Dragon’s Dogma 2 “stress-free” mods become popular with Dragonsplague avoiders
Capcom’s Dragon’s Dogma 2 released on March 21, with the fantasy RPG incorporating many elements that were planned for the 2012 original. One of these is Dragonsplague, an infectious disease that can ruin hours of gameplay progress if left unchecked. However, it seems that some players just want to enjoy the game without worrying about a contagion infecting their Pawn and causing it to slaughter loads of NPCs. In response to this, many mods have sprung up for the PC version of the game, resulting in mixed opinions from Japanese players and concerns about Capcom’s previous anti-mod stance.
Dragonsplague can infect the player’s Main Pawn as well as any Pawns they have hired from other players, meaning that the epidemic can spread quickly between different players. Visible signs range from overt to subtle- your Pawn’s eyes may glow red from time to time, or they may behave as if they have a headache. This has led players to obsessively scrutinize their Pawns for any changes. No doubt many have panic-murdered their Pawn because he or she touched their forehead and looked woozy. Left unchecked, Pawns with Dragonsplague can wake up and murder the entire village or town that you are staying in, potentially killing NPCs that you care about.
Players’ initial reactions to Dragonsplague were mixed, with some praising the unconventional so-called “Capcom COVID” mechanic as brave game design that sticks to the original Dragon Dogma’s creative vision. However, with this worrisome threat hanging over the game, it’s no wonder that some PC players of Dragon’s Dogma 2 are seeking ways to rid themselves of the plague for good. Consequently, it seems the modding community has been hard at work, with various Dragonsplague-related mods popping up on Nexus over the past week or so.
Knowledge is power, and the Dragonsplague counter mod does what it says on the tin. It puts a red number on the head of any infected pawn in your party, indicating their Dragonsplague level. Going further, the Dragonsplague Cure mod seems to be able to alleviate players’ fears regarding this contagious disease. It not only shows you the infection status of your Main Pawn and Hired Pawns, it also gives you a hot key that lets you instantly cure the suffering Pawn. For those who just want a nice relaxing disease-free run of the game, there’s another mod that claims to completely remove the Dragonsplague system from your game.
Opinions on these mods vary among Japanese players, with some enjoying the worry-free gameplay they provide, while others are critical.
Is this a Bethesda game?
Nah, I’m glad I have the Steam version where I can escape this issue (lit. rotten apple) by using mods.
Although avoiding Dragonsplague seems to be players’ biggest worry when playing Dragon’s Dogma 2, other mods that adjust your carry limit and improve combat have also proven popular.
Many mod users seemed relieved that they are playing the game on PC, as console players don’t have the option of easily installing these community-made alterations. However, it remains to be seen how Capcom will react to these Dragon’s Dogma 2 mods. Last year, Capcom R&D released a presentation video on their YouTube channel on anti-cheating and anti-piracy measures for games developed in-house. One of the slides declared that “All mods are defined as cheats, except when they are officially supported.” The presenter explains how mods can damage the developer’s reputation and/or “destroy the game by cheating (sic).” However, the same presentation does acknowledge that some mods can have a positive impact. It remains to be seen if Capcom takes any action against Dragonsplague-related mods, which could be construed as cheating.
To find out more about Dragonsplague, have a look at our full explanation of how it works or read about the conspiracy theories and anti-vaxxers (anti-briners) that the in-game disease has spawned.
Dragon’s Dogma 2 out now on PC (Steam), PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
Mods are essential to the PC experience and also can help companies understand what players truly desire to be improved or have in the game as a data point. The lock on is a good example, as is the short characters mod. I hope Capcom does not mess with mods otherwise they will be tanking their own company and forced back to rely on Consoles.