drty

Well... You are getting Port Maje rep mostly by helping VTC representatives here. And the port itself actually is VTC outpost. So, I don't see why Vailian traders can't sell you goods with a discount if they like you. Moreover, what's the difference between tavern and market in this case - why bartender sells stuff cheaper and they're not. Pretty strange if this is not a bug.

Even having the maximum reputation with Port Maje does not give you any discount on items in Port Maje market (both Henric and Alteria). Looks like only the barkeeper in The Kraken's Eye is affected. Is this intended? Game version - 1.2.0.0028.

Oh, I didn't suspect that blunderbuss uses shotgun-like mechanic with pellets. Good to know. And if I understood you correctly every pellet's hit is evaluated separately for all possible calculations. Means DR value will also be subtracted for every pellet? And if it's so, why are you still suggesting to use it with Wounding Shot? As far as I know, Its damage is based on the damage of the initial hit. So considering the fact that initial damage is reduced by DR for every pellet - applied DoT should be really insignificant, isn't it?

Don't like the idea of melee ranger. But thanks for the hint - will be looking for a gun with decent DR. And another question: what Aim (Swift/Vicious) talent will behave better for my setup (low Mig + lots of Dex/Per + hard hitting gun)?

Agreed, they can't include any possible resolution to every possible quest. But if such dialog option (that I mention earlier) is available for players to select, then it has to lead to some different result. I mean, devs gave me the option to react on the situation in very specific way, but didn't provide an alternative to go ahead and complete the quest based on the given option. Well, you can't skip something you don't like until you know for sure that you actually don't like it. When I will play the game next time I may possibly skip this quest - it will depend on the personality of my future alter-ego. But it's hard to skip something you are facing the first time. And generally speaking, you can't abandon quest when there is no such possibility. The only thing you can do - is to pretend to forget about it and don't notice it in you journal anymore. But I don't like this option too. Perhaps, it would be a good generic solution to add "abandon" functionality (at least for side quests) in order to resolve such problematic RP situations.

I'm gonna use blunderbuss - it should be tech-oriented Powerless Ranger. Not sure about wolf pet - it is too fragile on PotD difficulty- what do you say about bear with Resilient Companion talent?

I'm thinking about starting new playthrough with an Orlan Ranger as a main character. Looking at the forums, I haven't encountered large variance of builds for the class. Basically, I understand that this one is simple - you don't need to care too much about defenses - so Constitution and Resolve may be at low numbers. But what I'm thinking about - is to gimp Might attribute as well (have it set to 7 or 8 ), but in exchange give him lots of Dexterity and Perception. The question is: how viable will it be in terms of DPS? Won't I face with big issues of how to penetrate armored foes?

Honestly, I don't understand why someone still have the stomach to argue with a guy who is overtly admitting that he hates everything about the game. Seems to me, he thinks of it as kind of the righteous crusade against unbelievers, that should be punished for the act of illegitimate expropriation of his sacred money. Besides, the flow of this discussion is getting so far away from the OP (no more talking about disengagement attacks or engagement system in general), that it's time to ask moderators to close it, I guess.

Basically, I agree with you. I would also be glad if game will provide such number of customization options. As I've already said, I can't remember the roleplaying game where the currency resource does actually matter from the start till the end (except perhaps the Dark Souls series, which has very specific type of currency). So, I expect it will be quite a challenging task to accurately balance all this stuff. But maybe someone will take this challenge at last. %)

I'm somewhere between 2 and 3. And ring is already given back to the fake Purnisc. Yes, I have chosen to investigate, but finding out that the guy who have caused all this mess has already taken his punishment, I decided to depart (because my character is passionate, but not needlessly aggressive). And the person who I'm actually helping (Kaenra) does not want to know the details for her own sake. That's my vision as I've already said before, but not the vision of someone who designed this quest. %)

Yeah, we've already figured out that this quest hasn't got all logical endings. I was forced to complete it by the way which was looking "inappropriate" to the personality of my character, just to rid off of it.

Why are you always came up with an "animation" argument? Animation is absolutely schematic in this game. It's here just to give us an illusion of real combat. Even the games with much more powerful graphics engines have to be designed around the fact that what you see is not what is actually going on. Means there are lots of simplifications because of this. Just use your imagination to fill the gaps and you won't be needed to think about weirdness of "invisible" disengagement attacks that are taking place at the same time as some other action. The issue is within the combat simulation mechanics, it is not the visualization that have be fixed.

Killed impersonator, got to Kaenra with "good" news. Sadly the only thing I was able to say to her is the same crap about "something strange is going on, I'm investigating". Looks like the quest can only be completed if you are willing to help Purnisc. Or maybe if you kill him as well. %)

Arguably. What they've actually mastered is a spreadsheet-style marketing. There is also quite a lot of ways to get relatively unlimited money.

Well, this I can check - still have this quest unfinished.

Cannot recall a RPG allowing to trade obtained goods yet effectively and constantly limiting player's income - a common problem for all such games. I guess, it's not so easy to balance money influx between different playstyles. BTW: I didn't get to the Twin Elms yet, but I don't feel the lack of money even now. Regarding per-rest abilities/items. I think lots of loading screens between your current location and closest shop where you can refuel with camping supplies - is actually a significant stopper which should prevent you from spending them so easily. Moreover, not all people accept the "one fight = one rest" approach. Some have principles. %)

Well, certainly, with a bit of imagination you can always come up with some excuse/explanation for yourself why you are doing or not doing something. That's right, I might be thinking about all of this like you have suggested here. But I don't. The only thing why my character was involved is his intention to help a woman beaten by her fiance (at least she saw it this way). While speaking with fake Purnisc it became clear that something strange is going on. But after figuring out that the source of all this mess is Purnisc himself - I have made decision to not get involved into this even deeper. Originally, I was asked to give back the ring and that was already done, so no reason to do the dirty work for Purnisc. Moreover, realizing that Kaenra no longer want to know him (which from my perspective is a wise thing in such situation), my character decided to not expose any additional details to her. That's how I see this. The weird thing here actually is how my character was able to react on getting the truth while speaking with real Purnisc. Devs give us the option to make a passionate reply (kind of: it's only your fault, you've deserved this), which is resulting in breaking the conversation. So basically, they allow me to releplay this situation as i want, but don't provide the chance to end the quest after this. Not fair!

It's just about role-playing of the chosen personality, right? %) I don't play do-gooder, so basically it's not my concern what will become with those addicts and their families. I believe this quest must have alternative ending, where you are not forced to solve their problems.

Well, maybe it's just my play style, but this side quest in Copperlane feels slightly undone in terms of role playing. Step by step... I've received the ring from Kaenra, got to the house, spoke with the guy who is impersonating Purnisc, and figured out that something isn't right here. Which of course has provoked me to investigate this situation further - I've bribed guard near the staircase leading upstairs, cleaned up second floor from mercs (they've attacked me without saying a word - which was a bit unrealistic, recalling that the guard below was much more cooperative - but anyway). After the fight I've unlocked the door and found real Purnisc. Talking with him I've learned that he is in fact a drag dealer too - for me this basically means that he's already got what he deserved - therefore (according to the personality of my protagonist) I don't want to be involved here any longer. There was a phrase corresponding to the situation - don't remember exact words - but it was tagged with [Passionate] qualifier. Till the moment, this is looking more or less reasonable. So I left Purnisc lying tied as he was before I came, and get back to Kaenra in order to inform her that the ring is delivered back to her boyfriend, what she had actually asked me to do at the beginning, which means that my job is done. But the only thing I can say to her at this point - is that something strange is going on in the house and I'm still looking into it. Really? But don't I already know in fact what is going on there? Don't I already did everything I wanted to do? So considering all of this I have two alternatives: 1- forget about quest being hanging in the journal. 2- help the guy even if it's against my role playing style. Don't like both of them.

Was I? I just tried to explain that I didn't ask for a help how to "beat a game" - it is not a problem for me to change a party or change a build for my tank. I simply want to make this good game even better by suggesting some ideas, that look reasonable to me. But you may have your opinion about all of this, why not.

Yeap, this is what I meant. If at least one person got the idea I'm trying to bring, means that my english is not so hopeless.

Agree about Defender - it's good, I like it too. But regarding the first part - have you ever tried to tank with paladin as your main character? If you build him for a maximum survivability (including correct reputations), then he will have enormous defenses even for POTD, which simply means for an AI that such tank must be ignored at all costs. So, AI is overly cautions about breaking engagements only if tank is not "unhittable". This logic could be acceptable, but only when you're able to counter such disengagement attempts (at least couple of times during particular encounter). An example of such counter ability is an talent I have suggested in my opening post - let's call it "Hamstring Strike" something that will automatically apply Hobbled effect on a foe which turn its back to you. Looks reasonable to me. It will work as a source of additional damage, but will hardly prevent mobs to get to their squishy prey. Even if you have such CC ready for a moment, you still need a time to cast it, which is rarely (if ever) enough to intercept mobs before they get to your glassy caster, and I don't mean forest trolls which are easily kite-able foes even without slow effects.

I'm curious. Any time you are starting new cRPG you are already familiar with its entire rule/mechanic set. I mean you know it in advance? I just ran against some flaw in this system (in my opinion) and try to discuss it here.

And I agree with this direction. I just prefer to have *optional* instruments of doing tanking job in more advanced style. There are no currently.

Well, ok, you are still trying to help me build my party. I appreciate this of course, but this wasn't the initial reason why I've created this post.