The development of Pathologic 3 continues, and so does our conversation. Today, we’ll talk about a mechanic that is unique to Bachelor’s story — something you’ve never seen in the series before.
This devlog is available in both text and video formats.
WARNING! Strange as it may sound, a devlog about gameplay mechanics contains spoilers about gameplay mechanics. If you want to experience the game with a completely fresh perspective, consider skipping it.
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You Are Not a Butcher
Every game in the Pathologic series tells the story of a person in a plague-ridden town. If that person is Haruspex — a self-taught surgeon who relies on intuition, a scalpel, and his knowledge of the Steppe — you get Pathologic 2, a survival-focused game where a doctor literally plunges his hands into human flesh.
But if our protagonist is Daniil Dankovsky — a renowned medical scholar, an observer, an analyst, someone who only resorts to laboratory research in the most exceptional cases — then the story takes a different turn, and the gameplay must change accordingly.
That’s important to us: we strive to make both the visuals and the mechanics reflect the protagonist’s subjective perception of the world and fit their story. That’s why Pathologic 3 introduces a fundamentally new approach to gameplay.
A Chance for Salvation
Finding himself in a city ravaged by the Sand Plague, Daniil, as a true scientist, notices something strange. Some patients don’t die within five hours as they’re supposed to. Could it be that… the Sand Plague is weakened by other diseases? If that’s the case, then by studying infected patients and uncovering the cause of this anomaly, one could develop a vaccine. An imperfect, temporary solution… but what if it’s the first step towards salvation?
And so, from doctor and researcher, Dankovsky is forced to become a detective. You enter a hospital hastily set up in the town’s theater. Examine a patient’s medical file. Talk to them. Observe them. But something doesn’t add up. A misdiagnosis? Symptoms misinterpreted? Or… Are the patients simply lying?
Trust No One
Not every complaint should be taken at face value. A hand wound could be the result of a street fight, or it could be an early sign of ulceration. A patient may blame their headache on the flu, but you’ll notice symptoms of Steppe Fever. And when you come across darkened eyes, changes in pupil shape, and other anomalies, even common sense won’t be enough. You’ll need to learn to read symptoms and search for clues beyond hospital walls.
A patient’s neighbors, or a forgotten item left at home, might reveal what’s been happening to them in recent days, helping you make the right diagnosis, save a life, and get one step closer to a vaccine. Staying in the makeshift hospital won’t be enough — you’ll have to search for the truth.
Luckily, Dankovsky is a keen observer with a sharp analytical mind. He has always played the role of a detective in his battle against death. He has everything he needs to uncover the truth.
Take Action
Of course, there’s a simpler approach: collect samples, use a microscope, and get a clear answer. You’ll see which organ groups are affected, this will be reflected in the patient’s file, and the mystery will become much easier to solve.
But… Where will you get the necessary reagents in a city ravaged by disease? Even if your research helps rule out several incorrect diagnoses… The reagents will be depleted, and the next patient might not be so lucky.
Every day, new patients will come to you. If you manage to save them all today, you’ll be one step closer to developing a vaccine for the Sand Plague. But the disease mutates, and a new vaccine is needed every day. If the city is to survive until the 12th day, you’ll have to work hard.
Prepare for Consequences
But… Put yourself in the shoes of an ordinary townsperson. Would you agree to be injected with an untested vaccine during an epidemic? And that’s assuming you even understand what a vaccine is — an uneducated factory worker might not. And if people are subjected to unexplained injections every day, they will start forming conspiracy theories and even riot.
Be careful when issuing city-wide mandates and enforcing quarantine measures. Frightened citizens won’t accept overly strict rules — if you push too hard, they will come for you and kill you before you can save the town. Unfortunately, a doctor from the Capital must fight not only the plague and death itself but also his own patients. Bachelor may risk his life to save them, yet still be seen as a tyrant, a tormentor, a madman.
To Kill Death
Sometimes, exhausted Dankovsky closes his eyes and thinks: if only death could simply be killed. The locals believe the plague is brought by a Steppe golem — Shabnak, a monster from legend. If it were real, if he could shoot it with his fancy Capital-made Prototype gadget, he would take the risk, no matter how impossible it seemed. Anything would be better than fighting people who resist their own salvation…
In the following updates, we’ll talk about how to maintain the delicate balance of life in a dying town, and how to keep your own sanity intact. After all, what happens behind the microscope in the hospital is only the surface layer of Pathologic 3.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3199650/Pathologic_3/
Bringing up the lights before we take the stage,
Ice-Pick Lodge
