Keeping Reginauld and Dismas alive?

[Prodigy.HearT</3 LesS.]

I'm 150 hours into the game. Three separate playthroughs, I will restart my run again from the very beginning if either of the two dies. I kept my first save which contains my original run but they're both dead. I want to finish the game with the both of them alive. Any tips on how to keep them alive?

I know you can just revive them at some point in the story but I want finish the game with the both of them to survive all the way. Not using them is no fun either. I easily lose interest if I'm only using them in low risk short runs. I'm on Darkest difficulty and I'm on my third run now btw.

[Potato Demon]

Well, the best advice I can give you is save them for the final Darkest Dungeon Quest and don't sacrifice them when THAT trauma inducing move comes up. If you get put in a situation where it's best to use one or both of them in a different Darkest Dungeon Quest just do it and play well, this situation won't happen though if you plan ahead what heroes you're leveling up for the quests.

I get it, it's nice to have them alive and I at least somewhat aim to do that in my saves. But there is no real advice here, just don't make mistakes and use everything you've learned to your advantage. There is no guarantee that Reynauld and Dismas will be alive.

[Ghoul Hunter]

To use a tool is to eventually lose it. If you really want that achievement, you do want to use them as little as possible, to avoid bad luck. Anyway, you can argue against logic, but the logic always stands.

[Potato Demon]

Originally posted by Ghoul Hunter:

To use a tool is to eventually lose it. If you really want that achievement, you do want to use them as little as possible, to avoid bad luck. Anyway, you can argue against logic, but the logic always stands.

Yeah, that is completely and objectively true. But the human aspect of feeling like you earned Reynauld and Dismas living to the end is undeniable. There would be not comprehension of the universe without humanity and all it's weird beliefs and feelings. Everything is inherently neutral until you apply feelings to it, and those feelings are just as true as the inevitable heat death of the universe. You do not spit on the maggot for choosing life, you accept it. You accept it just as true as the sun rises and the same way gravity keeps you down. Humanity is at the mercy of the universe as the world around us is at the mercy of what we do with our individual lives. Perhaps we can do nothing if by some cruel fate we are snuffed out like a whimpering candle, and perhaps there is a way that we become a wildfire that ravages the stars. Humanity will go in the same direction at the same pace with the same enthusiasm nonetheless. Why do we indulge in such unproductive games as Darkest Dungeon? Is it to treat the game pragmatically and master it or is there something more? Logic always stands, but logic was invented by humanity just the same all other human concepts in a cold and unforgiving universe.

Note: I am amazingly sorry if anyone saw the previous version of this post. I get carried away and whenever I type anything I like to add as much random bullcrap as possible and trim it off at the end. The original version of this was just unnecessarily offensive, confusing and bloated. Love yourself and spread happiness in the world, while you may not matter too much on a cosmic scale you do matter to your fellow human beings, and if you feel as though you are truly alone help someone out, it might just make your day. :)

[Reaper King]

My biggest piece of advice to keep them both alive is 2 fold. 1) Pamper the ♥♥♥♥ out of them. Give them your best trinkets, upgrade them first, never let them have steess or disease when they are resting. When in battle always bring a healer and always focus heal them. 2) Never be afraid to run. Did Reynauld just get a death blow fighitng spiders ? Immediate retreat and return to hamlet. Fighting a boss and just had your main healer with dismas in the party ? RUN. Play conservative and play smart and you can keep them alive easily. Also Dismas +Reynauld + Vestal + Arbalest has worked wonder for me at A) keeping both alive and B) creating a versatile party capable of really dishing out damage and clearing dungeons. Arbalest marking targets ramps up her and dismases dps. Reynauld and vestal for stuns. Arbalest + Vestal = excellent heals and Reynauld and Dismas and an Arbalest can and will wreck ♥♥♥♥ against anything they come against.

[Nibbs]

I understand what you are trying to accomplish, as I set out to do the same thing when my first Dismas died in my first run. You just have to become comfortable running dungeons, learning about the game and taking calculated risks. The Usual Suspects/Red Hook team combo is a good combo. I would replace the Plague Doctor with an Antiquarian when I needed money and at Champion level, her dodge/sand spam is a really good way to increase survivability. Like someone already said, take the time to pamper your team. Get the Sanitarium up and running so you can purge those negative quirks and get the Guild and Blacksmith up so you can upgrade your heroes. Don't try to rush to veteran and champion dungeons. Stay apprentice level until you have good infrastructure (building upgrades, trinkets & strong/healthy heroes) and funding. A certain brigand won't attack your hamlet until you have level 5 heroes, even after week 40, so you have time to build a strong foundation. Once you have the infrastructure, this game becomes much easier.

[Prodigy.HearT</3 LesS.]

Originally posted by Nibbs:

Don't try to rush to veteran and champion dungeons. Stay apprentice level until you have good infrastructure (building upgrades, trinkets & strong/healthy heroes) and funding. A certain brigand won't attack your hamlet until you have level 5 heroes, even after week 40, so you have time to build a strong foundation. Once you have the infrastructure, this game becomes much easier.

Yes I'm implementing this in my current run already. I have champion dungeons available already, but buildings -> upgrades first before going into champion (I'm thinking of fully upgrading everything first including the trinket shop and camp). I'm fine with veterans though.

Originally posted by Reaper King:

Did Reynauld just get a death blow fighitng spiders ? Immediate retreat and return to hamlet. Fighting a boss and just had your main healer with dismas in the party ? RUN.

I really like this one. I cast away my pride and strategically retreat if necessary.

Originally posted by Ghoul Hunter:

To use a tool is to eventually lose it. If you really want that achievement, you do want to use them as little as possible, to avoid bad luck. Anyway, you can argue against logic, but the logic always stands.

I need a little bit of illogical spice to make it fun. Though I do get that treating everyone as a tool is the most efficient way to do it, it sacrifices mine own enjoyment.

Originally posted by Potato Demon:

I get it, it's nice to have them alive and I at least somewhat aim to do that in my saves. But there is no real advice here, just don't make mistakes and use everything you've learned to your advantage. There is no guarantee that Reynauld and Dismas will be alive.

Just for this run bro. After seeing them survive then I'll probably move on and play this game again in a separate save, another ending and lastly, Stygian. Also, you just elaborated on what I think in your second paragraph. The human aspect of seeing both characters survive through and through, is so interesting to see and think about. Even if it means sacrificing efficiency.

[megansweden]

I've never had a problem keeping them alive, and I've always used them very normally. In fact they always end up doing about 2 bosses per level, usually together as I find they synergize well as a pair. I've never had either of them die. In my runs it's Flagellants and Occultists that seem to be most likely to end up in the Graveyard for some reason.