Goblin Squad Member
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I am talking Purple Elvish Forests like in World of Warcraft, or swamps with really freaky flora.
I am not familiar with Golarion at all other then that the landmasses are *huge*, and that the River Kingdoms is only a small part of it.
I know there is something like the World Wound (demons) but that is too far away to ever be part of PFO I think. Not sure how the landscape would look there though.
Could there be places in The River Kingdoms that really deviate from the more earthly (though beautiful) landscapes? Maybe the Meteor hexes(odd radiation influence on Flora, that sort of stuff)?
I think we are ok when it comes to monsters, just wondering about the environments.
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Goblin Squad Member
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Those kinds of things certainly exist in Pathfinder, but as you focus in on just the material plane, just the planet Golarion, just the River Kingdoms, and finally just the area around the Echo Woods things get increasingly more 'mundane'.
That said, Silvershade Lake in the northeastern portion of the map is fey territory and thus likely to be a bit unusual. Also, Glow-water Lake apparently has some phosphorescent plants (Mosswater was founded to make dyes from them).
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Goblin Squad Member
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@ Nihimon Absolutely! I do not think we will have to be afraid of that though.
I think the purple forest of WoW is already stretching it, though when done in a less cartoony way, it could still be tasteful. It has to make sense though. I could see how a Meteor hex could have odd and colorfull flora through some radiation effect, however I agree it could look "off" if these are small purple patches in huge swathes of earthly looking forests.
So I guess I am asking which "extremes" we can expect in the River Kingdoms when it comes to environmental features. This also includes landmark stuff, like a ravine or waterfall.
A forest with for instance huge towering ferns could already make a difference. I have actually seen these in Victoria, Australia and they
really looked quit magical.
@ CBDunkerson, that sounds promising. It does not need much to give an area a mystical feel, fluorescent waterplants could just do it. I am wondering if GW is allowed some artistic freedom with the meteor hexes?
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Goblin Squad Member
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I am wondering if GW is allowed some artistic freedom with the meteor hexes?
Keep in mind that many 'meteor strikes' in Golarion, particularly this close to Numeria, are likely to be parts of spaceships or things from the Dark Tapestry. Thus, introducing some alien flora/fauna... or a Cthulhuesque nightmare, wouldn't require much artistic license at all. Or they could just be blasted crater fields.
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Goblin Squad Member
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I am wondering if GW is allowed some artistic freedom with the meteor hexes?Keep in mind that many 'meteor strikes' in Golarion, particularly this close to Numeria, are likely to be parts of spaceships or things from the Dark Tapestry. Thus, introducing some alien flora/fauna... or a Cthulhuesque nightmare, wouldn't require much artistic license at all. Or they could just be blasted crater fields.
Wow, huge potential! Simple blasted craterfields during EE, later on maybe add some more alien stuff? I wonder how easy it is to change the environment in a Hex in Unity. Remake the Hex?
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Goblin Squad Member
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@ Lord Zodd
No, not at all.
I want them to focus on Settlement building, reputation and Alignment systems, getting the resource economy off the ground, implementing and balancing local markets/auctionhouse, implement Crafting and Refining, develop the several PoI's, add the transport systems like Caravans and fast travel, implementing the escalation system and finally getting the Siege systems in place. Oh, and Combat and Magic systems. :)
Don't worry, Lord Zodd, I am aware of what should make this game great, and purple forests ain't it. However now and then people throw in a "can we have pwetty PvE-stuff, please?" thread, and this is mine. :D
I am pretty sure you are getting the same feeling of despair and annoyance at a thread like this as I had when someone proposes to implement a "Horse Breeding" system that seems so complicated that it could almost be its own game, but you learn to embrace that stuff.
You should do it too! Let pwetty PvE stuff in your heart!
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Goblin Squad Member
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Interesting choices. At what point is eye candy so taxing on graphics that max settings start to be less utilized? At what point are mechanics so poor or undeveloped that people leave?
You know though, there is nothing wrong with asking for everything and ending up with the most that is practical of all that you want. :)
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Goblin Squad Member
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Those subtle ways would suit me fine. I probably should not have started off this thread with the "Purple Forests of WoW". ;p
I guess I am just looking for the assurance that the River Kingdoms does not equal Deerhunter Sim, when it comes to landscapes.
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Goblin Squad Member
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Don't worry Tyncale, I have let pwetty PvE stuff in my heart :)
I am sure GW wants to give us pretty environments as well, I just wanted to point out that it probably won't happen for a while.
I have played tabletop D&D since I was 14, and have played Pathfinder since it came out. There is so much that is possible within that system, and I would love to see the visuals of my imagination come to life in PFO. I mean in Pathfinder you can enter different planes of existence! How rad would that be to see in a video game? Sadly I doubt that PFO will have that content for many years if ever.
GW is working under a tight budget and graphics are expensive. I just don't want anyone to set their expectations too high is all.
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Goblin Squad Member
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I mean in Pathfinder you can enter different planes of existence! How rad would that be to see in a video game?
Coming soon! PFO Maelstrom expansion!
Settlements which grow teeth and attempt to eat their occupants!Terrain that transforms, moves, and/or dissolves!
Seizure and madness inducing computer graphics!
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Goblin Squad Member
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I have found that much of the Pathfinder IP looks 'generic' at first blush. When you start digging past the surface, you discover all sorts of surprises. Of course those surprises might not actually be good ones.
I'm hoping for things to develop similarly for the MMO as well. Just that we might not know about it until we stumble upon them in EE. And how exciting will that be? ;)
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Goblin Squad Member
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Coming back to Richard Bartle's quote-unquote: "If it's unexpected, then it needs to be explained to sustain immersion" quip.
I'm not sure I really could handle purple forests in the River Kingdoms.
Is it a different type of chlorophyll as per seaweed? And why (light levels)?
The devs have got to put the overtime in for such creations imo and then to see the final result if that is atmospheric or not.
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Goblin Squad Member
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Coming back to Richard Bartle's quote-unquote: "If it's unexpected, then it needs to be explained to sustain immersion" quip.
I'm not sure I really could handle purple forests in the River Kingdoms.
Is it a different type of chlorophyll as per seaweed? And why (light levels)?The devs have got to put the overtime in for such creations imo and then to see the final result if that is atmospheric or not.
Sustain immersion? Have you looked in any of the 4 Beasteries that Pathfinder has? Hundreds of pages of creatures you have never even dreamed of. ALL of those things are in this world.
A purple forest is nothing.
I have been a DM and anytime a player questions something like this I just say, "because magic."
That does the trick, because Pathfinder is full of crazy magicks.
If there was a small purple forest in the River Kingdoms it could be because some elves thought it would be pretty and so they dedicated a few hundred years to creating the forest using their Fey magic.
Or as someone already stated it could be where a meteorite struck that was actually an alien craft containing foreign bacteria that caused the local fauna to turn purple.
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Goblin Squad Member
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Coming back to Richard Bartle's quote-unquote: "If it's unexpected, then it needs to be explained to sustain immersion" quip.
I'm not sure I really could handle purple forests in the River Kingdoms.
Is it a different type of chlorophyll as per seaweed? And why (light levels)?The devs have got to put the overtime in for such creations imo and then to see the final result if that is atmospheric or not.
Sustain immersion? Have you looked in any of the 4 Beasteries that Pathfinder has? Hundreds of pages of creatures you have never even dreamed of. ALL of those things are in this world.
A purple forest is nothing.
I have been a DM and anytime a player questions something like this I just say, "because magic."
That does the trick, because Pathfinder is full of crazy magicks.
If there was a small purple forest in the River Kingdoms it could be because some elves thought it would be pretty and so they dedicated a few hundred years to creating the forest using their Fey magic.
Or as someone already stated it could be where a meteorite struck that was actually an alien craft containing foreign bacteria that caused the local fauna to turn purple.
The way you describe it, in my mind it sounds wonderful. But does it work in 3d graphics?
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Goblin Squad Member
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Sustain immersion? Have you looked in any of the 4 Beasteries that Pathfinder has? Hundreds of pages of creatures you have never even dreamed of. ALL of those things are in this world.
A purple forest is nothing.
I have been a DM and anytime a player questions something like this I just say, "because magic."
That does the trick, because Pathfinder is full of crazy magicks.
If there was a small purple forest in the River Kingdoms it could be because some elves thought it would be pretty and so they dedicated a few hundred years to creating the forest using their Fey magic.
Or as someone already stated it could be where a meteorite struck that was actually an alien craft containing foreign bacteria that caused the local fauna to turn purple.
Yeah, realism buffs need to get a grip because this is a high magic world. I say bring on the glass seas, floating islands, 50 foot mushrooms, purple forests, sunken cities and all the other good stuff. I say don't stop until you get to Candy Cane Mountain. Definitely stop at Candy Cane Mountain...
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Goblin Squad Member
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Please, please, please, don't go overboard with floating islands in the clouds.
Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Mythic Realms p.40 Yjae.
Although I think Paizo is trying to drive a stake between mythic and normal settings/rules, in the lore an entire floating city/island is totally a thing.
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Goblin Squad Member
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Please, please, please, don't go overboard with floating islands in the clouds.Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Mythic Realms p.40 Yjae.
Although I think Paizo is trying to drive a stake between mythic and normal settings/rules, in the lore an entire floating city/island is totally a thing.
For the record, I'm totally on board with some floating islands in the clouds. It's just that I don't want them to be everywhere. For example, if they existed for some reason in every Meteorite Hex, that would probably be okay.
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Goblin Squad Member
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I suppose the question of the ubiquitous exotic becoming mundane is also a reflection of both how many "rules" it breaks and how common or uncommon it is?
If there's one rare purple forest then why is it different? Or a single solitary (inaccessible so they say) floating island mysteriously hanging in the air... luring adventurers.
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Goblin Squad Member
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Or a single solitary (inaccessible so they say) floating island mysteriously hanging in the air... luring adventurers.
Yes! And then you see the bottom of it open up to a giant maw with razor sharp teeth. The roots stretch down form it's bulbous rock center to snare unsuspecting travelers below.
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Goblin Squad Member
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I suppose the question of the ubiquitous exotic becoming mundane is also a reflection of both how many "rules" it breaks and how common or uncommon it is?
If there's one rare purple forest then why is it different? Or a single solitary (inaccessible so they say) floating island mysteriously hanging in the air... luring adventurers.
I am with you. I don't expect there to be a lot of crazy stuff in PFO.
If they do put something like that in the game, I am hoping that their is at least a Bard to sing me a ballad explaining why it is in the game.|
Goblin Squad Member
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Why does it need to be explained? Even in the age of science, we don't know everything. In a fantasy world with little science, and where magic exists, I couldn't care less if exotic features are explained.At least you are right two times a day, broken sextant. :p
Yup! Both times I post :P
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Goblin Squad Member
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Just sticking with the River Kingdoms it is possible that the map could eventually expand to include Outsea or Sevenarches... both of which are plenty exotic.
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... Sevenarches...Nihimon's ears perk up at the mention of that "forbidden" place, wanting nothing more than to defy the Oakstewards and gain access to that sacred rift to the First World.
Pshaw. Leave it to the elves to do elf things. *Flippantly dismissive hand wave*
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Of all the nations in the Inner Sea region, I'd actually rank the River Kingdoms as one of the most likely to have "odd" terrain given all this. The River Kingdoms are rife with connections to the First World (a read through the Kingmaker AP will help) compared to most of the Inner Sea. So, if at some point introducing exotic terrain comes around, it can actually be very easily explained with First World rifts. These could even appear for a time and then go away, appear in random locations or at random times in the same place, etc. There's a crazy naga/hag/aboleth alliance near to the PFO area that could even introduce underwater action (given some flooded caves to expand from the simply river area).
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Goblin Squad Member
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Of all the nations in the Inner Sea region, I'd actually rank the River Kingdoms as one of the most likely to have "odd" terrain given all this. The River Kingdoms are rife with connections to the First World (a read through the Kingmaker AP will help) compared to most of the Inner Sea. So, if at some point introducing exotic terrain comes around, it can actually be very easily explained with First World rifts. These could even appear for a time and then go away, appear in random locations or at random times in the same place, etc. There's a crazy naga/hag/aboleth alliance near to the PFO area that could even introduce underwater action (given some flooded caves to expand from the simply river area).
Interesting, I'll have to read through Kingmaker then. Seeing as the only things I could find otherwise about the River Kingdoms was some info about generally low-magic places/towns of interesting in the Inner Sea World Guide.
Mythic Realms has absolutely 0 spots in relative proximity. The closest two are either off of the known/concrete map to the east, or the place of a story that already happened, (Gallowspire, resting place of the Whispering Tyrant).
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Goblin Squad Member
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Interesting, I'll have to read through Kingmaker then. Seeing as the only things I could find otherwise about the River Kingdoms was some info about generally low-magic places/towns of interesting in the Inner Sea World Guide.
Not a lot on PFO area, but still pretty interesting read I think.
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Goblin Squad Member
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Yeah, definitely read through the Guide. Heck, there's even a place in...Sevenarches I think it is...that has a "shadow forest" where trees no one can see cast shadows. For anyone that likes the Grimm's Fairy Tales/fey (of the possibly dangerous, always mysterious, not cutesy little Tinker Bells), the River Kingdoms is just eat up with potential.
