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EEWorzelle · 03-11-2003, 06:56 PM

Do what is fun, that's the only rule!

Expert mode can be fun, depending on your focus. I always play that way because I concentrate of creating powerful parties (usually full size). Expert mode tells me whether I am doing a good job or not, because the quality of the opposition is tougher.

When you tweak a little extra capability out of that Samurai or Priest, it really makes a big difference in Expert mode. I like that and use it to try to verify that character and party development advice is actually valid. This has gotten me into trouble a couple times because something absolutely vital in Expert mode (like getting Soul and Element Shields up first against magically powerful enemies) might be only desirable in Normal mode. Therefore, when I said in some posts that it was necessary, I was... well... wrong. Now I qualify that particular advice. In Easy mode a high level Magic screen might even be enough in some cases.

Very experienced players (like Wereboar) would find the game too easy and not fun if played on normal.

It's just what you find fun, and is very personal. It doesn't really matter, otherwise.

Thus there is no reason not to play a lower difficulty even if you have the skills to handle a higher one, but the opposite is not true. If you play at too high a difficulty at first, before your player skills develop, you will sleep and level-up too quickly relative to the amount of game you travel through. Since you don't get decent equipment or many spells until you reach civilization (your first city or camp), this can lead to trouble, early on. The monsters you face in a region depends upon your level when you enter that region, and they can be up to a few levels higher. It is possible to face too many or too powerful opponents at that time, and... die, no matter what you do or how well you play at that point. If you get stubborn and just persist, you might eventually make it through but it will not be fun and will probably require lots of reloads.

Wizardry is the first CRPG I have ever played where playing on too high a difficulty had a cumulative bad effect. In most games playing on expert before you are ready is very difficult at first but then gets easier. Not this one.

03-11-2003, 06:56 PM	#7
EEWorzelle Manshoon Join Date: October 25, 2002 Location: Gilbert, Az Age: 73 Posts: 234	Do what is fun, that's the only rule! Expert mode can be fun, depending on your focus. I always play that way because I concentrate of creating powerful parties (usually full size). Expert mode tells me whether I am doing a good job or not, because the quality of the opposition is tougher. When you tweak a little extra capability out of that Samurai or Priest, it really makes a big difference in Expert mode. I like that and use it to try to verify that character and party development advice is actually valid. This has gotten me into trouble a couple times because something absolutely vital in Expert mode (like getting Soul and Element Shields up first against magically powerful enemies) might be only desirable in Normal mode. Therefore, when I said in some posts that it was necessary, I was... well... wrong. Now I qualify that particular advice. In Easy mode a high level Magic screen might even be enough in some cases. Very experienced players (like Wereboar) would find the game too easy and not fun if played on normal. It's just what you find fun, and is very personal. It doesn't really matter, otherwise. Thus there is no reason not to play a lower difficulty even if you have the skills to handle a higher one, but the opposite is not true. If you play at too high a difficulty at first, before your player skills develop, you will sleep and level-up too quickly relative to the amount of game you travel through. Since you don't get decent equipment or many spells until you reach civilization (your first city or camp), this can lead to trouble, early on. The monsters you face in a region depends upon your level when you enter that region, and they can be up to a few levels higher. It is possible to face too many or too powerful opponents at that time, and... die, no matter what you do or how well you play at that point. If you get stubborn and just persist, you might eventually make it through but it will not be fun and will probably require lots of reloads. Wizardry is the first CRPG I have ever played where playing on too high a difficulty had a cumulative bad effect. In most games playing on expert before you are ready is very difficult at first but then gets easier. Not this one.