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Lurker

contributor , you are definitely a forum VIP. I've been dying to see the Episode 4 map, you sure got it out fast. Big +1

Happy Easter everybody. Did Cory Trese put on his bunny suit again this year, hopping happily around his computers?

I haven't read all 10 pages of this thread yet.

During a Solar War, and if ship morale falls too low, one of your crew from an opposing faction could try and sabotage the ship.  Such as shutting down the engines while being pursued by one of his home faction ships.

fallen,  Cory Trese

A. Armor and Rsisitance Curses. I am confused, is this a different bug fix? For a long time the last paragraph of Combat Mechanics states:
  
Over-Cursing Dice Pools
All dice pools are individual and unlinked. Cursing a pool, such as Parry, until it has a negative number of dice always results in zero successes, but has no effect on other dice pools. Therefore, it is possible to "over Curse" an enemy, where you are expending spirit points on Cursing and gaining no benefit - for example, if you stacked -Dodge curses on a Ratkin until it had -5 Dodge, you'd see as much benefit as you would if you'd left it at 0 Dodge.
This includes Armor and Resistance, which cannot be taken below 0.
Read more: startradersrpg.proboards.com/thread/6711/combat-mechanics#ixzz43fyBybH7

Here is what I could find this morning.
Punishing Blades(10) + Choking Ash(10) equals a total of -68 Armor.  Helps with a high level Warlord but will not take them close to zero.
Holy Strickening(10)   + Energy Storm(10) equals -38 Resistance and an extra -28 Lightning resistance.  Most  Volpa shaman or Ugo Shaman will have plenty more left over.
What are the odds of getting 10 ranks in each of these to stack before the end of Episode 1 ?


B.  +HP Buff Becomes More Auto.  Sounds good to me.

C.  Vraes and Daggers.  I agree, what Outlander would march to battle using a dagger with Phalanx Shield(10) and heavy armor?  If he uses 1AP + 2AP blade how does that affect %Critical.

D.  Critical Damage Multiplier by AP.
This is where I dig my heels in, and throw the red flag for referee review.  The 1 AP weapon calculation is too low and the 4 AP too high.  Please leave the 1 AP calculation alone.  Rolling D3 for 200% 250% or 300%.  Dropping it to 150% to 200% unfairly penalizes thrown weapons, and even wanting to play Kincaid or Selen becomes depressing.  The talents available to Kincaid and Selen are designed to encourage players to use Critical percent attacks.  Dropping the damage they can do makes them lackluster defensive characters instead of the exciting offensive characters they are today.  EP4 is the first time I ever got Selen to level(50). By then she was getting 52% Criticals by combining Dance of Shadows(10), Frenzied Blows(10) zero punishing blades and every piece of equipment I could find, with critical including a couple of rare loot drops.  I sacrificed any piece of equipment that could add more armor, dodge, parry, resistance, accuracy and damage in order to raise the critical hit percentage.  This doesn't happen overnight it takes allot of careful planning and sacrifice.  I don't care what the math says when fighting high level monsters dual wielding  I can get 48 or 70 points of damage three times in a row and then kill a bowrat with 300 points of damage.  When I really, really need to finish off a wolf lord, or Volpa shaman before he can cast a horrible curse my 52% Critical is often absent.  When the critical arrives on a hard target for max damage that's a real fist pump moment.  At level(49) Kincaid is also cramming on all the crit gear he can carry and is up to 33%.


 If you didn't want Selen and Kincaid to use Critical hits why give them two talents that add up to a base of 31% Critical for Selen and for Kincaid a base 16% with possible 28% in the first place? Everybody take an honest look at your favorite characters.  Each of them have a least one devastating talent that other people could argue was overpowered.  Isn't that the point?  Higher level monsters can take a real beating and attack in higher numbers.  As far as 3 AP and 4 AP weapons go the cap should be 400% not 450, these weapons do massive base damage compared to any other weapons, They can already get one hit kills without ridiculously high critical hit percentages.  The new strength bonus makes them even deadlier.  Selen and Kincaid seem pretty balanced compared the damage and Critical % Tamilin can do from a range of 6 or higher.

Critical hits are for finesse Dexterity based Characters Tamilin, Selen and Kincaid not Strength melee fighters.  Throwing a low damage dagger into an eyeball that punches through the back of the head is a very high damage critical hit.  Finding a seam in plate armor tickling the heart under the ribs takes allot of finesse and  dexterity,  lopping off a head doesn't need to be critical it already is.  

In Conclusion:   (strong language kiddies).  Dropping Kincaid, Selen and Tamilin from 200 to 300% down to 150% to 200% for 1 AP blades and thrown weapons pisses me off.  The idea tears the heart out of these three characters along with my own.  If it goes in, I'll be less eager to play, in fact I'll feel defeated before I even start playing a new team, what's the use if they can't get the job done?  

fallen

During the Tevensa, Silver Werewolf episode.  When Kincaid realizes the wolf is in fact a man named Wyatt who has been cursed by Tevensa.  He makes a comment that makes me think he is bitterly aware of having been cursed in the past, or someone he cares about having been cursed.

I'm very interested to see where this mystery might lead.

fallen

1. Did you play it? Did you like it?
Finished it on Thursday around 5 a.m. my eyes are still burning. I can't wait to play it again, it's like a new ride at Disneyland.  The new adventures really grabbed my heart strings.  Some of the most artistic beauty to date I found in Ellista's realm.  The iron guardians were outstanding!  What a surprise it was, that at it's death a creature could cast a devastating curse on any adjacent party member. It became imperative to cast cleansing before another ranged Unholy Damage attack could reach them.  Bless the "All Coders" who long ago provided Incantation of Cleansing scrolls.

New treasure drops!!  In past games, each of my characters reach a balance of effective equipment and then I don't find anything significantly better to swap in.  In this version I'm now finding equipment that really is just too good not to try out.  Will my accuracy bonus drop too much because I'm swapping in a high critical/damage item?  For the first time I can see how to become a heavy elemental damage character as there is much more equipment to go all fire, or all lightning etc.  Resistance; Very big improvement here some equipment comes with a base +20 resistance, I even found one with +40 resistance, this makes a great combo with Kyera's piety ward.  You can even purchase +60 armor high +SP mage robes now.  Here are a few of my favorite new items.  Ring +30 damage +6 Parry.  Boots +8 Accuracy +12 damage.  Pendant of Scrying 260 SP, +4% Critical, +12 SP drain.  A wide range of +1 and +2 MP items.  Wise Blood Ring 10% Critical, +5 Parry, +5 Dodge, +10 Stealth, +10 Security.  Light armor +78, 2% Critical.  For me the game really starts when Kincaid and Selen get a set of the Leather Pauldron Armor,  I just suffer until we find some or can purchase something with +70 but not anywhere as good as a loot drop.  How about a ring that adds +16 damage, 10% Critical,  and  +4 Accuracy.  The list goes on and on.  Thanks Andrew and Cory for adding the terrific new items, really makes me think outside my comfort zone.
 
2. Did the chunk size feel good? It was 11 dungeons, I am planning the next one to be 11 atm. Feedback welcome.
Chunk size was perfect.  Not only are there more dungeons but they are Huge!  Fighting my way out of CoD through the Sedollan fortress ruins was allot of fun.  However there is a particular nasty spot in a wide open area were you get ambushed by 5 ballista in a crossfire each supported by archers, infantry and spell casters.  A truly devious tactical design worthy of Rabiel himself.  Without naming names, I suspect allot of people with unhinged minds, have first names that start with a capital "C".  I thought we could easily handle the Weaver until the steel gates slammed behind us, thank goodness it  didn't come down off that web or it would have been hopeless.  The Weaver's melee bite never misses and does massive damage, nice trick about how some of it's hatch-lings hide under it's legs. I almost reported a bug because some of my team stopped launching attacks until I realized you have to aim at the head. My ranged casters were kept on the run to get away from the spiders and I had to split my fighters to attack those big balls of snot that kept hatching them.  The balance in the Weaver's chamber is tough enough.  There is a threshold when you shouldn't call something challenging when it is simply frustratingly impossible.  This wasn't.  It was tough but fair, please don't make it anymore "Challenging" with additional curses or evil tweaks.  I enjoyed finally seeing all the new monsters I saw on Patreon in action.  The dialog and cut-scenes in Freeport are particularly entertaining, loving the Balgair dialog Thanks!  

3. Any new story theories? To me, it felt good to be wrapping up storylines started as far back as Episode 1, and starting to bring all the threads back together into one.
I can see several threads coming together but am drawing a blank on episode 1, probably because it's been awhile and I've switched to Boost-in.  Could you give one descriptive clue about an Episode 1 thread to jar my memory?  I have plenty of new story theories and have expressed some of them in the "God's we haven't met" section found below.
 
4. How was the difficulty -- to easy, too hard, just right? Please mention the difficulty are you playing on.
Just Right!  I was playing Boost-in on Easy difficulty.  It helps me understand the underlying mechanics and saves allot of time.  I'm about to publish my new team and think it can stand up to any difficulty, it just would take longer to win.  It was so cool to get a character up to level(51) for the first time, and see how topping out some talents worked together alone and as a team.  There are lots of new monster types and it's allot of fun to see what different tactics/builds succeed or fail against them.  Very clever distinctive monsters no wash/rinse repeat here.

The Gods and Who is the Crone?
The Gods have all been damaged mentally, physically or both, by the Shattering.  Would the Darkborn have gone through with their plans if they knew it would turn them all into mere mortals?     

Gods we have met:
- 2nd Daughter - Ellista - thoughtful , meditative, self-righteous, Seer-born.  
Ellista has become cruel, violent and paranoid.  Taking the Druid's eyes to partially restore her Seer ability. Although she escaped my party longs for the next encounter.  We want her head on a pike!  We are the Harbingers and judge her guilty.

- 3rd Daughter - Tevensa - Wild, green, flighty, Season Rider, Spring Tide.  
She once used the Druids to lead mankind to safety in the Underdeep during the shattering.  She is no longer one with creation but has twisted it to create the unnatural Volpa, much like a Frankenstein, she tore parts from normal creatures and reassembled them to create a new race  intent on destroying all humanity, men, women, and children.  We executed her.  Wyatt got what he deserved and his Granthorn Knight daughter knew what she was getting into.

- 4th Son - Vurnak - builder, forger, greedy.  The Horde master, Smith Lord.
Vurnak was not a Darkborn.  The shattering drove him completely insane.  The great smith who once forged Cortias's armor for the protection of the All Father.  If his father had not been so weak, the shattering would never have happened.  He vowed to rebuild a perfect order where such a disaster could never happen again.  Using the forces of the earth itself he reforged himself to recapture his immortality.  Then he set out to reshape all creation into horrible human hybrids, fanatically devoted to him with one goal, to convert or kill all people. After an epic battle with this once trusted son, we put him down like the rabid beast he had become.

- 6th Daughter - Evesse - beauty, scheming, seduction, desire, true love, Night Mistress.
She was Darkborn and driven by vanity to preserve her beauty, seeks help from the Seer Lords to regain her immortality.  It is not known what her true end game is.  But turning Vlotgar into the Pale-Walker cannot be a good thing.  She has already caused great suffering, and her groveling before the Lords of the city of the dead.  Once cornered we will offer her soul to Ryethin.

-7th Son - Rabiel- whispers, lies, chance, chaos, riddles, The Trickster.
Of all the Darkborn he has stayed true to his nature. An evil coward, thirsty for power and in love with himself.  The co-architect of the shattering.  There can be only one solution,  may it be slow and painful!

-8th Son - Cortias - family, defender, warrior, Shield-Bearer, Home Guard. 
Such suffering.  Tormented by self loathing for failing to come to the All Father's rescue in time to stop the shattering.  He is a tragic hero.  He demanded one last trial by combat to prove our worth and ability to set things right in the Third Age.  Out of all the episodes in the entire game this encounter, really got me emotionally involved.  I continue to feel saddened by his loss

-9th Son - Hagathrun - City stability, order, rigid, Stern Judge, Law Maker.
He was taken completely by surprise by the shattering. Of all the fallen Gods I have the utmost respect for Hagathrun.  Having become mortal he knows his time is near the end.  He used his remaining power to create one last bastion against evil at Gholla Outlook.  As a mortal he fell in love, and now his son and grandson will carry on his legacy while his shadow awaits his final fade in the temple.  We will always come when Hagathrun's son the Baron Tazzar needs help..  We owe our very lives to his grandson Nikolai, rescuing us from the curse of eternal death and pain.

-10th Daughter - Ryethin - We are her chosen.  Selen has an uncanny way of knowing when she is nearby, and what Ryethin is thinking.  All of us have called upon, and received Ryethin's aid when we needed it the most.  But Selen's call is music played by a devoted heart.  What use will Ryethin have for the Chosen after the City of the Dead has fallen?  Ryethin has been badly injured as consort can Death restore her? Will the Chosen be given a quest that will heal her? The loss of Cortias was bad enough, but to me, losing Ryethin would feel far worse

Gods we have not met: 
-1st Son - Wiegarn - pride, power, leadership, perseverance First-Born
The Children of the All Father usurped and drove away the old Gods such as the Weaver.  Wiegarn the first of the Darkborn.  He decided it was now time to drive out his father and take his rightful place as the new King of the Gods.  To make sure his power would never be challenged, it was not enough to drive out his father, he plotted and succeeded in murdering him with the help of the other Darkborn.  He bore no love for man and his power and leadership have made the Orcin call him God.  They show their love by slaughter, cruel torture and destruction.   Meeting Wiegarn will be an apocalyptic battle that will decide the future of the Underdeep.  We may not survive but the sacrifice will be worth it if he can be killed.  In the power vacuum will we have to defeat the resurgence of the re-awakened old Gods?  The Weaver is spinning again, what other horrors await from the dawn of time.

-5th Daughter - Cassandra - bravery, strength, sacrifice, Battle Mistress.
What a tragedy, at the moment Ravenna could have saved the All Father.  When Cassandra arrived, Rabiel was able to ignite their jealousy born from endless years of competing for their father's affection.  Ravenna could no longer stand Cassandra's arrogant bullying.  How could Ravenna's father doubt her ability to save him, was he trying to protect her from harm?.  The rage boiled over and was redirected away from the All Father's true enemies then unleashed upon her older sister.  Where is Cassandra now?  Did Ravenna kill her?  Has she become a shade like Hagathrun?  As a mortal has she lost her strength, her bravery lost in despair and nothing left to sacrifice herself for?  If Fyona cries out for help will she once more reveal the power of the Battle Mistress? 

-11th Son - Logar - lost, forsaken, explorer, hermit, The Wanderer, Lord of Sorrow.
We have found no sign of him.  What harm could the shattering do to one born in sorrow?  Where would he go?  Is he trapped forever in the City of the Dead, or wondering alone in the desolate salt flats near Freeport?  Has he divorced himself from all creation and roams the high mountains of upper Kallas?  No longer immortal does he feel death will finally end his suffering, will he welcome the Chosen with open arms?

12th- Daughter - Myshana - healer, care-giver, lover, The Saint, White Mother.
We imagine, the Goddess who founded the sisterhood of healers like Kyera  once traveled freely from town to town ministering to sick of body and soul.  The shattering may have destroyed her dream of peace and happiness for mankind.  Her mortal age, a heavy burden, the once beloved Goddess now bears the title "The Crone".  Freeport appears to have no Baron.  Perhaps the Historian acts as Reeve.  Myshana lives alone in what was once a temple rebuilt into a walled fortress, cut off and safe in her solitude.  We were turned away at the gates by common guardsmen, why were we not greeted by a knight or high official? 

-13th Daughter - Ravenna - loyalty, protector rage violence, Wolf-Daughter, the Hateful One.
Of all his children the youngest was the most devoted.  Although Darkborn her father doted on her, only he could see the good in her.  Perhaps jealousy more than anything else made her an object of derision by the other children except Cortais her much loved older brother.  When she found out her father was fighting for his life, she rushed to his aid, ready to destroy anyone or shatter all creation to save him.  Did she ever learn of Rabiel and Wiegarn's treachery?  Has she been lost forever to her dark rage?  Has she learned from her terrible mistake and wolf like seeks the sent of her prey?  Will she finally have her revenge on Rabiel and Wiegarn?  When she meets the Chosen will she realize they can aid her in the hunt, or see them as thieves of her treasured revenge?