Pillars of Eternity 2 - Rath Walkthrough (or not...)

[Rath Darkblade]

Heh. So as you can imagine, I have PoE2 now and it's proceeding well. I just have a few questions:

1. I tried to export my fighter from PoE1, but - ack! - all that PoE2 exported is his name. I lose all my levels, all my stats, all my money, all that neat junk I'd been saving ...

(RAH!!! NOBODY TOUCHES OGHREN'S JUNK AND LIVES!!!)

Anyway. Is that supposed to happen? The game doesn't even import my fighter's "profile picture". When I pressed the "Import" button, it told me I could import a pre-made level 1 character, or ... sigh ... create a level 1 character. What's going on? I'm confused.

2. I got rid of the pirates, crash-landed on the island, did a bit of fighting in a cave (and, alas, died fighting some mechanical copper beastie -- but Eder survived, so he revived me). But now I'm lurching around with cracked ribs (in the game, not in RL). So ... can I rest in this game somehow, and get rid of this cracked ribs injury?

3. I made it to Port Maje, spoke to the governor, recruited Xoti (a priestess, I guess? Useful if she can heal people!), and took care of the squatter at the inn. The game says that "Now I have a place to rest, which should come in handy". But I can't find any way to rest there; when I mouse-over the bed, it doesn't flash as a "usable" thing. Did I miss something?

Thanks! (Oh, and yes - I rescued all four members of my crew, and they started a fire).

[Tawmis]

Heh. So as you can imagine, I have PoE2 now and it's proceeding well. I just have a few questions:
1. I tried to export my fighter from PoE1, but - ack! - all that PoE2 exported is his name. I lose all my levels, all my stats, all my money, all that neat junk I'd been saving ...
(RAH!!! NOBODY TOUCHES OGHREN'S JUNK AND LIVES!!!)
Anyway. Is that supposed to happen? The game doesn't even import my fighter's "profile picture". When I pressed the "Import" button, it told me I could import a pre-made level 1 character, or ... sigh ... create a level 1 character. What's going on? I'm confused.

I can't remember about the import losing everything. But I think it does reset you to Level 1.

2. I got rid of the pirates, crash-landed on the island, did a bit of fighting in a cave (and, alas, died fighting some mechanical copper beastie -- but Eder survived, so he revived me). But now I'm lurching around with cracked ribs (in the game, not in RL). So ... can I rest in this game somehow, and get rid of this cracked ribs injury?

Yes. If I recall you just need to rest.

3. I made it to Port Maje, spoke to the governor, recruited Xoti (a priestess, I guess? Useful if she can heal people!), and took care of the squatter at the inn. The game says that "Now I have a place to rest, which should come in handy". But I can't find any way to rest there; when I mouse-over the bed, it doesn't flash as a "usable" thing. Did I miss something?
Thanks! (Oh, and yes - I rescued all four members of my crew, and they started a fire).

And to Rest - I think it's just "R"

[Rath Darkblade]

I can't remember about the import losing everything. But I think it does reset you to Level 1.

That's a mean trick to play on people. I think I was at Level 15 or so by the end of PoE1.

And to Rest - I think it's just "R"

OK. Can I rest anywhere and any time (a la "Neverwinter nights"), or does it need to wait until I have a room at the inn?

[Tawmis]

I can't remember about the import losing everything. But I think it does reset you to Level 1.

That's a mean trick to play on people. I think I was at Level 15 or so by the end of PoE1.

And to Rest - I think it's just "R"

OK. Can I rest anywhere and any time (a la "Neverwinter nights"), or does it need to wait until I have a room at the inn?

I can't remember where the resting can happen. I think it's only Inns.

[Rath Darkblade]

Hmm. I've noticed that, as long as I'm on the island where I start (where Port Maje is), I can only rest on the beach - not at an inn. (Once I hit the big city - Kakajeka (or whatever its name is) - then I can rest in the inns).

Anyway. I've been playing this game for a few hours (help! It's incredibly addictive! ), and I've done quite a few things. I sailed off to the big city, and there completely explored the slums, including the thieves guild and associated stuff, AND the Old City under the slums. That giant grub thingy proved to be a bit of a pain, but I eventually beat it. I also resolved the Bardatti-Valera infighting, and bought myself some fancy-schmancy cannons and sails and such for my ship. Last I had a look, my party hit level 7.

There are still heaps of quests to do, though. This game feels 3 times as big as POE1. Did it strike you as gigantic, Tawm? Maybe un-manageably so?

[Tawmis]

There are still heaps of quests to do, though. This game feels 3 times as big as POE1. Did it strike you as gigantic, Tawm? Maybe un-manageably so?

No, because the quest log always made it easy.
Have you found any unnamed islands yet?

[Rath Darkblade]

Not yet. I've been too busy running around the huge town, doing quests for everybody, and using the money to buy equipment/outfit my ship. That struck me as sensible, because one of my crew (Irrena, I think? The one where the barrel rolled over her leg?) was still convalescing, so I thought I'd give her time to heal.

I still haven't been to at least two or three parts of the city. Isn't it "better" to finish all the big-gigantic-city quests first (thus building up experience, money, etc.)?

By the way: when I was at the palace, I came across Pallegrina (sp? the paladin woman) and a new aumua (sp?) sharpshooter. But I already have four people in my party: Eder (a warrior), Xoti (the priestess), Serafen (the cipher) and, um ... someone else. The other one. Thingy. Tip of my tongue. Aloth! The wizard! That's it

Is there an "ideal" party configuration? My character's a rogue, so my party has rogue, fighter, priestess, wizard and cipher. I'd like to learn more about these two new people, so who should I kick out? My idea was replace fighter with paladin (they're both tanks), and replace cipher with sharpshooter (they both use guns). Does that sound right?

[Tawmis]

Not yet. I've been too busy running around the huge town, doing quests for everybody, and using the money to buy equipment/outfit my ship. That struck me as sensible, because one of my crew (Irrena, I think? The one where the barrel rolled over her leg?) was still convalescing, so I thought I'd give her time to heal.
I still haven't been to at least two or three parts of the city. Isn't it "better" to finish all the big-gigantic-city quests first (thus building up experience, money, etc.)?
By the way: when I was at the palace, I came across Pallegrina (sp? the paladin woman) and a new aumua (sp?) sharpshooter. But I already have four people in my party: Eder (a warrior), Xoti (the priestess), Serafen (the cipher) and, um ... someone else. The other one. Thingy. Tip of my tongue. Aloth! The wizard! That's it
Is there an "ideal" party configuration? My character's a rogue, so my party has rogue, fighter, priestess, wizard and cipher. I'd like to learn more about these two new people, so who should I kick out? My idea was replace fighter with paladin (they're both tanks), and replace cipher with sharpshooter (they both use guns). Does that sound right?

Everyone's play style is different - I like picking up as many as I can and rotating through them, because they all have little quests of their own.
The thing with doing big quests - that'd technically mean - you should forego everything else and chase what was "awakened" in the intro.
This is what I disliked.
Why would these character run around helping a town and doing side quests when the big thing is literally marching to potentially end the world. And you're well aware of it.

[Rath Darkblade]

Because it's a role-playing game, and there's no clock ticking down? And therefore the big gigantic thing will be there for me to stop regardless of when I get there?

(Also see: you know you've played too many role-playing games when...)

[Tawmis]

Because it's a role-playing game, and there's no clock ticking down? And therefore the big gigantic thing will be there for me to stop regardless of when I get there?

Yes. Most CRPGs, you EVENTUALLY learn of the big bad/world ending event.
With this one - it's IN THE INTRO.
And it made it difficult for me (this might be a me thing), to really enjoy it. All these other quests seemed utterly unimportant. What do I care if two factions are fighting?
It won't matter if the end of the world happens.
What do I care about monsters attacking farmers?
It won't matter if the end of the world happens.

It just made it, for me, difficult to fully enjoy PoEII. Odd thing, perhaps to get stuck on. But all the quests feel so insignificant because of how it opened.

[Rath Darkblade]

Heh. It made it funnier for me. Yes, there's a great big statue walking around and making trouble. But regardless of what I do, when I get there, it will always have departed.

Therefore, I don't need to rush around like a maniac. Let's take a step back, smell the coffee, enjoy the scenery, listen to the crazy locals, and do a few quests! Huzzah!

Besides, it makes no sense to go rushing after it. If I don't spend time to build up my party stats, then when I finally catch up with it, it'll squash us flat. No party, no adventure, and the world ends anyway.

[Tawmis]

Heh. It made it funnier for me. Yes, there's a great big statue walking around and making trouble. But regardless of what I do, when I get there, it will always have departed.
Therefore, I don't need to rush around like a maniac. Let's take a step back, smell the coffee, enjoy the scenery, listen to the crazy locals, and do a few quests! Huzzah!
Besides, it makes no sense to go rushing after it. If I don't spend time to build up my party stats, then when I finally catch up with it, it'll squash us flat. No party, no adventure, and the world ends anyway.

While, technically true (building up the party) - which is true of every CRPG.
But the way of ... introducing it how they did... I just feel like it made me disconnect from the game.
Because it really feels like the character, in my view, would have been, "Sorry, I have more pressing matters to attend to."
Like I said, probably just a "me" thing.

And this was one of the things that bugged me about PoEII. Unlike PoE1, it builds up the story - and all that's unfolding.
This one literally has a stone titan who is going to end the world for "world peace" or whatever right in the intro.
So I didn't feel like there was a build up to the big story, and it made me less interested in the smaller stories/quests.

However, I did enjoy sailing.
I did enjoy exploring.
I did enjoy the characters you get.
I did enjoy messing around with the ship.
There's something else I enjoyed, but I know you've not done it yet, so I don't wanna spoil it.

[Rath Darkblade]

Huh. Well, here's something I've been meaning to ask (but now need to know...)

How do I manage my party? I can't find any way to swap and change them around. I tried all kinds of ways. I heard that I needed to go back to my ship to do it, so I tried -- but there doesn't seem to be any way to do it. Any ideas?

[Tawmis]

Huh. Well, here's something I've been meaning to ask (but now need to know...)

How do I manage my party? I can't find any way to swap and change them around. I tried all kinds of ways. I heard that I needed to go back to my ship to do it, so I tried -- but there doesn't seem to be any way to do it. Any ideas?

You're not alone in wondering. I remember this being something a lot of people asked.

You can do so at a tavern. When you are on your ship there is a spot in the lower left where you can change party members.

[Rath Darkblade]

Thanks. (Ack! It's a quarter-to-one-am ... this game is way too addictive! ... need sleep! ... but before I do, one more question...)

Pallegina the Paladin (what a name...) wants me to find some fancy-shmancy animancer. I tracked him down to a low-dive tavern, and from there he was kidnapped and taken to some place called Dunnage -- an island, I guess? But any idea how I get there? *shrug*

This game (and map) are seriously huge.