honour mode for a first timer?

[-Snoopi-]

What do you guys think about Honour mode for a first timer?

Due to all the positive reviews I went ahead and purchased it. I have never played any DOS games at all before so it will be my first time in the series.

But games these days are far too easy for me, I had to stop playing MEA last night because even on Insanity difficulty in MEA, I never felt threatened in-game at all, not even close to dying, like all games these days it became a walk in the park.

Hence another reason I was interested in DOS2 because of this so called 'Honour mode', sounds like it should definitely present the challenge I have been long yearning for in a game.

[Egro]

Originally posted by -Snoopi-:

What do you guys think about Honour mode for a first timer?

Due to all the positive reviews I went ahead and purchased it. I have never played any DOS games at all before so it will be my first time in the series.

But games these days are far too easy for me, I had to stop playing MEA last night because even on Insanity difficulty in MEA, I never felt threatened in-game at all, not even close to dying, like all games these days it became a walk in the park.

Hence another reason I was interested in DOS2 because of this so called 'Honour mode', sounds like it should definitely present the challenge I have been long yearning for in a game.

Play tactician first. 2 Modes are the same but Honour will wipe your save.

[Zempel]

Just go for it, don't bother stroking ♥♥♥♥ on here either it'll be challenge or it won't

[Coffeepot]

Honour mode is same difficulty as tactician but if your party dies your save is deleted.

[Kurtino]

It'll most likely wont be the type of challenge you're looking for, because this is a game that punishes the player for not having information ahead of their turn. It'll challenge you tactically in that you'll most likely have to be planning around reloading saves for a first timer, but in Honour Mode you won't even have that.

Games like MEA aren't even in the same category or league as this. Not to say that this game is insanely difficult or something, but that most triple A games have become casualised, and they are incredibly easy. Honour mode on this game will most likely force you to exploit mechanics of the game, which will require veteran player knowledge, so I certainly wouldn't recommend it for a first time player, you'll most likely ruin the experience for yourself. I would suggest classic which presents plenty of intense battles if you're going in blind.

[Multihog]

Originally posted by -Snoopi-:

But games these days are far too easy for me, I had to stop playing MEA last night because even on Insanity difficulty in MEA, I never felt threatened in-game at all, not even close to dying, like all games these days it became a walk in the park.

Hence another reason I was interested in DOS2 because of this so called 'Honour mode', sounds like it should definitely present the challenge I have been long yearning for in a game.

Well, tactician in this game is pretty damn hard, and I don't mean AAA game "hard." This game is more Jagged Alliance 2 hard than Mass Effect hard. You will fight against unfair odds, die, and probably get frustrated because you need to keep repeating the beginning of the game. I'd say just stick with the regular tactician mode because honor mode is the exact same as that with the exception that you have permadeath (which in my opinion is not real difficulty)

I've played most CRPGs out there, usually on the harder difficulties, and I've got my ass kicked at least once in almost every fight in this game so far on tactician.

[.//slayer]

It's very much doable as a first-time playthrough, but will require some extra caution from you - like fleeing fights if you can't win them, and being quick on reload before the game autosaves you in an unwinnable position. You shouldn't have too many problems with battles if you min-max your way to victory.

Although I must say that I judge from a standpoint of someone who beat DOS1, so I already knew some good ways to build characters. Probably will be harder for you in that regard.

[artofwar]

So I haven't tried honour mode yet, but one thing I'm confused/interested by is that the description says your save is deleted if you whole party dies.

So does that mean you could simply reload halfway through any fight that starts to go poorly? If so, that just seems to encourage a lot of save scumming to complete the challenge.

[Multihog]

Originally posted by artofwar:

So I haven't tried honour mode yet, but one thing I'm confused/interested by is that the description says your save is deleted if you whole party dies.

So does that mean you could simply reload halfway through any fight that starts to go poorly? If so, that just seems to encourage a lot of save scumming to complete the challenge.

Yep, if this is true, then it's no different really. I always reload immediately when I know I'm going to lose.

[Zempel]

But games are a walk in a park, doing it in honour mode will create a challenge and prevent you from making it easier on yourself and save scumming

[.//slayer]

Originally posted by artofwar:

So I haven't tried honour mode yet, but one thing I'm confused/interested by is that the description says your save is deleted if you whole party dies.

So does that mean you could simply reload halfway through any fight that starts to go poorly? If so, that just seems to encourage a lot of save scumming to complete the challenge.

You can, indeed, reload a fight half-way through. There's no real point discussing save-scumming - it's a single player game, and what you do, you do for yourself. If savescumming is your thing, who is there to judge you?

[.//slayer]

Originally posted by Multihog:

Originally posted by artofwar:

So I haven't tried honour mode yet, but one thing I'm confused/interested by is that the description says your save is deleted if you whole party dies.

So does that mean you could simply reload halfway through any fight that starts to go poorly? If so, that just seems to encourage a lot of save scumming to complete the challenge.

Yep, if this is true, then it's no different really. I always reload immediately when I know I'm going to lose.

There are fights in DOS2 that can insta-kill you on turn 1 without even being able to act. They can catch you by surprise and make you lose.

Other than that, the only real ways to die in DOS2 are to be chain-stunned and saved mid-fight in an unwinnable scenario. Or talk to a certain ferryman.

[Wedor]

Honour mode is just as tactician, but when u whipe, your savegame is lost. Its kind of a hardcore ironmanmode and you really, really shouldnt do it.
In tactician difficulty a single mistake almost always results into a death - unless you engage under perfect circumstances and even then its unforgiving as hell.
IDK what MEA is but DOS 2 compares to X Com in difficulty. Ive made Commander/Ironman runs on both X-Coms and yet i dindnt have one single encounter in DOS 2 so far that wasnt challangeing and open to the bitter end (the first few tutorial fights not counted). Additionaly there are some fights that have on pretty naughty turn, that is fo sure going to kill you if you are not prepared for it.
There literaly is no way that you can get through Honour mode alive on your first playthrough at least not without 2nd party help.

[Wedor]

Originally posted by .//slayer:

It's very much doable as a first-time playthrough [...] and being quick on reload before the game autosaves you in an unwinnable position.

Thats pretty much not playing on honour mode.

[.//slayer]

Originally posted by Wedor:

Originally posted by .//slayer:

It's very much doable as a first-time playthrough, but will require some extra caution from you - like fleeing fights if you can't win them, and being quick on reload before the game autosaves you in an unwinnable position. You shouldn't have too many problems with battles if you min-max your way to victory.

Although I must say that I judge from a standpoint of someone who beat DOS1, so I already knew some good ways to build characters. Probably will be harder for you in that regard.

Thats pretty much not playing on honour mode.

Please explain - fleeing from fights is not playing on honour mode? Or do you mean the reloading thing? Either way, as long as the game is not saved, you are allowed to reload - the function to reload is always active in the menu. Would it be harder if it weren't? Definitely yes. Is it still within game limits to use it? Also definitely yes.

Then again, for all I care, people are free to save scum and cheat if that makes them enjoy the game more - we're not exactly participants of an international e-sports tournament here.

[.//slayer]

yet i dindnt have one single encounter in DOS 2 so far that wasnt challangeing and open to the bitter end.

I have to disagree - in my experience, the game turns into a stomp as soon as you get the teleporter gloves. After that, even as simple a solution as teleporting enemies close to you one by one works wonders and reduces the risk considerably.