Well, been busy writing about everything else that I haven’t had time to note on a few changes. However, how that I’ve finally finished the mainpoints of the Penthiae Arc (minus a bit of detail that still needs patching up) and Aorin’s Path, I can get on to making … well we’ll start with general details.
I’m also currently working on writing up a Caerleon/Penthiae History and a Penthiae Campaign Setting summary so my co-devs will understand the world involved better.
First, after having a discussion with Citrus I’ve decided to reformat/rebuild Lothair’s personality. On a political or project aspect, Lothair is meant to be an opposite to Aoric. The two are meant to be Exelar’s left and right hand advisers, Aoric being in charge of the military while Lothair dealt heavily with the bureaucracy. It’s a commonly used tactic by many well known enlightened rules of the past, selected two opposed officials as their closest advisers and allowing them to weigh two completely different perspective towards any problem. The other reason being that IF the two people were to agree on something, chances are it’s an obvious must-do action.
Personality design wise however, Aoric and Lothair’s have a certain number of points that are way too similar. For one, they’re both the serious type, which I think will have an unfavorable impact in the game atmosphere around Exelar, and FAR greater a problem at that than political/structural issue.
Talking with Citrus brought up a good point on making Lothair’s personality somewhat opposed to Aoric’s, particularly on one major principle. Where Aoric is all-business on the exterior and loves to be lazy on the inside, the redesigned Lothair is going to be easygoing most of the time but puts on the business face when the circumstances demand for it. Of course, most of Lothair’s older flaws/traits will be surviving this modification, most notably his judgmental nature.
On another matter, after doing a lot of branching simulations in my head, I’m pretty sure I’m going to make Gallagher a definite-recruit. The simple fact is: his role changes FAR too much in the Penthiae route, especially regarding all the politics during and after taking over Norinth. Removing him from the plotline would mean a large number of scenes must be completely rewritten (and maybe a portion of the plot completely modified) just for the scenario where he doesn’t join … not an objective I’m willing to devote heavy resource expenditure upon.
Thus, I think I’m going to make it that he’ll join the party no matter how you play at the end of the Battle of Whitefield. The difference will be whether you can recruit him before the battle, because the fight will be near impossible to win if he’s fighting against you. Even if Gallagher does turn with his enforcers, chances are Exelar’s group will only be more-or-less evenly matched against Ariethil’s forces arrayed against him.
The third chance I’d like to announce is that I will be making two more non-recruitable characters, whom will be the oppositional commanders of the two final battles in the Penthiae Arc. Obviously I don’t expect much graphics on them, but will likely cut back on the other minor characters / template characters to compensate for their existence (the estimates on graphical needs is scaring me enough as it is). Well… I’ll see how the progress on this goes. Currently I have absolutely no idea what they’ll be yet…
Ah… busy busy busy…
I think I can imagine Lothair now, drawing some comparative to Peter “Littlefinger” Baelish at George R.R. Martin’s novel A Song of Ice and Fire.
Lothair is involved more with administration and civil stuffs, and in this place, diplomacy is the only way you succeed. Aoric is direct and commanding. Lothair? I’d say he’s easygoing and charming by outside appearance, and when it comes to ‘business’, he’ll be very subtle, doing things indirect way (such as Aorin’s business to Exelar), and when inside his head, he always assess silently about profit and tactics to get what he want.
When it’s serious, he’s like a merchant about to _giving you a deal_.
When it’s not formal, he loosen his coat (Arioc zip the coat all the way to the top).
When things doesn’t go his way, he’ll sigh and tell you how he always think the best to you. How very lucky you should have him, and… stuffs.
Yeah, it’s pretty different than the original design, but clearly very antagonistic in personality to Aoric, and more distinct as a character^^
Btw, what I propose about Lothair at above post do pose a bit of problem. Calculative and crafty makes him less likely to get stubborn/antagonistic against Canan who has the similar trait. Two people who have the ability to throw wits all around usually respect each other.
Lothair, if characterized merchant-wise, might make the player/Exelar draw wrong conclusion about him. How do you view a crafty person other than distrust? Even when he really aim for your benefits, and treat you more than a friend.
Canan, assasin type who hates her work, but still do it nevertheless. Her ability to gather information means she’s skilled at social skills and subtlety, quality which is no different than Lothair’s diplomatic skills.
I wonder if these similarity (my ideas about Lothair’s personality) could pose more problem than what you need?