Warning some spoilers
Really, really like this DLC. Wish Bastards would’ve been greatly elaborated on or merged with Ruin and the related quests. This trajectory makes far more sense for cutting the teeth of a blacksmith’s son.
Observations:
—great cutscenes, just great
—really good dialog once again (the banter , some of which reminds you of the kind you have when you’re out with your mates/friends)
—Radzig doesn’t actually hold a letter when he reads the Zoul letter
—wish more of the getting to know you interactions would’ve been incorporated into drinking and chatting (eg possible outcome after 2nd mission)
—3rd mission: battle. this one was interesting
——1st time - killed the bad guys on W bank and followed men to flat clearing. Couldn’t find K. Went back. Saw bad guys on E side. Crossed. Went to guy on S flank first. Killed them all one by one, but due to poor AI. The rest didn’t respond as their brothers in arms were getting killed. Insane. By time I killed them all, looted them all, and looked for someone I missed, the game failed the objective nobody was attacking so didn’t make sense.
——2nd time - attacked archers on E bank first. They lit me up a little but killed them all. Meanwhile, the band struggled with the guys on W bank. By the time I got there, Stone and Petr were down but not dead. The rest fled to check point. I picked up Stone and carried him there. (What the heck … these guys don’t believe in don’t leave a man behind?!) then, went back and got Petr. The game failed the objective before I could make it back with him.
——3rd time - went aggro and attacked W bank guys. this time Dangler fell. Picked him up and took him to check point. Escape check. Talk with leader check. Next meet up at camp. Dangler didn’t get up. Noticed after fast traveled. Noticed his marker (ring quest) way over by wood’s edge far W of Sasau monastery. Rode back. Carried his lard ass all the way to camp. [For the love of the almighty, wish 2 things: (1) wish you could administer all that dang alchemy and bandage stuff Henry has in inventory to heal the guys, and (2) wish you could load someone on the back of your horse as in another game out now.] Dropped him on bed (sleep spot). Slept in my designated bed. Woke up and checked on Dangler because I wanted to get the ring from him. Guess what? Dangler was back near the Sasau vineyard! What the !
—Petr sounds like Miller Peshek
—Dangler and the ring (initiated contact with him after dropping off wannabe lover boy in jail)
——1st time. got infinite load screen before duel started
——2nd time. duel started. landed some good ones. then, he got some good shots in. after that, smashed him with a square shot down on his head (ceremonial mace) and failed objective and quest. think i killed him (instead of knocking him out or him surrendering). another infinite load screen. thank goodness i decided to use normal mode with autosaves (that trigger before meeting K)… otherwise, i’d be
——3rd time. duel started but mace and shield not equipped. remember fighting Sir Bernard: pressure him in the corner and he struggles. why not give it a try. unarmed Henry vs swordsman Dangler. Dangler has a longsword so you have to close the distance. Jab. Jab. Left knee strikes (seem to be) and right overhand punch. Clinch. Keep him stuck in corner or against fence. Rinse repeat. Increased 4-5 unarmed levels. i was about to scream design porn at Viktor but Dangler slowly started to show bruising on the face. after a near eternity, Dangler finally cried uncle. Cutscene to him giving me the ring.
-Zoul battle - loved the multi vs multi with Henry a designated member of one side. wish there were many more battles like this (esp with roaming bands of same size or larger) instead of the numerous static battle spawn points. still wish the guys held a line better. too easy to outflank enemy NPCs and wreck them. btw, texture for Zoul’s cuirass wasn’t good. wasn’t until money was offered that the detail finally rendered in cutscene
-Kuno camp - not sure why ring of Bacchus has to terminate after Zoul battle. should still be able to interact with the guys. not so . otherwise, not sure why they remain on site… other than to mock those who want to hunt bandits and Cumans with the band of bastards. again, more rinse repeat multi vs multi battle fields like the one against Zoul would be sublime (even if set up as travel battles akin to FC:ND expeditions to manage memory demand)