Confused about the difficulty curve

[Cream of Me]

So started playing this, did the first run, Denial, and beat it on my first try. Apparently not too uncommon, so far so good. Getting a feel for the game and enjoying it so far. Get a nice bundle of candles and start upgrading.

Get to the next chapter, Resentment, and see the game says "By the way, go to a lair and kill a boss or you'll fail your run at the very end". Ok, not a problem. Skipped the Lair the first run but if I have to kill them from here on out then I'll try and make the best of it.

Fast forward like 6 hours today and I haven't even made it past the first zone because of this stipulation. Once I saw the Radiant Flame didn't go above level 4 and I was still dying to these bosses I knew I was screwed. At this point I'm just going through the motions almost like a robot. Blitz through the opening, try to pick 4 people who aren't saddled with some insane negative quirk, try to get to the lair ASAP to preserve as much health/stress as possible, and just get thrown around like a rag doll. Die, restart with ~5-7 candles depending on the hero goals, and try again.

At this point I've been able to unlock the following while being completely stymied at getting past a boss in the Lair:

* 34 candles in Intrepid Coach
* 25 candles in The Working Fields
* 89 candles spent on hero unlock/upgrades

I was really hoping the Radiant Flame would keep ramping up much father than it did. The bonuses at level 4 are nice, but they're not enough to push me over this hump, at least at the current moment. Figured it would go up to level 10 or something in order to fulfill its purpose of "you'll get a win eventually".

I want to keep grinding this game and seeing more of it but man, it is super frustrating to try and get stronger ~5-7 candles at a time, maybe a hero shrine once every 4-5 runs, and that's about it.

Closest I've come is getting the Fish boss to death's door, but he refused to actually go down and killed me anyway. Which, was probably going to happen right after so I wasn't too upset since I was pretty thrashed from that battle. But man, right now I'm wishing they either moved the Lair boss requirement at least 1 or two chapters farther in or something to make progression less of just running smack dab into a wall.

How have other people been able to handle this so far? Did I just funnel my candles wrong and I should have just focused on max'ing a single hero to carry me?

[HighLanderPony]

I go for candles instead of story progress. I get 15-30 a run (on chapter 2).

I think it's okay to go back to the chapter you can clear easier to boost your gains.

Yeah, the game definitely spikes after the initial trials (which were designed to ease in new players).

There are 2 hero shrines per region every time, at least the first region you see (regardless of chapter). You can use this info to grind skills (tedious but eh). Sometimes they're on the same node level though, that sucks.

For lairs, the shroud one has one of the harder bosses. If that was too tough, try the tangle or sprawl instead. Those can be gimmicky but are probably easier if you've the right comp.

Your candle spread seems fine. If you haven't yet, get some inn items like the stale bread which is way better than the mold. Stuff like that. It's worth to dabble into some unlocks because sometimes you get straight up upgrades just a few points in.

[bureau44]

I've just done my first try of Resentment almost to the last inn. Came to the final battle with a team of two and the very last monster won having 1 hp... (I'm finally getting those old DD1 wibes, lol). I did two bosses and the shambler but things went downhill nontheless, I think it is all pretty doable, the biggest problem is the damned relationships which backfires later on. Went for the swamp guy on the first map. But because of the inflicted stress I have arrived in the inn with zero friendshps and they all hated each other. Was never able to recover it back. Damn these emo ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥.

[Blockhead]

I tend to leave Lair Bosses until my 3rd or 4th region, by which time most of my party's abilities will be upgraded, they will have (hopefully) decent trinkets, and (again hopefully) most of them will have Friendship buffs. I also try to make sure I only take on Lair Bosses that my party would be effective against (for example, I wouldn't take on the Foetor Lair Boss if I had a party that wasn't good with shuffling, or the Tangle Lair Boss if most of my Heroes struggled hitting the back rank).

[Bearis]

my advice if you are struggling with the bosses.

1. save the boss for the last or second to last region. this gives you the most amount of time to power up and prepare.

2. when you make your team ask yourself what boss you want to fight the most and start planning you runs around it such as saving or buying specific items for later when you do fight the boss. if you are uncertain about what boss you want to fight then you need to start experimenting and thinking about this.

3. before doing anything in the inn check the next zones and ask yourself if want to kill the bosses in these zones or not and if you do what items should you be buying from the inn.

[Snobby Hobo]

I got the first chapter in my first try, and the second in my third try I think - so it's definitely not a softlock in disguise.

Kinda agree with Blockhead that I don't often engage the boss in the first region. All region bosses are gimmick fights, so they demand you adapt to them in some way. Are you sure you're doing that? I always read the wiki page before fighting them.

[M.O LILSLIMCAT]

Has anyone else seen death? I was playing, barely survived a fight and then death came out the ground mounted on a horse and said "You thought you were gonna continue BUT IT IS I, DEATH"

[Hex: Onii-Chan]

Every boss is a gimmick boss in DD2. Figure out what the gimmick is (Or look it up) and put together a team just for that. This game is about developers mistaking annoying for difficult.

[Magni]

Originally posted by M.O LILSLIMCAT:

Has anyone else seen death? I was playing, barely survived a fight and then death came out the ground mounted on a horse and said "You thought you were gonna continue BUT IT IS I, DEATH"

That's something that can happen if you have the Flagellant in your party. Turns out ol' Death is kinda pissed off by him refusing to keel over.

[Hex: Onii-Chan]

Originally posted by Magni:

Originally posted by M.O LILSLIMCAT:

Has anyone else seen death? I was playing, barely survived a fight and then death came out the ground mounted on a horse and said "You thought you were gonna continue BUT IT IS I, DEATH"

That's something that can happen if you have the Flagellant in your party. Turns out ol' Death is kinda pissed off by him refusing to keel over.

Reminds me of The Collector. Except he made you actually spooked and you were afraid for your party instead of sighing, rolling your eyes and restarting because nothing of value will be lost by doing so.

[Thane_Ragnar]

In Chapter 2 you can also plan just to reach the Last Inn without doing any Lair Boss on the Way and end the Run there. This can net you up to around 70 (my highest was 68) Candles depending on Coach upgrades and Waypoints visited.

[RogueWiiJedi]

Originally posted by Hex: Onii-Chan:

Originally posted by Incredibly average:

You strike me as the kind of man that wouldn't play chess unless the loser is to be decapitated.

Most sane DD2 enjoyer

I guess you're now legally required to bash your head into a wall for 20 more minutes in a run aside from knowing when you lost and saving yourself the trouble and headache.

[Bouncer]

Originally posted by Hex: Onii-Chan:

Every boss is a gimmick boss in DD2. Figure out what the gimmick is (Or look it up) and put together a team just for that. This game is about developers mistaking annoying for difficult.

That's just how DD bosses are though. Gimmicky and with trial & error. Same for DD1.
I would say the DD2 bsoses do seem better. Many DD1 bosses, like Hag, Cannon, Siren, and Swine King, are brutal if you go in unprepared, and dead the moment you stop their single gimmick. In DD2 they're a bit more overall powerful.

[godfather101]

Just a quick question because it really surprises me:
Where/how can i upgrade the radiant flame?
Only thing i see on the altar of hope is the The Infernal Flame, the radiant flame i can add in the first inn at the valley, but i can't see a way to upgrade it.

[HighLanderPony]

Originally posted by godfather101:

Just a quick question because it really surprises me:
Where/how can i upgrade the radiant flame?
Only thing i see on the altar of hope is the The Infernal Flame, the radiant flame i can add in the first inn at the valley, but i can't see a way to upgrade it.

Every consecutive failed run will upgrade your radiant flame till a maximum. If you win a run that breaks the streak AFAIK.

[Ivan "Coyote"]

Tips:
1. If you feel like you are weak, go for full regional runs and end the expedition on the Region you feel you barely made it - you are basically farming candles

2. The easiest bosses are the General and the Librarian

3. Have a specific set of 4 characters you've tried and tested and are the best in any situation they're put in. My team clears all 3 lairs with ease

4. Don't rush stuff. Play it for the music/tactics and just general enjoyment

5. Upgrade the Coach with candles and Resourcefulness - these two are the ones you will be ALWAYS using