mothwentbad: Is there some kind of farming technique I should be using? Or am I just not leveraging my situational advantages? What's the most important thing about not dying?
I'm sort of bad at the whole genre. Sword of the Stars: The Pit is also fun, but even harder.
Are there any guides or informative Let's Plays out there?
I'm really bad at: Hunter, Wild Child, Spellshaper, Gambler
I'm less bad: Paladin, Rogue, Sword Dancer, Floramancer, Husyn, Budoka
There shouldn't be any need for grinding, though it helps if you pick the perk at the start that give you more job xp. There's also no real guides out yet I think, but that'll likely change when the game gets its full release in February. The one I could find that played it the most is a bit dated now, but still follows a lot of the same principles:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLv2Qcu6n6_mKxJb-H7luNe3ARBKkpclU8 A few starting tips:
- If there's one square between you and the enemy, rather than moving towards them skip your turn so that they'll move towards you. That you you won't need to take a hit.
- Using the Dreamcaster, once you get it, is very worthwhile. It helps with powering up your gear before tackling a harder floor.
- Plant trees. They persist between playthroughs and will give you a welcome boost in food after you die and restart.
- Use the layout of the map. You don't want to get surrounded, especially when facing bosses, so use choke-points. Also avoid getting cornered with no place to run to while for your teleport to finish. Skills that move you around are a good way to do this and can double as escape tools.
- Remember to use your skills in general. They help a lot.
- A level-up is a free heal and the healer resets his costs at certain checkpoints. Dishes are also good ways to heal.
- There's penalties to using ranged attacks in close combat, so have a close combat weapon to switch to when using a ranged weapon.
- Don't open the golden treasure chests. They make everything stronger so you're making things harder for yourself in the long run and I think they stack.
- Multi-classing can make you pretty beefy. You won't keep the class masteries, but you can mix and match the skills you bought freely. Paladin/Swordmaster is a good combo with passives that support each other as you're stacking blocking and parrying and solid offensive moves. Radiant Aura, Shield Mastery, Unconcious Riposte and Qi Mastery together make you pretty durable. Hunter/Floramancer is also good.
- As a single class, Budoka is a good starter. Get those passives and Qi Wave, focus on Strength and Discipline.
- If you're having trouble sorting out what gear to use, use pick auto equip best gear. It won't be as optimal as possible, but it makes a good baseline to tweak as you see fit.
- Teleport is your friend. It's free and can help you get out of a sticky situation - just trigger it and run away from the threat.
- If you're getting nowhere, there's no shame in playing without perma-death so that you don't have to worry as much about dying and are able get a better feel for the harder levels.
