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Gothic Chronicles Of Myrtana: Archolos mod for Gothic 2
Reina
Arcane
For a first time since... since I can remember, I am not rushing through the game, I am savoring every minute of it. 25h in, only middle of second chapter, and I'm blown away by quality of this modification. I replayed both Gothic and Gothic 2 and can safely say, this is superior experience to vanilla, very much so.
One thing I didn't see talked much here is how mod team got natural progression right, something that NoTR expansion fucked up in original G2. Original Gothic 2 was quite well designed, with clear break points in character strength (i.e. - you start chapter 2 unable to fight orcs, end with being able to handle one warrior at the time, then when you return to the valley chapter later, you can finally start taking out elites and groups - while in NoTR, because of new area, you usually enter valley of the mines capable of beating orcs comfortably) and sensible character progression (you can usually wield any weapon you find, and many are upgrades, yet skills like smithing feel still worthwile - unlike NoTR, where LPs are too scarce to waste on non-combat stuff, and weapons you find early usually have extreme requirements that player who's not familiar with various secrets and exploits wouild not wield until late game. I.e. in my recent mercenary run I ended up with loads of high-str weapons I never really got a chance to use, because even weakest of them, which I got early in ch1, required 60 str, which I reached only in chapter 4.)
In Archolos, I either wield any found weapon (of my class) outright (and I'm not overeating apples like some madwoman to bump my str!) or it's within my range. Decision to not make permanent buffs count towards LP costs of stats was a genius one. Makes exploration much more rewarding when I can use my spoils right from the getgo, instead hoarding it for later chapters. Furthermore, I love how many areas on the island are designed, with each major location being essientally surrounded by rings of progressively stronger monsters.
There were some quests that blown me away. Shout out to city watch recruitment quest chain, especially night patrol around the city. I don't think a grin ever left my face when I was doing it, the dialogues are bloody masterpieces. So much creativity, so much fun. Thank you, truly, Archolos team.
One thing I didn't see talked much here is how mod team got natural progression right, something that NoTR expansion fucked up in original G2. Original Gothic 2 was quite well designed, with clear break points in character strength (i.e. - you start chapter 2 unable to fight orcs, end with being able to handle one warrior at the time, then when you return to the valley chapter later, you can finally start taking out elites and groups - while in NoTR, because of new area, you usually enter valley of the mines capable of beating orcs comfortably) and sensible character progression (you can usually wield any weapon you find, and many are upgrades, yet skills like smithing feel still worthwile - unlike NoTR, where LPs are too scarce to waste on non-combat stuff, and weapons you find early usually have extreme requirements that player who's not familiar with various secrets and exploits wouild not wield until late game. I.e. in my recent mercenary run I ended up with loads of high-str weapons I never really got a chance to use, because even weakest of them, which I got early in ch1, required 60 str, which I reached only in chapter 4.)
In Archolos, I either wield any found weapon (of my class) outright (and I'm not overeating apples like some madwoman to bump my str!) or it's within my range. Decision to not make permanent buffs count towards LP costs of stats was a genius one. Makes exploration much more rewarding when I can use my spoils right from the getgo, instead hoarding it for later chapters. Furthermore, I love how many areas on the island are designed, with each major location being essientally surrounded by rings of progressively stronger monsters.
There were some quests that blown me away. Shout out to city watch recruitment quest chain, especially night patrol around the city. I don't think a grin ever left my face when I was doing it, the dialogues are bloody masterpieces. So much creativity, so much fun. Thank you, truly, Archolos team.
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Sjukob
Arcane
- Joined
- Jul 3, 2015
- Messages
- 2,093
It's one of the items related to the quest where you have to get Yanick to transport you to the swamp. One of the way to get rid of the guards is to find a pack of weed and hand it over to them.
There's a way to get them to surrender, but I personally don't know the requirements.
Yes, why not take the additional xp? Make sure to finish your faction quests before you leave.
Tygrende
Arbiter
- Joined
- Aug 2, 2017
- Messages
- 874
You can also give the package to pirates on your 1st visit to convince them you should be let in.
- Joined
- Oct 12, 2010
- Messages
- 1,871,883
I hit those requirements in my first playthrough without realising there was anything special to do. It still required picking the exact right dialogue options after the fight against the leader though.
Things I did:
- Beat Big Ben
- Gave Cortes all the missing parts of the shipment
- Lied and didn't mention the Orcs
I generally did all the quests I could find in the swamp camp and didn't "rock the boat" too much. I also killed the vineyard guy who was helping the bandits that tried to rip Cortes off.
I've no idea what the exact criteria is for making them surrender rather than fight to the death.
Cpt. Dallas
Learned
Re. Roy's Stash: It's too far back but I must have talked my way into the Haven in some other manner.
Re. surrender: I did everything above but lie about the orcs. The dialogue seemed to indicate that Cortes would figure it out on his own and be angry if I lied. The dialogue in the arena did not offer choices.
There's an achievement to recruit four guard characters (assuming you've a guard and have done the relevant individual NPC quests). I suppose choosing randoms like Big Ben or the Wolf Son in the brothel, etc. is 'cosmetic' and changes nothing of concern.
Re. surrender: I did everything above but lie about the orcs. The dialogue seemed to indicate that Cortes would figure it out on his own and be angry if I lied. The dialogue in the arena did not offer choices.
There's an achievement to recruit four guard characters (assuming you've a guard and have done the relevant individual NPC quests). I suppose choosing randoms like Big Ben or the Wolf Son in the brothel, etc. is 'cosmetic' and changes nothing of concern.
- Joined
- Oct 12, 2010
- Messages
- 1,871,883
You can use them as combat companions in the ruins, so technically characters like Big Ben and the paladin might be slightly better in combat than the guards.
That said, it doesn't seem to influence anything else.
Reina
Arcane
- Joined
- Oct 12, 2010
- Messages
- 1,871,883
It's a classic Gothic title in all but name/legitimacy.
Hopefully that answers both questions.
Tygrende
Arbiter
- Joined
- Aug 2, 2017
- Messages
- 874
I feel like there's too many things hidden in shallow water while not nearly enough deeper down. So far had no reason to use the water breathing potion, ever. Barely anything to be found further from the coast. Small lakes on the other hand have loot on the bottom more often than not.
- Joined
- Apr 16, 2004
- Messages
- 6,927
bros, how do i get into this?! i can get on top of that big rock outcrop above it, but there is a stone arm going over the top that prevents you from dropping down onto the ledge. does a clime-able object fall on the ledge after chapter 3 or something??
Justicar
Dead game
This is quest location you will get there in chapter 4.bros, how do i get into this?! i can get on top of that big rock outcrop above it, but there is a stone arm going over the top that prevents you from dropping down onto the ledge. does a clime-able object fall on the ledge after chapter 3 or something??
- Joined
- Apr 16, 2004
- Messages
- 6,927
I love the gothic formula. seeing something like that hidden cave entrance instills a "challenge accepted, game" mentality that makes you want to climb the most unclimbable surfaces to try to get at some secret. it's unfortunate that such a gameplay loop is occasionally incompatible with gated content / story.This is quest location you will get there in chapter 4.bros, how do i get into this?! i can get on top of that big rock outcrop above it, but there is a stone arm going over the top that prevents you from dropping down onto the ledge. does a clime-able object fall on the ledge after chapter 3 or something??
- Joined
- Apr 16, 2004
- Messages
- 6,927
Requires minimum effort, so too difficult for a typical vatnik.
- Joined
- May 5, 2018
- Messages
- 249
Between vanilla G2 and NotR, much closer to the first. Although there is talk of a hard mode coming in a patch sometime in the future..
Cpt. Dallas
Learned
East of the main Amber Coast beach, up a small hill is a locked door. There are hostile 'smugglers' that draw weapons behind. (you can summon creatures behind the door to engage them but they appear invulnerable). I'm in Chp5, so the beach has cleared. Is this related to a Merchant faction questline?
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Game is hard at the start, stays challenging until you become a demigod who wrecks everything in two hits.
Same as original Gothics.
Same as original Gothics.
Yes, the final one.
Alphons
Cipher
- Joined
- Nov 20, 2019
- Messages
- 2,616
If you kill a protected NPC (KOd Helga near the edge of the dock and she fell into the water) game will display a Morrowind message about killing a protected NPC and having to choose to load game or persisting in doomed timeline. It was in English despite me playing in Polish.
They should have enabled you to kill every NPC and display that message if you do, rather than making them immortal.
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