Temple of Elemental Evil discussion thread (merged)
- Thread starter Dark Jezter
- Start date
Simplicity
Explorer
This game is awesome. If you like D&D computer RPGs, you owe it to yourself to check it out.
It models 3.5 rules unbelievably well and it's not klunky to use like Pool of Radiance's combat system was. Did I mention the rules are modeled UNBELIEVABLY well? Item creation? In there. Enlarge Person makes you a hulking giant? Yep. Being prone? You bet. Separately aimable magic missiles? Yep. 5-foot steps? Uh-huh. Pointy-wizard hats? Of course, and a good bargain too.
Part of the big difference is in the "radius-based" modeling of movement and spells. Rather than using 5' squares, the game just uses actual distances and radiuses. It makes more sense, and it's much easier to move your guys in combat.
Spontaneous casting, by the way can be done by holding down the shift-key
when your mouse is over the spell. It's a little tricky getting to use the exact slot you want though for some reason...
Another thing about this game that I like. Combat is BRUTAL. If you play a lot
of D&D computer games, you may have gotten used to Neverwinter Night's relatively easy combat. Oh hell, no. The further I get in this game, the better and better those henchmen in town are starting to look (but I sure would hate splitting my gold with some NPC...). Ironman mode is going to be entertaining...
Sometimes the dialog leaves a little to be desired, but then again I WAS wandering from house to house in the town of Hommlet. Not ever villager
SHOULD have quests for you to finish. Makes things realistic, I guess.
"So, you make pottery then... Uh... Is it evil pottery?"
For those who are playing, a tip... Don't forget to SEARCH when you go into a interesting room. You just might find something. All the things of interest are not immediately available without searching.
The graphics are great. The box really doesn't do it justice. The monster models are really well done. The spell effects can be really cool... Who would have though detect magic would be so pretty...
It models 3.5 rules unbelievably well and it's not klunky to use like Pool of Radiance's combat system was. Did I mention the rules are modeled UNBELIEVABLY well? Item creation? In there. Enlarge Person makes you a hulking giant? Yep. Being prone? You bet. Separately aimable magic missiles? Yep. 5-foot steps? Uh-huh. Pointy-wizard hats? Of course, and a good bargain too.
Part of the big difference is in the "radius-based" modeling of movement and spells. Rather than using 5' squares, the game just uses actual distances and radiuses. It makes more sense, and it's much easier to move your guys in combat.
Spontaneous casting, by the way can be done by holding down the shift-key
when your mouse is over the spell. It's a little tricky getting to use the exact slot you want though for some reason...
Another thing about this game that I like. Combat is BRUTAL. If you play a lot
of D&D computer games, you may have gotten used to Neverwinter Night's relatively easy combat. Oh hell, no. The further I get in this game, the better and better those henchmen in town are starting to look (but I sure would hate splitting my gold with some NPC...). Ironman mode is going to be entertaining...
Sometimes the dialog leaves a little to be desired, but then again I WAS wandering from house to house in the town of Hommlet. Not ever villager
SHOULD have quests for you to finish. Makes things realistic, I guess.
"So, you make pottery then... Uh... Is it evil pottery?"
For those who are playing, a tip... Don't forget to SEARCH when you go into a interesting room. You just might find something. All the things of interest are not immediately available without searching.
The graphics are great. The box really doesn't do it justice. The monster models are really well done. The spell effects can be really cool... Who would have though detect magic would be so pretty...
Heya:
Spontaneous casting: Shift click a spell in the radial spoke thingy. Actually, as soon as you hit shift, the spell names should change in the current level spoke thingy to Cure Light Wounds, etc.
Bug: In the Inn of the Welcome Wench, scrolling stopped working sporadically. Only there and reloading and/or resetting scroll speed fixed it.
RPG: Lots of rpg-ish quests in town, and not just FedEx, either. Kind of feels soap opera-ish, actually.
Rolling stats is _super_ generous.
The only thing they didn't really improve over the version I played at the Comic-Con was the scroll speed. It's still as painful as it was then. Being able to use the arrow keys helps this alot. On the other hand, their pathfinding algorithm seems extremely cpu intensive. Click on an area out of the view circle and it could take quite a while to get there.
I got the game yesterday, but I've only been able to play a few hours so far. Killed a few bandits and a couple spiders, but the vast majority of time has been exploring the town and visiting people. Speaking of which, it's kind of annoying (but only kind of) that locations aren't automatically annotated on the map. Would be nicer if buildings would be marked as "Jakka the Leatherworker's Shop", etc. I just started doing this manually now.
I'm liking the game lots even though I've barely scratched the surface. The thing that makes me the happiest, though, is that this is _clearly_ a very good framework upon which further classic modules could be based. I like NWN because multiplayer can capture the human element of the PnP rpg very well. But it doesn't use the PnP rpg rules. ToEE does, and I like it.
Take care,
Dreeble
Spontaneous casting: Shift click a spell in the radial spoke thingy. Actually, as soon as you hit shift, the spell names should change in the current level spoke thingy to Cure Light Wounds, etc.
Bug: In the Inn of the Welcome Wench, scrolling stopped working sporadically. Only there and reloading and/or resetting scroll speed fixed it.
RPG: Lots of rpg-ish quests in town, and not just FedEx, either. Kind of feels soap opera-ish, actually.
Rolling stats is _super_ generous.
The only thing they didn't really improve over the version I played at the Comic-Con was the scroll speed. It's still as painful as it was then. Being able to use the arrow keys helps this alot. On the other hand, their pathfinding algorithm seems extremely cpu intensive. Click on an area out of the view circle and it could take quite a while to get there.
I got the game yesterday, but I've only been able to play a few hours so far. Killed a few bandits and a couple spiders, but the vast majority of time has been exploring the town and visiting people. Speaking of which, it's kind of annoying (but only kind of) that locations aren't automatically annotated on the map. Would be nicer if buildings would be marked as "Jakka the Leatherworker's Shop", etc. I just started doing this manually now.
I'm liking the game lots even though I've barely scratched the surface. The thing that makes me the happiest, though, is that this is _clearly_ a very good framework upon which further classic modules could be based. I like NWN because multiplayer can capture the human element of the PnP rpg very well. But it doesn't use the PnP rpg rules. ToEE does, and I like it.
Take care,
Dreeble
Simplicity
Explorer
Yes, the lack of map notes is pretty annoying. I've starting marking
every house on the map. And there's a lot to mark. On the plus side,
though, you also don't get the quest itinerary that Neverwinter Nights
gives you. You can't just go to every map point and get everything done.
The journal is the same way. You don't get notes like: I have just talked to so and so... Maybe I should now go talk to so and so.
The game is much more hands-off about what to do next to finish your quests.
And there are certainly bugs, but it's still the first release (and they got the game out AHEAD of schedule... When's the last time you heard that about
a computer game?) One of the more annoying bugs I found recently:
Do NOT wear chain gloves or boots... They'll slow you down even more than just wearing the armor.
In an interview, there was a statement that if this game goes well, they might go for another classic module as a sequel. Against the Giants was their first pick... I don't know how it'll do in general, but I think that this game is a D&D player's dream. If you know the rules, it's great!
every house on the map. And there's a lot to mark. On the plus side,
though, you also don't get the quest itinerary that Neverwinter Nights
gives you. You can't just go to every map point and get everything done.
The journal is the same way. You don't get notes like: I have just talked to so and so... Maybe I should now go talk to so and so.
The game is much more hands-off about what to do next to finish your quests.
And there are certainly bugs, but it's still the first release (and they got the game out AHEAD of schedule... When's the last time you heard that about
a computer game?) One of the more annoying bugs I found recently:
Do NOT wear chain gloves or boots... They'll slow you down even more than just wearing the armor.
In an interview, there was a statement that if this game goes well, they might go for another classic module as a sequel. Against the Giants was their first pick... I don't know how it'll do in general, but I think that this game is a D&D player's dream. If you know the rules, it's great!
Hypersmurf
Moderatarrrrh...
I hear an ugly rumour (can't confirm it first-hand - I don't think the game arrives in this country until mid-October!) that there is no donut Reach.
Longspears, Glaives, and Spiked Chains can all attack at 5' and 10'... which severely devalues spending a feat on Spiked Chain.
-Hyp.
Longspears, Glaives, and Spiked Chains can all attack at 5' and 10'... which severely devalues spending a feat on Spiked Chain.
-Hyp.
Dark Jezter
First Post
mmu1 said:
Right-click on your wizard and choose "Write Magic" from the radial menu. It will allow you to copy any scroll in your inventory into your spellbook.
Pielorinho
Iron Fist of Pelor
Actually, I think it's called, "Copy Scroll," and it's around 8:00 or 9:00 on the radial dial (i.e., around the lower left side). Took me awhile to figure out, too.Dark Jezter said:
Daniel
So anyone have any interesting screen captures they may want to share?
Henry
Autoexreginated
Hypersmurf said:
Confirmed - several guardsmen who have been attacking me with long spears have been able to hit me both standing next to me and a bit away.
One thing that tabletop 3E didn't teach me - Attacks of opportunity HURT! I take steps to avoid them in taletop, but if I'm not paying attention and just click a character to move a certain place, I have gotten TROUNCED before.
I definitely see why Troika said no one has completed it in Ironman mode before - The number of times I've had to reload to avoid death has been phenomenal! Thank God diseases heal themselves over time, or I wouldn't have enough money to buy arrows!
