What video game are you playing?

[koonja]

Golum is an absolute unit in TW3. I have tried ~10 times and haven't even gotten one of his 3 lift meters down.

 

[ACamp1900]

Okay,...

I googled... "Golem Guarded Treasure"... I'm not crazy...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPJxquRmvRs

Def not a Gargoyle and pretty sure it's not a EE... looking at the picture I'm almost certain it's a Golem.

Golem | The Witcher 3 Wiki

I know it says they are found in caves, this thing is in a circle stones right in the location I described earlier. Whatever it is it is a tank, strong as hell and it's lvl 37ish... just there among a bunch of lower level stuff.

Golum is an absolute unit in TW3. I have tried ~10 times and haven't even gotten one of his 3 lift meters down.

I had a ton of trouble with one too... IIRC I simply avoided the hell out of it ultimately and came back when I was much stronger... even then it was a battle.

 

[wizards8507]

This would be appealing, but the total reliance on internet for downloading (and streaming with Microsoft’s next gen) is a no-go for me in my current neighborhood. Our internet service is bullshit.

I’ll probably be getting the PS5 because Sony generally has better exclusives, and also because they’re still committed to physical discs. I am very excited to hear about how they’ll be using built-in SSD’s to improve the speed at which everything operates... that’s good news for people who choose to use discs and play backwards-compatible games running totally via console power, rather than streaming.

They say a fast-travel on Spider-Man takes 15 seconds on a PS4 Pro, but takes 0.8 seconds on the first PS5 builds. It also elevated the speed at which you can operate within the game, meaning Spider-Man could web-Sling at warp speed, and the environment holds up. I’m very interested.

Fast travel is for children and communists.

...unless there's an in-story excuse for it. Travel Gates in BotW are acceptable. Stagecoaches are borderline.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Golum is an absolute unit in TW3. I have tried ~10 times and haven't even gotten one of his 3 lift meters down.

Did you get past the Botchling fight?

 

[IrishLion]

Fast travel is for children and communists.

...unless there's an in-story excuse for it. Travel Gates in BotW are acceptable. Stagecoaches are borderline.

I agree, it was just an example of hardware improvement.

Curious to see how Microsoft tries to match performance upgrades like that while also trying to go fully digital/streaming.

 

[wizards8507]

I agree, it was just an example of hardware improvement.



Curious to see how Microsoft tries to match performance upgrades like that while also trying to go fully digital/streaming.

Cloud computing bro. Do the processing and rendering in the cloud. If the broadband is good enough, we'll see consoles the size of Roku sticks someday.

 

[koonja]

Did you get past the Botchling fight?

No, I deleted the game and restarted. Somehow I ended up in the cave taking on Galum instead, which didn't happen my first go around.

I also just defeated Golum, and am now facing the steel guy who regenerates his health and sends wolves after me. I'm shutting down for the day, but I built some confidence in finally taking down a foe like Galum. I basically rolled and strong attacked over and over until he went down.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

No, I deleted the game and restarted. Somehow I ended up in the cave taking on Galum instead, which didn't happen my first go around.

I also just defeated Golum, and am now facing the steel guy who regenerates his health and sends wolves after me. I'm shutting down for the day, but I built some confidence in finally taking down a foe like Galum. I basically rolled and strong attacked over and over until he went down.

Good job. Golems are tough.

Not sure about the monster you're currently facing. The only one I recall summoning wolves is a Leshen:

Edit: It's probably the Werewolf in Blackbough. That's another tough fight in the early game. Make sure you're using Cursed Oil on your silver sword, and try to use some sort of status effect (burning, poison) to counteract his regeneration. If your damage output isn't high enough, the fight's borderline impossible.

As an aside, you'll have a much easier time relying on Quick Attacks with this sort of build and light armor than one that relies on Heavy Attacks.

 

[ACamp1900]

Even with an all out tank build in my second play through I found it hard to use heavy attacks... they are just far too slow and the enemy as the ability to dodge far too often.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Even with an all out tank build in my second play through I found it hard to use heavy attacks... they are just far too slow and the enemy as the ability to dodge far too often.

Yup. Damage output is the same against a stationary target, but some of the toughest monsters in the game (vampires, werewolves, etc.) are extremely mobile. Trying to land heavy attacks against them is not fun.

 

[ACamp1900]

Whirl,... all I’m sayin

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Whirl,... all I’m sayin

[webm]http://i.imgur.com/c4ZFE5f.mp4[/webm]

 

[ACamp1900]

Also, my first play through I was all fast attack and sign built... Aard and Igni... it worked well. On my second play through I am finding I need to go more advanced armor and decoctions against these higher level enemies. I didn't do any decoctions on my first run as I thought they were single use and didn't want to 'waste' my mutagens. Wish I had known they respawn...

 

[koonja]

Good job. Golems are tough.

Not sure about the monster you're currently facing. The only one I recall summoning wolves is a Leshen:

Edit: It's probably the Werewolf in Blackbough. That's another tough fight in the early game. Make sure you're using Cursed Oil on your silver sword, and try to use some sort of status effect (burning, poison) to counteract his regeneration. If your damage output isn't high enough, the fight's borderline impossible.

As an aside, you'll have a much easier time relying on Quick Attacks with this sort of build and light armor than one that relies on Heavy Attacks.

It's in the same cave, very shortly after I fought the Galum. It's a guy who looks like Sauron from LOTR. He puts an icy cover around his body after ~1 minute of battle, and regenerates after a few dogs attack you.

I think I can take him, but I'm done for the day.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Also, my first play through I was all fast attack and sign built... Aard and Igni... it worked well. On my second play through I am finding I need to go more advanced armor and decoctions against these higher level enemies. I didn't do any decoctions on my first run as I thought they were single use and didn't want to 'waste' my mutagens. Wish I had known they respawn...

The game doesn't do a great job of making that clear. Picking up the Combat talents first usually makes sense since it makes the early game less painful, but the first big jump in power comes when you start filling out the Alchemy Tree. 5/5 in Heightened Tolerance and 3/3 in Acquired Tolerance should let you immediately start rolling around with 3-4 decoction effects up at all times (depending on how many recipes you've found). The second big jump in power comes in Toussaint when the Euphoria mutation effectively triples your sword and sign damage.

 

[ACamp1900]

The game doesn't do a great job of making that clear. Picking up the Combat talents first usually makes sense since it makes the early game less painful, but the first big jump in power comes when you start filling out the Alchemy Tree. 5/5 in Heightened Tolerance and 3/3 in Acquired Tolerance should let you immediately start rolling around with 3-4 decoction effects up at all times (depending on how many recipes you've found). The second big jump in power comes in Toussaint when the Euphoria mutation effectively triples your sword and sign damage.

As good of a game as it is W3 doesn't make many things very clear when first playing, but it's all good.


Drop me your preferred decoction combos homie...

 

[Whiskeyjack]

It's in the same cave, very shortly after I fought the Galum. It's a guy who looks like Sauron from LOTR. He puts an icy cover around his body after ~1 minute of battle, and regenerates after a few dogs attack you.

I think I can take him, but I'm done for the day.

Ah, that's Nithral. You're in the middle of the Wandering in the Dark quest with Keira Metz, which explains why you just fought a golem, too.

Use Elemental oil on your silver sword, keep Quen up as often as possible, and let Keira keep his attention when you need a breather. He hits like a truck, so prioritize evading and only attack when it's safe. Twice during the fight he'll put up a shield, summon some hounds, and start healing himself. Don't bother trying to attack him while he's shielded, as it'll just hurt you.

As for potions, Thunder Bolt makes you hit harder, Tawny Owl should help ensure that you always have enough Stamina to refresh Quen after you get hit, and Swallow makes the food you eat during combat much more effective at regenerating health. Pop as many as you can before you fight him.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

As good of a game as it is W3 doesn't make many things very clear when first playing, but it's all good.

Drop me your preferred decoction combos homie...

There are only three that are really strong:

1. Ekhidna - Spending Stamina heals you (using your full bar heals you for 10%). You should be refreshing Quen regularly, so this provides a lot of free healing.
2. Ekimmara - Sword strikes heal you for 10% of the damage dealt (which scales incredibly well with a hard-hitting Combat/ Alchemy build).
3. Water Hag - +50% damage when at full health.

The first two constantly keep you at full health, which makes the 3rd a near constant 50% damage boost.

Your 4th one is really a preference thing. I typically go with Arachas for a simple defensive boost (usually a 10-15% reduction), but you've got to keep your inventory clean to benefit from it. Doppler is good for slow monster fights where you'll be able to attack from behind a bunch, but most stuff doesn't live long enough for the positional advantage to matter. Chort is good against most monsters, as it makes you immune to stagger and reduces knock-down effects to mere staggers. Katakan gives 5% crit, but that's pretty insignificant during a NG+ run. Wyvern and Succubus can be good in long fights, but few fights last long enough to see a difference. Troll gives you even more health regen, but I found it to be overkill with Ekhidna and Ekimmara.

 

[koonja]

Ah, that's Nithral. You're in the middle of the Wandering in the Dark quest with Keira Metz, which explains why you just fought a golem, too.

Use Elemental oil on your silver sword, keep Quen up as often as possible, and let Keira keep his attention when you need a breather. He hits like a truck, so prioritize evading and only attack when it's safe. Twice during the fight he'll put up a shield, summon some hounds, and start healing himself. Don't bother trying to attack him while he's shielded, as it'll just hurt you.

As for potions, Thunder Bolt makes you hit harder, Tawny Owl should help ensure that you always have enough Stamina to refresh Quen after you get hit, and Swallow makes the food you eat during combat much more effective at regenerating health. Pop as many as you can before you fight him.

I don't have any oil - can never find the ingredients to make it.

He's absolutely wrecking me right now.

 

[koonja]

I don't have any oil - can never find the ingredients to make it.

He's absolutely wrecking me right now.

Just defeated that cunt with pure grit and steel.

 

[ACamp1900]

Just defeated that cunt with pure grit and steel.

lol...


how is your build?? fast/slow attacks.... signs?? armor type??

 

[koonja]

lol...


how is your build?? fast/slow attacks.... signs?? armor type??

For signs I use the fire one almost exclusively, unless the situation requires/tells me to use another.

Using the armour I picked up at the castle when I met with the king (I think he was a king?). Where I had to practice bowing, try on outfits, etc. No idea If this is the best armour or not, but when I go to armour it has the most "green" so I assume it is.

For this for I used the strong attack and rolled. It finally worked, but it wasnt pretty.

I've picked up a couple swords that moderately improve the "damage", but I havent sharper anything, or created new weapons or anything like that. If that's something I need to be doing, I'm not getting it.

I suck at having potions and food ready - I get how to pin a potion you want to create, but finding the ingredients seems near impossible and I'm not just going to run around picking Daisy's all day.

 

[ACamp1900]

I'd recommend building up your Aard... it's higher levels are beast mode when up against multiple enemies... Igni is good too. I rode those two all the way through my first play through. I only built up the mind one enough to open up the text options and ignored the others. just me

 

[ACamp1900]

My typical battle plan (especially with more than one enemy present) from my first run thorough:

Let them get close... right before they attack blast Aard, then whirl away while they are stunned.... if the battle still rages after this (more often than not it's over right there) then begin the dodge rolls and reset the battle plan or start throwing igni.

 

[wizards8507]

This is worse than listening to Lion when a new AC game comes out.

 

[koonja]

This is worse than listening to Lion when a new AC game comes out.

I'm sharing my experiences. At least I'm not begging for video game handouts like you.

Soft.

 

[greyhammer90]

Cloud computing bro. Do the processing and rendering in the cloud. If the broadband is good enough, we'll see consoles the size of Roku sticks someday.

I just don't see how latency won't kill this experience. Sure games like AC, with slow animation heavy movement, will probably be tolerable with a quarter-second delay, but I don't see how faster games like DOOM/COD/Sekiro/Bayonetta won't be unplayable. We already have certain people who take measures to remove the latency between their graphics card/console and their own screen.

 

[IrishLion]

This is worse than listening to Lion when a new AC game comes out.

Skol Snikmorder

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Since wiz is enjoying this so much...

You're hopefully already aware that there are three ways to avoid an attack: (1) blocking; (2) dodging; and (3) rolling.

(1) can only be used against humanoids and beasts. Timing your block for right before a human enemy swings will parry, knocking them off balance and allowing you to counter-attack. But you otherwise shouldn't be blocking often.

(2) is a short hop that, if timed correctly, puts you in perfect position to counter-attack and press your own offensive. It costs no Stamina and doesn't interrupt Stamina regen. You should be using this to avoid 95% of all attacks.

(3) is a long diving roll which is useful for avoiding large sweeping melee strikes or AoE magic effects. But it costs Stamina, interrupts your Stamina regeneration, and prevents you from counter-attacking. So unless the incoming attack cannot be avoided by anything but roll (and these are relatively rare), then dodge instead.

Most new TW3 players roll way too often. Dodge should be your default reaction, only rolling when you're certain that dodge won't work.

Also pick up "Fleet Footed" from the Combat - Defense tree as soon as possible. It's arguably the best skill in the game.

 

[koonja]

Since wiz is enjoying this so much...

You're hopefully already aware that there are three ways to avoid an attack: (1) blocking; (2) dodging; and (3) rolling.

(1) can only be used against humanoids and beasts. Timing your block for right before a human enemy swings will parry, knocking them off balance and allowing you to counter-attack. But you otherwise shouldn't be blocking often.

(2) is a short hop that, if timed correctly, puts you in perfect position to counter-attack and press your own offensive. It costs no Stamina and doesn't interrupt Stamina regen. You should be using this to avoid 95% of all attacks.

(3) is a long diving roll which is useful for avoiding large sweeping melee strikes or AoE magic effects. But it costs Stamina, interrupts your Stamina regeneration, and prevents you from counter-attacking. So unless the incoming attack cannot be avoided by anything but roll (and these are relatively rare), then dodge instead.

Most new TW3 players roll way too often. Dodge should be your default reaction, only rolling when you're certain that dodge won't work.

Also pick up "Fleet Footed" from the Combat - Defense tree as soon as possible. It's arguably the best skill in the game.

Noted, and appreciate the advice. I do use the "dodge" from time to time, but lately against really strong foes it's been a panic roll.

Haven't picked up "fleet footed" yet but will get on that. Firing it up tomorrow ~930am.