Divinity if I Start a Game Multiplayer Can I Continue It Single Player

OP veteran Joined: Jan 2014	Single player does not allow the second player the options to make a character. Whoever told you they can is wrong. I am not sure why the game is being nit picked apart so badly... Baldurs gate had a single player and a multiplayer options and no one freaked out over it. /headtodesk Ok, there seems to be some misconceptions about how this actually works. Maybe I'm just doing a poor job of explaining this. First of all, we are all familiar with the "Options > Multiplayer > Game Mode> Offline/Invite Only/Friends/Public" setting in the main menu, correct? Because this is going to be critical going forward through the rest of this post. When you choose "New Game > Singleplayer", regardless of what you have the above critical option set at, it toggles that option to "offline". You can, however, toggle it back to your preferred setting (ANY setting) even though you chose "Singleplayer". When you choose "New Game > Multiplayer" it toggles it to "friends"*. You can, however, toggle it back to your preferred setting (ANY setting) even though you chose "Multiplayer". * this is assuming you had it set to "offline" initially before creating a game. Now, if you're really interested in locking people out of your game until you've created characters, you can just.. 1) set your multiplayer option to "offline". 2) set your multiplayer option to "invite only", and then change it later to "friends" or "public", or invite them when you're ready. That is why the singleplayer/multiplayer choice after selecting "New Game" is redundant. It's also a little scary, because it changes your multiplayer setting without informing you. Why, for example, does choosing "new game > multiplayer" automatically assume you want your game to be open to everyone on your Steam's friends list instead of "invite only"? If you choose "multiplayer" thinking you're going to play with a specific friend, and then suddenly an entirely different friend pops into your game first, prepare to have an awkward conversation as you ask them to leave and make room for someone else. Why create that confusion for new (and apparently not so new) players? Just let the multiplayer setting in the option menu do its job based on what the player sets it at, and just have the "New Game" button take you straight to character creation (while also removing the behind-the-scenes switching of your carefully selected setting in the process).

Support
Support Joined: Mar 2003	First of all, we are all familiar with the "Options > Multiplayer > Game Mode> Offline/Invite Only/Friends/Public" setting in the main menu, correct? No. Most people just play the game. Some go through the options beforehand, but many don't. Some people just check the options when they need to change something (controls or volume, etc) but otherwise just want to play, and a button to do what they want is much easier than a list of instructions on how to change settings to be able to do what they want.

veteran
OP veteran Joined: Jan 2014	First of all, we are all familiar with the "Options > Multiplayer > Game Mode> Offline/Invite Only/Friends/Public" setting in the main menu, correct? No. Most people just play the game. Some go through the options beforehand, but many don't. Some people just check the options when they need to change something (controls or volume, etc) but otherwise just want to play, and a button to do what they want is much easier than a list of instructions on how to change settings to be able to do what they want. Which, fortunately, is why we have a multiplayer options button sitting right on the UI next to the minimap, again making the "new game> singleplayer/multiplayer" choice pretty redundant. Personally, I would be surprised if most people did not head to options first to customize graphic settings and/or tweak keybinds before launching the game.

journeyman
journeyman Joined: Feb 2014	First of all, we are all familiar with the "Options > Multiplayer > Game Mode> Offline/Invite Only/Friends/Public" setting in the main menu, correct? No. Most people just play the game. Some go through the options beforehand, but many don't. Some people just check the options when they need to change something (controls or volume, etc) but otherwise just want to play, and a button to do what they want is much easier than a list of instructions on how to change settings to be able to do what they want. Which, fortunately, is why we have a multiplayer options button sitting right on the UI next to the minimap, again making the "new game> singleplayer/multiplayer" choice pretty redundant. Personally, I would be surprised if most people did not head to options first to customize graphic settings and/or tweak keybinds before launching the game. The issue seems to arise from the number of different pathways which can lead to the same end result. (I don't think I really explained the thinking behind my earlier question.) The first question when I start a game should be "Do I want a multiplayer game?" If the answer is NO, I should go straight to character creation, set up both characters, then begin playing. (If I change my mind later then either the software will let me make the necessary arrangements - I haven't actually tried multiplayer so I don't know for sure. If it doesn't allow this then that is my problem.) If the answer is YES, then the type of multiplayer needs to be set up with character creation arrangement (host player or both), then play can start. That way the option to have two people creating characters is only offered when it is relevant - for multiplayer games. Someone must have spiked her senna pod drink!

Support
Support Joined: Mar 2003	Which, fortunately, is why we have a multiplayer options button sitting right on the UI next to the minimap, again making the "new game> singleplayer/multiplayer" choice pretty redundant. You mean the little coloured diamond that could easily be assumed to be cosmetic, and you wouldn't necessarily know different if you didn't happen to run your mouse cursor over it? Actual feedback from the D:OS chat and Steam discussions, etc, has had many more people not knowing where the multiplayer options were, etc, than confusion about having 2 buttons. As much as it may surprise you, there have only been a coup1e questions about the difference between single and mutiplayer, but I should be saving the multiplayer settings description somewhere so I can copy and paste it.

veteran
OP veteran Joined: Jan 2014	Which, fortunately, is why we have a multiplayer options button sitting right on the UI next to the minimap, again making the "new game> singleplayer/multiplayer" choice pretty redundant. You mean the little coloured diamond that could easily be assumed to be cosmetic, and you wouldn't necessarily know different if you didn't happen to run your mouse cursor over it? Actual feedback from the D:OS chat and Steam discussions, etc, has had many more people not knowing where the multiplayer options were, etc, than confusion about having 2 buttons. Heh. You mean the not-so-little labeled box in the menu? It's the first thing that comes up when you select "Options". Come on, it's at the top of the list even. You have to actually go past it to look down to Video, Audio, Controls, etc. And, to be fair, this "New Game > singleplayer/multiplayer" choice has only been in the game for, what.. 2 or 3 patches now? I'm not really surprised to hear it hasn't generated much confusion this late in the testing with seasoned Divinity : OS testers (who, going by this thread, actually seem pretty confused about what it actually does). Just my perspective, though.

Joined: Apr 2013 Location: US addict
addict Joined: Apr 2013 Location: US	I have no idea how to explain this any more clear.... let me try caps.. SINGLE PLAYER = One person, You..the One running the game.. Makes BOTH of the characters. Only one person in character creation.. just ONE not TWO. MULTIPLAYER = Host and FRIEND in character creation. Each one making their OWN character. Two people in character creation.... I honestly hope that is clear enough. So now do you see why there is MULTIPLAYER, so each player can make a character from the start of the game. ._. am having a hard time trying to figure out how this confuses people.... *EDIT* Also you will only see the two "confusing" buttons once, or whenever you start a new game. Most of the time I would imagine people will be clicking Load. Last edited by Ellary; 30/05/14 02:08 AM.

Joined: Apr 2013 Location: US addict
addict Joined: Apr 2013 Location: US	I am not sure why the game is being nit picked apart so badly... Baldurs gate had a single player and a multiplayer options and no one freaked out over it. It is a proof of D:OS quality When we do not have any huge issues to complain about we start to nitpick. that made me giggle ^_^ ty and so true! Divinity is amazing <3

Support
Support Joined: Mar 2003	You mean the not-so-little labeled box in the menu? It's the first thing that comes up when you select "Options". If you select Options. Even if someone does change other options, the fact that they saw a multiplayer button in the options does not necessarily help when they want to try a co-op game the next day/week, and are wondering how to start a multiplayer game or invite someone to join. I'm not really surprised to hear it hasn't generated much confusion this late in the testing I'm talking about recent feedback, with new players. The fact that multiplayer options and the connection menu icon on the mini-map have been around much longer than the single/multiplayer buttons and are still causing more questions does not help your case. I'm going by frequency, not the total number of issues since implementation.

stranger
stranger Joined: May 2014	I think this topic is an important one but I sense it deteriorating. Please don't let it do so. Personally, my mind thinks more like Gyson's but the way Larian has it implemented currently (and the way Raze, Ellary, and others explain it) seems sensible enough to me. I think it will mostly likely work for a 1.0 release. And since there are so many other things to polish at this time, I would be happy with addressing this topic later after the devs have come back from spending time with their loved ones on a beach somewhere.

veteran
OP veteran Joined: Jan 2014	I have no idea how to explain this any more clear.... let me try caps.. Not necessary. From your response it seems you're still missing the point, but I'm not sure how else to explain it. SINGLE PLAYER = One person, You..the One running the game.. Makes BOTH of the characters. Only one person in character creation.. just ONE not TWO. ..except you can still invite another player to your game, despite choosing singleplayer at the "New Game" prompt. MULTIPLAYER = Host and FRIEND in character creation. Each one making their OWN character. Two people in character creation.... ..except you can continue to play singleplayer, despite choosing multiplayer at the "New Game" prompt. The mode you choose when you create a new game *does not matter*. All it does is alter your current multiplayer setting in the Options > Multiplayer menu, which you can then turn around and alter again regardless of the game mode you chose when creating a new game. It is not a permanent choice, but to a new player (and I guess you?) it certainly seems like it might be one. Which.. is not a great thing. At this point, if you don't get it, you don't get it. (shrug)

Joined: Apr 2013 Location: US addict
addict Joined: Apr 2013 Location: US	I have no idea how to explain this any more clear.... let me try caps.. Not necessary. From your response it seems you're still missing the point, but I'm not sure how else to explain it. SINGLE PLAYER = One person, You..the One running the game.. Makes BOTH of the characters. Only one person in character creation.. just ONE not TWO. ..except you can still invite another player to your game, despite choosing singleplayer at the "New Game" prompt. MULTIPLAYER = Host and FRIEND in character creation. Each one making their OWN character. Two people in character creation.... ..except you can continue to play singleplayer, despite choosing multiplayer at the "New Game" prompt. The mode you choose when you create a new game *does not matter*. All it does is alter your current multiplayer setting in the Options > Multiplayer menu, which you can then turn around and alter again regardless of the game mode you chose when creating a new game. It is not a permanent choice, but to a new player (and I guess you?) it certainly seems like it might be one. Which.. is not a great thing. At this point, if you don't get it, you don't get it. (shrug) What are you not understanding? which part do I need to explain on more? Yes in single player you can invite someone *** BUT *** they take control of a character *** YOU *** made. They do not get to make a character. Yes a multiplayer game can be continued Single player *** BUT *** it has the character the other player made so they can rejoin and play their character at a later time. See now? one mode allows a friend to make a character, the other does not. The only way my friend was able to make a character when we played together from the start.... *EDIT* ._. I feel horrible for Larian, I have never come across so many people who rip a game apart for the oddest reasons.. Last edited by Ellary; 30/05/14 05:51 AM.

veteran
OP veteran Joined: Jan 2014	Larian isn't done implementing network stuff, so just starting a game with different network options may not be the only reason there are singleplayer and multiplayer buttons. That would actually be worse. If the setting actually becomes important.. if there is a permanent change to the game based on a decision made at the point of beginning a new game.. then you really are going to have new players making critical mistakes and/or running to the forum asking for clarification before ever playing the game. Since multiplayer will always be drop-in/drop-out, if singleplayer were to ever truly lock you into a "permanently singleplayer" game, anyone would be a fool to ever choose it. To choose singleplayer at that point would be to basically say "I can see the future and know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I will *never* want to temporarily make this game co-op, ever, even temporarily. Not for any reason. At all. So sayeth my magic 8-ball.". Only a fool would do that when the multiplayer choice would always provide them with the ongoing option to play alone or with friends. The multiplayer option IS singleplayer. It is also multiplayer. It is both modes and always will be because co-op is designed to be drop-in/drop-out. There is no such thing as a multiplayer game that can not be played singleplayer. And there is also no such thing as a singleplayer game that can not be played multiplayer. And that's why the option is redundant, and also why making the choice meaningful would actually backfire and make the singleplayer setting a foolish trap.

veteran
OP veteran Joined: Jan 2014	What are you not understanding? Honestly? I'm not understanding how you're not understanding my comments. I'm also not understanding how (to you) this is "ripping the game apart". This is just feedback. Running around shouting "no problems, no problems, it's all absolutely perfect" doesn't do anyone any good (and is actually harmful for development during the alpha/beta phase).

enthusiast
enthusiast Joined: Oct 2013	Why create that confusion for new (and apparently not so new) players? Just let the multiplayer setting in the option menu do its job based on what the player sets it at, and just have the "New Game" button take you straight to character creation (while also removing the behind-the-scenes switching of your carefully selected setting in the process). The option you mention should not even be in the options before you start a game.. it should be an option when starting a new game, as you say. "New Game" and we should be asked whether SP or MP (and if MP, with what settings) Does this mean a game started as Singleplayer / Offline can be turned into a MP game in-game? That'd be a HUGE scripting issue if campaign creators can not disable this. Singleplayer needs to be a permanent setting or it needs to be something campaign creators can enforce on their campaigns with variables. (Same for MP) Because scripts for a purely offline campaign and a "possible players drop in/out all the time" campaign are VASTLY different. ... This isn't just a question of confusing players or taste. There are far reaching implications when a SP started campaign can not be trusted to always be SP Last edited by eRe4s3r; 30/05/14 06:08 AM.

veteran
OP veteran Joined: Jan 2014	Does this mean a game started as Singleplayer / Offline can be turned into a MP game in-game? In Divinity : OS? Yes, because there is no singleplayer/multiplayer mode. There is only drop-in/drop-out, and whether you as the player are actively allowing it or not at any given moment. The only thing that singleplayer/multiplayer prompt seems to do is toggle your Options > Multiplayer setting between "offline" and "invite only/friends/public". If the setting is set to "offline" and you choose New Game > Multiplayer, it switches it to "friends". If it's on any other setting and you choose New Game > Singleplayer, it switches it to "offline". However, you can switch it back to whatever you want by simply visiting the options menu or using the gem at the top of your minimap. Last edited by Gyson; 30/05/14 06:11 AM.

Joined: Apr 2013 Location: US addict
addict Joined: Apr 2013 Location: US	Gyson seriously..do you understand marketing? getting sales going? It is safe to include both options so all ranges of gamers know what they do. I have pointed it out twice now the difference between the two.. and you choose to ignore it. What happens if someone is not connected to the internet? The way you want it they would be screwed..plain and simple. What I am reading is you just want it to be the multiplayer button and thats it. I have typed it twice~ Singler player is one player only making the characters, guess what? Some players will be playing alone the entire game.. they bought it so they can play their way. Just because you think it makes them a "fool" does not mean you are right~ everyone plays their own way. While you assume I cannot grasp your level of intelligence~ I regret to inform you I do understand what you type. To an experienced gamer one button would work for both (but then they have to make it multifunctional to detect if the player is connected to the internet or if another player is in the lobby area to make a character also). To a new gamer it could get confusing...

enthusiast
enthusiast Joined: Oct 2013	Does this mean a game started as Singleplayer / Offline can be turned into a MP game in-game? In Divinity : OS? Yes, because there is no singleplayer/multiplayer mode. There is only drop-in/drop-out, and whether you as the player are actively allowing it or not at any given moment. In that case that is a massive bug then. ;/ At least when I make a campaign for this, I want to be able to define whether it's SP or MP/COOP and enforce it.

Joined: Apr 2013 Location: US addict
addict Joined: Apr 2013 Location: US	What are you not understanding? Honestly? I'm not understanding how you're not understanding my comments. I'm also not understanding how (to you) this is "ripping the game apart". This is just feedback. Running around shouting "no problems, no problems, it's all absolutely perfect" doesn't do anyone any good (and is actually harmful for development during the alpha/beta phase). Sorry I forgot we are supposed to be nitpicking and trying to mold the game to our own personal needs right now. Thanks for reminding me!.....yeah no.. all my friends will back this up.. I am extremely critical about games I play. Divinity Original Sin just stuck. Early phases I was kinda meh..but as it has progressed I truly love it.

gilkeyhinfore.blogspot.com

Source: https://forums.larian.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=497140&page=2

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