27 réponses à ce sujet

[Alan Drifter13]

Hi all,

 

I just started my first playthrough in Nightmare (from the first moment, for the achievement), and it looks like combats are way harder in action mode, but not so hard when I use tac-cam and tell my companions what to do at each moment.

 

So, it looks like the difficulty was increased my making my companions not able to use their skills in the proper way (or get away from danger quick enough, in the case of Solas). Do you get the same feeling? Or were they always this useless and I didn't realize because normal/hard is easy as long as you do the right things with the controlled character?

 

 

[Nemesis788450]

the ai needs som tweeking and working...a more extensive ai menu would be nice to set behaviours....but you can improve a lot of stuff

 

one issue is still that the ai simply does not know how to use a lot of skills (bulls rush, shield wall etc....)

 

but hey, people wanted tactical combat - there u go

[ashwind]

Yeah, the AI is pretty dumb, they tend to do silly things. Which is why you need to:

 

[Asakti]

Yeah, I did a Nightmare run and it is basically hand-holding your companions to get anything useful out of them.  ...though... *looks at post above* I probably would have had much more fun if, when switching to 'tactical mode' I declared loudly, ASSUMING DIRECT CONTROL.

 

...might have to try that next time.

[Ezkiel]

Yep nightmare is more or less about overcoming and dealing with retardness of companion AI, that is until you get to point where you have whole party equipped with guard on hit armor/weapons then things get bit easier.

It also helps if there are 2 mages in party and you have direct control of one so you can drop that barrier when its really needed.

But yeah AI is equally dumb regardless of what difficulty you are playing.

[Nemesis788450]

you could call nightmare the tactical camera mode - if only the camera was better in the tactical mode...but i think its okay tbh...because even on hard u dont really need tactical

[Gigamantis]

Early on at least I don't see how Nightmare is even possible without generous use of the tactical camera.  At mid-high level, though, you can overcome the AI with guard on hit items and overpowered specializations. 

 

At that point just use Blackwall as a tank with his immortal Champion spec and some guard on hit items and he won't need your help.  Solas with his infinite mana quick CD Rift/Fire spec won't need your help.  Any Rogue Archer likely didn't need your help from the start and that just leaves you to be whatever you are. 

 

That's why I think it's most fun to play as a DW Rogue or 2H Reaver Inquisitor.  Both are powerful damage dealers and the AI is horrible with them, so it's very beneficial and almost necessary for you to be controlling your inquisitor for most of the battle. 

[Matth85]

Early on at least I don't see how Nightmare is even possible without generous use of the tactical camera

 

Knowledge and kill order, pretty much. If you know which target are problematic, you can take them out rather quick. The first time I went through Nightmare I had big issues early game. Now that I've gone through the game a few times, and done 1-11 100% pre-skyhold about 9 times, I got no issue with it. The only issue I ever had was on my not-lucky DW rogue in a no-crafting run. At level 6 I went to the western are of Hinterlands, where stuff are level 8. There is a quest to kill 3 Greater Bears. To my fear, all 3 were on me at once. I had level 3 daggers and did between 1-3 damage per hit. Varric did 23 damage per hit. I had the wrong staff on Solas, and no offensive abilities. He did 1 damage per hit. That **** was... not fun. 

 

Other than that it's smooth sailing early game.

Archers > Assassins > Mages > Warriors > Maulers and Terror Demons > Wraiths > Despair Demon > Rage Demon > Greater Demon > Lesser Demon. That gets you through 1-13, which is the whole early mage. Then you get specialization and you just won the game.

 

Note, this is without extensive use of tactical camera. I only use tact cam a few times during the game: 1) When Cassandra is tanking like an idiot and got her back towards half the enemies 2) when ranged go into melee, when I want to pigeonhole enemies into a corner(where my tank is blocking) and 3) when I fight dragons. (Or dragon. Only Ferelden Frostback can be done early-game, and is the only one even remotely difficult!)

[Alan Drifter13]

Knowledge and kill order, pretty much. If you know which target are problematic, you can take them out rather quick. The first time I went through Nightmare I had big issues early game. 

 

Yeah, that first boss, in the first riff, with me at lvl 2 and everyone else at lvl 1... it killed me 5 times until I gave up and went full tac-cam during pretty much the whole combat. I guess I'll keep having issues with bosses until I get to specialization levels. 

[teks]

They should have made level requirements for crafted stuff. Nightmare is all about crafting.

[UEG Donkey]

I miss the tactics from DA:2 but disabling AI on your PC, having your range follow tank, intiate the battle by positioning and hold command on all units, taunt from tank and manually control your PC works well. 

[schall_und_rauch]

I personally think that a tactics menu like in DA:O would reduce the difficulty of nightmare in DA:I to the point where it felt like normal on DA:O.

[VilniusNastavnik]

Yeah, if you are expecting Nightmare to be enhanced enemy tactics and abilities, you're gonna have a bad time.

Basically the enemies can be defeated the same way, there is no skill required.. they have a **** load more health they deal more damage and that is it. All you are really doing is putting off doing areas for a couple levels but that is it. There is no special skill required. 

Really it is not like the other two games where enemies had immunities and advanced tactics that you had to overcome.. just charge in with a barrier, throw get some guard and let the squishies do all the work.. it is more of a grind than anything else. If you ask me only do it if you want the grind.. otherwise, do it, get the achievement and go back to normal / hard.. 

[DiscoGhost]

ive seen some testing that does help the AI. if you want a ranged person to be smart and keep a gap between him and enemys in fights. set the AI to Follow>(him/herself). if you want a melee to get up into the fight and be aggressive, set AI to Defend>(him/herself). 

[BanditGR]

Yeah, if you are expecting Nightmare to be enhanced enemy tactics and abilities, you're gonna have a bad time.

Basically the enemies can be defeated the same way, there is no skill required.. they have a **** load more health they deal more damage and that is it. All you are really doing is putting off doing areas for a couple levels but that is it. There is no special skill required. 

Really it is not like the other two games where enemies had immunities and advanced tactics that you had to overcome.. just charge in with a barrier, throw get some guard and let the squishies do all the work.. it is more of a grind than anything else. If you ask me only do it if you want the grind.. otherwise, do it, get the achievement and go back to normal / hard.. 

 

This pretty much sums it up nicely. Nightmare is "relatively" nightmare up to level 12-15. Once you have the specialization abilities rolling + crafting its just about as challenging as Hard or Normal, aka you will win every encounter (eventually). It's more of a timegate for the achievement at this point than anything else. Just stick to your level stuff early on and its gg.

[Alan Drifter13]

ive seen some testing that does help the AI. if you want a ranged person to be smart and keep a gap between him and enemys in fights. set the AI to Follow>(him/herself). if you want a melee to get up into the fight and be aggressive, set AI to Defend>(him/herself). 

 

This sounds like it should work. Thanks, I will give it a try.

[Hair Serious Business]

How difficulty levels work:

 

-Casual - super fast and easy sweep in game for anyone who is new and just looking to see story ; companions are super smart!

-Normal - still easy and fast sweep in game but with little more challenge added ; companions are still smart!

-Hard - for all players who are looking for real challenge ; companions are smart on reasonable level!

-Nightmare - for all players who are crazy and looking to get killed ; companions are on 'DERP' level!

[Matth85]

How difficulty levels work:

 

-Casual - super fast and easy sweep in game for anyone who is new and just looking to see story ; companions are super smart!

-Normal - still easy and fast sweep in game but with little more challenge added ; companions are still smart!

-Hard - for all players who are looking for real challenge ; companions are smart on reasonable level!

-Nightmare - for all players who are crazy and looking to get killed ; companions are on 'DERP' level!

 

Ehem. That is how they are supposed to work.

 

This is how they are:

 

Casual - Storymode. You might as well remove all fights and make it into a 30 minute video of cutscenes. 

Normal - Easy. It requires a basic understanding of tactics, strategy and how the game works.

Hard - Still easy. Requires a decent understanding of tactics and strategy. You are not punished for mistakes.

NIghtmare - A tad under hard diffculty. Requires knowledge of tactics, setup, strategy and builds. You are punished for bad play.

 

Let's not lie. This game is ****** easy -- Nightmare is not nightmare. Hard is not hard. Hard is normal, nightmare is hard. Only a few fights are actually hard, and only a few fights require your AI to not be complete morons (Dragon Fights). 

[Alan Drifter13]

Ehem. That is how they are supposed to work.

 

This is how they are:

 

Casual - Storymode. You might as well remove all fights and make it into a 30 minute video of cutscenes. 

Normal - Easy. It requires a basic understanding of tactics, strategy and how the game works.

Hard - Still easy. Requires a decent understanding of tactics and strategy. You are not punished for mistakes.

NIghtmare - A tad under hard diffculty. Requires knowledge of tactics, setup, strategy and builds. You are punished for bad play.

 

Let's not lie. This game is ****** easy -- Nightmare is not nightmare. Hard is not hard. Hard is normal, nightmare is hard. Only a few fights are actually hard, and only a few fights require your AI to not be complete morons (Dragon Fights). 

 

After the specializations... it looks like you are right. But during the first levels the game is not so easy IMO.

[shazza53]

Let me qualify my comment by saying I am not a strong player. I had a very difficult time early game on my first play through as a Mage on NORMAL mode. I've done additional play throughs now - one on Hard, and 2 on Nightmare. I have to agree, Nightmare is probably too easy - once you know the way the game works. I have been able to finish Nightmare with a Rogue Archer without ever using the tac cam. I do occasionally take control of one of the NPCs, which is an advantage of multiple play throughs with different classes.

I know some don't craft, but crafting better armor and weapons for early game helped me a lot, but obviously took extra time to get the materials.

[Waterwright]

As moba player and someone new to Dragon Age and action/rpg games, I wished Bioware could have hold our hands more and give us a comprehensive hundred page long manual. Okay, I exaggerated, but boy O'boy this game system is huge. I spent most my time in-game getting lost and fumbling with the combat and, not to mention, getting kicked around in casual difficulty on the first few days cuz I was playing dumber than the AI and guides weren't up yet T____T Dunno how you guys manage but nightmare seems like a  million years away.....

[Gigamantis]

Knowledge and kill order, pretty much. If you know which target are problematic, you can take them out rather quick. The first time I went through Nightmare I had big issues early game. Now that I've gone through the game a few times, and done 1-11 100% pre-skyhold about 9 times, I got no issue with it. The only issue I ever had was on my not-lucky DW rogue in a no-crafting run. At level 6 I went to the western are of Hinterlands, where stuff are level 8. There is a quest to kill 3 Greater Bears. To my fear, all 3 were on me at once. I had level 3 daggers and did between 1-3 damage per hit. Varric did 23 damage per hit. I had the wrong staff on Solas, and no offensive abilities. He did 1 damage per hit. That **** was... not fun. 

 

Other than that it's smooth sailing early game.

Archers > Assassins > Mages > Warriors > Maulers and Terror Demons > Wraiths > Despair Demon > Rage Demon > Greater Demon > Lesser Demon. That gets you through 1-13, which is the whole early mage. Then you get specialization and you just won the game.

 

Note, this is without extensive use of tactical camera. I only use tact cam a few times during the game: 1) When Cassandra is tanking like an idiot and got her back towards half the enemies 2) when ranged go into melee, when I want to pigeonhole enemies into a corner(where my tank is blocking) and 3) when I fight dragons. (Or dragon. Only Ferelden Frostback can be done early-game, and is the only one even remotely difficult!)

I used tactical camera all the time on Nightmare mainly because of the party AI, but lately I've been playing with the party AI and I think I've had it set up wrong. 

 

Apparently you have to have the tank defend himself and have everyone else follow the tank; having the rest of your party defend the tank or having the tank defend anyone else throws the AI's targetting into complete chaos. 

 

Beyond that I'm still not sure how you get through the Pride Demon fight in the beginning without using the tactical camera, unless you just control the tank the whole fight and kite the pride demon while the rest of the team hides near the NPC support.  I've tried letting the AI tank the Pride Demon while I played my DW Rogue and it just doesn't work on Nightmare; Cass goes down fast. 

[SofaJockey]

ive seen some testing that does help the AI. if you want a ranged person to be smart and keep a gap between him and enemys in fights. set the AI to Follow>(him/herself). if you want a melee to get up into the fight and be aggressive, set AI to Defend>(him/herself). 

 

First I've seen this posted.

A very interesting idea...

[GuyNice]

Setting your melee to defend themselves means they will only attack mobs that engage them, and won't engage themselves. So there will be instances where they stand in combat doing nothing. It's better to set the tank to follow themselves and have the rest of the party either follow the tank (to focus the same targets) or follow themselves (to stay in range better). I like having everyone follow themselves and using the "attack my target" command (Y by default on M&K) when I want to call out specific targets without "assuming direct control"

[Djoan Nefarius]

Sadly, AI in this game means Artificial Idiocy, why they did not implemented DA: Origins sequences of actions system is beyond me.