In a recent Q&A session for the highly anticipated MMORPG Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen, Creative Director Chris “Joppa” Perkins, alongside Ben Dean, delved into a series of updates and insights addressing fan queries. The session was an informative blend of technical details and future plans for the game.
Persistence Layer Overhaul and Stability Improvements
A significant focus was the completion of the new persistence layer, replacing legacy code and enhancing game stability. This pivotal upgrade marks a milestone in Pantheon’s development, ensuring a seamless gaming experience.
Bind Stones and Death Mechanics
The introduction of Bind Stones was highlighted, providing players with alternative binding mechanics for respawn points. Additionally, the team is tweaking the death penalty system, balancing risk and opportunity, particularly in near-death states.
Healer Classes and Self-Resurrection
An interesting revelation was the Shaman class’s unique ability to self-resurrect, distinguishing it from other healers. This feature adds depth to gameplay, offering strategic advantages in various situations.
Player Consent for Corpse Retrieval
Responding to community feedback, Pantheon will implement a command allowing players to consent to corpse retrieval by others, enhancing cooperative gameplay elements.
Non-Primary Stats Influence
The game will feature a “soft speccing” system, where non-primary stats influence certain abilities, providing layers of character customization and strategic itemization.
The Perception System and Lore Integration
The Perception System, a core differentiator for Pantheon, is progressing with its Discovery, Narrative, and Progression aspects. This system aims to deepen immersion and player engagement through interactive storytelling and environmental cues.
Zone Design and Level Progression
The team is reshaping zone designs to encourage exploration beyond linear progression. Players can expect a more organic flow between zones like Thronefast, with level ranges and itemization playing key roles in guiding player movement.
Capital Cities and Racial Starting Areas
While the feasibility of fully realized capital cities by launch remains uncertain due to resource constraints, the team is committed to preserving racial identity through starting areas and smaller cities.
Art Style Evolution and Performance Gains
Pantheon’s art style is evolving towards a hybrid of stylized and realistic aesthetics, significantly improving performance through reduced poly counts and texture sizes.
Content Expansion Plans
2024 is set to be a big year for Pantheon, with plans to introduce more player races, the remaining base roster classes (Summoner, Druid, Ranger), and potentially start work on Necromancer and Bard. The team is also aiming to add more zones, implement core game systems like traits, dispositions, climates, and events, and refine existing mechanics.