What with Brian Fargo getting the old Wasteland team back together to work on a sequel as their Kickstarter project,
I figured I'd make a thread where we could compile all our thoughts and ideas on it. Once it gets enough replies, I'll
send a link to it to Brian Fargo on twitter, so please don't let this thread go off topic and fill up with spam or flames.
I'll go ahead and get the discussion started with some stuff I'd like to see.
* Full party creation with detailed character portraits and backgrounds. Want I want to see the most. I
want to create a full party of my own unique characters, I do not want something like a Bioware
game where you only get to make the protagonist and recruit a bunch of emotionally immature crybabies
along the way.
For a bit of added depth, you could give us various character portraits to choose, as well as optional
backgrounds that give several bonuses and penalties to stats/skills, like the traits and background
stories in Fallout and Arcanum.
*Big party size, maybe 6-7 members as max size, no 3 party member bullshit.
* Tactical turn-based combat with full-party control. I don't want to only be able to control one while
the AI does the rest.
* Permanent death, maybe with bleedout system. Say, if a guy loses all hp, he starts to bleed out. You would
have a limited number of turns to get your first aid specialist over to him to patch him up, but if you
fail to reach him in time or an enemy finishes him before you reach him, he dies and is gone for good. Alternatively, just have someone get blasted into a billion gloriously violent pieces upon a critical hit, a la Fallout.
* 2D isometric visuals. Isometric angle is my favorite for these types of games. 2d is just my
personal preference, although 3D is fine too so long as the camera doesn't suck.
* No filler combat encounters. Fighting legions of trash mobs is never fun. Use a variety of different
enemy types and take time to handcraft fights that will be fun and challenging.
* Smaller amount of loot, but more customizable and varied (weapon mods, ammo types, etc). I do not like
the Diablo-style loot system where you find a new and better weapon/armor every five minutes. When I find a cool
new weapon I want it to feel like I've just gotten my hands on something special that will last me quite a while.
* No voice acting, I'd much rather just imagine the characters' voices myself and have longer
dialogues.
* Well designed dungeons. Something like Fallout's Glow would be a good example to follow with
places to put various skills to good use, and the dungeon provides good backstory. For something
more combat-centric, Icewind Dale's Dragon's Eye and Severed Hand dungeons could provide some
inspiration. Unique non-linear dungeons with multiple floors, full of varied enemy encounters and
ambushes, traps, etc; something that would really allow you to get the most out of the tactical
turn-based combat and your party's skills.
* No romances. Doesn't really need explaining on this one.
* Appropriate soundtrack. It's a sci-fi/post-apoc game so something ambient or lo-fi would be
appropriate. No orchestral shit. Maybe get Mark Morgan, he did Fallout 1-2 and Planescape's osts.
* No collect-a-thon/fetch quests. Quests like "Collect 15 Robo-Scorpion Tails" or "You found 6/30
hidden whatevers" or "Deliver a meal to Smitty" are boring as fuck. Please don't include them.
* No morality system nonsense. Just give me some options to take and I'll do the rest from there,
and live with the consequences. I don't want a post-apoc game lecturing me on good and evil.
And last but certainly not least:
* Killable children. Because why not?
