Why is this game so hellbent on making you use dark magic?

[Aetrion]

This game seems to go out of its way to punish you for not going the dark magic route with its mechanics.

The colored shields make it so you can't specialize in any type of spell except unforgivable curses that ignore shields. You always need to keep all colors ready if you want to fight without them.

The talent tree has a whole section just for dark magic, and if you don't want to spec into that there is really no meaningful alternative, you are simply stuck buying all the other talents, whether you care for them or not.

The killing curse is far more powerful and can be used more often than your ancient magic finisher.

Even if you don't want to use unforgivable curses you can make your regular spells inflict curse status to siphon health and inflict bonus damage through dark magic talents, so even a run without the unforgivable curses is easier with dark magic talents.

Is there anything in this game that actually makes it worth your while to not go for dark magic? It just seems like the whole game is designed to make everything harder on you and offer no alternative paths to explore if you want to avoid using unforgivable curses and dark magic talents.

[werwolfgaming]

Originally posted by Aetrion:

This game seems to go out of its way to punish you for not going the dark magic route with its mechanics.

The colored shields make it so you can't specialize in any type of spell except unforgivable curses that ignore shields. You always need to keep all colors ready if you want to fight without them.

The talent tree has a whole section just for dark magic, and if you don't want to spec into that there is really no meaningful alternative, you are simply stuck buying all the other talents, whether you care for them or not.

The killing curse is far more powerful and can be used more often than your ancient magic finisher.

Even if you don't want to use unforgivable curses you can make your regular spells inflict curse status to siphon health and inflict bonus damage through dark magic talents, so even a run without the unforgivable curses is easier with dark magic talents.

Is there anything in this game that actually makes it worth your while to not go for dark magic? It just seems like the whole game is designed to make everything harder on you and offer no alternative paths to explore if you want to avoid using unforgivable curses and dark magic talents.

i mean this opens the door for a challenge playthrew to finish it on hard difficulity not learning the curses at all making the game a little harder

[Marcos_DS]

Well, the point of Dark Magic is an easy way to more power - otherwise why would you use it? It's not like you cannot kill someone without Avada Kedavra or torture without Cruciatus, just far more easy and powerful...

[wesnef]

Something, something, the easy way or the right way. . .

[Silvarsson]

Originally posted by Aetrion:

This game seems to go out of its way to punish you for not going the dark magic route with its mechanics.

The colored shields make it so you can't specialize in any type of spell except unforgivable curses that ignore shields. You always need to keep all colors ready if you want to fight without them.

The talent tree has a whole section just for dark magic, and if you don't want to spec into that there is really no meaningful alternative, you are simply stuck buying all the other talents, whether you care for them or not.

The killing curse is far more powerful and can be used more often than your ancient magic finisher.

Even if you don't want to use unforgivable curses you can make your regular spells inflict curse status to siphon health and inflict bonus damage through dark magic talents, so even a run without the unforgivable curses is easier with dark magic talents.

Is there anything in this game that actually makes it worth your while to not go for dark magic? It just seems like the whole game is designed to make everything harder on you and offer no alternative paths to explore if you want to avoid using unforgivable curses and dark magic talents.

You forget that the dark magic doesn't bring anything, story related.

You've got to face 0 issue for avada kedavraing the entire map. That's a big issue.

The fact that there is no ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ "karma" thing behaviour is also a damn bad mistake.

But yeah. all of the RPG related mechanics are way to basics. Talent tree, as you said, also.
You've got the bare minimum with the talent tree. Can't have specific uprade per spells (Which could allow us to spec into a certain gameplay).

The game is realldy mid tier overall.

[Rommel]

Originally posted by Aetrion:

This game seems to go out of its way to punish you for not going the dark magic route with its mechanics.

The colored shields make it so you can't specialize in any type of spell except unforgivable curses that ignore shields. You always need to keep all colors ready if you want to fight without them.

The talent tree has a whole section just for dark magic, and if you don't want to spec into that there is really no meaningful alternative, you are simply stuck buying all the other talents, whether you care for them or not.

The killing curse is far more powerful and can be used more often than your ancient magic finisher.

Even if you don't want to use unforgivable curses you can make your regular spells inflict curse status to siphon health and inflict bonus damage through dark magic talents, so even a run without the unforgivable curses is easier with dark magic talents.

Is there anything in this game that actually makes it worth your while to not go for dark magic? It just seems like the whole game is designed to make everything harder on you and offer no alternative paths to explore if you want to avoid using unforgivable curses and dark magic talents.

It's not! You have the option to take em or not. People make such a big deal over the
stupidest things.

[Heck]

You can break shields with stupefy and throwing stuff, can also transfigure someone into a bomb and throw it, don't need to use it. If they have DLC planned I bet there will be consequences.

[PaperLiger]

Originally posted by Marcos_DS:

Well, the point of Dark Magic is an easy way to more power - otherwise why would you use it? It's not like you cannot kill someone without Avada Kedavra or torture without Cruciatus, just far more easy and powerful...

this makes a ton of sense

[ODevil]

Originally posted by Silvarsson:

Originally posted by Aetrion:

This game seems to go out of its way to punish you for not going the dark magic route with its mechanics.

The colored shields make it so you can't specialize in any type of spell except unforgivable curses that ignore shields. You always need to keep all colors ready if you want to fight without them.

The talent tree has a whole section just for dark magic, and if you don't want to spec into that there is really no meaningful alternative, you are simply stuck buying all the other talents, whether you care for them or not.

The killing curse is far more powerful and can be used more often than your ancient magic finisher.

Even if you don't want to use unforgivable curses you can make your regular spells inflict curse status to siphon health and inflict bonus damage through dark magic talents, so even a run without the unforgivable curses is easier with dark magic talents.

Is there anything in this game that actually makes it worth your while to not go for dark magic? It just seems like the whole game is designed to make everything harder on you and offer no alternative paths to explore if you want to avoid using unforgivable curses and dark magic talents.

You forget that the dark magic doesn't bring anything, story related.

You've got to face 0 issue for avada kedavraing the entire map. That's a big issue.

The fact that there is no ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ "karma" thing behaviour is also a damn bad mistake.

But yeah. all of the RPG related mechanics are way to basics. Talent tree, as you said, also.
You've got the bare minimum with the talent tree. Can't have specific uprade per spells (Which could allow us to spec into a certain gameplay).

The game is realldy mid tier overall.

There is renown, notoriety and renown in the code though. Seem to have to do something with house points and/or social status or perception. However I don't know if using curses affects these.

[Simdogga]

I mean the achievement for learning all spells comes without learning all the unforgivable curses so you can 100% beat the game without learning or using them all

[Unaimed Player]

It is always harder/more work to be the good guy, than the bad guy.
The dark magic is powerful and tempting, but are you pure enough to not fall for its temptations?

[Cam]

Actually, Speccing fully into the spell, core, room of requirement and 2 points into stealth for your total of 35 points is probably the most op build. There's certain non dark magic spell combos that kill as fast as the unforgiveable curses. Stealth can 1 shot as well, and the room of requirement stuff is flat out broken if used right. Don't make discussion posts about gameplay if you know nothing about it.

[Simdogga]

Originally posted by Cam:

Actually, Speccing fully into the spell, core, room of requirement and 2 points into stealth for your total of 35 points is probably the most op build. There's certain non dark magic spell combos that kill as fast as the unforgiveable curses. Stealth can 1 shot as well, and the room of requirement stuff is flat out broken if used right. Don't make discussion posts about gameplay if you know nothing about it.

100% agree, them cabbages are a joke early on but they deadly af

[Aetrion]

It's not a question of whether or not you can beat the game, I simply find it weird that they made a game where going for dark magic is pure benefit with absolutely no price to pay.

There straight up aren't enough talents for you to even make any build except picking every remaining talent if you're not buying the dark magic ones.

The vaunted ancient magic is a joke compared to the killing curse.

Also there is absolutely nothing stopping you from grabbing all the powerful talents from Room of Requirement and Stealth while still going for dark magic. You don't need to buy all the talents in a tree to access the really strong ones.

[Aetrion]

Originally posted by Sand Guardian:

Yes, you managed to understand the nature of dark magic, it`s easier to be evil then not.

In the short term maybe, but in the long term there should be consequences. This game is designed the way a psychopath thinks. Do the quick, easy, evil thing and there is simply no price to pay down the road.

[Killua]

Highkey i just threw objects at opponents with shields because theres no way i could get it wrong. Tbh i didnt know it was based on a spells color until after i beat the game.