Is Old Man Sect mostly just useful for the first playthrough?

[Slothrop]

I just got the game and delving in. I have two saves at the moment with about an hour of play, one where I joined Old Man Sect and another where I planned to join Taoist Sect since as a long time wuxia fan I want to join the Wudan equivalent.

But after reading a few posts it sounds like Old Man Sect is best for the first playthrough.

Does Old Man Sect have any value in a second playthrough or would it feel too basic the second time around? Would it be more beneficial to just do Old Man Sect first playthrough then with achievements unlocked, going for Taoist sect on second playthrough would be more fun?

[Swift-Li]

I heard he has the best Fist technique in the game. i think he was meant to teach new players.

[OrangSemut]

First playthrough is really good for new players. The techniques he gives you can be used for ANY style - fist, sword, blade, etc. You will also get a set of legendary armour that is otherwise unobtainable without joining him.

I did my first playthrough joining Langya Sword Pavilion. I just completed my 2nd run with the Old Man and I still had fun.

[derpenstein]

Even on later runs it can still be the best sect to join, or at least it would be before the homestead update. Now we can save the OP armor and his skills (of which there are even more now). So for a first run it's suuuuper good to get all his good stuff and throw it in your homestead for next run.

[HoHoHO]

If you ever want to attempt a nightmare solo run, the things you get from the old man sect will help tremendously.

In fact, if you want to become emperor of the world, you have to start in the old man sect to get that ending.

[Ailuchrono]

I like running the old man sect in every run. I usually quit after the ice prison but that is only because I don't care about what comes after.

[阿姨不要我还小]

This sect has the best knife book, the best fist book, and the best internal book
Its plot is also the most complete (although there are some missing stories)

[Yeezus]

Originally posted by HoHoHO:

If you ever want to attempt a nightmare solo run, the things you get from the old man sect will help tremendously.

In fact, if you want to become emperor of the world, you have to start in the old man sect to get that ending.

By start, do you mean that i can leave later on, or do i have to stick with it?

[HoHoHO]

Originally posted by Yeezus:

Originally posted by HoHoHO:

If you ever want to attempt a nightmare solo run, the things you get from the old man sect will help tremendously.

In fact, if you want to become emperor of the world, you have to start in the old man sect to get that ending.

By start, do you mean that i can leave later on, or do i have to stick with it?

you can leave the old man sect later in the quest chain and can then join all the other sects. Or stay in the old man sect and conquer them all. Do whatever you want.

[吟游诗人]

Can anyone share how to access the "clan shop" for the old man sect?

[titanopteryx]

When doing the old man sect questline at some point he goes to Nameless Village. You can talk to him there and access his shop. This happens when After you do the solving the 9 factions Sect problem in all 3 cities and then going to the Confucius Sect and talking to the leader about the topic the old man sends you there to ask about.

[Elfie]

I wish there were option to store non-orange manual in the treasury. Old man has such cool manuals which are fist but can be used by any wep. Especially useful when raising companions. But if I don't join him on next playtrough there is no way to get them((

[Misanthrope]

The Old Man sect is powerful for a number of reasons--(potential spoilers)

I'll only include items I haven't seen anyone else mention as yet.

<> The skills you learn from him apply to every weapon style, which makes it far easier to unlock certain weapon level based achievements, particularly if you've struggled to find certain (weapon) types of manuals.
<> He and another character, unlocked later on--the other old man, each sell manuals that will increase your various weapon skills--also important for the above reason, as well as gaining late game offensive power.
<> When fighting the senior brother/completing the rescue/ice dungeon level you can potentially acquire thousand year ice by destroying the blocks in that room, though the drops are exceptionally rare--the ice itself is possibly the rarest material item in the game and must be acquired, tediously, by auction, apart from the previously mentioned and one other instance.
<> The old man in the ice prison can be used to -very- quickly level your character and party members up to lvl 100. This makes an incredibly difference when squaring up against sect leaders or late game enemies.
<> The old man himself is quite a gifted fighter, particularly after you unlock his power. In certain fights you will almost certainly want backup and there are few characters that can contend with the old man when he's properly leveled/kitted out.
<> If you are going to bail on his quest, you must do so before accepting to reform the original sect from which he hails, as it will perma lock you into that sect thereafter.
<> His dialogue/quest line are possibly the most involved and it helps to provide structure and narrative to what might otherwise seem a -very- open ended title. Open ended is great, and going his route does not exclude this style of play as a possibility, but for the sake of plot/cohesion it is sometimes nice to have a common thread.

[Misanthrope]

Originally posted by Elfie:

I wish there were option to store non-orange manual in the treasury. Old man has such cool manuals which are fist but can be used by any wep. Especially useful when raising companions. But if I don't join him on next playtrough there is no way to get them((

You're not wrong, although one such skill is orange and can therefore be passed on (the people's palm). Alternatively, there is a skill that allows you to ignore weapon/weapon skill requirements, I believe, that once unlocked you can take on character creation. They always use the term "pierce" to describe "ignore".