Easy mode is too hard

[TrueBladeHC440c]

Many games have difficulty settings, and I always start on easy. When "easy" mode results in total party kills from impossible bosses and require me to read up on bulletin boards, I consider giving up on the game. Darkest Dungeon is too hard on easy mode. I can't kill the crocodile or the hag. I have level 2 characters with upgraded armor and weapons too. How can anyone play the harder difficulties unless they are uber-optimizer freaks? That's not fun to me; I don't wanna be that. Give me a game difficulty I can relax to and not loose all my favorite characters and equipment because I don't know the special trick to survive.

[Stallionista]

Originally posted by A Cardboard Box:

Originally posted by Stallionista:

Glad to hear, well done! That's the game for you, you sort of need to learn some of the intricacies of the game mechanics and then it's about optimising your RNG and having a way to claw back from the occasional backfire. Yes a second DD game is in the works albeit has been for a long time now and I don't think much has been revealed about it except for the couple of short trailer-style clips on YouTube.

Supposedly they have an active Twitter and said they're still hard at work on it just a week ago.

Ah good to hear!

[TrueBladeHC440c]

Great news! I'll pick up DD2 when they release it

[Drachir]

It is frustratingly hard...the original poster is correct. It basically comes down to trying to optimize character/party builds and then trusting to luck. At higher levels the enemies damage and buffs outscale party abilities relentlessly... and this is even on the supposedly easier 'radiant' mode. Vestal healers? Useless when most attacks beyond lvl 3 do 3x the damage you are likely to heal. Until you get to the point where you can effectively cheese your way through then it's very unrewarding. You can immediately recognize such games by the number of 'git gud' posters in the community.

[Stallionista]

Originally posted by Drachir:

It is frustratingly hard...the original poster is correct. It basically comes down to trying to optimize character/party builds and then trusting to luck.

Optimise builds, yes. Trusting luck, somewhat.. It's RNG-based but more experienced players will put together a team that works well together, use items to compliment strengths/cover weaknesses, think about character effectiveness vs enemies in particular dungeons (eg bleeds don't work against most in Ruins while I vaguely remember the blights being resisted more in Cove).. Such players who grasp the mechanics will further steer the RNG in their favour, but very good players will also think steps ahead for the moment things can go wrong and plan ahead for that.

The original poster talks about making the most of a bad situation, I believe. If you're a newer/less experienced player then experiment, try new characters in various dungeons, see what works well with who and where and try the various trinkets. Enjoy the experience and accept mistakes will be made and you'll grasp it in no time!

[Justice]

Originally posted by Drachir:

It is frustratingly hard...the original poster is correct. It basically comes down to trying to optimize character/party builds and then trusting to luck. At higher levels the enemies damage and buffs outscale party abilities relentlessly... and this is even on the supposedly easier 'radiant' mode. Vestal healers? Useless when most attacks beyond lvl 3 do 3x the damage you are likely to heal. Until you get to the point where you can effectively cheese your way through then it's very unrewarding. You can immediately recognize such games by the number of 'git gud' posters in the community.

If you rellying on luck to win, you will always have a bad time. You use strategy to win. If you want prevent damage then kill high priority enemies 1st, use stuns to prevent damage and stall a bit for recovery on less dangerious remaining enemies.

When I build my party I don't relly on crits or RNG. I use heroes skills and trinkets. Look at heroes skills, look at enemy stats, their resistances, chances to hit enemy and then pick proper hero skill accordingly. Choosing when to be aggresive and when to be defensive.

[Xr-1]

Unfortunately it really is about getting good. I felt the exact same way until I figured out how to synergize the abilities of my group along with bringing the right trinkets.

You also need to learn when to use debuffs vs damage attacks. It's a bit of a learning curve but it's not that hard to learn. Once you do radiant will be much easier to do.

[Timus]

Originally posted by Drachir:

It is frustratingly hard ...

At first, yes. But the game warns you that this might happen. You have to learn to get beyond it, which is doable with some basic amount of patience. Many have done it and after a while realised that the game is actually not that hard at all (apart from the first couple of weeks).

Originally posted by Drachir:

... It basically comes down to trying to optimize character/party builds ...

Sure, partly, but there's nothing wrong with that. That's just one aspect of getting good at the game.

Originally posted by Drachir:

... It basically comes down to ... and then trusting to luck. ...

No, that's a misconception which hints at you not having learned enough about the game.

Originally posted by Drachir:

... Vestal healers? Useless when most attacks beyond lvl 3 do 3x the damage you are likely to heal. ...

No, that's another hint that you have to acquire more skills.

[Xr-1]

Also don't be afraid to experiment. Move your characters around and try different abilities. Great thing about this game you can almost make any team viable as long as you pick the right skills for right dungeons.

[RopeDrink]

Originally posted by Drachir:

It is frustratingly hard...the original poster is correct. It basically comes down to trying to optimize character/party builds and then trusting to luck.

People who say this often haven't realized how to efficiently fill gaps in their team/play, thus assume that the determining factor is luck (which is a laughable and constantly debunked statement throughout the years). AI has such a hard time dealing with anything remotely resembling meta-play, hence the constant posts from veterans about the game being way too easy. They're no joke.

Reality is that, after the initial few weeks, the game absolutely is too easy when you have scaled the knowledge curve. The game force-feeds you almost everything you need to cover any possible gap. Those who don't know how, however, assume that luck is just designed to not be on their side at all and go for the good-ole "RNG" drivel.

Originally posted by Drachir:

At higher levels the enemies damage and buffs outscale party abilities relentlessly... and this is even on the supposedly easier 'radiant' mode.

This statement confirms my suspicion of ignorance. "Radiant" being "Easier" is a gross misconception. It is a short-cut, not a lower difficulty. It is there to shred the grind-time in half (with very little difference between Darkest other than a few stats and more lenient level restrictions). The true difficulty setting is the torch light.

Originally posted by Drachir:

Vestal healers? Useless when most attacks beyond lvl 3 do 3x the damage you are likely to heal.

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. Reliance on the healers rather than, you know, preventing that damage by proper play. Aside from cheesing via sustain tactics which bend the rules, this game is NOT designed to be healed through.

Originally posted by Drachir:

You can immediately recognize such games by the number of 'git gud' posters in the community.

An unhelpful and very extremist comment, no different than calling everyone 'haters' for criticizing. The irony is that everything you've said has been debunked so many times throughout the years that most have nothing left to say other than GitGud during the endless cycle, lest they feel like a broken record making the same tired explanations when threads like this inevitably crop up each week from people who never take the time to learn that they're actually wrong.

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My response to every thread like this these days is to request gameplay footage from the main complainers. This provides the perfect platform for you to show your problem (without text-based exaggeration) and for veterans to explain what you're doing wrong. Most never do, of course.

[DasaKamov]

Also, there is absolutely no requirement to "optimize your builds". I personally dislike following whatever the hip new meta is, and I just do my own thing. It's perfectly possible to be "just okay" at this game and beat it several times over.

[DerRitter]

I have been having my ass kicked, and I just realized I was playing on 'Radiant'....... I am kinda excited to see what 'Stygian' will be like.

[DasaKamov]

Originally posted by DerRitter:

I am kinda excited to see what 'Darkest' will be like.

It's going to be just like "Radiant", except your heroes get less XP per mission, less gold as a reward and there's a maximum-level restriction on expeditions (that is, high-level adventurers refuse to go on low-level quests.) ;)

[Justice]

Originally posted by DasaKamov:

Originally posted by DerRitter:

I am kinda excited to see what 'Darkest' will be like.

It's going to be just like "Radiant", except your heroes get less XP per mission, less gold as a reward and there's a maximum-level restriction on expeditions (that is, high-level adventurers refuse to go on low-level quests.) ;)

Max level restriction is the biggest difficulty difference. Apprentice and veteran dungeons are significantly easier when you can take up to lvl 4 heroes in apprentice missions and Lvl 6 heroes to veteran missions

[Drachir]

Originally posted by RopeDrink:

Originally posted by Drachir:

It is frustratingly hard...the original poster is correct. It basically comes down to trying to optimize character/party builds and then trusting to luck.

People who say this often haven't realized how to efficiently fill gaps in their team/play, thus assume that the determining factor is luck (which is a laughable and constantly debunked statement throughout the years). AI has such a hard time dealing with anything remotely resembling meta-play, hence the constant posts from veterans about the game being way too easy. They're no joke.

Reality is that, after the initial few weeks, the game absolutely is too easy when you have scaled the knowledge curve. The game force-feeds you almost everything you need to cover any possible gap. Those who don't know how, however, assume that luck is just designed to not be on their side at all and go for the good-ole "RNG" drivel.

Originally posted by Drachir:

At higher levels the enemies damage and buffs outscale party abilities relentlessly... and this is even on the supposedly easier 'radiant' mode.

This statement confirms my suspicion of ignorance. "Radiant" being "Easier" is a gross misconception. It is a short-cut, not a lower difficulty. It is there to shred the grind-time in half (with very little difference between Darkest other than a few stats and more lenient level restrictions). The true difficulty setting is the torch light.

Originally posted by Drachir:

Vestal healers? Useless when most attacks beyond lvl 3 do 3x the damage you are likely to heal.

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. Reliance on the healers rather than, you know, preventing that damage by proper play. Aside from cheesing via sustain tactics which bend the rules, this game is NOT designed to be healed through.

Originally posted by Drachir:

You can immediately recognize such games by the number of 'git gud' posters in the community.

An unhelpful and very extremist comment, no different than calling everyone 'haters' for criticizing. The irony is that everything you've said has been debunked so many times throughout the years that most have nothing left to say other than GitGud during the endless cycle, lest they feel like a broken record making the same tired explanations when threads like this inevitably crop up each week from people who never take the time to learn that they're actually wrong.

-----

My response to every thread like this these days is to request gameplay footage from the main complainers. This provides the perfect platform for you to show your problem (without text-based exaggeration) and for veterans to explain what you're doing wrong. Most never do, of course.

May your ascent to Godhood proceed smoothly