Pillars of Eternity Introduces Turn-Based Mode Beta Starting Tomorrow

Pillars of Eternity Introduces Fan-requested Turn-based Mode in Upcoming Public Beta

Obsidian Entertainment has exciting news for fans of the classic cRPG Pillars of Eternity: a highly anticipated turn-based mode will be unveiled tomorrow. This new gameplay feature will be available as a public beta on platforms like Steam and the Xbox PC app, marking a significant addition to the game.

For those familiar with the title, Pillars of Eternity has traditionally operated on a real-time with pause (RTwP) combat system. In contrast, its sequel, Deadfire, had included a turn-based mode, which players had requested for the original game for some time. Now, Obsidian is set to fulfill that request, encouraging veterans and newcomers alike to revisit the game.

Game settings screen showing difficulty options with Normal selected and Turn-Based Mode with various gameplay checkboxes. — Explore an array of customizable settings within the new turn-based mode.

Insights from the Project Director

The announcement was made by Josh Sawyer, the project director known for his work on titles like Fallout: New Vegas and more recently, Pentiment. He addressed several past criticisms regarding the implementation of turn-based gameplay in Deadfire. Sawyer highlighted that:

“There were a number of very reasonable criticisms of how the turn-based mode was implemented in Deadfire. Nick Carver and Jesse Bureno are trying to address those as well as they can. One of the major changes is that the action economy is a lot more accurate to the real time with pause game. It’s not a 1:1 translation of time because we did try that. But it does match the spirit of what dexterity should do, what recovery time should do, everything like that. The number of turns you get to take per round is no longer tied to the round, but to your speed and recovery. That feels like it has much greater parity with the real time of pause mode. A lot of people commented that free actions felt abusable, which is true. That is now restricted and limited. That will feel like a significant change.”

Improved Combat Dynamics

Another concern raised about the turn-based implementation in Deadfire was its perceived sluggishness. To counter this, Pillars of Eternity will benefit from increased lethality, a feature now included by default rather than through mods as seen in its sequel. Additionally, players will have the flexibility to switch seamlessly between the two combat styles—real-time with pause and turn-based—enhancing the overall gameplay experience. Of course, as with any beta version, some bugs and issues are anticipated.

Reviving Interest in a Classic

While Pillars of Eternity may be a decade old, this newly added turn-based mode could entice both former and new players to explore its depths again. This resurgence of interest follows the successful launch of Avowed, another title set in the same universe, further reinvigorating the franchise’s fanbase.

In a previous discussion, Josh Sawyer expressed his ambition to develop Pillars of Eternity 3 with a budget comparable to that of Baldur’s Gate 3. Should that opportunity arise, he indicated a preference for a turn-based system, suggesting that the new mode may pave the way for more innovative designs in the future.