Why am I being insta-killed all the time?

[LadyErica]

I'm usually not one to complain about game mechanics, but this one is just weird. I'm playing a strider and just hit lvl 13, and I still haven't found better equipment other than the stuff that appeared in my inventory in the first big city (with the pawn guild and all that.) Still, that shouldn't really matter.

The problem is I get insta-killed constantly, and I have no idea why. For instance, I was attacked by six or seven bandits. The first four went down easily, and I barely took any damage. Then, all of a sudden, one of them turned around, stabbed me once, and I was dead. I had full health, yet got instantly killed with a single hit. WTF? Why was he so much more powerful than his friends? He looked identical to them?

I have countless of other examples of the exact same thing. Wolves attack me. I slaughter them with ease, then suddenly... boom! Dead. There have been a few occasions where the first hit only takes 99% of my health rather than instantly killing me, but in those occasions, the enemy simply stab me twice. There was also a single time a bandit stabbed me, but didn't do any damage. So instead, he stabbed me three times in a row really quick. The first didn't do any damage. The next hit a quarter of a second later took 99% of my health, and the last one killed me. And I have no idea why.

Am I missing some stuff here? Is there a mechanic I'm not aware of, like critical hits (how can you tell?), lack of armor in certain places (no helmet means a lot more damage if stabbed in the head? and if so, how do you target body parts?) or anything like that?

And just to be clear, when I say insta-killed, I mean I go from full health to being killed in a single hit, and all enemies are more or less my own level. I have no idea how to tell what the enemy level is, but when I kill four or five bandits without taking any damage in close combat, I find it very surprising that the next one kills me with a single hit.

[A Rock Seller]

You're playing an RPG. Find an area with lower level enemies that you can fight, level up and you won't get insta killed.

[WingedKagouti]

Critical hits and enemy skill use can make for some instant kills, especially at lower levels against bandits.

[Corlain]

Fighter and warrior bandits do usually more damage than the others, but the archer's special moves can also kill you quickly. It's possible they are shooting you in the back at the same time you're engaged with someone else.

[Revolucas]

That's the bandit chief. Most mobs have a 'leader' that if you kill it will lower the morale and send them off running.

[LadyErica]

Originally posted by Velox Banks:

You're playing an RPG. Find an area with lower level enemies that you can fight, level up and you won't get insta killed.

I'm right outside the first mni-town where you get your first pawn. It doesn't get any more low level than that. Also, as I said, I killed four or five bandits without taking any damage. Sounds low level to me.

Originally posted by WingedKagouti:

Critical hits and enemy skill use can make for some instant kills, especially at lower levels against bandits.

Thanks! Are there any ways to get more resistance to critical hits?

Originally posted by Alundaio:

That's the bandit chief. Most mobs have a 'leader' that if you kill it will lower the morale and send them off running.

Thanks. That's one game mechanic I wasn't aware of. :-)

[Archmortal]

Originally posted by WingedKagouti:

Critical hits and enemy skill use can make for some instant kills, especially at lower levels against bandits.

I don't think bandits or wolves can do critical hits, unless there are other types of criticals than those that can happen when using weapons with a Dark enchantment on them (and the Iraklis Greatsword but enemies can't use that).

Also TC to your question about resisting criticals, unless I'm totally wrong and there are other types of critical hits I don't even think the Arisen can suffer one. That said, there's no way to boost resistance to them either way. It's based on an inherent species modifier. My best guess is that the Arisen has the same amount of resistance to them as Orla and Barroch in BBI do.

[WingedKagouti]

Originally posted by SpaceCowboy:

Are there any ways to get more resistance to critical hits?

Nothing that doesn't also protect against non-critical hits.

But at level 13 you should probably just avoid fighting the bandits if they're giving you trouble (run from them if you have a quest on the other side). Do quests in/near the starting village until you've exhausted what you can find, then progress onwards. There's an inn with a quest board, it should get you started.

[BasedKira]

Headshot and flank attack.

basically you receive far more damage if you somehow get hit in the head ( usually by projectiles ) - very noticeable when you tank arrows up close against a strider / ranger.

attacks against humanoids in the back also do massive damage, almost entirely bypassing armor. Often fighter / warrior pawns will grab knocked down enemies and leave them wide open - this also grants a massive damage bonus. This mechanic also applies to you and your pawns.

so what probably happened was you got hit in the flank somehow by the strongest bandit there and basically died

[Archmortal]

Originally posted by BasedKira:

Headshot and flank attack.

basically you receive far more damage if you somehow get hit in the head ( usually by projectiles ) - very noticeable when you tank arrows up close against a strider / ranger.

attacks against humanoids in the back also do massive damage, almost entirely bypassing armor. Often fighter / warrior pawns will grab knocked down enemies and leave them wide open - this also grants a massive damage bonus. This mechanic also applies to you and your pawns.

Thanks for this. I honestly never realized in all my time playing on console.

[Aahzmandias]

This is a real RPG, like a old school one. There are no scaled leveled enemies. They, or even only ONE of them can be much higher level, than the rest. It's a reason, that he is the bandit boss.

Archers can insta kill you. avoid these arrows under all costs. A headshot can insta kill you, if you are a mage.

If you cannot go into an area, try it at another time of day, try to avoid this high level groups, level up, change your playstyle. Find out their weakness, and attack them with that insight. Get behind them. Don't let them attack you from behind. Don't let them stagger you. Evade them. Be smart.

BUT don't expect the game to change, because YOU are not able to adapt.

There are people like me, who like it that way, and are used to this playstyle of a dangerous and most hostile enviroment. I use overhaul mods in all Bethesda games, decativating or at least weakening this idiotic scaled level "feature". Additionally there are some enemies able to one hit kill me.

I need this, because I want the feeling to accomplish something in this games. This games here gives me that feeling, without the need to mod it.

[RK/Dragonfly]

You also take a ton of extra damage if you get hit while your weapon is sheathed, this is most common if you sprint during combat and get hit.

[MonkeyEmperor]

I'm not sure what your issue is without specifics on your skills and what class your pawn is...

But suggestions off the top of my head.

1. When you buy armor you ain't going to look pretty at level 13 :

Look at the elemental or debuff resistances when you buy it, make sure you have no negatives as thats just asking for trouble. If you get better elemental resistances and most of the numbers go to blue when you compare it then buy and equip that sucker.

2. Scarves and rings help, especially stuff like the Baleful Nails that some wandering merchants sell.

3. Talking of the starting gear : Sell the Monocle. It is pants and will net you 300 k plus free cash.

4. When you kill mobs you will get random bits and bobs that are labelled as upgrade materials. Horde those like a squirrel on a nut frenzy and keep them all in your storage.

5. When you visit old er wassisface `Masterworks all !` be sure to ENHANCE anything you can afford/have the items for ALL party members. If it is greyed out in the list you are lacking the requisite items. If it is white you have 3 levels of upgrades (for now) that usually go : Dirt Cheap, Bit more expensive plus a random low level upgrade itme , then wodge of cash plus a rare upgrade item (ranked as 1,2 or 3 stars)

6. Think in 360 degrees in all directions.. That applies to flanking enemies, looking for hidden loot and using the terrain against your foes. Kick them off ledges, throw them off cliffs, chuck rocks on their heads, use fire barrels ...

7. Make sure your pawn is either :

A :The precise same class and sub class as you so you can teach it how to fight, show it enemy weaknesses and what tactics to use. Rook was not kidding when he said `We get better as we learn`. Then Hire 2 support pawns that fill in any gaps in your offense/defense.

B: A similar class to you.. ie I have a strider that I use primarily at range and take down Mages, then Rangers then Tanks(the gitbags with the Up Yours Great Big HammerO'Doom TM) then the leftovers. My Pawn is a Mage with support abilities who then copies my general playstyle and stays at range.


8. Dont jump about like a loon. It doesn't work. You can get an arrow up the arse poncing about in mid air just as easily as if you are moving slowly and methodically. Plus your Pawn will copy you like an over eager puppy and think that being Zebedee is a valid defence tactic.

9. Don't spam attacks. You will run out of stamina and get an axe to the head while you are puffing an panting. Use a mix of specials and normal attacks. Take pauses to identify Mages and Archers. They will normally be at range merrily debuffing you, healing the foot soldiers and peppering the area with AOE attacks.

If you see arrows hitting the ground from up high or spot some sneaky git with a great big `HELLLOOOO !!! I AM CASTING A SPELL` glow round his head then turn him or her into a pin cushion, or get up close and stabby.

10. Lastly ... spread the love . Give your Party an even split of curatives. Give the the All party ones to your companions and let them do their stuff. Set Hotkeys 1-5 by highlighing a curative and pressing the appropraite key.

Personally if you have a support mage you only really need the Halidom Spell (Cures Posion, Torpor, Silence, Caught Fire and Frozen Solid), Intervine Potions (same as Halidom plus HP and Stamina), HP cures (all party tonics and say potent Greens) and then kept Beast Scrags or Fish for Stamina emergencies.

All the other crap like small nuts, individaul cures for status effects and the truckfuls of knick knacks that pawns pick up along the way needs to get Sold or Combined and kept in storage. Overloaded Pawns have Stamina Issues and being like a pack horse is going to make anyone a crap fighter.

Probably missed a ton of tricks, but for now that *should* keep you alive and sane.

[MonkeyEmperor]

Ok so sorry for the TL:DR wall of text above. But..

Also helpful : http://steamcommunity.com/app/367500/discussions/0/451851477879057342/ (yeah I know its my thread but hey its helpful)

Check the Pinned Thread re making friends and hiring pawns for free.

http://steamcommunity.com/app/367500/discussions/0/451850468367005750/

[ViperV]

did you take the route to the mountain path going to witchwood? bandits there sure are tough despite an early level quest. i remember dying a lot of times there, too. but with planning and some strategy, it's still manageable.

[LadyErica]

Originally posted by WingedKagouti:

Originally posted by SpaceCowboy:

Are there any ways to get more resistance to critical hits?

Nothing that doesn't also protect against non-critical hits.

But at level 13 you should probably just avoid fighting the bandits if they're giving you trouble (run from them if you have a quest on the other side). Do quests in/near the starting village until you've exhausted what you can find, then progress onwards. There's an inn with a quest board, it should get you started.

The problem is that I AM doing the intro quests (in the first big city, where you can change vocation to mystic knight etc). There are only two quests on the notice board, and both are for escort stuff. One said for seasoned adventurers, so naturally, that was the first one I picked. Big mistake. :p

But the other quest said it's a simple training mission. I struggled a bit to find my way there, so I went all the way back to the first camp where you get your first pawn, fight the cyclops and all that. Right outside that town is a path going up a small mountain, where bandits roll a boulder down towards you. There are a couple of wolves there first, then the bandits. Even these instantly kills me. I've managed to complete the first notice board quest (the low level one), but it was pretty difficult, as I had no idea where to go, and often got attacked by large packs of enemies.

But the biggest problem I have is that I have no way of judging the enemy's strength. They either die quickly, or I die quickly. I won't know until I try. But even just now, I was ambushed by some saurians and a chimera. Saurians are usually not a problem. I've killed dozens of them already. This time, though? They must have learned how to fight me, or something. I mean, I attacked one, then three others swarmed in from behind to attack me. I turned around to attack one of them, then the rest swarmed behind me. No matter what I did, I got attacked from behind by at least two or three of them - and often stunned or knocked down. Even when I tried to ensare them, someone else attacked from behind. Ever. Single. Time. And, naturally... boom! Chimera jumped from behind, landed on top of me and instantly killed me. (first time it did, I didn't know it was there. It just... appeared out of nowhere.)

If I had any way of knowing how powerful the enemies are, I could jduge my fights better. But I can't, so I have to figure it out by trial and error. Don't get me wrong, I really love the game. A lot. But all this insta-killing is getting very frustrating. So much that combat isn't fun anymore. I can either slaughter the enemies without breaking a sweat, or I'm dead before I know what hit me. And I won't know either way until after the fight. :-(