RockPaperShotgun Interview with Avellone + New Companion Concept Aloth

PROGRESS, WHY YOU DON'T HAVE IT?!

 

That was rather amusing.

That interviewer bothered me a bit for some reason. Stupid questions, and too much bias showing through them.

 

Great concept art though...

Edited October 5, 2012 by Piccolo

Not sure what makes it evil.

Not as a villain, or evil alignment. Just stereotype.

 

Snake magic, almost always is not something "good" people in fantasy stories will use. There are exceptions, just not that many.

Edited October 5, 2012 by kenup

And he's holding the back half of a fish in one hand and snakes in the other.

I was thinking it was a spell scroll in his other hand.

I like the magic snakes. Reminds me of that snake head cane in ST:TNG - Time's Arrow.

Avellone: Yes, we want to examine the dialogue mechanics, and one thing we’re going to do is low-intelligence options – either based on Intelligence or a trait – and have the sequences play out differently according to the player’s intellect. As a narrative designer, I enjoy writing interactions like that, and I had a blast with the stupid options in F2 in Vault City and New Reno.

 

And there was much squeeing.

The emblem on his armor is a key. I wonder if there's any meaning to that.

Thief faction or just a general "Key? I don't need no key" t-shirt?

The emblem on his armor is a key. I wonder if there's any meaning to that.

Thief faction or just a general "Key? I don't need no key" t-shirt?

I was thinking it might be more along the lines of "keeper of secrets." Keys are popular symbols for the hidden or locked away.

And he's holding the back half of a fish in one hand and snakes in the other.

I was thinking it was a spell scroll in his other hand.

 

I don't even know if this is worth pointing out, but I wasn't exactly being serious.

I don't actually think he's holding a fish.

And he's holding the back half of a fish in one hand and snakes in the other.

I was thinking it was a spell scroll in his other hand.

 

I don't even know if this is worth pointing out, but I wasn't exactly being serious.

I don't actually think he's holding a fish.

Why not? Fish might restore mana(or soul points or whatever)!

J

Not sure what makes it evil.

Not as a villain, or evil alignment. Just stereotype.

 

Snake magic, almost always is not something "good" people in fantasy stories will use. There are exceptions, just not that many.

 

I guess that's true to an extent. Although, is associate it more with gypsies or some other outcast group.

Rubbish interviewer, great concept art and some insightful comments by Mr. Avellone.

The emblem on his armor is a key. I wonder if there's any meaning to that.

 

I was wondering if that had any relation to the emblem on Cadegund's chestpiece--something to do with soul channeling or something.

 

 

Planescape explored the philosophies and religions of other races, it explored the idea of the mind shaping reality, and it put forth the question of your place in the universe and then gave you mechanics to compliment that. It purposely bucked many archetypes and tried to re-examine them from the opposite direction, and we’ll do the same in Eternity. We want to explore the ideas and perspectives of other cultures, religions, the concept of language and oral tradition in a world where books aren’t commonplace, and the concept of self in a world where souls transfer from being to being. What kind of cultures and religions come into being in a world like that? What does that mean for you and your companions?

 

Sweeeet.

Edited October 5, 2012 by Ieo

I really didn't like the interviewer. He kept assuming that "oldschool" meant less evolved or somehow worse. Frankly, I would argue the opposite.

I don't even know if this is worth pointing out, but I wasn't exactly being serious.

I don't actually think he's holding a fish.

If it was a fish...maybe he was interrupted during dinner.

 

I was thinking it might be more along the lines of "keeper of secrets." Keys are popular symbols for the hidden or locked away.

That doesn't really fit my personal idea of a Thief. Unless he's a Mage (then keeper of secrets would make sense to me regardless). I'm still not entirely sure, based on images alone.

 

 

 

Aloth looks awesome!

 

But is he casting snakes or is he burning live snakes with purple colored magic? hmmm ^^

He's a mage, ain't he? Unless he's a rogue with some powaz. It's cool that we don't know exactly, isn't it?

He's a mage, ain't he? Unless he's a rogue with some powaz. It's cool that we don't know exactly, isn't it?

I figured he was a mage in the wallpaper. In both that and this art, he's focused on some magical ability. He really likes posing with his hand glowing.

I really didn't like the interviewer. He kept assuming that "oldschool" meant less evolved or somehow worse. Frankly, I would argue the opposite.

Same here. I am surprised that Chris even answered some of those questions. It's like the interviewer thinks that old school iz hard and haz too meny numberz for hed. lol

Edited October 5, 2012 by dlux

You have to remember that 90% of the modern gaming 'press' are brain-dead PR whores.

 

Although RPS is OK and has a dedicated wargaming bloke who is quite good. But, yeah, that "lots of numbers" line made me cringe. You don't have a dig at flight sims because "there's too many dials" do you?

what a dull interviewer. MCA must be bored out of his skull.

I really didn't like the interviewer. He kept assuming that "oldschool" meant less evolved or somehow worse. Frankly, I would argue the opposite.

Same here. I am surprised that Chris even answered some of those questions. It's like the interviewer thinks that old school iz hard and haz too meny numberz for hed. lol

True. Too many numbers? I love numbers!

I hated Dragon Age: Origin abilities and spells description because there was almost no number at all. Terrible.

Edited October 5, 2012 by DocDoomII

an elven mage with a sword and the key to his heart on his chest hyuk hyuk hyuk!

I really didn't like the interviewer. He kept assuming that "oldschool" meant less evolved or somehow worse. Frankly, I would argue the opposite.

Same here. I am surprised that Chris even answered some of those questions. It's like the interviewer thinks that old school iz hard and haz too meny numberz for hed. lol

True. Too many numbers? I love numbers!

I hated Dragon Age: Origin abilities and spells description because there was almost no number at all. Terrible.

Yup, so true. I even checked the settings if there was an option to turn them on - nope. It was a total WTF situation. ^^

Have they actually said anywhere at any point that these charecters in the concept art are companions. I keep seeing people posting that on various forums, is it just assumption on their parts?