I just learned about a mechanic *from an interview* rather than from the game. o.o

[Havelok]

So, I've played the backer beta for about 10 hours so far,  I had absolutely no idea until this interview: 

 

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2886976/pillars-of-eternity-josh-sawyer-talks-mods-pc-first-focus-big-head-mode-and-more.html

 

that all AOE's have a bonus area that does not cause friendly fire.

 

I really hope the game proper makes this clear at some point to the player or I think many people are going to miss this. I knew that Int increased AOE radius, but not that the radius was Foe Only. That makes it *much* more appealing. 

 

[Sensuki]

Don't know how you missed it. It's been explained multiple times from multiple sources everywhere - including in this forum. It's also explained in the spell descriptions, and I believe in the in-game glossary description for Intellect. Foe only AoE is also depicted by the yellow color when you aim the spell.

 

Edited February 20, 2015 by Sensuki

[Havelok]

Well for slow-folk like me I'd suggest at least a loading screen message or somesuch . As far as I could tell, the spell descriptions do have some notes about AoE but it generally seems to refer to whether or not the spell on the whole is foe-only or does have a friendly fire risk. You are right in that I didn't look and the Int glossary description, only the character creator blurb (which honestly, should at least mention it). 

Edited February 21, 2015 by Havelok

[Leferd]

I'd like to think that it would be spelled out in the manual.

[Sensuki]

Well for slow-folk like me I'd suggest at least a loading screen message or somesuch . As far as I could tell, the spell descriptions do have some notes about AoE but it generally seems to refer to whether or not the spell on the whole is foe-only or does have a friendly fire risk. You are right in that I didn't look and the Int glossary description, only the character creator blurb (which honestly, should at least mention it). 

 

There's a feature in-game called "Beginner Tooltips" or something, have you tried turning that option on? I'm not sure if it works yet but I think that should explain the mechanics in pop-ups in game for you.

 

I agree that the character creation small description box doesn't do a very good job of fitting in long descriptions. We asked for larger description pages (there's enough room to increase the height, but they ignored that suggestion/haven't implemented it).

Edited February 21, 2015 by Sensuki

[MasterPrudent]

"Beginner tooltips" has no effect atm, as far I can tell. I assume that the complete game will be much more noob friendly than the backer beta.

[HozzM]

So, I've played the backer beta for about 10 hours so far,  I had absolutely no idea until this interview: 

 

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2886976/pillars-of-eternity-josh-sawyer-talks-mods-pc-first-focus-big-head-mode-and-more.html

 

that all AOE's have a bonus area that does not cause friendly fire.

 

I really hope the game proper makes this clear at some point to the player or I think many people are going to miss this. I knew that Int increased AOE radius, but not that the radius was Foe Only. That makes it *much* more appealing. 

I believe this is the area described by the outer green ring when you target an AoE spell.

[Grotesque]

The spells areas effects will be changed with something more appropriate and visual pleasing instead than it's now, just some lines?

[ushas]

I think I saw a loading screen tip about it in BB. So you may just not encounter it yet.

[Chilloutman]

Well is it same even for higher difficulty? It would be sad if there would be no FF on Hard with spells like fireball

[Sensuki]

There's friendly fire on every difficulty.