A roundtable discussion talking about the state of RPGs on PC Gamer:
2024 RPG roundtable: Baldur's Gate 3, Avowed, Cyberpunk, In Stars and Time, Elder Scrolls designers
PC Gamer's RPG roundtable returns with a powerful panel of RPG experts to talk lovable and hateable companions, romance (and thirst), how you make a great intro to a massive game, and much more. Joining our panel this year:
Swen Vincke, founder and director at Larian (Baldur's Gate 3)
Carrie Patel, game director and senior narrative designer at Obsidian (Avowed)
Sarah Gruemmer, acting lead quest designer at CD Projekt Red (Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty)
Adrienne Bazir, founder and sole developer at insertdisc5 (In Stars and Time)
Ted Peterson, co-founder Once Lost Games and former writer and designer at Bethesda (The Elder Scrolls 1-4)
Our developers each talk about their current or recent games, as well as other RPGs that have inspired them, from Nier to Disco Elysium.
Playing an online casino Canada could be more profitable if you know all the rules of your game. Check it out and learn.
Australians love their pokies. Playing online casino Australia is fun and can be done at offshore sites listed on casino guides.
Are you living in New Zealand and are you looking for a casino guide? The best online casino nz guide gives you information on what to play, walkthroughs of casino games and of course guides you to the best place to play online.
Will try to start more regular habit of sharing here as small news on the plans we have and what is currently going on.
The first major content update is now done and dusted, and seems to be stable enough to not have need for bigger patch updates, so it is time to be working on something to add on the game. The big learning point with that content update was that making bigger updates can become extremely long process when working on the spare time, so better focus now on bit smaller increments. Therefore it is currently likely that we will be sharing smaller updates in about update per two months interval. Sometimes they might take less and sometimes more time.
So, what are we working on currently?
There are multiple things to polish and add, but two of the major ones we are currently working on are VFX and combat system improvements. VFX improvements are especially important for some enemy skills missing VFX totally, but also for things like adding VFX for aura effects. It is after all nice to know when you step into that Death Aura of Juurukko instead of just trying if you'd be lucky.
Some work for aura VFX has already been done and can be seen in attached image.
How about combat system?
The combat is quite fun in many places already, but there is still things to improve. Some of the things in combat and character development that we would like to improve, include:
Variety between weapons is very small. It does not matter that much if it is sword or axe of same size. We would like them to give some tactical difference.
Variety between weapon sizes (including unarmed combat) is something we would also want to improve. Unarmed combat has been pretty useless so far and usually it has been most valuable to just invest the biggest weapons. However, we are looking at things like adding weapon speeds into the game that will affect AP costs of the weapon based skills and then planning possible some other adjustments as well to see that you can build for very different combat styles.
Equipment progression is bit flat for our taste at the moment. For example, you will pretty quickly get quite high level mundane armor. We would like to increase the steps on that path, starting with lower level equipment and steadily moving to higher. This does not mean any level restrictions or such for equipment, but providing more variety and adjusting their availability.
Make full-armored build be only one option. Currently the game plays in a way that best tactic is usually to pile up all of your characters with as much armor as possible. We have some plans on adjusting this so that unarmored or lightly armored builds would also have their advantages. We have some ideas how we could better utilize dodge as well as ability point bonuses in a way that would make it viable to have that fully armored tank, or lightly armored berserker.
In that sense, quite a lots of things we want to do. But in a way lots of those are balancing things with small additions and changes to combat logic, which already works nicely on its core.
Currently the work has already been started with implementing different weapon speeds and at that phase there will likely also be some work to do with damage ranges and such.
If you have any questions, thoughts you want to share or just want to have a chat, give us a word either here or in our Discord community.
Make sure to find out more about playing at the top online casinos, video slots, and betting sites offered at inkedin, and how users can bet safely and securely!
After 100 Hours, Here's Why I Think Dragon's Dogma 2 Is GOTY Material
The opening sequence in Dragon's Dogma 2 is fairly frustrating, but the later game areas add too much fun to hate the game.
Dragon's Dogma 2 received a lot of criticism due to microtransactions and performance issues.
Capcom cleared the confusion with microtransactions, which changed the game's reception.
In my 100-hour journey, performance issues didn't bother me, and I think Dragon's Dogma 2 is GOTY material.
On launch, Dragon's Dogma 2 was tarnished due to microtransactions and many performance issues. I agree with many of the complaints, but some of the players failed to realize that Capcom is no stranger to adding MTX on release-the developer has been following this pattern and is likely to continue doing so.
Despite the criticism, I decided to dedicate myself and spent over 100 hours unknowingly. This made me realize that Dragon's Dogma 2 is so far the only game that is Game of The Year material.
Unfortunately, frustrated players' reviews overshadowed its main features and massive world. However, some of the concerns regarding the performance are genuine, but fret not, as there's light at the end of the tunnel. Capcom is well aware of the concerns and is looking into the fixes as we speak.
The Koalition checked out Remnant 2 - The Forgotten Kingdom DLC:
Remnant 2: The Forgotten Kingdom Review - The Standard Bar of DLCs
Developed by Gunfire Games and published by Arc Games, Remnant 2 released its DLC titled The Forgotten Kingdom for $9.99 which is a steal. This DLC should be the standard bar of all DLCs for the price and what you get. Amidst the eerie remnants of Yaesha's once majestic ziggurats, now haunted by the echoes of untold stories and revenge, players will follow intricately designed murals, uncover secrets and clues, and watch the pieces slowly come together. You'll navigate the paths where Sentient Stones prowl in search of fresh victims in a beautifully crafted land that's perilous in every way.
From the rich history submerged in the fragmented ruins, hidden rooms, secret tunnels, and more. Gunfire Games has elevated this game in crafting a world, by expanding the already rich lore waiting to be uncovered. As I dwelled into the story, from exploring the surrounding areas, the story slowly but effectively revealed pivotal characters and happenings that led to the events of the long-lost civilization. With the addition of new NPCs, it felt like a complete chapter of a new book was laid out for me. I kept being lured farther down the rabbit hole with each discovery.
[...]
The Forgotten Kingdom focuses more on exploration and story than both the base game and the previous DLC, with many puzzles and mysteries. Whether you're a seasoned veteran or a newcomer to the series, I recommend The Forgotten Kingdom. With its solid lore, engaging gameplay, new items to collect, and low price of 9.99 USD, it stands as a shining example of what DLC should strive to be in modern gaming.
The term "apparitions" refers to "a remarkable or unexpected appearance of someone or something." When Rabbit & Bear announced Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes in 2020, and that it was being penned by Suikoden series creator Yoshitaka Murayama, there was huge excitement from fans of the long-gone series. Suikoden fans would finally be able to get lost in one of Murayama's worlds again, even if it wasn't Suikoden VI. The problem for Eiyuden Chronicle is that it is the ghost of a series long gone, and while it attempts to stand on its own, it's hard not to recognize the similarities it possesses to the classic RPG series it pays homage to. However, knowing this, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is an old-school experience chock full of interesting storytelling, adorable weirdos, and tons of content to explore. Where it falters comes from needing just a bit more time in the oven and a few more modern conveniences.
[...]
Playing through Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes was an addictive and wonderful experience. When I stopped playing, I was constantly thinking about the characters, story, and the world-building that Rabbit & Bear has created. The game is very much a love letter to JRPG and Suikoden fans, and while there are a lot of similarities, I personally didn't find that detracting. After putting more than fifty hours into the game, it reminded me of both the joy of being in one of Murayama's worlds, and the sadness that he will never pen another game in this series. While there are elements of the game that needed more time in the oven, I cannot deny the happiness I felt every time I booted up the game.
Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance Preview - Can Persona's progenitor hit the big time?
We've all heard of Persona - it's one the undisputed kings of the RPG right now, each game pitting one unwitting school kid against an evil adult, using an army of angels and demons to achieve the insurmountable odds stacked against them. But how many people have played a Shin Megami Tensei game, the franchise from which Persona was born? We'd guess comparatively few people. Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is the latest opportunity to change that.
There's no shame in not having played Shin Megami Tensei, of course. SMT is much bigger in Japan than in the West, and as a 'hardcore' RPG, it plays to a different audience. Its lack of availability on most consoles doesn't help, with 2021's Shin Megami Tensei 5 being a Switch exclusive, and Shin Megami Tensei 4 coming out in 2013 on the 3DS, of all things.
Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance seeks to address that, by bringing a god-tier RPG to more modern (and more powerful) consoles. Having sat down to play a good four-hour chunk of the game on the PS5, we can say that this opportunity to open the franchise up to a much wider audience is not one to be missed.
But first, what is Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance? How is it different to the original, and is it worth getting if you've already played SMT5?
In our March update, we detailed the ichthian faction, but alluded to how not all types of enemies in Titan Quest II form factions. The boss enemies that you encounter are perfect examples of this. Usually fighting alone, these enemies will generally be some of the most lethal encounters you will come across. In today's update, we give you a glimpse of two of our minibosses: the gryphon and the hippokampos.
Gryphon
Mythologically, gryphons hail from Skythia, a region in eastern Europe and central Asia, where a tribe of them is said to sit atop a hoard of treasure. Like many monsters in Greek mythology, they are a hybrid creature, with a lion's body and an eagle's head and wings. When a gryphon moves into the neighborhood, there's bound to be trouble, as they are known for picking off sheep, goats, pigs, and even wild boars for their supper. A fight with a gryphon is the perfect opportunity for a fledgling Greek hero to prove their mettle. But be warned--gryphons can be crafty creatures.
In combat, the gryphon's most powerful ability has it take off into the air and utilize a powerful swooping attack. As an agile creature, it will also be capable of pouncing around the player, lashing out several times in a row where least expected. This then gets rounded out by several variants of regular melee attacks. While this is the first and easiest miniboss you will come across, we still intend for it to pose a threat and test your combat fundamentals.
Hippokampos
Hippokampi are what the ancient Greeks believed the adult form of the sea-horse looked like, and you can see that reflected in their colorful, almost feather-light appearance. In the world of Titan Quest II, they were coveted by the ancient Mycenaeans for their menageries. As mounts to the Nereids and chariot-horses for Poseidon, they can be quite dangerous when provoked.
The hippokampos is somewhat more advanced in combat than the gryphon. Utilizing a mixture of cold and lightning damage, it will hit the player with a barrage of powerful attacks, such as a telegraphed, but sudden geyser eruption, as well as a powerful water jet followed up by a stunning lightning strike. It will also be able to hurl ice shards at the player, and make use of several melee attacks, as well as a defensive barrier. What's more, we are experimenting with making this creature completely immune to crowd control effects (e.g. stun, freezing) outside of telegraphed windows of vulnerability. These aspects together will require that the player makes use of all they have learned so far. A good sense of attack timings, movement during combat, and evasion will be rewarded.
As far as our vision for these boss encounters goes, studious players that learn the moves of these creatures will be best equipped to respond to them--it's all about building a rhythm and achieving a clean execution. To aid this learning process, these creatures perform clear sequences of attacks, making it so that clean play can result in victory on a first attempt, provided you survive as you are learning the enemy's moves! Mind you, death carries a heavy price in Titan Quest II. The entire encounter that killed you (whether it's a boss or not) gets fully reset, and you will respawn in the previous hub (convenient teleport options will be provided, though). These creatures will certainly have the tools to put players down when they're making several mistakes. Even defeats can teach useful lessons, however.
You can also always choose to work on getting a little stronger before returning for your next attempt. You can level up beyond the current area's level, or simply farm for items that help against the specific boss in question, such as via resistances. On the other hand, if you are looking for even more of a challenge, you can raise the difficulty by invoking rituals.
Lastly, these fights are not one-off experiences, as you will be able to re-summon these beasts in order to reap the rewards again and again. We will talk about these rewards in more detail soon.
A classic tactical RPG returns! The second game in the main Front Mission storyline is finally available outside of Japan for the first time.
FRONT MISSION 2: Remake blends intense strategy with a deep and involved storyline.
12 years have passed since the second Huffman conflict. The impoverished People's Republic of Alordesh has been suffering a severe economic decline ever since the war ended. In June 2102, soldiers of the Alordesh Army rise up and, led by Ven Mackarge, declare independence from the O.C.U. (Oceania Cooperative Union).
Ash, an O.C.U. soldier, manages to survive the ensuing battle, but Alordesh is completely overrun by the Revolutionary Army. Ash and his surviving teammates infiltrate Alordesh's chaotic underground in an attempt to escape the country. However, they soon discover that there is a huge conspiracy behind the coup.
In FRONT MISSION 2: Remake, the perspective switches between three characters: Ash, Lisa, and Thomas, creating a worldview that goes beyond a simple dichotomy between good and evil.
FRONT MISSION 2: Remake preserves the mature story, strategic turn-based combat, and Wanzer customization options of the original. Enjoy the revitalized classic with updated visuals and new features and enhancements!
Features:
Improved loading speed
Support for many new languages
New 'free camera' option to zoom in during gameplay and check out Wanzers in detail
Sorcerer's
Place is a project run entirely by fans and for fans. Maintaining
Sorcerer's Place and a stable environment for all our hosted sites requires a substantial amount of our time and funds on a regular basis, so please consider supporting us to keep the site up & running smoothly. Thank you!
Has Sorcerer's Place been useful? If you'd like to show your appreciation
for our hard work on the site, and help us pay the bills the site generates
every month, please consider helping support SP.
Thank you!
![[IMG]](https://sorcerers.net/community/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Frpgwatch.com%2FImages%2FLogos%2Fgame-156.gif&hash=70ec11e6a8f3ba6c4dd61bc4b3ccb7d1)
A roundtable discussion talking about the state of RPGs on PC Gamer:![[IMG]](https://sorcerers.net/images/news/rule.gif)
![[IMG]](https://sorcerers.net/community/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Frpgwatch.com%2FImages%2FLogos%2Fgame-2324.gif&hash=5de75f1ae7e1d63f3d57edfccb37ec86)
![[IMG]](https://sorcerers.net/community/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Frpgwatch.com%2FImages%2FLogos%2Fgame-2111.gif&hash=0aa1187632055f42040dea02f15c559d)
![[IMG]](https://sorcerers.net/community/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Frpgwatch.com%2FImages%2FLogos%2Fgame-2273.gif&hash=35fd64ab86a7b1f456e5ba97fbdce9f9)
![[IMG]](https://sorcerers.net/community/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Frpgwatch.com%2FImages%2FLogos%2Fgame-1759.gif&hash=3ae076a51394912d8b82c206f11d5735)
![[IMG]](https://sorcerers.net/community/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Frpgwatch.com%2FImages%2FLogos%2Fgame-2415.gif&hash=a6cdce312a53f448083b3da8195781dc)
![[IMG]](https://sorcerers.net/community/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Frpgwatch.com%2FImages%2FLogos%2Fgame-458.gif&hash=97effb181a97d53b1d69fd84879e35ff)
![[IMG]](https://sorcerers.net/community/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Frpgwatch.com%2FImages%2FLogos%2Fgame-2158.gif&hash=c2fcc592c951b6edb790884114a2a1f7)
![[IMG]](https://sorcerers.net/community/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Frpgwatch.com%2FImages%2FLogos%2Fgame-2310.gif&hash=d58ff48ea6a8683d25ab0c34a5584bb1)
![[IMG]](https://sorcerers.net/community/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Frpgwatch.com%2FImages%2FLogos%2Fgame-1654.gif&hash=b4518a66d10c985225b22de22de414f9)
![[IMG]](https://sorcerers.net/community/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Frpgwatch.com%2FImages%2FLogos%2Fgame-2319.gif&hash=a2e8eb4e87bb44bdb19d74303784d043)
![[IMG]](https://sorcerers.net/community/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Frpgwatch.com%2FImages%2FLogos%2Fgame-2456.gif&hash=dc0f361f98e735299ee3ee9a9f3a3ea6)
![[IMG]](https://sorcerers.net/community/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Frpgwatch.com%2FImages%2FLogos%2Fgame-846.gif&hash=2bbed024472556723dc19279a62595e8)
