Gorth

It's a game of too many options and poor peons like me have to learn half of it on the fly (only knowing half of it before starting). Never held a rule book in my hands, so all my "knowledge" is from similar games (and older/simpler incarnations of the rules) In my first play through, I rely a lot (maybe too much) on the default leveling of companions and try to made best, educated guesses for my main, while sticking to the "theme" of a happy go lucky Barbarian looking for fights, women and wine. That being said, the advise to change Seelah from having wet dreams about swords to horses instead was gold, it worked miracles for her party utility. No longer the lumbering walrus arriving long after the fight is over. Listening, learning, sometimes adopting and adapting my team without it becoming a group of strangers for me

Sentencing individuals to capital punishment for crimes against humanity is not unheard of. Such individuals rarely get their own hands dirty. But, instead of punishment and consequences for ruining million of peoples lives, they got rewarded with performance bonuses, stock options or in a few very worst cases, millions of dollars worth golden handshakes (to save face in the public). All of it because of personal greed, gambling other peoples money away. Not sure they really classify as humans or are entitled to the same legal and ethical protections that most people are...

@Gromnir Oooh... he can ride smaller mounts because of his size? I'll keep that in mind. I didn't give him any level ups yet. Mostly because I had no idea which direction to take him in. All options are still on the table for him. Thank you

As far as I know, none of the responsible bank CEO's or board members got executed. Not even the 20+ years jail time they deserve. Nothing has been learned and nothing addressed. A repeat of 2008 just got kicked 10-15 years down the road.

I recruited Regill... After Jan Jansen, I never thought I would suffer a Gnome in my party. Nenio is allowed to remain at the moment, since she lost her Gnomishnes. Regill is allowed to stay because I like his attitude. He's everything you would not associate with a Gnome

Did my first, tentative rides on my new bicycle last night. Good thing it was late at night and I had the road for myself. I needed the entire width of the road for the first few hundred meters Mind you, the only bicycle I've been riding since 2003 is an exercise bike (and a several years of motorcycle riding, which is very different)

Continued from old thread...

More war this way...

A slightly more serious insight into life in Russia at the moment... People are tired of this "Special Military Operation"

Hey, my Barbarian knows how to throw a party. Pick up a lute, sing bawdy songs in a church? Check! As for companions, yeah. Considering how much a QoL improvement a small change for Seelah was, I am now tempted to revisit them all (over time) and consider their leveling paths a bit more. I mean the defaults for Lann gave him *not* recommended options (red thumb down choices), like seriously? Either the game makes decent choices and bad advice or good advice and bad choices at times Edit: Got started on the "Crusade" system, which very much feels like Heroes of Might & Magic Lite... took a bit getting used to only navigating with the arrow buttons along predetermined paths.

A Horse on a Hot Tin Roof... no, I don't really know how Seelah got her horse up on the roof top

I have a suspicion I'm going to play through this game more than once (like several times over), so I'll follow quite a bit of advice on the first time through, but stick to original theme of a strong, strong willed barbarian looking for a good scrap, wine and women. Leaving out silly altruism and pointless cruelty. I killed some Inquisitor guy earlier (I didn't like his attitude, so I separated the left half of his brain from the right half, not that he was really using either half anyway), so a pair of acolytes of Desna joined me in the Gray Citadel fight. I'm sure I was supposed to recruit more factions/people (the journal entry looked like it had allocated space for more), but I probably missed some clues along the way. Ah well, next time. Some interesting story twists along the way. Having a *lot* of fun so far. Biggest single player time sink since the old Infinity Engine games! Edit: I went ahead and changed Seelah's build slightly. Gave her a horse. Gave the horse a birthday, a name (Iomedae), the barding feats and weapon focus bite. Seriously... giving it Skill focus (Knowledge Arcana) was an option??? Maybe I should get her horse a spell book too?

Got myself a new bicycle. Now I just need a pump to inflate the tires! I haven't had a car since I lived in Denmark and no plans to get one. I will get a motorcycle again at some point. For now I need something to help me get around locally. When I moved in late March, I lost access to a nearby gym when moving and the closest 24/7 gyms here are a 30 minute walk away. Just too much time spending a full hour in the evenings getting there and back again. And I do miss visiting a gym a few times week. Not because I like gyms, but I like the results of visiting them. I need to beat some shape into this frail old body, as I can already feel it deteriorating, getting soft and flabby (it's 6 months since I stopped in the old gym now).

Mythic Charge it is then... (although Thundering Blows was tempting too). Ever Ready?... My barbarian usually starts late and then charges the enemy with charge. Camelila usually being the one who gets to do attacks of opportunity when enemies runs past her to get to my back line characters. I am really tempted to do the respect thing for Seelah and give her a horse rather than some intimate relationship with her sword Her slow pace really does condemn her to the role of wallflower in my party at the moment. Also, i got a horse armour somewhere in Gray Citadel. Looks better on a horse than in my backpack, I'm sure. Now off to redo the level up process for my party members. I don't normally play with a lot of saves, but in this one case, I had a hunch I would come back and revisit those choices. Edit: Ironically, Seelah gets Ever Ready as her default choice when using the auto feature. It's like they had planned on her having a horse???

Ah, Seelah got the sword bond indeed, being the default when using auto selection for companions (she's usually the last one to arrive at a fight at the moment). As for mythic powers, luckily my last two saves before calling it a day was before and after picking powers. Only downside to the first save is I have to do the selection again for the companions (yeah, I'm a bit lazy like that at times). Did go the beast totem route though, picking first the lesser and then standard beast totem ability. But, will reload and change the second feat to something else (sticking with the first feat, even if not optimal, sometimes you have to feel a bit of pain for less optimal choices, right?). I'll have a look at the skill descriptions on those you listed, before picking the second option... yes, you can definitely shoot yourself in the proverbial foot with a crossbow, given all the options available. The advice is much appreciated

Made it to level 6. Freed Grey Garrison and got what looks like a new "home base". As nice as the old tavern was, it was located a bit far away from everything towards the end. Also got a "Mythic Level". Picked 'A Bit of Fun' (seemed appropriate for a Chaotic character with little in the way of armour) and 'Brutality Incarnate' (seemed appropriate for a greatsword wielding Barbarian). I know my spell casters appreciate their own Mirror Image spells and enemy resistances saves them from a lot of damage. My companions are still using their default level up paths, because I don't have the brains at the moment, to try to work out optimal builds for so many classes Got a promotion (Gods save the Queen) and new tasks in for the form of "Crusade missions". Not that I know how to do that, because last thing I did before calling it quits Sunday night, was scratching my head, wondering how to leave camp with no obvious exits or characters left to talk to To be fair, it was 2am and I didn't try very hard (because Monday is a workday and I had to find my bed) Lann is sort of a staple in my party by now, because he's a monster with a bow. The remaining 4 slots get picked on need basis. I like Seelah as a character, but she's so slow it's painful. Yes, I could cast spells on her at the start of the combat, but... argh Camellia is the opposite, often ending up way ahead of the party, fighting unsupported for several rounds Ember and Nenio takes turns being the spell caster and Daeran is my new best friend in hard fights. The amount of healing that guy dishes out is unreal, especially his aoe heals I suppose Finnean counts as a companion too, but the Lilarcor wannabe would be mostly forgotten if it wasn't because he's my characters current greatsword. Woljief... well, his character rubs me the wrong way, gets left out frequently by now. Not sure what to think about Sosiel as I haven't been able to take him anywhere outside camp yet

That is fine I guess... As for Legend additional levels, they come at a vastly reduced xp rate. No idea how that works, like do you have to max out your original 20 levels at max cost, then get the discount 20 levels at a fraction afterward etc. Daeran throws some interesting parties. Somehow reminding me a lot of "Eyes Wide Shut"

I didn't have enough Grease to go around, but as they just kept coming, my party members started dying one after the other as minutes became real time hours. So I gave up on defending the gates and counted on them not being able to destroy 12 structures in time for them to win. Let the crusaders do the bleeding instead of my party, then make sure they arrive as a trickle of support for the boss rather than as a horde. I was breathing a literal sigh of relief when the boss showed up in my first real time attempt and I knew it was winnable. Even if it took me three tries to arrive at the tactic I ended with.

I didn't know about the immediate stat gain from Legend. I'll keep that in mind Yeah, I had only added up the numbers in my head for reaching level 40. Alternatively using the respec guy in the tavern to add a handful Int at the expense of Dex (although wearing light armour atm, I do appreciate a bit of Dex bonus for protection as well as the Mobility checks). Generally well supplied with Mage Shield spells too.

I hope I didn't paint myself into any unwanted corners. I picked the "Aeon" at some point, as well as "Trickster". Iirc, at the very beginning I deliberately skipped "Angel" (thinking it was binding option, locking me in early and leaving out other options doing so). I can't remember if it was an either or dialogue, Angel or Devil, I'll have to pay better attention next play through. Found another spell caster, an over the top archetype researcher and master of all things scrolls. Which gives me 6 companions for 5 slots. Time for them to start taking turns I suppose. Also, whoever thought the tavern defense mission was a good idea is headed straight for the Abyss! After two hours and 50+ turns, 4 party members down, I called it quits and decided to check the internet. Turns (bad pun) out it just doesn't work properly in turn based mode. Something somewhere gets stuck and boss never shows up/ So, RTS mode it was, until the boss shows up, then switch back to turn based again. I need 3 attempts to get the tactics right. In my third attempt, besides leaving out Woljif of the fight (too squishy for mass brawls) I simply stacked on top of Irabeth and let the crusaders deal with the trash, including the arsonists until boss showed up. Also, got to love Entanglement. Not just visually impressive as a spell, but it worked wonders slowing down the cultists leaving me to fight the boss (together with half a dozen crusaders). Then mop up remaining arsonists and the fight was over. The whole fight only took 10 minutes when doing it "right" (not the only right way of course, just more right than what I previously tried). As for the spell casters, I don't think I've made up my mind yet, which one I'll find more useful in the long run. Ember is a "Sorcerer" variant and Nenio a "Wizard" variant (using legacy D&D descriptions). I did notice a guy in the tavern that will respect my character and I think he can also do something with the companions, but for now I leave the choice of paths for companions to the game. @Gromnir I checked out Vivisectionist, but with Int 10, I would probably need to put more stat points in intelligence for it to make any sense? Otherwise, as mentioned above, tried to make sure I didn't lock myself out of Aeon and/or Trickster. Still aiming for Legend in my first play through though. That is, until I have to make final choices, then my Chaotic true nature probably shines through and I do something completely not planned Edit: Trying to mop up a few loose ends before taking on a garrison, which is otherwise up next as doable missions.

The latter being my point really

Does it make the people there happier? Better mental health? Low suicide rates? No bullying in the schools? Political and individual freedom? Job satisfaction? Decent living conditions for normal people?

You know "Democracy" was a result of political science and philosophy, not carpentry, right? (not dissing carpenters, Jesus might get angry with me). Good thing not everybody listens to your advice Edit: Otherwise we would just all end up in some kind of Ayn Rand'sque hell

I cheated a bit and read up on the mythic paths in the game (to see what they were about and what is required). None of them look like a good fit for a CN Barbarian, I guess I'll just aim for the legend route (if I make it that far) and get another 20 levels of some class (because your level cap then increases to 40, so fill it up with 20 levels of bloodrager or whatever) Lich looks like fun, but I would start a game as an evil character then (and since it replaces all your current companions, at a time where you're tired of them anyway). I just don't see myself ever playing as an angel... too much role playing required Edit: In my current game, I made it to some market and found Aerie Ember. Not sure what to make of her. In the party for now, as I don't mind a straight up spell caster. Also got the dual dagger wielding thief. Found out he doubles as a vendor once you make him happy.

Coming from a "classless" society, I noticed how stark the differences were for Australian youths. Universities are expensive and it has two effects. It creates very much a tiered society, where education and wealth is a feudal thing. It stays in the families that can afford it. The rest... can go picking grapes (and compete with the backpackers for the cheap labour jobs) or sleep in the streets. I.e. a self reinforcing inequality in society. The conservatives down here are all for that biblical quote "to him who has will be given more" (and the context be damned). Up there with tax breaks for the top 5% in poor governance Personally, I firmly believe an educated (at least the bulk of the) population is a national asset and therefore a task for the government to ensure happens. Not the task of wealthy parents. Ironically, my free University degree (minor in electronics and major on computer science) is of effectively no use today. It wasn't even what got me my first job (I worked as a cleaner, as a untrained carer in a hospice and a few other jobs, including as a removal guy, before landing my first developer job). It was networking, a friend who knew somebody who needed someone badly, like yesterday. With that on my CV it was a small step to New Zealand and the rest is history. 25 years as developer, almost 20 of those overseas. My biggest challenge is to trim my CV and leave out most stuff that is more than 10 years old to keep it shorter than three A4 pages. Nobody cares about a university degree from the 90's when presented with my CV (a few token reference checks to satisfy due diligence, did I really work for the company that I claimed working for in the position I claimed to have worked in). Doesn't change my perception, that an educated population is a requirement for well functioning (and affluent) society as a whole. Edit: Hospices didn't officially exist in Denmark back then, but they had de-factor places where they created as comfortable environments as possible for terminally ill people, both old and young.