Junior Adventurer's Guild - April: Mars: War Logs

[logincrash]

- I haven't played Technomancer, so I had no knowledge of the setting going into this. That seemed like a mistake, as it felt like the narrative assumed knowledge I didn't have, such as how the factions related to each other or how big the tech drop was from the pre-Turmoil era. I'd liked to have learned more about the setting, but I didn't get a whole lot about it through the game.

Mars: War Logs has an in-game codex of all the terms and characters and locations. It's pretty short with only a sentence or two, but it is there.
But, yes, it's not explored in the game through cutscenes or dialogue or gameplay, only through text. That lead to a hilarious moment later in the game with there being a huge Dune worm and Roy casually mentioning it like "Hmm, they haven't tied their drill worm correctly." like it's a normal thing. You then have a boss fight with this worm with a huge health bar for it and everything. Nothing like that ever happens again. It feels so out of place, lmao.

[1998]

DONE!

[Tadeusz]

Any suggestions for the badge? Box art doesn't have a lot to work with.

As Valter said, the Circled A is the most "distinct" thing about the cover.

Yeah, but it was pretty bad. Something from the game itself would probably be better. Even if it was just a distinctive weapon. I found an alternate title logo from a key seller site that we can use unless a better idea comes along.

I like this version of a badge but I think the logo can use some contouring or more saturation to distinguish it from the background. Or both.

[J1M]

As Valter said, the Circled A is the most "distinct" thing about the cover.

Yeah, but it was pretty bad. Something from the game itself would probably be better. Even if it was just a distinctive weapon. I found an alternate title logo from a key seller site that we can use unless a better idea comes along.

I like this version of a badge but I think the logo can use some contouring or more saturation to distinguish it from the background. Or both.

Yeah, I like the colors but it could be better overall. Feel free to make some edits and show us what you are thinking.

[Tadeusz]

Yeah, I like the colors but it could be better overall. Feel free to make some edits and show us what you are thinking.

What about this? Made the red logo parts a little more distinguishing.

ap-pin-marswarlogs_modified.png

[Classix]

Had to do some tinkering to get it working 'smoothly' and config key rebinding. [Shift] for run in games; how vile, and it doesn't like being full-screened without studdering unless I play windowed. Getting used to the movement and speeds of actions and timing perfect blocks. Stunlocks from enemy groups is a riot so far...

Marz Worlogs

Daye 1.

Noo arrivels in town
Fite with som space faggits
I wun
Haf to help find som missing peepul in kayf
Pour basturds probly fell throo missing flore mesh
Just had jank baff and reelize...

► Show Spoiler

warslog_mug.png

Mor latur.

, r0oy

[Tadeusz]

Completed. Here's my ending:

► Show Spoiler

Mars_War_Logs_5.jpg

Mars_War_Logs_6.jpg

Mars_War_Logs_7.jpg

Mars_War_Logs_8.jpg

Mars_War_Logs_9.jpg

Mars_War_Logs_10.jpg

Mars_War_Logs_11.jpg

Mars_War_Logs_12.jpg

Mars_War_Logs_13.jpg

Gameplay of the game was pretty basic and somewhat repetitive though the game doesn't overstay its welcome. I liked the game's art style and I think that monsters, buildings and costumes were neat. And there were only White characters so that's refreshing. Overall, the game isn't very deep mechanically but has its charm.

[Valter]

the space dogs look just like the ones in Mass Effect smh

[Valter]

I like the hidden stores that you only get to unlock if you do certain things.

[Tadeusz]

I like the hidden stores that you only get to unlock if you do certain things.

Is it quest related or does a reputation unlocks some new stores?

[Valter]

I like the hidden stores that you only get to unlock if you do certain things.

Is it quest related or does a reputation unlocks some new stores?

So far, quest related

[Valter]

These enemies have tracking technology that would make the NSA blush

[Valter]

► Acta est fabula

Resistance ending. Not a fan of how ******* useless they are without Roy, but the general skeeved me out. Vibes check fail.
But it was a hard choice to make, so props for that.

All in all... kind of a bore. The combat was... meh, shallow and annoying sometimes, especially before you get Technomancy. That part of the combat was more fun
The world and politics involved were intriguing and probably my favourite part about this title. But even then, the potential behind this decent setup was wasted as most of the characters and quests were just so uninspired. They did get better from Act 2 onward, but Act 1 was such a boring slog that it left a strong impression on me.
Yeah, gotta say Act 2 really felt head and shoulders above the others.

In order to end on a more positive note, I will mention that the crafting system and the idea that every upgrade and item is made out of scraps was pretty cool.

[Valter]

Being good gets you a store discount and buffed up companions, which, in my experience, is useless. The companions get swarmed and stunlocked to death by mobs of enemies and you have to clean up the mess by yourself.

Yeah I felt this in the first half of the game, but the Technomancer companion left me pleasantly surprised. Of course she can get stunlocked too if swarmed, but if you manage to draw some aggro away around the start of the fight and allow her to start casting her spells uninterrupted, it's kinda sick to see mobs get stunned or knocked down all the time.

[Tadeusz]

Yeah I felt this in the first half of the game, but the Technomancer companion left me pleasantly surprised.

What build did you play? I made a technomancer build so I found Tenacity more useful as he could tank more damage. Mary was knocked out too fast.

► Show Spoiler

Resistance ending.

How does the resistance ending look like? Is it more uplifting than General ending?

[Valter]

Yeah I felt this in the first half of the game, but the Technomancer companion left me pleasantly surprised.

What build did you play? I made a technomancer build so I found Tenacity more useful as he could tank more damage. Mary was knocked out too fast.

► Show Spoiler

Resistance ending.

How does the resistance ending look like? Is it more uplifting than General ending?

Oh yeah makes sense you wouldn't use Mary. I was a 225HP melee guy with 40% Wounding chance rolling around spreading all the Wound Aids to the people of the land while drinking HP potions like it was kool-aid.
I did also dabble a bit into Lightning Arc later because I needed some stun and flat damage for non-human enemies. Were you pure ranged Technomancy? Maybe you used shields too? I could never get the timing of those right, always seemed like they'd run out before I got to make use of it

► Show Spoiler

I dunno how the other ending is but the Resistance ending was... uplifting but not by much. Innocence was executed. The Dowser was dead, the General was up for trial (your decision, you can just kill him). The people have hope again, but Marcos the Resistance leader is doing some deals with the enemy they're at war with so the new government gets their support, "for the greater good", so there's some foreboding there that he might become corrupt too later. The situation got better, but not by much, which in this dreadful world, is a pretty alright outcome. There is hope but the future is not very bright either.

[Tangerine]

Whenever there're rebels on Mars I assume they're commies.

[logincrash]

Being good gets you a store discount and buffed up companions, which, in my experience, is useless. The companions get swarmed and stunlocked to death by mobs of enemies and you have to clean up the mess by yourself.

Yeah I felt this in the first half of the game, but the Technomancer companion left me pleasantly surprised. Of course she can get stunlocked too if swarmed, but if you manage to draw some aggro away around the start of the fight and allow her to start casting her spells uninterrupted, it's kinda sick to see mobs get stunned or knocked down all the time.

I put Mary on the Defensive because she would cast AoE spells that would damage me directly otherwise. But she did indeed held her own better than Innocence and would rarely get knocked out. I too was a rolly-brawly kinda guy. But I specced into a gunslinger when I found out that the Nailgun is an unblockable spammable attack that also stunlocks literally every enemy but one (shield ****). And by that point in the game I had enough Serum to buy literally over 1000 nails and like 150 health kits. So the last couple of hours got real boring while the rest of the game up to that point was mostly frustrating.

[Valter]

Being good gets you a store discount and buffed up companions, which, in my experience, is useless. The companions get swarmed and stunlocked to death by mobs of enemies and you have to clean up the mess by yourself.

Yeah I felt this in the first half of the game, but the Technomancer companion left me pleasantly surprised. Of course she can get stunlocked too if swarmed, but if you manage to draw some aggro away around the start of the fight and allow her to start casting her spells uninterrupted, it's kinda sick to see mobs get stunned or knocked down all the time.

I put Mary on the Defensive because she would cast AoE spells that would damage me directly otherwise. But she did indeed held her own better than Innocence and would rarely get knocked out. I too was a rolly-brawly kinda guy. But I specced into a gunslinger when I found out that the Nailgun is an unblockable spammable attack that also stunlocks literally every enemy but one (shield ****). And by that point in the game I had enough Serum to buy literally over 1000 nails and like 150 health kits. So the last couple of hours got real boring while the rest of the game up to that point was mostly frustrating.

**** that sounds about right, I had 0 points spent on the nailgun nodes but I still pulled it out sometimes to stunlock technomancers. Interesting to know about the shield boys' immunity. In melee they were just like any other humanoid, so I was wondering what the **** was the point of their existence

[Tadeusz]

Were you pure ranged Technomancy? Maybe you used shields too?

Mostly ranged, yes, though I also used melee and nail gun for some final damage when my energy was low. Final technomancy skill added a neat energy regeneration skill with AoE attack around the character so it was cool getting surrounded by enemies and then dealing them all damage. I didn't use shields much, usually keeping distance from them was enough, which was especially easy with the skill that gives longer roll distance.

[rusty_shackleford]

Did anyone find a better icon for the badge or are we going with @J1M's badge?

[DagothGeas5]

Did anyone find a better icon for the badge or are we going with @J1M's badge?

Tadeusz posted this one that I think was clearer with the red marking, but I am unsure what the final decision is.

Yeah, I like the colors but it could be better overall. Feel free to make some edits and show us what you are thinking.

What about this? Made the red logo parts a little more distinguishing.

[Statesman]

I want your October vote.

Who currently owes you votes?

@Statesman from January
@1998 from this month

Woops, sorry for being too late

[J1M]

Who currently owes you votes?

@Statesman from January
@1998 from this month

Woops, sorry for being too late

You didn't miss anything. I'll be calling my favors in October.

[Vergil]

This month flopped

[DagothGeas5]

I have been "kidnapped" by Wizardry VI, but I have to say that when this game started to do backtracking I had to take a pause. I am liking it so far, but if there is one thing I detest is how I explore an area and then I have to go back to an already explored area where the same rubble pile I already discovered now can be interacted with again, forcing me to go back every section of the game I already explored. I would be fine to do this in some games when there is a good reason given (and I am roleplaying that the item was simply overlooked the first time as there is a lot of trash there), but it feels like it drains me of life force when a game does that

[rusty_shackleford]

I added a badge for it btw @Oyster Sauce

[rusty_shackleford]

On sale for a dollar for a few days on Steam

[cdx]

Done, enjoyed it overall.



I liked the writing style, the setting. Economy was poor, most loot was pointless after the early game, no point in buying or selling anything, or even looting bodies after upgrading the armor/weapon. Maybe it's different on higher than Medium difficulty.

I liked that the enemies were left alive by default, it made the companions falling in most battles and then getting up believable instead of seeming immortal. Fighting was enjoyable once the stick got electrified. Shield, charge, smack, smack, parry, smack, smack, roll, smack, etc. got a bit repetitive but still felt good. Way too many loading screens, too often.

Pleasant game but I couldn't get immersed, don't know if it's the game or me.

I'll most likely miss next month, so I won't nominate a game.

► screens

Items/skills



Random stuff

[Valter]

Economy was poor, most loot was pointless after the early game, no point in buying or selling anything, or even looting bodies after upgrading the armor/weapon. Maybe it's different on higher than Medium difficulty.

Yeah I felt that too and I was on the highest difficulty. The moment I'd buy the best piece of equipment available on the market, I'd find it 30 minutes later off some *******'s corpse Money was just so pointless.