A plea for more recognition of choices in RPGs

[GhostofAnakin]

I think recognition of the choices players make is one of the most sought after features that everyone wants from PE, and one that I believe Obsidian will do their best to implement. It can literally make or break the replayability of a game for me.

[JFSOCC]

I think it's mostly indirect responses that would make the difference. If peole immediately respond you'll feel it's scripted, but if something comes back to you later, it feels much more natural.

[DreamDancer]

I think it's mostly indirect responses that would make the difference. If peole immediately respond you'll feel it's scripted, but if something comes back to you later, it feels much more natural.

 

For some choices it is kind of necessary to have NPCs react immediately, of course very dependent on the particular situation. But, let's say, you do something that may influence a larger area or maybe a whole region, like securing a new trade route for a city, then it makes sense of having a certain delay on the changes to the game world. I am also hoping for more natural and authentic behaviour from the NPCs and the world in general. It should not feel scripted or contrived, and I agree, this can be done by allowing some ingame time to pass before the changes happen.

[JFSOCC]

what I wouldn't want to see is what they did in Dragon Age Origins, where after you decided to let the ashes of some saint to become a pilgrimage location, the first time you'd go into a city two people (both unironically tagged "gossip") go "Did you hear, they found andraste's ashes!"

that feels incredibly forced.

[Continuum]

Fallout: New Vegas has a boatload of technical problems due to its engine... but for my money, it did one of the best jobs ever at providing a well-realized world that recognized the choices your character made. No little morality meter... no simple choices. You couldn't complete every faction quest line - no middle ground between NCR and the Legion, neither side took well to you working with Mr. House or going independent... not everybody loved FNV as much as I did, but I feel it showcased the strength of Obisidian's commitment to storyline and recognition of choices in RPGs. So I have a high hopes for P:E.

[Hassat Hunter]

The "only talks about the plot" makes me think of Deus Ex and Deus Ex: Human Revolution.

 

In DX you could have many conversations (even with VO) about things absolutely unrelated to the plot. Random bystanders would just talk about what interests them.

Instead in DX:HR *everyone* talks about augmentations and the plot. No banter. No conversations about anything else. Nothing.

And that couldn't be blamed on Voice Overs.

 

So yeah, making not everything revolving around the plot is definitely a good way forward, away from the general trend of these days. 2 steps back, 1 step forward. But those 2 steps that were taking where in the wrong direction anyway