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[Durante]

I was thinking about why I find the quests in PoE so much more engaging than in most other RPGs.

I think at least part of the reason is that the NPCs who give you the quests and who you interact with throughout them are actual characters. They may have incomplete information, or withhold some from you. Most of them will only tell you the truth when forced to or if it is convenient for them. And very rarely is anyone clearly in the right.

 

[JC Sera]

Found quite few pets already, I wonder how many game has as total.

Oh cool, I only found the Beagle as a summon attached to a cape
Act 2 question

Spoiler

has anyone had the leaden key assassins kill an npc you spoke to? They killed Serel, no 500cp mid blowing sex for me

 

[beato_angelico]

Yeah the fighter is a tank and as far as I can tell so far doesn't really get any amazing blow your socks off abilities like some of the other classes. Which is fine by me as I like playing tanks. I do find the fighters ability to engage(I think that is what it is called) enemies to be irreplaceable though.

I think this was one of the good things that Dragon Age Origins did, giving fighters more abilities and stuff to do in combat. PoE sticks closer to the classic D&D feel so fighters might be too "vanilla" for some.

 

[Arcteryx]

Ugggggggggggggggggggggggggh. Ran into that bug in Raedric's Hold where the game just black screens and crashes...le sigh. I basically can't leave(whenever I try to go outside it crashes) lol. Just saw there is a 10+ page post on the Obsidian forums about it, as well as Reddit.

This + the double-click bug = me taking a break until they fix this game.

 

[Varna]

I like the Ranger companion... but damn, she doesn't feel all that useful in combat. Plus having to manage an extra unit that basically doesn't do shit is tiresome. Feels like this game gives you way too many backline companions.

 

[Dmax3901]

I was thinking about why I find the quests in PoE so much more engaging than in most other RPGs.

I think at least part of the reason is that the NPCs who give you the quests and who you interact with throughout them are actual characters. They may have incomplete information, or the withhold some from you. Most of them will only tell you the truth when forced to or if it is convenient for them. And very rarely is anyone clearly in the right.

Really good point. Also the lack of "go here for quest" map markers and no mimimap make everything feel a lot more natural and realistic.

 

[Poetic.Injustice]

I wish this game didn't have archaic stuff like resting to regain your spells, divinity is pretty good on that point.

 

[Durante]

I like the Ranger companion... but damn, she doesn't feel all that useful in combat. Plus having to manage an extra unit that basically doesn't do shit is tiresome. Feels like this game gives you way too many backline companions.

I think she's pretty useful. Reliable, quick (if low) damage output to finish off enemies, and the pet is useful to tie up an extra engagement or two, and pretty durable (at least compared to anyone in my party who isn't Eder).

 

[petghost]

Man that epitaph thing seems to have blown up rather quickly. I guess a lot of folks think it was obsidians doing rather than an oversight. Hope it blows over quick so people don't boycott a genuinely good dev.

Also someone mod out all backer epitaphs/ souls pls.

 

[water_wendi]

I think they decided to skip optimization for lower end machines to stay on budget. still, while I understand it, it is quite annoying to see it run worse than much prettier last-gen games.

i have a Core2Duo 3.0Ghz with a 750Ti and 4GB ram running Win7 64bit and the game runs great. i thought the game was going to run like Might and Magic X (runs horribly) but Pillars has been running very smooth. No frame dips that ive seen even with a ton of enemies and spells going off.

 

[Anoregon]

Found quite few pets already, I wonder how many game has as total.

lol wow, the only one I've found so far isn't even in that picture

Spoiler

(white wurm)

 

[JC Sera]

I like the Ranger companion... but damn, she doesn't feel all that useful in combat. Plus having to manage an extra unit that basically doesn't do shit is tiresome. Feels like this game gives you way too many backline companions.

The companion I made to fill out my party in gilded vale was a Ranger
She was super useful, especially for scouting.
None of the other animals seem as useful as the bear, which is a free damage sponge.
Also they synergize really well with Chanters.
Put your party a couple of rooms away from the monster, send in the animal to lure them out, by the time the monsters get to your party, the Chanter has their invocations at the ready

 

[Zornack]

Is the level 2 Wizard spell Combusting Wounds broken? I'm doing some testing and it doesn't seem to do anything. I'm having a fighter duel wield daggers and attack a target with Combusting Wounds applied to it and no extra damage is showing up in the combat log or over the mobs head.

I have had a similar issue with the level 2 Cipher spell Recall Agony. It seems that spells which put a debuff on a target that then deals damage when the mob takes damage either don't work or don't show up in the combat log or floating combat text.

After some additional testing it looks like Combusting Wounds DOES work. I attacked a Xaurip with an unarmed fighter after the debuff was applied and it died between my fighter's punches. The kill was attributed to my Wizard. None of the damage showed up above the mobs or in the combat log.

Now I just have to figure out if the damage is being reduced by DR. Since CW only does 5 burn damage it would be reduced to 1 or 0 on most enemies. I'd assume it would, all damage is reduced by DR, right? Which would make this spell quite useless.

 

[Lactose_Intolerant]

Man that epitaph thing seems to have blown up rather quickly. I guess a lot of folks think it was obsidians doing rather than an oversight. Hope it blows over quick so people don't boycott a genuinely good dev.

Also someone mod out all backer epitaphs/ souls pls.

people need to watch the last part of the latest Real Time with Bill Maher. People are way too pc and up in arms about everything.

 

[Pinko Marx]

Man that epitaph thing seems to have blown up rather quickly. I guess a lot of folks think it was obsidians doing rather than an oversight. Hope it blows over quick so people don't boycott a genuinely good dev.

Also someone mod out all backer epitaphs/ souls pls.

Why would they need to be modded out? Just ignore them.

 

[Zornack]

Transphobia exists. We're playing a CRPG with rampant racism, sexism, violence, religious extremism and a million other terrible things. A single poem which makes fun of a man who ran off a cliff after finding out he slept with a man fits the universe. It also in no way, at least in my opinion, perpetrates transphobic ideas.

Not only that, I found it rather progressive that you can select male or female portraits and voices regardless of your starting sex. You can role play a trans character in this game if you want.

That being said, I'd have no qualms with the poem being patched out, but anyway getting up in arms over it has their anger misplaced.

 

[KingKong]

I was thinking about why I find the quests in PoE so much more engaging than in most other RPGs.

I think at least part of the reason is that the NPCs who give you the quests and who you interact with throughout them are actual characters. They may have incomplete information, or withhold some from you. Most of them will only tell you the truth when forced to or if it is convenient for them. And very rarely is anyone clearly in the right.

Really, I think theyre pretty good but they feel a lot like other rpgs where what you end up doing doesnt really matter too much, and you dont actually do anything other than run to talk/fight with a person in place A or B.

So individually theyre good, but when you do 5 of them in the capital it ends up feeling like just a way to get xp and a unique loot since they all blended in together

e: I should say the 'main' sidequests in the areas are great, its just the smaller ones that feel like I just spend a lot of time running around and loading in and out of areas

 

[Madouu]

Huh my backer achievement still hasn't unlocked even though it says it's enabled in the DLC steam tab.

Anyway time to start act II, extremely happy with what I have played so far.

 

[Rawket Lawnchair]

Do pets offer anything substantial btw? The Black Hound, do you ever find its master?

 

[Kvik]

It's Monday. Another work week start. I could've been home playing Eternity. :-\

Although it is a short week with Easter just around the corner.

Man that epitaph thing seems to have blown up rather quickly. I guess a lot of folks think it was obsidians doing rather than an oversight. Hope it blows over quick so people don't boycott a genuinely good dev.

Also someone mod out all backer epitaphs/ souls pls.

Yeah that epitaph drama was making a mountain out of molehill. I clicked on it once and it took me right out of immersion. Lesson learned.

Do pets offer anything substantial btw? The Black Hound, do you ever find its master?

My Black Hound was the only one left standing in many fights

I think she's pretty useful. Reliable, quick (if low) damage output to finish off enemies, and the pet is useful to tie up an extra engagement or two, and pretty durable (at least compared to anyone in my party who isn't Eder).

I am rolling a ranger myself and I found my Antelope companion is more durable than her Wolf companion (that Defensive bonus)

 

[UnrealEck]

I like the Ranger companion... but damn, she doesn't feel all that useful in combat. Plus having to manage an extra unit that basically doesn't do shit is tiresome. Feels like this game gives you way too many backline companions.

This is my gripe with some CRPGs. Neverwinter Nights 2 was the same way. Way too many bodies to manage and be on my screen at once for my liking.

people need to watch the last part of the latest Real Time with Bill Maher. People are way too pc and up and arms about everything.

Yes and it pisses me off a bit. There's some genuinely noteworthy issues in games but there's also way too many people making mountains out of molehills lately.

 

[Anoregon]

I really like using the 2x reload phrase on my chanter with 1-2 firearm users in my party. Dat synergy.

 

[HK-47]

people need to watch the last part of the latest Real Time with Bill Maher. People are way too pc and up and arms about everything.

No one needs to watch Bill Maher.

 

[Aeana]

people need to watch the last part of the latest Real Time with Bill Maher. People are way too pc and up in arms about everything.

Bill Maher is not a good role model.

 

[Rad-]

Spoiler

Holy shit I didn't even know you could do that, the pool of blood just stopped talking to me. That's wild. What was the stat boost?

Spoiler

You apparently require ranks in cruel for it to acknowledge you
It didnt talk to me either

Spoiler

It gives +1 to one attribute and +1 DR against one damage type. Not that useful but I didn't like the ranger woman so ¯\_(&#12484_/¯

And I think I had 2 cruel points at that time if anybody's wondering how to talk to it.

 

[Pinko Marx]

I think she's pretty useful. Reliable, quick (if low) damage output to finish off enemies, and the pet is useful to tie up an extra engagement or two, and pretty durable (at least compared to anyone in my party who isn't Eder).

She does pretty good damage in my game. I'm playing on hard with no other modifiers and she is pretty reliable damage. Usually hitting in the 10s~20s while staying out of battle, has some good skills, and her wolf is useful for helping out in the melee.

 

[Ixion090]

I think they decided to skip optimization for lower end machines to stay on budget. still, while I understand it, it is quite annoying to see it run worse than much prettier last-gen games.

If that's the case, then what's the chance of this issue getting fixed sooner or later?

 

[Effect]

1) Yes, it has humorous stuff in it ofc, but the main story so far seems to be pretty serious.

2)

Spoiler

yes

3) Not sure on this one. I think your created character is technically the lead?.

4) You choose some stuff about their past in character creator and you kinda define what their personality is in dialogue by how you answer and the choices you make.

The player character is the lead. Stuff happened that made him/her special
There are unique party members that have their own story, questline and dialogue. You can also hire party members at the inn. It takes you to the same character creation screen like you did with the player character. But those hired at the inn have no story or quest line, or dialogue.

When it comes to the player character, there are dialogue choices in conversations, and the game remembers those choices you make and records it in the reputations system. There is an option that you can turn on so you see what kind of response you are choosing. (Honest, diplomatic, cruel, etc.) I came across one conversation and it recognized me being an honest guy because of the Honest responses I made with conversations with other people.

Great. Thanks for the responses. That pretty much covers what I was wondering about. Lack of a romance option in the game is a bit disappointing. Not that I need it but it would be nice. I hope the story is good enough that it won't even be a concern.

 

[JC Sera]

Spoiler

It gives +1 to one attribute and +1 DR against one damage type. Not that useful but I didn't like the ranger woman so ¯\_(&#12484_/¯

And I think I had 2 cruel points at that time if anybody's wondering how to talk to it.

Spoiler

+1 to an attribute is nothing to laugh at, seeing as they are set at the start
Not worth sacrificing a companion for it for me though

4 ranks of benevolent :')

 

[HK-47]

Why arent there lesser invocations for chanters that only require 2 chants but arent as powerful?

 

[Lactose_Intolerant]

Bill Maher is not a good role model.

I never said he was a role model, just that people should watch the new rules that covers this topic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFeDFva6tcg

 

[Jigorath]

I like the Ranger companion... but damn, she doesn't feel all that useful in combat. Plus having to manage an extra unit that basically doesn't do shit is tiresome. Feels like this game gives you way too many backline companions.

She and I are both rangers so that gives my team two extra fighters. I don't know if it's the best strategy is but it's been working pretty well for me.

 

[SlasherJPC]

So does anyone else have extremely delayed audio dialog and also temporary freezes during inventory changes, etc? If so any work around to what is causing it? It's really taking me out of the experience so far.

 

[Count of Monte Sawed-Off]

At the bottom of the Endless Paths.

Spoiler

Holy shit, I'll come back later.

 

[Pancakes]

I love how the game rewards you for actually paying attention to the text and figuring things out on your own.

Valian Embassy sidequest

Spoiler

When you went to talk to the forgotten and do the deal if you ask him the right questions he tells how briefly how the smuggling operation is done. It's not relevant to the actual quest nor is it even mentioned in the journal. But if you're curious like me and actual travel to the docks and sneak through the entire southern docks you eventually find the location he mentioned with jewels inside.

I didn't think they would actually bother putting that into the game but it was a nice little surprise, something this game is full of.

 

[Shao Kahn Brewing a Stew]

Found quite few pets already, I wonder how many game has as total.

I don't know how I survived most of Act I without finding Eder. Game changer! Lol

 

[Zornack]

Back with more theorycrafting!

It appears that DoTs are affected by DR but only by a factor of between 1/7th and 1/9th. I cast Corrosive Siphon on a party member and it dealt 10 damage per tick with no armor on, 9 damage per tick with 7 DR armor on and 8 damage per tick with 9 DR armor on. Also, the DoT would stack. If I cast it twice in quick succession both continued to tick independently of each other, though only one application of the DoT would show up in their combat status window.

 

[Varna]

She and I are both rangers so that gives my team two extra fighters. I don't know if it's the best strategy is but it's been working pretty well for me.

Maybe I was to quick to judge. I remember reading earlier then when a Ranger's pet goes down they go down as well... Felt like I was just baby sitting the wolf. Another meat shield isn't something to scoff at I guess. Still I am still a bit disappointed. I was instantly reminded of Mazzy from BG2 when I saw her... but Mazzy just destroys shit.

The memorials are pretty great.

 

[Pinko Marx]

Maybe I was to quick to judge. I remember reading earlier then when a Ranger's pet goes down they go down as well... Felt like I was just baby sitting the wolf. Another meat shield isn't something to scoff at I guess. Still I am still a bit disappointed. I was instantly reminded of Mazzy from BG2 when I saw her... but Mazzy just destroys shit.

The memorials are pretty great.

When the pet goes down the Ranger gets a debuff.

 

[Raphael]

TIL

Bounties grant a crap load of exp

Shadow summoning item is cheat-level op

Learned both at the same time

 

[Pancakes]

Well just found a rather annoying bug when buying and selling. If you click an enchanted item when selling it, it gets stripped of all it's enchantments and gets sold at the base price.

I was selling enchanted plate armor that was worth 805cp and when I clicked to add it to the trade box it showed all enchantments gone and woth 200cp.

Drag and drop doesn't have this issue.

 

[Anoregon]

So I didn't get around to doing

Spoiler

Raedric's keep

until I had a full level 7 party. That last fight was kind of a joke

 

[Conezays]

The companion I made to fill out my party in gilded vale was a Ranger
She was super useful, especially for scouting.
None of the other animals seem as useful as the bear, which is a free damage sponge.
Also they synergize really well with Chanters.
Put your party a couple of rooms away from the monster, send in the animal to lure them out, by the time the monsters get to your party, the Chanter has their invocations at the ready

I'm going to try this strategy out, thanks.

I'm about 8 hours in.

So...who decided to side with

Spoiler

Rodrick over Kolst? I killed Kolst. :S

 

[Tom Penny]

Man this game is challenging. Took many many tries to take down the dragon but did it

 

[Anno]

I'm going to try this strategy out, thanks.

I'm about 8 hours in.

So...who decided to side with

Spoiler

Rodrick over Kolst? I killed Kolst. :S

Spoiler

I might have, but his conviction about killing his wife put me over the edge.

 

[Burt]

Spoiler

It gives +1 to one attribute and +1 DR against one damage type. Not that useful but I didn't like the ranger woman so ¯\_(&#12484_/¯

And I think I had 2 cruel points at that time if anybody's wondering how to talk to it.

Haha, well if you're going cruel, you might as well go all the way. Definitely something to keep in mind for my next run as an asshole fighter.

 

[Raphael]

Well just found a rather annoying bug when buying and selling. If you click an enchanted item when selling it, it gets stripped of all it's enchantments and gets sold at the base price.

I was selling enchanted plate armor that was worth 805cp and when I clicked to add it to the trade box it showed all enchantments gone and woth 200cp.

Drag and drop doesn't have this issue.

What in the... hop i wasnt getting it. I mass click to sell. Oh well, even if so, im still sitting on more money than I know how to spend.

 

[FACE]

Which skill is that?

Into the Fray.

 

[Durante]

Really, I think theyre pretty good but they feel a lot like other rpgs where what you end up doing doesnt really matter too much, and you dont actually do anything other than run to talk/fight with a person in place A or B.

Mechanically that might be true in many cases, but for me, it's all about what you talk about, and the context that talk takes place in.

The setting and the characters inhabiting it in PoE are simply more believable and nuanced, and that makes all the difference when interacting with them.

In fact, the game does world building so well that I'm now paralyzed by which faction to align with in Defiance Bay. I understand their motivations and positions, and I dislike them all for different reasons each. I'll have to decide which one is least distasteful. If that's not a realistic political setting I don't know what is

I don't know how I survived most of Act I without finding Eder. Game changer! Lol

I just found new armor and a new shield for Eder, and I have him on full defense spec. He's almost impossible to kill -- does no damage but probably the single most important member in my party.

I love how the game rewards you for actually paying attention to the text and figuring things out on your own.

Valian Embassy sidequest

Spoiler

When you went to talk to the forgotten and do the deal if you ask him the right questions he tells how briefly how the smuggling operation is done. It's not relevant to the actual quest nor is it even mentioned in the journal. But if you're curious like me and actual travel to the docks and sneak through the entire southern docks you eventually find the location he mentioned with jewels inside.

I didn't think they would actually bother putting that into the game but it was a nice little surprise, something this game is full of.

Yeah, there's quite a bit like that.

 

[Jhriad]

Roommate is having problems with the game saying his hirelings are unpaid while he has the money to pay them and it just said that it paid them. Anyone else have a good solution to this issue?

Also, when exactly do you get tax income from the stronghold? I feel like I've had mine forever and the only tax collection I've seen so far was taken by bandits. I love the idea of the stronghold but not really caring for the implementation/lack of documentation.