ToME: the Tales of Maj'Eyal

Someone correct me if I am wrong, but past the intro dungeons in the Far East (when starting as a Sun Paladin or Anothril), the only way to level is to fight Orc Patrols (trying to get the Never Look Back and There Again achievement). I have no problem with the grinding, my issue is that along with regular level 12 enemies the RNG keeps throwing me level 30 elite orc corruptors, summoners, berserkers, and uniques. Neither of the Far East starting classes have enough mobility to escape any of these types of bad rolls. So what it basically comes down to while trying to earn this achievement, is to win the RNG roll the 1000 times or so that it will take to get to a level high enough to do the Unremarkable Cave or Underwater Cave.

I feel that this achievement is basically impossible without incredible luck, or save-scumming (which I feel defeats the purpose of the game and earning achievements). I would suggest that the Orc Patrol's level RNG be adjusted to not introduce the level 30 elites until the player is at a minimum level of around 20. I have never gotten a character to the Far East that wasn't at least level 20.

I think the standard way to get the achievement is actually to drown Aeryn in the gates of morning. This gives you level 12 or so for free.

astralInferno wrote:I think the standard way to get the achievement is actually to drown Aeryn in the gates of morning. This gives you level 12 or so for free.

Hmm I guess I can try that, however it seems a little cheesy/cheating. I don't need her for the Orc stronghold quest later?

(Late reply)
I'm not entirely sure, I haven't done this myself.
I /think/ you'll be able to enter those zones without her, and the Plot quests will trigger without you being on the quest she gives. You'll lose out on the status cleanse she gives you; and I have no clue what it does to the final fight.

How do you drown her? I thought you couldn't move her around

Tag her with an attack. It won't be enough to anger her, but it will start her following you anyway. You just head to the water and move around until she positions herself next to you in the water. Then you just have to pass turns and ignore her constant attempts to talk to you.