If this game didn't have the combat-only plot-centric missions, it'd probably be my favorite game of all time.
As is, it's like 90% awesome, 10% "Augh, what the fuck, fuck this shit"
Actually, I can also apply this exact same criticism to Troika's other big game, Arcanum.
"Here's an introduction to the world, where you're thrust into the middle of a situation you barely understand. Mystery! Danger! It's awesome! Now, here's a city where you see all the different factions and forces, witnessing how they interact with each other and how their ideologies conflict. And it's awesome! Then we show you each and every faction and element in depth, individually, and it's not nearly as interesting as when everything was mingled together and you had genuine choice. And now here's a section where all you can possibly do is fight your way out, even though we tricked you into thinking you could talk and sneak your way through anything. And now here's a game-crippling bug that will also fuck your saves."
Don't get me wrong, I fucking love both games. But it's frustrating how much squandered potential they both had.
Did you ever read the commentary by the guy who does fan patches for Arcanum?
He basically said how depressing it is to make the patches since there are entire sections of the game that were unfinished and still in the code.
But yeah, Troika's games in general leave me with that feeling. Temple of Elemental Evil? Probably the best implementation of D&D combat I've ever seen, but it is buggy as shit.
It would've been the first source game to be released if not for valve.
It was released on the exact same day as Half-life 2.
It was "ready" (and I use that term a bit loosely) for a better part of a year before HL2 was released. The only reason it wasn't was because HL2 was supposed to be the flagship game.
I guess it's only in the fan patches, because that character would never give you her sword so it sounds like exactly the kind of retarded shit those patches put in.
I guess it's only in the fan patches, because that character would never give you her sword so it sounds like exactly the kind of retarded shit those patches put in.
I dunno, you do kind of help her complete the most important goal of her entire life.
I don't remember that character so i can be wrong, but in the tabletop games you have these asian vampire-and-other-supernatural-thing hunters that combine "Chi" type martial arts magic and cybernetic enhancements. Probably a nod to that.
From a wiki
Demon Hunter X depicted the 'mortal' hunters of Asia.
One group is called the Shih, and has rigerously trained their minds and bodies to do hand to hand battle with the supernatural, and wield Faith based powers beyond those of most Sorcerers or Psychics.
Strike Force Zero is a government sponsered agency that gets toys from the technocracy to better fight such creatures.
Included are excellent rules for Humanity's use of Virtues in the Terror and Horror section, as well as a method of using Chi that could easily be adapted for use with Sorcerers.
I guess it's only in the fan patches, because that character would never give you her sword so it sounds like exactly the kind of retarded shit those patches put in.
I dunno, you do kind of help her complete the most important goal of her entire life.
Also why does she have a robot arm?
I think that is just wearing armor pieces over her jacket.
Just_Bri_Thanks on
We are the skeletons in our closets.
We are the monsters under our beds.
I guess it's only in the fan patches, because that character would never give you her sword so it sounds like exactly the kind of retarded shit those patches put in.
I dunno, you do kind of help her complete the most important goal of her entire life.
No, you help her kill one demon. She's a demon hunter. It's what she does. She specifically tells you that there's no way she's giving you that sword.
I guess it's only in the fan patches, because that character would never give you her sword so it sounds like exactly the kind of retarded shit those patches put in.
I dunno, you do kind of help her complete the most important goal of her entire life.
No, you help her kill one demon. She's a demon hunter. It's what she does. She specifically tells you that there's no way she's giving you that sword.
Yeah but this is the same demon that killed her master. So...
Metzger Meister on
0
PharezonStruggle is an illusion.Victory is in the Qun.Registered Userregular
I guess it's only in the fan patches, because that character would never give you her sword so it sounds like exactly the kind of retarded shit those patches put in.
I dunno, you do kind of help her complete the most important goal of her entire life.
No, you help her kill one demon. She's a demon hunter. It's what she does. She specifically tells you that there's no way she's giving you that sword.
Yeah but this is the same demon that killed her master. So...
She's still going to be hunting demons afterwards.
I guess it's only in the fan patches, because that character would never give you her sword so it sounds like exactly the kind of retarded shit those patches put in.
I dunno, you do kind of help her complete the most important goal of her entire life.
No, you help her kill one demon. She's a demon hunter. It's what she does. She specifically tells you that there's no way she's giving you that sword.
Yeah but this is the same demon that killed her master. So...
She's still going to be hunting demons afterwards.
It seems like this game really does have no qualms about fucking players over who don't have the proper skills for certain areas. Before anyone gets on my case for wanting games 'dumbed down' or whatever people say, this isn't a criticism - in fact, I actually like it.
It's just weird that, for instance, it seems to be impossible for me to get Mercurio the morphine. My girlfriend, playing a female Toreador, couldn't even get past the nurse and definitely doesn't possess the skills to get to the morphine. I, a male Tremere, was able to Dominate my way past the nurse, but I have shit for lockpick skill and even Blood Buff isn't enough to get me to the morphine. I haven't found a way to it that doesn't involve lockpicking yet.
Are all the clans this way, or are do some have some means of getting their skills higher faster? Right now, I have Thaumaturgy and Domination at two - should I stop raising those and focus on Persuade, Hacking, Lockpicking, etc?
Charles Kinbote on
0
cj iwakuraThe Rhythm RegentThe World on This SideRegistered Userregular
It seems like this game really does have no qualms about fucking players over who don't have the proper skills for certain areas. Before anyone gets on my case for wanting games 'dumbed down' or whatever people say, this isn't a criticism - in fact, I actually like it.
It's just weird that, for instance, it seems to be impossible for me to get Mercurio the morphine. My girlfriend, playing a female Toreador, couldn't even get past the nurse and definitely doesn't possess the skills to get to the morphine. I, a male Tremere, was able to Dominate my way past the nurse, but I have shit for lockpick skill and even Blood Buff isn't enough to get me to the morphine. I haven't found a way to it that doesn't involve lockpicking yet.
Are all the clans this way, or are do some have some means of getting their skills higher faster? Right now, I have Thaumaturgy and Domination at two - should I stop raising those and focus on Persuade, Hacking, Lockpicking, etc?
That should cover you for a while. Thaumaturgy one is enough to take out most early enemies with ease, even vampiric ones. I'd focus on getting your hacking and lockpicking skills up to average. They'll get you a lot of good stuff in the near future.
As for the Toreador, couldn't Presence help with persuading the nurse? I've never played as one, but I would think it's possible.
I read somewhere that that's not as helpful, but I've been the "no, don't pick that, that's not maximally effective for your character" guy enough to know that I don't want to be that guy anymore. also, apparently it's a lot better for ladies than for dudes, soo I don't think it's a big deal. she's been able to do shit I haven't because of how seductionary she is
also what should my Tremere do for blood? I drank a hooker, but that only got me a little past half and it wiped me out financially. I snacked on a hobo for all of a second, but that was a masquerade violation and I don't want any more. I don't want to eat rats. My unarmed skill is shit so I have no luck with grabbing guys in combat.
Are there any options I'm missing?
also I have only done the one quest for Mercurio (and didn't find his money), and right now I've probably got, oh, six experience points in total since I started. It's slow going. Am I going to start getting experience faster, or is every point valuable?
Charles Kinbote on
0
cj iwakuraThe Rhythm RegentThe World on This SideRegistered Userregular
edited June 2009
Go in the sewers and feed on rats if you get desperate. As for XP, there's a lot of optional quests you can do around Santa Monica before continuing with the main story. Doing those will pay off real fast.
Check the bail bondsman for a few.
But yes, every point is valuable. Be very sure you want something before purchasing it.
Blood Strike also drains a victim's blood in combat if you wait long enough. I usually just wail on an enemy then feed off them. My Tremere also lacks in strength, but it works after a few tries.
I read somewhere that that's not as helpful, but I've been the "no, don't pick that, that's not maximally effective for your character" guy enough to know that I don't want to be that guy anymore. also, apparently it's a lot better for ladies than for dudes, soo I don't think it's a big deal. she's been able to do shit I haven't because of how seductionary she is
also what should my Tremere do for blood? I drank a hooker, but that only got me a little past half and it wiped me out financially. I snacked on a hobo for all of a second, but that was a masquerade violation and I don't want any more. I don't want to eat rats. My unarmed skill is shit so I have no luck with grabbing guys in combat.
Are there any options I'm missing?
also I have only done the one quest for Mercurio (and didn't find his money), and right now I've probably got, oh, six experience points in total since I started. It's slow going. Am I going to start getting experience faster, or is every point valuable?
I read somewhere that that's not as helpful, but I've been the "no, don't pick that, that's not maximally effective for your character" guy enough to know that I don't want to be that guy anymore. also, apparently it's a lot better for ladies than for dudes, soo I don't think it's a big deal. she's been able to do shit I haven't because of how seductionary she is
also what should my Tremere do for blood? I drank a hooker, but that only got me a little past half and it wiped me out financially. I snacked on a hobo for all of a second, but that was a masquerade violation and I don't want any more. I don't want to eat rats. My unarmed skill is shit so I have no luck with grabbing guys in combat.
Are there any options I'm missing?
also I have only done the one quest for Mercurio (and didn't find his money), and right now I've probably got, oh, six experience points in total since I started. It's slow going. Am I going to start getting experience faster, or is every point valuable?
For blood, just walk around the overmap and watch people. When they go off alone a little ways, take a drink. Save immediately beforehand just to make sure you won't get a masq. violation, since it's sometimes hard to tell. If you have some seduction, random chicks in nightclubs can act as blood dolls. Rats in the sewers carry no risk of violations, but won't give you much blood. With grabbing guys in combat, use blood buff to put your strength up and then refill on whoever you can. XP will be very precious for quite a while, but towards the endgame you'll start getting XP in bunches of 3,4, and 5 instead of 1 or 2.
WhiteZinfandel on
0
Kovakdid a lot of drugsmarried cher?Registered Userregular
I just started last night as well. Went...Toreador I think? Celerity, Auspex, and Presence with the plus 1 to attractiveness. I just tracked down the Cathayan and just met Therese but seduction has already been helpful. Opens up some feeding targets that just stand there all the time and let me go nuts and I've talked my way out a few things with it. I also need to get my lockpick and hacking up though, failing on 3s is no fun even if Blood Buff makes it work.
Seems like being generally 'nice' has made for more xp but I imagine that similar opportunites exist if your a dick.
Gonna continue tonight and maybe get through this hotel I keep hearing so much about.
I just started last night as well. Went...Toreador I think? Celerity, Auspex, and Presence with the plus 1 to attractiveness. I just tracked down the Cathayan and just met Therese but seduction has already been helpful. Opens up some feeding targets that just stand there all the time and let me go nuts and I've talked my way out a few things with it. I also need to get my lockpick and hacking up though, failing on 3s is no fun even if Blood Buff makes it work.
Seems like being generally 'nice' has made for more xp but I imagine that similar opportunites exist if your a dick.
Gonna continue tonight and maybe get through this hotel I keep hearing so much about.
I think in general you get more cash and gear if you're a dick, but more experience if you're nice.
Damn that hotel, it's all just so well done, every little part.
There's another creepy part if you actually look for it:
On the second floor, in the unlocked bedroom on the left, there is a fire axe hidden behind a couch. The creepy part is this is most likely the very weapon used in the murders described in the papers
scarlet blvd. on
0
cj iwakuraThe Rhythm RegentThe World on This SideRegistered Userregular
edited June 2009
The hotel just serves as a reminder,
there's some things even supernatural powers can't help you against.
is the god damned head-arm dude(s). If I don't see them first, that scream gets me every time. Then I punch them to death. My malk will fire axe them to death though.
So, I had medium lockpicking and medium-high hacking on my Brujah. I was planning on eschewing both of those on my malk, but god damn, you can't do anything without them. So annoying!
moocow on
PS4:MrZoompants
0
Kovakdid a lot of drugsmarried cher?Registered Userregular
edited June 2009
the hotel freaked me out until iw as like
wait fuck this
im a vampire
i have access to a whole host of supernatural powers
Posts
It's set.
you get a different outfit as armor when you get to a new hub, but that's about it.
so ridiculous
Did you ever read the commentary by the guy who does fan patches for Arcanum?
He basically said how depressing it is to make the patches since there are entire sections of the game that were unfinished and still in the code.
But yeah, Troika's games in general leave me with that feeling. Temple of Elemental Evil? Probably the best implementation of D&D combat I've ever seen, but it is buggy as shit.
That they didn't take the extra time to even work on significant patches for the game to be available on release...
Gamertag: PrimusD | Rock Band DLC | GW:OttW - arrcd | WLD - Thortar
Especially with the Voerman sisters.
Oh yeah, they seemed pretty terrible. I mean when a company barely bug tests their product that's a sign that they don't have very much organization.
yeah, that sucked.
heh, yeah
i just got the fourth and i assume last outfit
odd that it broke the "slutty halloween costume" theme of the previous armors
I dunno, you do kind of help her complete the most important goal of her entire life.
Also why does she have a robot arm?
From a wiki
One group is called the Shih, and has rigerously trained their minds and bodies to do hand to hand battle with the supernatural, and wield Faith based powers beyond those of most Sorcerers or Psychics.
Strike Force Zero is a government sponsered agency that gets toys from the technocracy to better fight such creatures.
Included are excellent rules for Humanity's use of Virtues in the Terror and Horror section, as well as a method of using Chi that could easily be adapted for use with Sorcerers.
I think that is just wearing armor pieces over her jacket.
We are the monsters under our beds.
No, you help her kill one demon. She's a demon hunter. It's what she does. She specifically tells you that there's no way she's giving you that sword.
Yeah but this is the same demon that killed her master. So...
She's still going to be hunting demons afterwards.
That's her job.
PS4:MrZoompants
When I found it on Steam, it said that it supports just about every windows variant except 95 and mine.
I use xp64.
Sad face.
"I think I'm hallucinating. Did I just fight a land-shark?"
early game spoilers!
It's just weird that, for instance, it seems to be impossible for me to get Mercurio the morphine. My girlfriend, playing a female Toreador, couldn't even get past the nurse and definitely doesn't possess the skills to get to the morphine. I, a male Tremere, was able to Dominate my way past the nurse, but I have shit for lockpick skill and even Blood Buff isn't enough to get me to the morphine. I haven't found a way to it that doesn't involve lockpicking yet.
Are all the clans this way, or are do some have some means of getting their skills higher faster? Right now, I have Thaumaturgy and Domination at two - should I stop raising those and focus on Persuade, Hacking, Lockpicking, etc?
That should cover you for a while. Thaumaturgy one is enough to take out most early enemies with ease, even vampiric ones. I'd focus on getting your hacking and lockpicking skills up to average. They'll get you a lot of good stuff in the near future.
As for the Toreador, couldn't Presence help with persuading the nurse? I've never played as one, but I would think it's possible.
I read somewhere that that's not as helpful, but I've been the "no, don't pick that, that's not maximally effective for your character" guy enough to know that I don't want to be that guy anymore. also, apparently it's a lot better for ladies than for dudes, soo I don't think it's a big deal. she's been able to do shit I haven't because of how seductionary she is
also what should my Tremere do for blood? I drank a hooker, but that only got me a little past half and it wiped me out financially. I snacked on a hobo for all of a second, but that was a masquerade violation and I don't want any more. I don't want to eat rats. My unarmed skill is shit so I have no luck with grabbing guys in combat.
Are there any options I'm missing?
also I have only done the one quest for Mercurio (and didn't find his money), and right now I've probably got, oh, six experience points in total since I started. It's slow going. Am I going to start getting experience faster, or is every point valuable?
But yes, every point is valuable. Be very sure you want something before purchasing it.
Blood Strike also drains a victim's blood in combat if you wait long enough. I usually just wail on an enemy then feed off them. My Tremere also lacks in strength, but it works after a few tries.
go to the asylum and drink dem bitches for free
For blood, just walk around the overmap and watch people. When they go off alone a little ways, take a drink. Save immediately beforehand just to make sure you won't get a masq. violation, since it's sometimes hard to tell. If you have some seduction, random chicks in nightclubs can act as blood dolls. Rats in the sewers carry no risk of violations, but won't give you much blood. With grabbing guys in combat, use blood buff to put your strength up and then refill on whoever you can. XP will be very precious for quite a while, but towards the endgame you'll start getting XP in bunches of 3,4, and 5 instead of 1 or 2.
oh godddd
Seems like being generally 'nice' has made for more xp but I imagine that similar opportunites exist if your a dick.
Gonna continue tonight and maybe get through this hotel I keep hearing so much about.
I think in general you get more cash and gear if you're a dick, but more experience if you're nice.
Really one of the only videogames that has made me genuinely freaked out as opposed to just startled.
There's another creepy part if you actually look for it:
Actually, the thing that scares me the most
PS4:MrZoompants
PS4:MrZoompants
wait fuck this
im a vampire
i have access to a whole host of supernatural powers