FAQ: Does Avernum 3 Have Time Limits? Can I Take My Time Playing?

[Spiderweb]

The world of Avernum 3 does evolve while you play. Some towns crumble. Travelers and refugees can move around.

However, we are very sympathetic to those who like to take their time. No matter how long you wait, you can always win the game.

There is one veeery late game event that requires your attention. If you want to put that off indefinitely, this can be done with cheat codes. But we suggest you do it. It's pretty cool.

[PALE-DRIVER]

Thank you for the clarification - this'll force me to play a bit differently than I did for Exile 3! :)

[PALE-DRIVER]

(Also, the very late game event is definitely pretty cool.)

[Seph]

I wish that was better explained in-game... I've been wandering aimlessly as I always do in this sorta game, and it's a bit disappointing that a town might "crumble" before I had an opportunity to explore it.

[Ty Cobb]

From the Spiderweb forums [spiderwebforums.ipbhost.com]

It's from the old version but it looks like the timeframe is still the same

[Seph]

That's useful information, thanks. I took 40 days before even solving the Slime plague just because I wasn't aware of any consequences.

[Cuddlefish]

Would like further clarification on the time point, please. I am an enthusiastic but not very good gamer and I get lost easily. Just spent a pile of time not able to find Fort Emergence, and also a pile of time wandering aimlessly as well.

Are there any consequences beyond the very late game thingie mentioned in the developer's post above?

[PALE-DRIVER]

Towns are damaged (or destroyed) over time, NPC's (possibly some that are quest-related) can be killed after certain time ticks, and monster plagues spread/intensify. You can still beat the game, however.

[GAME GOD FLUENT]

Good test to get rid of your Gamer OCD that tells you you need to explore every little bit and can't miss a pixel. The game can still be beaten and you'll find plenty of stuff elsewhere to make up for the stuff you may have missed. Adds replay value too. A+ design.

[TJ the HedgeScout]

I wish we had a time manipulation cheat like the old version did

[Tesla33]

I wish I had knowb about the time limit before I purchased this installment. Since I am way past the steam refund option I guess it at least technically doesn't matter to the devs but I hope that other players who are new to the series and enjoyed the remake of A1 and A2 see this post.
I like taking my time. I like running back to a herb patch to pick up another healing herb, even if its halfway across the map. I like revisiting dungeons and towns because I may finally have a spell that opens up a previously closed area. I like wandering around unexplored areas (well, it IS open world)
What I don't like is arbitrary and really not-at-all-communicated time limits. For me this turned a previously pleasant gaming experience into a constant dilemma of "do I have the time to do this? Does it take too much time. Is it worth going back there? Should I reload a previous save game because I feel I wasted too much time on this part?".

Yeah, its nice to know I "can always win the game". I don't care. For me the journey is the reward, not the "win". I do care about all the things I might have missed because I took to long to pick flowers. So thats a hard "no" from me for this or any further installments. Sadly.

[Sstavix]

Originally posted by Tesla33:

So thats a hard "no" from me for this or any further installments. Sadly.

Actually, what's sad is that there will be no further installments. Jeff Vogel will be retiring after Queen's Wish 3 comes out. So there will probably be no more excursions into the world of Avernum.

[Seph]

Aww, did he say that for sure somewhere? I was expecting at least 3 Geneforge remakes, too.

[Sstavix]

Originally posted by Seph:

Aww, did he say that for sure somewhere? I was expecting at least 3 Geneforge remakes, too.

I thought he had posted about it on his blog, but the closest I could find was in this entry where he says, at the end, that Queen's Wish will be his last "all new series."

https://bottomfeeder.substack.com/p/we-released-queens-wish-2-the-tormentor

So who knows? Maybe he will do a remastered version of Avernum 4-6 later on down the road. One can hope...