Notes on the current route

It is still early days for routing this game so hopefully this guide will update frequently. These are notes meant to be used while reviewing the current run video, hopefully they serve to explain what I am doing during fast menu work.

First big tip: Learn the hotkeys, the game manual has a thorough list of keyboard shortcuts that will save a ton of time while using the menu in combat

Level-up guidelines for each character

James
Start maxing Bladed and Defense
In chapter 3 start focusing on Bow and Initiative for Chapter 5 encounters
After chapter 5 Bow can be ignored. If you max out Bladed, Defense, and Initiative you do not have to spend any more time on James

Jazhara
Leveling Jazhara is more tricky. Currently I focus on Mind/Defense/Initiative, you want to have Hammer of Will (Mind 100) for a fight in Chapter 3. After getting Mind 100 pivot to getting Fire and Storm to 90.

William
Everything goes into 2-handed and Initiative. After both are maxed don't waste time boosting anything else.

Kendaric
Focus on Storm and Initiative. We will want Conjure Sky Warrior to end fights quickly

Solon
Not sure what is best for Solon. Currently I put everything into 2-handed so he can be helpful in the Chapter 10 fights

Chapter 0
Pickup Jazhara at North Gate, skip everything else and interact with the palace gates to end the chapter. On Easy mode this should give enough exp for Jazhara to get a level up.


Chapter 1

Switch stances of all three characters. James and William to Aggressive, and Jazhara to Conservative. First fight skip Jazhara turns and let William and Jame clear everyone out. Loot ALL brigands in chapter 1 for oil. It will always be fire oil which has a good chance of one-shotting enemies. Enter the jail using the side passage (the one surrounded by fire). For jail combats switch James to conservative and have him and Jazhara toss fire oils while William thwacks the rest. If out of oil Jazhara can do decent damage with Mindblade (Mind 10). Enslave the Will (Mind 60) might also be a good backup as it automatically kills the last enemy. 

In the basement you have to ask the Drunk about what Bear did. On the second floor press the scribe to combat (do NOT ask about Sullen Michael) and check his desk for the Ye Bitten Dog receipt once he is dead (we need this to skip saving the orphans). Once you clear the jail and talk to the Guard captain head to Ye Bitten Dog. Ask Lucky Pete about all Knute dialogue and access to his room. The last combat can softlock. I find it is best to let James get KO'd which opens up the husky brigand to magic and oil attacks. Let Will take care of the other two.

Chapter 2

Nothing too clever here. See the run video for best path to Jack (least I think it is the fastest path). On your way to Jack you'll meet a band of Mockers. Greet them to avoid combat then exit the conversation. Ask Jack about Lucas then exit conversation and head to the monster lair. Most reliable way to kill the sewer monsters is to cast Enslave the Will on one of them and wail on the other with Will and James attacks. Smash the eggs and head back to Jack to tell him you killed the monsters and destroyed the eggs. Run to Lucas and handle the last combat with big spells (if you have the oil use it but save 2-3 for Chapter 3).

Chapter 3

You can skip a comical amount of the plot in this Chapter 3. Head to Sea Gate, talk to the dockworkers, and head inside to the Wrecker's Guild. Ask Jorath about Guild → why he suspects Kendaric → permission to search upstairs. Leave and go upstairs to Jorath's room. Click on his drawer then go outside and rest to night. Return to Jorath's room and pick the drawer lock, let the trap hit you and heal Jazhara, while you're at it equip her quarterstaff. Take the document and take it to Lucky Pete and Ye Bitten Dog. Tell him the truth about the letter which will lead to Lucky Pete betraying you with a trap door (that skips a fight!). 

The fight with 4 nighthawks is RNG heavy. Hope that Jazhara survives Round 1 (having the quarterstaff for parries be the difference between life and death for Jazhara) then have her drop the staff and cast Hammer of Will on all 4 nighthawks. James helps by using any leftover fire oil. After the fight, ensure Jazhara has 20 MP to use Enslave the Will on the Demon in the next fight. With the demon mind controlled it will kill its wizard companion quickly then die itself. Equip whatever rings and amulet you find on the wizard onto Jazhara. Then loot the chest for the quest documents and Ship Raising Ritual. Leave, sleep to morning, then see Morraine in the Wealthy sector to end the chapter.

Chapter 4

Switch all guards to Aggressive stance. Guards attack enemies on the right side and archers hit the guy with the plate armor and ax. Go through dialogue with the survivor and threaten him again until Will stabs him. Loot plate armor off the ax guy for safety next Will chapter.

Chapter 5

The loot the Prince offers you is RNG but in general you should get a good (hopefully magic) sword for James, as well as bow and arrows. Pick up armor and a 2h hammer for Solon. Grab any potions of spellcasting for the mages.

Beeline to Widow's Point. Pay the bandits on the first encounter (we never buy anything in this run anyway). Go nuts with big spells since there are no challenging fights this chapter. You can skip one fight with a flying lizard thing by clicking the map before it shows up (this will be on a map where the party appears under a little tree). The last fight with the Air Elementals is simple, have the party focus fire on one elemental until only 1 damage is being dealt. The next round the fight will end.

Chapter 6

Kill everyone besides Bear as fast as possible, with plate armor Will should be fine. 

Chapter 7

 Another chapter where you can skip half the plot. Go to the shop and ask about Local News → Woodcutter. Head to woodcutter shack, kill the vampire and grab the Nightstone in the shack. Head to the church and use the Nightstone (still needs to be daylight). Jazhara should cast Behold the Birthing Sun (Fire 90) immediately to blind and heavily damage the vampires inside. If the cast goes well, clean up remaining vampires with weapon attacks and Sunray (Fire 40). Head to Pulpit and rest to next daytime. Talk to the innkeeper then blacksmith. Head back to shop and inspect bottom shelf. Head to the farm and inspect the shed, then talk to farmer. Grab the Black Pearl necklace and head to Pulpit to kill false priest. Heading to the Witch afterwards is required but seems this has a high chance of triggering an optional fight we want to avoid. Traveling to the inn THEN to the Witch seems to help. Talk to her then immediately exit conversation.

Chapter 8

No speedtech here. Kill demons and agree to help Sidi.

Chapter 9

Play chapter as normal, entering the secret passage and doing the puzzle. Fight the tentacles by hitting one of them down to 1hp and the fight will end next round. Enter the right door and fight goblins (Enslave the Will works well on the 2h sword goblin). Leave through the hallway that had the two shield goblins in it. The catacombs are big but we can go straight to the bottom left skull door, kill the guard heads and pick the lock. Clear skeleton room with Behold the Birthing Sun and Sunray. Final fight has a very HP heavy necromancer. It is best to have Kendaric (and maybe even Jazhara) cast Conjure Sky Warrior, then Lightning Blade. A glitch exists in the game where if you are a Sky Warrior then the lightning blade attacks will do FAR more damage than normal. Have Kendaric zap the necromancer and they should go down in 1-2 turns.

Chapter 10

Go heavy on AOE spells for fight and burn thru the last of those spellcasting potions. The Sky Warrior/Lightning Blade glitch is great for the first zombie fight and the last brigand fight. Solon should equip the hammer on the dead priest after the crab fight. He will be extremely handy at clearing out the 4 zombies on the ship. For the dragon ghost fight just skip all your turns and hope you don't die. In the last fight try to mind control ax brigand, he has something like 400hp and it'll save time if you get the auto-death that comes when you kill the others.