Capcom Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen

[Mangoose]

I've also been using Lefein's World Difficulty mod (modifies spawns, enemy stats, and well she doesn't want to reveal.. but (A) It's NOT health bloat yayyyyy and (B) I think most people who still play all use it.

I don't

The mod isn't on Nexus because the mod creator I think has some financial issues dealing with their health or their family's health... And her mod is like 4GB so she doesn't have the finance for that bandwidth. So she distributes it separately through Discord right now.. but still for free lol. It's a bit of a maze to find it (probably to limit bandwidth :\) but if anyone's interested I can guide you.

cause I ain't got time for that.

If it's too easy on hard mode just start over, ditch your pawns, wear less armor, use shitty weapons...

Improved AI/scripting. Redesigned encounters. New/conditional spawns.

As for ditching my pawns..

Sure, running solo give me 3x25%=75% exp boost. And then the augmen "Autonomy" which buffs you when you play solo. Building smart is part of the fun. Using shittier weapons increases time spent, not difficuty. Wearing less armor doesn't matter if my vocation is based on perfect blocks.

Besides, the point isn't difficulty. It's the encounter design and enemy AI tweaks.

 

[Mangoose]

However, designing your Pawn party is GODDAMN IMPORTANT in this game.

When your main pawn summons for the first time at the riftstone, I always go outside of Encampment and throw the bastard from the cliffs, alongside with Rook :D . I have never played this game with a party, always soloed. But I didn't try "world difficulty mod" as you did; so a party may be essential with it.
(And thumbs up for your write up, it's always good to see obsessed people with Dragon's Dogma :D )

The game can definitely be played solo because the Assassin actually gets augments for being solo. So, yeah, you can tough it up that way if you want.

I'm not exactly defending the game lol because the pawn AI is eh. But when you have good party, that's where DD is pretty fun. Which isn't too hard.. After you figure out what to avoid lol...

You just gotta remember that these AI are not smart - they're just code. And thus you design them with Keep It Simple, Stupid. But also don't confuse it by taking off a weapon or taking off skills because most likely the programmer has it expecting those slots/options filled, so you get a try-catch hesitation. Yay. Programming.

 

[HereticGuy]

I'm not exactly defending the game lol because the pawn AI is eh.

Oh, I wasn't attacking to your arguments or talking down to you like "play it solo, noob!" manner. Sorry for misunderstanding. It's just a preference; I like to rely on only myself and this way the game world feels a little more dangerous.

My biggest problem with Dragon's Dogma is how Capcom handled the difficulty. Enemies doesn't become smarter or their reaction speed doesn't change. Only "difficult" thing is to penetrate that retarded "defense rating" of enemies. In Bitterblack Island, some enemies are extremely damage-sponge and it's not funny or difficult; just time consuming... And after some point you obliterate even giant Gore-Cyclops with ease. There is no satisfying diffuclty curve in the game; I hope they'll fix it on sequel.

I had to use my own rules in order to keep the game somewhat balanced. Like :
- No stamina potions / mushrooms. It reduces the cheese element, and forces to play more carefully.
- No healing potions / herbs while fighting. I use potions only after the fight. (If you want more difficulty, you can limit the number of potions you carry; like 5x Harspud Sauce at max)
- No wakestones.
- No Vehemence (%10 Strength), Clout (%20 Strength) or Autonomy (%20 Strength) augments. (I have to say; while playing solo, it is tedious to penetrate enemies' defense rating. So I pick only one of these augments while playing solo)
- FUCK Everfall's "the Chamber of Fate" level! The room with a Gore-Chimerra, 2 Chimerras and a Lich who summons goddamn Hellhounds, who can drag your ass all day everyday. Fuck the rules I mentinoed for this room :D

 

[Mangoose]

I'm not exactly defending the game lol because the pawn AI is eh.

Oh, I wasn't attacking to your arguments or talking down to you like "play it solo, noob!" manner. Sorry for misunderstanding. It's just a preference; I like to rely on only myself and this way the game world feels a little more dangerous.

My biggest problem with Dragon's Dogma is how Capcom handled the difficulty. Enemies doesn't become smarter or their reaction speed doesn't change. Only "difficult" thing is to penetrate that retarded "defense rating" of enemies. In Bitterblack Island, some enemies are extremely damage-sponge and it's not funny or difficult; just time consuming... And after some point you obliterate even giant Gore-Cyclops with ease. There is no satisfying diffuclty curve in the game; I hope they'll fix it on sequel.

I had to use my own rules in order to keep the game somewhat balanced. Like :
- No stamina potions / mushrooms. It reduces the cheese element, and forces to play more carefully.
- No healing potions / herbs while fighting. I use potions only after the fight. (If you want more difficulty, you can limit the number of potions you carry; like 5x Harspud Sauce at max)
- No wakestones.
- No Vehemence (%10 Strength), Clout (%20 Strength) or Autonomy (%20 Strength) augments. (I have to say; while playing solo, it is tedious to penetrate enemies' defense rating. So I pick only one of these augments while playing solo)
- FUCK Everfall's "the Chamber of Fate" level! The room with a Gore-Chimerra, 2 Chimerras and a Lich who summons goddamn Hellhounds, who can drag your ass all day everyday. Fuck the rules I mentinoed for this room :D

Yeah the WD mod simply changes encounters and scripts. It doesn't just replace the enemy files (in the "nativePC/rom/enemy" folder) 4GB is dedicated to the "/rom/stages" folder. 952 files, all of them related to changes of map and encounter.

Many modders mentions that they designed their mod for a WD-modded playthrough. (Because I always peruse the Comments instead of willy-nilly appling shit... That and I tend to mod mods for my own picky standards so I know how it works. Sometimes even fixing them ) That's what I mean by everybody uses it.

And the enemies aren't bloated. Either the encounter is redesigned with harder difficulty monsters (or more varied threats), or she tweaked the enemy AI tendencies in the enemy folder, and make them play a bit smarter. I don't feel like anything took too long to kill (if it were possible to kill them). I'm too lazy to figure out how much the AI really changes... But redesigning encounters, tactically, changes things.

Otherwise I wouldn't use the mod. Because I agree that the only difficulty I want are stuff like AI and reaction speed. I hate bloat. I don't want tedium. Tedium is difficult because it makes the game less fun... yet the only reason you play games is for fun. It's not difficulty for the sake of difficulty. It has to be challenging and make you want to play the game. Hell, the game needs to make you want to play the game, otherwise... truism?

 

[Mangoose]

wtf I hired a Strider with Pioneer/Challenger. BC she was rated well, so I was curious. Also skillset was built well. As well as rarified gold everything.

So I haven't seen her run forward past me or anything. I didn't even notice her walking differently than the group. I honestly don't know why, Pioneer is really not that well understood, at all. Usual thumb-of-rule is definitely not put it as Primary, put it only on ranged characters ("leash" theory, meaning they will fight at a distance from you instead of hugging you)... or throw it on your Warrior.

She doesn't even have a full Bestiary.

Edit: Right now there's a Gorecyclops that's not that far away, but the Pioneer Strider is just chilling 5 ft in front of me, as I'm having my casters buff.

Edit 2: Maybe it's because she's Challenger secondary. Maybe that inclines her away from Scather or Mitigator targets? Hm...

 

[HereticGuy]

I hate how cryptic the Pawn behaviour system is. I wish they'll make something more straightforward with a practical menu in sequel. Dragon Age : Origins had a good AI Behaviour / tactics menu.

 

[Mangoose]

I hate how cryptic the Pawn behaviour system is. I wish they'll make something more straightforward with a practical menu in sequel. Dragon Age : Origins had a good AI Behaviour / tactics menu.

Final Fantasy 12 is teh epitome/influence of that stuff.

Inclinations are just... Even the wiki is based on autists actually doing tests and collecting data.

One thing that's cool though is that the more Bestiary knowledge you have, the smarter your Pawn will be when fighting it. And you can gain that from other players that hire your Pawn haha

 

[mediocrepoet]

wtf I hired a Strider with Pioneer/Challenger. BC she was rated well, so I was curious. Also skillset was built well. As well as rarified gold everything.

So I haven't seen her run forward past me or anything. I didn't even notice her walking differently than the group. I honestly don't know why, Pioneer is really not that well understood, at all. Usual thumb-of-rule is definitely not put it as Primary, put it only on ranged characters ("leash" theory, meaning they will fight at a distance from you instead of hugging you)... or throw it on your Warrior.

She doesn't even have a full Bestiary.

Edit: Right now there's a Gorecyclops that's not that far away, but the Pioneer Strider is just chilling 5 ft in front of me, as I'm having my casters buff.

Edit 2: Maybe it's because she's Challenger secondary. Maybe that inclines her away from Scather or Mitigator targets? Hm...

See link below, but basically this thing suggests Pioneer as primary makes them hug your ass while Pioneer secondary makes them range. I was curious because I also thought Pioneer simply made them range. I tend not to use it and to actively knock it out of pawn inclination lists, so I haven't used it much myself.

I hate how cryptic the Pawn behaviour system is. I wish they'll make something more straightforward with a practical menu in sequel.

Have a look through this, it'll probably help. https://dragonsdogma.fandom.com/wiki/Pawn_Inclination

 

[Mangoose]

wtf I hired a Strider with Pioneer/Challenger. BC she was rated well, so I was curious. Also skillset was built well. As well as rarified gold everything.

So I haven't seen her run forward past me or anything. I didn't even notice her walking differently than the group. I honestly don't know why, Pioneer is really not that well understood, at all. Usual thumb-of-rule is definitely not put it as Primary, put it only on ranged characters ("leash" theory, meaning they will fight at a distance from you instead of hugging you)... or throw it on your Warrior.

She doesn't even have a full Bestiary.

Edit: Right now there's a Gorecyclops that's not that far away, but the Pioneer Strider is just chilling 5 ft in front of me, as I'm having my casters buff.

Edit 2: Maybe it's because she's Challenger secondary. Maybe that inclines her away from Scather or Mitigator targets? Hm...

See link below, but basically this thing suggests Pioneer as primary makes them hug your ass while Pioneer secondary makes them range.

Holy shit wtf? Well maybe it works for ranged classes bc they don't need to run ahead of your group as much as Warriors would have to. In other words, they're walking ahead of you BECAUSE they are in a vocation that in the rear line because it can do ranged. Which.. Isn't a bad thing. It'd be nice if it were clear. Well, at least we consider Pioneer as an option now, and that's a big enough difference lo.
Maybe different vocations are treated differently by inclination. The Strider I played with did prefer to use melee, though. Then again he's the ultimate melee/midrange hybrid. In a way they are the only hybrid Pawns can be. Assassin-lite... Except... the Brain Splitter damage is ridic and makes Strider usually necessary for its DPS.

Funny, I'm playing a MK and since I've hired some offensive pawns, I've been "tanking" by simply threatening to riposte the enemy. Because the enemy is not on defense but on offense trying to find an opening in your riposte. That takes more thinking than simply defense. AKA it's a great distraction from the huge fireball coming their way. It's very noticeable to me because I'm in his face smacking him and then suddenly he dies in front of me and I have no idea why. Of course, if he runs past me he's fucking dead.

I have no idea if that's some behavior added by the mod or what but they definitely are geared to react to human players. And honestly the data is XML so it's really easy to mod the game.

But I spent way too much time this year modding Space Marine for funsies and I don't feel like dealing with Max anymore. However, I did manage to replace Dragon's Faith's model with Angel's Sanctum.

Or maybe Strider has some unique inclination elements such as

I hate how cryptic the Pawn behaviour system is. I wish they'll make something more straightforward with a practical menu in sequel.

Have a look through this, it'll probably help. https://dragonsdogma.fandom.com/wiki/Pawn_Inclination

Ehh see those people are still unsure about. Read the comments, as they're still testing. In fact, testing to find out some of it is wrong.

The only concrete info the autists have found out is in the "science etc" document: https://docs.google.com/document/d/17Avxu-W6BCjDrglXtHg8Z3sKB_z_5tlWhV1Vmf_YWHw/edit

Also I lkie https://docs.google.com/document/d/1L0FGgFgG0nJqcCHay_9r4oqdls8jeNgxpWyeeUeBeXM/edit as a reference

 

[mediocrepoet]

Ehh see those people are still unsure about. Read the comments, as they're still testing. In fact, testing to find out some of it is wrong.

Ah fair enough. I didn't look that closely at it, I'm not actively playing the game atm. Like I say, I always avoided pioneer and basically stuck to Scather, Mitigator, and Challenger. Sometimes I threw in Utilitarian, depending on my setup and knowledge levels. My issue is that my pick up everything playstyle always makes Acquisitor creep in and so I'd have to potion it out.

 

[Mangoose]

Ehh see those people are still unsure about. Read the comments, as they're still testing. In fact, testing to find out some of it is wrong.

Ah fair enough. I didn't look that closely at it, I'm not actively playing the game atm. Like I say, I always avoided pioneer and basically stuck to Scather, Mitigator, and Challenger. Sometimes I threw in Utilitarian, depending on my setup and knowledge levels. My issue is that my pick up everything playstyle always makes Acquisitor creep in and so I'd have to potion it out.

Yeah stop picking up shit during combat lol. Out of combat it's okay. I have the dinput8 mod (aka cheatengine injector) and my pawn's acquisition is usually 0, and then it goes up when I loot out of combat but out of combat decays really fast.

Weird.

You know what's funny though?

That Pioneer/Challenger Strider was looting shit for me. Outside of combat, and where it was safe. Maybe Challenger holds them back because generally attacking ranged is a ranged role. Since we don't have cavalry or ways to flank lol. I'm just thinking like a programmer - I might program in that exception/conditional. I mean, let's assume this is the Pioneers are your Vanguard. Their rear line would thus be rihgt in front of you. Whereas the melee would be closer.

Honestly they could have manually varied inclinations by vocation. I don't think it'd be too difficult. In fact... If they didn't then they missed out on an easy way to add diversified tactics.

But the black box is probably nothign like we tthink.

 

[mediocrepoet]

Ehh see those people are still unsure about. Read the comments, as they're still testing. In fact, testing to find out some of it is wrong.

Ah fair enough. I didn't look that closely at it, I'm not actively playing the game atm. Like I say, I always avoided pioneer and basically stuck to Scather, Mitigator, and Challenger. Sometimes I threw in Utilitarian, depending on my setup and knowledge levels. My issue is that my pick up everything playstyle always makes Acquisitor creep in and so I'd have to potion it out.

Yeah stop picking up shit during combat lol. Out of combat it's okay. I have the dinput8 mod (aka cheatengine injector) and my pawn's acquisition is usually 0, and then it goes up when I loot out of combat but out of combat decays really fast.

Weird.

You know what's funny though?

That Pioneer/Challenger Strider was looting shit for me. Outside of combat, and where it was safe. Maybe Challenger holds them back because generally attacking ranged is a ranged role. Since we don't have cavalry or ways to flank lol. I'm just thinking like a programmer - I might program in that exception/conditional. I mean, let's assume this is the Pioneers are your Vanguard. Their rear line would thus be rihgt in front of you. Whereas the melee would be closer.

Honestly they could have manually varied inclinations by vocation. I don't think it'd be too difficult. In fact... If they didn't then they missed out on an easy way to add diversified tactics.

But the black box is probably nothign like we tthink.

Try getting a team of Utilitarians with high monster knowledge. That's generally where you can basically have a nap while they decimate things for you.

 

[Mangoose]

Ehh see those people are still unsure about. Read the comments, as they're still testing. In fact, testing to find out some of it is wrong.

Ah fair enough. I didn't look that closely at it, I'm not actively playing the game atm. Like I say, I always avoided pioneer and basically stuck to Scather, Mitigator, and Challenger. Sometimes I threw in Utilitarian, depending on my setup and knowledge levels. My issue is that my pick up everything playstyle always makes Acquisitor creep in and so I'd have to potion it out.

Yeah stop picking up shit during combat lol. Out of combat it's okay. I have the dinput8 mod (aka cheatengine injector) and my pawn's acquisition is usually 0, and then it goes up when I loot out of combat but out of combat decays really fast.

Weird.

You know what's funny though?

That Pioneer/Challenger Strider was looting shit for me. Outside of combat, and where it was safe. Maybe Challenger holds them back because generally attacking ranged is a ranged role. Since we don't have cavalry or ways to flank lol. I'm just thinking like a programmer - I might program in that exception/conditional. I mean, let's assume this is the Pioneers are your Vanguard. Their rear line would thus be rihgt in front of you. Whereas the melee would be closer.

Honestly they could have manually varied inclinations by vocation. I don't think it'd be too difficult. In fact... If they didn't then they missed out on an easy way to add diversified tactics.

But the black box is probably nothign like we tthink.

Try getting a team of Utilitarians with high monster knowledge. That's generally where you can basically have a nap while they decimate things for you.

Well they usually come with BBI gear so lol..

Anyways my Pawn is Emma Watson, everything set on Arrogant (after every battle, 12 year old elitist: "That was a waste of time").

(I'm Thanos but I'll get a screenie later)

 

[Carceri]

It sure doesn't take long for people to turn to lolis in this game

 

[Mangoose]

1 bar of health left... Fucking Rift Vortex wiped my party.

But I had a Wakestone.

Soloed that 1 healthbar down.

Thank you Perfect Blocks and Blessed Riposte. That shit staggers. He was too quick for me to even throw down a Ruinous Sigil.

I literally killed him by Sky Rapturing his face. That's what he gets for knocking me away at 0.00001% health. Fag.

Also, put Medicant on 2dnary if you have a buffing pawn. That way you don't have to spam Help when your wang loses its magic.

 

[Mangoose]

BTW the "World Difficulty Mod" is meant for your first playthrough lol. Not so much a difficulty mod but redesigned encounters (stage files) I suppose. Maybe changing some inclinations (or behaviorType or whatever variables available)? I dunno, haven't extracted those enemies/*.arc yet.

I can't really compare because I haven't played the game without it. But I would say I have no complaints with it. lol.

I think she stopped tweaking monsters past 60 though. Maybe. I dunno.

 

[Baron Dupek]

Inside you there are two wolves.

Spoiler

They hunt in packs

 

[gaussgunner]

One time, I saw a wolf hunting alone. Not, not in DD. In real life!

 

[Mangoose]

Edit: Better pic.

Voice 5 sounds like Samuel L Jackson sometimes.

Voice.. I forget which one.. is perfect 1st year mudblood smartiepants brat. I died laughing when she said, "Constant vigilance!"

So I'm Snoop. He's Nick Fury.
Man, the ending will be crazy, Snoop Dogg + Samuel L Jackson vs. Thanos and Emma Watson.

 

[Nutmeg]

I am tempted to replay this with the no menu healing mod

https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonsdogma/mods/481

Also with deliberately underpowered gear.

Or maybe unmodded but with self imposed restrictions. Basically treat it as a make your own challenge action game sand box.

 

[Cryomancer]

About menu healing, IMO healing should have an drinking potion animation, eating mushroom animation and so on, insta teleport to PC belly and insta effect makes no sense and makes you immortal as longs you are not taking OHK or have items in inventory.

 

[fork]

I am tempted to replay this with the no menu healing mod

https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonsdogma/mods/481

Also with deliberately underpowered gear.

Or maybe unmodded but with self imposed restrictions. Basically treat it as a make your own challenge action game sand box.

Play it without pawns.

 

[ERYFKRAD]

I am tempted to replay this with the no menu healing mod

https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonsdogma/mods/481

Also with deliberately underpowered gear.

Or maybe unmodded but with self imposed restrictions. Basically treat it as a make your own challenge action game sand box.

Play it without pawns.

Rook, Knight and Bishop are okay though.

 

[anvi]

Play using only your elbows.

 

[Nikanuur]

Hello guys, I am jonesing for some exploratory, adventurous cRPG. I have played most of the major releases since the dawn of PC gaming, so there is probably only a handful of games that could surprise me in this regard. Haven't played Dragon's Dogma yet though. Is it at least somewhat like the mentioned (you know, secret stashes, crevices that lead to hidden places, chests that can be opened only if you've completed puzzles, treasures behind the waterfalls, going behind places and finding a corpse with a lores scroll and ancient sword, etc.)? Or is it largely devoid of exploration, its focus being mostly on killing monsters, filler quests, and occasionally opening a chest?
I am getting mixed responses. Some say the exploration is there, some say it's very scarce. Could someone please clarify, preferably with examples?