My Opinion on Influence...

[DarthNipples]

Influence was an intriguing game mechanic and to this day is clever. More influence events could've been scripted but thats another issue.

 

My problem with influence is that while its a great mechanic, it forces me to play the game 4-5 times to hear everyones full opinion. And at 40 hours to the first go around and 20 hours the second ... I just don't have another 40-60 more hours to do everyone else. This is compounded by the fact that what some of the characters say gives KEY plot elements that go a long way in explaining the story. IMO, it's plain old bad design when you need to influence a specific character to understand a game's story.

 

So please, for KOTOR3 Give us LS and DS conversations like the original and dump the influence system for the sake of a fully coherent story the first go around.

[jaguars4ever]

And give us back NPC banter during party trips, and not just NPC interaction cutcenes on the Ebon Hawk.

[213374U]

And give us back NPC banter during party trips, and not just NPC interaction cutcenes on the Ebon Hawk.

:'(

[jaguars4ever]

And give us back NPC banter during party trips, and not just NPC interaction cutcenes on the Ebon Hawk.

:'(

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I know.

[Ivan the Terrible]

IMO, it's plain old bad design when you need to influence a specific character to understand a game's story.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Even outside of the issue of Influence, this is an important point, and one of Planescape: Torment's major flaws as well.

 

Everyone who plays a game, regardless of stats or companions, should walk away feeling like they received a good, comprehensible gaming experience. You can add little details in character dialogues that add to the story (and, in fact, you should for the fans), but for god's sakes, don't make one 'correct' way to play the game which renders every other play-style boring and empty.

[NeverwinterKnight]

amen. i dont think i can play through another 2 or 3 times just to learn all there is about all my party members. the rest of the game isnt good enough to offset going through a 30 hour (more or less) play through just so i can learn about one of my party member's past.

[Influence]

u mean 30 hour play through?

[NeverwinterKnight]

huh?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Bokishi]

And give us back NPC banter during party trips, and not just NPC interaction cutcenes on the Ebon Hawk.

:'(

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I know.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

:angry:

[Epiphany]

To add to the faces (w00t)

[jaguars4ever]

To add to the faces (w00t)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

*sigh*

 

[Bokishi]

[NeverwinterKnight]

that rolling the eyes smiley just doesnt look...right to me. when i roll my eyes, i dont have a big grin on my face doing it.

[Meshugger]

Influence was an intriguing game mechanic and to this day is clever. More influence events could've been scripted but thats another issue.

 

My problem with influence is that while its a great mechanic, it forces me to play the game 4-5 times to hear everyones full opinion. And at 40 hours to the first go around and 20 hours the second ... I just don't have another 40-60 more hours to do everyone else. This is compounded by the fact that what some of the characters say gives KEY plot elements that go a long way in explaining the story. IMO, it's plain old bad design when you need to influence a specific character to understand a game's story.

 

So please, for KOTOR3 Give us LS and DS conversations like the original and dump the influence system for the sake of a fully coherent story the first go around.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Indeed. I played it twice without getting enough influence over Mandalore, HK-47, Mira and T3. Having to read to pWiki influence-guide is hurting the gameplay a bit.

[jaguars4ever]

that rolling the eyes smiley just doesnt look...right to me.  when i roll my eyes, i dont have a big grin on my face doing it.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[NeverwinterKnight]

im not sickly green either.

[Eleni Vedras]

IMO, the influence system is a fantastic idea that needs some work. I think influence also needs to be tied into experience/levels. The problem I've found is that if you gain enough influence with an NPC just through conversation on the Ebon Hawk, you might start getting NPC conversations stating something like "As I travel with you throughout the galaxy..." or "It's all this space travel..." Well, nooo. We just boarded the Hawk, like maybe 5 minutes ago -- we haven't even left the landing pad.

 

There are a few other influence situations that seemed to me to be too site specific -- if you haven't taken a certain NPC to a certain area on a certain planet, you'll never get the trigger to train them as Jedi.

 

I was a LS female Consular/Master in my first playthrough, and I almost always took my melee specialists with me so I could zap enemies with the Force from a safe distance while they charged ahead to slice and dice. Consequently, I missed some Jedi-turning opportunities with a couple of NPCs. (Not to mention the fact that my LS lady had absolutely no influence with certain other NPCs, unless I was willing to take dark side points, thus losing my +3 Wisdom bonus.)

 

I ended up having more questions than answers on my first playthrough. Just as DarthNipples said above, the game *requires* several playthroughs to uncover key plot elements. Many of the questions I had are being answered as I progress in my second playthrough as a male guardian/weapons master. I'm guessing that I'll *have* to play darkside (which I really don't enjoy much) to answer the rest.

 

I realize that all this was meant to enhance replayability, and I applaud Obsidian for their terrific effort in this regard. On the other hand, I don't want to *have* to replay a game to understand it. I'd rather replay a game because I want my new character to be able to wear that great robe/armor/belt/gloves/implant, romance a different NPC or maybe have access to certain areas or merchants exclusive to my class.

[envida]

IMO, the influence system is a fantastic idea that needs some work.  I think influence also needs to be tied into experience/levels.  The problem I've found is that if you gain enough influence with an NPC just through conversation on the Ebon Hawk, you might start getting NPC conversations stating something like "As I travel with you throughout the galaxy..." or "It's all this space travel..."  Well, nooo.  We just boarded the Hawk, like maybe 5 minutes ago -- we haven't even left the landing pad. 

There are a few other influence situations that seemed to me to be too site specific -- if you haven't taken a certain NPC to a certain area on a certain planet, you'll never get the trigger to train them as Jedi.

Totally agree with this.

I was a LS female Consular/Master in my first playthrough, and I almost always took my melee specialists with me so I could zap enemies with the Force from a safe distance while they charged ahead to slice and dice.  Consequently, I missed some Jedi-turning opportunities with a couple of NPCs.  (Not to mention the fact that my LS lady had absolutely no influence with certain other NPCs, unless I was willing to take dark side points, thus losing my +3 Wisdom bonus.)

Well then you choose answers that would loose influence instead. Works that way too