Larian Studios Forums Divinity - Original Sin Divinity Original Sin - Help/Tips/Tricks DOS is Hard? Realy? ...Few tips for new players...

Hey everyone Since the game release i've been reading quite a lot of post/comments that this game is kicking players butts, and that enemies are too hard to kill.
Due to my experience with games like this (rpg's (BG, X-Com, ext...)) i thought the game is pretty easy, even on hardest difficulty, you just have to know how the game works.
Soooo, the point of this post is to help people who experience troubles with anything in battles. Incity troubles and hustle i leave for you (some munchkin like to grind city folk - doesn't count).

Tip 1: Build your party well.

It comes first because a fair amount of people who don't like the game, and those who do but they experience troubles going out of the city at level 2-3, fail at this Point.
-If you want to rock, forget about focusing on more than one main damage stat. It means that if you're a Warrior you put your points in Strength. You also need stats like Speed and Constitution but focus on boosting Primary damage stat (Int - for mages, Str - Warrior, Dex - for Rangers, rogues) on level ups. 7 base Speed is enough 6 base Con is enough. Perception is a stat to discuss but i didn't put anything in it at all.
-With previous being said, you better avoit classes like cleric, rogue-wizard, battlemage. Master of none is not a good option for this game (tried them and failed).
-Plan ahead distribution of your skillpoints. You can only master (5 points in it) 3 skills untill the end. Also avoid useless skills which you can get from items/traits (telekinesis, loremaster, bartering, sneaking, pickpocketing, ex...)
-Create classes that synergise each other. Earth-Fire, Water lightning. Create combos so nothing will survive (ex. Midnight oil + fire + boulder dash = Slow + burn + fire damage from ignition spell + boulder damage + poison damage + explosion of poisonous cloud = a nice early-game combo).
-Get useful traits. By useful i mean the ones you will have use for. RP choise is not that important, if instead you get imunity to fear or free leadership point))) -The same goes for perks.

Tip 2: Use initiative, items, skills, surrounding and synergies.

Fairly ovious. Direct damage is far less effective than combos or
the use of surounding.
-There's always something to blow up, or throw at enemies. If you're like me (hard mode player), then you will have to exploit every oportunity you get to make enemy HP lower. Use kegs with oil and poison. If there's none, create your own walls of fire and frost.
-Use CC (croud control). Tch, daaaa. Obvious.
-Use weather or create your own. Obvious.
-Summarising previous two points - use synergies. You will probably want two mages in your party. One that does fire-earth combos, and the other that does water lightning ones.
-Be first to strike. In most cases you can be the first one to hit (use sneaking) with your attack. Make it the one that counts. In most cases that will be a Mage attack. Fireball the croud near keg, or summon elemental and cast haste (fire spell) on you.
-Use summons as your walls. Elementals can sink a lot of damage. Not as much on Hard difficulty, but still... Using fire elemental and casting firefly that surround it with burning ground is a great move (since fire heals him) + casting fireballs on him afterwards.
-Carry kegs with oil or poison with you. Have 1 at each characters inventory, then place it in stealth mode where you need them, then BOOM.

Tip 3: Grind your items.

I'm not a fan of this one, But you can always reload lucrative chests (usually the ones that are locked, in the end of a dungeon or behind a boss) or bosses (before you deliver a killing blow). You will almost always get a different loot.

As an example, here is my party.

I play both protagonists as Wizards. (I like em, so that is that)
One is Pyro-geo mancer with 2 levels of lightning magic, the other is water-lightning mage with 2 levels of fire (early game fireball and summon is nice). Both of them do most of the work in batles when the other two just protect them. In my opinion both mages (main character or companion) have to have 3 scools to couter immunities (fire immunity is common) and cast the combo/item triger.
Triple mage + 2h warrior may sound borring so you will probably want 2 mages and 2 weapon users. Ranger + Warrior is a good call.

Build your characters your self. 3 points in main damage stat, 1 in Speed 1 in Con. Remove points from useless skills and put 2 points in something you will specialize in +1 support skill.


SO, let me know if it was useful to anyone. If you have any questions or comments i will be happy to reply.

P.S. I did not include gamebreaking skills like blind to ruin this great game. I don't recomend using witchcraft since the game becomes too easy.

Thanks a bunch, very helpful! I'm planning a dual mage party with a friend in coop, glad to see that is viable and possibly even optimal.

Thoughts on dual lone wolf vs. playing normal with 2 companions/henchmen? Can your summons provide sufficient tanking?

I don't agree that hybrids are a bad idea, in fact this game really celebrates it.

Going hybrid will open up options on what you can do and since you're only allowed to put in 15 points per stat, there'll be enough points to put into another stat.

I'm not saying one is better than the other but that both are perfectly viable.

My party (20 level now) contain Pyro-hydromancer (hydro is mostly for healing and frost skills in case of enemies with resists) Aero-hydromancer (more heals is always better, i don't even use potions, and lightnings for stuns and more flexibility with resist) - both with Glass Cannons. And pyro have spider for enemies with all-magic rez.

Second main is tank-warrior, almost 2k HP, insane damage on Rage and mass debuffs, aoe attacks and stuns (real monstes, almost immortal)

Last is melee rogue, i don't know why i still didn't swap him. Damage is bugged (1h dagger without shield should strike twice, it was for some time but then bugged again and i have only one hit.), dodge is nice, but for decent damage always must stay behind enemy. And walking on burning ground does damage on every step (it is always burning and everywhere, cause pyramoncer is hardcore)

Besides the tips above, there are some basic things that can help even while your character is at a low level.

First, although some would consider it a cheat, one of your greatest advantages is you can see the future (sort of). So you see the red dots on the map along the road you want to explore. Do a save and walk right up until you trigger a fight. Don't worry about fighting so much as who your enemy is, how are they positioned, and how they fight. Now reload and think how can I beat these guys, now that I know who they are, where they are, what spells they cast, etc. Whom do I need to take out first? (usually a mage hiding in the background)

If you can locate a choke point where a passage narrows near the battle ground, maybe send a hasted summoned creature to the battle ground to initiate the fight. Then have him run back through the choke point toward the party-- who is all buffed up, waiting in ambush. If you have characters that can cast an oil slick and summon a fire elemental, once the elemental is heading toward the battle ground to initiate the fight, cast an oil slick at the choke point. As the elemental races back to the party, he will set the oil slick on fire as he passes though it.

This and the many examples posted above give you some idea of the kinds of things you can do the even the odds somewhat. Although I wish that all the fight weren't like this, they are in this game, so find the joy in figuring out your way of beating the odds. Good luck--you'll need it!

While there are points and tips to help people, really this reads like a "wow noob, why do you suck?" and those kinds of posts are never useful to people.

So... here are some real tips for new players!

1. Explore, Interact, Experiment.
I don't explore maps much, I don't pay attention to dialogue and I focus mostly on smooshing zombies. Thankfully, my gf is OCD and a packrat so I don't have to! But for you, I'd suggest you look in every nook and cranny for secrets, loot and puzzle answers.
At the same time, talk to everyone, because they might have a clue you were not expecting... or a mission you didn't know was there.
And whether you're in combat or in town, experiment with things to get results you might not be aware of... for example firing your lightning bow at a barrel of water might stun all those nasty mobs.

2. Skills are not just for damage!
Pet Pal is one of the games' best sources of experience... talking to animals gets you quite a few quests, to the point I would only suggest skipping it if you really hate animals. (Btw it's a talent not a skill, but it's just that awesome, and you only need 1 person to take it.)
Crafting/Blacksmithing are great too, turning an antler, a stick and a knife into a way to take out that skeleton mage is awesome.

3. Take control of that board!
When you get into combat, in a mass fight with half a dozen monsters on each side... the most important thing is control. Board positioning isn't as important as knowing which threat needs to be suppressed. Think a couple of moves ahead sometimes, perhaps you need to teleport a barrel of ooze first and risk getting plugged with arrows to set it on fire the next? Think a few moves ahead and don't worry about taking damage just because you chose to use a rain spell, if the next turn you set the water a sizzling and stun half the enemy forces.

4. A Balanced party is a happy party.
You wouldn't field a team of 11 quarterbacks/goalies so why use nothing but fire mages? You'll run into a variety of damage immune monsters in this game, so variety is the spice of life. Hybrid characters will work just fine because you can use gear to sure up any weak attributes (if you have any).

And finally, the most important part of this game...

5. Have Fun.
If you're not having fun, why play? Easy mode doesn't make the puzzles easier, just the combat. If you prefer the lore, the intrigue and the dialogue feel free to lower the difficulty and play the game your way... don't listen to people going "wow noob how are you sucking at this game im so good its easy yeah im so awesome."

my only tip is: get Madora or a 2h main, apply Wildfire(haste) or get scoundrel skill Hasten or w/e its called and have ur mage apply Oath of desecration, watch rape.

I mean really, 2h damage is so over the top, you can crit knocked down mobs with Opportunist for over 1k and that's without Rage, some1 must really love those 2handers in Larian.

You could probably go even more derp with those Glass-canon, leech and comeback kid builds floating around. You could probably take Wildfire on ur 2hmain aswell just by taking Pyro 1 or 2 and Witchcraft for that Oath of desecration. They probably don't stack (haven't checked) but your uptime with those skills would probably last you whole fights.

I do hope Larian gets their heads straight and fixes some of this stuff, I mean i know this is just single player and id be fine with this if the monsters dealt much more damage and fights would be hard, as it is now some bosses are downright broken not doing any damage (Boreas im looking at you) along with Guardian in the same area. The fire boss in Cyseal was a bit harder but all you had to do is create a choke point in the door and lure the mobs, apply buffs to 2h main bambam fight done :<

just my 3c

Any other thoughts on must-have skills or abilities? Thanks for the head's up on Pet Pal.

Kotaku (yes, indeed...) just released a quite good beginners guide for D:OS.

http://kotaku.com/tips-for-playing-divinity-original-sin-1601825219

Great! So I am looking to make sure I have these skills in a starting party of two casters:

Pyro/Geomancy/Witchcraft Wizard
Air/Hydro/Pyro(?) Enchanter

-Crafting or Blacksmithing
-Loremaster

Talents

-Pet Pal

And the rest to taste, probably Willpower, Far Out Man

Will look to pick up from books and such:

-Sneak, Pick Pocket, Telekinesis