Greedfall

Pillars of Eternity series isn't that far away from it, especially Deadfire.

I guess it's time to preorder. I am playing the game anyway, so why not. And there are usually some preorder items that are useful for the first two hours

The combat looked fluid and even fun in the last trailers too. Unless it's just a trailer illusion it might turn out to be a welcome surprise.

I've taken the plunge and pre ordered as well. The companion trailer was cool The hands on previews seem good to. And shock horror a spiders game that doesn't seem to overly clunky combat? Whatever next?

I think it would be unkind to fixate on that. Considering their budget, I'm surprised the game looks as good as it does.

Too bad I expect to be very busy until at least late October. Alas, Greedfall and Stygian will probably have to way until the end of the year.

*watches companions trailer* Welp, so much for “you can just think they’re cuddling after they kiss” in the romances like the dev said when asked.

*watches trailer too* Hmm. I don't see anything that couldn't be mistaken for a heavy makeout session. No nudity, much less awkwardly animated softcore porn, thank God. It certainly looks like romantic scenes more focused on chemistry and personality than CGI boobs. So, promising in my book.

Don't have enough of a sense of the actual companions yet to know if there will be chemistry or personality to speak of, but still.

Hope we get some beard options more impressive than that teenage wannabe five-o'clock dusting the male PC runs around with in the trailers. The sixteen hundreds weren't a very hirsute time all around in Europe, but some nice mutton chops or a kickass mustache, or even a full beard to hide that weird mark on the cheek, wouldn't go amiss.

It's also encouraging to see the female PC walk around in some more-or-less feminine-looking skirts. I wouldn't want to play a classy seventeenth-century dame and have to trudge around in stinking uniforms and trousers all the time. Like the men.  

Going by the previews and the companions trailer: they appear to all hate each others in some fashion...so there is some personality conflict at least. How well they match with your character's ambitions though, that's another story.

That's probably why the press release says we are playing a diplomate though. It just sound better then babysitter. We even appear to babysit our cousin Constantine, but at least that gives you a reason to romance Síora, join the natives and drive everyone else out of the island... not that I'm planning on doing that. 

There is a facial pilosity slider for male on the character creator. It is never used in the customization videos though.  

The only thing I know is that my first playthrough will be full of restarts to try appearances, the male/female voice and skills/abilities. 

I actually have no idea whom to romance. Síora looks adorkable and I have a soft spot for adorkable, but Aphra gives me Cassandra's vibe, except maybe without the poetry requirements and all about science instead of the Maker, and I really like Vasco's look too, he's dashing. And then there is Kurt, I think a (young) noble woman romancing her master-at-arms would be so scandalous that I have to try it.

And I tend to play goody-two-shoes/please everyone characters...mostly...

Heh I suspect I'll be much the same. And my pitiful attempt at humour fell flat no real surprise there.

What hypocritical nonsense. Betraying your people, your blood, your honor and God Himself for just a pretty face. The march of progress is sometimes merciless, and its champions must be as well. If the locals have any sense then they will abandon their pagan beliefs, embrace God's mercy and assimilate as best they can, as countless others have before them. Because that is the way of the civilized world. 

If not then nature will simply take its course. The savages will suffer for their stubborn resistance, as always, and God's chosen will go forth and repopulate the New World in their stead. It would be a shame, surely. Their magics could conceivably be put to work for the great benefit of society. But everybody knows that ungrateful slaves will spoil your fields, and serve better as harsh examples to their fellows.

Síora is indeed beautiful, and an impressive woman, and it would be natural for her to feel attracted to a man of strength and character. She may be the key to convincing her people to embrace their new future. But she will never tempt me into abandoning the word of the Lord, or the rule of law. If she tries then she is too stupid to live. And so she may find.

(I. Love. Roleplaying. So. Much)

Looking very good.

I've not played any of their other games - Technomancer aside - so I'll still be taking a 'wait and see' approach, despite the fact that I seem to have a higher opinion of Technomancer, than others here.