Avernum 6 is out.

[Evnissyen]

http://www.avernum.com/avernum6/index.html

Silly intro music (not that this is important), but the game looks nice. Animation slightly improved. If you've seen the screenshots then you know that the graphics have received a little bit of work, too.

Haven't played much of the game yet, but one of the good aspects is it allows double-wielding for fighters; also there're quickkeys, now (although admittedly there're only four for the spells; still no new quicklots, grr...).

A few new character images, too. As far as Avernum's concerned, it's about time, I think, although it retains most of the old images.

For those who were hoping for walking animation: none of that for A6. Sorry.

[Randomizer]

Some new features like being able to reprogram keys.

Dual wielding swords is neat. You don't do as much damage per strike as with sword and shield, but the damage adds up with that extra strike using quick action for a chance for a second swing per strike and haste for an extra attack chance per round.

[BasiliskWrangler]

Cool! I am really looking forward to trying it. I'll download the demo later this weekend and give it a spin. Everyone knows I've been left feeling empty after the last few major RPG releases, but Jeff's games are rock steady- you know what you are getting if you've played any one of his games in the last 5 years. I think the graphic updates looks really nice.

[Saxon1974]

Dang no windows release until spring. It seems odd that he released Mac version first, there are far more windows users out there aren't there?

I like his games and the improved graphics look pretty good but the lack of walking animations drives me crazy.

I sure hope his next game includes that!

[Dragonlady]

Dang no windows release until spring. It seems odd that he released Mac version first, there are far more windows users out there aren't there?

I like his games and the improved graphics look pretty good but the lack of walking animations drives me crazy.

I sure hope his next game includes that!

This company supports Mac first and PC second. They've always put out the Mac version first. One of the reasons I like them..even though I can still play PC stuff on my Mac partion for PC's.

[Rush]

I am going to try the demo after the holidays, and will most likely purchase it (I own copies of the previous games) after that. Still, I am seriously hooked upon Eschalon, and will download and play Book II on the same day release.

---Rush.

[macdude22]

Dang no windows release until spring. It seems odd that he released Mac version first, there are far more windows users out there aren't there?

I like his games and the improved graphics look pretty good but the lack of walking animations drives me crazy.

I sure hope his next game includes that!

Jeff is a Mac user from way back, he only ports the games to Windows for the extra cashe. On the plus side most of the bugs are usually worked out by the Windows release.

[Rune_74]

Cool! I am really looking forward to trying it. I'll download the demo later this weekend and give it a spin. Everyone knows I've been left feeling empty after the last few major RPG releases, but Jeff's games are rock steady- you know what you are getting if you've played any one of his games in the last 5 years. I think the graphic updates looks really nice.

You've played them all... heheh...I'm kinda hoping he decides to make something new, or at least expands the avernum rules a bit....the spell system needs revamping. Because he never really changes the game system it feels like you are playing the same game with a new module.

[Dragonlady]

Okay, been doing the demo most of the day and only part way into it! Phew, there is a lot to do! And I've come to find out save is my best friend. There are some quests I can't survive yet and get wiped out before you can say, "hit, split, multiply & die".

I'm now off to a distant city to stop some people hoarding food during this time of the blight on mushrooms.

[Randomizer]

You've played them all... heheh...I'm kinda hoping he decides to make something new, or at least expands the avernum rules a bit....the spell system needs revamping. Because he never really changes the game system it feels like you are playing the same game with a new module.

The spell system for Avernum 6 has changed to replace some buffing spells with new ones and tweak others. Fighters get to go back to Exile's dual wielding of weapons.

Next year will see a new game, but Jeff hasn't released any real information about it. So nothing about genre or game engine. His only comment was that when you change the game difficulty to make it harder the fights will really be harder and not just longer because a multiplier is used on all the monster's stats.

[Evnissyen]

I like the game so far, it's definitely the best Avernum game yet, by far, in just about all ways, I think. And visually it's much more colorful. And... I didn't give the graphics enough credit, before. Jeff did put a lot of work into redrawing all those little objects and they look really nice, now. Much better detail. The animation's a little better, too. I think I mentioned that. Some cool new spell effects... although: I'm never really satisfied with Spiderweb's animation.

And I'm still not sure why he can't put in diagonal walls.

Maybe next game.

Like nearly every Spiderweb fan, I think, I'm really curious to see what he comes up with next year for the new series.

If it's so involved that it takes him two years to make, I'll gladly wait two years for it to come out . . . although I guess he's put himself on a game-a-year schedule to make sure he stays in the black.

[IJBall]

OK, having been playing the Demo of A6 over the holiday weekend.

It's pretty good! There are definitely areas where I still prefer Eschalon over Avernum. But I find Avernum much closer to being a full 'throw-back' to an Ultima IV-type game (e.g. not being able to see things not directly in your line-of-sight; playing with a 'party' of characters (which, I must say, I've never liked as well as "true" single-player games like Eschalon); etc.) which is pretty cool.

Anyway, I've liked the demo enough that I'll very likely pick up the full game over the X-Mas holidays...
(At least it'll give me something to tide me over until Book II arrives! )

[Rush]

Here's to hoping that Jeff's next project/game, whatever realm it resides within, includes a scenario/adventure builder. Yep...that would be sweet, heh.
---Rush.

[macdude22]

Here's to hoping that Jeff's next project/game, whatever realm it resides within, includes a scenario/adventure builder. Yep...that would be sweet, heh.
---Rush.

Highly Unlikely, Blades of Avernum nearly broke the company. It took too long to write and sold far worse than his other games. I don't think he's willing to risk it again. Though A6 sounds like it's selling better than anything he's made before so it's possible he'll have enough of a cushion to be comfortable branching out again.

[Dragonlady]

Just a quick note..

Got my Spiderweb newsletter this morning and it said that A6 will be out for the PC March 2010. Plenty of time to search the couch cushions for cash.