As someone who beat Tactician 3 times and found the challenge lacking, I'd like to say I'm loving how hardcore Honour Mode is. It's even more intense than the D:OS2 version (it literally just doesn't let you reload, at all, and saves when you quit to the main menu) and it really changes how I play the game and make strategic considerations.
There appear to be hundreds of changes, everything from enemy AI, action economy, loot rarity and merchant pricing.
On my Tactician runs I found the AI to be...let's be kind and say hit or miss. Definitely dumber than D:OS2, which was disappointing.
I don't know what they did for Honour Mode but the AI seems amped up considerably.
I nearly got TPKed in the Overgrown Ruins almost immediately because
I was being an overconfident idiot and placed a purple exploding barrel from the Nautiloid in the chokepoint door to the next room after killing the guy you trick to let you in. Planned to lure them all in there and explode it and I thought I placed my party far enough away. Sneak mode, Gale pulls lever and edges just close enough to the door to shoot a Firebolt through the door past the barrel to ignite the oil barrel they are all standing around in the next room to surprise them to start the fight. That works but they somehow are not surprised and we roll trash initiative so they go first. They immediately shoot a firebolt or flaming arrow (honestly can't remember which 'cause I was shook) at the purple exploding barrel in the doorway. Instant near TPK, Gale and Shadowheart down, Tav and Lae'zel at like 4 HP each. I chugged a couple speed potions, regrouped and managed to grind out the fight but damn, that was a wake up call and a humbling experience and I love it.
Early Tips:
1. Go slow
2. Don't be an overconfident jackass like me, I don't care how many times you've soloed Tactician. This is a whole different thing.
3. See #2
4. See #3
I just want to say kudos to Larian. I was pretty frustrated after Patch 4 but Patch 5 has been amazing so far.
