NEVER Use Autoassign
Do. Not. EVER. Use autoassign for either skills or ability points. They’re completely random. Unless the difficulty is Easy (and even then, you might manage to die as a result), select skills manually and distribute ability points with care. Each point in each ability matters, and skills even moreso due to the sparseness in which Seasons of the Wolf grants them.
Characters need to fulfill specific roles in combat. Tailoring Shea, Althea, and other characters is a must. Don’t let the autoassign spread points around all willy-nilly. From the very beginning, make sure that each character gets their abilities and skills assigned with the intention of making them a frontline warrior, a rearline healer, etc.
Invest in Traits
Like fine wine, traits age well. Like a good gift, traits keep on giving. Traits can be bought with skill points (except as Shea and Althea’s first skill). Better yet, they get better and better with every level. One grants an attack bonus; the other boosts magic; yet another jacks HP through the roof.
There is a trait for almost everything. One even increases elemental resistances. It’s not necessarily a good idea to invest solely in traits at the expense of skills, but they absolutely should not be ignored. Grab one or two that fit the role the character is being built for. You’ll be grateful you did.
Save Often
Decisions in Seasons of the Wolf can’t be undone. Piss off your target for romance? Assign the wrong skill? Well, if you have a save to fall back upon, you’re fine. If you don’t… tough. What can you do? Wish you had saved more often, that’s what.
So save often. There are literally pages and pages of slots to save in, and if you’re doing it right you’ll use them all. You may never need them, but like insurance you’ll be glad you have them, if you do. Plus, it can be fun to choose one decision and then reload to see what another yields. This comes in handy when romancing in particular, as the outcomes aren’t always obvious.
The Tavern is Your Friend
Never rest at home, if you can avoid it. At higher difficulties this might not be possible, but the taverns should be used at all times for regaining lost HP and SP. Resting at home should be reserved for advancing the days, and as a means to heal as a last resort.
Especially abuse the cheaper SP-only option at the tavern. Proper battle management i.e. healing at all times will leave your characters with almost-maxed HP but almost-depleted SP. Which is perfect. So heal up before winning a fight, then head back to the tavern and drink up!
Fight As Often As Possible
Seasons of the Wolf can be pretty stingy with the XP. Therefore, murder everything in sight. If there’s a marker on the map that promises a fight, check your equipment and status and have at ’em. Pray that checking a trap or navigating somewhere starts a fight, because fights means XP, XP means levels and that means stronger, more powerful party members.
Then again, don’t fight all the time if the situation presents an alternative. Not every situation needs to be resolved with violence, and the rewards are usually comparable. Quest XP and rewards are always good, and always granted no matter how completion is achieved.
Having Trouble? Adjust the Difficulty
Don’t be ashamed if a fight or two presents too much of a challenge. Choices made long before a certain encounter can be crippling if an enemy is, for example, way too fast. If earlier saves aren’t enough to undo the damage or prepare, consider lowering the difficulty.
Seasons of the Wolf is a very customizable experience. If a Hard battle is too much, drop to Normal; if Normal is too much, hit Easy. Some battles are ridiculous without the right preparation. If you’re out of time and can’t bear to pass up on completing a quest, set aside your pride and hit the Menu.
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