Baldur's Gate: The Black Hound

• Damien Foletto - Codex info page
• J.E. Sawyer (Lead Designer) - Codex info page - Forum profile
• John Deiley - Codex info page

• Baldur's Gate
• Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn
• Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal
• Baldur's Gate III
• Baldur's Gate: Tales of the Sword Coast

The Black Hound lives! ( Development info )
posted by Role-Player on Tue 09 January 2007, 17:49:53
More info on Baldur's Gate: The Black Hound - More info on Obsidian Entertainment - More info on J.E. Sawyer

Former Black Isle all-star J.E. Sawyer has recently confirmed that he is reviving his The Black Hound project with a module for Obsidian Entertainment's Neverwinter Nights 2. Speculation began after this thread at Obsidian's forums. Here's a snippet about the Epithet system, one of the more promising features:

I'm going to pretend this is a toolset/custom content thread! I've been working on a personal project in recent free time (mostly spent recovering from wisdom teeth being removed). In addition to learning a lot about mapping, I'm starting to get involved in scripting (which I've actually never done much of) and creating custom icons.

Today I worked on aspects of the epithet system for the campaign I'm building. Epithets are specialized reputations that are built over time across the campaign. Unlike local reputations that may only affect interactions with NPCs within a set of maps, epithets draw reactions from characters all over the campaign -- though they are very spread out.

The system itself is pretty simple. Each epithet has a global variable that is incremented in coversation (and occasionally outside of conversation). When the character has increased that particular variable enough, they will be "awarded" with the epithet, which takes the form of a feat. The feat has no statistical bonus, but is occasionally checked in NPC conversations.

I don't really want it to become a premium module. I'd rather work on it by myself as a personal project with all of the inherent benefits and limitations that come with that. I think it will probably take me between 1 and 3 years to fully build.

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More Puuk interviewage at Winterwind ( Interview )
posted by Spazmo on Fri 04 February 2005, 23:38:33
More info on Baldur's Gate: The Black Hound - More info on Black Isle Studios - More info on Damien Foletto

Winterwind Productions, that site of unclear purpose, has posted part 2 of its interview with ex-BIS developer dude Damien "Puuk" Foletto. Two whole pages of stuff about the games that never were: Baldur's Gate 3 and Fallout 3.

WW: There was a story going around that the plot was somehow connected to Terry Gilliam's movie "Brazil". Is this true and are you able to tell us anything about the plot of the game or about the areas you were working on?

DF: I know Josh was a fan of “Brazil,” and I know that there were ideas that were borrowed, but BG3’s story was original. As for plot, here’s the Cliff Notes version of Jefferson: You’re a wandering, non-chosen-one sap caught in a rainstorm. You seek shelter under a nearby tree adjacent to a dilapidated windmill. As you shiver next to a campfire, a crazy lady and here rogue minions crash your party chasing a large, black hound. An arrow kills the hound and it flops on your lap. The crazy lady, who looks like a cleric by the way she’s dressed, accuses you of being in cahoots with the hound and threatens to kill you as well. Luckily, Rides of Archendale(sp) come to your rescue and scare off the mad woman cleric. However, your troubles have just started because you’re hauled away for questioning. After a brief inquisition, the local magistrates tell you not to wonder far because they may have more questions. And so begins your adventures to find out who the mad cleric was, what this has to do with you, why a black spirit hound now follows you around, and why can’t people just leave you alone and do things for themselves.

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BG3 rumors ( Game news )
posted by Vault Dweller on Wed 18 February 2004, 00:02:58
More info on Baldur's Gate: The Black Hound - More info on Interplay

According to this thread, Interplay and Atari reached some kinda agreement involving some kinda license. Some hot heads read it as "BG3 is coming!". I remain skeptical as it's unlikely that Interplay would be able to finish Jefferson without Jeff Husges

On September 19, 2003, Interplay, commenced a wrongful termination and breach of contract action (the “Action”) in New York State Supreme Court, New York County in which it named Atari Interactive and the Company as defendants, seeking, among other things, a judgment declaring that a computer game license agreement between Interplay and Atari Interactive continues to be in full force and effect.

On September 23, 2003, Interplay obtained a preliminary injunction that prevents termination of the computer game license agreement. On October 9, 2003, Atari Interactive answered the complaint, denying all claims, asserting several affirmative defenses and counterclaims for breach of contract and one counterclaim for a judgment declaring the computer game license agreement terminated. Atari Interactive’s answer also asserted that the Company was incorrectly named as the defendant in this Action. Both sides sought damages in an amount to be determined at trial.

The Company, Atari Interactive and Interplay reached an agreement with respect to the scope and terms of the computer game license agreement and accordingly, filed with the court a Stipulation of Dismissal, dated December 22, 2003. The court ordered dismissal of the matter on January 6, 2004.

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Baldurs Gate 3 = Denied ( Game news )
posted by Kreegle on Tue 10 June 2003, 17:42:28
More info on Baldur's Gate: The Black Hound - More info on Black Isle Studios

Many a fan of Baldurs Gate had their hearts in a flutter this week, after the news / rumour that the third installment of the series was due to ship in February next year. Although Mr. J.E. Sawyer (lead designer at Black Isle) mysteriously said "This is incorrect information", some BG fans bravely fought back the tears and said "Maybe he meant the release date isn't in February... perhaps it's in March!"

Alas, dear fans of real-time combat scenarios, it wasn't meant to be. The always-reputable HomeLanFed have unmercifully squashed the rumour... they went straight to the source; a "spokesperson for Vivendi Universal Games (who handles the PR and distribution for Interplay)", said:

"For the record, Baldur's Gate 3 is not in development currently. There are no plans to develop Baldur's Gate 3 at this time."

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BG3 news post and fun on ShackNews ( Game news )
posted by Saint_Proverbius on Sun 08 June 2003, 22:52:49
More info on Baldur's Gate: The Black Hound - More info on Black Isle Studios - More info on J.E. Sawyer

ShackNews posted a blurb with comments about this Baldur's Gate 3 preorder thing on EB's site. Here's the news:

Vermouth let us know that EBGames has a listing for Baldur's Gate 3 on their site. The game is shown as shipping in February, with Vivendi Universal as publisher. Of course, online retailers remain notoriously unreliable for release dates and such but more often unannounced products turn out to be true.

#10 By: j.e.sawyer
This is incorrect information.

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Jefferson wallpaper ( Game news )
posted by Ausir on Sun 18 May 2003, 12:15:49
More info on Baldur's Gate: The Black Hound - More info on Black Isle Studios - More info on J.E. Sawyer

Black Isle's J.E. Sawyer has posted in the Interplay Forums a link to a wallpaper from the BIS project codenamed "Jefferson", delayed or maybe even canned because our beloved Interplay didn't pay for the Baldur's Gate license for PC, extending the console one up to 2008 instead. Here it is, anyway:

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Mystary stuff ( Game news )
posted by Saint_Proverbius on Sat 15 February 2003, 07:21:54
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Possible model from Jefferson? Maybe JE Sawyer of Black Isle Studios just has an undead catwoman fetish.. Either way, his new avatar, dubbed Mystary, for the Interplay forums is interesting.

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Black Isle looking for associate producer ( Company news )
posted by Saint_Proverbius on Wed 29 January 2003, 17:32:11
More info on Baldur's Gate: The Black Hound - More info on Black Isle Studios

Black Isle Studios is once again hiring. This time, they want an Associate Producer! Here's the 411:

1.28.03
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER

Black Isle Studios, a leading developer and publisher of console and PC role-playing game products is looking for an Associate Producer with experience in both external and internal development.

Black Isle offers a fun, creative, and challenging environment with competitive base salaries and benefits. And yes, great weather.

Required:

* 4 years of experience in the game industry.
* 2 years of experience producing internal and external computer or video game products at the Associate Producer level.
* Experience with the management of marketing and pr materials.
* Able to present products effectively to both internal and external groups.
* Experience with the QA process and launching products.
* Must have produced at least two titles (SKUs ok) from start to launch.

Pluses:

* Design or Programming background.
* Dealing with outside licenses.
* Experience working on either PC or Console RPGs.

Our preferred method for submissions are through e-mail at jobs@blackisle.com. Please have the subject of your e-mail be: Black Isle 3D Producer Position - 0103AFU. E-mails without that subject could be deleted due to the number of junk e-mails we receive at that e-mail address.

For submission by mail, please submit cover letter, resume and design samples to:

Black Isle 3D Producer Position - 0103AFU
c/o Interplay Entertainment Corp.
16815 Von Karman Ave.
Irvine, CA 92606

We will be accepting resumes for this position from 01/28/03 to 03/31/03.

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Josh Sawyer on Jefferson NPCs ( Game news )
posted by Mistress on Sun 12 January 2003, 12:22:58
More info on Baldur's Gate: The Black Hound - More info on Black Isle Studios - More info on J.E. Sawyer

There's an interesting post by J.E. Sawyer on the Interplay forums, regarding NPCs in the as yet, unannounced "Jefferson".

Here's the post:

A few words on CNPCs in Jefferson:

CNPCs who are willing to join the Protagonist are also initially willing to let the Protagonist (the player) command them (just like BG-style NPCs). CNPCs have particular "behaviors" that they like or dislike. Behaviors like:

* Wild
* Hateful
* Idealistic
* Sentimental
* Unprofessional
* Loyal

When they see the Protagonist taking actions that support these behavior types, their bias scales towards the Protagonist move up or down. Typically, they will clearly let the Protagonist know they are unhappy with the things he or she is doing. At a certain low cutoff point (modified by the Protagonist's charisma, among other things), the CNPCs stop trusting the Protagonist, and will act as a follower, rather than a controlled character. If the bias scale gets low enough, they may choose to leave or (in very severe cases) attack the Protagonist. The CNPCs can never be used as "the speaker" for the party, but they may interject with their opinions or insights from time to time.

You may be wondering why you would ever bother increasing the speech skills of the CNPCs, or taking good "speaker characters" at all. CNPCs also have bias scales and breakpoints towards each other. If/when the CNPCs reach breakpoints and start arguing with each other, they may need to use their own charisma and speech skills to avoid conflict with the other party members. Of course the Protagonist quite often has the ability to calm down the CNPCs through the use of his or her own speech skills.

So, in summary, a low charisma, low speech-skill Protagonist will typically only be able to take CNPCs that do not have inherent conflicts with each other or the Protagonist's behavior. A high charisma, high speech-skill Protagonist will very often be able to keep a diverse group of CNPCs together in spite of their conflicts and his or her own questionable behavior.

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Feargus speakth on IPLY/BIS future ( Company news )
posted by Saint_Proverbius on Mon 06 January 2003, 23:10:16
More info on Baldur's Gate: The Black Hound - More info on Black Isle Studios - More info on Feargus Urquhart

Feargus Urquhart was posed questions about the future of Interplay and on the Interplay forums. His reply:

What I can do is talk about my plans for BIS. I want to finish Jefferson in such a way that everyone on the team is happy with it. I put the producer on Icewind Dale 2 (IWD2) in a tough decision and an even harder position on the project he is currently working on because I took very few resources from Jefferson to help him out. At one point he was down to two programmers on IWD2, while there were nine working on Jefferson. This was not meant to have IWD2 be a sub-standard project, but to give the team the shot to make Jefferson a truly next generation game.

I also want to get Fallout 3 going. Another reason for our focus on Jefferson. We need internal technology to make our games and we've had to put as much focus into that as possible.

Next I want to move the type of games that we make forward. The type of games that we have been making is getting stale. I just finished Age of Mythology and it was a great game. But, I really feel like I've played that same game ten times before. This is where I am torn somewhat though- I appreciated the solid mission design from mission 1 to mission 32 (I think that was the last one), but I was playing a game that I am completely familiar with. Build peons, gather resources, build an army, and invade the bad guys base. For our games, I think people have started feeling the same way particularly because of our probably over-use of the Infinity Engine. I think solid story and quest design can keep them interesting, but not enough without some other changes. Changes that are consistent with the types of games we make - not some other genre. But that is the Catch 22 - if they are consistent with our older games, will they just feel like our older games.

I and the rest of Black Isle have a lot of things in our way to make those things happen. As usual the financial state of Interplay has put a lot of restrictions on us even though we are only somewhat responsible for the state that the company is in. Examples of these things include:

1) We have only lately been able to start upgrading people from computers that were bought two years ago. And I think Dave Maldonado is still on a P3-500 which hasn't impacted him much yet - but many others in Black Isle were impacted by upgrades taking nine months to a year longer than they should have. The upgrades have not been completed and this is the stumbling block.

2) Marketing and PR being handled by our distributor instead of in-house has added a middle man which we are still trying to deal with. Many of the snafus like poor advertising and in store promotions on IWD2 were because of this coordination. I am not blaming IPLY or Vivendi in this - but more the coordination between them. This has to be fixed for us to become successful.

3) The last is that people need to be able to come into Black Isle every morning and not have to worry about their next pay check or that if what they are going to do that day is going to be compromised by IPLY. In a new age way, the people in Black Isle also have to believe that there is a future and they the problems they are going to have to deal with on a daily basis are those having to do with the games they are making and not the soul draining crap that has been going on with IPLY the last 18 months.

As of writing this, I don't have any solutions for any of those things. I'm working on them, but unless they get resolved doing what I think is best for the division and the games is going to be hard. I know that doesn't answer all the IPLY solvency and wacky Titus questions, but they are the things I have been thinking about lately.

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