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Originally written by ef:

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got a breastplate from the Neph. Chief. (I'm not 100% sure. I might have been Sliths that attacked)

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Nephils. And the armour, though nice to have, was not the most important thing you picked up. There's something else that you'll need in a very little while.

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Originally written by ef:

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We quickly discovered some square close to Fort Draco due West that, when searched, released a horde of spiders and some kind of nasty mob that would cast and kill my guys quickly.

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I don't know how far into the game you are, but if that was your first trip to Fort Draco, you'll find a lot of things you can do there and east of that ominous bridge that help you gain a level or two.

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Originally written by ef:

*big grin* I've restarted both Exile and Avernum and am leisurely replaying E1 right now, enjoying it greatly. I'd forgotten how vast and dangerous the caves seem in the beginning, where the lack of streets and pathways in the outdoors, your lowly stats and pitiful weaponry, and the constant respawn of monsters keep you on your toes. Avernum's outdoor pathways changed that atmosphere for me and are probably the reason why the remake felt more linear right away. Getting to a town 'somewhere west' is an adventure when that's all the orientation you have and you confront a forest that you may or may not be able to pass through. A street leading to said town in almost next to no time just doesn't compare.

I need a plot and an atmosphere that get me hooked and do battle when I have to. I'm not seeking it. Planning to avoid a fight that looks as if it can't be avoided and you don't feel up to can be just as much fun as looking for strategies to outmanoeuver your opponent in actual battle - as long as you manage to reach your destination, of course.

E2/A2 are both beautiful games, true gems, just as Nethergate is. Whatever version you prefer, you'll love them.

edit: spelling corrected

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Originally written by Andraste:

You really like the grouped up party more?
I'm not bashing your decision, but I like the Avernum system of fighting without going into combat mode.
To each his own I guess.

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Originally written by Spookee Salmon:

Most folks seem to dig Avernum 2 or Exile 2. They are the same story, written on two different engines. Exile is better, but that is just the right opinion. You might find yourself being wrong and liking the Avernum engine. Demo both and you'll see...

ps. Welcome aboard, beware the skillfully thrown mango.

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Originally written by ef:

E1/A1 is your entrée into a cave world, an underground terrain where those unfortunates who didn't manage to obey the empire's strict set of rules were thrown into to die or struggle to survive with no option of return to the surface. You get the idea?

When powerful mages were banned to the caves they fought monsters and demons and created conditions that made life possible, even enjoyable down below. Your party arrives in Exile/Avernum, so you explore and get to know the world and participate in its struggles. You may finally assist a mage seeking revenge and assassinate the surface emperor.

In E2/A2 you are part of an underground world at war with the empire. The emperor's death has shown the cave world's unexpected power and the empire now seeks to annihilate the pit. While the war is raging, magical barriers appear everywhere, blocking the paths, barriers of a type unkown and not of surface origin. It appears that a people far older than you and natural citizens of the caves has taken offence because of a deed you know nothing about. You will have to be your people's ambassador and journey into the unknown.

In E3/A3 your battle with the empire has been successful and your people have started to contemplate means of returning to the surface. You are an insignificant party sent to the surface to explore; you are easily replaceable. But what you meet above is unforeseen desaster, and if you ever want a chance up there you'll have to support the surface dwellers, if they'll let you.

E2/A2's plot is by far the best and it is therefore the most highly recommended game.

E3/A3 gives you both cave world and surface experience which has a charm of its own. Also E3 is easier to get used to than E1 and E2, because of its changed dialogue system and overall appearance.

The Exile series is less streamlined, less linear and 'polished' than its Avernum remake. There's more freedom to follow your own paths and much more to explore. The graphics, though older, nevertheless are of higher quality than the Avernum ones. Avernum is technically more advanced and that's what a lot of people prefer, but the original draft had more content.

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Originally written by Dikiyoba:

To answer your original question, you can also put points into first aid to recover spell points, but it only kicks in after you kill enemies.

Dikiyoba.

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Originally written by ef:

A4 is a mixture of Avernum and Geneforge elements, therefore no outdoors anymore. If you ask just me, it successfully got rid of almost everything that made me fall in love with Exile a decade ago, but those who like the occasional hack an' slash seem to enjoy it nonetheless.

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Originally written by BainIhrno:

My recommendations would be Blades of Exile, SubTerra (note: not SW and only if you're on windows; it doesn't exist for mac), Exile 3, and Avernum 2. I've released stuff of my own for the first two.

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Originally written by Andraste:

Yes. Avernum and Exile are the same games. However, Avernum has a better interface, graphics, and is more user friendly, at least according to me. Others may like the Exile graphics better, but they might scare some people away.
I find the inventory system to be much improved in the Avernum series.

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