Larian Studios Forums Beyond Divinity (English) Suggestions Auto-save [A technical analysis]

I think that this topic is worth a deeper discussion.

Automatic saving is usually an option in many software but usually with the ability to set a timer for how often does this automatic saving takes place.

What I am suggesting here is the in RPG, this feature may not be implemented by a timer triggered event but rather by the completion of game critical events, such as gaining a new weapon or finishing a quest.

This style of triggering automatic saving is important but it does not prevent compounding it with time interval triggered saving on one condition, that it does not interfere with action. If a player was in the middle of a battle and the automatic saving timer was reset then the interrupt request should stay pending until all signs of danger are cleared, that is no enemy should be within a certain distance from the avatar.

Such a multi-conditional auto-save may also incorporate a bit of AI such that if one just saved the game under a new name or by quick-save there should be no reason for yet another auto-save but rather the timer should be re-initiated.

To sum it up, if the avatar was not near any enemies that may potentially attack the avatar immediately after loading, then, automatic saving may proceed under one of two conditions:
The first is that a critical item was acquired or a quest had been achieved.
The second is that a time interval has elapsed since the last saving (regardless of the type of saving).

Is this what all players would love to have or did I forget an issue?
You might find yet another condition that I have missed so let us hear all opinions.

It could also be triggered by specific locations (leaving town, just before getting major boss monsters, the first time you enter certain locations, etc).

If saving in Riftrunner takes more than a couple seconds (which is likely), I would rather have a configurable reminder to pop up either once or periodically if the game has not been saved in a certain time frame. This could be similar to the broken equipment symbol which tells you something needs to be repaired... maybe a scroll and/or feather pen symbol.

Hi Raze,
This is a very interesting point indeed. So what you are suggesting is that if saving takes 3 or more seconds then rather than implementing auto saving to take place by option-force (all or nothing) you prefer to have a saving reminder like a flashing icon to be activated under the same conditions I have described plus the condition you described; did I understand you correctly?

Yes, but no flashing icons; just the symbol showing up in the bottom corner (for example). An auto save would not necessarily need to be triggered by time and quest events/locations. Both would allow the most flexibility, but I wouldn't want Riftrunner delayed in order to implement it.

There could also be degrees of auto saving, so you could disable most but leave it active for major points. Walking into a Josephine-class monster's lair I would appreciate an auto save (if I had not saved myself in awhile) regardless of the time. If I am just exploring and plan to save once I finish off a certain area, more than a 3 or 4 second interruption would be quite annoying.
I almost always saved Divinity before entering new buildings or going down hatches/ladders, after seeing a green dot on the mini map surrounded by red, etc but a reminder could come in handy wandering around open areas.

I like these ideas for autosave.

• Save after completing key quests.
• Change the Main Menu icon every 10-15 minutes to signify it's been a while since you saved. (Like how the Trait and Skill icons change on level up.)
• Save after the mandatory conversation with boss-monsters.

In the first and third points, I said save after the event so that you don't go and pick other options to find what's best (in proper role-playing spirit). Also, the save should be optional (ie. "Save game?" dialog).

Just so long as it doesn't start looking like a Play Station game. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I'd rather have a repair-like symbol as a reminder; I'm used to ignoring the Skill icon, since I usually had spare points saved up.

It doesn't matter what the icon looks like. The fact that you notice a different icon in that location is enough. Like you said, you notice the Repair icon change, and that's no different to the Skill or Trait icon changing. It's just a different picture. The only reason you notice the Repair icon change but not the Skill and Trait icons is because of it's location. You've trained yourself.

"The only reason you notice the Repair icon change but not the Skill and Trait icons is because of it's location. You've trained yourself."

Exactly. IMNSHO, an auto save reminder should have a similar style and location as the damaged equipment symbol, since they both require relatively urgent attention. The skill/stat buttons change so you know there are un-spent points, but it doesn't really matter if or when they get used (though there is not much reason to save up many stat points).

This means that it would be very nice to have an “Autosave Options” button in the options menu.
That button would open the autosave options window in which we could turn autosave ON or OFF with OFF being the default and all sub-options being disabled.
Then some check boxes should be enabled only when the “Autosave ON” radio-option is selected.
*Save after major events and quest completions.
*Save after leaving a map geographical boundary.
* Save after the lapse of a time interval that begins from the last save by: [minutes-dial]
A sub menu enabled by selecting timer autosave = [radio-option] = Substitute saving by a reminder icon to persist as a red letter S for the timer triggered saving only {Yes/No} in the :
1- lower left corner of the screen.
2- lower right corner of the screen.
3- upper left corner of the screen.
4- upper right corner of the screen.

How about that?

Optional autosaves are a must! You can put the options in the Options menu. It's easy enough to access. I think the options on where to place the reminder are going too far. Too much customization just makes things complicated. I think Larian should pick an appropriate alert and let everybody work with that.

i'm not really into auto-saves but this sounds useful. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/up.gif" alt="" />

I too concur! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/up.gif" alt="" />

Those are some nice ideas every one <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/up.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/up.gif" alt="" />