Hawke64

Thanks for the key, ShadySands. I guess, I should post something. Steam:

I guess, Hedwig is for the people, who haven't played a CRPG before. The character also has a pre-made build (no idea, how good it is, though). The thing that I strongly dislike is that he's featured on all in-game art (those book illustrations) and that the weapon of choice is a flail, instead of a sword (if you go with the most generic option possible, be consistent with it). I'd prefer, if the illustrations included only companions, because it's easier, than drawing every custom character and less immersion-breaking, than Hedwig.

Channeling souls to Muatu unlocks one of the endings for the DLC.

I hope, Ship Respawning is optional?

What weapon and class would be better for a melee-focused character with a 2H sword? Elven curve blade and rogue or greatsword and 2H fighter? I've found only one decent ECB (+1, Keen) on my first PT, so is this weapon type a viable option?

There's a disposition check - if Shady >= 2, they don't trust you. Otherwise, you can trade the above-mentioned weapon.

I think, PoEII already is a masterpiece. At least, it's the best RPG I've played this year. Though, I'd prefer it to be shorter (~40 hours) and to be launched as a complete and finished product (i.e. no balance changes or DLCs).

Completed the game. The last two chapters were major pain, though for different reasons.

I already got all hidden achievements, but if I remember correctly, they are bound to the main or DLC story lines (i.e. unmissable).

As in, you would have preferred no patches and DLCs? Ideally, only patches. Less ideally - patches and expansions (i.e. reasonably big, limited in number and disconnected from the main game, basically the 3 main DLC). The thing I dislike is those small DLC with weapons/animations/random bosses. Can't say that my attitude is rational, more like personal preference. But, as I said, the trend of releasing the complete and bug-free (as far as possible) version of a game a year after the initial launch is unpleasant.

Completed 3 times. The best bits are factions, companions, reactions to player's actions. The worst bits are RNG'ed good loot (not critical, but quite annoying) and the continued development (reminds of "games as service" thing).

I like the Ukaizo sequence as it is - with very limited and optional combat (or even combat-free, if you have the Bounding Boots), there are the mega-bosses for those, who want challenge, and the DLC have the lore covered. There are games, where the final mandatory boss is a random big bad thing (e.g. The Technomancer, a nice ARPG otherwise), and it's a good thing that PoEII isn't one of them. Though, more specific faction encounter sounds interesting. Edit. On the second thought, I'd like to be able to talk the rival down on the solo path.

If I remember correctly, "Finding the Pathfinders" is activated by a random encounter with a group of Pathfinders during "The Varnhold Vanishing". ...I have some doubts about my grammar now.

If I remember correctly, you must be the Slayer's chosen, not the Seeker's.

I'd go with "hollow victory", but, yeah, it's nitpicking. In general, I do appreciate the effort made for the consistency of the setting.

Seeker, Slayer, Survivor. After defeating the naga at the Crucible, the Slaying Face congratulates the party with "The naga's venom offers only pyrrhic victory for those who best them, yet our contender lives to fight another day!". Does it mean that there was a person named Pyrrhus in the history of Eora, who achieved a victory, while suffering heavy casualties? Or it should be considered a bug?

Complete and unlimited respec might affect the design, though. If the developers know that you can change your character's stats at any point, combat encounters and skill checks are likely to be (un)balanced accordingly. But it might be more about the skills of the devs, than the respec function itself. On an unrelated note, is it possible to change character's appearance (not stats) in Pathfinder: Kingmaker without mods?

I prefer limited and optional respec, like it was in Dark Souls II-III, because on the first run, when you don't know the game's mechanics and available equipment, you're likely to make a not-optimized build. And if the game takes more than 20-40 hours to complete (and/or not interesting), the first run is likely to be the last. On the other hand, I agree that it can be slightly immersion-breaking, thus the function should be somehow explained in-universe.

I couldn't pass the Religion and the Metaphysics skillchecks, but I was the Slayer's chosen. If you ask Eruke how to convince him to give up, an easier (16) Intimidate option should appear next to the (22) one. Not sure, what will happen, if this option is chosen, though.

An atheistic Kind Wayfarer, yes. I couldn't act emotionally enough (except for the chats with Berath), so benevolent was the preferred disposition. It went well with the Energetic animation.

The cake was a really nice blessing. I kept in the inventory for the whole game. /s Seriously, I'd like to see meaningful blessings/curses, while being able to reject the former. I don't remember Hylea even mentioning that I went with her support to the end-game (the Sun-in-Shadows).

I guess, any background related to the main factions would work. I played as a stoic human/rogue/drifter from the Valian Republics and a benevolent death-godlike holy blade (can't recall the background and culture). There was enough reactivity to feel it meaningful.

You can't ask him directly, because he isn't presented during the dialogue (Aexica does say that it would be cruel). But he becomes a good replacement for the Faces, possibly the best. Though, the Faces themselves start attacking random coastal villages.

Completed AER: Memories of Old. It is a linear adventure game with light puzzles, exploration and without combat. The graphics are exactly the thing I like - stylish, clear and not demanding performance-wise, controls are uncustomizable (which might be critical for left-handed people and AZERTY-keyboard users), puzzles and platformer sequences are very simple and easy. Started Pathfinder: Kingmaker. So far the game strongly reminds of The Age of Decadence and Baldur's Gate - RNG affects outcomes of combat encounters a lot.

I've just started the game. So far (character creation) so good. One question, though. How to toggle highlight? I'd prefer to see interactive objects and NPCs without holding Tab.