I feel anger in this thread. and quite frankly...
it scares me...

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LOOK!!!-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------> (made you look)

My thread has a poll.. Can I feel special about that??

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wrongfire:

My thread has a poll.. Can I feel special about that??

A link to your thread was also posted in the latest blog here.  

Congrats'. 

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I'm refusing to cast my vote until we can see the breadcrumb feature in-game. I'd be a fool to pass judgement on a gameplay mechanic that has only been described with little else but text and speculation.

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"Strike hot iron and call forth sparks,
strike a man and call forth fury...
To shape a man or metal to thy will,
thou must strike with force!" -Collected Sermons of Father Karras

If it can can turn it off, then why shouldn't it be in the game?

It's not because it's an option in the poll that it's an option in the game...

I quite like the idea of there being some sort of direction in the game.  I hate it when theres nothing at all to show you were to go, and you end up wandering around for hours trying to find the one spot that you can't seem to find in the game.  I know that the dog is your guide, but if it is going to constanty being directing you elsewhere, than where is the direction.  I don't think it should be this huge sign saying "go here", but something small, so if you need it, it will be there.   

sounds somewhat better than the guildmaster nagging me every so often, but it also limits the open world experience and has a grip on you like an invisible linear leash. I would opt to turn it off. Ive been somewhat worried about the complexity of the game after hearing that peter wants to draw a more casual audience with the gameplay. I posted some ideas awhile ago but dont think anybody cared. Still think the best way to figure out what to do or where to go in an action/rpg game is conversation/exploration... i.e. Zelda

skiwampus:

I quite like the idea of there being some sort of direction in the game.  I hate it when theres nothing at all to show you were to go, and you end up wandering around for hours trying to find the one spot that you can't seem to find in the game.  I know that the dog is your guide, but if it is going to constanty being directing you elsewhere, than where is the direction.  I don't think it should be this huge sign saying "go here", but something small, so if you need it, it will be there.   

 

I think this is the idea behind it, that there is a small trail that is, to be honest, easily ignored if thats what you want.

However one of the benefits of the new HUDless fable 2 is I think it lets you feel more involved, no magical 6th sense as it were. Now making you feel like you really are acting like a highwayman would is great, having a magical trail of dust showing you where to go sadly detracts from this.

This is why I voted for "i like it as long as it can be turned off". When I'm on a quest I'd like it to be there (or if its obvious where i need to go the option for it to be there) however at some point I'll want to just stroll about. I don't want a trail trying to plead with me to do a quest when I really just want to wander aimlessly.

to use a big word: It detracts from the ambiance of the setting.

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Blackthorn Ltd. - "Meus intentio est verus. Meus intentio est aurum."

RichBlake:

skiwampus:

I quite like the idea of there being some sort of direction in the game.  I hate it when theres nothing at all to show you were to go, and you end up wandering around for hours trying to find the one spot that you can't seem to find in the game.  I know that the dog is your guide, but if it is going to constanty being directing you elsewhere, than where is the direction.  I don't think it should be this huge sign saying "go here", but something small, so if you need it, it will be there.   

 

I think this is the idea behind it, that there is a small trail that is, to be honest, easily ignored if thats what you want.

However one of the benefits of the new HUDless fable 2 is I think it lets you feel more involved, no magical 6th sense as it were. Now making you feel like you really are acting like a highwayman would is great, having a magical trail of dust showing you where to go sadly detracts from this.

This is why I voted for "i like it as long as it can be turned off". When I'm on a quest I'd like it to be there (or if its obvious where i need to go the option for it to be there) however at some point I'll want to just stroll about. I don't want a trail trying to plead with me to do a quest when I really just want to wander aimlessly.

to use a big word: It detracts from the ambiance of the setting.

True, when we're off questing of course we are going to need some sort of method to find our way from point A to point B. But if we just want to roam about in the land of Albion we shouldn't be bothered by on-screen directions.

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"Strike hot iron and call forth sparks,
strike a man and call forth fury...
To shape a man or metal to thy will,
thou must strike with force!" -Collected Sermons of Father Karras

If implemented correctly, I don't see how this feature will break the suspension of disbelief any more than having interactive objects lightly glow or be outlined so they're easy for the player to locate.  Keep in mind that Bioware had an arrow on the screen directing the player where next to go, and it was very highly praised for its immersive environment.

On the other hand, a dog that can lead you to any location and that seems to know far more than the player about any given objective could well break that suspension of disbelief.

Obviously with an issue like this, it's the implementation that's far more important than the idea.  Either could work perfectly well if it's well-implemented.

Sam:

It's not because it's an option in the poll that it's an option in the game...

If this is the case then they could do not harm by have it in the game, i like it anyway. (if "implemented" properly)

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Deadshame:

lol...

Vote ends 4/2/2008 or in British terms 2/4/2008 (April 4th). Is that a significant date or just random?

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Deadshame:

lol...

Just registered for the poll cause so far I really liked *every* feature that got revealed so far expect the breadcrumb-thingy.

I *really* hope there will be an option to turn it off (if it gets in the game) or even better that you can set your dog in "breadcrumb"-mode and just instead of showing an immersion-breaking trail the dog leads the way to the quest you choose!

 

i think it sounds pretty gay

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C_MoR:

i think it sounds pretty gay

 

It is constructive, well thought out, witty and constructive criticism like that which make me feel proud to be a part of this community! If only there were more of them

 

Did anyone notice that in the interview linked in the blog PM said something along the lines of "If you accept a quest there is a breadcrumb trail..." could it be that the Lionhead community cracked the whip and brought about change???

Power to the people!

 

 

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Blackthorn Ltd. - "Meus intentio est verus. Meus intentio est aurum."

AsparagusBrown:

If implemented correctly, I don't see how this feature will break the suspension of disbelief any more than having interactive objects lightly glow or be outlined so they're easy for the player to locate.  Keep in mind that Bioware had an arrow on the screen directing the player where next to go, and it was very highly praised for its immersive environment.

On the other hand, a dog that can lead you to any location and that seems to know far more than the player about any given objective could well break that suspension of disbelief.

Obviously with an issue like this, it's the implementation that's far more important than the idea.  Either could work perfectly well if it's well-implemented.

How does the dog barking at something new break your immersion?? How does the dog digging because you walked over to something he saw, break immersion??

How does the dog whose known to sense danger with a somewhat sixth sense type of behavior, break immersion?? How does the dog, who's an INTEGRAL part of the gameworld, that naturally adapts to his surroundings, break immersion??

Yeah, I'mma go with the dog being a natural component of the world, whereas a glowing trail of pixie dust would break immersion a tad bit faster...

Also, I believe I recall sites talking about mutliple colors on the path, not just one stream of (insert your favorite color) pixie dust...And since I'm pretty sure we're allowed multiple quests, since we can unlock quests by purchasing property...So let's say, you have a quest for a castle, a side quest and your storyline quest, hmmm, I gotta say, I was pretty disgusted at the thought of one of these popcorn trails, let alone 3...

Yeah, I'm not a big fan of this popcorn trail idea...One other thing, I have no idea how this dog is going to lead you off the path...I mean, honestly, if I wanted to explore, I'D EXPLORE!! I have yet to understand how the dog is going to "trick you" into not doing your quest...

Seriously, I love Lionhead, but I highly doubt their AI is sophisticated enough to make me change my mind and not do what I planned to do...If I want to do a quest, I'm going to do a quest...If I want to go dungeon exploring, I'm going to go kill monsters in a cave...

I just don't get how this helps the player...I mean, it's not like the Devs aren't going to have a giant Map available when you hit the select button...Nor do I think it's impossible to give the dog GPS...So if you don't want the dog, you can look at a map, we don't need pixie dust...

According to the latest description of this feature, it's just a trail of crumbs at your feet that lead like a car's navigation system, constantly 'updating' instead of a big colorful sparkly fairy dust trail.  They either changed it or both of them are putting a favorable spin on it.

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TheBowerstoneGuard:

I'm refusing to cast my vote until we can see the breadcrumb feature in-game. I'd be a fool to pass judgement on a gameplay mechanic that has only been described with little else but text and speculation.

I agree. I can't believe people are so up in arms about a feature we haven't even seen in-game!

Shisou:

According to the latest description of this feature, it's just a trail of crumbs at your feet that lead like a car's navigation system, constantly 'updating' instead of a big colorful sparkly fairy dust trail.  They either changed it or both of them are putting a favorable spin on it.

That sounds much better than sparkly pixie dust, so I hope that's going to be the case, anything that didn't look too out of place on the forest (or whatever other area you're in) floor, I wouldn't mind a trail of differently coloured leaves or pebbles either ...but then again it's a bit much to say pixie dust is out of place when the woods will probably have pixies in them lol, or at least nymphs like before (I'm hoping so anyway)

Like everyone else has been saying it's fine by me as long as it doesn't break the immersion of the game, which we'll just have to wait and find out. - I know game dev's at the mo are all into "making gaming an accessible media for a wider audience" but I don't need them to metaphorically hold my hand through the game either, and people new to the genre don't necessarily want it either. 

I'm still a bit iffy about it. Like others have said, none of us have seen it, so we can't really know how it looks.

I went with "I like it, as long as I can turn it off." It sounds like a great way to guide us when we're doing a quest, but I would hate for it to be there when I'm just exploring. It would be nice if it only came on when we entered an area we have a quest goal in, or if we can specifically turn it on in a way similar to the look-out trigger.

I've heard that the main questline is relatively short, and the game is meant to be extended by us doing a lot of alternate quests and activities. I'm afraid that if we constantly have this trail pointing at where we're "supposed to go," it's going to encourage people to just keep questing nonstop instead of taking their time and enjoying the world.

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"Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth."
- Buddha