Torment Beamdog's Planescape: Torment Enhanced Edition

[agris]

Sigourn did you ever try playing PST in fullscreen 1280 or 960?

 

[Sigourn]

Sigourn did you ever try playing PST in fullscreen 1280 or 960?

Yep. I didn't like that the game got blurry as a result of upscaling to fill the screen.

 

[schru]

I actually noticed today that if Torment is run in the dgVoodoo wrapper with one of the Max ISF resolutions forced in the DirectX tab, it can be upscaled to an LCD's native resolution without any blurring and without artefacts (which come with other resolutions). It does start looking a bit pixellated, but that can be remedied with the CRT filter.

 

[agris]

I actually noticed today that if Torment is run in the dgVoodoo wrapper with one of the Max ISF resolutions forced in the DirectX tab, it can be upscaled to an LCD's native resolution without any blurring and without artefacts (which come with other resolutions). It does start looking a bit pixellated, but that can be remedied with the CRT filter.

to do that correctly and aspect-ratio correct, you would need to configure the widescreen mod to display PST at exactly half your desktop's native X and Y resolution. That's interesting though, I'll check out dgVoodoo.

 

[schru]

I'm not sure what would be the best way to set up the wide-screen mod with it. I just tried it with unmodified game and kept it in 4:3.

 

[Trojan_generic]

Counter-intuitive or not, it would be better than the other options which are : 1 - Remove all highlighting from the game, or 2 - Have everything interactable highlight, even quest items.

Just put a giant NOTE in the game like what is already there for many items, saying "You may have to look around for certain quest items that aren't highlighted." That would likely take much more work but it would be an ideal situation for a future game, IMO.

Back to reality:
1. Add a giant note to your game as described above.
2. Have your tech support answer 2000 phone calls per day from people telling "I am stuck, I cannot find Caius Cosades' magic underwear".

 

[Deleted member 7219]

Counter-intuitive or not, it would be better than the other options which are : 1 - Remove all highlighting from the game, or 2 - Have everything interactable highlight, even quest items.

Just put a giant NOTE in the game like what is already there for many items, saying "You may have to look around for certain quest items that aren't highlighted." That would likely take much more work but it would be an ideal situation for a future game, IMO.

Back to reality:
1. Add a giant note to your game as described above.
2. Have your tech support answer 2000 phone calls per day from people telling "I am stuck, I cannot find Caius Cosades' magic underwear".

Answer: Do not have tech support.

This is 2017. Everyone who plays your game will have internet access. If they are stupid enough to miss obvious things they can go to GameFAQs or forums.

 

[Deleted Member 16721]

So that's your new persona ? The embodiment of wishy washy ?

I am playing the game now and enjoying TAB highlighting. If the game didn't have it, I'd enjoy it that way, too. I don't really care what you call that.

Back to reality:
1. Add a giant note to your game as described above.
2. Have your tech support answer 2000 phone calls per day from people telling "I am stuck, I cannot find Caius Cosades' magic underwear".

I'd make it a toggle option. Quest-Items Highlighted. ON by default, OFF for those who want to mess around and search for stuff.

 

[Fairfax]

I've checked the list of 41 improvements that a re supposed to be so awesome and it doesn't look good. There are like 6-10 useful improvements (I've bolded the ones I found at least a bit interesting/useful), around 10 are conveniences for idiots and the rest is pointless. All in all I don't see how these improvements warrant a doubled price.

details

1) Chris Avellone editing pass - it's a nice touch but in the end insignificant (not to mention that grammar fixes were introduced via fan patches). Planescape: Torment has always been regarded as the pinnacle of writing in games so I don't see how it could be improved just by fixing grammar or name consistency, I certainly won't notice it because to me it's already superb.

2) Able to zoom out to gain a wider view of the game - zooming is unnecessary if one plays at proper resolution (or on CRT monitor) and it doesn't look good as can be seen in my example.

3) Object highlight mode - now this is a cheating mode and a change for the worse. Let me quote @t since he said it better than I could:

Ok, you just might be a moron. Highlighting objects will break quests as the game has been developed with no highlighting in mind - see stash quest in buried village. Changing text size, high resolution support, high res UI are already there in mods. So what, zoom? So you can switch between normal and pixelated as fuck? Because no upscaling of textures will happen.

And there is one mod pack you need to download that will install all the mods for you.

Edit: also mods will give you running (I.e. actually dangerous and not ones that you can run circles around) monsters.

4) Combat log available - that would make sense if combat wasn't awful in P:T and if it was turn-based. But since it is awful and since it is real time with pause and everything goes very fast (and there are often groups of enemies) it's just a pointless bonus.

5) Quick loot available - now this is the first convenience that makes sense and which isn't present in the mods AFAIK

6, 7) Steam achievements, Steam trading cards - pointless

8) Options to adjust text size - available with mods and can be easily installed via mods manager (and here you CHOOSE what to install, nothing is shoved down our throats)

9) Option to search the journal and quest text - convenience but at the same time it dumbs down the game since you don't have to remember anything. And it's hardly an achievement by Beamdog considering they've had source materials, if they would give them to the modders we would also get things like that and more

10) Option to set language from within game - doable via GOG Galaxy

11) Tooltips easier to read - had never problem with these but OK, let's say it is an improvement

12) Improved Pathfinding - all you need to do is to edit the torment.ini file in the game directory and change the appropriate line. Beamdog's version might be better, but again they've had source materials which modders had not.

13) Smooth Fog of War - haven't noticed any problem with it but OK

14) Options menu accessable from start screen - doesn't matter much, most of the options need to be seen in game anyway

15) Most recent save accessable from start screen - one click less, an improvement but not very important considering one will save like 5 minutes during entire game max

16) Movies and plot events now work correctily in windowed mode - don't know why would anyone play in window mode but yeah, this is a fix too. It's doable in the old version too though, although only by using a third party software AFAIK

17) Fewer clicks to cast spells, change weapons, use items, etc. - yes, that is an improvement, possibly the biggest, although UI looks fugly

18) Performing actions no longer obscures game world - not really, with mods that's not a problem

19) More autopause options - don't know what that is but I'm guessing it's pointless since combat in P:T is primitive and it's the last reason people are playing this game

20) Load screens removed - maybe when the game was on 4 CDs, with SSD drives loading is instant

21) Smoother area transitions - pointless, although some might enjoy it, hard to tell at the moment

22) Option to see health status of creatures - it changes the balance of the game and such information makes the fights even easier

23) Framerate adjustment options - would have to see to make a verdict

24) Option to cycle through spell descriptions - another option for people with a goldfish memory

25) Option to make cursors larger (option not available on Windows 7 and Windows 8) - pointless

26) Option to apply sprite outlines and highlight the selected sprite - see #3, plus it looks ugly

27) Optional grayscale on pause - see #22, although this one isn't as annoying

28) Heal on rest option - cheat mode which encourages to use cheesy tactics

29) Max HP on level up - Qwinn's patch

30) Option to read descriptions for special abilities - there were descriptions in the game about them the first time we got them but yeah, it is an improvement

31) Quick item and spell descriptions - see #24

32) "Affected by" section added to character record - see #24

33) Fixed technical issues with plots - don't know what that means, I have never noticed any issues but then again I've been using Qwinn's patch

34 and 35) In-game help & More user interface feedback - lol, these ones are the most egregious IMO

36) Option to see walkable areas in area map - something for morons, it might hint for example how to get to Pharod

37) Journal / quest log highlights unread entries - see #24

38) Cloud saves (Steam-only) - cloud saves for P:T are available on GOG Galaxy

39) Keyboard navigation of the UI without overriding user hotkeys - it can be easily fixed

40) Aspect ratio support from 5:4 to 21:9 - free mods have that

41) Cheat commands and debug console - cheat commands are for morons, debug console might be actually useful and is a big plus

23) Framerate adjustment options - would have to see to make a verdict

There's nothing new about that. You just change the value in torment.ini to tweak the framerate. However, like the other IE games, changing the framerate also changes the game speed, so their "new feature" is extremely misleading.

 

[agris]

40 fps (40 ai updates / sec) is the optimal speed to play IE games, IMO. Sensuki has also seen the light iirc.

 

[Fairfax]

40 fps (40 ai updates / sec) is the optimal speed to play IE games, IMO. Sensuki has also seen the light iirc.

IIRC GOG PS:T already comes at 40 fps by default.

 

[syllopsium]

Actually, I think achievements aren't such a dumb idea. Sure, normally they're a bit useless but Torment should come with the following dialogue :

Fell : There's some extra text on your back
TNO : Yeah, 'don't trust the skull' , I know.
Fell: No, 'play with ludicrously high wisdom and intelligence, dummy, and don't forget the golden sphere'

Otherwise players might miss a whole boatload of detail.

 

[Sensuki]

40 fps (40 ai updates / sec) is the optimal speed to play IE games, IMO. Sensuki has also seen the light iirc.

Yeah the only downside is it mucks up the cutscenes a little bit in the BGs because units act faster than the dialogue. Been using 40 since the early 2000s

 

[Luckmann]

It's funny, because I've never really discussed the topic with anyone, but I, too, came to the same conclusion years ago. Not so much in regards to PS:T (where I don't remember ever considering changing it) but for Baldur's Gate, 40 fps is pretty much perfect. I think the standard was 30, which I increased by 50% to 45 fps, but then tuned it down to 40.

 

[Melcar]

I think I may have finally been able to install the widescreen mode on GoG's PST (Linux). Shame it has already taken 45 FUCKING MINUTES to install (isn't done yet).

 

[agris]

I think I may have finally been able to install the widescreen mode on GoG's PST (Linux). Shame it has already taken 45 FUCKING MINUTES to install (isn't done yet).

i recommend you transition from that synchronous tape backup system to a M.2 SSD, your load times will appreciate it.

 

[MRY]

don't forget the golden sphere'

Otherwise players might miss a whole boatload of detail.

 

[Melcar]

I think I may have finally been able to install the widescreen mode on GoG's PST (Linux). Shame it has already taken 45 FUCKING MINUTES to install (isn't done yet).

i recommend you transition from that synchronous tape backup system to a M.2 SSD, your load times will appreciate it.

Install is on a 850 EVO. Some weidu mods simply take an ungodly amount of time to install with Wine (like SCS).

 

[Average Manatee]

40 fps (40 ai updates / sec) is the optimal speed to play IE games, IMO. Sensuki has also seen the light iirc.

Yeah the only downside is it mucks up the cutscenes a little bit in the BGs because units act faster than the dialogue. Been using 40 since the early 2000s

Anyone who could rig the game to play at 60 FPS out of combat and 45 (or 40 as you prefer) in combat deserves all of the EE bucks.

 

[Melcar]

60 seems excessive. Don't know, but such a high frame rate for IE games makes it weird. 40 is the max I would use, and even that takes some getting used to.

 

[Background Character]

The EE remakes aren't that bad if you ignore all the Beamdog bullshit they put in and more importantly if you don't pay for them

Come on how can you actually spend money on that shit, what is wrong with you?

 

[existential_vacuum]

Actually, I think achievements aren't such a dumb idea. Sure, normally they're a bit useless but Torment should come with the following dialogue :

Fell : There's some extra text on your back
TNO : Yeah, 'don't trust the skull' , I know.
Fell: No, 'play with ludicrously high wisdom and intelligence, dummy, and don't forget the golden sphere'

Otherwise players might miss a whole boatload of detail.

WTF? Achievements to help players to get everything in one playthrough? Or handholding dialigue in-game? Just no.
1. If people want to spoil the experience and get everything, they will use walkthrough anyway.
2. If smb misses smth it's on them and is part of replayability. I'm still impressed that after 3 playthroughs years ago I managed to miss something

Spoiler

For instance, finding out the Dead King's secret in Dead Nations, never had high enough CHA to pass a check.
Or catching Dakkon lying when translating Fell. Never thought I need smb interpret for me as I knew dabus language anyway.

3. Forgetting Bronze Sphere is one of the most iconic things, no need to ruin it. The players will find out about it anyway.

 

[Urbanolo]

So I have just today found out that my 4 disc version of PST is unreadable on my DVD player for some reason. What to do, what to do?

 

[Jimmious]

So I have just today found out that my 4 disc version of PST is unreadable on my DVD player for some reason. What to do, what to do?

 

[Sykar]

So I have just today found out that my 4 disc version of PST is unreadable on my DVD player for some reason. What to do, what to do?

Don't buy EE, find a torrent.