The battle against six lieutenants in the Crypt of Durkon (during the Hexxat's first SoA quest) is one of hardest battles pre-Spellhold. The last time I faced them, they killed 5 characters in my party (everyone was at 500k) after a long fight (I nearly used everything I had), leaving me with a single sorcerer. Then I went searching in my scroll case, found there the Mordenkainen's sword scroll and it helped to overcome them.
54. "First run" of any game isn't the best or magical in any way. It's usually the worst - you struggle with controls, miss secrets, game is harder but not because of thrilling challenges, but because you don't know the game, don't know how to level up your party, you don't get clues the game gives you; also, it's way too easy to get stuck in some early part because you don't know where games expects you to click. No fun. The second run is glorious.
@Artona while I generally agree, especially in the case of CRPGs and other complex games, there are notable exceptions to this rule, mainly those with a emotionalizing storyline and simple commands, such as, for an example, Shadow of the Colossus (or ICO) and Journey. While I do enjoy them time and time again, I'd probably have to admit that nothing compared to my sense of wonder when playing them the first time. Plus they are not punishing if at first you don't succeed or distribute your skills the wrong way (since they have none).
A similar case can be made for choice-based adventures like Heavy Rain: The first run for most players is the one they take personal, and by that I mean that they consider their actions and what they'd do in real life, living with the consequences of what happened. Of course this can be frustrating or emotionally challenging, as is the case in Life is Strang, where you
Have to try to talk a fellow student down from a rooftop, while she is about to jump. You only get one try to do so and can easily fail.
While not all players commit to "living with the consequences" (the reload button is too tempting for them), I highly recommend trying it out, since it can add a whole new layer of realism to the experience that you just can't have when you start exploring alternate paths.
Then there's also the case of games you'd not want to play a second time...
I do wholeheartedly agree that the "first run" is OFTEN unnecessarily glorified and that really, there has to be a distinction on what game is the subject on debate.
I wouldn't mind Isilia for a pregen character. She has excellent stats and a very decent spell selection. Tarana isn't terrible either. Most of the others...meh.
Neera is the worst character made by Beamdog. Especially in BG:EE and it upset me that I basically HAD to take her in SoD for a good-aligned party mage. She was a bit more bearably written in SoD though.
WIld Mage is the worst class in the game
If you want to take a snotty teenager style character take Skie. At least she makes me giggle. Her saying "LETS GO SHOPPING" on a successful lockpit gets me everytime.
Here's an unpopular opinion for you, Neera is not that bad. I find her kind of funny, she's at least far more likable than either Dorn or Rasaad. Rasaad annoys me and Dorn lost any good will I had for him because of how incredibly stupid the BG2 version of him was.
Here's an unpopular opinion for you, Neera is not that bad. I find her kind of funny, she's at least far more likable than either Dorn or Rasaad. Rasaad annoys me and Dorn lost any good will I had for him because of how incredibly stupid the BG2 version of him was.
Imoen, Alora, and now Neera are musts for me. Go ahead, hate me Internet.
Here's an unpopular opinion for you, Neera is not that bad. I find her kind of funny, she's at least far more likable than either Dorn or Rasaad. Rasaad annoys me and Dorn lost any good will I had for him because of how incredibly stupid the BG2 version of him was.
Imoen, Alora, and now Neera are musts for me. Go ahead, hate me Internet.
Alora and Imoen are fine. Infact I really wish Alora came earlier in the game so she was more viable (getting her so late means you probably already have an established thief.) because I love her positive attitude. That said Neera can fudge off
I am disappointed that none of the recent "short-term visitors" to the forums who proclaim themselves to be "black magic specialist" appear to have nothing insightful to offer. -_-
I am disappointed that none of the recent "short-term visitors" to the forums who proclaim themselves to be "black magic specialist" appear to have nothing insightful to offer. -_-
I agree. Hmm… perhaps one has to have achieved a certain level before they reveal their secrets.
Don't know how that would work out, but sick of having him down at "near death" only for him to escape and give us all that trouble before I can kill him just as easily again.
Also still not sure why all the inmates die? Fight wise, we are doing well, all Irenicus protections gone, the guy is taking serious damage, next thing everybody's dead.
Don't know how that would work out, but sick of having him down at "near death" only for him to escape and give us all that trouble before I can kill him just as easily again.
Also still not sure why all the inmates die? Fight wise, we are doing well, all Irenicus protections gone, the guy is taking serious damage, next thing everybody's dead.
Even if you did it would just turn out to be a clone or something.
I guess they would turn on us next but I would like to know what spell he is casting for that effect at least.
I guess they would turn on us next but I would like to know what spell he is casting for that effect at least.
Rapture of the father: "Irenicus commands some spells that are not even available to any other character, a notable example being Rapture of the Father, a death spell that appears to be able to instantly kill six enemies with no regard to magic resistance or saving throws"
I don't like scripted events, so naturally I hate fights where the antagonist "dies" and then escapes with some lame threat at the end. Too many games use this, none has succeded to make it feel like a natural ending to the fight. It always feels weird and ridiculous whether it's Irenicus, Darth Nihilus or whomever.
As a matter of fact, charname dies a thousand time more than Irenicus, and still somehow comes back. Irenicus only *dies* twice. Even no reload runs have their share of close calls the are unfair from the enemy's point of view.
Only good rogue-likes accomplish perfect close call balance between both enemy and player.
I am perfectly ok with enemy cheats and enemy near escapes, and even weak plot cheats, because I have the biggest cheat and near escape of all: power word reload.
Comments
A similar case can be made for choice-based adventures like Heavy Rain: The first run for most players is the one they take personal, and by that I mean that they consider their actions and what they'd do in real life, living with the consequences of what happened. Of course this can be frustrating or emotionally challenging, as is the case in Life is Strang, where you
While not all players commit to "living with the consequences" (the reload button is too tempting for them), I highly recommend trying it out, since it can add a whole new layer of realism to the experience that you just can't have when you start exploring alternate paths.
Then there's also the case of games you'd not want to play a second time...
I do wholeheartedly agree that the "first run" is OFTEN unnecessarily glorified and that really, there has to be a distinction on what game is the subject on debate.
Suffering addicts should be forced to play the game with a pregenerated character.
Not to mention cruel and unusual punishment...
WIld Mage is the worst class in the game
If you want to take a snotty teenager style character take Skie. At least she makes me giggle. Her saying "LETS GO SHOPPING" on a successful lockpit gets me everytime.
The voice overs in IE games were a mistake. It should only ever happen if they're in humanoid form.
The stamina that must take… They should be commended, not punished!
*casts turn undead.
...
I feel that those who continually restart are in fact showing signs of higher intelligence and ability, and should be commended.
They should be encouraged by a "Saveoursock could kill you in that ambush with Gorion" option button, to spur them on to greater efforts.
Don't know how that would work out, but sick of having him down at "near death" only for him to escape and give us all that trouble before I can kill him just as easily again.
Also still not sure why all the inmates die?
Fight wise, we are doing well, all Irenicus protections gone, the guy is taking serious damage, next thing everybody's dead.
I guess they would turn on us next but I would like to know what spell he is casting for that effect at least.
I don't like scripted events, so naturally I hate fights where the antagonist "dies" and then escapes with some lame threat at the end. Too many games use this, none has succeded to make it feel like a natural ending to the fight. It always feels weird and ridiculous whether it's Irenicus, Darth Nihilus or whomever.
As a matter of fact, charname dies a thousand time more than Irenicus, and still somehow comes back. Irenicus only *dies* twice. Even no reload runs have their share of close calls the are unfair from the enemy's point of view.
Only good rogue-likes accomplish perfect close call balance between both enemy and player.
I am perfectly ok with enemy cheats and enemy near escapes, and even weak plot cheats, because I have the biggest cheat and near escape of all: power word reload.