Chris Avellone says Pillars of Eternity was too linear and that he had little impact on the story

[Sannom]

Having said that he has written some complete garbage. Kreia in kotor2 is possibly the worst character i have ever seen in a video game (which says ALOT)

Good luck finding a consensus on that, you philistine !

[Tennisgolfboll]

Search your feelings. You know it to be true.

[VahnXIII]

 

This is an update video for Divinity Original Sin 2. Apparently the fans spoke out and Chris Avellone will be on board with the writing. This is old news.

 

However, I'd like to direct attention to 2:53 with stating, "And we DEFINITELY have the same MINDSET when it comes to DESIGN and STORYLINES." 

 

Thought perhaps it was a PR-approved jab at Obsidian. But I also tend to read between the lines far too much for my own good.

[why]

I think it is reading between the lines a bit. On the other hand, it's teh interwebs, so reading between the lines, rumor-mongering, and assumption makes things more fun.

 

However, I would think that the idea that he's making a jab at Obsidian would either be personal animosity or perhaps just fun and games. This could especially be true if folks at both places knew about the theories about his departure, which they must, and they're doing a bit of the "Paul is Dead" dramatic moment.

[AndreaColombo]

Personally, I believe Chris would not venture down the depths of unprofessionalism to the point of taking jabs at Obsidian like that. Especially months after leaving the company.

[Infinitron]

MCA is currently very enamored with the fact that Swen Vincke, Larian's CEO, is a direct creative influence on the company's games, as compared with Feargus's purely managerial role at Obsidian.

Edited February 6, 2016 by Infinitron

[Valsuelm]

MCA is currently very enamored with the fact that Swen Vincke, Larian's CEO, is a direct creative influence on the company's games, as compared with Feargus's purely managerial role at Obsidian.

As well he should be.

[Cyseal]

I've never seen more passionate and enthusiastic director and developer as Swen. I'm glad Chris is at Larian.

Divinity 2 has potential to surpass everybody's expectations.

[Infinitron]

He's not "at Larian", just doing part-time work there same as he does for everybody else.

[Cyseal]

He's not "at Larian", just doing part-time work there same as he does for everybody else.

Basically, he could be working on some quests and characters for PoE2 in future as part-time.

[Infinitron]

I seriously doubt that will ever happen.

[why]

I seriously doubt that will ever happen.

Is there any evidence of that bad of blood?  I would think, not really having a stake in it, that it could do wonders of proving that everyone is dealing with the issue professionally if Mr. Avellone did at least some small amount of work on a future project.  With the way these developers move in and out of these projects, it doesn't seem insane and the only reason to write it off entirely would be because of outright animosity behind the scenes.  It doesn't matter much, I guess, but you'd just like to see everything end more or less amicably.  Of course, no one has shared the exact details of the break, so animosity might be warranted, which is an excellent reason not to demonstrate it in my opinion.  Better to demonstrate more class than the other guy would be my take.

[Carados]

As much as I respect CA as a game designer, its silly to jump into a conclusion that his story concept would have been better than the one obsidian dev team chose. Unless he explains it better, we can't say this or that about his ideas. Plus designing a videogame is always a team effort, so its kind of unfair to say that CA alone would have changed everything.

 

As for companions... First of all it would have been certainly nice to adventure with prologue companions, but both of them dieing happened for a reason. You were cut from your old life. You were a survior and a foreigner in a strange land. Familiar faces perishing so suddenly was really unexpected and a kick in the gut, but the game's opening would have not had  same impact if there was no real loss.

 

As for the orginal eight:

 

Durance: He was the most intresting one of the bunch. At first he seemed utterly repulsive, but more you spoke him, more you began to understand him and his madness. And his quest was elegantly linked to main storyline and the whole world state.

 

Eder: I knew right from the begining when I ran into Eder that he was a really stand up guy who I could rely on in a tight spot. A really down to earth guy whose story made sense. His sidequest sort of ended in a weird way though. Just when I was getting to know the guy, his content was basicly over. An other great thing about Eder was how his personal history helped me to understand more about the land and culture I was exploring.

 

Kana: An other permanent member in my party. It was a good thing that Kana's quest was linked to stronghold as it gave it more purpose. As a person, Kana was just a great guy to adventure with. It was just downright amusing how he always got so excited of new things and people. Plus he was always on a good mood and often had something intresting to say about the places we were exploring. Lots of fun banter too!

 

Pallegina: I've always liked paladins in rpgs and she was no expection. I really enjoyed her cut the nonsense attitude. Her being in my party also made me realize how foreign the whole Dyrwood was to people from other cultures. Just like Kana and Me, she was also an adventurer without home. I wish her personal quest was longer though.

 

Hirivias: I thought he was well writen. Him being an orlan druid was ofcourse intresting, so speaking to him gave me a better perspective about the orlan culture and so forth. In addition Hirivias had a rather intriguiing personal story which explained much about how gods influence the world. It was really fun to solve his dual-deity conflict. You could push him to either way.

 

Aloth: I liked having Aloth in party. His sarcastic smartass comments were always a joy. I just think that Obsdian didn't explore his character enough. Aloth's side content felt kind of incomplete. Like they were going somewhere with it, but at the last second decided to cut rest of it for some reason.

 

Sagani: I think there was a lot of potential and I found her side quest intresting, but as a person she was bland and boring. Its really difficult to pinpoint the exact reason for this, but I have this idea that someone who wanted to write a ranger character had an objective of breaking each ranger cliche, but while doing so, he or she forgot to give Sagani a real personality... On paper her concept seems rock solid, but its lacking something. she just doesn't seem bold enough and to be honest seems kind of "dumb". I quess i'm used to more colourfull rangers and she was an huge letdown in that sense.

 

Grieving mother: Just like Durance, you had to talk to her to understand her and to unlock her grim tragedy. She really had the saddest backstory, no question about that. It just happens quite linearly. You just click "next" basicly. I think Avellone's idea about a mind labyrint would have definitely made her more memorable. However imo the original concept of the Cipher companion being a part of Dunryd Row sounds much more intresting. Why didn't they run with it?

Edited February 7, 2016 by Carados

[Karkarov]

 

He's not "at Larian", just doing part-time work there same as he does for everybody else.

Basically, he could be working on some quests and characters for PoE2 in future as part-time.

Sorry but he is not the finest writer that Cyseal has ever seen, so we will just have to make due with a slice of this fine Gorgombert!

Edited February 7, 2016 by Karkarov

[HawkSoft]

Sagani: I think there was a lot of potential and I found her side quest intresting, but as a person she was bland and boring. Its really difficult to pinpoint the exact reason for this, but I have this idea that someone who wanted to write a ranger character had an objective of breaking each ranger cliche, but while doing so, he or she forgot to give Sagani a real personality... On paper her concept seems rock solid, but its lacking something. she just doesn't seem bold enough and to be honest seems kind of "dumb". I quess i'm used to more colourfull rangers and she was an huge letdown in that sense.

I have grown to like Sagani and think she is well written with most of her character coming out in the banter. Back home she has a deadly serious job, catching enough food to help keep the village from starving, there's no agriculture to create a food surplus. Village life has brief interludes of relaxation but much of the time it is centred on the need to hunt for food. The mission to find Persoq is a huge investment by the village, losing the services of an expert hunter for years in the hope of an indeterminate payback in the future.

 

To me Sagani comes across as very focussed on her task but with a strong sense of fun she can very rarely afford to indulge.

[Infinitron]

The problem with Sagani is that her weaknesses and internal doubts about her pilgrimage don't show up except during a handful of designated moments during her sidequest. At all other times she keeps a stiff upper lip and appears hyper-competent. And that's just not very interesting, and makes it harder to care when she does finally (potentially) break down after finding Persoq.

Edited February 7, 2016 by Infinitron

[Faerunner]

I think it's interesting. I think if every character constantly expresses their weaknesses and doubts about their mission, they all become the same after a while. It seems like it's part of Sagani's character not to dwell on her weaknesses or internal doubts, or to mask them with a fairly chipper attitude and dry/snarky sense of humor, except during a few really serious moments. (In fact, I get the feeling she actually copes with her worries and doubts with level-headed pragmatism and snark.) And truthfully, I adore her snark and humor. I find her humorous comments and level-headed disposition much more fun and interesting than yet another companion who dwells on yet more weaknesses and doubts that they need the PC to play therapist to.

Edited February 7, 2016 by Faerunner

[Infinitron]

Well, that's a false dichotomy. I would call Eder a character who wears his doubts on his sleeve while still keeping a level head and a snarky sense of humor.

Edited February 7, 2016 by Infinitron

[HawkSoft]

I think it's actually part of Sagani's culture and a reflection of her home environment that she comes across as very self confident.

Hunters who suffer from self doubt may not return from a long hunt with the consequence that their village may starve.

[Starwars]

I also like Sagani quite a bit. Edér is probably my favorite companion of the bunch but I liked Sagan's personality and the way she dealt with her problems a lot. I kinda read it like she has that snarky and funny side but the facade is kinda cracking a bit, the hunt for Persoq is taking its toll on her. Not sure if I read that into her or if it's really *there* so to speak but the end of her quest is quite touching in my opinion. All that build up for her, and then all of a sudden, the object of her search is right there in front of her. And then, how the hell do you deal with something like that? And of course, what happens afterwards?

I dunno, I found it very well done.

[HawkSoft]

The only jarring point for me with Sagani is the voice acting, it's well done but makes her sound like a town or city dweller rather than someone from a wilderness region.

 

Exder's voice acting is very good, he sounds like he's from a small rural town/village without being stupid.

[Starwars]

Agree with that. I think the voiceacting in the game is a bit lackluster except for a few noticeable exceptions (Edér/Aloth, Thaos and a few others). It's usually not *bad* to the point where it bothers me but it feels kinda slapped on I think.

[Sannom]

Apparently Matthew Mercer also voiced Galvino and Wyrmund on top of Aloth, Eder and Iselmyr. Now that's some impressive range.

 

I also like Sagani quite a bit. Edér is probably my favorite companion of the bunch but I liked Sagan's personality and the way she dealt with her problems a lot. I kinda read it like she has that snarky and funny side but the facade is kinda cracking a bit, the hunt for Persoq is taking its toll on her. Not sure if I read that into her or if it's really *there* so to speak but the end of her quest is quite touching in my opinion. All that build up for her, and then all of a sudden, the object of her search is right there in front of her. And then, how the hell do you deal with something like that? And of course, what happens afterwards?

I dunno, I found it very well done.

I think that's part of Infinitron's critic, that we only get to see her doubts and fragility at the end.

 

Although I think that's a bit of an unfair critic. Sagani, when she started on that quest, knew that it would be long and arduous but she never doubted that she would be able to complete it. After five years, she misses her home and family and the food, and that is really noticeable in her banter and dialog. What breaks her when she finds Persoq is that she won't be able to say everything to him before he passes away. And I liked that the way to defuse the situation with the Glanfanthan hunters depended on what you advised her to tell Persoq.

 

And speaking of stags, was anyone else surprised when they were attacked by a group of elder stags in the White March, then went "Duh!" when they remembered that they just saw two does flee before them and hide behind the males?

Edited February 7, 2016 by Sannom

[anameforobsidian]

I think I judge characters by their characterization, their plot, transformation, and their theme.  Each NPC should have a consistent character, their plot should be interesting and result in their transformation, and they should stick to a theme.  I wish some of Obsidian's writers would think about theme before writing the character.  By these metrics, Durance is one of the strongest characters in the game, but Grieving Mother is one of the weakest.

 

- Eder is awesome.  His characterization is consistent but shows growth, and the dialogue with the pets shows that whoever wrote him really loved him.  His plot is interesting and fits nicely with the main plot.  His theme is a pretty classic Judeo-Christian redemption after doubt, and even his ending sticks to it.

 

- Aloth has problems.  He's strongly characterized as aloof and self-doubting, but doesn't strongly change from that.  He needs better writing in the second chapter for this.  He has two completely separate plots and neither gets adequately explored.  They make more references to his first one in WM1.  I can see Aloth's themes as struggles with authority, but the writer consistently fails to make it even.

 

- Durance is interesting, but once you've discovered his mysteries the first time there's not a strong incentive to explore his character again.  So it's a great plot with a heavy focus on transformation, but not a very durable one.  His characterization is great, but not very attractive.  I take him because even with athletics you'd have to be crazy not to take a cleric on PotD (with the base party members).  Thematically he could be a bit stronger.  He was supposed to transform people by putting them through trials (that's his reason joining the watcher), but he never actually does in the game.  However, he himself is certainly transformed.

 

- Kana is characterized well.  He's consistently adventurous, inquisitive, and clever.  His plot needs much better pacing.  "Hey, I'm looking for this thing.  Oh wait we found it."  Thematically he represents the search for knowledge, which is good in the setting, but I wish he had more knowledge to search for.  His possible transformation goes against the themes of the setting.

 

- Sagani maintains a stoic characterization, but there's not much else there.  I found her enjoyable, but there needs to be more driving her journey.  Her plot is pretty interesting, and shows good pacing throughout the game.  Thematically, I don't get her.  It could be loyalty to traditions, but it needs more development.

 

- Pallegina.  She's characterized as hot-tempered, strong-willed, clever, and loyal.  I think there's a bit much and some aspects get lost, but overall she's characterized quite well.  She's very Valian, and helps you understand what Valian is.  Her plot is weak and really exists only to further her characterization; it's implausible that she would show no urgency whatsoever with a mission given by the ducs.  She needs more quests to fill the time before Twin Elms.  Thematically she's quite strong, her individualism in the face of authority, matches one of the themes of the setting, and she is transformed by the end.

 

- Grieving Mother is characterized as regretful, traumatized, caring, and evasive, and she doesn't break that.  Her plot is very interesting, but it needs actual representation in the game.  It makes no sense whatsoever that you find her after you've seen all the Wichts in the game or that you don't you know see her village. Her transformation is interesting and plausible, but only reflected in the ending slides.  Thematically I can't quite place her.  Maybe misguided authority, or the harm of ignorance.  The only time she impacts the game (Dyrford) she does so flawlessly.

Edited February 7, 2016 by anameforobsidian

[Faerunner]

Well, that's a false dichotomy. I would call Eder a character who wears his doubts on his sleeve while still keeping a level head and a snarky sense of humor.

 

My point is I don't think all characters should have to wear their doubts on their sleeves all the time. The minute you say "all characters should do X" it becomes boring and monotonous because they all have the same shtick going. Eder wears his doubts on his sleeve while still keeping a level head and snarky sense of humor, so if Sagani did it too then what's the difference between them? (Apart from "he's a male human warrior" and "she's a female dwarven ranger with a pet fox"?) I actually enjoy how she's not only level-headed and snarky, but that she's generally pretty confident and easy-going and takes every problem one step at a time. She focuses on what she can do instead of worrying about what she can't or what's out of her control. I like that about her. It's part of what makes her a pleasure to have in the party for me.

Edited February 7, 2016 by Faerunner