Role-playing games

I didn’t expect to play Divinity Original Sin Enhanced Edition, developed by Larian Studios, and I did not know it was part of a successful Kickstarter project (Yes, I do live in a cave). I bought a digital copy from Steam’s sales two years ago during the pandemic. However, I heard about the game around the time it was released when a gaming friend pointed out that it’s Co-Op. For that reason, I declined from investing in such a quality game, knowing I’d get addicted to it. Indeed, now in December of 2023 when most people are probably playing Balder Gate 3, I am finally enjoying my solo adventure in Cyseal hunting for the source of evil. More than 60 hours into the game, I am nowhere to beating it! I jumped into the game blindly and learned how to play the game through trial and error (I did the same thing with Elden Ring). Let’s just say, I enjoy figuring things out for myself. Like most people, I ended up restarting the game because I messed up with the skill points and missed certain dialogues with a certain character. On my 2nd play-through, I found it easier to piece the story together while familiarizing myself with the game-play, which to my surprise there’s not a lot of grinding. To gain experience level, the players would have to complete side quests apart from defeating enemies, which is a good way to make players pay attention to the storyline. It’s an ingenious idea to kill two birds with one stone.

Now in terms of game-play, this game doesn’t hold your hand. According to the game, you start out picking two characters: Roderick and Scarlett. You can change their names and even their gender. I think a balance between male and female is fine the way it is. When I initially started the game, I didn’t even bother to change their names. So, yes you are not locked into the default characters. There is some level of customization but there’s no real point to it. Yes, you can zoom in for a closer look but the entire time, it’s better to be in the bird-eye view. Plus, the selected icon pictures that display your characters are limited. This can be quite the eye-sore when you are trying to distinguish your character from others.

character sitting — *Couldn’t find an icon picture that matched my character creation so I chose closest one…*

*I chose blue hair for the female character* *because it bothers me very much when the icon picture doesn’t match the character on the screen.*

This brings me to the topic of building characters. It’s not important about what class you choose in the beginning because you can change class, although it’s wise to reallocate your skill points in the beginning to your liking because you will mess up. I have been addicted to the strategic game-play. I am not sure if I am enjoying the game-play more than the story. I think there is a good balance. Good sense humor is always appreciated. Plus, the soundtrack to this game is superb. It is what reeled me into the game in the first place.

The theme in character creation menu

Listening to the soundtrack Memories of the Future, makes me feel as if I am romantically drifting to a faraway land called Cyseal where I lie down on a nice white sand beach. It’s a great escape from the winter here because most trees and grass are brown for months. I have yet to feel like it’s home where it’s always evergreen.

The bored centaur (I’m referring to myself) hath returned to Elden Ring. I am resuming my gaming adventure where I left off a year ago. After the completion of Final Fantasy XII The Zodiac Age, I thought I would return to this game because I miss playing a soul’s game. To my surprise, all I need is a little break. I got addicted to the game as soon as I got some sort of lead.

For those who are new to my blog, I need a reason to explore or else there is no purpose for me to roam in open world games. Oh jeez, why does it sound like real life? I still don’t know quite exactly where to go–but meeting Rya caught my interest. Got to save the ‘damsel in distress’…or is she??? She is no princess. She is a servant! What can we gain from unattractive ladies? They might have hidden motives because beautiful women rarely approach people. They are like unattainable stars that you can only admire from afar (I hope you can tell I am joking).

Rya staring at the player — *Meeting Rya, the hunch back blonde for the first time*. *She is to the right.*

She wanted her necklace back–stolen by Blackguard Big Boggart. Taking pity on her distress, I agreed to spend 1000 runes (money), which I didn’t find too difficult to spare. It’s not all that difficult to earn runes in this game. All you have to do is keep killing stuff that come across your path, which in my opinion is a barbaric thing to do. Not all NPCs will attack you, but we all know money talks. Because of my good deed, Rya found value in me. She invited me to Volcano Manor to meet her mistress. It was pure curiosity than flattery that made me proceed with this questline. I just didn’t know where to go in the game, and so I agreed to search for the two halves of the medallion which were located in Fort Haight West and Fort Faroth. I needed the medallion to activate the Grand Lift of Dectus that will take me to Volcano Manor. Anyway, after obtaining the pieces to the medallion, I was able to use the lift to reach Rya who was waiting for me.

holding a medallion in order to activate Grand Lift of Dectus — *Two halves are put together to make a medallion. It was no easy task to find them*

But I was surprised to learn about the manor and the lady she serves. Should have not trusted her easily with that mischievous look of hers. She works for the proprietress, Lady Tanith of Valcono Manor, who in turn asked me to kill other Tarnished folks like me (I am still trying to wrap my head around why players are called Tarnished). Why would I do that? Why would I perform a murderous task for a handsome reward? It doesn’t sit well with me.

Sitting next to Lady Tanith and her servant in Volcano Manor — *But we can be one happy little family…*

For instance, my first task is to kill the NPC Old Knight Istavan in Stormhill. Upon researching on the internet, there is one thing I learned from this quest: You don’t have to kill the NPCs and complete the side quest requested by Lady Tanith. It doesn’t affect the main story. Maybe on my second playthrough, I would complete the questline to learn more about the lore and its story. Currently, I just don’t feel comfortable accepting such a dire task. I still need the NPCs as I don’t play with people online. If you kill them, you can’t summon them. Old Knight Istavan can help you defeat a boss in Coastal Cave early in the game. In the meantime, I just need to continue exploring, beat bosses, kill stuff, and hopefully, it will all make sense at the end because I don’t know what’s going on other than the fact there is a big giant yellow tree, and I feel like I am in a dream–doomed to roam it aimlessly.