my thoughts on the game

[rayaz]

LOVED IT.

I havn't enjoyed an RPG this much in YEARS. so thanks you very much for creating this. I started playing at 3pm and didn't stop until the sun came up. Took off work the next day and finished the game =]

The last time I got so deep into a game was ultima 8 ( ya really... ). I loved the atmosphere of that game, the various mage shools, the side quests that seemed like nobody in the world would ever do them. What I liked was how you really wondered if any other players were doing what you were doing because it was nutty. You get that same sense in Eschalon.

Things I liked:

1) Each monster is a challenge. At level one you can find one or two monsters before needing to rest. I really like this. "Modern" RPG's that throw 20 monsters at you downplay the value of the encounter and the monsters. In eschalon you look at each monster carefully and because of how they are balanced the game can get away with having so few types of monsters without players noticing so much.

2) simplicity of NPC interactions. I really enjoy that you don't force a bunch of story upon the player. The story comes through the interaction with the world, not lenghty NPC interactions. EB1 has the perfect mix. If i want more story I can read the optional books I'll find throughout the world. Perfect.

3) great dungeon crawling experience. I loved shooting firebolts at levers and all sorts of other things to get through the dungeons. It's a great experience right now.

Would have liked to see:

1) less wasted time. Running in and out of dungeons to camp. Some sort of mechanic that keeps me in the actions, at a metered pace without spending 80% of my time walking.

2) a RUN feature?

3) less attributes. 8 is too many. I beat the game and am still confused what they do.

4) side-quests in order to learn skills. Magery should require joining and leveling up in a mage guild. Theives the same, warriors the same. etc. This would rock.

5) higher level spells have better damage/mana ratio ( they currently are more expensive and do less damage per mana )

[Dragonlady]

LOVED IT.

I havn't enjoyed an RPG this much in YEARS. so thanks you very much for creating this. I started playing at 3pm and didn't stop until the sun came up. Took off work the next day and finished the game =]

Glad you liked it, I did too. And replaying using other tactics and professions was fun too.

Would have liked to see:

1) less wasted time. Running in and out of dungeons to camp. Some sort of mechanic that keeps me in the actions, at a metered pace without spending 80% of my time walking.

Hint:
You can rest in dungeons..if you find a wide enough area. BUT, don't just rest for the full length of time. Watch you numbers recovering and when you have , say 10, recovered wake up and save. Then continue to do so until your up to full levels. If you get woken up and lose the fight and die or get waay too low again you can reload from last save and try again. This may not work too well at high levels but at low levels its a gawd send when you don't have enough money for heal/mana potions or skill to make them yourself.

This is what I've done. Others may do it differently.