World Traveling

[hredthel]

In game: How will our character travel over great distances?
Will it be revolved around "fast-travel" NPC's or physical "waypoints"?
Will we be forced to find our way from town to town through the actual game world?

I've never enjoyed a game that encourages you to "skip" its content in the interest of, say: getting to that quest marker faster, or porting back to town to sell my junk. I would rather be forced to find my own way across the map every time: and thus discover new challenges and dangers that I would have missed by blinking from town to town.

As always, I'm excited as hell to see this game!

 

[Venom]

Actually, I've always enjoyed a lot more games that let you use mounts (from simple horses to tamed beasts) instead of fast travel. Fast travel is just so...annoying. It takes away from the experience SO much. This is literally part of why I found Guild Wars 2 to be so bland. You didn't have to work for much. Everything was really damn easy and you didn't even have to walk far to get anywhere because you could fast travel for ridiculously small amounts of gold FROM ANY POINT ON THE MAP. I know that mounts themselves are unnecessary, but I've always loved having animal companions in games (especially ones that you can interact with directly). Just one of the many ways of travel!

 

[Pantheon]

I liked the way Fallout 1 and 2 did it. In Fallout 1/2, you could also fast travel, but instead of insta-traveling to a location, you traveled on the world map, which used fast-forwarding in time and would stop if you would encounter anything on your way from A to B. But the world map consisted of squared areas, not a seamless connected world, so I doubt that it work that good for Sui Generis.

I'd like fast travel through empty areas though, but only if they're really empty and you have been through it at least once already, so bascially like the system the first two Fallout games used. Not teleporting, just traveling faster.

 

[dktne]

I think the game ought to be beautiful enough not to require any sort of fast travel system; beautiful enough that the player wishes to repeatedly run through it.

 

[Venom]

We still don't know EXACTLY how big the world is. All we know is that it's not huge, but it's big enough to fit tons of different adventures. Maybe getting from one side of the world to the other won't be as hard as we think.

 

[dktne]

I hope there is a world going, or at least, presented and eventually completed. Different cultures, environments, so on.

 

[hredthel]

I think the game ought to be beautiful enough not to require any sort of fast travel system; beautiful enough that the player wishes to repeatedly run through it.

that's exactly how I feel. If its cool scenery (which, just looking at bland screenshots: I bet will be prevalent) or random respawns, or just a different path to take. I can't get enough of a game that makes me WANT to travel through slowly.

""I liked the way Fallout 1 and 2 did it.In Fallout 1/2, you could also fast travel, but instead of insta-traveling to a location, you traveled on the world map, which used fast-forwarding in time and would stop if you would encounter anything on your way from A to B. But the world map consisted of squared areas, not a seamless connected world, so I doubt that it work that good for Sui Generis.

""I'd like fast travel through empty areas though, but only if they're really empty and you have been through it at least once already""

Same here: I am a zealot for those two games, and the traveling system was awesome. I don't see it ever making it's way into an open-ended rpg like this, either. Maybe it's best to just make fast-travel available but primitive. I know there are times when I wish I had it: such as clearing a dungeon that exceeds my pack capacity by ten fold. (then it's nice to port back).

 

[dktne]

#

..I know there are times when I wish I had it: such as clearing a dungeon that exceeds my pack capacity by ten fold. (then it's nice to port back).

That ruins the entire challenge and the adventure is then ruined. I find more fun in overcoming the challenge of a game rather than have an instant-win button like fast travel sort of is for traveling, and it's also a lazy-encouragement button for devs. Detailed traveling allows for detailed and intimate events out in nature with a decent amount of surprise when an event takes place naturally in front of a player, that isn't scripted, as I think the devs mentioned they wanted the physics engine to surpass lighting and so on and actually direct the game according to physical law. (which is so awesome)

 

[Madoc]

As a team we've been a little torn over this subject but the consesus now is that we will have locations that you can fast travel between, however these are not things like towns, they are mostly well hidden (especially on the surface) and you will have to discover them first. You will not be able to travel to these locations from everywhere but only between them. We want getting lost (especially in the underworld!) to be an important gameplay element . We're also going to have related mechanics such as fast travelling to undiscovered or random locations and one way trips (good ways to get lost!).

As a side note valuable items will be fairly uncommon and filling your inventory is unlikely to happen quickly. You can collect lots of cheap junk but it's unlikely you will find anyone willing to buy it.

 

[Venom]

As a team we've been a little torn over this subject but the consesus now is that we will have locations that you can fast travel between, however these are not things like towns, they are mostly well hidden (especially on the surface) and you will have to discover them first. You will not be able to travel to these locations from everywhere but only between them. We want getting lost (especially in the underworld!) to be an important gameplay element . We're also going to have related mechanics such as fast travelling to undiscovered or random locations and one way trips (good ways to get lost!).

As a side note valuable items will be fairly uncommon and filling your inventory is unlikely to happen quickly. You can collect lots of cheap junk but it's unlikely you will find anyone willing to buy it.

So...no animal companions or mounts? Why is it that devs like fast-travelling so much over more content?

 

[Humblerbee]

As a team we've been a little torn over this subject but the consesus now is that we will have locations that you can fast travel between, however these are not things like towns, they are mostly well hidden (especially on the surface) and you will have to discover them first. You will not be able to travel to these locations from everywhere but only between them. We want getting lost (especially in the underworld!) to be an important gameplay element . We're also going to have related mechanics such as fast travelling to undiscovered or random locations and one way trips (good ways to get lost!).

As a side note valuable items will be fairly uncommon and filling your inventory is unlikely to happen quickly. You can collect lots of cheap junk but it's unlikely you will find anyone willing to buy it.

Have you considered a carriage system, where you can pay for rides between towns, but run the risk of bandit attack, monsters, etc. There would be caravans travelling between towns, and you could be hired as a guard for caravans, or you could raid caravans as a bandit if you so wished. It would take a while to travel, and you'd experience the scenery, perhaps while riding the carriage you can shift camera angle to show off the beautiful weather system you've developed. Having actual trade caravans carrying goods between the towns is so much more realistic, I think it's on par with NPCs storing things in chests in their houses rather then carrying a shit-ton of stuff on them all the time. Merchants don't get goods from thin air, they should be transported through roads and byways across the land. Experiencing the travel element could be every bit as exciting as raiding a dungeon, so long as you enrich it, give it an element of danger and threat from the unknown lands you must travel through. This is just my suggestion, but I think it's the travel system that is most in line with Sui Generis' dynamic and real world.

I don't mind having secret waypoints that teleport you across the continent, I can very well imagine a thaumaturgic connection spanning a network of hidden dungeons and locations in the deep dark. So long as it retains the mystery and dynamism of Sui Generis, I'm fine with it.

 

[dktne]

I hope you release ample devtools for this game. I, among others I know, would love to create my own story within this great physics system you've going.

 

[Madoc]

Sorry, I was merely replying on the issue of fast travel and ignored other possible means of travel. Caravans (and the inevitable bandit attacks) and mounts are definitely something we'd like to have in the game, though I can't say I'm looking forward to implementing equestrian and riding physics, muchly. That said these will have nothing to do with fast travel. You are always in game, whether riding a caravan, engaged in conversation or whatever else.

I was about to reply to something else but that would be a spoiler!

 

[Venom]

I was about to reply to something else but that would be a spoiler!

We've been foiled yet again by the power of Madoc's mind.

 

[Humblerbee]

Sorry, I was merely replying on the issue of fast travel and ignored other possible means of travel. Caravans (and the inevitable bandit attacks) and mounts are definitely something we'd like to have in the game, though I can't say I'm looking forward to implementing equestrian and riding physics, muchly. That said these will have nothing to do with fast travel. You are always in game, whether riding a caravan, engaged in conversation or whatever else.

I was about to reply to something else but that would be a spoiler!

"Mwahaha, you must hold your tongue Madoc, and keep your wits about you, for these crafty forum folk are silver-tongued devils who will beguile you and pull from your lips unwitting spoilers. Tread carefully, my good sir."

I'm unsure of mounted combat, because of course horses would be used to travel, and it gives the player a means of transportation to wherever they are headed, but at the same time, I've never seen riding well implemented into a game, and there have definitely been some horrendous riding physics as of late.

PS: I'm glad you plan to implement caravans. Every time I think I had a good idea to help the project, you've already thought of it first. Though, to be fair, I believe you have the advantage of time on your side.

 

[Venom]

"Mwahaha, you must hold your tongue Madoc, and keep your wits about you, for these crafty forum folk are silver-tongued devils who will beguile you and pull from your lips unwitting spoilers. Tread carefully, my good sir."

I'm unsure of mounted combat, because of course horses would be used to travel, and it gives the player a means of transportation to wherever they are headed, but at the same time, I've never seen riding well implemented into a game, and there have definitely been some horrendous riding physics as of late.

Such as the very well recognized 4x4 horses of Skyrim who climb walls....
I just REALLY like the idea of mounts. The moment that I buy a game blindly and at full price will only happen if the player has the ability to mount a warthog.

 

[MrIdontKnow]

"Mwahaha, you must hold your tongue Madoc, and keep your wits about you, for these crafty forum folk are silver-tongued devils who will beguile you and pull from your lips unwitting spoilers. Tread carefully, my good sir."

I'm unsure of mounted combat, because of course horses would be used to travel, and it gives the player a means of transportation to wherever they are headed, but at the same time, I've never seen riding well implemented into a game, and there have definitely been some horrendous riding physics as of late.

PS: I'm glad you plan to implement caravans. Every time I think I had a good idea to help the project, you've already thought of it first. Though, to be fair, I believe you have the advantage of time on your side.

Mounts would be great but only if done right, imagine riding along and your horse being smashed in the face by one of those big momma giant monsters. Funny.

 

[GhanBuriGhan]

I think given the samll team they should carefully choose their battles, I'd rather they tackle stuff like mounts, multiplayer and other things in subsequent updates, to be honest. That said, the only decent mounted combat in a computer game is Mount & Blade, and the entire game focuses on that experience.

 

[MrIdontKnow]

I think given the samll team they should carefully choose their battles, I'd rather they tackle stuff like mounts, multiplayer and other things in subsequent updates, to be honest. That said, the only decent mounted combat in a computer game is Mount & Blade, and the entire game focuses on that experience.

I've never played that game, but you are right, if they couldn't have a 'mount' in game for the preferred released date but only could have animals, let mounts be a DLC or something.

 

[Marius Voinescu]

Well having horses or other mounts in game would be really cool, and you could even steal one
QUEST!
Farmer runs up to you, sweating and panting
Farmer: Sir sir quick you must help me recover my horse... ahhh ahha vile thief tock him!
Sir Marius: No problem my good man, which direction did the scoundrel ride of to.
Farmer: North he must be passed the river by now.
After many hours of tracking, chasing and finally killing the thief, you take the horse and ride back to the farmers home stead. You ride slowly enjoying the sun seat and rest a while at the river, as you stop to water your self and the horse you come to appreciate the horse is quite a gentle well breed animal, you stroke its hair smiling and it stares at you then licks your face.
Later before nightfall you arrive at the farmers home, he runs up to you.
Farmer: Your a saint sir you brought my horse back! What a day thank you.
Sir Marius: Hold now good man I brought him back but I dont want to simply give him back to you!
Farmer: WHAT! What are you saying you killed the man who tock him so you could steal him your self and now mock me!
Sir Marius: No not at all however I have grown fond of the horse I want to buy him from you.
Farmer: But i need him for my farm work!
Sir Marius: Well I am a knight in the service of his majesty and if I wanted to I could simply take him, but I will pay you, so take this gold and thank god the scoundrel i dealt with didn't kill you before stealing your horse.
The farmer catches the bag of coins looks at the shiny metal and smiles approvingly.
Farmer: Well all right sir, ye have a good day and be sure to visit us again. Forgive my harsh words but there be to many dastardly tipes around here, good to have fine folk like your self look out for us.