Hardcore Mode

[The Boogie Knight]

Okay so what is the deal here.

Just lost my fourth party of level 3 heros because the dungeon read "Undead" and they just pulled the shonkiest crap on me (Crystal Maze the healer for 3 turns, in which a wave of reinforcements turn up including a 60 HP Vampire). Had spent a long time leveling and buying some gear for them in an attempt to reach level 4 (lost 3x ring of regenerations and a ring of superior striking on that wipe too, *grumble*)

Was trying to do some research (so the "story quests" seem to have a fixed level but any of the white ones the level is determined by what level your party is when they enter) so are you just meant to do the Unhappy Minstrel a thousand times before you can reach level 4? Legit trying any white quest with a level 3+ in your party is just overwhelming odds.

Yeah I know this comes across as a massive whine; but honestly, after stupid dice rolls loses you a party permanently with all their gear I have to come looking for help, people make outlandish claims like "I have a hero at level 8 on hardcore" and I just have to wonder how.

Atm the only way I can travel between towns is to ensure the party is 4 level 1 heros and if I don't have 4 level one heros I have to retire a level 2 one. Not that frustrating because you have to keep retiring the Archmage Bright Wizard and Grey Wizard until they get an actually useful ability for level 2; but it still seems like an odd way to travel.

So is that it - level you "favourite" heros by staying in Siegfriedtown and doing the Minstrel quests as many times as it takes to get to max level, and you use throwaway heros to get between the towns.

Adventure Mode and Casual Mode are just a joke; but the step up in reinforcement waves at Hardcore once you reach level 3 just aren't fun.

Is there something I'm completely missing? Are you meant to only go in with healersr (lol what healers, only one hero has a heal spell at the start and you can only cast it one turn in 6 unless you have the legendary staff)

[The Boogie Knight]

Next dungeon first dungeon in the game all lvl 1 heros, last room is 4 skeleton archers at the far end of a 8x4 room. First turn they get they kill my Bright Wizard in one shot and my Witch Hunter in 2. My remaining Dwarf and Shadow Warrior get rid of three, last one will die next turn. Oh no wait 3 giant spiders and 7 zombies just added. Wiped party.

At level 1, in a level 1 dungeon. Like. What. The. ♥♥♥♥.

[Two Clicks]

The RNG spawn can be crippling at times. It *is* unfair for most players but..... its hardcore. Its not going to give you an easy ride. Until you get a party together that can heal one other in one turn youre gona suffer. It also helps when you get higher level. Some of the abilties make hc alot easier.

This could mean you have to travel to the same settlement repeatedly to buy the same stock 4x times.

My advice is to have at least one heal for green and blue items per character and have two spell healers in the game until you get 1 orange heal item per character in the group as well. Having 3 items per character to heal the others x 4 will help you no end. Until you get the resurrection spells/abilties.

[The Boogie Knight]

Originally posted by Two Clicks:

My advice is to have at least one heal for green and blue items per character and have two spell healers in the game until you get 1 orange heal item per character in the group as well. Having 3 items per character to heal the others x 4 will help you no end. Until you get the resurrection spells/abilties.

Thank you - I did worry the frustrated tone of my posts might make people avoid responding and was just coming here to say "Don't get me wrong guys, I'm a good natured player, just wound up by the game :D" so happy someone at least could see past the unholy Q_Q to lend a hand. I am currently trying a little of what you suggested, carrying a full inventory of bandages or healing scrolls. Still annoying when they "Fail" to recover someone.

I'm also guessing (having looked at some of the ability lists) that abilities like resurrect make the process a whole lot less scary (Once you have 2 casters able to res, the perma death side of Hardcore is tempered a little right?)

Anyway, thanks for the reply :) May Sigmar guide you

ED: Just realised you're the guy who wrote the guides - nice one btw the yare super useful, was starting to worry no such resource for the game even existed, so again, thanks for taking the time to make them.

May I enquire, what "triggers" starting to get 'orange level quests', I last played this game a lot back in January, and I remember on one of my games it got to the point where I was drifting between 2 towns with 3 or 4 quests available at each one until a "legendary" quest popped up like for "Pheonix Cloak" and then went and did that dungeon until I had really nice gear on all my heros. Is it dependant on the average level or level of your highest level hero, or the number of quests you've completed? Or something else entirely? Thanks :)

[The Boogie Knight]

Oh happy day, my Archmage learned Apotheosis at level 2, healing for e'ryone :D Now if I can just keep him alive for more than one dungeon . . .

[Two Clicks]

Originally posted by The Boogie Knight:

Oh happy day, my Archmage learned Apotheosis at level 2, healing for e'ryone :D Now if I can just keep him alive for more than one dungeon . . .

Yeah thats agood one but unfortunately RNG determines whether you have it or not for a particular turn, as its defensive I think.

The Warrior Priest is great to give other characters extra turns using Intervention ability. If it gets the Marauder one or two times a turn.... lord..... 2 or 3x attacks and thats without invoking its Battle Rage ability that doubles his attacks for turn, 1 / dungeon. And you will need all those attacks when you get creatures that can dodge avoid attacks like no ones business.

Dont worry abt being frustrated. Your concerns were legit. I had my fair share of problems with multiple spawns sometimes 5 or more turns sequentially. These are when you test your characters and your skill at the game at the limit. Remember - its not that bad to lose one character. Just losing more than one in one turn made me want to throw the pc out the window. :D

As for failing... thats why you have the spell casters. I would suggest use spells when you have power. And items when you run out. Take some extra items taht give extra temporory power for casting. I would equip the bandages,spells and potions for the non-spell casters just incase the spellcasters healers go down. Dont take food. Unless its orange. Food can fail and maybe even bandages. Its just about spreading the risk really. Heal damaged heroes as you move about and dont get an encounter. But yeah at least one resurrection spell makes a big difference. If its one the Grey and Bright then you hit jackpot. You do have to resurrect before the end of the turn I think.... its been so long. ^^

Re: the guides - yeah your welcome. Its a collaorative effort. Still some things no included. And I dont play the game so much. Just when I get the urge now and then.

I think Orange level quests are linked to character/party level. But suspect that its probably linked to story mission completion in an area. Unverified though. If it isnt then its likely to be linked to completing as many item rewarding quests as possible, so that they are removed from the available pool. But its just likely to be the first reason tbh.

Anyways gl. Its a great tactical game. Good depth to it.

[The Boogie Knight]

Got all my dudes up to at least level 4 now, got a level 6 Bright Wizard who need 10k gold for level 7, and a level 6 Trollslayer who hasn't reached 7 just yet. My "Main" party seems strong enough and resourceful enough to face most mid-tier threats. Not started facing Black Orcs, Savage Orcs or "top tier" undead like Master Necromancer or Vampire Lords.

While the dungeon crawling feels a helluva lot smoother and controlled; I know in the back fo my head "They gon' die soon" so trying not to get too attached :P 8/9 Stirland quests, can't seem to unlock the 9th.

I WILL COMPLETE THIS :D

[BobbyGun]

Versus archers, sneak round the corner. They will follow and you can "ambush" them. If you use mixed lvl heroes, some of them will be kinda useless. Make another party then and lvl them up, for reinforcements. Having one range hero is a good thing, too. And healing stuff, as much as you can carry :)

[Base Invader]

The power rolls of doom were always a lottery in the origional board game. Some of the most epic and desperate fights I had in the game were courtesy of the mechanic.

getting those heros past lvl 3-4 is definatly the hardest part of a hardcore playthough. The vampires are vicious for thier level when they first start rocking up and the necromancer can cause serious mischief if you end up drawing them in a power roll whilst already engaged to another group.

But as per the origional it can pay dividends to buy and use those single use items to deal with these situations before they get terminally out of control.

[TehJumpingJawa]

RIP my level 4 group.

The placement logic for doom spawns is just ridiculous.
Final room, burnt all my stored magic, and single use items to try to clear in 1 turn.
Ended up killing everything but 1 vanilla zombie, at 1/4hp.

Zombie counter-attacks, misses.......then Doom BS spawns a necromancer with skeleton archers *3 rooms away*.
3 rooms?!?!?

2 turns later, another Doom spawn; Vamp + more skellies & zombies.

No max range on archers & spells is bloody stupid.
No LoS requirement for infinite range AoE stuns, and banishes is equally stupid.

Are Necros supposed to roll 2 power every turn? 'cos that effectively means they can stunlock a hero character by simply alternativing between Death Shriek & Crystal Maze.

https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/969858026273772476/8F7DD4AD26CD5E4600437A50E20267DADE6F4361/

Also the game does a terrible job of presenting 'To Hit' chances, and the explanation in the journal is frustratingly vague.

[RandomDude]

It makes me feel a bit better to read this thread. Lost a lvl 3/4 party about a dozen times or so over the last few days.

I think the best advice I've picked up is to keep only magical consumables on spell casters and not to take blue/green food.

I found it hard to make enough money to buy decent gear so I rely on loot and item quests.

[enpi1234]

Same here. Spending hours to level the party up to 3 and 4 but then always a wipe with excessive monster patrols. I dont think that you can reach 5th level on hardcore mode. this is insane difficulty but maybe the only way to play the cruel warhammer setting! :)

[RandomDude]

I've managed to do it now. I just didn't level from 3-4 right away - just grinded for money until everyone had a decent weapon.
I was able to breeze through the undead encounters with the starting 4 after that.

[BigRowdy]

Thats kinda supposed to happen. See this is not a series of equal battles played consecutively. This is a band of heroes braving the unknown. Does it hurt and suck to lose your party? Oh heck yes. I have to put the game aside for a while. But its not bad game design or incompetent developers. Dem's the risk. I rage quit and put the game aside when wipes happen. But all heroes are easily replaced in the adventurers guild. They might get different abilities on level ups and have different names. But the classes are all there. The challenge there is to level up those guys when they are behind the level of the dungeon. But that is where superior equipment comes in. If you would have survived the loot would have made you happy. 2 tips.
1. Keep your party together as much as possible. Characters can use any healing items on those next to them.
2. Buy as much healing items as are available.

Well a third tip
3. Superior equipment pays off. Sometimes it is better to not level to save for the good stuff

[BigRowdy]

Just had party wipe. Again... lol

[Eisenhorn]

Hey guys, regarding the priest's intervention ability, is tis bugged?
The affected characters don't get anything extra, tried dozens of times...