Posted April 19, 2015
I really want to get into the series as well as Risen but I can't seem to enjoy myself. Could anyone give me some tips on the games and how I can start to enjoy them?
l0rdtr3k
Serial Hugger
Registered: Oct 2011
From Brazil
spacecom
New User
Registered: Oct 2013
From Greece
Posted April 19, 2015
Never played risen.I can give you advice about gothic series though.Since you are a new player pick a combat character to start with not a mage.As soon as you get some lvl invest point in mastery skills, aka boost your combat skill like 1-handed weapons to 30% or bow to 30% or whatever.That will make the combat, which seems clunky at first, very fluid.Its ment to be that way when you character is novice in combat skills.Then boost strenght or dexterity accordingly.
Dont try to kill everything you meet.You can do that if you waste time or you are experienced player.But for now just push the main plot to you go deeper in chapters and better equipment are available to you,Then you can start sidequests and killing monsters really fast and getting to a high lvl.
Don't forget gothic games were ment to be hard at the beggining but you end up being like superhuman.The best cheat you can use though is trial and error method.In rpgs thats called save/load.Do it often and use different slots.
Dont try to kill everything you meet.You can do that if you waste time or you are experienced player.But for now just push the main plot to you go deeper in chapters and better equipment are available to you,Then you can start sidequests and killing monsters really fast and getting to a high lvl.
Don't forget gothic games were ment to be hard at the beggining but you end up being like superhuman.The best cheat you can use though is trial and error method.In rpgs thats called save/load.Do it often and use different slots.
Post edited April 19, 2015 by spacecom
Logtck
Good Old Gamer
Registered: Dec 2008
From Italy
Posted May 02, 2015
In Gothic I never play as a mage, spells looks so slow to cast and I think not so effective, compared to a good sword stroke! ;)
On the other side, I played the 1st Risen just as a Mage and enjoyed it! (very fast casting and high damage!)
bushwhacker2k
Lone Wanderer
Registered: Jan 2010
From United States
Posted May 02, 2015
As was mentioned earlier- in at least your first playthrough play as a focused melee warrior. All character types will inevitably find themselves in melee at some point or other so it's best to get an idea of how to fight earlier on.
I would start with Gothic 1 (as the story continues on from there).
One of the most important things (that I don't see mentioned much) is ARMOR!
If you look at your character sheet (default key: B, I B-lieve) you will see Protection: Weapon. This is the most important stat for a starting Gothic character. In Gothic 1 almost everything will tear you to shreds as soon as you start. You can save up Ore to purchase some low-level armor for up to 15 Weapon Protection, or you can eventually make your way to the New Camp's Free Mine and talk to Swiney to get Digger's Dress (10 Weapon Protection) for free. This will allow you to take down Scavengers and Molerats with impunity, as their damage is lowered to the bare minimum, 1! Everything else will still deal some damage to you, but once you join a community you will get even better armor.
When you start in any Gothic game (including Risen) the first chapter is almost entirely getting to know the lay of the land and just completing quests to stockpile experience.
Strength is very, very easy to increase in Gothic 1, and it makes a huge difference as it's added to every blow that connects.
I also highly recommend getting One-Handed Weapon training 1, as it lets you attack much faster and more fluently than before.
Good luck and remember that you are SUPPOSED to be super weak when you start- and you will not be weak later on!
I would start with Gothic 1 (as the story continues on from there).
One of the most important things (that I don't see mentioned much) is ARMOR!
If you look at your character sheet (default key: B, I B-lieve) you will see Protection: Weapon. This is the most important stat for a starting Gothic character. In Gothic 1 almost everything will tear you to shreds as soon as you start. You can save up Ore to purchase some low-level armor for up to 15 Weapon Protection, or you can eventually make your way to the New Camp's Free Mine and talk to Swiney to get Digger's Dress (10 Weapon Protection) for free. This will allow you to take down Scavengers and Molerats with impunity, as their damage is lowered to the bare minimum, 1! Everything else will still deal some damage to you, but once you join a community you will get even better armor.
When you start in any Gothic game (including Risen) the first chapter is almost entirely getting to know the lay of the land and just completing quests to stockpile experience.
Strength is very, very easy to increase in Gothic 1, and it makes a huge difference as it's added to every blow that connects.
I also highly recommend getting One-Handed Weapon training 1, as it lets you attack much faster and more fluently than before.
Good luck and remember that you are SUPPOSED to be super weak when you start- and you will not be weak later on!
UniversalWolf
Quasi-Teetotaler
Registered: Aug 2011
From United States
Posted May 03, 2015
What is preventing you from enjoying Gothic 1, would you say?
Yes, combat is very difficult at the beginning. I remember the laggy feeling of the controls turned me off at first too.
You need to understand two things. First, the combat is all about timing. If you run right at things and try to hack away without thinking about what you're doing, you're going to get killed fast. You must learn the movement and attack patterns of the different creatures so you can wait for an opening, get in close enough for an attack, then quickly get away again. This becomes much easier as the character improves his skills.
Second, one of the main points of the game is that the valley is super dangerous for loners. You need the assistance of a community to have a chance of survival. That's why you have to put up with the abuse you get from some of the more obnoxious members of whatever community you choose.
At the beginning you're not even close to being ready to deal with most of the monsters you'll encounter outside the camps, and you should run away from or run past them. If you fight, try to lead one of them away at a time so you don't get double teamed. Stick with it. You'll eventually start to learn the controls and the mechanics, and your skills will improve, and it will become a lot more fun.
Yes, combat is very difficult at the beginning. I remember the laggy feeling of the controls turned me off at first too.
You need to understand two things. First, the combat is all about timing. If you run right at things and try to hack away without thinking about what you're doing, you're going to get killed fast. You must learn the movement and attack patterns of the different creatures so you can wait for an opening, get in close enough for an attack, then quickly get away again. This becomes much easier as the character improves his skills.
Second, one of the main points of the game is that the valley is super dangerous for loners. You need the assistance of a community to have a chance of survival. That's why you have to put up with the abuse you get from some of the more obnoxious members of whatever community you choose.
At the beginning you're not even close to being ready to deal with most of the monsters you'll encounter outside the camps, and you should run away from or run past them. If you fight, try to lead one of them away at a time so you don't get double teamed. Stick with it. You'll eventually start to learn the controls and the mechanics, and your skills will improve, and it will become a lot more fun.
Post edited May 03, 2015 by UniversalWolf
Bethezer
The Good Autism Knight
Registered: Oct 2011
From Poland
lordhoff
Old User (but of what?)
Registered: Feb 2010
From United States
Posted May 03, 2015
1) Old Camp - there should be to guy leading to other capms - some Brotherhood 'baal' at the square and Mordrag at... north gate, I think. The one on the hill. They will escorte you to the said camps, which provides experience from them killing monster on the road and experience from the quest itself.
2) Brotherhood Camp - go to the smith. Although guarded, you can steal everything that is in the chest near the "wall". The "code" is left, right, right, left, left, left (or the other way around - right, left, left, right, right, right... I haven't played it for something like ten years now, but I'm almost sure it's the first combination). You can find nice weapon there (you will need higher than default strenght to use it), and some "craft part". You can make some "unfinished swords", which then can be sold. It's always something.
3) New Camp - Here is the cheapest place to learn melee combat skill (one handed), the teacher is on the rock outside the camp cave. Also, in the guard tower there is not bad bow (at higher level, not the ground), in locked chest. Save before trying to pick it (I don't remember this combination, sorry). Make sure no one is in the room, or they will attack you. Also mentioned here - the free armor in New Mine of New Camp - there will be two wolf at the end of the road to it - I would recommend equping mentioned weapon from Brtherhood Camp and get, at least, level 1 mastery of one handed weapons. There are also other monsters, but you should be able to kill them. Remember to try to pick one at the time.
4) Takle all quests. Especially the one needed to join one of the camps. Some of them can be done quite simply, and will give you much needed experience. Some that will need you to go somewhere - keep them for later. The Brotherhood have, in my opinion, the hardest quest, mostly including going deep into the swamp. Run from the slugs - they are invisible, not only now but even later. The flies - here I would recommend the mentioned bow or long bow (if you managed to find/buy one). Take you time while aiming. Skill in shooting wouldn't hurt, too.
5) Save often. Like - literally. Especially outside the camps. Don't go to forest just yet, do not even think of going into the orcs territories - instant death. For now.
6) Try everything. This game is, also, much about exploring. Good luck. :)
As far as fighting, some people (like me) have trouble remembering to hit 20 buttons in some order during a fight - the only way I survived was to hit the left click button as fast as possible. I took a lot of damage but I didn't have to reload so much. If you are capable of mastering the very complicated fighting system, you will take little damage or none at all. I just didn't have the patience for that.
Bethezer
The Good Autism Knight
Registered: Oct 2011
From Poland
Posted May 03, 2015
As far as fighting, some people (like me) have trouble remembering to hit 20 buttons in some order during a fight - the only way I survived was to hit the left click button as fast as possible. I took a lot of damage but I didn't have to reload so much. If you are capable of mastering the very complicated fighting system, you will take little damage or none at all. I just didn't have the patience for that.
About fighting - well... the mechanics are crude, after all. And the tactic itself isn't bad. All you need then is armor and good weapon, although at some monster you will need to know how they attack. Lizards for example have ironically pretty high defensive skills and can dodge most attack. You will need to get used to their pattern (they need to be close to you and attacking, if I remember it right).
For shooting - when they are near, yes - spamming attack will do, because there is no difference to 'holding' the arrow. There is no 'charged attack' here. Just at longer distances you need take some time to aim because the target will probably move around. Especially the flys. How are they called... Bloodsuckers (I played in polish, so I'm translating it)? The problem is they are quite strong and you will need to kill some of them for Brotherhood. And like I mentioned - hitting them while they move is hard, so it's one of the toughest quest in first chapter.