Some more Valley 2 feedback

[Ipkins]

Since Valley 2 hit public beta now, I think it is ok if I give feedback on the forum instead of via the mail adress that was used during Alpha test.

Anyway, I finally got down to play a little more (Version 0.705) and it seems I am a tad stuck. But maybe I am just missing something.

I am now on Turn 9. I have conquered two of the Level Up Mills and also found a few perk tokens. But now I seem to be stuck, because I feel that I am too weak to take on henchmen.

At the start of the game, the fights were hard, but do-able. Now any henchman fight I get into is a loss for me. I died a lot, tried different classes, different perks - nothing.

Now, since a henchman ALWAYS waits in a level up mill, I have no way to get a new level and thus (if I understand correctly) no way to unlock higher tier spells - which I might need to fight these baddies.

I play on default difficulty settings and upon realizing that they might be too hard for little ol' me, I started a new game with combat difficulty one notch lower. I will see how that works out.

A few questions, I could not find an answer to:

- The perk items in caves (that unlock extra perks on levels you already have): Do they respawn? I.e. can I visit the same cave over and over and always find one? If not, could the "cleared" caves be marked in any way on the world map? "Visited" might not be enough, I found some caves impassable without sliding (World savegame is posted on Mantis)

- I really like the mechanic of my survivors range being limited. I am not very deep in the game yet, but I read somewhere that the overlord's range increases. Do I have to fear the overlord becoming faster than my survivors (even when I "rally" them) if I take too much time, making it near impossible to effectively protect them?

- One more issue I have is the scrolling in the "Freefall" rooms you cross after destroying a level up totem. You are almost at the top of the screen and if you back up (for some reason) you even *are* at the very top, making it very difficult for you if anything is still above you. And sometimes the rooms are laid out in a way that you have to back up.

All this said, let me tell you that I really like the way this is going. I never played Actraiser, but the mix between strategic macro and Metroidvania fighting appeals to me and (balancing issues aside) it looks like this will be a time sink for sure. Good job!

[madcow]

I agree on cleared showing up in caves in the strategic view, should add that one to mantis!


The freefall part after windmills are cool, but honestly I don't see the point in actually doing them. You can just use the suicide pill to get out quicker. I still do them because they're fun and add variety, but they might could use something to give a reason for completing them. What that should be, I don't know. A guaranteed equipment chest or merc coin at the end maybe?


Henchmen fights. You might want to test out the ammo spells for one that does high damage and try to nuke the henchman with that. I found sometimes it was best to take a class whose standard spells I didn't like so much, do to the boss killing potential of a superpowered ammo shot. Also try clearing a cave for more perks, you might find a +damage or +health perk that will help you out.

[Ipkins]

Thanks for the hints!

Also, one more thing: One of my main issue with the first Alpha version was the darkness.

This has REALLY improved with one of the recent changes. Now it really feels like fun, with caves still being dark and one having to rely on spells or perks giving light (it also helps that bats are now a little glowing) and buildings being brighter than before. That change really made a huge impact on the positive side.

[Ipkins]

One more question: I just picked up some "+2 Superior Pith Helmet of Broken ankle". I thought maybe it would affect jump height (positively or negatively), but in fact it rendered me immobile. I could jump, but not move, poison pill being the only way out.

Is this intended? 

[Aklyon]

You broke your ankle, of course it makes it rather hard to move

[madcow]

Heh is it even possible to get rid of the equipment if you can't move to find an enemy?

[Ipkins]

...and now I am stuck.

I got to Level 5 now and the Strategic Overview tells me to get back into the Lair of the Overlord to get higher tier spells.

The region that was warded is now passable, but two rooms ahead I can not proceed, because I have to move through Lava to go further.

Any advice?

[Aklyon]

Is it the really tall room with lava and platforms? THere were ladders in there I think.

[Chemuel]

The one with lava and platforms has ladders and can be passed. There is one after that where I seem to have the same issue. The whole place is flooded and there is no other way.

[Ipkins]

Exactly this is my problem as well. Is there any other way, am I missing something or is it a bug?

[Mahboii]

I'm also having trouble with them. They need to be seriously nerfed, and there's not much room to maneuver. Will try a mercenary, though that takes a lot of grinding and I don't think that's what the devs are going for.