Pillars of Eternity 2 announced, crowdfunding launched
Throw pennies at them
Obsidian Entertainment today formally announced the sequel to Pillars of Eternity, their 2015 throwback fantasy RPG which John enjoyed so. Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire [official site], for that is its name, is set across the Deadfire archipelago, obvs. A god has unexpectedly returned to life and gone a-wandering there, which may cause a few problems. Better go ask him politely to knock it off. As with the first game, Obsidian have launched a crowdfunding campaign to collect pennies.
What's afoot in Pillars 2? The storyblurble says:
"Eothas has returned. The god of light and rebirth was thought dead, but he now inhabits the stone titan that sat buried under your keep, Caed Nua, for millennia. Ripping his way out of the ground, he destroys your stronghold and leaves you at the brink of death. To save your soul, you must track down the wayward god and demand answers - answers which could throw mortals and the gods themselves into chaos."
As for what players will do, Obsidian are building upon Pillars with NPCs wandering around and living their own lives, new companions as well as returning ones, dynamic weather, fancier lighting and shadows, multiclassing, and other newbits.
Obsidian seek $1.1 million on Fig to finish up Pillars 2, saying they've so far worked on cash made from the first game. Rewards for flicking pennies at their foreheads include a copy of the finished game, physical copies, feelies, creating an in-game inn, and so on, depending on how deep a dent you leave.
Fig is the games-focused crowdfunding site founded and supported by a load of games folk -- Obsidian CEO Feargus Urquhart himself sits on its 'advisory board' -- which also offers opportunities to actually financially invest in games. $2.25 million in equity is up for grabs in this Fig campaign.
If all goes well, Pillars of Eternity 2 is headed to Windows, Mac, and Linux. It looks like Obsidian are shooting for an early 2018 launch.