LadyCrimson

I only skim such dialogues, unless something about it is of big interest to me, like it's a companion I like. For me tho it's more about ... well, it's not actually like reading a book, in games. I read info, then do lots of quests/combats, then some npc starts babbling and making references to stuff that I suppose other npc's have told me of, but that I've already forgotten about.

I tried the 3 in front 3 in back routine, but the collision/chokepoints in many encounters drove me nuts with that one. There was always one that couldn't hit something and would just stutter around. I wanted a circular formation with the mage in the center, but 6 in the party doesn't work out too well for that, plus the formation never really feels like how I envision such should be. In the end I usually stick with the 3 rows of two and just use Stealth so I can get closer and pause to command each to do specific opening salvo things before they notice me. I don't tend to keep super tight formations once comabt actually commences anyway.

Yes, I said I did bounties that were available to me. There were 3 or 4, at least one of which Edit: maybe that's a tiny bit of a sort of spoiler, tag added 2nd Edit: my question was related to idea that people were reaching lvl12 before Act3.

ToI is the die-once mode? If so, I have the feeling that setting wasn't really meant to be done the first time through the game - well, unless you don't mind starting over a lot of course. You could try a not-ToI game on EZ, to blow through and check out fights, then go start a ToI etc. Although I realize that takes the not knowing an encounter beforehand out of the equation, which is more than half the fun. :/ Other than that, building chrs. with high durb. so they can survive more mistakes and disengagements (no min/max squishies) would be the only thing I can think of. Maybe even higher CON tanks, vs. the usual "CON is a dump stat" route.

I know nothing of the math of things, but I reached the start of Act3 at clvl9. This was with a full 6 party, clearing all areas + doing most sidequests (I'm sure I missed a few, and didn't pick up all companions) and the available bounties to that point. What I did not do is much of the Endless Paths. Are people reaching Act3 at clvl 12 with full parties, or just smaller ones? I can see it with smaller parties, definitely, but I can't imagine getting to 12 before then otherwise - is it just because I didn't do Endless Paths yet? Edit: oh...I haven't unlocked every chest in the game. Some, but probably not even close to "most." That could be part of it too I guess.

I'm pretty sure the KS/backer/pre-order bonus things like the pets isn't to be had anymore. Current Royal editions listed on Steam/GoG now just have the digital book/soundtrack etc. No pets. Bonuses/rewards are one time deal thingies.

(both of you) Home telemarketing work? (your wife) Registered to all temp-agencies in the hope that at least occasionally they'll have a couple weeks of some type of menial office work or something available that can help build experience? ...my sympathies. Sounds like a tough situation and metro-Calif. is definitely a difficult place for such. :/

I'm not entirely sure of the sequence of things. Could be you have to get to a certain main-plot progression point before a rest triggers it. eg, near end of Act2 or maybe start of Act3. Maybe?

Woke up to the smell of tomcat urine filling the bedrooms again. Went outside to hose it off etc. Whinged for 5 minutes again about rude/idiot neighbors and their 70 gazillion unspayed/neutered outdoor cats and my thus far largely futile efforts to stop them. Couple hours later: Me: What cha doing? Hubby: Working on my Cat-B-Gone system. Me: What? Hubby: *long explanation re: our house's automatic plant watering system+motion sensors* ...he may never get around to actually making it work, but he's still a lovely man for trying.

I think at this stage I feel it's a game I might/could play once or twice a year over a few years, to try out different parties or just because ... but still not one I can replay lots of times all in a row. Definitely don't care about becoming "expert" at all the minute details of stats/mechanics/builds. Altho in truth I rarely do that anymore anyway. ...finally went back to the Endless Paths. At lvl 9, lvl5-7 was a cakewalk. Wonder how far I'll go before I get stomped again. Dungeon lvl 11 maybe?

Try sleeping a bit more often?

Companions are auto-assigned skills/talents if you get them at higher levels - eg, you don't get to decide/select what they are. I don't know what Kana's stuff may be, but I'd assume there's some level-up option that he'll auto-have at lvl3 that some don't like, so if you get him at lvl2, you can pick differently. It may be one of the more passive talents/skills, not one you command in combat.

Some of that stuff is in the flavor/lore books you pick up here and there as loot, as well as through clicking every dialogue option possible with everyone you can possibly click on. But I'd agree that the game isn't always the clearest about certain naming associations.

I haven't kept track of what he gets when, but is it possible it's because you got him earlyish? I know if you grab him at lvl2 instead of lvl3, he doesn't have ... something ... that he'll have if you first get him at lvl3, since you get to choose what you want when he lvls to 3, instead. It's one reason some like to grab all companions as early as possible, so you can have more control over what they have vs. auto-assigned.

Yeah, just looked it up/tried it and the above is the way it works. I have no need for them myself - I don't mind the mouse clicking method, especially when there are way too many skills/spells per chr. for keys available - but they could be useful here and there.

Assuming I understand what you're asking about: If you click on a portrait in combat, their hotbar comes up. Spells and skills available are automatically put there. I'm not sure about actually hotkeying them. I can look ...

Anyone who harms unicorns gets an insta-ban. Even with the edit-date line, it still means a lack of record of what was before, unless it was already quoted. Which can make it difficult to assess a situation occasionally. As always, there's no perfect solution.

Haha! I missed this earlier. That's very funny. I didn't even realize you could name your chants. They're just "Chant 2 and Chant 3" etc. for me.

^ The time limit is an hour. We used to have no time limit, but there was a period of rather severe abuse from having no limit and thus one was implemented. We're aware it can be inconvenient for certain types of topic threads...but until such time when/if it's decided the limit no longer serves a purpose, if someone wants their post edited etc. just PM a moderator of the forum in question and we'll change it for you. ..also, moving to Obsidian General, as this isn't PoE related, as already pointed out.

Think I need a break from thinking about PoE (and from sitting in this deskchair), so I'm going to spend the evening drowning myself in TV alongside the hubster, snuggled on the couch whilst groaning about our creaky joints. Think we have a lot of show episodes to catch up on here and there.

I wouldn't mind more portraits that look kind of Asian-ish, both female and male, that are also class/trope-neutral. So basically, I'd like more portraits where they could be interpreted to be any class.

...he'll be the Priest, of course. ...working on the others but PITA to screencap pics that edit/work well in-game.

I would look like me and would probably be lounging on a couch reading books, since adventuring, politics, and violence are not my bag and there are no computers in PoE. Statswise, I would be average (10-12) all across the board, except Might would probably be something like 4. Dex would've been high in my youth but not so much now. Class: I don't know, nothing really fits me. Ranger could work (loner, animals), except again, I don't adventure plus I'm not "spiritual" in any way. A lazy wizard, perhaps?

^ So I guess that missile spell will seem more powerful when I'm lvl 12. It's still really lackluster at lvl9, however. I haven't been impressed with most of the non-AoE wizard offensive dmg. spells.

At level 8/9 tho, he finally gets a couple nice spells that can really make a difference in a tough fight.