The Gamer Studio has released a new interview with Spiderweb Software's Jeff Vogel about the company's upcoming new RPG title. The as of yet unnamed game will kick off a new series and will mark a departure from Vogel's popular Avernum and Geneforge series. The new game will retain a turn-based, party focused, fantasy role playing format with an all new world and history to explore.

Could you give us a brief summary of the storyline?
The known world is divided into the Pact and the Farlands. The Pact is an alliance of five nations, who have banded together to keep the barbarians and monsters of the Farlands at bay. You are one of the elite warriors of the Pact, given almost limitless authority to hunt enemies inside and out. You get all the best weapons and powerful magic, all the cool toys, but the responsibility and danger are both considerable. And you have a very difficult boss to please. That's where we're at so far.

What was the inspiration behind it?
Believe it or not, a Hungarian opera called Bluebeard's Castle.

What elements have you transfered over from your other games?
It will be a party-based role-playing game with turn-based combat, like we have always done. However, we have completely streamlined the game system in some ways and made it more elaborate in others, like the tactical combat. The basic genre is the same, but everything else is being redesigned.

Should we be expecting a graphical overhaul or are you re-using the assets you already have?
All graphics are being redone. The icons will all be larger and more detailed. Some of the models will be the same, but they're being rerendered at a larger size. It will be the nicest looking game we've ever written.

The Gamer Studio: Jeff Vogel Interview

Spiderweb Software

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