After my first attempt to LP this game, which failed horribly, I realised that one of the things that held me back was the intense sandbox nature of the game. Simply trying to chart out a proper narrative through this thing through text is difficult. I spent a lot of time doing repetitive tasks to get my party to a decent strength for map exploration and it ended up killing my momentum because I posted a chapter using material from every session. So hopefully I can structure it a bit better this time around and take advantage of it's sandbox style, rather than work against it. Mini Adventures, mundane activities that can be made fun through my writing (hopefully), instead of large rewrites of the entire game narrative to accommodate some large plot about the (B/V)SN. It also gives me an out when I want to give this up, because the chapter arcs ought to be self contained.
About Darklands: Prepare yourself to enter Darklands - the first realistic fantasy role-playing game. Leading a band of four adventurers across the sinister landscape of 15th Century Germany, you’ll face the Middle Ages as people believed it to be: land filled with mythical beasts, religious power-mongers, and bloodthirsty robber-knights! Watch savage battles unfold before your eyes! Travel hundreds of miles by land and sea from Frisian Coast to Bohemia, from the alps to Prussia, visiting over ninety cities along the way. Your quest for fame and fortune can take you through raucous city streets and dark mine shafts, or from a robber knight’s tower to the terrifying Witches' Sabbath! Get ready for the astonishing wonders of a realistic fantasy adventure in the mysterious Darklands!
Darklands is a 1992 cRPG released by MicroProse (the predecessor studio to Firaxis) focused on a sandbox roleplaying adventure experience in late Medieval Germany (Holy Roman Empire). Using a combination of overworld map travel, a plethora of simulationist mechanics like age and 'Choose Your Own Adventure' style text blocks (the likes of which inspired the Pillars of Eternity text sections), it's able to combine imaginative roleplaying with a reading experience. Through this approach, it's able to utilise a vast number of useable skills and interaction types that are otherwise rare or unheard of in RPGs since it's release. The combat takes place through a rudimentary real time with pause system, that inspired the game style that BioWare is famous for, first seen in Baldur's Gate. Pillars of Eternity also takes inspiration from Darklands in combat mechanics, with Josh Sawyer basing penetration/armor systems and features like engagement mechanics on under the hood mechanisms in Darklands.
So, let's get to it!
He goes over the notice one more, holding it out for the others to read.
"Do you think it's worth doing? To begin with, what kind of trivial task requires bravery..."
Articulate and well spoken,
Lorn serves as the group's public face. Despite his virtue and piousness, he trusts little outside his faith and his God. A cautious man by nature, he is suspicious of everyone he meets, until they prove otherwise.
"Does it really matter? We can handle everything that comes our way."
OneWomanArmy serves as the group's frontline combatant. Brash and headstrong, she prefers to charge through her problems rather than planning around them.
"OWA is right, every weekend we come here drinking, talking about how we'd do something. But then we all back out because we "don't want to risk it". I say, we risk it."
Knowledgeable and calculating,
Jack Package views every situation as an opportunity. Utterly obsessed with improving his standing in life, he would do anything if it would bring the group fame or fortune.
"ehehehehihihi..."
"And you, Liam? What do you think?"
"Huh...? I don't... I don't know, as long as everyone is happy..."
Whilst not as physically capable as the other group members,
Liamv2's unique physique allows him to do things that most men (and some women) can't. Playing the role of the group's scout, his nimble fingers allow him to open locks with ease, while his keen perception allows him to spot Holes much more easily than the rest of the group. An ability Lorn wished he had.
"Two strongly in favour and two okay either way. Okay. Let's do it."
"Spiders?! On a scale of 1 to Australia, how bad are we talking...?"
"Alright, fine. We're in."
As the group walks out of the house, they discuss their options."We should take the money and run. Four florins is more than what all of us earn in a month, even if we divide it four ways!"
Lorn nods, he could see the logic. But before he could say anything, he's interrupted by a passionate Liam.
"
No! We can't do something so dishonest!! I won't allow it!"
Jack is taken aback, blushing slightly he reconsiders his position."Y-yeah... you've got a point, Liam. I mean, we
could take the money and run, but it would ruin our reputations. I didn't think that one through..."
OWA glares at the scout as Jack mumbles further apologies to Liam while a bemused Lorn charts out the quickest path for them to take."Okay, I know where to go. Quickly! There's no time!"
Satisfied with their work, the group makes their way towards the market. Woefully under equipped, they now had the money to outfit themselves in some basic armour. A huge step forward for them. Surely good times were ahead for the close knit group from VSN...
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