Lord Wafflebum

It's been brought up multiple times and even reported as a bug. I'm sure they're painfully aware of how everyone feels about the crickets.

I got time to play around with the wizard last night a bit more in depth, and I take back what I said. I was definitely not using the wizard right. Apparently I needed to watch Josh play to appreciate the class more. That said, I'm of the mind that the current AI under-utilizes wizards much like I have been. I can effectively ignore wizards in combat and focus on other peeps without any terribly negative consequences. When I use a wizard now, I can make a really tough fight trivial with one or two spells. I should be afraid of enemy spellcasters, but they act like it's Monday morning at the office and kinda just phone it in until they die. My wizard has complete control of the battlefield in a few seconds, but enemy wizards seem like they can't really be bothered with this combat nonsense right now. I know they're still tweaking things, but I hope helping enemy wizards pay more attention to what's going on is on the to-do list. Maybe the wizards just need a cup of coffee?

As I've said before, we have no idea yet if the no-kill xp is degrading to player advancement. The beta is simply not representative of how the actual game plays from an xp standpoint. I'm pretty sure Anthony Davis was saying on the codex that the quest xp system was actually really good. Also, I played the beta from the beginning. I've always been fine with quest only xp. Regardless, kill xp isn't coming back. Josh met you guys halfway with bestiary xp and I think that was quite gentlemanly of him.

I might be wrong, but I'm pretty sure when I played as a monk last they had some special animations. I think there's at least a kicking one for one of the abilities...

I guess my problem is that I don't see how they're more useful than, say, a cipher. I can reasonably control, on Normal, most battles with engagement and cipher abilities. For me that makes wizard spells (primarily AoE damage) a liability. Self buffs I don't bother with as I think it wastes spell usage. The only thing I may not be using to its potential are the debuffs, but I find myself unsure why I would bother when I can use a cipher to mess with specific enemies until my front line and gunners can focus on them.

I'm a Rat King.

I've been reading Josh's tumblr a lot today (I highly recommend it to everyone; things make more sense with perspective) and from the arguments for how wizards currently are I think I may be playing the wizard wrong. I think I'll have to create my own to play with when I get a chance next.

Lol, didn't read any of the rest of the thread, huh? It's another acronym for NPC, assuming you don't translate it from it's french origin first.

Either way, I think we agree that empty(ish) streets don't necessarily mean developer laziness/engine limitations/Josh Sawyer hates us/Illuminati conspiracy. There are a myriad of reasons for why something might be the way it is. It's easier to become hyperbolic and freak out because something isn't how you want it, but sometimes things are the way they are for a reason and taking 30 seconds to reflect on that allows these forums to not be BSN.

Maybe it's really cold outside and no one wants to loiter in the cold. Also, maybe the streets are clean because they have street sweepers?

My initial reaction to the wizards were instinctively, "oh God kill him now!!!!!!!" Now when I encounter wizards I just spread my guys out and stop worrying. I use my cipher to make any wizard irrelevant. I'd be good with making wizards a force to be concerned with more. Maybe it's because I now outright murder the BB Wizard when I start a new game and don't know the full abilities of the wizard, or the enemy wizard AI doesn't know how best to be a wizard either. I wouldn't mind being more scared of wizards. Wizard.

You should all just be colorblind. It's not so bad. Altho I do have to take an extra test when renewing my driver's license, so there's that...

Because the community makes unofficial patches that pretty much everyone used and we forget about it.

Probably, but can you really blame a guy for trying to stretch out the longevity?

@Ink Blot I did misunderstand the point you were making. In fairness, nothing is guaranteed to last regardless of the service. Any of us that have been around the interwebs a bit know this. I'd hope that we all have the presence of mind to save digital extras on a backup somewhere. It's why I still always buy the physical disks whenever I get a game. That said, I'd be surprised if they didn't make that stuff available on at least GOG. It's already going to be on there from the sounds of it. The only challenge I see is OE's ability to communicate what keys get what with the GOG folk. That could get tricksy.

Math hasn't always been my strong suit, but assuming I'm understanding numbers correctly $500 is much more than $45. Don't hate the poor, Mitt Romney.

I don't personally care, as I can (and will) do as you suggest, but I know other people like to have everything in one place, whether it be Steam, GOG, or whatever. I believe Barry is a very dedicated collector and has a great desire to have a 'complete' collection on GOG or whatever other services he uses. You get a complete collection regardless. It makes no sense to upset about this. It's the exact same stuff no matter where you're getting it from.

I haven't finished watching the whole stream yet, but what I've watched gets me really excited (maybe in a naughty way?). It's nice to see Josh isn't that much better than I am at the game, so mayhaps I'll make my first playthrough be on Normal difficulty. I'm beginning to think that my low levels of enthusiasm previously were due in large part to playing through the beta for the gazillionth time. I like the way the stronghold looks. I'm thinking I'll be spending plenty of time there! From my beta experiences and watching this stream, I think they've really nailed the IE-feel (for me, anyway. I know there are those of you that vehemently disagree).

I'm still miffed that I can't play this game through Origin.

Cow-people?

It's like you knew I would be drawn in by the Codex. The conversations get much more... colorful. Despite that, people tend to be more respectful there (with Anthony Davis, anyway) even though there are fewer rules keeping them doing so. I definitely get the draw of the codex, and why so many of you guys are over there, too.

Considering I've now spent hours browsing the Codex, which I have never once done before, Sensuki is apparently an artist. I've been very much entertained by all of it.

Psht, why bother? Horses float just fine.

ALL OF MY DREAMS HAVE COME TRUE!!!

I like Steam because it's super easy to repair my game when I inevitably break something trying to install mods.