Pathfinder: Kingmaker is entirely real time (as in, like you suggest, events are on a schedule and you can't do them all in one run). I can't speak for the sequel as I haven't played it.

I personally found the mechanic infuriating (modded a workaround), but you may like it if you like crpgs.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 10 months ago (1 children)

You just made me realize why I stopped playing Pathfinder: Kingmaker. It would have events that said something like "come to this mountain top for the portal to open" and I'd end up missing it and being beyond frustrated. My brain has been programmed by years of video games to try to complete everything and not accept that some paths are closed off. It's also a reason I couldn't get into Disco Elysium. I felt like I had to try every dialogue option available, which isn't how those types of games are meant to be played.

I blame early Sierra and Lucas Arts adventure games.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I share your exact experience. I had the same frustration with Disco Elysium too, though I enjoyed the writing so much I ended up playing through regardless lol

Yes! Freakin' Secret of Monkey Island...

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

The new Monkey Island is definitely worth checking out if you haven't already!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

There's a new one?! Welp between this and Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous, I guess I'll be busy for a while.

Thanks for the heads up!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago

Yeah it's Return to Monkey Island, by the original creator of the first two. It plays very similar to the original.

Also, Sea of Thieves just came out with a Monkey Island crossover a few days ago. I haven't checked it out yet, but the trailer looks pretty cool: https://youtu.be/wB3iaRke20U?si=DJPxZ9RgloT8h_L6

[–] [email protected] 4 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Wrath of the righteous has less time constraints but definitely has some in there still. (People were not happy with how tight some of those were in kingmaker cuz they wanted to explore everything.)

First large battle happens after a few days and you’re basically dragged there the night before if you weren’t there. There are things you could have explored before that change things etc.

The best ending requires you to finish on an exact date.

Anyways this is to say definitely play WotR it is an amazing game. Much better than kingmaker.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Thanks for the WotR review, I'll definitely give it a try now. I was genuinely afraid to try it because of how time-focused Kingmaker was lol

Oddly enough I think the concept still holds water, but perhaps for action rpgs? The strategic aspect of crpgs just didn't mesh with timed events for me I guess

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago

I think it would work if designed better. (Which WotR is.) Kingmaker tried but it was also basically expected you do pretty much everything in order to be able to keep up. If you’re going to put in time constraints it’s gotta have A: choices that matter and lock people out of things and B: a much more relaxed XP curve so people don’t feel forced into doing ALL OF IT.

WotR had a section where each thing you looted lead to more soldiers being killed, which is a great example. Most of the game isn’t that urgent at all, but does lock you into choices that actually affect the entire story which is cool.