Josh Sawyer Explains Why Some RPG Players Resist Games That Limit Their Power

Players of role-playing games are often conditioned to believe they are uniquely powerful within game worlds, a mindset that can lead to dissatisfaction when titles present insurmountable obstacles, according to Josh Sawyer, director of Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire. Sawyer reflected on player reactions to Deadfire's ending, where the protagonist is ultimately unable to stop the reawakened god Eothas from enacting his plans.

Sawyer noted that while players are informed they cannot stop Eothas and that he is beyond their ability to physically affect, many RPG players expect to overcome any challenge. "Players are very conditioned by a lot of RPGs to expect, like 'Yeah, but I'm built different'," Sawyer explained in a recent interview. He elaborated that in Deadfire, players can mitigate damage and make significant decisions with far-reaching consequences, but direct opposition to Eothas's godlike power is impossible.

This narrative choice was intended to challenge the notion of the protagonist being able to do anything. Sawyer also aimed to reflect the nature of gods within the Pillars of Eternity universe, characterizing them as selfish and manipulative figures who often exploit mortals. "Well, [Eothas] does it to you too!" Sawyer stated, emphasizing that even powerful mortals are ultimately subject to divine will.

The team's intention was not to frustrate players but to explore themes of power and its limitations. "You shoot lasers out of your eyes and you're bulletproof, but mass starvation is not a thing you can punch your way out of," Sawyer said. He highlighted that many real-world problems, even in fantastical settings, are fundamentally human issues that are beyond individual heroic intervention.

While this approach led to disappointment for some players regarding the game's conclusion, Sawyer considers it a defining element that contributed to his appreciation of Deadfire. The game's exploration of these themes of powerlessness and divine indifference, he suggested, makes it a compelling experience.```jsonjson{