knownastherat

That, the power of skills, is what difficulty essential is. How much damage can a player inflict per encounter and how much healing is s/he able to do. The math is straightforward. What is not is factoring in all variables - pots, scrolls, Empower, min-max, items, etc. Strategic layer is dominated by strategy, obviously, not by the power of skills. If a player is able to repeat her/his actions in order to win in almost every encounter, it only means the strategic layer is shallow.

The idea that players (will) change grimoires is fundamentally flawed from where I sit. It needs to be confirmed by in-game data but it seems pretty obvious that players will likely not (want to), remember combinations provided by spell picks on level up, default grimoire and quick slot grimoires thus will settle for a single grimoire and adjust their spell picks accordingly. As I noted before, how this was not realized in beta and Q&A is beyond me.

Indeed, "any combination is perfectly viable", which sounds like Josh "not necessarily an optimal character but viable character", in short "no bad builds". Too bad that it does not prevent "bad game design".

OP, who admittedly rarely plays a mage, figured what the developers apparently could not: Deadfire grimoire mechanic encourages respecs.

Why? Streamlined.

I'm not really seeing where you're getting the idea that I'm attacking BG2 from - the thing I specifically called toxic wasa D&D 3.5 wizard handbook discussing a build archetype in which a wizard has a tool on their figurative "utility belt" for every situation. I find that broad archetype creates a bad play experience in games, single-player or not, because it renders some character types totally irrelevant or at the very least redundant with others that can also do other things. BG2 didn't really have that problem except at a relatively high degree of skilled play, which is what it is. And to be clear, toxic is my word choice, not his. If you prefer, substitute "bad for the play experience" - I thought my meaning was clear, but apparently it wasn't. I've seen statements he's made to the effect of "wizards should not be able to do absolutely everything because magic," which I agree pretty strongly with. YMMV. Are you asserting that BG2 was a great game, so all of its design decisions were great and should be replicated? I'm just seeking clarification, I have nothing to say to that. And I am not really seeing where you get the idea that a D&D 3.5 wizard handbook is relevant to PoE franchise. PoE is said to be the spiritual successor of "the beloved Infinity Engine" games not the spiritual successor of D&D 3.5. Either way thanks for the clarification. I am asserting that despite its less than ideal and balanced ruleset it was a great game. This to me directly implies that ruleset, a balance of a ruleset, is not a necessary component in making a great game. I prefer "bad for my own playing experience" to clearly denote that there is nothing inherently "toxic" about it.

You agree with something that was not said here. https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/toxic The fact that they were very powerful did not prevent BG2 to be regarded as one of the greatest games ever made, so how can they be toxic? That is complete nonsense, respectively reversed euphemism for "I did not like them".

Toxic? How can it be toxic in a single player game? So Josh ... does not "hate" Wizards, he just thinks Wizards from "the beloved Infinity Engine games" were toxic, do I understand it correctly?

https://forums.obsidian.net/topic/103665-patch-notes-for-1200028/ Probably fixed.

Shadowfrost DK, you were my only hope of not sucking at PvP! :< Guys, before unleasing righteous fury, please check the date. This topic is old. lol my bad. Well, it was a cool story anyway.

Power level buffing is a large part of the problem with the OPness of alot of aspects in this game's balance issues. Honestly, I feel like PL buffs should be capped at +3 or +4 and/or give diminishing returns to damage/effects. Also empower single abilities is an issue as well. It should be changed/removed/reworked. It can not stay like it is and have any kind of balanced difficulty, especially when resting is free. It's actually the only problem. OP buffs to +10 PL, 22 INT and 30 MIG, then comes here and - not sure if its a complaint, bragging or just statement - posts that DD Wizard is broken. To that, I say cool story bro.

What do you mean "And" and "anyway"? Why would it not apply? The description clearly states: +1 All Illusions Power Levels. Of course, it applies. Just +1 is pure garbage as it adds 1 sec to Ryngrim's Repulsive Visage for Trickster at level 20 and 0.5 sec to the Gaze of the Adragan. 1 sec I scratch my ass and in 0.5 sec cant even reach to scratch my balls. Wtf is this, Dark Souls reflexes skill or something? The spiritual successor to Dark Souls, **** me. And why both? Well, obviously to add to replay value from Whitewitch Mask. How can you even ask is beyond me. Anyway, Trickster/Illusionist can cast Chillfog, Pull of Eora and Freezing Pillars, as well as Evocations, so that is all that matters. The strongest class, without armor, without anything, say hello 2 Chillfogs, 2 Pulls, 2 Feezing Pillars say goodbye, do this **** over and over and over till you face boss than cast ****ing scrolls. gg and gd, good game and good design. At least, I could build around the mask. That was an epic experience.

Actually, I was playing Trickster/Illusionist, not kidding now, with the mask. God of Terror who got rekt because did not use Chillfog. ****ing Chillfog.

I was trying, in PoE also, to play as caster/weapon user with the idea that fist I soften up enemies with spells and mop up in melee, but it always turned out that either I was buffing myself, maybe some CC, and going melee or just nuking with not much to finish off in melee. Ranger eh? gj indeed How often you needed your pet? IMO the pet is very strong for solo but this build maybe does not need it like other multi Rangers (Monk, Rogue .. ).

Yes, it is worth now, especially Illusionist with the - now even nerfed to + 1 PL! .. and I think I am crazy - mask. Able to cast Wizard's Double from level 1, Confused from level 2, Terror from level 3, Confused again from level 4 as the only Illusion spell there, Terror again from level 5, btw can save points on +1 PEN with element passives right?, Gaze of the Adragan - this stuff last forever: Cast time 3 Recover 3 Duration 6 - on level 6 as again the only Illusion spell here, tough choice on level 7 as there is no single Illusion spell so lets take Improved Criticals, level 8 is badass with Wall of Many Colors and Freezing Rake .. oh now we need the PEN .. oh but we have only 2 casts hmm, and in the endgame tier level 9 there is no Illusion spell again so let's take Prestige +1 PL to compensate for the nerfed mask, that is serious **** innit? I have some secret items for this build I cant tell about but I solo PotD DD, only one eye open using 2 fingers on left hand, with Illusionist because it's so OP.

I think it was a mistake not to multi to the Wizard, the strongest class Oh wait, you cast anyway, nvm. Good job, interesting stuff, as always Dorf.

People are fans because they still managed to make the two best Western RPG series of the past decade, despite being owned by Big Bad Evil EA. Without the success of DAO, the current crop of BG Spiritual Successors would never have existed. Which two? DAO and? PoE, as well as Deadfire, were financed by backers. The niche market has always been there, and Obsidian recognized it, just perhaps investors felt their money would better be spent elsewhere. The fact remains that to say: I am a Bioware fan, is pretty much meaningless, or ignorant, for the reasons I stated. What Bioware? Today's Bioware, Bioware in 90's, Bioware 2000, or Bioware post Muzyka and Zeschuk? It's obviously not brand what makes games great but people behind it and Bioware people, as well as philosophy, changed over the years. The Dragon Age Series and the Mass Effect Series. PoE was only partially funded by backers, same with Deadfire. Investors covered the rest. PoE would have probably never gotten off the ground without DAO showing that this style of RPG could be a critical and financial success, regardless of what the niche market was. I am a fan of Bioware from the 90s up until today, even if Andromeda was crap. Of course devs and writers have left over the years, but they generally produce similar games of high quality. My bold. Speculation. And no, Bioware does not produce games of similar quality, for example, BG2 and DA2 or ME and ME Andromeda. Of course, you can be a fan but its more like a fan of a football club.

People are fans because they still managed to make the two best Western RPG series of the past decade, despite being owned by Big Bad Evil EA. Without the success of DAO, the current crop of BG Spiritual Successors would never have existed. Which two? DAO and? PoE, as well as Deadfire, were financed by backers. The niche market has always been there, and Obsidian recognized it, just perhaps investors felt their money would better be spent elsewhere. The fact remains that to say: I am a Bioware fan, is pretty much meaningless, or ignorant, for the reasons I stated. What Bioware? Today's Bioware, Bioware in 90's, Bioware 2000, or Bioware post Muzyka and Zeschuk? It's obviously not brand what makes games great but people behind it and Bioware people, as well as philosophy, changed over the years.

Bioware today is not the Bioware that created BG2. Since the time it was sold to EA and consequent departure Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk, as well as other key personalities, Bioware games become streamlined and lacked the ingredients that distinguish greatness from mediocre. In this context, how can anyone be Bioware fan? It's as if Jesus became Mr. Trump. Deadfire also displays elements of streamlining yet pretends to be special. As "spiritual successor" it fails because where is the spirit?

BB solo level 7 possible.

Yes.

Positive.

You still don't get it, do you? It's not about whether "something needs to be nerfed or not" (because who is to say? you? on what authority?) it's about imposing own ideas on others. Apparently, a good number of people, perhaps majority, have a little problem, if any, with imposing on others when calling for nerfs: Make the game according to my liking! or softer, more dishonest, version: I think the game would be better if it was made according to my liking. So now you think, knownastherat is wrong because the developers expect and appreciate our feedback, right? Perhaps they do, but it changes nothing about imposing, to establish or bring about as if by force, own views on others where developers act as a proxy. And now you think, knownastherat is delusional because that is how society works, (vocal)majority imposes own views on (silent)minority, right? Yes, but it does not make it right.

Level 1 retrain would not only solve the issue but would be more convenient and I dare to say logical.

As far as I know, the necklace does not have charges, yet.