Grimrock

Drax wrote:The darkness also seems to affect the monsters too.

I thought that myself but the AI can be weird sometimes. But I swear they seemed to not notice me as much when I was all Ninja Darky McDarkerson.

It's purely anecdotal, but I was testing it out with some trolls and a dark corridor.

That sounds like the opening to a joke.

Drax wrote:It's purely anecdotal, but I was testing it out with some trolls and a dark corridor.

That sounds like the opening to a joke.

I would not be shocked to find some monsters have better or worse view ranges based on lighting.

Interesting that enemy take lighting into effect, I wonder if that's for both torch and the light spell... tho you'd hope the invisible spell would also have an effect of course .

Saice wrote:

r3sistance wrote:you don't need mages but unless you want to play the entire game in the dark somebody has to hold a torch, if your front line guys do it then they can't use a shield for evasion and if your rogue holds it you can't use bow and arrows.

Since I did not go missile or ranged this was not an issue. I usually had 1 rogue with a torch and the other with a shield.

Also as a side the dark is not so bad. Your eyes adjust after a few moments and you get fairly decent view distance. There was a we levels I did mostly in the dark for one reason or another.

Fair enough, once you know the game/dungeons it's probably not so bad tho first time through I'd just think it'd be harder to notice things like the hidden buttons in walls; is all.

r3sistance wrote:Fair enough, once you know the game/dungeons it's probably not so bad tho first time through I'd just think it'd be harder to notice things like the hidden buttons in walls; is all.

It honestly is not so bad. You quickly learn that each tile set only has one or two spots were there will ever been buttons. I would just check walls one tile at a time checking the relevant locations for them. Basically step forward turn to wall check button locations if needed turn to other wall... step forward and repeat. Honestly I think that is one of the reason for my long play time on my first playthrough.

Ok first I have a question... what do you mean mages level up slowly? Give them a throwing weapon and they will be on par with xp. Hit each monster with 1 spell or 1 throwing weapon.

Resistances from the passive element trees along with the shield spells make those specific enemies a joke.

If you don't have a mage you are wasting a good deal of the treasure from the dungeon (something to bear in mind). There also isn't enough good armor for 4 melee types.

Having mages allows you to enchant your bolts/arrows and that makes them do a ton more damage.

Nothing in the game beats the power of a mage to freeze targets in place.

Mages are the best form of spike dps against tough groups of enemies or being trapped in a narrow corridor.

If you don't have a mage you can't use the orb that grants a continual light source (which is extremely convenient).

Hissssa wrote:Ok first I have a question... what do you mean mages level up slowly? Give them a throwing weapon and they will be on par with xp. Hit each monster with 1 spell or 1 throwing weapon.

I think honesty he is running into the issue with when the mage runs out of juice you can go a few fights with him doing no damage (unless give them a rock or something). And no dmg means the mage gets half xp.

Hissssa wrote: Resistances from the passive element trees along with the shield spells make those specific enemies a joke.

More or less true. I think the only one I would like to have had was the fire resist/shield but I got through the game mageless so its not a must have.

Hissssa wrote: If you don't have a mage you are wasting a good deal of the treasure from the dungeon (something to bear in mind). There also isn't enough good armor for 4 melee types.

Yes there is enough good are for 4 melee types. I had two heavy armor guys a light armor guy and a clothy with no problems with armor. Heck there was extra light and heavy armor to spare that I abounded. Mages get a hat and a cloak Whoopy. And while they have a few nice weapons it is nothing to write home about.

Hissssa wrote: Having mages allows you to enchant your bolts/arrows and that makes them do a ton more damage.

Did not use ranged attacks much so not really a huge plus in my book.

Hissssa wrote: Nothing in the game beats the power of a mage to freeze targets in place.

Ice Fall Hammer and frost bombs do the same.

Hissssa wrote: Mages are the best form of spike dps against tough groups of enemies or being trapped in a narrow corridor.

Debatable I was seeing hits of up to 200 with my main melee guy by end game even when completely out of energy that is something a mage can not do.

Hissssa wrote: If you don't have a mage you can't use the orb that grants a continual light source (which is extremely convenient).

Convenient ... sure needed no not really I had so many torches by mid game I stopped picking them up.

You could totally run with out mages.
But for any one out there who loves mages, I wouldn't take it personally, I am sure the same could be said about warroirs and rouges
That's one of the things I like about grimrock there is no set formula (you need one tank 2 DPS and a Healer or you fail)

One thing i will say in mages defense is they hit every thing on a tile not just one guy (handy for those groups of four/two dudes )
bombs do the same i know but i don't find too many of them

Personally I like mages, with only three classes not playing with one in the party would feel like getting to the end of the game and going
"meh i have missed 1/3 of the secrets and treasurer, but sure i don't really need them"
... But I want them

Banjur wrote:rouges

Just so you know, I hate you.

Rogues.

You could easily run a party with two Rogues on the back line; thrown weapons and bows are about equally viable. Mages are handy for taking torch management out of the equation, but they aren't absolutely required.

Empyrean wrote:

Banjur wrote:rouges

Just so you know, I hate you.

Rogues.

You could easily run a party with two Rogues on the back line; thrown weapons and bows are about equally viable. Mages are handy for taking torch management out of the equation, but they aren't absolutely required.

I have completed the game with 2 fighters up front 2 rogues in back and no range skills what so ever. Torch management is a non-issue there are so many on the walls you will never run out only need to keep maybe 2 on you at any given time just to be safe because most times when one is about to go there is one near by on a wall you can swap with. And even if you do lose all your light the dark is not as crippling as you might think.