1st Play, Dfault Prty/Hard/Iron/SingleCrys - Tips please !

[InfiniteClouds]

I decided to go all out with my first playthrough and it has been a blast but definitely challenging - especially because I didn't build my own party. I love the challenge but I would appreciate some spoiler-free hints/tips. This post really turned out to be a hodge podge of information about my adventure so whatever advice you can give is appreciated, just mark any spoilers please.


1) Party members/skills - Remaining points/and or equipment. My warriors in particular feel a little lackluster especially when it comes to taking hits. I knew the starting party was weaker and that I probably made them even worse but if we can mitigate how bad they may or may not stink that would be great. For example beyond the cemetery

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there is no way I can tank Xarant Wormbound's undead spawns, even one at a time - up to that point I used the environment to escape to an area where I can either 'ladder-strike' them, strafe in 1v1, or at the very least if trapped 1v1 without being able to move, forcefield lock inbetween strikes in order to get CDs and possibly heal.

------Shadow - Human Fighter - Level 12------ Tough, Agile

Skills - 5 Light Weapons, 2 Armor, 2 Dodge, 2 Accuracy. 2 unspent points - where would I be best served putting them and any subsequent points? I was thinking 2 in Crit or getting that 3rd point in Dodge for the cool down reduction.

Stats (I mention since I have 6 unused Crystal Flowers) - 21 STR, 25 Dex, 15 VIT, 11 WILL ||| Resists - 22 Fire, 30 Shock, 10 Poison, 52 Cold

Gear - Longsword (replaced by that flurry Weapon from the

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Pyramid

when I go there and Fist Dagger, Huntsman Cloak, Bear Skull Helmet, Rogue Vest and gloves, Thraelm tribal legs, Frostbite Necklace, Hardstone Bracelet, Reed Sabaton Boots.

------Mulrag - Minotaur Barbarian - Level 11------ Aggressive, Headhunter

Skills - 3 Athletics, 4 Heavy Weapons, 2 Armor, 3 Dodge. I'm going to be putting my next level into maxing Heavy Weapons so I can replace my Flail with Bane, but outside of that I'm not sure what to do. If I'll get enough levels (which I don't even know!) I'll really try and put another 2 in Armor because I those 3 points in Dodge that are negated by the fact that I gave in and decked him out in plate.

Stats - 40 STR, 8 DEX, 22 VIt, 8 WIL ||| Resists - 60 Fire, 24 Poison, 16 Cold

Gear - Flail soon to be Bane, Crystal Shield, plate chest, legs, full helm, crystal gauntlets, leather boots, Steel Armband and Neck Chain, Bear Pelt, Carrying 6 Skulls

------Fang - Ratling Alchemist - Level 11------ Tough, Mutation

Skills - 5 Alchemy, 5 Firearms, 1 Critical. 1 unspent point Was thinking I would put it into Accuracy and just evenly distribute any other points between Critical and Accuracy?

Stats - 9 STR, 19 DEX, 20 VIT, 17 WIL ||| Resists - 20 Poison, 14 Cold

Gear - Dragonbreath Revolver, 38 Rounds (Crossbow and Quarrels for battles I don't need it..), Tattered Cloak, Rogue Hood, Rogue Pants, Jewel Pendant (WP seems useless on him though), Xafi Robe, Leather gloves and boots, Bronze Brace.

------Astaroth - Human Wizard - Level 12------ Strong Mind, Aura

Skills - 3 Concentration, 5 Fire Magic, 3 Air Magic, 1 Earth Magic, 2 Water Magic. 1 unspent point This where I'm the most clueless, since I'm pretty much just saving until I needed to meet pre-reqs of a new spelll, which seems like a good strategy. Right now I can throw another point in to be able to learn off my Lightning Bolt scroll (have item that can cast it..), or another point in Water to learn from Frost Shield scroll, or a point in Earth for Poison Bolt. Poison bolt I would expect to be the least useful since if I'm shooting at something it will be advancing towards me and move out of the toxins.

Spells - Fireburst, Shield (which I never really use since it's selfcast only or I'm missing something?), Light, Darkness (useless?), Fireball, Shock, Poison Cloud, Fire Shield, Shock Shield, Force Field, Invisibility, Ice Shards, Dispel.

Stats -9 STR, 15 DEX, 15 VIT, 26 WIL ||| Resists- 68 Fire, 10 Shock, 80 Poison, 32 Cold

Gear - Thraelm tribal mask, Embalmer's Robe and Shoes, Leather Pants and Gloves, Spirit Mirror Pendant, Serpent Bracer, Spidersilk Cloak, Jeweled Scepter of Ruling and Stormseed Orb.

I have 3 Gold Keys (4 when I grab the one

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in the water by the submerged vault under Sleet and I've only opened the Snake Charmer Cache, nothing else. I figured I should save my keys as better stuff would be available later but now I'm thinking I should spend them... probably in the submerged vault.

2) Unused gear-- (Anything I should swap?) 2 Lightning Rods, Whitewood Wand, Serpent Bracer, Pearl Shield, Blowpipe, Short Bow, Venomfang Pick, Reed Helmet, Cuirass, Gauntlets and Pants, Backbiter, Meteor Shield, venom edger, ethereal blade (good for elementals only? or will be useful later?), Harpoon, Plate Gauntlets, Tribal Spear, Shurikens, Great Axe, Maul, Two-Handed Sword, Pickaxe, Leather Brigadine, Iron basinet, Mirror Chestplate, Full Helmet.


3) Ingredient Stock -- 5 Blackmoss, 6 Crystal Flowers, 14 Blood and Ethers, 19 Falcons, 20 Mud .... What permanent potions should I be making and who should get them? I've also been saving my Blackmoss for Resurrection potions (since I can't reuse crystals to resurrect!) but was thinking I should probably use a few for some Frost Bombs. I have 2 Frost Bombs, 5 Poison, 1 Fire, 2 Shock.


4) Progress/Using Crystals.. I'm currently saved at the crystal in the

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Wormbound Tombs

. I've used the one in the

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forest dungeons, dungeon beneath outer Sleet Isle area as well as on the surface, the one in Stormbreach, the one in Stormbreach Sewers, outside the castle area, and of course the one on the beach. I have one still available for use in the Pyramids but besides that I am assuming I will only have one more in the Crystal Mines (which I haven't solved getting into yet) and one INSIDE the castle at some point.

[Dr.Disaster]

regarding 1):
- up Armor of the front row to 4 and hand them heavy armor
- up Accuracy on Mulrag and Fang; Critical is useless when you can't hit
- up Astaroth's Water Magic to 3 for Frost Bolt (the scroll is missing so drag Air towards Water rune to cast)

regarding 2):
- keep a harpoon or spear on you in case you have to fight in water
- keep ethereal blade on you to fight elementals

regarding 3):
wait with permanent potion and bomb making until needed

regarding 4):
the total number of saves you can make is

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20

[InfiniteClouds]

Awesome! Thanks so much. The problem with equipping Shadow with heavy armor is her carrying capacity.
I assume when you mean save Permanent Potions as needed you mean exactly for this type of an issue. I should start boosting her strength for armor, even though she is a light weapon user.

[Dr.Disaster]

The problem with equipping Shadow with heavy armor is her carrying capacity. I assume when you mean save Permanent Potions as needed you mean exactly for this type of an issue. I should start boosting her strength for armor, even though she is a light weapon user.

There are different kinds of heavy armors. Just hand the "lighter" versions to Shadow and the more clunky stuff to Mulrag while keeping her inventory rather clean. That should do.

[InfiniteClouds]

Thanks again, Dr. Disaster.

When you say wait with permanent potions as needed what do you mean exactly? I'm just wondering what characters would benefit from what +stats the most.

[Soaponarope]

For permanent potions I would make either strength or dexterity potions for your fighters depending on what weapons they use. Vitality and willpower I don't think are worth it.

Keep searching for secrets as you are likely missing some really nice gear. Also go ahead and use your gold keys, there is no reason to save those really. The best stuff is in the flooded vault, the sword you can get outside the cemetery early on, and just save one for a relic shield.

Good luck fellow hardcore gamer

[Anurias]

So far I think you've gotten some great tips, especially on the heavy armor for your front guys. In my play throughs I saw more gain from armor than I did avoidance. One thing I'd add is to pay attention to the class bonus for the alchemist regarding alchemy itself. It can be extremely helpful. I also wanted to comment about the poison bolt spell since it sounded like you weren't sure it would be worth getting. It has its uses, but it is definitely not a must have spell. Below I'm including a spoiler that tells exactly what the spell does in case you want to know before picking it up and trying it.

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When cast is shoots a ball of poison that infects the target with a lingering poison. There is no cloud, it just turns the target green and makes them tick damage until the poison wears off.

[InfiniteClouds]

Thanks for the additions, Soap and Anurias.

Yes, I've been letting ingredients multiply. Without alchemy, and invisibility I don't think I could pull this off. I have another point to spend for Astaroth now that I have Frost Bolt. At level 3, it doesn't freeze very often and the duration is OK... I'm not sure how much of an improvement I'll see in chance if I go to level 4 or even 5 Water Magic... so I'm thinking of putting more points into Concentration so I can get a longer Forcefield.