Does this game have a good/coherent hand-written plot?

[fr0]

Or is it like every other mercenary band RPG, where the plot is "create a band of mercenaries and kill stuff, with procedurally generated quests/events thrown in the mix"?

[Multihack]

It has a plot, the story spans all the regions. Is it anything remarkable? No.

[Dies Fourth]

its a video game, it does the best it can

[🍀]

Think of it like a medieval xcom (without much of the % to hit target woes.) This is the best way I can describe wartales imo. You hire troops, build and upgrade your heroes/camp and make your own path/story.

There are story bits for regions which help shape the world, but you are not some savior or the world revolving around you - (refreshing tbh.) You are just mercernaries just doing your thing to do whatever it is you want to to do.

You can save a village, or not. You can loot and thief your way to get stronger, or not. You can save bandits in peril or not. Though some of these choices do effect the outcome of certain things, and you might not get stronger loot or gear because of your choices.

Aside from gear, there are story missions where you have to make choices between helping one faction or another, or saving someone, and you can fail at these choices - thus branching out your own story to other options and hopefully more decisions down the line.

[NoRd - 9]

Story is mostly there to fill the world with lore generating immersion and as mentioned for RPG reasons which of course also adds immersion. It does not tell any engaging story or confront you with characters who have depth or much complexity. I'm very happy it doesn't try anything in that direction.

Mostly such attempts end up in annoying the player with a narration, characters and a bunch load of text in mediocre quality at best. Read a book, watch a movie (aside from Hollywood stuff as it's 95% garbage these days...) or look for a game that is explicitly focusing on storytelling.

[rompier02]

Originally posted by fr0:

Or is it like every other mercenary band RPG, where the plot is "create a band of mercenaries and kill stuff, with procedurally generated quests/events thrown in the mix"?

Yep.

[Crusader993]

Originally posted by NoRd - 9:

... or look for a game that is explicitly focusing on storytelling.

WotR shows that the combination of round combat and an exciting background story in a role-playing game is not only possible, but unbeatably good.

Unfortunately, I gather from all the answers in this thread that Wartales obviously has to do without a well-written background story.... that disappoints me a little.

[jiggly]

It be good if its like Grim Dawn.

[Ninth Hour]

Honestly, the story is rather threadbare- just an excuse to string together some non-random missions. The heart of the game is the combat and basic management of your mercenary company. There didn't seem to be an overarching plot, in Early Access, but hints that Alazar will be the main antagonist were present.

I'm not even clear on the lore of the world. You only get pieces of it through the missions- e.g. a plague sweeping the land, civil war in Arthes, between a religious zealot and tyrant; oppression and witch hunts by the followers of said religion, whose hysteria and paranoia are further stoked by the plague; and political intrigue between Alazar and one of the kingdoms you visit. The history behind said places are only hinted at.

There are also references to fallen civilizations (in the tombs you visit) and supernatural forces in the world (e.g. the Ghost Pack). There's no organized narrative. Maybe that has changed in the full release.

The game's fragmented narrative reminds me of the 1992 game Darklands, by Microprose, where you also played a group of Teutonic mercenaries/adventurers wandering the world in search of fame and fortune. There, the overarching story only became known gradually and could be put off indefinitely.

[NoRd - 9]

Originally posted by Crusader993:

Originally posted by NoRd - 9:

... or look for a game that is explicitly focusing on storytelling.

WotR shows that the combination of round combat and an exciting background story in a role-playing game is not only possible, but unbeatably good.

Unfortunately, I gather from all the answers in this thread that Wartales obviously has to do without a well-written background story.... that disappoints me a little.

I'm planing on playing WotR sometime. Kingmaker was ok regarding the story but not overwhelming though and characters were mostly boring.

I don't say it isn't possible to have a decent story and well written characters but the real masterpieces are really rare. Of course, this is highly relative. When I think of masterpieces in literature or film I think of Kafka, some Murakamis, Old Boy and so on. Real art of these quality is extremely rare in games. Therefore, I rather prefer that devs know what they can achieve and what not, instead it often happens that they try, and you see the attempts and the lack of quality hurts more than just mediocre but honest writing...

Originally posted by Ninth Hour:

Honestly, the story is rather threadbare- just an excuse to string together some non-random missions. The heart of the game is the combat and basic management of your mercenary company. There didn't seem to be an overarching plot, in Early Access, but hints that Alazar will be the main antagonist were present.

I'm not even clear on the lore of the world. You only get pieces of it through the missions- e.g. a plague sweeping the land, civil war in Arthes, between a religious zealot and tyrant; oppression and witch hunts by the followers of said religion, whose hysteria and paranoia are further stoked by the plague; and political intrigue between Alazar and one of the kingdoms you visit. The history behind said places are only hinted at.

There are also references to fallen civilizations (in the tombs you visit) and supernatural forces in the world (e.g. the Ghost Pack). There's no organized narrative. Maybe that has changed in the full release.

The game's fragmented narrative reminds me of the 1992 game Darklands, by Microprose, where you also played a group of Teutonic mercenaries/adventurers wandering the world in search of fame and fortune. There, the overarching story only became known gradually and could be put off indefinitely.

True, there isn't any real history line, but the snippets given, provide an immersive and therefore motivating enough picture of a chaotic and fragmented but still somehow functioning society ruled by aristocratic. The lack of any lasting consequences considering your choices in the main quest of the regions is a weak spot for me. It does not have to be anything spectacular. I would be satisfied with a new building (or something like that) after finishing the narrative of a region. I don't really care about some bigger Main story connecting the regions, but if a decent one would be there, I wouldn't complain either.

[🍀]

Originally posted by Crusader993:

true, there isn't any real history line, but the snippets given, provide an immersive and therefore motivating enough picture of a chaotic and fragmented but still somehow functioning society ruled by aristocratic. The lack of any lasting consequences considering your choices in the main quest of the regions is a weak spot for me. It does not have to be anything spectacular. I would be satisfied with a new building (or something like that) after finishing the narrative of a region. I don't really care about some bigger Main story connecting the regions, but if a decent one would be there, I wouldn't complain either.

Well new patch implemented something like that. Don't know how far you are, but read below for spoilers:

Remember that bridge that you destroyed in Cortia? This patch, i got a prompt saying they are rebuilding that bridge, I don't know what that will mean as I havent gone to check back on it, but I assume the trade route being open for the other faction might lead to something.

Perhaps theres more consequential things like that happening, perhaps in the new region as well. We will see, but it seems like there are things that your choices affect the outcome of the game.

Maybe you can let that bridge be rebuilt, or demolish it once again? Who knows what the gameplay mechanics are behind that now.

[Crusader993]

Originally posted by NoRd - 9:

I'm planing on playing WotR sometime. Kingmaker was ok regarding the story but not overwhelming though and characters were mostly boring.

I don't say it isn't possible to have a decent story and well written characters but the real masterpieces are really rare.

WotR is better than Kingmaker in pretty much every way. :)
(Check out the playing time I've invested in this game so far in my profile. ^^ )

Indeed, WotR is one of those very rare RPG masterpieces where EVERYTHING fits. I was hoping that Wartales would go in some direction in this direction... but unfortunately without a good story, half of the puzzle that would make it a playable RPG is missing. But it's ok, then I'll just wait for Rogue Trader. ;)

[NoRd - 9]

Originally posted by Crusader993:

Originally posted by NoRd - 9:

I'm planing on playing WotR sometime. Kingmaker was ok regarding the story but not overwhelming though and characters were mostly boring.

I don't say it isn't possible to have a decent story and well written characters but the real masterpieces are really rare.

WotR is better than Kingmaker in pretty much every way. :)
(Check out the playing time I've invested in this game so far in my profile. ^^ )

Indeed, WotR is one of those very rare RPG masterpieces where EVERYTHING fits. I was hoping that Wartales would go in some direction in this direction... but unfortunately without a good story, half of the puzzle that would make it a playable RPG is missing. But it's ok, then I'll just wait for Rogue Trader. ;)

Thx., for the tip, you really must love it with the insane amount of hours spent:D. I actually funded WotR, and I am still waiting for the physical reward which will probably never happen because of the political situation in and with Russia but Owlcat is still trying. I receive mails with status updates here and there from them...At the moment it is Wartales, but next project should probably be WotR as I am not waiting for anything in particular nor have any other priorities in my backlog. Ok, there is Age of Wonders 4 being released soon, but with such a game I will wait and see in what state it is released in....

Anyhow, enough OT:). It is funny you had such expectations regarding Wartales as I never have thought of it as a game that could offer a rich narrative experience. Basically a game where I was sure that it will be a gameplay over story deal. It has potential of being a story rich game, but it is not a huge dev. team and priorities need to be on gameplay. Nobody plays a tactical sim if the core aspect does not deliver....

Originally posted by voodoo sonic:

Originally posted by Crusader993:

true, there isn't any real history line, but the snippets given, provide an immersive and therefore motivating enough picture of a chaotic and fragmented but still somehow functioning society ruled by aristocratic. The lack of any lasting consequences considering your choices in the main quest of the regions is a weak spot for me. It does not have to be anything spectacular. I would be satisfied with a new building (or something like that) after finishing the narrative of a region. I don't really care about some bigger Main story connecting the regions, but if a decent one would be there, I wouldn't complain either.

Well new patch implemented something like that. Don't know how far you are, but read below for spoilers:

Remember that bridge that you destroyed in Cortia? This patch, i got a prompt saying they are rebuilding that bridge, I don't know what that will mean as I havent gone to check back on it, but I assume the trade route being open for the other faction might lead to something.

Perhaps theres more consequential things like that happening, perhaps in the new region as well. We will see, but it seems like there are things that your choices affect the outcome of the game.

Maybe you can let that bridge be rebuilt, or demolish it once again? Who knows what the gameplay mechanics are behind that now.

No, can't recall that one atm, but it will probably flush back in my memory as I start playing again (paused October 22 after 130h). However, I would much appreciate such things. As far as I remember there was a change in a few NPC after finishing a region and that was it, also those new or old rulers never had anything to say about the change of events:D.