Div Div /Disciples II 9.99 @ Target

[xSamhainx]

Just got Divine Divinity @ Target for 9.99. Disciples II gold was there also for 9.99 as well!

We need like a "Sound of a title officially hitting the 9.99 bargain bin" thread to alert people of the when and where.

[curious]

good idea xSamhainx, and i like the imagery too

[Gorath]

Maybe we need an official bargain thread ?!
And maybe another one for games on print mags.

[JDR13]

They're the small JC versions right?

[xSamhainx]

yeah, theyre jewel-cased, so youre not getting anything but a PDF manual. Full versions tho, and that Disciples II is the original + all 3 expansions. Pisses me off because i just bought it a few months ago for like 25 bucks online!

Lots of good (and not so good) titles are going to be hitting jewel-case bargain bin soon. Some, like Stronghold II, I refuse to buy for more than 9.99 because of their reputed legendary bugginess. Others, like Div Div, I just havent gotten around to buying. Another good thing about getting them in this fashion is that if they are older games, they are updated for XP. I rebought Dungeon Keeper II and the original Age of Empires for 9.99, and they were both XP-ready versions.

[JDR13]

Disciples II is basically like HOMM but with smaller battles isn't it? Groups rather than armies? I played the demo for the original Disciples a long time ago and I remember really liking the art\graphics, but for some reason I never did get the game.

[xSamhainx]

yeah, it's two rows of three. More grim in my opinion too, and difficult

[dteowner]

Crud. I did the hour-long drive to civilization yesterday, but didn't take advantage of the Target there. Looks like I'll have to make another pilgrimage next weekend.

[magerette]

Disciples has some of the best art(not graphix) in gaming imo--and is indeed challenging and hardcore tb strat. There are still campaigns I haven't been able to beat(in Rise of the Elves).

[xSamhainx]

I agree, the art and presentation of Disciples II is stunning, everything is incredibly detailed. It's one of those games that even the menus are a treat to look at. Here's (http://www.gamersinfo.net/index.php?art/id:923) the article at Gamer'sInfo that convinced me to pick up the gold edition, and after playing myself, I think it's pretty dead-on.

[Alrik Fassbauer]

If you love such detailed graphics, then you might take a look at the Age of Wonder series. ;)

I once wrote a review for Age of Wonders II over there at RPGDot. ;)

But fans of the series consider Age of Wonders . Shadow Magic as the better game of the latter two - although it has a darker story (to my taste).

The first games of the three is rather unique (within the three games) in the respect that it has far more RPG elements incorporated (for the "Heroes"), and a more tolkienesque story. ;)

I think I have Disciples II on a gaming mag's CD-ROM somewhere ... If it's the gold version, then I'll definitively take a look at it - sooner or later. ;)

[magerette]

Nice overview, Samhain. He likes playing the explorer hero like my son--I prefer the mage for most races. One of my most played games.

@Alrik I"ve tried hard with Age of Wonders as, let's face it, how many fantasy tb strat games are there--but I have never been able to really get into it. I played quite a bit of the first, but haven't got past the tutorial in II. And it's the really really bright graphics that are part of the problem for me. To each his own ;)

[Alrik Fassbauer]

And it's the really really bright graphics that are part of the problem for me.

Yes. Have you read my rant about "why must everything be dark and grim" on these forums ? ;)

[dteowner]

So I decided to do the hour-long drive to civilization again. Target didn't even have a spot on the shelf for it. Build me up just to smash my dreams...damn you, Sammy, damn you to the very depths of hell! ;)

[curious]

which game are you looking for dteowner?

[dteowner]

There's been enough buzz about Div Div here that I thought I'd give it a spin. I played the demo a few years ago and wasn't terribly impressed, but it seems the prevailing opinion around here is pretty positive. Y'all make it sound like Dungeon Siege with intricate character development, which (now that I've played and enjoyed DS2) sounds pretty tasty.

[xSamhainx]

So I decided to do the hour-long drive to civilization again. Target didn't even have a spot on the shelf for it. Build me up just to smash my dreams...damn you, Sammy, damn you to the very depths of hell! ;)

An hour to the nearest Target? Where do you live, Timbuktu?

[JDR13]

I just download the Disciples II demo and played a little.

Holy crap, the difficulty level of this game is no joke! I'm playing on "average" and getting my ass handed to me.

Couple questions,
How do you acquire\purchase new units, and how do you cast spells? I don't see an option for either.

[magerette]

Inside your capitol there are icons that represent the screens you research spells from--you need X mana and can research one per day. You also purchase your units in here(after your hero enters or by clicking on the castle) from the army screen. Heros cost more than regular units--you also have to build the structures to upgrade/recruit each unit first except for the basic ones--just click on the garrison to see what units can be purchased initially.
After you research the spell, you can cast it--indepently of your heros--anytime during the turn by clicking the spellbook icon and selecting a target.
Don't know how far the demo will let you get in unit building--in the campaigns they kind of restrict you so that each mission you get a little higher upgrade.

Anyway, it's all inside the capitol--hope this makes sense! Enjoy :)

[magerette]

There's been enough buzz about Div Div here that I thought I'd give it a spin. I played the demo a few years ago and wasn't terribly impressed, but it seems the prevailing opinion around here is pretty positive. Y'all make it sound like Dungeon Siege with intricate character development, which (now that I've played and enjoyed DS2) sounds pretty tasty.

It actually is kind of like a european cross between Diablo2 and Dungeon Seige in a bizarre kind of way, dte--but it isn't slick, it isn't about teh graphix and it goes on forever--for 9.99 you'd definitely be getting your money's worth. Sorry you couldn't score it locally. PM headed your way.

[xSamhainx]

Everything you need for your army should be in the "manage army" interface, JDR. You can rearrange, heal, dismiss, resurrect, hire, etc from there, but you have to be parked in a city to do these things.

Here's a little mini-manual page from Strategy First that should give you the basic rundown-
http://www.strategyfirst.ca/downloads/files/DisciplesII_DemoWalkthrough.html

[JDR13]

Thanks guys(and gals),

I did research a spell but I didn't see a way to cast it during battle.

I also saw how to purchase leader\hero units in the castle but not regular units, even though I had built several different structures for them.

I'll take a peek at that mini-manual and give it another shot.

Hey xSamhainx, did you get Supreme Commander yet?


*edit* "Spells may only be cast in the Landview screen. Click the Cast Spell button and click on the party, or area on the map where you wish to cast the spell."

No wonder I couldn't cast them during battle:)

[magerette]

Can't cast during battle-before or after--anytime during the turn, just not from the combat screen. Click on the spellbook icon in the main adventure window and target a unit.
The regular units to hire should be there with the hero units-could be a demo thing tho that doesn't make much sense--soldiers die like flies in that game...and usually just before they get enough experience to level. :)

[dteowner]

An hour to the nearest Target? Where do you live, Timbuktu?We're kinda the outer suburbs of Timbuktu. Mind you, we have our very own Super WalMart here in The Bustling Metropolis, but you either go an hour north, an hour southwest, or an hour-n-a-half east for the joys of Target (and that pains Mrs dte to no end, believe it). Worry not--Mrs dte jumped at the opportunity to "hitch up the horses" twice in one weekend, even for a gaming run.

[Alrik Fassbauer]

in a bizarre kind of way

This is the first time I read this formulation.

What is bizarre with it ? :confused:

[magerette]

This is the first time I read this formulation.

What is bizarre with it ? :confused:


Well, I don't mean in a bad way, Alrik. What I was trying to convey was the high fantasy touch mixed with the basic dungeon crawling along with the humor, which as we know doesn't always translate as intended. The feel of the game is very character oriented, and takes it out of the hack n slash fest category, for me anyway, but it isn't quite a traditional rpg either. The graphics are not sleek, but quirky--( a bit eccentric) and some of the features, like carrying bottles of dwarven ale, beer, wine and only being able to figure out what they do by drinking them, etc, all makes for a game that doesn't easily fall into a labelled category.

So, compared to a run of the mill action rpg type of game, it stands out the way a good street corner musician stands out from a recording on the radio. It has more of a personality, and that's a good thing.

Plus it has very solid gameplay, and is just a lot of fun. Sometimes anymore, that is pretty bizarre!:)

[Alrik Fassbauer]

Thanks for explaining, I understand your point of view now much better ! :)

Personally, Divinity was my first "really big" RPG, and I love it - although the fighting became kind of boring at one point.

But what I actually liked most were the many, many easter eggs in it. :) For a fan a real pleasure. :)

[Cormac]

Alrik, doesnt your username come from DivDiv ?
I love that game and it always annoys me a bit when someone describes it as a Diablo clone: it's really a full fledged RPG but with Diablo type combat.

[magerette]

I agree, Cormac. It is very far from a Diablo clone. I think that's where that 'bizarre' description crept in. My current addiction Titan Quest is the epitome of D2 clonishness, and I 'd be hard pressed to think of a single simularity between it and DD beyond the combat.

[Moriendor]

Alrik, doesnt your username come from DivDiv ?
I love that game and it always annoys me a bit when someone describes it as a Diablo clone: it's really a full fledged RPG but with Diablo type combat.

The other way around :) . Larian Studios "borrowed" the names of a lot of Larian Studios forums members for Divine Divinity. Most of the NPC names were taken from forum members. Including my nick as well.
I "invented" Moriendor when I was playing Icewind Dale 2 and needed a dark-ish/death-ish sounding name for a Necromancer. There was a soccer match of Spain on TV at the same time and I really liked the name of this Spanish player, Morientes. After playing around with the name for a little while I came up with Moriendor and then Larian liked the "darkness" of the name as well and used it for a villain in Divinity :) .

[JDR13]

Gave up trying to play Disciples II.

The demo went all buggy on me. It was one of those trial versions where it was actually the full game on a time limit. When I tried to play it again it said I had 141 minutes of trial time left, but when I tried to click on the "continue free trial" button, nothing would happen.

Oh well, I have way too many games lined up right now anyways:)

[Alrik Fassbauer]

Alrik, doesnt your username come from DivDiv ?
I love that game and it always annoys me a bit when someone describes it as a Diablo clone: it's really a full fledged RPG but with Diablo type combat.

Moriendor is right. :) Also, you can actually hear and read kind of a poem written by me in the game. :) Look out at the market place ! ;)

It's one of the many easter eggs. ;)

Here in Germany, gaming magazines characterize Divinity & Beyond Divinity usually as "Diablo clones". Even now, the magazine "Gamestar", which has BD on their magazine's DVD, calls BD a "clone with an addiction factor".

German gaming mags are notorious for putting games into drawers.

[Cormac]

Moriendor is right. :) Also, you can actually hear and read kind of a poem written by me in the game. :) Look out at the market place ! ;)

I recently loaded DD again and it hit me when I opened a scroll or a book and saw your name at the end of it ! That's pretty cool what they did, though.

So there's a villain named Moriendor, huh ? Ok, he's dead. ;)

[Arma]

Disciples 2 is a great game, but it takes a little bit of getting to know the mechanics and gameplay. But after that it is a blast!

[enodenroH]

So I decided to do the hour-long drive to civilization again. Target didn't even have a spot on the shelf for it. Build me up just to smash my dreams...damn you, Sammy, damn you to the very depths of hell! ;)

You sure know how to make people laugh!

Look bro, I bought it on Ebay for about that, 10$.
I'm keeping it in case I want to go through it once more.

Anyway, try it. Ebay is quick and painless. Most of the time.

You can stay home away from civilization and stop wasting fuel for nothin'.

[dteowner]

We aim to please. ;)

Fear not for your humble narrator. I shall be loading up the Wild Dogs and She Who Must Be Obeyed for the two hour journey to Indianapolis this weekend to make sure our old house hasn't burned down while we wait for some lucky soul to pay us top dollar for the privilege of taking over The House Of Many Children (the folks we bought it from had 4). A brief side quest to the local Super Target will, of course, be quietly weasel'd into the agenda.

Should I become mired in disappointment yet again, one of our own here has graciously offered to help a brutha out, saving me a turn in the eBay barrel.

As for staying home, I'm not sure that would be wise. She Who Must Be Obeyed was not entirely pleased with our relocation to The Bustling Metropolis, so a weekly sojourn to civilization is probably in my best interest. After all, as they say, if Momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy.

[Ammon777]

I got all Disciples II and expansion packs a while back (ok, years ago), and I found it so difficult that I didnt finish playing it. I gave up after attempting the final battle for the Empire five times and losing each time to a vastly superior opponent (the demon and his bastardly crownies). Dude, I cant beat it, it is far too difficult. Since I dont like games so difficult (I dont enjoy puzzles either), I gave up completely on Disciples II. However, there was announced today Disciples III. I will probably buy it and hope its not as blasted hard to win as Disciples II...

Seriously, it was the basic Empire campaign, the last battle in the last scenario is freaken impossible !!!

edit -- In D&D terms, its just like a level 1 wizard going up against a level 10 wizard. No freaking way the level 1 wizard can beat that. Such BS. Ah yes, it made me angry, hence even though I had purchased all expansions, I just uninstalled it and it hasnt graced my hard-drive since.

Note to developers: Difficult is nice, but impossible is a game-breaker.

[Ammon777]

Oh but Divine Divinity is awesome game!

[magerette]

@Ammon777 re: Disciples
Yes, little Uther can be quite the Demon problem child. I felt the same way during one of the Rise of the Elves campaigns--armies keep spawning in from all directions kicking serious butt before it's remotely possible to recover from the first seven or eight..I did give up on that one.;) I actually remember saying almost your exact same words to the developers--Who designed this-the Marquis de Sade?

But then I discovered that I could abandon my pride and play on the Easy level--which is like a normal game's Difficult. ( Believe it or not, there are people on the Disciples forums who play hardcore and seem to enjoy it, the sick-os!)

I was able to beat all the original campaigns at Easy. And it felt GOOD!:p
So that's my recommendation--Or you might just do the scenarios--they are much more reasonable.:)

[Ammon777]

Thanks for suggestion, but I think I'm gonna wait for Disciples III. After looking for them to try again, unfortunately I lost an installation CD for Disciples II. I might have thrown it in the trash, I dont remember, lol.

[Alrik Fassbauer]

If you live in Germany, you can still get it quite easily for a low price.