He does still run a company, and he has to be aware of risks, costs and production cycles. I can see that, but I wouldn't call it so much publisher as producer. The most ironic, however, is the overturning RPG tropes, which (by definition) would require this 'Torment' game to overturn the tropes that itself has established. Heavy reactivity is something we all want in all of our games.

I don't think that Torment would require an unconventional setting (I consider that one a reach), I am pretty sure that the games like Baldur's Gate, and heck even Fallout, have memorable companions. Even if you take ALL those settings together. One of those things (emphasis mine) is something that I would consider to be 'uniquely torment' and even then, I don't really consider it something that must be unique. Things like deep, well written characters are what I prefer in almost all my CRPGs.Ī reminder of what Fargo feels is a torment game: 'overturning RPG tropes a fantastic, unconventional setting memorable companions deep thematic exploration of the human condition heavy reactivity (i.e., choice and consequences) an intensely personal (rather than epic) story.' We can disagree all day whether or not other games had the 'themes' that Fargo detailed for what makes a game a 'Torment' game. It's just not memorable because it's not very good, especially compared to the rest of the game. So? Then be a pioneer and show that an RPG need not be called 'Torment' in order to have deep, well written characters and great writing. Yet no other RPG had them.(except perhaps MotB) Even the other IE games (BG and IWD), Fallouts, Arcanum etc fall way short because they had other priorities.

Torment tides of numenera forum