Preferred party size in Wasteland 2 [poll added]

[Cold Zer0]

In my opinion, the game should be targeted to a squad of 4 (plus recruits), but you shouldn't be required to create that many if you don't want to. I don't think there should be any scaling or balancing done for smaller squads, though - if you have less than a full squad, the game should be harder, potentially drastically so. (Charging into the hideout? There will be the same number of opponents you face. Puzzle designed for 4 Rangers and you have 1? Either pick up some recruits (at least temporarily), avoid if (if you can), or get creative.)

Yup, pretty much what I've suggested already. I see this as the best option. Though, about creating 4 characters: Alternative of course should be to select (up to) 4 pre-defined characters from the available ranger pool, in case someone cannot bother with creating their own characters.

Agreed and if the setting allows, mainly the time that passed since W1, I would like to see a son of Snake Vargas join you on your adventures

[eastc]

I'd like up to 6 created + (2 npc's or more). That's just me and in reality probably forget who's who after a bit.

If the NPCs will be interesting (BG style) I'd like to have more. If the NPCs will be just charactersheets then I'd rather make my own (Icewind Dale).

I was also rather fond of the mechanic in Dragon Age where you had everyone with you "all the time" but you had to pick who you were adventuring with at the time. Something similar might be nice depending on how complex you were planning on making the NPCs.

Also, the concern of making the game difficult if players want to solo is probably unfounded. Players who choose to solo non-solo games tend to want that challenge. So long as it's not unfinishable.

[f1play-ru]

I'd like solo. It's postnuclear. No one trust anyone.

[Merphans Sprocket]

I think that there should be opportunity to play only for ONE character. It helps to player to concentrate on his own caracter, not on characters whom are not interesting him.

[TheRabbitsGeorge]

The original Wasteland allows you to create a party of four, but you can trek out with only 1 person if you like. Makes the game much harder, but if I recall it is possible to complete.

If they tackle character creation in a similar way in Wasteland 2 there's nothing saying you can't also focus on 1 character.

[Proton Axeman]

Nah, you actually needed at least four characters for the endgame (and two for certain earlier parts).

[Azriel]

The original Wasteland allows you to create a party of four, but you can trek out with only 1 person if you like. Makes the game much harder, but if I recall it is possible to complete.

If they tackle character creation in a similar way in Wasteland 2 there's nothing saying you can't also focus on 1 character.

I know the original was to control 4, but I do like the idea of having the option to play one mad max like character running around on his own and to make the experience more personal. As for the four characters, there definitely needs to be a leader character that you can choose to do all the talking, dialog, interaction. Again, to make it more personal and less chaotic trying to keep strait managing four characters.

[Cruxador]

It would be nice to have the option but I don't think inXile should focus to heavily on balancing for it.

[Gigabiggle]

I put down Solo Character Creation with up to 6 recruits(or whatever it was).

Personally, I prefer the idea of creating one singular character that I identify with as being "me" in the game world, and would pick up some (colourful) teammates along the way.

Plus, the idea of setting out into a post nuclear wasteland alone was always more appealing to me than the idea of going out with people by my side. Truth be told though, I never played Wasteland because I was too young when it came out, so I really have no experience with the original game. I was only ever a Fallout 1-2 junkie, which obviously was a Solo type game.

[dmazz]

I too am a Fallout 1-2 fan, Wasteland was before my time. And loved the feeling of solitude and vulnerability that existed early in that game. Making friends and picking up colorful teammates was great.

Starting out with players with no history, who are strangers to you goes against this feeling of solitude and vulnerability alot of Fallout fans cherish.

So the game should be designed to be played with one character (so making skills like sneaking, traps, explosives more usable) not including one dog. But allow say up to 5 team mates to be recruited. I would prefer 3 though as more team mates slows down combat.

[mmx]

Why must we set limits for party group? It's very clear, if you're solo you get more experience, if you're in a group the EXP is divided. This will give, the so desired freedom to play the game they way YOU like it.

[mrthotep]

I feel that a big portion of the feeling of Wasteland was about being part of the Desert Rangers, and not being, e.g. the Lone Wanderer. You are part of a faction, and a team. And the team makes solving problems possible - no one person can do anything. You have someone who is good at medicine, someone who is good at blowing things up, and everything else. This of course also points to some opinions of mine on how the skill system should work.

I really dug the ability to split the party up too, as both a way to accomplish sub goals, and also to do things like send 2 man Proton Ax wielding Power Amor wearing teams into the spawning pit area of Project Darwin to reap XP and get everyone high ranks!

[dnr]

don't see any reason to change the original format from wasteland. besides if you really like an npc you can always delete one of your own crew.

[Remachinate]

I feel that for a game that values moral choices and their consequences so highly, a single avatar for the player that is responsible for those decisions is required. It seems strange to control up to 4 characters that would be of one mind when it came to each choice encountered in game. NPCs, by contrast, have their own programmed personalities that would react to each decision according to their value system. I understand some may want to create multiple characters and roleplay those inter-party conflicts regarding moral choices, but then at least allow one to be designated "leader" to represent the player, to give more direct agency to his decisions.

Edit: To clarify the above, let me say that a large party does appeal to me, for the tactical combat and variety it creates. I'm just saying most of the party should come from NPCs. Maybe at the start of the game create your character, and then select from a pool of NPC rangers, with a variety of skills and personalities, to join you at the start? This group of course could then be supplemented by NPCs met throughout the world.

[Celtic927]

Not to sound like a purist, But I thought the 4 Creatables and 3 NPCs = 7 total was a perfect system. Why tweak it.

[Jack4L]

I like being able to create my own characters, but I love well written NPCs that become characters. Having both to a max total party size of 4-6 would be ideal. If you just want to control stats, make 6 custom characters, if you want to carry around a bunch of stories- recruit 6 NPCs.

I do however think that the amount of characters in your party should be controlled somehow. Kind of like in Jagged alliance 2, sometimes you just went with 2 characters because that was all you could afford or needed.

[geezer]

I voted for 1-4 + 0-2 and that would be okay, but I think an even more flexible system would be better. A total of up to 6 characters with any combination of recruitable NPCs and rolled characters. It enhances replayability at the cost of making encounter design more challenging. If the encounter design gets too difficult you can restrict the flexibility somewhat but I think greater choice in the makeup of your party leads to better replayability.

[nmrahde]

I voted 4/2 but I really think it matters on just how big the pool of recruits is, AND what happens when they aren't with you.

I kinda like the idea of setting up my own Ranger outpost. Similar to FO: New Vegas where you could send everybody to the hotel. Heck I did that back with FO2 and sent the extras to the basement of the weapon shop in New Reno (nice central location, along with Algernon to upgrade weapons...).

So maybe just one custom character, the rest NPCs, with the ability to recruit and build up my own Ranger station.

[Burt Gummer]

I would like to create one character (me) and be able to recruit enough NPCs so that I could have whatever will be the "full party size".
Recruited party member should have banter among each other and dialogues with my char. (So, I want the Bioware approach to a party)

If people don't like pregenerated chars they should be able to create as many party members as they want.

I want the Baldur's Gate system. You could do whatever you wanted there. Create one char - no problem; create the whole party - no problem either.

[Crisco]

I voted "Up to four player-created characters, with a cap of 2 or so on extra recruits"

I'd really like to see a total party size of 7, with up to 4 player created characters. Or party size of 8 would be pretty great.

Addressing the idea of a solo play. Sure, feel free to play with just one Ranger, but don't scale the difficulty. In one of many plays of the original game, I ran a character solo until I cloned him 6 times. Made for a fun RP story in my head.

People keep mentioning getting more experience as a solo player. If I remember correctly in the original game it wasn't party based experience anyway. Experience was based on who actually got the kills. At least for the Apple version is was. I wouldn't mind this at all.