overwhelmed and overpowered

[Silhouette Fleur]

I guess I come asking for help on this one.

I don't agree with a "right way to play a game", but it's becoming more and more clear to me that my instinctive method of playing just doesn't cut it.

I am finding myself constantly over powered by enemies, even when I am a higher level, at level 14 a level 10 anything can be a pain to deal with, and any more than two or three of them at once is a big problem to handle.

In my opinion, that's how the game should be on a medium mode, I dread to think what it's like on normal, and I am playing on casual where I have a measure of health regen.

As a fighter class I am also inundated with short swords, I prefer the long swords but special ones are few and far between, maces have been the compromise.

How on earth am I supposed to get the edge on the game's enemies?

[DavidBVal]

Hello, first of all it is true that this game needs to be a bit more forgiving on the "Casual" setting, and that is being adjusted in next update. However, there's indeed key points on how to become much more efficient with the current game. Some traits work well with certain weapons, others don't, as the traits and weapon tags specify (a common example, weapons tagged as "light" barely benefit from strength, etc).

Please either post screenshots or list here your traits, skills, and weapon of choice/relevant armor, so we can give you proper advice.

[Silhouette Fleur]

Wow, hello!

First of all, I really love the game you've made.

And thanks for taking the time to reply!

Second, no idea how to do the screen shot thing, so I've got a list of all those stats.

Strength: 4
Endurance: 3
Agility: 2
Intelligence: 2
Awareness: 4
Personality: 2

Resilience: 3
Fury: 3
Shield: 3
Bash: 3
Cleave: 2
Gossip: 2
Dungeoneering: 3
Precision Strike: 1

Resistances;
Fire: +46
Ice: +11
Death?: +62
Lightning: +13
Spirit?: +4
Poison: +85

Dmg: 12-14
Spd: 9
Crit: 8% (15-21)
Dps: Dps 13.7

Legion Helm & Breastplate
Platemail Boots & Leggins
Ilmaran Signet Ring
Oasis Ring
Superior Belt of Might
Nivarian Cloak
Blessed Necklace
Crushing Ember (Mace)

Admittedly I am perhaps not min/maxxed for optimal kick arsery here, but first playthrough and such.

I swear some of the critters are getting bumped up a level as well when I level up, so any power bump is inevitably not so noticeable to me.

[DavidBVal]

The most obvious issue is you barely have any Advanced Skills, and you have invested a lot in the General Skills and basic Warrior Skills. You have also relatively low physical traits and a very high awareness. You also skipped the almost mandatory "Extra Recovery" general skill, especially good if you play with Hirge as companion (which I advise to beginners).

There is a woman in the Warrior's Guild that allows you to reset your traits and/or skills, but it costs thousands of gold, so try to do it as few times as possible because it gets costlier each time. Make a save game (not quick save, but a "hard save" via the menu) before you allot your points.

There's three kind of weapons to build your warrior around: light weapons, hand weapons, and two-handed. Depending on which you pick, the skills and traits you need are different. But in any case, no matter your build, it's often much, much better to get a few levels of advanced skills like Duel, Heavyhand or Massive Criticals than having so many points in Basic skills. Body Development, taught at the Nivarian warrior's guild, is a must.

Consider what skills to ditch... are you really using Fury 3 that much, or are you most of the time above half health? Right now you have skills that benefit from you being at low health, and at the same time you have a shield build and maxed the shield skill, which prevents damage. Just an example or where you could be getting points from, since some or all of those skill points could be invested in Advanced one that get you a profit every time you hit "attack".

The difficult part about a hand-weapons build is that it gains advantage from both AGI and STR, so you have to raise both. Then you also want END and mental traits, so in the end you are very watered-down... you need to renounce to some things and excel at some. As a rule of thumb, offense is your best defense. Pick the skills and traits that kill your enemies faster, and don't rely on defensive skills too much. If you pick light-weapons, make AGI very high, and strive for a 6 or more so you can learn Flurry in Freetown. If you prefer 2-handed, go all strength. And select just some of the mental Traits, because as a warrior there's no way you can keep all of them high and at the same time be efficient.

Finally, you have tons of advice at the wiki. It's linked in-game at the main menu, and also there's the community the official forums, much more active than here. If you post your build there you'll get more specific advice from players that have beaten the game countless times. They know the game better than myself, and I say it unironically...

[Silhouette Fleur]

Thank you so much for the time and help you have given!

I see where I have made the mechanic mistake now, as I thought putting points in base skills would lend some power to upper tier skills.

Acquiring Hirge as a beginner is incredibly difficult, if that is the name of the healer lady I am thinking of, though I had eventually managed to do her quest.

Much of the time I am below half health due to how I have been playing and getting my butt handed to me, so fury 3 has given me the edge, despite all the armour I have on.

The only thing that's been keeping me going playing this way is the casual mode health regeneration, as potions can get expensive fast, so it's time consuming waiting for that to regen to 80 points (as high as it appears to go) and then trying to lure one enemy at a time.

In short I've been trying to play it more like a Diablo style game thinking EK leaned more into hack and slash elements, which I am now realizing are a lot more forgiving.

I think what I am going to do is start a new game and apply your help/advice as I have sold a lot of fairly decent cleric equipment I can't get back already, but it should be easier now that I have an idea of what I am doing.

Again, thank you so much!