Oblivion

[OG_Gleep]

In D&D systems atleast, I tend to figure out what fits my playstyle first, re-rolling till I figure it out. So although there may be different ways to play a class, I'll find the one I like and go from there. I don't particularly enjoy "experiencing everything" a class has to offer. I also tend to play warrior classes in solo based games. And while there might be variations in playstyle between the Paladin types, Warrior types, and Berserker types, your still melee fighting. This is primarily why I enjoy party based systems. I get to try a little of everything while the game still holds my attention.

By loot progression I mean (and I'll use a generic example because I can't remember what the NWN loot table looked like) Level 1-3 Iron weapons/armor, Level 3 - 5 Steel weapons/armor, Level 5-7 Dwarven weapons/armor etc. etc. etc. Magical drops will vary, but the excitement of finding the "next more powerful item" is gone because you've already seen what that range of items can do.

More so then anything is what I mentioned with your character not carrying over from module to module limits my enjoyment of the module scene. The two factors listed above contribute a great deal to not wanting to roll another toon...but a large part is I get attatched to my character, and want to continue his adventures. Again thats just me.

[Alneyan]

Regarding NWN, I'm pretty sure you can carry your character from one module to another... unless playing in multiplayer with a character vault, where you may be restricted to characters in the vault (and not your local characters). It's up to the game host, though. Of course, there *is* a problem with the actual firepower of your character: most mods recommend a relatively narrow of levels, though there is nothing to prevent you from going against their wishes.

PrinzMegaherz, would it help you if I told you I was a guy? Your avatar is clearly more feminine, though.

Not all German games have been translated, actually. On the top of my head, I can name Anstoss (starting from the third game in the series) or Mad TV II, and I'm pretty sure a couple others have not been translated either. Of course, that's only a few games compared to all the games left untranslated from English... but a lot more than the games only available in, say, French (I can't think of a game released in the last ten years that has been written in French and not translated). I guess your situation is a little bit better in that aspect.

I've always felt that the problem with translations is very simply the difficulty in finding interest in said translation. The people on these boards pretty much all know enough English to understand Dominions; if they did not, they probably wouldn't be reading and writing posts here. Players who don't know much about English are unlikely to hear about Dominions in the first place, so they cannot voice their interest, and without any (apparent) interest, there isn't much point in a translation. Hmm, looks like a Gordian knot.

[OG_Gleep]

Right thats true, you could theoretically do that, but the original game capped at level 20. Some modules wanted you to be lvl 3, some were for level 10, some recommended totally new characters. Even if you ignored the character level recommendations, you would still hit that cap after completing a few of them. There may be some mods out now that are ment for players that have reached the CAP, but I didn't see them..and I don't know how much fun it is an option.

It just seemed to me that the module system was perfect for people who loved to "try everything" a game has to offer. I'm just not one of those people.

[Vicious Love]

Getting back on topic, I couldn't help but notice that Bethesda:

A) Have not even implemented combat from horseback, nor any other remotely innovative feature. "Radiant AI" was more impressive in Ultima VII, where at least the NPCs did something other than stand in one location and stare at a wall for a few hours, then move elsewhere and do the same.

B) Nonetheless have the gall to charge US $2.50 for a meaningless little horse-related feature which
B1) Is moddable with negligible difficulty for the PC version of the game, and just a few shades more difficulty for the X-Box version.
B2) Was already completed long before Oblivion even went gold. As were most of their other overpriced upcoming expansions, I'll wager.

Very much doubt I'll be supporting this particular developer/publisher combo with my money.

[Graeme Dice]

Vicious Love said:
A) Have not even implemented combat from horseback, nor any other remotely innovative feature.

Why do people care about innovation? Innovation does not make a good game. It's an upgraded version of Morrowind, with many of the problems fixed, and one of the best melee combat models since Die by the Sword. If no combat from horseback is a dealbreaker, then I question whether you are the correct type of person to enjoy any game of this type in the first place.

"Radiant AI" was more impressive in Ultima VII, where at least the NPCs did something other than stand in one location and stare at a wall for a few hours, then move elsewhere and do the same.

Well, since they _don't_ just do that, I'd wonder whether you've even played Oblivion. Of course, since you haven't purchased it by your admission below, I'd certainly hope that you haven't played it yet.

B) Nonetheless have the gall to charge US $2.50 for a meaningless little horse-related feature which
B1) Is moddable with negligible difficulty for the PC version of the game, and just a few shades more difficulty for the X-Box version.
B2) Was already completed long before Oblivion even went gold. As were most of their other overpriced upcoming expansions, I'll wager.

Remember people, it's unethical for companies to charge for their products.

Very much doubt I'll be supporting this particular developer/publisher combo with my money.

I'd like to know how you know anything about the AI behaviour of the NPCs when you haven't even purchased the game.

[PrinzMegaherz]

Graeme Dice said:
It's an upgraded version of Morrowind, with many of the problems fixed, and one of the best melee combat models since Die by the Sword.

No insults, please. The combat engine of Die by the Swords is light years ahead of the one used in Oblivion

[Vicious Love]

Graeme Dice said:

Why do people care about innovation?

[/quote]

I dunno. Possibly because each and every preview of the game promised us volumes upon volumes of innovation?
Or possibly because many of us were fundamentally dissatisfied with many core aspects of Morrowind, and no innovation means no changing these core aspects?
Or maybe we just like the idea of game development not grinding to a screeching halt in the present day, because our games are perfectly all right as they currently are, and there's really nothing new to invent? If games like Oblivion don't take the vanguard, what will?

Innovation does not make a good game.

Every worthwhile computer game since Pong begs to differ. Innovation may not be sufficient, but without it you're just regurgitating the same old stuff with better graphics and a steeper price tag.

It's an upgraded version of Morrowind, with many of the problems fixed, and one of the best melee combat models since Die by the Sword.

Erm... no. It's not really much better than Fable's, either. And it can't begin to compare to Mount & Blade's system.

If no combat from horseback is a dealbreaker, then I question whether you are the correct type of person to enjoy any game of this type in the first place.

This is a cutting-art, state-of-the-edge game that uses a revolutionary third-party tree rendering program and an even more revolutionary "NPCs walk from point A to point B" system, and yet it can't afford to throw in a feature that was available in Daggerfall? I realize it would be a mite trickier to make it work, what with no longer using sprite-based graphics and all, but come on. Speaking of the Point A to Point B engine...

Well, since they _don't_ just do that, I'd wonder whether you've even played Oblivion. Of course, since you haven't purchased it by your admission below, I'd certainly hope that you haven't played it yet.

'fraid I have. It was decent, but you could still see the strings.

Remember people, it's unethical for companies to charge for their products.

See above. Honestly, this is just a cheap shot on behalf of BethSoft's marketing department.

I'd like to know how you know anything about the AI behaviour of the NPCs when you haven't even purchased the game.

Go ahead, take a guess.

[Graeme Dice]

Vicious Love said:
I dunno. Possibly because each and every preview of the game promised us volumes upon volumes of innovation?

Really? Can you provide a half-dozen or so previews that claim that the game will be innovative?

Or possibly because many of us were fundamentally dissatisfied with many core aspects of Morrowind, and no innovation means no changing these core aspects?

What core asects would you expect to change? It's still an Elder Scrolls game, so it's not like any reasonable person would expect radically different gameplay.

If games like Oblivion don't take the vanguard, what will?

I'd rather have a fun game than an innovative game.

Every worthwhile computer game since Pong begs to differ.

If you only consider innovative games to be worthwhile, then you must not enjoy very many computer games.

Innovation may not be sufficient, but without it you're just regurgitating the same old stuff with better graphics and a steeper price tag.

Well, since there's absolutely nothing wrong with creating games that are similar to old games but that have better graphics, I fail to see your complaint. Your complaint about price is also pure nonsense, since Morrowind and Oblivion both cost exactly the same numerical price: $59.99 CDN. Of course, that $59.99 CDN in 2006 for Oblivion is actually cheaper than the $59.99 CDN in 2002 for Morrowind. Game prices have dropped tremendously over the past 20 years.

Erm... no. It's not really much better than Fable's, either. And it can't begin to compare to Mount & Blade's system.

Mount and Blade has a gimmicky, easily exploited combat system that lets a character right out of the gate fight off a dozen attackers just by backpedaling and letting them form a single file line. Further, your demand that the combat be perfect is quite ridiculous. It doesn't need to be perfect, it merely needs to be good.

This is a cutting-art, state-of-the-edge game that uses a revolutionary third-party tree rendering program and an even more revolutionary "NPCs walk from point A to point B" system, and yet it can't afford to throw in a feature that was available in Daggerfall? I realize it would be a mite trickier to make it work, what with no longer using sprite-based graphics and all, but come on. Speaking of the Point A to Point B engine...

So let me ask you a simple question. What kind of actual gameplay value does combat from horseback add to a game?

'fraid I have. It was decent, but you could still see the strings.

You stated that you weren't going to support Bethesda with your money. That is a clear admission tha you haven't purchased the game. Further, if the game was "decent", by your own admission, then how can you possible have so much vitriol for it?

See above. Honestly, this is just a cheap shot on behalf of BethSoft's marketing department.

No, it's called an observation of the mindset of your typical person who feels that they are entitled to luxury goods at whatever price they want, rather than the price the seller decides to provide it at. Bethesda is perfectly within their rights to sell mods at whatever price they want to, since they have in no way shape, or form cheated you with your purchase. (Well, not your purchase, since you admitted that you won't be paying for the game even though you already played it.)

I'd like to know how you know anything about the AI behaviour of the NPCs when you haven't even purchased the game.

Go ahead, take a guess.

[/quote]

Okay, you are making observations about the AI behaviour because you pirated the game. It's nice to see that you're now trying to cover up your admission that you either haven't purchased, or haven't played Oblivion. Please don't bother, since I have no real reason to want to deal with liars.

[OG_Gleep]

Shovah - yeah they stack. You can create a chamealon suit, and be invisible.

VL - Yeah you can roleplay a pure theif, or a pure fighter or pure whatever you want to do. But he said he finished the assasins guild...so...I guess you can stop after you have done that.

[Saber Cherry]

Vicious Love said:
B) Nonetheless have the gall to charge US $2.50 for a meaningless little horse-related feature which
B1) Is moddable with negligible difficulty for the PC version of the game, and just a few shades more difficulty for the X-Box version.
B2) Was already completed long before Oblivion even went gold. As were most of their other overpriced upcoming expansions, I'll wager.

Not to mention that Horse Armor went on sale before they bothered to implement horse reins. Players still gallop around with arms in "I am holding reins" position, but no reins. Hmmm... sounds like quality support.