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[Yasae]

Stronghold seem like a tamigotchi so far in Act III. I got attacked once and figured my defenders would be able to handle it and then lost like three structures. Then I manually resolved another fight and it was trivially easy, so it's just... annoying.

Money is still useful for buying unique items at vendors. I'll drop 4-8k cp on an item if it has some unique ability.

The auto-resolve was very disappointing to me. "A structure got destroyed... From one attack... And I've hired as many people as I can to defend my keep? And I have to pay and wait for it to be rebuilt??? Who the fuck designed this?"

That was my reaction.

 

[Irobot82]

I just started Act III, have completely restored my stronghold and I have still yet to have a unique vendor visit.

 

[QFNS]

I just started Act III, have completely restored my stronghold and I have still yet to have a unique vendor visit.

It seems pretty random. I had one show up mid Act II offering a completely garbage piece of armor and then haven't seen one since.

 

[hemtae]

Beta 1.05 patch notes

NOTE: The 1.05 beta will be released later today if our initial tests come back positive.

This is a big one. Patch 1.05 features hundreds of bug fixes, balance changes, and new UI features. There are many minor fixes that are not listed in these notes.

Please Note: Save games in 1.05 are not compatible with 1.04 or earlier versions. The game will automatically back up your save games in a special folder in the save game directory after converting the saves to the new format.

Known Issues

• "Previous" button is disabled in character creation. This is currently being fixed and should be fine in the next beta that is released.

New Features

• You can now rename save games.
• You can now change the portrait and sound set of characters from the character sheet. Click on the gear icon to open the customization window. You can only use this feature on player characters and hired (non-companion) characters.
• New Stash sorting. You can now sort stash by item type, enchant score, and sell value.
• Added a news feature on the main menu to keep you informed on patches and Kickstarter updates.
• Added a new color for unique items in the inventory.
• Added a new hotkey for switching weapon sets on selected characters.
• You can now bind extra mouse buttons to Ability hotkeys.
• There's a new option to reset newly recruited companions to level 1 (without losing the experience). This will allow you to level up companions to your liking.

Balance

• Reblanced XP rewards of some quests, particularly the bounty quests, to prevent parties from hitting max level before Twin Elms.
• Ciphers now start with 1/4 max Focus instead of 1/2.
• Wizard and Cipher's base endurance has been raised from 30 to 36, and per level from 10 to 12.
• Wizard and Priests health multipliers were raised from 3 to 4.
• Interdiction range has been reduced from 20 to 10.
• Tuned down damage on the Retaliation mod.
• Citzal's Spirit Lance will now do 50% more damage, is faster, and has an increased AoE.
• Sanguine Plate's Retaliate mod has been replaced with Spell Holding: Frenzy.
• Wind Blight's Returning Storm is now set to 1/encounter.
• Earth Blight's Teleport ability is now set to 2/encounter.
• Sturdy bonus is improved from +20 to +30 vs Prone.
• Hand and Key's Preservation has been replaced with Loyal.
• Aru Breaker's Preservation has been replaced with a +1 Speed.
• Angio's Gambeson's Reflex bonus is replaced with 1/day Deleterious Alacrity of Motion.
• Rebel's Call Preservation has been replaced with Wary.
• Lightning Strikes damage is increased by 25%.
• Fan of Flames damage is reduced by 25%.
• Minor Arcane Reflection base duration is changed to 60 seconds.
• Llengrath's Displaced Image gives 50% hit to graze conversion on Deflection and Reflex.
• Wizard's Double now grants +40 Deflection against a single attack.
• Mirrored Images now grants a base +30 Deflection. It decreases by 5 after each hit.
• Ilengrath's Safeguard's bonuses are now unified.
• Crucible of the Soul, Speaker to the Restless, and Steps to the Wheel ranges have been increased.
• Arcane Veil now grants +50 Deflection, with Hardened Veil adding +25, for a total of +75 Deflection.
• Scroll of Paralysis is now slightly weaker and has a higher skill requirement.
• All Spell Holdings are 2/encounter.
• Soul Shock radius reduced from 2.5 to 1.25.
• Blizzard damage reduced significantly and attack speed increased to from 0.2 to 0.8.
• Overwhelming Wave now uses a range of 30-40 and stun duration lowered from 10s to 8s.
• Noxious Burst trap damage now is in line with other player trap damage.
• Reduced the accuracy on higher level player traps.
• Unbroken is now a per encounter ability.
• Malignant Cloud damage increased.
• Ghost Blades set to foe only.
• Death Ring damage slightly raised, made foe only.
• Ninagauth's Freezing Pillar switched over to foe only.
• Concelhaut's Corrosive Siphon set to foe only.
• Stag's Horn damaged lowered. Reflex and Deflection penalties cut in half, and reduced duration from 15 to 10.
• Bracers of Spiritual Power and Archer's Gloves reduced damage from +20% to +10%.
• Scroll of Revival AoE reduced, range slightly reduced, and restored endurance halved.
• Marked Prey and Sworn Enemy have been set to 0 recovery actions, so they can be used and the Ranger/Paladin can immediately act again.

Items, Spells, and Abilities

• Many spells and abilities will have more accurate and updated stat blocks and improved output in the combat log, tooltips, and character sheet.
• Modal abilities now have activation and deactivation timers.
• Fixed an issue where some AOE attacks were not displaying the extra Intellect bonus properly.
• Added new effect when petrified.
• Traps can now be passively detected at -4 Mechanics.
• Added an animation to the Fox and the Hunter ability and removed the damage effect.
• Second Chance will no longer trigger the defeat screen if the entire party goes down right before the effect fires.
• Fixed display of the cast UI for Seven Nights She Waited While the White Winds Wept.
• Tuning Wheel's effect is not hostile anymore.
• Painful Interdiction is now correctly marked as hostile.
• Escape should now always prevent disengagement attacks.
• Seven Nights She Waited While the White Winds Wept will no longer attack allies.
• Barbarian Threatening Presence will no longer spam the combat log when the Barbarian loses all endurance.
• NPC Chanters will now resume chanting once they use their invocations.
• Getting maimed will not clear fatigue.
• All wall spells should now disappear when combat ends.
• New Glossary entries for spellbind, spell holding, and spell striking.
• Switched the ingredients for Freezing and Shocking lashes.
• Druid's Wildstrike Belt is now working as intended.
• Marked Prey is now working at intended.
• Draining Whip is now working as intended.
• One Stands Alone is now working as intended.
• Interrupting Blows is now working as intended, and will correctly increase interrupt.
• Mortification of the Soul is now working as intended, and should only award 1 wound.
• Scion of Flame, Spirit of Decay, Secrets of the Rime and Heart of the Storm should now correctly increase damage of all abilities.
• Driving Flight will now work properly with Blunderbuss type guns.
• The Retaliate mod should not strike allies after using Field Triage.
• Pet fatigue has been removed.

Quests and Companions

• Party member stats on the character sheet will now show properly if the companion is removed and re-added from the stronghold.
• Fixed issues where companions could lose their items when assigned to the stronghold.
• Grieving Mother's Perception and Intellect scores have been switched.
• The Man Who Waits: The citizens of the Sanitarium will no longer become hostile if you kill and loot Azo after the Sanitarium riot and then fight flesh golems. Fix is retroactive.
• Fixed issue with a reputation loss with Gilded Vale when entering Raedric's Hold.
• Removed disposition exploit with the Records Keeper.
• A few encounter placement changes.
• Fixed issues with stronghold hirelings becoming hostile.
• Retroactive fix to update Sanitarium quest stage to proper state if you already talked to Ethelmoer and then asked for Sanitarium directions from a city guard.
• Added retroactive fix if you've advanced Heritage Hill quest to Icantha but then asked a city guard for directions to Heritage Hill.
• Fixed a number of issues with the Winds of Steel quest. This should be a retroactive fix if the quest was already started before working on the second quest with the Dozens or Doemenels, or if the quest was acquired or completed in conjunction with Bronze Beneath the Lake or Changing of the Guard.
• Attacking any of the main three Defiance Bay factions after having secured their invitation to the hearing will now make Lady Webb give you an invite in the name of Dunryd Row.
• Fixed issues with the Hermit of Hadret House quest.
• If Sul or Oernos were defeated before speaking to Desthwn for the first time then The Old Queen and the New King quest will not revert to an earlier quest stage
• Hendyna's conversation is fixed up to be properly linked together.
• Fixed a case where one of Clyver's responses would not appear in conversation if you ask him twice about the hearing.
• Killing Alwah while she appears in Oldsong now prevents her from appearing alive in Galawain's Maw when you turn in the Prison of Ice quest
• Fixed an issue where the Hall of Revealed Mysteries would turn hostile after opening the door to the Elder Archives and then re-loading into the scene (while not in stealth).
• Rinatto will no longer appear in the Celestial Sapling if you convince him to leave Twin Elms as part of the Hard Bargain quest.)

UI

• Changed the display of most stat multipliers to be percentage based.
• Added Shift as a default control for multi-selection, in addition to Ctrl.
• Inverted the Stronghold log.
• Improved the output in the Bestiary and added beast abilities.
• Portraits now turn grey if Stamina is being capped by Health or Fatigue.
• Improved multi-selection.
• Stronghold adventures will now show the duration before you embark.
• Added apply button to resolution options screen.
• Default stealth key on Linux is now Ctrl.
• Weapon set buttons are now disabled when Spirit Shifted.
• Fixed several issues with containers and mouse cursor state on hover.
• Fixed an issue where the Lore requirement on scrolls was always displaying as red text.
• Fixed an issue where weapon sets were not visually unlocking.
• HUD does not upscale until 1920x1200.

General Fixes

• Removed exploit of being able to transition into a new area with a dead player character. Sorry speed runners.
• Spells and abilities stuck in 'Already Activated' state will be fixed whenever a game is loaded.
• Now camping in a stronghold map when Brighthollow is unlocked uses Brighthollow instead.
• Party members will no longer switch weapon sets when charmed.
• Resolved a problem where misses on some secondary attacks were not being reported in the combat log.
• Camera should center on party members faster.
• Trial of Iron: Loading a game will now force a save to happen to prevent save scumming.
• Fixed many issues related to auto pause.
• Firearms will now reload when combat ends on alternate weapon sets.
• Poison and interrupted VO now has a cooldown.
• Allow quick-loading when UI windows, like dialogue, are up.

 

[Almighty]

I haven't. Actually forgot about it.

At least I know I am not alone and yeah I almost did too until I noticed the date. I will give them a week or two before I send off an email.

 

[Night Hunter]

So, I finally picked up my CE box from the post office today. Is it normal that there is no disk in that thing?

EDIT: This sentence is fucking embarrassing btw, I feel stupid from just having written that ...

 

[LurkerPrime]

Balance

• Fan of Flames damage is reduced by 25%.

RIP Fan of Flames. You served me well.

 

[Almighty]

So, I finally picked up my CE box from the post office today. Is it normal that there is no disk in that thing?

EDIT: This sentence is fucking embarrassing btw, I feel stupid from just having written that ...

Assuming you are a backer the community voted(like a bunch of fools imho) for box now and disc later.

 

[Arkanius]

That's an healthy changelog

Now camping in a stronghold map when Brighthollow is unlocked uses Brighthollow instead.

Woohoo! No more 200 loading screens

 

[Dresden]

All these wizard buffs.

Ciphers now start with 1/4 max Focus instead of 1/2.

Was hoping for a lower focus cap instead (like 50), but it's an attempt I guess.

 

[Arkanius]

All these wizard buffs.



Was hoping for a lower focus cap instead (like 50), but it's an attempt I guess.

Ciphers are super overpowered. Reminds me of Warlocks from Neverwinter Nights 2.

 

[Treechopper]

Wow, that's a huge amount of changes. Was the game that broken for people?

 

[Shake Appeal]

No. The overwhelming majority of those are quality of life or balance fixes.

 

[Night Hunter]

Assuming you are a backer the community voted(like a bunch of fools imho) for box now and disc later.

What the actual fuck? So we get CE goodies now, everyone has to use their DL code and we get the disk later instead of getting the complete box later and using your DL code anyway?

 

[Sijil]

So I just defeated

Spoiler

Raedric

and it says I gained a total of 3000 or so XP, that means I should've leveled up but I didn't, none of my party members did and they only gained 300 XP each. They should be at level 5 but they're still at 4, I even brought in a level 1 mercenary from the in, that fight alone should've leveled him up to level 2.

Anyone had this bug before? Or is not a bug at all? Really don't feel like fighting him again.

 

[Almighty]

What the actual fuck? So we get CE goodies now, everyone has to use their DL code and we get the disk later instead of getting the complete box later and using your DL code anyway?

Pretty much.

The whole thing if I remember right was if they shipped the boxes and the discs in time for launch the discs would be pressed before the game was final so would require a day one patch, they could wait for the game to be finalized though that would mean the boxes wouldn't be there in time for launch, or the could do the whole shop boxes now and discs later thing. The community chose the last one and I think it was dumb. Though I am a little biased since that vote in my opinion really screwed those of use who just backed for the standard edition. As now instead of shipping when all the retail copies shipped I have to wait until who knows when to get my box.

 

[HP_Wuvcraft]

So, what is the base Athletics someone would need?

 

[Ala Alba]

So, what is the base Athletics someone would need?

2-3 is generally enough for most characters. There are a few scripted interactions that use more than that (mostly climbing stuff), so having more (5-6) on your watcher might not be a bad idea, but you can use a grappling hook instead in most, if not all, cases.

 

[Varna]

Didn't expect the next change log to be so huge. Very nice.

I've played about 4 different characters all the way to Defiance Bay on PotD.

Cipher is just obscenely OP. That stun move is just brutal and honestly even Grieving Mother is ridiculous with her abysmal stat distribution.

Fighter was just dull all around. But I did make the mistake of trying to play a DPS fighter... yeah, not too many active abilities to take advantage of.

Barbarian is pretty solid. Despite what a lot of people were saying he was pretty damn durable most of the time. Worked as a solid backup tank even without much invested into gear/skills. I probably would have finished the game with this character but for role-playing purposes I just couldn't really connect with this guy's story.

Rogue is the one I'm currently running and I might restart since I want to take advantage of some of the new patch features. This guy is probably the weakest class starting out. With all the other classes I was able to take clear out everything but the bears/wolves in the starting area. Not too many active abilities, but he does involve a good bit of positioning and synergy with party members to work well. He doesn't really feel nearly as powerful as Barb or Cipher at level 6 though.

I have 178 hours currently logged... I might never finished this game at this point. I just don't know what class I want to finish with.

 

[epmode]

Item sorting! Save renaming! Sounds like a great patch.

 

[HP_Wuvcraft]

2-3 is generally enough for most characters. There are a few scripted interactions that use more than that (mostly climbing stuff), so having more (5-6) on your watcher might not be a bad idea, but you can use a grappling hook instead in most, if not all, cases.

Yeah, looks like I'm restarting. Two of my guys have 11.

Welp. Doesn't sound like a bad idea with all the new crap in the patch.

 

[Varna]

Was being able to see enemies defensive stats on expert a bug before? can't see em now.

 

[HP_Wuvcraft]

I don't think I can play on Hard just due to the restriction on info.

 

[water_wendi]

1.05 is a lot meatier than i had originally anticipated. This pleases me.

 

[Varna]

I don't think I can play on Hard just due to the restriction on info.

Really now? You are pretty much steamrolling everything once you got to Defiance Bay.

Meh, it's not really a big deal on PotD. The only important info is what status ailments are applied and you can still see that.

 

[Zukuu]

Now camping in a stronghold map when Brighthollow is unlocked uses Brighthollow instead.

Nice.
I don't see anything about enchanting tho. =/

Also great that holding items are now per encounter. That makes them actually viable. Sold everything already tho. lol
Was searching for the Saguine armor, but I won't bother anymore seeing it has been nerfed. I sold it apparently or never got it (have finished the quest) and was looking for it at every vendor.

edit:
Boo at Interdiction range nerf tho.

 

[ThoseDeafMutes]

I started getting this bug at some point during my game:

http://forums.obsidian.net/topic/71857-game-constant-freezes-and-voice-delay/

So stupid. Really ruined the dialogue moments in the end game.

 

[Mulgrok]

Didn't expect the next change log to be so huge. Very nice.
*snip*
I have 178 hours currently logged... I might never finished this game at this point. I just don't know what class I want to finish with.

I used to be like that, but I finished the game with my first character no matter how badly I botched everything up. So 40 hours in it was over, and I was happy.

 

[Dresden]

Traps can now be passively detected at -4 Mechanics.

bueno

 

[ThoseDeafMutes]

Bugs aside, I think that by the time the expansion rolls around this will be a damn fine game system. I think they might need to work on dialogue / reputation being more prominent and inserting a few more skill checks. Maybe some more alternate paths in level design. But I'm happy to play more games in this system.

 

[Arkanius]

I just want an expansion of the Mask of the Betrayer level and I'm good.
This first iteration was good for world building, but I didn't connect with most of my party memebers.

 

[AndyMoogle]

So I just defeated

Spoiler

Raedric

and it says I gained a total of 3000 or so XP, that means I should've leveled up but I didn't, none of my party members did and they only gained 300 XP each. They should be at level 5 but they're still at 4, I even brought in a level 1 mercenary from the in, that fight alone should've leveled him up to level 2.

Anyone had this bug before? Or is not a bug at all? Really don't feel like fighting him again.

The total XP is Total Quest XP, as in all XP you've gained through the whole quest. You don't gain all that XP from just that fight alone.

Scroll up a bit and it should say the XP you gained from the fight.

 

[Sijil]

The total XP is Total Quest XP, as in all XP you've gained through the whole quest. You don't gain all that XP from just that fight alone.

Scroll up a bit and it should say the XP you gained from the fight.

Thanks for that and someone also mentioned that the XP gained is also divided amongst all party members too.

One last question about this quest, is there even a vault in the hold?

 

[duckroll]

Was just looking at the beta Patch Notes for 1.05: http://forums.obsidian.net/blog/7/entry-183-patch-notes-105-in-progress/

- Added a news feature on the main menu to keep you informed on patches and Kickstarter updates.

- Added a new color for unique items in the inventory.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaah yes. The rest of my playthrough will be so much less painless!

- There's a new option to reset newly recruited companions to level 1 (without losing the experience). This will allow you to level up companions to your liking.

This should address a lot of complaints about getting companions later in the game too.

- Ciphers now start with 1/4 max Focus instead of 1/2.

Awww. This was probably a much needed balance though.

- Now camping in a stronghold map when Brighthollow is unlocked uses Brighthollow instead.

Good fix. Too bad Brighthollow upgrades are still useless since they don't stack!

 

[julesodies]

So is this the huge patch everyone is talking about where it's the best time to start the game?

 

[MartyStu]

Good changes. Still, I wish we could restat companions.

Some of them a pretty atrocious.

 

[Irobot82]

Good changes. Still, I wish we could restat companions.

Some of them a pretty atrocious.

Yeah, I was really hoping for an IWD type experience with a fully hired/created party on my second playthrough. I want to experience a Monk and Barb together since I did rogue my first time.

 

[Sinatar]

Good fix. Too bad Brighthollow upgrades are still useless since they don't stack!

The bigger problem is that travel times are so long that your guys are exhausted as soon as you enter a new zone, so you have to waste a camping supply to rest and lose your buffs anyways.

 

[duckroll]

The bigger problem is that travel times are so long that your guys are exhausted as soon as you enter a new zone, so you have to waste a camping supply to rest and lose your buffs anyways.

I don't think that is much of an issue since I don't view the stronghold as a "free resting place" which applies to the entire game. Honestly, if the Brighthollow buffs at least stacked as you upgrade it, the advantages you get from that can be applied simply to exploring Od Nua and it would still feel worthwhile at least. As it is, the bonuses are soooo bad.

 

[HP_Wuvcraft]

Is 1.05 out yet?

 

[duckroll]

I tried out 1.05 on the beta branch and I'm experiencing some pretty weird issues. The inventory sorting in particular feels really laggy especially in sections where I have many pages of items. It feels so sluggish that the weapon and armor sections are almost unusable.

I wonder if this is a common issue...

 

[Treechopper]

I've progressed through about six hours of Act III. I love the setting, but it's definitely not grabbing me like Act II did.

Sidequest spoilers:

Spoiler

On the Three Fangs task where you have to choose between kidnapping a child and poisoning the leader I decided to poison the leader. However, I got the blood moss potion which is the wrong one. Is there any way to get another one or am I screwed? I went back to the lady and she didn't have the option anymore.

 

[Ala Alba]

I've progressed through about six hours of Act III. I love the setting, but it's definitely not grabbing me like Act II did.

Sidequest spoilers:

Spoiler

On the Three Fangs task where you have to choose between kidnapping a child and poisoning the leader I decided to poison the leader. However, I got the blood moss potion which is the wrong one. Is there any way to get another one or am I screwed? I went back to the lady and she didn't have the option anymore.

Spoiler

What makes you think it's the wrong one? The blood moss potion worked for me, from what I remember.

 

[Treechopper]

Spoiler

What makes you think it's the wrong one? The blood moss potion worked for me, from what I remember.

Spoiler

He responded with "What is this?!" and I had no option to convince him it wasn't poison. When everybody turned on me, I figured it was the wrong poison. It's the one where the lady thinks you're putting down an animal right?

 

[lord quas]

Why do I even bother with physical copies anymore... I just bought this on DVD for my Mac because my internet connection is too slow, and what do I get? A disc with a Steam installer on it and the product code to download it from Steam. Ridiculous.

 

[thesaucetastic]

Spoiler

He responded with "What is this?!" and I had no option to convince him it wasn't poison. When everybody turned on me, I figured it was the wrong poison. It's the one where the lady thinks you're putting down an animal right?

Spoiler

There's a hefty stat check that lets you get out of there without a fight. 20 Resolve or 19 of both Intellect and Perception I think.

 

[HP_Wuvcraft]

Spoiler

There's a hefty stat check that lets you get out of there without a fight. 20 Resolve or 19 of both Intellect and Perception I think.

Yup. That stat check is fucking brutal.

Good thing it is the only one of its kind.

 

[thesaucetastic]

Yup. That stat check is fucking brutal.

Good thing it is the only one of its kind.

The only thing I've seen remotely close is an 18 Perception check for Lilith, and even then you can scrape by with a 12. It was weird seeing such a high stat check so suddenly.

 

[Treechopper]

The only thing I've seen remotely close is an 18 Perception check for Lilith, and even then you can scrape by with a 12. It was weird seeing such a high stat check so suddenly.

Haha yeah, I'm probably going to have to abandon my game morals for this one. Sorry Grieving Mother, I can't beat this dude up.

 

[HP_Wuvcraft]

The only thing I've seen remotely close is an 18 Perception check for Lilith, and even then you can scrape by with a 12. It was weird seeing such a high stat check so suddenly.

Lilith is ridiculous, which makes finding out that you can very easily talk your way out of it just through detective work that much more rewarding.