Pentiment - Josh Sawyer's historical mystery narrative-driven game set in 16th century Bavaria

[Hellion]

I tried watching the section of the video regarding "RPG elements" but gave up because it seemed like they were just going to circle jerk over the "RPG elements" without providing much specific information. From what I was able to watch, this is what I gathered: You pick a background. The game somewhat plays out differently based on player choices. And there are no stats.

Anyone know the specifics? Does the background consist of choosing one general template or is it a series of choices?

You get to pick one background trait representing your main interest (Hedonist, Craftsman, Bookworm, Rapscallion or Business), one region that you studied in (Switzerland, Low Countries or Italy, mostly affects which languages you know) and two areas of study (out of Latinist, Logician, Orator, Occultist and Heavens and Earth) and what you studied in university (either law, medicine or theology). Their impact is pretty minimal, comparable to your background impact in the first Pillars of Eternity. Usually you get some foreign text translated, some extra flavor dialogue, maybe a hint for a (pretty easy) puzzle (there are about 5 puzzles total in the game). I'd say there's almost no reason to replay the game to pick different choices, even the rare cases when I did get to use my traits felt disappointing. For example, I picked medicine as my university area of study and there was a total of one satisfying check for it in the whole game.

Certain vocations also make it easier to pass persuasion skill checks related to your investigations. For example if you need to have said 4 specific "positive" things to an NPC in order to convince him to give you critical information, with no room for error, having a specific vocation gives you a bonus that allows you to pass that check even if you've botched one of the necessary positives.

I think the main replay value comes from accusing different suspects, and watching how the town and its people change in later chapters depending on your choices. And some suspects are pretty much locked behind such persuasion checks, so pursuing them would technically be easier for characters with certain traits.

Also, the Hedonist trait produces some funny dialogue options now and then.

 

[HeroMarine]

The thought we might never see PoE3 directed by him saddens me, but it was bound to happen once MS took Obsidian over.

This was never going to happen anyway. After Deadfire he said he never wanted to work on a Pillars of Eternity game again.

Damn, I haven't played it yet, is PoE2 this bad?

 

[HeroMarine]

Why the fuck one would want another pillars of boring, as 2 weren't enough already. Do I need to remind you fags?



I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU

He probably has to dress up as woman every now and then or they'll ban him from Something Awful.

 

[Darkozric]

Damn, I haven't played it yet, is PoE2 this bad?

It's way better than PoE 1. I liked the isometric art, exploration is better imo and while the turn-based combat was welcomed, it was simplistic. As for the story, the usual Soyer soy boredness.
2 games are enough.

 

[Hellion]

On my second Pentiment playthrough and I just persuaded a 10-year-old girl that the Wild Hunt is a benevolent force and that she should investigate the pagan practices of her ancestors.

10/10 would groom underage German girls to become witches again.

 

[Terenty]

Is the culprit revealed at the end of the game or what? and can you blame the right person if you do a good enough job collecting evidence?

 

[mediocrepoet]

Is the culprit revealed at the end of the game or what? and can you blame the right person if you do a good enough job collecting evidence?

There was a pretty detailed explanation of this a page or two ago.

 

[mediocrepoet]

 

[Heroic Liberator]

10/10 would groom underage German girls to become witches again.

 

[GrafvonMoltke]

Seems p. gud, can't wait to pick it up for a bargain basement price in a sale in three years' time.

 

[Latro]

Why the fuck one would want another pillars of boring, as 2 weren't enough already. Do I need to remind you fags?



I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU

I think josh would be happier as a woman

 

[MicoSelva]

FPS podcast did an interview with Josh Sawyer this week, in case anyone is interested.

 

[Infinitron]

 

[AwesomeButton]

They've always been making a point about their dialogue writing tools, and the dialogues in PoE and Deadfire felt like menus for infodumps much of the time.

 

[ERYFKRAD]

They've always been making a point about their dialogue writing tools, and the dialogues in PoE and Deadfire felt like menus for infodumps much of the time.

Their tools are probably great. The users? Not so much.

 

[HeroMarine]

Ever since they fired MCA it's been downhill.

 

[gongal]

Kingdom Come: NA Journalist Edition

 

[Duraframe300]

 

[Ismaul]

Ever since they fired MCA it's been downhill.

It was downhill from the start. Clones of past successes were the best they managed, it just took a while to see they were wasting their talent away.

 

[Infinitron]

 

[Alienman]

Shitposting... Sawyer is so laid back and cool, man.

Edit:

And boy, everything around this game feels manufactured.

 

[†††]

"I'm sort of back"

He left?

 

[Dadd]

Can someone on twitter ask him to define "shitposting"

 

[mediocrepoet]

Can someone on twitter ask him to define "shitposting"

"That is what humans do when they want to be funny, fellow human."

 

[AwesomeButton]

We have niche memes, just like Disco Elysium. Spoiler: they were made by us and our friends.