What if....

[Telephalsion]

but marna has a very nice and fitting chipset, the only thing thing i have against it is the louse borders between grass and water. that can be smoothened

[EmperorJeramyu]

Like in Sunset over Imdahl? Those can be detailed, but it's the same reason Lun didn't do as many 3D backdrops in E2: Lack of interactivity. 3D and handrawn maps look pretty, but oftentimes the characters seem out of place, and objects look awkard, compared to this surreal, antialiased background. The Way has done a remarkable job of avoiding this, but things such as Marna, with complicated cliff systems, and tree mazes, would be much too difficult to create in Bryce, or be hand drawn.

*Quoted for 2nd pageness*

[DSOK]

Like in Sunset over Imdahl? Those can be detailed, but it's the same reason Lun didn't do as many 3D backdrops in E2: Lack of interactivity. 3D and handrawn maps look pretty, but oftentimes the characters seem out of place, and objects look awkard, compared to this surreal, antialiased background. The Way has done a remarkable job of avoiding this, but things such as Marna, with complicated cliff systems, and tree mazes, would be much too difficult to create in Bryce, or be hand drawn.

Yeah, you can't really get the same level of Rhue-terrain interaction on one of the custom backgrounds. I think the manner in which Lun's arranged things is about the best one could expect for a homebrewed game. However, the transitions aren't quite seamless. (After a long time moving in one type of scenerey, it takes a little while to adjust mentally back to the other.) If The Way were converted into truly professional version, the two scenery formats would have to be integrated--combined into a sigle style that could capture the effectiveness of both its progenitors.

[SpaceBoy2000]

3d would be hard to make. For example - how would we render the Phantom Slasher? An entirely black 3d figure? How about the other black out characters? I find that it is fitting that it is in 2d. Not that if it came out in 3d I wouldn't like it or anything, but I just can't see it being anything else other than in 2d format. Make the whole game can convert to isometrical or pre-rendered format, but 2d nonetheless.

[DSOK]

3d would be hard to make. For example - how would we render the Phantom Slasher? An entirely black 3d figure? How about the other black out characters? I find that it is fitting that it is in 2d. Not that if it came out in 3d I wouldn't like it or anything, but I just can't see it being anything else other than in 2d format. Make the whole game can convert to isometrical or pre-rendered format, but 2d nonetheless.

I think you could render the blacked-out characters in three dimensions; it would just take a lot more work. You would have to arrange very carefully all the scenes involving them, so that they would only appear in full shadow. You then depict them just as they appear. There's no essentialy difference between that and what Lun has done, but in two dimensions, it's not really possible to show any depth of shadowing, so the characters appear as completely black.

However, this makes me think of another question, What if there were voice actors for the major characters? That might give away Violet's identity when she appears in the dark with Kygar. It's not a major point, but it's another issue to think about.

[Telephalsion]

welli think cesta would have a slightly more sneaky voice when being dancing violet and a more sugary sweet one in the inn.

[Amgard]

Or a voice-distortioner

Those scarves got SOMETHING in em!

[DSOK]

Or a voice-distortioner

Those scarves got SOMETHING in em!

She could be voiced by James Earl Jones while wearing her Blue Scarve gear.

[Sage Of The Wise]

However, this makes me think of another question, What if there were voice actors for the major characters? That might give away Violet's identity when she appears in the dark with Kygar. It's not a major point, but it's another issue to think about.

When does Cetsa talk to Kygar in the dark? Idon't remember any seen like that in ep2.

[DSOK]

When does Cetsa talk to Kygar in the dark? Idon't remember any seen like that in ep2.

It's during the night, when there are a whole ton of blacked-out characters running around Lide. Cetsa tells Kygar that Ballar has revealed the location of the shadow sword during the pair's previous assignation, and they discuss whether Scatha might know of it as well.

[Amgard]

"Only now do you realize, Rhue, that Gaius didn't tell you everything about Landorin Stretch"

"HE TOLD ME ENOUGH! HE TOLD ME YOU KILLED THEM! EVEN MY DAD!"

"No...Rhue... I am your father"

"NOOOOOOOO!" *knocks Shadow sword into the pits*

"MOTHER****ER!"

[fwacho]

Or a voice-distortioner

Those scarves got SOMETHING in em!

She could be voiced by James Earl Jones while wearing her Blue Scarve gear.

LOL

[DSOK]

fwacho, Sith jokes aside, you and Lun must have thought about the topic of this thread. So do you have some vision of what The Way would be like if it were redone in the style of a professional RPG?

[Kyle]

In a professional RPG (with 3D graphics, of course) it would be hard to have "blacked out" characters run around the screen I guess they could be masked or wear a dark cloak instead though.

[Amgard]

Or very well-used shadow effects (think Deus Ex IW quality)