alhoon

I am pretty sure that was a joke too.

Some madman tried that in the past? Also, I think it is possible in GF3.

I was not talking about Torment, but yes, turning a zone hostile on entrance was what I had in mind. If one can't go through even the first zone that is impossible. However, if the parameters changed to "go through the zone without turning it hostile but you can't talk to anyone"... is it possible to get out of Vakiri? Or you have to talk to people if the zone is not hostile? I don't remember whether there are people that automatically draw you to a dialogue if you approach them in Vakiri.

In some of the starting areas that you meet those Serviles way above your level, I think you can run through, leaving perhaps a creation back here or there to kite them away from you, till you are powerful enough to return and kill them - the "goal" of this is not to kill everything on first sight but to turn every zone hostile as soon as possible. Some areas being locked is OK, but what you say, about the servant mind in the 2nd zone I think ... clicks. I am not sure you can attack that Servant mind before the discussion finishes and it opens the door. But if you can turn it hostile and that results in you being locked out, then it means that it is indeed impossible to finish the game as a murderous lunatic. Not hard, impossible.

So, I am aware that there are people that have finished the pacifist route, without directly making a single attack or their creations making a single attack. It can be done. The game takes that into account and there are avenues to do that. However, has anyone done the opposite? I.e. butcher everything everywhere. No dialogue. No "I will return after the Geneforge and wipe out serviles 10 levels below me." Nope. Total war, attack everything. Not a single ally. If he/she/it tries to speak you, you attack it. Is it possible to do it? Yes, I know it is technically possible to walk to the Sholai, cut them down and GTFO. But is it possible to do fight everything from the get-go? I.e. practically not finishing any quest, losing a ton of rewards and all but go on a complete rampage... and actually be good enough to beat the Sholai and get out.

When the next round of news is out, we will talk about that. But honestly, if there's NDA in place I think we should respect it and not try to find where the actual limits are. Let's avoid skirting close to them.

Fixed Amira

Most of them are, IIRC. They were supposed to be building plants for the colony, not for the hidden lands behind the colony.

Hmmm... wasn't the area past Lying Zackary the Deceiver supposed to be lush and green? I see a forest for the Barzites, Decent land for the Awakened and meh-land for the Takers.

As Amira reaches the boat, having snuck by armies of mutated, cannister-mad enemies, hungry drayks, rogue creations, conniving serviles, dangerous fanatics... she goes "Wait. No." And goes in a murderous rampage.

I simply don't play on Torment, and solve such problems. But I did employ hit-and-run.

Never said it was easy. The reason I dislike them is because they are, as you said, ridiculously powerful.

Well, thanks but I find it rewarding to smash their faces in by the time I am there, for all the grief and pain they caused me in the entire game up to there. Sholai are never "Easy" to beat. Also, gamewise, they killed my poor boat drayk.

You still have to face Sholai IIRC. Stealth-sneaking away from them... I didn't think of that. It would require a lot of load-and-save, I guess. Did you do the entire map in combat mode, perhaps?

How did you manage to reach the boat without being swarmed by the Sholai? I think not even Takers can do that. I honestly don't think you can ignore the Sholai, they are on your way... and if you mean "I fought them only when necessary", beating the Sholai on TORMENT without many of the quests and rewards... man that's not easy.

I try to avoid spoilers for the new person. The new player will learn all about you-know-who, soon enough. And incidentally IIRC it was this person's lab assistants that went all "what's the harm for creations to be able to procreate?"

That is the plan and the general rule. Most Shapers assume what you say is true and that the ones that can procreate are the exceptions of someone that didn't pay too much attention. Well, there are many exceptions. The Shapers are not as wise and careful as they pretend to be.

We can use an essence pool already! That said, I would like to point out that I think the "this essence is locked for you" is only "gameplay" rule, i.e. not actually part of the world. Furthermore other shapers can "release" a creation after making it. Or make them in big incubators. These creations are not directly controlled by the Shapers although they (generally) follow their orders. In some cases in games further down the storyline (very few cases) you can take control of a creation. And... in case you follow a certain path you will become aware of a different way to control creations instead of "holding them" to your essence. Randomizer: Without spoiling things for the new guy, I will mention to you a few words: Taker amulet. And from future games: Monarch. And much more...

Proto-Shapers in UK and USA started research on Shaping. Scientists report creation of first human synthetic model embryos | CNN " A team of researchers in the United States and United Kingdom say they have created the world’s first synthetic human embryo-like structures from stem cells, bypassing the need for eggs and sperm." On top of the Ethical issues, there are also legal issues here as in many countries there are no laws about Shaped embryos as they are not the same as IVF. Personally, I want to see laws that say the Serviles cannot be abused, that Drayks should not be made and that Shaped monsters cannot be allowed to grow more powerful than a tiger.

You don't get the full essence when you drop it, though.

I would say ranged attacks that poison. Static ability: Slow down enemies in an area or if possible, make an area cost more AP to cross. Moving ability: nothing.

How about a turret that shoots lions! Win-win Regardless... plants that move would be problematic for the lore. If those madmen in the mountains could create such a thing in a couple of years then the Shaper Empire would have developed similar things and have entire forests shaped and moved, making re-forestation or colonization much faster. Not to mention that a moving spawner is a big issue.

I ended up suggesting both the spider and the Proto-Purity Agent.

I ended up suggesting both the spider and the Proto-Purity Agent.

I was kinda thinking of a disease, not a real creation. Something you cast on a creation as a debuff and nearby creations also get it. Not much unlike Taygen's agent but with much less survivability; i.e. you cast it, it doesn't get out of a region and the debuff holds for a few ticks.