Today, Obsidian Entertainment released a turn-based mode for the original Pillars of Eternity out of beta.
This major update comes over a decade after the game’s initial launch, allowing players to experience the entire story with a tactical combat system similar to its sequel, Deadfire. The mode isn’t just a direct port from the sequel, as it also includes several refinements based on community feedback during the beta period.
Turns are now influenced by character speed, combat pacing has been adjusted for increased lethality, and certain actions – swapping weapons, drinking potions, or enabling modals – are now classified as free actions with per-turn limits. Players can select Turn-Based Mode when starting a game or between it and the original “Real-Time with Pause” (RTwP) system via the options menu.
To keep the tactical pace from feeling too slow, combat lethality has been increased for both players and enemies, resulting in faster, more impactful encounters.
Along with the new mode, plenty of quality-of-life updates are coming with the decade-later patch, all of which you can see listed here.
Originally released in 2015, Pillars of Eternity players assume the role of a Watcher. These unique individuals can see and interact with the souls of people, viewing the memories of the deceased or communing with those who linger – operating on role-playing mechanics that include party-based, real-time-with-pause tactical gameplay.
It was a considerable success upon release, selling over 700,000 units in a year’s time and prompting another successful sequel in 2018.
Pillars of Eternity Turn-Based Mode is now live on Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG, and the Xbox PC App. For more information on this and other RPG titles, be sure to check back to Simulation Daily for updates.
