Pillars of Eternity 1 - Rath Playthrough

[Rath Darkblade]

Hmm. Why are quests hidden away like this? If I knew this quest existed, I'd try and do it. But I didn't even know about it.

Did the writers think "Let's see how well we can hide these damn things, so the players won't find them and get frustrated" or something?

[Tawmis]

Hmm. Why are quests hidden away like this? If I knew this quest existed, I'd try and do it. But I didn't even know about it.
Did the writers think "Let's see how well we can hide these damn things, so the players won't find them and get frustrated" or something?

As I said earlier in this thread - it depends on what you did - or more so, who you talked to, more frequently - to "unlock" quests.

You can go through Pillars of Eternity without picking up people along the way or doing all those side quests, and still complete the game, if you don't talk to them or tell them you're not interested.

That's why I emphasized, talk to ANYONE who has a unique name (rather than "Commoner", "Noble", "Guard", etc., but in one case - you actually NEED to talk to a guard in one of the cities for part of a quest) - some will just have some dialogue - some will give / unlock quests.

[Rath Darkblade]

Fair enough. Just don't talk to the ones with the golden names, 'cos they're only there because they were part of the kickstarter to get this game off the ground? Am I right?

[Tawmis]

Fair enough. Just don't talk to the ones with the golden names, 'cos they're only there because they were part of the kickstarter to get this game off the ground? Am I right?

I believe that's the case. But I can't recall if any have quests. (There may have been some KS Tiers that say if you donate X amount, your character will provide a side quest).

[Rath Darkblade]

Hmmmm ........ well, I started replaying it as a rogue. So far everything is fine. I just wonder what PoE2 is like -- is it simply more of the same (just different quests), or ...? Do you have "prestige classes" (like D&D - e.g. Assassin, Blackguard, Arcane Archer etc., but different? Or is it simply straight fighter/rogue/cleric/etc.?)

I also haven't really touched on the White March yet, except go to the village and fight off the ogres. I presume there's loads and loads to do there, too?

[Tawmis]

Hmmmm ........ well, I started replaying it as a rogue. So far everything is fine. I just wonder what PoE2 is like -- is it simply more of the same (just different quests), or ...? Do you have "prestige classes" (like D&D - e.g. Assassin, Blackguard, Arcane Archer etc., but different? Or is it simply straight fighter/rogue/cleric/etc.?)
I also haven't really touched on the White March yet, except go to the village and fight off the ogres. I presume there's loads and loads to do there, too?

Don't remember about Prestige Classes or not for PoEII. I just remember it was similar to PoE1 in that regard when you level.

As for PoEII.

It's ... different. It's enjoyable. But I much prefer PoE1. Which is saying something - because the majority of PoeII - you're essentially controlling your own sea faring ship.

It's just... how it starts. Something happens from the VERY beginning.

Where... the idea of you running around doing "side quests"... seems like.... something you shouldn't be doing.

I won't spoil it. But if you get it, you will see what I mean. The opening creates an URGENT sense of something.

That... you just... have to ignore...

It's weird.

Like I said, it's a good game - and it's fun discovering islands which you then get to name.

But it definitely has a very different ... overall feel.


And you didn't do the White Marsh stuff on your first play through?

[Rath Darkblade]

Er, no. (I didn't do the battle against Lord What's-his-face that challenges me for control of Caed Nua, either). I thought I'd have time for that after I dealt with, er ... Arxion? Axion? The Big Bad, whatever his name is. But then I beat him, and the credits rolled, and that was that. I thought PoE would let me do it all afterwards, like Skyrim does. Now I know.

As for PoE2 ... sounds weird. The opening drops you right into some great evil ... and then you HAVE to ignore it? I don't understand. In PoE1, you can ignore the main quest and run around doing little side-quests to build up XP and so on. But you don't have to ignore it - you can press right on, if you want.

But in PoE2, the game basically forces you out of the Main Quest? What, does it say something like "Never mind about the Great Evil!!! Let's go and fight giant rats instead" or something?

[Tawmis]

Er, no. (I didn't do the battle against Lord What's-his-face that challenges me for control of Caed Nua, either). I thought I'd have time for that after I dealt with, er ... Arxion? Axion? The Big Bad, whatever his name is. But then I beat him, and the credits rolled, and that was that. I thought PoE would let me do it all afterwards, like Skyrim does. Now I know.
As for PoE2 ... sounds weird. The opening drops you right into some great evil ... and then you HAVE to ignore it? I don't understand. In PoE1, you can ignore the main quest and run around doing little side-quests to build up XP and so on. But you don't have to ignore it - you can press right on, if you want.
But in PoE2, the game basically forces you out of the Main Quest? What, does it say something like "Never mind about the Great Evil!!! Let's go and fight giant rats instead" or something?

No. It's more like...

Imagine, you're at home. You learn Nuclear bombs are headed for your country. You have a day to do something about it.

But on your way to go do it - all these people are like, "Can you get my cat out of the tree?"

Like why would you stop to do something that - compared to the larger picture - is so trivial?

But, you kind of HAVE TO DO it - to build up your characters, meet new party members, etc.

So it's weird - that it STARTS with this REALLY BIG BAD thing happening RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU...

But you have to do all these side quests and forget about the urgency of what you just witnessed.

[Rath Darkblade]

OK, well ... that's common to a whole bunch of CRPGs.

In Skyrim, you see the Great Big Evil (Alduin the dragon) before you even START to advance from level 1. But people keep asking you for little favours: find my sword in a camp of brigands, deliver these ingredients to the alchemist, etc. (In one instance, even "talk to the farmer and get my wagon fixed!")

In DAO, you have to do something about the Bllght. But what's the first quest, if you're a human noble? Do something about these rats!

In Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion, you have to stop Mehrunes Dagon (the Daedric Lord of Destruction) from opening up Oblivion Gates all over the place. But people still keep asking you for favours: have pity and spare a coin for a beggar. Help a merchant to find out why another merchant is undercutting her. And if you join the Fighter's Guild ... do something about the rats!

Even PoE1 does that. You start off with a mysterious illness that soon latches on to your soul. And what's next? Never mind all that! Help a miller 'cos the neighbours are stealing his wheat! Help some guy in a temple to find the bones of the priests! And so on.

I can't remember this sort of thing happening so much in NWN1, though - at least not in the first chapter. "By Jiminy! How many of you are in there?!"

[Tawmis]

OK, well ... that's common to a whole bunch of CRPGs.
In Skyrim, you see the Great Big Evil (Alduin the dragon) before you even START to advance from level 1. But people keep asking you for little favours: find my sword in a camp of brigands, deliver these ingredients to the alchemist, etc. (In one instance, even "talk to the farmer and get my wagon fixed!")
In DAO, you have to do something about the Bllght. But what's the first quest, if you're a human noble? Do something about these rats!
In Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion, you have to stop Mehrunes Dagon (the Daedric Lord of Destruction) from opening up Oblivion Gates all over the place. But people still keep asking you for favours: have pity and spare a coin for a beggar. Help a merchant to find out why another merchant is undercutting her. And if you join the Fighter's Guild ... do something about the rats!
Even PoE1 does that. You start off with a mysterious illness that soon latches on to your soul. And what's next? Never mind all that! Help a miller 'cos the neighbours are stealing his wheat! Help some guy in a temple to find the bones of the priests! And so on.
I can't remember this sort of thing happening so much in NWN1, though - at least not in the first chapter. "By Jiminy! How many of you are in there?!"

I don't want to spoil POEII in the event you get it.
And maybe you won't feel as I did when you play it.
But when... what happens happens in the intro... and you jump up to do what you need to do...
It just seems so weird to do a bunch of other little quests, that are unrelated to the big event happening.

[Rath Darkblade]

I might get POE2 eventually, when it goes on special. I have to finish POE1, first! I still haven't done the civil war bit, yet. Or the White March. And I just came across the "Brave Derrin" quest, and finished that. (Although it felt like it was unfinished).

[Tawmis]

I might get POE2 eventually, when it goes on special. I have to finish POE1, first! I still haven't done the civil war bit, yet. Or the White March. And I just came across the "Brave Derrin" quest, and finished that. (Although it felt like it was unfinished).

Very nice. Yeah, I'd recommend PoE2 if you can find it on sale.

[Rath Darkblade]

OK -- started on the White March portion now! I've done most of the quests in the little village (Stalwart, I think?) and all the quests in the western portion of the map (where the frozen forest and lake/pond are). I also helped make peace with the ogres, killed the druid-werewolf, etc.

Just wondering: what is the deal with that nearly-naked badly-scratched guy? The game says he's a monk. He wears no armour (except "monk's armour", which offers no protection at all). Shouldn't I give him some armour, weapons, or some kind of protection? Otherwise, he's bound to get killed fast, right? *shrug* Sorry, I don't know anything about fantasy-monks.

[Tawmis]

OK -- started on the White March portion now! I've done most of the quests in the little village (Stalwart, I think?) and all the quests in the western portion of the map (where the frozen forest and lake/pond are). I also helped make peace with the ogres, killed the druid-werewolf, etc.

Just wondering: what is the deal with that nearly-naked badly-scratched guy? The game says he's a monk. He wears no armour (except "monk's armour", which offers no protection at all). Shouldn't I give him some armour, weapons, or some kind of protection? Otherwise, he's bound to get killed fast, right? *shrug* Sorry, I don't know anything about fantasy-monks.

Well, since I don't know the coding behind POE... I can only go by D&D.

Monks in D&D are purely DEXTERITY base, so putting armor on them can impede their movement (as a lot of armor will not allow to take advantage of your DEX bonus). So often times - it will say a Monk's AC is 13 + DEX BONUS. So if you have a DEX Bonus of +2 - then your AC is 15. Which is pretty good.

[Rath Darkblade]

Fair enough. *smile*

In the meantime -- huzzah. I finished the entire White March portion (at least, part 1, including the wise-cracking golem thief), and got was access to a (rather underwhelming) forge. *shrug* I call it "underwhelming" because it takes 3 iron ingots to enchant one weapon/armour/etc., and the whole dungeon has 8 of them. So i can enchant 2 pieces of armour, or 2 weapons, and the other 2 ingots go in the garbage.

So maybe I should put that on a T-shirt. "I dungeon-crawled the White March (part 1), and all I got was this stupid forge." Sounds good?