are there ways the Marshal could’ve handled the situation better? Probably. But how many of those entail looking at the situation in hindsight and working your way through it from the comfort of your chair? It doesn’t matter how good at warfare you are, how experienced you are, an ambush like that is going to lead to chaos and disorganization and there’s only so much you can do there. Do I think maybe the initial ambush could’ve been written better so it doesn’t feel quite so obvious? Sure, and this is a first public draft, so there’s gonna be tweaks
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The part where Balaban greet us rather rudely and suddenly goes to his town seconds later feels rather suspicious and I thought the marshall’s paranoia would make them believe that Balaban was leading Elya and the marshall to a trap.
Although if he did realize at that moment, the ambush would still cause somewhat significant casualties although there would be lesser due to the marshall realizing earlier and having more time to warn the troops.
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Now since I’m in the comfort of my own chair my criticism is invalid?? You need to take your ass off the comfort of your own chair in put yourself in the MCs shoes. Like ultra_in_something stated, Balaban greeted us in such a shady rude ass way that my paranoid MC should of recognized the red flags. Yea and no shit it’s the first draft, that’s why is best to get your 2 cents in while there is time for some changes to be made.
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Dude chill. Sujan didn’t say your opinion was invalid. They just used the hindsight statement and the chair analogy to explain why they disagreed with you.
I actually like that there are little stat checks so far since it amps up the tension. It’s pretty clear that both chapter 1 and 2 are meant to be a set up for the confrontation with Rade’s forces at the siege at Janowitz’s territory and an introduction to the steppe people forces. It also shows the disunity of Kanton during the civil war and creates greater paranoia since you can’t trust anyone anymore. ITFO never had that many stat checks to begin with which is what made it stand out among IFs. I actually like that aspect of Bacon’s IFs because the minimal stat checks gave his IFs more of a narrative-heavy feel rather than a gameplay-heavy one.
Plus giving Rade wins at this stage shows us why he’s called the Butcher. Rade can spend the entirety of ITFO taking loss after loss thanks to trusting incompetent subordinates which gave the impression that he didn’t really live up to his name as the Butcher. Giving him some wins here remedies that. We’re only at the second chapter. I’d find it disappointing if they could keep having victory after victory so early in the story. As talented as the Marshal is, ITFO never gave the impression that it was a power fantasy. It was more of an introspective and character-development driven story.
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Lol that’s a fair point, tho I will have to agree to disagree on the narrative heavy feel, I much rather a gameplay heavy feel. To each their own tho.
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I completely agree. It actually makes sense, that a person like Rade will actually learn and adapt to the Marshal’s Shenanigans after a prolonged time. Rade is The Butcher cause he just doesn’t care how he wins, even if it means stealing tactics from the enemy. Tbf we should have expected this, cause if Rade keeps losing all the time, he will lose narrative value as the main antagonist.
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It also fits that ITUO chapter 2 has us losing. ITFO Chapter 3 was all about Belos’s Sally and the disaster that it was for the royal army.
And while I disagree about ROing Rade, he does deserve a chance to rack up some wins and show why he’s called the Butcher. And in some (I’d consider them bad, but others may disagree) endings, I feel like he should win.
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How do I break it to you… i am sorry but I have got bad news for you 
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What if the real civil war was the one between Radefuckers and the Radedeniers?
No, Rade romance is real. I have proof:
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Once again, I’d like to remind that Balaban’s rudeness should’ve been a red flag for the Marshall, due to the Marshall’s constant paranoia.
As a change for the first draft, Balaban should be far more nice and convincing, in a way that not even the most paranoid Marshalls would notice.
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I’m not opposed to the Marshal responding better to that scene or to Balaban being more competent. What I am opposed to is the Marshal getting clear victories so early in the story that would undermine Rade’s reputation as the Butcher because it would lower the stakes and to too many stat checks that would take away the uniqueness of the writing style. As long as the Marshal takes a loss and Rade secures some victories then I’m fine with that.
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One of the things I was thinking about was the lack of characterization from any of the Krorid Rangers. They’re built up to be highly useful, and adaptive warriors that both Rade, and the Marshal practically raced for in book one, and–choice depending–paid off really quickly, but it is a bit surprising to not have a Velinor-esque character from among them as an associate. The factions in the Kanton Royal Army are just numbers, and not really people. Not interested in over-done ‘intrigue’ plots for appeasing these people, since they’ve already thrown in their lot with the royal party, but it’s a surprisingly empty character cast when we only focus on a select few. Though I know it takes nothing to have a scene become overcrowded, too.
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Perhaps he once enjoyed considerable renown, but now — given that, aside from the regency route, he’s been defeated again and again — he’s like a desperate, cornered cur running off to the steppe to beg for troops and thereby inviting wolves into his house. He doesn’t even seem to consider the possibility that the steppe warlords, once victorious, might simply carve out their own realms, proclaim themselves kings, or flat-out kick him aside. He’s not much different from the two Andronikos
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True, but you can get to the other two routes following a stalemate or a loss in the final battle. He wouldn’t be as desperate then, and he still invites his friends on the steppe to join the civil war.
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To be fair general usually decline. That may be the case for that brute.
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I don’t think this is really so clear cut – for all the MC knows, this is a town which belongs to vassal of the duke you’re about to rescue, it is far behind any potential front line, none of the dispatched scouts reported anything suspicious and the “rudeness” in question is largely eagerness to bring supposed honored guests to the host’s estate, that simply makes him not follow the supposed etiquette perfectly. The Marshall notes that the guy seems eccentric, but this is hardly a reason to immediately start jumping to the worst conclusions.
There were nobles who acted quite more rudely towards the protagonist and the queen in the first book, but no one clamored that should instantly make the Marshall paranoid about it, because their rudeness didn’t end up with ambush. Hindsight influences players and their perception of the plot (and how the MC should act) a lot.
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My thought. Tactically. The whole scenario had Marshal noticing things not quite right. Also, dealt with it more than once. Cause was right that amount of lights is off.
Glad Marshal did acknowledge it. Ambush would been worse technically speaking per guesswork. Trap wasnt supposed to gone off yet. Max deaths would required further travel to manor or in manor. Soon as Gideon saw that rider, already knew immediately before helmet description came up. Poor Gideon. He was awesomesauce.
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Hey all, it’s probably been answered before but I wanted to ask, why don’t we get the option to shoot back at the horse archers? I understand that there are times where it’s not feasible, like when we’re caught off guard or when they’re already circling us and the dust that they kick up conceals them, but what about when we see them coming a mile away? Since the terrain is flat and there are no obstructions to our view surely we should be able to get off a volley before they even reach us?
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I love the story. I love the characters. The writing is good and there are plenty of moments where the little details are on point or it provokes an emotional reaction… but… and I know it’s early, so take this with a grain of salt… none of my choices feel like they matter or make any difference so far.
I can kinda maybe see a glimpse of it with taking our traitorous brother along with us and being supportive with him to build him back up… I can kinda maybe see where that bit is going…
But to take the cannons or to not take the cannons.
To send a scouting party ahead or to not send a scouting party ahead.
To charge with horses or get to your infantry in camp.
To counter attack or to hold formation during the long march.
None of it seems like the player input makes any difference so far. It’s a beautiful story, I’ll continue engaging even if I feel like my player agency is minimal, but it’s just the one tiny little bit of issue I’m experiencing so far, and again, I definitely understand that it’s early… so, grain of salt and all.
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