Worth pointing out: Josh Sawyer is not PoE2's Lead Designer

[Infinitron]

That role now belongs to Bobby Null, who is often described as Obsidian's biggest grognard.

 

So all you folks who want instant death spells, hard counters, mage duels and IMBALANCE - maybe it's worth asking again!

 

(Of course, Josh is still the project director and has final say on everything.)

Edited January 27, 2017 by Infinitron

[FlintlockJazz]

Interesting, I liked Sawyer's design work though.

[Sedrefilos]

Sawyer is project director as was for Pillars 1.

[Gairnulf]

Josh's title is "Game Director", Bobby Null's is "Lead Designer".

[Mazisky]

Sawyer is a passionate dev and he put a lot of effort in games he make. I really appreciate that. 

 

The world building in PoE was huge.

The only think i don't like very much about him is the fact he has an historycal attitude, with PoE i had the feeling he wanted to do something with a real setting rather than a fantasy one.

[Grotesque]

Pillar of Eternity:

 

- too verbose

- no real challenge

- ****ty item stats

- boring encounters

- autistic emphasis on the main story subject that permeated all aspects of the in-game society to the point where every new quest became almost comical

 

Hope the new lead designer does a better job

[Gairnulf]

I thought you were a fan, Grotesque.

[Aotrs Commander]

Pillar of Eternity:

 

- too verbose

 

I cannot even concieve of how an RPG like PoE (or Torment or BG2) could be "too verbose."

[Maf]

Never understood the hate.

As a media consumer I can only have mad respect for all you creators out there.

Especially when we're part of a niche.

Keep up the good work OEI

[FlintlockJazz]

Sawyer did immense work in building a coherent world with proper history and everything.  I loved that, I loved how much detail was put in the little things, I loved that he made it feel historical, he can DM for me anytime!

[aluminiumtrioxid]

That role now belongs to Bobby Null, who is often described as Obsidian's biggest grognard.

 

So, where can we find more info about the man?

[Infinitron]

 

That role now belongs to Bobby Null, who is often described as Obsidian's biggest grognard.

 

So, where can we find more info about the man?

 

 

Well, here's his LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobby-null-52155a5

Edited January 27, 2017 by Infinitron

[Ainamacar]

 

Pillar of Eternity:

 

- too verbose

 

I cannot even concieve of how an RPG like PoE (or Torment or BG2) could be "too verbose."

 

 

I wonderingly pondered the prodigious length of paradigmatic RPG classics like PoE, Torment, and BG2, but within this honored scope found nary a jot, word, or phrase the paring of which could yield (however faintly!) an overall improvement -- and it is truly beyond my ken to imagine such a thing.

 

The problem with verbose writing isn't necessarily length as such, but a lack of economy.  I'm not mocking you, because even though I disagree with your statement you expressed it concisely and sufficiently.  The travesty I wrote, on the other hand, desperately needs an editor.  Pillars wasn't nearly as bad as that, but in my opinion an editing pass with an eye for unnecessary things would have definitely improved it.

[Infinitron]

http://jesawyer.tumblr.com/post/156448088931/so-weve-got-obsidians-biggest-grognard-as-lead

 

 

So, we've got Obsidian's biggest grognard as Lead Designer now. Hard countery mage duels, are they happening?

Sort of, but not really. Something to keep in mind is that, while Bobby definitely is OEI’s biggest grognard, that means that, like me, he started playing A/D&D in the early 80s. In TTRPGs and CRPGs prior to BG2, spell counters were not as common. BG2 stands alone among A/D&D games in its heavy emphasis on them (arguably a few of the later Gold Box games, but even they weren’t as reliant on them).

 

What Dave Williams (our lead system designer) and I have done is expand the keyword system and introduced counters between keyword types. E.g., Water can counter Fire. Note that Boiling Spray, which does Burn damage, has the Water keyword, but it will still extinguish a persistent Fire effect. In our Fig trailer, you may notice a shot around the 2:40 mark where barrels of gunpowder next to Pallegina explode. Only a Fire effect will ignite them, causing them to explode within a few seconds, but a Water effect can counter that.

 

We have a reorganized Affliction system with a better set of counters to them and a redesigned Concentration/Interrupt mechanic that makes their use more deliberate and specific to combat circumstances.

 

All of this is to say that hard defenses and counters are, broadly speaking, more of a part of Deadfire, but those elements are spread across the classes, not concentrated among wizard spells.

 

[dukeisaac]

http://jesawyer.tumblr.com/post/156448088931/so-weve-got-obsidians-biggest-grognard-as-lead

 

 

So, we've got Obsidian's biggest grognard as Lead Designer now. Hard countery mage duels, are they happening?

Sort of, but not really. Something to keep in mind is that, while Bobby definitely is OEI’s biggest grognard, that means that, like me, he started playing A/D&D in the early 80s. In TTRPGs and CRPGs prior to BG2, spell counters were not as common. BG2 stands alone among A/D&D games in its heavy emphasis on them (arguably a few of the later Gold Box games, but even they weren’t as reliant on them).

 

What Dave Williams (our lead system designer) and I have done is expand the keyword system and introduced counters between keyword types. E.g., Water can counter Fire. Note that Boiling Spray, which does Burn damage, has the Water keyword, but it will still extinguish a persistent Fire effect. In our Fig trailer, you may notice a shot around the 2:40 mark where barrels of gunpowder next to Pallegina explode. Only a Fire effect will ignite them, causing them to explode within a few seconds, but a Water effect can counter that.

 

We have a reorganized Affliction system with a better set of counters to them and a redesigned Concentration/Interrupt mechanic that makes their use more deliberate and specific to combat circumstances.

 

All of this is to say that hard defenses and counters are, broadly speaking, more of a part of Deadfire, but those elements are spread across the classes, not concentrated among wizard spells.

 

 

Interesting. I like the idea of more reactivity in the environment.

[Infinitron]

The Divinity: Original Sin-ification of Pillars of Eternity.

[Enoch]

I like the potential of that keyword system for scripted interactions.  The spell-use options in White March interactions were neat, but somewhat arbitrary (e.g., Winter Winds can quench a fire, but not Blizzard?).  A more fleshed out system of spell-effect types could handle that more rigorously.

[Archaven]

So is more towards Divinity Original Sins elements now? I much like spell counters in BG2 but the elements in DOS was really refreshing

[Enoch]

The Divinity: Original Sin-ification of Pillars of Eternity.

Weirdly placed barrels of oil EVERYWHERE!

Edited January 27, 2017 by Enoch

[Enoch]

Also, interaction with the new weather system would be neat.  "Let's wait until this rain stops before we assualt the outdoor fireworks festival!"

[Flouride]

 

The Divinity: Original Sin-ification of Pillars of Eternity.

Weirdly placed barrels of oil EVERYWHERE!

 

 

GTFO. Crates, not barrels. CRATES, EVERYWHERE!

[Yonjuro]

 

 

Pillar of Eternity:

 

- too verbose

 

I cannot even concieve of how an RPG like PoE (or Torment or BG2) could be "too verbose."

 

 

I wonderingly pondered the prodigious length of paradigmatic RPG classics like PoE, Torment, and BG2, but within this honored scope found nary a jot, word, or phrase the paring of which could yield (however faintly!) an overall improvement -- and it is truly beyond my ken to imagine such a thing.

 

The problem with verbose writing isn't necessarily length as such, but a lack of economy.  I'm not mocking you, because even though I disagree with your statement you expressed it concisely and sufficiently.  The travesty I wrote, on the other hand, desperately needs an editor.  Pillars wasn't nearly as bad as that, but in my opinion an editing pass with an eye for unnecessary things would have definitely improved it.

 

 

 I wrote a suggestion about an editor in the stretch goal thread (inspired, in part, by a recent article on RPG Codex).

 

 An editor can fix up prose, tie up loose ends, make sure that choices have reactions (in game), make sure that story elements don't get cut off (such as the factions in chapter 2 of PoE) etc.

 

 If it isn't somebody's job, it won't happen. 

[Eumaios]

I played Pillars of Eternity.  Fun game.  I can't imagine that a different lead designer would be able to go too far astray from the first game.  If people started a game and it turned out to be shoots and ladders, there'd probably be hell to pay.  I'm sure there will be abundant freedom within the confines of the original vision.  I just hope that Mr. Sawyer gives Mr. Null plenty of leash.

[aluminiumtrioxid]

The Divinity: Original Sin-ification of Pillars of Eternity.

 

You say that like it's not the best thing ever.

[floredon]

 

The Divinity: Original Sin-ification of Pillars of Eternity.

 

You say that like it's not the best thing ever.

 

It definitely is not.