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[hemtae]

It really seems like both perception and dex need to be 7 to get decent returns out of them. Anything lower and you're missing dialogue options. I'm also finding constitution to be less than useful, though I've found a few checks for it.

Ganezzar

Spoiler

I really wonder what the outcome of the intelligence+constitution check for the ritual in Meru's basement is.

 

[Volodja]

Ganezzar

Spoiler

I really wonder what the outcome of the intelligence+constitution check for the ritual in Meru's basement is.

Spoiler

You mean the sort of throne?
If I remember correctly it's just some visions, nothing special.

What happens when you fail it?

 

[hemtae]

Spoiler

You mean the sort of throne?
If I remember correctly it's just some visions, nothing special.

What happens when you fail it?

Spoiler

 

[Conezays]

Decided to bite and grabbed this earlier. Managed to get to the 2nd city after a couple hours and enjoying it quite a bit so far. No major gripes thus far besides a wish for font sizes; I'm playing at a lower resolution to deal with it. Spoiler question regarding a quest at the end of the first city...

Spoiler

how much lore do you need to interact with the machine? I had enough lore to start it up, and then used crafting to read further, but now need higher than (6?) Lore to proceed further. It's the last thing bugging me before moving onto the next city but unsure if I want to pump in all current/future stats into lore just to see it.

 

[Steel]

Decided to bite and grabbed this earlier. Managed to get to the 2nd city after a couple hours and enjoying it quite a bit so far. No major gripes thus far besides a wish for font sizes; I'm playing at a lower resolution to deal with it. Spoiler question regarding a quest at the end of the first city...

Spoiler

how much lore do you need to interact with the machine? I had enough lore to start it up, and then used crafting to read further, but now need higher than (6?) Lore to proceed further. It's the last thing bugging me before moving onto the next city but unsure if I want to pump in all current/future stats into lore just to see it.

(Vague answer)

Spoiler

Even if you beat that last lore check you'd need something else. If you really want to know what the machine is, try the Praetor route.

 

[hemtae]

Update 2 Changelog

Improvements:

- Added a conversation with a loremaster in Ganezzar tavern.
- Added conversation with Darista after AG questline is finished by siding with Hamza.
- Continued Basil's questline, with extra fights and monetary rewards.
- Added 3 contenders for the arena championship.
- Added more training opportunities, especially when part of a faction.
- Added a capes trader in Maadoran.
- Added open hoods to several NPCs (like Varro).
- Right click on slot selects weapon.

Fixes:

- Fixed random crash on level switch after extended play.
- Fixed building collision on Maadoran slums.
- Fixed SP exploit from fixing laser generators in HGT.
- Fixed SP exploit with Livia if you first talk to her during TG3.
- Fixed issue with Old Teron palace conversation triggering on MG Teron.
- Fixed issue with "half-blocks" still getting secondary effects, like arm injury.
- Fixed issue with looping troops training in IG6 under certain conditions.
- Fixed issue with gem quest and fighting solution.
- Fixed camera issue when talking with Hagnon's replacement in Ganezzar throne room.
- Fixed issue with cellular regeneration triggering Carrinas temple ending.
- Fixed issue with temple elevator not working when sent to see the lords under some conditions.
- Fixed several narrative inconsistencies created by bugs.
- Fixed issue with inferiae when returning via hole when the demon is alive.
- Fixed issue with passability in Library chamber.

Changes:

- Agatai and Lucius training increase CS skill value if under 6, else +10 training rating.
- If you fail sneak check during Mercato's ambush, you still get the other options instead of fighting.
- Added "Nothing personal, just business" when killing Darista for Lorenza.
- Monastery elder has lockbox key, as intended.
- Made Quintus Brothel bigger.
- Increased Arena monetary rewards.
- Slightly reduced Saross prospector combat abilities.
- Rebalanced speech checks in TG questline, generally lower, bigger influence of streetwise.
- Increased size of arena in Caer-Tor, rebalanced fight against barbarians.
- Tweaked traders inventories.
- Slightly increase combat SP for several fights.
- Tweaks to AG4: charisma + impersonate checks for sum, beggar path available without failing impersonate check.
- Increased Barbari fight difficulty (arena).
- Gave a dagger to Gaelius.

Combat Balance:

- Poison only applies when damage is dealt (you don't lose the strike).
- Bolas properly disable defensive skills.
- Weak poison no longer overrides stronger poison.
- Axe savage blow is 25% bonus (from 30%).
- Improved bash cs chance, removed power bash.

 

[Durante]

The second update seems to have completely fixed my crashing issues, which made it easier for me to get immersed into the game again. I played for about 5 hours or so, explored a lot of ruins, and convinced a lot of people that I'm their best friend / prophet / worst nightmare respectively.

The lore manages to stay intriguing even after getting a better picture of things.

 

[More_Badass]

So the whole game has this level of depth?

Within minutes of starting the game, my smooth-talking merchant had used his Perception, Intelligence, and Charisma statistics, along with his Persuasion, Trading, and Streetwise skills, to weave elaborate plots that entangled almost every NPC and faction in town. To solve one quest, I tracked down a supplier who was provisioning an enemy outpost and bluffed him into agreeing to let me poison the wine he was delivering; shamed an alchemist into furnishing me with a powerful toxin and then haggled the price down to where I could afford it; poisoned the outpost guards; identified and exploited a bandit captain’s pride and greed to persuade him to attack the outpost; persuaded the local lord’s majordomo to finance that attack; and then—when all was said and done—traipsed into the outpost amid the carnage that had unfolded, with both the captain and the majordomo grateful for my assistance in spilling their blood and treasure.

 

[Labadal]

So the whole game has this level of depth?

It does, yes. You need several playthroughs to see everything. My first run was without any fights. I am planning to do a run where I can kill everyone. I plan to become a God in another run. There are lots of content that you can't really do if you focus on certain things while other things become easier. The whole point of the game is for it to be replayed.

I was double crossing people left and right and then I rejoined some of them and betrayed them one more time.

This achievement says it all:

Once a Traitor…
You have a dangerous habit of betraying your masters.

It might seem a bit hyperbolic, but in turns of actually role playing, this is one of the better rpgs in years.

 

[Labadal]

New (beta) update.
I will need to do a couple of runs next year.

 

[hemtae]

Changelog for the new patch

Improvements

- You can now buy barbari and numeri armors and helmets schematics in the exotic emporium.
- Expanded the temple interior, with new interactions needed to reach the chamber.
- Added ambushes for extremely low reputation with factions.
- Added Cyrus in the MDN AG building, with training and a small insight on his relationship with the guild.
- Improved endings flow.
- Added a new ending sequence for "Chosen One" characters.
- Improved engine performance and stability.

Fixes:

- Fixed infinite training from CT trainers.
- Widowmaker has proper portrait.
- Fixed description of axe and critical strike skills.
- Fixed issues with reporting to Senna after betraying Glabrio in TG9.
- Fixed issue with men ending playing when killed Agathoth for Balzaar using the reactor.
- Fixed issue with not being able to leave Al-Akia if you destroyed Maadoran.
- Fixed issue with Darista not giving SP after AG9.
- Fixed passability in temple exterior.
- Fixed issue when returning to Inferiae and Azra speaking from beyond the grave.
- Fixed lack of combat SP in TG ambush fight.
- Fixed Zamedi demon not leaving the tower when you gave him the ring and escaped.
- Fixed issue with Cyrus not leaving after you betray Levir to Gaelius, allowing you to do TG6 after working with Gaelius.
- Fixed several inconsistencies regarding mentions to dead people.
- Added some missing SP.
- You no longer get the "arena champion" ending after the temple if Maadoran was destroyed.
- Basil and arena challengers notifications no longer appear if Maadoran was destroyed.

Changes:

- Ganezzar arena heals stats as well.
- You can now charge the respirators via interaction.
- You can reinforce barbari and numeri armors.
- Acid, liquid fire and bomb prices lower.
- Tweaked hardened leather icon shape.
- Added combat SP for killing Zamedi Guardian.
- Increased The Arch event SP.

Combat Balance:

- Lowered max damage of bombs.
- Agathoth body DR +1, shield DR -2 (8/8 now, 7/10 before).
- Agathoth strength reduced by 1.
- Agathoth hand attack damage reduced a bit, increased CS chance by 10.
- Tweaked arena challengers.
- Decreased dodge CA passive chance, increased block full block chance.
- Lowered spears hardness, increased other bonuses (THC/Passive).
- Reduced DR of leather armors, increased hardness.
- Tweaked stats of metal armors.
- Improved stats and equipment of Ganezzar arena characters.

 

[NoPiece]

Age of Decadence is 40% off on Steam, that's the lowest price so far.

 

[Labadal]

It's also a steal. Game was worth every penny at full price.

 

[Lashley]

Very tempted by the sale.

Can I go through this without fighting once?

 

[hemtae]

Very tempted by the sale.

Can I go through this without fighting once?

Yes. But not with some backgrounds.

 

[Labadal]

Very tempted by the sale.

Can I go through this without fighting once?

That's what I did on my first run.

 

[Tizoc]

So if I want my character to be more versed in being able to TALK their way out of battles, how should I distribute points? TO BE on the safe side what's a good offensive points distribution too?

 

[PBalfredo]

So I downloaded this today and rolled up a merchant with high persuasion. Started the side-quest to ruin the guy in the Imperial Guard. Tried to put him in debt with gambling, that didn't work. Tried to persuade him to help me out, went through several successful checks, but then failed one and that path closed off. Tried to get the thieve's guild guy to help, but he didn't like what I had to say, my persuade check failed again. Combat kicked off but he one-shotted me on his first turn before I could do anything. Is this indicative of how the game normally goes? I'm fine with an RPG where I'm not a superhero, but I was hoping there would at least be multiple ways I could cleverly use my character's skills to obtain success. Instead it felt like I was just clicking through the handful of options given to me, exhausting them one by one, totally reliant on rolls in the background, of which one fail could undo past successes. Extra irritating because I felt these checks should have been right in my character's wheelhouse, but I guess not.

Is this normal for AoD, or did I just get real unlucky? Normally I'd see for myself, but I'm near the limit to get a Steam refund and I still have tons of Fire Emblem calling my name.

 

[Dennis]

Bought for -40% off on Steam.

Thanks for the heads up.

 

[Lashley]

Yes. But not with some backgrounds.

That's what I did on my first run.

Buying now.

 

[ilikeme]

I played the Demo released a few years back and had a good time. Getting back into it now.

Chose a Praetor and doing the good work for House Daratan and our homeboy Antidas.

I'm a having a good time trying my best to plot the demise of people and watching out for trouble and battles. I'll not get my hands dirty in that way.

Up to Ganezzar right now.

Spoiler

Expelled from Maadoran. Gaelius and Serenas dead.

The fun thing is I'm already planning my next playthrough. Probably won't happen until christmas or next summer, but seeing all the possible choices I could make is super neat. I want to try my hand at the battle system next time.

Update: Finished the game as Daratan Praetor. Had a blast. Restarted with Thief doing thief stuff. Explored two different paths to Maadoran. Partook in battles and didn't die horribly.

 

[NoblesseOblige]

Finally got around to playing this game. I see the OT isn't very lively... and after the 12 hours I've put in I can see why. The game does a terrible job of preparing you for it. Like I get it's supposed to be tough, but there's challenging, then there's this. For example in my latest attempt I have tried going a pure fighter build because apparently going hybrid your first run is a fool's errand.

So on this fresh character I bump max strength and constituion, average dexterity and perception, and sacrificed intellegence and charisma to the lowest possible. Made my way through the intro quests or whatever they're called, and they were easy-peasy. Wandered around a bit and found the Imperial Guard and decided it fit this character so I joined it. They seemed completely fine allowing some nobody off the street join so imagine my surprise when it launches you into a fight against 5 enemies, with just yourself and 2 ill-equipped other nobodies. Needless to say I've wasted the last hour, so I go to search for advice...

First off, searching for advice for this game is difficult. It doesn't seem to have much discussion surrounding it (evident by this rather dead OT) but also the game itself makes it difficult to search for specifics. When I do finally find advice for this particular fight it is from a developer of the game, which I thought would be pretty helpful. Boy was I mistaken. Their advice is literally to 'restart and make a new character'. That's not really an adequate solution in my opinion. To me a good game, no matter its difficulty, wouldn't just allow you to launch into an unwinnable fight where the only solution is to restart.

Had I designed the game I would have not allowed the player to access that particular quest/fight until they had somehow proven themselves to the Imperial Guard that they were worthy material. That would have served as a check to respect the player's time and not just force them to start over. Either there could have a series of trials that allow you to build up for a battle, or the Guard just ignores you until you've built something of a body count and reputation.

Anyway... Guess that turned into a bit of a rant. One that will probably not seen by many, because again, nobody seems to be talking about this game. I still plan to play it, but apparently playing it means either needing a guide to find which fights are currently impossible to win, or just huge amounts of trial and error which isn't my definition of a good time. Hopefully it improves.

 

[Labadal]

You could cheat by using the console. Not optimal, but it's possible if you just want to get that section over with.

 

[peakish]

Finally got around to playing this game. I see the OT isn't very lively... and after the 12 hours I've put in I can see why. The game does a terrible job of preparing you for it. Like I get it's supposed to be tough, but there's challenging, then there's this. For example in my latest attempt I have tried going a pure fighter build because apparently going hybrid your first run is a fool's errand.

So on this fresh character I bump max strength and constituion, average dexterity and perception, and sacrificed intellegence and charisma to the lowest possible. Made my way through the intro quests or whatever they're called, and they were easy-peasy. Wandered around a bit and found the Imperial Guard and decided it fit this character so I joined it. They seemed completely fine allowing some nobody off the street join so imagine my surprise when it launches you into a fight against 5 enemies, with just yourself and 2 ill-equipped other nobodies. Needless to say I've wasted the last hour, so I go to search for advice...

First off, searching for advice for this game is difficult. It doesn't seem to have much discussion surrounding it (evident by this rather dead OT) but also the game itself makes it difficult to search for specifics. When I do finally find advice for this particular fight it is from a developer of the game, which I thought would be pretty helpful. Boy was I mistaken. Their advice is literally to 'restart and make a new character'. That's not really an adequate solution in my opinion. To me a good game, no matter its difficulty, wouldn't just allow you to launch into an unwinnable fight where the only solution is to restart.

Had I designed the game I would have not allowed the player to access that particular quest/fight until they had somehow proven themselves to the Imperial Guard that they were worthy material. That would have served as a check to respect the player's time and not just force them to start over. Either there could have a series of trials that allow you to build up for a battle, or the Guard just ignores you until you've built something of a body count and reputation.

Anyway... Guess that turned into a bit of a rant. One that will probably not seen by many, because again, nobody seems to be talking about this game. I still plan to play it, but apparently playing it means either needing a guide to find which fights are currently impossible to win, or just huge amounts of trial and error which isn't my definition of a good time. Hopefully it improves.

Try finding some easier quests and return after getting stronger. I agree that the game can shove you off the deep end without warning (although I don't think it's necessarily bad) but just save before heading into unknown situations.

 

[Nohar]

Hum. Opinions seem to be mixed about this game. I'd like to try it once it is on sales, but for every excited comment I read about it there is a disappointed comment from someone else pointing out the game's flaws (as seen on this very page).

Really, I'm conflicted. Also, the game's washed out colors are not my cup of tea (I'm not saying I want it to look like Whimsyshire in Diablo 3, just that it kinda looks dull), and I'm afraid the game will be a little slow-paced.

 

[bati]

Jesus this game is so good. I'm currently in the third city with my assassin character and I love it. I'm barely holding myself back from rerolling to a lore heavy build because I'm so interested in what those machines do.

Speaking of which, are there any good 'meta' builds available for the most recent game version? I'd love to play a character that's capable in combat and can still uncover most of the game mysteries. I was thinking of going with a block spear build but I'm not sure about stat distribution - I guess 8 per and 8 int is recommended, maybe 5 str, 5-6 con - but the rest?

 

[danthefan]

This is 75% off on Steam at the moment.

 

[bati]

I highly recommend it, even at base price. Finished the game like 6 or 7 times with various characters. Excellent balance all around and the CYOA format makes the game incredibly satisfying to play, even for non-combat characters.