Question About the (Proposed) 'Platinum Edition' of Book I!

[IJBall]

There was this whole plan to release an add-on to Book 1, but [due] to some limitations in the way the game's framework was designed we didn't do it. The add-on was going to take players to Ash Island, and allow access to several more of the vaults.

We've mentioned in another thread the possibility of re-releasing Book 1 a few years from now, after the trilogy is wrapped up. This would be a "Platinum Edition" re-release and would include this additional content already integrated into the game.

Would this be a 'Platinum Edition' of Book I, re-created using (basically) Book III's engine?

If so, that would be hecka cool. (Higher resolution!!)

Follow-on question: Would this 'Platinum Edition' also allow access to Western Thearmore (the part that's across the river from Blackwater, and across the lake from Vela)?! You know, the other part of Thaermore besides Ash Island that we never get to go to...
He he he.

[BasiliskWrangler]

Right now the Platinum Edition of Book I is merely in the "let's toss some ideas around" stage. The three things that I personally want to get in it are:

1) The missing add-on content that never showed up for Book I (this would be an extended quest to Ash Island, and the true contents of a few more of the repository vaults).

2) Some updated dialog and in-game text, as well as some late-game balancing changes.

3) Any lingering bugs that are still present in the game as of version 1.05.

I am open to suggestions for other enhancements.

As for using Book II's engine for Book I: well, it would be a HUGE task to do this. I wouldn't use the word impossible, but it would be a major undertaking. At this time I don't think this would be a priority.

[AK_Marty]

I seem to recall two portcullis in the lighthouse complex that we were not able to open. I wonder what's behind those? They are right there on the way to the row boat.

[King_ov_Death]

Perhaps the player will be able to somehow get through the "never intended to be opened" gate at Darkford this time and wander around Bastion Spire's lower levels.

Also, I'd like to be able to access those "Barrens of Crakamir".

[IJBall]

Also, I'd like to be able to access those "Barrens of Crakamir".

I think this is akin to Book II's Northern Expanse issue (see BW - here); BW's specific quote is:

*Note that the arctic region (the Northland Expanse) is actually HUGE, but not all of it will be mapped and explorable. I don't think that too many players would enjoy crossing 30 screens of white-out blizzard conditions where not a single living thing exists...

IOW, I think the rest of Crakamir would be 10-12 screens of scorching hot desert with not a single living thing in it.

That's why, besides Ash Island, I'd rather get over to Western Thaermore, where there's about 4-6 screens (by my rough count) of forest (and grassland?) to go exploring!

[dare49devil]

-I kinda just wanna get on that damn boat by the lighthouse...

[CrazyBernie]

Well, BW did say that there wouldn't be any revisiting of Thaermore in Book II, but that doesn't completely rule out Book III... I think he made mention of possibly including it in the final game.

It'd be cool if in finishing Book III that it opens up the whole continent to explore.