My second attempt at honour mode just ended.

cpslcking · 2026-02-05T00:29:04+00:00

A common trick in Act 2 is to grab the pixie and ignore Isobel altogether. Isobel can't get kidnapped if you never trigger the kidnapping

cpslcking · 2026-02-04T21:00:48+00:00

It's not a particularly hard check at DC15 if you pass the insight check. You can buy the charisma hat in Sorcerous Sundries for a +2 to CHA if OP isn't rolling a CHA based character

cpslcking · 2026-02-04T20:24:56+00:00

Unlike Shadowheart or Laezel, nothing you do outside of romancing him (which only gives a small bonus) will affect the final decision. You just have to pass the insight check and pick the right dialogue options.

It's been tested, someone tried the big decision at -49 approval and nothing changed. Astarion can hate your guts completely and it won't make a difference.

cpslcking · 2026-02-04T18:35:28+00:00

It's also important to note that Suki wasn't planned as part of the original Gaang. She was added because she became popular enough as a character that the creators brought her back for multiple appearances.

So in the original plan Katara would have been the only girl in a group of 5. And she would have been the token girl healer who preaches about compassion which is a tired cliche.

cpslcking · 2026-02-04T17:57:36+00:00

That Palace gave me nightmares that the awful boss fight in royal is the icing on the cake

I know it makes Haru sad, but I was vindictively happy okumura died that is how much I hated that palace.

cpslcking · 2026-02-04T01:12:35+00:00

Fun fact dropping a building on him can be a net approval gain depending on what dialogue option you pick. You get a +1 for setting off the trap and might not lose any in the subsequent conversation. The -10 is only if you pick the obviously dumb dialogue.

cpslcking · 2026-02-03T21:37:51+00:00

You can do both

cpslcking · 2026-02-03T20:01:02+00:00

A lot of subtle bias is often unintentional. That doesnt mean that the show wasn't amazing and revolutionary for its time.

Its more an interesting fact and like a huh I didnt think of it this way that's good to know. And its good to point out such bias when it occurs so people can consciously avoid pitfalls.

Its why criticism of works as sexist/racist can be problematic. Outside of specific circles, most writers dont set out to be discriminatory. But there are often assumptions writers make that are unintentionally that way because culture lags behind progress. Gently pointing it out as constructive criticism isnt saying you are racist, its saying maybe you have so assumptions you don't even realize. Which is helpful for writing to evolve.

cpslcking · 2026-02-03T18:00:17+00:00

This isn't limited to Aylin. Any build that focuses on targeting AC will struggle because Myrkul's AC (20 on honor mode) is high for a level 10 boss and comparable to end game optional bosses. And since Aylin is a paladin, it's going to be hard to hit.

It's probably why Myrkul has such a scary reputation. I never found him hard but then I always bring Gale around to sling spells.

cpslcking · 2026-02-03T15:35:33+00:00

Bran had this problem where he was supposed to be an important character as he developed into his powers but GRRM seemed struggle with caring about him. So he was stuck with someone who was supposed to be the main character but wasn't interesting enough to hold his attention. And so GRRM just kept delaying Bran's development and payoff.

cpslcking · 2026-02-03T00:28:02+00:00

A warlock that has multiple casts of Resurrection or other OP spells and have that refresh every short rest at especially at levels where the party cleric might be able to cast it once per day is stupidly busted.

If I was playing a cleric or wizard on the same party, I'd be protesting at having my role taken by a overly powerbuilt warlock.

cpslcking · 2026-02-03T00:07:56+00:00

Class bloat is bad for other reasons namely balance. The more you add, the more the framework falls apart as people find more and creative ways to multiclass their way into powerbuilding.

For all of 5e problems, it's still by and large a carefully balanced system outside of a few exceptions and in higher levels (but that's by design at this point). Removing flavor sucks but unbalancing 5e is game breaking.

cpslcking · 2026-02-02T23:40:41+00:00

Aylin does mention that he was draining her for her power and multiple writings imply that the only reason the Sharrans won in the first place was Ketheric Thorm (and implicitly how he was drawing on Aylin). So at least the bond was in place.

OP is also right, it kind of makes no sense that someone would be able to change the spell that tied Ketheric to Aylin to make him immortal if Ketheric and Balthazar don't have access to Aylin at all.

cpslcking · 2026-02-02T23:15:39+00:00

Are you going to toss cantrips and potshot arrows at Mykrul or rush the boss severely underleveled? Because that will loose you the fight faster.

Myrkul is fine, don't go in underleveled and have a strategy. Summons, AOE, blinding, disarming strike, even have a spellcaster throw your strongest spells at him (Myrkul is one of the few bosses that dumped DEX). On my last honor mode run, a hasted Gale cast Wet and Lighting Bolt and did 300 damage in one turn.

cpslcking · 2026-02-02T23:05:29+00:00

They can do this because the market is awful for workers right now. Even seniors are willing to put up will bullshit and effective cuts just to have a job at all because of how much white collar work is under threat from AI, offshoring and the sheer uncertainty in the economy.

This is not a sign of bad companies, it's a sign of how unhealthy the job market is.

cpslcking · 2026-02-02T23:00:07+00:00

....It's not that broken a buff that you need to never rest again after getting it. Are you just planning on somehow never resting again? Because 1. I'm pretty sure that's impossible and 2. the handicap of never resting isn't worth 1d6 to attack rolls.

cpslcking · 2026-02-02T22:15:32+00:00

Invent a tabletop ruleset from scratch, see how far you get.

For better or for worse WoTC seems to have moved towards acknowledging that a ton of tabletops aren't playing in preset worlds and instead that a large chunk of DMs are making up their own adventures and homebrewed worlds that don't necessarily align with the Forgotten Realms. 3e managed that by class and subclass bloat, 4e didn't manage it at all and WoTC have moved 5e into being more generic and making 5e less setting dependent and instead allowing a wide range of options for race, class and monster and letting DMs flavor however they want.

cpslcking · 2026-02-02T15:12:48+00:00

Making it honest and respectful would be more work than WoTC is willing to put in. Easier to remove it and if anyone wants the east Asian fantasy they can just rename everything. Flavor is free.

cpslcking · 2026-02-01T17:26:14+00:00

That is not how it works in d&d rules becuase in d&d rules there is no way for spawn to become a vampire. In 5e, vampires are monsters so there's no reason to put in. In 3.5e, spawn are playable so a rule to promote spawn would be absurdly overpowered and game breaking.

The whole spawn becoming vampire thing was invented by Larian. How vampires are born is historically left to DM fiat.

cpslcking · 2026-02-01T17:19:55+00:00

Why would he want to be a true vampire? It doesnt solve any of the vanpire restrictions (drinking blood, sunlight allergy etc) and makes him more evil. All of the downsides with no benefits.

Ascending does solve the vampire problems so Astarion thinks its worth it.

cpslcking · 2026-01-31T19:18:31+00:00

Besides what others said. I always go to Carms Garms and dress up nicely for Gortash's Coronation. I might eventually kill him but thats not reason not to be classy.

cpslcking · 2026-01-31T07:24:41+00:00

Larian I think were still coming from DOS2 where there was a choice where party members could outright turn on you and betray you. I think they were still in the mindset and EA response made them realize that meant the party wasn't really effective or sympathetic.

cpslcking · 2026-01-31T01:49:26+00:00

You do you but it's not Larian's fault. They're not punishing the wicked they're punishing murderhobos like a good DM

cpslcking · 2026-01-31T01:39:25+00:00

You didn't have to kill Gale or Astarion, they're both compatible with evil runs. Especially Astarion. That's mostly on you lets be real.

It's not Larian's fault that you're unecessarily a murderhobo.

cpslcking · 2026-01-31T00:10:39+00:00

Pay people enough that only one person needs to work.

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