Divinity: Original Sin II Update #24: PAX East Recap

In the 24th update to hit the Divinity: Original Sin II Kickstarter campaign, Larian Studios’ Swen Vincke summarizes what was shown at last week’s PAX East event, shares a 13-minute gameplay video, gathers up a group of previews, and more. First, the video:

And then here’s the preview round-up:

US Gamer
(…Larian isn’t a studio to relax though, so they’ve expanded on the games’ combat this time around. There’s a new armor/magic armor system. Physical skills deplete armor, while magical attacks destroy your magic armor. Some characters have one or both, depending on where their affinities lie. The armor protects you from debilitating effects like Fear, so getting rid of your opponent’s armor should be your first step.)

Destructoid
(If I had to make a list of things that I wouldn’t care to have in Divinity: Original Sin 2, a PvP mode would probably be at the top of that list. But you know what? It was actually pretty good!)

MMORPG
(The first thing that strikes you is the battlefield. The team has introduced a much more robust terrain and movement system that rewards the player for taking advantage of positioning, and especially verticality. Taking the high ground results in a plethora of advantages, including extended range on your spells and ranged attacks, and improved vision and visibility. Included in each of the characters in our skirmish were a fairly wide variety of spells and attacks, and each character has at least one movement spell, allowing for quick maneuvering around the battlefield. Characters could also secure and consume Source puddles on the battlefield that could then be used to power much greater spells and powers. The battlefield was also strewn with explosives and acids and other detrimental effects that could be triggered by hapless players upon themselves, or by wise tacticians to wreak havoc upon their foes.)

PC Gamer
(Swen came ready to fight this time, and I’ll admit I was really nervous. We shook hands before, and Swen looked me in the eyes and said “I’m not going to lose this time” with a confidence that made me genuinely believe him. Reworked abilities, a new height system, blessed and cursed terrain, and a whole lot of other changes meant I would need to learn quickly. He even brought tissues with “PC Gamer exclusive” written on them in Sharpie, saying they were “for my tears” after I lose. He wasn’t messing around, and members of both our offices were watching as we loaded into the arena.)

Gamespot
(Multiplayer isn’t what comes to mind when I think of Divinity, which was GameSpot’s PC game of the year in 2014. I think of well written dialogue. I think of engaging characters. I think of long adventures across dangerous lands. But because of the team’s towering Kickstarter campaign, Original Sin II is becoming more than just a single-player RPG, complete with what seems to be a nuanced multiplayer component. That means there will be more ways to experiment with the game’s complex combat when it releases. And that’s not a bad thing.)

gameinformer
(Divinity: Original Sin II’s Competitive Multiplayer Might Be My New Addiction. I’ve always been fascinated with tabletop miniatures. Unfortunately, cost and time get in the way of painting and longer session wargaming. As a result, I’m always on the lookout for experiences that capture the miniature gaming ethos without the physical version’s high investment.)