Topic: Crimson Desert

@Ravix I haven’t figured out how to get a pet yet! Can’t say I’ve left Hernand either, despite apparently having 25 hours on my play clock 😳 At this point the game remains incomprehensibly large.

I did just defeat that smoke cube though (if we’re thinking about the same smoke cube, that is) which I actually found to be a real struggle. Then I started to think the way the game wants me to think. What could possibly be effective against smoke, I thought? Well, I couldn’t summon rain but I could summon wind and that made short work of it. The game does such a great job of rewarding the player in ways like this.

Good luck on your mysterious destination! I decided to head out toward a spire of sorts and, long story short, had a very long trek back to the constabulary with an overly talkative honey lover.

@Metonymy oooh, how do you summon wind? (Base skill or unlock tree?) The boss was a pain for me too, but I started grabbing his cube-based middle-part with my go-go gadget arm and shook it around a bit before attacking it on the ground.

No boss is unbeatable with a pocket full of meat to keep me going, though!

Pets are another random tutorial quest (there's a lot of tutorials as the game grows) but I assume if you can get one at any time with enough food and head pats. That was what I wanted to find out for myself before I stumbled on a quest that did it for me, basically.

I failed a few bounties messing around too much (they died in part becasue doing horse jumps off cliffs is not a good idea) but I think they respawned so if I ever get a dragon or more reliable transport then i'm sure I will revisit them and cook them/bring them back.

The one across a field of reeds was interesting though, as it was after a thing that also effects the landscape in one specific and really cool way. Hopefully it stays like that as I want to record it happening. Mystery abound!

I'm a bit behind you guys but I'm just going with the flow and doing whatever takes my fancy. I know the main quest has received its share of criticism but it at least does a good job of bringing you to new places on the map.

The last mission I did was the investigation quest for Shakatu which was an interesting change to the usual go here, kill these guys, collect object, return format. It's also good to hear some decent Irish accents in the game and not the usual 'ah sure top o' da mornin laddy. Where's me pot o' gold?' rubbish. I'll never get tired of hearing "I thought you'd be *****" in this game haha!

@Ravix Well, wind of a sort anyway. I used the focus skill’s wind blast thing which dropped the cube to the ground instantly, so definitely worth investing in Focus on the skill tree @McSavage as I was having a hell of a time with this boss. And here I thought the biggest challenge in the game was going to be avoiding explosive barrels 😆

Just rode back with that bounty through the field of reeds last night. Very cool. Made a mental note of the huge ship off the coast as well. Think I’ll go check it out tonight.

@Metonymy I think there's a whole town down there by the ship, but i've not been there yet. The view from the cliff is sweet, though. Need to check that out at night, too!

I will check out the skill tree in more detail soon, I definitely need some kind of air blast skill that doesn't need perfect precision aiming like the grapple hand does. Do you recall the name of the skill and is it like an extension of the regular "leafy punch" with R3 or something more?

Anyway, this is my Kliff after 4 boss fights consuming nothing but battered fish, grilled meats and clear soups to survive:

@Ravix You beat a fish up? or the boss was a fish?

@GirlVersusGame

Battered fish as in food. But the other options are good, also

@Ravix Oh you mean breaded, I haven't had it but I know it. I like my boring old plain fish and sushi. I'll be sure to further avoid it after seeing Kliff phase two. That can't be good for your horse either. I thought you fought some kind of giant fish boss. Give it time and maybe you will, stranger things have happened in video-games.

@GirlVersusGame no, I mean battered 😂 you know, with batter. Many cuisines utilise a batter of some sorts, not just British. But it is the Scottish who take it too far, and Kliff can't get enough of it. He's basically Fat Ba*tard from Austin Powers at this point.

I do expect I will fight a giant fish-boss, though. I've fought a goblin, a cloud, a scarecrow and a gorilla. And each time Kliff has had to chow down on maybe 25,000 calories just to stay in the fight.

There's also lots of cats in the game. I was going to wait to get my own screenshots to tell you about all the animals, but here is a random Crimson Desert cat from the internet instead

@Ravix That cat is wearing armor, what in Hades, and so cute too. Can you name them? Horses in Kingdom Come Deliverance need armor, they didn't until I saw that cat, now they do. Maybe I need to get back on the game sooner than later, I'd love a cat in a suit of armor. I gamed last about three nights ago, I've mostly been quietly reading until we get back to London. Easter is one of our most important holidays, so hopefully it brings peace and not just chocolate. The last quest I did was called All That Glisters and it was really badly put together, almost frustratingly so. Many circles of confusion and long too. Henry was like a yo-yo going between NPCs but it wasn't fun. I was happy to have to go to bed, maybe I'll consult a guide next time. I'm not sure how far into the story that is, I'd hope at least near the half-way mark.

Okay so you mean кляре, sort of like dough but it can be wrapped around fish then fried. I haven't had it, I know it but I'm told it's full of carbohydrates so it's a no go like what you call crisps I've hardly ever had those. I do eat a lot of fish, I had sword-fish yesterday and almost always have sushi for breakfast and no I've never tried cereal but I've tried very small cat biscuits more than once and that's probably similar. There was no batter there either. It's not just a 'you can't have this kat', I was told it's bad for the heart and looking at Kliff, he knows all about that. Other than Pringles I haven't tried much by way of snack foods either. It's one of those not missing what you haven't had kind of things. I tried others than Pringles, I can't remember the name. I know it wasn't Doritos, I saw those on Game Awards, these were British.

I'm checking online now, maybe it was Skips or Discos. They aren't made of batter but it's that same carbohydrates thing, also and you can't laugh. When I did try Pringles it was with a fork. It was five years ago, I know because we had a conversation about it on another network afterwards and I'm reading it now. I thought that's how everyone did it, I came to find out that no, they use their hands. They were talking about how they often don't use utensils for pizza, as in they use their hands, I've never done that but I'm sure you have. Though I doubt someone hand feeds you either so there's that too, and that's not an entitlement thing that's something else. It looks like Pringles were 2021 and Skips or Discos were 2024, and you probably had some this year. I think it was Discos, the shape looks right.

I like this reply, the 'flock' it's pretty funny. It's like he never heard of anyone doing it before, ever. He almost doubled over when I said I've never picked up a burger or pizza with my hands either. I eat food in many ways just not with my bare hands, I think he meant he eats lots of food that way, there were a couple of us and we talked about food for hours that evening. I'll one day try some other snacks, I'm just in not in hurry, do you recommend any? I'd look on Marks and Spencers or something but there are a million flavors. I'm going to try soda again one day, I don't know which. If I ever try batter I'll let you know. Batter in my mind was like if you continue to hit someone with a club or base ball bat, bat-tered, with a bat. It goes both ways though, if you heard brat you'd think unruly, to me it means brother. It's not the best example but it's late, clobbered might be the word I'm thinking of. Also try Pringles with a fork, maybe you take to this method. Your clean fingers will thank you afterwards.

@Ravix How bruised was the fish when you ate it?

@Ravix Yeah, I think it’s called Focus, and it’s definitely an extension of some kind of Force Palm, as the leaves fly. You click R3 and L3 to enter focus and then R1 to blast.

Guard your pets, barricade your windows and behold, the legend of Kliff the Karnivore in all his fleshy flesh!

I messed around last night but still haven’t found a way out to this boat yet. Surely there’s a way?

Edit: Not sure why the photo isn’t uploading properly but it’s the boat off the coast of Vellua.

Edit: Found a little rowboat! Just a heads up - I suggest keeping an eye on the water and approaching the boat from the rear.

@StitchJones It’s a bit of a bizarre one. The patches have made the game so much more playable so it’s currently in a pretty great state so I’ll try and touch on what I sense you’re getting at.

If a fair amount of bad quest design, poorly balanced boss encounters and a general obtuseness to learning its systems are enough to turn you away regardless of how cool the other stuff it does might be, then stay away. It’s totally understandable.

If you’re looking to lose yourself in a remarkably well realized open world with a legitimate sense of discovery, where the joy is gleaned from slowing down while taking in the details and working out its quirks with little guidance, knowing that not every aspect adds up to greatness (and some things are frustratingly baffling and/or lacking), then I’d recommend going for it. There’s a sort of patience required here (I didn’t truly start enjoying myself until I had a fair few hours into it). I’m glad I did, and I’m generally one to fall into the former camp.

Hope that helps!

@StitchJones Honestly, a little bit of both, and it’s not helped by just how poorly some things are explained. Sometimes it feels like a bit of a wrestling match - headache is a good word. And yet, as I stick with it, it really does come into its own, warts and all. For every one thing that pisses me off, there’s five that draw me back in. I’ve got over 30 hours into it now and haven’t really been able to put it down. The sense of discovery is pretty crazy.

Edit: It’s a bizarre game. I’m just trying to highlight that it’s a mixed bag but if the highs are enough to carry you then you’ll have a great time with it despite its frustrations.

@StitchJones That’s some sound logic there! It should only get better with time anyway.

Hope you enjoy Requiem, I thought it was a really fun ride. I’ll be there day one alongside you for Saros!

@StitchJones Yeah, exactly. As cool as Crimson Desert is - and it really is doing a lot of cool things - it ain’t no Witcher 3 or Red Dead Redemption II or Elden Ring. It’s just not (my opinion of course).

Really can't see why this game receives so much negativity. I'm 5 chapters and 25 hours in on a base PS5 and having a blast. Granted I started a week ago (a few patches in) but apart from one crash there really is very little to grumble about.

The scale of the game alone is utterly mental, it makes the largest maps in any AC game small by compare. Also the side quests actually add to character/base progression unlike Ubisoft games. I don't get the hate for the storyline either, I mean it's not like there isn't one let alone the factions missions add so much context and background for other characters. It's certainly no better or worse than Skyrim's plot but yes it isn't up there with Witcher 3 as that had a series of novels and an established lore.

I was so undecided on this game but caved and bought it after discussing it with someone on here. And three hours in I'm so glad I did! Early days but I think it's clicked for me already and I'm a very overly fussy type these days. Even on base PS5 with no settings altered yet it's looks utterly lovely and just that genuine feeling of go anywhere and do anything style freedom is already drawing me in. Just been wondering around the first village doing little tasks and enjoying the world and the people. If I was being ultra picky I'd say the combat is slightly over stylised for my taste but that's being really fussy and it's still very enjoyable. Already getting that KCD2-esque thing where I just want to play again as soon as I turn it off. For me the two key things were the world building and how enjoyable and atmospheric it is just to exist in that world and so far it's absolutely nailing it! Maybe grappling with KCDs control system and inventory etc for hundreds and hundreds of hours these past two years or so has made me more tolerant but I see no serious issues with either. Is it alot to take in? Yes! But so far in a good way.

@CaptainWow Nice! Get comfortable and enjoy your journey! 😄