Witcher franchise...

[Ravenshire]

I have to disrespectfully disagree about RPGs.  You are saying that an open world game is just about running around discovering new territory.  I don't think so.  I think the mechanics of ANY RPG is that you have to level up your character to access more and more of the content, until you get to a face-meltingly-hard boss fight at the end.  As for unfinished quests: if your quest is to go to a starter cave to collect three moon mushrooms for a potion to cure some kid's puppy's sniffles, I really don't see why if you decide to do it later, you should come back and find glass-armor-wearing badass warriors guarding them.  For me, a world is a world, and whatever "lives" in that world should have nothing to do with my character's level.  Otherwise, I just feel like I'm in some college kids' final design project, running around the world to check out the graphics.

an aside: I've been playing Pillars of Eternity.  So far, I'm pretty impressed.

No, I'm not saying that it's just about running around discovering new territory. I was talking about the difference between a scripted game and an open game. I've never been a big fan of the linear storyline games, even though I played the shit out of all the Baldur's Gate/Neverwinter games. I prefer a completely open (or as close as a game can get) world, especially one where choosing to kill (or not) the asshole in the tavern at level four has an impact to the story line at level 54. You seem to prefer the linear RPG, and that's fine. I prefer replayability and real consequences to in game choices. Linear RPGs just don't have that. I also don't need to super-boss villain at the end of the game to make the game playing experience worth it.

All that being said, PofE does look intriguing even though it is (or at least is presented as) a linear RPG and I may have to give it a try down the road.

[abaris]

All that being said, PofE does look intriguing even though it is (or at least is presented as) a linear RPG and I may have to give it a try down the road.

It is intriguing. And it has a linear story, but with many side quests that aren't fetch and carry. It also recognizes the player's advancement and behavior in the world, as opposed to Elder Scroll titles.

I don't know what you mean with non linear story other than sandbox. Of course they al have a plot that doesn't change.

[dyresand]

I have played a witcher game but it never really caught my attention its one of those games like.... GoT the game where you have to sit and play through it a bit i guesss.

[Ravenshire]

All that being said, PofE does look intriguing even though it is (or at least is presented as) a linear RPG and I may have to give it a try down the road.

It is intriguing. And it has a linear story, but with many side quests that aren't fetch and carry. It also recognizes the player's advancement and behavior in the world, as opposed to Elder Scroll titles.

I don't know what you mean with non linear story other than sandbox. Of course they al have a plot that doesn't change.

Granted, they all have a main plot line that doesn't change, but the linear RPGs will have a quest order that can't be violated or can only vary slightly. "Thou shalt accomplish this before that and that before the other and the other must be done before the next one, etc..." The open world/open story line RPGs will have key quest events that have to be done in order (or else the plot(s) fall apart) but getting from one to the next can be wildly varied from one play through to the next. That's the attraction to the more recent Elder Scrolls games and (it looks like) what the new Witcher title is expanding on.

[abaris]

That's the attraction to the more recent Elder Scrolls games and (it looks like) what the new Witcher title is expanding on.

But let's be honest here. Given the right level, you can be done with the main story of Skyrim in 4 hours. And the rest is just fetch and carry. I loved the concept with Morrowind, since it was something new in 2002, but ten years later I expected quite a bit more.

And that's where all the Witcher games as well as POE or Divinity Original Sin outshine any Elder Scroll title. I haven't played the Witcher for the reasons I've given, but side quests in all three games are quests that often tie in with the main story and the NPC population recognizes who you are and what you achieved and in which way. With POE there's also not what you call a linear plot. Enemies don't scale and so you can move into any region, save a few, but if you're to weak, you probably will get a beating.

[dyresand]

Skyrim was more of a casual game to get people into The Edler Scrolls.

[Ravenshire]

But let's be honest here. Given the right level, you can be done with the main story of Skyrim in 4 hours. And the rest is just fetch and carry. I loved the concept with Morrowind, since it was something new in 2002, but ten years later I expected quite a bit more.

And that's where all the Witcher games as well as POE or Divinity Original Sin outshine any Elder Scroll title. I haven't played the Witcher for the reasons I've given, but side quests in all three games are quests that often tie in with the main story and the NPC population recognizes who you are and what you achieved and in which way. With POE there's also not what you call a linear plot. Enemies don't scale and so you can move into any region, save a few, but if you're to weak, you probably will get a beating.

Now, I'm not claiming Skyrim (or any other Elder Scrolls title) is the end all, be all of RPG gaming, it's just a handy example of an open world with a non-linear story line. It's sounding more and more like the Witcher franchise, and Witcher II in particular, are what I'm looking for. A much better example of what the Elder Scrolls games have been trying to do.

[bennyboy]

Now, I'm not claiming Skyrim (or any other Elder Scrolls title) is the end all, be all of RPG gaming, it's just a handy example of an open world with a non-linear story line. It's sounding more and more like the Witcher franchise, and Witcher II in particular, are what I'm looking for. A much better example of what the Elder Scrolls games have been trying to do.

I don't have a problem with non-linear. I have a problem with advanced mobs showing up in starter areas "just cuz." Why do any questing when I can just keep grinding the same cave a hundred times and have mobs matching my level keep coming to look for a fight until I have collected all the gear I can ever want?

I don't know about the new witcher games. But I do know that in the first one, I would get the crap kicked out of me if I tried to venture to far into the wilderness at a low level. I guess in a sense that's non-linear, but you do have pretty strong constraints to what you are able to do at the beginning.

[John V]

A work colleague highly recommended the first Witcher to me, and as has been noted it's cheap on steam. But I read the reviews and it apparently has some sexually explicit content. Wouldn't want the kids walking by and seeing it, so I haven't tried it.

[bennyboy]

A work colleague highly recommended the first Witcher to me, and as has been noted it's cheap on steam. But I read the reviews and it apparently has some sexually explicit content. Wouldn't want the kids walking by and seeing it, so I haven't tried it.

Yes, as I remember the sex borders on hardcore-- you definitely wouldn't want kids to see it.