Going Temple of the Elk before Old Sycamore, what do I lose?

[Alan Sylver]

There are threads concerning this, but this either has been changed or there is false information circulating around, so I'd like to ask again: if I do Temple of the Elk before Old Sycamore, what is changed or what do I lose out on?

I play on Unfair and always get wiped when I try to run through to check, but I was able to verify that going to temple, then leaving immediately (but getting the message of me being late for Tartuccio), the mite/kobold struggle is still on and the entrances to the caverns are not overgrown or closed off in any way.

[Pink Eye]

The other companion who was last with Tartuccio won't be available until the next chapter. Also, don't do that, if this is isn't your first time playing there are a couple of easy nodes you can do that give easy exp.

[Alan Sylver]

Is that the only change? Will I still get to eat that fireball down in Sycamore? Get all the loot and xp?

And why shouldn't I do that, provided I can win against that bear? Level 3 Tristian would probably be a boon right now.

[Pink Eye]

Originally posted by Alan Sylver:

Is that the only change? Will I still get to eat that fireball down in Sycamore? Get all the loot and xp?

And why shouldn't I do that, provided I can win against that bear? Level 3 Tristian would probably be a boon right now.

You have 80 days to kill the Stag lord, my guy. More than enough time to wander aimlessly around the world map searching for easy exp. Make a manual save, enter an area. If it's too hard, reload and leave. Rinse and repeat.

Early game on unfair is all about absorbing whatever exp and gold you can get your hands on. Once you get past Chapter 1-2, game becomes stupidly easy even on unfair.

[Alan Sylver]

I still don't see why doing temple first should be a bad thing, and what I would lose.

[Pink Eye]

Originally posted by Alan Sylver:

I still don't see why doing temple first should be a bad thing, and what I would lose.

I never said it was a bad thing. I'm just suggesting that you explore the world map for easy exp and gold.

[Triple G]

Originally posted by Alan Sylver:

Is that the only change? Will I still get to eat that fireball down in Sycamore? Get all the loot and xp?

I got that message too in my last playthrough everything in Old Sycamore was exactly the same. Atm i´m unsure what the message was about - but i guess it´s the map after the tomb, but i don´t remember right. But i guess it´s there where You get the hint that he is in Old Scyamore. I didn´t need it, because i knew he is there.

I don´t know if there´s anything changed (importantly) other than the available companions for that chapter. I´ve done that chapter 3 times - always cleared everything - in different order. Others have of course more experience.

Edit: could also been that he isn´t in the tomb any more.

[dwarner]

If you go to Thorn Ford first you can no longer pick up a companion at Ancient Tomb. If you go to Ancient Tomb and/or start Old Sycamore Tartuk quest with Kesten you lose use of Tristian until Ch. 2.

[dwarner]

If you want to get Tristian first without getting wiped you can do the Old Sycamore map for EXP as long as you don’t go to Ancient Tomb.

[wulfster42]

I've done one or the other first many times and other then what companion you end up not using (or well, I end up not using) it doesn't make any difference at all (at least that I have noticed).

I like building my own characters and pretty much only use liz in my part so it doesn't matter to me. I think Dwarner posted how to get new companions = your main characters level (Without spending a ton of money on a higher level customized one), so that could be another reason to do one or the other first. If you want one of those companions in your party, run solo (or with a small group and have the only active party gets exp), then switch to everyone does right before snagging tristan etc...and he will be = to your main characters level. Could do this to eventually end up with a bunch of higher leveled characters even in chapter 1 (Tristan for instance and the 2 slaves nearby....would be a party of 4, after clearing out a ton of other stuff and getting level 5-6 with your main. Could have a party of 4 level 6 characters pretty easy that way.

[wulfster42]

Also I don't get how anyone has a problem with the treant? It is focused on Tristan and has never been hard for me to kill it. Maybe on much higher difficulty levels or something?

[Pink Eye]

Originally posted by wulfster42:

Also I don't get how anyone has a problem with the treant? It is focused on Tristan and has never been hard for me to kill it. Maybe on much higher difficulty levels or something?

It's the same reason people have problems with swarms. They don't know to deal with it. Probably their first time playing a Crpg.

[dwarner]

Originally posted by Pink Eye:

Originally posted by wulfster42:

Also I don't get how anyone has a problem with the treant? It is focused on Tristan and has never been hard for me to kill it. Maybe on much higher difficulty levels or something?

It's the same reason people have problems with swarms. They don't know to deal with it. Probably their first time playing a Crpg.

I got wasted by both my first try and I’ve been playing crpgs since the Atari 2600.

He has a lot of Natural Armor and hits hard. He one shot Tristian then two-shot Amiri who got a couple bad rolls. My party was a little gassed after the wolves and the boar.

[wulfster42]

Ahh, I've only faught him on normal and he doesn't kill tristan that fast (or I have always just been lucky). He has actually never killed Tristan when I have fought him, even when I go there almost right away.

I was gonna do a harder diff run and even started it, but got distracted by the DLC. Now i'm gonna be gone for a week (my Grandfather passed away :( ) so I won't be able to play for awhile.

I think I'm gonna stop playing the rogue lite DLC as it's both kinda dull for a VERY long time, and ruins the fun of leveling up new builds cause it does it waaaay to fast. I did complain how it takes awhile in the main game to actually test/play new builds, but the dlc dungeon just turns it up to 11...especially solo or with 1 other character.

Oh well, I'll try harder when I get back. I'm gonna bring my laptop actually so I might get to play a bit at night etc, or log in to chat on this message board at least hehe.

[dwarner]

Originally posted by Alan Sylver:

Is that the only change? Will I still get to eat that fireball down in Sycamore? Get all the loot and xp?

And why shouldn't I do that, provided I can win against that bear? Level 3 Tristian would probably be a boon right now.

If you use Charge you can usually prevent the Fireball if you want to.

[Mork]

Originally posted by wulfster42:

Ahh, I've only faught him on normal and he doesn't kill tristan that fast (or I have always just been lucky). He has actually never killed Tristan when I have fought him, even when I go there almost right away.

I was gonna do a harder diff run and even started it, but got distracted by the DLC. Now i'm gonna be gone for a week (my Grandfather passed away :( ) so I won't be able to play for awhile.

I think I'm gonna stop playing the rogue lite DLC as it's both kinda dull for a VERY long time, and ruins the fun of leveling up new builds cause it does it waaaay to fast. I did complain how it takes awhile in the main game to actually test/play new builds, but the dlc dungeon just turns it up to 11...especially solo or with 1 other character.

Oh well, I'll try harder when I get back. I'm gonna bring my laptop actually so I might get to play a bit at night etc, or log in to chat on this message board at least hehe.

Try a group of 4 for the main campaign with a custom group or not. You level fast but also not too fast, like in the dlc and its a lot of fun.