Just got it!

Tarjan · 07-30-2003, 08:44 AM

A while back, I asked people on this forum if they'd recommend Wizardry 8 for me based on what other games I've enjoyed. Everyone who answered gave me a resounding YES!, so I went out and bought it a few days ago. Now I just want to say THANK YOU! This is one of the most well-balanced, addictive RPGs I have ever played on a computer! I'm not far into it, mind you (still in the Monastery), but I'm having a great time watching my characters advance (they're level 5 and 6 now), and the combat system is the best I've seen. I think I can safely say that it was $12 well spent!

Xen · 07-30-2003, 08:56 AM

Welcome to the boards [img]graemlins/thewave.gif[/img]

I am glad you like the game! Enjoy!

Nightowl2 · 07-30-2003, 11:23 AM

Good for you, Tarj. Just one thing: don't take your team any higher in level, because the road to Arnika becomes progressively more difficult. Most stop at 5, and some even lower. I found 5 to be all I could handle, and sometimes not.

Nightowl2

Tarjan · 07-30-2003, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Nightowl2:
Good for you, Tarj. Just one thing: don't take your team any higher in level, because the road to Arnika becomes progressively more difficult. Most stop at 5, and some even lower. I found 5 to be all I could handle, and sometimes not.

Nightowl2

Thanks for the tip, Nightowl. But I thought I'd be better off building up my characters now so that the later parts of the game aren't as tough... or does it not work that way? If the enemies just get tougher right along with me, what's the point in advancing? Why not just complete the game with level 1 characters? I remember the fun I had in Bard's Tale 3 when my party got incredibly tough while exploring Tenebrosia... I could just plow through most fights like they were nothing.

Bungleau · 07-30-2003, 04:50 PM

Oh... NOW you tell me not to level up until after I've gone to Arnika. After trying that battle five times last night and dying miserably each time... Sheesh! What's this world coming to when a game is actually a challenge?

Guess that's what I get for lurking

From what I understand thus far, the battles are geared towards your level, so the higher you are, the higher your opponents are. No more cakewalks...

'Course, I'm only out the door towards Arnika, and I haven't seen much yet. There are still plenty of placed for me to get stuck at [img]smile.gif[/img]

Nightowl2 · 07-30-2003, 05:40 PM

Actually, it's a combination of your level, the area you're in, and a bit of randomness that could send some really nasty stuff your way sometimes.

Each area has its min-max monsters, and there's no telling what will turn up at any time. However, the higher in level your party, the better chance you have of meeting monsters that are more max than min

For the Arnika road, therefore, 5th level is what most of us stop at, and then build up once we're in town. I'm not saying things will be easier after that, but you'll be better equipped to handle the challenges.

Nightowl2

EEWorzelle · 07-30-2003, 06:37 PM

The open road when you first hit it in this game is very difficult for new players. Once you reach the first city or camp, you have access to more equipment and spells that can improve both the offense and defense of your party without going up in level.

In this game, monsters randomly generated when you enter a new area are determined by your level. At Level 1, the random monsters outside might be Sand Crabs, at higher level tougher creatures, etc.

The reason some players recommend not going above Level 5 in the Monestary or even all the way to Arnika, is to keep the type and level of the competition down to a lower level.

I never wait much on level-ups myself and have no problems at all, but many, even veteran players do. It depends to some degree on the party you play.

Two other techniques you can apply in addition to or instead of holding off on level ups are lowering the difficulty level to "Easy" and avoiding as many battles as possible, before reaching the first city or camp. Also getting in a good defense position for the battles you do fight (like in a nook where enemies can't surround you) is good.

If you do get surrounded and... die, even after a reload, then just backup to an earlier save, or start again and know that it is just the difficulty of the game, that we all ran into at first. In time you will come to appreciate that the game never becomes ridiculously easy.

[ 07-30-2003, 06:42 PM: Message edited by: EEWorzelle ]

the mighty stamar · 07-30-2003, 08:31 PM

It amazed me as well, far exceeded my expectations.

I also think it is the best combat system in an rpg ever made. Get the wizfast utility though.

Tarjan · 07-31-2003, 09:33 AM

Thanks for all the tips. I'm a little disappointed to hear that there isn't a reward for improving my characters, though. To me, the fun in an RPG comes from building up a powerful party that can then overcome obstacles that used to be too difficult for them. If the opponents increase right along with me, it will feel like I'm never making progress or getting any better.

Also, how do I avoid "leveling up"? I'm still finding my way through the monastery and getting into fights, so naturally as I win fights, my characters gain experience and they level-up. Most of my party is now near Level 7, and I'm afraid that by the time I actually get out of the monastery, I may be level 8, and the game will become unbearably tough. This is the first RPG that I've ever heard of in which you try NOT to improve your characters, and I don't like that idea at all! It contradicts the whole point in a good RPG. There should be a sense of satisfaction when gaining a level, and now I'm just nervous whenever I win a fight, thinking "I hope I didn't get enough experience to gain another level... darn it! I did!"

Deejax · 07-31-2003, 10:14 AM

Not leveling up does not mean trying to avoid gaining experience. It means not using the experience to advance in levels.

When you have enough experience to advance a level a cross apear next to your character. Clicking it brings you to the character screen where you can choose skill and attribute increases and, if applicable, new spells.
But you do not have to do this. When you are eligible for a new level, you still gain experience and still gain skill increases.
This trick allows you to get through the monastery and the arnika road without much difficulty. And when you have reached arnika you can advance as much levels as your experience allows.

Personally, I do not like this tactic. If I can advance a level, I advance a level. It does mean I have to be more careful on the road, possibly running away from every encounter there. But I make it to Arnika too.

As for the party-level dependent monsters. There are set enemies that do not increase in level as the random monsters do. So increasing in level is necessary to beat the game. And every area has a level cap, so when your level is higher some areas are much easier to traverse.

It may seem a bit annoying for the monsters to depend on your level but Wizardry 8 is a very open game. I would find it much more annoying if i came to a new area to find all the battles way too easy because I chose a different route than expected. This way every new area is a new challenge!

Enjoy!

07-30-2003, 08:44 AM	#1
Tarjan Dungeon Master Join Date: July 16, 2003 Location: Skara Brae Age: 50 Posts: 52	A while back, I asked people on this forum if they'd recommend Wizardry 8 for me based on what other games I've enjoyed. Everyone who answered gave me a resounding YES!, so I went out and bought it a few days ago. Now I just want to say THANK YOU! This is one of the most well-balanced, addictive RPGs I have ever played on a computer! I'm not far into it, mind you (still in the Monastery), but I'm having a great time watching my characters advance (they're level 5 and 6 now), and the combat system is the best I've seen. I think I can safely say that it was $12 well spent! __________________ \"Speak not the name of the High One so loudly, lest he awaken,\" the priest says. \"Enter the catacombs, believer.\"<br /><br />\"Fifteen doors east, and thou art there. On souls they feast in the dark one\'s lair.\"

07-30-2003, 04:50 PM	#5
Bungleau 40th Level Warrior Join Date: October 29, 2001 Location: Western Wilds of Michigan Posts: 11,752	Oh... NOW you tell me not to level up until after I've gone to Arnika. After trying that battle five times last night and dying miserably each time... Sheesh! What's this world coming to when a game is actually a challenge? Guess that's what I get for lurking From what I understand thus far, the battles are geared towards your level, so the higher you are, the higher your opponents are. No more cakewalks... 'Course, I'm only out the door towards Arnika, and I haven't seen much yet. There are still plenty of placed for me to get stuck at [img]smile.gif[/img] __________________ B Save Early, Save Often Save Before, Save After Two-Star General, Spelling Soldiers -+-+-+ Give 'em a hug one more time. It might be the last.

07-31-2003, 09:33 AM	#9
Tarjan Dungeon Master Join Date: July 16, 2003 Location: Skara Brae Age: 50 Posts: 52	Thanks for all the tips. I'm a little disappointed to hear that there isn't a reward for improving my characters, though. To me, the fun in an RPG comes from building up a powerful party that can then overcome obstacles that used to be too difficult for them. If the opponents increase right along with me, it will feel like I'm never making progress or getting any better. Also, how do I avoid "leveling up"? I'm still finding my way through the monastery and getting into fights, so naturally as I win fights, my characters gain experience and they level-up. Most of my party is now near Level 7, and I'm afraid that by the time I actually get out of the monastery, I may be level 8, and the game will become unbearably tough. This is the first RPG that I've ever heard of in which you try NOT to improve your characters, and I don't like that idea at all! It contradicts the whole point in a good RPG. There should be a sense of satisfaction when gaining a level, and now I'm just nervous whenever I win a fight, thinking "I hope I didn't get enough experience to gain another level... darn it! I did!" __________________ \"Speak not the name of the High One so loudly, lest he awaken,\" the priest says. \"Enter the catacombs, believer.\"<br /><br />\"Fifteen doors east, and thou art there. On souls they feast in the dark one\'s lair.\"

07-31-2003, 10:14 AM	#10
Deejax Manshoon Join Date: November 15, 2002 Location: Amsterdam Age: 49 Posts: 248	Not leveling up does not mean trying to avoid gaining experience. It means not using the experience to advance in levels. When you have enough experience to advance a level a cross apear next to your character. Clicking it brings you to the character screen where you can choose skill and attribute increases and, if applicable, new spells. But you do not have to do this. When you are eligible for a new level, you still gain experience and still gain skill increases. This trick allows you to get through the monastery and the arnika road without much difficulty. And when you have reached arnika you can advance as much levels as your experience allows. Personally, I do not like this tactic. If I can advance a level, I advance a level. It does mean I have to be more careful on the road, possibly running away from every encounter there. But I make it to Arnika too. As for the party-level dependent monsters. There are set enemies that do not increase in level as the random monsters do. So increasing in level is necessary to beat the game. And every area has a level cap, so when your level is higher some areas are much easier to traverse. It may seem a bit annoying for the monsters to depend on your level but Wizardry 8 is a very open game. I would find it much more annoying if i came to a new area to find all the battles way too easy because I chose a different route than expected. This way every new area is a new challenge! Enjoy! __________________ <img border=\"0\" alt=\"[firedevil]\" title=\"\" src=\"graemlins/firedevil.gif\" /> Fire...

07-30-2003, 08:56 AM	#2
Xen Symbol of Moradin Join Date: June 5, 2002 Location: Slovenia,Ljubljana Age: 37 Posts: 8,554	Welcome to the boards [img]graemlins/thewave.gif[/img] I am glad you like the game! Enjoy!

07-30-2003, 11:23 AM	#3
Nightowl2 Galvatron Join Date: December 11, 2001 Location: Plateau of Leng Age: 47 Posts: 2,190	Good for you, Tarj. Just one thing: don't take your team any higher in level, because the road to Arnika becomes progressively more difficult. Most stop at 5, and some even lower. I found 5 to be all I could handle, and sometimes not. Nightowl2

07-30-2003, 05:40 PM	#6
Nightowl2 Galvatron Join Date: December 11, 2001 Location: Plateau of Leng Age: 47 Posts: 2,190	Actually, it's a combination of your level, the area you're in, and a bit of randomness that could send some really nasty stuff your way sometimes. Each area has its min-max monsters, and there's no telling what will turn up at any time. However, the higher in level your party, the better chance you have of meeting monsters that are more max than min For the Arnika road, therefore, 5th level is what most of us stop at, and then build up once we're in town. I'm not saying things will be easier after that, but you'll be better equipped to handle the challenges. Nightowl2

07-30-2003, 06:37 PM	#7
EEWorzelle Manshoon Join Date: October 25, 2002 Location: Gilbert, Az Age: 73 Posts: 234	The open road when you first hit it in this game is very difficult for new players. Once you reach the first city or camp, you have access to more equipment and spells that can improve both the offense and defense of your party without going up in level. In this game, monsters randomly generated when you enter a new area are determined by your level. At Level 1, the random monsters outside might be Sand Crabs, at higher level tougher creatures, etc. The reason some players recommend not going above Level 5 in the Monestary or even all the way to Arnika, is to keep the type and level of the competition down to a lower level. I never wait much on level-ups myself and have no problems at all, but many, even veteran players do. It depends to some degree on the party you play. Two other techniques you can apply in addition to or instead of holding off on level ups are lowering the difficulty level to "Easy" and avoiding as many battles as possible, before reaching the first city or camp. Also getting in a good defense position for the battles you do fight (like in a nook where enemies can't surround you) is good. If you do get surrounded and... die, even after a reload, then just backup to an earlier save, or start again and know that it is just the difficulty of the game, that we all ran into at first. In time you will come to appreciate that the game never becomes ridiculously easy. [ 07-30-2003, 06:42 PM: Message edited by: EEWorzelle ]

07-30-2003, 08:31 PM	#8
the mighty stamar Avatar Join Date: February 12, 2003 Location: hades Age: 55 Posts: 583	It amazed me as well, far exceeded my expectations. I also think it is the best combat system in an rpg ever made. Get the wizfast utility though.

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