The Stronghold and its features.

[Hellfell]

We should have a reason to return to the stronghold! That's all I care about.

[Oerwinde]

As long as my stronghold can have blackjack... and hookers.

[fortuntek]

As long as my stronghold can have blackjack... and hookers.

 

In fact, forget the blackjack. Ah, screw the whole thing.

 

 

Just in reading people's comments, we seem to want some kind of hybrid between BG2's De'Arnise Keep, and NWN2's Crossroads Keep (plus with requests for some sort of army to train up and use somehow). Sounds great, if a bit generic. Am I alone in hoping we could see something outside of the box, story related and a bit more than the same ol'?

 

Now before people jump on me, no, I don't have any particular astonishingly great and unique ideas off the top of my head. I'm just a bit worried that with all of P:E extraordinary creative potential, we'll end up just badgering them into doing regular stuff that, while cool, isn't anything special even if perfectly executed. (I'm thinking Planar Sphere-like stories intertwined with your Stronghold, something different than pushing us through military exercises.)

[Paul D]

A reason to return to the stronghold ... It has the well stocked wine cellar and the finest spirits in the land of course!

 

[Aoyagi]

About that... have you seen this? If I was Obsidian, I would be pretty pissed. Does this mean war? ^^

[fortuntek]

About that... have you seen this? If I was Obsidian, I would be pretty pissed. Does this mean war? ^^

 

That also crossed my mind. But... even if they both end up pursuing similar key game features, the games are so utterly different at this point; could you really even still say that Obsidian and Bioware are in direct competition on this front?

[Aoyagi]

That also crossed my mind. But... even if they both end up pursuing similar key game features, the games are so utterly different at this point; could you really even still say that Obsidian and Bioware are in direct competition on this front?

Of course not, Bioware is under domination of the evil EA overlord (har har) and makes a mix between action, RPG and movie for mass entertainment.

[fortuntek]

That also crossed my mind. But... even if they both end up pursuing similar key game features, the games are so utterly different at this point; could you really even still say that Obsidian and Bioware are in direct competition on this front?

Of course not, Bioware is under domination of the evil EA overlord (har har) and makes a mix between action, RPG and movie for mass entertainment.

 

Sadly, yes... but it took me quite some time to hang up my Bioware hat Politics aside, I just try to stay optimistic towards each game by them and others as hopefully being good enough to hold my admittedly spazzy attention span long enough to get really into it. But let's not open an Obsidian vs Bioware war Regardless of any good points made, it's the entire thread that suffers...

 

Although, that won't stop people from arguing: "Project Eternity's Stronghold has x feature!" "Oh yeah, well Bioware's y feature will mop the floor with..." and blah blah blah and so on

Edited October 23, 2012 by fortuntek

[Aoyagi]

But let's not open a Obsidian vs Bioware war Regardless of what good points get said, it's the entire thread that suffers...

 

And it won't stop people from arguing: "Project Eternity's Stronghold has x feature!" "Oh yeah, well Bioware's y feature will mop the floor with..." and blah blah blah and so on

Good point.

 

So what I would like to have in the Stronghold is spa, sauna, elven gardens, school, ballista, inventor's tower, walkable dungeon+torture room+kill room where I can actually do stuff. Oh and some livestock would be nice too. Maybe a rat problem or two, no more as it would become obnoxious.

[fortuntek]

But let's not open a Obsidian vs Bioware war Regardless of what good points get said, it's the entire thread that suffers...

 

And it won't stop people from arguing: "Project Eternity's Stronghold has x feature!" "Oh yeah, well Bioware's y feature will mop the floor with..." and blah blah blah and so on

Good point.

 

So what I would like to have in the Stronghold is spa, sauna, elven gardens, school, ballista, inventor's tower, walkable dungeon+torture room+kill room where I can actually do stuff. Oh and some livestock would be nice too. Maybe a rat problem or two, no more as it would become obnoxious.

 

I would like to have a robotic Majordomo named Gaidertron who shoots romance inducing-lasers out of his eyes if I choose any dialogue choice that doesn't follow one of three preset personalities, a female thief childhood companion that waits around my castle for months staring at her feet until I decide to crack the whip and give her life purpose (only to use her as a human trap-exploder in the end), and.... a dragon. No, lots of dragons. No, one-eyed tenctacle floaters that stare you to death. Ahh, I can't make up my mind

Edited October 23, 2012 by fortuntek

[rjshae]

I'm hoping the place won't actually be that large; it shouldn't rival the castle of a baron, for example. Perhaps a robust, non-symmetrical two story stone structure located on a rise near a dangerous wilderness area. But an extensive cellar system would be good. As my player acquires gold, a curtain wall can be added and enough serfs to build a walled village at the base. Success in clearing out the local threats would then draw in traders and artisans, plus maybe a jealous rival.

[Wyrm]

I'm hoping the place won't actually be that large; it shouldn't rival the castle of a baron, for example. Perhaps a robust, non-symmetrical two story stone structure located on a rise near a dangerous wilderness area. But an extensive cellar system would be good. As my player acquires gold, a curtain wall can be added and enough serfs to build a walled village at the base. Success in clearing out the local threats would then draw in traders and artisans, plus maybe a jealous rival.

 

I'm Wyrm and I approve of this message.

[Kane_Severance]

Instead of an army, you should be thinking along the lines of a small number of soldiers used to defend the keep and patrol surrounding areas. You wouldn't send your "army" out to fix things because they are needed at home to keep bandits from stealing your farmers' crops.

[rjshae]

Instead of an army, you should be thinking along the lines of a small number of soldiers used to defend the keep and patrol surrounding areas. You wouldn't send your "army" out to fix things because they are needed at home to keep bandits from stealing your farmers' crops.

I agree. Something on a smaller scale would be good; perhaps 8-15 capable soldiers who mostly patrol the stronghold and drive off unwelcome incursions into the neighboring village's farmlands (with the help of a few militia). That would increase the importance of the party for defending the stronghold and dealing with raids and such. Your staff might consist of a steward, the captain of the guards, and a few household servants; all very manageable. Plus your family and pets, of course.

 

 

But that's just me. Are others looking for something more ambitious?

Edited October 23, 2012 by rjshae

[Katrar]

Personally, I was hoping to build up an army that I could dispatch across genre to invade and pillage DA3.

[Kane_Severance]

On second thought, let's not go to DA3. It is a silly place.

[JFSOCC]

I doubt that the Dragon age games will ever be what I would desire of them. I've said it before and I'll say it again, they are riddled with bad design choices. I doubt it will ever be a real challenger.

 

but what they can do is poison the supply. by being crappy and more well known, they can be the first choice of people new to the genre, or who just don;t know, and then after disappointing the players, have them decide that they do not like RPGs.

[Somna]

I think for the strongholds, depending on how fast paced the game is, I'd want the option of building-specific options available to speed up construction/repairs or unlocking stronghold options. For example, Fabricate in D&D lets you do construction at a much faster rate than one craftsman alone, and putting that together with something like a Lyre of Building (30 minutes of playing = 100 people doing 3 days of work, can keep playing till you fail a check) can turn a building project of months into days or weeks.

 

I don't quite like the idea of being stuck with a castle/fort/standard fantasy structure, but I doubt their art department wants to have to deal with drawing a large number of stronghold variations either (short of putting into a DLC). Still have a lot of love for the idea of the Planar Sphere though.

[Dueps]

I really think that we should collect 108 "friends" and have them staff our stronghold! I promise everyone that this is an original idea!

[Kane_Severance]

I really think that we should collect 108 "friends" and have them staff our stronghold! I promise everyone that this is an original idea!

 

Good idea. We'll call them the 108 Lights of Fate.

 

Edited October 24, 2012 by Kane_Severance

[Dueps]

I really think that we should collect 108 "friends" and have them staff our stronghold! I promise everyone that this is an original idea!

 

Good idea. We'll call them the 108 Lights of Fate.

 

 

Continue. I like where this is going!

[Tauron]

Did I say Mage Tower? If I didnt..Mage Tower!

[Dayen]

I have few real preferences on the Stronghold, but an idea that intrigues me is that it also becomes the second major city over the course of the game.

[Gyor]

As long as my stronghold can have blackjack... and hookers.

 

Some want wizard towers and temples in thier strongholds, you want Casinos and Brothels. Awesome :D

 

Honestly I want the stronghold to be strange and unique. What the game play of Crossroads Keep was better and awesome, the flavour of the Wizards Tower/Sphere in BG2 was freaking awesome. It should be more then a generic medevil keep.

 

That why I suggested Ob Nau's keep, but there are other ideas awesome ideas as well. Maybe's a mobile fortress, like a space station only for the Ocean instead of space.

 

Or maybe its made from Crystals or Living wood.

 

Or its carved into a Vulcano, with a room for Sharks with freaking laser beams.

 

I also suggest they look at a veriety of late medevil palaces and Castles for ideas it should be beautiful and magnifiant.

 

And if they're going to have a temple in the Keep it should be devoted to the Character's God, not to a bunch Lathanderites. I allows thought that made no sense, its like the Catholic church building a keep and deciding it should have a Mosque or Hindu Temple in it instead of a Christian Chapel, it makes no sense.

[Bos_hybrid]

About that... have you seen this? If I was Obsidian, I would be pretty pissed. Does this mean war? ^^

 

Hardly, it came out after Kickstarter ended.

 

Besides DA3 and PE are not in competition with each other.