KickStarter Lords of Xulima

[anvi]

Fluent have you played MMX, LoG, or Blackguards yet? -.-

 

[Deleted Member 16721]

Fluent have you played MMX, LoG, or Blackguards yet? -.-

No, I haven't played those specific games yet (although I plan on at least hitting MMX sometime soon-ish, possibly Blackguards sometime in the future, too), but I have played enough RPGs like this and really enough RPGs in general to know when I'm playing something good. Good is of course subjective and only applies to my own tastes, so the better phrase would be "playing an RPG I really like". Xulima is a game that resonates with me in many ways and I really appreciate what they've done with it. You should, too, if you're into blobbers and this sort of RPG and want to see more games like this in the future. There's nothing like Xulima out there right now and you should be rooting the developers on to keep going with this style of hardcore gameplay-focused RPG. IMO.

 

[Celerity]

And the award for most misaimed promotion...

https://af.gog.com/game/torment_tid...0170130_weekly_sale&utm_term=EN&as=1649904300

Pre order a storyfag game and get a combatfag game for free. How many people would be legitimately interested in both? Those games are for aslmost diametrically opposed audiences.

 

[Deleted Member 16721]

True, they're about as different as can be, but both still are "old-school style CRPGs" and I think there will be a cross-section of people there who may find some interest in LoX for that reason, IMO. A lot of people will see LoX with that promotion, I think.

 

[Celerity]

I mean it's great they're seeing it, but here's how it's gonna go down.

"Storyfag preorders Torment because Torment."
"Gets Lord of Xulima."
"Whatisthis.mp3"
*tries Xulima as if it were a storyfag game*
*gets shit kicked in by Velegarn guards*
*melee Mage vs Ogre*
*trips out on giant mushrooms*
"WAH THIS GAME SUX!"

I don't see this ending well for Numantian.

 

[Deleted Member 16721]

Lol...That could definitely happen, but it's really no different than someone seeing it's an "old-school style RPG" on Steam and doing the same dang thing.

 

[Celerity]

Yes, and almost every negativie review already there is there because of that. Pair it with a higher profile game, you attract a lot more people that'd never have been interested.

 

[Deleted Member 16721]

IMO it's worth the risk. Exposure to more old-school CRPG fans is what you want, even if said old-school RPG fans might be into other elements more (story, etc.).

But, I just peeped the Steam page for LoX. I'm actually really surprised it has Very Positive reviews overall and is quite highly rated. I expected more Mixed reviews. That's pretty promising, IMO.

 

[Celerity]

As I said, it's pretty obscure. In this case that's an advantage because it means most are not being misdirected. Just imagine if they did a reverse Derpest Dungeon by drawing in the mass casuals while actually making a hardcore game. They'd have worse ratings than No Man's Buy. See the problem yet?

 

[Deleted Member 16721]

What would be a better promotion, then? No matter which game they cross-promote with it's still going to be a hardcore, gameplay/combat-heavy CRPG that casuals will likely hate. At least some if not most who follow Torment closely are at least hardcore CRPG fans (or among the more dedicated CRPG fans, anyway).

 

[Celerity]

Right. But if you pair it with another hardcore combat focused RPG it becomes a mutually beneficial relationship instead of drawing a misaimed audience. That's my point.

 

[Deleted Member 16721]

I understand that, but what are some other hardcore combat-focused RPGs that they can cross-promote with that also have the buzz of Torment right now? Shoot, what are some hardcore combat-focused RPGs released recently period? Serious question I'd like to know.

 

[Celerity]

There's not many, and not any popular ones. That's also kind of the point, it's all Twitcher and clicker storyfaggotry.

 

[Deleted Member 16721]

I just want RPGs that have more interesting mechanics in terms of challenges to overcome and choices to make. Lately I crave deep character development, difficult risk/reward mechanics, tight resource management and tough, tactical combat. Not that that's a new thing for me, but Xulima satisfies that so well. I honestly don't know if I could play a story-heavy RPG right now that doesn't have great mechanics and challenge.

 

[Celerity]

Well Deepest Dark has all those except the story. Good luck finding both in the same game though, they require opposite mindsets.

 

[Humanophage]

LoX is an excellent focus for listening to talk shows and audiobooks. I had a free day yesterday, and played quite a few hours of it, in which I listened to the following:

Uncommon Knowledge (the new Firing Line with Buckley):
Sir Roger Scruton: How to Be a Conservative
Tom Cotton and Immigration
Interview with George W. Bush
Interview with Rand Paul
Interview with Anders Fogh Rasmussen on NATO
The Rise and Fall of Liberalism (in the 1960s)
The Politics of Hollywood with Andrew Breitbart
David Mamet on Conservatism
Harvey Mansfield - The Left on Campus
Daniel Hannan - A Letter of Warning to America
"Understanding Trump" with some young Trump-loving journalist
Donald Trump and Conservative Intellectuals
+ Trump's Poland Speech

I did not sense the game distracting me too much from their conversation, unlike games where you get severely punished for minor missteps, such as Battle Brothers or Eador. While these two are still useful as a focus, the punishment factor prevents you from devoting attention to words. In LoX, almost everyone in your party might very well die in an encounter, and you'll still be fine: just go rest a bit. This is a welcome change from games that reward excessive caution and slow advancement, like X-Com 2 or Xenonauts, which are really easy if you avoid risky moves and crawl very gradually across the level, but the situation can easily spiral out of control if you do not - with permanent consequences. At the same time, non-trash mobs in LoX are sufficiently challenging, so it does not feel like a truly mindless chore. Moreover, the plot is so primitive, the setting so generic, and the text so sparse that you do not feel compelled to read much, which is good in this context. Occasionally hefty loading times, especially on the first map, help you re-focus on the talk. Equipment is scarce enough that you feel a sense of advancement when you get a better weapon, so your mood remains high.

I should try it with a history audiobook.

 

[iZerw]

Blobers in general are very relaxing games.

 

[Jimmious]

I'm surprised you managed to write such a big text after listening to so much crap in a row. Your brain must now be a soup of carbon matter, pretty challenging to compose sentences. Kudos

 

[YES!]

Blobers in general are very relaxing games.

How is this a blobber?

 

[TigerKnee]

Yeah, it's a Dragon Quest Clone.

 

[ERYFKRAD]

Blobers in general are very relaxing games.

How is this a blobber?

In terms of combat, it's the same interface as Might and Magic et al, so.

 

[T. Reich]

LoX is a blobber, with the only difference in how the world exploration looks like - isometric vs 1st person.
It's still vaguely tile-based and 100% turn-based.

 

[YES!]

Blobber means your party moves as one big blob you don't see in first person. It doesn't matter if combat switches to first person. RoA series are blobbers because your party is one big blob. It doesn't matter if this is not true during combat in the RoA series.

This is specifically how it was coined to be used. I believe by Shagnak. LoX is not a blobber. Neither are the top down view Ultimas, Dragon Quests, Final Fantasies, almost every single RPG Maker game, etc. Blobbers are blobbers. LoG is a blobber with rpg elements. MMX is a rpg blobber.

MM, Wizardry, W&W, Grimoire, S&S, RoA, are examples of blobbers. This is freshman stuff. Come on guys.

 

[Viata]

I guess people are mistaking blobber with dungeon crawler.

 

[V_K]

Let's ask ourselves: what's more important gameplay-wise - perspective or the way combat and exploration are realised? I think the answer is pretty obvious.

I guess people are mistaking blobber with dungeon crawler.

From a purist's standpoint LoX isn't a dungeon crawler either since it has quite a bit of overworld exploration.