While we're chipping away at the last major bug preventing the release of our new Rest Stop patch, I thought I'd shoot you folks a quick update on one of my favorite aspects of Epic Tavern... the fact that heroes you fail to recruit will continue their careers without you and often become your enemy.
SPOILER WARNING: I deliberately stay pretty vague with the info below, but folks who would rather discover everything on their own might want to skip reading this update.
Here are 11 Epic Tavern characters who can Break Bad...
Emilia Mortalis
If you bungle your attempt to recruit the animal-loving necromancer Emilia, she runs off your heroes with her swarm of Zombees, signs up with the Necromancer Guild, and you'll encounter her again in the Frozen Games. I have another Emilia Gone Bad quest chain outlined that I'll sneak into an upcoming patch.
Carver
If you encounter Carver in the prologue and successfully save him, he'll instantly become one of the most skilled heroes on your roster. But if you fail to save him and leave him locked in a cell as the invading netherkin swarm the jail, he manages to survive and will come looking for payback in one of the most potentially deadly quest chains in the entire game. There are very few outright kill shots in Epic Tavern for failing a stage. Two of them are triggered by crossing Carver.
Bengar Skullsplitter
If you save Bengar from the Netherkin in the prologue, this weaponmaster will become a combat anchor for your squad. But if you fail, Bengar falls in the invasion and is transformed into a monstrous and extraordinarily dangerous new form of Netherkin, and must be hunted down and killed in a special quest chain.
Grusilla Marrowsucker
We used to just give you Grusilla as an automatic unlock, but that changes in our upcoming patch. In order to sign her now, she'll have to get past her differences with Grunson Wolfspawn, who was held captive for years by Grusilla's mother. If you fail to unlock Grusilla, she'll return to the Badlands, kill her psychotic mother and claim leadership of her clan. Next time you see her, she'll have an army of Badland raiders at her command.
Odessa Dauntless
Odessa is a powerful paladin with strong all-around skills. If you save her in the prologue, she'll happily join your roster. But if you fail, Merrick raises Odessa as a vampire and commands her to continue the fight against the invading netherkin. After that battle, Odessa is now free to wreak havoc as a master vampire and she must be stopped in a special quest chain.
Arielle Nightbloom
Undermarket assassin Arielle Nightbloom runs into your tavern looking for sanctuary from the Fantastical Crimes Unit. If you provide it, she and the Undermarket will become powerful allies. But if you turn her over Victor Marshall and the FCU, you'll earn powerful new enemies in Arielle and the Undermarket.
Victor Marshall
If you hand over Arielle Nightbloom to the Fantastical Crimes Unit, Victor will welcome you into the organization, unlocking special perks. But if you help Arielle hide, Victor and the FCU will become enemies intent on shutting down your tavern.
Tatiana Tanglewood
The most versatile caster in the game, Tatiana is adept at every school of magic, including necromancy. If you fail to unlock Tatiana, she'll sign on with the Mage College and you will see her again.
Horley Halfast
The most accomplished "locksmith" in Beor, Horley is a master thief ready to anchor your squad on stealth missions. But you aren't the only organization courting him. Fail to recruit Horley and he'll sign on with The Thieves Den, making clashes against them all the more dangerous.
Wallace Wilder
This young squire is one of the most skilled pure combatants in all of Beor. Wallace bailed on the Knight Academy after defeating all their instructors in single combat and he's ready for a life of adventure. But if you fail to recruit him, he'll get sucked back into life at the Academy and he'll be a full knight working against you next time you cross paths.
Juliana Jaggedheart
Weaponmaster Juliana Jaggedheart is the fourth in the four-way choice between trying to recruit Tatiana, Horley, Wallace or her. If you pursue a different hero, or try and fail to recruit Juliana, she'll sign on with rival tavern The Hungry Huntsman, joining the likes of gnoll warlord Braarg Faceripper on their already imposing roster.
There you have it. 11 heroes who will readily turn on you if you fail to recruit them. So recruit carefully, tavernmasters. The fate of Beor hangs in the balance.
Back to bug squashing I go.
