[Tiste Simeon]

Can you explain what Dark Mode is?

[Mentalist]

Tiste Simeon, on 29 June 2015 - 05:46 PM, said:

Can you explain what Dark Mode is?

Dark mode is a difficulty level added in the Enhanced Edition, I believe. It's basically the hardest difficulty, but without the perma-death. And to spice it up, it has 3 extra quests- one for each Act- that require Geralt to buy the blueprints and craft 3 sets of "cursed" armor + weapons.

As I've only ever played the game on normal or easy, it's a big shift. Basically, anything can kill you in 3 direct hits, so instead of trying to be Ramboo, you start off with a "hit and roll" mentality. Parrying only works in 1 v 1 combat, oils and other enhancements become super-important, and creative use of signs to weaken/disrupt/finish off enemies gets to be pretty important. Basically, way higher risk, but the reward is much more interesting combat. And, as I've mentioned, I believe you get a lot more XP from killing stuff, so you level like crazy.

I'm basically doing this because a) I was curious about the "extra quests" (I didn't know it involved so much grind, lol), and also because I wanted a thorough combat refresher before digging into Wild Hunt. I'm certainly getting one. Thinking more tactically, less "click attack untill either me or all stuff on screen dies".

[Maark Abbott]

When you say 'without the perma-death' - on Hard, does death basically mean a full game over, no reload?

[Mentalist]

Maark, on 30 June 2015 - 02:35 PM, said:

When you say 'without the perma-death' - on Hard, does death basically mean a full game over, no reload?

I believe the hardest difficulty ("insane") means just that. It's possible to save and quit, but if you die, that save becomes invalid.

[Maark Abbott]

Mentalist, on 30 June 2015 - 04:18 PM, said:

Maark, on 30 June 2015 - 02:35 PM, said:

When you say 'without the perma-death' - on Hard, does death basically mean a full game over, no reload?

I believe the hardest difficulty ("insane") means just that. It's possible to save and quit, but if you die, that save becomes invalid.

Now that's some magnificent bastardry.

[Mentalist]

Celebrated Canada Day by gloriously doing a whole lot of nothing. Got pretty far into TW2, finished Act 2. Draug took me about 10-15 tries, the first 5 or so were quick deaths as I familiarized myself with the fighitng grounds rolling around until I hit a wall and died. Using Quen helps a ton here-having that 1 skill point spent on Lvl 2 Quen meant every time he`d hit me, he`d get a shock and recoil, allowing me to land a hit before rolling away and repeating.

left Vergen with about 8k. Oathbreaker`s set was nice (used it to kill the Draug, b/c no other Act 2 Silver sword does comparable damage. As soon as i started Act III, before even getting into the city I found a just about equal silver sword. For steel, the dwarven blade you et for completitng the runemaster quest is teh best, esp when you enhance it.

I forgot to buy the Draug armor blueprints, so won't be crafting that. Kinslayer armour (Act III Dark set) blueprint costs 3k... I really don't feel like spending that much.

Think I rushed through Act III, may replay. won't be this week though, as million errands to run today and going camping tomorrow morning.

By August I should start Wild Hunt.

[Raymond Luxury Yacht]

Finishing up the witcher, just in time for rocket league to drop Tuesday. Also got the last of us on sale for $11, so those should keep me busy until fallout 4. If not, I still hadn't played witcher 2 yet.

Rocket league is free with ps+. It might be the most fun you ever had with your ps4. Get it, play it, embrace the hype.

[Aptorian]

Been playing a bunch of stuff.

Played a bit more Witcher 3 but I am sort of at an impass. I want to continue but I want to mod the experience system so that I get xp from lower level quests. There's also a big new patch coming in the near future that improves a ton of issues in the game.

So in the mean time:

I finished Roundabout. I love this game. The story was so stupid you had to love it, I don't know where you'd go with a sequel but I want more rotating limousine adventures.

Also finished The Wolf Amongst Us. The way the game wrapped up was not what I expected but also sort of cool. The "Final Boss Battle" was fucking awesome. The showdown with the "bad guy" a bit too predictable I think but none of the less interesting. I would like to see a second season of this game.

Played Saints Row: Gat out of Hell almost non stop over a weekend. Initially I was disappointed with the game because the production value is pretty low, but the game manages to further evolve Saints Row 4s super powers and orb collection gameplay by adding flying. The story was predictably over the top and never took itself serious. I actually think the setting was cool enough that they could have just done a proper Saints 5 with the concept.

I REALLY enjoyed the flying in this game. I don't think I have ever seen flying done this well in a game before. It kind of makes me believe in a superman video game because this was fun as fuck.

Started and dropped a bunch of games that have been lying in my steam pile for a while:

Mind: Pathe to the Thalamus is a sort of psychological videgame metafor for recovering from emotional trauma. A first person exploration game through a psychedelic/weird mindscape. Pretty cool but also clunky and obtuse and in the end not as fun or interesting as I wished.

Rollers of the Realm is a story driven pinball game, where your balls are characters that have various abilities, each stage is part of the story and have certain objectives. I wanted to like the game but the actual pinball-story-progression is not engaging and the actual pinball gameplay is bad.

Warhammer 40,000: Kill Team is a top down dual stick'ish shooter where you defeat waves of orcs to reach objectives that you then earn points for to upgrade your space marine. This game is complete garbage. I sort of enjoyed moving down orcs with a bolter but I am pretty sure this is just a smartphone game ported to PC. Looks like garbage, controls like ass, the camera is retarded and if you have played 5 minutes you have probably seen everything there is to see.

Currently I am playing a whole handful of games all at once.

Started Alien Isolation yesterday. This game is A LOT better than I was let to believe. Looking back at 2014 I think this probably the prettiest, most well designed, gaming environment that came out that year. Seriously, if you like the first Alien film you might have a nerdgasm playing this game. It's insanely well made.

However I am experiencing the same terror I did when playing Deadspace. I have to play on easy and I can't play for more than an hour at a time because the games atmosphere is SUPER oppressive. In Deadspace I could at least shoot back at the enemy, this is half a stealth game, half a some how try to kill your opponent with the last 3 bullets in your gun experience.

Let me just tell you, fuck the films, actually being in a game, in a small room, with a gigantic Xenomorph is intimidating as all hell. Just the sounds that it make, good god. Sigourney Weaver is a badass.

Also playing Ether One. This is a special experience. It's sort of first person Myst like puzzle version of To the Moon, only less personal, but a fuckton weirder. You're a new "mind traveler" sort of person sent into patient with a dementias mind, to try and fix her brain. Not really a AAA experience but certainly something special.

I picked Naissance back up and holy shit I love this game. Like Ether One it is also a sort of First Person Myst Like puzzler but the emphasis is on adventure or maybe one should say the journey into an unknown world. This is a super minimalistic and hyper stylized treck into a mad architects dreams. No interface, no explanation about where you are or who you are, you simply keep moving and exploring and you discover new breathtaking vistas constantly.

I REALLY like this discovery process which is the only reason why I keep playing because the controls are clunky, the puzzles sort of obtuse and there is a lot of bad first person platforming that combined with an unforgiving check point system makes parts of the game VERY frustrating.

But I do like Naissance despite its flaws.

Also playing Escape Goat 2. This is a cute little puzzle platformer about a Goat and a mouse once again trying to rescue some sheep from a magical castle. Already beat the main story but there is plenty of branching side areas. The actual puzzle and platforming gameplay is nothing special but somehow also very rewarding and fun.

Finally I am almost through Warp. You're an energy based alien life form trying to escape a human research faciliyty. It's sort of like a top down version of Explosion Man with added Metroidvania elements. It's cute. Nothing speciial, the main teleportation ability can be a little frustrating, but navigating the world is fun.

[Tiste Simeon]

I had a break and today I started playing Dragon Age: Inquisition. I never played the 2nd one so I feel like I'm missing a few references they make but otherwise, charging round the Hinterlands killing both mages and Templars is pretty good fun! Anything I should expect/look out for/avoid/try and accomplish first? I'm stuck on the seemingly endless side missions in the Hinterlands, "stuck" as in I keep finding more of them to get sidetracked by, not stuck as in I can't do them...

[Traveller]

Get out of the hinterlands! There are lots of other areas to explore, and you can pop back there anytime - you don't have to complete it all before you move on.

[Tiste Simeon]

Oh OK. The only other area I have got to yet is Haven. Maybe I should go back to the war room it keeps telling me I have unlocked stuff there. Maybe I'll just do the main mission to save that Chantry worker and head back...

[Aptorian]

I've finally, finally managed to get into Dragon Age: Origins and I have a couple questions for people who have played the game.

I left the starting area and I am in Redcliff currently. I noticed that when I left my camp to go to Redcliff, darkness (The blight) spread out from the woods in the starting area and began covering more of the map. Is this something I need to take into account? Is it on some kind of timer? If say, I go do quests in the west will I lose the East? Does it spread every time you've done a major quest? What about side quests? Basically I want to know if I am going to fuck myself if I just take my time?

Regarding party experience, what happens to people that I don't bring along on the quests? Do they also receive experience or do I need to regularly switch around to keep everyone more or less leveled up?

Is there any things I should be aware off about story or character progression? Like is there something that I have to do or things I need to collect?

[Rictus]

Apt, on 12 July 2015 - 05:49 PM, said:

I've finally, finally managed to get into Dragon Age: Origins and I have a couple questions for people who have played the game.

I left the starting area and I am in Redcliff currently. I noticed that when I left my camp to go to Redcliff, darkness (The blight) spread out from the woods in the starting area and began covering more of the map. Is this something I need to take into account? Is it on some kind of timer? If say, I go do quests in the west will I lose the East? Does it spread every time you've done a major quest? What about side quests? Basically I want to know if I am going to fuck myself if I just take my time?

Regarding party experience, what happens to people that I don't bring along on the quests? Do they also receive experience or do I need to regularly switch around to keep everyone more or less leveled up?

Is there any things I should be aware off about story or character progression? Like is there something that I have to do or things I need to collect?

This is a Bioware game, Apt. You shouldn't expect such crippling consequences to your choices, as they're most mostly illusory. The Blight spreads as you complete main quests, yes, but you lose nothing. It's there as a cool visual effect indicating how far along you are, so take your time.

Not entirely sure anymore, but I think companions gain XP even while in camp. Like in KotOR.

As for character progression, companion quests are probably worth doing if you want to squeeze some more interactivity out of DA. And there's gifts that you can collect, which deepen relations + progress personal quests if given to the right companion.

This post has been edited by Rictus: 12 July 2015 - 08:05 PM

[Maark Abbott]

Rictus, on 12 July 2015 - 08:04 PM, said:

Apt, on 12 July 2015 - 05:49 PM, said:

I've finally, finally managed to get into Dragon Age: Origins and I have a couple questions for people who have played the game.

I left the starting area and I am in Redcliff currently. I noticed that when I left my camp to go to Redcliff, darkness (The blight) spread out from the woods in the starting area and began covering more of the map. Is this something I need to take into account? Is it on some kind of timer? If say, I go do quests in the west will I lose the East? Does it spread every time you've done a major quest? What about side quests? Basically I want to know if I am going to fuck myself if I just take my time?

Regarding party experience, what happens to people that I don't bring along on the quests? Do they also receive experience or do I need to regularly switch around to keep everyone more or less leveled up?

Is there any things I should be aware off about story or character progression? Like is there something that I have to do or things I need to collect?

This is a Bioware game, Apt. You shouldn't expect such crippling consequences to your choices, as they're most mostly illusory. The Blight spreads as you complete main quests, yes, but you lose nothing. It's there as a cool visual effect indicating how far along you are, so take your time.

Not entirely sure anymore, but I think companions gain XP even while in camp. Like in KotOR.

As for character progression, companion quests are probably worth doing if you want to squeeze some more interactivity out of DA. And there's gifts that you can collect, which deepen relations + progress personal quests if given to the right companion.

They do, but they gain XP at a lesser rate whilst in camp. Generally a camped party member will be a full level behind the party characters.

[Mentalist]

Rictus, on 12 July 2015 - 08:04 PM, said:

Apt, on 12 July 2015 - 05:49 PM, said:

I've finally, finally managed to get into Dragon Age: Origins and I have a couple questions for people who have played the game.

I left the starting area and I am in Redcliff currently. I noticed that when I left my camp to go to Redcliff, darkness (The blight) spread out from the woods in the starting area and began covering more of the map. Is this something I need to take into account? Is it on some kind of timer? If say, I go do quests in the west will I lose the East? Does it spread every time you've done a major quest? What about side quests? Basically I want to know if I am going to fuck myself if I just take my time?

Regarding party experience, what happens to people that I don't bring along on the quests? Do they also receive experience or do I need to regularly switch around to keep everyone more or less leveled up?

Is there any things I should be aware off about story or character progression? Like is there something that I have to do or things I need to collect?

This is a Bioware game, Apt. You shouldn't expect such crippling consequences to your choices, as they're most mostly illusory. The Blight spreads as you complete main quests, yes, but you lose nothing. It's there as a cool visual effect indicating how far along you are, so take your time.

Not entirely sure anymore, but I think companions gain XP even while in camp. Like in KotOR.

As for character progression, companion quests are probably worth doing if you want to squeeze some more interactivity out of DA. And there's gifts that you can collect, which deepen relations + progress personal quests if given to the right companion.

that part about Blight being irrelevant isn't entirely true. It DOES destroy the starter village, and there's a few quests that involve back-tracking there that become impossible to complete once it happens.

Those are all sidequests though, nothing super-major. And afaik, once it's taken that place, the Blight"s generally content to sit back and wait for you tto what it is you need to do to try to save the world.

[Aptorian]

Well, I guess I can kiss the chests in the starting area goodbye then.

Played a bit more, came to the thrilling conclusion of the Redclif area. That is one hell of a damned if you do, damned if you don't choice you're faced with there. Took the third option and am now messing about in the Mages tower area. I am finding ability point chests EVERYWHERE in there. At least 3 levels worth. Super gratifying.

Regarding the characters, I am finding that, unlike for example Mass Effect, I am not particularly fond of, if not out right despise many of the team members.

Shen or what ever the Quanari guy is called is just a huge sour puss and I have decided to never use him again.

Morrigan is a total cunt of a woman. She really needs to shut her piehole.

The chantry rogue woman is a total bore and if I didn't need her lock picking skills I would not use her at all. Is there any other rogue characters I can find anywhere?

Which leaves me with Mage circle woman who I just met but she seems cool and she can do team heals. And there's Alistair who is annoying but at least he cracks me up once in a while. Considering just going with those two and the dog currently.

This post has been edited by Apt: 14 July 2015 - 02:51 PM

[Imperial Historian]

Apt, on 14 July 2015 - 02:50 PM, said:

Well, I guess I can kiss the chests in the starting area goodbye then.

Played a bit more, came to the thrilling conclusion of the Redclif area. That is one hell of a damned if you do, damned if you don't choice you're faced with there. Took the third option and am now messing about in the Mages tower area. I am finding ability point chests EVERYWHERE in there. At least 3 levels worth. Super gratifying.

Regarding the characters, I am finding that, unlike for example Mass Effect, I am not particularly fond of, if not out right despise many of the team members.

Shen or what ever the Quanari guy is called is just a huge sour puss and I have decided to never use him again.

Morrigan is a total cunt of a woman. She really needs to shut her piehole.

The chantry rogue woman is a total bore and if I didn't need her lock picking skills I would not use her at all. Is there any other rogue characters I can find anywhere?

Which leaves me with Mage circle woman who I just met but she seems cool and she can do team heals. And there's Alistair who is annoying but at least he cracks me up once in a while. Considering just going with those two and the dog currently.

There is one more rogue you can play with depending on your decisions, just proceed along the main questline and you should come across him. Plus 2 or 3 more fighters depending on which DLC you have.

[Tiste Simeon]

Yeah but the other rogue is a douche. I love Leliana!

If you can, download the free dlc and get Shale, the golem. He is by far the best character and also is an excellent tank as he can absorb damage quite magnificently.

[Mentalist]

My char was a rogue, so I never had a problem with that,

Leliana is ok. Best choice for romance imo.

The other rogue is Zevran. He's all right, best thing about him is he can teach Assassin, which is the best skill tree (3 passive skills!).

Having Shale, Shen and Morrigan in the same party all dissing humanity can be quite amusing.

My next playthrough I want to use the Dog mod, that let's you have the dog all the time w/o taking up a party slot.

Given how I'm now playing Witcher 3, I should probably jot down some thoughts re: end of my TW2 Dark Mode playthrough.

-Act III sucks. I'm sorry, CDPRED, but there's just no way around it. It should either have been a linear "play the plot. To the conclusion you chose", or had A LOT more content. As it is, it's woefully anemic. Side quests involve looting sewers (urghk!) for rare loot and... that's it.
Gargoyle contract was ok. The added optional mission for Iorveth's path (the treasure-hunting) was cool for the puzzle (out-logicing a golem!), but didn't do much for plot.

The ultimate boss fight (no, not the optional one, the monster one) was meh. Once I got the pattern down for PT I (took 10-15 tries), the second half (on the roof) took 3 or 4 tries.

Most challenging fight in Act III was the entirely optional one with the guardian of the re-spec artifact. I did it just for the hell of it, took me a few hours (this is the one with the gargoyles)--mostly b/c of the small area, the need to constantly switch b/w silver and steel, and because the bastard kept tossing fireballs in such tight quarters. The reward (a mediocre staff and a measly FIFTEEN XP is very much not worth it. So I went back, loaded an earlier save and re-specced) instead.

That being said, TW2 is still amazing, b/c Act II. However, Act III is a letdown overall, one I hope CDPRed learned from.
-did not bother with the 3rd Dark Set- too much money, and also materials. Besides, far too much sweet gear already at that point.

[Maark Abbott]

Tiste Simeon, on 14 July 2015 - 06:19 PM, said:

Yeah but the other rogue is a douche. I love Leliana!

If you can, download the free dlc and get Shale, the golem. He is by far the best character and also is an excellent tank as he can absorb damage quite magnificently.

*she

Shale is a girl

You goddamn cis patriarchal maleocrat