RobEG
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Post by RobEG on Dec 8, 2023 8:26:49 GMT
Is there any downside, other than appearance?
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MolarAm🔵
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Post by MolarAm🔵 on Dec 8, 2023 8:31:37 GMT
People look at you weird, but I don't think so? I know you get the opportunity to go full mind flayer at a later point, but that's a different thing. |
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Post by rhaegyr on Dec 8, 2023 9:36:06 GMT
Should I go a custom character or a pre-made one? I'll be playing online co-op with two friends.
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Post by starchildhypocrethes on Dec 8, 2023 9:57:49 GMT
I see this is finally out on Xbox.
Bad timing though, it’s going to have to join the queue behind Rogue Trader now.
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MolarAm🔵
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Post by MolarAm🔵 on Dec 8, 2023 9:59:30 GMT
Should I go a custom character or a pre-made one? I'll be playing online co-op with two friends. I'd choose one of the pre-made ones, I think. Presumably you'll get some of their unique quests and mechanics that way. |
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Post by Destria on Dec 8, 2023 11:50:46 GMT
I went custom for my first play-through (Bard). I read an article (I forget where) that suggested that playing as a pre-made character meant missing out on a chunk of dialogue (presumably that with the character you’re playing as).
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MolarAm🔵
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Post by MolarAm🔵 on Dec 8, 2023 12:03:52 GMT
You would, but if you're playing multiplayer you'd miss out on that dialogue anyway.
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RobEG
Junior Member
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Post by RobEG on Dec 8, 2023 12:27:19 GMT
People look at you weird, but I don't think so? I know you get the opportunity to go full mind flayer at a later point, but that's a different thing. Hmm, it just doesn't feel right for my 'hero of the people' character. Although I already have illthid powers so maybe that ship has sailed. Feel like this crosses a line though. I was only planning on playthrough, but am already thinking about a second now I understand the mechanics better and wouldn't be worrying so much about decisions. Sure I'd get through it a lot quicker. |
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MolarAm🔵
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Post by MolarAm🔵 on Dec 8, 2023 12:33:26 GMT
You do you, but personally I think I am a better hero of the people if I can fly around and explode people with my mind.
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Post by skalpadda on Dec 9, 2023 9:16:50 GMT
Should I go a custom character or a pre-made one? I'll be playing online co-op with two friends. There's no right or wrong, so play whatever character appeals to you the most for whatever reason. All the origin characters are well written and have substantial quests, so if you like the idea of playing as someone with an established backstory and some more goals alongside the main plot any of them is good choice. But the game is gigantic and you don't need to worry about not having enough to do, so if you prefer more of a blank slate or making up your own background you shouldn't hesitate making your own character from scratch.
All the origin characters can be respecced a bit into the game, so if you like one of them but don't want to play as that class or specialisation it can be changed. For some of them it might get a bit weird since their class is integral to their story, like Gale is definitely a Wizard in all his story interactions and Wyll's story and quests are all about the dilemmas he faces as a result of becoming a Warlock. On the other hand I played Astarion as a Bard on my second run and it arguably fit him even better than his default Rogue class.
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Post by richyroo on Dec 9, 2023 9:26:41 GMT
So I bought a copy on the Xbox, but I can report it has more issues than the PS5 version.
First impressions were not great, it started with the Larian logo with no sound. Then the title screen had no music playing.
In Act 3, the performance seemed slightly worse than the PS5 version, more juddery to my naked eye.
The PS5 version could suffer from the occasional sound not playing or it being delayed. The xbox version suffers the same issue, but it seems slightly worse.
There seems to be greater dead zones on the sticks, especially the right camera stick. [Edit] I think I may be imagining this one. There are dead zones on the PS5 too.
It also crashed once in the 3 hours I played it, something the PS5 has not done in 120hrs.
After spending so long on the PS5 version, these issues were immediately obvious to me. Hopefully Larian will fix these issues in future patches.
If you only have access to the xbox version though, overall I don't think it will ruin your experience, so go ahead and enjoy yourself. Just make sure to save often, although you should be doing that anyway.
Also, you can pick up the deluxe edition from Gamivo for about £15 if you know the VPN trick.
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askew
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Post by askew on Dec 10, 2023 16:55:41 GMT
I've loaded this up for the first time in a good while, and trying to get my bearings. Helpfully, I left a marker on the map title "spider cunts".
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Post by salaman on Dec 10, 2023 16:58:31 GMT
I'm in Act 3 and was told early on to attend lord Gortash's coronation ceremony. That sounded like a big fight waiting to happen, so I ignored it and explored the lower city, sewers and did all sorts of quests.
Now that I finally got around to visiting Gortash, everyone in the keep is hostile. I'v yet to make it past the first corridor.
I think I'll go adventure elsewhere for a bit longer before I try to figure out if it's even feasible to go in there anymore.
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Tuffty
Junior Member
Posts: 3,609
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Post by Tuffty on Dec 10, 2023 16:59:37 GMT
Ok so I'm about to go to Shadowfell for Thorm's relic, but it's telling me there's active quests that could just go so sounds like the point of no return. I havne't done anything around Moonrise, so those quests like finding the tieflings, the goblins, Duke Ravenguard are all still active. Am I ok going to Moonrise and finishing those off before heading back to Shadowfell?
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Post by JuniorFE on Dec 10, 2023 17:12:39 GMT
skalpadda Imagine (Wyll spoilers) Mizora showing up at camp all like "Oh yeah, I'm this guy's patron, the fount of his power-" and Wyll just going "Er, actually I'm a Barbarian Monk now" 
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Post by richyroo on Dec 10, 2023 18:15:06 GMT
Ok so I'm about to go to Shadowfell for Thorm's relic, but it's telling me there's active quests that could just go so sounds like the point of no return. I havne't done anything around Moonrise, so those quests like finding the tieflings, the goblins, Duke Ravenguard are all still active. Am I ok going to Moonrise and finishing those off before heading back to Shadowfell? Yes go to Moonrise and explore that fully first. I also had to Google at that point as I wasn't sure what I should be doing. Sometimes I think the game should be clearer, because it just felt like you should visit Moonrise last. |
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Tuffty
Junior Member
Posts: 3,609
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Post by Tuffty on Dec 10, 2023 18:26:41 GMT
Absolutely. In fact it kinda felt like mine was an optional quest because the game enforces that Moonrise is where its all going to go down. Only by looking at the journal afterwards that it says that it's a main quest. Guess maybe I should realise that all the optional quests was happening there but yeh, hard to know. At least the game does say, "Are you sure about this?"
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RobEG
Junior Member
Posts: 4,568
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Post by RobEG on Dec 10, 2023 18:57:34 GMT
Yeah I posted on here a while back, that part is quite confusing. Definitely do as much as possible before going there.
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Post by bichii2 on Dec 10, 2023 20:21:52 GMT
Played the opening area so far. I'm a sexy high elf druid with hair that would melt my daughters hearts. Such soft pretty skin with big fluffy hair, just like the boys they seem to like. Picked druid as I'm not sure I've even gone that route in a game before. Usually the wizard or barbarian type character. I'm going to be one with nature and all the while having all the teenage girls love me. His name is Bruce.
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Post by richyroo on Dec 11, 2023 8:07:17 GMT
Played the opening area so far. I'm a sexy high elf druid with hair that would melt my daughters hearts. Such soft pretty skin with big fluffy hair, just like the boys they seem to like. Picked druid as I'm not sure I've even gone that route in a game before. Usually the wizard or barbarian type character. I'm going to be one with nature and all the while having all the teenage girls love me. His name is Bruce. Druid is a great class. It's a very versatile character, it has access to some decent spells and also the animal morphing. I think you will like it. |
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Post by rhaegyr on Dec 11, 2023 8:45:49 GMT
Any tips on the best way to use Shadowheart (or at least the best starting spells)?
I'm in a party of three with two mates (who are a sorcerer and rogue) and I feel the most 'useless' of the lot so far, especially in combat.
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MolarAm🔵
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Post by MolarAm🔵 on Dec 11, 2023 8:48:49 GMT
I respecced Shadowheart into War Cleric to let her use heavy armour and a shield. The general battle plan is to put Spirit Guardians on and wade into combat with a mace. Works pretty well for me, she's a great tank.
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Post by rhaegyr on Dec 11, 2023 9:07:14 GMT
How/when can you respec? Should I have done it at the start?
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MolarAm🔵
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Post by MolarAm🔵 on Dec 11, 2023 9:20:14 GMT
Soon after you get off the ship, there's a crypt with a guy named Withers at the end of it. He joins your camp soon afterwards, and will let you respec for 100 gold.
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Post by rhaegyr on Dec 11, 2023 9:51:04 GMT
Soon after you get off the ship, there's a crypt with a guy named Withers at the end of it. He joins your camp soon afterwards, and will let you respec for 100 gold. Ah great stuff, I've found him, thanks |
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RobEG
Junior Member
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Post by RobEG on Dec 11, 2023 12:54:05 GMT
Act 3 is an interesting change of pace. Lots going on all of a sudden. Serial killers, Doppelgangers, Strange flying elephants, deals with the devil(s), potential spies in the camp.... . Seems like there are 3 main directions I can do in:
1. Take control of the Elder Brain (with or without an alliance with Gortash)
2. Defeat the Elder Brain (potentially using Gortash as an ally until I don't need him anymore)
3. Release Prince Orpheus (involving some sort of deal with Raphael). I'm not sure which of the above two this affects, probably both I guess. But I guess the Emperor is then no longer allied.
Based on my approach so far I'll be aiming for 2, but haven't quite figured out the best way to navigate there yet. |
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Post by bichii2 on Dec 11, 2023 14:57:04 GMT
Oh no. I think I've accidentally created an elf jock. He constantly pouts and looks pretty in all the conversation screens, all his expressions look like he thinks he is the shit. He's going to be really evil I can tell.
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Post by skalpadda on Dec 11, 2023 23:42:01 GMT
Any tips on the best way to use Shadowheart (or at least the best starting spells)? I'm in a party of three with two mates (who are a sorcerer and rogue) and I feel the most 'useless' of the lot so far, especially in combat. The first couple of levels as a Cleric are a bit meh, but you'll start getting cool stuff as you level and when you get to act 2 you'll get to shine with things like Spirit Guardians and Turn Undead.
You don't really have the spells or spell slots to blow things up early on, but you have some very useful skills, especially for support. Guidance is free (a cantrip, so doesn't cost a spell slot) and will help a with speech and other skill checks, so cast it liberally whenever someone needs to persuade or pick a lock or whatever. Bless is a very strong defensive buff. Guiding Bolt deals decent damage and the debuff can be very good for the rest of your party. And healing is always useful when things go wrong.
Lots of cleric spells are a bit situational, so remember you can switch out your spells at any time (as long as you're not in combat) via your spellbook.
There's some gear you might want to keep an eye out for in the first act that interacts with radiant damage and your heals. Some examples: (wiki links, so there might be minor spoilers) chest, ring, ring, boots, amulet, staff.
Feats (you get your first at lvl 4) might seem confusing, but increasing Wisdom is never a bad choice. Warcaster can be a good feat if your concentration spells get interrupted a lot.
Lastly, the Trickery domain (subclass) that Shadowheart comes with is probably the weakest of the lot. The base Cleric toolkit is very good so it's not a big deal, but if you want more things to do you could always consider changing it once you get Withers in camp. War is good if you want to bonk stuff in the head. Thunder will let you cast lightning stuff for more damage and knockback fun. Light gives you very strong AoE spells and a very good defensive reaction skill. Life domain boosts your healing a whole lot. Definitely not something you have to do, but it's an option.
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Post by rhaegyr on Dec 12, 2023 9:08:42 GMT
Thanks skalpadda - I've already decided to see Withers and change to either a War or Tempest Cleric. All the above is really helpful, thanks again. So much choice! |
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Post by skalpadda on Dec 12, 2023 10:55:01 GMT
No problem, I'm a Cleric enjoyer.  And it should have been Guiding Bolt the second time there, not Guidance twice. |
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