Poll: Retreat for playability

[DreamU]

Of all the PC games I've played BGII is the best and I love this game. BUT, could it be better? Games which rely on Save and Reload so heavily reduce playability by taking the player's attention and focus out of the realm of the game. I equate this tactic with Microsoft's use of re-boot to deal with Window's bugs - neither is fun.

Here's the suggestion: Create a RETREAT button. Every time its pushed each player takes 1 HP damage and the enemy gets those hit points. The enemy and/or your party would have to be allowed to back-off till combat was initiated again. I might still use Reload occasionally but Retreat would keep me in the role more.

What's your opinion?

[PeeWee]

quote:

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Originally posted by DreamU:

Here's the suggestion: Create a RETREAT button. Every time its pushed each player takes 1 HP damage and the enemy gets those hit points. The enemy and/or your party would have to be allowed to back-off till combat was initiated again. I might still use Reload occasionally but Retreat would keep me in the role more.

What's your opinion?

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There are some games that have the retreat button but there is still the saves throw you have to make in order to retreat. In some cases, you just can't retreat. How about when a spell is cast upon your party and a few are taking dmg alrdy, you pause, hit retreat and unpause to see nothing happen so you "think" something is stuck.... you hit retreat a few more times and bah, glitched. You killed your own party by hitting retreat one too many times and they took a few more points of dmg along with the dmg that was still inflicted up on them by "whatever here".

It's also saying you are telling the now hostile npc, "Hey, I'm going to back off some and don't ya dare come after me k?, k?" With the pause feature and some of the spells, you actually can back off to a degree to use your potions or items. The "retreat button" as ya would put it is you selecting all your members and running to the nearest exit. Imagine how safe it would be for a rogue to get DEEP into a dengeon looting everything there to then get out FREELy by retreating everything there. Sure he gives up one hp per click, but he has a backpack full of health potions. Best way for that sort of risky player is to straight gun it.

Well, it's a good idea and has been in some console games before, I just don't see it being the ticket one needs to back off when things get too deep. Harder to back off and be in combat with you alrdy using all your spells and items AND not being able to rest than it is to simply reload. That way you have the same arsenal but can work on a different tactic.... the retreat means you may have less to work with and still need to come up with something different based on what you now have - which is more a pain imho.

I think we all share the same frustrations when we reload an area 50 gazillion times. Just have to hone yourself for it and heed where you tread.

G'luck and have fun.

PeeWee