Easygoing Eyebeast Triumph Posted May 27, 2010 Share Posted May 27, 2010 So here is the first reveal of the new game - Avadon. Sounds interesting. Although...I think I'll end up confusing Avernum and Avadon. Three-syllable names starting with "av?" I wonder how "Avadon" is supposed to be pronounced? I look forward to further revelations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Well-Actually War Trall Spidweb Posted May 27, 2010 Share Posted May 27, 2010 The way I pronounce it: Ave-Uh-Dawn. The first syllable rhymes with "have". Accent on first syllable, I think. But everyone will pronounce it differently. I'm still surprised that many people say Jen-Uh-Forge. - Jeff Vogel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easygoing Eyebeast Triumph Posted May 27, 2010 Author Share Posted May 27, 2010 Cool! With the accent on which syllable? :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garrulous Glaahk lampshade Posted May 27, 2010 Share Posted May 27, 2010 To be honest, the plot reminds me of Alcritas's Arc series. Not that is bad or anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatchling Cockatrice Randomizer Posted May 27, 2010 Share Posted May 27, 2010 Looks interesting, but then the ads always sound better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easygoing Eyebeast Dantius Posted May 27, 2010 Share Posted May 27, 2010 Was the subtitle really neccessary? Couldn't it just be called Avadon? I mean, you might as well call it Avadon: Fantasy cliche here. Still, the screenshots look really pretty. It uses a variant of the Geneforge engine, right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garrulous Glaahk grasshopper Posted May 27, 2010 Share Posted May 27, 2010 looks good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatchling Cockatrice Slawbug Posted May 27, 2010 Share Posted May 27, 2010 I agree with Randomizer. The class and skill system will be a refreshing change, though based on the screenshots it looks like a simpler version of systems used in games like Sonny. I guess the use of multiple party members could leave some room for interesting mechanics. The name boggles me a little bit. First because it is one letter, and one sound, away from "Avalon", a mythological reference that is quite different but persists when hearing "Avadon" perhaps because it rolls off the tongue a bit easier. Second because it also sounds a lot like Avernum. Third because... I dunno, I just don't like it. *shrug* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rotghroth Rhapsody waterplant Posted May 27, 2010 Share Posted May 27, 2010 Sweet! Can't wait! Tristram looks like a bit of a dufus but I guess it's early days. Is Avadon locked in or perhaps a working name? You don't want Roxy Music suing your ass... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatchling Cockatrice Randomizer Posted May 27, 2010 Share Posted May 27, 2010 Jeff mentioned holding off on releasing the game name until it cleared legal hurdles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easygoing Eyebeast VCH Posted May 27, 2010 Share Posted May 27, 2010 The giant rats are giant! Avadon is too close to Avernum for my liking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easygoing Eyebeast Triumph Posted May 27, 2010 Author Share Posted May 27, 2010 Besides the misgivings apparently quite a few of us feel about the name...what do people think of setting as described? Personally, it doesn't strike me as having quite the same...hmm...pizzazz as the initial premise of Exile/Avernum, or Nethergate. Just closer to generic fantasy, nothing to distinguish it. Maybe closer to the way Geneforge was first described. Of course, Geneforge was fleshed out in interesting ways and turned out well. But if you just go read the blurb on the game page, it's not that flashy or intriguing (at least, for me, not as much as Avernum/Nethergate). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Well-Actually War Trall Spidweb Posted May 27, 2010 Share Posted May 27, 2010 I think, after all these years, I have earned a little bit of faith in coming up with a cool storyline. Believe me, as I release info about the setting in the world, you'll see that it will stand out and have a lot of character. However, there is only so much information that can go in a press release, and I don't want to overload it with stuff, about the Pact, and the Farlands, and Redbeard and his "wives", and the philosophy of Avadon, and, well, there is a TON of background info on the land and history of Lynaeus. This is just the first bit of info. Lots to come. Be cool. - Jeff Vogel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easygoing Eyebeast Goldengirl Posted May 27, 2010 Share Posted May 27, 2010 The name doesn't thrill me all that much, but then again, how creative are Nethergate or Geneforge as names, either? So I'll put up and shut up on this one. Lynaeus, though? I can only imagine all the weird ways people will pronounce that one. The engine looks like an adaptation of the newest Avernum engine, with a healthy dose of Avadon flavor tossed in. It's good to have new stuff to look at for this brave, new series. I'm not at all worried about the plot. Even if it does look and sound a bit cliche, generic fantasy, for now, Jeff is master of creating unsuspected twists of plot. That's what make his games so characteristically Spiderweb. And I'm really psyched to finally be playing a Spiderweb game that has more than one or two major countries! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatchling Cockatrice Lilith Posted May 27, 2010 Share Posted May 27, 2010 Originally Posted By: Triumph Besides the misgivings apparently quite a few of us feel about the name...what do people think of setting as described? Personally, it doesn't strike me as having quite the same...hmm...pizzazz as the initial premise of Exile/Avernum, or Nethergate. Just closer to generic fantasy, nothing to distinguish it. Maybe closer to the way Geneforge was first described. Of course, Geneforge was fleshed out in interesting ways and turned out well. But if you just go read the blurb on the game page, it's not that flashy or intriguing (at least, for me, not as much as Avernum/Nethergate). Conceptually, it actually reminds me quite a bit of Nethergate, in the sense that Jeff is going back to the historical roots of a story and then using that as a jumping-off point. Hopefully this is a good sign. Still not feelin' the name though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyshakk Koan inni Posted May 27, 2010 Share Posted May 27, 2010 ohh shiny, cant wait to play it. the name is rather annoying thought, to close to avernum for my liking. EDIT: "And I'm really psyched to finally be playing a Spiderweb game that has more than one or two major countries!" yes, the fraction choice is what really turned me on to geneforge, i wonder what the philosophy of the different sides will be... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easygoing Eyebeast Dantius Posted May 27, 2010 Share Posted May 27, 2010 Originally Posted By: Goldenking Lynaeus, though? I can only imagine all the weird ways people will pronounce that one. That's probably meant to be pronounced like Carolus Linnaeus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Well-Actually War Trall Spidweb Posted May 27, 2010 Share Posted May 27, 2010 Lynaeus - Linn-Hard A-Uss. Lynaeus has long been the continent name in my D&D campaigns. I just like the way it looks. - Jeff Vogel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easygoing Eyebeast Dantius Posted May 27, 2010 Share Posted May 27, 2010 Originally Posted By: Spidweb Lynaeus - Linn-Hard A-Uss. Lynaeus has long been the continent name in my D&D campaigns. I just like the way it looks. - Jeff Vogel Really? Hmm, never would have seen that pronunciation coming. I just guessed that it would be phonetically similar to the more famous Linnaeus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easygoing Eyebeast Triumph Posted May 27, 2010 Author Share Posted May 27, 2010 Originally Posted By: Spidweb I think, after all these years, I have earned a little bit of faith in coming up with a cool storyline. Believe me, as I release info about the setting in the world, you'll see that it will stand out and have a lot of character. Oh, I have certainly faith that it will turn out to be quite interesting. You do a great job with building interesting, details worlds. I was just thinking about first impressions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatchling Cockatrice Slawbug Posted May 27, 2010 Share Posted May 27, 2010 So... continent name coming from D&D campaigns. Does that mean we can expect the return of the GIFTS? Edit: It also occured to me that there is at least one CRPG named Avalon. Between that, Avernum, and the popular (for no reason I can fathom) Aveyond series (possiblty the most similar-sounding of them all), this name-space is getting crowded... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easygoing Eyebeast Triumph Posted May 28, 2010 Author Share Posted May 28, 2010 Originally Posted By: CRISIS on INFINITE SLARTIES It also occured to me that there is at least one CRPG named Avalon. Between that, Avernum, and the popular (for no reason I can fathom) Aveyond series (possiblty the most similar-sounding of them all), this name-space is getting crowded... Quick, someone start a Wikipedia disambiguation page! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magnificent Ornk nikki. Posted May 28, 2010 Share Posted May 28, 2010 Originally Posted By: Dantius Originally Posted By: Spidweb Lynaeus - Linn-Hard A-Uss. Lynaeus has long been the continent name in my D&D campaigns. I just like the way it looks. - Jeff Vogel Really? Hmm, never would have seen that pronunciation coming. I just guessed that it would be phonetically similar to the more famous Linnaeus. When I first saw it I pronounced it like JV did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easygoing Eyebeast Dantius Posted May 28, 2010 Share Posted May 28, 2010 Originally Posted By: Nikki. When I first saw it I pronounced it like JV did. But but... there's neither an R nor a D in the name! How could you know to pronounce it like that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magnificent Ornk Ephesos Posted May 28, 2010 Share Posted May 28, 2010 I am psyched for this. Also not too crazy for the name, but I'm prepared for it to grow on me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Well-Actually War Trall Acky Posted May 28, 2010 Share Posted May 28, 2010 Looks really cool Jeff! Good luck and be sure to work your magic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easygoing Eyebeast VCH Posted May 28, 2010 Share Posted May 28, 2010 Originally Posted By: Dantius Originally Posted By: Goldenking Lynaeus, though? I can only imagine all the weird ways people will pronounce that one. That's probably meant to be pronounced like Carolus Linnaeus. Hey that's who I thought of. Hopefully Lynaeus isn't a master classifier or something similar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fledgling Fyora Zabycx Posted May 28, 2010 Share Posted May 28, 2010 No mentions of the portrait art? They look like classical masterpieces next to what's been used for the last decade of Avernum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easygoing Eyebeast Enraged Slith Posted May 28, 2010 Share Posted May 28, 2010 Tristram looks like he's about to get his swerve on. Beware ladies and enemies alike. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curious Artila Mike B. Posted May 28, 2010 Share Posted May 28, 2010 Jeff always comes up with great stories so I'm sure this game will rock. I new world to explore! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easygoing Eyebeast Dantius Posted May 28, 2010 Share Posted May 28, 2010 Originally Posted By: Enraged Slith Tristram looks like he's about to get his swerve on. Beware ladies and enemies alike. He looks to me like he's about to saunter up and say something along the lines of "Have I got a deal for you..." Basically, like CMOT Dibbler. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatchling Cockatrice Randomizer Posted May 28, 2010 Share Posted May 28, 2010 Originally Posted By: 1 n33d n0 1n7r0duc710n yes, the fraction choice is what really turned me on to geneforge, i wonder what the philosophy of the different sides will be... There is a fierce difference of opinion on how to kill the Avadon loyalists. Originally Posted By: CRISIS on INFINITE SLARTIES Edit: It also occured to me that there is at least one CRPG named Avalon. Between that, Avernum, and the popular (for no reason I can fathom) Aveyond series (possiblty the most similar-sounding of them all), this name-space is getting crowded... It does have the advantage of getting the game up near the top of the alphabetical list. Get the customers before they browse into the B's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatchling Cockatrice Alorael at Large Posted May 28, 2010 Share Posted May 28, 2010 Is it absolutely certain that the "unique abilities" are unique to classes rather than novel and unique to Avadon? I suppose Jeff is the only one who can answer that one. —Alorael, who has no real opinion on the name. There's not enough other information to opine on the plot or background. That said, Jeff has delivered in the past, and he has only delivered more over time. High expectations are warranted after G5 and A6. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magnificent Ornk Student of Trinity Posted May 28, 2010 Share Posted May 28, 2010 Keep in mind that Jeff can't afford to try something really wild and crazy. He needs to have as sure a market as possible, and traditional fantasy still sells big time. What I find promising in the Avadon premise so far is that it sounds as though Jeff has taken some of the best elements from Geneforge and Avernum, and made them central instead of accidental. Mainly, Jeff seems to have developed a good knack for building up a long story out of coherent episodes — mission chains and chapters set in distinct map sections that you progressively explore. Avadon sounds as though he decided to make a game explicitly and deliberately around that concept, rather than beginning with some other theme, and then working his chaptered story structure into it. If you're working for some kind of government agency, you've got a sense of purpose and belonging from the beginning. This is one of the things that worked well in Avernum, but it was always a little bit confounded by the fact that Avernum wasn't a normal kind of state, but more a loose association of rebellious individuals. So the setting didn't do as much as it could have to disguise the fact that 'your country, Avernum' was really only a couple of Bobs. The chaotic nature of Avernum was, of course, also an essential ingredient that made the Avernum games great; but I think it had this one drawback as well. It also sounds as though the multiple allies and enemies may allow for something like the Geneforge faction schemes, which also worked well. It was fun to debate the merits of the different factions, and explore different games based on each one. But you could feel kind of aimless until you formally joined one of the factions. If you waited until you reached one of the later available ones, you spent a long time just powergaming before finally starting your actual story; but if you joined an early one, you spent most of the game supposedly working for a group that felt more and more irrelevant to the cooler, higher level zones you eventually reached. I like the look of the screenshots, and the 'tech tree' of skills looks to be interesting, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Articulate Vlish Corker Posted May 28, 2010 Share Posted May 28, 2010 I was hoping a teeny bit that Jeff would do something out of the blue and give us all a sci fi epic instead of another fantasy setting. I'm sure it'll be great, but I was a much bigger fan of Geneforge than of the Avernum series. I hope one of the classes has a similar playstyle to Shaper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rotghroth Rhapsody Locmaar Posted May 28, 2010 Share Posted May 28, 2010 Originally Posted By: Randomizer It does have the advantage of getting the game up near the top of the alphabetical list. Get the customers before they browse into the B's. Which is why I would have voted for Aardvark's Revenge. Alas, there was no vote. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garrulous Glaahk Skomer Posted May 28, 2010 Share Posted May 28, 2010 Looks fab. As an easy to please gamer, you have my complete trust. My one request: Please bring back the Avernum 4-5 automap, with gentler, thinner lines for walls and a different colour for actual ground and the spaces between bits of ground. Pretty please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unflappable Drayk Zummi Posted May 28, 2010 Share Posted May 28, 2010 Shredder look-alike portrait. Awesomesauce. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burgeoning Battle Gamma emulrooney Posted May 28, 2010 Share Posted May 28, 2010 The prettiness of the first shot is kind of marred by how ridiculously spaced out the furniture is. But are those shadows I see under NPCs? Hooray! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rotghroth Rhapsody Soul of Wit Posted May 28, 2010 Share Posted May 28, 2010 Originally Posted By: Dantius Originally Posted By: Nikki. When I first saw it I pronounced it like JV did. But but... there's neither an R nor a D in the name! How could you know to pronounce it like that? When Jeff says "hard A" he's not saying to pronounce the word "hard", he's saying that it's a long (hard) 'A' sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyshakk Koan Mod. Posted May 28, 2010 Share Posted May 28, 2010 Can't wait! I just want to say, those fights with a single though enemy are the best, keep those. Fighting the same weak enemies over and over can get boring on some games. Also, I would love to see more of that stuff like the area above fort saffron on A6; that was very enjoyable and I think someone made a whole topic about how fun that fight was. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Well-Actually War Trall Rowen Posted May 28, 2010 Share Posted May 28, 2010 Originally Posted By: Spidweb Lynaeus - Linn-Hard A-Uss. Lynaeus has long been the continent name in my D&D campaigns. I just like the way it looks. - Jeff Vogel For some reason I read that as Linn-Hard-Ass I think that is a great name. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Understated Ur-Drakon Sudanna Posted May 28, 2010 Share Posted May 28, 2010 Add it to the list of forum in jokes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Well-Actually War Trall Khoth Posted May 28, 2010 Share Posted May 28, 2010 Originally Posted By: Corker I was hoping a teeny bit that Jeff would do something out of the blue and give us all a sci fi epic instead of another fantasy setting. I'm sure it'll be great, but I was a much bigger fan of Geneforge than of the Avernum series. I hope one of the classes has a similar playstyle to Shaper. Just play Avernum and mentally translate. Magic -> Psionic Goblin -> Space Goblin Sword -> Laser Sword Empire -> Empire etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tenderfoot Thahd PorkSol Posted May 29, 2010 Share Posted May 29, 2010 It is unfortunate that the party size had to be reduced for the sequel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatchling Cockatrice Randomizer Posted May 29, 2010 Share Posted May 29, 2010 We don't know what the party size will be other than showing two characters on the screen. After all these are previews. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatchling Cockatrice Slawbug Posted May 29, 2010 Share Posted May 29, 2010 Given that it says "Roster" and has a small-ish set of info for one character, it seems likely that party size will accomodate at least 4 characters again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easygoing Eyebeast The Mystic Posted May 29, 2010 Share Posted May 29, 2010 Originally Posted By: Goldenking It's good to have new stuff to look at for this brave, new series. Oh, what a brave new series that has such NPCs in it! I, for one, am impressed. Originally Posted By: Dantius He looks to me like he's about to saunter up and say something along the lines of "Have I got a deal for you..." In other words, he looks less like a warrior and more like a merchant wearing plate armor. Maybe he's some type of "rogue" class. What I really like on the inventory screen is that it shows you not only an item's stats, but also the stats of the item you've got equipped, making them easier to compare. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatchling Cockatrice Alorael at Large Posted May 29, 2010 Share Posted May 29, 2010 Spiderweb has been dragged kicking and screaming into the newer generation game enhancements. —Alorael, who enjoys the fact that while Spiderweb does sometimes have to reinvent the wheel, it can usually get away with inventing a newer wheel. You know, the ones made after someone worked out that wheels work better when round. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tenderfoot Thahd PorkSol Posted May 29, 2010 Share Posted May 29, 2010 He said in an interview it is only a 3 man party now. Interview here: http://gamebanshee.com/interviews/97737-spiderweb-software.html?start=1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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