The New Book III Screenshots

[IJBall]

So the new Book III screenshots (4 new ones, in total), are up at the new Book III page.

They are definitely intriguing, though I suspect BW chose them carefully to dole out just a few nuggets (e.g. there aren't too many new 'Active Effects' in these shots, like there were when the first Book II screenshots came out...).

You can definitely tell, though, that the graphics were improved yet again - I'm kind of amazed by that as I didn't think BW could do much better than the way Book II looked! Especially impressive is that Omentor Temple bit (definitely hope that makes it in to the final game, a la Fathamurk...).

Looks like we have a replacement spell too - it appears that the spell 'Guiding Light' (heh - I watched "Guiding Light" for 30 years before it was cancelled! ) is replacing Gravedigger's Flame.

New mob: Cave Scorpion!

On my end, can't wait for BW's ultimate Book III features list (I'm guessing we'll have to wait until New Year's for that...) to see what did, and didn't, make it in from the 'wishlist'.

[Randomizer]

New food item - roach legs

I see we get some more of the Crux of Fire history. Plus news travels fast when it's at the expense of some that is disliked.

[BasiliskWrangler]

Screenshot 2: Candencium? In Book II it is spelt Candecium. Morwen mentions the Crux of Fire being taken from Hammerlorne Mine which means Book III appears to begin immediately after the ending of Book II. The player portrait is nice. Judging from the last three screenshots it appears Rockhammer is a mining outpost and will serve as the beginning village.

I noticed this too, after the alpha screenshots were uploaded. It is "Candecium", but I've worked with a writer to help fill in some text-heavy areas of the game and they typed it incorrectly. I simply didn't notice it with all the rushing we did to announce the game.

It will be fixed in the final game- and again, the "alpha version notification" saves the day.

[IJBall]

@ Screenshot 4: What is that dark object next to the bed in the top left of the screen?

I tried taking a closer look at that. It looks too small to be a bookcase... Could it be a mirror?!

Developer tools to be released shortly after the availability of the game.

I'm glad you've decided to do it this way. It will give you plenty of time to patch Book III without having to patch any problems with the developer tools at the same time. And it gives everyone time to finish Book III and come up with ideas.

On the one hand, I'm sad, 'cos I'd love to tear in to the Dev tools all summer long. But, OTOH, it does make sense as it'll allow everyone to play through Book III a few times (and smush bugs, as you say), before hitting the Dev tools.

[munster]

The only problem is that now I can't wait for it to be Summer 2013

Looks great, sounds (the snippet of dialogue we got) intriguing, and I want to start zapping cave scorpions right now. Now, I say, now!

Oh, well: patience is a virtue.

[IJBall]

Basilisk Games have updated their cover photo on Facebook which shows a dragon in the background.

The interesting thing about the Book III cover pic is actually the volcano!

It looks like we may be heading to the Great Rift Zone (I don't think there's anywhere else in the world of Eschalon with volcanos...) in Book III, which is cool, as we only explored the southern periphery of that region in Book II...

P.S. I wonder when BW's gonna release the revised Eschalon World Map with more filled in features for the regions of Barrea, Wylderan, Mirland and Fandugan...

[Dragonlady]

Basilisk Games have updated their cover photo on Facebook which shows a dragon in the background.

*smilie whistling*



Scorpians, humm, source for poison potions? Or candied scorpian pops?

[Painted Lady]

First of all, I am just so excited that the official announcement is live. The redrawn tiles look perfectly awesome. This is going to be a great looking game.

Screenshot 1 is actually the last one in the series according to the experience level of the protagonist. The trees look like they have mossy stuff hanging from the branches, so maybe they are near a jungle or other warm area. Wylderan or Mirkland anyone?

Since Screenshot 2 doesn't have snow in the background, it doesn't look like Rockhammer is in the Nor'land area. Maybe it's in Barrea's Akrid Flats. And, since scorpions (Screenshot 3) typically live in deserts, that would make sense. Or, maybe, it's near Pomedore...

As for Screenshot 4, if you look very closely at the two sections of track nearest the levers, you can see a little circle in the track. It looks like the levers rotate the tracks to open various routes for the mine cars. I can't tell what that thing is next to the bed in the upper left.

Dang - hope summer hurries up and comes!

[Ssschah]

I don't know what to say but EPIC

[nigmashumma]

All the screenies are definitely great!

[SpottedShroom]

As IJBall said, maybe this is the return of Book I-style lootable skeletons? Hopefully not the return of Book I-style getting diseases from looting corpses...

The character in the second screenshot is level 1. That, plus the cockroach legs and non-full HP suggest that the new bottom-tier enemy is cockroaches.

Quick-travel seems to be the same as before. People suggested an overhaul, so probably either that didn't happen, or it's in addition to the old system.

Anyone else notice the scar in the (awesome new) character art? I wonder if that's a plot element...

I really like the new lamp art in the third screenshot.

I'm happy that Gravedigger's Flame has been given a makeover. The red glow was kind of annoying after a while.

Here's a brightened, cropped and zoomed take on screenshot four highlighting the mystery object. Darned if I know...

http://i.imgur.com/UBB2x.png (I tried to upload it here, but "the board attachment quota has been reached")

[Painted Lady]

Here's a brightened, cropped and zoomed take on screenshot four highlighting the mystery object. Darned if I know...

I think I know what it is. Do you remember that in the southeast corner of the Talushorn map there are a couple of "plate receivers" or some such thing outside the fortress? There is also one southwest of Sparrow's house. I always figured that they were communication devices from "The One" to his subjects. Anyway, I think your screen shot blow-up shows the same device. As Dragonlady would say "kewl."

[IJBall]

As IJBall said, maybe this is the return of Book I-style lootable skeletons? Hopefully not the return of Book I-style getting diseases from looting corpses...

Definitely hope those are back in! As for catching disease from them, I'd imagine that is back in too, though you can always choose the game option to skip catching diseases.

Quick-travel seems to be the same as before. People suggested an overhaul, so probably either that didn't happen, or it's in addition to the old system.

I'm not sure how you've been able to surmise that, as Quicktravel points aren't shown in any of the Book III screenshots.

However, I am intrigued by the little gold bars to the right and to the left of the Minimap. A few possibilities:

1) Clicking on the bars brings up some kind of popup (perhaps the Quicktravel options?...). Or,

2) The bars show you where else you've visited (i.e. you've been to the maps immediately east and west of the current map, based on the gold bars being "lit up").
I think this one's unlikely, as the screenshots have the gold bars to the right and to the left of the Minimap in every shot. Or,

3) The gold bars around the Minimap are purely decorative!

Anyone else notice the scar in the (awesome new) character art? I wonder if that's a plot element...

I did notice. I think some of the character art in Book II had people with scars as well.

I'm happy that Gravedigger's Flame has been given a makeover. The red glow was kind of annoying after a while.

I had a thought about this:

Maybe Guiding Light spell isn't a "replacement" for the Gravedigger's Flame spell, but is instead the Healer-equivalent spell to the Mage's Gravedigger's Flame spell.

Considering the spell's name, this seems plausible to me...

Here's a brightened, cropped and zoomed take on screenshot four highlighting the mystery object. Darned if I know...

http://i.imgur.com/UBB2x.png (I tried to upload it here, but "the board attachment quota has been reached")

Interesting that you got that error message - I got the same error message from this board earlier today, which is why I used Photobucket for the pic in my other thread (I originally was just going to set it up as an attachment...).

It's neither a bookcase, nor a ladder. I really don't have any clear idea what it is, though it looks like it may have writing(?) on it!

[Dragonlady]

Here's a brightened, cropped and zoomed take on screenshot four highlighting the mystery object. Darned if I know...

I think I know what it is. Do you remember that in the southeast corner of the Talushorn map there are a couple of "plate receivers" or some such thing outside the fortress? There is also one southwest of Sparrow's house. I always figured that they were communication devices from "The One" to his subjects. Anyway, I think your screen shot blow-up shows the same device. As Dragonlady would say "kewl."

With the bigger shot, my immediate thought was..2004 movie! The black stone?

Or a magic doorway to the "Twilight Zone" (ie. teleport door) snicker

[Lord_P]

How unfair that you were all having fun here chatting while I was still in bed!