allowing one handed weapons to be swapped at no penalty when nothing is in the offhand) rather than just perpetuate a style that has you hold a useless weapon after its been fired. Again, a pirate would holster his pistol after firing it during a boarding action (to focus on the use if his cutlass/boarding axe/cuttoe/knife/whatever). Unless you are roleplaying a drunken idiot at the Renaissance Pleasure Faire, then this is stupid.

It sounds pretty crappy to me and would go against their no bad builds ethos. It would pretty much be a trap. I still say they should fix the bug (since its dumb; no real pirate would hold on to his pistol for the duration of a battle after he has fired his shot). Again, they can mechanically implement the style through the existing quick weapon slot system and some quick draw like talents for switching between one handed melee or ranged weapons when nothing is in the offhand.

All the proposed changes sound fantastic. I would say that making 10 the baseline before penalties feels a bit high. It might be a bit better at 9 so players have a few more points to feel powerful with. There is no real differrence, of course.

Barbarian.

The sword and gun thing is in (functionally) via quick weapon slots. Why put in a weapon style that is largely useless? One shot and then what? A real pirate would likely toss the pistol on the ground or shove it in his belt/sash/whatever. He wouldnt keep holding it in his hand like a grinning idiot while akwardly slashing with his offhand. A better addition would be a talent akin to quick draw that allows instant switching between one handed weapons when nothing is in the offhand. That would give you the mechanically equivalent of a pirate firing off a pistol or tossing a grenado and then busting out his boarding axe/cutlass/smallsword/cuttoe/etc.

Hmm.. Barbarian - two hander Paladin - two hander Ranger+Bear - speedy bow Chanter - long gun or xbow Cipher - pistol Priest - long gun or xbow Decent front line, buffing, ranged damage, heals, summons, etc.

I would be nice if you got a feat talent every level (or at least every other level) and could really differentiate builds with that. Some fighter active abilities should be made fighter exclusive talents so that players could choose between active or passive abilities and melee or ranged combat. I would rethink several classes in this way. The player should have a tad more agency in creating character concepts.

TB is nice but they cant do it. This is a crowdfunded game and part of the pitch was RTwP.

Ya, the system is fine. Its not like put in some kinda crappy Deus-Ex Tetris inventory or something.

The inventory is ok as is. It isnt great but many games have been worse - like the IE games who had a system so crappy that they added in bags to totally subvert its limited inventory and encumbrance mechanics. Anywho, I would rather dev time be spent on combat feedback and AI. Those are real problems.

I was there for the Age of Decline. I think I registered there in like in 2003 or something. It honestly hasnt changed much. I miss St. Proverbius though. He was fun to argue, debate, chat, etc with.

Toss up for me between Combat Feedback and Combat XP. I would say feedback is more important as it is almost universally agreed that that is an area of need.

See? You can't even make a basic argument in favor of it.I havent heard a basic argument from you against it. So why should I bother?

Sure it is.

Arguing that the overwhelming majority of character development in this game is not laser focused on combat is silly. Are you intentionally being silly? Or, maybe you are trying to play Devil's Advocate? Perhaps you can point me to all those speech based skills and talents?

Move the goal posts? What are talking about? Do you care to have a conversation or shall we spout idioms at eachother?