Pillars of Eternity Beta Discussion [GAME RELEASED, GO TO NEW THREAD]

[Drakron]

Really not sure who "wins" here....

Aspergers does.

 

[hiver]

 

[Anthony Davis]

What's the general consensus on difficulty for a first playthrough? Normal = actually Easy mode, or is it balanced for people who are familiar with the IE games?

If you played a lot of IE Games and enjoyed challenging yourself in the fight, you will want to play on Hard.

 

[Roguey]

Roguey being right about Josh-related matters as usual

Companions' stats are set to reflect them as characters. If you want to min/max everyone in your party, that's what adventurers are for.
...
I played through the entire game* on Hard using only my main PC + companions as-implemented and they were all fine.

* Actually about 80% of the content, but the entire crit path + a lot of side content.
...
If there was a particular Attribute, Ability, or Talent that seemed to fit the vibe of a companion, I'd put that in their progression table. E.g. When you meet/talk to Durance, I think it will be easy to understand why he has a high Resolve. In advancing the characters in-game, sometimes I went with something that felt like it fit the vibe of the character, sometimes I was more strategic about it and considered the character's personality less.

As with the BeeGees, it doesn't matter if companions aren't being built as well as they could be to your liking, because the content will be balanced around them (since there are five of them and only one PC).

 

[Zombra]

I'm considering playing on Normal the first time, just to allow a second playthrough at a later date with different encounter designs.

As with the BeeGees, it doesn't matter if companions aren't being built as well as they could be to your liking, because the content will be balanced around them (since there are five of them and only one PC).

Yeah, it seems weird that anyone would be up in arms about premade characters not having optimal munchkin min/max builds. The game is built around these guys, you're not going to be gimping yourself by using them. If anything, you'll be fucking all the encounter designs by modding your party to be ultra elite. If you do that and play anything but Path of the Damned, you're, well, a cheater.

 

[mutonizer]

Never doubted you Roguey.

[..]I played through the entire game* on Hard using only my main PC + companions as-implemented and they were all fine.

I have no doubt about that either.

Now let me go to every single dictionary related thing out there to make sure that "Hard" is now no longer defined as something done "[..]with a great deal of effort." but instead "[..]doable by blindfolded paraplegic retards". Be right back!

I'm jesting of course, and I get what you mean. But that should really only apply to Normal. Hard actually means something..well usually anyway.

[..]If you do that and play anything but Path of the Damned, you're, well, a cheater.

So? How's that an issue for anyone in a single player cRPG? Plus, you can cheat to actually makes things harder. (edit: hmm no actually you can't, my bad. I meant you can mod/hack to make things harder).

 

[Zed]

Yes, there's a Codex inn and adventuring party. Yes, the staff know what's in it. No, we're not going to spoil it.

I've forgotten but I am happy in my ignorance.

 

[Deleted member 7219]

Yes, there's a Codex inn and adventuring party. Yes, the staff know what's in it. No, we're not going to spoil it.

I've forgotten but I am happy in my ignorance.

IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH.

 

[AN4RCHID]

Fairly popular youtuber NorthernLion talking about PoE: https://twitter.com/NorthernlionLP

I've played like 9 hours of Pillars of Eternity so far but I didn't do a Let's Look At yet because I'm still kind of teasing out how I feel.

I think it is a great game but as someone with literally 0 experience w/ the genre, even Easy has difficulty spikes that stop me for hours.

I think that's probably only relevant if you're in the same boat as me though (complete ignorance of the genre).

I keep coming back to it though, maybe one day I won't be terrible at it. So far the story and gameplay are rich and strategic.

And Super Bunnyhop AKA George Weidman seems to like it:

There was REmake remake then Cities Skyline and omg hotline 2 and now JESUS SO GOOD pillars and tonight bloodborne uhn what is happening!?

If four excellent games are coming out all in March... maybe we'll have *TWO* good games come out for the whole of this summer!

Unless of course Bloodborne is bad. I dunno. Pillars isn't though. I'm *extremely* impressed w/ it! Very very positive review coming Thurs!!

lol he edited that last tweet to be more vague. Embargoes r srs business.

 

[Athelas]

I think it is a great game but as someone with literally 0 experience w/ the genre, even Easy has difficulty spikes that stop me for hours.

 

[Makagulfazel]

I'm a'ok with imperfect companions; shouldn't be meeting companions early on in the game with the best attributes.. If they have late-game companions with better attributes, that works for me also. Maybe create a little bit of a conundrum as to whether you should kick your loyal fighter to the curb for the stronger one.
As long as there's impactful C&C with the companions, I could give a shit what stats they have.

 

[Mastermind]

Question for people who played the beta: can I load multiple guns/crossbows inbetween fights and fire them in quick succession at the beginning of combat? (I'd assume this was limited by weapon sets)

 

[Luka-boy]

Question for people who played the beta: can I load multiple guns/crossbows inbetween fights and fire them in quick succession at the beginning of combat? (I'd assume this was limited by weapon sets)

I haven't played the beta, but I've watched a build video by Sensuki where he does exactly that with guns, so the answer seems to be "yes".

 

[Ellef]

I'm considering playing on Normal the first time, just to allow a second playthrough at a later date with different encounter designs.
Yeah, it seems weird that anyone would be up in arms about premade characters not having optimal munchkin min/max builds. The game is built around these guys, you're not going to be gimping yourself by using them. If anything, you'll be fucking all the encounter designs by modding your party to be ultra elite. If you do that and play anything but Path of the Damned, you're, well, a cheater.

Considering the game is also built with character hall companions, the difference between modifying your companions stats and making your own parties is nil.

 

[Shevek]

Companions with suboptimal stats... very BG1/2-like.

 

[santino27]

So? How's that an issue for anyone in a single player cRPG? Plus, you can cheat to actually makes things harder. (edit: hmm no actually you can't, my bad. I meant you can mod/hack to make things harder).

It's not an issue. At all. Unless those people then turn around and bitch about the game being too easy, ignoring the fact that they gave themselves an unfair advantage. (Which will no doubt happen)

 

[Shevek]

Game looks so good. I am trying really hard to avoid lets plays...Thursday is so far away...

 

[Sensuki]

I think it is a great game but as someone with literally 0 experience w/ the genre, even Easy has difficulty spikes that stop me for hours.

Can you say disengagement attacks!

 

[Shevek]

I gave in and saw 10 mins of a lets play. I think they lowered the damage on lower difficulties or something because the guy wasnt taking much damage from engagement swipes.

 

[mutonizer]

Can you say disengagement attacks!

Yea, that and casting range on spells, seems many don't see the difference between normal cast targetting cursor and the one with the little footsteps on it.
Wonder if there are actual tooltips/tutorials for these, can't say I remember seeing anything about engagement mechanics, which could be a massive oversight

 

[Shevek]

Look at this and see the guy get disengagement attacks that do next to no dmg. Also laugh at his inability to use the stash:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7f7hFCpJJA

 

[mutonizer]

Look at this and see the guy get disengagement attacks that do next to no dmg. Also laugh at his inability to use the stash:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7f7hFCpJJA

Remember that not only they probably never touched beta, haven't really played any IE games that extensively, haven't read the fucking manual (or even got one), but their mind is also set on providing a 25mins entertainment show. I'm pretty sure (really hoping, for mankind), that left to their own personal device, without recording themselves, they'd figure all that stuff out no problem.

I mean a massive popular game streamer apparently didn't figure out engagement (or even paid any notice to it) after like 8 hours of play on Hard. I have to believe that's because he needs to keep shit going non stop and can't even pause a second to "think". Even worse, it might be voluntary as "being a dumbshit sells" apparently on these things, bit like a circus freak you know?

Edit:

 

[Shevek]

Ya, worrying about coming up with things to say constantly while playing must be distracting

 

[mutonizer]

They don't play, that's the thing: they act.
For most of them (the popular ones at least), don't confuse their "personalities" with themselves. Bit like any other media personalities really.

 

[Anthony Davis]

Ok, I'm gonna stream some more - this time in HARD MODE.

http://www.twitch.tv/theroguezombie