Misc observations upon making a second character

[Big J Money]

The first thing I noticed was that a squire starts with equipment that is far superior to that of a novice priest. Seeing as how a priest also begins the game with poor combat skills, no wonder my first character had such a rough time! Starting as a squire is like a walk in the park. If nothing else, my opinion is to take the horse away from the squire and give it to the priest, who will still begin the game with terrible armor, no ranged weapon and poor combat skills. If not that, then consider a warning to the new player that playing as a novice priest is a higher challenge game. As a side note, I think the term "Acolyte" or "Friar" might be more colorful than "Novice Priest".

Another thing I picked up was a new technique for fighting in melee combat. However, it would be nice if I could make the attack arrows go away. If you get a chance, please add a separate option in settings for the melee targeting reticule[enable/disable]. As it stands, you can't turn it off without also turning off the ranged reticule.

Finally, the last thing I realised is that you guys have added a nice new feature to the game, but it would be so nice if we could see it! What I am referring to is the new system where the timing (ie. position) of the blow affects how much damage you deal. It would be nice if that information somehow appeared in the text line right beside the speed bonus. Maybe even color code it? Examples: weak, steady, strong. Maybe color the text from green to yellow to red?

=$= Big J Money =$=

 

[Sir Saladin]

A novice priest should have less starting equipment then a squire since a squire character has been training and was probably sponsored by some father or uncle or at least some minor knight while the monk type character would be poor. The squire should maybe be recommended for beginners somewhere at the start of a new game. I read in this forum that the court lady gets the best starting horse but I haven't felt like playing a female yet.

 

[Big J Money]

I suppose I'm used to more typical CRPGs. Usually, balance is a very important thing. In this case, I don't mind that realism upsets balance, but I think that it would really be fair if there was a warning on the difficulty level in the final version. In the end, I guess it doesn't matter, since your squire can become a healer and your priest can become a warrior. I might also suggest another term than "class", since that term implies things. Maybe call them...."archetype" or "training background" or something.

=$=

 

[Reinhart]

Aw heck, this game is cake no matter what you start as. Just gotta get a little experience under your belt and master the mechanics.

 

[graphia]

The priest can lead more followers than a squire, which immediately evens out the odds.

I don't see much point in adding a weak, strong etc feedback to it...surely the damage is enough? You can tell if it was a weak blow because you deal little damage.

And Reinhart's right, once you've played a character to high levels once then even on the highest difficulty the game doesn't have to be hard.

 

[Big J Money]

Immediately evens out the odds? I'll have to go back and check, but from what I remember, you can't afford to hire even close to a full compliment of peasants when the game begins!

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[Handel]

Actually what is the point of using a "priest" at all? The merchant have enough charisma to hire followers. We are acustomed the priest to be a middle fighter with healing skills.

 

[Nairagorn]

A challenge?

 

[graphia]

Immediately evens out the odds? I'll have to go back and check, but from what I remember, you can't afford to hire even close to a full compliment of peasants when the game begins!

=$=

Of course not, but after you fight in the tourney a couple times and take out a group or two of river pirates, which I had no problem doing solo as a priest, then you'll have more than enough for peasants. Perhaps "immediately" was a bad choice of words but it's so close as to make no difference; the priest *is* balanced against the squire. You might as well complain that the merchant can't fight - it's true, but he can make a lot more money than any other class quickly.

 

[Worbah]

Actually what is the point of using a "priest" at all? The merchant have enough charisma to hire followers. We are acustomed the priest to be a middle fighter with healing skills.

The priest does get fewer followers than the mercant, but he can keep them alive. The priest also gets the most undistributed skill points in the beginning.

 

[Ingolifs]

He gets the most undistributed skill points because he has the highest intelligence.

 

[soup_alex]

Immediately evens out the odds? I'll have to go back and check, but from what I remember, you can't afford to hire even close to a full compliment of peasants when the game begins!

=$=

Has anyone else noted that it is extremely unwise to recruit on your first day in Caladria? It seems that day two is always the first "pay day". Of course, the upkeep fees for a small band of peasants, you can just laugh off. Perhaps not when you've spent all your money recruiting them, and allowed yourself at least seven game days to get your money together to pay them.

They cleaned me out! And then buggered off!
"Thanks for the ride, sucker!"

I hope they got mugged by sea raiders

 

[Sir Saladin]

I didn't like it when I got a big gang of peasants together and everytime we spotted some river pirates they ran away faster than my peasants could run to catch up hehe. Man that was a ***** I finally thinned the herd by getting attacked by forest bandits. Ah those thrilling days of yesteryear. Were they really so good?

 

[sheek]

Soup Alex what you must do is hire all the peasants you can on the first day. Take the River Pirates quest and try to get as many of your men killed as possible. If at 23.58 you still have a few exceptional survivors left kill them yourself.

 

[okiN]

Look, it isn't very complicated. The priest is supposed to be more difficult. Even armagan has said this. There are no great differences between the classes, all they do is determine your starting stats and posessions. Even a priest can easily become an expert warrior, but it takes more of an effort than if you start as a squire. It's just meant to add that extra pinch of difficulty.

 

[Slaists]

I like my priest. At level 19, he still has his starting stats in strength and agility, but his INT has been maxed out (and all the healing, training skills). If anything as much as touches him: he dies fast. It's a challenge to keep him alive amongst his well cared for followers. However, his crossbow skill is at 190 already

 

[Dorian]

I once tried to play a priest, imagining him like a wizard without magic (just make him look like an evil old man, and use the black robe)
Lots of int and cha, party skills and a big army.. I must say that he was quite effective and all that.. but extremely boring. What's the point of playing M&B if you just stay back and let your troops fight? To do that, I'd rather play AOE, Warcraft, and so on..

 

[Slaists]

Well, my priest with a sniper crossbow is not boring at all... He's quite deadly as long as I'm able to keep him out of the frenzy...