Journal 7.0, diary of Aria Joyce, an auramaster, Updated: Final notes Options

[pekkae]

It is fine not to optimize coins in your first run. If everyone was supposed to reload and reload until they get the optimized result, all games would become similar to each other.

Ingredient A is just there to annoy you and prevent you from optimizing your coins. Don't buy it next time.

Yup, got the fruit & drop from the ambush.

Hmh. We are here to optimize though. That's just how my head works. For me, optimizing increases replayability, as I figure out additional details about how to approach everything.

This gives us ideas though. I need evaluate about my overall approach.

[Sikret]

I meant it is fine for the "first run" if you do not grasp the economical solution of how to optimize the coin gain. You will optimize it in your second run and after.

[critto]

is that doable?

The harder spellhold? Probably, the golem fights might be more challenging, but depending on party composition it should be doable. Having a F/I would definitely help. In my own recent testing game, I started with F/I and Neera as a sorceress, but later I changed Neera to Wild Mage and dropped F/I in favor of Imoen in Spellhold. I was really missing F/I tanking capacity for the golem fights in Spellhold.

Doing lots of content in ch3 is definitely an option, but I have never been a fun of it because it throws off the balance for a lot of content in CH4-5 and does not leave much to do in CH6.

[pekkae]

is that doable?

The harder spellhold? Probably, the golem fights might be more challenging, but depending on party composition it should be doable. Having a F/I would definitely help. In my own recent testing game, I started with F/I and Neera as a sorceress, but later I changed Neera to Wild Mage and dropped F/I in favor of Imoen in Spellhold. I was really missing F/I tanking capacity for the golem fights in Spellhold.

Doing lots of content in ch3 is definitely an option, but I have never been a fun of it because it throws off the balance for a lot of content in CH4-5 and does not leave much to do in CH6.

Then again, it probably messes up the following druid stronghold encounters as well? (messes up as in they are not balanced anymore?)

And if so, then this run would not serve it's purpose anymore - as in the sole purpose of the run is to try the new stuff as it is meant to be played and give a little bit of feedback .

I think the next encounter is in spellhold. However, do we return to Brynnlaw post spellhold? I'm asking because I'll micro-optimize quest order a little bit in order to make sure we fit within the xp cap (as in do all that is not necessary pre spellhold post spellhold, dwarf, minor things, trolls, shadows etc.)

This post has been edited by pekkae: Jun 19 2024, 06:50 PM

[lroumen]

To be honest, because of the randomized drops and not knowing when I could forge certain critical items (in my opinion), I always finished everything in chapter 2/3 before going to Spellhold.

Ideally the storyline is to skip certain content because saving Imoen seems like an emergency, but after you have done that, saving your soul seems much more of an emergency. I would technically rather rush the later chapters to a close.

This post has been edited by lroumen: Jun 19 2024, 06:46 PM

[pekkae]

To be honest, because of the randomized drops and not knowing when I could forge certain critical items (in my opinion), I always finished everything in chapter 2/3 before going to Spellhold.

Ideally the storyline is to skip certain content because saving Imoen seems like an emergency, but after you have done that, saving your soul seems much more of an emergency. I would technically rather rush the later chapters to a close.

Well, makes sense to me.

I think I'll try this in a future run at some point!

[critto]

Then again, it probably messes up the following druid stronghold encounters as well? (messes up as in they are not balanced anymore?)

Yes, the encounters would definitely be easier for you.

I think the next encounter is in spellhold. However, do we return to Brynnlaw post spellhold?

Yes, this part hasn't been changed. There are certain novelties, but they are post-Spellhold.

[pekkae]

Hey,

After the underdark exit ...

'Is there a timer on the reginald the ghost - part?

or the next buried ambitions - part?

I'm looking to go to WK next, but I'm asking just in case.

(testing says no, but I thought I'd make sure... )

This post has been edited by pekkae: Jul 4 2024, 02:06 AM

[bulian]

SPOILER!

Reginald ghost quest does not have a timer. I believe Buried Ambitions does have a 7 day limit but that was implemented after my testing.

[pekkae]

Alright! Cheers!

So it's designed to be done at least quite fast after breaking through underdark - I assume.

Will head there then.

[pekkae]

Finished the druid fight, the ferrou Gan - one.

SPOILER!

anything I need to do - I got the scroll from Firkaraag's but nothing triggered. Also. the druid @ grove just says I have a few days a best etc.

[SparrowJacek]

pekkae
SPOILER!

If I understand your current situation, you should come back to Felaern at Helter Steps with the scroll and talk to him.

[pekkae]

Right, thanks SparrowJacek!

But I don't need to go there straight away, I can finish funfinished stuff first?

[nicoper]

Right, thanks SparrowJacek!

But I don't need to go there straight away, I can finish funfinished stuff first?

You don't need to go there straight, I would strongly advise to gain as much exp and gear as possible before

[pekkae]

You don't need to go there straight, I would strongly advise to gain as much exp and gear as possible before

Ok, thanks!

"as much as possible" is quite the tall ask , we're still not sure how we can get 1,2Mexp from the supreme golem at wk.

Have the Vecna locations been changed? I haven't come across it yet, I have no idea where it's at. the variable says #3.

And could someone hint me the location of warblade? I think I've found it with Kruin, but it wasn't there.

This post has been edited by pekkae: Jul 6 2024, 02:30 PM

[nicoper]

[And could someone hint me the location of warblade? I think I've found it with Kruin, but it wasn't there.

Same here, did not find Warblade in my run

[pekkae]

Thanks, that's good to know!

It does look like it's still in the game.

It's an important piece of equipment for me though.

[Sikret]

Warblade is sold by Ribald.

Value 3 means Robe of Vecna is with the mage in Alhoon's hideout.

[pekkae]

Thank you!

Didn't find Vacna there (I had a look earlier).

Found the Warblade, great! Will update journal soon.

This post has been edited by pekkae: Jul 6 2024, 04:52 PM

[Sikret]

SPOILER!

The new logic for the location of robe of vecna is this:

(1) In Irenicus dungeon, a value between 1 to 4 is set. value 1 and 2 are Ancient dragon and Layyen. Value 3 is Alhoon's hideout and value 4 is Kaol. Kaol's chance is 12.5% at this stage for non-necromancer and 50% for necromancer.

(2) If you attack Samia without finding the tomb, Kaol will not drop the robe even if the value is 4.

(3) If you find the tomb and Samia shows up and the value is set to 4, Kaol will check if you are a necromancer or not. If you are not necromancer and the value is 4, Kaol will set the value to 3. The robe will then be in Alhoon's hideout.

(4) If you go to Alhoon's hideout before meeting Kaol, the game will check the value and if it is not 3 or 5, it will be set to 3. You will find the robe there in that area unless you had found it earlier with Kaol or Layyen or the Great Wyrm (meaning the value is 5).

The only scenario in which you can find the robe with Ancient Dragon or Layyen is that you go to meet them before Alhoon's hideout and the value is either 1 or 2.

So, if you have not found the robe at all, the only scenario that I can think of is that you had attacked Samia without finding the tomb and the value was 4. But you said the value was 3 which makes things confusing.

Critto can shed some more light on this topic. My original idea was to add a code to Waukeen's Promenade area to simply set the value at 3 for non-necromancer protagonists, but Critto suggested to add the code to AR0711.bcs to create more diverse scenarios.

So far two people have reported that they have failed to find the robe.