Pillars of Eternity, the classic party-based real-time tactical RPG from Obsidian Entertainment, is getting a massive overhaul. After nearly a decade since its 2015 launch, the game is introducing a highly anticipated turn-based combat mode, and players will have the chance to experience it very soon.
Obsidian has officially announced that the public beta for this new turn-based mode will kick off on November 5. This significant update draws inspiration from the combat system seen in the game’s sequel, Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire. A special announcement trailer has also been released, showcasing the new mode in action.
According to Obsidian, the following improvements were made after gathering fan feedback:
- Unbound Turns: Combat turns are now dynamically influenced by a character’s overall speed, enhancing the strategic depth of existing ‘Real-Time with Pause’ attributes and mechanics.
- Smarter Free Actions: Common actions like swapping weapons, consuming potions, or activating character modals are now designated as free actions. To maintain game balance, each type of free action is limited to one per turn.
- Faster Pacing: Battles will feel more intense and impactful due to a significant increase in combat lethality for both enemies and player characters.
- Flexible Modes: Players can now select the Turn-Based Mode when starting a new game or seamlessly switch between ‘Real-Time with Pause’ and Turn-Based Mode directly within the game options. The developers are also exploring the possibility of a direct HUD toggle for even greater convenience.
Players have full autonomy to decide how they want to engage with the game’s combat, with the option to swap between real-time and turn-based at any point. While the beta test currently has no set end date, Obsidian plans to release further updates as they prepare to integrate the turn-based mode as a permanent fixture in the game.
Looking ahead, Josh Sawyer, director of both Pillars of Eternity titles, hinted that a potential Pillars of Eternity 3 might adopt a 3D perspective, inspired by successful titles like Baldur’s Gate 3, moving away from its traditional isometric view. Additionally, Obsidian recently launched Avowed, an action-RPG set within the same rich universe as the Pillars of Eternity games.