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Re: CF-WRUP IV: play stuff, talk about it.

Posted: Wed May 30, 2018 1:28 pm
by John Layfield
Wow gotta play that campaign. I bet it's a real page-turner.

Re: CF-WRUP IV: play stuff, talk about it.

Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2018 1:19 am
by True Perception
Probably needless to say, since I've been up to the wee hours playing it, but I'm really enjoying Horizon, so far. I do think it's a bit amusing that:
Spoiler :
They are a Goddess-based, matriarchal society all because the ancient technology was programed with a female voice. Has me wondering about this "Sun Thor"...

So, it seems like snippits here and there point towards this being a future Earth scenario. Could be cool to see them go forward with that more. Though, if this is Earth, I want one of those Focuses!

Re: CF-WRUP IV: play stuff, talk about it.

Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2018 12:36 pm
by Falcon Critical
It does deal with that more as you progress, so look forward to it.

Re: CF-WRUP IV: play stuff, talk about it.

Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2018 6:35 pm
by True Perception
What's up with this out of game area message? Aren't the invisible walls enough? I like exploring, but I don't want to lose shit because I explored too far, too soon.

Re: CF-WRUP IV: play stuff, talk about it.

Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2018 6:42 pm
by Delthazar
It only does that if you're trying to walk out of the actual map, like, where there's not actually anything to explore. Just turn around.

Re: CF-WRUP IV: play stuff, talk about it.

Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2018 7:31 pm
by True Perception
I looked it up online, and one guy was saying he got that in an area where hunts and supplies were. As long as it doesn't cause me to miss anything, I guess it's fine, but apparently it can be very sudden at times. This time I was walking behind a building to jump on top of it, so I just scooted away from the wall and it was fine.

Re: CF-WRUP IV: play stuff, talk about it.

Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2018 1:29 am
by Delthazar
I should drop some hot Horizon pro strats!

- You've probably already done this, but you can totes return to the first ruin as an adult and get into a few new areas. At least one of the collectibles is there.

- Some categories of these collectibles also double as bonus story material if you check 'em out in your inventory and logs. The Vantages in particular are strongly recommended for this purpose.

- Like before, I doubt you missed this, but one of the relatively few spear upgrades is available super early as a sidequest reward.

- Fast travel packs (and the materials to craft more) drop regularly with most loot, but there's an unlimited version you buy fairly early that's very highly recommended.

- Activate every campfire you can, even if you don't need to save. You'll probably thank yourself later.

- Talk to every merchant you see at least once if only to get their free samples. Also, pretty much every merchant in the game should sell collectible maps which make hunting those things down way easier and faster (though there's usually environmental cues for most of 'em too + Focus signatures if yer close enough, should you feel like roughing it.)

- Almost 100% of the time, the full sidequests in Horizon are probably all worth doing, especially the ones in chains, and often for more raisins than just their rewards. Errands aren't generally too important though. Activities which don't fall into either category could be more useful than they appear, for instance...

- Hunting Grounds are worth doing for more raisins than you might expect. At least grabbing a few suns from the first one is recommended to help with other stuff later on. Grounds are also great for early XP I think and cheevos if you care about those - I think most of the cheevs I'm still missing are Hunting Grounds related.

- Tallnecks are probably worth checking out as soon as they come up. You'll know 'em when you see 'em.

- Likewise, checking out the Cauldrons is another super strong optional priority with all kinds of benefits. Just make sure you're prepared... uh... maybe overprepared in some cases...

- Clearing out Bandit Camps and Corrupted Zones doesn't have quite the same utility or long-range benefits as the other activities but they should still contain a fair amount of useful stuff, including collectibles.

- Finally (for now) be careful with how quickly you decide to check out the Frozen Wilds content. It's accessible almost immediately after you're able to leave the first area, but it gets quite difficult quite fast. I don't know if there's a recommended level for it but I'd probably estimate it at no lower than LV. 20 unless you're very careful or really know your shit.

Re: CF-WRUP IV: play stuff, talk about it.

Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2018 3:11 am
by True Perception
You mean a spear crafting upgrade, or a new spear. I found the former. Don't know where.

Yeah, I fell down the hole while running. Got the battery, and other stuff.

Unlimited travel pack, you say? I did notice, after my visit to Mother's Heart, that they were piling up, but infinite is nice.

I found the first two Metal Flowers by exploring, but those maps are nice.

I have yet to come across a Tallneck, but I see one on my map. It seems like they're this games towers?

I don't know what a Cauldron is yet. I have found a group of corrupted. Got my ass kicked a couple times. Maybe, I'll heed that level 15 suggestion.

I played the first hunt quest twice (that's where I ended last night). The one where you shoot cannisters off the Grazers backs. I thought 3:17 was a pretty good time, but apparently not. I might stick around for the tier three prize. It did teach me that you can two shot them pretty easily, from the right angle. I did see those higher two arrow and three arrow skills. Those would be nice to have, but are a ways off. Too bad you need the heavy weapon skill to get there. I don't usually care for heavy weapons.

Re: CF-WRUP IV: play stuff, talk about it.

Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2018 2:34 pm
by Delthazar
True Perception wrote:Unlimited travel pack, you say? I did notice, after my visit to Mother's Heart, that they were piling up, but infinite is nice.

[...]

I don't know what a Cauldron is yet. I have found a group of corrupted. Got my ass kicked a couple times. Maybe, I'll heed that level 15 suggestion.

I played the first hunt quest twice (that's where I ended last night). The one where you shoot cannisters off the Grazers backs. I thought 3:17 was a pretty good time, but apparently not. I might stick around for the tier three prize. It did teach me that you can two shot them pretty easily, from the right angle. I did see those higher two arrow and three arrow skills. Those would be nice to have, but are a ways off. Too bad you need the heavy weapon skill to get there. I don't usually care for heavy weapons.
I think the game calls the infinite travel pack the Golden Fast Travel Pack, though I forget what you need to buy one. You probably won't see one until you reach the first somewhat major trading town. Like a lot of the higher quality items, you'll need shards plus a few barter items for the trade, but the barter stuff is usually easy enough to find - and like crafting, you can add the items you need to your quest log as Errands, and good locations to find those things should then show up on your map.

With that in mind, take a moment now and then to hunt wildlife. Pretty much every animal has at least two or three materials you'll need for something eventually. The sooner you get your crafting rolling, the sooner you'll unlock more inventory slots and stuff, and that's super useful later, even with the new inventory QOL skill stuff added by Frozen Wilds.

Re: Corrupted enemies, that's a good point to start experimenting with elemental attacks, and different approaches to combat in general, at least once you start seeing Corrupted stronger than Watchers. The one elemental ammo type you need, you should already have, 'cause getting it is an early story bit, but there's stronger versions later. The Hunting Grounds are good ways of getting you used to all your tools and teaching different tactics. It can be easy to ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ off things like traps and bombs and some of the more specialized heavier weapons, but they can all have their uses...

There's often more than one approach to Hunting Grounds challenges, too. I think a lot of people smashed those Grazer challenges by scaring the herd down one of the trenches, then knocking down all the log traps. Or even just by using sonic arrows to knock off more than one canister per shot. I don't remember how early you get access to the slings and stuff but keep those in mind, too.

Re: CF-WRUP IV: play stuff, talk about it.

Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2018 3:56 pm
by True Perception
I hadn't noticed you could set your own Errands. I'll have to look for that.

I stopped hunting animals for a bit after leaving the first area, until I noticed I couldn't upgrade things without certain meats and bones. Haven't hunted many rabbits. Gotta try to bag more of them. Foxes are a bit annoying, too. Everything else, I can just run down. Here, turkey turkey!

Speaking of Watchers, I tried to control one yesterday, and was quite amused when it turned, charged, and headbutted the shit out of a Grazer! One-shotted it. I've been clowning those things the whole game, but apparently they are dangerous as fuck if you aren't prepared.

Hmm, traps... I wonder what would happen if I laid down a bunch of shock traps in a row, and stood behind them, before shooting at the Corrupted to aggro them. Then again, if fire is their weakness, as you suggest; maybe bomb traps would be better. I might have to explore this. After saving specifically for this purpose.

I haven't learned about log traps yet, but I might just explore that area to better my time. I was thinking of seeing if I can use that shoot from a wire skill to get a good position.

Re: CF-WRUP IV: play stuff, talk about it.

Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2018 4:10 pm
by Delthazar
From what I still remember about animal hunting... one shot from the small bow should be enough for anything smaller than a boar. Once you can notch multiple arrows at once then boars should go down just as easily, too - or the DOT from a single fire arrow, even. The spear is also a one-shot if you're stealthed or fast. I don't remember if Harvest arrows multiply drops for wildlife like they do for machines.

Heh, I've never seen a Watcher do that. Funny stuff. But yeah, any chance you get for an override is usually worth taking 'cause the chaos it can cause is often totally worth it, especially in super tense group fights, or if yer sneaking into what will probably become a super tense group fight.

Bomb traps, fire traps, and the tripwires and sling ammo for both, plus the normal fire arrows, are all great options for most Corrupted, yeah. This is where I usually setup big killzones with wires and bombs and try to lure or kite 'em to their deaths. But small Corrupted shouldn't last much longer than their standard versions once they're on fire.

Re: CF-WRUP IV: play stuff, talk about it.

Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2018 8:13 pm
by True Perception
Nailed that corrupted section. A little rough, but it all worked out. I laid down all my electric traps, but forgot how to do the bomb traps. Started by hitting each one with fire arrows. Then, one of the fuckers decided to run far around my traps. By the time I dealt with that one, the first corrupted got through my gauntlet, so I had to shift focus, then as soon as I finished that one, I got overrun by one, and then another. Lot of dodging and heavy swings weeded the rest. I was kind of surprised when it said I succeeded. For a second there, it looked like it was going sideways. Got my first Tallneck, too.

Re: CF-WRUP IV: play stuff, talk about it.

Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2018 3:17 pm
by True Perception
Took out a corrupted group of bulls and a fire beetle with a hit and run fire arrows tactic. Didn't even notice they were corrupted until I beat them.

Re: CF-WRUP IV: play stuff, talk about it.

Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2018 3:25 pm
by Delthazar
Bellowbacks are tons of fun if you specifically target their fluid canisters. The AOE blast when that goes can be super useful with the right timing and positioning.

Re: CF-WRUP IV: play stuff, talk about it.

Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2018 4:06 pm
by True Perception
Holy shit, fliers?! I kept hearing noises, but not seeing anything, and suddenly: Corrupted Glinthawk. Fuck me!

Re: CF-WRUP IV: play stuff, talk about it.

Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2018 4:15 pm
by Delthazar
Weird that you'd encounter a corrupted Glinthawk before the normal versions. And yeah, there are totes flying enemies, though not too many of 'em. The Glinthawks behave a little like Scrappers, so there's a chance they'll show up around downed machines. Otherwise they tend to hang out most often at higher elevations.

They can be annoying, especially in groups, but they do have at least one serious weakness to fire which'll force 'em to land, or you can even try using a Ropecaster to tie 'em down. Either way, a grounded Glinthawk is easy work.

Re: CF-WRUP IV: play stuff, talk about it.

Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2018 5:52 pm
by True Perception
Yeah, I burned the shit out of both of them. Went through about two stacks of herbs in the process. The first one didn't ground out from fire. Just lost some elevation.

This was in the section where you help the war chief raid some bandits by that old Colosseum looking building. I stopped just after destroying the three camps. I'll take out the rest tomorrow. Actually, I've seen two or three new machines for the first time in corrupted form. Chargers and Glinthawks. I think the chicken thing I fought was normal. Redeyes were first seen corrupted, too, I think. Maybe I'm taking a weird path through the game. Pretty much just bouncing from camp to camp, and hunting collectibles along the way. A couple of them don't seem reachable yet. Otherwise, I'm just not seeing some yellow handholds somewhere. I wonder how many of those deskphone looking things I've missed...

Actually, those things carry a nice bit of story and, I guess, character moments? It seems odd to think of them that way, but they are a little endearing. Still don't know what caused the machines to rise up, but rise up they did, it seems. That one with the malfunctioning food replicator and tomtom was a little ominous.

Re: CF-WRUP IV: play stuff, talk about it.

Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2018 4:06 pm
by Delthazar
I forgot to pause my Humble this month so I guess I'm checking out Hearts of Iron IV. I might actually have less idea what I'm doing with this one than Europa Universalis IV or Crusader Kings 2.

But you can play as Canada so that's something! Gotta buy an expansion to unlock their unique Focus tree, of course. Pfft. I imagine that's the same for all the not-England commonwealth nations, yer New Zealands, yer Australias, etc. But I might just punch through this first campaign as quick as possible and then load up the big Fallout mod and leave that on forever.

Re: CF-WRUP IV: play stuff, talk about it.

Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2018 7:41 pm
by Delthazar
Also jumping into Tales of Berseria just so I don't forget about it forever. The Steam version has potentially severe audio issues, so anyone who's picked up this version should keep that in mind. At best, you might never get the bug, or like in my case you'll be able to clear it with a reboot. At worst you might need to try a fan-made patch from the Steam forums which doesn't seem to work 100% of the time.

The bug completely kills all audio except in the anime cutscenes, so that's kind of a gamebreaker. Anyone who gets the bug and can't fix it within two hours should probably just refund and grab the PS4 version.

Re: CF-WRUP IV: play stuff, talk about it.

Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2018 8:07 pm
by Bier_Engel
Well, that's shitty. Sorry you had to deal with that. I've had no issues with my PS4 version. I'm at the very end and still need to beat it, actually...

Re: CF-WRUP IV: play stuff, talk about it.

Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2018 11:22 pm
by Delthazar
It's an odd question, but have the Tales games always played like this? Granted I haven't touched one since Vesperia ten years ago (christ) but I feel like the combat is quite different now. Maybe I'm just being thrown off a bit by the change in camera perspective.

Actually, Berseria kinda plays how Yakuza looks. If you've gone that deep in this then maybe you'll feel right at home fighting with the crime boys afterall.

Re: CF-WRUP IV: play stuff, talk about it.

Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2018 9:55 am
by Delthazar
So, is there an upside to upgrading old gear all the way up to +10 vs. just buying new stuff as new shops open up? Dismantling everything that drops and hoarding materials vs. upgrading whatever, whenever? This game feels very easy so far, so I suppose it might not matter that much.

Re: CF-WRUP IV: play stuff, talk about it.

Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2018 11:27 am
by Bier_Engel
Combat has definitely changed. I played Abyss, Zestiria and Berseria all in a row and they all had different systems. Zestiria's was really not my jam, to be honest, but I got through it somehow. They're all different than Vesperia's and that one is still my favorite.

I'm at the very end of the game, doing side quests before the last boss, and I've yet to get any equipment that high. I think it involves a lot of intentional grinding and manipulation of enemies (pulling multiples, doing so when the meter is high for bonus, ending with a mystic arte) to even get the right materials to drop at a certain point. I just don't bother.

My method is that I dismantle everything I don't need (after I've learned the skills with everyone) and upgrade current equipment that I'm learning skills from. I've had a mostly easy time.

I should probably pick this up and beat it today after ignoring it for months... it's that side quest explosion near the end that always overwhelms me.

Re: CF-WRUP IV: play stuff, talk about it.

Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2018 2:23 pm
by Delthazar
Yeah, I think I'll follow yer example re: equipment stuff for this one. Do some casual upgrading here and there since the gap between outright new items appearing either in shops or in drops feels pretty long.

The way items carry skills you can learn with use also reminds me a lot of Lost Odyssey, so I appreciate that little addition. And like in LO it probably means I'll be keeping at least one of every equippable item on me at all times, just in case.

I expected I'd enjoy this story and its characters based on yer earlier posts, and yeah, this is good stuff - "for a Tales game" or otherwise. I deeply appreciate the main thrust here being a super focussed revenge tale, rather than kinda meandering around for hours off the top as usual. Even Vesperia was pretty much that early on 'til it ran through all the JRPG coincidences necessary for Yuri to find himself wrapped in the main plot. Here, bam, just one quick prologue and yer basically launched right in.

Not every moment hits, but it hasn't really suffered any true misses, either. There are no real weak links in the cast yet, or at least not in the playable cast, though I'm only up to Eizen, so who knows. I hear some people hate Magilou, and I can see that, but she seems fine. Better than fine actually, compared to a lot of other characters in that mold I've seen over the years. Worst I can really say is the secondary antagonists I've seen this early are kinda dull, rote anime standards, but so far Velvet has burned one of their eyes out and one-punched the other before stealing one of their kids, so that's at least pretty funny.

Re: CF-WRUP IV: play stuff, talk about it.

Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2018 5:28 pm
by Bier_Engel
Magilou gives me second-hand embarrassment and I cringe every time she gets a cut scene. Finally finished her side quest chain today and got a trophy for it. Finished most of the side quests so now I have like 2 optional bosses and I'm done, and one more known quest. There's an island on the map that's ???? that I missed, though, so I guess I have to figure out how to get access to that too. But yeah, played for 5 hours and knocked a ton of shit out. Now it doesn't feel as overwhelming to go back to.