| |
Site Navigation
Main
News
Forums
Games
Games Database
Top 100
Release List
Support Files
Features
Reviews
Previews
Interviews
Editorials
Diaries
Misc
Download
Gallery
Music
Screenshots
Videos
Miscellaneous
Staff Members
Privacy Statement
|
|
From the Lionheart forums this:CabalTimelimit puzzles
Timelimit puzzles have their place in games. When they make sense, they can add some dramatic tension to the game. When they're not implemented properly, they can be frustrating.
The lion's share (*cough*) of the quests will not have time limits. There are some interactions, side quests, that require you to act in real time, to make a decision. i.e. Intervene on someone's behalf or not, both decisions with consequences.
Spirit/Host relationship
The trill and the host is a good analogy for the spirit/host relationship, although this can vary from person to person. Each spirit has its own personality. You will meet some individuals who are in complete control of their faculties, some that are merged with their spirit (and thus almost a new entity), and others that are almost dominated by their spirit (to the Inquisition, this would be someone possessed).
Your spirit will have its own personality. I don't want to give away spoilers, but you will have some conversations with it, when it's ready to talk..
We want you as the player to feel like you are in control of the story, to be the one that is empowered - the spirit is your magic furnace with a sentience, so to speak. You will not lose control of yourself unless extraordinary circumstances occurred...
Non combat related magic
There will be some spells that are beneficial to you during combat that are not necessarily offensive spells, many defensive spells, and there will be some strictly non-combat spells, although we will not be implementing flying, jumping, or mount. I agree that those types of spells can add a lot to the magic-using experience, with the caveat that they are effective in general and not used sporatically for very specific situations. We will be releasing some example spell lists soon.
The setting
As to the semi-historical nature of Lionheart - the game world we are creating is fictional, with parallels to real history. This gives us latitude to include some familiar sights and faces, but to also create a very unique and new 'what-if' alternate historical fantasy world.
We've released the identities of two historical figures that will be in the game. Leonardo DaVinci is one of them. Like his historical counterpart, our DaVinci dabbled in many arts, magic being one of them, but perhaps dabbled is too mild of a word. He will definitely play a role in the plot - he will give you quests and offer a bit of guidance if you seek it from him.
Firearms
One of the early goals with Lionheart and the SPECIAL system was to replace science with magic. That being said, guns and rifles currently are not part of the gameplay for Lionheart due to design and story reasons.
Gunpowder does exist in the world (although in a slightly different form), and there will be cannons in the game used by the Inquisition and the Spanish Armada, but you will not be able to acquire or use hand-held guns. Gunpowder is exceptionally rare and costly in the world of Lionheart, owing to the changes wrought by the Disjunction (including dramatic changes in Chinese history).
Although we are not implementing pistols or rifles, we are considering the possibility that you could eventually save up enough to purchase expensive crude powderkegs that could be placed for strategic purposes (traps) that you could detonate from afar (assuming you can find the elusive vendor and negotiate properly).
*mild spoiler regarding historical characters*
Some of you have pointed out that DaVinci's flying machine is in the game. As someone guessed, some scientists have turned to the use of magic to compensate for the lack of technology in the world. The second historical figure we announced at E3, Galileo, is a prime example of a man who attempted to use magic openly as a surrogate for technology. In real history, Galilelo was imprisoned by the Inquisition for his 'heretical' Coperincan views regarding the cosmos. Like DaVinci, the Galileo in Lionheart draws some parallels to his historical counterpart but is also a very different character overall.
Alignment and reputation
Currently there is no alignment or reputation that is being tracked.
You are free to act as you will in the game and take your own paths. If you wrong a person or a faction, they will react to you, if you are helpful to a person or faction, they will probably treat you warmly.
Feargus UrquhartA BIS game?
This thread started out as a question about whether Lionheart would be a Black Isle game. The quick answer to that question is yes. It will also be a Reflexive game. This is in the same way that Baldur's Gate was both a Black Isle game and a Bioware game.
We have been working very closely with Reflexive and will continue to do so. It helps that they are literally just down the street and that I've known the President of the company for more than ten years now.
Ultimately it will be a game of the quality level that you have all come to expect from Black Isle, whether it was produced by us, or developed by us.
|
|
|
Lionheart Forum Update
