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Joined: Apr 2016
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I really enjoyed this game. I played through with my main characters using Expert Marksman and Scoundrel exclusively. I emphasized things like Leadership and Charisma on one character, and Crafting/Lockpicking/Pickpocketing on the other. I only used Madora and Jahan. Jahan I had with Pyro/Hydro/Areo. Here are some observations I made...

I played in Tactician Mode. The game was pretty difficult at times early on, but as the game went up, it got significantly easier. The Braccus Rex fight was one of the most difficult. So I just ignored it and went on to Silverglen. I came back and killed Braccus when I was level 11 (he's level 9). He died pretty easily. I was slightly under level at Luculla Forest, but I did most of Luculla before I did Hiberheim, which meant Hiberheim (level 11 creatures) was super easy, because I was level 13+.

It worked out in the end, because I was facing level 19-20 creatures as I was myself 19-20 in Phantom Forest. However, the easiest fights in the game were the last two fights.

I had something like 400,000 gold by the end of the game. I had so much gold I didn't know what to do with it, and I had too many items to sell that I couldn't find anyone to buy them all without having to go around to countless merchants. Gold became a useless resource.

I had a ridiculous number of scrolls. I didn't use them nearly as much as I could have, probably because it was just easier to use whichever spell I needed to. I think scrolls would be more useful to me if I had not had Jahan (or any wizard type).

Crafting is pretty awesome, but pretty useless. I never crafted any armor/weapon/jewelry items for use -- only to sell them to make gold, which was useful very early in the game, but as gold became easier and easier to get, it became pointless.

Arrows are almost too plentiful. I had something like 150 Silver arrows (because Silver bars are ONLY used for Silver arrowheads), and TONS of Explosive Fire arrows. The other arrows weren't as good, and it was easier to make fire resist potions than it is to buy essences for the others.

Also the debuff potions do absolutely nothing. They aren't used for any crafting anymore in Enhanced Edition.

I had stockpiles of Tenebrium bars (200+). They're only used one at a time for adding tenebrium damage to a weapon, but how often do you upgrade weapons? Not THAT often! And the end game weapons already come with Tenebrium damage.

Furthermore, the Bowstring can't be applied to a Bow that has Tenebrium damage on it, for whatever reason.

The only Grindstone/Whetstone Wheel for the first half of the game is in Cyseal so you have to constantly trek back there for the weapon upgrade (this is before Tenebrium weapons, so you're switching weapons a lot). There's no whetstone wheel in Silverglen. Very confused about that.

The only potions I ever used were healing potions and then constitution/armor on my tank. I never needed anything else, which is a shame.

I used grenades ALL the time. They are super powerful. In fact, they are vastly more powerful than Arrows. Maybe that's because the Expert Marksman talents are vastly superior in damage to the Scoundrel talents. (Although Scoundrel has some VERY good tech skills like the teleport and hovering.)

I think this is an absolutely excellent game, but it's just too easy, and crafting, while expansive, isn't useful for the vast majority of things (outside of making grenades and arrows). For instance, crafting skillbooks has way too many requirements vs just buying the skillbook. It would be a completely different game for instance if skillbooks were never sold and could only be crafted. That would put a twist on things!

Joined: Jan 2016
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I'm glad you enjoyed the game.

I agree about the gold and arrows. They are far too plentiful. I'm level 16 now and have around 80,000 gold. So, if you have 400,000 ... wow!

You said that crafting armor/weapons is useless. Did you have Crafting/Blacksmithing 5? You can craft the best bows and two-handed swords in the game ... by far better than any loot or those sold by vendors. I play on normal difficulty, but I'm pretty sure difficulty doesn't affect this. The armor you can craft is high in protection, but doesn't offer as many perks as stuff you can find elsewhere, that is true.

As for whetstone locations, there is a one in back of the blacksmith in Silverglen, beside the anvil! Go have a look, ignite.

Joined: Mar 2003
Location: Canada
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There is also an anvil and whetstone in the Hall of Heroes (though that's still a map transition if you're in Luculla Forest).

Joined: Feb 2015
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Originally Posted by Raze

There is also an anvil and whetstone in the Hall of Heroes (though that's still a map transition if you're in Luculla Forest).
Hall of heroes craft place is soooo far away from teleport. Also privat chests are sooo far away. from craft space and from teleport tooo. Its better to store items on the ground next to Cyseal-North then use Homestead. Just poor level design.

Homestead design is like a self focused designer received a task : make a magic house in the stars. Homestead looks like a level design masturbation. Well, anyway that poor guy definately didnt receive the order - make it useable in game. Make it fun to use. Make it handy to use. Well maby DOS2 makes it better.

Joined: Mar 2003
Location: Canada
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The stuff in the Hall of Heroes is handy if you are using a companion as a crafting mule.

The homestead chests can be picked up and dropped somewhere more convenient.


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