High Resolution Map + Chris Avellone Interview

[C2B]

High resolution version of the map+ Interview

 

http://anonofholland.wordpress.com/2013/06/30/chris-avellone-interview/

 

 

 

 

[ryukenden]

Thanks A lot. I was looking for that. 

 

I know for a fact defiance bay is also in the game. Now I wonder what city would be the main city that have the endless dungeon. I would guess Raedric Hold

Edited June 30, 2013 by ryukenden

[rjshae]

It looks pretty faithful to the original map. The biggest change was fixing the rivers.

[Gumbercules]

Thanks for posting that, C2B.

 

 

I know for a fact defiance bay is also in the game. Now I wonder what city would be the main city that have the endless dungeon. I would guess Raedric Hold

 

I don't think Raedric's Hold is a city. If you look at the symbols being used, it looks like the dark houses are cities or large towns, the light houses are villages or small towns, and the dark castles are castles and fortresses.

[Lephys]

I don't think Raedric's Hold is a city. If you look at the symbols being used, it looks like the dark houses are cities or large towns, the light houses are villages or small towns, and the dark castles are castles and fortresses.

Or, as I like to call them, "fortrices"! ^_^

 

Unless they're really, really huge.

 

"What news, sergeant? Can we emerge victorious from this endeavor?"

 

"I'm not sure, sir. This fortress... it seems devoid of weakness, sir. It's... well, it's like a FIVE-tress."

[Archmage Silver]

Looks like there's enough to go around for more than one game!

[radioactivelullaby]

I don't think Raedric's Hold is a city. If you look at the symbols being used, it looks like the dark houses are cities or large towns, the light houses are villages or small towns, and the dark castles are castles and fortresses.

 

yeah, i too don't believe Raedric's Hold is a city. actually, if you look at the old map it's easier to see which places are big cities - a bigger dot with a white circle. that would leave us with these possible cities: new heomar, road's end, echo bay, new yarma, telaneir, girrara and airana's tears. girrara is probably out of the question. but the others all seem possible since they all are roughly the same distance from dyrwood. anyhow, my wild guess would be airana's tears or telaneir.

[Hormalakh]

since this is the only post i know of on the OEI forums about the map, I thought I'd share my two cents on the map. This is mainly feedback for the devs and I know that it's WIP, hence why I'm mentioning it.

 

1- I think the icons used for the map are non-intuitive and actually hinder the understanding of the scale of the map. The huge icons make the map look smaller than it actually is.

 

2- The paths drawn on the map also do this map a disservice along the same vein. Those paths are too wide to be roads and again make the map look smaller than it actually is meant to be.

 

3- The color used in juxtaposition to Eir Glanfath make the rest of the Dyrwood look like it's a desert. Perhaps the color scheme could be slightly altered?

 

4- A legend in the final map would be very helpful.

Edited July 1, 2013 by Hormalakh

[ryukenden]

I can't believe I nearly missed this but if you guys like carefully, The Bottom Logo is just "Eternity".

 

This means that Eternity might likely be the final name.

 

 

 

 

 

I know for a fact defiance bay is also in the game. Now I wonder what city would be the main city that have the endless dungeon. I would guess Raedric Hold

 

I don't think Raedric's Hold is a city. If you look at the symbols being used, it looks like the dark houses are cities or large towns, the light houses are villages or small towns, and the dark castles are castles and fortresses.

 

 

I suppose its a bit confusing on how the castle icon is separate form the dark house icon. The dark symbols look like houses, small village, and town but possibly not a city. In medieval times, castle and fortress are at the center of  a city. The castle symbol is the largest icon on this map. Plus the location and dirt-like patches nearby suggest this might be a place of importance.

Edited July 1, 2013 by ryukenden

[teknoman2]

it's raedric's hold - as in "stronghold" - as in "castle"

Edited July 1, 2013 by teknoman2

[rjshae]

since this is the only post i know of on the OEI forums about the map, I thought I'd share my two cents on the map. This is mainly feedback for the devs and I know that it's WIP, hence why I'm mentioning it.

 

1- I think the icons used for the map are non-intuitive and actually hinder the understanding of the scale of the map. The huge icons make the map look smaller than it actually is.

 

2- The paths drawn on the map also do this map a disservice along the same vein. Those paths are too wide to be roads and again make the map look smaller than it actually is meant to be.

 

3- The color used in juxtaposition to Eir Glanfath make the rest of the Dyrwood look like it's a desert. Perhaps the color scheme could be slightly altered?

 

4- A legend in the final map would be very helpful.

 

Well, the style used isn't all that different from historic maps. For example:

 

 

I think it's meant to be more representational than precise. A hand-drawn look for the icons would probably be more attractive though.

[Sacred_Path]

so conversation and stealth won't do much for you in dungeons... did Sawyer get overruled or was it his doing also?

[Prometheus]

I like the new map more than the old one. I think the icons look better than the dots in the old one.

 

I suppose its a bit confusing on how the castle icon is separate form the dark house icon. The dark symbols look like houses, small village, and town but possibly not a city. In medieval times, castle and fortress are at the center of  a city. The castle symbol is the largest icon on this map. Plus the location and dirt-like patches nearby suggest this might be a place of importance.

No the dark house is a big city (defiance bay is a big city and has a dark house).

 

that would leave us with these possible cities: new heomar, road's end, echo bay, new yarma, telaneir, girrara and airana's tears. girrara is probably out of the question. but the others all seem possible since they all are roughly the same distance from dyrwood. anyhow, my wild guess would be airana's tears or telaneir.

 

They mentioned that the ruins of eir glanfath will also be a main location of Project Eternity.  airana's tear is close to the ruins of Eir glanfath, so it's the big city that is the closest to the main location of Project Eternity (after Defiance bay) .

[J.E. Sawyer]

so conversation and stealth won't do much for you in dungeons... 

 

That's not what Chris wrote.

[Sacred_Path]

 

so conversation and stealth won't do much for you in dungeons...

 

That's not what Chris wrote.

 

Hmm. "while conversations and stealth can help set you up in a favorable position when hostilities erupt, talk-intensive encounters are likely to be left for communities, towns, and other areas where it makes more sense"

 

So I guess those positions you can get into i.e. via stealth are really really favorable? K. Didn't mean to misrepresent his position.

Edited July 1, 2013 by Sacred_Path

[J.E. Sawyer]

In "dungeon" (or equivalent) environments, stealth can be used to circumvent encounters or it can be used to set up good positions from which to start a fight.  The specifics will depend heavily on the individual dungeons, encounters, and characters doing the sneaking.  Conversations are less common in dungeon environments than in cities, but you will still have deep dialogues in dungeons when it makes sense.

[Cultist]

In "dungeon" (or equivalent) environments, stealth can be used to circumvent encounters or it can be used to set up good positions from which to start a fight.  The specifics will depend heavily on the individual dungeons, encounters, and characters doing the sneaking.  Conversations are less common in dungeon environments than in cities, but you will still have deep dialogues in dungeons when it makes sense.

[infinity mentality on]

Circumvent encounters and lose loot? Valuable loot? It's like skipping undersea section in BG2 en route to Underdark...AND LOSING CLOAK OF MIRRORING? CLOAK OF MIRRORING!

[infinity mentality off]

Edited July 1, 2013 by Cultist

[J.E. Sawyer]

Not all creatures drop good loot.  Some creatures don't drop any loot.  That can be a determining factor in what encounters you choose to engage or circumvent.

[Nonek]

Ha, most amusing Cultist. I guess the truth is that the book in IWD2 is correct, and we are all neutral evil.

Edited July 1, 2013 by Nonek

[Gfted1]

[infinity mentality on]

Circumvent encounters and lose loot? Valuable loot? It's like skipping undersea section in BG2 en route to Underdark...AND LOSING CLOAK OF MIRRORING? CLOAK OF MIRRORING!

[infinity mentality off]

Lol, thank god I bought the strategy guide!

[Cultist]

Not all creatures drop good loot.  Some creatures don't drop any loot.  That can be a determining factor in what encounters you choose to engage or circumvent.

But to know if the event is worth skipping and I will not lose anything I have to...metagame and reload. Other solution is to know if that creature types will drop loot at all. But if I spotted(via stealth or other recon) a party waiting to engage us and have option to avoid the fight, my marauding instincts will violate my delicate brain with thougts like "That wizard held oh-so-expensive shining staff. That warrior's sword had electric charges tingling. Could it be that that paladin weared Legendary Boobplate of Misogyny Protection?"

i still remember how 15 years ago the most popular topic on early RPG-related forums were "How could we kill Drizzt and take back what is rightfully ours - his swords"

And nothing can change the nature of an RPG gamer.

Edited July 1, 2013 by Cultist

[Nonek]

I suppose you could have a vocal or text warning from the groups wizard or other arcane class, alerting you to powerful magic being weilded by the enemy. A passive ability perhaps? Or maybe the rogue spots an item of undoubtable value while scouting?

[Cultist]

Skill\stat based valuables detection? Hardly will help to avoid "always engage" situations. Because chars could fail skill\stat checks.

[Stun]

 

In "dungeon" (or equivalent) environments, stealth can be used to circumvent encounters or it can be used to set up good positions from which to start a fight.  The specifics will depend heavily on the individual dungeons, encounters, and characters doing the sneaking.  Conversations are less common in dungeon environments than in cities, but you will still have deep dialogues in dungeons when it makes sense.

[infinity mentality on]

Circumvent encounters and lose loot? Valuable loot? It's like skipping undersea section in BG2 en route to Underdark...AND LOSING CLOAK OF MIRRORING? CLOAK OF MIRRORING!

[infinity mentality off]

 

Which is as it should be!

 

 

There's only ever 3 reasons to kill something in a good RPG

 

1) Loot

2) Experience

3) Story

 

I'd be completely happy with a complex system that gives you #2 and Perhaps #3 by successfully avoiding the enemy.

 

But #1 Should be sacred ground. The best, most powerful magic items should only be earned through blood. There should be NO way to acquire something like a Hammer of Thunderbolts or a Staff of the Magi without killing someone powerful who's using it against you. Items like that lose all their value if they just fall from the sky and into your hands, or if all it takes to acquire them is to walk into a shop and buy them, or sneak past an enemy to steal it from his cabinet or whatever. Or even worse: Pick his pocket to take those items.

Edited July 1, 2013 by Stun

[Lephys]

In "dungeon" (or equivalent) environments, stealth can be used to circumvent encounters or it can be used to set up good positions from which to start a fight.  The specifics will depend heavily on the individual dungeons, encounters, and characters doing the sneaking.  Conversations are less common in dungeon environments than in cities, but you will still have deep dialogues in dungeons when it makes sense.

Not to mention, I'd bet that conversations can indirectly alter the factors of a dungeon/hostile area/encounter on down the line, even if there's hardly any direct dialogue involved in the area/encounter itself.