Pillars of Eternity Design Director Open to Creating New RPG with Comparable Budget to Baldur’s Gate 3
Obsidian Entertainment’s design director, Josh Sawyer, recently expressed his interest in developing a new Pillars of Eternity RPG if given a budget similar to Baldur’s Gate 3. In an interview with TouchArcade, Sawyer discussed his satisfaction with his latest project, the monkish murder mystery game Pentiment, and his extensive experience in the roleplaying industry, including work on titles like Planescape Torment and Fallout: New Vegas.
A Potential Pillars of Eternity 3
When asked about his dream project, Sawyer revealed his desire to create Pillars of Eternity 3 with a larger budget. He mentioned knowing the budget of Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire, which was comparatively small, and hearing about the budget of Baldur’s Gate 3. With a substantial budget, Sawyer would be thrilled to develop a high-production, party-based fantasy RPG.
Turn-Based Combat and Enhanced Cinematics
Sawyer discussed his satisfaction with the combat system in Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire, particularly the turn-based feature introduced by Nick Carver and Brian MacIntosh. Given the opportunity, Sawyer would design Pillars of Eternity 3 to be turn-based from the start, allowing for more tactical encounters and clearer understanding of game mechanics, such as afflictions and inspirations. He also emphasized the importance of enhancing the game’s cinematics with a larger budget.
Benefits of Turn-Based Combat in RPGs
Sawyer elaborated on why he favors turn-based combat in complex RPGs. He believes that the turn-based system allows for more intricate, stat-based combat and easier comprehension of game mechanics. Players who experienced Deadfire in turn-based mode reportedly had a clearer understanding of various systems, including afflictions and inspirations, and mechanics like penetration. Sawyer expressed his preference for designing the complexity of a game in the mental aspects rather than the physical aspects, which includes interacting with the interface.
Scripted Camera and Interface Simplicity
In terms of game design, Sawyer discussed his preference for a scripted 3D camera over a fully manual camera like the one in Baldur’s Gate 3. He believes a scripted camera would allow for a specific perspective and make the game more enjoyable. Additionally, Sawyer emphasized the importance of keeping the interface simple and easy to interact with, especially for a complex game like Pillars of Eternity. He aims to shift complexity from physical interactions to mental challenges within the game.
Sawyer’s Future Projects
Obsidian Entertainment is currently working on Avowed, a single-player RPG that initially started as a co-op game. Avowed has drawn comparisons to Skyrim but promises to offer its own unique experience.
Read the full interview with Josh Sawyer to gain further insight into his thoughts on RPG development and game design.