Beyond Divinity Interview

VGPro has conducted an interview with Larian Studios’ Joachim Timmermans and Lynn Vanbesien, in which the developers discuss the recently released Beyond Divinity. Check it out:

Q: What makes Beyond Divinity stand out from the rest of the RPG games out there?

A: We have a very extensive skill system where the player can create his own skills by boosting different properties of the generic skills. The player will also have a much larger list of skills available to choose from. To learn the different skills you have to find teachers. Teachers are NPC’s that enable a certain path in the skill system.

The player will also find books in the world that enable these paths for him. Once the path is enabled, the player can put skill points in the skill so he can use the skill. There are close to 300 skill possibilities. The Battlefields are another strong point in Beyond Divinity. They provide an alternate universe to which you can jump at any point in time. The Battlefields generate dungeons which you do not have to go through as a player, but which give you access to extra items & experience should you want it.

We basically balanced the game so that an experienced RPG player will find it quite a challenge if he doesn’t visit the Battlefields. We use the Battlefields as areas where players can earn extra experience should they find things a bit too difficult for them. The entry point of the battlefield is a small traders camp in a forest where you can find traders. The general idea of this is that you can always go to the camp to buy some special items or potions and perhaps if you want, train your character a bit further in the battlefields. You will also find quests in this camp.

When you leave the merchant area, get ready for some onslaught and random generated dungeons. These dungeons are unlocked if you find the right key to it in the “normal” game world. The battlefield and the dungeons are different for each act, and when you beat the whole game, there is a never-ending, always-changing Battlefield waiting for you…