Two Worlds Interview

Article Index

Eschalon: Book II

Publisher:TopWare Interactive
Developer:Reality Pump Studios
Release Date:2007-05-09
Genre:
  • Action,Role-Playing
Platforms: Theme: Perspective:
  • First-Person,Third-Person
Buy this Game: Amazon ebay
GB: Aside from horses, will there be animals or other types of creatures that players can ride? Also, will a mount defend itself when a player enters combat (kicking, biting, etc.)?

James: We do have other steeds besides horses. So far we've revealed a lizard mount and a skeletal horse. Each mount (meaning each individual horse, lizard and skeletal horse) has its own personality, and will react differently to different situations. So where one mount will defend itself in combat, another might get spooked and run away. We've designed steeds like weapons you have to try it out to know if it suits you.


GB: How does the game's quest system work? Is there a journal that keeps track of our quests and what steps are still left to complete them?

James: There is a journal that keeps track of your quests what you've accomplished, what you have to do next, who you have to see, etc. We also have color coded markers on the map that clue you in to where to go. Basically, we didn't want players to be confused at all over what to do next.


GB: We've read that players can "stack" multiple weapons and/or armor to make a single, more powerful version. Can you tell us more about how this works?

James: Sure. One of the things that bothered us about most RPGs is that you eventually reach a point where you search felled enemies and chests just to grab gold and check if they have an item you don't have. We wanted searching to always be an exciting opportunity. So if you find an item that has the same name and appearance as another item, you can combine them. This goes for all equipments rings, swords, boots, cloaks, staves, shields, and so on. If each item has a special ability like one raises your Dexterity, the other increases your Swimming skill then you don't lose either of these in combining the item. We've found that many players keep a chest of items they've been working on, just in case they find a matching item that could make them even better.


GB: Tell us a bit about how inventory management will work in the game. Will encumbrance be a factor? Also, how will players buy, sell, or trade excess equipment?

James: Strength determines how much weight you can carry, but regardless there is only so many things you can carry on your person at one time. However, we allow you to store items on mounts, and you can always secrete things away in boxes and chests. In the single-player game there are merchants that will buy and sell equipment across the lands. These same merchants are in the online multiplayer game, but you can also buy, sell and trade with other players.