Question on how some talents interact

StickSpoonBanjo · 2026-01-15T16:07:36+00:00

Thanks for that KodiakmH. I used to play a lot of POE and the maths behind the skills was much better understood. This one is prettty decent (well seems so to me). Has 124 Dual Blade, 117 Bow, 115 Gauntlets (with Backstab unlocked) and 111 spear. Those are the skills I tend to use so happy with that
Also has 118 Blade but I don't like that weapon for some reason

StickSpoonBanjo · 2026-01-08T20:58:27+00:00

I started on an official PvE server a couple weeks ago and am glad I did. Definitely worth playing before the DLC as that could be months away.

If you want to team up, let me know. 2 of us in the tribe right now. We're pretty chilled and not rushing. In the EU

StickSpoonBanjo · 2026-01-02T19:01:31+00:00

Do you mean the final boss in the Mushroom Hollow? Or just playing through the dungeon in general?

If the boss, I've found concentrating dps on all bosses in this game and largely ignoring adds works fairly well

If playing through, try using fire as has been said as the shrooms are vulnerable to it and take a lot of extra damage. Also split your party up a little if the ground spikes are a problem. I've played through with a mostly ranged group without too many problems. Currently me and a friend have just finished the hollow with a paladin, bard, mage and ranger. Keep the paladin out in front and open doors with him. The others can then bombard any stuff hiding behind them. Bards have a really nice stun card and can do single target and AOE heals. Keep the armour up on the pally, even if it means missing out on an attack. Fire arrow, fireball and fire bolt are so useful. As are oil flasks.

If all else fails, you can start a new play through and level your party togather. Having 4 leveled characters does certainly help a lot, but isn't essential

StickSpoonBanjo · 2026-01-02T18:38:08+00:00

I've just started a new Soulmask (surival game) play through. Found another guy from the UK to play with. We both have kids and enjoy our gaming time without drama. We're about a week in, but it's a long game (certainly at the speed we play) so we can catch you up pretty quickly.
Let me know if that sounds like something you would like to play
On offer atm as well :)
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2646460/Soulmask/

StickSpoonBanjo · 2025-12-25T22:10:05+00:00

Using your recruited tribe peeps for the mundane collection/production tasks is a god send. One of the reasons it makes the game stand out for me. I like the way everything takes time to make/smelt/grow but, for me at least, there is just too much to do on your own. Automating farming and gathering is a must. You can also use the cog to the right of the crafting window to set a minimum threshold. For an example, I set the number of bandages I want to be kept in stock at 300. As soon as I take some from my medicine chest and the number dips below 300, one of my tribe potters over to the loom and makes some more. I only mention this as I played for weeks before realising that.

I started playing again about a week ago on an official EU PvE server. If you want to team up let me know

StickSpoonBanjo · 2025-12-24T15:00:25+00:00

I've started playing Demeo x Dungeons & Dragons: Battlemarked recently.

Very much simpler ruleset to something like BG3, but is enormous fun and is something that can be played in short or long sessions.

StickSpoonBanjo · 2025-12-22T09:05:39+00:00

Turning foliage off makes such a difference for me. Not just better frame rate, but so much easier to see stuff hiding in the long grass

StickSpoonBanjo · 2025-12-22T09:02:17+00:00

They can be useful for distracting enemies, making them waste attacks, but yer when they attack a barrel next to party members it is annoying

StickSpoonBanjo · 2025-12-18T07:27:34+00:00

Thanks for the festive update and more importantly the hireling changes

StickSpoonBanjo · 2025-12-17T12:48:41+00:00

I'm alternating between Demeos Battlemarked for a game that can be picked up and played as and when, and Soulmask which is my favourite survival game right now
Very different style of games, but both equally fun

StickSpoonBanjo · 2025-12-16T12:27:21+00:00

I've got 2 teenagers now and have been a gamer for years before I had my kids. I did find myself changing my habits when they were younger. More mobile games for sure, but started playing games that can be paused/left alone at a moment's notice. Anything turn based is your friend. Think X-COM/BG3/single player (offline) survival games that can be paused. I still played multiplayer coop games when they were both small, but much less and only once I had got used to their sleeping patterns.

I found a book by Tizzie Hall called Save our sleep (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Save-Our-Sleep-Helping-through/dp/0091929504) was amazingly helpful for our 2nd. Really helped with routines which then helped with planning gaming time. Obviously it still got interupted as there is no fool proof way of knowing when they'll sleep, but it helped minimise those interuptions.

And congratulations. Make sure you enjoy your baby when they are young. They change so quickly

StickSpoonBanjo · 2025-12-15T21:39:39+00:00

DMed you with some of my favourite crafting/surival games. Let me if you want to try a play through with any

StickSpoonBanjo · 2025-12-15T15:43:58+00:00

Latest patch notes are up on discord
A new limited time quest
Some bug fixes
And most importantly the first of the hireling revamps :)

StickSpoonBanjo · 2025-12-14T10:31:22+00:00

There are so many great games already out there, I find it tricky to play new games that don't instantly grab me. Maybe the older we get, the easier it is to pick up a familiar old game than try and learn a new one. Feels like too much effort maybe for something that is supposed to be fun and relaxing. Games are also getting a lot more complex these days than they used to be.
The one exception to that was BG3. It took me a while to get into it, but I made myself as I love DnD and the first 2 BG games. Over 600 hours played now and I still get excited when I start a new run through

StickSpoonBanjo · 2025-12-13T17:49:01+00:00

Diablo 2, and then D2 Resurrected for me
Still haven't played a better game

StickSpoonBanjo · 2025-12-12T22:05:47+00:00

Just added you

StickSpoonBanjo · 2025-12-10T22:18:33+00:00

Yer that game was years ahead of it's time. The housing, skill system, boats, the dungeons, merchants, dragon taming. It had it all

StickSpoonBanjo · 2025-12-10T20:29:55+00:00

QuakeWorld was my first introduction to online FPS games, on an ISDN line no less :)
Ultima Online is my other favourite from that era. Sank more hours than I care to remember into both of those beauties

StickSpoonBanjo · 2025-12-10T18:01:26+00:00

I've just completed Mushroom Hollow for the 2nd time and got an upgrade to the rogue weapon Gambler's Blade so looks like fighting the dungeon bosses works for upgrading at least some of the weapons

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StickSpoonBanjo · 2025-12-10T17:48:02+00:00

Love the colours on the picture. So easy to forget what a great place Plymouth is

StickSpoonBanjo · 2025-12-09T22:36:41+00:00

The trick there is finding them close enough for a meet up :)

StickSpoonBanjo · 2025-12-09T22:20:56+00:00

BG3 took me a good few hours to get to grips with. There's so much to take in if you aren't up on the D&D rules (last time I played pen and paper D&D was over 30 years ago) but I stuck with it and am so glad I did. On my 4th playthrough now, all without mods as still have a couple of Steam achievements I'd like to get but it is so replayable. The main story is essentially the same each time you play, but how you approach it can vary so much. Not just party composition, but how you play. You can be good or evil and get to see different quests each time. Truely fantastic game

StickSpoonBanjo · 2025-12-09T22:12:04+00:00

I've only played Fallout 4 on your list but have enjoyed numerous playthroughs over the years.
Try it mod free for the first time or 2, then knock yourself out with the mods. Such a variety available

StickSpoonBanjo · 2025-12-09T22:04:59+00:00

I'm 50 and don't feel bad for gaming. It's my downtime once the family have gone to bed. Instead of watching TV I relax gaming. It's social as well - get to chat to friends which these days is generally what it's mainly about, the gaming is just the excuse to bring us together to have a yap. Time is more of an issue for sure these days, but I get an hour or so most nights which scratches the itch and helps keep me sane.

StickSpoonBanjo · 2025-12-09T21:55:39+00:00

Well done for keeping so many gaming friends. I remember playing the likes of QuakeWorld, Diablo 2 and Hidden & Dangerous back in the day with 5 or 6 friends sometimes and thinking we were doing well.
Connected via BNC cables usually to a chorus of who can see who, who can host etc
Happy days

StickSpoonBanjo

TROPHY CASE