Obsidian Director Champions Inclusive RPG Design for Every Playstyle

As a result, Sawyer finds success until the next challenge demands a fresh approach. He also discussed his annoyance when he encountered a game offering nothing substantial for him to tinker with or optimize. Ultimately, he highlighted the ongoing challenge for RPG designers aiming to satisfy diverse player appetites, revealing developers’ struggles in finding a delicate balance between challenge, optimization, and progression.

Sawyer argued that thoughtful systems design was fundamentally achievable by supporting both deep mechanical complexity and accessible playstyles. In his mind, developers building RPG systems capable of rich, crunchy interactions and reactive gameplay elements should be able to make these same systems inherently possess the flexibility to scale or simplify effectively. That said, why couldn’t robust frameworks designed for depth also gracefully accommodate players seeking a smoother experience?

Accessible RPGs Needn’t Sacrifice Crunchy Depth

Sawyer acknowledged that a development effort was required to implement such scalable systems. However, he firmly believed the workload was significantly less daunting than often assumed, especially if designers prioritized this flexibility from the project’s outset. As a practical example, he pointed to his own game, Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire, to argue his point. For players seeking a game that tested their skills, the punishing ‘The Ultimate’ challenge demonstrated serious commitment to crunchy, tactical depth.

Indeed, the mode was considered so challenging that Obsidian even offered a handwritten letter to the first 50 players who conquered it, of which only 15 players ever succeeded. In contrast, the game’s ‘Story Time’ mode provides the easiest game setting, drastically reducing combat difficulty to near invincibility. Ultimately, playing this game mode allowed players to focus purely on narrative and exploration. Consequently, Sawyer emphasized that different player preferences in well-designed RPGs could be catered to simultaneously.

Although Sawyer isn’t an absolute tuning expert in his own words, he passionately advocated for developers to actively create space for both intense, optimization-heavy tactical combat and relaxed, story-focused playthroughs. With his core message championing inclusivity, he pushed for more games that supported both “sweaty boys” craving a meticulous challenge and welcoming players who simply wanted to “cruise through” and enjoy the sights and story – as it isn’t only possible but essential.