Progression is too linear.

[Jammur]

I bought the game a few days ago and decided to play solo on a private server. I have enjoyed the game until I got stuck trying to kill Keely the Frost Archer. That is when I realized that progression is just too linear. There is no other way for me to progress without killing this certain boss. I can go do other things, but I can't get stronger without first killing her.

I don't know if I am the only person to think this, and I am sure the answer is just "get gud" but it has made me want to stop playing. An open world game with just one path to progression seems awkward to me.

[Amigo]

Yes, the current system is pretty on the rails which is kinda standard for games like this. You kill the boss in one area, get some new stuff to research and build. Then you move to the next area/biome, kill the next boss etc. etc. This is exacerbated by the fact that the map is fixed and you can find the most suitable place for a castle once and for all.

They are going to change it somewhat. At least abilities wise. Not sure about the research.

[Yumeko]

nice bait.

[Dave from work]

Yeah, it can feel linear for sure, but you're not railroaded into boss-killing in succession.
Some bosses are more cheese-able than others, the vampire hunters (both male and female), the "frost paladin" and void-archer to mention some. (use terrain)

The healing bosses are easier if you have a weapon with knockback (vicious greatmace's E ability for example), to whack em out of their aoe.

What REALLY gates you from upgrading is the papers / scrolls / Schematics for your reserach tables , wich in turn bars you from having an easier time killing bosses.
It's somewhat tedious.

The answer you didnt want after that, is that you need to get good.
And that's not me calling you "bad" because I die to a lot of dumb stuff too.

[Unrectify]

Lucky you, I'm at 400 hours, and I got stuck at the Alpha Wolf. I haven't beaten any V Bloods yet.

[RobeRonin]

I loved how linear the progression was !

[RobeRonin]

Originally posted by Unrectify:

Lucky you, I'm at 400 hours, and I got stuck at the Alpha Wolf. I haven't beaten any V Bloods yet.

thats crazy lol some of the early fights are soo easy i would watch a video or something !

[Tanyon]

Dude gets to :checks notes: 4th boss out of 70 and decides the game is too linear.. ok dude.. if you can't beat Keely.. boy are you in for a treat.. I'd love to watch you try to kill Nicholaus the Fallen or Polora the Feywalker. lol

[Lywelyn]

Originally posted by Tanyon:

Dude gets to :checks notes: 4th boss out of 70 and decides the game is too linear.. ok dude.. if you can't beat Keely.. boy are you in for a treat.. I'd love to watch you try to kill Nicholaus the Fallen or Polora the Feywalker. lol

nevermind your picky point, OP's point stand, it do be linear since they made game progress gatekeeped by bosses and research, there was surely a better way to implement it.

[Tanyon]

Originally posted by Lywelyn:

Originally posted by Tanyon:

Dude gets to :checks notes: 4th boss out of 70 and decides the game is too linear.. ok dude.. if you can't beat Keely.. boy are you in for a treat.. I'd love to watch you try to kill Nicholaus the Fallen or Polora the Feywalker. lol

nevermind your picky point, OP's point stand, it do be linear since they made game progress gatekeeped by bosses and research, there was surely a better way to implement it.

Well that is still an opinion.. one I do not share.. what would you prefer? Level based unlocks? Point based unlocks? It would still be "linear" to you.. the fact remains that like other games Valheim.. for example there are different zones/areas.. they offer different enemies, mats and progression.. the goal is to grind gear and stuff to get good enough for the next zone. I don't see how this is anymore/less linear than other games.

The reviews would say that people seem to enjoy the game as is..

[DocBockNstein]

I completed all of the content and I agree the game does feel very on rails compared to other survival games. In games like Conan exiles you just have to find and acquire new materials/thralls and level up. This game took far too many pages out of Valheims book of boring linear progression. The equipment is also where all of your power comes from and your only as powerful as your gear allows you to be which takes away from the whole "I'm a powerful vampire lord" thing. If I could mod the game I would move the powers into a level system and you just collect boss souls to unlock anything you want. I would also prefer if you had stat allocation and could level stats and move about 70% of the dps to the actual lord and the equipment just accounts for the rest. Item levels are a mistake.

[Tanyon]

Originally posted by DocBockNstein:

I completed all of the content and I agree the game does feel very on rails compared to other survival games. In games like Conan exiles you just have to find and acquire new materials/thralls and level up. This game took far too many pages out of Valheims book of boring linear progression. The equipment is also where all of your power comes from and your only as powerful as your gear allows you to be which takes away from the whole "I'm a powerful vampire lord" thing. If I could mod the game I would move the powers into a level system and you just collect boss souls to unlock anything you want. I would also prefer if you had stat allocation and could level stats and move about 70% of the dps to the actual lord and the equipment just accounts for the rest. Item levels are a mistake.

Once again.. your opinion.. the game is sitting pretty at 89% VERY POSITIVE reviews.. my friends and I love this game.. most people I know love this game.. I love the progression as is.. I have almost 550 hours in this game.

I don't see them changing anything that major about the game simply because there is a handful of people who dislike that aspect.. it's also funny you think Valheim is boring.. I have over 500 hours in that as well. Maybe some of us just like this style of progression and you prefer Conan.. which is fine.. I also love Conan. We all have preferences.

I like the way the gear is. There is still choice.. you have armor, ring/necklace and weapons. YOU can choose what you want to acquire first. If you are having difficulty with one boss to unlock the armor ok then maybe kill the one that will unlock the weapons you want.. you don;t want to do that ok well kill the one that will help get the accessory you want.

I still don;t understand what you mean by:

"I would also prefer if you had stat allocation and could level stats and move about 70% of the dps to the actual lord and the equipment just accounts for the rest."

I can't think of a single game that has weapons and armor where the main part of your stats don't come from that.. WoW, Ark, 7D2D, Valheim, Conan.. if youtake off all your armor and weapons in any of those games you're a weak POS just like in this game.. sure you can put points into stuff here and there in some of those games but your gear is just as important.

They are changing the skills a bit. When you kill a boss you will be given a token and then can unlock any skill you want in that tier of elemental related abilities.. there will be three tiers of skill unlocks.

They are also adding a passive magic aspect as well that will help you feel stronger and I believe 3 new sets of armor.

I'm sure there will be mods that come out after 1.0 that might help with some of the stuff you want.

[Todokoro]

All act 1 bosses are braindead easy. if you're struggling just lookup a guide.

[PhilHoliday]

1.0 changes the progression system for the better. It is really good. I cannot say much more because I am under NDA, but on May 8th the game will be much improved.

[Adremelech]

I would love to have the Randomizer back as an Option for the V-Blood Units. That was one of my favorit playthroughs, never new who i was Facing of to too get my Powers aso. It's so sad that this was gone with the First Region Update.

[Lywelyn]

Originally posted by PhilHoliday:

1.0 changes the progression system for the better. It is really good. I cannot say much more because I am under NDA, but on May 8th the game will be much improved.

we'll all be the judge of that i guess.