Legend Of Grimrock - Old School goodness.

[Pob255]

Round two went better, I've not got much further well level3.
Thinking about it I probably could of continued I wasn't that badly gimped, but I've got a whole better idea as to how the skill system works now, it's a bit of an odd one the way you get certain stat bonuses at certain skill levels, the only real need for focusing in one skill is the odd special skills, even debating the need for a rouge, at low levels anyway, a warrior or wizard can throw rocks from the back just as well and getting a spear gives you a one handed melee attack from the rear rank.
Thrown weapons are a bit of a pain, because of the clicky combat and limited supplies, rocks have been my staple chucked weapon because I've got so many, I've been using other junk to put on pressure plates
Missile weapons are looking worse because they take two hands, one for weapon one for ammo, having to swap out is just too fiddly in the middle of combat when your trying to click other attacks and dancing around at the same time.
Spells are almost as bad, one click to open, then click the rune combo, then the cast button, if you remembered the runes correctly, but at least it's only one hand and there's no weapon restrictions so you can keep a spear in the other for normal attacks.

[roorooroo]

Thoroughly enjoying the game so far!

[Barrichello]

Round two went better, I've not got much further well level3.
Thinking about it I probably could of continued I wasn't that badly gimped, but I've got a whole better idea as to how the skill system works now, it's a bit of an odd one the way you get certain stat bonuses at certain skill levels, the only real need for focusing in one skill is the odd special skills, even debating the need for a rouge, at low levels anyway, a warrior or wizard can throw rocks from the back just as well and getting a spear gives you a one handed melee attack from the rear rank.
Thrown weapons are a bit of a pain, because of the clicky combat and limited supplies, rocks have been my staple chucked weapon because I've got so many, I've been using other junk to put on pressure plates
Missile weapons are looking worse because they take two hands, one for weapon one for ammo, having to swap out is just too fiddly in the middle of combat when your trying to click other attacks and dancing around at the same time.
Spells are almost as bad, one click to open, then click the rune combo, then the cast button, if you remembered the runes correctly, but at least it's only one hand and there's no weapon restrictions so you can keep a spear in the other for normal attacks.

In regards to ranged weapons i am preferring thrown over missile. I have plenty of shuriken/throwing knives now. Thrown takes Strength into account and my rogue is rather strong but i have also balanced this out by taking assassination and unarmed combat. Assassination allows your rogue to attack from behind your fighters, and by taking unarmed skill tree it also gives bonus's to Dexterity/evasion to balance things out with the high strength i stacked when i started. So when the throwing weapons are used up the rogue reverts to popping up and attacking "monk style from the back ranks" and she is hitting pretty hard

Im now down to level 5 and im starting to find the difficulty ramping up

Thoroughly enjoying the game so far!

Indeed. It has exceeded my expectations. Really impressed with the balance of puzzles/riddles/problem solving and dealing with the mob attacks. I am finding with the mobs i have to tackle them just like i did with Dungeon Master moving around quickly between combat (although i tried, im not surprised you can not "door guillotine" them like in the old days)

[Pob255]

Still on lv3 boy these spiders are annoying, poison lasts for ages and does so much damage. and I'm out of anti venom herbs.

ok one other major criticism no sound volume options esp on the music, I must wake up people next door every time I go back to the main menu.

I do love the tile based movement, even if it feels a bit clunky and unresponsive at times, esp when doing timed puzzles, the time involved in transition from square to square is the issue and key strokes getting cued so I can often end up going 2 steps when I only want one and that's enough to fail a puzzle.
Not that I hate it, I don't I love the way they've done it, quite often it's my own fault because I'm panicking, but I would like a couple more seconds on the timed puzzles.
rotating teleporters on lv3 took me a few tries, simply because I couldn't move quick enough or the gate was taking too long to open.

Did a major cockup today, room with spiders in it, my plan, open the door cast a poison cloud, close the door.
what happened, open the door, hit the spell too soon, now the whole party is taking damage and there's a spider in front of us.
Planed action, close the door take a step back to get out of the poison.
what happened, I miss clicked the door chain, took the step back, spider moved forward, bit one of the fighters for 25damage + poison (that's a 1/3 of his HP and the poison can easily do 50damage over the length of it) now stuck in a corridor with a spider and a 2nd one behind him.
reload.

EDIT: Oh and don't try to play with a cat on your lap, having a cat mash the keys or try to nuzzle your hand when timing is critical is not good.

[Barrichello]

Yep - have to agree the spiders are a pain, i now always try to funnel/fight them in the door way so can close it up for a breather and not get surrounded - i made the mistake first of rushing into a room and getting surrounded by the spiders and died pretty fast. In regard to the venom there are a couple of things that really help on that level that im not sure if you have found yet so have so put in spoiler below in case...

Level 3 tip/Potential SPOILER if not yet found:= There is some anti-venom bracer's on that same level, I put them on one of the front rank fighters (the one with the least evade) to at least keep one of them 50% immune. Also there is a poison shield scroll on same level (luckily I levelled earth magic first highest on mage) -when cast protects whole party 50%

[roorooroo]

Lol i've been trying to do the 'door bash' on the baddies too..gonna play more tonight past level 3..i'm trying to make the most of this one..it's absolutely superb.

Can't wait for the user levels when the map editor is released too.

[Pob255]

Level 3 tip/Potential SPOILER if not yet found:= There is some anti-venom bracer's on that same level, I put them on one of the front rank fighters (the one with the least evade) to at least keep one of them 50% immune. Also there is a poison shield scroll on same level (luckily I levelled earth magic first highest on mage) -when cast protects whole party 50%

not found ether of those I found cold resist gloves, I've put some points into fire and air to learn the first spells there, otherwise I could just have got poison resist but only if I'd put all me points into earth. :/

[Jasp]

not found ether of those I found cold resist gloves, I've put some points into fire and air to learn the first spells there, otherwise I could just have got poison resist but only if I'd put all me points into earth. :/

Cheesy way to get around the issue of poison is to sleep, your HP goes up faster then the poison can take it down and it eventually goes lol.

[Barrichello]

Lol i've been trying to do the 'door bash' on the baddies too..gonna play more tonight past level 3..i'm trying to make the most of this one..it's absolutely superb.

Can't wait for the user levels when the map editor is released too.

I know what you mean about making the most of it, i really do not want to rush through this. Im taking my time checking for secrets/hidden loot etc. This is unlike a friend of mine who was very close to completing the game yesterday but he got stuck on a riddle, and so ventured onto the Grimrock forum for clues/tips. While doing this and seeing a post about "items people had found" he checked levels he had completed and he realised that he had missed approx 50% of the hidden treasures and gear, hes now working his way back up to find them and work out how he missed them (Just shows should really take your time and not rush through this)

not found ether of those I found cold resist gloves, I've put some points into fire and air to learn the first spells there, otherwise I could just have got poison resist but only if I'd put all me points into earth. :/

It is tough to decide with Mage skills where to allocate. My friend is actually playing with 2 mages who share out fire/ice/air/earth between them. With 1 mage i get the impression they will be a "jack of all trades" but not achieve the higher rankings for each spell type. Especially because the generic "spellcasting" skill tree is also very good and worth investing skill points in.

Cheesy way to get around the issue of poison is to sleep, your HP goes up faster then the poison can take it down and it eventually goes lol.

Yep, i do this as well when required (especially if multiple members affected) but you have to remember that (in case people do not know) possible slight spoiler= You use up your food allot quicker while sleeping, and you can get a unpleasant surprise if not every last mob has been killed off on the level

[Barrichello]

Also a post from the developers on friday gave good news that Sales have been very good (was no1 on steam alone for most of last week, not bad when its also available on GOG and standalone) and that the sales/money made easily covers (many times over) the development costs! So sure we will see the map editor/new content/expansions in the future

http://www.grimrock.net/2012/04/13/launch-week-update/

[sweey]

Loving this so far (except the spiders!). Only on level 4 at present.

[Zeven]

Also a post from the developers on friday gave good news that Sales have been very good (was no1 on steam alone for most of last week, not bad when its also available on GOG and standalone) and that the sales/money made easily covers (many times over) the development costs! So sure we will see the map editor/new content/expansions in the future

http://www.grimrock.net/2012/04/13/launch-week-update/

It wasn't just first on Steam but on GOG too! Still is, as a matter of fact.

[fishchoy]

cheers for this post I m into diablo so this seems like an interesting filler ^^

[roorooroo]

Can't wait for more..expansions, a sequel and custom made dungeons.
Loving this game and taking my time. (reviews and hints are a definite no-no!).

There would have to be something special to dethrone this from my favourite game of the year.

[roorooroo]

I'm still having fun with this one..trying to find all secrets and open all iron doors..lol..also been playing some older DM clones too recently. Kept me entertained longer than most full price 'AAA' titles too.

[Barrichello]

I'm still having fun with this one..trying to find all secrets and open all iron doors..lol..also been playing some older DM clones too recently. Kept me entertained longer than most full price 'AAA' titles too.

Totally agree, this has to be game of the year for me and don't think anything will beat this (apart from maybe a new expansion/sequel) I have been taking my time with this game so not to rush the experience, just like savouring a fine wine!