The Bard's Tale IV Kickstarter is live

[Infinitron]

Figured people in this community might be interested in this.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/in ... s-tale-iv/

From the creators of Wasteland 2 and Torment: Tides of Numenera comes The Bard’s Tale IV. Thirty years ago, The Bard’s Tale put Brian Fargo and Interplay on the map and launched a storied career crafting some of the most beloved cRPGs in gaming history.

Today, we return to Skara Brae for the long-awaited dungeon-crawling sequel to the Bard’s Tale trilogy -- the games that helped define the genre.

[*]A single-player, party-based dungeon crawl, rich in exploration and combat
[*]Dungeons filled not just with dangerous fights but with challenging puzzles and devious riddles
[*]Dynamic phase-based combat, where the pace of battle is animated and fluid, but still gives you time to think and respond to your enemies
[*]A game set to beautiful Gaelic music, where the Bard’s songs and melodies affect gameplay
[*]Co-funded by fans and inXile: if this game hits its $1.25 million goal, inXile will put in at least $1.25 million of its own money to double the initial budget!
[*]Built using Unreal Engine 4, for PC, Mac and Linux. Available from Steam or DRM-Free from GOG.com
[*]Available in English, French, German, Russian, Spanish, and Polish
[*]Built for and with the help of our fans. Your feedback and input directly impact the design and features of the game during alpha and beta stages

Pitch video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffaI-nqAE_I

The basic pledge is $20.

[Dr.Disaster]

What is "dynamic phase-based combat"?

EDIT: nevermind, it's just same old turn-based combat.

[Infinitron]

In-engine footage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVB6dSckvJI

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/in ... ts/1253232

[Isaac]

What is "dynamic phase-based combat"?

EDIT: nevermind, it's just same old turn-based combat.

Not really; Bard's Tale 1-3 were phased based rather than turn based. Meaning the player pre-commits all of their PCs to action before the combat round begins, and the game handles the outcome based on emergent circumstance and personal initiative.... As opposed to turn based game like Fallout or Wasteland 2, where the player has micromanaged control of the PC(s) within a combat round, and with knowledge of all previous events that round, from which to base their choice of action. A major notable difference is that in BT the PC's opponent can be dead (or have fled) before they have a chance to act; where as in Fallout and WL2, if the target dies during the round, it does not adversely affect the action of the PC, as they simply choose a different action (instead of attacking the dead guy).

There is a first person dungeon crawler named Thunderscape, that also employs a phase based combat system, akin to BT1-3, but lacking the text-ribbon display; being wholly FPP.

[Komag]

Well, to me that's just a slightly different flavor of "turn-based", and actually the main one. The version of "turn based" where you micro-manage each moment vs the version where you issue all commands first then see how it plays out. If a targeted enemy dies and then the player shoots it again, the game is dumb, plain and simple, better games fixed that long ago. But bottom line is this is turn based as expected, which is just fine and not a problem, but I think trying to call it something special-sounding is slightly disingenuous.

[Isaac]

Well, to me that's just a slightly different flavor of "turn-based", and actually the main one. The version of "turn based" where you micro-manage each moment vs the version where you issue all commands first then see how it plays out. If a targeted enemy dies and then the player shoots it again, the game is dumb, plain and simple, better games fixed that long ago. But bottom line is this is turn based as expected, which is just fine and not a problem, but I think trying to call it something special-sounding is slightly disingenuous.

I'd say that it's significantly different... As for shooting a dead opponent... In BT 1-3 the PC lost their action for having no target; where as Fallout and WL2, simply do not allow invalid targets, so the player chooses a different action. But unlike Phased based games, the Turn based games tend to allow the player full knowledge of the preceding events, and they get to alter their decisions based on that. Phased based games rely on committed intent, and as situations change, they can invalidate a previous choice of action. This is really affecting when hitpoints are low... In Fallout and WL2 (for instance) the PC can change their mind based on previous events in the round, choose not to attack, and to heal instead; [not just themselves, but possibly a team member]. In BT 1-3, that was your committed action from the outset, or it was not an option. PCs in Phase Based, might take damage, also lose their action, and expect to take damage again next round before they can act, and perhaps before anyone can heal them.

[Dr.Disaster]

That's splitting hairs to me.

[Isaac]

That's splitting hairs to me.

Not in practice.
[IMO]

Most turn based games I've played either offer the player to make all of their moves in one go, or make each PC's move as their initiative comes up; but in both cases, they get to adjust their actions on the fly. If their first PC misses, they can call in their next one.

But Phased base play does not allow this, and you have to play it differently. It's not turns. In turn based games, the player knows the order of coming events. In PB they all state their intended actions, and the event's play out unpredictably.

[andyroosta]

Looks good but i'll reserve judgment until i see the combat in-game.

[Dr.Disaster]

Most turn based games I've played either offer the player to make all of their moves in one go, or make each PC's move as their initiative comes up; but in both cases, they get to adjust their actions on the fly. If their first PC misses, they can call in their next one.

But Phased base play does not allow this, and you have to play it differently. It's not turns. In turn based games, the player knows the order of coming events. In PB they all state their intended actions, and the event's play out unpredictably.

I know all this; been there, done that. Back in mid-80's pure phase-based was the only way to play a game like Bard's Tale because anything else did not allow to do combat with a party against several hundred monsters. Dynamic phase-based a.k.a really turn-based results in battles with less opponents otherwise it is not manageable. That's btw also how PnP-RPG's are played. Anyway, both styles boil down into a) get the initiative to strick first and b) keep the monsters from attacking/regenerating while you c) decimate them.