[Dicksmoker]

Some info on the gameworld would be nice. Like how big is it? The state of Massachusettes, less, more? Are we looking at a traditional world map method of traveling to different settlements, or something else? Will it be completely open from the start, or will there be some restrictions? Will finding places be like in Arcanum, where it's almost impossible to stumble on something unless it's marked on your map, or more like Fallout, where vague directions are enough to get you somewhere? Will known locations be marked on your map, or only Arkham at the beginning?

This is all of course going on the assumption that Cyclopean is an open world game and not linear or hub-like like PST. Fair to make, right?

[Scott]

Fair questions all.  Keep in mind all responses reflect a work in progress and are subject to my cruel whim.

Some info on the gameworld would be nice. Like how big is it? The state of Massachusettes, less, more?

Currently planned are four towns, Arkham being the first and biggest.  Most of the game centers in and around these locations.  Each town will have multiple zones, Fallout/Baldur's Gate style.  Outside of town there will be other independent areas, wilderness, caves, etc.  There is one extra-dimensional location planned as well.  There isn't sandbox style travel, you move from destination to destination.  Sometimes you might be interrupted on the way however.  Some areas can be discovered by walking off a neighbouring map, others have to be known.

Will known locations be marked on your map, or only Arkham at the beginning?

I think only having Arkham makes sense.  None of the character backgrounds are from Massachusetts, so while it would be no great work to find out where Innsmouth is, there also isn't any reason for you to know when you start the game.

This is all of course going on the assumption that Cyclopean is an open world game and not linear or hub-like like PST. Fair to make, right?

I guess hub-like is the best description, linear I cannot stand.  Don't even suggest it.  I don't think I've really made myself clear, but you can get to most locations in the game right away, so travel is mostly unrestricted.  If you walk to the northeast corner of Arkham, you could access the woods beyond town, and if you travel through those woods, the Deep Swamp beyond that and the Cave of the-- never mind.  But you can't just pick a location on the map a la Fallout and start walking cross country.  The 20th century setting means people typically don't travel sixty miles on foot when there is a convenient road.  They take a bus, train or hire a car.

By the way, I'm going to have another story ready, sometime.  This one is taking a lot longer to stitch together and I'm not as confident of the quality.

[Dicksmoker]

I guess hub-like is the best description, linear I cannot stand.  Don't even suggest it.  I don't think I've really made myself clear, but you can get to most locations in the game right away, so travel is mostly unrestricted.  If you walk to the northeast corner of Arkham, you could access the woods beyond town, and if you travel through those woods, the Deep Swamp beyond that and the Cave of the-- never mind.  But you can't just pick a location on the map a la Fallout and start walking cross country.  The 20th century setting means people typically don't travel sixty miles on foot when there is a convenient road.  They take a bus, train or hire a car.

So basically, cars and such are the only modes of "fast travel," and everything else you must do by foot by passing through different areas. Correct? Is it all continuous like that? And what about the Driving trait? Will it  simply save you money, if you own a car, or are there other bonuses?

There are a few things I'm not sure about regarding this system. For instance, say there's an area deep in the wilderness that you've already been to and want to return to. That doesn't seem like any place that a train, bus, or hired car would go, so that means you would have to walk there again, which can get very tedious. I don't like that. Another thing I don't like (and this depends on how far certain areas are from settlements) is that it may get confusing where exactly you are if you've passed through many different areas, all of them having multiple exits leading to still more different areas. Perhaps having a map to reference your location, even if you can't use it to travel, would be a good idea.

[Scott]

My Dear Dicksmoker*, I didn't say there wouldn't be a map(?!) or that there wouldn't be fast travel.  What I mean regarding walking is that you won't be walking from one town to the next, period, just to wilderness areas adjacent to town.  Driving is a free trait, so it doesn't get you much.  If you own a car, it will mostly be for convenience, although it may also open you up to one or two additional random encounters (mysterious hitchhiker, anyone?) or jobs requiring your own vehicle.

I don't believe in making people walk (ie. wait for their character to cross the screen) just for the sake of walking.  You should be able to skip explored (if they're safe, that is) areas on your way back to the Inn to sell your bag of rusty shortswords from the 30 kobolds you killed.

*I can't wait to incorporate this handy phrase into real life!

[Dicksmoker]

Ok. I see now what you meant by "hub-based." There's the four towns and surrounding areas. To move between different hubs (towns) you have to use a car or somesuch, not walk. So, I'm guessing there will be some other locations¹ apart from these hubs, right? How will travel be implemented to those areas?

¹And I am referring to secret locations here that no car, train, or bus would be going to.

[Gauntt]

Sounds like the basis of a great system you have going there. Some of the best bits from several different styles.

I am guessing there will be statically defined limits to where you can go? So every town wont be surrounded by the same generic forest/outskirts with nothing special in it? So there might be towns/hubs where there are no surrounding since there is no reason to go there.

[DangerousDan]

That sounds a fair enough system. How big are these hubs looking at being, and how much content are we talking for each? Also- will each hub be more dangerous than the last. I'm not actually too hot on the idea of going to Innsmouth and finding everyone can beat you up easily. Will content be freely available so, I can just hop on a bus and begin working out of Arkham, or will things need to be completed in Arkham before one can move on?

[GarfunkeL]

but you can get to most locations in the game right away, so travel is mostly unrestricted.

I guess that answers one of your questions Dan. And I also don't like when areas progress linearly easiest-easy-hard-hardest so that your character progression does not seem to make any effect. I hated how in BG2 random street thugs could cause trouble for my heroes of Sword Coast. But since Scott hates linearity, I think that's not going to happen.

[renkin]

but you can get to most locations in the game right away, so travel is mostly unrestricted.

I guess that answers one of your questions Dan. And I also don't like when areas progress linearly easiest-easy-hard-hardest so that your character progression does not seem to make any effect. I hated how in BG2 random street thugs could cause trouble for my heroes of Sword Coast. But since Scott hates linearity, I think that's not going to happen.

An equally annoying situation in my opinion is when you spend a lot of time really exploring the first area of a game, doing all the quests you can find, and then the rest of the game is super easy because your character leveled up too much.