Revisiting VtM: Bloodlines

[Excidium II]

SoD wasn't a sequel, and it couldn't be marketed as an FPS either.

I'm more afraid of it turning INTO an FPS than marketing it as one.

I think that's impossible. Obsidian isn't stupid people, they play to their strengths.

 

[Prime Junta]

SoD wasn't a sequel, and it couldn't be marketed as an FPS either.

I'm more afraid of it turning INTO an FPS than marketing it as one.

Nah, no way. A vampire shoot-em-up? Makes no sense. Vampires are physical.

Making a good brawler isn't easy though, and Obsidian has no experience in that regard. I think a Bloodlines sequel would have to be first or third-person, which means either a brawler or KOTOR-esque pseudo-turn-based. The latter they could certainly pull off but it's kind of shitty gameplay; the former would be... challenging.

 

[Excidium II]

I think they can do it better than Bloodlines, at least. Better tooling and more experienced developers.

 

[Bubbles]

SoD wasn't a sequel, and it couldn't be marketed as an FPS either.

I'm more afraid of it turning INTO an FPS than marketing it as one.

I think that's impossible. Obsidian isn't stupid people, they play to their strengths.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armored_Warfare_(video_game)

 

[Excidium II]

aka the project that injects money into Obsidian.

 

[Jaesun]

Jebus H Christmas, 15 minutes to download the 9.5 beta patch from patches scrolls.de....

 

[Lacrymas]

I think that's impossible. Obsidian isn't stupid people, they play to their strengths.

I do wonder what strengths are those. We saw what happened with PoE so I'm really not sure what they are.

Nah, no way. A vampire shoot-em-up? Makes no sense. Vampires are physical.

Making a good brawler isn't easy though, and Obsidian has no experience in that regard. I think a Bloodlines sequel would have to be first or third-person, which means either a brawler or KOTOR-esque pseudo-turn-based. The latter they could certainly pull off but it's kind of shitty gameplay; the former would be... challenging.

The FPS is not only a gameplay genre, but a design focus mindset as well. They may turn it into a linear corridor fest with the illusion of RPGness.

 

[Excidium II]

I do wonder what strengths are those. We saw what happened with PoE so I'm really not sure what they are.

What happened with PoE?

The FPS is not only a gameplay genre, but a design focus mindset as well. They may turn it into a linear corridor fest with the illusion of RPGness.

So it might turn out...like VTMB?

 

[ZagorTeNej]

I think so. Getting the IP would be the biggest obstacle, but they own it now. Having a qualified developer is another challenge, but Obsidian exists and they already have an active partnership.

Finances isn't really an obstacle I think. They're funding Tranny and it's a team of 30 developers. VTMB shpiritual sequel wouldn't need much more people, and would also return much more money.

Well obviously I'm presuming they'd hire Obsidian, especially if they market it as a Bloodlines spiritual sequel. Still, is it that simple? Tyranny is a low budget isometric game, I imagine you'd need a much bigger budget for a FP game, unless you go with "stylized" graphics or something.

 

[baturinsky]

Which clan is the worst fighter in the game then? Malks?

 

[Excidium II]

Which clan is the worst fighter in the game then? Malks?

I haven't played Gangrel but the least combat effective character I ever had was Tremere.

 

[baturinsky]

Why? Blood Shield particularly is quite strong.

 

[Clockwork Knight]

Probably Nosferatu if you count the patch's brawl nerf

 

[ZagorTeNej]

I do wonder what strengths are those. We saw what happened with PoE so I'm really not sure what they are.

Different game, different genre, different type of nostalgia pandering. Bloodlines sequel slamdunk could turn out to be much more in Obsidian's comfort zone than BG clone for Something Awful with systems and setting made from scratch.

The FPS is not only a gameplay genre, but a design focus mindset as well. They may turn it into a linear corridor fest with the illusion of RPGness.

The FPS genre is not inherently tied to linear corridors, quite the opposite, at one time FPS excelled and pushed boundaries in level design.

 

[Lacrymas]

What happened with PoE?

Just generally being shit? :p

So it might turn out...like VTMB?

That was the second half of the game though. Everything before the second half of Hollywood was great. You do have the limitation of it being in (mostly) first person and that's kinda cheap in a role-playing game. It creates the illusion that YOU are the PC, which contradicts the RP part in the RPG :p I think the greatest strength of VtM:B is that it managed to turn the ARPG into something more than it generally is and I'd like to see them try again. I would prefer if it's a party-focused turn-based game, but eeehhh.

 

[Excidium II]

Why? Blood Shield particularly is quite strong.

But they don't have any other ability that buffs combat effectiveness.

That was the second half of the game though.

It's the whole game. You go from point A to point B. Almost no C&C, just some reactivity.

Just generally being shit? :p

It's mostly codex hyperbole.

 

[Maculo]

Which clan is the worst fighter in the game then? Malks?

I haven't played Gangrel but the least combat effective character I ever had was Tremere.

As baturinsky said, Tremere with blood shield can soak up a decent amount of damage. Even though combat skills are capped, I remember being to cut through most weak enemies with blood shield and an axe.

Edit: I also would add that I thought blood shield made Tremere rather economic. You could soak up damage and conserve blood packs and ammo for stronger enemies.

 

[ZagorTeNej]

I haven't played Gangrel but the least combat effective character I ever had was Tremere.

You're kidding right? The game's a breeze with Tremere. They have Blood magic (which covers everything from crowd control, protection and insta-kill) and Auspex (which makes them great at using guns).

Here's the infamous Cemetery quest with a Tremere:




Edit: And against Bishop Vick:

 

[Lacrymas]

Thaumaturgy's execution was kinda boring, overpowered and clunky though. Well, that can be said about the entire combat system.

 

[Jaesun]

So I have the STEAM version, and seriously, there are only 3 display resolution options? Also none of the splash screens show up at all.... the Main Menu does thankfully.

 

[Average Manatee]

Malkavians seems to mostly just say the same, but in more flowery words.

If you pay very careful attention to all of the dialogues, they actually mention stuff no other clan would see. It is rather subtle, and you would have to have played the game before. I thought who ever did that, did a good job of it.

Yeah, the great thing about playing a Malkavian is that the dialog is half bullshit and half prophecy, all gibberish such that you have to think about which is which.

 

[Prime Junta]

So I have the STEAM version, and seriously, there are only 3 display resolution options? Also none of the splash screens show up at all.... the Main Menu does thankfully.

Install Wesp's patch. It'll take care of that and more.

 

[Jaesun]

You continue to do the Lord's work wesp.

 

[Excidium II]

I haven't played Gangrel but the least combat effective character I ever had was Tremere.

You're kidding right? The game's a breeze with Tremere. They have Blood magic (which covers everything from crowd control, protection and insta-kill) and Auspex (which makes them great at using guns).

I didn't abuse blood salvo as much, in retrospect.

I recall only being able to beat tentacle monster with him by exploiting a glitch where her combat AI wouldn't activate.

It was my first character, and trying to experience as much of the game I invested hard in social skills. I probably got the impression of Tremere being weak because of that, armed with meta knowledge my other characters were more optimized.

 

[Maculo]

I haven't played Gangrel but the least combat effective character I ever had was Tremere.

You're kidding right? The game's a breeze with Tremere. They have Blood magic (which covers everything from crowd control, protection and insta-kill) and Auspex (which makes them great at using guns).

I didn't abuse blood salvo as much, in retrospect.

I recall only being able to beat tentacle monster with him by exploiting a glitch where her combat AI wouldn't activate.

Are you referring to Ming-Xiao? I think you can buy a flameflower that cuts her down considerably regardless of gun skill.