Eschalon: Book I Interview

WithinGames was able to track down Basilisk Games’ Thomas Riegsecker for a lengthy interview about their upcoming “old school” RPG, Eschalon: Book I.

Q: Can you give us examples of different races and axioms? How do they differentiate from each other and what`s their effect on the gameplay?

A: The storyline is based on a human character, so you aren`t able to choose a different fantasy race such as Dwarf or Elf. However, you can choose where you originate from which gives your character attribute bonuses very similar to racial traits found in other RPGs. For example, hailing from the arctic northern expanse grants your character increased Endurance and Concentration due to his heritage of living in extreme conditions.

Axioms are very similar to the “alignment” stat from Dungeons & Dragons, but a bit broader in scope. An Axiom is a basic ideology that your character holds as truth, which gives him certain bonuses and penalties inside the game world. So for example, if you choose an Atheistic axiom then your character denies the existence of deities and superstitions, making him immune to curses but also immune to the effects of blessings or healing from priests. This not only adds additional strategic elements to designing your character but also contributes to his uniqueness.