Best Order for Episode 2

[tenbsmith]

I've just started Episode 2 and would like advice on the best order in which to complete the map.

My immediate question is which way should I go after clearing the Lowland Crossroad?
--North through Brellim Pass heading towards Braeyshalum?
--East through Darkmoss Ironwood towards the Granthorn?
-OR-
--South trough the Trade Outpost to River's Edge?

Other comments are welcome. For example, I think I've read it is best to go to Granthorn prior to accepting the Underforge quest.

[En1gma]

I did the Rivers Edge, then went north and did everything there, then did the UF and everything to the south. Very happy with that order, but for another group I might go in a different order... What's your group?

[crimsonshadow]

Definitely Rivers Edge first... After that it's a toss up... I would maybe say go south first, but either way is good... I have done both

[bobc]

My last couple of groups have been spears & hammers so I've headed straight to Brunehorn to rearm & then on to Granthorn for armour. After that its been Talia, the Rivers Edge & then a run through the Braeys lands to Gholla Outlook.

[mataeus]

As I close out E1, this topic becomes of great interest to me. Is there any particular advantage to taking a certain route, e.g. gear useful for other locations?
Conversely, are there any quests I could end up being shut out of or anything like that?
Thank you

[contributor]

You can still access all quests regardless of direction. The biggest influencer is that the best hammers, spears and mage armor are found in Brunehorn and the best armor is found in Granthorn, which is also in Koda territory. The best swords, bows and staves are found in Braeys land.

It's also worth thinking about what type of enemies you're best equipped to deal with. In the Braeys land you fight Orcin, which have high armor and high damage, but appear in smaller groups. In the South you'll fight cultists which are easier to kill but appear in much larger numbers and some of which are very hard to hit. You'll also fight Krete with their long-distance ranged attacks (also found among the cultists). So depending on how your group is developing you might want to take on one type of enemy first. For example, AoE is great in the Underforge, so if you've got well developed AoE coming out of E1 you might want to do that first. If you're just starting on Firestorm and Ranged Onslaught you might wait until they've blossomed a little more to go do the UF. If you're damage output is low at the moment, go south because the cultists die more easily (at least until you get to Forged Spiders and Spider Hosts).

[crimsonking]

I usually start with the storerooms and then river's edge, go the northern route and take out the orcs, move up to northern Bone Pass but leave Gholla for then, then take the southern route down to Granthorn and southern Bone Pass, freeing all river outposts along the way. This gives me access to all shops, allowing the best gear money can buy. Only then I will enter the Underforge. Of course, you could do the upper levels of the Underforge complex earlier to get more cash. The lower levels are forbidden too early. Forged Spiders and Summoning Spiders are just to nasty early on.

I agree with Lurker that the upper Underforge levels are tougher if you lack AoE damage.

[anrdaemon]

I didn't have AoE until late Underforge. It is all a question of picking correct chokepoint.
Then Ethereal Anguish 6 on summoners and the fight is basically over.
However, to begin with the fight, you should remember, that opponents' range is 8 squares.
If you want summoners and other crap to move in, you should fing your chokepoint at least 9 squares away from enemy AND a clear path between you and the enemy crapbelchers, so they can move even if spewing three pests at once.
Note: Chokepoints around the wall aren't quite working. Enemy gets confused and just stay idle on the other side of the wall.

[John Robinson]

My memory is a little hazy but my Teams;
First South - Opens up one side of the river trade route for later quick travel from Granthorn without going back through Darkmoss. Good treasure drops too for clearing out the Krete Chieftains.
Second - Always North towards Braeyshalum for many reasons some spoilers.
Third - East Darkmoss/Ironwood I avoid until my party is stronger. I really hate Krete Archers more than any other monster in the game and I have finished EP-3. (Hope you're proud of yourselves!

Underforge - Two thoughts on this having done it both ways. One complete all the quests you can before going in there so your characters gain more levels to spend Talent points in improving combat effectiveness. Or two, remember the monsters scale with you. If your party already has excellent synergy hit them when their own levels are lower and weaker. Tough decision but I usually don't go in there until I'm "loaded for bear".

[slayernz]

The thing that helped me with the underforge was the book of sustainment. You only get to buy that in Gholla Outlook. It is like the incarntation of sustainment (increases duration of buffs for +4-6 turns), but for the whole party. So convenient when running in a mad panic when something with a very large hammer comes charging at you.

As such, I'd go South, then North, then finally East.

[fallen]

There seems to be a pretty good pattern - head into Braeys lands, choose whether or not to risk Gholla Outlook early, and then to Brunehorn and the Underforge.

[John Robinson]

slayernz Totally on the button! I forgot the scrolls of Sustainment. Buy all you can find, get plenty of tombs of sustainment whenever you can they really helped me win the tough battles.

[anrdaemon]

I almost burned my pile of scrolls in the final battle of the Underforge. Have like 4 or so left out of ~15 I started with.

[slayernz]

I own 50x Tomes of Sustainment now (for one particular party that is) ... after the underforge encounter, they walked aaaallll the way back to Gholla Outlook to buy out the store

[anrdaemon]

I feel special… Just crawled back up from underforge and searching the way to Brayes family lands.