Various role-playing RPG game stuff not deserving its own thread

[Unhelpful Contrarian]

looking like the gothic remake is going to be the 2025 rpgoty

didn't see that coming tbh

Isn’t the parent company for that dev team Embracer Group?

yea but it seems unaffected by it so far. They've still got time to ruin it!

After the KCD 2 fiasco I have zero faith.

[Tweed]

I want to play an RPG that lets me be a pious lawful paladin

You become one in QFG 2 if you play your cards right and then get exclusive quests and abilities for the rest of the series.

[Nemesis]

What really annoyed me is the inventory system. It's stingy AF.

I played stoneshart until I picked up a handful of berries and my entire inventory was already full, quit and uninstalled

Changing the size of the inventory has been possible since day 1 of the (EA) release of this game:

Original (5x10 tiles):
c.png

Modified (10x10 tiles):
a2.png

All you have to do is change one line using the mod tool:

1b.jpg

^Change the 5 into a 10 and you got an inventory consisting of 10x10 tiles. Don't forget to create a corresponding inventory image and replace the existing one.

Thanks for this. Are there official mods out yet for this game, or do people need to make these changes themselves?

[Shillitron]

Have you played ToEE before? If not, then just use Temple+.

If you have played ToEE, but want to see a very small amount of new content (Moathouse ambush; the traders sending an assassin after you) or you don't like the portraits (the main draw for many) then use Co8 "vanilla" and Temple+.

If you want a lot of new content that's potentially interesting but not especially well-balanced use Co8 NC ("new content") and Temple+.

I've never played ToEE because I heard it was a rushed mess.

This post has raised my interest levels.

[Oyster Sauce]

Replaying KCD has me really appreciating the bobbleheads and skill books from the Bethesda Fallouts.

[Rand]

Thanks for this. Are there official mods out yet for this game, or do people need to make these changes themselves?

There are official mods on Nexus, most of which are broken due to updates of the game.
This one specifically does not exist, as far as I can see. Probably too basic.

[rusty_shackleford]

I actually like various minigames in RPGs and dislike when skill checks have you completely bypass mechanics as an I-win button. Skills making you better at the minigame, or providing unique advantages, is a superior way to go IMO.

If anything, "minigame" is probably the incorrect way to phrase it. Combat isn't called a "minigame".

[rusty_shackleford]

Do you want to play the hardest, most frustrating Ultima clone of the late 80s?



Well, now you can, but with the bugs fixed and many of the needless annoyances removed:
https://rikkles.itch.io/deathlord-relorded

Use v2.0 so you don't have to virtually "switch disks" in the emulator.

And don't say I didn't warn you. This game is unpleasantly difficult.
Oh, and Read The ******* Manual, Stupid!
https://ia903003.us.archive.org/22/item ... thlord.pdf

Read these, too:
https://github.com/hasseily/Deathlord-R ... NTATION.md
https://github.com/hasseily/Deathlord-Relorded/wiki
These were written by the guy that recoded it and has extremely valuable information.

Note: sadly, the game was originally intended to be a Nordic setting, but just 5 weeks before completion, ECA (now called just EA) required them to change to an oriental setting because of the perceived popularity of the new JRPGs on the Nintendo Entertainment System.
(Yes, some dumb-*** executives who don't understand games or consoles or what a JRPG is caused this.)

For a while I've wanted to make a comprehensive list of Ultima-likes. There's a surprising amount of them.
It's essentially a dead genre now, but there used to be a ton of them made.

[rusty_shackleford]

Replaying KCD has me really appreciating the bobbleheads and skill books from the Bethesda Fallouts.

Increasing your skills felt very meh in KCD overall, especially considering how useless most perks are.

[TKVNC]

Replaying KCD has me really appreciating the bobbleheads and skill books from the Bethesda Fallouts.

Increasing your skills felt very meh in KCD overall, especially considering how useless most perks are.

KDC suffers a major problem that a lot of games also suffer - your perks also reduce other abilities.

It is fine to pick a +1 buff, and miss out on another.

It's not fine to pick a +2 buff, and -1 on another at the same time.

That's not fun, realistic, or even immersive.

[Oyster Sauce]

Replaying KCD has me really appreciating the bobbleheads and skill books from the Bethesda Fallouts.

Increasing your skills felt very meh in KCD overall, especially considering how useless most perks are.

Used a mod that adds a bunch of perks. Gives you a reason to play with more than one type of weapon because they gives you boosts even when you're using something else, for example:
Axe - Lumberjack - Whilst in a forest, your Strength increases by 2.
Polearms - Hypertrophy I - Whilst using polearms or other strength weapons, your weapon swings cost 5% less stamina.
Bow - Hawkish - After killing the first enemy in an encounter, you gain 5% more damage for the rest of the encounter.

Ultimately you just become more overpowered than you already do regularly though. https://www.nexusmods.com/kingdomcomede ... /mods/1009

Replaying KCD has me really appreciating the bobbleheads and skill books from the Bethesda Fallouts.

Increasing your skills felt very meh in KCD overall, especially considering how useless most perks are.

KDC suffers a major problem that a lot of games also suffer - your perks also reduce other abilities.

It is fine to pick a +1 buff, and miss out on another.

It's not fine to pick a +2 buff, and -1 on another at the same time.

That's not fun, realistic, or even immersive.

I don't have a problem with these in theory, but in practice they punish for you hitting 20 in the skill you're getting a boost in since it's a hard capped while you're still eating the malus the entire game.

[TKVNC]

Replaying KCD has me really appreciating the bobbleheads and skill books from the Bethesda Fallouts.

Increasing your skills felt very meh in KCD overall, especially considering how useless most perks are.

Used a mod that adds a bunch of perks. Gives you a reason to play with more than one type of weapon because they gives you boosts even when you're using something else, for example:
Axe - Lumberjack - Whilst in a forest, your Strength increases by 2.
Polearms - Hypertrophy I - Whilst using polearms or other strength weapons, your weapon swings cost 5% less stamina.
Bow - Hawkish - After killing the first enemy in an encounter, you gain 5% more damage for the rest of the encounter.

Ultimately you just become more overpowered than you already do regularly though. https://www.nexusmods.com/kingdomcomede ... /mods/1009

Increasing your skills felt very meh in KCD overall, especially considering how useless most perks are.

KDC suffers a major problem that a lot of games also suffer - your perks also reduce other abilities.

It is fine to pick a +1 buff, and miss out on another.

It's not fine to pick a +2 buff, and -1 on another at the same time.

That's not fun, realistic, or even immersive.

I don't have a problem with these in theory, but in practice they punish for you hitting 20 in the skill you're getting a boost in since it's a hard capped while you're still eating the malus the entire game.

The only way it can be done well, is if you can lose the negatives i,e Zomboid

But Zomboid suffers the problem of no 'level cap', which means even with diminishing returns, you can still max everything

Tbh, the KCD perks Burgher or Savage were worth it, because they didn't arbitrarily **** another skill.

[rusty_shackleford]

The malus already exists in that you are forced to choose one or the other, you don't need to put another one on top of it.
e.g., the riding perks are something like +stamina/-speed or +speed/-stamina, but that's actually double dipping because they're exclusive. If they had no direct malus, you'd still miss out on one or the other and therefore have comparatively reduced stamina or speed.

[TKVNC]

The malus already exists in that you are forced to choose one or the other, you don't need to put another one on top of it.
e.g., the riding perks are something like +stamina/-speed or +speed/-stamina, but that's actually double dipping because they're exclusive. If they had no direct malus, you'd still miss out on one or the other and therefore have comparatively reduced stamina or speed.

Yeah, it's even more ******* with Sprinter and Marathon Man

Sprinter = more speed, less stamina
Marathon Man = less speed, more stamina

But what it means in gameplay is that you cross less distance with Marathon Man than Sprinter for the same mana cost.

They should simply have gone for Sprinter more speed, 0.75 Stamina

Marathon same speed, significantly less stamina used

[rusty_shackleford]

Who is picking -speed +stamina anyways unless it's not a 1:1 tradeoff? How often do you actually run to the end of your endurance vs just running to get to a location faster?

Way too few perks, too many maluses on them, too many perks that are just "+% [something]" rather than actually unlocking a new gameplay verb. They suck.

[TKVNC]

Who is picking -speed +stamina anyways unless it's not a 1:1 tradeoff? How often do you actually run to the end of your endurance vs just running to get to a location faster?

Way too few perks, too many maluses on them, too many perks that are just "+% [something]" rather than actually unlocking a new gameplay verb. They suck.

It's garbage, and in 99% of scenarios speed will always out perform stamina, especially in a game with actual one shots.

Stamina conservation is also meaningless when outside of 6+ v 1, it doesn't matter - and even then Master Strike, and Perfect Block don't use your stamina

[Rand]

To anyone who's actually played a significant amount of Underrail.
(The Underrail and the Discord were very unhelpful with this question.)

What's the most fun way to play Underrail, combat-wise?

Some say stealth but others say it's finicky and boring.
And the armor and weapons suggestions are all useless for that purpose, except for throwing. Everyone like throwing things that go boom or whatever.

So, any suggestions? Assault rifle goes "brrrrrr"? Pistoleer. Laser pistoleer?
Apparently crossbow kinda sucks unless you build a stealth playstyle aroud it with traps, and even then is a hassle.

[Gunnar]

To anyone who's actually played a significant amount of Underrail.
(The Underrail and the Discord were very unhelpful with this question.)

What's the most fun way to play Underrail, combat-wise?

Some say stealth but others say it's finicky and boring.
And the armor and weapons suggestions are all useless for that purpose, except for throwing. Everyone like throwing things that go boom or whatever.

So, any suggestions? Assault rifle goes "brrrrrr"? Pistoleer. Laser pistoleer?
Apparently crossbow kinda sucks unless you build a stealth playstyle aroud it with traps, and even then is a hassle.

The most straightforward and easiest build I played was AR, either with psi or without. Im not a huge Underrail nerd though. Theres a lot of different builds. Sniper guy was okay but high risk/reward and I didn’t like spear chucker. Crossbow guy seemed kind of weak. Psi is pretty awesome in general. You really need to plan your whole build from the beginning or you can gimp your character.

[MrTwinkls]

To anyone who's actually played a significant amount of Underrail.
(The Underrail and the Discord were very unhelpful with this question.)

What's the most fun way to play Underrail, combat-wise?

Some say stealth but others say it's finicky and boring.
And the armor and weapons suggestions are all useless for that purpose, except for throwing. Everyone like throwing things that go boom or whatever.

So, any suggestions? Assault rifle goes "brrrrrr"? Pistoleer. Laser pistoleer?
Apparently crossbow kinda sucks unless you build a stealth playstyle aroud it with traps, and even then is a hassle.

Playing it right now too. For me waiting in turn based combat is the least fun thing so I am sticking with weapons, tools and skills, that have maximum impact for minimum used action points to make the most out of one turn - light guns, crowd control psi, aoe and movement skills, refurbished Thumper as combat starter, adrenaline.

[wndrbr]

What's the most fun way to play Underrail, combat-wise?

the first time I played Underrail I didn't look up any premade builds, and just tried whatever. My character ended up being an extremely unoptimized jack of all trades (healthy, but not healthy enough to actually tank damage; strong, but not strong enough to use str-based weapons; skilled with guns, but not built well enough to get all the best guns-related feats; somewhat sneaky but not good enough to actually sneak, etc etc). This build made the game hard as balls, but eventually I have managed to beat it utilizing the various consumables and throwables that weren't stat-gated.

You know how usually the most fun part of an RPG are the early hours, when your character is weak and has no items, so you must be very inventive and utilize every little thing at your disposal? Well, my un-optimized build made the whole game into this "early hours in an rpg where you're gimped" segment.

[rusty_shackleford]

You know how usually the most fun part of an RPG are the early hours, when your character is weak and has no items, so you must be very inventive and utilize every little thing at your disposal? Well, my un-optimized build made the whole game into this "early hours in an rpg where you're gimped" segment.

This is good advice for any RPG, people are determined to ruin their own experiences by asking how to play games

[wndrbr]

Apparently crossbow kinda sucks unless you build a stealth playstyle aroud it with traps, and even then is a hassle.

I did a crossbow + traps playthrough, found it to be quite fun and challenging (in a good way). My stat/skills distribution also made it easier to max-out hacking/lockpicking, giving access to a lot of unique items and pieces of lore, as well as opened a few alternative quest branches.

The downside is that the DLC (Expedition) is kinda ill-suited for a sneaky playstyle. It has areas that are filled with trash mobs, as well as a lot of unavoidable combat against very strong opponents.

So, any suggestions? Assault rifle goes "brrrrrr"? Pistoleer. Laser pistoleer?

Assault rifle + tanky armor is probably the easiest, but also the most boring playstyle. You just brainlessly walk into encounters and delete enemies out of existence with automatic gunfire. meh

So, any suggestions?

regardless of the playstyle, you should definitely try crafting. Arcanum and Underrail are the only rpgs i played where i really enjoyed dabbling in crafting system. You don't really need to invest fully into this, you can just dip a couple of level-ups worth of skillpoints to get access to really useful craftable consumables, such as adrenaline shots, health hypos, etc.

[rusty_shackleford]

Would Underrail be worse or better if it combined the various ranged weapon skills into just a generic ranged skill?
(Explain your thinking)

[MrTwinkls]

Would Underrail be worse or better if it combined the various ranged weapon skills into just a generic ranged skill?
(Explain your thinking)

I think it already has a good balance. Not generic enough for all ranged weapons to feel samey and not varied enough to force you into using only one weapon.

[wndrbr]

Would Underrail be worse or better if it combined the various ranged weapon skills into just a generic ranged skill?
(Explain your thinking)

it already has just two ranged skills ('guns' and 'crossbows'). Guns cover energy blasters, chemical (acid/fire) guns, as well as all types of firearms. The specialization mostly happens through feats.

There's also a feat called 'versatility' that makes you skilled in other combat types if you're skilled in one. Pretty useful if you want to combine guns + crossbows (for example, if you plan maining a crossbow and using a chemical pistol as a secondary gun).

[rusty_shackleford]

it already has just two ranged skills ('guns' and 'crossbows').

why did I think it had individual skills for each weapon type

[Humbaba]

I HATE REMAKES
I HATE REIMAGININGS
I HATE SPIRITUAL SUCCESORS
I HATE REBOOTS SOFT OR HARD
I HATE REMASTERS
I HATE X-LIKES
I HATE INSPIRED-BYS
MAKE SOMETHING NEW

[TKVNC]

To anyone who's actually played a significant amount of Underrail.
(The Underrail and the Discord were very unhelpful with this question.)

What's the most fun way to play Underrail, combat-wise?

Some say stealth but others say it's finicky and boring.
And the armor and weapons suggestions are all useless for that purpose, except for throwing. Everyone like throwing things that go boom or whatever.

So, any suggestions? Assault rifle goes "brrrrrr"? Pistoleer. Laser pistoleer?
Apparently crossbow kinda sucks unless you build a stealth playstyle aroud it with traps, and even then is a hassle.

If an RPG doesn't let me run just AR then it's not a real RPG

[Just Locus]

people are determined to ruin their own experiences by asking how to play games

That's why it's a pet peeve of mine to never google things about a game unless it's an Online game (meta-gaming is crucial) - You're only robbing yourself of the enjoyment by googling something at the drop of a hat no matter how tempting it is, especially if you're playing an old game that barely has any signposting. You can only experience something for the first time once, so why ruin it for yourself by looking at guides all the way through to the end?

[maidenhaver]

I HATE REMAKES
I HATE REIMAGININGS
I HATE SPIRITUAL SUCCESORS
I HATE REBOOTS SOFT OR HARD
I HATE REMASTERS
I HATE X-LIKES
I HATE INSPIRED-BYS
MAKE SOMETHING NEW

Something new was already made. All that's left are fans trying to hold onto their fleeting, old school feefees and movie gayms. Vidya's dead, just like music, film, and books.