1. SPS Accounts:
    Do you find yourself coming back time after time? Do you appreciate the ongoing hard work to keep this community focused and successful in its mission? Please consider supporting us by upgrading to an SPS Account. Besides the warm and fuzzy feeling that comes from supporting a good cause, you'll also get a significant number of ever-expanding perks and benefits on the site and the forums. Click here to find out more.
    Dismiss Notice
Dismiss Notice
You are currently viewing Boards o' Magick as a guest, but you can register an account here. Registration is fast, easy and free. Once registered you will have access to search the forums, create and respond to threads, PM other members, upload screenshots and access many other features unavailable to guests.

BoM cultivates a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. We have been aiming for quality over quantity with our forums from their inception, and believe that this distinction is truly tangible and valued by our members. We'd love to have you join us today!

(If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us. If you've forgotten your username or password, click here.)

BG: Siege of Dragonspear release date, screenshots and more

Discussion in 'BG:EE - Siege of Dragonspear' started by Taluntain, Mar 4, 2016.

  1. Blades of Vanatar

    Blades of Vanatar Vanatar will rise again Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2008
    Messages:
    4,147
    Likes Received:
    224
    Gender:
    Male
    It's a video game about a make believe world where there is magic and dragons and any other thing you can possibly conceive. It's not about us people! Get over yourselves.
     
  2. Keneth Gems: 29/31
    Latest gem: Glittering Beljuril


    ★ SPS Account Holder Resourceful Adored Veteran

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2002
    Messages:
    3,108
    Media:
    20
    Likes Received:
    224
    Gender:
    Male
    Except in this case they do and it's becoming more common. I have nothing against social commentary in games, but when you pollute your franchise with this self-righteous garbage, you don't get to throw a hissy fit when the community response is negative. Especially when it's a franchise like this, which is near and dear to people's hearts, and you have these devs using it as an outlet for their socio-political views and then insulting everyone who dare criticize anything. :rolleyes:
     
    Darion likes this.
  3. Beren

    Beren Lovesick and Lonely Wanderer Staff Member ★ SPS Account Holder Resourceful Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2002
    Messages:
    3,852
    Media:
    950
    Likes Received:
    217
    Gender:
    Male
    Not to mention that one of the writers, Amber Scott, pretty much confirmed that the agenda was there.
     
  4. Keneth Gems: 29/31
    Latest gem: Glittering Beljuril


    ★ SPS Account Holder Resourceful Adored Veteran

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2002
    Messages:
    3,108
    Media:
    20
    Likes Received:
    224
    Gender:
    Male
    That was the assertion in my first sentence. :shake:
     
    Beren likes this.
  5. Blades of Vanatar

    Blades of Vanatar Vanatar will rise again Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2008
    Messages:
    4,147
    Likes Received:
    224
    Gender:
    Male
    That I wasn't aware of....Fair enough I guess. I will try research dev comments to elevate above the rank of uninformed.

    Is the entire expansion this way or is it just about the character? I was thinking about uploading and playing this weekend. If the writing utterly sucks or is an obvious attempt to have me assimilated I would prefer to not purchase it but that would be a shame as I consider myself as big a fan as any when it comes to BG/IWD CRPGs. Only been waiting 20 yrs for another game....
     
  6. Beren

    Beren Lovesick and Lonely Wanderer Staff Member ★ SPS Account Holder Resourceful Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2002
    Messages:
    3,852
    Media:
    950
    Likes Received:
    217
    Gender:
    Male
    What I've heard is that the writing in general is pretty bad.

    And the PC agenda doesn't stop with Mizhena. A couple pages that I've read indicate that Safana has been substantially rewritten. She's no longer flirtatious, and overtly sexual towards men, with a lot of those aspects of her former character being toned down or even completely thrown out, or so I've read.

    Not that I was ever a big fan of Safana, but this has shades of the PC agenda that I often see promulgated to no small degree on university campuses. A woman isn't a real woman unless she eschews any and all sexual encouragements towards men, and avoids any and all sexual interactions with men. It goes without saying that heterosexual men should hang their heads in shame for being male and heterosexual, all the more so should they ever dare to manifest even the slightest degree of romantic or sexual interest in a woman. :rolleyes:

    No thanks ....
     
  7. Darion

    Darion Resident Dissident Veteran BoM XenForo Migration Contributor [2015] (for helping support the migration to new forum software!)

    Joined:
    Feb 6, 2002
    Messages:
    801
    Media:
    1
    Likes Received:
    42
    Gender:
    Male
    The writing is bad.
    And I'm talking generally.
    It was called fan-fiction level writing by many people and I would like to agree with them.
    Well if it wasn't for the fact that I have read FR fan-fiction that was leagues better than this.
    Self-insertion or whatchamacallit i think is the genre Miss Scott does. Some of the writing is downright bratty at times.

    As for the re-imagined characters like Safana...well this one takes the cake. Because most of it reads so weird and pushy.

    On the RPG-Codex, there is a really nice review about his. It mentions that there exists already a fan-perception of these character. Introduced tru those banter-packs or the famous BGNPC project that build and expanded the characters over the decade making us it impossible for us to look at them another way. Which is a solid point.

    People who fall into the apologist crowd accuse the other of nostalgia. But how can it be nostalgia when we play it all the time fresh anew.
     
  8. Keneth Gems: 29/31
    Latest gem: Glittering Beljuril


    ★ SPS Account Holder Resourceful Adored Veteran

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2002
    Messages:
    3,108
    Media:
    20
    Likes Received:
    224
    Gender:
    Male
    I would say that the writing is on average... well, average. There are some good parts, some bad parts, and some truly cringeworthy parts. It's easy to point fingers at the girl and her ill perceived notions of reality, both in-game and in the real world, but it's hardly the only reason the game is failing. The glaring lack of quality assurance for the games they've released so far shows a level of general incompetence and poor project management within the team. Everything from bad UI design, instability, low quality of writing, to horrible marketing schemes.

    I know for a fact that they have good people on the team because I know some of them personally and they've done a great job exposing their work to the community and allowing everyone to clearly interact with them and report outstanding issues, but whether they're just out of their depth or being dragged down by everyone else is anyone's guess. I do hope that someone in that studio is scratching their head and asking themselves where they've gone wrong instead of blaming their failures on all those "transphobic bigots", otherwise the future seems bleak indeed.

    I say let them work out the technical kinks in the coming months and take it for what it is: a free engine upgrade. You were doing just fine without the missing chapter for over 17 years, you sure as hell don't need it now, and since these aren't the original writers, it's just glorified fanfic anyway. Do like so many others and simply forget it exists or wait until you can get it for the price of a beer and use it as an example of how to kill a game franchise and alienate your customers. :shake:
     
    Taluntain likes this.
  9. henkie

    henkie Hammertime Resourceful Adored Veteran New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!)

    Joined:
    Jan 13, 2006
    Messages:
    2,662
    Media:
    38
    Likes Received:
    158
    Gender:
    Male
    Sure enough, but then, why bother with the EEs at all. You were doing just fine without the extra fluff and extra technical difficulties for over 17 years, after all.
     
  10. Keneth Gems: 29/31
    Latest gem: Glittering Beljuril


    ★ SPS Account Holder Resourceful Adored Veteran

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2002
    Messages:
    3,108
    Media:
    20
    Likes Received:
    224
    Gender:
    Male
    Well, you might have been, but I sure wasn't. EEs have afforded me a lot more freedom in my modding endeavors. Before that, my only hope were TobEx and GemRB and there's only so far those could have gone. Not to mention that GemRB would first had to have become the mainstream way of running IE games before making mods that use its features would have made any sense. The engine upgrade is the sole reason I've switched to EE. Everything else is completely irrelevant.
     
  11. henkie

    henkie Hammertime Resourceful Adored Veteran New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!)

    Joined:
    Jan 13, 2006
    Messages:
    2,662
    Media:
    38
    Likes Received:
    158
    Gender:
    Male
    That use-case is fairly atypical, I'd say.
     
  12. Keneth Gems: 29/31
    Latest gem: Glittering Beljuril


    ★ SPS Account Holder Resourceful Adored Veteran

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2002
    Messages:
    3,108
    Media:
    20
    Likes Received:
    224
    Gender:
    Male
    Maybe. IE modding community has always been fairly large, so I'm probably not alone in that. But there other benefits to engine upgrades besides modding support.
     
  13. Keneth Gems: 29/31
    Latest gem: Glittering Beljuril


    ★ SPS Account Holder Resourceful Adored Veteran

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2002
    Messages:
    3,108
    Media:
    20
    Likes Received:
    224
    Gender:
    Male
    Meanwhile, on the internet...

    [​IMG]
     
    Vhailor likes this.
  14. henkie

    henkie Hammertime Resourceful Adored Veteran New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!)

    Joined:
    Jan 13, 2006
    Messages:
    2,662
    Media:
    38
    Likes Received:
    158
    Gender:
    Male
    Modding for sh*ts and giggles.
     
  15. Taluntain

    Taluntain Resident Alpha and Omega Staff Member ★ SPS Account Holder Resourceful Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) BoM XenForo Migration Contributor [2015] (for helping support the migration to new forum software!)

    Joined:
    Jun 11, 2000
    Messages:
    23,475
    Media:
    494
    Likes Received:
    538
    Gender:
    Male
    Nice matching portrait, Apache. :shake:
     
  16. xosmi Gems: 20/31
    Latest gem: Garnet


    Resourceful Adored Veteran

    Joined:
    Apr 30, 2006
    Messages:
    1,289
    Media:
    60
    Likes Received:
    145
    Gender:
    Male
    For some reason that whole dialog with mizhena reminds me of this greentext :


    [​IMG]
     
  17. dmc

    dmc Speak softly and carry a big briefcase Staff Member Distinguished Member ★ SPS Account Holder Resourceful Adored Veteran New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!)

    Joined:
    Dec 13, 2001
    Messages:
    8,731
    Media:
    88
    Likes Received:
    379
    Gender:
    Male
    That was funny. I am glad I am too old to be in the thick of this nonsense.
     
  18. Beren

    Beren Lovesick and Lonely Wanderer Staff Member ★ SPS Account Holder Resourceful Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2002
    Messages:
    3,852
    Media:
    950
    Likes Received:
    217
    Gender:
    Male
    Just to add an additional perspective.

    I don't object to gay or lesbian or trans characters in the story, as long as it was integral to a coherent and well thought out story. For example, Leliana totally works for me as a bisexual character. There was a well thought out backstory that tied in with her character quest and story arc as well. Marjolaine was her mentor, and ultimately her lover as well. How could Leliana not feel a certain vulnerability around Marjolaine, and look up to her as both a mentor and a lover? And the ensuing betrayal really had to sting. Granted, that whole thing had a rather scary teacher-student exploitation dynamic to it. But then again, I could totally see that happening in the DA universe, which only adds to the credibility and realism of the whole thing.

    If a lesbian gamer enjoys getting with Leliana in her game, more power to her. It's her game and if it's what she likes, that's her business. Of course, in my game, I play a male character and always make sure that Leliana jumps over to my team. ;)

    This on the other hand, it doesn't get any more forced and shoehorned than that. I want to enjoy my game, not get preached at or have ultra-PC rammed down my throat in this fashion. I won't be wasting any $ on this.
     
  19. Eyebreaker7

    Eyebreaker7 Someone clean my litter box ★ SPS Account Holder Veteran New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!)

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2008
    Messages:
    1,371
    Media:
    15
    Likes Received:
    17
    Gender:
    Male
    I've known quite a few gay/lesbian people throughout my life so far and never have any of them tried to pressure me in any way.
    I haven't played this SoD yet but from what I'm reading it is going to be quite a ride indeed.
    I myself am a straight male with no problems with any of the sexes or sexual orientation. If that's you I'm happy for you. Just don't try and cram it down my throat and hit on me. One thing I have learned is that they don't "force it down your throat". At least my friends didn't. The best part about it was that none of them, a couple dozen, ever "threw themselves at me". They just let it be know that they were (in case I got interested) and everyone went on to live happily ever after.
    They're nothing to be afraid of. Just make it known that your not, if your not, and everything will be fine.
    As for this game? I'm waiting for a patch or 2 til I get it and see just how "bad" it is.
    Are they npcs in your party or are they npcs you just talk to?
     
  20. Beren

    Beren Lovesick and Lonely Wanderer Staff Member ★ SPS Account Holder Resourceful Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2002
    Messages:
    3,852
    Media:
    950
    Likes Received:
    217
    Gender:
    Male
    I've seen a video of the Mizhena interaction. She's a merchant. One of the dialogue options that screams out to be selected is a politer form of "what's with your name?" And that leads to a lengthy exposition that preaches acceptance of transgendered people. I'm not quite doing it justice here. But when I saw the video myself, it was basically a dialogue that had very little to do with the fact that Mizhena is a merchant, when most other BG universe merchants it's simply a matter of "can I see your goods". The closest thing to an extended dialogue with a merchant is with Ribald, "Hey, what's with all those nice trophies in your room?" With Mizhena, it's a forced dialogue that doesn't flow naturally from the context or anything else, and that's where the shoehorned bit comes in.

    Rewriting Safana is an even worse PC idiocy imho.
     
Sorcerer's Place is a project run entirely by fans and for fans. Maintaining Sorcerer's Place and a stable environment for all our hosted sites requires a substantial amount of our time and funds on a regular basis, so please consider supporting us to keep the site up & running smoothly. Thank you!

Sorcerers.net is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to products on amazon.com, amazon.ca and amazon.co.uk. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.