Grind/respawn/backtracking in the game?

[Magnus]

Is it really that bad as it is portrayed in the user reviews? Is it worth waiting for a updates to fix it?

[Serendipitous]

Grind is really not an issue in the game, at least from my experience. I never had to kill mobs solely for xp reward. YMMV of course.

Recently final area (which was basicaly what most of those review talked about) was toned down on respawn and made a bit more easy. Still not without issues, but they are manageble.

The thing is, it is the game mostly for what i would call "hardcore" gamers. And i don't use it as a term for "better than you") But it is the game for players who expect tactical challenge, who like to figure things on their own and don't expect for the game to hold their hand till the end. Combat is hard and deadly, expect to die on regular basis at first. You are expected to somewhat optimise your character build, otherwise you may found a time where you feel like you can't progress any further or that you need to "grind" few more levels (not that it would help in this case). Don't expect pointers that will say "you should do this to progress further", for there are none. But this is what makes the game fun. If you are a guy who likes stuff like this, then you should buy it, it is already a complete game, balanced in regards to players approach and tactics (for the most part) and incredibly satisfying.

P.S. Most of ther reviews are positive so i don't understand where you getting "bad as it is portrayed in the user reviews" from))

[Dorok]

The backtracking is very true and it's because there's also no teleport and only very few quick travel, plus sometimes it can be complicated and your errand/research generate backtracking, plus there's a special shop management and a relatively strict inventory system that will tend push you to more travel to a base hence more backtracking. It's definitely a weak aspect of the game but it's not that much a big deal, backtracking should be normal in non linear CRPG.

Yeah there's some tedious respawn and frankly I'd prefer an option to disable it when it's just mechanical respawn. It would be great to have such option particularly with the non classic xp system, but despite I don't like respawn and prefer CRPG without any, it's not a big deal at least it wasn't with a stealth character allowing skip most respawn combats.

I didn't used the classic XP option but the oddities system, so no classic xp grinding was possible, I still grind a bit by exploring more optional areas to make a few level up a bit sooner. Quote that do any of the respawn combat with this xp option would have bring nothing. Now I think that if I had read a small character guide before I would have been less tempted to a bit of grinding. Secondly quote this grinding is meaning exploring new areas (that are optional but also with a weaker design), it's not at all the classical grinding.

I don't like respawn, grinding, too much backtracking and even would wish the game had an option to quickly change game speed as in Pillars of Eternity so exploring in stealth could be faster. I can also add many of the more optional areas tend have a less good filling and the game is like it targeted a too big size.

But despite all those negative aspects, it's very fun and totally unique approach of the classic blueprint CRPG. It has many great aspects or moments even if it has also weak points and some weaker moments. I'd hate myself to have skip it.

Some strong points:
- The overall stealth system is very developed and you can do many thing with stealth and skip many combats which fits well the xp oddities system.
- The overall character building is a little bit confuse but very deep and many possibilities, much more developed than most CRPG released past 10 years, indie or not.
- The writing isn't pro like best non indie CRPG, but rather pleasant to read and in indie context on the best.
- It has many stunning moments or aspect.
- More

[Serendipitous]

Originally posted by Dorok:

I don't like respawn, grinding, too much backtracking and even would wish the game had an option to quickly change game speed as in Pillars of Eternity so exploring in stealth could be faster. I can also add many of the more optional areas tend have a less good filling and the game is like it targeted a too big size.

Try using cheatengine. Speedhack really helps with boring walking parts.I cna't even play on normal speed anymore, too slow))

[Dorok]

The speed is ok for me and during stealth actions I'm happy it isn't too fast, even more without a pause. But I have no doubt for some players it's too slow.

But when you stealth even for me it's too slow, and it's not even that you can non stealth and start stealth when it's more pertinent because enemies can detect you too far for allowing that.

Anyway a shortcut to switch the game speed as in PoE would work very well.

[Serendipitous]

There are hotkeys bindings in cheatengine. You can switch between normal and fast without troubles.

[Dorok]

Ok thanks for the info but I won't install such stuff just for that. :-)

[J.B.King]

Also, the interloper feat makes running around stealthed quite a bit faster. Add Tabi Boots and it's really not too bad.

[Dorok]

In Sword Coast Legend I picked max stealth speed just for that reason, sigh. But at least I could.

There's no good solution but after a while with it I think PoE one is the best from far.

[player1]

The only true backtracking the game has is due to trading equipment with merchants.

In fact, DC area, that many complain about, has much less backtracking then you would do during normal playing when you need to sell loot (or store it for future selling, etc...)

[Dorok]

The backtracking from shops is among the worst but the final caricature of intensive backtracking to reset spawn countdown is another awful example, and not only. It's awful to defend that final, you are burying the dev into awful design choices.

I was wondering why this game hadn't more success and now I know why, with such an awful final it can't have a good word of mouth, by letting most players on a very bad feeling about the game.

[TheUnbeholden]

"The overall stealth system is very developed and you can do many thing with stealth "

When you get caught and run out of an area, all the enemies will be there waiting for you when you try to go back... getting you instantly spotted again. So your essentially stopping your progress in certain areas. Especially early on in the game when you I can't even find a decent gun to defend myself with.