Game News Age of Decadence Released on Steam Early Access

[UnknownBro]

No mang, I'm not that bittersteel guy, I swear.
And sure, I'll watch your 'strategy guides', I sure need a good laugh.

 

[Vault Dweller]

Whatever. Go back to play with spears monkey-boy.

Shield and sword is as powerful combination as any other - when you learn the ropes and specifics.

Pretty much. I'd say it's the most powerful build, especially if you throw in some CS to go with the sword's passive.

 

[hiver]

No mang, I'm not that bittersteel guy, I swear.
And sure, I'll watch your 'strategy guides', I sure need a good laugh.

Those are not strategy guides at all. I primarily made those so i can quickly show some idiots what is turn based combat really about - since AoD is currently the best example possible that shows how fucking intense TB can be.
Be sure to check the four videos of my super powerful Assassin build dealing with Miltiades quest.
Now fuck off to whatever retarded hole you crawled out of shitstain.

Shield and sword is as powerful combination as any other - when you learn the ropes and specifics.

Pretty much. I'd say it's the most powerful build, especially if you throw in some CS to go with the sword's passive.

I have a nice Praetora(?) talker-fighter hybrid just waiting to test it, though im probably going to die a lot. Ive been postponing playing with sword and shield a bit just because i expect it to be the most effective.

And i finished the mine - both ways, where that guy with a bronze handar was the greatest threat and had handed me my ass back many, many times over. Especially outside. I barely made it with the last burning oil i had. Very nice setup btw.

 

[Roguey]

(kinda like "useless" firearms in Bloodlines if you put only 2-3 points in it)

We've discussed this and I even had visual proof showing that your skill in firearms doesn't affect base accuracy. Doing more damage doesn't help much when you can't hit the broad side of a barn with any of the guns available in the first two hubs.

Also: The People have spoken:
http://steamcharts.com/app/230070#All

47 today's peak
81 all-time peak

http://steamcharts.com/app/233310#All

51 today's peak
272 all-time peak

Looks like Jeff's still the big fish in the little pond.

 

[Clockwork Knight]

Then again, Avadon 2 is already a full game and costs less than half as much. Comparatively, AoD is doing pretty good.

 

[a cut of domestic sheep prime]

Not to mention I'm pretty sure I've seen it on the top banner. Actually advertising your product does tend to get you more sales...

 

[Vault Dweller]

(kinda like "useless" firearms in Bloodlines if you put only 2-3 points in it)

We've discussed this and I even had visual proof showing that your skill in firearms doesn't affect base accuracy.

We've discussed it and you posted some pictures as proof. I played Bloodlines several times, usually using guns because they worked so well when you put some points in them. Never had a problem. If anything I felt that guns, even the early ones, were too powerful.

Looks like Jeff's still the big fish in the little pond.

I certainly hope so. The guy's been at it for a long time.

 

[Bubbles]

Then again, Avadon 2 is already a full game and costs less than half as much. Comparatively, AoD is doing pretty good.

If you combine today's stats of AoD's Early Access and Demo versions, AoD has both more players and a higher average price per copy then Avadon 2

 

[Roguey]

We've discussed it and you posted some pictures as proof. I played Bloodlines several times, usually using guns because they worked so well when you put some points in them. Never had a problem. If anything I felt that guns, even the early ones, were too powerful.

Ah, well, it's good to know you're someone whose opinion isn't worth considering when evaluating shooters.

 

[Why.jpeg]

About done with the demo. This game has been officially added to my Christmas list.

 

[Vault Dweller]

We've discussed it and you posted some pictures as proof. I played Bloodlines several times, usually using guns because they worked so well when you put some points in them. Never had a problem. If anything I felt that guns, even the early ones, were too powerful.

Ah, well, it's good to know you're someone whose opinion isn't worth considering when evaluating shooters.

Thought it was an RPG. Was I misinformed?

 

[Roguey]

Thought it was an RPG. Was I misinformed?

It uses real-time melee brawling, ranged magic, and shooting as methods of conflict resolution.

 

[Johannes]

AoD world is always the same, when you learn how something works you will know it for certain. Whereas in roguelikes there's always a hundred random variants that will force you to adapt, there's always unknown and surprising things coming your way throughout a game.

Roguelikes have their emergent quality, but they still have mechanics that are always the same and can be learned with certainty. Much of how you improve in a roguelike is through trial and error.

Let's be honest, trial and error does not require a player be clever or tactical. The analogy of learning to play piano, which is just a tedious chore starting out, might be a fair analogy though it does not seem like praise. The only question is would an easy game be any less boring? Everything is shit. Either be bored by easily steam rolling a game, or be bored by a grind of trial and error.

Much of how you improve in anything whatsoever is trial and error. That's not saying anything.

Would an easy game be any less boring? That depends on the quality of the content I reckon. Are the questlines and their branching interesting, is the dialog good, does the world feel alive? These are the things the game relies on, whether it's easy or difficult. As a pure character-building/puzzle game, or as a combat game, it's lackluster compared to countless others.

 

[latexmonkeys]

Hell yes! Just defeated Cado's two thugs and saved Verdanis! Used a hammer and shield, net, and no alchemy or poison.

 

[hiver]

Ah, well, it's good to know you're someone whose opinion isn't worth considering when evaluating shooters.

Roqs... cheap statements like these make you someone whose opinion isnt worth considering about anything.

 

[Tigranes]

Hell yes! Just defeated Cado's two thugs and saved Verdanis! Used a hammer and shield, net, and no alchemy or poison.

Nice. Did you net the guy on the far side the first turn and then knock down the second, or something? Or disarm the second? I assume you had 10AP to be able to do that? Or Verdanis just had some nice dodges?

 

[Why.jpeg]

Hell yes! Just defeated Cado's two thugs and saved Verdanis! Used a hammer and shield, net, and no alchemy or poison.

I wasn't able to save Verdanis but I didn't really give a fuck about that guy so looting his corpse and hawking his shit was enjoyable. I didn't bother to go back to talk to Cado since I felt like that was a bit too risky. I'll have to do that with another character.

 

[latexmonkeys]

Nice. Did you net the guy on the far side the first turn and then knock down the second, or something? Or disarm the second? I assume you had 10AP to be able to do that? Or Verdanis just had some nice dodges?

I knocked down the closest guy on the first or second turn I think, then Verdanis finished him off. After that, I netted the second guy and moved in for the kill. Admittedly a little bit of luck was involved, but it only took me a few tries (changing it up a bit each time).

Of course stat and combat skill choices are extremely important to pull this off. I should to shuffle my points around quite a few time to be able to defeat the first assassin quickly enough to have sufficient health for the next encounter.

The small buckler was key because of it's smaller hit to THC.

 

[Tigranes]

In my experience the close guy goes first and swipes Verdanis a bit before you can move; then you move once, and subsequently the two finish him off. So it may be about having higher initiative to start first, and then ensuring you can knock him down early. Still, that's good stuff.

AOD's emphasis on specialising makes you forget how gamechanging items you have no proficiency in can be, i.e. a crossbow for a melee dodge assassin or a net even if you have 1 Throwing.

 

[hiver]

I almost made it once with heavy spear for the easy quick reach and nets. It was so very close - just a single move difference - that i never tried after.

Vault Dweller Elhoim
I just read through the Help for the first time. Thats a very nicely written little guide there. How about making that button flash and glow when the players goes into the game for the first time and stops only after it has been opened once?

- this isnt some sarcastic joke. seriously.

 

[Azrael the cat]

Stil trying to work out why removing something's brain is an intelligence procedure.

Have you tried to remove anything with a staff+1?

No, because I made the intelligence check, resulting in my not melee-ing the balor.

Actually, THAT'S the right solution. Mage melees a balor, his int gets dropped to 5 due to the overwhelming evidence that his character sheet must be wrong.

 

[Midair]

Much of how you improve in anything whatsoever is trial and error. That's not saying anything.

My post wasn't very clear. I mean trial and error in the sense of just taking blind guesses, which you often have to do in roguelikes unless you read a guide. It is not entertaining to have to guess how a system works. A much more entertaining challenge is when the system is clearly specified and you have to figure out how to use that system to your advantage. I want to know the rules of a game and then think about how best to play, not spend my time just deducing what the rules are.

I would go as far to say AoD is not difficult, or not challenging in the sense I am trying to convey. It is a more artificial challenge. But the alternative is non-challenge. A typical rpg might give you 5 easy filler encounters, where AoD gives you 1 encounter that you have to reload 5 times trying different guesses. I am being as critical of AoD as I can be and I still can't say it is really any worse than the alternative. Both cases are weak as gameplay but they serve as vehicles for content, which as you say is what matters.

 

[Black]

Question: if I lower my enemy's accuracy by critting him, say, twice in the head and once in arms, do those penalties stack?

 

[latexmonkeys]

In my experience the close guy goes first and swipes Verdanis a bit before you can move; then you move once, and subsequently the two finish him off. So it may be about having higher initiative to start first, and then ensuring you can knock him down early. Still, that's good stuff.

That must be it as I always get the first move in that situation. I can't always save Verdanis, but I can consistently win the fight.

 

[hiver]

Much of how you improve in anything whatsoever is trial and error. That's not saying anything.

My post wasn't very clear. I mean trial and error in the sense of just taking blind guesses, which you often have to do in roguelikes unless you read a guide. It is not entertaining to have to guess how a system works. A much more entertaining challenge is when the system is clearly specified and you have to figure out how to use that system to your advantage. I want to know the rules of a game and then think about how best to play, not spend my time just deducing what the rules are.

I would go as far to say AoD is not difficult, or not challenging in the sense I am trying to convey. It is a more artificial challenge. But the alternative is non-challenge. A typical rpg might give you 5 easy filler encounters, where AoD gives you 1 encounter that you have to reload 5 times trying different guesses. I am being as critical of AoD as I can be and I still can't say it is really any worse than the alternative. Both cases are weak as gameplay but they serve as vehicles for content, which as you say is what matters.

Seems to me you didnt even play the demo about which you are talking about. If you actually did you would know there is no blind guessing in AoD. You would know there are rules and very clear rules too.

There is no 1 encounter that you have to reload 5 times trying different guesses. I never encountered a single one and im playing AoD for .. years now? There are quests, and encounters where you can try your options. Thats a different ball.

Its just that you casual binaries give up after you run into the first problem or two - because you never even bothered reading anything that is presented to you directly through character creation screen or through Help you can call up any time.
Its just not spoon fed down your throats - which for you means it doesnt exist. Which is the result of a prolonged exposure to retardation of mass market and inborn deficiencies.

Question: if I lower my enemy's accuracy by critting him, say, twice in the head and once in arms, do those penalties stack?

what does the combat log say?