Incline Battle Brothers + Beasts & Exploration, Warriors of the North and Blazing Deserts DLC Thread

[FriendlyMerchant]

I don't get how they balance out the costs for everything. For a minor increase in a few stats, you have to pay double the price. For example, I found a couple decent Oathtakers, they seem to be geared to be dodge tanks or nimble melee versions of Hedge Knights. I was lucky and found a good one for 4.6k. It didn't have as many levels or come with good gear. (But who cares? Levels are easy to get and gear is even easier). But all the other ones I've seen have been 10k+. I even saw one that was 12k. But like all backgrounds that cost more than 2k, extremely overpriced in my opinion. I really don't like how common it is for them to have rdef dumped. To me it seems like Oathtakers are just double-priced Adventurous Nobles but with more initiative and no events.

Spoiler

Spoiler

I don't think the slight stat advantages in melee or the special gear with minor advantages over normal chainmail/chain hoods, etc. justify the in general doubled price. Comparing to a lot of other backgrounds, I don't think the slight increase in initial functionality for the backgrounds justifies the price seeing that A farmer, thief, or militiaman with good rolls and talents in the right places will outperform these high price backgrounds for even less than a 10th or 20th of the price. On top of that, assuming that there is nothing to change the odds of talents being in favorable places other than the exclusion of a couple skills on hedgies or oathtakers, getting lucky a couple of times rolling 50 farmers for 10k is probably more likely than rolling one or two hedgeknights or oathtakers, etc. and seems like a better investment.

 

[HumanTotemPole]

I don't get how they balance out the costs for everything. For a minor increase in a few stats, you have to pay double the price. For example, I found a couple decent Oathtakers, they seem to be geared to be dodge tanks or nimble melee versions of Hedge Knights. I was lucky and found a good one for 4.6k. It didn't have as many levels or come with good gear. (But who cares? Levels are easy to get and gear is even easier). But all the other ones I've seen have been 10k+. I even saw one that was 12k. But like all backgrounds that cost more than 2k, extremely overpriced in my opinion. I really don't like how common it is for them to have rdef dumped. To me it seems like Oathtakers are just double-priced Adventurous Nobles but with more initiative and no events.

Spoiler

Spoiler

I don't think the slight stat advantages in melee or the special gear with minor advantages over normal chainmail/chain hoods, etc. justify the in general doubled price. Comparing to a lot of other backgrounds, I don't think the slight increase in initial functionality for the backgrounds justifies the price seeing that A farmer, thief, or militiaman with good rolls and talents in the right places will outperform these high price backgrounds for even less than a 10th or 20th of the price. On top of that, assuming that there is nothing to change the odds of talents being in favorable places other than the exclusion of a couple skills on hedgies or oathtakers, getting lucky a couple of times rolling 50 farmers for 10k is probably more likely than rolling one or two hedgeknights or oathtakers, etc. and seems like a better investment.

IIRC it's largely the gear that bloats recruitment costs (though your quoted prices on oathtakers holy shit, not sure what the fuck is going there looking at the stat distributions). Compare the price of a militaman with a billhook to one with another weapon.

Regardless with the expensive backgrounds you're putting down money upfront for a much higher chance of a competent recruit (and a higher potential ceiling) e.g. the average adventurous noble who rolls a 62 for Matk with no stars has the same average expected Matk growth as an average Farmhand (Matk 52) with 2 stars and nearly matches one with 3 stars, assuming that you pick Matk at every level up in each case. Here's an old table someone made that I think still applies:

Edit: courtesy of the wikia re recruitment costs

Spoiler

The hiring cost depends on several variables:

• Background
• Equipment
• Level

The background defines a base hiring cost going from 30 for the worst ones up to around 150 for the best ones. Swordmasters are an exception with a base cost of 400!

The cost of equipment is set at 1.25 its base value. It is on the high side if compared to settlement prices. Levels are valued thus: 500 x (level – 1) ^ 1.5. With a possible range of 1 to 5, the additional cost goes from 0 to 3,000.

 

[Serus]

Oathakers are seriously overpriced, that's true. Some other high price - but less overpriced - backgrounds otoh can be worthwhile mid-late game when you start having a lot of money. I don't think you can make a very good fencer out of a farmer.

 

[CaffeineConquistador]

Where would a farmer be used for anything other than frontline fighters?

 

[Serus]

Where would a farmer be used for anything other than frontline fighters?

For a back row/reach fighter . What he won't be, unless rolled extremely well, is a great tank or bannerman or ranged character. But otoh for a battleforged bro it's a very good background due to high faigue.

 

[Darth Canoli]

the only bug that i noticed so far is if you doing caravan mission and save game. and then savescum after bad battle outcome the caravan speed is like elder tortoise.
only solution is quit game and load

The bug might be from the new escort feature, never tried it but you get the option to escort caravans without town missions.

 

[Serus]

the only bug that i noticed so far is if you doing caravan mission and save game. and then savescum after bad battle outcome the caravan speed is like elder tortoise.
only solution is quit game and load

The bug might be from the new escort feature, never tried it but you get the option to escort caravans without town missions.

Are you talking about Legends?

 

[Brancaleone]

IIRC it's largely the gear that bloats recruitment costs (though your quoted prices on oathtakers holy shit, not sure what the fuck is going there looking at the stat distributions). Compare the price of a militaman with a billhook to one with another weapon.

Oathtaker's gear has better armour/fatigue ratio than regular stuff, think of it as buying something that is one step closer to famed armour and helmet (with the prices adjusted accordingly, since famed armour is wildly more expensive than regular stuff).

 

[HumanTotemPole]

IIRC it's largely the gear that bloats recruitment costs (though your quoted prices on oathtakers holy shit, not sure what the fuck is going there looking at the stat distributions). Compare the price of a militaman with a billhook to one with another weapon.

Oathtaker's gear has better armour/fatigue ratio than regular stuff, think of it as buying something that is one step closer to famed armour and helmet (with the prices adjusted accordingly, since famed armour is wildly more expensive than regular stuff).

That explains it then. Haven't played since BD came out.

Where would a farmer be used for anything other than frontline fighters?

For a back row/reach fighter . What he won't be, unless rolled extremely well, is a great tank or bannerman or ranged character. But otoh for a battleforged bro it's a very good background due to high faigue.

The halcyon days of brother farmhand have long left us. The cheap recruit of choice pre resolve nerf & pre nimble rework.

 

[Serus]

IIRC it's largely the gear that bloats recruitment costs (though your quoted prices on oathtakers holy shit, not sure what the fuck is going there looking at the stat distributions). Compare the price of a militaman with a billhook to one with another weapon.

Oathtaker's gear has better armour/fatigue ratio than regular stuff, think of it as buying something that is one step closer to famed armour and helmet (with the prices adjusted accordingly, since famed armour is wildly more expensive than regular stuff).

That explains it then. Haven't played since BD came out.

Where would a farmer be used for anything other than frontline fighters?

For a back row/reach fighter . What he won't be, unless rolled extremely well, is a great tank or bannerman or ranged character. But otoh for a battleforged bro it's a very good background due to high faigue.

The halcyon days of brother farmhand have long left us. The cheap recruit of choice pre resolve nerf & pre nimble rework.

You still want battleforged bros just mixed with nimble ones. Battleforged have higher upper limit of how much beating they can take but you need good armour for that which means later in game. Early-mid game nimble >> battleforged but not for long.

 

[Peacefriend]

Picking this up for the first time, are there recommended mods?

 

[Serus]

"Someone" will come recommend you "Legends". I say play the game as is, at least initially, only mods i suggest a QoL. Especially nice is the one that adds auto-pause in certain situations like enemy appearing on main map.

 

[Jrpgfan]

"Someone" will come recommend you "Legends". I say play the game as is, at least initially, only mods i suggest a QoL. Especially nice is the one that adds auto-pause in certain situations like enemy appearing on main map.

Speed mod is a must too. I don't know how people manage to play without those, game is slow as fuck.

 

[Vincente]

Decided to start an Oathtakers company where I only hire Oathtakers. 20-something days in.

And if you have 10k gold you can get an event where you buy this Oathtaker's armor and weapon for 9k but if you're playing as Oathtakers he just joins you for free with his equipment. Pretty cool.

 

[HumanTotemPole]

"Someone" will come recommend you "Legends". I say play the game as is, at least initially, only mods i suggest a QoL. Especially nice is the one that adds auto-pause in certain situations like enemy appearing on main map.

Seconded, Legends is for once you've mastered the base game. Definitely worth it once you have though.

I used to be anti-Legends but it’s actually pretty good. Every dedicated BB player should try a solo berserker run.

 

[tindrli]

Are you talking about Legends?

yes

Picking this up for the first time, are there recommended mods?

No. Just play a game. after 100 hours or so maybe add speed mod In my humble opinion is highly recommended but some people claim that it makes game somewhat buggy and i think that in battle it makes my bros miss if i shoot/att 2 times fast but thats just my paranoia .. then if you like a game you'll probably have many many hours and then you can go with legends.

 

[Peacefriend]

Thanks for the answers, I went with the speed mod (but not the pause mod, since its comments said it was not updated for the most recent versions of BB).

The game seemed very difficult at first (at medium difficulty), but it quickly became apparent it is easy to cheese. Play trader, dismiss everyone so you don't pay their upkeep, hire 2 or 3 goons who have 6 or less upkeep, with high initiative if possible (ratcatchers are exactly what you want), then take only package delivery and ruin finding quests, trade goods between north and south, avoid forest ambushes by using 1x speed while in forest, and retreat from every battle.
I feel I could keep this up indefinitely, I could go to 100k gold if I wanted. Am I missing something, is there some timed event by which I must have an army at the ready or what?
Or is it just meant to be played so that you limit yourself with a self imposed rule, like "never buy trade goods, never take package quests", for the normal game experience (where you have to do actual sellswording with actual challenge)?

 

[Barbarian]

Decided to start an Oathtakers company where I only hire Oathtakers. 20-something days in.

And if you have 10k gold you can get an event where you buy this Oathtaker's armor and weapon for 9k but if you're playing as Oathtakers he just joins you for free with his equipment. Pretty cool.

Playing with mods? What is that perk of the page with the golden laurels? Never seem that before.

 

[Taka-Haradin puolipeikko]

and retreat from every battle.

Username seems appropriate.

 

[k0syak]

Thanks for the answers, I went with the speed mod (but not the pause mod, since its comments said it was not updated for the most recent versions of BB).

The game seemed very difficult at first (at medium difficulty), but it quickly became apparent it is easy to cheese. Play trader, dismiss everyone so you don't pay their upkeep, hire 2 or 3 goons who have 6 or less upkeep, with high initiative if possible (ratcatchers are exactly what you want), then take only package delivery and ruin finding quests, trade goods between north and south, avoid forest ambushes by using 1x speed while in forest, and retreat from every battle.
I feel I could keep this up indefinitely, I could go to 100k gold if I wanted. Am I missing something, is there some timed event by which I must have an army at the ready or what?
Or is it just meant to be played so that you limit yourself with a self imposed rule, like "never buy trade goods, never take package quests", for the normal game experience (where you have to do actual sellswording with actual challenge)?

You are supposed to stay ahead of game scaling, which means taking as many fights as possible. Caravans are a horrendous time-sink early on, as are searching for ruins missions, unless you plan to bust the camp right away. Aim for 2 fights per day if you can.

 

[Peacefriend]

Oh okay, I didn't realize threats scale with time.

 

[k0syak]

Also, no need to buy trade goods, you can take them off the caravan hands' warm bodies, along with some other loot. Raiding caravans ensures "ambushed trade roads" in settlements, so you always sell for more.

 

[Kalarion]

Oh okay, I didn't realize threats scale with time.

They don't, or rather, time is not even close to the main factor in threat scaling.

The primary encounter scaling mechanic is how many bros you have in your team. The secondary factor is average level of your band. AFAICT time is only used to determine spacing between Crisis-level events, and to reset "special" event occurrence timing (usually associated with specific Backgrounds).

Which should answer your earlier question: yes, you can play the game the way you're talking for as long as you want. But you will technically never meet the requirements to "beat" the game, because Crises only pop if you have a band of at least 9+ bros with an average level of 6 for at least 30 days (give or take a week or so depending on group makeup and average level). You could consider your technique cheesing I suppose, for the fact you're able to buy and hire whatever the fuck you want given enough time trading . But the truth is that, setting aside soft gear restrictions (mostly having to do with rapidly increasing fatigue costs and lack of ability to deal with them at low levels), you're going to have to start levelling at some point in order for the game state (primarily encounter strength and Crises) to change, at which point the game will start working as intended rather rapidly.

Probably the biggest cheese this game has to offer is the player's total control over when a Crisis is spawned, given basic knowledge of the scaling/progression mechanics going on under the hood. My most common practice is to freeze my party at the cusp of a Crisis by sticking with a band of only 8 bros, level them all to 11 and gear the shit out of them, and then pop a Crisis by recruiting a couple more bros when I feel comfortable I can handle it.

 

[k0syak]

"Difficulty of non-contract locations and roaming parties scales mostly with distance to civilization and time. Roaming parties also scale slightly with player strength, but less so than contracts, and non-contract locations don't scale with player strength at all. [6]

Therefore, contract-spawned mobs and locations are always closely matched to the player's party and offer an appropriate challenge. As non-contract locations do not scale to the player's party strength, far-off locations will probably be risky or difficult early in the game, whereas in the late game, these become juicier targets for unique hunting, especially if the player has levelled up speedily."

Most enemies also receive buffs around day 40, some of them very impactful, like nomads getting dodge.

 

[Vincente]

Decided to start an Oathtakers company where I only hire Oathtakers. 20-something days in.

And if you have 10k gold you can get an event where you buy this Oathtaker's armor and weapon for 9k but if you're playing as Oathtakers he just joins you for free with his equipment. Pretty cool.

Playing with mods? What is that perk of the page with the golden laurels? Never seem that before.

It's an Oath symbol, Oathtakers take Oaths instead of ambitions.