I wanted to write a really detailed huge post about the games difficulty, explaining all bigger fights and why they are quite easy or what could be done about it.
But the bottom line is that, bringing the game up to that level - which would require various balancing passes and adjustments of other features all on its own - would take too much time and strictly speaking... it isnt necessary to have at release.
There isnt that much time left, considering there are two thirds of the game to finish and various smaller and few bigger bugs and issues to solve.
And that time should be spent on polishing the core of the game.
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Currently, the game is very, very easy.
A large part of the reactions about the game presumed difficulty that you can hear being talked about is actually coming from early players, beginners and various casual players who simply dont bother with any of the game numerous features or options.
Or have missed some of them by accident.
The other part is coming from more experienced players - who are learning the new revamped system all over, from the last bigger change of mechanics in the last update.
And many of them have missed some of the options and possibilities that are there.
A large part of the blame for this, if you could even call it like that, falls on the opening of the game and its Tutorial - which dont explain various possibilities and features of the game (like crafting), or how those synargize with one another, in a sufficient manner.
So a lot of people dont even know there are some of the possibilities or are too busy figuring out a lot of others, or are tricked by various bigger and smaller bugs.
The system is complex and requires time to properly get accustomed to. It took me two or three playthroughs to get the hang of it (just intuitively, without any specific effort) and im not really done yet.
Additionally, some bugs or various spells and skills being clearly either overpowered - like several fire spells that affect surfaces, and kill almost all enemies very quickly and easily - while the Ai obviously needs more refinement... - create another layer of apparent easiness of the game.
While those being turned against the players by enemies - make it seem as the game is very difficult or even punishing - which is not true.
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For example, the western area can be completed and cleared by only two main characters, at level 2 or 3, without companions and without Lonewolf or Raistlin talents. Without any sort of min maxing or detailed studying of stats and skills.
Just doing what seems reasonable.
All of it can be finished or won relatively easily - because each encounter is designed to be easy, with all those barrels with explosive and flammable substances positioned right next to enemies, just waiting for a arrow, a spell and a bit of flame.
While the skills provide numerous options, there is tonnes of equipment to be found or bought easily. Plenty of healing potions and spells and various items to consume to boost immunities or increase specific resistances. Various scrolls, elemental magic spells, talents, weapons... etc, etc, etc.
The new improvements to archers and mages capabilities only brought the game to some normal level in that regard. And even that is tilted towards easier angles.
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I am trying to keep this short...
I could describe and suggest various things on how to increase the difficulty to some normal levels through various changes and additions to each of the combat encounters to make them more tactically challenging and interesting in an open, multifaceted system like this one.
But the more i was thinking about it, the more i started to see it would be pointless. I mean sure, as the time gets shorter the tendency to start demanding and suggesting things increases, because you feel the urgency and you want to get in as much as you can.
But... thinking realistically... you do have enough to do anyways.
And when we come down to it, the normal difficulty mode and he western area is supposed to be easier.
We are supposed to kill the Ghoul at the Lighthouse in a more or less easy way.
Thats what it is there for.
Most of your audience will find it relatively difficult in their first playthroughs where most of such reactions are formed.
Other bigger fights such as the one with Orcs in front of the Black Cove and the ones in the graveyard, the church and the burning grounds can all be improved in various ways too.
Various smaller combat encounters can be further improved too.
They all have been improved from previous version but currently, any of these combat encounters force and push me to actually use various resources i have only when im playing with just two main characters alone. Otherwise i never really spend and use about 50% or more of various items and options i have.
Things could be improved further.
Only not for the Normal difficulty.
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Any additional changes of this kind, aiming to make the game harder or more challenging - should be left specifically for the Harder difficulty.
Because, I dont mean doing things in ways that would only falsely raise the difficulty, by just lowering our damage and increasing the enemy damage or health points. Which is what most, 99% of Hard difficulty modes comedown to.
This other kind of deeper, better redesign of difficulty, Ai, statistics, skills, enemy positions and group compositions of combat encounters is a much more demanding task and it would take some time to do.
Which is why i would actually suggest to delay any actual Hard difficulty redesign for a free dlc, or an expansion or some future update.
Or even a mod.
Because that kind of a thing needs to be done properly.
Just changing damage and HP of enemies or our characters serves no purpose. Its just a cheap inconsequential trick.
Its saying: yeah we have the hard difficulty but, it doesnt do anything really. It wouldn't serve or be of use to anyone.
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The crucial point is that there is still a lot of work to be done on the normal game mode. Various features need improvements and further quality passes and balancing - as it is.
The fact is that this normal game mode is what large majority of players will play and it is what will make or break this game in terms of media reception, gamers reception and sales. So that is what actually needs to be made as perfect and as good as possible, especially if the next month release date remains the target.
That and the modding, editing tools.
Which, it seems to me, are far more important things to get right then some superficial tweak of a hard difficulty mode which wont satisfy anyone.
Because... you dont really need to provide some kind of hard difficulty - right away. Most of all, you need to provide a polished great full game.
You can just let people play that, let them experience and enjoy the full game on normal and easy, with all of its content working properly. Let everyone get used to it. Plenty of material there to replay many times over.
It is something brand new so actual difficulty or easiness wont be a problem for most players - at first.
And to those that find it a bit on the easy side - you can then promise a proper hard mode. Instead of some superficial tweak of a few stats.
In a month or two, you can either release the "HARD SIN" (or something like it) difficulty, or maybe even do some kind of modding collaboration with fans about it.
Similar to some kind of expansion - and there can be an small expansion tied to it too. Theoretically. Depends only on you guys.
Either way - good PR material and MORE SALES after a few months.
Instead of shooting all of your bullets off right away.
(pun..,err, not intended? i think...)
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Thats my take on the matter. And about as much feedback i can provide about it. I wrote pretty much all i could about various features of the game.
Any other ideas or suggestions i might have - simply dont have the time to come to any fruition right now, in this time frame.
Ill post new bugs if i find them, but that will be the most i will be doing as feedback is concerned in the next month.
I think you are aware of all the issues and basically, in this last stretch, its all up to you.
The time is tight and the more you concentrate on the normal mode the better the whole game will be. Redesigning and balancing some kind of actual hard mode is superfluous now, and doing it in some simple, superficial way is pointless.
...
I will keep my ideas to myself and then try to do some kind of a mod of the game in the future, i hope - depending on how "easy" the editor will be to get for someone like me. Because thats the only real way those can become real and a much better approach to these things then me bugging you about any of these things in this last month of development. You have enough to think about and do anyway.
The engine looks amazingly nice in every way, graphically and in options and possibilities department. One could create all sorts of different stories and tales with all those tools and options.
If i manage it, i might provide a few very nice surprises for everyone.
