So I've been trying out the English translation and the Gameplay tweaks mods. All in all, excellent work on both. I've only had one crash, and the translation just has a few minor parts that it's a bit spotty in.
But, as I'm playing it, the thought occurs to me: this game is WAY too easy, combat-wise. In my mind, the issue is your party gets too strong too fast. Even the very first quest reward is enough to catapult everyone up to level 9 or 10 on its own. This may sound ludicrous, but I actually WANT more grinding.
I'm just curious what everyone thinks would be a good way to improve the balance. Just inflating enemy HP? Slowing down EXP rewards from quests? A bit of both? Tweaking enemy spawn rates or what types of monsters spawn?
(Also, Wild Bull needs to remain an actual threat, in my mind. His current best is a joke even at mid-game. You basically have to be TRYING to lose heroines to him.)
inflating enemy hp will only turn combat into a slog. types of monsters and spawn rates will only do the same. reducing exp gain both form monsters and quests, that's where the idea is, it's way too high. There's a lot of fights, sure, but not enough for how much loot you're gonna want before you advance too, so often, once you finally get a foot in the door on an area, there's this feeling of wanting to fight for awhile and get some new shit to wear or swing at enemy's faces.
But since the exp is pretty high, it's saying "hey bub, move on" and personally, i'm like "but i saw one gold tonfa drop here, i'm gonna grind for a second, of course." and exp says "dude stop, you're way too powerful now, go to the next place" and i'm like *holds out hand* "where gold tonfa?" and you can switch the tonfa out for whatever else you might be looking for in whatever place it may be.
And, as you said, some of those early quests are like 5-10 levels just right out of the gate. i feel like that should only happen for 2-3 levels just to get you the hp not to die to a local pixie kicking you in the cooter, or a bandit bonking you on the head with a boomerang. Then later quests hand out ... honestly kindof low exp for how late in the game they are.
I like the power of the items, i like the progression of areas, i like generally the monster exp from
fights, but the quest exp is bananas for early game.