Area progression ?? (Spoiler)

[Caneda]

I am bit stuck, can anyone give me some area progression tips? ( for example in my first playtrought i was stuck beacuase i missed the beach...)
for now:

Rat cave-Beach -Sporia- melancohly tower( No boss) - ... what next? ( for now i have skipped the giant/beholder/skeleton in the crypt in the middle of the city).

[Sanctified Reach 420]

castle of nabros to the east then comeback and cleanup, then sorrentia... at least that's what i did.

[stretch]

My game didn't really open up till I went 'wrong' and killed the starter town guards. Killing them to move into other areas is not a bad thing as it becomes part of the storyline later on anyway to clear them.
To anwer your question directly:
You can cut through the forest around and behind the ogre nth of town.
Take out the gate guards to nabros.

[Qiox]

I recently started a game on hardcore.

My progression went like this:

- Rat cave
- Beach (finished at level 3)
- Kill 3 sets of town guards
- Spore quest
- Head north past arena to the hidden cabin in the sleepy forest
- Tower of melancholy (finished at level 6)
- Crypt in town
- East to Prince's castle, started final fight at level 8
- North past arena up to next town in snow area
- Rememberd Temple of Ferbet and went back there and cleared it (finished at level 9 and 10)

That's where I'm at. Going to head back north to work that area. Although I may 1st go check out the East Prince's hunting grounds to get all that xp 1st.

[Ozmodious]

Level 6 on Veteran. I've cleared beach, rat cave, the crypt beholder & tower of melancholy. I've skipped the ogre (still too tough), I've completed the arena up to the cursed hound (tough also) and I've made it to the gate of Nabros but the guards at the gate destroy me. I also tried to go past the arena and the guards there are also too tough. I still do not have the key for the temple. Not sure where to go now....any tips appreciated.

[Vatenkeist]

I'm in exact same boat as above poster, can't clear either of the groups of 8 guards, or come even close.

[drakelbob]

rat cave? where is this rat cave? i keep on getting my butt kicked by titanic groups on the beach.

[drakelbob]

nvm, i found it. this explains why i was having such a hard time with every party i tried.

[MeniDanger]

Originally posted by Vatenkeist:

I'm in exact same boat as above poster, can't clear either of the groups of 8 guards, or come even close.

If you mean the guards on the roads in Nabros... you are not meant to kill them. You sneak around them. The thief you meet when you first walk on the map tells you as much, if you don't kill him.

[Qiox]

Originally posted by katharsis:

Level 6 on Veteran. I've cleared beach, rat cave, the crypt beholder & tower of melancholy. I've skipped the ogre (still too tough), I've completed the arena up to the cursed hound (tough also) and I've made it to the gate of Nabros but the guards at the gate destroy me. I also tried to go past the arena and the guards there are also too tough. I still do not have the key for the temple. Not sure where to go now....any tips appreciated.

You are not supposed to fight them. You can 1st go north of the road through the forest a bit, then cross the road and south of it and head east, then cross it again and go around eventually entering the castle from the north side of the castle. You know you are near the correct entrance to the castle if you pass these 2 things:

- a stretch of 'sulfurous air' that causes a little bit of damage as you walk through it

- then a teleporter, just outside the caslte entrance

[Andra]

Wow I didnt even realise the damn tower of melancholy and the hermit... I went straight from the spores quest to clearing the castle (on veteran) and it was really hard at lvl 5!!! Lost half my party to him, was starving on no food when i REACHED him.. and had to use like all my items....

Is this hermit somewhere in the spore forest area? I snuck past the toadstools and got to Sorrentia, but didnt see a hermit.. just did like 2-3 arena battles and teleported back to the first area...

Or is the hermit on the other map where the arena is?

[Qiox]

From the arena go a short distance further on the road and take the 1st right into the trees. Find the hermit back in that forest. If you find your group "falling asleep" and waking back at the entrance keep trying to find the right path, and notice what you are standing on when you get the falling asleep message.

[EthanHunt]

Originally posted by Cavalyn:

Wow I didnt even realise the damn tower of melancholy and the hermit... I went straight from the spores quest to clearing the castle (on veteran) and it was really hard at lvl 5!!! Lost half my party to him, was starving on no food when i REACHED him.. and had to use like all my items....

Is this hermit somewhere in the spore forest area? I snuck past the toadstools and got to Sorrentia, but didnt see a hermit.. just did like 2-3 arena battles and teleported back to the first area...

Or is the hermit on the other map where the arena is?

It's in Sorrentia. I believe it's called the Golden Forest. As Qiox said, it's an area that if you go the wrong way you get put to sleep and wake up at the beginning of the area. Best way to get through, is remember which ways you go that make you fall asleep, even writing down "L" or "R" for which way you need to go could help you navigate through there to get to the hermit. If you don't have a good memory or don't write it down, it will take you awhile to find the right path through.

[Qiox]

Originally posted by EthanHunt:

Originally posted by Cavalyn:

Wow I didnt even realise the damn tower of melancholy and the hermit... I went straight from the spores quest to clearing the castle (on veteran) and it was really hard at lvl 5!!! Lost half my party to him, was starving on no food when i REACHED him.. and had to use like all my items....

Is this hermit somewhere in the spore forest area? I snuck past the toadstools and got to Sorrentia, but didnt see a hermit.. just did like 2-3 arena battles and teleported back to the first area...

Or is the hermit on the other map where the arena is?

It's in Sorrentia. I believe it's called the Golden Forest. As Qiox said, it's an area that if you go the wrong way you get put to sleep and wake up at the beginning of the area. Best way to get through, is remember which ways you go that make you fall asleep, even writing down "L" or "R" for which way you need to go could help you navigate through there to get to the hermit. If you don't have a good memory or don't write it down, it will take you awhile to find the right path through.

Or it's easy to figure out once you realize what is putting you to sleep. :)

spoiler: walking on patches of flowers

[Andra]

I just didnt even think to try sneak past the shrooms tbh... i was strong enough to kill the guards so just assumed it was that way. Even entering the next area while skipping bits, it still gave me a cutscene etc... so i just assumed i was on the right track...

I guess i wouldnt have realised a single thing was wrong til i needed the item from the tower =/