alhoon

I had the exact same question when the demo was out. In fact, I was afraid thanks to a mis-install in a different computer that I would lose my saves, but they were all there. As for the "One Branch only". It really helps. BUT it is not the end-all. This game allows you to be suboptimal. It is not a "puzzle" game where you have to pick the right things. I think even in the highest difficulty, there is leeway to do a few non-perfect things. Sure, some fights will be difficult ... but for the most part you can do them later! Very few are the encounters that you need to do before you can go somewhere else.

If it damages the Shapers I am for it. The issue is... does it damages the Shapers or it makes different kind of Shapers? The GF1-M Sholai were something between the Takers and the Barzhites

There are more than one new questlines, so I can't be sure which one he means.

I was not aware of the inclusion of that quest. What do I lose? EDIT: Is THAT what I lose? Healing craft which I really like? Oh, come on! Thank God I didn't go to finish Tuldaric's friend beforehand.

I met... an infernal. One that has, for a change, not being summoned by a Shaper but decided to simply show up to hunt other infernals. However, I have already beaten the Bound One, before she gave me that stick of hers. Did I lose part of the quest?

Awesome loot and dangerous monsters and/or gases and substances and if the Shapers catch you with some of that loot, they kill you. Haven't reached that part of the endings yet, but ... doesn't one of them snap at the end?

And those are very big issues, because: - They are willing to break too many eggs - Geneforge. In fact we know from GF4 and GF5 that the Drakons don't bring total obliteration, that there are more moderate voices in there and that those voices can eventually win. We do not know that in GF2. We don't know what the factions that survive the coming war will believe and how their beliefs would morph. We don't know yet whether 10 years down the road the Drakons, mad from the Geneforge, would decide humans (common or shaper) should not exist. And it is a chance I am increasingly willing to Take. It is just that I like the Awakened much much more, although I don't think they have a real shot to win. Sure, they may get their stalemate and they may (although I really doubt it) eventually become free from the Shapers albeit in a cold war, rogue nation kind of state, freeing a few serviles here and there from the Shaper lands. But that is not the victory I want; that leaves the Shaper Empire as it is, with just a few mountains less. It leaves Millions of serviles as slaves. It leaves the crimes of the Shapers unpunished. In our world, if a computer scientist trying to make a new antivirus releases a bugged program that burns the company's main-frame and a few dozen terminals, he would be brought to justice for his mistake, paying fines and losing his job. A doctor that does a serious error and kills a patience will lose his license and may go to jail. Shapers would simply board up the facility, put a "do not enter" outside and send a guardian every 10 years to clean whatever mess escapes from there.

I met a bunch of Sholai camped out of a mine. Seemed all nice, explorers and peaceful. Then, I check their warriors and they are beasts-of-war of 18th level. So, apparently the Sholai in Sucia were already well-trained warriors before they got cannistered. For a peaceful expedition, they do have a lot of highly skilled guards. Then, I find from Rook the Servile that theorizes Takers kill Inutile (I hope not) that the Sholai from Sucia managed to escape despite them having no ship, probably by repairing their ship before the Shapers arrived in force after you eliminate Trakjov. And they brought Rook with them. And their nice and polite and awestruck boss doesn't tell me where the main camp is and where their captain is. 😑 If Lying Zackary the Deceiver taught me something is to be suspicious of strangers that evade answers and give platitudes. Yu-La: "I wanted to trade with you and learn your language" Really Yu-La? Cause I found very very few Sholai willing to trade with me if I was not a Taker. In fact, they were positively unfriendly... Trading with rogue Drayks and Taker Serviles is not the same as want to trade with Shapers. The Sholai really misinterpret the situation. Those are not rose-tinted glasses, that is downright hilarious misdirection. And a puresteel bar. She has a Puresteel bar for sale.

What I see is: "Were allowed to exist in some minor form." Those that the Shapers considered to have value for them. As for Empires and assimilation of conquered people, that's not entirely true. A great many empires did or attempt to do Assimilation or in some cases, cultural genocide. Others did not. The British held India from 1773 to 1947 and while they are far from perfect, they move against the great many and diverse Indian cultures at least not as long as those cultures and their practices were not in open opposition. In the Americas and parts of Australia, the British did do cultural genocide. In Latin America, the Spanish assimilated the locals but many of the local traditions, cultures and even languages remain despite being under the influence of the Spanish Empire for centuries. What we are shown here and in GF5, is that the Shapers kinda like the USSR, actively try to impose a monoculture and bring assimilation and in some cases (like the evil ghost-king in GF5 or actually in those tombs in GF2) they eradicated the culture by killing everyone. And the Assimilation didn't "happen"; it was forced. Those that were not completely absorbed were allowed to exist. Something that may change if a Shaper wakes up cranky one day and decides they had had enough of those weirdo crystal-mages.

The Power corrupts thing: It hits me in this game more than other GF games. I mean, my own corruption thanks to power. After I found the super-awesome Shaper Robes from Sharon's closet (she wears hers, those are totally spare that she can live without), my Drakons are 20th level and my Drayks are 19th level. I walked into Gerth. I saw the turrets. I saw the "stupid, obeying Serviles" and "return to the Norm". I checked levels of guards and turrets and I can wipe the place clean. I am struggling to not do just that, say "Screw it" to the story and my mission to find and sabotage the Radiant College (which should certainly be much harder to purge than Geth, so I have to be diplomatic) and start killing Barzhite soldiers, turrets and creations with abandon. I have to think of aaaaall the loot I have in my pockets that I need merchants with money to sell. Of the seer pleasure of turning Barzhal's machinery to scrap metal so that the Creations raise up. I have to think that the Obeyer Serviles will be caught in the crossfire even though they did nothing wrong. But man, I am itching to go out and start killing Shapers and Barzhites. I have had it with their ways. Every zone is a horrible reminder that they should be torn to pieces and we should wage a serious war against them. I swear if I had the option, I would throw an Unbound on Gerth and let it eat everything. ... Perhaps I need to rethink my faction affiliation. I strongly dislike the Takers for how they treat those that disagree with them - and I am pretty much the same when it comes to Shapers / Barzhites. I dislike the Takers but I hate the Shapers / Barzhites. I will have to hear what Syros has to say... I am conflicted. EDIT: Oh, I am not allowed to trade in Gerth... buddies, your usefulness is severely reduced.

Could it be that the few Obeying Obeyers stayed with the Barzhites?

While, at least early game, investing in more than one Shaping paths is not too expensive, it is suboptimal. What I mean is that it is much better for you to focus on one tree and increase that and get creations and canisters for that.

I was not aware for that, I don't use the cheat engine. I was referring to simple scripting. If you add or replace an ability to a Creation with scrips, that stays for the game. If you change stats with a script, that stays for the game. If you change the level with scripts... it doesn't. In previous games it would change too. But I assumed since creations now level up only with your stats, which could go up at any time, even if you don a piece of armor, that the game was checking all the time.

Barzhal had "servile sympathies" ? Lying Zackary the Deceiver saved a little servile Kid from obliteration. Barzhal? I don't remember anything at all he ever did for the Serviles. I think he was always about himself - not even about Zackary and himself. He planned to use Lying Zackary the Deceiver from the start; at first for his connections and experience and then as a front.

Are Agents seriously easier than Guardians? As for stun-locks for Agent, early game you have 2 free creations that you can get with leadership. Then, even if expensive, you could afford to raise a bit one Shaper class and get a decent creation. Then, you could rush and grab Xander which is quite decent at level 12.