Road to Arnika - Warning possible spoiler

[Scronan]

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Howdy all

Anyone gone to the Arnika road yet? I went out there since I had done all I could find in the upper and lower monastary, and boy did I get my party killed going on the road! First a gang of huge crabs clawed us to kibble and bits. After that I reloaded and ran around the crabs, then I encountered some Higardi Raiders that beat the living crap out of us many times!

So, time to reload and level up some more. The party is all at level 6, but I think you need to be around 9-10 to survive out there! Arnika road is not for the faint of heart, and I'm only on normal difficulty.

Ouch! [img]smile.gif[/img]

Best

Scronan

[Sazerac]

I'm on Level 6-7 with my characters, but with proper spells and strategy, you can make it out there on Arnika Road. I wasted 3 Higardi Highwaymen last night before heading to bed, used Rik's (my Bards) "Sleep" lute, the "Web" spell Wulfgar, my Priest had, and Jennalei, my Mage, blasted with Fireball and Magic Missile. The rest of the characters (Fighter, Valkyrie, and Ranger) whaled on them until they fell.

And, yes, I'm playing at Normal difficulty. From what the manual said, all Expert does is make it harder to hit the monsters, and make it easier for them to hit you. It doesn't seem to have any perceptible effect on the experience you get. Normal is HARD in this game! *whew* It's good to have a challenge.

Is anyone here playing at Ironman level? I can't believe someone would actually try that, but there's some die-hards out there that might. Me, I just content myself with getting through the game.

Cheers,

[Knarfling]

I think the only advantage to having high difficulty is the number of random monsters you encounter. I am on expert (because I am a masochist, I think) and on the road to Arnika I ran into two different sets of crabs (both sets had hardshell and venom crabs), two sets of bandits, and a set of wasps.

I may be wrong about the more monsters, but it seems like it. (I hope that it is, because otherwise there is no advantage to playing on expert.)

Because I fight more monsters, I could possibly get more exp, not because each is worth more, but because there are more of them. I did not spend much time building characters or levels, just tried to go straight through and my characters were level 7 when I left the monastary.

Good Luck!
Knarfling

*******Tactical (potential) Spoiler**********


I left the Monastery at level 6 and went to Arnika... but I did it using a trick I learned in Might & Magic. First, pick a defensible spot, preferrably a cleft or corner where you can back in and avoid being surrounded. Then, start scouting out your enemies. Travel slowly, always checking your radar and visuals. Most often, the monsters are in motion when you spot them. Keep a careful eye on the groups movement, when they begin to come towards you, back up. When you are one or two 'runs' away from your chosen spot, engage the group. Use a debilitating attack such as flash powder, terror, or sleep. Also take advantage of the first round for blessing, armorplate, & any other protection you have. A successful attack should thin the numbers of opponents by making some of them run away, out of contact range. Use the run option to move closer to your preferred combat spot, drawing the remaining foes with you. When you have dispatched the few who followed you, rest a bit and go after the rest.
I have used this pretty successfully against groups of 9 Higardi Roustabouts, cutting them down to 2 or 3 at a time, which my fighters can handle, especially in a narrow space where they can only come in one at a time. Of course, a couple of times I got caught by groups of thirty or more Ants and Higardi.... which is why I save a lot
Hope this helps.

[Scronan]

Hi All,

Hmm, well I think a lot of my problem is my party. Having two Faerie's at the front line didn't help matters any. The Faerie Ninja is not real powerful yet, and while the Monk is, they have really low hit points (around 48-50 each at level 6). So, they fought well but got slaughtered pretty easy.

Then, I have a Felpurr and Rawulf who are both magic classes (Mage and Bishop), but their spells do certainly help. Then an Elven Priest and a Gnome Valkrye. They both have good HP, but I still think my party will be hard to develop with so many weaker races.

It was like that in Wiz 7, but after they got to a certain level (20 or so), this combonation was unstoppable.

Wiz 8 is A LOT harder, and I do welcome the challenge. However, I'm seriously thinking of redoing my party, perhaps getting rid of one of the Faeries since I need a front line fighter who had some HP, CC and doesn't die so easy!

And I don't have a Human...and I need someone named Scronan or the game just wont be the same. [img]smile.gif[/img]

It only took me about 2 hours to re-do when I re-rolled them as magic users in Wiz 7 and then brought them over. I may have to forsake bringing some good items over and perhaps making all new characters.

I loved my Wiz 7 party, but in Wiz 8 they just aren't quite up to snuff.

So, I'm thinking of a Human Ranger and I do want to try out a Mook, and I have to have one Bard/Gadgeteer character so I can use all those trinkets I've been finding! [img]smile.gif[/img]

Alas...I think I must start over again.

Best

Scronan

[Sazerac]

WOOF!!!

Gheez, this game! Now I see what you meant, Scronan! Get this, y'all: I'm playing at normal level, and this is what I get attacking me at one time:

5 Mogdi's (lizardmen)
8 Higardi Highwaymen (avg. HP 75 each)
6 Higardi Highwaymen
4 Bloodvines
4 Red Poppies (?) (I think they're cousins of the freakin' MANTRAPS)

and I'm only level 7, and I STILL haven't found Arnika yet!!!!

It took me 40 minutes to play through that thing...no SAVING, mind you, like you could do in the middle of combat in WW...just barely finished in time to get back to work. My mage died on me, and I barely resurrected her at the last minute to get the 12,000+ XP from that mess! Lots of level ups, and now nearly everyone is level 8.

Sheesh...and this is just Chapter 1????? GAHHHH!

Ah well...

[Ian Currie]

The thing to keep in mind is that monsters are *roaming* out in the wilderness (and on the roads, so there's going to be a huge variance in the monster groups players encounter.

The first time I played, the trip from the monastery to Arnika was almost deserted. Sounds like the original poster met with some bad luck.

This can be compounded if after one fight you rest - because while you rest, monsters are still roaming around (and new ones are spawning).

A good thing to get used to in this game is *avoidance*. Don't feel you have to fight everything you see. Move out of the way, hide behind something, whatever, if you need to.

[Scronan]

Hi Ian,

Wow, is this the real McCoy? Welcome to Ironworks, and thank you for visiting the board! And thank you for the game, its really a lot of fun, and well worth any waiting we had to do! [img]smile.gif[/img]

Well, I sure found Arnika to be a death trap the first time! I did outrun the crabs, but in one battle I was faced with 5 Higardi Rogues (exact name unsure) and each had about 120-140 HP and a bad attitude to boot.

They surrounded me on all sides, and did 2x backstabs that did in excess of 20 damage EACH HIT! Needless to say, my characters got their asses handed to them in less than one minute. [img]smile.gif[/img]

I sure love the challenge of this game! As I had mentioned, my party was just too weak so I went back Wiz 7 (again) and this time I have a winning combonation:

1. Elf Ranger - Formerly a level 35 Lord, I needed a Ranger and that Elven Bow just loves to stick around. Can't see how I got around without his help, Ranges are AWESOME in this game. I must say Ian, this was a welcome addition. In just about every RPG I've played, Rangers have always been wimpy and I've avoided them since they never have matched up to the other elite classes. Not anymore! [img]smile.gif[/img]

2. Felpurr Mage - Formerly a level 32 Samurai, I need a Mage and once he beefs up on spells, he'll take up the Bushido code once more!

3. Rawulf Priest - Formerly a level 34 Samurai - Well, I think this furry guy would make a great Lord one day, and I need a Priest.

4. Gnome Valkrye - Formerly a level 36 Valk, I decided to keep her as is. The Stun Rod is just amazing in her hands! Also she came over with a Crusader Helm which is very nice. I got to see "Cheat Death" in action today. Amazing, she got killed, then suddenly was passed out with half of her HP left! [img]smile.gif[/img]

5. Mook Bard - New character, I had to ditch those two wimpy Faeries, oh well I've had enough of the Cane of Corpus anyway. I've never had a Mook, so its a fun change. She's going to be the parties tinkerer, and I think she'll make a great Gagdeteer and/or Rogue one day.

6. Human Fighter - New character. Affectionately named "Scronan of Valeia", whats the fun of playing a CRPG if you can't play your alter ego? Don't know what I'll do with him, but he's a great front line warrior!

So, I'm just getting into the upper monastery now, but the game flows MUCH better with this balanced party.

Saz - Had a taste of the Arnika Road Blues eh?

Funny thing here "Arnica" is a type of medicine actually used in Homeopathy (something I study and have taken for the last 10 years) for pain from bruises, cuts, sore muscles etc.

I'd say its the same for Wiz 8 as well! Ha ha! [img]smile.gif[/img]

I'll be back Arnika road, and this time I take no prisoners!!!

Best,

Scronan

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ian Currie:
The thing to keep in mind is that monsters are *roaming* out in the wilderness (and on the roads, so there's going to be a huge variance in the monster groups players encounter.

The first time I played, the trip from the monastery to Arnika was almost deserted. Sounds like the original poster met with some bad luck.

This can be compounded if after one fight you rest - because while you rest, monsters are still roaming around (and new ones are spawning).

A good thing to get used to in this game is *avoidance*. Don't feel you have to fight everything you see. Move out of the way, hide behind something, whatever, if you need to.

---

Having gotten to Arnika fairly easily, I can attest to these statements being true.
Sometimes I feel so cheated!
(Other times I feel so lucky! )
I am loving the game!

[Sazerac]

Wow! If this really is THE Ian Currie, my hat's off to you for a totally fabulous game. LOL, I hope I didn't give you the impression I was too upset...it's been a long time since a game has given me this much of a run for my money. And, yes, I've done my share of "running" and "dodging" as well so far...it's just that I almost ran into another foe that appeared to have 400+ HP in the distance, and...well, let's just say I decided to take my chance with the rogues and the weeds instead.

So far the game is fantastic, and nary a bug! Of course, the Wizardry series has always proven to be a quality product, and I'm glad to say that this game bears that out as well.

Scronan, I've yet to encounter crabs, but I've found enough rogues to fill a sewer with! It was definitely a "blast from the past" to see the Savant Troopers again.

The hilarious thing, my friend, is that we have identical parties by class! Fighter, Valkyrie, Ranger, Bard, Priest, Mage. Different races though...slightly. I've got a couple of Rawulfs; one for the Priest and one for the Valkyrie, 3 Humans (Fighter, Ranger, and Bard), and an Elven mage. Since the bard found the Pipes of Piercing, he's rocking BIG time now, and he and the mage are mopping up most of the damage. This is a game in which spellcasting is a MUST.

I just wonder how long it will be before some yayhoo decides to tackle the game as a solo?

Cheers,