Incline Chris Avellone Appreciation Station

[Irenaeus III]

I dunno, I always found her calm reaction to that townswoman being ravaged by geckos a bit disturbing.

Maybe she's German.

 

[Fairfax]

Genese Davis interview (there's another interview first, MCA joins after the ~15min mark)



- Small talk first, MCA is happy, etc.
- Explains how he got into RPGs for the 918937894th time.
- Tells the story of how he got into D:OS2, sat down with Swen, etc.
- He says the game showed he has a lot to learn, mainly due to 2 mechanics that he never though would work.
1st is choosing origin stories with "incredibly specific" stuff for the PC, like an immediate family.
2nd is the origin stories for each player can be at odds. One might be doing something the other secretly doesn't want to happen.
- He was recently exposed to new technology that he wasn't familiar with. Worked with Digital Funk Machine on a VR dialogue system, said it was fascinating and that he wants to work with them again.
- He loves Gone Home.
- He told Gone Home's composer the soundtrack almost made him cry. Composer said "Almost? that's the worst compliment ever" or something like that.
- Host has a high-pitched voice, but her elocution and diction are better than the average podcaster. She rarely said "like" or "ummm" in the middle of sentences. She basically says wow to everything Chris says, though.
- She asks for any tip or advice he could share.
He says "refreshing yourself with the game's pillars" can solve questions and problems you might have. "Sometimes one answer serves the game's pillars better than the other one". The other one is "sometimes you have to get away from the computer" and keep the question in the back of your mind.
- Liked Journey, said it was beautiful, that it didn't feel like a game, and more of an experience you go through.
- She asks for more advice he could pass along.
"Nothing is stopping you from being part of a game right now, or making a mod on your own".
Working for free opens doors to other situations that will reward you. Tells people to volunteer for Kickstarters.
People wanting to write: "know the lore, know the franchise, do your research, respect the franchise".
- His girlfriend is helping him set up his own website, but he's been too busy to work on it, so he'll get his current projects out of the way first.

 

[Perkel]

Sunny's best companion. Doesn't talk much, roughs shit up.

 

[orcinator]

I hate the word "lore" as it is used to refer to the backstory and setting of RPGs. Its LARPy and pretentious. Back before MMORPGs I always just referred to it with those words, backstory and setting. Part of the "lore" of Titan Quest is the myths and legends of Roman and Greek mythology but no one refers to those as "lore" except in relation to recent dumb RPG convetions that I am willing to bet can be traced to Everquest. Back in the 1990s if you had referred to some game's backstory that I had done myself as "lore" I think I would have smacked you.

"if there are shields in the game then the "backstory" is called "lore""

 

[Neanderthal]

And on a day when I'm not writing Numenera companions, I will try to answer any other questions in this thread (Fairfax has one, although there's probably a dozen more I haven't had a chance to read yet).

Well since you're offerin: Albatross an Sie in Alpha Protocol, were this a nod to Doctor Who an is assistant? Albatross dint seem kinda bloke who'd bother wi a scarf, so I thought it might be an homage to old Tom Baker.

 

[racofer]

 

[MRY]

I hate the word "lore" as it is used to refer to the backstory and setting of RPGs. Its LARPy and pretentious. Back before MMORPGs I always just referred to it with those words, backstory and setting. Part of the "lore" of Titan Quest is the myths and legends of Roman and Greek mythology but no one refers to those as "lore" except in relation to recent dumb RPG convetions that I am willing to bet can be traced to Everquest. Back in the 1990s if you had referred to some game's backstory that I had done myself as "lore" I think I would have smacked you.

"Lore" is a single, monosyllabic Anglo-Saxon word that broadly covers the field of ideas relevant to the game. Per the Churchill maxim, it thus is better than "backstory and setting."

 

[Fairfax]

Sauce: Post Random Images

MCA is lurking.

 

[Immortal]

I think there should be a Brandon Adler Appreciation Thread!

And an Anthony Davis one, too.

And...

And on a day when I'm not writing Numenera companions, I will try to answer any other questions in this thread (Fairfax has one, although there's probably a dozen more I haven't had a chance to read yet).

Anthony Davis is a pretty bad ass dude.

 

[Jedi Master Radek]

racofer You are fucking influential!

 

[Drax]

"Chris Avellone atualizou a foto do perfil"
So Fairfax is either portuguese or hue...
(or one of those little weird places that also speak hue)

 

[Fairfax]

"Chris Avellone atualizou a foto do perfil"
So Fairfax is either portuguese or hue...
(or one of those little weird places that also speak hue)

:ehue:

Spoiler

 

[Irenaeus III]

#LMAO

 

[CptMace]

"Chris Avellone atualizou a foto do perfil"
So Fairfax is either portuguese or hue...
(or one of those little weird places that also speak hue)

:ehue:

Spoiler

Vai te foder caralho !

 

[Average Manatee]

There's a mod that does that.

I don't like her anyway, she's like a walking symbol of "optional" tutorials you have to do anyway because they give XP (and other rewards).

Well, she didn't get a lot of character development, but I liked that she was more down to earth type. It's good to have a "common sense" type that can be realistic or even cynical when things become silly. I guess Raul filled that role already, though.

The thing about intro characters is that, for better or worse, they're usually the ones who get you on your feet. I think it's odd when the characters who help you out when you're a nobody die or are forced to be left behind. It's a much better opportunity to develop a deeper connection with the companion, as they can go through thick and thin with the player through the entire game. Better than the people you can recruit when you're already the Chosen One or the badass in the world with a full party.

In PS:T, for instance, bringing Morte along since the very beginning makes the events towards the end much more impactful. In PoE, it's too early for the player to actually care that the prologue companions died, but they still could've been the only ones that shared the first encounter with Thaos and the biwascwq with you.

I agree for games like PS:T or Arcanum, but for a game with max 1 human companion it runs the risk of the tutorial NPC becoming the "default" companion for the PC without any room for others. Imagine if the party limit was 2, you'd probably be fairly unlikely to leave Morte or Virgil behind and later characters would be passed by. Plus its fairly traditional in Fallout games for the player to be on their own until they can find companions outside of the starting area.

Another quest leg or something to hunt down powder gangers taking you a bit more out of town would be alright, but end it there. Some characters have to have ties to the local area and be too busy to follow you everywhere.

 

[ArchAngel]

I think there should be a Brandon Adler Appreciation Thread!

And an Anthony Davis one, too.

And...

And on a day when I'm not writing Numenera companions, I will try to answer any other questions in this thread (Fairfax has one, although there's probably a dozen more I haven't had a chance to read yet).

Anthony Davis is a pretty bad ass dude.

Yea, he is. He is not afraid to leak us insider info from Obsidian.

It is how we know Josh has a pet bath ducky called Banalce and Badler likes My little Pony show.

 

[serch]

TC and MCA are in a need to dog basis. What could this imply for our gaming needs?

 

[Jedi Master Radek]

If dog approves, MCA and Tim Cain will be able to make a game together!

 

[Jasede]

If they hadn't made that crime against mankind that is PoE and if that terrible iPad company wasn't making these BG-Enriched Editions (Sorry Chris, I know they give you money...) I'd say it's a sly Black Hound reference. But of course it's not.

 

[CptMace]

that crime against mankind that is PoE

Holy fucking shit.

 

[AwesomeButton]

that crime against mankind that is PoE

Holy fucking shit.

Some people are taking this shit too seriosly for their own good

I'm really glad Chris Avellone is stalking the thread. Chris, I'm very thankful for all the experience you've been sharing with people in public lectures and interviews, regarding game-, and RPG design. I have a lot of things I'd like to hear your opinion on, and I'll ask in due time.

Also, nice choice of an avatar picture. Which reminds me of my portrait picture, which in turn reminds me of:

- When are we going to resume the torture of you playing Arcanum publicly on Twitch?

 

[serch]

Could be a MCA's arcanum playthrough reference. You know, dogs/wolves

 

[FeelTheRads]

Dog will kill MCA.

 

[Fairfax]

There's a mod that does that.

I don't like her anyway, she's like a walking symbol of "optional" tutorials you have to do anyway because they give XP (and other rewards).

Well, she didn't get a lot of character development, but I liked that she was more down to earth type. It's good to have a "common sense" type that can be realistic or even cynical when things become silly. I guess Raul filled that role already, though.

The thing about intro characters is that, for better or worse, they're usually the ones who get you on your feet. I think it's odd when the characters who help you out when you're a nobody die or are forced to be left behind. It's a much better opportunity to develop a deeper connection with the companion, as they can go through thick and thin with the player through the entire game. Better than the people you can recruit when you're already the Chosen One or the badass in the world with a full party.

In PS:T, for instance, bringing Morte along since the very beginning makes the events towards the end much more impactful. In PoE, it's too early for the player to actually care that the prologue companions died, but they still could've been the only ones that shared the first encounter with Thaos and the biwascwq with you.

I agree for games like PS:T or Arcanum, but for a game with max 1 human companion it runs the risk of the tutorial NPC becoming the "default" companion for the PC without any room for others. Imagine if the party limit was 2, you'd probably be fairly unlikely to leave Morte or Virgil behind and later characters would be passed by. Plus its fairly traditional in Fallout games for the player to be on their own until they can find companions outside of the starting area.

Another quest leg or something to hunt down powder gangers taking you a bit more out of town would be alright, but end it there. Some characters have to have ties to the local area and be too busy to follow you everywhere.

I think a companion can become the "default" companion for other reasons (usually combat skills). I think people switch companions in Fallout all the time, as most players talk about all of the companions in one way or another. Morte is a must-have because he was specifically designed for PS:T. I don't think it would've worked in a game with 1 companion.

that crime against mankind that is PoE

Holy fucking shit.

Some people are taking this shit too seriosly for their own good

I'm really glad Chris Avellone is stalking the thread. Chris, I'm very thankful for all the experience you've been sharing with people in public lectures and interviews, regarding game-, and RPG design. I have a lot of things I'd like to hear your opinion on, and I'll ask in due time.

Also, nice choice of an avatar picture. Which reminds me of my portrait picture, which in turn reminds me of:

- When are we going to resume the torture of you playing Arcanum publicly on Twitch?

He said on twitter that he'll get back to it eventually, and that he's considering creating a let's play channel on youtube.

 

[Aenra]

Chris Avellone senpai!
/expressions of admiration and assorted drivel

- If the opportunity arose for a 1st/3rd person vampire RPG, IP-less, so no restrictions or 'guidance'. Would it interest you? How would you go writing about it considering what's already been out there?
- Does hope really die last..?



edit: Don't answer that last bit, lol