What does one tide matter?

[strekalalex84]

I really like the concept of the tides in this game. It has the potential to be very flavorful. That said, I find myself wishing that it meant more in mechanical/gameplay terms. It's like a dynamic, flavorful alignment system that is supposed to be more than that in the lore (something that affects the world), but it just doesn't seem to especially affect gameplay, or if it does it is very subtley hidden in the background and I didn't notice it.

It would have been nice to get some tide-specific conversation options, or perhaps enhanced ways to use the Tidal Affinity skill based on your specific tides. Maybe even some tide-specific items, like how in Planescape: Torment there were certain items that were restricted by alignment, though at the rate you can potentially have your tides shift in this game, maybe that's a bad idea. I'm just left wondering if they originally had more in mind for the tide system but they just couldn't impliment it in time.

Based on a couple playthroughs, you might have a slightly different experience based on the tides you're going for or end up with, but it really doesn't seem to matter except for at the end of the game. That makes it seem underutilized.

[Ichthyic]

yup, the tides were basically at the heart of the entire storyline... and yet so little was actually done with them.

I feel this was the one really significant flaw in the game development.

the combat scenarios were often terrible, but I don't really count that against this game, since it plays more like an adventure game than an RPG hack and slash.

but yeah... for something that is esentially behind EVERYTHING in the main plot, it felt distinctly... lacking in game.

[Iry]

Depends on how you frame the question. Your replies basically ARE Tide Specific dialog. At least, in the sense that you will be talking a certain way that is associated with a Tide, and talking that way changes the tone of the conversation.

Many dialogs give 2 tides though, but the general principal holds true.

Tide specific items would be pretty nice, though!

[Isometric]

Have a look at the first trailer they showed. The Tides really had more impact in the game.
I guess they just cut a lot of the content because right now you can't see what Tide is dominant in an NPC:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gd43NYBzHuk

[Singrave]

Tides - how to read them
http://guides.gamepressure.com/tormenttidesofnumenera/guide.asp?ID=38497

[Hawke]

I'm on the second playthrough, skipped at least one skill check with the right dominant Tide(Speck just gave me the merecaster in Chila's Shrine and said something about me being like Chila and Adahn). It certainly was different on the 1st one.