Appreciating the game (Heavy Spoilers)

[Skye]

Hey all. This has heavy spoilers all the way through. You've been warned.

 

This time through playing TSL, I used KSE (KOTOR Saved-game Editor) to boost my playing experience, mainly by increasing my intelligence and influence with the various NPCs. I just wanted to say how amazing it is to open up all these new conversation paths simply by having skills and getting to know your party members.

 

Who would have thought that learning pazaak from Atton could help you in battles, or that HK-47 could give you tips on how not to get assassinated? I'm exploring all these wonderful new details I never knew were there, even with T3-M4, and that is something I never expected.

 

Yes, I flirted with the whole "romance" deal (pun intended) the first couple of times through, but I love the concept that getting to know your companions can help you out in combat. What is more, it may be more effective than leveling up (although my understanding isn't scientific, so correct me if I'm wrong): the characters you fight will always be the same level as you, but since your companions can teach you skills and give you attributes aside from experience points, you have a boost within whatever level your character is.

 

I worry that I'm rambling, but I just get such a rush when I learn things like this whole Malachor thing, which apparently no one including the player can recover from, was only bait for Jedi to see things Revan's way. It had nothing to do with the Mandalorians or the Republic! Chills, right there.

 

Am I alone, or does anyone else find this aspect of the game interesting?

[Jasper_Kazai]

Who would have thought that learning pazaak from Atton could help you in battles

Really? I didn't know that.

 

But I felt the same way, sort of. My very first LS playthrough (only time I've beaten the game so far, I'm working on DS), I only got Handmaiden to become a Jedi. Then I started a DS file, and it froze on Dxun so I quit playing.

2 weeks ago I started a female DS file and I returned to Onderon for the civil war after going through Dxun/Onderon and Nar Shaddaa, and I got Handmaiden and Atton to become Jedi (or Sith, I suppose). But my game was messed up, since I had so many old mods I didn't know what half of them were (and because I was female and cheated to get Handmaiden), so I deleted my Override folder and started from scratch and started a new male DS file.

Now I'm on Nar Shaddaa, and I just made Atton a Jedi/Sith. On Dxun I made Bao-Dur become a Jedi for the very first time ever for me. So I'm slowly going through every option possible.

[Skye]

I've never had a "real" conversation with Atton, just bickered a few times about who falls into which stance while fighting or pooping or whatever (I think you need to be a girl to have more interesting debates with him, but I'm not positive ... maybe I'll make a female LS consular to test it out - male LS weapons-master going blasters this time through). Well, regardless, once I was asking him about why he plays pazaak (or however you spell it) in his head, and he hints that it keeps other people out. I ask him to teach me how to do it, and he says he can't, he can only teach me the game. So I ask him to teach me the game, and he says, "Now you're getting it!". I think the bonus is more will power, or maybe something to do with repelling force powers. Try it out, if you can. That said, the only way I can ever get influence (without playing with Atton, because I don't) is by using KSE. I'd recommend it, but don't cheat too much, because then it just gets dumb. Cheat for skills occasionally, and definitely cheat for influence, but not attributes used in battle or special weapons or items. If you do that latter, it just takes the fun out of the game.

[Ctrl Alt Del]

You don't have to got tons of influence with him to learn about this Pazaak thing with Atton. When Kreia and you reads the minds of every crew member, she'll tell you that Atton, while not thinking of "indignities", is playing a pazaak game that only exist on his head.

 

You, then, can ask him about it, thus, learning that "technique" from him.

[Jacen Stargazer]

I agree that it's good to get to know your characters, although it's more rewarding to actually earn their trust, rather than use the editor to cheapen the interaction. However, I will admit to having tampered with HK-47 when I was light side...

 

Wow, you actually learn stuff from Atton through pazaak? I've never done that before, I thought you just played with him like Mission in K1.

[Titanius Anglesmith]

Am I alone, or does anyone else find this aspect of the game interesting?

You're definitely not alone. This is one of the main reasons I like TSL more than KotOR I. The story and characters are far more immersive, and your party members are valuable to you as something more than storytellers.

[Ctrl Alt Del]

You're definitely not alone. This is one of the main reasons I like TSL more than KotOR I. The story and characters are far more immersive, and your party members are valuable to you as something more than storytellers.

 

Well, I found Atton story interesting. It should be fabulous, but it's just interesting. Why? Because it ends as abruptly as it starts, as all K2 sideplots, except for Kreia.

[Jacen Stargazer]

You're definitely not alone. This is one of the main reasons I like TSL more than KotOR I. The story and characters are far more immersive, and your party members are valuable to you as something more than storytellers.

 

Yet the K1 characters have better stories

[Titanius Anglesmith]

Yet the K1 characters have better stories

In your opinion . To me, the only one with a truly interesting story (and the only one who made the story interesting) was Jolee. True, it would've been nice if the stories had been more spread out in TSL, but I liked listening to most of them more than the ones in K1.

[Jacen Stargazer]

Well, it wasn't just the stories. With each of your meatbag party members, you went out and did stuff, instead of just sitting there and talking. Davin's trial with Jolee, Jagi's challenge to Canderous, Carth's son, Bastila's mom, Mission's brother, Juhani's slaver.

 

I guess it's a matter of preferring action over words. TSL was a more word-oriented game, and K1 was a more action-oriented game.

[Nancy Allen``]

Do I appreciate the stories in the game and the side stuff you can do? Absolutely. Dealing with Juhani's past very much endeers you to her, and it's great for the Exile to have Mira dance for Vogga as revenge for trying to capture her.