TheSteadfast

I tried to start Mask of the Betrayer for NWN2 because I couldn't get back into my main game save file. Only problem is I can't decide on a character because the class system is so complicated and varied. There is such a thing as too many options. I'm glad PoE is going to be more straight forward so I don't have to spend quite so many years over thinking how I should build my character. So I'm still stuck playing lame League of Legends, boooo

Ahhh some of you people are nuts with all the nitpicking. What's worse is pretending to speak for the majority. This feature is fine. One of the most tedious things in IE was spending so much time on inventory management. I tried the EE recently and the Area loot option was convenient even if I was in the habit of not using it. Unlimited stash is actually a dream for me because I'm a packrat and like holding on to near everything. This nonsense about needing to know what items came from where is just that. Hey maybe the magical sword came from the enemy that was using a sword and the robes came from the person wearing robes. Are you saying it is important for you to know with random enemy had a gem on him? Important items will logically be on the important enemies. Wait... did the spider venom sac come from the spider or the wolf?!? I MUST KNOW.

I'm having this dilemma too. Considering Pallegina was one of the first known companions, was written by josh, and has nice voice acting, I'm going to be hard pressed to leave her out because I think she'll have a lot of content. I am not sure about double Paladin though, it would make my PC seem less unique in the party. I was also going to make him from the Valian Republic as well. That's why I'm thinking about a Chanter instead. I wouldn't as much mind leaving Kana Rua at the stronghold and then only putting him in the party for the mega dungeon that he's associated with, Pallegina seems like she'll be important for the main quest. Deciding between a Chanter or Paladin PC is going to probably be a dilemma for me right up to release.

After watching the second panel, between stronghold attacks and those bounty quests, I think I won't be left wanting for more encounters. I wonder if the stronghold attacks are tied to your party's level. It still would be nice be waylaid a few times even if it is scripted or part of a some quests rather than being a set mechanic.

Yeah that's what I'm saying. One or the other. It's a fine line though because too many random battles or ambushes can be frustrating and tedious (think some of the Final Fantasy games). BG2 struck a good balance, though i think the waylaid battles were definitely scripted because they ran out after a certain point. If i was in charge or could mod it, I would put it some pretty occasional random fights that were leveled to be slightly lower than your current level. I think why I like those ambush battles is because they were a time where I could melt a group of enemies with spells and feel powerful before going back to the challenging fights. Or maybe it was just another chance to hear the awesome narrator. YOU MUST GATHER YOUR PARTY BEFORE VENTURING FORTH!

Any word on random ambush battles like in BG2 when traveling between maps? Or even ambushes while resting? Although they could be annoying "aw crap" moments if the timing was bad, but I thought they added a lot to the game of making it seem like a more dynamic dangerous world. I'm worried that without these and non-respawning monsters that the world will feel very empty of danger as the game progresses. A minor gripe, but I'm just curious, it be an easy way to get some more battles in the game without adding content. Of course their might be enough already. I'm guessing it is a no on both fronts, but would this be something that someone would be able to mod into the game? It doesn't require new maps.

I actually like the endurance system so far in the very short time I've spend in the backer beta. Although from a realism perspective it is a bit silly that they would pass out when stabbed burned, ect. Some of these points have been mentioned but in IE games, including the play through of BG2 i was playing last night, one or two deaths means reload or the very tedious process of re equipping all their equipment and items. In a particularly hard battle in the Underdark against a room full of Demon Knights, I would prep my party, cast my summons fight tactically and then lose my cleric to a finger of death spell, requiring a retry when the rest of the party survived and did their jobs. Contrast this with PoE. I was fighting a battle against those infamous beetles and a 3 guys got knocked out and I instinctively was going to reload just out of habit. But then I thought, I can finish this last one off with my two remaining guys. It gives a "last man standing" heroic feel to a battle where you have the excitement of almost wiping but narrowly escaping with victory. Then after the battle it did not feel "cheap" or easy because my party took long term damage and I had to decide if I wanted to push on or not. It very much reminded me of the same feeling in Darkest Dungeons. Do I risk moving forward? Or cut my losses make the trek back into town. Another problem I had in IE games is even if I memorized nothing but healing spells on my cleric, my party would need to rest before ever getting to use all of my casters spells or special items. There are so many spells in BG2 that I never really use, for example most of the counter spells, many of the cleric buffs (no time for them) many of the aoe spells because friendly fire meant another rest after one battle. I used the same handful of 'best' spells and then was forced to rest, then used them again. In fact the main strategy i used was to just spam summons to take damage and allow my party to stay healthy enough to fight a couple tough battles in a row. In PoE I used almost every spell my wizard had in his arsenal over the course of a four or five battles. So from a purely gameplay perspective I think the endurance system will be quite refreshing. I also like the limited camping supplies. Although having two health bars compared to one and then you die sounds easier, in reality I think it will make the game more challenging/rewarding.

From these discussions I'm considering a Chanter instead of a Paladin because I can put him in heavy armor and make him an off tank and still have plenty of abilities or effects in battle. I am still not sure though. In real life I want to be both a story teller and a knight! Only 22 days to make this all-important decision! On a side note... Really disappointed with the weapon sets because I only like one type in each group. I want a sword, rapier, and spear/pike.

Ughh sadly I just got sucked back into the horrific cesspool that is League of Legends It's great when you want to play a game that makes you feels mad and stressed out afterwards. Other than that I made it a goal to finish my most recent playthrough of BG2 and finally finish Planescape Torment before PoE comes out. Also playing FF7 with my girlfriend. Got her through the big tragic event in the game without it being spoiled! I've also dabbled in Darkest Dungeon, Shadowrun Returns, Skyrim Dragonborn, and Shadows of Mordor recently. I jump around way too much.

A monk? never! Don't like them stylistically or their playstyle in the IE games. Maybe I'll give them a chance after a tenth playthrough or through a future companion. My problem is always that I have an ongoing struggle between caring about min/max and caring about roleplaying. I want to be a knight with a sword, righting wrongs and other do goodery! But I also want to be the best and have the most effective characters. Maybe they will surprise us with some more stuff for If I were going to not play a pally I would just try to make a beefy priest. However, the orders are a big selling point that is hard to pass up. None of the deities priests get to choose from seem that compelling.

Clever correlates mostly with perception? This makes it even more complicated. Can anyone else confirm this? I read that Lay on Hands is pretty bad so far, so taking the lower level ability instead of an aura doesn't seem very practical. Maybe I'll do it anyway though, a weak heal seems better than no heal.... but the aura would work better with high intelligence... ahh more dilemma. So now I'm stuck between a perceptive and intelligent Darcozzi Paladin, or a Standard Might/resolve Kind Wayfarer..... Why can't I just be good at everything by spamming stat rolls for hours like in BG?!?

Oh right, Buff duration is on INT as well. Good info thanks. Bleak Walkers seem fun but I can't play an "evil" type my first play-through, have to stay a goodie two shoes. I think a solution would to have an option to pick an active instead of forcing us to pick passive auras. It's almost tempting to just make a beefy Priest if RP and the knight orders weren't important to me.

So while impatiently waiting for the release I am trying to exactly plan out my character so I don't take 4 hours deciding when the game comes out. Paladin. As soon as the class was announced during the kickstarted I knew that was going to be what I run with first. I did in all the Infinity Engine games and my first character in non class games ends up looking like a paladin (Skyrim: Heavy Armor, Sword/Shield and Restoration focus). The problem is that even though I relate most to a Paladin their gameplay is usually pretty dull. The idea of building one with non traditional stats like Josh keeps mentioning is appealing but I don't see how it would work on a Paladin. For example I always disliked that I had to have a lower INT in the IE games because I am no dumby. Looking at the lack of Paladin active abilities it doesn't seem very viable. How would increased aoe help a Pally with so few options. It works for a Barbarian but not a Paladin? Ideally I'd make a Valian Darcozzi Paladin who could focus on being clever and witty instead of cliche close minded Paladin. The character just looks bad compared to Kind Wayfarer who gets much better talents (I like the healing after kills). So what should I do? Make a boring but effect Paladin so I can do well at a higher difficulty, or is there something I'm missing in how you can build a Pally that makes him more active/versatile?