Finally a correct review of this game was written!

[Genghis Chron]

Not by me, since I don't like this MMO style MOBA type game, but it's interesting and well written.
http://www.rpgcodex.net/content.php?id=9867

"Let’s get one thing straight. When Obsidian were touting how this was their “ultimate” game, over which they’d finally have “full creative jurisdiction” that wouldn’t be “blocked by publishers”, I had many things in mind. I had a vision of another Mask of the Betrayer, I thought of a throwback to Icewind Dale, I also hoped for something completely new. What I got instead was a very badly done cargo-cult clone of Baldur’s Gate 1 that mindlessly copies all its flaws while actually dropping the things that made it work, and completely disregarding the 17 years of cRPG history that happened in the meantime. “But Darth Roxor, BG1 wasn’t that much of a good game either, it was only BG2 that was really gud!”, I hear you say. And you are right. Then let me ask you back – why did Obsidian decide to clone BG1 instead of the clearly superior BG2? Why settle for blatant mediocrity instead of aiming for supremacy?

Even further, I don’t know if I could call Pillars of Eternity an outright “bad” game. It’s just painfully generic, with nothing that ever stands out, but I would also say that any sufficiently mediocre game is indistinguishable from a bad one. To be honest, I would say it’s rather insulting that Obsidian, with all their creative freedom for PoE, have decided not to experiment even a little bit. Everything in this game is textbook, safe and derivative, there are no risks involved anywhere, the game practically plays itself with barely any input from the player. The only emotion PoE evoked from me during the 41 hours it took me to finish it was a feeling of ennui that kept telling me, ‘maybe I should play IWD again’. I doubt that should be your objective when you make the ‘ultimate’ IE homage. Obsidian promised the story of PS:T, combat of IWD and the exploration of BG, but somewhere along the road they got confused, and what they gave us instead was the story of BG, the combat of PS:T and the exploration of Gothic 4.

This is literally the worst Obsidian game I’ve played to date. That’s right, I even had more fun with Dungeon Siege 3 - at least it was a fun beat ‘em up, as opposed to this lifeless, uninspired husk. Disappointment, thy name is Pillars of Eternity."

[Multihog]

Vita, Mortis, Careo eredeti hozzászólása:

Multihog eredeti hozzászólása:

Are you Two Bears? If you are, I'm not sure what to think.......

I am. Wanted to change my handle to this for awhile. But I don't understand your consternation. I've always wished people who don't like game X better luck in finding a game that they enjoy. And I hope you will.

As for me I will be playing Pillars of Eternity. I really like this game and appreciate Obsidian's work on the title.

It perplexes me how much time you seem to spend here. I come here from time to time (usually there is at least a month of time between my visits) and every time I say something negative, you're here defending the game. How motivated you are for doing it for months on end is just weird, that's all.

[ShinChuck]

Terra eredeti hozzászólása:

Oh no the Codex doesn't like something

Hahah, wow, didn't know the Codex was still leeting it up. About fifteen years ago, my buddy and I were students at a major university. They got tired of debating with us about RPGs (at the time, not sure how much has changed, they hated JRPGs and any video game RPGs that weren't pen-and-paper-based), so they IP banned the entire campus.

It was kind of funny.

Anyway, carry on.

[Vita, Mortis, Careo]

Multihog eredeti hozzászólása:

Vita, Mortis, Careo eredeti hozzászólása:

I am. Wanted to change my handle to this for awhile. But I don't understand your consternation. I've always wished people who don't like game X better luck in finding a game that they enjoy. And I hope you will.

As for me I will be playing Pillars of Eternity. I really like this game and appreciate Obsidian's work on the title.

It perplexes me how much time you seem to spend here. I come here from time to time (usually there is at least a month of time between my visits) and every time I say something negative, you're here defending the game. How motivated you are for doing it for months on end is just weird, that's all.

What in the hell are you talking about? I post here maybe once or twice a week.

[Gracey Face]

Vita, Mortis, Careo eredeti hozzászólása:

What in the hell are you talking about? I post here maybe once or twice a week.

Heavylaugh.wav

[Vita, Mortis, Careo]

Navel bombardment! eredeti hozzászólása:

Vita, Mortis, Careo eredeti hozzászólása:

What in the hell are you talking about? I post here maybe once or twice a week.

Heavylaugh.wav

Yeah, I went through my post history and my remark is fairly accurate. So, you can be a jerk if that's what gets you off but what I said is true.

[Strandly]

I'm near the end of the game now and it's such absolute garbage I had to stop playing it for a while.

It's games like this that make me wish I pursued a career in game development; there is simply no reason a steaming pile like this needs to be floating around in 2015. I mean really, how do you rip off a series of games and manage to make it worse than all of them? Are the guys who made this game the same people out in hollywood making movie "reboots"?

[Multihog]

Strandly eredeti hozzászólása:

I'm near the end of the game now and it's such absolute garbage I had to stop playing it for a while.

It's games like this that make me wish I pursued a career in game development; there is simply no reason a steaming pile like this needs to be floating around in 2015. I mean really, how do you rip off a series of games and manage to make it worse than all of them? Are the guys who made this game the same people out in hollywood making movie "reboots"?

That's what I'm wondering too.

The game feels utterly lifeless and soulless. The dialogue is boring garbage and obviously written for the sake of having a lot of text. You can tell the game was built around the notion that cRPG players LOVE TO READ. Well, sure, I would love to read if the text was actually interesting.

[Gracey Face]

Vita, Mortis, Careo eredeti hozzászólása:

Yeah, I went through my post history and my remark is fairly accurate. So, you can be a jerk if that's what gets you off but what I said is true.

You apparently have not. Why not actually look through your post history.

[Multihog]

Vita, Mortis, Careo eredeti hozzászólása:

Multihog eredeti hozzászólása:

It perplexes me how much time you seem to spend here. I come here from time to time (usually there is at least a month of time between my visits) and every time I say something negative, you're here defending the game. How motivated you are for doing it for months on end is just weird, that's all.

What in the hell are you talking about? I post here maybe once or twice a week.

That's odd, considering the fact that I come here VERY sporadically, but every time I do, you're immediately up my ass defending this game. (usually within the hour)

You also always say the same thing: "good luck with finding a game that you will like, while I continue to enjoy Pillars"

I'm just wondering if Obsidian is paying you for your efforts. lol.

[Gregorovitch]

Navel bombardment! eredeti hozzászólása:

It is self evident though, or at least if you have the same values as most people.

No it is not self-evident, it is merely your preference (to which you are of course entitled). You have no idea what "most people's" values are on this issue - nobody does becasue AFAIK there has been no research done using random samples that might thow light on it.

Navel bombardment! eredeti hozzászólása:

It improves the variety of the game by allowing you to go in naked, or semi buffed, or buffed to the hilt and with every way that can change the gameplay.

If pre-buffing is allowed then it will always be the strongest option to pre-buff. It follows therefore, i.e. it is self-evident, that pre-buffing tends to reduce tactical variety in combat as I described.

Navel bombardment! eredeti hozzászólása:

It gives you more options, if you dont spam AOE debuffs and damage in POE, you simply die especially if you have not made a party of customs. You do not have time to buff in combat.

I have played once through on hard and I am now nearing the finale of a PotD run, in both cases using exclusively story NPC party members, and i know for certain that you are wrong in saying you don't have time to buff in combat because i do it all the time.

Navel bombardment! eredeti hozzászólása:

I mean for example, how many times did you ever try to use a summoned weapon and martial might? How many times did you try and use any of the "from caster" special AOEs?

The answer is all the time, largely because they are amongst the most powerfull spells. If you are not then I suspect you are finding the game needlessly difficult.

[Gracey Face]

Gregorovitch eredeti hozzászólása:

No it is not self-evident, it is merely your preference (to which you are of course entitled). You have no idea what "most people's" values are on this issue - nobody does becasue AFAIK there has been no research done using random samples that might thow light on it.

If pre-buffing is allowed then it will always be the strongest option to pre-buff. It follows therefore, i.e. it is self-evident, that pre-buffing tends to reduce tactical variety in combat as I described.

I have played once through on hard and I am now nearing the finale of a PotD run, in both cases using exclusively story NPC party members, and i know for certain that you are wrong in saying you don't have time to buff in combat because i do it all the time.

The answer is all the time, largely because they are amongst the most powerfull spells. If you are not then I suspect you are finding the game needlessly difficult.

There is always a strongest option, by your logic there is never any options ever. And no, I am just using values that most people will agree are positive, choice and quality.


Though at the point when you claim ♥♥♥♥ like venom blood and death ring are "amongst the most powerful spells" or that NPC companions like "30% less resists than an actual tank" Eder are powerful, or that you have time to buff when the opening shots of every single fight you get into later on is paralysis, mind control or massive raw damage. I simply need to ask why are you lying?


Unless by "amongst the most powerful" you simply mean "is a spell", or when you claim you have time you are completely ignoring how it will lose you fights. In which case why are you deliberately misrepresenting?

[Gregorovitch]

Navel bombardment! eredeti hozzászólása:

Gregorovitch eredeti hozzászólása:

No it is not self-evident, it is merely your preference (to which you are of course entitled). You have no idea what "most people's" values are on this issue - nobody does becasue AFAIK there has been no research done using random samples that might thow light on it.

If pre-buffing is allowed then it will always be the strongest option to pre-buff. It follows therefore, i.e. it is self-evident, that pre-buffing tends to reduce tactical variety in combat as I described.

I have played once through on hard and I am now nearing the finale of a PotD run, in both cases using exclusively story NPC party members, and i know for certain that you are wrong in saying you don't have time to buff in combat because i do it all the time.

The answer is all the time, largely because they are amongst the most powerfull spells. If you are not then I suspect you are finding the game needlessly difficult.

There is always a strongest option, by your logic there is never any options ever. And no, I am just using values that most people will agree are positive, choice and quality.


Though at the point when you claim ♥♥♥♥ like venom blood and death ring are "amongst the most powerful spells" or that NPC companions like "30% less resists than an actual tank" Eder are powerful, or that you have time to buff when the opening shots of every single fight you get into later on is paralysis, mind control or massive raw damage. I simply need to ask why are you lying?

I'm sorry but all you are arguing is you don't have a specific option available, the ability to pre-buff, that would make the game easier for you. Instead you have to make hard choices under pressure once comabat starts. All pre-buffing does is to reduce difficulty, reduce choice and reduce quality in the end.

I was not talking about the high level wizard spells which aren't all that really. The most powerfull AoE spells are things like Concecrated Ground, Devotions of the Faithfull, Circle of Protection, Shields for the Faithfull, Dire Blessing, and of course the "Prayer against....." spell group.

Faced with the threat of paralysis you get Durance to cast "Prayer against Imprisonment" first. Faced with the threat of charm or domination you get him to cast "Prayer against Treachery" immediately on combat start. I can only assume you are unaware of this.

And I can assure you, mate, that I am not lying. I can tell from your examples that you haven't really figured out how to play this game properly yet (e.g. that last comment about paralysis and domination) therefore you haven't fully grasped it's tactical depth yet, and that's why you don't think you have "options". You're wrong, you do, you probably just don't know what they are yet.

[Strandly]

Multihog eredeti hozzászólása:

Vita, Mortis, Careo eredeti hozzászólása:

What in the hell are you talking about? I post here maybe once or twice a week.

That's odd, considering the fact that I come here VERY sporadically, but every time I do, you're immediately up my ass defending this game. (usually within the hour)

You also always say the same thing: "good luck with finding a game that you will like, while I continue to enjoy Pillars"

I'm just wondering if Obsidian is paying you for your efforts. lol.

lol The guy said the same thing in my thread. He's some sort of fanboy or control freak, this is what these people do.

I post quite a bit in the forums of whatever games I'm currently playing, but yeah I think there are some people out there that just troll forums all day long.

[Gracey Face]

Gregorovitch eredeti hozzászólása:

I'm sorry but all you are arguing is you don't have a specific option available, the ability to pre-buff, that would make the game easier for you. Instead you have to make hard choices under pressure once comabat starts. All pre-buffing does is to reduce difficulty, reduce choice and reduce quality in the end.

I was not talking about the high level wizard spells which aren't all that really. The most powerfull AoE spells are things like Concecrated Ground, Devotions of the Faithfull, Circle of Protection, Shields for the Faithfull, Dire Blessing, and of course the "Prayer against....." spell group.

Faced with the threat of paralysis you get Durance to cast "Prayer against Imprisonment" first. Faced with the threat of charm or domination you get him to cast "Prayer against Treachery" immediately on combat start. I can only assume you are unaware of this.

And I can assure you, mate, that I am not lying. I can tell from your examples that you haven't really figured out how to play this game properly yet (e.g. that last comment about paralysis and domination) therefore you haven't fully grasped it's tactical depth yet, and that's why you don't think you have "options". You're wrong, you do, you probably just don't know what they are yet.

No, that is not all I am arguing, please learn to read. Prebuffing is not the only way the game could go about it, there are other ways like modals or rituals that are done in other games. This game itself even does modals and long duration buffs, only they are applied in a wildly inconsistant way.

One of those wasnt a wizard spell, and I just threw out names that came to mind rather than picking anything, all of the type I am referring to are ♥♥♥♥. And no, I am not talking about the centered on preist buffs which are the main thing of his class, though I should have been more specific. I am talking about the centered on caster AOE offensive damage/debuffs that at least 4 classes have, you never use them because you cannot put yourself in a position where they are viable, and trying to get them off gets the caster killed.

And yes, the preist has buffs against them, but its a 50/50 as to whether they hit first or that ranged mind control hits first. And if you are facing mixed mobs you choose one or the other (always treachery IMO) which essentially borks you. And yeah, 50 defence/-10 duration is great against enemies that apply 20 second effects on hit and end up with basically a 50% chance of hitting after the buff, which then equalises to normal after the debuff is applied. Amazing. And that is ignoring how they are never alone, and you are always being debuffed in ancilliary ways by the chaff. If we, say, had the ability to apply multiple buffs, we would be laughing all the way to the bank, as it is we dont, your frontline is paralyzed for 10s, this means he is bypassed and then everyone else is paralyzed, this means you are dead (unless you can stick your paralyzed guy in a choke point, except if you are using the NPC companions you only have 1 "tank" (the pally technically as well but she is even more fragile than Eder) so you cant block off most choke points, and even if you do he is going down fast due to all of the stacked debuffs.


So yeah.

But no, its all me not knowing how the game works. I am ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ telepathically effecting the way the RNG works. I think grazes apply debuffs so they do... It all makes sense now, THERE IS NO SPOON!!!

[Gregorovitch]

Navel bombardment! eredeti hozzászólása:

And yeah, 50 defence/-10 duration is great against enemies that apply 20 second effects on hit and end up with basically a 50% chance of hitting after the buff, which then equalises to normal after the debuff is applied. Amazing.

You see you're not right about that, the Prayer against Treachery protection gives you a +50 defence against charm/domination which makes the roll 1D100 - 50 + (their accuracy - your willpower). In effect they start off before the accuracy/willpower modifier having to roll a straight 100 to hit you instead of 50 which is not a 50% chance to hit, it's very far from being a 50% chance to hit, it makes it very hard for them to hit you and could mean it's impossible for them to hit you. Additionally Prayer against Treachery (and all the Payer against... spells) are very fast to cast, much faster than the enemies charm/dominate spells.

You seen to have the same misconception about how you get a wizard to cast the high level damage spells that are centred on caster. If you cast Llengrath's Displaced Image and an upgraded Arcane Veil you are getting massive increases to Defelction and Reflex such that you are almost invulnerable. You can add Mirror Image etc to that as well so that you can more or less saunter into the middle of the enemy mob and blast them good and proper with impunity should you so desire.

I know all this because I do it all the time, it's why aftyer playing for over 400 hours PotD is pretty easy for me now apart from a few boss battles. I'm only locking horns with you over this becasue what you say is inaccurate, wrong bascially, and is likely to mislead readers on how the mechanics of the game work.