KickStarter Knights of the Chalice 2 Thread - Augury of Chaos

[Pink Eye]

Is it worth brute forcing the game on Archmage? I'm already getting a taste of what the game will be like during the Necromancer fight in the tutorial where I have to instantly reload if the Necromancer manages to hit anything less than shit on his first spell cast.

It's okay to play on medium difficulty. The game will push you around silly if you don't know what you're doing on Archmage.

 

[ItsChon]

How do I switch between tokens and sprites? Which one is better?

 

[ItsChon]

I just finished the tutorial. Once I figured out that I have to use slide, bullrush, and pull to deal with the enemies, it became trivial even on Archmage. After that, I dispatched all the enemies with ease. I think I will go ahead and play the main game on Archmage, as so far it didn't seem any more difficult than KotC 1.

Does anyone have any suggestions for class + race combinations that are good fun and powerful?

 

[Pink Eye]

Does anyone have any suggestions for class + race combinations that are good fun and powerful?

You'll want a flexible party that can cover most skill checks. First one that comes to mind is Rogue - or Bishop with Trickery Domain - lots of checks that require a rogue. Some of which can make certain fights easier. Other checks can help you either get a surprise round or prevent an enemy from acting on first round. Other thing is that Rogue isn't that bad of a martial. It gets access to Mirror Image, Blur, Displacement, and Stoneskin; which are absolutely fantastic. It also can use wizard scrolls.

Another class is Bard. The songs it provides for party are very nice. Love the buff that increases DC of spells. It, too, also, has checks exclusive to Bard. Just as how Rogue can be used to make fights easier, get surprise rounds. So too can Bard. Speaking of which. Here's an encounter that favors it. Somewhere in Main Campaign you'll be caught in a Death Snare (these are challenge rooms you need to beat if you want to get out); where a Mastermind Flayer will call forth a Devil Lord. Only the bard can delay it or give it negative levels to make the fight manageable.

Besides those two. Rest comes down to what the party needs. For starters you're going to need spellcasters. How many depends. My recommendations will be: Warlock, Sorcerer, Wizard. I like Warlock because it gets access to a devastating spell called tornado blast. It does so much damage - can one tap some enemies. It also gets access to another spell that allows it to raise DC of spells. Which is desired if you want to win the fireworks war in end game content. Next is Sorcerer. Unlike Warlock, Sorcerer gets access to both Wizard and Cleric spellbooks. All at full progression. This is important because it means you have a contingency in the event Bishop or Cleric falls during battle. Wizard, unlike the aforementioned classes, has access to unique feats and a familiar. Familiar is nice because of the bonuses you can get from it. May not seem much, but the familiar bonuses do help.

So, after all is said and done, what would MY ideal party look like with the above put into consideration: Mage Knight (Blur, Displacement, Mirror Mage, Plus it can use wizard scrolls), Rogue, Bard, Sorcerer, Cleric, Wizard. Additionally I like to have my Wizard as an enchantment specialist because of Sleep, Chaos, and Confusion. Those spells help a lot in early to mid game content; but are useless in end game, lol, since everyone and their mother has innate Mind Blank which makes them immune to enchantments.

Besides that. I don't really have much else to say. Oh yeah! You get two important companions. Pizzara the Warlock and a Kobold Sorcerer. Hang on to those. They are going to be essential in end game content; where encounters devolve into Fireworks: Wizards edition.

 

[ItsChon]

Does anyone have any suggestions for class + race combinations that are good fun and powerful?

You'll want a flexible party that can cover most skill checks. First one that comes to mind is Rogue - or Bishop with Trickery Domain - lots of checks that require a rogue. Some of which can make certain fights easier. Other checks can help you either get a surprise round or prevent an enemy from acting on first round. Other thing is that Rogue isn't that bad of a martial. It gets access to Mirror Image, Blur, Displacement, and Stoneskin; which are absolutely fantastic. It also can use wizard scrolls.

Another class is Bard. The songs it provides for party are very nice. Love the buff that increases DC of spells. It, too, also, has checks exclusive to Bard. Just as how Rogue can be used to make fights easier, get surprise rounds. So too can Bard. Speaking of which. Here's an encounter that favors it. Somewhere in Main Campaign you'll be caught in a Death Snare (these are challenge rooms you need to beat if you want to get out); where a Mastermind Flayer will call forth a Devil Lord. Only the bard can delay it or give it negative levels to make the fight manageable.

Besides those two. Rest comes down to what the party needs. For starters you're going to need spellcasters. How many depends. My recommendations will be: Warlock, Sorcerer, Wizard. I like Warlock because it gets access to a devastating spell called tornado blast. It does so much damage - can one tap some enemies. It also gets access to another spell that allows it to raise DC of spells. Which is desired if you want to win the fireworks war in end game content. Next is Sorcerer. Unlike Warlock, Sorcerer gets access to both Wizard and Cleric spellbooks. All at full progression. This is important because it means you have a contingency in the event Bishop or Cleric falls during battle. Wizard, unlike the aforementioned classes, has access to unique feats and a familiar. Familiar is nice because of the bonuses you can get from it. May not seem much, but the familiar bonuses do help.

So, after all is said and done, what would MY ideal party look like with the above put into consideration: Mage Knight (Blur, Displacement, Mirror Mage, Plus it can use wizard scrolls), Rogue, Bard, Sorcerer, Cleric, Wizard. Additionally I like to have my Wizard as an enchantment specialist because of Sleep, Chaos, and Confusion. Those spells help a lot in early to mid game content; but are useless in end game, lol, since everyone and their mother has innate Mind Blank which makes them immune to enchantments.

Besides that. I don't really have much else to say. Oh yeah! You get two important companions. Pizzara the Warlock and a Kobold Sorcerer. Hang on to those. They are going to be essential in end game content; where encounters devolve into Fireworks: Wizards edition.

Well I generally like to play with two Martial Classes. I was looking at Mantis Gladiator and Centaur Death Knight. The DK's aura ability meshes well with the Centaur's charge and wanting to get into the thick of a bunch of enemies. The Mantis Gladiator seems cool because with oversized two-weapon fighting, I can have a Gladiator that uses four reach weapons and deal tons of damage with good grapple abilities and range. That leaves me with four slots, as I need to make room for both the Warlock and the Sorcerer that I will be getting later into the game. Wizard, Rogue, Bard, and Cleric? I was hoping to fit a druid in as well though. Would a Bishop with the trickery domain fill the niche of a Rogue and a Cleric?

EDIT: I read somewhere that Psionisicist is very important/useful too?

 

[Pink Eye]

I was looking at Mantis Gladiator and Centaur Death Knight.

Oooh. Death Knight is nice. That aura where it lowers saving throws of enemies is fantastic. Combos really well with Bard's song of increasing DC of spells. Plus you get a feat that increases the range of Death Knight's Aura. Gladiator Mantis is another good one. Last Archmage run. I had one in party, and it did like 20 attacks per round with multiple one handed weapons plus juicy combined fighting style feat lines, meant it destroyed most enemies. My set up for it was one reach weapon then bunch of weapons that increase Str score and or give keen/vorpal effect. Very delicious.

Would a Bishop with the trickery domain fill the niche of a Rogue and a Cleric?

Yeppers. It can. Bishop can also get more domains to play with too. I like the domain that gives it free extend spell range, and the other one that gives free spell penetration feat - don't ask me what their names are though, I've already forgotten, lol.

I read somewhere that Psionisicist is very important/useful too?

Warlock! It can fulfill Psionisict role! Warlock gets access to both Wizard and Pisonisict spellbooks all at full progression.

 

[ItsChon]

Yeppers. It can. Bishop can also get more domains to play with too. I like the domain that gives it free extend spell range, and the other one that gives free spell penetration feat - don't ask me what their names are though, I've already forgotten, lol.

Just to confirm, if there is one of those dialogue options that says [Rogue], I can select it with my Bishop?

 

[Pink Eye]

Yeppers. It can. Bishop can also get more domains to play with too. I like the domain that gives it free extend spell range, and the other one that gives free spell penetration feat - don't ask me what their names are though, I've already forgotten, lol.

Just to confirm, if there is one of those dialogue options that says [Rogue], I can select it with my Bishop?

Usually it should say [Rogue] OR [Trickery - Domain].

 

[ItsChon]

Here is the party composition I went with.

Firenze - Centaur Death Knight
Kacht-Ta - Painted Mantis Gladiator
Lurcano - Human Bard
Greythorn - Human Geomancer Druid
Peregrin - Halfling Bishop
Aria - Elf Blue Wizard

With the intent to recruit two more companions. A bit light on front liners but hopefully we can compliment that with some summons from the Druid and Bishop. A quick question though, I loaded up the game and while I was able to use the [Bard] option in the opening conversation, in the inn I can't trade bard skills with the two chicks or preform for money with the innkeep. Any reason why?

 

[Pink Eye]

Firenze - Centaur Death Knight
Kacht-Ta - Painted Mantis Gladiator
Lurcano - Human Bard
Greythorn - Human Geomancer Druid
Peregrin - Halfling Bishop
Aria - Elf Blue Wizard

Looks good to me. By the way. Bishop has access to a couple of domains that can conjure up some strong creatures. Be sure to check it out. I don't remember which one it is, but one of them can summon up a tentacled horror - that one carried me thoughtout the early game. Oh yeah, remember to pump Cha up a bit; those domain summons have duration based on Cha score. As for druid. I'd rather Water domain. For heals mainly, and also because there's a pond right after prologue in first chapter where she can pass checks in order give party a couple of cleansing potions - make sure you save those. After you beat first chapter you will lose all loots; it'll be in a chest that you have to fight to get back. If you didn't use any healing curatives. They'll still be there. You're going to need them.

Any reason why?

That's a really good fucking question. I don't know either. I used to to think it was bugged or maybe it's content the developer never got around to implementing. I just ignore it.

 

[Darth Canoli]

Firenze - Centaur Death Knight
Kacht-Ta - Painted Mantis Gladiator
Lurcano - Human Bard
Greythorn - Human Geomancer Druid
Peregrin - Halfling Bishop
Aria - Elf Blue Wizard

It looks good enough to breeze through chapters 1 & 2, which are quite easier since the village additional content.

But the Bard falls behind against the most difficult encounters in chapter 3 and even more in chapter 4.
I'd pick a Psionicist instead on a first Archmage playthrough even though there is a good warlock recruit down the line.

As for druid. I'd rather Water domain. For heals mainly, and also because there's a pond right after prologue in first chapter where she can pass checks in order give party a couple of cleansing potions - make sure you save those.

There is a lot of potions and scrolls, picking a druid specialized in healing seems like the worst thing to do since a bishop specialized in healing or a cleric will perform 10 times better.

Besides, Air or Earth Druids get to improve the best offensive druidic spells, like quicksand, earthquake for earth and sirocco/whirlwind and the gust spells for the air druid...

 

[Pink Eye]

Besides, Air or Earth Druids get to improve the best offensive druidic spells, like quicksand, earthquake for earth and sirocco/whirlwind and the gust spells for the air druid...

That's a very good point. I forgot that Earth improves earthquake; which is a nice spell since it makes enemies go prone; you can effectively control what an enemy does on their turn with that prone effect. Honestly, there's so many options in the game, it's hard to memorize every single thing.

 

[Dorateen]

Pierre the machine just dropped another update, 1.49 mostly bug fixes and tuning the module editor.

Spoiler

Hi everyone! Version
1.49 of KotC 2 upgrades the Script Editor and fixes a number of bugs.

If you find any bugs, please drop me a line at
enquiries@heroicfantasygames.com
so that I can fix the game quickly. A saved game would be very useful, too. Thank you!!

Next, I expect to be focusing on the display of
spell icons during level-up, new spells, the local map screen, and other planned features.

List of changes in Knights of the Chalice 2 Version 1.49

• Fixed a crash that would occur when you let
  Maphistor join the party in Augury of Chaos, then you talk to him and select the dialogue option allowing you to fight him.
• Fixed a crash that would occur when mousing over the name of a
  companion in the top-right corner of the screen and pressing the A shortcut key to open the Activate Special menu.
• Fixed a bug allowing creatures to cast Dispel Magic while Silenced. Explanation: Sometimes the AI needs to see what happens if it moves to another position, without actually moving there. At that time, it could lose the Silenced condition. After the check, the AI will now recover the actual terrain conditions.
• Fixed a bug allowing your Monk to perform more Stunning Fist attacks than your maximum number of uses. Likewise, fixed a bug allowing your Gladiator to perform more
  Blinding Strike attacks than your maximum number of uses. Likewise, fixed a bug allowing your Cleric / Bishop / Death Knight / Paladin to perform more Smite
  attacks than your maximum number of uses.
• Fixed a bug where your character would end his or her turn after taking a five-foot step even though you have remaining attacks and you can perform them against targets within reach, using a reach weapon.
• Fixed a bug with the 'Activate Special' menu displaying incorrect quantities for potions and scrolls contained within the character's bags and other containers.
• Fixed a bug during combat that could result in one of your non-flying characters
  getting stuck on a square of high or low altitude. For example, on top of one of the towers in Chapter 4 of Augury of Chaos.
• Fixed a bug with the saved-game preview image not being recorded in
  Ironman Mode when leaving a game by selecting Quit to Main Menu or Quit to Desktop.
• Fixed the incorrect preview image when saving a game in full-screen mode for some computers using Intel graphics.
• Fixed the display of magic effect animations (e.g. Sleeping, Fascinated, etc) on Prone characters and Goblins when displaying creatures using high-resolution animated sprites.
• Added new code to accelerate the Script Editor particularly when there are many scripts in the module you're working on, or many lines of code in the script you're working on. You should see a massive improvement in speed. An example of a module with a lot of scripts is Hearkenwold. Currently, it has more than 2,700 scripts. The largest script in Hearkenwold contains more than 7,850 lines of code.
• Also added a check box in the Script Editor allowing you to hide the script-line tooltips, as those can be a bit slow to display, or they may be unhelpful when you just want to see the code lines.

 

[ItsChon]

Is there a good order in which I should do the village quests? The night quests before the town defense or after? I split my party and managed to make it to the final fight. Lost against a Psi beetle at 5 health because I didn't want to use any consumables (I'm retarded). Fuck they really are a pain, as their ability to fly makes them able to resist most early disables.

 

[Pink Eye]

Is there a good order in which I should do the village quests? The night quests before the town defense or after? I split my party and managed to make it to the final fight. Lost against a Psi beetle at 5 health because I didn't want to use any consumables (I'm retarded). Fuck they really are a pain, as their ability to fly makes them able to resist most early disables.

Do town defense way later. Complete all adventure quests, including night time ones, kill spider queen in her cave. Kill the fire elementals in cave. Do a couple of tavern quests if you can - there's like two, one is to make dwarves leave. Other is to help a man with bad dreams. Hmm. Help the sharkman in underwater cave. Hmm. That's all that comes to mind. Basically do all the contents before town defense.

 

[Desiderius]

Yeppers. It can. Bishop can also get more domains to play with too. I like the domain that gives it free extend spell range, and the other one that gives free spell penetration feat - don't ask me what their names are though, I've already forgotten, lol.

Just to confirm, if there is one of those dialogue options that says [Rogue], I can select it with my Bishop?

It works for some things, not so much for others, and Mantis Rogue ends up really strong in any case since it can Quad-wield and there are a lot of strong Light weapons. Don't forget that Rogue can use Arcane Scrolls and you get a ton of those.

Bishop gets a lot of Domains but there are a lot of great ones as well and synergy between them.

Turning or a Summoning Domain turns on the other half of it's action economy, and Mysticism/Reach/Magic all supercharge its casting.

I usually run with both Bish and Rogue.

 

[ItsChon]

Yeppers. It can. Bishop can also get more domains to play with too. I like the domain that gives it free extend spell range, and the other one that gives free spell penetration feat - don't ask me what their names are though, I've already forgotten, lol.

Just to confirm, if there is one of those dialogue options that says [Rogue], I can select it with my Bishop?

It works for some things, not so much for others, and Mantis Rogue ends up really strong in any case since it can Quad-wield and there are a lot of strong Light weapons. Don't forget that Rogue can use Arcane Scrolls and you get a ton of those.

Bishop gets a lot of Domains but there are a lot of great ones as well and synergy between them.

Turning or a Summoning Domain turns on the other half of it's action economy, and Mysticism/Reach/Magic all supercharge its casting.

I usually run with both Bish and Rogue.

Is it possible for my Mantis Gladiator to wield four reach weapons? It should be with Oversized two handed weapon fighting right? How would that damage compare to that of a Mantis Rogue?

EDIT: And I went for Psychic Warrior as my replacement for the Bard. Good choice or?

Is there a good order in which I should do the village quests? The night quests before the town defense or after? I split my party and managed to make it to the final fight. Lost against a Psi beetle at 5 health because I didn't want to use any consumables (I'm retarded). Fuck they really are a pain, as their ability to fly makes them able to resist most early disables.

Do town defense way later. Complete all adventure quests, including night time ones, kill spider queen in her cave. Kill the fire elementals in cave. Do a couple of tavern quests if you can - there's like two, one is to make dwarves leave. Other is to help a man with bad dreams. Hmm. Help the sharkman in underwater cave. Hmm. That's all that comes to mind. Basically do all the contents before town defense.

Thanks.

 

[Desiderius]

I’ve tried to go without Bard but ultimately decided wasn’t worth it. Enough unique effects (with the found instruments)/dialogue options plus makes a decent archer/meleer to use all the equipment you find.

Was happy with Bard/Rogue/Bish then designed the rest to cover dialogues (Word of Honor etc) to be replaced by companions as I find them. Wiz -> Sorc, Psi -> Warlock, Champ -> Pal. Water Elemental is a keeper then that leaves one flex slot. Ranger better class than it looks if you can find room.

 

[ItsChon]

How much of the level three sewers do I need to clear? What level should I be before taking on the Spider Queen? How much content is there after the sewers? Should I do the snare room?

Also, either Psychic Warrior is absolute trash, or I am not using this correctly. I feel like the truth is somewhere in the middle. How much time am I supposed to spend buffing when the fight starts. What buffs are good? Any help would be appreciated as he's really not doing as much as I was hoping he'd do.

 

[Lawful Pacific]

How much of the level three sewers do I need to clear? What level should I be before taking on the Spider Queen? How much content is there after the sewers? Should I do the snare room?

Also, either Psychic Warrior is absolute trash, or I am not using this correctly. I feel like the truth is somewhere in the middle. How much time am I supposed to spend buffing when the fight starts. What buffs are good? Any help would be appreciated as he's really not doing as much as I was hoping he'd do.

You can cast mostly level 1 buff before battles.

 

[Mauman]

Yeppers. It can. Bishop can also get more domains to play with too. I like the domain that gives it free extend spell range, and the other one that gives free spell penetration feat - don't ask me what their names are though, I've already forgotten, lol.

Just to confirm, if there is one of those dialogue options that says [Rogue], I can select it with my Bishop?

It works for some things, not so much for others, and Mantis Rogue ends up really strong in any case since it can Quad-wield and there are a lot of strong Light weapons. Don't forget that Rogue can use Arcane Scrolls and you get a ton of those.

Bishop gets a lot of Domains but there are a lot of great ones as well and synergy between them.

Turning or a Summoning Domain turns on the other half of it's action economy, and Mysticism/Reach/Magic all supercharge its casting.

I usually run with both Bish and Rogue.

Getting those multi-hits, on the other hand, can be tricky. Probably won't get it in the first round (where things matter the most) unless you have pounce. And pounce is spotty. And of course it's probably overkill since you're not usually going to be able to apply that hilariously high pile of attacks to more than one enemy (unless you're really lucky and there's two sitting right next to each other.....right next to you).

I prefer using a strength based whirlwind setup w/ reach weapon for rogues now.

How much of the level three sewers do I need to clear? What level should I be before taking on the Spider Queen? How much content is there after the sewers? Should I do the snare room?

Also, either Psychic Warrior is absolute trash, or I am not using this correctly. I feel like the truth is somewhere in the middle. How much time am I supposed to spend buffing when the fight starts. What buffs are good? Any help would be appreciated as he's really not doing as much as I was hoping he'd do.

Honestly, psychic warrior is kinda trash. It's got some things going for it but it absolutely pales compared to a more dedicated warrior (gladiator, fighter, monk, barbarian) or spellcaster of any kind. And, before anybody says it, the versatility of being a bit of both doesn't really make up for it (an argument could be made that this true of all the hybrids though).

It kinda has one unique thing going for it in that it's the only class (I think, not counting a weirdo green mage build) that can go up two size levels. So if you ever wanted to grapple that gargantuan dragon, then the half-giant psychic warrior is your man

I personally find the barbarian to be a better in-general grappler at this point though, if only due to the fact the barbarian can basically bypass all illusion spells that would prevent you from grappling in the first place as early as level one.

 

[Desiderius]

First round is for a scroll/items/buff(s). Definitely used all those attacks clearing the Forge with only a Bishop for back up.

 

[ItsChon]

Honestly, psychic warrior is kinda trash. It's got some things going for it but it absolutely pales compared to a more dedicated warrior (gladiator, fighter, monk, barbarian) or spellcaster of any kind. And, before anybody says it, the versatility of being a bit of both doesn't really make up for it (an argument could be made that this true of all the hybrids though).

It kinda has one unique thing going for it in that it's the only class (I think, not counting a weirdo green mage build) that can go up two size levels. So if you ever wanted to grapple that gargantuan dragon, then the half-giant psychic warrior is your man

I personally find the barbarian to be a better in-general grappler at this point though, if only due to the fact the barbarian can basically bypass all illusion spells that would prevent you from grappling in the first place as early as level one

I'm feeling the pain honestly. I've barely used any of his "psychic abilities", as it's just not worth spending a turn to cast some +1/2's and some damage resists versus autoattacking. Even with the move action feats, being surrounded by enemies and casting shit is terrible. Even with defensive casting so you ignore AOO, I've been getting concentration failures far more then I'd like. A bard would've honestly served me much better like others were saying, as I can just imagine how useful the song that lowers enemy DCs would be, amongst other things, while also having better BAB compared to the psychic warrior.

How is the Paladin companion? Worth switching out for my p(iece of shit) warrior?

 

[ItsChon]

Also, any word on how to defeat the Lich in the tomb? I alpha striked him down from 350+ health only for him to heal back 150 health to my dismay and delete my team once his turn came up. He did this even despite my Warlock successfully landing "Frailty" (spell that prevents target from being healed), which honestly pissed me the fuck off.

Also, once we clear the High Sewers and get into the door locked behind four keys, we don't have anything left to do besides the Spider Queen fight right? Also, how hard is the fourth chapter? Any chances to rest or craft some gear?

 

[Desiderius]

Honestly, psychic warrior is kinda trash. It's got some things going for it but it absolutely pales compared to a more dedicated warrior (gladiator, fighter, monk, barbarian) or spellcaster of any kind. And, before anybody says it, the versatility of being a bit of both doesn't really make up for it (an argument could be made that this true of all the hybrids though).

It kinda has one unique thing going for it in that it's the only class (I think, not counting a weirdo green mage build) that can go up two size levels. So if you ever wanted to grapple that gargantuan dragon, then the half-giant psychic warrior is your man

I personally find the barbarian to be a better in-general grappler at this point though, if only due to the fact the barbarian can basically bypass all illusion spells that would prevent you from grappling in the first place as early as level one

I'm feeling the pain honestly. I've barely used any of his "psychic abilities", as it's just not worth spending a turn to cast some +1/2's and some damage resists versus autoattacking. Even with the move action feats, being surrounded by enemies and casting shit is terrible. Even with defensive casting so you ignore AOO, I've been getting concentration failures far more then I'd like. A bard would've honestly served me much better like others were saying, as I can just imagine how useful the song that lowers enemy DCs would be, amongst other things, while also having better BAB compared to the psychic warrior.

How is the Paladin companion? Worth switching out for my p(iece of shit) warrior?

I feel like there were a couple of the drain effects that set up really well for Psych Warrior? I haven’t played it yet but playing straight Psi remember thinking “ah, this would insane with Psy Warrior.”