Solasta Solasta: Crown of the Magister Thread - now with Palace of Ice sequel DLC

[Lacrymas]

Either way, first impressions are very positive. The first map has more to do and explore in it than 10 base game maps.

 

[Lacrymas]

It seems like we are still struggling with enforcing resting restrictions. There's also no reason to not always be in sneak mode, but that's a Solasta problem. Having tried to iron man the last two campaigns really brought 5E's low level failings to the forefront. Those being extremely swingy RNG with no way to mitigate that when you are low level and very few viable combat options at low level. While technically you have dodge, sprint, push, etc. most of them aren't viable due to being main actions. Damage is way too important in most of these RPG systems and is something I'd like to tackle with my own RPG system at one point.

 

[Artyoan]

Red Crow is the only story-based campaign where I had sequences that restrict long resting for multiple encounters. Grave Rush is a non-story campaign that is built on attrition six man party combat though. Also, the six man versions all have feedback that they are harder than the four man versions.

 

[Lacrymas]

I suspect the 6-man version is harder because there are more mobs that can collectively one-turn kill a party member. Which is essentially the only way to lose in Solasta tbh.

 

[A-Minish]

I finaly did another run of the main campaign with all DLCs + the Unfinished buisness mods. I went with a Barb(totem warrior), ranger(Wildmaster), 2 druids(Circle of The Ancient Forest and Circle of the Wildfire). Was nice to play with them but the main campaign bored me to tears.
I tried the Ice Palace. Maybe it is be because it's new to me or it is the dwarvish setting but I find it more interesting than the base campaign. Unfortunately I grew bored of meeting packs of dragons on the roads, was already getting burned out of playing the same party and also being limited to a party of 4. Maybe I will come back and finish it later.


Now I am finaly giving Artyoan's Forsaken Isle a try with a party of 6 in Authentic difficulty. I play with a thematic party. 2 Cleric of Maraike with the Nature domain, 2 druids, a warlock of The Archfey and a Warlock of The Tree.

I like it so far. Currently exploring the woods to kill some orcs. I will see if my party is functional enough, if not I will restart and change a character or two for barbs or rangers.

I suspect the 6-man version is harder because there are more mobs that can collectively one-turn kill a party member. Which is essentially the only way to lose in Solasta tbh.

I tried the sewers at lvl1 and I am starting to have flashback of BG1 archer bandits. I tried to slow them with multiple entangle spells, pelting them with cantrips while retreating but it was over once they started getting in melee range or could shoot me.

 

[Lacrymas]

RE: Rangers - they are severely underpowered imo. Since they are an almost 1 to 1 recreation of the tabletop, it's not surprising they are bad. Larian made the right move to redesign them, but the Solasta devs didn't. Not that you can't play them and be successful, they just lag behind everyone else.

 

[A-Minish]

Never played one on tabletop but yeah, mine left me with the feeling he was 2 or 3 level behind sometimes, especially compared to my barb. He tanked alright with a shield and a chainmail when needed and could do decent damages with the Sharpshooter feat(great against foes with low AC). As a wildmaster, his pet summon(basic wolf, brown bear or badland eagle) had the decency to add another layer of protection, distraction and damages nothing exceptional either.
His spells were more utilitarian that anything else.

Maybe I should have been less conservative with my ammos and my spells. I will give it another chance if the opportunity arise.

I think the last time I had great fun with ranger/hunter was with Kingmaker, WoTR and IWD1.

 

[NJClaw]

RE: Rangers - they are severely underpowered imo. Since they are an almost 1 to 1 recreation of the tabletop, it's not surprising they are bad. Larian made the right move to redesign them, but the Solasta devs didn't. Not that you can't play them and be successful, they just lag behind everyone else.

The Swift Blade archetype is way stronger than anything Larian did for the Ranger. Sure, it's no Court Mage or Shock Arcanist, but we know Sorcerer Viktor is secretly manipulating the company to favor wizards.

 

[Lacrymas]

The Swift Blade archetype is way stronger than anything Larian did for the Ranger. Sure, it's no Court Mage or Shock Arcanist, but we know Sorcerer Viktor is secretly manipulating the company to favor wizards.

If that's the one which came with the DLCs, then I obviously haven't tried it yet ;d

 

[Grunker]

RE: Rangers - they are severely underpowered imo

a controversial opinion you share with but 99.999999999999999% of the entire 5E player base

 

[Lacrymas]

A barb can get "passive" resistance to almost all damage types by being a dragonborn, going path of the claw and equipping an item that gives resistance to a third damage type. Barbs are already hard to kill, so it's pretty nutty.

 

[ERYFKRAD]

being a dragonborn, going path of the claw

I rolled one of those for the all barbarian team. I call him Double Dragon.

 

[ERYFKRAD]

Barbs are already hard to kill, so it's pretty nutty.

Path of stone ends up being hard to hit by anything that doesn't have double digit attack bonus too.

 

[Mr. Magniloquent]

Alright. I stopped being a bitch and made a decision. I am going with something different than my normal tastes and doing a wilderness themed party.

Sylvan Elf Druid (Balance), Half-Orc Barbarian (Stone), Half-Elf Ranger (Marksman), Half-Elf Bard (Lore). The bard is a little out of place for the theme, but I need a party face. I am also doing my first run Ironman, so I wanted it to be well rounded. I have finally gathered my party. Now I venture forth.

 

[ERYFKRAD]

You got like three elves too many, but hey, have fun.

 

[rojay]

That's a totally workable party. You won't get 3rd level mage spells as quickly as if you have a pure mage/sorcerer, but the bard will cover you for wizard spells to some extent and you'll be fine.

 

[Lacrymas]

Should've went with the longbow Wizard I forgot the name of. Greenmage?

 

[Nortar]

Alright. I stopped being a bitch and made a decision. I am going with something different than my normal tastes and doing a wilderness themed party.

Sylvan Elf Druid (Balance), Half-Orc Barbarian (Stone), Half-Elf Ranger (Marksman), Half-Elf Bard (Lore). The bard is a little out of place for the theme, but I need a party face. I am also doing my first run Ironman, so I wanted it to be well rounded. I have finally gathered my party. Now I venture forth.

Your lack of dwarves is disturbing.
Who goes adventuring with a bunch of pansy elves?

 

[Lacrymas]

Elves were a mistake.

 

[Mr. Magniloquent]

I didn't realize how many half-elves it was until I wrote that message. It wasn't intentional. Their stat block is just really good for the classes I wanted. I don't know why the devs didn't give humans the 1st level bonus feat. I would have used them instead, but they're weak without it. Dwarves are great clerics, but they don't fit the nature theme. I just can't imagine dwarves as any of these classes. Druid least of all.

 

[mediocrepoet]

I didn't realize how many half-elves it was until I wrote that message. It wasn't intentional. Their stat block is just really good for the classes I wanted. I don't know they the devs didn't give humans the 1st level bonus feat. I would have used them instead, but they're weak without it. Dwarves are great clerics, but they don't fit the nature theme. I just can't imagine dwarves as any of these classes. Druid least of all.

Depends on how you view a druid, like if you're thinking more of an earth elementalist shaman guy, it tends to fit pretty well without needing to be creative.

Solasta humans are straight trash, it's true. Only pick them for RP options or if you're trying to do something crazy MAD but 5E tended to streamline most of that away. Outside of that, you're better off picking literally anything else.

 

[Nortar]

Dwarves are great clerics, but they don't fit the nature theme. I just can't imagine dwarves as any of these classes. Druid least of all.

Yeah, dwarves are the best clerics. Too bad you don't have one. But you have a bard though.

Behold, the dwarven bards:
1.

Classic adventuring beer-drinking, smooth-talking, heart-breaking, cards-cheating bard.

2.

Proper highlander bard.

3.

Glam-metal bard. Don't mistake him for a fag, fags!

 

[Artyoan]

Voice 2 male is an excellent dwarf voice imo. Which is an objectively correct opinion.

 

[ERYFKRAD]

Voice 2 male is an excellent dwarf voice imo. Which is an objectively correct opinion.

That's the English thug one innit. Pretty good for any dude.

 

[A-Minish]

Alright. I progress a bit. I am nearly lvl6 and reached the isle. I finaly got a Game Over in this game, first time seeing one. Lacrymas rightfully pointed out the risk of having party member getting down in just one turn with the 6 party mod. Most of my fights had someone getting down or nearly died for good, I even had to stabilize some just to be sure. Short rest have been very useful so fare and ration are plenty enough. A reasonable challenge in Authentic so far.

I realy like the variety of enemies in each encounter. I also had to use a wider variety of spells and actions compared to the official modules to deal with those fuckers.

My Moon Druid, which has advanced forms, tank surprisingly well but can loose his shapeshift form pretty quickly too if foes focus on him.

Range foes(archer or caster) are dangerous enough to force me to be careful with my positioning. Going out of cover to shoot sometimes, then going back to avoid potential retaliation. I dread the moment I am going to meet a truly powerful spell caster(well, I already did but I manage to take it down before the worse happens again). Spiked growth are a not always easy wins when they can shoot back from afar.

Also thanks God that enchanted/magic items are not locked behind a reputation mechanic. If you have enough gold you can outfit your party with a few costly but decent items.