The showcase was just beautiful and I couldn't help but think that the single player fantasy RPG Dark Ages might be nearing an end.
I know there is a pinned thread about turn based or not, but that has gone south. The last company to get the turned based system mechanics right was SSI in the 90s. This is the first 5e game that looks like 5e (5e is like over 5 years old...why?). Table top D&D is at an all time high and growing, so this coming at the right time. I really hope Lurian stays their course and puts their efforts into making the game as awesome as it can be and not waste man hours trying to please everyone. That's not to say I don't enjoy the pause based D&D games like Eye of the Beholder series, Planescape Torment, Baldur's Gate 1 and 2, ice Wind Dale, Neverwinter Nights, or DDO online, because I very much do. Tactically the 5e has a rule set that has been specifically refined for turn-based game-play and has thus far failed miserably at an attempt to convert it to pause based play, ie the Sword Coast Legend disaster.
I absolutely love this engine! It looks very polished. Finally a modernized D&D platform and good riddance to 1990's graphics! If I were to make a positive suggestion, it would be to sell a tool set for modding. The best of Skyrim was made by moders, and moders love fantasy settings.
From what I have seen so far with the story, I am fairly confident that I will see an enjoyable story. This is where I hope Lurian continues to concentrate their efforts. The story is everything to an RPG. Now my idea of a AAA fantasy story line (not title) would be something like Planescape torment, the KOTOR series, Mass Effect series and odd man out: Vampire the Masqurade Bloodlines. Skyrim was more about build your own story (which should always have a place in RPGs), and I would put Dragon Age and Baulder's gate in like a AA category...completely awesome in their own right. The "AAA" story lines just had so many great characters that it becomes amusing to hear how people would argue over who was the best companion...I mean it was obviously Visas Marr and Tali'zorah (Part joke and part confession). Now Planscape Torment was the first game I ever finished and thought how I was going to miss the characters, it was groundbreaking that way. I had never seen a romance in game, and when Anna opened up and spilled her heart I was like wow...didn't see that coming. At the end I expected all my companions to storm the gates of Hell to come rescue me...and its hard to pick a favorite in that game. All of these games had great soundtracks to set the mood of the story too. Not that I am expecting anything even close to any of these titles, rather just pointing out the North Star.
Like I said looks solid so far! This makes me believe that the days of new quality fantasy titles coming out every year could come back, and trust me, my expectations are modest.
Thank-you very much for your efforts.
P.S. Hexblade Warlock, Swashbuckler Rogue, Divine Sorcerer, and Nature Cleric (+Feats) for the win.
