GameBanshee Forums

Is it just me or does this game severely lack a user-friendly interface and make it really hard to get around?

I've been going for about an hour now and can't even get around the initial town to find the people I need to find, let alone start exploring and getting into combat. I'm finding the game very boring so far.

Maybe I'm missing something. Anyone out there that likes this game have any tips to enjoy it more? I was a longtime P&P D&D'er and love the RPG games (currently NWN2) but this one has been a disappointment thusfar.

The game is actually quite fun. The running around town and talking to people does get a bit tedious. I But alas I quit because I cannot get the patches to work and I cannot loot bodies.

Moving around the town is pretty lame. But the first 5% of the game is very misleading as to what the rest of the game will be like. Believe me, it gets better. The quest crud at the start is lame. The beauty of this game is the combat system, which dominates play as soon as you start getting out of town. By the time you reach the temple, wandering slowly across Hommlett will be a dim unpleasant memory.

I agree the start of the game sucks!
But when leaving town the battles are real hard. I have now run out of arrows and cant find bolts anywhere. I have now installed the CO8 mod and now I dont have to put up with the "fog" in town. Did the mod make the game harder?
Do you have to do all the quests in town?

I think co8 contains the livonya mod, which yes does make combat harder in places.

You definitely don't have to do all the quests in town, though some garner you some nice items, which helps.

If you run out of arrows, you can spawn more with the console. See the sticky console thread for details.

I quit ToEE when I kept getting diced up by a giant crayfish... Never could make it past that and, yes, I think it is very slow & tedious. Maybe I will pick it up again when I finish my current BG2 runthrough...

I have re installed icewind dale, sure is more fun after trying TOEE.

zippythezip before his edit wrote:I have re installed icewind dale, sure is more fun after trying TOEE.
Although nothing to do with this thread, any similar games worth trying?
I have IWD 1 + 2
BG1 + 2
Fallout 1 + 2 +tactics
Jagged alliance.

If you're into TB combat check out Jagged Allience 2, Silent Storm and the old Ufo - Enemy Unknown. Especially JA 2 is unmatched. FO Tactics is mediocre, but still fun. Fallout 1 and 2 is a must no matter what types of games you like but be sure to play Fallout 1 first.

thanks, i edited the post as I only had to look at this site to see other games......Duh!
I sheepishly made an edit........you caught me:laugh:
Just love TB games. Will try silent storm first,
Thanks.

The quests get harder once you leave Hommlet?

Sheesh... I got my ass kicked at the moathouse... everyone is killed within five turns by those freaking frogs. Also at the Emeridy Meadows, I kill a bunch of the skeleton raiders, then try to rest, and more pop up... killing the rest of my party. To me this is not a fun or enjoyable game... especially when Baldur's Gate II and Icewind Dale II are so memorable and great fun...

Granted the one thing I do like about TOEE is the fact that you can put cloaks on your party. Rangers and Rogues look so much better with cloaks on, and your Paladin looks great with a cloak as well... reminds me of the Fellowship of the Ring and their green cloaks. Each party member had worn one.

Have patience, I think ToEE is the best D&D based game out there. It is the one that comes closest to playing a pnp game. IWD and Baldurs are good, but I prefer how combat works in ToEE.

moran wrote:The quests get harder once you leave Hommlet?

Sheesh... I got my ass kicked at the moathouse... everyone is killed within five turns by those freaking frogs. Also at the Emeridy Meadows, I kill a bunch of the skeleton raiders, then try to rest, and more pop up... killing the rest of my party. To me this is not a fun or enjoyable game... especially when Baldur's Gate II and Icewind Dale II are so memorable and great fun...

Granted the one thing I do like about TOEE is the fact that you can put cloaks on your party. Rangers and Rogues look so much better with cloaks on, and your Paladin looks great with a cloak as well... reminds me of the Fellowship of the Ring and their green cloaks. Each party member had worn one.

Give the game a chance. You have a lot of variables to deal with, as the system is simple on the surface but complex underneath. You have to learn the fine points, and it takes time. It might help to learn the 3.5 rules of D&D upon which this game is based. They're available free online here:
The Hypertext d20 SRD (v3.5 d20 System Reference Document) :: d20srd.org

Don't give up on ToEE. It does start a bit slow, that's because your low-level and unfamiliar with the game. When you get a couple levels under your belt, and more options and abilities, it picks up the pace rather nicely. If you're going to quit just because it's hard ( most would say challenging) toughen up, get a little more clever, think tactically. remmber, running away from a fight you're about to lose is not dishonorable, but advisable. Learn how to use your parties abilities to compliment each other, learn how to use all the options available to maximum effect. Most of all, remember it's the challenge that makes it fun and worth playing.

Also, spending some time to roll up some high Ability Scores does pay off, especially for the early part of the game.
Sorcerer's Place - Neverwinter Nights 2, Dungeons & Dragons Online: Stormreach, Dragon Age News has a good walkthrough and party creation advice.

GawainBS wrote:Also, spending some time to roll up some high Ability Scores does pay off, especially for the early part of the game.
Sorcerer's Place - Neverwinter Nights 2, Dungeons & Dragons Online: Stormreach, Dragon Age News has a good walkthrough and party creation advice.

High scores are nice, but not needed for a good game experience. Average scores are just fine, above avg. in the relevant abilities of the class perhaps, but thats up to you. Party composition, however, is vital. Not having a cleric when you need healing right now sux, or a rogue to disarm a trap and open a lock (though others can do it, rogues are best) can make it more difficicult to proceed. Tere are ways around these examples and other problems, if you're willing to struggle with it. This, too, can be as enjoyable as a straight run thru' with a stereotypical party.

That's why I recommended the walkthrough: not so much for straight area-to-area help, but it has great advice on party composition and on the "why?" behind each character.

BTW, great sig. ;-)

GawainBS wrote:That's why I recommended the walkthrough: not so much for straight area-to-area help, but it has great advice on party composition and on the "why?" behind each character.

BTW, great sig. ;-)

I totally agree with a walkthru', especially for those who have not played d-n-d before (or since, say, "basic"). I just don't have the patience to roll 100 sets of stats waiting for that awesome set. 1/2 decent scores are fine with me, if it means I'll be playing in 20-30 minutes instead of a couple hours.
As for the sig. Well, I stole it. It was on another forum, so I took it and hid it here. It can be yours for only 1,000,000 no-bucks.

Reading and understanding basic D&D rules helps a lot. I think the manual has a fairly decent ruleset. Personally, I think spending an extra half hour rolling up decent stats is worth it, especially if you're new, since you can afford a few more mistakes.

Iguess the extra could be worthwhile in crpg's where the ability to role-play thru weaker stats isn't available. As an old-time PnPer from the days of 'basic' DnD, I still believe taking what you get and making the best of it. Unless, that is, you roll three 3's, a 6, and two 9's, or the equivalent.

I agree on roleplaying through it, but since the OP asked for advice with difficult battles, I think he won't benefit much from that. Especially in the early levels will they provide a significant advantage.
Besides, the latest edition D&D is more than ever a mathematical matter on getting the most out of a combat situation.