I'll make it short. Even on Tactician difficulty the game is too easy. You hardly need any elixirs or potions (besides healing potions here and there), scrolls, or dive into itemization. You can basically kill almost every encounter by spamming sneak attacks with Astarion and Cantrip magic.
I understand that the game should appeal to a wider audience and it did. And I'm very happy that in 2023 a CRPG is that popular.
But please also consider the more hardcore gamers who really love challenging encounters. So please implement at least one more difficulty where encounters have higher stats, higher life pool, additional mechanics and spawn at least 50% more mobs.
Thank you.
They should call it a Masochistic Difficulty because basically, it's what you're asking for. Have you tried playing Tactician Difficulty without "Stat Mongering" I would suggest playing something else but we both know you not going to do that LOL!
So here is a Masochist Setting and tell if I'm at least in the ballpark. First of you wouldn't have any help from mercenaries, companions, etc. This would strictly be Lone Wolf/Solo Play. You wouldn't be allowed to Min/Max your stats either. You wouldn't be able to purchase any items in the store, healing potions, armor, weapons, etc.
You would have to craft every single item from scratch. Also, it would be a "permadeath" situation and there would be no saving your progression so every time you die you have to start over again and again, LOL! Would that be enough of a challenge for you? Wait! I know you going to "whinge" and say something like that's way too hard or something LOL! Or I want something easier *rolls eyes*
Let me break the "crafting" for you lol!
Say you wanted to make some metal armor, for argument's sake. Doesn't matter if it's Iron, Steel, Mythyril, or whatever. So to typically make armor you need certain things like a Forge, Tools, Anvil, etc. You would have to craft all that by hand in the game. To make a hammer first you would have to find a way to temper the metal, you have to get it nice and hot so you can shape it. So you have to build a forge let's say brick by brick or stone by stone. You have to go out in the game in an attempt to find all that stuff. But let's remember you have nothing at your disposal except the clothes on your back and maybe a few spells and you don't have a weapon because you have to make one first. Remember no way to buy something or loot off a dead body.
Let's break down "Combat" Well every combat encounter would be a life-or-death situation. Because you have no healer or healing potions. Now if you chose to be a "Healing Class" at least you could heal yourself. So tell me, is that enough of a "hardcore challenge" for you?! *ROLFMAO!* Combat, Crafting, Permadeath, and Possible Healing?
Yeah! I think that pretty much, covers the basics lol!
Permadeath: Everyone Pretty Much Knows What Permadeath is? I forgot the most important part lol! Once you switch to a Masochistic Setting you will always be stuck in that mode, It's permanent. you can't go back to an older build, save, delete the game, memory, uninstall/install, etc.. Your game is forever stuck on a Masochist Setting
I'm not being sarcastic or anything. I'm offering you a real honest-to-good, solution.