Real tough question

[Kufruk]

First of all, let me tell you, that I have 680hours in the KCD1 and was one of the original backers.
Secondly, I am in my mid 30s, white male straight gamer guy (also from Bohemia), so I guess a typical target audience, you can say a normal guy.
Thirdly, I also do not like putting any forced propaganda, when it is coming from every side.
On top of that, I basically never write reviews or to any discussion on Steam.

However, with all the drama around KCD2 happening a few of my thoughts:

In general: Am I afraid that adding a gay side-option and a black guy's character will ruin the game? Not at all, after spending so many hours in the first one, I enjoyed the Warhorse's storyrelling and I would bet a lot of money on that they added both options well written, so it will not feel that much forced.

Regarding the black guy: I hope that the black character will create a lot of frowns in Kuttenberg, some people even thinking he is the reincarnation of the devil. Maybe, actually, it would be interesting if someone would want to hire you to get rid of the devil or some other interesting choices that might be connected. Is having a black guy a little bit forced? Yes, that is 100% true, probably an Arab or Turkish merchant would suit the situation better, also taking into consideration Sigismund was a hardcore catholic king. But I am interested in how Warhorse included him? for sure, yes! So far, the story sounds somewhat acceptable to me for him to appear here in the 15th century. It would be way off and total propaganda to show black villagers or the "normal black population" of Kuttenberg in this century, but this is not it. Do people from nowadays Czech R. think it is ruining the image of medieval Bohemia? I looked in some forums and the drama is happening at a much larger scale in English-speaking forums. Czech ones are much more OK with all of this! If Czechs mostly think it is OK, to show such a person in a way it is going to be, and not ruining our history, maybe you could accept it too, or maybe it is telling something more about you?
Btw, Did you also notice in the game previews there are many other nationalities in this game that were not in KCD1? Some of them seem to be amazingly written, like the Polish guy, "O ♥♥♥♥♥"! Or I have noticed some Roma camp as well. So there is much more diversity in KCD2, warhorse has more money now and can show more things.

Regarding the gay option: Didn't you EVER play a character in any other game where there was a gay option? Does it automatically make the game gay? Many were mentioning BG3, but for me, out of nostalgia the best RPG ever is still Fallout 2 (sorry KCD) and guess what, there is even an option to get a gay marriage! What a disaster! And guess what, I did play that path as a 10-year-old boy, without any effect on my brain or becoming gay myself! Unspeakable! :) Do you think FALLOUT 2 is GAY?

On top of that, it is a video game, you do not need to play it gay unless you want to as they mentioned, that should be enough for you. If you cannot handle playing a gay character I bet you might be just insecure about your own sexuality :) or you have your religious reasons, but common, we are in 21st century!
I can say for myself, I will 100% go for the gay option in one of my runs as Henry. Guaranteed! I will be curious to see how they described it, if Henry is afraid of being caught, how does he feel about it after the act, etc. I guess that in that playthrough, I will probably try to have sex with anything/anyone possible. In the other one, I will go for a virgin achievement, if there will be :D I am actually glad, they are adding more options like this as it increases the re-playbility!
Also, gay characters 100% existed in Medieval Bohemia, did they need to hide it? For sure. So, do I think Henry could become gay openly in the game? I doubt it, and if he does, I would like to see an option where he will suffer a punishment (death) for this crime, but since none of us played the game so far, we simply cannot tell!

Could the situation be handled by the developers better? I am not so sure, as it seems there are so many morons in today's society.

So, what is the tough question from the Topic name that is worrying me if none of the above? The real tough one for a guy like me?
Why is the Hardcore mode not included from the beginning of the game? WHY?
This was already properly included in KCD1, why it is not there from the start of KCD 2?
This makes me sad. At least it is not a paid extension to milk the gamers.

I hope you will all enjoy playing the game, as I will if the game is actually good. If you are stuck in your little world, preventing you truly to buy the game, I am sorry for you, but maybe I am also glad you will miss this game, it will be your loss.
I guess most normal people are feeling similarly as I do, and I think we are not heard as much as we should.

So, after writing all of this now, time for some midnight beer as
I am now feeling quite hungry! Cheers! :)

[Kufruk]

Początkowo opublikowane przez Yes!:

Początkowo opublikowane przez Kufruk:

Samozřejmě, někomu to vadí víc, někomu méně a najdou se i Češi, kterým to vadí, ale v průměru se mi skutečně zdá, že to vadí víc cizincům, samozřejmě máš na ten názor právo.

Jinak je fakt, že v minulosti tu bylo vždy spousta cizinců a významnou skupinou cizinců byli učenci, kteří se shromažďovali na panovnickém dvoře a nebo na Pražské univerzitě, ale je fakt že ve valné většině byli z jiných Evropských dvorů. Nicméně muslimští učenci navštívili naši zemi v historii, nebyla tu žádná neprostupná bariéra nebo tak něco. Takže je logicky možné, dle vysvětlení, že i na Zikmundově dvoře by takový mohl být. Z té doby nemáme historické záznamy o každé postavě, která se tu kdy mihla. Na druhé straně, Turek nebo Arab by byl asi logičtější, takže i já vidím, že to je tak nějak trochu nucené.

Nicméně každého volba, ale za mne rozhodně zamítnout hru dopředu zní trochu přehnaně. Pořád je to hra, třeba budeš moct tu postavu zabít, když se Ti nebude líbit?

Přítomnost cizince či muslima není vůbec problematická, zvlášť v Kutné Hoře. Zato přítomnost Malijského učence v Zikmundově armádě je zcela vyloučena. Na jeho místě by mohl být třeba Osman, Arab, kdokoli z Turkických národů... Severoafričan by též nebyl vyloučen. Západní subsaharský učenec je v Zikmundových řadách zcela nemožný a nabízí se otázka proč k tomu ve hře došlo.

Jo, ta pravděpodobnost je skutečně mizivá (neřekl bych však jako Ty, že úplně nulová, ale ano, velmi blízká 0, nicméně i Sportku občas musí někdo vyhrát, že?). Když to porovnáme s někým z Turkických národů, na tom se asi shodnou všichni, kdo znají trochu historii, to by bylo mnohem víc autentické, to je víceméně jasné víceméně všem, nebo třeba to mohl být nějaky Koptský Egypťan (je pravděpodobné, že Zikmund moc muslimy nemusel zrovna ). Dá se očekávat, že v zákulisí k tomu mohl něco mít nový vlastník a ovlivnit zobrazenou národnost toho učence, to se nikdy nedozvíme. Nicméně, pokud daní postava bude jen okrajová, pokud si lidé budou myslet, že je to ďábel (apod.) a nebo pokud to nebude normální postava v armádě, ale co když to treba bude Zikmundův vězěn, který má jen volnější režim, protože je učencem? To by už bylo uvěřitelnější? Zatím nevíme dost detailů a prostě pokud bude s ní spojen nějaký zajímavý side-quest, tak si troufám říct, že obrázek Kutné Hory počátku 15 stol. rozhodně kazit nebude a naopak mu může přidat. Je pravda, že pro někoho to může být dostatečný důvod hru nekupovat, ale prostě to není ani zdaleka to samé kdyby do hry dali Žižku a udělali z něj černého-gay nepřemožitelného macha, to bych rušil před objednávku i já za překrucování.

[Partyrock]

Yeah, and CDPR should make Geralt of Rivia gay too cause, hey who knows if he is, amirite? It's not like there's an entire lore and game to already know he's not. Plus we have the creator saying he's not in 2015. He's not. It's already the lore.

So the question is "why not just be cool with the lore in an immersive experience just getting changed to suit DEI wokeness culture?" That's the actual discussion.

[Kufruk]

Początkowo opublikowane przez Shield-biter:

Początkowo opublikowane przez Kufruk:

So, after writing all of this now, time for some midnight beer as
I am now feeling quite hungry! Cheers! :)

I appreciate hearing your story but this debate is simply not about a single game. I know this specific discussion thread is about KCD2, but the entire debate going on is about the gaming industry at large, in fact not just gaming but entertainment on a global scale. It affects the public and private sector, its seeped into our schools, our home, basically every aspect of life in some way or another. Do you not understand that?

yes, I understand and of course have noticed this happening too. I just wanted to point out that not everything is black and white too.
There are all shades of Grey in between. I can acknowledge they are not completly Great with what and how did they do it, but I doubt they are as bad as everyone is depicting here, the drama is much worse than the reality will be...

[Kufruk]

Początkowo opublikowane przez Mr D Grim:

Początkowo opublikowane przez Kufruk:

First of all, let me tell you, that I have 680hours in the KCD1 and was one of the original backers.
Secondly, I am in my mid 30s, white male straight gamer guy (also from Bohemia), so I guess a typical target audience, you can say a normal guy.
Thirdly, I also do not like putting any forced propaganda, when it is coming from every side.
On top of that, I basically never write reviews or to any discussion on Steam.

However, with all the drama around KCD2 happening a few of my thoughts:

In general: Am I afraid that adding a gay side-option and a black guy's character will ruin the game? Not at all, after spending so many hours in the first one, I enjoyed the Warhorse's storyrelling and I would bet a lot of money on that they added both options well written, so it will not feel that much forced.

Regarding the black guy: I hope that the black character will create a lot of frowns in Kuttenberg, some people even thinking he is the reincarnation of the devil. Maybe, actually, it would be interesting if someone would want to hire you to get rid of the devil or some other interesting choices that might be connected. Is having a black guy a little bit forced? Yes, that is 100% true, probably an Arab or Turkish merchant would suit the situation better, also taking into consideration Sigismund was a hardcore catholic king. But I am interested in how Warhorse included him? for sure, yes! So far, the story sounds somewhat acceptable to me for him to appear here in the 15th century. It would be way off and total propaganda to show black villagers or the "normal black population" of Kuttenberg in this century, but this is not it. Do people from nowadays Czech R. think it is ruining the image of medieval Bohemia? I looked in some forums and the drama is happening at a much larger scale in English-speaking forums. Czech ones are much more OK with all of this! If Czechs mostly think it is OK, to show such a person in a way it is going to be, and not ruining our history, maybe you could accept it too, or maybe it is telling something more about you?
Btw, Did you also notice in the game previews there are many other nationalities in this game that were not in KCD1? Some of them seem to be amazingly written, like the Polish guy, "O ♥♥♥♥♥"! Or I have noticed some Roma camp as well. So there is much more diversity in KCD2, warhorse has more money now and can show more things.

Regarding the gay option: Didn't you EVER play a character in any other game where there was a gay option? Does it automatically make the game gay? Many were mentioning BG3, but for me, out of nostalgia the best RPG ever is still Fallout 2 (sorry KCD) and guess what, there is even an option to get a gay marriage! What a disaster! And guess what, I did play that path as a 10-year-old boy, without any effect on my brain or becoming gay myself! Unspeakable! :) Do you think FALLOUT 2 is GAY?

On top of that, it is a video game, you do not need to play it gay unless you want to as they mentioned, that should be enough for you. If you cannot handle playing a gay character I bet you might be just insecure about your own sexuality :) or you have your religious reasons, but common, we are in 21st century!
I can say for myself, I will 100% go for the gay option in one of my runs as Henry. Guaranteed! I will be curious to see how they described it, if Henry is afraid of being caught, how does he feel about it after the act, etc. I guess that in that playthrough, I will probably try to have sex with anything/anyone possible. In the other one, I will go for a virgin achievement, if there will be :D I am actually glad, they are adding more options like this as it increases the re-playbility!
Also, gay characters 100% existed in Medieval Bohemia, did they need to hide it? For sure. So, do I think Henry could become gay openly in the game? I doubt it, and if he does, I would like to see an option where he will suffer a punishment (death) for this crime, but since none of us played the game so far, we simply cannot tell!

Could the situation be handled by the developers better? I am not so sure, as it seems there are so many morons in today's society.

So, what is the tough question from the Topic name that is worrying me if none of the above? The real tough one for a guy like me?
Why is the Hardcore mode not included from the beginning of the game? WHY?
This was already properly included in KCD1, why it is not there from the start of KCD 2?
This makes me sad. At least it is not a paid extension to milk the gamers.

I hope you will all enjoy playing the game, as I will if the game is actually good. If you are stuck in your little world, preventing you truly to buy the game, I am sorry for you, but maybe I am also glad you will miss this game, it will be your loss.
I guess most normal people are feeling similarly as I do, and I think we are not heard as much as we should.

So, after writing all of this now, time for some midnight beer as
I am now feeling quite hungry! Cheers! :)

respect for being a rational human being and thinking all things through thoroughly.
i can tell you. from all I've heard and seen the black guy will indeed be treated like he should be in 1403 with nearly everyone being racist again him. i too am confident they wrote those things properly for the setting.

and yes.. i agree the delay on hardcore and other things is such a bummer. which makes me contemplate wether to play at launch or wait.
pre ordered either way tho due to fomo quest... i hate not being able to resist fomo.

I want to wait for Hardcore, but I know I do not have the will to do so! :)

[Shield-biter]

Początkowo opublikowane przez Mr D Grim:

no this debate is about this single game. you need to do a game by game basis. you can't lump everything into the same category. that's just foolish.

That's the best you've got? Words spoken by a petulant child.

[Zegmi]

So many words when it would suffice to say you are coping

[ikswoltokyrogerg]

Początkowo opublikowane przez Zegmi:

So many words when it would suffice to say you are coping

It is healthy to learn to cope. The world will not always be tailored to your whim and may often be down right disagreeable. Learning to cope with the inclement nature of reality is a indicator of maturity.

[Yes!]

Początkowo opublikowane przez Kufruk:

Początkowo opublikowane przez Yes!:

Přítomnost cizince či muslima není vůbec problematická, zvlášť v Kutné Hoře. Zato přítomnost Malijského učence v Zikmundově armádě je zcela vyloučena. Na jeho místě by mohl být třeba Osman, Arab, kdokoli z Turkických národů... Severoafričan by též nebyl vyloučen. Západní subsaharský učenec je v Zikmundových řadách zcela nemožný a nabízí se otázka proč k tomu ve hře došlo.

Jo, ta pravděpodobnost je skutečně mizivá (neřekl bych však jako Ty, že úplně nulová, ale ano, velmi blízká 0, nicméně i Sportku občas musí někdo vyhrát, že?). Když to porovnáme s někým z Turkických národů, na tom se asi shodnou všichni, kdo znají trochu historii, to by bylo mnohem víc autentické, to je víceméně jasné víceméně všem, nebo třeba to mohl být nějaky Koptský Egypťan (je pravděpodobné, že Zikmund moc muslimy nemusel zrovna ). Dá se očekávat, že v zákulisí k tomu mohl něco mít nový vlastník a ovlivnit zobrazenou národnost toho učence, to se nikdy nedozvíme. Nicméně, pokud daní postava bude jen okrajová, pokud si lidé budou myslet, že je to ďábel (apod.) a nebo pokud to nebude normální postava v armádě, ale co když to treba bude Zikmundův vězěn, který má jen volnější režim, protože je učencem? To by už bylo uvěřitelnější? Zatím nevíme dost detailů a prostě pokud bude s ní spojen nějaký zajímavý side-quest, tak si troufám říct, že obrázek Kutné Hory počátku 15 stol. rozhodně kazit nebude a naopak mu může přidat. Je pravda, že pro někoho to může být dostatečný důvod hru nekupovat, ale prostě to není ani zdaleka to samé kdyby do hry dali Žižku a udělali z něj černého-gay nepřemožitelného macha, to bych rušil před objednávku i já za překrucování.

Máš pravdu. Počkám si na recenze a uvidí se. :)

[Kain]

Very good post OP. I agree, I rather reserve judgement upon finally playing the game. I don't see anything overwhelmingly woke and more importantly, forced.