Fledgling Fyora leviadragon Posted September 24, 2016 Share Posted September 24, 2016 If this idea has been utilised already in the Crystal Souls version of Avernum 2 (though I doubt it considering how the inherited narrative is structured) then please disregard my thought experiment, (and also let me know because that would actually get me to buy the remake) if not... well buckle in, I have an idea for the inevitable remake of the third game. I've always considered it a wasted opportunity that we never had Vahnatai as one of the selectable races during character creation in Avernum 3-6, even during their heel-turn moments the Vahnatai have seldom presented a unified front, some have remained friendly... or at least not blindly falling into line behind Rentar-Ihrno. And indeed having a Vahnatai party member during 3 would present quite the crisis of conscience for them, at the very least a bit of flavour text in some interactions. Having one Slith, one, human, one Nephilim and one Vahnatai would present quite a bit of variation in party members, rather than the usual spare duplicate human I usually end up with. There is also strong precedent for the nature of their racial bonuses, Swords, thrown weapons, mage spells, and due to their long lifespans and the many years of hard training they spend to obtain that mastery, giving them the greatest growth rate penalty of any of the races makes sense both narratively and for game balance. The only sticking point I see is the traditional Vahnatai weakness to sunlight, which would of course be especially relevant in the third game, but not insurmountable as the third game shows us with some encounters with Vahnatai foes outside. A thick cloak, a unique situational debuff, or a weakness to fire damage if we're fudging things a little... or we could ignore that aspect entirely if it's too fiddly as a little detail. If the racial traits have been changed in Crystal Souls then this idea would have to be heavily reworked, but I believe the core concept is sound. If anyone in these forums thinks this proposal has the ear of a member of Spiderweb's dev team then I would appreciate this idea being passed along to them, I don't feel like personally pestering the devs on twitter or what have you, so I present it here for the consideration of the community. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Understated Ur-Drakon Earth Posted September 24, 2016 Share Posted September 24, 2016 Playable Vahnatai has been suggested few times. While its semi nice idea its unlikely that JV will add it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatchling Cockatrice Lilith Posted September 24, 2016 Share Posted September 24, 2016 Jeff Vogel, head of Spiderweb Software, has said previously that this won't happen because he thinks it'd make the Vahnatai feel less strange and alien if you could play as one. It wouldn't be the first time he's said he wouldn't do something and then done it after all, but I wouldn't bet on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatchling Cockatrice Mea Tulpa Posted September 24, 2016 Share Posted September 24, 2016 Also, if it were to happen, A3 is really the wrong game for it to happen in. The vast majority of A3's existing dialogue would be completely implausible if you had a Vahnatai in the party, let alone if you had an all-Vahnatai party. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Understated Ur-Drakon The Almighty Doer of Stuff Posted September 27, 2016 Share Posted September 27, 2016 Right now OBoE is the only place you can play as a Vahnatai, although the program is still having its kinks worked out and there are currently no scenarios in existence which acknowledge the possibility. But you do have the option, at least. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fledgling Fyora leviadragon Posted September 27, 2016 Author Share Posted September 27, 2016 OBoE? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curious Artila Galactic Maiden Posted September 27, 2016 Share Posted September 27, 2016 OBoE? I believe that might stand for old Blades of Exile or original Blades of Exile, the first scenario creation game Jeff released based on the Avernum series. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Understated Ur-Drakon Celtic Minstrel Posted September 27, 2016 Share Posted September 27, 2016 No, it stands for "Open Blades of Exile" - ie the version of Blades of Exile developed from the source that Jeff released. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curious Artila Galactic Maiden Posted September 27, 2016 Share Posted September 27, 2016 I see, thank you. I didn't even realize an open BoE existed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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