Hi, what i find a bit odd is that after you finish your main-quest (the one you get at the start of the game) you have no real reason to go any deeper into the temple or even go down to the Elemental Nodes. Im currently at the end of Dungeon Level 4 (what a weird fight against HEDRACK) and have no active quest that tells me to go down to the Elemental Nodes or fight against ZUGGTMOY. I did not complete all 3 ELEMENTAL FACTION QUESTS for one of the factions, i did a few each and in the end killed Allreem (Fire faction) and took the orb with me. I know that if i had done all 3 ELEMENTAL FACTION QUESTS for one faction, i would get HEDRACK's Quest and after completing it the game would end. So im a bit confused... Have i missed something ? Why should i went to the Elemental Nodes...just to force a end or is there a (hidden) quest ?
One major reason is to ----SPOILER ALERT---- Collect the gems from the demons guarding the 4 gates, and use those with the ORb to weaken Zuggy for the big fight at the end. It really doesn't weaken her toomuch, though, only about 1/6th of her HP iirc.
In the P&P module, the Orb could only be destroyed when inset with all 4 gems. And destroying the gem would deprive Zuggtmoy of her powers for 4 days, in addition to lowering her HP. Also, on some occasions, you could be sent to the Nodes (e.g. if you got captured, or triggered a certain trap). Surviving and gaining levels in the nodes could be interesting if that were implemented. But in ToEE the CRPG, there is indeed very little reason to go there, other than if you want to kill shit (in particular, the guardian demons), or gain the elemental orb powers (I think Falrinth and maybe someone else mention those).
And to see the Air Node, In my opinion it is one of the most graphically pleasing, artistic 2D maps I've seen in any game.
Fighting the monsters in the nodes is quite fun and challenging, imo that alone is worth it. When you go to all the effort to make nice weapons, armor and items for your party you gets your full xp's spent value worth!
I have just finished the four elemental nodes. I wonder if others found them as unbalanced as I did. The Air node was almost a cake walk. The fire node was very hard, I had to reload and try different tactics several times. Earth and Water were in between those two extremes.
I think the nodes have had a little tweaking from our talented modders and they are somewhat set up to do in a certain order, easier to harder if you will. The TOEE Guide and Walk-through speaks of the order I think, Earth, Air, Water then Fire ... if I remember correctly. Of course I tend to remember incorrectly as often as correctly.
Because you want to be able to command demons? Even better:Because (Cue in photo of Sean Bean as Boromir) One does not just simply ignore premium XP in ToEE...
