Half-Ogre Island still bothers me to this day...

Discussion in 'Arcanum Discussion' started by tamaneko, Sep 21, 2006.

Remove all ads!
Support Terra-Arcanum:

GOG.com

PayPal - The safer, easier way to pay online!
  1. tamaneko

    tamaneko New Member

    Messages:
    32
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2006
    I guess that's props to Troika for creating such a disturbing, unsolvable quest, but...I don't know if it's a good or bad thing to keep on remembering this even more than the actual game itself. I mean, the entries about the Queen of Tarant, the underground basement in Tarant, all of it locking into place... ugh... :cry: [/code]
     
  2. Langolier

    Langolier Member

    Messages:
    480
    Likes Received:
    3
    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2003
    I think that quest is one of the better ones in RPG history. Pricesly because it has an "Un-desirable" ending. I wish more RPG's had over-all story arcs or quests where the badguys won.
     
  3. Zebulin

    Zebulin New Member

    Messages:
    166
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    Aug 21, 2006
    I prefer non-inevitable outcomes in my games, but I like the quest regardless.

    However, I have to admit that if it had been possible to "win" that quest it would have required almost as much game time as the main story in order to do it justice. Winning the quest (bringing those responsible to justice and making the public accept the reality and immensity of the crime) would have really upended the arcanum civilization and that in turn would mean that no simple quick fix victory would have been credible or fitting.

    The reason I oppose inevitable quest outcomes in games is that we get enough of inevitable outcomes in passive entertainment media where inevitable outcomes are an intrinsic property of the medium. RPGs should make as much use of the opportunity to allow for flexible plot development and outcomes as possible since the player can't really get that kind of entertainment anywhere else.
     
  4. Wolfsbane

    Wolfsbane Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    4,498
    Likes Received:
    4
    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2005
    Actually, in Car Arcanum, the quest continues.

    And you can win it.
     
  5. TONGSyaBASS

    TONGSyaBASS Member

    Messages:
    772
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2005
    I found the half-ogre quest very refreshing.
    Just because you are the hero doesn't make you a god. There should be things beyond your control.
     
  6. Frigo

    Frigo Active Member

    Messages:
    2,107
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2006
    I don't know what's the matter with the gnome conspiracy quest, it is one of the best quests in Arcanum.
     
  7. Langolier

    Langolier Member

    Messages:
    480
    Likes Received:
    3
    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2003
    Hmm... yes... *looks at your avatar* I see exactly what you mean, Sir.
     
  8. Maximus

    Maximus New Member

    Messages:
    1,306
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2006
    I sometimes wonder if it was suppsoed to be either the original main story but got derailed by the Nasrudin quest. Possibly two programmers who couldn't agree on the main plot?
    Either way, it was never properly completed which is frustrating. Plus, it could have been better than the elf-gone-bad story, in my opinion.
     
  9. Vorak

    Vorak Administrator Staff Member

    Messages:
    5,828
    Likes Received:
    21
    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2003
    Maybe they left it open for a sequel.
     
  10. Maximus

    Maximus New Member

    Messages:
    1,306
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2006
    Oh fine, just open that wound again. *sniff* Sadly, we'll never know. :(
     
  11. Vyenna

    Vyenna New Member

    Messages:
    1,446
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2005
    Any second now, TONGS'll post saying he completed the quest in his hack and it's been done justice. And then we'll all look forward to that hack for another few months. Or years. What do i know?
     
  12. Maximus

    Maximus New Member

    Messages:
    1,306
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2006
    I think he's finished with Arcanum 2 and all its upgrades and is plugging away at Arcunum 3 now, but he'll never share with the rest of us.... :(

    Evil Tongs, no biscuit.
     
  13. TONGSyaBASS

    TONGSyaBASS Member

    Messages:
    772
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2005
    I blame work. They won't let me leave! They have me PCRing my fingers to the bone.
    Then when I get back to my flat with the leaky roof, dodgy heating and smelly carpets I eat and sleep. Woe is me.
    So yeah, my arcanuming time has reduced to almost nothing. It's an endless task because for every 1 thing I create, another 10 things come to mind while I am doing it. I've decided to add nothing new from now on. I'll tidy up what I have done and release it.
    As Buddah as my witness, there shall be uber hack for all!
     
  14. Wolfsbane

    Wolfsbane Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    4,498
    Likes Received:
    4
    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2005
    Wonderful ^^
    But as I've already said: The quest continues in car arcanum, and there you can win it. And you'll find out who the bad guy is, too.
     
  15. Vyenna

    Vyenna New Member

    Messages:
    1,446
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2005
    Yep. Thanks for ruining that for me. (Not that I'll ever play car-arcanum, but meh...)
     
  16. Maximus

    Maximus New Member

    Messages:
    1,306
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2006
    You knucklehead, thanks! :-x *pushes the bovine into a sausage grinder*
     
  17. Spuddy

    Spuddy New Member

    Messages:
    1,037
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    Aug 16, 2006
    I happen to love the quest despite the lack of closure.

    In fact, I love it so much I've never been able to trust a gnome in any other game since first playing the quest.

    Jan Jansen, you shifty character you...
     
  18. Prodigal Me

    Prodigal Me New Member

    Messages:
    4
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2006
    yeh i was really disappointed with the conclusion (or lack thereof) for this quest. yes, in fairness to the games writers, it was a very cliff-hanger sorta moment, but seriously! as its been said; the whole kidnapping, forced rape and racial enslavement things are very serious issues and to have them trivialised but troika wanting to play little mindgames with its audience is pretty sick.

    making it a resolvable issue would really have been the more intelligent thing to do, as they then could have been acclaimed for dealing with controversial issues.
     
  19. mathboy

    mathboy New Member

    Messages:
    2,185
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    Sep 3, 2003
  20. TONGSyaBASS

    TONGSyaBASS Member

    Messages:
    772
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2005
    Yes. I distinctly remember the "Half-ogres raped ma momma" episode of Springer.
     
Our Host!