tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314700683809474351.post3125645089498993305..comments2018-05-07T14:35:03.585-05:00Comments on Pathologistics: The Pathologic Dialogues - Part IAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11961318385141981097noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314700683809474351.post-64110976466635650972012-02-15T17:51:51.235-06:002012-02-15T17:51:51.235-06:00"The final scene with the Devotress says that..."The final scene with the Devotress says that Artemiy is given a hint that he might be able to use to win, but that he likely won't take it; any thoughts on what that might be?"<br /><br />On Day 11, when the Haruspicus has his final test with the Elder of the Abattoir, the Devotress offers her help. As you know, I turned her down and missed out on what was down that hole in the Abattoir. According to the walkthrough, the Haruspicus is killed by his descent, but the Devotress sacrifices the life of one of her Adherents to bring him back. Apparently, her miracle at the Cathedral involves something similar, though of course I didn't realize that until after I finished the game.<br /><br />In my defense, the Devotress is built up throughout the Haruspicus's scenario as creepy, unreliable, and dangerous. By Day 11 there was no way I wanted to have anything to do with her.kevinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09791884010747001360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314700683809474351.post-44170168907515522932012-02-13T01:30:29.016-06:002012-02-13T01:30:29.016-06:00Your thoughts are always really interesting, Rory....Your thoughts are always really interesting, Rory. I've got some conclusions I've drawn about the ending which I'll be sharing in the dialogue--which should be up within the next week, if Kevin and I are prompt. I will say that I don't believe letting the Kains take the town is the intended Bachelor's ending--but I'll back that up more in the dialogue. <br /><br />I haven't read Homo Ludens, though I can't speak for Kevin. I'll have to check it out.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11961318385141981097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314700683809474351.post-34408112994578771092012-02-10T13:31:37.708-06:002012-02-10T13:31:37.708-06:00Also, I'm wondering if either of you two have ...Also, I'm wondering if either of you two have read the book Homo Ludens, by Johan Huizenga. It's a classic in the field of play theory, and many of its ideas are similar to ones Pathologic incorporates into its gameplay. I feel like if I'd read it before playing, I might have figured out the ending in advance.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7314700683809474351.post-62668726565984003232012-02-10T13:29:47.461-06:002012-02-10T13:29:47.461-06:00Is there going to be a part II? I was waiting to c...Is there going to be a part II? I was waiting to comment until there was more to read. But, regarding this:<br /><br />"Even the much-vaunted final dilemma at the Cathedral felt like more of a choice between abstractions than a genuine moral quandary. Where were the consequences? Where were the situations that forced me to pick the lesser of two evils?"<br /><br />The game doesn't really deal with moral quandaries, except for your own voluntary choices as the player (killing civilians and children), and even then the quandaries only exist to make you reflect upon the deeper game. Each abstracted level of gameplay tends to push you up to the next one: trying to survive forces you to understand the town's ecosystem, trying to live within the town influences the way you feel about how it behaves. <br /><br />Conversations with characters becomes a game as you try and figure out how to make them reveal things you didn't already know, but of course those revelations don't change the game's course either. All they're giving you is a tool to help you understand a little bit more about how the town works, and you want to know that because understanding the nature of the town is what'll ultimately determine your final choice at the cathedral. That cathedral choice is yet another gameplay test: it's not meant to shock you, it's just meant to see what you think about right decisions. Since Josiah did ultimately reflect on his own behavior and pick the non-intended Bachelor ending, there was clearly some reflection on the final choice.<br /><br />I think the intention is for the player to pick the Devotress ending on their first playthrough, if they've unlocked it. That ending is meant to be the catalyst that reveals who the game's "real" winner is, so that you pick the Devotress and play through again and figure out, hypothetically, what the correct answer is, and why you pick it, and then you get the final ending regardless of if you've saved all the Adherents. (I'm annoyed that saving the Adherents gets you that ending cut scene; on my Bachelor playthrough it meant practically nothing to me and I was bothered by its glibness, but it mattered SO much more on the Devotress run.)<br /><br />It's so frustrating getting to the last day and having the Devotress show up and go, "Hey I figured it all out! We can save everybody! But I can't tell you how because it's a secret!" And then you pick her and you get soft, tinkly music and bright skies and every single person is still alive and it's like, what the hell? Did I just get told that I lost the game?"<br /><br />The nature of the Devotress decision leads to a much greater moral quandary than the Bachelor's, I think; and because I didn't play as the Haruspicus I don't know what his quandary is supposed to be. The final scene with the Devotress says that Artemiy is given a hint that he might be able to use to win, but that he likely won't take it; any thoughts on what that might be?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com