Balance was a big problem for me, having installed the Hardcore Mod, playing on hard, I wasn't sure if the enemies were meant to be as hard as they were, and for the circle battles, I literally had to cheat and get the save game editor to equip my character properly to face that kind of challenge. And that detracted from it. I don't like cheating, but I hate when I see cheating happening in the game. And who's the biggest cheater? Akirakon Sin. And then we're supposed to have pity for the "Last King of the Sith" because he got bested by his advises? He's the worst character, specifically because of how he's fighting in the last battles. Why make him invulnerable? I had to devote every third turn to choking him out of my way, and to me, that was just wasted force points. Before I increased my stats (to equalize things), I couldn't even mass panic the groups of thugs. Well, I got my stats up to the point where there were about 3 falures out of 10, and I thought that was pretty realistic. But using those same stats at the later part of the game is just rediculous with Akirakon Sin throwing status on me whenever he felt like, and me being unable to choke him 3 times in a row. So, that's why, in the final battles (on the Sith ship, and then at the Ratakan temple) my stats were 200 on each. Over board? Yes, definitely. Sick and tired of the cheatry inherent in this mod? Yes, definitely.
Once the distractions were out of the way, and Akirakon was killable, then I put my stats back to normal, and yes, that battle was hard. But, it was fun because it was possible. Same with Mandalore's fight. I left my stats at normal, and he was fierce, and I lost lots of times, but the fight was evenly matched, and that was fun. So, what I'm saying is, I liked certain parts of the fights, but other parts were totally retarded and I had to take underhanded action just to correct the balance. What I really hated was that Akirakon Sin having such free reign to assult me, without restriction. Really, I have no sympathy for the guy. When the question about passing along the brotherhood power came up, I wanted to reject it, and on top of that, to tell him I'd make sure to destroy all trace of them when I got out. That's the response I wanted there to be. But was it? No, there was just "Oh, I understand why you tried to take over my body and reign destruction over the Sith Empire because you were bested by the advisors. And guess what? I'm going to destroy the Sith anyways, so I'll do your work for you. Since you're such a great guy. I mean that. You have so much to feel agreived about that I just have to make it up to you."
Yeah, instead of that, I wanted to reject them entirely and destroy them from history. I mean, really... I hate the guy, and he deserves all that happened to him. Specifically, because of the way he fights. The Cheater.
Oh, and the same kinds of things could be leveled against Solomon. Only, it wasn't because of how he fought. He was very easy, in all the fights except the one in Taris (which was impossible until I balanced things out). But, he died. I checked his pulse, and he was dead. So, he shouldn't have been able to start running outside. He should have had an ignoble end for what he tried to do. Instead, he gets a hero's end? There should be a way to desecrate his grave when it's all over! Truly.
So, the story was good, but it left a nasty aftertaste with me. Definitely worth playing through. I loved finding out all about Sara Degana. I understand her transformation at the end. I'm at peace with how the three left. I could easily see them in another adventure, and they're pretty likable, so...
So, the good guys were nice. The bad guys were dispicable and without any merit. Solomon learned what was what in the end, but he shouldn't have gotten that opportunity. He should have died after calling to the brotherhood to embody him. That guy was a loser, and he should have died a loser.
For the record, Akirakon Sin was more likable than Solomon, but he didn't deserve any pity from me. They both just need to die.
Now, compare that attitude with the offical KOTOR stories. Bad guys: Bastila, Malak, Atreyous, etc. I don't get the sort of negative associations I do with them that I have done with your inventions. Why is that? Perhaps it's because their stories were told over a longer arc, and proper feelings of pity and understanding come up for them. I know the same things were (attempted) done with Akirakon and Solmon, but for whatever reason, they're just not characters I want to give time to. It's mainly because of the cheating they do, and because of their wrongful motivations.
I dunno. I very much liked playing through this mod, and I thank you for making it, Silveredge9 I have issues with it, and as I said, it's got a bitter aftertaste for me, but I'll remember some key moments with fondness. The battle with Mandalore the Ultimate was great! I resented only having a single lightsaber and no equipment. As if Revan would have gone in like that, with an un-upgraded lightsaber. As if. Oh, and I must say, the whole mandalorian level was great. Battling through all the battle-hardened vets was cool. Out of everything, that was my favorite. The circle battles where an abomination, made especially bad because Akirakon Sin was invulnerable throughout. Invulnerable and annoying. Really, really annoying. And that's why he deserved no pity at the end.
And as I said before, Solomon should have died an ignoble death. He's a retard for pretending to be such a celebrated "Master Jedi" and "Battle Master" and being so incompetant at fighting. But, beyond that, I really dislike the guy. Highly unlikable. God, I wish I could desecrate that grave...
I'll leave it here. These are just my raw thoughts after just playing through the mod. I might have a different perspective in a week's time, but I'd say my opinion on the characters won't change. I liked Madorlore! All his speaches and the fact that he tried to recruit Revan at the end was super. And the battle arena was breathtaking. If there's anything I'll be remembering, it's Shadow's lovable greating at the start, her journey at the side of Revan, and then her parting, to pursue her own life. That all made sense, and it was enjoyable to witness.