revjwh

It has nothing to do with achievements - I could care less about them in any game. Some of us just like to solo - we enjoy it for roleplay reasons and expected the freedom to do so since the devs talked about it. But your condescension deserves the snob award

Devs, I would: * widen doorways so no one can use them as choke points * take away all movement buffs so no one can outrun anything * take away DR penetration so people have to make the party you want and have a heavy hitter * take away all heals unless you have a priest - b/c every party needs a priest - it's a party based game, after all, it was made with priests in mind. * make mechanics rogue only. Too much freedom letting anyone have it. Make sure you have to have a rogue. It's a staple of a party. * Make monsters aggro radius double so you can barely sneak and then when you shoot one they all attack immediately * change easy to act like normal, normal to act like hard etc. b/c we want reloads, spreadsheets and pausing to happen at least every 1/2 second and we want to ensure that we have to have a party. I'll post more as I think of 'exploits' (good game play on the part of the players) so we can make it harder and so we can play it the way you want us too......

Actually, Parsong, the devs mentioned solo. Also, why not give freedom instead of demanding players play it one way only. The horn was a weak summons that helped in a hard situation only for solo players - since you can hire npcs at whim for a lot cheaper. So it has nothing to do with "train of thought." You are like a broken record - I've seen you post this on about 10 threads now...... It's a weird hang up of some Dev. I can play with a fighter and have him block doors and be a two person team but it feels different as roleplay.... that's fine with the devs though.... but God forbid I use a horn that summons a weak animat. So it shows the devs simply decided to make it even harder to solo for no other reason than b/c they could.....

I noticed the animat horn, which is useless to a party, and only viable somewhat to a solo player now costs 6000 instead of 600. There is no reason for this except to screw with someone trying a solo run. Looks like Josh and the rest demand we play with a party or else..... Thanks Obsidian for the big "f u" to solo-players.... right back at you, Josh.

I would: lay a trap in a doorway, sneak forward, snipe someone with my crossbow, run for the doorway, summon an animat w/horn to block, cast spells and was wearing plate, 2-H Estoc, Moon Godlike (for heal) ..... I often wouldn't split pull - if it happened I wouldn't not do it, but I fought Raedric's entire court in a doorway.... I make heavy use of antipathetic field (the ray - not sure I got name right) that does corrupt damage - I wait until my animat is low (1 or 2 green dots) and then cast it through the doorway and run back and forth nuking as many people as I can, then I would try and paralyze front rank person to block door and re-cast ray.....

So, I'm fighting 4 feral druids - you know, the ones who can change cast lighting strikes that stun you, do 50 points of damage, have a huge area of effect, and once you are hit w/a bolt and run out of the circle it follows you anyways. Yet, the devs are going to nerf Slicken (to one target) and Mind Blades (which when my 5th level Cipher cast on them it made a 'dink' sound and didn't work anyways) ...... Are you kidding me? Do you realize how many average gamers/casual gamers are rage quitting and reloading over and over and over. I realize there are people who make spreadsheets and other crap to play this game - that is insane to me and any casual gamer who plays to have fun and has to balance it with real life. Then there is the pride of 4 lions - elder lion and 3 others - who can roar, do 1/3rd of my 76 deflection fighter's health in a hit (1 lion) and get 3 hits in before I can cast one spell.... But, yeah, let's nerf the few available spells/abilities that can at least help a little bit. I'm starting to get pissed. Don't tell me I don't know tactics. I solo'd the whole first Act with a Cipher to teach myself the game .... I cleared Raedric's Hold by myself on normal with him (I know there are people doing it on PotD and Hard etc..... a few.....). I play to have fun. I play to not have to reload 888888888888888888888 times. The number of ways a group of enemies can stunlock/freeze/daze your entire party is legion. Meanwhile they sport deflection/defenses at level 3 that my 5th levels barely have...... yet, the devs want to nerf more. I like the game's story, areas etc. but not sure I want to be forced to play a 6 man team (I was using 2-3 characters for the above druids and lions after solo-ing Act 1....) or face imminent destruction b/c the Devs decided to force feed me their concept of team play ...... Successor to the IE games? Not by a long shot - the freedom in those was phenomenal. PoE picks a narrow path and says: walk it. Beginning with forcing me to have a huge party...... I completed BG2 with 3 different classes solo without tons of spam and my first play through, brand new to the game, I played it with a party of 3 and did just fine. Rant off.

I was doing great in Act 1 but now I'm meeting lots of mobs with cc - even Xaurip skirmishers can paralyze/daze with a hit in addition to the backup spellcasters. I'd be interested in hearing what tactics people are using to deal with large mobs - especially if outside. Example: the 4 or 5 feral druids in the wilderness - it seems no matter what I do, they cast their lightning attacks and stun me..... if even one hits me with it it gives enough time for the rest to recover from whatever I've done to them and mob me. I use traps, positioning on map, animat summons, potions and scrolls (I upped Mechanics and Lore). I'm playing a Cipher solo and cleaned up Raedric's Hold and everything before it with a fair level of ease..... but now I'm getting my butt handed to me.

How do you handle huge mobs like the Xaurips in Cua Nua (or whatever it's called) in the blood room/pit - there are about 14 and skirmishers paralyze.... plus several priests etc. I went through ACT 1 and Raedric's Hold and did fine overall. But now I'm meeting mobs that can stun/paralyze and there are easily 7-10 creatures - I try to lure away some but often they all start to chase me...... curious to hear people's strategies for handling mobs esp. when the melee monsters can daze/paralyze.

Are you planning to reduce the stunlock/freeze on phantoms? A level 3 monster that one hit annihilates? I also ask that you please don't nerf spells too much.... solo/small party is hard already on normal for people who don't want to min/max or memorize quest order/benefits ....... please...... I hope Mindblade isn't nerfed too much - once you hit level 5+ it doesn't have as much an impact on groups, plus I've seen people resist (dodge?) it prior to level 5. Slicken is one of the few great wizard spells..... these changes make me sad. It feels like the devs want us to play one way: party, with certain classes etc. With all the posts regarding how hard/easy it is I'd say the game is already fairly balanced for the average player (stress on average)......

With the number of threads about too hard/too easy - it is obvious there is a fairly decent balance for the average player already in the game. For solo, the few spells that are pretty impressive (slicken, ice fog, fan of flames, Mindblast etc.) give a fighting chance - even on normal they can be difficult if you are trying to play the game without memorizing every quest in order etc. They allow for flexibility. Choice is what makes these type of games fun; variety to do as people want.... not restricting everything until you have to play a party and have certain characters. Please don't nerf the spells - they are fun and make a smaller party or a solo run possible without having to be a detail master who min/max, memorize every benefit to be successful.

On normal? Definitely. I am playing a melee Cipher build: M 17 C 15 D 10 P 10 I 10 R 16 (I think, maybe 15). He is a Godlike Moon and wear Plate Armor and wields a Etoc (?sp). I solo'd through Raedric's Keep and took Raedric out solo. I haven't gone past there yet..... so I don't know how he will perform in the nexxt part. I use the Animat Horn as a summons. I use traps and scrolls and potions. No food really. I have Mechanics at 8 and Lore at 4 or 5 currently. I was level 4 when I killed Raedric and just hit level 5. I haven't been to Defiance Bay - so I don't know if I'm ahead of the level curve or on it...... I haven't had to spam reload a ton either. Careful tactics, traps and scrolls with the Animat for hard fights..... I use the mind blade spell alot (jumps to 5 targets) and the Anti-field that does corruption damage to everyone in it's path..... I've cleared all the areas up to Defiance Bay and the Keep and have completed the first level of Cua Nua (or whatever its name is)...... I'm having a blast. The heal of the Moon Godlike helps a ton. I chose to make him the size of an Amuana (sp?) b/c he takes up a doorway for tactics The 2-H which I have 'enchanted' to fine, 25% burn dmg often refills my focus with one hit and it isn't unusual to do 30-40 a hit...... Hope this helps. I also tried using him last night (as a break from soloing, with 3 NPCs: Eder, Aloth and Durance and it was actually harder b/c they kept gettting in the way of my mind spells b/c of poor pathfinding.....)