Update #13: 50K Backers Brings New Mega Dungeon, Stretch Goals and More! (PayPal Too!)
Happy Monday! We've reached 50,000 backers, and have a special reward for everyone. Details below. Also coming this week, we have more updates about the development and creation of the game. Tomorrow, Justin Bell will discuss the process for composing the music for our trailer video. On Wednesday, Josh will update with more details about the game's design, and we are going to unveil a awesome art piece that we’ve been working on.
Oh, PayPal is also coming on Wednesday!
The 50,000 Backer Reward
We are very excited to announce a reward to all backers that have helped us come this far. Today we are introducing The Endless Paths of Od Nua - a new dungeon experience for Project Eternity:
In the western reaches of the Dyrwood lies the Endless Paths, an ancient network of cobbled trails that wind through arches of dense overgrowth, twisting within the confines of a high castle wall as they make their way to the gates of iron-shuttered towers that jut forth from the interior. In ages past, the towers rising from the gardens to pierce the canopy of the forest once marked the dominion of the castle's relentless, crazed builder: Od Nua. But the courses of Od Nua's madness run far below the surface, stretching forever deeper into wandering catacombs and bone-cramped oubliettes unseen by living eyes for centuries. The Endless Paths, as the old Glanfathans call them, cannot be walked by the living, but the storytellers say with certainty that many strong souls have found a permanent home beneath the grieving creator's estate.
Most else that is said and written of the place is fiction or conjecture, more likely to have sprouted from the svef-enhanced imaginations of bored and boasting mercenaries than from any seed of truth. Hosts of lost souls that relentlessly stalk the living, cathedral-sized tombs overflowing with the restless victims of a horrific plague, lightless chambers sealing in the remnants of Od Nua's failed experiments. Most legends converge on a common theme: that under the castle rest myriad forgotten vaults of death and darkness glittering with Od Nua's enchanted creations and the abandoned treasure of ill-fated interlopers. So great is the fear of the castle's denizens that even drunken and drug-cheered adventurers do not joke of setting foot on the paths, lest their souls join the eternal ranks of those that have gone before them.
The current plan is to make The Endless Paths with three subterranean levels, but it can grow larger with your help. For every 2,500 additional backers, the depths of Od Nua’s castle become deeper, which means one additional level will be added to the vaults. Continue to spread the word about Project Eternity, and let's see how big we can make The Endless Paths!
Crafting and Enchanting at $2.4 Million
We also have a new stretch goal at $2.4 million dollars to announce: Crafting and Enchanting!
Crafting and enchanting in Project Eternity will allow players to use objects and materials they find during exploration to both create consumable items like potions and scrolls as well as give their gear custom upgrades that can't be accomplished by other means. This system is intended to be easy to use and very flexible, allowing players to customize many aspects of what they can create or alter. Whether it's brewing basic potions from herbs and minerals commonly found throughout the world or upgrading a humble broadsword into a custom-named, magically-imbued weapon of distinctive and legendary power, we want to give players the ability to make it. On the development side of things, we also want to make the system as data-driven as possible, allowing us to easily extend our list of recipes in the future.
Each stretch goal we hit not only adds new features to the game like crafting, but also makes the game larger by adding more content, quests, dialogue, and characters. Together, we've already added two new races, companions and classes, along with a player house. $2.2 million is very close which adds a new faction and region, and there are more exciting stretch goals planned if we make it past $2.4 million and beyond.
New Add-Ons
Additionally, we have two new add-ons for you:
- Add an Early Access Beta Key for $25. The beta key is the same reward at the $110 and up levels, but now you can add it as an extra at the lower tiers.
- Add a Digital Strategy Guide for $7. The digital strategy guide is also included in the $80 and up levels, but now you can add it as an extra at the lower tiers. This will cost more when we ship the game, so get in on the opportunity to save!
As a quick tutorial on how to add add-ons, go to the Project Eternity Kickstarter site and hit the Manage Your Pledge button. The reward tier you had already picked will still be selected and the amount will be in the big box at the top. All you need to do is add the dollar amount that covers the add-ons you would like to your pledge and enter the new total number. For instance, if you are at the $35 Pledge level and want to add the Beta Key, you would enter $60 as your total pledge. We’ll send you a fulfillment survey after the Kickstarter period is over and you can specify what you wanted to do with any excess monies added.
Thank you!
Update by Adam Brennecke and Josh Sawyer
73,986
Backers
$3,986,929
pledged of $1,100,000 goal
0
seconds to go
Funding period
Sep 14, 2012 -
Oct 16, 2012
- First created · 46 backed
- Has not connected Facebook
- Website: eternity.obsidian.net
Pledge $5 or more
317 backers
Thank you for your pledge! Everyone at Obsidian loves you! Every backer for this level or more will receive a KICKSTARTER BACKER BADGE on the PROJECT ETERNITY forums. We want to invite you to our forums where you get a place to speculate about the game, offer suggestions, and interact with the development team.
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $20 or more
25000 backers All gone!
For early backers only! DIGITAL DOWNLOADABLE COPY OF PROJECT ETERNITY. This limited price point is only available for the first backers of PROJECT ETERNITY. All Kickstarter backers will receive a special Kickstarter only in-game achievement and item. (The item will not affect the game's balance). Includes Cooking with Tim – An RPG-themed e-Cookbook, and Making of Project Eternity Documentary (streaming).
Estimated delivery: Apr 2014Pledge $25 or more
20921 backers
DIGITAL DOWNLOADABLE COPY OF PROJECT ETERNITY. This price is only available for those who help fund before the game is released! All Kickstarter backers will receive a special Kickstarter only in-game achievement and item. (The item will not affect the game's balance). Includes Cooking with Tim – An RPG-themed e-Cookbook, and Making of Project Eternity Documentary (streaming).
Estimated delivery: Apr 2014Pledge $35 or more
8394 backers
Previous reward tier + DIGITAL DOWNLOADABLE SOUNDTRACK + DIGITAL COLLECTOR'S BOOK IN PDF FORMAT. The digital book will include concept art, player's handbook, monster manual, exclusive information about the campaign setting and characters, and the Making of Project Eternity Documentary (download option).
Estimated delivery: Apr 2014Pledge $50 or more
5727 backers
DIGITAL ONLY TIER - All previous digital rewards + NEW NOVELLA BY CHRIS AVELLONE (PDF) + DIGITAL CAMPAIGN ALMANAC + EXCLUSIVE IN-GAME PET + DIGITAL HIGH RESOLUTION GAME MAP + DIGITAL HIGH RESOLUTION CONCEPT ART PIECES + WALLPAPERS FOR MULTIPLE MONITORS + RINGTONES . You will get a new, original novella written by Chris Avellone and multiple high resolution downloads of concept art and wallpaper (single through triple monitor resolutions). We've also added in a super high resolution PDF of the game map. Our great audio guys are also going to pick out some of the best sound effects and music for you to have a little of Project Eternity on your phone.
Estimated delivery: Apr 2014Pledge $65 or more
3818 backers
Previous reward tier + BOX VERSION OF PROJECT ETERNITY. The boxed copy will include a DVD version of the game and a printed manual. This is in addition to the digital version of the game (so 2 copies total!). Please add $15 for international shipping.
Estimated delivery: Apr 2014Pledge $80 or more
769 backers
DIGITAL ONLY TIER - All previous digital rewards + DIGITAL STRATEGY GUIDE PDF + ANOTHER DIGITAL DOWNLOAD OF THE GAME. We are going to be working in conjunction with a great strategy guide company and at this reward level you will get a PDF of the guide. You will also get a second key to enjoy Project Eternity on another computer, platform, or as a gift to a friend.
Estimated delivery: Apr 2014Pledge $100 or more
1041 backers
Previous reward tier + a PROJECT ETERNITY T-SHIRT + SPECIAL THANKS IN GAME CREDITS + THANK YOU POSTCARD FROM THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM + VIP FORUM BADGE. We really appreciate your contribution, and by showing our appreciation we will add your name to the game's credits and send you a thank you note in the mail. This tier will also unlock a special VIP badge in the PROJECT ETERNITY forums. Please add $20 for international shipping.
Estimated delivery: Apr 2014Pledge $110 or more
792 backers
COLLECTORS DIGITAL ONLY TIER - All rewards from the previous digital tiers + SPECIAL THANKS IN GAME CREDITS + THANK YOU POSTCARD FROM THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM (sent physically) + VIP FORUM BADGE + EARLY ACCESS BETA KEY + all the other digital rewards of the $140 tier available now and added during the Kickstarter campaign. If you are looking for all the rewards of the Collector's Edition, but you don't need the physical goods, then this is a great reward tier for you.
Estimated delivery: Apr 2014Pledge $140 or more
3496 backers
Previous reward tier + we will upgrade your box to a COLLECTOR'S EDITION BOX. You will find a CLOTH MAP OF THE GAME WORLD and the PROJECT ETERNITY CLOTH PATCH inside the box + EARLY BETA ACCESS + PROJECT ETERNITY MOUSE PAD. The collector's edition box will include a cloth map just like the old RPGs that we love. You will also get early access to the game with a BETA KEY. Includes Making of Project Eternity Documentary (DVD/Blu-ray). The game patch is an embroidered high quality non-iron on patch. Game patches are a tradition at Obsidian, and we want to share that tradition with you! Please add $20 for international shipping.
Estimated delivery: Apr 2014Pledge $165 or more
972 backers
FIRST EXPANSION/WASTELAND2 DIGITAL ONLY TIER - All rewards from the previous digital tiers + PROJECT ETERNITY'S FIRST EXPANSION + DRM free digital download copy of WASTELAND 2 + all the other digital rewards of the $250 tier available now and added during the Kickstarter campaign. If you don't need the physical goods, then this is a great reward tier for you.
Estimated delivery: Apr 2014Pledge $250 or more
1746 backers
Previous reward tier + you get your COLLECTOR'S EDITION BOX signed by CHRIS AVELLONE, TIM CAIN, JOSH SAWYER, and the rest of the development team + full color printed PROJECT ETERNITY COLLECTOR'S BOOK + an elite version of the PROJECT ETERNITY CLOTH PATCH. The book will be a full color book that includes concept art, player's handbook, monster manual, exclusive information about the campaign setting and characters, and a special behind the scenes look at making the game. Please add $30 for international shipping.
Estimated delivery: Apr 2014Pledge $350 or more
30 backers All gone!
Obsidian-AMD Loot Bag (US. ONLY). The Loot Bag contains an AMD Processor donated by our incredible friends over at AMD, a signed Obsidian game (not Project Eternity), and a random assortment of Obsidian loot such as pens, coasters, t-shirts, game patches, doodles, etc. The AMD Processor is an A10, does not have a heat sink attached, and will be shipped OEM style. The Loot Bag includes everything in the $250 tier level too. Since we are shipping computer parts, we can't ship outside the USA with this one.
Estimated delivery: Apr 2014Pledge $500 or more
367 backers
The Complete Kickstarter Obsidian Pack: signed COLLECTOR'S EDITION BOX (cloth map, elite cloth patch, and printed manual included) + your name and a personalized message on a MEMORIAL STONE IN-GAME + full color PROJECT ETERNITY *HARD COVER* COLLECTOR'S BOOK SIGNED by the development team + A GOLD PLEDGE SPECIAL THANKS in the credits + T-SHIRT + DIGITAL DOWNLOADABLE COPY OF PROJECT ETERNITY + DIGITAL DOWNLOADABLE SOUNDTRACK + A GOLD PLEDGE VIP FORUM BADGE. Your name will also go on our top pledger plaque in our office, so we can always remember your special contribution.
Estimated delivery: Apr 2014Pledge $750 or more
29 backers Limited (1 of 30 left)
Chris Avellone draws you a CUSTOM TROLL PORTRAIT. Chris Avellone has graciously volunteered to draw a custom troll portrait for you to help raise additional funding towards our last stretch goal target of $3.5m for Big City #2. Chris will number and sign the portrait, write a humorous message to you, and a print will be physically and digitally sent to you. This is a limited run of 30 at a $750 tier (includes all the goods in the $500 tier), so get in quickly. If you are above the $750 tier and would like a custom troll by Chris Avellone please contact Obsidian and we will work with you.
Estimated delivery: Apr 2014Pledge $1,000 or more
114 backers Limited (86 of 200 left)
NAME AND DESIGN AN NPC (Non-Player Character). Help us design PROJECT ETERNITY! We will send you a PROJECT ETERNITY NPC character sheet for you to fill out for our design team. We will turn your personalized character design, with your name, class, and race into an NPC in the shipped game (within reason of course). You will also receive The Complete Kickstarter Obsidian Pack ($500 reward tier) + 5 EXTRA DIGITAL DOWNLOADABLE COPIES OF PROJECT ETERNITY to gift your friends and family.
Estimated delivery: Apr 2014Pledge $1,000 or more
49 backers Limited (1 of 50 left)
HELP DESIGN AN EPIC HIGH LEVEL WEAPON, ARMOR OR ARTIFACT. Help us design PROJECT ETERNITY! Your personalized item will be used by thousands of players and will be one of the best in the game. You can provide the lore, look, and type of the item (within reason), and we will put it in the shipped game. You will also receive The Complete Kickstarter Obsidian Pack ($500 reward tier) + 5 EXTRA DIGITAL DOWNLOADABLE COPIES OF PROJECT ETERNITY to gift your friends and family.
Estimated delivery: Apr 2014Pledge $3,000 or more
7 backers Limited (13 of 20 left)
BECOME A CUSTOM PORTRAIT IN THE GAME + GET A SIGNED ART PRINT OF YOUR PORTRAIT. Help us design PROJECT ETERNITY! Your personalized portrait will be seen and used thousands of players. With a supplied photograph and some additional input from you, a talented Obsidian artist will make a custom portrait to be used in the shipped game. The artist will sign a print of the portrait that will be sent to you. You will also receive The Complete Kickstarter Obsidian Pack ($500 reward tier) + 5 EXTRA DIGITAL DOWNLOADABLE COPIES OF PROJECT ETERNITY to gift your friends and family.
Estimated delivery: Apr 2014Pledge $5,000 or more
3 backers Limited (3 of 6 left)
NAME AND HELP DESIGN AN ENEMY ADVENTURING COMPANY. What beats the classic RPG challenge of squaring off against a diverse enemy party with skills, abilities, and equipment to match your own? Nothing, that's what! Now you can design a crew of knuckle-cracking skull-crushers to ambush players at the worst possible moment. Ha, HA! You are the devil himself! We will send you six PROJECT ETERNITY NPC character sheets for you to fill out for our design team. We will turn your personalized party design into a lethal wrecking crew to oppose the player in the shipped game (within reason of course). You will also receive The Complete Kickstarter Obsidian Pack ($500 reward tier) + 15 EXTRA DIGITAL DOWNLOADABLE COPIES OF PROJECT ETERNITY to gift your friends and family. You also get the top tier WATCHER FORUM BADGE.
Estimated delivery: Apr 2014Pledge $5,000 or more
5 backers All gone!
NAME AND HELP DESIGN AN INN OR TAVERN. Help us design PROJECT ETERNITY! Your personalized area will be prominently seen in the shipped game. You can name it (within reason), and with your input, the design team at Obsidian will create an inn or tavern in your honor. You will also receive The Complete Kickstarter Obsidian Pack ($500 reward tier) + 10 EXTRA DIGITAL DOWNLOADABLE COPIES OF PROJECT ETERNITY to gift your friends and family + DESIGN AND NAME AN NPC + DESIGN AN EPIC WEAPON. You also get the top tier WATCHER FORUM BADGE.
Estimated delivery: Apr 2014Pledge $10,000 or more
5 backers
The Ultimate Pledge Pack. We really want to thank you for your generous pledge in person. You will receive an INVITE TO THE OBSIDIAN PROJECT ETERNITY DEVELOPER LAUNCH PARTY + AN INVITE TO COME PLAY A GAME AT OBSIDIAN. You and a buddy get to party with the game developers at Obsidian and get a behind the scenes tour of the Obsidian office. You get to have a once in a lifetime opportunity to play a board or pen and paper game of your choice with Chris Avellone, Tim Cain, Josh Sawyer, and Feargus Urquhart! You must be able to pay for travel and accommodations to the Obsidian office in Irvine, California for the party and game day. You will receive everything else: The Complete Kickstarter Obsidian Pack ($500 reward tier) + 10 EXTRA DIGITAL DOWNLOADABLE COPIES OF PROJECT ETERNITY to gift your friends and family + DESIGN AND NAME AN NPC + DESIGN AN EPIC WEAPON + CUSTOM PORTRAIT. You also get the top tier WATCHER FORUM BADGE.
Estimated delivery: Apr 2014
Comments
Creator fredgiblet on October 3, 2012
@Louise
The endless dungeon is sort of a stretch goal, everyoen will get it, the backers coutner is just a size thing
Creator LosT_SouL_VL on October 3, 2012
Great stretch goals to come also I like the the add-ons.
Creator Tovarah - Weresheeptiger of Noshrac on October 3, 2012
I just want to know, will backers who back after the 50k mark still have access to the endless paths too? All in all though, Project Eternity is sounding more and more awesome each and every update!
Creator OHM on October 3, 2012
I believe it would be a good idea to release some more stretch goals already. Having that "carrot on a stick", before this kickstarter goes into its final days.
Creator Sadie on October 2, 2012
I had no idea crafting in RPGs was so controversial. Learn something new everyday, I guess.
"If you can craft our own items, the pleasure to loot items will decrease too." I've seen this thinking a few times in the comments and it confuses me. Why would it do that? I love crafting, it's fun to custom make armor and swords, especially if I can also name them, and add enchantments I like. It's also super fun to bust into a dungeon and open everything and loot everything from the bodies of my fallen enemies. I've never thought, "Huh, well, why would I go into that cave of mystery and take down the boss in there because I can just go make my own cool armor." That's silly. I've course I'm going in that cave and looting everything I can possibly carry out, including weapons and armor, and enjoy every second of it.
Creator Jonathan on October 2, 2012
I wonder if Obsidian could tell us more about how they expect to run the Beta Access? What will it look like? How early will the access be? Do they anticipate people giving bug reports? I want to know more about the Beta access before I up my pledge. Thanks. Looking forward to it.
Creator Shaun on October 2, 2012
Now I find myself reminiscing about the crafting system in NWN2, the way you guys did enchanting to mirror the D&D 3.5 system was brilliant. I would love to see something like that in eternity.
Creator Paul West on October 2, 2012
I have to agree with the "choir"... the last thing I want is for crafting and enchanting to become ho-hum (let's crank out 10 more Axes of Doom to sell!). Challenging and somewhat time-consuming for the user as the rarity/value goes up. I trust you guys are thinking along the same lines. A surprise here and there wouldn't hurt either...
Creator Trevor Lewis on October 2, 2012
Crafting and enchanting is always one of those things that seems like it's done just a little bit off. Basic crafting should allow you to create goods that are equivalent to items a merchant would provide. Basic enchanting should allow you to create or modify basic goods to create a magical item that is slightly better than the non-magical version of the same item from a merchant. Crafting with higher *quality* materials should create a non-magical item that is slightly superior to the same item from a vendor, but equivalent to to an item crafted with lesser materials but enchanted. Enchanting superior items creates an item which is superior (x2) to the basic item. Now to further complicate things, only the highest quality materials can "hold" the highest quality enchantments. This means that to create the uber-powerful Flaming Sword of Nardzog you've got to A) have the recipe B) gather the base items C) refine the base items D) enchant the item. While it seems complicated it can be done in such a way that it doesn't throw game balance out the window. Particularly when the process is a quest line. (great idea btw Leaton)
Creator Antonidas|Archmage of the Obsidian Order on October 2, 2012
Oooh, I like the sound of that. Go on a long and perilous quest to retrieve some exotic material and combine them to make a powerful magical artifact. The quest itself shouldn't be easily obtainable either, but perhaps you could find a parchment starting it in a deep dungeon somewhere.
Creator Leaton Chuter on October 2, 2012
IMO Enchanting should be difficult and involved, but extremely rewarding both in terms of flavour and mechanical benefits. Ie. a full quest line to retrieve the reagents to enchant a sword should not then end up with a "+2 sword of fire".
Creator Greenfr0G on October 2, 2012
And that little backstory just got me interested :P
Creator Greenfr0G on October 2, 2012
Mega Dungeon? Oooh, me like... :)
Creator Mark Datysgeld on October 2, 2012
In my opinion, crafting and enchanting should be difficult tasks. Creating a potion on the go is a great feature, or maybe creating a fire arrow. Those are things that seem reasonable and quick. But adding a single damage bonus to a weapon should be a moderately hard thing to do.
Things get out of hand when you have hardcore systems like Morrowind, but when it's just a fetch quest in disguise, it doen't work out for me.
Creator Rob on October 2, 2012
Will backers that select the digital strategy guide option be able to access it through steam as an option?
Creator Philomorph on October 2, 2012
As nice a feature as this would be, please don't make it as detailed and in depth as something like in the Elder Scrolls series. Obsessive compulsives like me end up spending waaaay too much time collecting reagents and fiddling with our enchanting and potions tables to see all the other great content :)
Creator Martin on October 2, 2012
I never was much of a fan of crafting myself, as I find it hard to keep track of which ingredients are used for which profession, and it tends to clutter up my inventory. Storing components in a barrel (like in, say, Skyrim or Fallout 3 or New Vegas) is a bother since it's easy to lose track of what you've got, and juggling them from and to your character inventory is an outright chore.
The big however here, /however/, is that I don't mind crafting in Guild Wars 2 at all. It has a special bank with unlimited space dedicated to crafting components, into which you can make deposits from anywhere. Deposited components can then be accessed and used at a crafting station.
The challenge, then, is in *earning* the ingredients, and not in being an exceptionally patient manager of inventory.
Creator DCVer on October 2, 2012
I would be happy if this 'Crafting and enchanting'' includes various improvised weaponry and comes with pros and cons.
Creator Peter Jacob on October 2, 2012
Crafting? Sounds good as long as players don't have to grind out "skill levels" like World of Warcraft or such. Make crafting cool, not a time sink.
Creator Lantander on October 2, 2012
Yup, tailor made stuff will likely be too strong. So no backpack full of "sword that kills x, sword that kills y, etc. please
I'd prefer if there were specific (and unique) items that could be made/crafted - by npc professionals who have the tools, time and skills. Things like consumables I can believe a player character cooking up more or less quickly (potions for example), but forging/armorsmithing just plainly takes a while - and interrupting your adventures for a month to fashion some dragonscale armor isn't what adventurers have time for usually.
Creator odintsaq on October 2, 2012
BG2+ToB and KOTOR2 are good examples of crafting.
Both of them had you looking for the components, without it being farming, and making it fun and worthwhile at the same time. F:NV wasn't that fun, but not a big disappointment.
Up till now all the things added with the stretch goal seem quite well thought and interesting. Especially the undermoun... sorry, the dungeon proposed.
Creator Dmitry Trembovolsky on October 2, 2012
Agree crafting only makes sense if there's smth unique that can come out, makes sense for just a few items in the game, where pieces can be achieved through quests anyway. And it definitely is not worth a Stretch Goal. I'd advise Obsidian to do a poll on this, similar way that Wastelands did on the palette for their first screenshot
Creator Josh Erickson on October 2, 2012
Just became a backer, so excited! Thanks for everything guys! One system I enjoyed that you might want to consider is the crafting system from Dragon Age 2 (One of the only good things in that game.) In a nut shell you don't use components, you find resources in the wild. When you find them, you pay a small amount (or nothing, depends on how you swing it) and then when you get back to your home base you can use that resource to craft. So essentially crafting is 'I've found 2 Steel deposits so I have Steel (Refined) available, plus I want to make a broad sword, so now I just pay a little gold and I can craft a sword."
It's elegant, simple, and keeps people from carrying around five hundred mushroom caps in their inventory. :)
Creator Igor on October 2, 2012
the most unique and great enchanting&crafting (E&C) system was in old game "Master of Magic" by Microprose which was another version of Civilization but more fantasy like ( http://www.abandonia.com/en/games/189/Master+of+Magic.html ), since then i haven't seen any good looking E&C system in RPG games. all of them lack something, sometimes you don't have skill to find an ingredient like Iron (Ore) for instance or sometimes the system is so complex that it makes it hard to use and u just abandon the idea. And i always like to grow blacksmith skill and enchanting, and i want to be able to make an ultimate armor/weapon or to make potions which significantly (+5 :) ) and permanently (for eternity :) ) grow main skills like strength, dex, int, etc, . Could you please share the details on what will the system be like? and will i be able to get to the GOD-like level if using the skill?
Creator Bryan Neubauer on October 2, 2012
I really hope they go with Baldur's Gate 2 style crafting, making it so you can re-forge legendary weapons that have been broken apart and the pieces scattered over time.
Creator Zombra on October 2, 2012
@Johannes 'Waldgeist' Rebhan
"Guys, don't freak out about the crafting. These guys made Fallout New Vegas Crafting. "
I loved New Vegas, but its crafting system was a resounding failure to me. Why? Inventory management. Fallout 3 was already a game where weight:value ratio was the single most important stat, and sifting inventory to discard something every time I found a new item I wanted dominated way too much of my playtime. F:NV's crafting only exacerbated the situation by further encouraging me to packrat otherwise useless items.
Ultimately, I ended up crafting like 3 or 4 things in New Vegas. Dealing with inventory limits in those games is just too tiresome.
I repeat my earlier admonition: allow unlimited portage of crafting materials. Make *finding* rare materials the interesting part. If *carrying* them is the biggest challenge, there is a problem.
Creator Derek Belanger on October 2, 2012
Crafting if done poorly can really hurt a game. Loot becomes boring when you can craft equipment tailor made for your characters. When loot is boring, exploring is less exciting. Most of your gear needs to be found through adventuring, and crafting should only act as a supplement. Consumables are fine. Enhancements to existing items are good. But crafting an Adamanite +5 Flaming Scythe of Acid is bad. You think it is fun, but it isn't. It turns equipment into commodities, not artifacts of power to be found on great quests.
Creator Chris Birmingham on October 2, 2012
Considering the crafting systems implemented by Obsidian in the past, I'm not worried that they're just going to paste on an existing crafting system and have done with it, but I do agree that there have been some poorly concieved crafting systems in other games. That said, I don't expect anything like a grindy MMO-style crafting system will be used, because the whole point of those systems is to get you to sink more time into the game as more time equals more money for an MMO.
I agree with a lot of the sentiments already posted, I'd like to see a system that allows us to make the odd item from rare ingredients and found pieces rather than become a production line for iron daggers. That said, a crafting system for low-level items would have been very handy during the iron shortage in BG1; it would have been nice to take all those broken swords and repair them (I know I was always running out of weapons in the beginning!). That said I agree with pharzon and others that the crafting system in BG2 was my favourite as you weren't just churning out generic equipment but scouring the land to create unique artifacts that were completely different to anything else you found. Combine that with a bit of logic from KOTOR and it would be nice to see a system that allows you to craft and improve your own item that gains legendary status along with your character.
On another note from what has already been said, I expect crafting to come under the "non-combat" skills already mentioned, in which case I don't see a problem with crafting giving you the odd item that's a bit better than the usual equipment dropped by enemies if you keep your skill points in it maxed. If you choose to spend your skill points on crafting rather than persuade or sneak (for example) then there should be a benefit to doing so, in this case a bit of an improvement in your combat capability instead of the ability to avoid fights.
Creator pharzon on October 2, 2012
While I think crafting might potentially be a nice addition, I share the concern of many other backers. Crafting in BG2+ToB was unique, exciting and lots of fun. It didn't undermine the fun of exploring and looting - actually it had the opposite effect as you wanted to find the missing components for unique items.
Crafting in, say, Skyrim was to be honest a game breaker for me. Relatively early into the game I was already wielding armour and weapons better than any that could be found- including unique items. At that point the game just didn't excite me any more. That is not to say that combat items and fighting are in any way the primary reason for me to play a game but on the other hand there has to be a reason to continue playing and exploring. That was always the case in games like Baldur's Gate, Planescape Torment, Fallout etc.
All this to say that it is absolutely crucial how you implement this. To me a poorly implemented version of crafting would not only be disappointing but potentially ruin the game.
Oh and by the way: the dungeon sounds absolutely awesome (and much more in line with BG-style dungeons than the generic dungeons found in most modern RPGs).
Creator Maxime Pichon on October 2, 2012
Well, I don't think a crafting system will be good for this game.
Crafting = Farm = and i'm not happy to farm in a solo game. And the game will be certainly too easy, except if the game will be really too difficult for people who will play without craft and enchant.
Crafting is good for MMO or Monster Hunter, but in Monster Hunter crafting is the only way to have new gears and weapons so it's good for this game because Monster Hunter = Farm monster and Craft.
If you can craft our own items, the pleasure to loot items will decrease too.
Creator Elciled on October 2, 2012
Hey dev guys, kind of unrelated but just wanted to say I upped my pledge from 20 to 65 (not looking for early access, prefer to go into it when the game's ready) and hope you take your time and don't get too ambitious with those stretch goals (which are really cool but not really neccessary imho). I have no rush to see this game out the door, I know some people probably don't agree and of course it's not that I don't really want to play it asap but, quality is all that matters and I don't mind if I have to wait a really long time for it. Just throwing that out there.
Creator T'hain Esh Kelch on October 2, 2012
As long as it doesn't turn out as generic crafting in most games, ie. de-compose an object to get a few random materials, and then stock them up, and create something.. It is so unfocused and not fun IMO.
Creator Ardent, Merchant of the Obsidian Order on October 2, 2012
I have too little experience to comment on crafting, other than that I don't want it overpowered.
As for the inventory, I think a good way is to allow different things to take different size in your inventory, maybe combined with smaller bags that can hold a lot of smaller items. Say 8 sq for a greatsword, 2 for a dagger, 4 a potion-bag with room for 16 potions. Something like that. With both size and weight as factors (as in NWN1) you don't have to choose between a greatsword and a flower, you can carry heavier items if you are stronger, but you can't carry 15 pole-arms just because you are strong enough. For me, a well-though out backpack adds to the immersion of the gameplay.
The Endless Path... sweet!
Creator Johannes 'Waldgeist' Rebhan on October 2, 2012
Guys, don't freak out about the crafting. These guys made Fallout New Vegas Crafting. They have a lot of experience in making meaningful crafting in CRPGs :)
Creator adi1981 on October 2, 2012
I'm ok with crafting, but only when it'll be realized like the one in BG2, where you had to find unique loot that was spread somewhere over the world, and then you could craft it at Cromwell's or Cespenar's forge → http://www.gamebanshee.com/baldursgateii/cromwellsforge.php But if it'll be possible to craft anything out of almost every loot that can be found in the world, then I'm against such crafting in game.
Creator Andrey on October 2, 2012
Crafting was done surprisingly well in Gothic1-2 and in Witcher1. It can add to the atmosphere if it's done well. And speaking of Witcher, elixirs in part 1 were a new word in RPG genre, making gameplay way more interesting. And a complete failure in part 2 the way they were implemented there..
Creator Lyrael, TOWoEOS on October 2, 2012
Don't forget your extra $8 to join the Order, guys. ;)
Creator Mikhael Blackthorne on October 2, 2012
Crafting like KOTOR 2 not NWN2 please!
Creator azurit on October 2, 2012
would be cool to have Slovak or Czech translation :)
Creator Marcin Makowski on October 2, 2012
mod tools and mods support please
Creator Oscar on October 2, 2012
Is there going to be a printed/physical version of the strategy guide?
Creator Pierre, Endless Paths guide of the ∞ on October 2, 2012
what is "svef-enhanced"? Is svef a drink, a drug ?
Creator mayfaire - Obsidian Order Purseliberator on October 2, 2012
It's great how so many people think crafting should be exclusive to MMOs. Where do you think they got the idea for MMO crafting in the first place?
As long as crafting isn't ridiculously easy, like it is in say, Skyrim, I'm all for it. It's ludicrous that my warrior can make iron daggers for her entire life and yet that makes her a skilled enough smith to forge dragonscale armour. I had to actually limit myself with smithing, otherwise I would have missed the orcish tier of armour entirely.
Personally I think it should either go the way of skill-based crafting (like Neverwinter Nights), so if you want to craft you have to sink skill points (or whatever equivalent into it), or the root of super rare components to craft into super awesome items (like DA: Awakening or Mask of the Betrayer).
Creator Staticblast - Obsidian Order on October 2, 2012
Shades of Undermountain! The Endless Paths sound interesting...
Creator Tomimt on October 2, 2012
Personally I liked how crafting was done in Arcanum. It's there, but you don't have to use it if you don't want to. Instead you might have a companion who can do crafting for you if you just provide the materials. But usually I do end up crafting stuff, as the system was easy enough to use.
Creator Isaac Carr on October 2, 2012
While I could be wrong, I do not think the good fellows at Obsidian would just "slap on" a crafting system. I do not imagine it is going to be some deep, life altering bonus, but as long as it is logical and [most important!] fun, I am all for it!
Creator Lantander on October 2, 2012
Of course there should be some effort in making magical items. D&D for example had it right - there you had to have a masterwork item ('the best an artisan can make'') before you could even think of going magical - and it wasn't cheap.
On the other hand, a simple potion might be just a question of throwing the right shrooms, pure mountain water and some leaves together - plus of course the skill and usage charges for the laboratory equipment (glass was pretty expensive in the old times) .
Creator Ber on October 2, 2012
It's quite amusing reading the variety of responses to crafting and enchanting ... from 'I thought it was in the game already, it should be a given in an rpg' to 'crafting belongs only in MMOs why are you adding it to a single-player rpg', and from 'I LOVE it, yes please!' to 'horrible, I hate crafting please don't include it'. Talk about different expectations .... good luck Obsidian E.!
Creator Jussi Mustonen on October 2, 2012
Urgh well I really hate the absolutely half-witted crafting BS slapped on post-BG games so now I kind of hope this won't hit 2.4M and it can't be included. Even mildly enchanted stuff was so rare in BG1 it actually felt special and meaningful. Now I can make a magical shield from some board, a wolf pelt and some gems I looted off a guy? Yeah "yay" :-|
Creator Fredrik Lundgren on October 2, 2012
Weird. Seems like my post dispersed. Anyway any time you give a player a tool the player gains more power and more ways to break the system. That is a part of the territory. Why a player that happens to know every dungeons and dragons publication can make a character that is waaay overpower for being a level one character. (Assuming of course she allowed to use everything.) So I can understand the concerns of people about crafting. But is like any other tool you give. Ether they benefit the player or there useless. More races makes the player more powerful. More weapons of course more powerful. And I could go on and on. In the end is not how powerful you are that matters. Is about making meaningful choices and having a challenge. And if crafting is complex then it can add a meaningful choice to the game and not be a grind. So I hope it will be implemented where we can get some creative flair in to the item creation process. I know I have always loved to create my own Artefacts in game. But make it a challenge and make it so it feels meaningful. Also to all those that are worried about game balance. By the very end pretty much all RPGs leaves you as a Demi-god and that part of what makes RPGs fun. Is the journey there that is the fun part. And if the game is set-up right one can even have it so that there extra challenge for those that have reach this level. The infinite dungeon and such. But in the end people do reach a level where all standard challenge becomes trivial or they will feel limited. I prefer a dynamic challenge system where player sets the bar rather then limiting players. And please avoid using a system where the monsters level with you. You will hurt the lesser skilled player and the more skilled player in the end by introducing the red queen effect.