Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor Catch-All

manta173 wrote:
Hobear wrote:

Not sure if different in beast master DLC but in the main game once their health is low grab them to dominate or if they are susceptible to stealth finishers you can stealth brand low level captains.

I guess I don't know the grab key (on PC), as when they go green I can't straight up brand them. Googling doesn't give me much but I will try pushing the CTRL button when close enough next time. I know it was a simple thing, but it has been a long time since I played and I don't seem to be getting the button prompt I want.

If 360 controller then it is RB or shift? To grab on keyboard.

It often nice to be so far behind. Seeing the trailers for the sequel I watched a few reviews for this and decided to pick it up. $15 shipped from Amazon. At that price I am willing to buy even if I don't finish it.

I'm finally going to play through all the DLC. Got my two orc armies fully staffed except for one dead guy I'm both Armies who Wong be replaced or come back. They are both branded. Not sure how to make him come back any pointers? Never understood that element.

I platinumed the base game on PS4 and loved every minute of it. A couple months back I picked up the Game of the Year edition on PC for six bucks. I started playing recently and man does it look good at 1080p on the highest settings with the HD texture pack installed. I only have a 4GB graphics card, but it still runs smooth as butter all the time.

Hobear wrote:

I'm finally going to play through all the DLC. Got my two orc armies fully staffed except for one dead guy I'm both Armies who Wong be replaced or come back. They are both branded. Not sure how to make him come back any pointers? Never understood that element.

Have you tried to advance time? That or die. Either of those should trigger the reshuffling of the army event.

Yeah a couple of times. Nothing. Even went to the other map and both times that didn't trigger a new orc or brought my orc back to life. I know this has happened and you find them alive somewhere on the map but when its one of you branded orcs how does that work? Just wait til you stumble across it? One of the unexplained nemesis "perks"

Hobear wrote:

Yeah a couple of times. Nothing. Even went to the other map and both times that didn't trigger a new orc or brought my orc back to life. I know this has happened and you find them alive somewhere on the map but when its one of you branded orcs how does that work? Just wait til you stumble across it? One of the unexplained nemesis "perks"

Yeah, I'm not sure. The combination of time since I played and not remembering having that problem is making it tricky. Good luck!

I posted this on the "Weekend" thread.

I've completed 10 out of 20 main missions, plus a handful of side missions, and I think I've seen everything that the game has to offer (of course, I've got a few more abilities/perks to go). My goal is blast through at least 5 more story missions this Saturday, which should leave me well-positioned to complete the game next weekend.

I'm feeling sufficiently powerful to be able to plan and (just about) execute a strategy for each main encounter... provided that random wandering Captains don't involve themselves in whatever I'm doing. Two Captains, together with a handful of followers, are still a bit much for me. It feels very hard to split up groups of enemies once they clump together. Also, it's very hard to beat certain Captains if their weakness is nowhere to be found.

I'm looking forward to unlocking branding a.s.a.p.

detroit20 wrote:

I'm looking forward to unlocking branding a.s.a.p.

Doing so allows it to be used as a combo finisher, which will really help those combats you were talking about. As you brand them in combat they start fighting for you, it will turn those hard combats right around.

Igneus wrote:
detroit20 wrote:

I'm looking forward to unlocking branding a.s.a.p.

Doing so allows it to be used as a combo finisher, which will really help those combats you were talking about. As you brand them in combat they start fighting for you, it will turn those hard combats right around.

Yeah Combat brand saves lives... well one life... well I'm not sure he is alive... anyway Combat Branding FTW!!!

Glycerine wrote:

I platinumed the base game on PS4 and loved every minute of it. A couple months back I picked up the Game of the Year edition on PC for six bucks. I started playing recently and man does it look good at 1080p on the highest settings with the HD texture pack installed. I only have a 4GB graphics card, but it still runs smooth as butter all the time.

I have a PS4 Pro and a 4K HDR TV, and the difference in visuals is amazing. This is one of those games that really shows what a difference that 4K/HDR upgrade makes. I'm a console gamer primarily out of budget and laziness concerns, but I do wonder what I'm missing when it comes to the HD texture packs and maxed out graphic options you can do on PC's.

ThatGuy42 wrote:
Glycerine wrote:

I platinumed the base game on PS4 and loved every minute of it. A couple months back I picked up the Game of the Year edition on PC for six bucks. I started playing recently and man does it look good at 1080p on the highest settings with the HD texture pack installed. I only have a 4GB graphics card, but it still runs smooth as butter all the time.

I have a PS4 Pro and a 4K HDR TV, and the difference in visuals is amazing. This is one of those games that really shows what a difference that 4K/HDR upgrade makes. I'm a console gamer primarily out of budget and laziness concerns, but I do wonder what I'm missing when it comes to the HD texture packs and maxed out graphic options you can do on PC's.

I asked about this earlier in a different thread...but did you play on a regular PS4 at some point? I am inching towards replacing my PS4 with a PS4 Pro along with a 4k HDR TV and trying to decide if I want to make that jump when we are midway through a console cycle.

I completed Mission 11 last night, so I'm now on the (long?) run home.

Some observations...

Spoiler:

I'm not sure how I feel about 'The Black Captain' mission.

On the one hand, it was clearly asking - and legitimately - the player, "Have you really got to grips with the combat system?" The answer on my first three tries was "Not properly", but on attempts 4 and 5 I felt much more in control and I was able to identify and execute a strategy. Though I have to say that unlocking 'Vault Stun' made a huge difference to combat; it is way more useful that 'Wraith Stun'.

But on the other hand, it did feel like it was imposing entirely new restrictions on the player. Until this point, running away from an opponent when low on health was a legitimate tactic. On 'The Black Captain' this is taken away unannounced; running away triggers a fail state. I though this was a little unfair.

I also struggled a little with the imprecision of the controls. There were several occasions where I closed on The Hammer, hit 'Execute'... and killed an Uruk to the side of him. A 'lock on' facility would have saved me a lot of pain.

I'm now deciding whether to pile into the second half of the game right away or to do some tidying up first. In particular, should I be getting involved in the power struggles now? I haven't touch them thus far as I've felt too squishy. However, I want to level up more abilities and power struggles seem to be the best source of Power Points.

I'm getting a strong Demons Souls vibe to the character progression in 'Shadow of Mordor'. I started off pretty puny, but I'm now on my way to becoming the strongest entity in the game... and I just want MORE!!

detroit20 wrote:

I'm now deciding whether to pile into the second half of the game right away or to do some tidying up first. In particular, should I be getting involved in the power struggles now? I haven't touch them thus far as I've felt too squishy. However, I want to level up more abilities and power struggles seem to be the best source of Power Points.

I would, but only for a little. Look for one or two things you want to unlock go for them, then hit the progression. Having more things unlocked will help going into the second half, but you can finish unlocking everything in the second half also.

The main Abilities I'd like are Blade Master (reduces from 8 to 5 the number of hits required for an execution) and Double Charge (two executions). I'd certainly have benefitted Blade Master from this on Mission 11.

Any advice on Power Struggles?

detroit20 wrote:

I completed Mission 11 last night, so I'm now on the (long?) run home.

Some observations...

Spoiler:

A 'lock on' facility would have saved me a lot of pain.

Totally agree with you, that game mechanic had me ruin my stealth game if a group was below or had me killing friendlies or the captain accidentally when I meant to kill the lowly next to him.

@Hobear,

That brings back a horrible memory of a play session this weekend. I was fighting two captains at once, one of whom was vulnerable to stealth kills. I manoeuvred myself and my opponent into position for a 'Death From Above'... and ended up killing a low level Uruk instead. I did this at least three times.

detroit20 wrote:

@Hobear,

That brings back a horrible memory of a play session this weekend. I was fighting two captains at once, one of whom was vulnerable to stealth kills. I manoeuvred myself and my opponent into position for a 'Death From Above'... and ended up killing a low level Uruk instead. I did this at least three times.

yeah like 50 times over one of my biggest gripes even though it is just a slight annoyance.

detroit20 wrote:

Any advice on Power Struggles?

Find a perch and use a well placed arrow or shadow strike

detroit20 wrote:

The main Abilities I'd like are Blade Master (reduces from 8 to 5 the number of hits required for an execution) and Double Charge (two executions). I'd certainly have benefitted Blade Master from this on Mission 11.

Any advice on Power Struggles?

Those are very worthwhile QoL upgrades. Yeah, I'd do power struggles for them. And odd assassinations and weapon-upgrade missions. That said, I'd advise heading straight on story missions until you get branding, and then go back. Branding is the most powerful ability in the game. Makes everything much, much easier.

Also your power struggles right now are not very interesting. Your option is really just to kill them. Once branding is unlocked, you can initiate power struggles then make sure they work in your favor. That was one of the cooler parts.

I would take a low level fighter on my nemesis row, brand them. Get them to challenge someone then get them to go all that i could.

Garth wrote:
ThatGuy42 wrote:
Glycerine wrote:

I platinumed the base game on PS4 and loved every minute of it. A couple months back I picked up the Game of the Year edition on PC for six bucks. I started playing recently and man does it look good at 1080p on the highest settings with the HD texture pack installed. I only have a 4GB graphics card, but it still runs smooth as butter all the time.

I have a PS4 Pro and a 4K HDR TV, and the difference in visuals is amazing. This is one of those games that really shows what a difference that 4K/HDR upgrade makes. I'm a console gamer primarily out of budget and laziness concerns, but I do wonder what I'm missing when it comes to the HD texture packs and maxed out graphic options you can do on PC's.

I asked about this earlier in a different thread...but did you play on a regular PS4 at some point? I am inching towards replacing my PS4 with a PS4 Pro along with a 4k HDR TV and trying to decide if I want to make that jump when we are midway through a console cycle.

Apologies for the thread derail, but the short answer is Yes. I had the original disc and beat the game on my first PS4 on release. I loved the game, and thought it looked great on my first playthrough at 1080p on my previous plasma TV. When that TV gave up the ghost, I upgraded to a 4K HDR TV. When the PS4 Pro was announced, it was easy to justify the upgrade, and I bought one the week of release. No Regrets. I'm telling you right now the difference in visuals to 4K and HDR, at least on my TV and for my setup, is noticeable and awesome. I made that comment specifically because this is one of those few games that I could easily tell the difference running at 4K and HDR. If you have the means, I highly recommend it.

Finished Shadow of Mordor this weekend. What a great game!

It did a brilliant job of making the player feel powerful at the end. I did the side mission 'Into the Pit' just before the final missions and polished off 50 Uruks like nobody's business. A real contrast from my very squishy start.

detroit20 wrote:

Finished Shadow of Mordor this weekend. What a great game!

It did a brilliant job of making the player feel powerful at the end. I did the side mission 'Into the Pit' just before the final missions and polished off 50 Uruks like nobody's business. A real contrast from my very squishy start.

Agreed it really is a great game. Loved it from start to finish, with the nemesis system keeping me engaged the entire time.

Honest Trailers - Shadow of Mordor

That's pretty good. Sums up pretty much everything I have thought about it. Still laughing about Crest Whitestrips.

Still, though. Why not in the Second or First Age? Much more room to breath and play around with.

Poor Steve Buscemi.

Grenn wrote:

Still, though. Why not in the Second or First Age? Much more room to breath and play around with.

I suspect licensing. Middle-Earth Enterprises has the license to produce things based on the books (and for a while New Line had a separate movie-based licensing). But it only covers stuff from the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit and some other stuff.

Meanwhile, the Tolkien Estate has the license to the Silmarillion. The Estate is run by his family, particular Christopher Tolkien. Christopher is just about the biggest fan there is of the Silmarillion (he quit his university job and spent years going through his father's unfinished papers just to get the book published). Christopher prefers the books to the films. He's also not a fan of some of the other stuff, like slot machines that were technically not in the original licensing agreement. Add in a dispute over New Line's failure to pay royalties, and it's unlikely that that they'll get approval.

I do wish that the First and Second Ages were available, of course. There's so much that could be done with those stories. I'm not sure that the current AAA environment is amenable to do that in any way that would be acceptable to the Estate, or, really, the spirit of the mythology.

Gremlin wrote:
Grenn wrote:

Still, though. Why not in the Second or First Age? Much more room to breath and play around with.

I suspect licensing. Middle-Earth Enterprises has the license to produce things based on the books (and for a while New Line had a separate movie-based licensing). But it only covers stuff from the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit and some other stuff.

Meanwhile, the Tolkien Estate has the license to the Silmarillion. The Estate is run by his family, particular Christopher Tolkien. Christopher is just about the biggest fan there is of the Silmarillion (he quit his university job and spent years going through his father's unfinished papers just to get the book published). Christopher prefers the books to the films. He's also not a fan of some of the other stuff, like slot machines that were technically not in the original licensing agreement. Add in a dispute over New Line's failure to pay royalties, and it's unlikely that that they'll get approval.

I do wish that the First and Second Ages were available, of course. There's so much that could be done with those stories. I'm not sure that the current AAA environment is amenable to do that in any way that would be acceptable to the Estate, or, really, the spirit of the mythology.

So you're saying I should quit my job to move to England and become best friends with Christopher Tolkien right now to win him over to the idea of allowing Silmarillion and Book of Lost Tales to be used in a new video game?