A:EftP - Late game, three factions?

[Gabriel]

I have been playing into the late game of Avernum EftP and I think that I have finally realized that the new Avernum has some factions in it (I don't know if these were in the old Avernum or Exile games), though I realized this a bit too late to actually explore the different options during my run of the game, these are the three that I noticed:

 

1. Kingdom of Avernum.

2. The Empire.

3. Kyass of the Freehold.

 

 

1. Avernum

 

This is the side that you'd expect to play. You get your introduction at the start of the game, and it isn't until like 3/4 of the way into the game that you can actually encounter other Humans, not of Avernum, who are not an enemy who'll attack you on sight (the abyss). There are actually quests to fetch papers and stuff given out from various wizards in towers and libraries throughout Avernum who hint that other people are looking for their quest items, but they don't actually tell you who the other people are who are also giving quests for the same stuff.

 

 

2. The Empire

 

This is like, I think, a totally new angle to this version of Avernum, and the part that I didn't know about until much later in the game (I had already defeated the Demon lord and was finishing up with Erika's planned attack of the surface). I didn't poke around in the basements of Formello until way late in the game because when I passed through the first time there was a very strong Lizard guarding the place. I planned to come back when I was stronger but I never did. It's only now at the end of the game that I realize that all those times people asked me whether I wanted to get revenge on the Empire or not weren't just passing things where I would refuse to harm the empire, perhaps out of kindness or for not wanting to be bothered, only to end up crawling back to those same people later to get missions to advance the plot.

 

 

3. The Freehold

 

I like these people in a somewhat twisted way. They remind me of early "manifest destiny" America, if it had a part-Hoover, part-Nixon president, maybe Lyndon Johnson, with some sprinkling of earlier US Presidents that no one has ever heard of --because of their hit-list quest, and before the days of civil rights and human rights -- thus the twisted part of my like for them. -- Or if they were present day Arizona (sorry people of Arizona if you're insulted but that torturer in Freehold, the one who loves his work too much, is just shades of Sheriff Joe Arpaio for me.) They are all endearing in their own way: caricatures of America past and present (and perhaps partly also a nod to the current freedom movements rising around the world at the moment). Also, expansionism is how I choose to play my games of Civilization so I approve of their strategy (Though they will probably end up having many unhappy, cramped neighbors if they keep up with their plans of expansion through the caves though... Possibly underdeveloped cities as well if they end up in a conflict with Avernum or the Empire (or whatever unknown dangers await them in the lower caves)).

 

 

So, anyway, for most of the game I was helping Avernum only, except for the part where I met the Freehold so I helped them rather than Avernum for all their quests, except for the quests that I had already surrendered stuff to the wizards of Avernum, (I also didn't want to hear any part of the warnings from the general in Avernum's Castle) -- I think he wanted me to squash the Freehold.

 

As far as the Empire goes I might have been nicer to the Empire if I hadn't missed them until I was about to leave for the surface for Erika's assassination quest. Though I probably couldn't have finished the game had I been Empire-friendly. I have no idea if the Empire path is actually workable if you want to finish the game or not. However, I'd not tell them about where to find their forgotten exit to the surface even if they asked (which they did and I don't think I'll go back there (under Formello at least in this game)).

 

Has anyone else realized that there are other factions in the game sooner than I did? Perhaps uncovered the other factions story lines?

[Lilith]

They don't really have "paths" associated with them as such, just a few mutually exclusive quests. The only real difference who you help makes is what rewards you get. Regardless of who you help, the three game-winning quests are still pretty much the same.

[Randomizer]

Beta testing forces you to look under Formello because there isn't anything else to do until Jeff released south of the river near Silvar.

 

If you aren't Empire friendly, then you could go back and tell her that you killed her boss.

[Gabriel]

You can do that? I was afraid to do that. Partly because I like the idea of diplomatic immunity... Well seeing as how Avernum's mayors and officials, in this new version, have a secret alliance with the Empire I was afraid that Formello, at the least, would suddenly become hostile against me if I went back to the empire agent and made her unleash her golems on me.

 

I think I'll just avoid bothering her.

 

Although earlier in the game I was contemplating whether or not I should invade her bedroom as a shortcut to the quest to get an Empire seal. I decided against it and didn't actually try to go in, so for all I know she really does have an empire seal right there in her room out in the open not guarded by hoards of demons.

 

In my earlier gaming days I would love to save the game, min-max, and try any stupid thing (even jumping down random holes in Avernum 1 and hope I wouldn't die) and hope for the best. Now I just try and avoid things that might end badly unless I have no where else to go because I don't want to waste time in a long save-reload cycle any more.

[Gabriel]

Re: Lilith

 

It's good to know that I didn't miss anything major that I would regret and possibly have to replay the game to uncover.

[The Reverend]

You can provoke the empire lady under Formello into attacking you, and then take her out, without any real consequences. The Formello mayor will be unhappy if you choose to tell her what you did, but other than that, there's no consequence that I noticed.

 

If you haven't taken out Hawthorne yet, you can provoke her by just entering her bedroom.

[The Upright Man]

Originally Posted By: The Rev

If you haven't taken out Hawthorne yet, you can provoke her by just entering her bedroom.

I'd provoke her in her bedroom real good like!

[Earth]

lol@tum

 

you traitor, she's enemy of Avernum.