The Blood of Dawnwalker (Spoilertags, please)

[CiriusBlack]

I feel like we could use own thread for this game, since it keeps flooding the What game are you currently playingthread. And a great game deserves a proper discussion.
Game is still very fresh release, so please use spoiler tags in appropriate places!

And now, the actual topic. I have played 18 hours so far, according to Steam. And around 10h, based on my save file calculation. I'm still enjoying the game very much and absolutely loving the story. I have also learned to like combat, even if it has few major annoyances. I have 22 days left and I have cleared 1/4 of the "targets" and explored decent amount of the world.

TIMER: I level up and plan my random activities/exploration whenever I have to make time go forward. At least on easy difficulty, leveling up is not a matter of minutes. Many activities seem to happen either during the day or night. Some you can do whenever. Only once I had to actually "wait" at the fast travel spot, because I was too lazy for coming back there later.

COMBAT: I really disliked it first, but now I'm starting to like it. I just had to get used to it. Currently my only problems with it are Coen putting the weapon away in the middle of the fight and refusing to equip it again, since the game seems to think that it's still equipped. Only fix so far has been to escape combat, change another weapon and then back to what you were using. During the night this is not a problem, because of reasons, but during the day this is really frustrating. Luckily it has only happened like two times so far. If anyone knows how this happens, please let me know. Another problem is the active ability menu popping up in the middle of the combat, but that should be fixed by changing the key for it. Targeting is not the greatest, but as long as I stay on open ground, it's manageable. And this is the opinion of "smash every button fast in whatever order" player. So might be a skill/focus issue...

SKILLTREE: I'm still not quite sure if I want to get bit of everything, or should I focus to few key skills. What did you do? So far I have taken bit of everything. I should also start using more active skills, but I have so much fun with the sword and claws that I keep forgetting everything else.

Spoiler: 1st boss spoilers

Yesterday I killed Ambrus. I started wondering, how different the fight is, if you don't meet with Iulian first. Worth trying on another playthrough? Also what happens, if you met with Iulian, but Ambrus didn't take his "drink", because he guessed that something is not right? Interesting questions. I got very nice armor from that fight, but can't wear it yet, because it's heavy Same goes with the pre-order armor. Those are currently stashed and waiting for the future.

And now excuse me, I have a game to play! Still not that far in the story, and I'm just about to continue that.

 

[GrimReaper801]

Great idea with the thread.

I'm pretty much at the same point. The story is clearly the game's strongest point. I just finished Anca's chain, or at least I think that was the end of it, and it was great from beginning to end.

As far as the timer goes, I'm using time as pragmatically as possible. I'm planning on saving the family. I save a lot of people but I'm also leaving a lot of them to fend for themselves. There are some activities I completely avoid. I fixed two shrines. Spent three slots for this. Felt like a complete waste of time slots to be honest. With your haste skills, there is always another shrine within seconds of the broken ones. I did find a quest in Svartrau that asks me to repair three specific ones and.... I'm tempted because what if there is more to these shrines this time!?

The combat I'm loving and still wary of. I play on duelist so I get zero directional cues from the game and in all the time I spent playing, I really appreciate the studios animation. I always feel like I can tell which direction the attack is coming from. The only issue is when I run into a new enemy with it's own set of animations. Then I take a beating until I figure out all their move set lol. Or when I run into a human that has additional moves. Yet, at nearly 12h of playtime on my save, I'm genuinely worried it'll get stale by the time I finish the game. So far there is a decent amount of enemy diversity though, I might be worrying about nothing.

I did not run into this weapons bug you're experiencing. I always seem to be able to switch between weapons just fine. Are you playing on K&B? If so, this might be why? I'm using my Dualsense Edge and it's been great so far.

Fully agree on the targeting part though. It's weird. Especially if you don't focus on an enemy. The damn target is all over the place. Like you said, it's a minor annoyance on open ground but it's awful in close quarters, or worse if you get cornered in a tiny space.

As far as skills go, I've been mostly focusing on Swordmanship. I have no clue if I'm correct in this but I feel like the Vampirism corruption will play a role in the ending you get? As in, I expect that a fully corrupt Coen will lead to a very different ending. Which is painful because I love the claws. They're quick and powerful, my type of weapon exactly. So I try to limit corruption. Focusing mainly on improving health and claw damage in vamp form. In witchcraft I've only taken the passives to increase money made from sales and improve crafting. Again, I'm paranoid that a high witchcraft level will affect the ending lol. There has to be reason for all them fancy flashes when you learn witchcraft!?

Spoiler: More first boss spoilers

What do you mean you got an amor from Ambrus!? Did you drink him!? I didn't, again, trying to keep corruption to the minimum so I just finished him. I was very surprised nothing dropped. Maybe I'll go back to the duel ground and see if there is anything now. FYI, you can use heavy armor. You just get a debuff to their stats. 30% without training is a major decrease but so far the heavy armor I'm finding was still better than the medium/light armor I found despite the debuff. If you head to the armorer in Svartrau you can get started on unlocking heavy armor skills. There is also a village to the west with an armorer.

I'm absolutely loving the game. I rarely do a second playthrough of games. VERY rarely. This one I already know I'll replay. There are just many choices that seemingly would have major repercussions that even if the combat does grow stale, I'm still replaying the game and going for a full corruption family-who? playthrough.

 

[CiriusBlack]

I just finished Anca's chain, or at least I think that was the end of it, and it was great from beginning to end.

I'm currently doing it. Loving the atmosphere, I guess? Not sure if you can say that When someone mentioned dark vampire game, this is definitely it. In so many ways. I got derailed around the world for a while and left Anca at the inn, waiting. Now I just got back to her.

Spoiler: Anca's story screenshot

I'm planning on saving the family. I save a lot of people but I'm also leaving a lot of them to fend for themselves. There are some activities I completely avoid.

My goal is also family first, and then other quests on the side, if I feel like those could be useful. At least once I got totally different outcome than I was expecting. But maybe the reward will be there later? Who knows. Or I just lost a merchant for... nothing? And yes, as mentioned, random exploration and tasks for progressing the time. EDIT: I have actually lost two merchants already :/ One permanently and another one is still a bit mystery.

I did not run into this weapons bug you're experiencing. I always seem to be able to switch between weapons just fine. Are you playing on K&B? If so, this might be why? I'm using my Dualsense Edge and it's been great so far.

Could be k+m issue. I'm not sure what causes it. But I'm too far in the game now for changing to controller. Let's hope this problem doesn't become any worse. Or I just might have to.

Spoiler: More first boss spoilers

What do you mean you got an amor from Ambrus!? Did you drink him!? I didn't, again, trying to keep corruption to the minimum so I just finished him. I was very surprised nothing dropped. Maybe I'll go back to the duel ground and see if there is anything now. FYI, you can use heavy armor. You just get a debuff to their stats. 30% without training is a major decrease but so far the heavy armor I'm finding was still better than the medium/light armor I found despite the debuff. If you head to the armorer in Svartrau you can get started on unlocking heavy armor skills. There is also a village to the west with an armorer.

Spoiler: 1st boss spoilers

I didn't drink Ambrus. Not because of corruption, but because of what we did with Iulian just before the fight. I figured it could be a mistake, but who knows. And yes, I know I can use the armor, but -30% to stats sounds a bit rough. I can wait a bit.

 

[GrimReaper801]

I'm currently doing it. Loving the atmosphere, I guess? Not sure if you can say that When someone mentioned dark vampire game, this is definitely it. In so many ways. I got derailed around the world for a while and left Anca at the inn, waiting. Now I just got back to her.

Yeah, it's really hitting all the marks for me. That's exactly what I hoped Vampire: The Masquerade 2 would be. I didn't actually play the game but I've heard and seen enough to know it's not anywhere near this. This kind of quality writing in a modern setting would have been incredible.

Not complaining about the setting mind you. I love the eastern European setting and it's done extremely well.

My goal is also family first, and then other quests on the side, if I feel like those could be useful. At least once I got totally different outcome than I was expecting. But maybe the reward will be there later? Who knows. Or I just lost a merchant for... nothing? And yes, as mentioned, random exploration and tasks for progressing the time. EDIT: I have actually lost two merchants already :/ One permanently and another one is still a bit mystery.

I just ran into consequences for a choice I made.... maybe 3 hours into the game? Positive ones too! Love seeing that.

Spoiler: Lost merchants

I'm assuming the first merchant you lost was in that soldier camp where you can get Crake's meeting point out of the imprisoned miller?

Is the second one the swordsmith who asks you to look for his daughter?

Spoiler: Extra spoiler in case he's not the one

He's not gone forever, he was fine to trade with me the next day, he got over his daughter's death pretty quickly lol

Could be k+m issue. I'm not sure what causes it. But I'm too far in the game now for changing to controller. Let's hope this problem doesn't become any worse. Or I just might have to.

Ah! I find myself in the opposite position. Steam warned me the game was meant to be played with a controller so I started with a controller but now I'm wondering what playing with K&M would be like but it's far too late to learn now

Spoiler: 1st boss spoilers

I didn't drink Ambrus. Not because of corruption, but because of what we did with Iulian just before the fight. I figured it could be a mistake, but who knows. And yes, I know I can use the armor, but -30% to stats sounds a bit rough. I can wait a bit.
View attachment 11434700

Spoiler: 1st boss spoilers

Gotta thank you for pointing out you got an armor from him. I went back to dueling ground. I couldn't loot then but now I could for whatever reason. Funnily enough his corpse became ashes in the meantime, love this attention to details. Got the cuirass which is pretty sweet. His sword I didn't care for since I found a legendary one

Spoiler: legendary sword location

Durangal, Knyaz Skender's sword, an absolute beast of a weapon. Found it west of the army camp where you free the miller. There is a small pass in the mountain with two POIs.

but what I most cared about was the letter. That's a major questline, or what looks like one, I would've missed. Thanks!

 

[CiriusBlack]

@GrimReaper801 I didn't even notice the first merchant you mentioned, but second one was correct. Good to know that the situation is not permanent. But the second one I lost was

Spoiler: Character spoilers

Vera the witch.

Spoiler: How I lost her

When doing stuff with Iulian, we found her dead. And I'm pretty sure she's not coming back. No idea if she survives, if you skip the Iulian part before Ambrus fight.

Yesterday I indeed continued Anca's storyline. Not sure if I'm at the end of it, but it has been one of my favourite moments so far in the game.

Spoiler: Minor-ish story spoilers

Very creepy, Silent Hilly and disturbing line of events. We went to the convent, survived and now I'm at the inn With her, investigating some books. I was left puzzling what was the purpose of those church bells. There was obviously a "thing" with ringing the bell, but at that moment I was too terrified for finding out what it was. Oh well, next time I'm gonna find out, when I'm more familiar with the place. Second big "what if" question were the notes at the end of catacombs: To burn? Or not to burn? Also one of the big interest to find out during my next playthrough. I burned them, but I'm honestly not sure if that was right or wrong.

How the hell can anything be sure in a place like that?

 

[GrimReaper801]

@GrimReaper801 I didn't even notice the first merchant you mentioned, but second one was correct. Good to know that the situation is not permanent. But the second one I lost was

Spoiler: Character spoilers

Vera the witch.

Spoiler: How I lost her

When doing stuff with Iulian, we found her dead. And I'm pretty sure she's not coming back. No idea if she survives, if you skip the Iulian part before Ambrus fight.

Yesterday I indeed continued Anca's storyline. Not sure if I'm at the end of it, but it has been one of my favourite moments so far in the game.

Spoiler: Minor-ish story spoilers

Very creepy, Silent Hilly and disturbing line of events. We went to the convent, survived and now I'm at the inn With her, investigating some books. I was left puzzling what was the purpose of those church bells. There was obviously a "thing" with ringing the bell, but at that moment I was too terrified for finding out what it was. Oh well, next time I'm gonna find out, when I'm more familiar with the place. Second big "what if" question were the notes at the end of catacombs: To burn? Or not to burn? Also one of the big interest to find out during my next playthrough. I burned them, but I'm honestly not sure if that was right or wrong.

How the hell can anything be sure in a place like that?

I didn't know you could lose that merchant.

Spoiler: 1st boss spoilers

I didn't go with Lulian's plan. I'm trying to save the family while also trying to be "the good guy". Lulian's plan of poisoning someone felt wrong. Admitedly it's also because I'm a sucker for a good fight and wanted Ambrus at full power.

That's not the end of Anca's questline. The next part is good too. In a very different way and equally as dark and bloody. Vale Sangora was always a very dark place.

There is also some very specific symbolism in that part that you'll run into later (unless you explored Svartrau a lot already)... in places where you don't expect them. I can't wait to find out how it all ties together.

 

[CiriusBlack]

(unless you explored Svartrau a lot already)

I actually just arrived there first time today. The place is amazing after a short tour around it. Really loving the details in the windows. You can also see people passing by outside (the guy wearing yellow). I'm just trying to figure out how to reach rooftops during the day, since lot of stuff seems to happen up there.

I didn't know you could lose that merchant.

Spoiler: 1st boss spoilers

I didn't go with Lulian's plan. I'm trying to save the family while also trying to be "the good guy". Lulian's plan of poisoning someone felt wrong. Admitedly it's also because I'm a sucker for a good fight and wanted Ambrus at full power.

Next part includes somewhat heavy spoilers, but not all the details. If you ever plan to take that another approach just before the first bossfight, I would recommend NOT to read this. So, read at your own risk.

Spoiler: Optional pre 1st boss spoilers

If you agree with Iulian (Julian? Lulian?), he eventually reveals that the person he wants to poison, is him. He himself is going to be Ambrus's drink before the fight. Coen and Iulian are looking for Vera, since she is supposed to help with the plan, but Vera is not home. When they go looking for her, they find her dead body at the ritual site.

 

[GrimReaper801]

I actually just arrived there first time today. The place is amazing after a short tour around it. Really loving the details in the windows. You can also see people passing by outside (the guy wearing yellow). I'm just trying to figure out how to reach rooftops during the day, since lot of stuff seems to happen up there.
View attachment 11434715


Next part includes somewhat heavy spoilers, but not all the details. If you ever plan to take that another approach just before the first bossfight, I would recommend NOT to read this. So, read at your own risk.

Spoiler: Optional pre 1st boss spoilers

If you agree with Iulian (Julian? Lulian?), he eventually reveals that the person he wants to poison, is him. He himself is going to be Ambrus's drink before the fight. Coen and Iulian are looking for Vera, since she is supposed to help with the plan, but Vera is not home. When they go looking for her, they find her dead body at the ritual site.

I didn't think things through and pressed reply. Funny how the spoiler tag doesn't work when you quote someone's post. I didn't want to know but now I know

Oh well, my bad, I'll probably remember next time lol.

If you finished the second part of Anca's quest, I would highly recommend doing the "A monk and a saint" quest you got from Anca. You'll recognize things from the second part of her quest in places you won't expect them. You can do it the other way around but I feel like it'll have less flair that way lol.

I don't believe there is a way onto the rooftops during the day. I've found, so far, one quest (probably the one you have) that takes you across the rooftops but it wouldn't really be doable during day time since there is no link between most buildings you need to get to.

There are also a bunch of house that are innaccessible during day time.

It all adds a bit of verticality to the city.

 

[Spockprime]

That's not the end of Anca's questline. The next part is good too. In a very different way and equally as dark and bloody.

Indeed. So far, everything in the game related to Anca quests has been interesting. The two major quest chains are both disturbing. Both also make it clear that Magic in the game comes at a high cost. It's a magic closer to Terry Brooks' early Shannara stuff, and we occasionally get glimpses of how twisted its use can make somebody. I won't spoil anything by suggesting where or how, but there's a random quest you can stumble across that drives home the point even more. The magic here isn't Harry Potter stuff, and the vampirism isn't Twilight.

As for the skills, the blood cost for both magic and vampire make them situational. The swordsmanship skills only require action points, and do significant damage.

 

[Shafir]

The game has been brilliant so far (20 hours in). I hope there will be more games to follow, and that ‘Dawnwalker’ marks the start of a new series comparable to ‘The Witcher’ and other successful RPGs.

The story of Coen and Anca is characterised by a mature and profound quality that is rarely seen. The writing, in particular, is Dawnwalker’s standout feature. It’s lovely that there are titles like this, which combine an open world with story-driven narrative depth.

On top of that, it creates that typical ‘Skyrim feeling’ of simply exploring the visually stunning world, even if it goes against the actual narrative. But that’s nothing new. How often did Geralt go off on a tangent, even though he was actually supposed to be looking after Ciri?

 

[-Nailes-]

I'm playing Blood of the Dawnwalker aswell. I'm not as far as you guys though. But overall I quite like the quests and the timer(whilst I'm generally against timers) does add some spice, we'll see when I'm done with the game what my final opinion will be. The voice acting is very good, the world is stunning, the gameplay so far has been good and the quests are interesting.

Spoiler: quest differences early on

I quite enjoy how things can go differently(for different people)
I played the game and went to the church in the prologue to find the body of Gremla hanging over the altar, I had no idea why until I watched someone else play the game. They did the quest tied to her and recovered the banner that she was supposed to make and be hung over the altar. Its nice to see that decisions do actually affect the story.
I talked to Vlad and saved his brother while the other person talked to Vlad, went exploring instead and arrived in the ruin only to find the brother dead. Reminds me of cyberpunk, the flathead gig for example.

My only issue is the undodgable attacks, I often get hit. Either my Coen doesnt move(he dances and then stays in place) or it goes so fast that I cant. Its when I dodge them that I very often bump into objects and get stuck(partially because in combat, the character shifts to the left of the screen and backpedalling makes the character go sideways). Its not the end of the world, overall a great game.

I like the claw combat way more than the sword combat btw and the ability bto basicly go wherever you want

 

[Spockprime]

I'm playing Blood of the Dawnwalker aswell. I'm not as far as you guys though. But overall I quite like the quests and the timer(whilst I'm generally against timers) does add some spice, we'll see when I'm done with the game what my final opinion will be. The voice acting is very good, the world is stunning, the gameplay so far has been good and the quests are interesting.

Spoiler: quest differences early on

I quite enjoy how things can go differently(for different people)
I played the game and went to the church in the prologue to find the body of Gremla hanging over the altar, I had no idea why until I watched someone else play the game. They did the quest tied to her and recovered the banner that she was supposed to make and be hung over the altar. Its nice to see that decisions do actually affect the story.
I talked to Vlad and saved his brother while the other person talked to Vlad, went exploring instead and arrived in the ruin only to find the brother dead. Reminds me of cyberpunk, the flathead gig for example.

My only issue is the undodgable attacks, I often get hit. Either my Coen doesnt move(he dances and then stays in place) or it goes so fast that I cant. Its when I dodge them that I very often bump into objects and get stuck(partially because in combat, the character shifts to the left of the screen and backpedalling makes the character go sideways). Its not the end of the world, overall a great game.

I like the claw combat way more than the sword combat btw and the ability bto basicly go wherever you want

In the prologue quest you described, I felt guilty when I saw it. She asked me for help, and I declined because I had other things to do that seemed more important. That's good quest writing.

Post automatically merged: Sep 10, 2026

Well, I just encountered a quest that cut my enthusiasm for the game by about 75%. I'm used to the combat now so that part wasn't hard, but the quest itself is one of the worst I have ever encountered in any game, and I've encountered a lot of quests in a lot of games.

Spoiler: Ragequit level quest

The quest is called Home Sweet Home. You run into an enemy that somehow puts you into a dream state. Okay, fine. Then you have to fight some enemies and save your family in the dream, after being stripped of all your gear and reduced to a basic sword. Okay, fine, I've gotten good at combat and can handle it. Then after you beat everything you get to do it again. Then after you beat everything again, you get to do it again. Then after you beat everything again, you get to do it again trying everything differently than before. Then after you beat everything again, you get to do it again, doing things differently again and not using a single power in any fight in case that's what the game is wanting. Then after beating everything again, you get to do it again, rage quit, and cheat to look up what sort of idiotic trigger you have to do to get out of the loop that you beat four times already.

 

[CiriusBlack]

I like the claw combat way more than the sword combat btw and the ability bto basicly go wherever you want

I miss my vampire form every day Claws are amazing! And my only weapon during the night.

In the prologue quest you described, I felt guilty when I saw it. She asked me for help, and I declined because I had other things to do that seemed more important. That's good quest writing.

I'll try to avoid ending up in situations like this, because it's really hard to say no to a person in distress There will be a time to help them all, but it's not during this playthrough.

You can call me slow, but just yesterday I realised what it means (questwise) when we were asked how to

Spoiler: Somewhat general story/progression spoiler.

approach the situation at hand. Did you want to be sneaky or go "guns blazing". Looks like I'm currently doing bit of both I'm pretty sure I can't go all in in both options, so I should probably try to wrap up my current "projects" and then figure out which way to go next. Once again, a great replay value here. I definitely would like to play both of these options without mixing them up. Now I'm not sure what to expect. Or if my assumptions are even correct.

Yes, there has probably been 20 "Mistakes every new player makes" and I have probably done all of them, but it's the way I wanted to play this. Exploration! Next playthroughs are for tweaking, when you already have some kind of idea of what you are doing

 

[GrimReaper801]

Yes, there has probably been 20 "Mistakes every new player makes" and I have probably done all of them, but it's the way I wanted to play this. Exploration! Next playthroughs are for tweaking, when you already have some kind of idea of what you are doing

That's how I've been approaching everything... and how I live with many of my choices. So many mistakes have been made but the next playthrough will be so different.

At this point Ambrus, Bakir and Xanthe are dead. Only Brencis remains and there are 11 days remaining on the clock. Multiple ways to attack his castle too, one of which I was able to use on day 17. That's despite a lot of exploring and questing. Got what I assume is the best armor (it has a quest, an achievement and is stupidly good in both forms) and all I'm missing is a certain legendary sword that I need to forge. Then Brencis dies.

I get the distinct impression that you can't do everything on your first playthrough because you'll make all these beginner's mistakes. On a second playthrough though? When you know how to be efficient? There is also a way to extend the timer by one extra day. I only found the one but maybe there are more?

I honestly feel like the fears over the timer were grossly overblown. I have no doubt that on a second playthrough, one could complete almost everything without ever risking the family. Hell, there is a particular merchant that will buy teeth for a ridiculous sum that I only found after killing Bakir. Had I found her earlier, I'd be a much richer man and things would have been significantly easier.

I'm still not done with the game and I have no idea when I'll be able to do a second playthrough but I know it'll happen. Rarely do I want to do a second playthrough halfway through a game. Definitely a GOTY contender for me.

 

[CiriusBlack]

I honestly feel like the fears over the timer were grossly overblown. I have no doubt that on a second playthrough, one could complete almost everything without ever risking the family. Hell, there is a particular merchant that will buy teeth for a ridiculous sum that I only found after killing Bakir. Had I found her earlier, I'd be a much richer man and things would have been significantly easier.

Yeh. I just got access to final boss (I think?) and I still have 15 days left. And so much to do. I haven't been running after every possible map marker, but I have done quite a lot. Even many of those seemingly pointless ones. And I still can do plenty. And I will do plenty. And I have used all the skillpoints I have gotten (I had 16 stored at some point). Timer definitely seems to take "huge warps" during main quests if you do less of the side activities, but don't trust me on this. I didn't do the math.

You get a lot of cool loot and gear even without ever buying any. Maybe even too easily? To be fair. I still have like half the map untouched.

At this point (lvl 29), I feel myself like an ultimate killing machine. But this is on easy difficulty, so probably doesn't tell much about leveling up "too much".

So far I have done

Spoiler: General story spoilers (access to final boss, but not done that yet)

- Lacra's questline up until the boss fight next (wasn't my favourite parts in the game, but well... No game is perfect. And this did have some creepy/fine moments in it, too.)
- Finished Anca's questline (the first half was definitely one of the best parts of the entire game)
- Apparently got the support of uriashi. No idea yet how this will affect the story later.
- Curently in the middle of Father Florin thingie. No idea yet how it ends, but the part where I am now, was a surprise.
- I'm also in the middle of manumit thingie. Gotta finish this and Father Florin. Then see what else.
- I have all the shards and the broken sword, but no idea how/if I can fix it?
- Only killed Ambrus so far. Not sure if going after the others? Depends how much time I have left after Florin and manumits. Xanthe is super scary after Lacras quest, so maybe I could kill her before the final boss?

So far I think
- Story is still definitely great. Time to time very creepy and scary, but definitely amazing.
- Open world is amazing.
- Really loving the day vs night difference.
- Looks like there is sooo much replay value everywhere.
- Some parts of the quests could be counted as "combat tunnels". Gets a bit boring after a while, even if you like the combat.
- Can't wait to share some more quest details, after I have finished this at least once.
- That I spent too much time writing this post. Now back to the game!

 

[AvarageEnjoyer]

In the prologue quest you described, I felt guilty when I saw it. She asked me for help, and I declined because I had other things to do that seemed more important. That's good quest writing.

I, for one, rushed to Anka, helped her with her stuff, brewed the potion and then messed around doing quests, including with this lady.
Funny thing I remember some youtuber citing this one as an example of "complex moral choices" and I was really puzzled by it, because the choice didn't seem complex at all:

Spoiler

I thought that if I get the banner, the thief will get executed instead, but to my surprise, no one died and everyone was just freaked out by the creepy tapestry. So essentially the choice was to let the granny die due to a pointless act of "resistance" that ultimately means nothing or not letting the granny die. Not particularly complex.

I caught myself enjoying combat way more than I though I would when I started using special abilities. I don't know what to make of it, considering that I'm basically enjoying the part of combat that allows me to engage with it the least (the special attacks are all unblockable and have auto-aim), but god if it's not flashy and satisfying to just go ham on some unfortunate fucker with dark magic my waifu taught me or some slick swordsmanship technique.

The game is absolutely great so far, Ambrus boss fight was amazing, the way Coen

Spoiler

slashed him in the end

was super-cinematic and satisfying. My biggest complaint so far is that Coen can't use Witchcraft at night - I understand why and I understand what they were going for, but having story boss fights happen specifically at night limits the variety of the ways I can actually handle them.

 

[CiriusBlack]

I caught myself enjoying combat way more than I though I would when I started using special abilities.

Funny thing is, I barely use them at all Around level 30 I just started checking them more closely. I have unlocked few, but for some reason never actually used them. Either swords/claws are too much fun, or I just don't remember to use them

 

[GrimReaper801]

So far I have done

Spoiler: General story spoilers (access to final boss, but not done that yet)

- Lacra's questline up until the boss fight next (wasn't my favourite parts in the game, but well... No game is perfect. And this did have some creepy/fine moments in it, too.)
- Finished Anca's questline (the first half was definitely one of the best parts of the entire game)
- Apparently got the support of uriashi. No idea yet how this will affect the story later.
- Curently in the middle of Father Florin thingie. No idea yet how it ends, but the part where I am now, was a surprise.
- I'm also in the middle of manumit thingie. Gotta finish this and Father Florin. Then see what else.
- I have all the shards and the broken sword, but no idea how/if I can fix it?
- Only killed Ambrus so far. Not sure if going after the others? Depends how much time I have left after Florin and manumits. Xanthe is super scary after Lacras quest, so maybe I could kill her before the final boss?

I'm putting this in spoilers but the things you might not want to know will have extra protection.

Spoiler: General spoilers for those who haven't played/aren't far in

- The sword can be reforged, that's the legendary sword I was speaking about earlier. I finished it, it is strong.

Spoiler: If you want to know where to go

There is a Uriashi blacksmith in the northwestern most part of the map. You might have already ran into her. She's not very talkative before you have things for her to forge. If you haven't, there is a ? POI with a shrine next to it right at the forest's exist in the northwest. I believe this is the trigger to get the quest for the best armor of the game as well.

- I strongly recommend killing Bakir and Xanthe. My understanding is that not doing so will make the final battle harder, I assume they show up, but more importantly, they're interesting quests. Ambrus is very straight forward and asks for a duel which is very fitting for him but the other two are very different and more interesting ways to end the boyars.

Funny thing is, I barely use them at all Around level 30 I just started checking them more closely. I have unlocked few, but for some reason never actually used them. Either swords/claws are too much fun, or I just don't remember to use them

Ah! Same! For the first time my sword is actually hitting much harder than my claws. I'm barely using skills, I am loving the combat. The only skill I use is the wide swipe. The rest are passives. The speed one on perfect parries is amazing. It works for claws too which just makes your attacks absurdly fast. I'm loving it.

 

[AvarageEnjoyer]

Funny thing is, I barely use them at all Around level 30 I just started checking them more closely. I have unlocked few, but for some reason never actually used them. Either swords/claws are too much fun, or I just don't remember to use them

With how damage-spongy enemies have been up to that point, I don't think I would've had the patience to play without them. With abilities, they go down fairly quickly even on Challenging, comparatively speaking.

 

[-Nailes-]

I'm still playing and I'm not that far. But the only issue that I could possibly see with the timer is people conserving perk points or not doing quests because they take up too much time(even if its entirely possible to do within the timeframe given). I heard about some streamer not spending perk points(he had lots at the end) because was afraid he would run out of time, but I'll see when I'm through the main quest.

Spoiler: in regards to the timer

I was told you can actually ignore the timer if you really want and not fight Brencis before the thirty days are up. The consequence is that Coens family dies.

The one thing I wish they'd do differently is the gear levelling; The Outer Worlds has it too. You get a piece of armour or weapon which has a specific level and values to go with. Upgrading is costly(its 500+ or so per upgrade) but after a while you find better equipment anyways and its better to just switch to the new piece. Apart from specific buffs that some armour/sword might give there is no reason to upgrade or get attached to any gear as it becomes obsolete and expensive to upgrade after a while anyways.