Hunted: The Demon’s Forge Interview

inXile Entertainment’s Brian Fargo has fielded another round of questions about Hunted: The Demon’s Forge, and this time the interview comes to us via GameZone. In it, Brian admits that the game is more of an action title than an RPG, though he also proclaims his intentions of doing a Wasteland sequel:

On a side note, since Bard’s Tale was eons ago (well 2004 wasn’t that long ago, but it was a different gen of console), has their been any thought on going back into that realm?

Answer: Obviously I have a special place in my heart for Bard’s Tale, but I want to explore some other things first like a Wasteland sequel. While Hunted: The Demon’s Forge is an action game I still have a great fondness for the RPG’s.

Back on track with Hunted – from the sounds of it, while you have two stock characters (archer and melee), it sounds as if they can be developed in any number of ways to create hybrids that are tailored to each gamer’s particular style. Is this the case? How many skill trees can be climbed and are any restrictions in place?

Answer: There are two main characters in the game E’lara she is a master with the bow and Caddoc who is an expert with the sword. Both characters will be able upgrade their primary combat style and both characters also have the ability to use spells. Players will be able to add abilities to either spells or their primary combat areas (ranged for E’lara and melee for Caddoc), so characters in Hunted are hybrids if the player desires. By hybrids I mean they can have sword / bow talents and magical spells transversely if a player desires they can put all of their crystals into their primary combat style and none in magic not being hybrid.

There are three main skill trees and about ten talent categories. For every skill there are major and minor upgrades so, for example, if I choose to get a lightning skill, first level will give the player the power to use one bolt of lightning at a time. I could upgrade it by putting more crystals into this skill to either decreased mana cost, increased damage or stun time. If I put even more crystals into that skill I will reach the next level which is chain lightning and this gives the player the ability to attack multiple enemies, again I can further upgrade that skill with decreased mana cost, increased damage or stun time. There are three major upgrades per skill and 6 minor for a total of 9 upgrades per skill.

Players will also gain talent upgrades that are based on their gameplay styles. If a player chooses to play cooperative by using their spells to enhance their partner using battlecharge as an example. Doing this multiple times will give the player a bonus to carry more mana potions. There are 10 of these categories ranging from combat styles, exploration and cooperative gameplay. We want to reward players for playing Hunted certain ways and encourage them to try new features we feel this will create a deep and fun gameplay experience.