Spukrian

I'd like to see a new Geneforge game set between Geneforge 2 and Geneforge 3. I feel that there is a "gap", both in the timeline and the story, between them. Since every game explores areas unseen in previous games, I imagine the game would be set somewhere between Okavano Barrier and Western Morass. You start as a Rebel, but as a twist, you can only choose between Servile, Shock Trooper and Sorceress.

The main task in the beginning of the game is to slowly infiltrate the small settlements in the area, while sabotaging Shaper operations and gathering resources for the rebellion. The first steps would be that the PC helps the Rebellion take control of the roads in and out of the swamps. The PC is then ordered to explore the area and search for a secret Shaper research facility, where classified secrets from Sucia and Drypeak are stored. Secrets that Ghaldring needs to build a new Geneforge.

There would be two main factions that the PC could join, Rebels and Shapers. Within both groups there will be moderates, which the PC could help (or not) and this would be reflected in the endings. There would also be the beginning of the Trakovite faction present in the swamps. This faction would be the antagonists of the game, having designed a weaponized disease that targets only those who could Shape.

Hmm. Maybe? Mooralas is Hoge's apprentice, right? This seems plausible, but not a given, especially given the extra O. Is there a thematic connection between the two that I am not getting from the Wikipedia entry on the book? Alternately, are there any other potential character connections?

I note that the series has some other general points of parallel, with Grah-Hoth, Demonslayer, and the monster plagues. None of them are too specific though and some of them are generic, so this is hard to read into.

SIMS is interesting. It does suggest serviles... first published (as hardcover, though) mid-2000, a few months before development on Geneforge began.

In Geneforge 3 there is an elusive character named Mooralas. This is a reference to Molasar/Rasalom in the novel The Keep by F. Paul Wilson.

Also the novel SIMS by F. Paul Wilson is an obvious inspiration for the serviles in Geneforge.

I will be following this.

Looking forward to this. I never liked Avadon or the skill trees but was intrigued by the story. Now I don't have to force myself to play it.

Thanks for an entertaining Let's Play! To be honest though, I haven't finished yet but I will.

Yeah, "carnelian" is an English word. "Tek" is not.

Following either logic, though, makes the existence of two TSDs in G2 even more uncomfortable.

I agree with you on the mini-map, it was much better in Avernum 4 & 5.

Maybe Dionicio in Avernum 5 and Vandrin in Avernum 6 would count as major characters? They follow you through the whole game and are present for some very important battles. That said, they only interact with your party and not with anyone else (maybe Vandrin talks with Solberg, can't remember). Neither of them are that important to the plot.

I thought Gladwell appeared in A4 as the wizard living under Spire in the Abyss that wanted GIFTS.

Wait, that was a reference? It was accidental, what was it a reference to?

Don't know how to embed.

A few comments:

In one of the early videos you meet Gladwell, and IIRC you express the belief that Gladwell was the guy in Avernum 4 who asked you to find the GIFTS. Back when I played Avernum 5 for the first time I thought so too. But I went back to check and Gladwell is the guy asking you to feed his slimes (the guy asking for GIFTS is someone else).

We speak to the wizard Shafrir, a relatively sensible mage in all honesty.

Beautiful, well done! Your efforts are much appreciated!

it randomly switched between playing a video game, to roleplaying with friends, to being the protagonist IN the videogame

I've had quite a few dreams like this, sometimes even of games I haven't played or games that don't even exist. But I've never had a Geneforge themed dream, so far.

Whew, binged watched your let's play over the weekend and finally caught up.

I really like the fact that you play as the Empire in Avernum 5, it is a bit refreshing with the change of perspective. I also thoroughly enjoyed the fact that there are several different groups/individuals that you can ally with during the game, feels a little bit like Geneforge in this regard.

If you have Gladwell's quest, a gate will be open on the lower level of the tower and a powerful enemy will be beyond it. If you don't have the quest, you can still get through the tunnel and into the tower.

IIRC I didn't have any problems with going back to the spiders and getting the eggs later.

In the ambience of Dillame in Geneforge 4 I always hear something creepy that sounds like "I want souls, that's what this is about".

Edit: Many soundeffects used in later Spiderweb games sound a lot like soundeffects used in Icewind Dale 2.

I'm along for the ride, as I've finished the Second Trilogy (just finished Avernum 6 today in fact). I will be following you to be sure.

I believe that Monarch in GF4 is actually Goettsch from GF1. He tried to carve out his own kingdom on Sucia Island and failed, then as Monarch he tried again and failed....

As for Geneforge 5, as I've interpreted it, the GF5 protagonist is someone who used the Geneforge too many times and using Rawal's Geneforge jumpstarts the PC and his/her memory...

I think I will make a separate thread for Disciplines we'd want to see/brainstorming in the remakes, because I get next to no feedback on it here, and I want to brainstorm it.

In general, Guardian is more difficult than an Agent if you try to solo, though if you use creations Guardian is generally easier.

Unlike most others I had an easier time through GF1 with my Guardian than my Agent, but I haven't yet tried Torment.

I suspect that I'm entirely alone in this, but I'd like the Servile to be replaced with a human equivalent. Say, let's call the class Paladin or Juggernaut or something else that fits.

Either that, or make Servile a race option for most or even all classes. But that probably won't happen, too much work with the graphics required...

when a shaper makes a creation, they essentially create matter out of thin air using energy alone

- I'd love to see leadership and mechanics still present, I really liked them, but adding a general skill that complements the "infiltrator" role; I've always longed for a "walk in the shadows" or stealth skill.

Well having given already a definition of it, I find Shades being the most complicated of creations to explain; I've tried plasma as an explanation, but the science behind this would make really hard to maintain and would very improbable.

If essence was filled with an advanced form of nanotechnology, shades might be plausible, but that wouldn't explain how ghosts fit or think in the world of geneforge. I have great doubts that a civilisation with the technology of that of the early Shapers would be able to create ethereal thinking beings out of a nanotech base without computers, machinery and technology centuries ahead of ours. Thinking without a stable nervous system causes me also another problem; how do you get information as complex as ideas, rational thought ( of sorts) and other forms of responses to internal and external stimuli without a stable network of connections such as nerves.

As for them being centuries ahead of us.... well, the Shapers had magic, which certainly helped. So I guess it depends on what you think magic should be and how the Shapers learned it.

Shades consist of essence. If you come up with a plausible explanation for essence, then shades will be easy to explain as well. Essence is however difficult to explain however, at least if you want to keep the laws of physics intact. E.g. Shapers store essence in their bodies, how do they do this without gaining size and mass yet they are able to create beings larger and heavier than themselves? So you might have to make some pseudoscientific stuff up.