On the subject of limited stock of event advancing items (grappling hooks, etc)

[ctdavids]

Ok, so I ran into an issue where, as far as I can tell, I need a grappling hook to advance and there isn't one: http://forums.obsidian.net/topic/67585-unable-to-continue-i-think/

 

Now, the fact that this may be the cause of a bug aside, I would like to raise a particular issue: the fact that there are apparently a limited number of grappling hooks in the world of project eternity.  And, one assumes, hammers and chisels, ropes, and whatever other useful adventuring items exist.  And that they are apparently one-use in all cases. Why?

 

I mean, where's the fun value in that? Or the logic, honestly.  What, they suddenly are unable to attach some bent metal to the end of a piece of rope?  And I can't recover my grappling hook after using it to lower a dragon egg? Did it become emotionally attached to said egg, thereby being unwilling to leave its side?  Scarcity of magic armour: makes sense, plus it's a limiting factor on character power which is a good balance thing.  But why limit my ability to solve problems using an appropriate tool that is relative easy to make (or recover after use)?

 

By my count, you can use 3 grappling hooks in the beta: climbing up to the dragon egg, lowering the dragon egg, and crossing the chasm in the temple (I'm assuming for this last one because it mentions a grappling hook, but I don't actually have one).  But you can only buy 2?

 

Maybe they aren't supposed to disappear. I'm not sure.  But if they are, this means that someone doing the dragon egg quest who used one to climb up and one to lower is now unable to use one to cross the chasm in the temple, unless I'm missing something.  And even if there is a 3rd grappling hook hidden somewhere that I missed, I'm not sure hunting for a 3rd grappling hook is really a rewarding experience in a world where I was able to buy 2 of them from a store, but not a third because apparently they ran out and I can't fashion one myself from torn clothing and a bent sword or something (not that I want to be able to craft like that, I don't, I just don't want to be stuck for lack of a freaking grappling hook).

[Epicrandom]

Presumably this won't be quite so big an issue in the main game, when you can just travel to another town and buy more of these types of items.

 

Unfortunately, you tackled the quests in the wrong order - if you cross the chasm first, there is another grappling hook in a chest back there.  Also, I think it's possible to get the egg with only one grappling hook.

[ctdavids]

Presumably this won't be quite so big an issue in the main game, when you can just travel to another town and buy more of these types of items.

 

Unfortunately, you tackled the quests in the wrong order - if you cross the chasm first, there is another grappling hook in a chest back there.  Also, I think it's possible to get the egg with only one grappling hook.

 

Yeah, actually the reason I lost both hooks on the egg was that there's a bug that removes all hooks in your inventory for 1 use (or something like that).  But the point remains that a "right order" for quests isn't an ideal situation either.  There is also an alternative to having the hook which is that I can go in via the currier's tower and come at it from the other side. 

 

I agree that it might be less of an issue in the final game, but don't really see the point in it being an issue at all.