Is anything time sensitive?

[philbe63]

I'm working my way through this game before the sequel comes out and have a couple of questions.

1) Are any of the missions level sensitive or have to be done in an order? I'm a completionist and like to do everything in the area (if possible) or do I have to rethink that method for this game?

2) Is there a time aspect in this game, like having to complete a task before the next day?

3) Is there a way to quick travel on the localized map or do I just have to trudge around?

4) Is there a way to get the group to go past a complex trap area all together or do I have to lead them through it one at a time (if the traps can't be disarmed that is).

5) Does time only advance during game play? Or if I don't play for a couple of days can my Stronghold repairs be completed? I'm guessing the answer is no but you never know until you ask, right?

Thanks in advance. I'm thinking I might restart one more time now that I am understanding the mechanics and such, I am currently playing a ranger but deep down I want to be a rogue. The companion to the Ranger is awesome though....

Does anyone know if the mechanics will be the same in the sequel or will I have to learn how to play that game differently?

[Batbro]

1. No, explore to your heart's content.

2. No, quests wait for you. Sometimes you have to come back at a different time of day though.

3. You can enable Fast Mode to traverse already-explored areas quicker by clicking the right-arrow on the timer at the bottom-center of your HUD. I don't remember the default hotkey for that, I rebound it to E for quick access.

4. I wouldn't trust the default pathfinding, walk everyone past it individually and carefully. Maybe you could use formations to make everyone go through single-file.

5. Time advances primarily when you travel between areas and when you rest (8 hours at a time). If you had the gold, you could power through all of the stronghold repairs at once by just resting over and over again for weeks while they proceed.

Note, however, that events such as adventures you send companions on progress differently, in "turns" which occur periodically as you progress through quests.

The mechanics in Deadfire will be similar and designed to feel familiar, but they have been significantly rebalanced/refined/altered. There's new features like multiclassing and ships, but having prior experience in the first game should make it easier to learn.

EDIT: Final warning I forgot: there is a pit near the very end of the game that, when you jump into it, you cannot leave. It is a point-of-no-return to the endgame. The game will even make you a special pre-pit autosave. Make sure you've done everything you want to (including the DLCs) before going in.

[philbe63]

Thanks alot that was super helpful!

[smilehigh]

Aloth's personal quest is time sensitive: you must complete its initial stages before the Anymancy Hearings to be able to proceed. If you don't do that - you will be unable to finish his quest.

There are factions in Defiance Bay - their second batch of quests are mutually exclusive so you will only be able to do the complete quest chain for one faction.

If you descend into the Endless Paths of Caed Nua it is highly advisable to do the main quest in Heritage Hill before entering level 8.

Edit: Oh, and if you want to get maximum support from your allies for the battle of Yenwood Field - you have to progress through both White March DLCs first.

[D'amarr from Darshiva]

There are socalled "stronghold turns". Resting or travelling is not enough to advance time for some specific stronghold events that depend on stronghold turns:

https://pillarsofeternity.gamepedia.com/Stronghold_turn
https://pillarsofeternity.gamepedia.com/Stronghold_management_(Pillars_of_Eternity)


With regard to traps, I recommend turning on Autopause on Hidden Object Found. That can be helpful during combat, too.


The game includes one quest that is time sensitive. Additionally, whether the quest is offered depends on how you've completed an earlier quest. Without adding spoilers, basically you can miss the second quest, because it involves talking to a named NPC that disappears after some time.

[philbe63]

Yikes. I hate missing something like a quest. I'm going to be extra careful now. I'm still pre-Act 1 because I restarted with the class I love above all others...Rogue. I always play a rogue.