Luckmann

I'm playing on Hard mode. At its hardest - like some of the boss or even miniboss fights - it's a satisfying level of difficulty, IMHO. For the majority of the game though, the general consensus is that it's a very easy game. I agree with that: you can stomp through 95% of the encounters without using most of your abilities or needing to know how the game mechanics work. Auto attack + invulnerable tanks = win. Then every once in a while, you find a nice, fun, difficult fight. So it's a mixed bag I'd say. It's quite good at its best, but a lumpy sort of thing where a lot of the game you play for the story / atmosphere /etc, not the fights, because the fights pose no real risk or challenge. And the atmosphere is really good in this game. You want to play just to see what the next area will hold. Highly recommended game, but for a variety of reasons beyond pure combat. The best fights are the ones that you actually royally screw up yourself. Probably has nothing to do with the difficulty, though. Or if it does, it's more likely because it's too easy than to hard, and just makes you go meh towards the end.

On a tentatively related note about modifiers/enchantments... is there a master list that explains them all anywhere? I still have no idea what Second Chance does. That said, there's the Mosquito Rapier (in Caed Nua, 2nd Floor, hidden by the bucket by the pit with the Xaurips. There's also the Purgatory Sabre, but I don't remember where it's from. No Sword or Spear that I know of, sadly, and none listed on the Wiki. Edit: The Flail you found was probably Gaun's Share, from the Temple of Eothas, and the Stiletto was probably Oidhreacht, which I don't remember where it's from either, but I did pick it up somewhere. It was either found during the main story exploration of Caed Nua or gotten from Gilded Vale Blacksmith, but I could be completely wrong. Edit 2: There's also a Club, Blesca's Labor, and a Battle Axe, Edge of Reason, but I have no idea where they are found, I just checked the Wiki.

Unfortunately, no, as far as I'm aware.

You're.. semi-right. There are hand-placed items, and all truly unique items are pre-placed. And a lot of other stuff is semi-randomized to be of relatively the same quality, as I have come to understand it. But it is possible to go through an entire game without getting one of those really good items that aren't technically unique, but so good that they might as well be - the gloves that gives +2 Mechanics comes to mind. Do want. And yeah, there's an inordinate amount of high-quality stuff to be had at completely random stores. It's.. kinda weird, really. Some blacksmit in Gilded Vale, the first town you hit, has what in the setting must be considered extremely valuable, exceedingly, exceedingly rare? Why is this guy even living here? He should just buy himself a mansion, I pretty much just gave him a king's ransom.

See? It's an interesting topic in it's own right, in-universe. My Priestess of Eothas would of course follow my interpretation of Eothas' will (based on nothing but loose conjecture and guesswork, for lack of better), and oppose it, but would be far less adamant in opposing it if it required her to kill otherwise innocent people, and would likely try to focus on easing the suffering, if anything. "I don't support it, but I understand why you do it, so I'm going to help as best as I can as long as I don't have to cross any boundaries." And if not for Waidwen's Legacy.. she'd probably be a lot more adamant on the issue, although probably not so much as to start killing people over it. Feels more like a Magran thing to burn the midwives and the abortionists as witches. Eothas forgives and knows that there will be another spring.

The XP issues were already pretty big pre-1.03, but 1.03 certainly made them worse. It's extremely annoying that I have to fill up my party as soon as possible just to avoid getting too much experience. It also appears impossible to get Edér before lvl 3 now, which is.. frustrating. Although maybe not impossible, actually, but I'd have to walk straight out of Cilant Lis, I guess.

... What? First of all, I sincerely believe that most people are idiots. In fact, I'd even go so far as to say that people are actively getting dumber. But even so, I refuse to believe that Pillars of Eternity is "really hard" for most "normal people". Especially if we by "normal people" mean people that play actual games, because alright, I'll admit that my mother's farm hero saga-addled brain would probably find PoE pretty difficult. And second, it's not "somebody" that "figured out a way to cheese through a fight". Most fights you don't even need to think about cheesing. Are we playing the same game? Because unless you're actually lobotomised, you can barge through the game like a drunk, never checking the combat log, never knowing what things really do, and just sorta wing it. On Hard. The last line, that is a fair point, but it has nothing to do with PoE. It's not just somebody, someplace in the world, and it's not someone using exploits. The vast majority of PoE is banally easy and follows a rote formula. I enjoy the game in many ways, but let's not pretend that it's hard, or that you need to exploit anything at all to succeed, or that it's about cheesing, or that you even need to pay attention.

My guess is that it's an easy-to-implement feature introduced to make it possible for players to change their portraits in order to take advantage of newly added portraits. Different people work on different stuff. You can't have everyone working on the AI all at once. Also, the AI in the game is crummy, but there's actually much more important systemic issues to address. But I'm sure someone is working on the AI, too. So it's not so much a matter of priority as much as a matter of reality.

Not all games end with the main quest. All good games do.

Rapiers and Spears are also very good, because they add +5 Accuracy, helping you to really push Accuracy. Battle Axes (+0.5% Crit.Dmg), Maces (Pen 3) and Flails (30% Graze-to-Hit) are all potentially really good, but they don't really feel very... duelist-y, I think. Until they fix the One-Handed Style Talent working with shields, Flails are really good for sword-and-board Fighters, I think. They're going to have pretty low Accuracy, so they're going to Graze a lot, and converting 60% of those is quite powerful.

Of course it does. It's the end of the game.

Well it should be easy, you only take into account the original strike. Oh, sorry, I meant how the changes would work out, balance-wise. 20% Hit-to-Crit is a lot, so there's no doubt it could use some serious tweaking. I'd still prefer another solution, though, but whatever. The way the math would play out is easy, like you say, it only takes the original strike into account, and if applicable, makes a roll to change the result. Using 1 weapon already gives you a bonus without even needing a talent; higher accuracy. Thus a better crit chance. Yes, and having the Talent capitalize on that fact would be a good thing. Currently, the Talent works against how you'd play a duelist. It affects something that shouldn't be happening to you very often at all. It's counter-intuitive and rubbish.

I think it's decided on area entry, yes, but I'm honestly not sure. Might even have to restart the game.

It coudl be that you just waded in and through sheer force of will/personality/arms carved out your own personal realm. [...] I'd be fine with that. If you actually did that. I'm not saying that it couldn't play out the way you describe, it's just that.. it doesn't. And that makes me sad.

While yeah, this is a really awesome solution, and actually feels much better than a "Profile" solution that some games use, you know what modern games should have? Nameable saves. That's what I'd expect.

If it only was relevant to the setting. There is no religion in PoE that afaik shuns on abortion. And the way the game world is constructed everyone knows that souls circulate through the wheel. Hell, I guess some day they may be up to discussion when soul is bound to the body, which would be relevant to the topic and shine a light on why/if abortion is considered a moral act or not.. After all not a body yet/empty body vs body with soul makes a difference in PoE world. So TL;DR: trying to impose our world morality/choices connected to it on a world so different from ours is a fail. Sure some parts of both moralities are similar, but many are not. Well, yes and no, I mean, you are possibly right, but that's a pretty weak "possibly". You're possibly wrong, too, but that's equally weak. It's just very hard to tell. We actually know very little about the religions and the deities. Like I said in my post, I could definitely see Eothas (as Gaun) opposing abortions, or Magran, or, even more relevant actually, the followers of the deities themselves - I think it would be quite appropriate for the setting to have at the very least a limited number of different sects and beliefs related to a given god. And while it's commonly acknowledged in the setting that souls are reborn, there's the obvious question as to where new souls come from (which may or may not have been answered), and the argument that this may result in a higher degree of acceptance ("because the child is going to be reborn anyway", which could actually be considered a pretty weak argument in itself; it's not about being reborn, it's about suffering, etc) it can also be completely turned around, such as with the argument "If the child is to be reborn here and now, who are you to break the strands of fate and force it back to the great wheel?". And as you say, it is a good question as to when a child can be considered as having a soul. Is it measurable? Or does it just sorta drip in, piece by piece, shard by shard, from the point of conception onward? I would assume the latter, because a sharp "exactly three months and 4 hours" would be.. weird. But it's possible. So while we shouldn't impose our world's morality and choices by default, by the merits or lack thereof of the arguments in our world, I can easily see how similar issues might arise on Eora, and especially in the Dyrwoods at this time. And being able to take a position on the stance, as a character in the world, should be a pretty basic, fundamental option in the context, I think. And it would be better if the merits (or lack thereof) of the various arguments and stances you can take remain largely unconfirmable, so it is impossible to take an objectively "correct" stance on the issue. I hate it when options that should be complicated and debatable have easily confirmable "right" and "wrong" answers in the game world.

Yeah, I'd like this too, but.. Kaz is probably already stressed as all hell. Q_Q There's many notable NPC:s that should have distinctive portraits - such as Lord Raedric, yes. ...and Calisca's portrait should also be replaced, because c'mon, that's obviously a placeholder.

I don't know, though, I mean.. the thing with the taxes is actually strange as hell. How are you a Lord? Who named you Lord? I don't remember anything like that. Yeah, you have a Keep, a Stronghold, fair enough, but at the end of the day, I don't think *anyone* has formally recognized you in any way. It's odd as hell, really.

A Thug Rogue; "Scarpa". The concept itself is a truly assholeish man - or possibly a woman - preferably written by Avellone, because I wondered what Avellone would write if you give him guidelines and parameters along the lines of "Rogue", "Despicable" and "Down to Earth". His characters are often nearly outlandish, yet on some level relatable or real, and with the aim of simple motivations (simpleton motivations, even?), I'm sure he'd come up with something that's actually grounded, yet eight kinds of interesting. My idea was a rogue that's been working for Lord Raedric, introduced either at Raedric's Hold or in Defiance Bay. He would be a brutish enforcer, bounty-hunter-esque, a thug, rather than the usual cloak-and-dagger rogue, thief, or assassin; he would be the opposite of the "master thief" concept that has encapsulated the idea of fantasy rogues for a long time. Rather than being "evil" for the sake of evil, he is simply a thug, albeit with aspirations and far from an actual fool, intelligent but ignorant, and with a sadistic streak. The kind of person that would laugh as he beats someone up, high on adrenalin, and claim that he's only proactively protecting himself or prioritizing himself in a s***ty world if called out on it; if you can't defend yourself or your belongings, what claim do you have on them? Like the stereotypical skinhead or anarchist punk, with all the moral fibres of a gypsy and none of the romanticism. Has a father in Defiance Bay or Dyrford, a weary war-veteran or injured worker, that he loves, that is so very proud that his son has left the shambles of the poor quarters behind and is serving an esteemed Thayn. Previously (or currently?) working with tracking down dissidents or people that would question Lord Raedric. Contacts with The Dozen, not so much the Doemenels, and has most likely participated in more than one mob out for Eothanian blood. Enjoys clubs (the weapon) and crippling people that owes him debts. Sent to find animancers for Lord Raedric, leading a small band of deadbeat ruffians. Practically a mix between these two pieces, he has the potential to be handsome, but isn't really, with a questioanble attitude towards personal grooming and hygiene, with uncommon periods of vanity, or at least attempts at improvement that always cease soon after. Black hair, blue or brown eyes as depending on race. Rogueish, but not stylish, hints of intelligence, but muscular and scarred. More mercenary enforcer than the first, but less barbarian than the latter. Name: Simple, short, low-born, but preferably sharp. No silly monikers or call-names. Suggested: Scarpa, which will also serve as placeholder name for now. Race: Human, probably Meadow, or Savannah just to set him apart as an oddity (or at least uncommon) one in the Dyrwood. Culture: Dyrwoodan, like Edér, or simply Aedyran. Either way, it's +1 Resolve. Background: Enforcer. +2 Athletics. Suggested Attribute spread: MIG: 18 PER: 9 CON: 13 INT: 12 DEX: 15 RES: 11 This is including modifiers from Race & Culture. Class: Rogue (obviously). Abilities: Crippling Strike. Scarpa is not the intelligent swashbuckler, he is about the pounding and the thuggery. He is the one to bust your kneecaps or blindside you in the ribs, not one to throw sand in your face or try to slash you across the eyes. Talents: Weapon Focus Thug (Club, Hatchet, Dagger, Unarmed, Pistol). Scarpa is all about the thuggery and the simpler pleasures in life, such as watching someone pass out when clubbed over the head, or see someone shrieking like a schoolgirl when he punches them in the ****, or watching people on skateboards hurt themselves on YouTube. He is the very definition of a subhuman and practically encapsulates the entire philosophical concept. Skills: Athletics first, Stealth second, and one to three points of Survival. Starts with no points in anything else (save the +2 Mechanics he unfortunately gets from Rogue). Additional notes: Comes with a unique, but not overly special, Club. Basically a mean-looking polished branch that he's been using for years.

I tag this thread with Possible Spoilers, not because there is intended to be any, but because there'll possibly be a few, probably minor ones, but possibly major, so if you are sensitive, stay out. Now, anyway, there was this other thread, where I found myself running away with a concept, and realized that we needed a thread for suggesting CNPC:s! Woo. As I have harped on numerous times, the number of CNPC:s in the game is abysmal, and leave very little options in regard to choice, and it's exceedingly hard to push them away. Also, their reactivity leaves a lot to be desired. And during the course of the "Lack of Evil Companions"-thread, I started drawing the outlines for a suggested CNPC, and realized I wanted a thread like this. In it, we will both broad-stroke suggestions for various companions as well as flesh them out as much as we desire, albeit not write them. It's mostly meant to be food for thought and little more. Now, from my own perspective here, I'm going to be assuming balanced Attributes, as well as more diverse and different weapon focus groups. I hated how the existing CNPC:s got compromised and actually changed because of the Attribute system resulting in them getting "bad" Attributes, so if I suggest "bad" Attribute spreads for anything, it's because I operate under the assumption that they're not bad, and Attribute spreads are more about characterization and playstyle (beyond Tank vs. DPS), rather than lopsided and simple min/max. I suggest everyone else does the same. I will also assume a CNPC Level of 2, meaning 1 Ability, 1 Talent. This is purely because that's what I think CNPC:s should be limited to in terms of auto-leveling, in order for them to be a bit fleshed out, but still have ample room to move. It is by no means a rule; feel free to post full progressions suggestions in the same way CNPC:s in the game already has. And without further ado, a "proper" post of my original idea that made me want this thread, below. I will put it in a separate post.

I love it as it is to be honest - one of the most annoying things in fantasy games is how utterly crazy you end up looking. I often prefer the simple look of the starter armors/weapons and the fact that I can enchant them to be as crazy as late game spiky-doom armour is great. Nothing better than walking in, looking completely regularly and unimposing and then dropping the a-bomb spells in their unsuspecting faces. Doesn't work quite as well if you look like Sauron. I think a better solution would be to not make high-quality armours look utterly ridiculous. Because I share your sentiment completely. I well and truly hate the WoW School of Arms & Armoury that has become so extremely prevalent in modern games. That way, both of us can get what we want. :3

Originally they did have it printed out: 1.0.3.530. That was when the hotfix first went out on GOG. If only to differentiate it between the initial patching I presumed? Do they really assign their own version numbers or reduce them to larger build numbers? Cheers for the patch good sirs and madams. They really do assign their own version numbers. It's incredibly confusing for some games. Here, so far, it's matching up pretty well - 1.03. = 1.0.3. The reason they printed out the hotfix extra was because.. well.. it was a hotfix. The hotfix seems to have since been folded into their main "1.0.3." patch. It's nice to see that GOG seems to have patching down now, though. Getting 1.04.540 ("1.0.4") up seems to have been really quick and painless. It's still just "1.0.3 to 1.0.4", and they'll probably fold that into a single patch later, but still, it gets the job done.

Man, there should be binary reputations too, not just the dispositions that build up. Just getting +1 Cruel doesn't seem appropriate. General, Perk- or Talent-like reputations that is granted for specific acts or solving certain quests in certain ways. This case, "Psychotic Episodes". Well, they didn't. I accidentally (I was farming gold-plates) ended up killing everyone on the street in Brackenbury, and earned myself villain status in Defiance Bay. So far no one has cared. Slaughter a half-dozen animancers on the doorstep of the asylum and go inside: same as it ever was. Whiiiiich is pretty sad, yeah. The reputation implementation could've been better. The pieces are there, but as Longknife pointed out in another thread, there's not that much to support it in most cases, unless you go ballistic and starts killing people randomly for no logical reason. Like, who doesn't end up becoming a hero in Gilded Vale? And the Dispositions (Cruel, Aggressive, Rational, etc) are pretty damn arbitrary. Makes me think that the guidelines for what is what should've been clearer.

If that's what it takes, that could be a good counter, for ambiguity. But in order for that to even happen or come to a head, I think you at least have to be given the option of taking a moral stand, and then if that's not enough, argue, and sure, at the end of the whole ordeal, make the choice as to whether you'll go to those lengths to enforce your morality, or if you settle for just taking a stand in this instance, or do not consider the issue worth killing loads of people over. And of course, yeah, you should be able to take a stand in the opposite direction too, if it's relevant and not out of place (as in, if there's a situation where these issues pop up, such as legal restrictions, etc). I think it would be funny if you'd raise the point of a womans "right" to "her own" body and a group of guards just laugh you in the face, or a group of religious nutjobs go bananas. In particular I'd expect Eothas (as Gaun) or Magran and maybe Ondra to have some things to say on the matter, while others might be straight-up indifferent. I'd expect Skaen and maaaaaybe Woedica to support it. But in general, gods are probably pretty big on the whole spreading the seed and increase the flock thing. This could actually be something interesting to paint otherwise "good" people as "bad" (in the modernist sense, at least). Gaun is all about the seasons and the harvest and all the regular Chauntea-by-any-other-name stuff, and Edér having an interjection about the immorality (although he'd certainly not say it so formally) of abortion or Durance going on for a while about how women are whores and children are tinder for the furnaces of Magran could be funny. And oh god, I think this might actually make Grieving Mother explode. Sagani would maybe question it, but be more /shrug, considering the whole Hollowborn thing. She seems "understanding", for lack of a better word. Meanwhile, I think that Kana Rua would have a pretty "worldy" approach, like, "of course, why not?". I wonder what Hiravias would do... he *is* a druid, but at the same time, he's a lecherous little wreck of a man. Aloth? Probably /careface.

I haven't tried 1.04 yet, but yes, there should be barks while paused. If you can confirm that you're not getting it, submit a bug report.