Should I play the old Planescap Torment before the new one comes out?

[Losse]

Do you think the story will intertwine much?

[Cantousent]

I haven't been following the updates as well as I should, but ToN is not supposed to be a 'sequel' to PS:T. It is its own story. However, you should try PS:T because it's an awesome game. Some of the gameplay can be a bit wonky, and the graphics are dated to be sure, but it's still in my top three and, depending on when you ask, my personal favorite.

[Ganrich]

I agree with Cantousent. Planescape is a realm from AD&D, while Numenera is a new pen and paper setting made by Monte Cook. Numenera has no relation to Planescape. They "may" have some Easter Eggs and references to PST for the initiated, but it isn't a continuation of the story. It is an amazing story, and worth giving it a play through. Its combat is meh, but its dialogue isn't. PST has and amazing setting, amazing companions, and really interesting themes. If I hadn't played it I would want to play it before TTON just to see what the hubbub was about.

Edited March 19, 2015 by Ganrich

[Cantousent]

I'm going to tag team you with Ganrich and post again. :Cant's broad grin icon:

 

The bottom line, Losse, is that when you finally finish PS:T, the only thing you'll be able to say to yourself is... "that was your *first* wish."

[Tigranes]

Not much story relation. You should play because it is the best game.

[Gromnir]

Do you think the story will intertwine much?

depends.  

 

plot, characters and setting?  they is gonna be complete different.

 

however, am gonna expect sharing and possible evolution o' thematic development.  

 

am suspecting that playing ps:t will not be necessary, but am believing that having played ps:t will enrich your torment (2015-16) experience. 

 

you  don't need read in dubious battle and of mice and men to appreciate the grapes of wrath. even so, am thinking to read all three leads, potential, to a different level o' appreciation.

 

HA! Good Fun!

Edited March 19, 2015 by Gromnir

[Bryy]

Do you think the story will intertwine much?

The only relation to Planescape that Tides of Numenera shares is the title that was picked singularly for the purpose of getting as much funding as possible.

[Starwars]

Play it because it's amazing!

[Gromnir]

Play it because it's amazing!

it is, in some ways, an amazingly poor game. combat encounters is having little variation or complexity.  many folks familiar with the other ie games would no doubt be shocked by just how poorly the ps:t engaged the player.  the game is woeful unbalanced in favor o' mages and a handful o' abilities-- we won't spoil as to which abilities is seeming vital. more than a few women players complained about having to play as a male quasi-corpse, and while we don't/didn't share those sentiments we get that the choice o' protagonist unduly disenfranchised a significant number o' players. as much as we liked the game and the writing, there were a bit o' excessive navel gazing (even for the setting) and the philosophy-for-dummies approach were frequently annoying to us.  the game were extreme buggy, even by bis standards.  the memory-leak issues were requiring complete restarts after multi-hour gaming sessions.  there were more broken quests than we could count.  also, and we know many will disagree, but we thought ps:t were the start o' a long succession o' games that ended poorly and/or abruptly.  not wanna spoil, but the actual final confrontation were meh.

 

is actual our favorite pc crpg.  however, we recognize that ps:t had many amazing flaws.

 

HA! Good Fun!

[Bryy]

Yeah, I get what they were doing with making INT and WIS the main stats, but they were not going for commentary on games as a whole, so the implementation of the inversion was really poorly executed. STR and DEX did next to nothing. They were just there to be there.

 

Also, it actually was a real combat heavy game. Combat just wasn't the focal point. And I'm in the minority in thinking the combat is better than Baldur's Gate.

[Mamoulian War]

Should I play the old Planescap Torment before the new one comes out?

 

Yes.

[Gromnir]

Yeah, I get what they were doing with making INT and WIS the main stats, but they were not going for commentary on games as a whole, so the implementation of the inversion was really poorly executed. STR and DEX did next to nothing. They were just there to be there.

 

Also, it actually was a real combat heavy game. Combat just wasn't the focal point. And I'm in the minority in thinking the combat is better than Baldur's Gate.

bg combat was horrible.  ps:t weren't noticeably better in our estimation.  however, as much as we is loathe to admit it, there were a few bg encounters (typical the party v. party battles) that were genuine engaging.  ps:t didn't have anything similar.  the cranium rats coulda' been fantastic, but they were kinda a let down.  coulda had interesting tactics dealing with an enemy that gains/loses power with numbers.  have rats seeming flooding into a room as you is trying to keep numbers below threshold where they could incinerate your party?  oh well.

 

'course is ultimately subjective.  

 

HA! Good Fun!

[Nonek]

I most certainly would Mr Losse, the game is a one of a kind, delightfully reactive and thematically potent, and provides a narrative that will raise as many questions as it answers. On the subject of stat point distribution I am somewhat torn, though one can boost WIS and INT to massive levels, as is the commonly used tactic, boosting STR and making a more balanced build that will more than hold its own in combat is very viable.

 

SPOILER-ISH CONTENT AHOY! 

 

Personally I leave CHA at 9 to ensure that Nameless' reception matches his appearance, and use a Friends scroll or spell in important situations. It should also be noted that there are many natural boosts to CHA.

WIS I usually raise to 11 or 12 as there are a lot of WIS boosting opportunities in game, and of course tattoos and such.

INT I raise to 13 or 14, important for conversations and a stat I intend to spend many points on later, until which I boost with tattoos or Cranium Rat charms.

DEX I raise to around 10 or 11, there are a few boosts but this can wait until later unless one wishes to be a strangler and gain empathy for a certain incarnation.

CON I always start at 14, this give you the maximum starting HP of thirty, a very good heal rate and is boosted by many, many items and effects. If one is Lawful Good, then one may not have to spend more than a point or two.

STR I start at 15, for a simple reason: You start at third level as a Fighter, continue in this class until lvl 6 adding a point of STR each time and your STR will soon be 18, upon attaining level 7 as a Fighter the game will judge you to have specialised in this role and award you among other things a free single point of STR. This will not nudge you into 18 exceptional strength but will boost you straight to 19, Hill Giant strength after which most combat becomes somewhat trivial and you are free to attribute your points as you see fit.

 

I would personally use Clubs and Knives as enchanted versions of these are very common, and some are invaluable, Justifier and the Tattoo of the Lost incarnation (gained from a rather distinctive "club") also both provide regeneration bonuses which make Nameless a very quick healer indeed. Extremely useful in combat. In this role you spank and tank and Morte also makes an excellent tank, especially with his natural ability. The combat is orders of magnitude more enjoyable when one builds such a potent combatant, and Nameless is a very formidable opponent and very good at intimidation because of the speech options accessed by high strength.

 

Just my own favourite build however.

 

Edit: For a Lawful character strength can be boosted even more by a later companion whom will grant anything from 1 to 3 strength points, added on to an allready OP strength score this becomes obscenely effective.

Edited March 19, 2015 by Nonek

[rjshae]

Your mileage may vary: many people sing the praises of PS:T, but I didn't enjoy it all that much. I've tried it several times, but it just doesn't grab me.

[Orchomene]

I loved the spell animations at high level. The Mechanus canon one is very impressive.

I'm also in the crowd of "one of the best crpg".

[archangel979]

Not much story relation. You should play because it is the best game.

This.

 

@Losse

Also on GoG forums you can find a list of mods and it is not hard to apply them. I did it few days ago and I am playing a modded version of PST now.

Edited March 20, 2015 by archangel979

[Rostere]

Just play it.

[HoonDing]

You should play it, it's best western jRPG after Anachronox and Septera Core.

 

Edited March 20, 2015 by HoonDing

[Cantousent]

I've played Planescape: Torment. Planescape: Torment is a dear friend of mine. Anachronox, sir, is no Planescape: Torment.

 

I liked Anachronox for what is was, but better than PS:T? Pshaw! I didn't play the other game.

[Rostere]

Septerra Core is OK with a great setting, but combat becomes very tedious towards the end.

 

IIRC there was some way to minimize random encounters which I didn't understand until I had already finished the game.

[Mr. Magniloquent]

Planescape: Torment is a masterpiece of interactive story telling. The combat is pretty terrible. Fight what you wish, or what you must, but that is not the point of the game. Install the bug fixes and wide screen mod, then take the time to smell the roses. Talk to everyone, even the books, walls, and furniture. Lie. Fear the rats. Sell your buddy into slavery. Tell the truth. Read everything. It is truly a joy.