I might as well throw in my two bits into this thing, lol.
First off, and I say this so much Tara is probably sick of hearing it, ... I love how everything looks here. Great use of toolset/placeables make sit beautiful and interesting. It could be very immersive , if we had more players lol.
As it stands, it enthralls me, I've died a few times and almost died several times because I'm focusing on how the area looks, and not paying attention to the fighting going on.
The two biggest boons to after-starting low levels to mid level ( I consider my Main to be mid level at level 15 still ) , is the books and the museum. The books, if you read most of hem, give clues to the world you just are getting used to.
The Museum kinda reveals some things, and sets a tone for certain areas you will visit later on.
The best times I have is when Tara is on with his alt , because it's fun to rp, and tara knows everything , so lore/information is always nice to get.
The quest, most are fairly straight forward , but there is a bit of a lull for me in these levels I've reached. I'm too powerful for lower level things, and no where near enough powerful to do the things I need to be doing.
Part of that is my fault, because I don't "power-build" really. I don't do min/maxing. I make characters based off imaginative concepts the best I can.
I can bet there's quest and things I don't know to do right now too.
A few quest I didn't know about, Sir Lanselare and Jesandra did together, because he knew about them. It would have taken me ages to put them together and figure out what areas I needed to be in, lol.
So, I've completed the quest where I get cherry seeds, and am farming ... I am hoping to be able to gain more forge tokens, because my character suffers a bit in the damage department. Dex based fighters ( with no WM/bard/rogue levels added ) are somewhat disadvantaged against most things.
There's a lack of dex friendly armor options. Yes you can get Padded armor +3 , or a +2 sorc/wiz robe , but that doesn't do much when a StR based warrior can get a +3 armor, +3 shield, and a small boost from dex to. So full plate ( ac 8 +3, plus 3 from tower shield, plus 1 from dex, plus 3 from bonus on shield, = AC 10+18 = 28 , that's with-out spells or buffs, or protection items from rings, cloaks ect.
Dex based character gets 1ac +3 from padded. Up to +5 dex at level 15-ish , +1 from dodge. If one used a shield an extra +6 there , but in my case, I don't ... , so that totals AC 10+11 = 22 ac, forgoing a shield. Before any bonuses from items , spells , buffs.
So, I think I need more forge tokens than I can realistically attain, lol.
Because most monsters have 20+ AB at my level ranges, I'm starting to question my decision on going dex based/light weapons fighter base build. Jesandra does have some sorc levels , access to flame weapon that helps a bit. But her damage out-put except for crits is fairly low. She's a RDD , so gains some ac from that and some str boost that will help later.
Of course, the way I built her is part of the problem ... I thought it prudent to raise her RDD up a bit as quickly as possible, for RP purposes. I do not regret that decision, just am suffering in other areas because of it I think. When she has help , it isn't as bad ... but I think it made her "party dependent" in these mid to high level stages.
So , since she's a dex based, finesse fighter ... and uses dual kukris , I need even more forge tokens for hopeful damage out put. Even with flame weapon, some monsters can regen her damage in a round or two it seems. I think I can only have one extra property on her blades ( because they are small ) and that is going to hurt in the long run.
But those are really minor issues, and I love the character , so going to keep on keeping on with her. I love the story-lines and RP that's transpired between her and others so far, and it is always fun and interesting Immersive in those times.
Today, I broke down and hired a merc from the roaring dragon ... , something I hated doing. Jesandra has Brass ( literally lol ) , and hiring a mercenary was a blow to her ego. It didn't help, the merc did not want to be friends, or talk to her even really. But, that little boost, helped her complete three task that had been dogging her for quite awhile now.
Other than the playerbase being low , I love it here.
There's not a lot I would change at all. It's challenging, some things force you to take time to do ( like farming ) , and you can't go from level 1 to level 20 in a single day.
I am not certain about "alts" , with the farming restriction alone, ... I can say any ALts are going to suffer from lack of cherries/forge tokens. We don't have enough players regularly, to trade for them. It's probably not impossible , just more difficult, or heavy planning to compensate.
I Guess there Is one thing ... I wish things weren't dependent on the forge for best gear , in a way it's good because your main can get customized items ... but there seems to be a lack of comparable gear/items ( keep in mind I hadn't found many ancient loot chest though, only old loot chest ). Even randomized items would be nice to find every once in a while. Anything that gives choices. Some of the quest items , seem alright ... most of the ones I got, I already outgrew by the time I got them though, or had better varieties found by other quest.
But maybe it is that way, and I just hadn't gotten to the levels and areas that happens.
But, I find things here interesting , if a bit strange/wondrous. I wish there was more available lore ... most of what I learn is through Lanselare and Goriolas lol. But, it is nice place to play, and I find myself logging in more and more , just hoping to be able to keep turning the next page in Jesandra's life and story.
Anyways, I'm going back in game now ... , got cherries to collect, lol.
