Larian Studios Forums Divinity General Discussion So ARPG or Isometric turn based?

I'm hoping that Larian return to the ARPG format seen in Divinity 2: The Dragon Knight Saga (not to be confused with Original Sin 2 for newcomers to the series) together with the ability to either turn into a dragon or ride one as games like that are lacking. Divinity 2 had this but there was a major drawback; ground enemies disappeared when taking dragon form. An old game, Drakan: Order of the Flame and it's PS2 sequel Drakan: The Ancient's Gates were perfect examples of dragon combat games.

I hope this game is a continuation of the story seen in Divinity 2 even if it's set decades after. We didn't know what happened to Damien in the end nor the fate of the Patriarch - did he get killed by the poison gas? I doubt it. But it would be epic if the dragonknight and / or the Patriarch brought the dragon race back for this new game.

I would like a cinematic turn-based game like BG3!

Third-person action would be good.

Totally agree !

I think if the game will be brutal like dark souls but with faster combat. If that is the case sort of hoping for maybe something cool like the kensai in bg1-2. I am think alot of people I spoke to are not too fond of turn based combat.

Yeah agree on this, time for that sequel we have been waiting for years for.

Not that I dislike the isometric games, Larian made me change my opinion of that style turn based genre but I prefer 3rd person. With dragons.

Same here, been waiting for Divinity (3?) for a loooong time. Third person like Dragon Knight Saga is the Divinity sequel I'd like to see.

Personally, I'd probably err towards wanting a TB CRPG. I do like me some strategic combat.

ARPG could be fine though, depends a lot on the implementation.

It's very easy to mess up ARPG combat and have it just not feel very good. For example, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning was pretty good in how abilities felt as they were chonky and impactful but balance turned everything into a mess. Dragon Age: Inquisition and Dragon Age: Wokeguard both felt horrible, at best they were floaty and imprecise and at worst they had just awful mechanics (Like Wokeguard's lame colour coded health bars related to your three attack buttons...)

But we'll see. The distinction that this "Isn't an Original Sin title" suggests it might be ARPG. Though, Larian have made much of their name off of the popularity of their CRPG's - Both Original Sin and BG3.

Yes, that was my thought that if this isn't original sin 3 then it could be an ARPG perhaps in the witcher style.

Whatever it is:


[b]When you press a button, something awesome has to happen.[/b]

Wouldn't be another RPG heavy hitter trying to grow ever larger if Larian opted out of that. Can't break that rule. ;-) See also:


Origin's Ultima 1-7 -> Ultima 8
Westwood's Eye Of The Beholder/Lands Of Lore -> Lands Of Lore 2+3
Bioware -> Anything post BG/NWN
Bethesda -> Anything post Morrowind and prior also Redguard + Battlespire
Square Enix -> any modern FF

Why risk Larian's most genius and perfected gameplay system ever? Too huge a risk, imo.... and unnecessary given the success their turn-based gameplay has brought them. I would Definitely keep the turn-based gameplay just like with DOS2 and BG3.

Also, just bc it's not called "original sin".... this does not indicate any type of gameplay system change in any direction either way.

Buuuuuut...... what if Larian pulls an Owlcat and ALSO implements real time w pause? Ot maybe they will implement something a la Clair Obscure? That'd be something interesting..... and they got the talent for it.

100% agreed. It's one of the winning formulas that has brought Larian success.

Agreed. Why risk it all and go against the gameplay system that brought Larian their success in the industry? It would be a bit reckless, imo.

Well, this is Larian we're talking about. They have gone on record saying that burnout is a thing.

I could see them wanting to mix things up with a different genre after BG3 (And both Original Sin titles).

Also with the money they made with BG3 and their second game being made at the same time, I don't think there's too much "Risk" for them.


Actually it can. Prior to them doing Original Sin, they made ARPG Divinity games. Only "Original Sin" Divinity titles have been CRPG's, this quite literally already marks a change in genre.

With the statements they've made in regards to "Familiar, but different" and "Not Original Sin" this is suggestive of a return to their ARPG roots.

I have to respectfully disagree with this logic. Again, risk assessment. If anything Larian could add some things that can be implemented or added into their already winning formula (like a real time w pause, or active turn base, or Clair Obscure style). But a complete change in gameplay? That could divide the established fanbase, or come out wrong if badly implemented, or extend the development cycle too much bc of the overhaul....

Again, they've literally already done a genre switch. For the Divinity series itself no less.

Quite literally they've already divided the Divinity playerbase. Going BACK to ARPG is not brand new territory for them, nor is it newly alienating to their fans, as some of the playerbase are already fans of the old ARPG style of Divinity game (Hence this thread existing in the first place)

Though either way any actuall discussion about it is moot. If they've got as far as making a reveal trailer, they've already settled on what genre the game is going to be and likely have made some headway into actually making it.

We'll just have to wait and see what they decided, as it's not clear from a cinematic reveal trailer alone anything about it.

Taril.... that genre switch was never desired by Larian. They've ALWAYS wanted to make turn-based crpgs (always), but industry pressures forced them to go the route of ARPGs. And it was NEVER successful. In fact, it wasn't until Original Sin, when they achieved their first tru, incontrovertible Hit.

And the overwhelming majority of Larian's fanbase would want an evolution of DOS2 and BG3, not an overhaul.

So, I think you're being unrealistic in what you think is possible, that's all. And again, I have to mention the huge risk factor involved in an overhaul as massive as the one you suggest..... especially when they're at the top like this.

Lemme ask you: if you were in their shoes, would YOU take that kind of risk?

I would love turn based honestly

I'm personally all in favor of tactical turn-based combat.
I would take any other alternative as a disappointment, not to mention I would frankly have some reservation about Larian's ability to pull it off. Not because I think particularly poorly of them, but because very few seem to be able to (CDPR with the Witcher series has yet to come up with a genuinely good combat system, for instance).

I wouldn't be surprised, on the other hand, if their next step in ramping up the production value would result in having exploration in a more cinematic third person camera (think of Mass Effect, Gothic, Tomb Raider, Witcher and a million other) only to swap to tactical combat when it comes to manage fights.

That's not a bad idea, a mix of both genres a bit like Kights of the old republic.

I can see why it would be a risk to switch away from turn based isometric CRPG but a blend of both as Tuco said... I can see that working.