Random talking about spiderweb related things.

[Regar]

So! I just listened to Jeff's interview on active time babble, and found out that, in addition to the fact that i have been pronouncing "Avernum" wrong, Jeff is planning to do a rewrite for the series (just like exile was rewritten into Avernum). Also that a new game is in the works with a class system rather than the skill set that avernum used (A good few of you likely know all of this.)

This brought a few questions to mind.

 

First, how many other people mispronounced Avernum? I was pronouncing it a like apple (ah) when it's actually more like the a in averted (uh).

 

Second, will the new Avernum get a new name? I think for the sake of simplicity I'll just call it Newvernum until the real name is announced.

 

Third, if the new game is class based, what does that mean for singletons? no more jack of all trades... unless there's a class designed specifically for that.

 

I also have to express my gratitude to Jeff for his comments about not letting Avernum die. I love Avernum, the world is just so unique, quirky, and occasionally dark, and the writing makes it come together in a great way. It makes me very glad to see that it will not be left to gather dust. Of course remaking it won't be free, so we'll all have to buy a copy (or, if you're like me and have some patience, buy the 1/2/3 compilation CD)

 

Speaking of the writing, in Avernum 4 you come across a mage early in the game who is described as "nuttier than a bag of nuts", i find that absolutely hilarious.

 

Ok, that's all, i'm done, just felt like talking. Feel free to speculate or share if you feel the need, it's a forum after all.

[Slawbug]

It remains to be seen if Jeff is doing a traditional RPG class system, where, for example, each magic-using class gets access to its own set of totally unique abilities that other classes can't ever use. He might not. Technically, Geneforge has classes, even though the only differences between them amount to very broad skill point subsidies that are no more significant than the difference between Elite Warrior and Natural Mage in Avernum. This even seems likely since Jeff has repeatedly and consistently railed against traditional, locked-in class systems.

 

But singletons usually work fine with traditional class systems. People will quickly settle on one or two classes that are easiest for singleton play (often, paladin and cleric type classes). But almost any will be playable. Thurilith beat G4 on Torment without making a single creation or casting a single spell -- these things are always doable.

[Øther]

Huh. It turns out that I have always been pronouncing Avernum correctly. That's weird, considered how much I screw up the names of things inside the games.

[Alorael at Large]

The pronunciation of Avernum can be worked out from its root in mythology. It's Avernus, which does overtime as a lake.

 

—Alorael, who doesn't expect Newvernum anytime soon. It's still nice to know that Jeff won't abandon his roots (and cash cows).

[Celtic Minstrel]

As far as I'm concerned, those two pronunciations are close enough to both be acceptable. I'm not even sure which one I use, actually.

[VCH]

I say the name of the letter A when I pronounce Avernum.

[Enraged Slith]

The tricky one is Exile. You would never guess that it's actually egg-zil-ee.

[Celtic Minstrel]

Originally Posted By: VCH

I say the name of the letter A when I pronounce Avernum.

Ah, that one's wrong.

[The Ratt]

On another random Spiderweb note, anyone notice some similarities to Avernum in this game ?

[Øther]

I've played the other two of those games...

[The Ratt]

I was mostly talking about the setting. You're character is sent into a vast underground to complete random quests. Rather Avernum-esqe.