I really not liked Pillars of Eternity

[FabioManoel1977]

Sorry bad english, I am using google translate to help

I love Baldurs Gate. Played it so much, I guess I finished it 8 times, from the start until the end. All characters in Baldur's Gate are fascinating, so lively, and the plot so interesting.

Then I buy Pillars of Eternity and played it some hours ... but, not fell like to keep playing.

I did not like any NPCs. They all seem so empty, their motives seem so artificial and meaningless, the reason they join the main character party seems so superficial and unmotivated ... I do not feel like knowing more of these characters, their story is not interesting. Not have any interesting NPC.

Everybody says that this game is awesome, a masterpiece, but, this game cannot be compared to Baldurs Gate.

Pillars of Eternity does not motivate me to keep playing, I do not feel like to want to know more about the story. It's all so boring and monotonous.

[D'amarr from Darshiva]

Originally posted by Captain Australia:

I find it annoying as ♥♥♥♥ that there's some kind of midget giant space pig in my inventory,

https://pillarsofeternity.gamepedia.com/Miniature_Giant_Space_Piglet

I don't understand that one either. The name alone doesn't tell the background. Perhaps the devs have been influenced by vocal kickstarter backers asking for such a thing.

Originally posted by Captain Australia:

Like the whole soul-story ♥♥♥♥ whatever it was called, with the horribly written and named content for the kickstarter backers, it's so cringey ouch that it puts me off pressing forward.

Probably the number one complaint. They are easy to avoid. One of the loading screens mentions they all have a slightly golden/yellowish name plate.

[Ursus007]

Let's face it, the game IS overwritten.

I've just finished Planescape Torment and this game has a huge totally alien world, probably more complex to understand than Eora. However the writing, despite a few oddball names is clean and doesn't bombard you with superfluous information. Dialogue is always to the point and the information is delivered in small doses. There are info dumps but they are mostly optional and start appearing after you've become engaged into the story.

PoE starts with Biawac, a huge lore dump on Engwith and whatever is a Xaurip. Almost all creature names are as unpronounceable as possible. I still don't know how to properly pronounce the fish people after finishing Deadfire. By the time you get to Waidwen's legacy, 2 wars, Godhammer - you've barely cleared the 3 hour Mark!

It's all technically good interesting lore but dumping it before the main quest had properly started is a good reason why people stop at act 1.

[D'amarr from Darshiva]

Originally posted by Ursus007:

PoE starts with Biawac,

That creates immersion. The Biawac is what made you flee into the ruins, or else you may have been killed by it. The locals are familiar with the phenomenon. It is your companion Heodan that uses the word, and if you role-play a main character with a different cultural background, you may choose to ask about it and have Calisca explain it to you. Else assume that you are familiar with it, too. It isn't rocket science.
--> https://pillarsofeternity.gamepedia.com/B%C3%AEa%C5%B5ac

Originally posted by Ursus007:

a huge lore dump on Engwith and whatever is a Xaurip. Almost all creature names are as unpronounceable as possible.

Hyperbole. The creature names are not worse than Ankheg, Tasloi, Xvart, Goblin, Hobgoblin, Gnoll, Ogre, Ogrillon, Orc, Gibberling, Hamadryad, Ochre Jelly, and others.

The game introduces only a few very special creatures, such as the Delemgan family:
--> https://pillarsofeternity.gamepedia.com/Creature

Originally posted by Ursus007:

I still don't know how to properly pronounce the fish people after finishing Deadfire.

Naga or Lagufaeth? Pronounciation isn't that important, if the spelling is so simple. The games feature a built-in bestiary on the journal screen, where you may look up the creatures you've met.

Originally posted by Ursus007:

It's all technically good interesting lore but dumping it before the main quest had properly started is a good reason why people stop at act 1.

Players stop at Defiance Bay where they don't get served anything on a silver plate. No map markers. It becomes necessary to explore the city, remember city district names, faction names, and immerge. There are too many other games that cause distraction.

[kuraiken]

Well, there's no helping it. Much of the writing *is* bad. There are also parts with good writing where everything is on point, but pretty much every experienced writer would realize that there's a lot of overwriting and bad composition going on. Roundabout descriptions, overusage of adjectives, reprashing of things already said, clash between voiceovers & written dialogue, logical inconsistencies - especially in the lore, focus mistakes, pacing issues, etc.
The devs already admitted that they mostly skipped the editing, which is very much noticable. But even beyond that, there's just a lot that feels like "inexperienced author tries to fill space with text" to me, rather than precise, purposeful writing that captures the essence of the author's idea.

It's not that I'm not having fun, but I'm often having it *despite* the writing. And every once in a while I just get so fed up with the writing I either start skipping it or - more often - I take a break and formulate for an imaginary audience the reasons why the writing is bad. Just to get it out of my system and move on. Which is what I'm doing right now. Read the lore book on Edrang Hadret and it's just an absolute atrocity.

[D'amarr from Darshiva]

Originally posted by kuraiken:

Well, there's no helping it. Much of the writing *is* bad. There are also parts with good writing where everything is on point, but pretty much every experienced writer would realize that there's a lot of overwriting and bad composition going on. Roundabout descriptions, overusage of adjectives, reprashing of things already said, clash between voiceovers & written dialogue, logical inconsistencies - especially in the lore, focus mistakes, pacing issues, etc.

Which game is this about? It doesn't sounds like PoE, which is rated 84% by Steam's players.

Originally posted by kuraiken:

my system and move on. Which is what I'm doing right now. Read the lore book on Edrang Hadret and it's just an absolute atrocity.

Share your knowledge, and enlighten the readers of this forum with your wisdom. Here's the text (hopefully an accurate copy):

Edrang Hadret in retrospect led a remarkable life. But his contributions would probably have gone largely unnoticed if it weren't for his conflict with a Glanfathan orlan by the name of Galven Regd.

Though Edrang became a great man and a well-respected leader, his early life was uneventful. He was born in Aedyr of noble parents and spent a good part of his childhood there. While he was raised apart from the common folk, he felt a connection to them and was known to always be welcoming to any and all.

In school, he demonstrated incredible intelligence, frequently arriving at correct conclusions using his own methods of getting there. He was always doing unexpected things and though he seemed to be paying attention and would pass his lessons, his teachers and trainers were certain he would never amount to anything.

His family moved to the Dyrwood as colonists while he was still a teen. The moment they docked in the new land, Edrang knew he had found his true home. He explored the land, getting to know it and its people as well as he knew the castle in which he lived. He grew into a man who was well-respected by all who met him. He took over the erldom, becoming a fair and much beloved leader. Under his leadership, Baelreach thrived, becoming more stable and prosperous than anyone thought possible. When a new gréf was needed, the people's voice was unanimous - Edrang Hadret.

As his first act as the new gréf , the fercönyng instructs Edrang to build a new city for him, a seat of power in the Pearlwood Gulf. This city is to be called New Dunryd and will serve as the capital for the new colonies. Not long after he assumed power, The Broken Stone War began. It was a quick and brutal war and taxed the limits of Edrang's capabilities. He had never before encountered someone as organized and brutal as the opposition commander, Galven Regd. At first Regd's tactics confounded Edrang. But Edrang, who grew up developing unorthodox ways to take care of his problems, adapted quickly.

This did not stop Galven Regd outright, however. He began a campaign of terror that lasted for two more years. Edrang, who expressed a sort of respect for Regd's prowess, studied his techniques, learning how Regd attacked and devising a ways to counter it. He gave the erls and thayns instructions that confounded and sometimes infuriated them as they seemed to leave their lands open for attack and put their people at risk. Edrang disseminated lies and half-truths about his plans, imperial events, and military maneuvers. No one knew what truly was going on except for Edrang and a very small contingent of trusted friends and advisors. His tactics worked and Edrang's men started to catch the Glanfathans off guard.

It wasn't long before Edrang's men were able to anticipate Regd's moves and cut him off at every front. When asked how he was able to overcome an enemy that anticipated every move, Edrang responded, ‘That is how he was about to outwit us. Our moves were transparent. Anyone could see through the standard tactic. Spread something out thin enough and you can poke a hole in it. I countered an unpredictable enemy with unpredictability.’

Because Edrang was able to counter Regd's plans, the conflict eventually died off. Regd sent a message to Edrang, expressing respect for his tactics and prowess with military maneuvers. This political and military stalemate led to the first treaties signed between the Glanfathans and the Aedyran colonist who would eventually become the Dyrwoodans.

[Road to A+]

Even non-English speakers are able to tell that the writing is garbage. I guess if everyone is criticizing the writing then that would be a hint that there must be some truth about it, right?

[mfkndggrfll]

Not everyone is saying the game is awesome. Go read some actual critical reviews, most are pretty negative.

[Heehee]

If people want a CRPG with likable companions, good pacing while still maintaining the world building aspect, they should give Dragon Age Origin a try.

[Count von Bunnyhopven]

I thinkt the writers were very talented from a technical perspective. But the material that they have been tasked to write about is a doozy. Neither the world, the characters or the plot were good ideas. I cant get exited by any of it despite its excellent writing.

One day I will continue playing this game. It is hard because while I enjoy playing the game when in it. There is nothing memorable about it once I leave to go do something else. So there is nothing draging me back.

It feels like a paint by numbers experience crafted by engineer who knew all the industry best practices, but lacked the inspiration to make something truly amazing.

[=M$= Oroberus]

I can understand the TO, kind of.

I really loved BG (2 was better then 1) but PoE lacksa bit of that 'grip' BG had. I still like PoE and I just started playing it again but it is just not as good as BG was (which I'm still playing today every other year).

I can't really say what the main reason for this is but PoE isn't fully up there, somehow, while it still is a good game.

[D'amarr from Darshiva]

Originally posted by =M$= Oroberus:

I can't really say what the main reason for this is

At least try to. Where is that "grip" in BG 1, for example?

[Count von Bunnyhopven]

Originally posted by D'amarr from Darshiva:

Originally posted by =M$= Oroberus:

I can't really say what the main reason for this is

At least try to. Where is that "grip" in BG 1, for example?

I think you can sum it up as "Love".

The people who created BG1 did not know what they were doing and as such they committed many errors. But they were inspired and infused the game with their humor and spirit which compensated for their mistakes. It was a human and thus intriguing game.

Pillars is the opposite. It was made by skilled engineers who really knew what the best practices were in every situation. But because they never deviated from it, they never made anything "new" or inspired. They also never dared to do anything unexpected or strange. It was a polished but soulless game IMHO.

[D'amarr from Darshiva]

Originally posted by Count von Bunnyhopven:

The people who created BG1 did not know what they were doing

Why not?

Originally posted by Count von Bunnyhopven:

and as such they committed many errors.

That is much too vague to comment on.

Originally posted by Count von Bunnyhopven:

But they were inspired and infused the game with their humor and spirit which compensated for their mistakes.

The little bit of humor in the games (plural!) cannot be everything. Companions in BG1 are mostly passive, btw, and nobody plays that game only for their silly one-line and immersion breaking shouts when selecting a character.

Story companions in PoE also contribute humor during exploration and with banter. Not as silly as Minsc or Jan Jansen, but I know games with better humor than Minsc/Jan. For example, skip to 34:00 minutes here, and enjoy the conversation:
https://youtu.be/GYbV3tcl3yM?t=33m58s

Originally posted by Count von Bunnyhopven:

It was a human and thus intriguing game.

Pillars is the opposite. It was made by skilled engineers who really knew what the best practices were in every situation. But because they never deviated from it, they never made anything "new" or inspired. They also never dared to do anything unexpected or strange. It was a polished but soulless game IMHO.

That is also much too vague to comment on.

[Count von Bunnyhopven]

Originally posted by D'amarr from Darshiva:

Originally posted by Count von Bunnyhopven:

The people who created BG1 did not know what they were doing

Why not?

Because the genre was new and no one had done a game quite like that before. They invented the sub-gendre and as with every invention they did not get everything right the first time.

Originally posted by D'amarr from Darshiva:

Originally posted by Count von Bunnyhopven:

and as such they committed many errors.

That is much too vague to comment on.

Games are art and you cant nail it down to something simple. Sorry.

Originally posted by D'amarr from Darshiva:

Originally posted by Count von Bunnyhopven:

But they were inspired and infused the game with their humor and spirit which compensated for their mistakes.

The little bit of humor in the games (plural!) cannot be everything. Companions in BG1 are mostly passive, btw, and nobody plays that game only for their silly one-line and immersion breaking shouts when selecting a character.

Story companions in PoE also contribute humor during exploration and with banter. Not as silly as Minsc or Jan Jansen, but I know games with better humor than Minsc/Jan. For example, skip to 34:00 minutes here, and enjoy the conversation:
https://youtu.be/GYbV3tcl3yM?t=33m58s

Games are art and you cant nail it down to something simple. Sorry.

Originally posted by D'amarr from Darshiva:

Originally posted by Count von Bunnyhopven:

It was a human and thus intriguing game.

Pillars is the opposite. It was made by skilled engineers who really knew what the best practices were in every situation. But because they never deviated from it, they never made anything "new" or inspired. They also never dared to do anything unexpected or strange. It was a polished but soulless game IMHO.

That is also much too vague to comment on.

Games are art and you cant nail it down to something simple. Sorry.

[Count von Bunnyhopven]

Originally posted by D'amarr from Darshiva:

https://youtu.be/GYbV3tcl3yM?t=33m58s

Better than Minsk maybe. Did not care for him. Not better than Jan.

And Gothic has humor that is removed from what the creators intended. In the original language, german, many things were different. There are a lot of instances in the english translation were the humor comes directly from the voice actor not giving a damn and going full Ham and that is absent in the original game.

That game is its own Abridged Edition!