Where to from here? Maybe Norse mythology?

Vidar · Post by **Vidar** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 7:07 pm

So far I am liking the direction where TQ is heading. I know it has a fair ways to go to be a Diablo 2 like game but meh...nothing a few patch releases couldn't fix (considering Diablo 2 has had like 10-12 patches to refine it).

I guess looking at the basics of TQ it is a mix of both Diablo 2 and Neverwinter Nights.

You get the fast paced click and kill things along with the ability to construct your own adventure.

I guess what I don't want to see from here is for there to be a sudden halt in the construction of patches for the game. I think they have developed quite a good platform to kick on from but the people at Iron Lore just need to keep rolling with it and make additional content on a regular basis to keep up with the play.

The expansion was a very nice addition but with the possibilities that have arisen there needs to be a constant flow of ideas to keep players e.g. looking for the new items that have been just included with a patch or complete the new quest that has just been released etc.

This leads onto what I have in my title "Maybe Norse Mythology?". There is a huge amount of subject matter one can draw from for a game such as this. Mythology is the content behind Fantasy! So there are stacks and stacks of mythological creatures, heroes and locations that one could draw from.
Norse being one, Indian being another maybe even Incan (or Maztican) etc.

The list could go on.

I know, I know give them time. However I do not want Iron Lore to miss out on what they could make this game into which would be to me classified as a "Great game" that will last and last rather than a one-off "Good game" with expansion that has faded into the pool of other good games that were released around the same time.

Well thats my 10 cents worth anyways.

Peace.

Siberys · Post by **Siberys** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 9:01 pm

Most of that I can agree with, and yeah, I'd definitely love to see a bit of Norse stuff in there, but I do have one problem with your post.

I know it has a fair ways to go to be a Diablo 2 like game but meh...nothing a few patch releases couldn't fix (considering Diablo 2 has had like 10-12 patches to refine it).

I guess looking at the basics of TQ it is a mix of both Diablo 2 and Neverwinter Nights.

First, IIRC, Titan Quest and Iron Lore made no claims to try and be like Diablo 2. Yes, it has similarities, but why do you believe that it needs fixed to be like diablo 2? D2 is an overrated, overused, and over-compared game for all other action RPG's, and it's kind of unfair to assume a game developer who is trying to be somewhat original is going to have his game immediately compared to diablo 2.

Also, how is it like Neverwinter nights? The game system itself of NWN is based off of D20, Titan Quest has an original character system. NWN is turn based, Titan quest is real time. NWN is set in forgotten realms, a few centuries technologically ahead than Titan quest; NWN is in the medieval era, Titan Quest is in ancient Greece and Egypt (Not to mention, Titan quest follows three different time periods as well as lands, Greece=500-550 BC, Egypt=1250 BC, Orient and Great Wall=250BC).

NWN, if it were in real life history, it'd be closer to 1000-1200 AD.

Vidar · Post by **Vidar** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 8:13 pm

I agree Siberys, probably comparing it to D2 is a little wrong - however I guess I was looking at the simple dynamics of the game which is point on baddy and attack him and he drops stuff. In a way I suppose I could have compared it to a whole genre of type games that do that also however I just picked D2 out of a list.

The comparison to NWN is purely on the level that one can create your own adventure nothing more.

However in regards to comparison to time and date times where NWN would sit well there is no comparison since NWN is derived from Dungeons and Dragons which in turn has drawn from Mythology for ideas and content (just like Tolkien etc). So NWN really can't sit in any time or date frame.

I completely agree with you that TQ is a very good game and nice graphics, great engine, with the expansion it puts it in another category again. I guess I just don't want to see the good work that Iron Lore has done in creating this great platform to work from fizzle away.

I made the same comments to the Bioware team when reviewing some of their content for NWN extra modules. And I certainly think the step into an independent NWN 2 was not the best decision I have seen considering the amount of refining and good work they had put into their original game engine.

TQ and its expansion to me is a very good game. I am not disrespecting the good work in any way just merely stating that the good work needs to be kept up.

Siberys · Post by **Siberys** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 8:50 pm

However in regards to comparison to time and date times where NWN would sit well there is no comparison since NWN is derived from Dungeons and Dragons which in turn has drawn from Mythology for ideas and content (just like Tolkien etc). So NWN really can't sit in any time or date frame.

But the thing is, I'm not comparing it to a time and date. I'm comparing it to a technological era. Medieval times, militia wearing heavy steel armor, thieves robbing the commonfolk up and down, witches being persecuted in some towns for there beliefs, that is the time period that is DND (A bit on forgotten realms, but mostly DND and Dragonlance).

It's where we have culture, governments, and yet still use steel sharp weapons. It's like Macbeth, there's no real time period that Macbeth was set in, but you got a feel for it just by the imagery and ways of life.

Vidar · Post by **Vidar** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 7:03 pm

I agree, NWN does have that sort of Medieval theme within the adventure or topic but I suppose when you look at what you are fighting against such as rogues and bandits along with Fire Giants and Dragons and various others it makes the overall look at the game a bit more broad. However like I have just said I can see what you are meaning when it comes to the adventure itself and some of the quests.

Just so that I can start some feedback from the forum members I might make up another thread asking people their thoughts on what could go into another expansion or additonal content release for the current TQ game.

TQ is a good game and I also believe a lot broader and more polished than the likes of Diablo 2. I think Iron Lore are onto a winner they just need to keep the ball rolling. Hence the mention of including other mythologies and content that I would love to see in the near or not so near future.

There is a large amount of content in which they can draw from which to me is a very very good thing.

Siberys · Post by **Siberys** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 8:00 pm

Plus, if they added a bit of norse mythology, they could easily include Fenrir as the main enemy like Typhon was to the original game.

Fenrir was in both Norse and Greek mythology (Norse as the wolf son of Loki, Greek as one of the various titans).

Vidar · Post by **Vidar** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 9:59 pm

Exactly! There are lots of similarities between the mythologies - Norse being a good comparison to that of Greek.

The Greek Titans are comparitive to the Norse Giants. Plenty of epic creatures to draw from...Fenrir being one, Jormungand (world serpent and offspring of Loki also), the Garm (who guards the underworld in the same way that Cerberus does), Hel (daughter of Loki also)is the Deity of the Underworld in Norse mythology in very much the same way as Hades is for Greek...and lots more.

You can even look at American Indian mythology for cretures and mystical heroes or even Incan (Maztican) mythology for a wide range of heroic tales and epic monsters to draw from....the list really is almost endless....there are always epic monsters of legend and epic heroes in every mythology that could be sourced from.

Hence the enormous pool of content that could be drawn.

Siberys · Post by **Siberys** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 10:39 pm

Indeed. And this is a little off topic, but if Iron Lore were to do another expansion which they totally could, it'd be really nice if they just increased the max level to 99 or 100, because 65 and 75 are just such odd numbers for maxed levels.

20, 40, and 99 are what people are normally used to as it is.

Vidar · Post by **Vidar** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 11:03 pm

Absolutely agree. I just wonder when Iron Lore will expand the amount of level points each class goes up to e.g. 32 (I think) Maybe even a whole new tier of skills for each class or the ability to cross over into a third class when you reach a certain level.

Yes, have to agree 75 is a wee bit of an odd level to attain as a max.

I guess on that note it is my very small criticism of the expansion that the cap has been expanded to 75 without any additional content added to the current classes.

I hope they revisit this if they add some more content or an expansion in the future.

Siberys · Post by **Siberys** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 11:13 pm

A third mastery choice wouldn't be that great. Personally, I'd like to see them up the max for some of the skills. Like maybe beyond level fifty or so, you can pay 2 skill points to go beyond the normal limit for a single skill, instead of one.

It'd allow you to expand your character more without making skills like Squall, Ternion, and Onslaught even more ridiculously powerful.

Vidar · Post by **Vidar** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 7:05 pm

I agree. A third class would be a wee bit chaotic. Guess I was just putting ideas out there (so to speak).

Yup, have to also agree on the level cap of some skills. Just found out that Distortion wave caps off at level 16 (which is only 4 levels above the base cap of 12).

I guess with the over powered skills this is where a patch or 2 to balance things up a bit might have to come into play. It's hard obviously to please everyone but with a few tweaks here and there it might just keep players "on their toes" so to speak and force them to try new things and combinations with their character builds rather than the "tried and true".

Another thing I would love for Iron Lore to do is add new monster types with patches or expansions. Now what I mean by "new" monsters I mean not the standard monsters but in a different colour (like Diablo 2) but really new creations. If this becomes a wee bit hard to impliment throughout the game then maybe just a couple of singular New Super Monsters (e.g. like the Manticore or Hydra etc) placed in some hidden away locations throughout the game.

Just food for thought again.

Siberys · Post by **Siberys** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 7:53 pm

well, do note that IT has loads of new monsters. Crabs, frog spear wielder things, giant walking trees, squid things, abyssal warriors with poison damage, little demon goblin dudes with onslaught that REALLY hurt, mechanical monsters, and so on.

But adding new stuff to the original game would be an alright concept. Personally, I'd like to see them correct what a Maenad is, because it's definitely not a catperson.

but yeah, a lot of things that could be fixed and or added to, definitely in agreement there.

Vidar · Post by **Vidar** » Mon Aug 06, 2007 7:50 pm

Have to agree with you there, definately like what they have done with the sub uniques (monsters with stars above their heads). Makes it much more of a challenge against these mtypes when you find out that they e.g. teleport and hit you or have onslaught or start creating volcanoes under you...even encountered one that Distortion rippled me back!...cheeky monster!:speech: