[Tiste Simeon]

Not seen any viewpoints yet but like I said I've not really left the Embrace yet so I've got a lot to come. At work today but will be home in the evening and ready to get stuck in!

[Serenity]

Makes me want to play it again. Possibly not a bad idea as I haven't even looked at Frozen Wilds yet despite buying it ages ago

[Malankazooie]

I played through Frozen Wilds. Thoroughly enjoyed it. They definitely ramp up the machine difficulty. The story of Frozen Wilds was sort of convoluted to me, but that could have been due to my start and stop nature playing the game.

[Traveller]

Serenity, on 25 August 2018 - 10:52 AM, said:

Makes me want to play it again. Possibly not a bad idea as I haven't even looked at Frozen Wilds yet despite buying it ages ago

Me too... downloaded it straightaway, but just wasn't in the right frame of mind to return to it at the time. Thoroughly absorbed in NMS at the mo but I will get back to it. It's like finding a bonus chapter to a favourite novel.

[Tiste Simeon]

So tonight I started exploring outside The Embrace. It's pretty massive. And there are so many freaking extra quests to do! But at least I can now ride striders and override watchers. Somehow need to do the same for the stag type ones (grazers? I think?)

Saw my first giraffe/longneck! That was cool though it took too long to work out how to climb it haha.

Have met up with Sona the war chief and have cleared out one of the camps with her. Also got to take out a bandit camp.

The warrior trials are they important? Got two half suns and a full whack gold sun (whatever the equivalent of getting the best time is). It's enough to get me into the Hunter's Lodge later in the game. Was a bit of a faff though.

All in all, this game is freaking incredible.

[Traveller]

Yeah the camps are pretty easy.

But, in the games defence, it means you don't spend too much time clearing them, getting caught, wanting to redo them again... like many elements, you don't get bogged down, so the story flows better.

Like inventory. The armour choices and upgrades are just enough to make you get some different ones for looks and different situations, but you don't spend hours sifting through items and crafting and collecting.

The trials are more of a personal challenge really - and the skills you learn are immediately useful when fighting. But again, you don't have to spend ages perfecting them if you don't want to.

The game wants you to have free reign, but it also keeps you on the story path, which in turn gives it focus without a million side quests to distract. It's a brilliant balance, imo. I said it before, but for me it plays like reading a really good book.

The way the map unfolds, the way the upgrades become available, and the way story events move you across the map towards the conclusion, while giving you the freedom of it all at the same time- it's masterfully done.

[Tiste Simeon]

Wow. Loads done since my last update here. This game is amazing and whoever said that there aren't *too* many side quests was spot on. Like there's enough to keep me happy and a bunch of collectibles to find that create minor diversions but not so that I'm constantly going the wrong way. Fought some monstrous crocodile things today. They were fun! Also, birds that won't stay still when you're trying to shoot them! (Glinthawks I think?)

Story wise...

Spoiler

I have now got to the border between Carja and Nora lands and I'm through on the way to Meridian. It's taken me a while because I want to hit every campfire, bandit camp and corrupted zone on the way. Haven't bothered doing the second hunting trials because I have enough "Suns" to get into the Lodge or whatever it's called.

I've been riding things for quite a while now and have completed my first cauldron so I can override a fair few beasties. I like riding the longhorns!

This post has been edited by Tiste Simeon: 31 August 2018 - 08:09 PM

[Malankazooie]

You should try to complete the Cauldrons so you get override for particular machines (the Cauldrons are not easy though). That way, you can sneak up, override one of those crocodile machines, scutter away to a nice vantage point on a hill above and watch your work unfold below you.

You should at least make an attempt at each hunting grounds to get, at a minimum, an intro to the various weapons and what they are capable of. It will pay dividends later.

[Tiste Simeon]

Malankazooie, on 31 August 2018 - 08:44 PM, said:

You should try to complete the Cauldrons so you get override for particular machines (the Cauldrons are not easy though). That way, you can sneak up, override one of those crocodile machines, scutter away to a nice vantage point on a hill above and watch your work unfold below you.

Yeah I definitely will but I've only found one in the Embrace thus far. I guess the rest must be in Carja lands which I am only just heading into. I enjoyed the Cauldron it was a fun challenge.

Quote

You should at least make an attempt at each hunting grounds to get, at a minimum, an intro to the various weapons and what they are capable of. It will pay dividends later.

Ah good point I'll do that.

[Malankazooie]

If you play the Frozen Wilds expansion, a pro-tip for you: When running from the machines up there, if you think you've put enough distance between you and the machine(s) pursuing you, you haven't.

[Tiste Simeon]

Spent today charging around the other side of the border - got my second cauldron and had the hardest fight yet when some flipping lightning bird thing attacked me (Stormbird I think?) That thing was TOUGH!! Not done much of the plot based missions but I'm having fun just running around the place finding collectibles and suchlike.

[Khellendros]

Tiste Simeon, on 01 September 2018 - 08:02 PM, said:

Spent today charging around the other side of the border - got my second cauldron and had the hardest fight yet when some flipping lightning bird thing attacked me (Stormbird I think?) That thing was TOUGH!! Not done much of the plot based missions but I'm having fun just running around the place finding collectibles and suchlike.

Stormbirds are probably the toughest machines to fight, at least at the beginning. They have quite a varied range of attacks. But bringing them down is so satisfying. The rope caster is extremely useful against them.

[Tiste Simeon]

Don't have a ropecaster. Come to think of it I don't really have much. I only have fire arrows for my Hunter bow and the tear arrows for my long distance bow. Need to find a shopkeeper that sells something better but they all have the same thing atm...

[Malankazooie]

Get a ropecaster and pin them down. But yeah, they are one of the tougher machines early on. But if you only knew what awaits further up the road. . Wear brown pants, cause, yeah, you get the idea.

[Traveller]

Are the stormbirds the ones that attack in 3s? Annoying little bastards! I didn't bother with the ropecaster until I met those guys. Pin them and spear them iirc.

Tear arrows all the way for the big stuff. Get used to ripping off armour and weapons. My tripwire technique lasted me the game though, even in cauldron encounters you can set up a ton before letting the beasties out of the cage!

[Tiste Simeon]

I always seem to forget about the caster and have been using arrows mostly. I need to use it more.

The glinthawks usually have 3 the Stormbird was much bigger and thankfully only one of them! I don't think I'd have survived 3!!

[Traveller]

Ah yes, I meant glinthawks. Stormbird is significantly bigger!

[Tiste Simeon]

Yeah glinthawks are relatively easy as a fire arrow will bring them down and then you can smash them a bit with your spear...

[Malankazooie]

Glinthawks aren't that bad. They can pester though when they have numbers.

[Cause]

Sonic arrows make everything better!