Tome 4: Overgrown poodles rasslin' with dragons

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Dallan Invictus: Oct 11, 2007; The thing about words is that meanings can twist just like a snake, and if you want to find snakes, look for them behind words that have changed their meaning.

So as it turns out, fighting your own Doomed Shade as a Moon Paladin (celestial rogue class from a mod) when you both have insanely high physical defences, reflection shield runes, invisibility talents and lovely see invis is a recipe for comedy (and LUA errors from infinite-loop reflected damage).

Also, I really hope HousePet can fix the bugs I reported for that class because it's kind of nice to have one that actually synergizes with the Moon/Star combo daggers and their damage bonuses.

edit for last-thread quote:

Fhqwhgads posted:

I think I just had a bullshit death. Cormac Archmage running through the maze, I turn a corner and

"Something hits Fhq for 341 darkness damage"
Fhq was darkened to death by whatever the Temporal Stalker.

341 is way more than my max HP. Do I just chalk that up to RNG or is there a way to avoid getting one shot turning a corner that doesn't involve micromanaging only moving when all shields are up?

The RNG is a cruel god when it makes rares, but Archmages are squishy, yo. Stack more con, try and keep shields up more often, scout around corners with Arcane Eye and the like, hope for the best in areas like the maze that are full of surprises.

Dallan Invictus fucked around with this message at 23:32 on Jan 25, 2014

# ¿ Jan 25, 2014 23:24

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# ¿ Apr 26, 2024 06:43

Dallan Invictus: Oct 11, 2007; The thing about words is that meanings can twist just like a snake, and if you want to find snakes, look for them behind words that have changed their meaning.

dis astranagant posted:

Starslinger from the same addon is loving bullshit and no one should play them. If you insist on trying prepare to be married to the shadow shot key because that's the only skill you have that doesn't break stealth and it's a long way til unseen actions.

I actually still like Moon Paladins because you have SO MANY gap closers, and you don't really rely on stealth/backstabbing to survive or do damage, so much as you rely on a) stacking defence against physical attackers and b) having like three or four different ways to instantly cross the battlefield, get in a caster's face and shred it with your daggers.

Want to Rush to six different enemies in one attack? Go nuts (but pray it doesn't leave you in front of something you don't want to be in front of). Want a controlled Phase Door that does AOE damage at both ends? Got it. Want a free movement infusion as a generic talent? Got it.

If you get to add better status clearing from Providence in Celestial/Light (escort) or more cooldown reduction from Totality in Celestial/Eclipse (unlockable) I think things would get even more hilarious. Antimagic/silencing enemies are still bastards because you depend on Celestial Aegis and other sustains so much for your survivability, but the answer to that is to puree them into fine bits before they become a problem.

Also the Windblade prodigy owns and I want to see what my next dual-wielding Arcane Blade does with it. :getin:

# ¿ Jan 25, 2014 23:50

Dallan Invictus: Oct 11, 2007; The thing about words is that meanings can twist just like a snake, and if you want to find snakes, look for them behind words that have changed their meaning.

NachtSieger posted:

That's the Eldritch Pearl, though. Pearl of Life and Death you get for killing... the guy on the right. I can never remember which boss is who, just that their names are Argon and Elrondel, or something like that.

Elandar and Argoniel. :goonsay:

Argoniel is the Corruptor who drops the Pearl, Elandar is the Archmage and drops the Staff of Absorption. The Pearl's when-carried stat bonus is one reason I like to kill Argoniel first, even though it probably doesn't make a huge difference to any given character's ability to win the fight.

# ¿ Jan 28, 2014 19:57

Dallan Invictus: Oct 11, 2007; The thing about words is that meanings can twist just like a snake, and if you want to find snakes, look for them behind words that have changed their meaning.

True enough, I forgot about the stun bonus because I've only gotten to the final fight on Celestial classes and they all shrug off status effects like it ain't no thang. Considering how goddamn long this game is, though, do people really get to the final fight without at least decent stun resist already in their kit?

# ¿ Jan 28, 2014 21:10

Dallan Invictus: Oct 11, 2007; The thing about words is that meanings can twist just like a snake, and if you want to find snakes, look for them behind words that have changed their meaning.

Velius posted:

I'd like to check out the orbital fearscape platform, but I have no idea what you need to do to get to it. My best guess is the hidden valley jeweler quest - do I just let him die and get to head up there?

From what I can tell, levels will randomly get Fearscape invasion portals just like they do Naga invasion portals, and you can go through them to get to the orbital platform. (and actually, the guaranteed Fearscape portals in the jeweller quest don't work - you can't seem to go through them, though the demons can certainly come through).

# ¿ Jan 31, 2014 21:13

Dallan Invictus: Oct 11, 2007; The thing about words is that meanings can twist just like a snake, and if you want to find snakes, look for them behind words that have changed their meaning.

Magres posted:

It'd be great on some other classes, but Archmage doesn't really need movespeed - you have long range nukes and teleports, walking is for plebes.

I could see in on a more armored caster for the fatigue reduction though.

I find it useful on my ABs for both the fatigue/encumbrance reductions and extra move speed (for when Rush AND Phase Door are on CD), but ABs are so goddamn starved for class points that I probably would only get around to really boosting it in the lategame. :smith:

# ¿ Feb 2, 2014 07:36

Dallan Invictus: Oct 11, 2007; The thing about words is that meanings can twist just like a snake, and if you want to find snakes, look for them behind words that have changed their meaning.

HotBobaloo posted:

So I've read to unlock corruptor I need to use a mage type character.

You don't need to use a Mage metaclass character (Alchemist/Archmage), you only need to use a character that has enough arcane talents (as opposed to wild-gifts, mind, or physical talents).

Alchemists, Archmages, Arcane Blades and (probably?) Shadowblades are default (or easily unlocked) classes that will be able to get it. I think Summoner won't work because it's a Wilder class and you probably won't have enough spell talents unless you pull some wacky shenanigans with escort-reward skill trees.

That said, Alchemists and Archmages will still probably be the easiest to unlock Corruptor, but that's partly because they're among the easiest classes full-stop (and partly because they can hang out outside Fearscape's range, but a properly built mid-20s AB can probably two-shot the Grand Corruptor with Rush followed by Flurry/Assault, so they ain't worried about no Fearscape.).

Dallan Invictus fucked around with this message at 02:05 on Feb 4, 2014

# ¿ Feb 4, 2014 02:01

Dallan Invictus: Oct 11, 2007; The thing about words is that meanings can twist just like a snake, and if you want to find snakes, look for them behind words that have changed their meaning.

You can also use the caps lock key to reposition the camera just for scouting, IIRC. I honestly didn't know about the other two methods!

Dallan Invictus fucked around with this message at 04:13 on Feb 5, 2014

# ¿ Feb 5, 2014 04:09

Dallan Invictus: Oct 11, 2007; The thing about words is that meanings can twist just like a snake, and if you want to find snakes, look for them behind words that have changed their meaning.

deptstoremook posted:

I just wish everything in the game didn't have that insane darkness resist, it almost makes me feel like I should have or have to get Frostdusk.

...I've never found darkness resist to be that common? (except Umbral Horrors, gently caress Umbral Horrors). I've never played a Necro, though, do they get any resist penetration talents?

# ¿ Feb 5, 2014 06:16

Dallan Invictus: Oct 11, 2007; The thing about words is that meanings can twist just like a snake, and if you want to find snakes, look for them behind words that have changed their meaning.

Magres posted:

You can't teleport out of vaults? I could swear I've warped out of vaults many times.

You can teleport out of vaults, you just can't teleport to any square _inside_ the vault - so if the teleport range is too short to reach outside the vault then you're hosed.

# ¿ Feb 7, 2014 00:02

Dallan Invictus: Oct 11, 2007; The thing about words is that meanings can twist just like a snake, and if you want to find snakes, look for them behind words that have changed their meaning.

vulturesrow posted:

As Dodge Charms pointed out, it'd be pretty easy to satisfy that game balance issue without resorting to the pits.

Let's consider this argument for a second. Compare:

a) code and test new game mechanic (at best), or new encounter, or new dialogue, or an entirely new zone.
b) re-enable a zone and quest that already exists and had been revised to address many of the concerns a day before it was removed in a hotfix, change one line of dialogue to avoid referencing the Holocaust, ship.

I don't mod TOME, for all I know it might actually be pretty easy to implement one of Dodge Charms' suggestions. I remember that the pits were originally removed to shut up the controversy while a mechanical replacement was implemented, so maybe we'll see something like what was suggested come back to the main game. I do know that AoTD is a bit annoying, and his fans even more so, but it's hardly necessary to assume the worst possible motives of him. Laziness/incompetence over malice, etc.

# ¿ Feb 10, 2014 05:16

Dallan Invictus: Oct 11, 2007; The thing about words is that meanings can twist just like a snake, and if you want to find snakes, look for them behind words that have changed their meaning.

A tip for when you come back to the Discomancer class: Phase Door runes are entirely inadequate as your GTFO button, and Anorithils don't get a better one from class talents. Teleport rune (or Movement infusion, but the Master tends to summon piles of minions that crowd you in) or bust.

Also, the Master (any other freeze-happy caster, really, but ESPECIALLY the Master) is a big reason why I'm on the Perseverance side of the Moonlight vs. Perseverance debate. Moonlight is an all-out-offensive hymn choice, Perseverance is an all-out-defensive one, and access to it is a major source of the Anorithil's durability. Providence isn't up all the time, even as a Shalore with access to Totality.

# ¿ Feb 12, 2014 20:10

Dallan Invictus: Oct 11, 2007; The thing about words is that meanings can twist just like a snake, and if you want to find snakes, look for them behind words that have changed their meaning.

Perestroika posted:

On that note, on a few playthroughs when I exited a dungeon to the worldmap I got a message box reading "You feel a tremor running through the ground", or something along those lines. I think the last time was after exiting the halfling complex. Anybody know what's up with that?

I'm pretty sure that's the message you get when you hit L20 in a game where the Caldera (Solipsist unlock zone) is available.

# ¿ Feb 14, 2014 23:06

Dallan Invictus: Oct 11, 2007; The thing about words is that meanings can twist just like a snake, and if you want to find snakes, look for them behind words that have changed their meaning.

You actually can: bring up the inspect window (right click the enemy, inspect), then hover over the aura listed in the inspect window and you'll get a descriptive tooltip.

(same for every talent a monster has, actually.)

edit: goddamnit you people are fast.

# ¿ Feb 19, 2014 20:15

Dallan Invictus: Oct 11, 2007; The thing about words is that meanings can twist just like a snake, and if you want to find snakes, look for them behind words that have changed their meaning.

Magres posted:

Look at you and how completely right you are.

Incidentally, this is also why playing on Roguelike mode is dumb. Adventurer is great because it makes fight stressful in a good way, but also gives you multiple chances to just yell 'gently caress IT WE'LL DO IT LIVE' and open that vault anyway.

I still open all the vaults on Roguelike. Who wants to live forever?

# ¿ Feb 21, 2014 01:47

Dallan Invictus: Oct 11, 2007; The thing about words is that meanings can twist just like a snake, and if you want to find snakes, look for them behind words that have changed their meaning.

Never not take Celestial/Light (especially not as a Reaver, because those spells ALSO trigger reaving combat, so you can hit people while you heal!)

Max Providence, definitely. Healing Light and Barrier are both decent but if you're short on generics they don't need to be maxed. Always 1/5 Bathe in Light.

Magres posted:

Unless you're a Ghoul (50 resist), a Cursed/Doomed (50 resist), or a Berserker (dunno how much), I don't know of any way to hey stun resist other than gear.

There's also the Anorithil's Hymn of Perseverance talent, that maxes out at 61% stun resist. I don't know if Sun Paladins get it too, though (thinking they don't.)

# ¿ Feb 22, 2014 02:22

Dallan Invictus: Oct 11, 2007; The thing about words is that meanings can twist just like a snake, and if you want to find snakes, look for them behind words that have changed their meaning.

Ehhh. I wouldn't, but I guess that mostly depends on how you feel about your current set of inscriptions? An extra couple of turns on Providence would be the biggest effect of that category point, and I think there'd be better things to spend that on.

# ¿ Feb 22, 2014 02:28

Dallan Invictus: Oct 11, 2007; The thing about words is that meanings can twist just like a snake, and if you want to find snakes, look for them behind words that have changed their meaning.

Eh, Anorithils get whole piles of survivability tricks even at early levels (bonus saves from sustains, extra heal/shield talents, etc.). They're like the Sun Paladins of caster classes - damage is very eh in the early game but they're relatively tough to kill in my experience.

# ¿ Feb 22, 2014 04:08

Dallan Invictus: Oct 11, 2007; The thing about words is that meanings can twist just like a snake, and if you want to find snakes, look for them behind words that have changed their meaning.

It's not only Daikara, I've also gotten that event in Mark of the Spellblaze and the Ancient Elven Ruins.

# ¿ Feb 27, 2014 05:41

Dallan Invictus: Oct 11, 2007; The thing about words is that meanings can twist just like a snake, and if you want to find snakes, look for them behind words that have changed their meaning.

Anniversary posted:

So how completely screwed am I if I failed the timer on The Doom of the World!?

It just means that (final battle/ending spoilers) the Gates of the Morning will be destroyed and Aeryn will attack you before the final battle for failing, and even if you let her live, either you or Aeryn will have to sacrifice yourselves after the final battle to close the portal and win the game.

Or at least that's my understanding, I've never seen that ending myself.

# ¿ Feb 28, 2014 15:36

Dallan Invictus: Oct 11, 2007; The thing about words is that meanings can twist just like a snake, and if you want to find snakes, look for them behind words that have changed their meaning.

Razakai posted:

IMO the best prodigies for 2h melees in general are Flexible Combat(if you have a good pair of gloves) and Windblade. Windblade just blows apart entire rooms, and FC is great if you get the right gloves. Artifact gloves can proc all sorts of weird stuff like Greater Weapon Focus, Gravity Bursts and Cripple.

Windblade owns, but most 2h melee characters surely won't meet the pre-requisite (50 Dex and do 50k damage with dual weapons)?

# ¿ Aug 23, 2014 22:30

Dallan Invictus: Oct 11, 2007; The thing about words is that meanings can twist just like a snake, and if you want to find snakes, look for them behind words that have changed their meaning.

Angry Diplomat posted:

The ending you got is basically the only way for it to go, unless you count failing to stop the Doomsday MacGuffin from blowing up the world which is more or less the de facto outcome when you lose the game.

There's actually another ending if you fail the Charred Scar event where the portal opens but you sacrifice yourself or Aeryn to close it again before the world is destroyed and also the unique Yeek ending but I wouldn't say the differences are really major (also this is a Roguelike, so narrative is as usual a secondary consideration!)

# ¿ Sep 11, 2014 00:37

Dallan Invictus: Oct 11, 2007; The thing about words is that meanings can twist just like a snake, and if you want to find snakes, look for them behind words that have changed their meaning.

A Meat posted:

Darkgod revealed the Urh'Rok trailer and release date.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2aJribG1yE

I've been playing too much Borderlands lately so all I can see when I watch that is :torgue:

and IT IS GLORIOUS.

So ready to pick this game up again with Ashes.

# ¿ Oct 22, 2014 12:31

Dallan Invictus: Oct 11, 2007; The thing about words is that meanings can twist just like a snake, and if you want to find snakes, look for them behind words that have changed their meaning.

Did they ever fix that bug where he would occasionally be killed by wandering adventurers?

# ¿ Feb 16, 2015 20:15

Dallan Invictus: Oct 11, 2007; The thing about words is that meanings can twist just like a snake, and if you want to find snakes, look for them behind words that have changed their meaning.

Has anyone tried any of the QuickTome add-ons? The Zone Overhaul in particular seems like it tries to fix a pretty common complaint about the game so I was wondering if there were any trip reports before I tried it myself.

# ¿ Dec 24, 2015 20:31

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# ¿ Apr 26, 2024 06:43

Dallan Invictus: Oct 11, 2007; The thing about words is that meanings can twist just like a snake, and if you want to find snakes, look for them behind words that have changed their meaning.

The QuickTome zone overhaul I linked up-page tries to do pretty much this, but I feel like the compensatory XP and loot buffs aren't quite strong enough so it makes the game shorter but also noticably harder, particularly with squishier classes.

My run with it, playing a Moon Paladin from Midnight (basically a Celestial Shadowblade), had a lot of higher-tension moments where I simultaneously didn't feel like I was strong enough to beat the boss (or even some particularly tricky mooks) and didn't feel any more confident about anywhere I could go to gain the requisite levels or gear (particularly in Daikara, but to be fair it was alt Daikara and gently caress alt Daikara - so I went off to the Conclave Vault and got killed by ogres instead). Once I finish my Control Run without it, then maybe I'll try both with, say, a Doombringer and compare again.

Dallan Invictus fucked around with this message at 01:21 on Dec 27, 2015

# ¿ Dec 26, 2015 23:52

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