Question(s) on the game

[mattig89ch]

Hello everyone,

I came across this game on steam, and was intrigued. I do have a few questions about it, so I thought I'd post them here.

I haven't downloaded the demo yet, so please excuse my ignorance.

Is this game kind of like mount and blade?

Is there a story that's completely optional to do, but still there if you want to take a swing at it?

From the videos I've seen there are only a select few battle animations, has this been changed or are the videos wrong?

[Blxz]

Very different game style to mount and blade. No storyline. Very limited fighting animations currently, I believe one day this will be changed but for the foreseeable future it isn't changing.

[Tolwrath]

To be a bit more descripive about the gamelay, its more like a squad-based tactics game. Like X-COM, Silent Storm, Baldur's Gate, and Jagged Alliance (I actually never played JA), but in realtime instead of turn based. Base building was recently added, which gives more of a financial control to the game, making it a bit more like the old X-COM games in my opinion.

There is currently no story, as the games intent is to be free roam. But that's not to say there won't be chained quests and progression of the world setting. It's intended for AI factions to wage war and conquer eachother, and forming alliances, etc. So in a way of thinking, you will have story in how the world, cities, and factions change.

[mattig89ch]

Do you have a great change on the world? Or are you just living in it?

Is the game solely based on swords? Or are there guns as well as swords?

Can you pause the game while in combat to issue orders? Or do your orders have to be done during the battle?

Can you have NPC's doing things for you (defending, attacking, gaurding you and/or your property, farming, mining, going out and adventuring with and without you ect.)?

[1337]

Do you have a great change on the world? Or are you just living in it?
You are not the center of the world, so if you decide to be a pacific merchant, you won't have as much of an impact than if you for example have world domination in mind

Is the game solely based on swords? Or are there guns as well as swords?
Right now, only different blade-based weapons. Katana, sabre, horsechopper, plank and so on.
Guns (as in pew pew stuff) are not planned but bows and harpoons and such yes.

Can you pause the game while in combat to issue orders? Or do your orders have to be done during the battle?
Yes, you can pause and issue orders while drinking your earl grey tea.

Can you have NPC's doing things for you (defending, attacking, gaurding you and/or your property, farming, mining, going out and adventuring with and without you ect.)?
No, not right now, you'll have to use your characters. But it is planned, you'll even be able to have slaves (and become a slave if you are not careful)

[Tolwrath]

The hotkey for pausing is spacebar, if that helps.

The first question is actually the hardest. To my understanding of the themes of Kenshi, you start out as an average schmuck. You are not special in any way, but through perseverance and effort, you can become truly great. You are not the center of the universe and the world does not revolve around you, however, with great effort you might be able to force your way into the center of the universe.

[mattig89ch]

ok, so this game is sounding more and more like something I may want to pick up. though I do like a game with a strong story, but if thats planned for the future then so much the better.

How is combat? Am i required to constantly click an attack to use it? or can I just sit back and let things happen? Is there a default attack the ai uses, then I have to choose specific special attacks to use?

[toaster Assassin]

mattig89ch said: How is combat? Am i required to constantly click an attack to use it? or can I just sit back and let things happen? Is there a default attack the ai uses, then I have to choose specific special attacks to use?

You select your unit(s), and you can right click on a target (any living target) and select attack. The attack style is similar to Baldurs gate,Dragon age and Neverwinter Nights. (In Which you select the target and they start to attack). You can select an option to make you unit(s) just block or even bodyguard another unit. The skill, strength and weapon (and initial health) are what determines how the unit will react.

[mattig89ch]

and thats it? no special orders need to be given, just select attack, and sit back?

[1337]

Yup, just sit back. Watch some videos on youtube or play the demo to try it out a bit to get a feel for how it works. The gameplay will change a bit in the future, but won't completely change (like you getting special attacks that you can hammer).
Also, if you like to be very active (like clicking for every slash and block), try giving the game a chance, the demo's free, you'll see that it's pretty fun still.

I tend to micro my characters around bit still (like putting one behind the enemy) but that's my way of playing

[mattig89ch]

can you actually issue orders in battle? Do you get better hits depending on your position relative to the enemy (IE backstabbing, surprise attacks, and so on...)?

I'm downloading the demo now, but this is my 6 year old laptop, so I'm not sure it'll run at all.

[1337]

Backstabbing doesn't give you a "critical hit" thing nor a "super flamming backstab of death animation" but since the enemy is blocking his front, backstabbing gets a few "free" hits in essentially, that's why i do it.
But most of the time you just let the battle unfold...

If you attacked a stronger enemy squad : first hit yourself for that and then try running away (or keeping a medic at safe distance that can come and heal your troops after the battle). There won't be a special unique superunrealistic attack that will make you win the lost battle (although you may win the battle if the enemy is not too much stronger than you and you have a little luck)

Good luck with that laptop of yours

[mattig89ch]

Ok, I got it to run, but just barely. it was so laggy my mouse wall all over the screen. I turned all the graphic options all the way down, didn't help much. Ah well, I'll have to try it on my desktop tonight.

Is there a way to tell how strong an enemy is?

[1337]

You can select enemies (pause the game with spacebar) you'll see their skills on the bottom left box.

Start by luring bandits to the townguards and getting a few sneaky hits in. Level up and add more characters to your squad until you feel ready to spank the bandits on your own (but always keep a medic at safe distance to avoid losing the game because everyone is unconscious lol)

ps: try with Vsync ON and fullscreen, if not enough, then your gear is probably to old for gaming anyway although the game is still a bit unrefined

[mattig89ch]

yea...didn't work. oh well, can't run it on the laptop. good to know!

are there no enemies that you can solo right off the bat? I wouldn't expect to take on the world, but still...

[1337]

Not really.

What you can do is go to the town and hire right away a second guy who will act as medic and then get yourself into fights, but most bandits don't roam the desert alone those cowards.

Maybe try finding a training dummy to get your attack skill up to 5 or 10, but it takes some time.

You have to forget everything you know from other games, Kenshi has a pretty realistic approch.

If you were up against a swordfighter in RL, you'd be cut to pieces if you fought. So 1} having a friend bandage you up after you lost or 2) training beforehand to give you a fighting chance or 3) concentrating on defence (defence bouton ingame) is a must until you know what you are doing.

[mattig89ch]

Is there a training dummy in the starting town? Or nearby the starting town?

[Blxz]

Is there a training dummy in the starting town? Or nearby the starting town?

Possibly, check the big round building. Although I think you are better off sending your guy straight into battle. let him get beaten up a bit; even better if there are some other guards nearby to help out. Provided you keep one guy far away from the battle and bring him in once everyone has moved away you can use the battle experience to increase your skills.

[mattig89ch]

I actually ran into a group of those desert bandits, 5 of them to be exact...didn't even make it to the gaurds.

I did start up a game with the group option, that part was pretty fun, my group v their group, we won something like 10 battles. then started building and researching...then it crashed...where do I send crash reports to?

[Cat_Fuzz]

http://www.lofigames.com/phpBB3/viewforum.php?f=9

Anywhere up here - however read through the stickies first before submitting any crashdumps or bug reports.

The game when you first start is difficult - but this is the point of it. You have to work hard and earn your place in the world.