Wasteland 2 is looking more awesome by the update

[SLU Aequitas]

Really enjoying the old school flavor of this game. Have about 30 hours in the game so far.

Here are some comments in regard to difficulty levels (there are 4 levels, i will call them easy, normal, hard, insane):
Easy: this is pretty much story mode, very easy.
Normal: In the first map you have the option to recruit a higher level NPC (level 8?), and will help with combat quite a bit. I found normal to be a cake walk with the NPC recruited. Without the NPC, it was a little more challenging, but still not hard enough, so i restarted on hard below.
Hard: Without the NPC, i was getting destroyed at the Ag Center as a first time player, so I restarted with the NPC. (I think its more fun with the NPC, as it adds some commentary here and there on missions). The first missions were challenging with the NPC, but not frustrating.
Insane: Did not try it, as hard was hard enough for me...

Some other random tips:
1) Character build: Try to get enough APs for 2 shots based on your weapon choice. Starter SMG, assault, pistol i think are 4 AP, shotgun, blunt is 5, blade is 3, sniper rifle is 6, hvy weapon i think is 6... (12 ap as a starter is tough, so you might want to go for 10 APs and have a second fast weapon skill.)
2) Intellgence is important for skill points, check the explanation text for how many extra SPs you get per level. There are tons of safes, traps, locks, etc so you will need those skillpoints. Make sure your starter team has at least 1 point (get 2 in each ASAP) in safes, locks, traps, computer sci, perception, field medic. Alarms, toaster, etc can come later. Note you get an NPC early with decent surgeon skill, and comp sci.
3) Watch out for the spore contamination disease - dont let it count down all the way (there are ways to cure this temporarily). If it progresses, and you get the Acute contamination which i found was not curable at all.

Adding on with my own experiences (I've gotten up to the suicide-bomber monks):
1.) Character build: AP is extremely important, speed/strength is just as important for a melee tank. Weapons + mods means you can dip around 3AP per shot, and different fire modes can play into this as well (assault rifles have a three round burst for one additional AP, for example). Grip tape on melee weapons lowers AP cost by one, etc.
2.) INT is probably one of the most important stats, as there are so, so many skill checks in this game. Plenty of speech checks, and there are so many safes, locks, alarms, etc. Computer sci is VERY important, without going into spoilers, there are often in-combat applications for these skills.
3.) Contamination is completely curable by following the AG Center quest line to completion, just make sure you do it in a reasonable amount of time. The game makes it very clear from the start that waiting around isn't a good idea. Easiest way is to just avoid the pods all-together.

I'm also playing on Easy and it's still possible to get into battles where, even prepared, you can be overwhelmed (I might have been engaging enemies past my level), so it's not a cake-walk at least.

 

[Ganeedi]

1.) Character build: AP is extremely important, speed/strength is just as important for a melee tank. Weapons + mods means you can dip around 3AP per shot, and different fire modes can play into this as well (assault rifles have a three round burst for one additional AP, for example). Grip tape on melee weapons lowers AP cost by one, etc.
2.) INT is probably one of the most important stats, as there are so, so many skill checks in this game. Plenty of speech checks, and there are so many safes, locks, alarms, etc. Computer sci is VERY important, without going into spoilers, there are often in-combat applications for these skills.
3.) Contamination is completely curable by following the AG Center quest line to completion, just make sure you do it in a reasonable amount of time. The game makes it very clear from the start that waiting around isn't a good idea. Easiest way is to just avoid the pods all-together.

I'm also playing on Easy and it's still possible to get into battles where, even prepared, you can be overwhelmed (I might have been engaging enemies past my level), so it's not a cake-walk at least.

Thanks, seems you are bit further progressed than me. I tend to move very slowly, and got hosed on the AG center contamination. I let it go too long, and figured it would still be curable - apparently not.

Spoiler

even taking the serum at the end would not cure it

 

[SLU Aequitas]

Thanks, seems you are bit further progressed than me. I tend to move very slowly, and got hosed on the AG center contamination. I let it go too long, and figured it would still be curable - apparently not.

Spoiler

even taking the serum at the end would not cure it

It's also possible Easy gives you additional time to solve the problem, since I tend to also be very thorough. I definitely pushed faster though

Spoiler

after remembering the first pod person describing what was happening, and then hearing about Matt (wheelchair dude) getting hit by plant shrapnel and having very limited time

.

EDIT: I also had a very good chunk of time this weekend to play, I'll throw out # hours from Steam when I get home tonight to give you an idea.

 

[irishScott]

3) Watch out for the spore contamination disease - dont let it count down all the way (there are ways to cure this temporarily). If it progresses, and you get the Acute contamination which i found was not curable at all.

Dude, I'm thinking you kinda deserved that. The infection give you something like 14000 seconds to complete, I finished it with ~6000 left. Did you just ignore finding the cure and did other stuff for several hours?

 

[DigDog]

aaaand i can't buy this anywhere.

gonna try to get it shipped from Game.

i have managed to resist the impulse to download it from "that pirate website". it's a matter of principle, really.

 

[ImpulsE69]

aaaand i can't buy this anywhere.

gonna try to get it shipped from Game.

i have managed to resist the impulse to download it from "that pirate website". it's a matter of principle, really.

Region issue?

 

[Dumac]

Just picked up the game, but all I've had time to do is look at the character creation screen. Some questions.

Can party members use Charisma/Hard-Ass/Kiss-Ass skills during dialogue, or does only the main character's skill matter?

Are any skills or stats completely useless?

Does gender of your characters matter at all?

 

[ImpulsE69]

Just picked up the game, but all I've had time to do is look at the character creation screen. Some questions.

Can party members use Charisma/Hard-Ass/Kiss-Ass skills during dialogue, or does only the main character's skill matter?
\

you can pick any of your chars during the convo and which response you want them to give (given their skillset). Pretty cool actually, but the responses are skill based, not character based (that I've seen). Meaning if 4 chars have the same level of skill, their response will be the same.

 

[Ganeedi]

Dude, I'm thinking you kinda deserved that. The infection give you something like 14000 seconds to complete, I finished it with ~6000 left. Did you just ignore finding the cure and did other stuff for several hours?

Of course I deserved it I wasnt paying attention after i was down around 9000 seconds. I was only acute by 30 minutes or so, so it was close. I just backed up a couple of saves and powered thru to the end of the quest line. Then went back and looted everything.

I was not expecting a dead end like that (uncurable disease) but that actually adds to the feel of actions = consequence. Game could end at any time. Not used to that after becoming accustomed to todays RPGs.

I did find another ending already.

Spoiler

pushed the button on the Davy Crockett in the Ranger Citadel museum

Just for reference, My main party is around level 9 having finished AgCenter, then

Spoiler

AgCenter related quests, then Highpool and Satellite transmitter map where Ace was killed.

I'm back at Ranger Citadel trying to decide where to go next.

 

[Ganeedi]

Are any skills or stats completely useless?

Does gender of your characters matter at all?

Can comment on the early game only, but all the skills seemed useful to some degree. You start with a party of 4. It doesnt seem that you are expected to have access to all skills right away across these 4. You can balance out your party with 3 more NPCs as you go.

There really dont seem to be any junk stats. Charisma and Luck seem to be pretty weak, but luck does help on Critical hits. Havent had a big need for Speed so far, as a lot of enemies charge you, but that might change...

Gender does not affect stats/skills, but might affect conversations. Cant confirm yet.

 

[DigDog]

Region issue?

no, just trying to buy it in DVD, and its sold out everywhere.

 

[SLU Aequitas]

Can comment on the early game only, but all the skills seemed useful to some degree. You start with a party of 4. It doesnt seem that you are expected to have access to all skills right away across these 4. You can balance out your party with 3 more NPCs as you go.

There really dont seem to be any junk stats. Charisma and Luck seem to be pretty weak, but luck does help on Critical hits. Havent had a big need for Speed so far, as a lot of enemies charge you, but that might change...

Gender does not affect stats/skills, but might affect conversations. Cant confirm yet.

In the character creation screen, it states no stats but that different characters will react differently.

Luck can have some interesting effects. It will generate free AP during combat, will create "Lucky" crits and misses as well. That being said, I never boosted it. Charisma I haven't seen any concrete effects, and the description just states along the lines of affecting NPC disposition.

Never overlap speech skills in your party (I wasted some points doing that :-/).

I use speed on my melee only tank to aggro enemies on him (seems to work pretty well), but it's definitely NOT a main stat.

Ag Center provides an awesome NPC member.

Finally, it took my about 19 hours (probably 17 actually playing) to get to the suicide monk valley, and that's being thorough looting, lockpicking, map-exploring, etc.

 

[Blue_Max]

aaaand i can't buy this anywhere.

gonna try to get it shipped from Game.

i have managed to resist the impulse to download it from "that pirate website". it's a matter of principle, really.

I saw it available on Steam this morning...?

 

[Dahak]

I did find another ending already.

Spoiler

pushed the button on the Davy Crockett in the Ranger Citadel museum

Yeah, i saw that too, it was late Sunday night and was not really paying attention, after restarting 3 times on Saturday and getting my but whooped at the AG Center.... man I am out of practice with this style games

Also I ended up doing Highpool first before the AG Center and found a water chip
Don't think there is any use but keeping it anyway.

 

[bguile]

Lovin' this game so far.

Made it to the Mad monks on easy, but things were getting a bit too difficult even on that level with my original poorly made group so I had to reset. Also, probably should have gone and checked out the Rail Nomads first, after the Ag Center or Highpool instead of rushing off and following Vargas's orders to work on the last Radio tower. There's two NPC's there, which would have helped some if I had gotten a chance to level them up a bit. They aren't great though.

Mistakes I made:
I didn't realize you could lower your default attributes, so taking some points out of
luck and charisma helps some.

It's probably a good idea to have some melee weapon skills to start, since alot of enemies rush right up to you, and ammo doesn't seem that plentiful.

Didn't realize how important int was, so on my second play through, I boosted it on some of my characters because my original party was running into too many difficult skill checks.

I didn't realize that perception could be toggled on and off? When I click on it now I get a white ring around that character, and they seem to be noticing alot more things than before, maybe even finding more buried locations? I'm not sure if running or walking affects it either. I always assumed it was a passive skill, but I guess its not the case.

My only complaint is the camera, and the level maps, as I have a hard time finding out where I am at. It seems I am always missing something.

Few questions though:

At the ranger citadel, is there a place to recruit NPC's? I sent those raiders from the first Radio tower mission to join up, and I guess they arrived, but I didn't really see anywhere to recruit them.

Do the vendors ammo supply restock over time?

 

[davie jambo]

You can get a NPC at the start area bguile , she is higher level too and helps with the first fights

Just doing the quests in Hightower myself , where do you find an engine about to fix the machine in the shop ? Quite enjoying this though

 

[MeldarthX]

no, just trying to buy it in DVD, and its sold out everywhere.

those saying steam; *points up to the wanting of the dvd* Dig if you live in the UK try amazon but its spendy for normal which is £29.99 and £59.99 for ranger edition.

This is why I ordered my early from GraingerGames.co.uk.....though still waiting on delivery but I got the ranger edition for £24.99

 

[Mem]

those saying steam; *points up to the wanting of the dvd* Dig if you live in the UK try amazon but its spendy for normal which is £29.99 and £59.99 for ranger edition.

This is why I ordered my early from GraingerGames.co.uk.....though still waiting on delivery but I got the ranger edition for £24.99

I have just received my Ranger edition(£27.98 inc free delivery) from Zavvi,installing as I type this .

Any tips on skills etc for beginners like myself?

Btw retail version is still Steam install,you just get Steam client(for those that don't have Steam installed) and key code in the main dvd game,all I did was enter game code on Steam and its downloading.

 

[hardhat]

Almost every skill in the game is important. Make sure to take skill points per level into account when designing characters. I still think that having someone with blunt 2, 10 ap, and decent strength really helps starting out. That means 2 swings with a club early, and 5 swings with a crowbar with grip tape a little later. That provides very consistent damage that doesn't cost any ammo.

 

[MeldarthX]

I have just received my Ranger edition(£27.98 inc free delivery) from Zavvi,installing as I type this .

Any tips on skills etc for beginners like myself?

Btw retail version is still Steam install,you just get Steam client(for those that don't have Steam installed) and key code in the main dvd game,all I did was enter game code on Steam and its downloading.

How big is the install and this I reallllllly hate; had the same with with Civ 5 even though to damn game was on the dvds; and was installed it wanted to dl the whole damn thing......*loved that bug*

 

[Mem]

How big is the install and this I reallllllly hate; had the same with with Civ 5 even though to damn game was on the dvds; and was installed it wanted to dl the whole damn thing......*loved that bug*

I never really checked while it was downloading,but in Steam properties for W2 local size is almost 22GB.

 

[bguile]

You can get a NPC at the start area bguile , she is higher level too and helps with the first fights

Just doing the quests in Hightower myself , where do you find an engine about to fix the machine in the shop ? Quite enjoying this though

Not Angela, I meant when you actually get inside the citadel. There is a vendor area, museum area, hospital area, I just didn't see any recruitment area. It's possible I could have missed it.

One bad thing about games like this is the safe areas, I really don't feel like spending two hours listening to every npc talk about their life stories. I'd rather be out exploring and fighting.

And IIRC, when I downloaded it to my laptop, I think the the DL was 9.3 or 9.6 GB.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Spoiler on charisma, besides the listed "leadership radius" that lets you improve aim and control NPCs properly together with Leadership skill:

Spoiler

NPCs other than Angela require you to pass Charisma checks based to the total CHA for your party -- checks are 15 - 30 total CHA for current party members and NPCs. So if your CHA is 2,2,2,2 + 2 for Angela = 10, other NPCs will not join you

A spoiler on improving CHA

Spoiler

there is a clothing item in the wasteland that adds +1 to CHA when you wear it, so you can add +5 CHA by having all members + Angela wear one

 

[davie jambo]

I am up to seven party members now

Angela , guy in the cage at highpool and another guy

Wonder how many you can get ? Pretty useful

 

[Coalfax]

The guy sitting at the table in Ranger Citadel tells you that the max any team can have is 4 Rangers +3 recruits. (7 total). He is the same guy that gives you xp or scrap for each one you send back btw.

I am up to seven party members now

Angela , guy in the cage at highpool and another guy

Wonder how many you can get ? Pretty useful