Incline Age of Decadence - Tips, Tricks and Spoilers

[Florian Gheorghe]

finally decided to start playing today, after I got to finish Colony Ship and had a blast, voting it GOTY of 2023. Bought it on Steam for 6Euro.
From start I had to opt for hardware mouse for fast browsing between apps.
I know I played it before but got stuck at a mandatory fight and lost. Will try now a non combat run.

 

[Litmanen]

finally decided to start playing today, after I got to finish Colony Ship and had a blast, voting it GOTY of 2023. Bought it on Steam for 6Euro.
From start I had to opt for hardware mouse for fast browsing between apps.
I know I played it before but got stuck at a mandatory fight and lost. Will try now a non combat run.

Remember to specialize as much as you can your character not to be stuck somewhere.

No jack-of-all-trades. Otherwise some parts will be very difficult to overcome.

 

[Ol' Willy]

For a change I tried dodge - max DEX - daggers build and I simply couldn't make it to work, all three attempts. I know such builds are viable and could be very powerful once they come online, but you had to go through early game and it is just unbearable. Couldn't even finish off the first Miltiades quest

Something more usual for me as hammers - block went much better. Right before Agathoth

Curiously, Marculus was my weapon of choice for nearly the entire game. Firstly the blue steel one you can steal in Teron, then the sky metal one I made from al-Sahir's axe. It is really good actually - the damage output is decent and gets better (20-25 crits no problem), and low AP cost allows lots of attacks. The build clicks one you get power armor and becomes just overpowered

And still, Agatoth was dispatched only on the fourth try. The tactic is simple, one neurostimulant, bola to the head and whacking at his arms (like I did few years ago with the axe build). The bastard could still crit bad

 

[Parabalus]

For a change I tried dodge - max DEX - daggers build and I simply couldn't make it to work, all three attempts. I know such builds are viable and could be very powerful once they come online, but you had to go through early game and it is just unbearable. Couldn't even finish off the first Miltiades quest

Something more usual for me as hammers - block went much better. Right before Agathoth

Curiously, Marculus was my weapon of choice for nearly the entire game. Firstly the blue steel one you can steal in Teron, then the sky metal one I made from al-Sahir's axe. It is really good actually - the damage output is decent and gets better (20-25 crits no problem), and low AP cost allows lots of attacks. The build clicks one you get power armor and becomes just overpowered

And still, Agatoth was dispatched only on the fourth try. The tactic is simple, one neurostimulant, bola to the head and whacking at his arms (like I did few years ago with the axe build). The bastard could still crit bad

Did you try bombing the two Militades goons?

For Daggers you can try TG instead, with either 4 or 7 CHA - gives you more pertinent training than AG, and the main missions have less combat.
After you get to Maadoran you can immediately pump Crafting to 10 and use the sewer sky metal to make a dagger, and start stabbing.

 

[Ol' Willy]

Did you try bombing the two Militades goons?

For Daggers you can try TG instead, with either 4 or 7 CHA - gives you more pertinent training than AG, and the main missions have less combat.
After you get to Maadoran you can immediately pump Crafting to 10 and use the sewer sky metal to make a dagger, and start stabbing.

I don't want less combat, what's the point of playing the combat build if you don't go for more fights?

This build is frustrating as early game both defense and offense are really underwhelming. Even at 6 dodge with 0 armor penalty I get hit a lot by anyone who isn't a complete bum, and each hit hurts a lot. Then, the damage output is weak - the base damage on daggers is not that good, and aimed attacks miss too often. Bleeds and poison are good, but they deal damage over time, and by that time my char is usually already hacked down

For comparison, hammer-block build just whizzed through Teron like a death machine. The last boatmen fight? A joke, I think I lost no more than 5HP in it. The only fight I couldn't do was Aemolas village raiders, had to lure them in

 

[Ol' Willy]

To be frank, my first ever build in AoD was daggers. Horribly non-optimized (as it was blind run) and weird heavy armor + block + daggers but it worked well. But as it is, heavy armor and block allowed me to live through early game for build to actually work (didn't kill Agatoth back then though).

Speaking of my latest hammer+block run, the only downside is that it is rather generic. I think my axe build was very similar in spirit.

What's the fun of playing generic builds? I think of something more interesting: 10 STR 10 CON but 4 DEX, heaviest armor I could find, 10 axe and 10 crit for max damage, moderate block

 

[Parabalus]

Did you try bombing the two Militades goons?

For Daggers you can try TG instead, with either 4 or 7 CHA - gives you more pertinent training than AG, and the main missions have less combat.
After you get to Maadoran you can immediately pump Crafting to 10 and use the sewer sky metal to make a dagger, and start stabbing.

I don't want less combat, what's the point of playing the combat build if you don't go for more fights?

This build is frustrating as early game both defense and offense are really underwhelming. Even at 6 dodge with 0 armor penalty I get hit a lot by anyone who isn't a complete bum, and each hit hurts a lot. Then, the damage output is weak - the base damage on daggers is not that good, and aimed attacks miss too often. Bleeds and poison are good, but they deal damage over time, and by that time my char is usually already hacked down

For comparison, hammer-block build just whizzed through Teron like a death machine. The last boatmen fight? A joke, I think I lost no more than 5HP in it. The only fight I couldn't do was Aemolas village raiders, had to lure them in.

To be frank, my first ever build in AoD was daggers. Horribly non-optimized (as it was blind run) and weird heavy armor + block + daggers but it worked well. But as it is, heavy armor and block allowed me to live through early game for build to actually work (didn't kill Agatoth back then though).

Speaking of my latest hammer+block run, the only downside is that it is rather generic. I think my axe build was very similar in spirit.

What's the fun of playing generic builds? I think of something more interesting: 10 STR 10 CON but 4 DEX, heaviest armor I could find, 10 axe and 10 crit for max damage, moderate block

Not less combat, sorry, but more backloaded - you get more SP in the initial missions, making the side content (and making sure you kill everyone) easier. Main missions have more total targets than AG.
You can do daggers with block too, makes the early game better. Dodge was nerfed a while back and for 1h block is mostly better.
With dagger you do Aimed:Torso later and people just explode, the weapon skill ensures you have 100% crit.
Try a run with 0 def skills, but drop DEX from 10, suits the Axe - 4 might be too little.

 

[Fenix]

Supply me with vignette for most fight-heavy path - is it AG?
I want ultimate dodge-axe build for those slutty red crits.
I played long ago so forgot every frigging thing. )

 

[Technomancer]

Supply me with vignette for most fight-heavy path - is it AG?

Vignette? Probably merc. Can kill assassin, then two thugs and Vardanis. Then join any guild you want.

 

[Fenix]

Then where are more bonuses - boni - to weapon? some training or dialogue stuff?

 

[Fenix]

And what about stats distribution?

 

[Technomancer]

Then where are more bonuses - boni - to weapon? some training or dialogue stuff?

https://antifandom.com/ageofdecadence/wiki/Training

Highlights:
-2HP for 5 dodge rating when fail crit on Esbenus
5 dodge rating from Dellar if pass CHA 7 check
melee accuracy from thieves guy if member
ranged accuracy from assassin guy if member

Guards also get training late in the game if member and have high weapon stat

And what about stats distribution?

Have to sleep before work, without specific its too broad of a topic.

If you intent to ask many questions probably best to join iron tower discord server, will get answers faster because most of the AoD regulars hang there.

 

[Fenix]

That's my last @ but honestly it's like 4-5 yo so I remember nothing about it.

 

[Fenix]

Guards also get training late in the game if member and have high weapon stat

Can I join AG, then "change" them to IG? I vaguely remember something like this? or in this case - from thieves to guard?

Are there - I know, hororr - walkthrough? I sadly hase no time to dive in deeply.

 

[Ol' Willy]

Did you try bombing the two Militades goons?

For Daggers you can try TG instead, with either 4 or 7 CHA - gives you more pertinent training than AG, and the main missions have less combat.
After you get to Maadoran you can immediately pump Crafting to 10 and use the sewer sky metal to make a dagger, and start stabbing.

I don't want less combat, what's the point of playing the combat build if you don't go for more fights?

This build is frustrating as early game both defense and offense are really underwhelming. Even at 6 dodge with 0 armor penalty I get hit a lot by anyone who isn't a complete bum, and each hit hurts a lot. Then, the damage output is weak - the base damage on daggers is not that good, and aimed attacks miss too often. Bleeds and poison are good, but they deal damage over time, and by that time my char is usually already hacked down

For comparison, hammer-block build just whizzed through Teron like a death machine. The last boatmen fight? A joke, I think I lost no more than 5HP in it. The only fight I couldn't do was Aemolas village raiders, had to lure them in.

To be frank, my first ever build in AoD was daggers. Horribly non-optimized (as it was blind run) and weird heavy armor + block + daggers but it worked well. But as it is, heavy armor and block allowed me to live through early game for build to actually work (didn't kill Agatoth back then though).

Speaking of my latest hammer+block run, the only downside is that it is rather generic. I think my axe build was very similar in spirit.

What's the fun of playing generic builds? I think of something more interesting: 10 STR 10 CON but 4 DEX, heaviest armor I could find, 10 axe and 10 crit for max damage, moderate block

Not less combat, sorry, but more backloaded - you get more SP in the initial missions, making the side content (and making sure you kill everyone) easier. Main missions have more total targets than AG.
You can do daggers with block too, makes the early game better. Dodge was nerfed a while back and for 1h block is mostly better.
With dagger you do Aimed:Torso later and people just explode, the weapon skill ensures you have 100% crit.
Try a run with 0 def skills, but drop DEX from 10, suits the Axe - 4 might be too little.

I am already at Cael-Tor on that 4 DEX build, with 9 axe, 8 crit and 3 block. My opinion of it is mixed

The damage output is decent. THC is high, crits are plentiful, but the damage on crits is still 25-30 with sharpened steel meneb. This allows two-shot most of the people, but I haven't oneshot anybody yet. Headshots are particularly good

6 AP is of course a real bitch. I could do one headshot or move one square and do one fast attack, that's it. +3 DEX from power armor will surely help, but it has lower DR than imperial armor, which is important on low defense builds like this. Sequence is complete ass and enemies always get two turns on me

The build is very limited on non-combat skills and content, I have 8 crafting and that's it. No +1 DEX from medical facility for me, it requires 8 lore and 4 lockpick which are unreachable

At 10 CON poison resistance is really high, weaker poisons do 0 damage per turn

Now, I never played low DEX builds, and I don't think I ever will again. For some reason, here I have 6 INT and it is obvious that these 2 points would be much better off in DEX instead

BTW I will try dagger-dodge type on 40 thieves though, but later

 

[Technomancer]

Can I join AG, then "change" them to IG?

Yeah, most of the guild switches happen in act 1, few allow same in 2.

Can join AG and later defect to IG when they place a hit on IG commander and you turn on your partner-assassins instead.

Also can go from merchants to IG.

Thieves to IG is not possible.

Max content and XP path is to join Assassins, then in Maadoran start first assassin quest but never actually initiate it, get training from the guy in the guild and then go to Gaelius - lord of the city - and become his praetor instead which will unlock Darious Tomb location.

Are there - I know, hororr - walkthrough? I sadly hase no time to dive in deeply.

Steam, wiki or discord.

 

[Parabalus]

Max content and XP path is to join Assassins, then in Maadoran start first assassin quest but never actually initiate it, get training from the guy in the guild and then go to Gaelius - lord of the city - and become his praetor instead which will unlock Darious Tomb location.

This used to add extra content because you could also do the first AG quest in maadoran after becoming praetor, but they fixed it. Not that different from others anymore.

MG can do the entire Teron questline, then go to outpost and be escorted by HA to Gaelius and become praetor.

 

[Fenix]

Max content and XP path is to join Assassins, then in Maadoran start first assassin quest but never actually initiate it, get training from the guy in the guild and then go to Gaelius - lord of the city - and become his praetor instead which will unlock Darious Tomb location.

I see, I think I chose that path for my assasin, I stopped at Maadoran I think? before switching sides, pic above ^.
But could it include battle training from IG? I think, some of them only for those who joined IG in Theron?

MG can do the entire Teron questline, then go to outpost and be escorted by HA to Gaelius and become praetor.

Yeah, but MG doesn't have combat training rigth? only Streetwise/Persuasion etc.

 

[Technomancer]

MG can do the entire Teron questline, then go to outpost and be escorted by HA to Gaelius and become praetor.

Will get less XP overall because you don't get XP for finishing mine quest if you get escorted.

Starting Maadoran boatmen quest gives you 15SP from training and then allows you to get Darius Tomb (+5SP area location and quest XP). This is the most XP path you could do.

 

[Technomancer]

But could it include battle training from IG? I think, some of them only for those who joined IG in Theron?

Not possible.

Yeah, but MG doesn't have combat training rigth? only Streetwise/Persuasion etc.

No combat training unless you betray merchants and defect to IG.

 

[Parabalus]

MG can do the entire Teron questline, then go to outpost and be escorted by HA to Gaelius and become praetor.

Will get less XP overall because you don't get XP for finishing mine quest if you get escorted.

Starting Maadoran boatmen quest gives you 15SP from training and then allows you to get Darius Tomb (+5SP area location and quest XP). This is the most XP path you could do.

If you don't use the +10 ranged skill then MG gives you more SP, with that it's close.

 

[Technomancer]

MG can do the entire Teron questline, then go to outpost and be escorted by HA to Gaelius and become praetor.

Will get less XP overall because you don't get XP for finishing mine quest if you get escorted.

Starting Maadoran boatmen quest gives you 15SP from training and then allows you to get Darius Tomb (+5SP area location and quest XP). This is the most XP path you could do.

If you don't use the +10 ranged skill then MG gives you more SP, with that it's close.

Yeah, the ranged skill you get from AG crossbow man is a flat increase to accuracy, but you don't actually get any SP from it. You also get +5SP in alchemy from assassin poisoner if your alchemy is 1.

 

[Fenix]

Given axe which is more proftable?
MG gives SP or increase in sertain skills?

Also flat increase to a rating is more valuable - later levels cost much...
I remember how I wrapped my head around Teron quests as AG member, fcuk, this is what putting me off of the game.
Then you find out your stats are not enough to do X thing in chapter Y and it's replaying anew again.

 

[Technomancer]

MG gives SP or increase in sertain skills?

MG mostly trains talking skills but their general SP rewards for main quest completion are higher by around 5SP.

 

[Fenix]

6 10 6 4 7 7 - is it good spread for Merc?