Torment: Tides of Numenera is a story-driven role playing game. The game is played from an isometric perspective on a 2.5 dimensional plane. Players take on the role of the 'Last Castoff' - a human vessel who was inhabited by an immortal man who is able to use so-called numenera (which are technologically advanced relics in this timeline) - as she seeks others inhabited as hosts and the man that possessed and in effect created her.
Narrative Gameplay
Given that Torment is a story-driven role playing game, the gameplay emphasis tends to be on narrative interactions rather than action. The story evolves as a result of these interactions, and the decisions the player makes through dialogue trees.
The choices you make will have a material effect on the game's story, opening and closing certain pathways, introducing different characters and interactions, and different endings.
Following on from this, it is possible to in effect 'recruit' companions - NPCs who will join your party and become a part of your story and the gameplay.
Tides
Tides is the name used for the moral system found in Torment. Instead of a simple good/bad form of moral character development, Tides in Torment are much more diverse. Each Tide is a specific color and embodies a number of key concepts.
These Tides also impact how characters in the game feel about you and react to you. In effect, Tides describe the type of character you are.
Tides also play a role in Torment's actual gameplay in a couple of key ways. Firstly they give your character special abilities and enhance certain skills. Secondly, they also potentially affect the bonuses/powers certain weapons or relics give you.
The tides are:
- Red (represents Passion, Emotion, Action and Pathos)
- Blue (Reason, Insight and Wisdom)
- Gold (Empathy, Charity, Compassion and Sacrifice)
- Indigo (Justice, Equity, Compromise and The Greater Good)
- Silver (Admiration, Power and Fame)
Combat
Although primarily a character-driven RPG, Torment will feature an all-new combat system.
Players will be able to select from three basic character classes:
- Glaive (a warrior-like character)
- Nano (a sorcerer character class)
- Jack (the ranged, rogue character class - the image on the right is concept artwork for this class)
These basic classes can be further augmented by adopting a 'descriptor'. These allow for your character to develop a certain proficiency. The descriptors we currently know are:
- Tough
- Mystical
- Foci
