Brief Geneforge 4 Update

[Spidweb]

Working on section 50 out of, probably, 81.

 

By popular request, I have put Khyryk into the game. I didn't originally intend to, but when I saw that people wanted him back, I realized that he really, really should be there. He is the character that introduces the ideas that are becoming very important to the series.

 

Also, his dialogue is fun to write.

 

Also, items in your pack no longer contribute to weight. Items you wear do. Your squishy caster type in full plate won't move so good. This was a suggestion made on these boards, and I liked it.

 

So you see? Sometimes posts on these boards do make a difference.

 

- Jeff Vogel

[I_am_a_Minotaur]

Yes!!!!!

 

These updates sound great! Khryk is probably, for me, the most interesting character in Geneforge. I'm glad that G4 is using the only weight is the items you wear endurence system. That was, for me, the only thing that bothered me, the weight system.

[Imortel]

hey jeff is it ok if you like make the guy in geneforge 1 the was the leader of the sholi a ghost seeking revenge or something?

[Dikiyoba]

Good to hear all five things.

 

Dikiyoba supposes that we will just have to wait and see if Learned Darian appears again.

[John S]

But hopefully, she/he can appear as a ghost seeking revenge.

 

And I think I remember hearing that Geneforge will have a plot which goes in a different direction. And it's great to say so, but it's even better to give us examples. Please?

[Randomizer]

Thanks to the new weight scheme I can pile on the equipment into the pack and switch out as needed. I'm trying to remember what they called the Dungeons & Dragon character that had a backpack twice his size.

 

Edit: I think the miniature figure was the complete dungeoneer. Although the complete packrat was more accurate.

[Shaper Anton]

What about releasing your creation and be able to make them neutrual, hostile and friendly?

[Igor]

What about character classes? Are there going to be new classes with different strong and weak skillsts, or will the same classes be carried over from previous games?

 

I like the new weight system, btw.

[Drakefyre]

Well, since you're not a Shaper, the classes have to be different.

[Igor]

Quote:

Originally written by Drakefyre:
Well, since you're not a Shaper, the classes have to be different.

Well yes, that was why I was asking. I am wondering if the same sets of strong/medium/weak skillsets will just be applied to renamed classes.

I would also find it very neat if there was an infiltraitor class that paid less skill points for mechanics, leadership, and luck.

[Alorael at Large]

Both your wishes are sort of granted!

 

—Alorael, who can't be any more specific. He agreed not to be, and it's also funnier that way.

[Dikiyoba]

Edit: Ignore Dikiyoba's post.

[Igor]

Quote:

Originally written by Cuarenta dias y noches de soledad:
Both your wishes are sort of granted!

—Alorael, who can't be any more specific. He agreed not to be, and it's also funnier that way.

Jerk

[Drakefyre]

There are also more classes because you can be a servile or a human. There.

[Randomizer]

Now you can play a slave. "Yes master. May I lick your boots master." Just think about the guard, Stover, in the Greenwood Academy in GF3.

[Fort]

Wow, servile abilities sound like a barrel of fun. In what category are humans inferior to the serviles if I may ask?

[Alorael at Large]

Don't even bother putting points into Groveling or Grape Peeling as a human. You won't get anywhere.

 

—Alorael, who thinks he can avoid having the SEP goons sent to his house if he reveals that GF4 follows the Spiderweb tradition of flexible characters. Your servile is good at some things and bad at others, but you can still do everything that a human can do. Except talk back to the Shapers, because they're really not into that.

[Student of Trinity]

But if you're a Servile put lots of points into Leadership, or else whenever you take one of those dialog options that ends in '(Lie.)', your nose will grow even longer.

[Spidweb]

There are 5 classes, each emphasizing different orders of skills. Four are human.

 

To anicipate a question, I didn't put in the sixth for two reasons. One, I didn't think that skill set worked well. Two, didn't have time to make a sixth PC graphic.

 

- Jeff Vogel

[Alorael at Large]

I often find myself thinking that the missing sixth class is exactly what I'm playing as, only with less efficient use of skill points. Now I suspect that I'm about to run into a cold, hard wall of character misuse.

 

—Alorael, who wonders what Synergy's metaphor has to say about that. Some people just struggle their whole lives to be good at the things that just aren't in them and end up being worthless?

[Fyora Toast With Roamer Butter]

Serviles are better at crafting than humans... at least it appears that way in the game. So tool use bonus probably. They should also be better at sneaking around. Less visible, more dexterity. That is my guess. They seem to make all the really powerful items for the rogue creations.

 

It would be interesting to have something about this. They seem to be able to make some really cool things. It would be interesting to see why this is possible. When the magic side gets suppressed it causes the technical side to go haywire. It might be interesting to see a mad servile craftsman or two capable of making some really crazy stuff.

 

I somehow don't think the giant dragons, or the floating eyes could really make the delicate instruments like pylon controls or microscope pieces very well.

[John S]

And no one expects a supposedly loyal servile to be infiltrating their citadel of top-secret research.

[Drakefyre]

Not everything will manifest through skills - dialogue and options are different depending on your race.

[MagmaDragoon]

Quote:

Originally written by Spidweb:
So you see? Sometimes posts on these boards do make a difference.

Is very clever to say.

Quote:

Originally written by Spidweb:
Also, items in your pack no longer contribute to weight. Items you wear do. Your squishy caster type in full plate won't move so good. This was a suggestion made on these boards, and I liked it.

This is even better. The encumbereance was very annoying.

------

PS: I'm not back, actually.

[Synergy]

Quote:

Originally written by Spaghetti is a toy.:
I often find myself thinking that the missing sixth class is exactly what I'm playing as, only with less efficient use of skill points. Now I suspect that I'm about to run into a cold, hard wall of character misuse.

—Alorael, who wonders what Synergy's metaphor has to say about that. Some people just struggle their whole lives to be good at the things that just aren't in them and end up being worthless?

Clearly you don't require my interpretation. I'd say you've followed the metaphor through logically. I note the word worth-less. It's worth less, but I wouldn't say "goodfornuthin'." Perhaps a lovely talking doorstop...

[Randomizer]

You could always use the missing class as a challenge for those that really want to play it over with a handicap.

[Alorael at Large]

I still think it wouldn't be much of handicap, but it might be if you had to play with a stick figure.

 

—Alorael, who thinks a real challenge would be a class that is okay at everything but not really good at anything. Or, for the truly masochistic, a class that is bad at everything!

[Phase Equilibrium]

The weakest class of the six... let me guess...

 

Decent combat, weak magic and good shaping.

 

The beta-testers can avoid howlers dropping on their breakfast tables by not saying I am crrect.

[Shaper Anton]

Six character......*Mutters*

 

What is that? A pig?????

 

Not a servile, eh?

[Fyora Toast With Roamer Butter]

The sixth class is a regenerating exploding ornk. It pulls itself together after several rounds then wanders into the next area and blows up again. It is very good at stealth.

[Synergy]

I don't know...it's kind of hard to be stealthy when you keep exploding.

 

-S-

[Dikiyoba]

One would think they would be good at diplomacy. All they'd have to do is get up very close to people and yell.

 

"Let me pass, or I'll explode!"

 

"Lower your prices, or I'll explode!"

 

"Let me join your sect without having to do any missions, or I'll explode!"

 

Dikiyoba.

 

Edit: Typo.

[Randomizer]

You could have serviles with a shaping class but it's ornk. Someone has to make them.

[ex post slarto]

Quote:

Originally written by Spidweb:
By popular request, I have put Khyryk into the game.

Also, items in your pack no longer contribute to weight. Items you wear do.

I just saw this thread, and I am once again excited about G4. Hallelujah for good design decisions!

This game is going to be great, and I look forward to having many inane, nitpicky conversations about character builds on this board.

[Fort]

It should totally have, in addition to the traditional story paths, a new one: one where you choose to be a humble artisan or farmer while the rebellion occurs.

 

You would have to fulfill monthly orders of Ornks, fill up sacks of grain, make living tools, etc.

[Delicious Vlish]

Quote:

Originally written by Slarty:

Quote:

Originally written by Spidweb:
By popular request, I have put Khyryk into the game.

Also, items in your pack no longer contribute to weight. Items you wear do.

I just saw this thread, and I am once again excited about G4. Hallelujah for good design decisions!

This game is going to be great, and I look forward to having many inane, nitpicky conversations about character builds on this board.

Oh please come back!

[Synergy]

Slarty! Slartucker the Great...The Slartymeister...Slartorama...Slartyyyy.

 

wb

 

-S-

[Drakefyre]

Quote:

Originally written by Slarty:
This game is going to be great, and I look forward to having many inane, nitpicky conversations about character builds on this board.

There will be plenty!

[Lowbacca]

Does anyone else like the graphic for Firebolt in GF1 then in gf2 and 3? I think its much better in the first one. It look like more of a bolt. The firebolt in the other ones look like more of a flamethrower.

 

Also, I'd like to see a Healing creature, like in the majic class. but they heal small amounts. but still, that would be sweet, id love it.

 

And be able to recruit more than just 2 allies. I liked the amount in GF2, but you couldnt control them, which caused much death. OK, im donenow bye.

 

Also, id like to see a new graphic for the drakon. Personally, i dont like the look. there is something missing. Oh well. Anyways, i love these games, GF4 is going to be sweet!

[Micawber]

Hooray for Geneforge 4!

 

My silly proposal for the missing sixth class is a character who starts at level 40, but everytime they gain experience they go down a level and they have to use their skill points to reduce their skills. All creations attack the PC on sight so you are forced to reduce levels. The end game would be... interesting (i.e. you are at your weakest fighting the strongest enemies).

 

My serious proposal for GF4 is as follows: whenever you begin casting a spell and then an enemy comes into sight and combat mode starts, at present you forfeit the essence and energy but do not benefit from the spell effect. This strikes me as unfair. Either the spell should be completely aborted (i.e. you keep the essence and energy) or completed (i.e. the spell has effect). I don't like paying for nothing!

[Randomizer]

The loss of spell points and essence also exists in the Avernum games where you cast a spell that can't work at that time. It's a bug where the subtraction occurs before checking on whether it will work because of circumstances.

[Fyora Toast With Roamer Butter]

I would like to have more control over how my character looks. It would be neat to have pink hair, greeen skin, glowing red eyes, and bright purple pants. This might make the character more interesting. A shop where you can have your clothes dyed, your weapons colorized, etc. would be very nice.

[Conqueror of Geneforge]

Quote:

Originally written by Micawber:
My silly proposal for the missing sixth class is a character who starts at level 40, but everytime they gain experience they go down a level and they have to use their skill points to reduce their skills. All creations attack the PC on sight so you are forced to reduce levels. The end game would be... interesting (i.e. you are at your weakest fighting the strongest enemies).

Or play through the game without paying any skill so they won't go up.

That would make it soo much hard... anyone ever tried it? A Weakest Character Challenge? You can still equip items though.

[Zummi]

Wouldn't it be nice if you can fuse your monsters into a stronger one??

[Percinator]

I am wondering about beta testing. I would be interested in testing it. Will there be a period where people can sign up, and if there is, when do you think it will be?

[the Great Potato]

Yes, in maybe a month for Mac.

[Fyora Toast With Roamer Butter]

An insane idea. Why not have an intelligent spawner. Lets say it can generate various loyal creations that make it very hard to kill. You have to get past it, but it is too tough to kill. It gives you a bunch of seeds to plant to make other intelligent spawners--- you have to go to a very remote and deadly place to plant the seeds... Kind of like a much larger spawner, with eight mouth parts about the size of a small tree. Call it a tree of life...

[Phish Phlot]

I think it would be nice to have controll over what your creathions look like.

[Alorael at Large]

Graphics are always in short supply. Besides, different looking creations are always different creations.

 

—Alorael, who would be very unhappy if his cryoas turned green, his drayks turned red, and his vlishes had smiley faces.

[Wizzywig]

 

That would be disturbing, wouldn't it?