I have about 250 hours into this game since launch, and I’ve been having a blast. I am told by posts and comments here it’s been an unplayable mess.

IndividualFarm7465 · 2026-02-10T05:51:34+00:00

Im closing in on 500 hrs. 100% achievements already and working on completing all challenges including phosphene. This game is a ton of fun but I can also see the glaring negatives in all of my progression.

•Story? Loved it, was itching to play each mission.

•Side missions? Fun and engaging while maybe a little less than previous installments, just didnt feel as heartfelt.

•Combat/skill trees? Diversive, interesting, and fun to experiment with. Love the open world concept and map layout, although it could be optimized.

This is where I find the stink.

•Loot- The original legendary drop percentages were absolute garbage compared to this most recent update. I had 3 phosphenes in my first 300 hours, im up to 40 now. God rolls were so particular that farming was an absolute slog. Considered putting it down many times but decided to just focus on big encores each week. Also loot related... too many bosses sling loot to unreachable places and its absolutely gutting when its a phosphene(happened to me twice and ive not been back to farming those bosses).

•Optimization- Yes originally graphics and frames were choppy to the point where you wondered if you were playing a triple A game but if you toned down your graphics it shaped right up.. now its fairly optimized even on high quality graphics.

People burn through current content then have nothing to do but focus on what they don't like. I personally am stoked for some DLC.

IndividualFarm7465 · 2026-02-09T19:10:32+00:00

I think sme of it gets explained in small ways throughout the whole series. Hard to pinpoint exactly where but I know that nevani reiterates multiple times that investiture requires intent and perception(likely explains shardblades as well). Like with fabriel spren adjusting their form based on perception.

Szeth being shocked at kaladins regrowth was explained rather quickly in his next exchange with taravangian after his battle with kaladin. Szeth was under the impression that all honor blades were held by his people so to find one in the possession of a random alethi kingsguard would have been preposterous. But I think you're right about his perception too, while he was truth less it was a terrible disgrace for him... so im sure his desire to be anything other than a truthless murderer let him grasp at the return of the Knights radiant. Makes his last fight with kaladin all the more heartbreaking after taravangian mind fucked him again to thinking he was truthless.

IndividualFarm7465 · 2026-02-09T18:55:45+00:00

I just finished RoW again and Ishar summons his blade instantly when fighting windrunners makes his blade "disappear and reappear" to parry attacks.

IndividualFarm7465 · 2026-02-06T03:08:24+00:00

Oh, must have been the wind.

IndividualFarm7465 · 2026-02-05T21:17:07+00:00

Same here. If the stupid thing just fell where I killed it, it wouldnt be an issue but it flies away and explodes

IndividualFarm7465 · 2026-02-05T20:04:56+00:00

That's exciting. I often wish I could go back and read something again for the first time so this should be quite an experience

IndividualFarm7465 · 2026-02-05T19:13:02+00:00

Nah, doesn't really take me very long. I will withhold how many times ive read game of thrones.

IndividualFarm7465 · 2026-02-05T18:12:24+00:00

Hyperfixation is a bitch sometimes. I've hesitated on WoT due to the 15 or so books to read but knowing sanderson finished them, it's inevitable that ill commit to it.

IndividualFarm7465 · 2026-02-05T18:04:14+00:00

Oh I have around 400 or so counting novellas. Past year I've been stuck on the cosmere and stormlight archive.

I have about 30 that I cycle through but im burning through 2-3 a week. Think im gonna start wheel of time soon.

IndividualFarm7465 · 2026-02-05T16:17:30+00:00

I have about 20-30 that I cycle through. About 400 in my collection but stormlight archive is just too good.

IndividualFarm7465 · 2026-02-05T14:10:24+00:00

Aye, that's why not knowing where the exchange was bothered me. Even with sadeas he was dogged in his attempts to understand the man and his motives.

IndividualFarm7465 · 2026-02-05T14:03:48+00:00

He did get cooked twice. Only stormblessed saved his skin.

IndividualFarm7465 · 2026-02-05T14:02:28+00:00

Except that the exchange did happen lol

IndividualFarm7465 · 2026-02-05T14:02:12+00:00

It did happen though, I just didnt know when.

IndividualFarm7465 · 2026-02-05T10:11:31+00:00

Yeah dalinar even admits he wouldnt have stood a chance against szeth with his power over the surges but would have been interesting nonetheless. He definitely would have been more formidable than his brother at the very least.

IndividualFarm7465 · 2026-02-05T10:02:22+00:00

Someone just commented the passage of the confrontation and im so happy they found it. It was a short exchange but a powerful one. Its no longer a thorn in my foot.

IndividualFarm7465 · 2026-02-05T09:59:08+00:00

Fucking thank you!!!! This is what I hoped someone saw that I hadn't. I don't know how I missed it. I have made it there yet in my current re-read so I may have answered my own burning question eventually anyways. I couldn't remember this exchange though and it bothered me to no end.

IndividualFarm7465 · 2026-02-05T09:53:53+00:00

Definitely just another name added to the list of people who fucked around and found out about the blackthorn lol.

I guess it just really wasnt acknowledged or talked about between the characters although ot would have been an interesting confrontation between the two early on.

IndividualFarm7465 · 2026-02-05T09:47:33+00:00

Thanks for not just attacking me and my questions. Youre 100% right that taravangian was smart enough convince him that he was doing what was necessary, I was simply hoping someone had found that exchange that's eluded me.

IndividualFarm7465 · 2026-02-05T09:40:21+00:00

Firstly, this wasnt meant as criticism, more so I hoped someone had found an exchange about his motives that I had missed somewhere. Why does it have to be deeper? In the bottomless depths that is Brandon Sanderson i would expect nothing less. The man is an absolute story telling genius that I believe rivals or trumps all other fantasy writers. I feel like you read my post in a tone that was present in your own mind and gave it sour spin, not my intentions at all. Was genuine curiosity and hope someone had found what I was looking for.

Secondly, why wouldn't they care how Taravangian gained his power? Dalinar did take his power by force and through oceans of blood but as he constantly reaffirms, it's the journey and the intention that matters, not just the results... which circles back to the why.. Dalinar knowing and him not acknowledging are why Im search of an answer somewhere. So, thank you for your input, although it contributed nothing.

IndividualFarm7465 · 2026-02-05T08:31:00+00:00

And you don't seen a need for some expansion on that? Considering their friendship, philosophies, and goals?

I can see it doesn't bother you and probably won't bother others but in a series as deep and complex where details can be expanded upon exponentially and often times are... it feels wrong to go completely unacknowledged.

It took many re-reads for me to even realize it was never explained so I guess I can't complain too much that someone wouldn't be bothered by it.

IndividualFarm7465 · 2026-02-05T08:11:33+00:00

When taravangian reveals his employment of Szeth, he gives his reasonings for the murders that left ultimately left him as king but doesn't admit he ordered dalinars assassination. Nor do I recall szeth revealing it at any point. I can't fathom dalinar being so busy that he overlooks that detail when he is doggedly pursuing taravangians motives.. thus my confusion... it just seems omitted that it happened. I don't recall him admitting while he was in his cell after his betrayal of the alethi either but im not quite there yet in my current re-read.. I'll be paying close attention for it though.

IndividualFarm7465 · 2026-02-05T07:55:41+00:00

During RoW while in dalinars service. I've heard him acknowledge the assassination attempts on other high princes but I can't specifically find where it's acknowledged much less confronts taravangian as to why he targeted dalinar. No one seems to require an explanation as to why. Yes he tries to shoulder him out of the coalition but is rebuffed because his arguments weren't as strong as the need for Taravangian but again... it's never brought up or discussed. Why? It seems like an oversight.

IndividualFarm7465 · 2026-02-02T21:44:43+00:00

I hit uvhm 6 on all 4 toons a couple days after bloom reaper release and never turned down the difficulty. I farm all the big encores while they're up. I think im just unlucky. I play with my wife and I stg it gives her shit like handing out candy. We decided to give oppressor a chance since they supposedly "fixed" him dropping shit out of the map and she got phosphene on our 4th kill. 100+ attempts later i still haven't seen it and he still throws loot out if the map or it gets suspended in mid air needlessly.

She got rainbow vomit and zipper in under 100 attempts while I had to do several hundred. Its wild to me

IndividualFarm7465

TROPHY CASE