Expert mode

[LadyAyu]

Besides taking more dmg and enemies having more hp is there any other difference with normal mode?

o.o since it said "find out as you play" or something like that first time you try that option on, already got quite far in the original game , should i bother playing the exact same game in the exact difficulty but with moar words? o.o

[Bacon Bandit Games]

Originally posted by Cuki:

Besides taking more dmg and enemies having more hp is there any other difference with normal mode?

o.o since it said "find out as you play" or something like that first time you try that option on, already got quite far in the original game , should i bother playing the exact same game in the exact difficulty but with moar words? o.o

Expert mode is much, much more difficult. There are additional upgrade levels to purchase because it gets really hard. The upgrades also increase in price more slowly than in normal mode. There are also modified values for the challenge stars. And enemies in the crystal star challenges have different stats (if they used the same scaling code they would be impossible, so they were all hand-tweaked by me to make sure they were possible!). So it is quite similar to the normal game, but much harder.

For me, the expert mode is really tough. It plays a bit more like a puzzle game for me, since I have very little breathing room, I usually only barely scrape by in most levels, and I prefer playing like that. It's intended for people that are very good at word games, or want to feel challenged most of the time they're playing. :)

[Tim]

I found I had to change the way I build my character. In normal I could blaze through just purchasing damage upgrades, whereas in expert I have to pay attention to defense, potions, armor, etc. Sometimes I'd hit a hard boss and have to go back and play previous levels until I could buy an upgrade or two which made it easier to get past it.

Overall I like it because it requires such a different approach than the normal game.

[Drinkcup]

Expert mode is hard yo

[Berahlen]

Expert starts out really nasty and a little grindy, but once you get about halfway through the second area it's pretty reasonable as long as you don't try to do all stars as soon as you see them. I thought it was more satisfying overall.

Strategy below if you have trouble.

Prioritize the first few HP buffs, then go for attack power, crystal chance, damage/healing books, and unlocking Rose. Stack gem-profit upgrades/book/scythe at first, and make a special effort during regular progression to do lots of quests early to beef up fast and mitigate the early roadblocks. Whip out the life leech scythe for tough fights. Defense is almost worthless except for getting the 1 HP achievement -- you cap out at like 16 damage reduction, but late-game enemies will be frequently critting you for well over 100.

I cannot overstate how good the life leech staff is. Enemies with weakness gimmicks can keep you almost perpetually healthy if you hit them hard enough, and bosses are often easier than regular enemies because of it. You should never really be using any staff other than gem boost or life leech.

[Radagast the Brown]

I also started this game in expert mode. It's true that it's a bit grindy unfortunately. Quite hardcore and time consuming. Levels early on have to be replayed just to get enough money for extra upgrades. I'm almost around half the way in the game and played almost 15 hours or so. It's indeed like a puzzle game. In order to win you must always try and find the best possible words/combinations. The good thing is, you get better and better the more you play. Skill goes up almost infinitely.

I also found that the staff with the health steal at max level, is very very useful. I'll probably stick with it forever none of the other weapons seem to par with it. Other than that I'm sticking on upgrades in damage/health/crystal chance/gem pile chance with that order, though I did use a few points in the beginning in armor too. Dodge is also nice for later when you get Rose, cause she has a better dodge rating and it helps with that particular achievement. I used these books in this order: the book with the double letter use per word cause it's easy as a goal, the "E" healing, the extra gems per monster. I guess when I get near endgame I would change the 3rd book for something else for more damage.

@To developers:
I'm sad that there are no achievements in the game regarding 9-letter and 10-letter words, cause you eventually get those too, as you become more expert in the game. :( Also, isn't it sad that there is no particular achievement for finishing the game in expert mode? I mean we spend countless hours to do it, and we get nothing for it. :(

[Bacon Bandit Games]

Originally posted by Radagast the Brown:

@To developers:
I'm sad that there are no achievements in the game regarding 9-letter and 10-letter words, cause you eventually get those too, as you become more expert in the game. :( Also, isn't it sad that there is no particular achievement for finishing the game in expert mode? I mean we spend countless hours to do it, and we get nothing for it. :(

Unfortunately this is one of those situations where I can't please everyone - if those achievements existed, there would be lots of people that complained that they were too hard to get and that they shouldn't be in the game (this already happens regarding a few of the achievements in the game lol).

It's something I will keep in mind though, and I do understand your point of view on this issue, thanks for the feedback!

[Radagast the Brown]

Originally posted by Bacon Bandit Games:

Unfortunately this is one of those situations where I can't please everyone - if those achievements existed, there would be lots of people that complained that they were too hard to get and that they shouldn't be in the game (this already happens regarding a few of the achievements in the game lol).

It's something I will keep in mind though, and I do understand your point of view on this issue, thanks for the feedback!

I understand that, but you shouldn't really be so concerned with the fact that some achievements are hard in one game. I mean come on look at super meat boy. Literally 40% of the achievements are impossible. The game is still one of the best platformers of the last years, simply because it was too difficult and challenging and all loved that (well that's not the only reason ok). But we did come back to the game almost daily to try the impossible ones even if we failed miserably.

Most steam gamers have accepted by now, that there will always be games with very hard (or almost impossible) achievements. In your case you have a whole expert mode with not a single achievement regarding it. I've never seen such a thing to be honest and I found it very strange. Even the recent YS games had even higher difficulty modes than hard, that were literally impossible to beat, but still had achievements for those hardcore modes. Torchlight games had hardcore modes too. Just saying. :P

PS: I still appreciate the fact that you made an amazing game here, that I'm really enjoying. And let me tell you that I'm "not" really a fan of scrabble.