This game is TOUGH! :)

[Scronan]

Howdy all,

SPOILER SPACE
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
**
*
*
*
*


Well, I spent most of the day playing Wiz 8, and honestly most of my time was spent reloading time and time again in some difficult spots. All I can say is, this game is a true challenge! Its almost a little too hard, and I'm only on normal difficulty. For instance, most of us here are Wizards and Warriors veterans. For the most part, WW is an easy game in the battle sense, save the part where the Amazoni Mantraps come out. Although that was a tough part for me, I've encountered 10+ simillar situations in Wiz 8 so far! Its almost as the whole game is like that, one step in the wrong direction and WIPE OUT! [img]smile.gif[/img]

I first noticed this full bore when I stepped into the Tyrannie forest, and what greeted me but SIX freakin' Rapax warriors. Each one had about 320 HP, and they made mincemeat out of my party. I could have handled 1 or 2, but six? With such high HP, I couldnt even take one out, not to mention some plants and bugs came along to help bite me on the toes whilst I was getting chopped to pieces by the Rapax.

Finally, I reloaded and they didn't spawn or I just lost them, then I bumped into the Picu bird thingys. The small birdies didn't look so tough until the big momma one came out (230 HP) with 8 babies. I was able to wipe them all out, but it took a few tries.

However, none of these battles even come close to those annoying little Wood Sprites. Although they only have 15-30 HP and you can kill them with one good strike, most of the time you never see them and all your characters just die!

No kidding! Usually you just see their little sparkle, and if you sit back and let them cast spells, you're toast. The only option is to rush them and battle them head on. Or use another tactic I call "hide behind the door and SQUASH EM!".

Basically, the sprites will usually wait for you to come to them (which is a stupid thing to do, but unfortunately the only thing you can do sometimes), but if you hide somewhere where they can't target you with your spells, then they'll come after you. A good place to hide is perpendicular to a door way, and when they come through, your fighters will cut them down really quickly. There is a GREAT spot for this on the second bough.

However, the normal case is they do this in rapid sucession:

1) Blind the party
2) Cast Web/Sleep
3) Cast CRUSH (I've seen it do 60+ damage on one person, usually will take a poor Mage out in one shot)
4) Cast Acid Splash, Frost, Whipping Rocks, etc
5) Cast Eye for an Eye (dont cast spells when they do this, or you will PAY!!)

One time, a group of just 5 of these little creatures killed my entire party is less then 30 seconds, and I have 8 characters (Myles, Vi Domina and my party of 6).

So, I'm sure everyone has encountered the same situation, and I bet having some magic screen or magic resistance spells (like I don't) would help with these little flying assassins. I'll have to get those soon and see if they help.

Anyway, loving the game, but damn is it tricky sometimes! I even killed the sprites in the pens because I hate them so much!

DAMN THOSE SPRITES!

Best,

Scronan

[Xignal]

It's been my experience with the Wizardry games that they ALL start out tough. Save and Reload have been my two most common actions so far with Wiz 8, and I'm still on the Road to Arnika! Enjoying (almost) every minute, though...

Xignal

[BlackRaven]

I remember the frustration of Wiz 7, in the beginning. The first time I played (eons ago) I couldn't believe how tough the ratkins were and my first trip out of New City was suicide, took me many replays. I came close to giving up (well, you can't really give up can you?) Anyway, after a little progress in the game, it seemed to get more balanced and the monsters were, if not easier, at least killable. No more tearing my hair out.

I hope Wiz 8 works out the same. My hair's a lot thinner now and being mostly grey, when I tear it out I think it's snowing and start looking for my skis. I'm very easily distracted these days.

I am totally loving Wiz 8! The whole series has been a challenge from the get-go that just gets better every time around.

I'll not even compare it to W&W lol.

Sounds like your trip into the Trynnie forrest was a tough one for sure! I have a couple of Hogars out there but have managed to avoid them so far. (whew!) I did fight some Rapax scouts but was able to take them on one at a time in a doorway in the Archives. Not much EP's for such the big strong fighters that they are!

I went down a rope from the Rattkin tree smack into the flock of birds and wiped them out only to run into the Hogar afterward and I ended up having to reload. I took the other route out of the Rattkin tree that time, but when I went down the rope later, the birds were not there or anywhere else either. (?)
I was able to explore the area and hide from the Hogars while I did.

I'll have to try the door thingie with the sprites. So far, I have been letting a group of Trynnies go ahead of me (at a distance) so that they do all the fighting and I get all the reward. (I am SO not evil!)

As easy as I may seem to have had it, YES...this is one tough game!
Play smart, play hard & play to win!

When I went from Arnika back to the monestary with the Wheel Key...there was nothing but battle after battle after battle the whole way there!
Higardi Highwayman and the Higardi dudes with 120+ HP's, round after round after round! Mix in some blasted plants and ants...I thought I would never get there alive! No time to rest but the one time we hid behind a rock where the area turns to sand...woke up to more waves of Highwaymen...talk about LOOT! I had close to $8000.00 worth of stuuuuufff when I returned to Arnika...and this was all on "Normal" hee hee)

Yeah, Wiz 8! Bring it on!


[ 11-19-2001: Message edited by: Moni ]