Multi Dragon's Dogma 2

[Kat]

It's really good so far! Lots of improvements:

• It's gorgeous, obviously
• Lots of little quality of life enhancements like automatically looting the chest when you open it
• Climbing both terrain and monsters is much more fun and intuitive
• Mage attacks now home in on enemies, love it!
• Mage light attack is actually somewhat useful
• Pawns shit talking arisens, including their own, is fucking hilarious
• More common rift stones is so useful
• Exploring is much less tedious, I'm not constantly getting jumped and there are so many little side paths
• Crafting system is more inviting. I've already crafted more items in this game than I did total in the first one
• Pawns offering to show you stuff is quite cool

Things I don't like:

• Mini map icons aren't explained well (it took me hours to realize the exclamation points are just things pawns commented on)
• The icons also don't behave consistently (sometimes treasure and chest icons disappear after picking them up and sometimes they don't)
• Time sensitive items don't seem to be indicated anymore
• What was the inventory button now opens the map - maybe I'll be okay with this once I can carry more weight, but I open my inventory ten times as often as the map
• Pawns are still idiots who get themselves killed in dumb ways (I had two jump off a cliff after a monster into deep water, sigh)
• It kept me up until midnight without me realizing the time and I had a hard time turning it off even when I did

I'm glad to see it still has the same energy to it. You can tell they prioritize what's fun and entertaining over what makes sense. My first spell is being a human flamethrower? They emphasized what real people like about camping rather than how it helps in the game? My main pawn acts like she's waited her whole life to go fishing every time she sees a fishing spot?

I wonder how many times the dev team said something like, "wouldn't it be funny if..."

 

[TD]

Pawns shit talking arisens, including their own, is fucking hilarious

This kills me. The dialogue changes too based on their Inclination. My pawn is Simple (started Kindhearted) and she shreds me.

• Mini map icons aren't explained well (it took me hours to realize the exclamation points are just things pawns commented on)
• The icons also don't behave consistently (sometimes treasure and chest icons disappear after picking them up and sometimes they don't)

Yeah the icon thing definitely takes some adjusting. Sometimes the ! is something dumb like breaking open a crate.

Pawns are still idiots who get themselves killed in dumb ways (I had two jump off a cliff after a monster into deep water, sigh)

So it's worth noting that this actually improves and is very much tied to the badge system.

It kept me up until midnight without me realizing the time and I had a hard time turning it off even when I did

Can't relate!

 

[Kat]

This kills me. The dialogue changes too based on their Inclination. My pawn is Simple (started Kindhearted) and she shreds me.

My favorite was a hired pawn noted my "keen eye" and lamented how her master never seemed to notice chests. I bet they're going to get their pawn back and become annoyed at how many chests she points out.

Yeah the icon thing definitely takes some adjusting. Sometimes the ! is something dumb like breaking open a crate.

I think it's good overall, because I was also getting confused about what they were talking about when they would mention a chest or ladder that I'd already found. Now that I know what the icon means, I think everything will be clearer.

So it's worth noting that this actually improves and is very much tied to the badge system.

Good to know! Probably some of it is just switching from the end game with two high level pawns that taught my pawn a lot, so they're so unskilled compared to what I'm used to. They haven't even figured out to chop off the tails of saurians (and I can't seem to do it as a mage to show them, so I might need to rethink my class).

I feel like they should've known better than to jump off a cliff though!

 

[Joseph Snapple]

The heart wants what the heart wants

 

[TD]

My favorite was a hired pawn noted my "keen eye" and lamented how her master never seemed to notice chests. I bet they're going to get their pawn back and become annoyed at how many chests she points out.

I feel like they should've known better than to jump off a cliff though!

The pawns are full of cheeky comments, mine told me something to the effect of me not listening to her and I'll just fall to my death again (gravity has killed me a lot). Pawns are probably learning this behaviour from people like me.

Gotta do more pawn surfing.

Spoiler

https://www.reddit.com/r/DragonsDogma/s/24vPon39hq

 

[Kat]

More pawn shenanigans: I find a cave that was a bit too far for a typical jump. I was able to easily levitate to it, and a sorcerer in my party offered to use an ability of his (presumably also levitate) to join me. I told him to do it without much thought, then I heard a bunch of splashing. I turned around to find he had simply jumped into the river and died to the brine.

I figured no big deal, I'll just pull the monsters in there to the remaining pawns. Either the monsters will be able to follow me, in which case the other pawns can easily kill them, or they'll fall in the river, or they won't try to jump and I can kill it from afar. In any case, problem solved, ezpz. So I told the other two pawns to wait, did just that, only to run out of the cave to find the rest of my pawns had presumably also jumped into the river, because they were all dead. Siiiigh. It's hard to kill a saurian by yourself as a sorcerer; they are really fast, so it's difficult to get a spell off even with quick cast. That fucker really kicked the shit out of me, and those pawns took the vast majority of my healing potions with them when they committed suicide.

Unrelated, I had a quest go so unexpectedly awry, it made me go "what the fuuuck".

Spoiler: A beggars tale spoilers

I went to the locked building I saw Alfred enter at night later on in the night, found it unlocked, and grabbed his beggar outfit. I didn't really know what he was up to, and just assumed house Berkeley had paid him to tell stories to make them sound good. So I took the clothes to his wife and she went to talk to him. They seemed to really care for each other, so I figured they'd talk and work things out. I came back to find she had stabbed him in the back then committed suicide.

I can't say I felt like much of a hero in that moment. In retrospect, his comment about "Hilda" getting upset about him being out so late maybe should've rang some alarm bells...

I went to the morgue to revive them both, but their bodies didn't seem to be there. Upon further reflection, maybe that's for the best. I'm not sure there's any coming back from a murder-suicide.

Yeesh.

 

[TD]

I told him to do it without much thought, then I heard a bunch of splashing. I turned around to find he had simply jumped into the river and died to the brine.

These pawns when it comes to traversal... they get BOLD (see:dumb), sometimes. Sprinting around the Brine and cliffs is always nerve racking.

Especislly a cliff with brine surrounded by harpies. All 3 of my pawns got plucked and launched into the brine there.

That fucker really kicked the shit out of me, and those pawns took the vast majority of my healing potions with them when they committed suicide.

Do you use a mage in your party? That spares a lot of healing potions.

Unrelated, I had a quest go so unexpectedly awry, it made me go "what the fuuuck".

Spoiler: A beggars tale spoilers

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Uh. So I guess there's different ways for this to end because that's totally not what happened for me.

 

[Kat]

These pawns when it comes to traversal... they get BOLD (see:dumb), sometimes. Sprinting around the Brine and cliffs is always nerve racking.

Especislly a cliff with brine surrounded by harpies. All 3 of my pawns got plucked and launched into the brine there.

Ugh, harpies are so obnoxious. They tried to toss a guy I was escorting off a cliff once.

Do you use a mage in your party? That spares a lot of healing potions.

Well, it does when the mage hasn't jumped into the river. I meant most of my potions were spread across their inventories because I didn't expect to need many, then I suddenly did need them, but they had mostly been sent to storage.

I had something similar happen with camping kits once. That's the risk of making pawns carry everything, I guess.

Uh. So I guess there's different ways for this to end because that's totally not what happened for me.

It's wild how the game is clearly intentionally designed so you won't find out the results of your actions until it's too late to undo them. You just have to live with your choices.

 

[TD]

I had my most ridiculous large enemy battle yet. 2 drakes, a griffin, and a golem. It was insanity but I discovered something insane about golems.

Spoiler

You can knock off their head and use the eye laser as a weapon if you point it at other things.

Ugh, harpies are so obnoxious. They tried to toss a guy I was escorting off a cliff once.

They've become the sole reason why I run a archer, sorcerer, and mage as my pawns while I run Thief with the grapple hook skill.

I had something similar happen with camping kits once. That's the risk of making pawns carry everything, I guess.

The amount of times I send pawns off with stuff then regretted it was astounding. I spend a lot of time going back to storage.

It's wild how the game is clearly intentionally designed so you won't find out the results of your actions until it's too late to undo them. You just have to live with your choices.

I love this. It'll make subsequent playthoughs even better. Although I'm at 75h and still on playthrough 1.

 

[Kat]

Whoooa. I haven't seen a golem yet, but I'll definitely try that as soon as I get the chance!

I love this. It'll make subsequent playthoughs even better. Although I'm at 75h and still on playthrough 1.

Spoiler: Daphne quest line

So once again, I meddled in personal affairs, and the maid gets fired and Daphne never learns about her family (it's nuts neither of the twins realized they're twins). It's starting to feel like this game is telling me to stay out of other people's business.

I wonder if this quest line has different possible results. What if you outfit Sebastian with items that aren't useful? Does he die and then Daphne can take his place?

I mean, not that Sebastian dying would be any better. Just wondering how it goes. I guess I'll find out next playthrough.

I'm at about 30 hours and haven't made it out of Vermund yet. There's still a good chunk of it I haven't even explored.

I've finished enough main story quests for the coronation one to open up. I was warned to finish up what I was doing before starting it. Is there a place (like a wiki page) I can see which quests I need to finish first without any spoilers? I don't want to look for it myself and ruin something.

 

[TD]

Spoiler: Daphne quest line

Spoiler

Hmmm these are all good points. I had the exact same scenario play out in mine... although him dying is an interesting thought.

I've finished enough main story quests for the coronation one to open up. I was warned to finish up what I was doing before starting it. Is there a place (like a wiki page) I can see which quests I need to finish first without any spoilers? I don't want to look for it myself and ruin something.

This is mostly spoiler free aside from location and character names that I just searched...

Spoiler

However, the point of no return has a major impact on quests - many of them will become unavailable. These are all the remaining quests of Captain Brant, as well as quests in Vernworth and Melve. Ulrika's and Wilhelmina's personal quests will also disappear from the game. It is also possible that you will lose access to tasks in Harve Village and in the elf village. Before you go to the coronation, you should complete all the tasks in Vermund that interest you and carefully explore the entire country.

I'm at about 30 hours and haven't made it out of Vermund yet. There's still a good chunk of it I haven't even explored.

I was around 45-50h when I left Vermund so that makes a lot of sense!

 

[Kat]

Based on that spoiler, I still have a lot of stuff to do first!

 

[TD]

83 hours and I'm entering the transition to post game.

This post game is wild.

Spoiler

Everything about the opening credit of Dragon's Dogma makes so much sense now.

 

[TD]

The _____ is so creepy I love it.

Spoiler

 

[Kat]

The _____ is so creepy I love it.

Spoiler

View attachment 13696

Hahaha, I knew this was going to be what you were referring to. Yeah, very creepy.

 

[TD]

One of my longterm DD friends took my pawn out for some action shots and here's a couple highlights.

Spoiler

 

[TD]

First playthrough done.

 

[Kat]

Are you going to keep playing or are you completely done with it?

I want to find all the seeker tokens, but the number of times I've missed them in plain sight and only noticed them the third or fourth time I walked by is ridiculous.

 

[TD]

Oh I'm definitely not done at all - I'll be at this for a long time.

There's a few things I want to do at a minimum - including all seekers tokens, all locations/gear, all pawn badges, and the platinum trophy.

This playthrough was completely blind so I'm sure there's plenty I missed.

I want to find all the seeker tokens, but the number of times I've missed them in plain sight and only noticed them the third or fourth time I walked by is ridiculous.

The seeker tokens are insane. Some of them are so crazily hidden.

 

[Kat]

The seeker tokens are insane. Some of them are so crazily hidden.

Right? I found one under a bunch of saurian eggs once. It's lucky I like to destroy those or I'd never have found it. How many have you found so far?

 

[TD]

Right? I found one under a bunch of saurian eggs once. It's lucky I like to destroy those or I'd never have found it. How many have you found so far?

I think I'm just over 50 cause I just got the headband reward today. I'm admittedly shit at finding then.

 But, one of the unlockable vocations has an augment you can equip where a chiming noise starts when you're near one... which of course you still have to find it which is a whole different story.

 

[TD]

It's wild how the game is clearly intentionally designed so you won't find out the results of your actions until it's too late to undo them. You just have to live with your choices.

Currently in my NG+ playthrough.

Can confirm your actions can dramatically alter what happens and there's multiple approaches to many side quests.

Also your pawn will straight up call you out for succeeding on a quest you previously failed.

I just got "You succeeded where my own master has failed, Arisen"...

From my own pawn.

 

[TD]

One major goal accomplished.



Still to go:
- All tokens
- Maxed pawn badges
- All gear
- Mixmax pawn stats

 

[Kat]

Wow! I still haven't done the coronation quest. I have found about a third of the seeker's tokens though.

 

[TD]

Wow! I still haven't done the coronation quest. I have found about a third of the seeker's tokens though.

You still got a lot of game left after the coronation, so keep taking your time - definitely worth it!

Every time I've brought your pawn with me, they're a different Vocation.


Impressive token count. I'm at about half of them myself.

 

[Kat]

You still got a lot of game left after the coronation, so keep taking your time - definitely worth it!

I was planning to do the the rose chateau quests then do the coronation one, but during that a guy ran up to me. He asked me to restore a sword and said it would help me establish legitimacy at the coronation, so presumably I have to do that first. That quest sent me to Battahl then the volcanic island! It doesn't seem like the game actually wants you to do the main quests in a timely manner.

Every time I've brought your pawn with me, they're a different Vocation.

Oh interesting, I've only seen you hire her once. But yeah, I've been switching vocations whenever I max one out. I'm currently leveling thief on the arisen and that vocation is crazy fun. It sucks not having levitate though. There's so much stuff I can't reach! I wish it at least had a double jump.

I didn't enjoy mystic spear hand as much as I expected to.

I haven't seen any pawns that have leveled more than two vocations, now that you mention it. I bet mine would get hired more if I left her on a maxed out one. It's nice to have lots of choices for augments though.

Impressive token count. I'm at about half of them myself.

Spoiler: Sphinx quest

I happened across the sphinx and got the quest to find your first seeker's token again. I was 50 hours in at that point and only vaguely remembered that it was on the edge of a cliff by a river, which... doesn't narrow it down much in this game. I found four new tokens while scouring every cliff near water before I found the right spot. That's so mean to make that a timed quest. I thought I'd never find it.

One of my favorite things about this game is there is almost always something to find if you look around. I also like how chests stay open now so it's something you can complete.

I also like all the pawn chatter about chests that acknowledges there's no in-game reason for them to be where they are or to contain what they do. My favorite comment might be the first time I opened a chest with rotten food in it and my pawns were absolutely devastated.

 

[Kat]

@Rachel were you ever able to get into this game?

 

[TD]

I was planning to do the the rose chateau quests then do the coronation one, but during that a guy ran up to me. He asked me to restore a sword and said it would help me establish legitimacy at the coronation, so presumably I have to do that first. That quest sent me to Battahl then the volcanic island! It doesn't seem like the game actually wants you to do the main quests in a timely manner.

Yup that's the game for ya. I do like that you don't HAVE to do the main quest to unlock most areas and that there's alternate ways to get places.

I have seen countless things of people at like 100 hours and still not done the coronation yet so you're not alone.

Very, VERY easy to get sidetracked in this one, in a good way.

Oh interesting, I've only seen you hire her once. But yeah, I've been switching vocations whenever I max one out. I'm currently leveling thief on the arisen and that vocation is crazy fun. It sucks not having levitate though. There's so much stuff I can't reach! I wish it at least had a double jump.

I didn't enjoy mystic spear hand as much as I expected to.

I haven't seen any pawns that have leveled more than two vocations, now that you mention it. I bet mine would get hired more if I left her on a maxed out one. It's nice to have lots of choices for augments though.

The augments are a great bonus to leveling up multiple classes. Also - not sure if you know but the stat gain is based on your class at level up. So as Mage/Sorcerer, you'll get more in Magick. Fighter/Warrior, strength and HP - etc.

I was disappointed in Mystic Spearhand too, felt like a slower version of Thief. My favourite class by far is Warfarer.

Spoiler: Why?

You can equip all gear and can have a weapon equipped per Vocation. Meaning you can use the daggers moveset, then switch to a staff if you need to levitate for exploration for example. Insanely fun and the versatility is endless. Can also equip all skills.

Spoiler: Sphinx quest

I knew exactly what quest you were gonna mention. Ugh.

There's a couple other ones that are brutal too.

One of my favorite things about this game is there is almost always something to find if you look around. I also like how chests stay open now so it's something you can complete.

I also like all the pawn chatter about chests that acknowledges there's no in-game reason for them to be where they are or to contain what they do. My favorite comment might be the first time I opened a chest with rotten food in it and my pawns were absolutely devastated.

Yes! The exploration and stuff around every corner is amazing. It's also super easy to miss some major stuff too if you're not careful, like Sphinx and another special monster I won't name but you'll know when you're near it.

Then in the post-game, there's even more to explore. They really did a great job building the map in this one.

I didn't notice that you can hop onto a moving oxcart and ride it to town until my second playthrough though, hahaha.

And yeah - the pawn dialogue in this one is leaps and bounds better than the first.

 

[Rachel]

@Rachel were you ever able to get into this game?

When do I confront Disa

?

 

[Kat]

Also - not sure if you know but the stat gain is based on your class at level up. So as Mage/Sorcerer, you'll get more in Magick. Fighter/Warrior, strength and HP - etc.

Oh really? I knew the first one was that way, but I heard this one re-specced your stats when you switched classes so you weren't penalized. And the game tells you repeatedly that there's absolutely no downside to switching vocations regularly. Oh well, everything dies pretty easily, so it doesn't seem worth worrying about.

My favourite class by far is Warfarer.

I had heard about that one but I haven't unlocked it and am trying not to spoil the game by looking stuff up. I haven't unlocked mystic knight or the trickster either. Really it's lucky I unlocked mystic spear hand, I have no idea why I even talked to that guy.

I did look up what happened to NPCs if they get killed during an escort quest, because I had a couple go for a swim while escorting. Not much you can do to save them in that case. It seems like they respawn as if nothing happened though, luckily.

I do sometimes see dead NPCs laying around on the road with a name of ???. It makes me wonder if I should revive them. Nobody has been in the morgue when I check though, so presumably they aren't important... Probably...

 

[Kat]

When do I confront Disa

?

I dunno, it hasn't happened for me yet.

 

[Rachel]

Okay well the answer is never

You never circle back to that

And that's the summary of how I feel about the plot at least

 

[Kat]

Oh, I haven't been paying any attention to the main plot. I don't want to rule a nation anyway. It's much more fun to run around in the woods looking for shiny things.

 

[TD]

Okay well the answer is never

You never circle back to that

And that's the summary of how I feel about the plot at least

Spoiler

Did you do the Unmoored World?

 

[Kat]

You know, the whole imposter arisen thing is pretty weird, now that I think about it. It seems like it'd be an easy thing to verify whether somebody is missing their heart.

 

[Rachel]

No, because I'm getting tired of the game. Not sure I will make it to the very end. That is what I heard, does something happen with her at the very end? I just did the big, on-rails boss from the water.

and I think that about sums it up. I think the most fun I have with the game is when I am wandering around. I understand pawns better since I first posted, I think it's cool that they know things because they traveled with others, but I still wish I had hand-written, hand-crafted companions.

Also, Trickster needs a rework. I did the duel as a Trickster which meant I couldn't attack or use mobs to attack. It's also not great against a single-enemy boss. It needs at least a basic, weak attack.

I could talk about other things--like the fact that I received the tutorial about not going in water as I literally died in the water--or the fact that I realized dropped items don't disappear, I had rotten meat laying next to a vendor forever--or the fact that Pawns don't do what I want them to do--but uh...I'll stop there. I had fun, it's just not polished and has bad UX. And I heard the one big thing TD mentioned earlier has been patched or is really hard to get now.

 

[TD]

Oh really? I knew the first one was that way, but I heard this one re-specced your stats when you switched classes so you weren't penalized. And the game tells you repeatedly that there's absolutely no downside to switching vocations regularly. Oh well, everything dies pretty easily, so it doesn't seem worth worrying about.

Yeah you don't really NEED to do it, but it's important to know for mixmaxers.

There's even people getting to NG+ with their pawn at level 1 because they're truly obsessed with minmaxing.

I did look up what happened to NPCs if they get killed during an escort quest, because I had a couple go for a swim while escorting. Not much you can do to save them in that case. It seems like they respawn as if nothing happened though, luckily.

I do sometimes see dead NPCs laying around on the road with a name of ???. It makes me wonder if I should revive them. Nobody has been in the morgue when I check though, so presumably they aren't important... Probably...

I've resurrected a few of those and they were just worthless, the thing is because every NPC can die - from important to mundane, it's hard to tell.

Although I did burn through a lot of wakestones in the morgue after a rough night of sleep.

Oh, I haven't been paying any attention to the main plot. I don't want to rule a nation anyway. It's much more fun to run around in the woods looking for shiny things.

This is the way - Dragon's Dogma is not played for the plot, that's all subtext. The game is played for the exploration, world, combat, and pawn community (if you're in it for the long haul).

But also. The answer of never is incorrect.

You know, the whole imposter arisen thing is pretty weird, now that I think about it. It seems like it'd be an easy thing to verify whether somebody is missing their heart.

The whole thing gets explained between a combo of the Nameless Village and post-coronation.

But apparently they don't have doctors. Or at least the kind that can detect a heart.

 

[TD]

That is what I heard, does something happen with her at the very end?

Mm yeah you were misinformed there.

Also, Trickster needs a rework. I did the duel as a Trickster which meant I couldn't attack or use mobs to attack. It's also not great against a single-enemy boss. It needs at least a basic, weak attack.

I'm convinced they put Trickster in to troll people. It's not good at all. There's some niche really fun shenanigans at max level using illusions but not having damage output is challenging - it's best used as a Warfarer subset.

 

[Rachel]

I am trying to research what you are talking about. If it's what I am reading I'm skeptical. Plus it's post game. Like "oh yeah we better circle back to that"

Doesn't matter, not sure I will get there. I appreciate knowing about it though.

 

[TD]

Spoiler: Post Game

Some argue that the post game is where the true game starts for many reasons.

I think it's why you get the "Dragon's Dogma 2" splash screen when you start it as opposed to the "Dragon's Dogma" splash screen when you first start.

Almost like an Act 1 and Act 2.

 

[Rachel]

Spoiler

don't you see why that's bad?

The true game should never start in the post game...lol...

 

[TD]

Spoiler

That's what some say, I've loved every minute of my 130 hours.

Honestly, it sounds like a ton of people went in with a ton of misconceptions of what Dragon's Dogma is and that's led to a lot of the criticism.

It's the same thing as going into a Souls game and expecting an in-your-face plot, a lot of new DD people are coming in and expecting something It's just not.

 

[TD]

Also what is that video.

 

[Rachel]

that is not at all the same thing

I've played every souls game and Elden Ring is my favorite of all time

Why do I like Elden Ring but not this game, they both have plots as a secondary focus

Because Elden Ring still had a powerful plot in the background (GRRM) and it wasn't as "janky" with QoL.

That's not to say I didn't have fun. Just having trouble actually caring to finish.

 

[TD]

See and I've put 1000s of hours into the Fromsoft Souls games over the last 15 years.

I vastly prefer Dragon's Dogma 2 over Elden Ring and I think it's a matter of preference because I also preferred the original Dragon's Dogma over Dark Souls. But then again, ER is my least favourite Souls game.

I'm a bit shocked you say ER has a powerful plot, though.

Did you play DD, DDDA, or DDO?
Only asking because really I just see this being a matter of expectation.

 

[Kat]

. I think the most fun I have with the game is when I am wandering around.

Agreed, that's where the game shines the most. I expect people who rush through the main story are generally disappointed with the game.

I understand pawns better since I first posted, I think it's cool that they know things because they traveled with others, but I still wish I had hand-written, hand-crafted companions.

I don't get what you mean here. All pawns are hand crafted. That's what makes them great.

I could talk about other things--like the fact that I received the tutorial about not going in water as I literally died in the water

There's a pawn that dies in the water and gives a long winded speech about it at the beginning of the game (which was hilarious to me personally). And you don't die in the water, you just get spit back out onto the land, don't you? (I avoid water because pawns are crazy and kill themselves in it, but I don't think it hurts you.)

--or the fact that I realized dropped items don't disappear, I had rotten meat laying next to a vendor forever

Yeah, this is annoying.

--or the fact that Pawns don't do what I want them to do

Yeeeah this can also be annoying.

I know you have levitate and there's a chest right there, go get it!! Ugh, fine, I'll do it myself. ... Wtf why are you in the water!! Sigh, I hope there's a rift stone nearby... STOP ATTACKING THE DRAKE JESUS CHRIST

It's also endlessly amusing though.

--but uh...I'll stop there. I had fun, it's just not polished and has bad UX.

There are a couple things in the UX that annoy me (like all the clicks needed to dump my inventory on a pawn or that they took away being able to change equipment directly from storage), but overall it seems good to me. What're your complaints about it?

And I heard the one big thing TD mentioned earlier has been patched or is really hard to get now.

Idk what this refers to but maybe that's for the best

There's even people getting to NG+ with their pawn at level 1 because they're truly obsessed with minmaxing.

What?! Do they immediately throw their pawn off a cliff whenever they are revived? Wild.

I've resurrected a few of those and they were just worthless, the thing is because every NPC can die - from important to mundane, it's hard to tell.

Good to know. With this game, I wouldn't put it past them to be all "lol you have to revive a random NPC to get the best class in the game" or some nonsense.

This is the way - Dragon's Dogma is not played for the plot, that's all subtext. The game is played for the exploration, world, combat, and pawn community (if you're in it for the long haul)

Between the way the first game went and how early the coronation quest is unlocked, I'm assuming that's not going to go well for me, so I'm in no rush.

Besides, the whole point of being the arisen is to adventure and become strong enough to kill the dragon. That ain't gonna happen by sitting around in a castle. Let Disa plot whatever she's plotting, idc.

But apparently they don't have doctors. Or at least the kind that can detect a heart.

seems like something they'd figure out when their rightful ruler has no heart and people regularly pretend to be arisen though, isn't it?! "He has a big scar, seems legit. No need to investigate further."

Did you play DD, DDDA, or DDO?
Only asking because really I just see this being a matter of expectation.

I'm really glad I played the first one even though it meant delaying playing this one, which is a much better game. I completely agree, setting expectations makes a big difference in the experience.

 

[TD]

Yeeeah this can also be annoying.

I know you have levitate and there's a chest right there, go get it!! Ugh, fine, I'll do it myself. ... Wtf why are you in the water!! Sigh, I hope there's a rift stone nearby... STOP ATTACKING THE DRAKE JESUS CHRIST

It's also endlessly amusing though.

I will say the most recent patch has improved this and I believe the pawn badges for camping in areas help too. I got two of the area badges maxed and she hasn't done anything really stupid.

Also, Inclination matters a LOT.

What?! Do they immediately throw their pawn off a cliff whenever they are revived? Wild.

Exactly.

The reason why is in NG+, the Dragonforged gives you a lot more things to do with WLC, including enhancing vocations - which effectively doubles the stat gain from level up.

So a level 25 is effectively the same as a level 50. It's a lot of work.

If I didn't lose my pawn badges/likes/hearts, I'd probably give it a try cause I love mixmaxing but alas.

I'm really glad I played the first one even though it meant delaying playing this one, which is a much better game. I completely agree, setting expectations makes a big difference in the experience.

Naturally DD2 is going to have an expansion and it's just a matter of when, not if.

If it's anything like Dark Arisen and introduces a virtually endless gameplay loop with the loot system? I will be irrationally excited.

 

[Kat]

The reason why is in NG+, the Dragonforged gives you a lot more things to do with WLC, including enhancing vocations - which effectively doubles the stat gain from level up.

So a level 25 is effectively the same as a level 50. It's a lot of work.

Hmm, interesting. Apparently rushing through the main story on the first playthrough has its benefits after all. Perhaps they'll add an option to reset your pawn's combat stats without losing all your other stuff at some point.

 

[TD]

Hmm, interesting. Apparently rushing through the main story on the first playthrough has its benefits after all. Perhaps they'll add an option to reset your pawn's combat stats without losing all your other stuff at some point.

I wouldn't count on it unfortunately...

Oh well. At least the level cap is 999. Just reduces chances of randoms renting you.

 

[Kat]

The level cap is 999?! Shit, I'm officially done worrying about any of that. I assumed it was still 200, so I was thinking I was about a quarter of the way there already.