What is there to do? (Progression)

[Ssjbryando]

I was on the fence to wait the EA out or buy the game, and I bought the game.

I think Im around 2-3hrs in, and Im enjoying it so far. But I will be honest, I've cleared map 1 in my second run, and I cleared map 2 (minus boss) on my third and fourth run.

I feel like I've seen most of it already. I understand the Gnosis upgrade spots, but I didnt wanna do those yet untill much further in and I assume they unlock small parts.

Is the goal just to kind of go in the maps, kill some enemies and slowly, slowly get access to a bit more area?

[Shocknfunk]

Gnosis will increase difficulty by unlocking more possible traps and events to spawn. Along with unlocking more possible beefy mobs to spawn. Every map has a vault that requires witchfire and gnosis levels to do a small timed gauntlet run and a boss. Boss on first isle is known to be the most challenging atm with the boss on the castle being the easiest(though castle isle is the toughest content to date). Your progression is mainly leveling up your stats, weapon/equipment upgrade, and Gnosis. The core gameplay ties to being an extraction game with clearing out the map of enemies and loot. For every time you “ascend” with witchfire will also scramble up the spawn placements of dangerous zones and events. Leveling up gnosis will also let you gain access to prophecies(tied to manifestations) and the flame ritual(lets you awaken preyer spirits for permanent buffs/one time use abilities).

[Beb*]

I cleared all EA content with 33 hours of gameplay. This took me longer than expected because I misclicked and while going from Gnosis 0 to Gnosis I, I did another click so went directly to Gnosis II... That was a bad surprise.

OP, I guess when you're saying you defeated the first map first boss, you mean the Hermit ? Hold tight, you're still in tutorial mode at Gnosis 0. For each Gnosis level, the game becomes better.

I was afraid like you of the whole EA stuff, but it's indeed better : I find it better to have more content as the time passes, compared to having all the access at once, I would have suffered from overdose.

So when the next big map hits early 2025, I'll be ready for it and won't be fed up with doing always the same thing.

Take your time, enjoy the game, level up to Gnosis IV to clear everything you can, obliterate the first map boss, then relax some free time and dive right back in when the next map comes out !

[Shocknfunk]

Just to be clear, you have to hit gnosis 2 to actually be able to see the actual boss of the first isle. You gotta unlock the tower with a small puzzle and proceed to pass through three rooms while taking corrupted manifestations that put curses on you before reaching the boss.

[TheLuckyAce]

Overall there is not "much" more in the EA.
Try until you clear a map, move to the next map.
Try map until you clear it, move to the next map.

In between get more Weapons and Upgrades.

Than Gnosis adds in, opens up more stuff on maps you already cleared. It also adds more and different enemie typs etc.

Than (I've not reached that point so far) the Tower gets open up with a bigger "dungeon" as far as I understood (I would guess its like the Dungeon on Map1 which you get after the first Gnosis levelup but bigger and deeper).

Adding Prophecies to the mix.

Than you clear again maps and level up to freely kill all bosses/clear all maps without issues.
Drop the EA until new stuff gets released (or for me, I stopped at Gnosis2, as I tested enough of the Game to verify that I will enjoy it at Full Release and just do everything than).

[Marble]

Originally posted by Ssjbryando:

I was on the fence to wait the EA out or buy the game, and I bought the game.

I think Im around 2-3hrs in, and Im enjoying it so far. But I will be honest, I've cleared map 1 in my second run, and I cleared map 2 (minus boss) on my third and fourth run.

I feel like I've seen most of it already. I understand the Gnosis upgrade spots, but I didnt wanna do those yet untill much further in and I assume they unlock small parts.

Is the goal just to kind of go in the maps, kill some enemies and slowly, slowly get access to a bit more area?

Each map is sort of like a puzzle.

The wailing tower for example has a very difficult boss for and the game doesn't spell out how to reach it, or what the best way of defeating it is but you need Gnosis 2 in order to perform the ritual and complete the puzzle. If you haven't even upgraded Gnosis, and unlocked some paths you haven't scratched the surface of any gameplay. You have in fact, NOT seen most of the game already after 2-3 hours.

The objective is to extract with materials via portals, and upgrade yourself to get stronger, and then defeat the "witches" and or familiars once you're able.

[Shocknfunk]

Originally posted by Marble:

Originally posted by Ssjbryando:

I was on the fence to wait the EA out or buy the game, and I bought the game.

I think Im around 2-3hrs in, and Im enjoying it so far. But I will be honest, I've cleared map 1 in my second run, and I cleared map 2 (minus boss) on my third and fourth run.

I feel like I've seen most of it already. I understand the Gnosis upgrade spots, but I didnt wanna do those yet untill much further in and I assume they unlock small parts.

Is the goal just to kind of go in the maps, kill some enemies and slowly, slowly get access to a bit more area?

Each map is sort of like a puzzle.

The wailing tower for example has a very difficult boss for and the game doesn't spell out how to reach it, or what the best way of defeating it is but you need Gnosis 2 in order to perform the ritual and complete the puzzle. If you haven't even upgraded Gnosis, and unlocked some paths you haven't scratched the surface of any gameplay. You have in fact, NOT seen most of the game already after 2-3 hours.

The objective is to extract with materials via portals, and upgrade yourself to get stronger, and then defeat the "witches" and or familiars once you're able.

^this^. Cool that you’re content with playing the rest when it’s finished but ya 2-3 hours of playtime is barely anything to go off of and jump into discussions about mechanics/ maps/ weapons that you haven’t even touched yet.

[Marble]

Originally posted by Shocknfunk:

Originally posted by Marble:

Each map is sort of like a puzzle.

The wailing tower for example has a very difficult boss for and the game doesn't spell out how to reach it, or what the best way of defeating it is but you need Gnosis 2 in order to perform the ritual and complete the puzzle. If you haven't even upgraded Gnosis, and unlocked some paths you haven't scratched the surface of any gameplay. You have in fact, NOT seen most of the game already after 2-3 hours.

The objective is to extract with materials via portals, and upgrade yourself to get stronger, and then defeat the "witches" and or familiars once you're able.

^this^. Cool that you’re content with playing the rest when it’s finished but ya 2-3 hours of playtime is barely anything to go off of and jump into discussions about mechanics/ maps/ weapons that you haven’t even touched yet.

It's understandable why though many people won't have the time and patience for this game though. The game can be confusing and the better portions of gameplay are locked into higher difficulties.

It's quite difficult in the beginning and you're offered minimal explanation, especially when you've just started. I haven't even beaten the wailing tower boss because it's so difficult since you're forced to take on corruptions, but have gotten gnosis 3 and unlocked new paths in Scarlet coast and Old Iron Castle

I think anybody that is patient or interested enough to stick around for gnosis 3-4 get rewarded the most because you eventually start feeling like a genuine Witch hunter due to how much complexity is added through gear, and gnosis difficulty adding new mobs.

[Shocknfunk]

Originally posted by Marble:

Originally posted by Shocknfunk:

^this^. Cool that you’re content with playing the rest when it’s finished but ya 2-3 hours of playtime is barely anything to go off of and jump into discussions about mechanics/ maps/ weapons that you haven’t even touched yet.

It's understandable why though many people won't have the time and patience for this game though. The game can be confusing and the better portions of gameplay are locked into higher difficulties.

It's quite difficult in the beginning and you're offered minimal explanation, especially when you've just started. I haven't even beaten the wailing tower boss because it's so difficult since you're forced to take on corruptions, but have gotten gnosis 3 and unlocked new paths in Scarlet coast and Old Iron Castle

I think anybody that is patient or interested enough to stick around for gnosis 3-4 get rewarded the most because you eventually start feeling like a genuine Witch hunter due to how much complexity is added through gear, and gnosis difficulty adding new mobs.

Agreed. There’s also some aspects that just takes a bit of awareness to figure out like calamity events are actually a lot easier to manage once you find out that you can either take out the required enemies or know out the portal. Also that you have control of where you want to fight it out if you choose to do its challenge. Also the tower corruptions you only need to embrace the ones that are spawned in once you complete the room and no more(unless you want free heals or ammo refreshes but if you have the merchant unlocked you won’t need to). Would agree that the biggest challenge so far is mainly the castle isle due to putting you in more confined spaces with a lot more variety on the elite types flooding it. Would say that most should be within gnosis 3-4 with a hefty amount of gear upgraded before comfortably clearing the entire isle. Funny enough castle isle has the easiest main boss to date also.

[Ssjbryando]

Will add, I upgraded my Gnosis twice now - and the game represents itself on Map 2 from Gnosis 1 I'll say. It is a good measurement map.

Map 1 stays a bit empty, Map 3 feels a bit too heavy.

It still is nowhere near an elden ring or renmant (big budget AA I know) in terms of items, useful/interesting finds, discoveries, content. Taking the Oblisk event for example, it's just a minor witchfire and a heal. But it is a fun little loop. I do feel it is missing something, but let's see. Enjoying my time

[Guns]

I think it took me close to 17 to get the congrats message. I cannot wait for more content, I love this game!

[[R|P|D] Gkyro]

Originally posted by Marble:

Originally posted by Shocknfunk:

^this^. Cool that you’re content with playing the rest when it’s finished but ya 2-3 hours of playtime is barely anything to go off of and jump into discussions about mechanics/ maps/ weapons that you haven’t even touched yet.

It's understandable why though many people won't have the time and patience for this game though. The game can be confusing and the better portions of gameplay are locked into higher difficulties.

It's quite difficult in the beginning and you're offered minimal explanation, especially when you've just started. I haven't even beaten the wailing tower boss because it's so difficult since you're forced to take on corruptions, but have gotten gnosis 3 and unlocked new paths in Scarlet coast and Old Iron Castle

I think anybody that is patient or interested enough to stick around for gnosis 3-4 get rewarded the most because you eventually start feeling like a genuine Witch hunter due to how much complexity is added through gear, and gnosis difficulty adding new mobs.

For fighting the prophet boss in the Walking Tower, using the Hunter demonic weapon really comes in handy. When he spawns the monks, you can fire at one and the bolt will jump from enemy to enemy clearing them out pretty quickly. The bell heavy spell is also a great tool to have in that fight to stun the ads and prevent sanity loss. If you've fully upgraded the bell, I believe the last toll will also stun the boss.

I agree that this can be a pretty difficult fight, but using the right tools and having ammo packs with you can really take the edge off.