Am I supposed to be this badly equipped going into "Gem Quest: The Dark Castle"?

[Lampros]

I have been only able to craft 1 Primed item (Frostburn Longsword for the Battle Cleric); and I don't really have a lot of entry level magic gear, because I can't get faction rep quickly enough. So am I supposed to be full of mundane gear heading into the Dark Castle?

[View The Phenom]

The Dark Castle is a relatively low level area. Being equipped with mundane equipment is perfectly fine, and the location is beatable without magically gear.

[Lampros]

Originally posted by View The Phenom:

The Dark Castle is a relatively low level area. Being equipped with mundane equipment is perfectly fine, and the location is beatable without magically gear.

Hmm, okay. I was scared off by this description in Neoseeker for the quest:

"If you've delayed gear upgrades, assigning utility items like potions, etc. until this point, you'll need to address it now in order to defeat the stronger enemies (ogres) ahead."

https://www.neoseeker.com/solasta-crown-of-the-magister/walkthrough/Report_to_the_Council

[wendigo211]

You should find some magical gear in that area. If you did the sidequests, you should have picked up some Stardust, and you can get the recipes for the Lightbringer weapons at the Manacalon Ruins. Depending on which primed weapons you found, you might be able to craft the Lightbringer Greatsword, Shortsword or Longbow. Having any of those will make that area a lot easier. Having some blunt weapons will also help a lot in that area.

There are some enemies there who are resistant to non-magical weapon attacks, so having Magic Weapon memorized or an Oath of Devotion Paladin with Sacred Weapon will help a lot.

[Default]

Originally posted by Lampros:

I have been only able to craft 1 Primed item... and I don't really have a lot of entry level magic gear, because I can't get faction rep

If you've done the few sidequests available at the current point, you should have found a few magical items - are you aware of how identification works for magical items in the game? If not, you may have accidentally sold them.

They don't appear magical until *after* you identify them; the easiest way to recognise that they're magical is by their value (usually in the hundreds, rather than tens, of gold pieces). Once you identify them, they get properties.

I'd be surprised if you haven't yet found at least a few +1 items. Things called "magnificent sword" for example, which may seem simply more valuable, are actually magical.

[jsaving]

The greataxe of sharpness is a best-in-slot weapon you can craft very early in the game provided you are thorough about exploring areas and intentional about prioritizing the Antiquarians (blood ruby). Lightbringer longbow is another BIS available pretty early on, though you may have to work a bit on your rep with the Arcaneum to get a primed longbow. Those are the first two crafted items I'd go for if I were in your shoes.

[Cartesian Duelist]

Originally posted by Lampros:

Hmm, okay. I was scared off by this description in Neoseeker for the quest:

"If you've delayed gear upgrades, assigning utility items like potions, etc. until this point, you'll need to address it now in order to defeat the stronger enemies (ogres) ahead."

https://www.neoseeker.com/solasta-crown-of-the-magister/walkthrough/Report_to_the_Council

Here's a tip for you: Put down all the guides and walkthroughs and just enjoy the damn game.

[Lampros]

Originally posted by wendigo211:

You should find some magical gear in that area. If you did the sidequests, you should have picked up some Stardust, and you can get the recipes for the Lightbringer weapons at the Manacalon Ruins. Depending on which primed weapons you found, you might be able to craft the Lightbringer Greatsword, Shortsword or Longbow. Having any of those will make that area a lot easier. Having some blunt weapons will also help a lot in that area.

I did every available side quest, and I do have Stardust, but I have neither a Primed greatsword nor a Primed longbow - which are the two chief candidates for me to use it. And I don't see how I'd have enough rep any time soon.

Originally posted by Default:

If you've done the few sidequests available at the current point, you should have found a few magical items - are you aware of how identification works for magical items in the game? If not, you may have accidentally sold them.

They don't appear magical until *after* you identify them; the easiest way to recognise that they're magical is by their value (usually in the hundreds, rather than tens, of gold pieces). Once you identify them, they get properties.

I'd be surprised if you haven't yet found at least a few +1 items. Things called "magnificent sword" for example, which may seem simply more valuable, are actually magical.

Yup; I've religiously identified anything that had the usual adjective attached to them. But most of the +1 gear I found were armor and not weapons - and to the extent I may have found weapons, they were not the ones I would ordinarily use.

Originally posted by jsaving:

The greataxe of sharpness is a best-in-slot weapon you can craft very early in the game provided you are thorough about exploring areas and intentional about prioritizing the Antiquarians (blood ruby). Lightbringer longbow is another BIS available pretty early on, though you may have to work a bit on your rep with the Arcaneum to get a primed longbow. Those are the first two crafted items I'd go for if I were in your shoes.

No Primed greataxe either.

[Lampros]

Originally posted by Cartesian Duelist:

Here's a tip for you: Put down all the guides and walkthroughs and just enjoy the damn game.

People are different when it comes to what they enjoy. In my case, getting into something with no prior knowledge and blindly running into walls (both literally and figuratively in the context of this game) is a recipe for indigestion, not enjoyment.

[wei270]

when i enter the dark castle i had exactly 3 +1 items, leather armor +1, battle axe +1 i made and +1 dagger

[Cartesian Duelist]

Originally posted by Lampros:

People are different when it comes to what they enjoy. In my case, getting into something with no prior knowledge and blindly running into walls (both literally and figuratively in the context of this game) is a recipe for indigestion, not enjoyment.

That's what story mode was made for. Short of running into a bug, there is literally no decision in this game that would make it impossible to progress further. Honestly I just can't grok needing to know what is going to happen every step of the way before even taking a step.

[Lampros]

Originally posted by Cartesian Duelist:

That's what story mode was made for. Short of running into a bug, there is literally no decision in this game that would make it impossible to progress further. Honestly I just can't grok needing to know what is going to happen every step of the way before even taking a step.

Again, people are wired differently. I am a creature of meticulous planning and not much into spontaneity and certainly do not understand some people's tendency to plunge into the unknown. There isn't really much to be said about this.

[Cartesian Duelist]

Originally posted by Lampros:

Again, people are wired differently. I am a creature of meticulous planning and not much into spontaneity and certainly do not understand some people's tendency to plunge into the unknown. There isn't really much to be said about this.

All I'll say to that, then, is that Dungeons & Dragons is an odd game choice.

[Ommamar]

I have done dark castle with 3 groups so far and about to do it with a fourth. They all had pretty standard non magical equipment. It is more about understanding the mechanics and how to utilize the disadvantage/advantage system then having a lot of magical equipment although that surely wouldn't hurt.

[总是积极思考]

Originally posted by Cartesian Duelist:

Originally posted by Lampros:

Hmm, okay. I was scared off by this description in Neoseeker for the quest:

"If you've delayed gear upgrades, assigning utility items like potions, etc. until this point, you'll need to address it now in order to defeat the stronger enemies (ogres) ahead."

https://www.neoseeker.com/solasta-crown-of-the-magister/walkthrough/Report_to_the_Council

Here's a tip for you: Put down all the guides and walkthroughs and just enjoy the damn game.

100% agree with this
Don't be frightened by what people wrote
Use your own way

[gradualsmith]

Yes, you don't tend to find gear in this game, aside from the ubiquitous +1 Handaxe and +1 Medium or Light armour there's ♥♥♥♥ all really as regards great loot drops. Maybe a +1 Shield or two here and there.

I think it's to place the emphasis on the factions and crafting, as otherwise there'd be little game relevance to either.

My Melee fighters have got all of their current gear from either the Danatar (or whatever it's called) faction shop and the Antiquarian faction shop aside from the odd dropped item, and I mean the very odd dropped item.

Most of the drops are primed thingys which has been useless for my run as I have no-one proficient with the beads. Good for selling though & providing all the money I need to buy good items anyway.

But, yeah, don't hold your breath for drops.