Warren Spector’s New Dishonored-Looking Multiplayer Game Emulates Playing D&D

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As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of experience under my belt, I find myself drawn to the intriguing world of Thick As Thieves by Otherside Entertainment. The game’s immersive sim genre, reminiscent of classics like Thief and Dishonored, is right up my alley. However, the multiplayer aspect adds a new layer of complexity that I’m both excited and terrified about.

OtherSide Entertainment’s upcoming game offers a unique multiplayer experience, blending elements of Player vs Player vs Environment (PvPvE) games, reminiscent of the stealth and action found in games like Thief or Dishonored. Known as Thick As Thieves, this immersive sim made its first appearance during The Game Awards, revealing glimpses of the intense competitive heist gameplay and showcasing the four distinct playable characters.

In the game “Thick as Thieves,” you assume the role of one out of four unique characters, each possessing distinct playstyles and personal stories. Your band of thieves embarks on heists in a metropolis that exists within an alternate timeline of early modern northern UK, where technology and magic intertwine. Various factions govern different sections of the city, and you get to choose which faction your thief supports, even though it’s a multiplayer game. Remarkably, Thick as Thieves maintains a dynamic narrative that reacts to your decisions, creating a vivid world that feels alive.

David McDonough, lead designer, stated during a preview event before The Game Awards that each mission in the game Thick As Thieves will be unique. Warren Spector, co-founder of Otherside, explained that Thick As Thieves aims to mimic the experience of playing Dungeons & Dragons (D&D). Unlike other games like Dishonored or Deus Ex where players tend to approach problems with careful precision, Thick As Thieves encourages rapid decision-making and planning.

To provide a brief update, Otherside Entertainment had been developing a Dungeons & Dragons game (Underworld Ascendant) before Wizards of the Coast decided to cancel it in January 2023. However, Spector didn’t disclose whether the inspirations for Thick As Thieves were drawn from that particular project.

Spector stated at the preview event that this isn’t a game you complete like a traditional one. Instead, it mirrors the continuous nature of a Dungeons & Dragons campaign. While there are elements of combat and takedowns in the game, Thick As Thieves is fundamentally not focused on fighting. In contrast to D&D, which has a strong emphasis on warfare, this game prioritizes stealth and evasion.

At the sneak peek event, journalists got a first look at Thick As Thieves in action, featuring a mission that spanned almost from beginning to end. The gameplay’s blend of technology and sorcery appears remarkably similar to Dishonored, and the stealthy chase among multiple players competing for the same objective mirrors the tension of Deathloop during a Julianna invasion or Hood: Outlaws & Legends. Throughout the mission, we trailed a burglar trying to swipe an artifact from a mansion. Their initial attempts to break in through the roof encountered resistance from another player, causing them to switch tactics and head into the sewers instead. They set up a trap along the way to ambush a third player pursuing them.

Upon entering the mansion, I observed the burglar perform actions reminiscent of gameplay in intricate simulations such as Dishonored or Prey. He located the safe, found it locked, deciphered the combination using environmental cues and avoiding guards, gained entry to the safe, and swiftly departed. However, he also took additional measures to mislead other players: he relocked the safe after it had been opened to give the impression that the prize was untouched, and he thoroughly checked behind desks and even climbed up into the rafters to ensure no one was hiding there. Once the loot was secured, the thief made a hasty escape – a moment eagerly anticipated by some players, who may attempt to ambush others who have completed the initial work.

I’m a scaredy-cat who could hardly handle a player-controlled Julianna in Deathloop, so I’m not sure how well I’ll deal with something like Thick As Thieves, which features three other players all trying to mess with my carefully laid plans, but I’m still eager to see more of the game. I’m especially intrigued by the narrative elements. How does this world react and evolve if it’s a multiplayer game? How does the story work?

You don’t need to worry about getting answers to your questions right away because Thick As Thieves, the game from Otherside Entertainment, won’t be released on Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and PC until 2026. At its release, cross-play functionality will be available for all platforms.

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2024-12-13 04:10