Auto attack

[xsys]

I am playing this game like Neverwinter Nights (or Dragon Age) in terms of auto attack, and I have a character that is basically a mage (with lot's of spells) that does nothing during an attack. Is there a way to tell a character to use their spells automatically?

[edit]
She does have the sword icon in her portrait btw.

[Mikolaj]

So you want to direct just one character? Why? Playing as a team is the base of the idea here and a reason why this game is better... I don't know of anyway to have autocasting, but you can queue spell when holding down ctrl and then leave this character for some turns.

[xsys]

That's the way it works in Neverwinter. It was quite impressive to be able to concentrate on your character while your virtual team acted like a real team using their own talents. It's no no big deal...I will just do it manually.

[Mikolaj]

Originally posted by xsys:

That's the way it works in Neverwinter. It was quite impressive to be able to concentrate on your character while your virtual team acted like a real team using their own talents. It's no no big deal...I will just do it manually.

Yeah, that's the reason I never finished NWN1, directing one character meant most of the time there was nothing to do... But in DA that you mention you can direct everybody in the party too.

[xsys]

I think you can play either way (auto or turn-based)...I just preferred to explore. The AI was very good at utilizing the spells of my mage and the talents of my dwarf. However, I have been playing more turn-based rpg games like King's Bounty and Disciples so I can try it your way ;)

[Mikolaj]

Yes, seens there no choice, AI in Drakensang doesn't use talents or spells, just the basic attack

[Τhe Rolling Cheese Wheel]

Originally posted by Mikolaj:

Yes, seens there no choice, AI in Drakensang doesn't use talents or spells, just the basic attack

Just started to play today.. incredibly time consuming micromanaging EVERYTHING.

[Mikolaj]

Originally posted by ᵀʰᵉ ᴿᵒᶫᶫᶦᶰᵍ Cheese Pumpkin:

Originally posted by Mikolaj:

Yes, seens there no choice, AI in Drakensang doesn't use talents or spells, just the basic attack

Just started to play today.. incredibly time consuming micromanaging EVERYTHING.

Then maybe play as a mage, take an amazon, fighter and a thief to your party, they will attack automatically and you can have fun casting spell. Alternatively you could watch a film, there is very little micromanagement in the fights ;)

[xsys]

Originally posted by Mikolaj:

Alternatively you could watch a film, there is very little micromanagement in the fights ;)

Not a fair comment, but I understand. However, it is quite awesome in Neverwinter Nights (or Dragon Age) when your party members actually use their spells and abilites to aid the team (and it looks spectacular too!). The AI in Drakensang is very simplistic by comparison.

Regardless, the best way to enjoy the game (imo) is exactly what you have suggested...and exactly the way I play :)

[Mikolaj]

Originally posted by xsys:

Originally posted by Mikolaj:

Alternatively you could watch a film, there is very little micromanagement in the fights ;)

Not a fair comment, but I understand. However, it is quite awesome in Neverwinter Nights (or Dragon Age) when your party members actually use their spells and abilites to aid the team (and it looks spectacular too!). The AI in Drakensang is very simplistic by comparison.

Regardless, the best way to enjoy the game (imo) is exactly what you have suggested...and exactly the way I play :)

It was just a joke :) But this is how I feel in Dragon Age, the game plays itself, it could leave the room and the party would still fight. Even if I try to take control it is not easy, with the camera concentrating on one character... Still, you're right, some optional automatization in Drakensang might be nice, although the AI is rather ok, it just limits itself to using standard attack...

[xsys]

Originally posted by Mikolaj:

It was just a joke :)

I understood that it was in jest...no worries.

It seems to me that the micromanagement should happen before the battle where you prepare your characters (and yourself) and then you concentrate on what you are doing when you are engaged while you characters help. That's how it works with NN and DA.

As far as "walking away" and they continue the fight, yes, that is possible. But it is extremely helpful too. If you are still getting used to the game it allows you to enjoy it while learning rather than being punished for the slightest mistake (example, Dark Souls - that game is just not fun imo). Your character is also so under-prepared in the beginning you need some advantage.

It always baffles me that in most rpgs you are given a pitchfork, dressed in rags, and penniless as you are sent out on your first quest. If I was going to do battle with god-knows-what I would be prepared (and micromanaged) beforehand! If I find the "Sword of Azaroth" along the way, so much the better ;)

Drakensang is still enjoyable though, so this is not really a criticism...just an observation :)

[Τhe Rolling Cheese Wheel]

There is a big difference between tedium and complexity in party RPGs like drakensang. Micromanaging all DPS characters to use their strongest attack is tedious. Choosing the attack order for the a.i. before battle is complex.

I shouldn't have to tell my healers to heal themselves. That should be handled by the a.i. while I focus on more important things, such as managing attack orders when things go wrong.

The fact that the a.i. can't even position my party members properly is a huge joke in this game. Geneforge 1 has more ai than drakensang, that's just sad.

[xsys]

Originally posted by ᵀʰᵉ ᴿᵒᶫᶫᶦᶰᵍ Cheese Pumpkin:

There is a big difference between tedium and complexity in party RPGs like drakensang. Micromanaging all DPS characters to use their strongest attack is tedious. Choosing the attack order for the a.i. before battle is complex.

I shouldn't have to tell my healers to heal themselves. That should be handled by the a.i. while I focus on more important things, such as managing attack orders when things go wrong.

The fact that the a.i. can't even position my party members properly is a huge joke in this game. Geneforge 1 has more ai than drakensang, that's just sad.

Sadly (for Drakensang) I agree with you on all points; the game does have it's moments though.

I have Geneforge 1-5 in my library so I will have to take a look :)

[Mikolaj]

Originally posted by ᵀʰᵉ ᴿᵒᶫᶫᶦᶰᵍ Cheese Pumpkin:

There is a big difference between tedium and complexity in party RPGs like drakensang. Micromanaging all DPS characters to use their strongest attack is tedious. Choosing the attack order for the a.i. before battle is complex.

I shouldn't have to tell my healers to heal themselves. That should be handled by the a.i. while I focus on more important things, such as managing attack orders when things go wrong.

The fact that the a.i. can't even position my party members properly is a huge joke in this game. Geneforge 1 has more ai than drakensang, that's just sad.

Geneforge has party AI? I thought you need to directly control all the characters...

[Τhe Rolling Cheese Wheel]

Originally posted by Mikolaj:

Originally posted by ᵀʰᵉ ᴿᵒᶫᶫᶦᶰᵍ Cheese Pumpkin:

There is a big difference between tedium and complexity in party RPGs like drakensang. Micromanaging all DPS characters to use their strongest attack is tedious. Choosing the attack order for the a.i. before battle is complex.

I shouldn't have to tell my healers to heal themselves. That should be handled by the a.i. while I focus on more important things, such as managing attack orders when things go wrong.

The fact that the a.i. can't even position my party members properly is a huge joke in this game. Geneforge 1 has more ai than drakensang, that's just sad.

Geneforge has party AI? I thought you need to directly control all the characters...

Nope all geneforge creations has A.I. they can cast spells and use melee if the enemy gets in melee range :D . You can manually control all of them yourself, but the A.I. does a good enough job. The only thing you have to focus on is to make sure your character stays out of danger and healing/spell casting when neccessary.