Will it get better (for me) or will I hate it even more?

[tipsyConfection]

In short:
I've acquired the game a long, long ago, before even Expedition came out.
I got it because I love WRPGs and, of course, Classic Fallout, which we all know was a huge inspiration.
I tried playing it and absolutely despised how much combat it had and how unfair it felt to a non-combat oriented character.
I don't remember where I've stopped, only remember that there was a bunch of people all around, but I do think that I've never reached the "true open world" point.
Now, I receive the news about Heavy Duty and start to think about the game again.
It's been years since I've tried, and it's probably the best time to return, but I'm still unsure, don't want to waste my time on something I will only hate more.
So, the question in the title stands.
I play pretty much exclusively non-combat, intelligence based characters, and if they do combat it's usually through Intelligence based means (like Psionics here, and Crafting counts too in my book, but I didn't have resources to try it last time).
Is there any hope for me with Underrail or should I give up for good?

[fruit flavored ENERGY DRINK]

Originally posted by tipsyConfection:

non-combat

lol

[tipsyConfection]

Originally posted by fruit flavored ENERGY DRINK:

lol

Yeah, because I don't like combat for the sake of combat, and in every WRPG I try to avoid it as much as possible.

[Drokmon]

It will not get better. You will still not enjoy it.

Underrail's main appeal is the very in-depth combat system. You must be proficient in combat in order to progress at certain points (I may be proven wrong on this), but AFAIK, you cannot perform a pacifist run of this game.

Maybe take a look at Encased. That game leans very much in the other direction, especially with regards to gaining XP and progress via non-combat means. I don't know if it can be completed with zero combat, but I know you can get companions to help with that whilst you play a heavy support role.

[Tamiore]

Originally posted by tipsyConfection:

I tried playing it and absolutely despised how much combat it had and how unfair it felt to a non-combat oriented character.

Combat is the core gameplay loop of underrail.
You can probably do a meme run with next to no actual combat, but it would be exactly that: a meme run. That would rely on you already having a metagame knowledge equivalent way above having simply completed the game once.
So, no, "non-combat oriented character" is not in any way a viable choice for a "normal" playthrough.

[Tamiore]

Originally posted by tipsyConfection:

Originally posted by fruit flavored ENERGY DRINK:

lol

Yeah, because I don't like combat for the sake of combat, and in every WRPG I try to avoid it as much as possible.

!00% wrong game to play if that's the expectation.

[tipsyConfection]

Originally posted by Drokmon:

It will not get better. You will still not enjoy it.

Underrail's main appeal is the very in-depth combat system. You must be proficient in combat in order to progress at certain points (I may be proven wrong on this), but AFAIK, you cannot perform a pacifist run of this game.

Maybe take a look at Encased. That game leans very much in the other direction, especially with regards to gaining XP and progress via non-combat means. I don't know if it can be completed with zero combat, but I know you can get companions to help with that whilst you play a heavy support role.

Oh yeah I do own Encased and, from what I managed to play, enjoyed it a lot, just never got to contniue. Thanks for a reminder!

[mr_oluap]

Lol man this DLC is just about heavy weapons and a bonus super hard combat mission, that's not going to change anything for you just give up.

[tipsyConfection]

Originally posted by mr_oluap:

Lol man this DLC is just about heavy weapons and a bonus super hard combat mission, that's not going to change anything for you just give up.

I wasn't talking about DLC itself, just that it coming out is a good time to go back potentially.

[mr_oluap]

Originally posted by tipsyConfection:

Originally posted by mr_oluap:

Lol man this DLC is just about heavy weapons and a bonus super hard combat mission, that's not going to change anything for you just give up.

I wasn't talking about DLC itself, just that it coming out is a good time to go back potentially.

Good time to come back will be if you change your mindset about the combat since it can't really be avoided (or only with stealth).

You can play full psionic though if you want

[tipsyConfection]

Originally posted by mr_oluap:

You can play full psionic though if you want

Really? Cuz I tried and the game just sharted all over me in the starting locations.

[.//slayer]

Originally posted by tipsyConfection:

Originally posted by mr_oluap:

You can play full psionic though if you want

Really? Cuz I tried and the game just sharted all over me in the starting locations.

Can you be more specific than that? Like describing your build, which psionic skills you took and which fights gave you trouble? 'Cause psionics is the most powerful archetype in the game, and if you have trouble with it, this calls for a change of tactics.

[tipsyConfection]

Originally posted by .//slayer:

Can you be more specific than that? Like describing your build, which psionic skills you took and which fights gave you trouble? 'Cause psionics is the most powerful archetype in the game, and if you have trouble with it, this calls for a change of tactics.

I have no Idea, man, I played last time in 2018.
But, thanks to yuor words, I may as well, if I have time, try again, full psionic. Maybe I just missed something last time.

[DuckieMcduck]

Originally posted by tipsyConfection:

[...]
I play pretty much exclusively non-combat, intelligence based characters, and if they do combat it's usually through Intelligence based means (like Psionics here, and Crafting counts too in my book, but I didn't have resources to try it last time).
Is there any hope for me with Underrail or should I give up for good?

Not gonna sugar coat it, give up on this one. The game is 95% combat (it never hits 100%) with a comically insane rube goldberg mcguffin machine as writing that only serves as excuses for you to go get yourself killed.

The roleplay/big brain social skills are a trap as the game will mercilessly softlock you with no respec in sight for the 40 odd hours you'll invest to reach the conclusion your build sucks ass.

[tipsyConfection]

Originally posted by UnluckyDuckie:

The roleplay/big brain social skills are a trap as the game will mercilessly softlock you with no respec in sight for the 40 odd hours you'll invest to reach the conclusion your build sucks ass.

sigh and Steve tried to tell me that I could stealth away thruogh the entire game... thanks for the confirmation about my fears.

[Tamiore]

Originally posted by tipsyConfection:

Originally posted by UnluckyDuckie:

The roleplay/big brain social skills are a trap as the game will mercilessly softlock you with no respec in sight for the 40 odd hours you'll invest to reach the conclusion your build sucks ass.

sigh and Steve tried to tell me that I could stealth away thruogh the entire game... thanks for the confirmation about my fears.

You can stealth away through the entire game (aside from last boss), assuming you know exactly where to go, which equipment to use and understand stealth system well.

The question is, where's the gameplay in doing that? That would be basically the equivalent of playing a puzzle game after looking up all the solutions.