Dintiradan

Dastal, sounds good so far (though it still needs a lot more plot work before you even think of sitting down in front of the editor). I'm a little afraid BoA is going to get swamped with demon scenarios soon (mine one of them).

My advice is to treat the demons like any other baddie. Don't make them evil just because they are demons. Give them personalities. The fact that you are devoting time creating a political structure is very good.

Oops. I just realized that I'm repeating everything that the people before me have said. Anyway, my two-bit is: focus on the power balance for the demons. There are some good slith and nephil scenarios, but not a definitive demon one yet.

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Why don't smileys have noses?

By St. Ashby the Martyr:

Scratch, are you sure there wasn't a "run away" option? It's been a while since I've played A3, but I remember bumping into the Church and refusing to pay, but don't remember killing them.

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THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK SPECIAL, SPECIAL EDITION (With Alternate Ending!)

"Luke, I am your mother!"

Evan's Spiked Tentacles of Forced Intrusion!

Oops, wrong game.

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I love the smell of bat guano in the morning.

- Vaarsuvius (OotS)

Doomguards are tough... until you get an Ur-Basilisk in your Soul Crystal. I'm not sure whether Doomguards being vunerable to stoning was intentional or a bug. Either way...

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IF I EVER BECOME AN EVIL OVERLORD:

Before employing any captured artifacts or machinery, I will carefully read the owner's manual.

I found the Slow spell very useful at times, and Mung Demons are near the top of my list of challenging/annoying creatures (along with Doomguards and invunerable Hill Giant Chiefs).

I'd say Terror and Eyebeasts/Gazers.

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IF I EVER BECOME AN EVIL OVERLORD:

I will not strike a bargain with a demonic being then attempt to double-cross it simply because I feel like being contrary.

In the demo, there isn't too much to spend money on. When/If you get the full version, you can do many fun things with excess money: buy a mansion, augment all your mundane items, etc.

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IF I EVER BECOME AN EVIL OVERLORD:

If the beautiful princess that I capture says "I'll never marry you! Never, do you hear me, NEVER!!!", I will say "Oh well" and kill her.

2Meeshka (hee-hee): Is this a Blades plot you're designing? Please don't. Limit yourself to one villain. Besides, I've got dibs on Adze.

Vicheron: I think JV purposely avoided detailing the priests and gods of Avernum. Other than the Anama and the Church of the Divine Lucre (which doesn't count), there are no major religeous organizations.

If someone really wants to do an A0, I'd recommend a scenario revolving around helping Micah establish Avernum, defending from sliths, etc.

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I can't find the 'anykey'!

The whole glowing fungus thing always confused me. Was it the Vahnatai or Erika. I think it was the Vahnatai, and Erika, being egotistical, claimed that discovery.

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They've escaped from Area 51! They've... oh, nevermind, it's just Vahnatai.

By Reve:

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IF I EVER BECOME AN EVIL OVERLORD:

If an advisor says to me "My liege, he is but one man. What can one man possibly do?", I will reply "This." and kill the advisor.

The engine you prefer is the engine you start out with. There are diehard Exile fans out there, even though the Nethergate engine used in A1-3 is superior, with better graphics. If you're used to the BoA interface, A4 will seem annoying, and vice versa. Besides, I think JV mentioned that he wouldn't be returning to the old engine.

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IF I EVER BECOME AN EVIL OVERLORD:

I will only employ bounty hunters who work for money. Those who work for the pleasure of the hunt tend to do dumb things like even the odds to give the other guy a sporting chance.

You could always make your own if you think it would be better.

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IF I EVER BECOME AN EVIL OVERLORD:

I will maintain a healthy amount of skepticism when I capture the beautiful rebel and she claims she is attracted to my power and good looks and will gladly betray her companions if I just let her in on my plans.

By Vicheron:

Dibs on Adze!

I love the premise, though. One of the biggest things I missed in A2 was the Abyss. When is this set in terms of the series? Before A2 (and the Empire war), before or after A4?

EDIT: By Ephesos:

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And now for something completely different...

Shouldn't be too hard in BoA, though I haven't tried.

- Make several terrains with anvils, all shifted up in various amounts. Make them passable.

- When using a special ability, cutscene with the sequence of anvil terrains on an enemy's square, then do damage.

Or something to that effect, as I said, I don't know enough how to implement it. I am going to try do this for scenario #2, however.

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IF I EVER BECOME AN EVIL OVERLORD:

When I capture the hero, I will make sure I also get his dog, monkey, ferret, or whatever sickeningly cute little animal capable of untying ropes and filching keys happens to follow him around.

By Ephesos:

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Everyone make your Move Silently check.

I got a 17.

I got a 24.

I got a 19.

I GOT A 4! DID YOU HEAR ME? I GOT-

- OotS

I remember the Xian Skull telling me to talk to somebody on Bigail (don't remember the name, but she was a member of the Church of the Divine Lucre). That lead you to the Fury Crossbow location. I think there was another useful hint as well, but it was still mostly a novelty item.

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Legolas! Boromir! Come quick! I ... oh, wait. Never mind.

- The Xian Skull

1: Unfortunately, the answer is "live with it". Really, the movement system is not that much different that the other Avernums. I recommend using the mouse in towns and outdoors, and using the keypad in dungeons.

2: No.

3: Left click, I believe. This is my biggest problem with the interface: you can't solely depend on the keyboard as you did in the other Avernums. To look at a terrain, or to fire on an enemy, you must use the mouse. If there's another way to do it, I don't know. Sometimes bumping into the terrain automatically searches it.

4: A4 doesn't have the automap/inventory switch. Just click on the inventory button, or type 'i'. 1-4 toggles characters.

5: If it's any consolation, JV has promised more character graphics in A5.

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High on sneak, low on spot. Go figure.

- Big Stick

Vicheron, your demon ideas are so similar to the BoA trilogy I'm tentatively planning that it's scary.

(Puts on tin foil hat).

Where is this "Wild Speculation" thread? I must find it and post my ideas on the upcoming Giant Intelligent Friendly Talking Fluffy Turtles...

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Be mildly uncomfortable. Be VERY mildly uncomfortable.

Now I truly see the value of town/outdoor separation. According to this map, the distance between the major cities Dharmon and Blosk is about half the width of Blosk.

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Are we there yet?

- Common adventurer complaint prior to A4.

Now I truly see the value of town/outdoor separation. According to this map, the distance between the major cities Dharmon and Blosk is about half the width of Blosk.

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Are we there yet?

- Common adventurer complaint prior to A4.

Sorry, I only took a passing look at the Idiot's page. Good reading, though.

Wow, an entire site devoted to everything Evil Overlord related. I'm in heaven...

*cough* So, back to A4... A less "Heroes of Avernum save the world" approach might be better; it'd be nice to see Avernum from an outsider's point of view.

EDIT: Clarification.

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Wouldn't it be easier if Rentar just used a sunlamp on Erika?

Unfortunately, I'm on a computer at school, and thus don't have access to A4.

Maybe this helps: I remember getting an error message in A1 like yours. I wasn't able to load Commander Johnston's graphic (very bad to not see someone who gives you a major quest). So what I did was take another graphic, change it so you know it's different, and rename it to the missing graphic. A temporary solution, I know, but at least you'll be able to know who you're missing and your game won't freeze.

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IF I EVER BECOME AN EVIL OVERLORD:

If an enemy I have just killed has a younger sibling or offspring anywhere, I will find them and have them killed immediately, instead of waiting for them to grow up harboring feelings of vengeance towards me in my old age.

By Zeviz:

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IF I EVER BECOME AN EVIL OVERLORD:

I will not grow a goatee. In the old days they made you look diabolic. Now they just make you look like a disaffected member of Generation X.

Thanks Wonko.

Seriously people, these are good BoA ideas. None of them are really long and detailed enough to be the main idea behind A5. I can't really think of any enemy which will take up an entire game. The caves are mostly settled, the Sliths are nice, the Empire is nice, the Vahnatai are overdone, and the demons would suck for a main plot (side-villains are okay, though). They are, however, the perfect length for a scenario or two.

I envision A5 to seem like being beaten to death with feathers; who says evil has to be monolithic?

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"HA HA"

- Inscription on an obelisk in a dead-end, somewhere in the Avernum Trilogy.

Hmmm... I like the dragon idea. Remember, Athron had kids, and there's still that vengeful dragon from VoDT.

By Alorael:

By Ephesos:

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IF I EVER BECOME AN EVIL OVERLORD:

I will not use spawners to progressively populate my dungeon while the Heroes are in it. Instead, I will plan ahead, so they are crushed the moment they enter.

The main problem with a drop-in villain, such as demons, undead, or now the Vahnatai, is that they are seldom developed. Vahnatai as villains had potential: they aren't pure evil, just their schewed honour system lead them to evil acts. Why should demons be treated different? I'm making a small BoA trilogy, and eventually the villains will be demons. And I'll (gasp!) actually be giving each individual demon a character, a purpose for attackng, and 'redeeming' qualities. I'm curious to find out whether they will be seen as more or less evil than before.

EDIT: By Ephesos:

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IF I EVER BECOME AN EVIL OVERLORD:

I will not turn into a snake. It never helps.