AoD June update

likaq · Jul 1, 2013

We're going to start beta-testing (closed test) in July, which means that we spent June tweaking and balancing questlines and don't really have anything interesting to say. The next month update will have first impressions and such, but this one will have to be pretty boring, unless you really like reading updates.

The focus is on the options, choices, and paths now. There is a truckload of them. If you thought that Teron had a lot of options, you're going to be overwhelmed with what we have in store for you now. More characters, more quests, more options, more scheming, more reactivity, more opportunities to fuck things up. I rarely speak with excitement about my own work, but I'm very proud of how everything turned out and came together.

The Abyss evolved into a great area. It's very different from what you've seen so far. Most locations have fairly 'realistic' atmosphere - people squabbling, scheming, plotting, and murdering each other over nothing. Not a lot of fantasy there. Now, the game IS a fantasy RPG and in the Abyss you'll get the first taste of it.

I asked Scott to go over the Abyss doc and breathe his magic into the words. He seemed to like it: "I really like this one, especially the end. It's a great idea, bringing together the history and the ultimate realization of a violent and amoral world. You've created the anti-Chosen One."

http://www.irontowerstudio.com/forum/index.php/topic,3347.0.html

^
Awesome screenshots!!

:brodex:

Yes, i know that this news is already on main page.

Commissar Draco · Jul 8, 2013

Can't wait to play. :bro:

UnknownBro · Jul 28, 2013

^This

laclongquan · Jul 28, 2013

This seem aiming toward a Christmas release~ :fap:

Goral · Jul 29, 2013

http://www.irontowerstudio.com/forum/index.php/topic,3347.msg104702.html#msg104702

Vince (Vault Dweller) said:
We won’t be able to start the beta-test in July. Our most sincere apologies for the inconvenience.

We hoped to start testing on the 21st, but the combination of too much work (a lot of variables due to different choices, paths, and outcomes) and less time than anticipated (as I’m sure you know Oscar, Nick, and Ivan are also working on Dead State, which will be hitting an important milestone soon) pushed it back.

We’re working very long hours and weekends and doing our best to bring you the second release as soon as humanly possible. We anticipate starting the best-test in two weeks, if everything goes well.

We’ll delay the July update until we have the first testers’ impressions to share.

WhiskeyWolf · Jul 29, 2013

laclongquan said:
This seem aiming toward a Christmas release~ :fap:

What a coincident, Thursday is on the 26th.

laclongquan · Jul 29, 2013

I think VD and minions have considered that from the beginning of this year.

Cosmic Misogynerd · Jul 30, 2013

Wow! Another delay?

a cut of domestic sheep prime · Jul 30, 2013

I have to say this is my most anticipated game right now. Wasteland 2, Torment, Eternity - none of 'em compare to this. I honestly don't think any other game out there has the balls to be a true rpg with more than token choices with consequences. To be an RPG that isn't afraid to punish or kill the player character for making mistakes. The demo proved to me that AoD has those balls.

I just recently played the R3 build of the demo btw. I loled quite a bit at the "awesome button". :lol:

Cool moments:
I loved how my battle hardened veteran was knee ~~derp~~ deep in loot so quickly in the game. Why in mere minutes he had obtained a magical medallion and an ancient ring of power, all for just a few hundred gold.

Then he went to join the Imperial Guards to be a honorable knight for justice. Let's just say that my paladin disagreed with the Guards' methods and ended up investigating other employment opportunities...after he recovered from his head injury.

My praetor thinking he could boss around everyone in town until he ran into the local cutthroats who didn't care who he was.

Finding the jellyfish artifact. Felt very post-apoc Indiana Jones. Looking forward to playing a loremaster and discovering all the ancient secrets and such.

Can't wait for the full game.

Goral · Jul 30, 2013

Same here, I loved playing AoD so much that I've pre-ordered it and I haven't done it with neither Wasteland 2 or Torment (Project Eternity isn't my cup of tea at all). IMO Iron Tower developers deserved money the most since they have actually shown the most and it's a game exactly as advertised.To your cool moments I would add:

Militiades - encounters with him were hilarious and I loved his sleazy persona and audacity. In fact he was so realistically portrayed that I'm starting to think he was based on some real character ;P. I think he's my favourite and I don't remember anyone like him in any cRPG I've played.
Discovering that the preacher at the well has his purpose and isn't added only to add some reading lines.
Sneaking through Antidas palace
Selling bullshit to a lady with expensive necklace

And many more (these are just side quests and I don't want to spoil the really juicy part).

Volrath · Aug 8, 2013

We're halfway august. Where's mah update???

Vault Dweller · Aug 8, 2013

"We won’t be able to start the beta-test in July. Our most sincere apologies for the inconvenience.

We hoped to start testing on the 21st, but the combination of too much work (a lot of variables due to different choices, paths, and outcomes) and less time than anticipated (as I’m sure you know Oscar, Nick, and Ivan are also working on Dead State, which will be hitting an important milestone soon) pushed it back.

We’re working very long hours and weekends and doing our best to bring you the second release as soon as humanly possible. We anticipate starting the best-test in two weeks, if everything goes well.

We’ll delay the July update until we have the first testers’ impressions to share."

Goral · Aug 9, 2013

It's amazing how many people missed this post: http://www.rpgcodex.net/forums/index.php?threads/aod-june-update.84381/#post-2784911

Vault Dweller said:
"
(...) We anticipate starting the best-test in two weeks, if everything goes well.

You said that over 10 days ago so is not everything well or will it be available in 4 days (or next Thursday at most)?

Vault Dweller · Aug 12, 2013

Still need more time.

nomask7 · Aug 12, 2013

When's the game coming out, VD?

Commissar Draco · Aug 12, 2013

NEXT THURSDAY. :troll:

Vault Dweller · Aug 12, 2013

nomask7 said:
When's the game coming out, VD?

When it's ready. Evidently, it's not ready yet.

Goral · Aug 12, 2013

Thanks for the update. I'll try to be more patient :]. A word of advice though, never say a (semi)concrete date otherwise you will have posts like above (including mine). That thursday thing has become AoD trademark.

Goral · Aug 21, 2013

http://www.irontowerstudio.com/forum/index.php/topic,3347.msg105072.html#msg105072

Vince said:
All shall be explained in due time. By 'all shall be explained', I mean that we added more stuff at the last moment because Oscar thought that a simple conversation explaining how you got back (when you report in) from a certain location isn't as fun as actually implementing your trials and tribulations and adding 4 different scenarios, pretty cool consequences to your past choices, and an extra location that most of you would probably never see.

Totally worth it.

I'm drooling.