20 Tips for Surviving KOTOR on Hard Difficulty

[@OffBrandCourier]

Glad to see so many people still love KOTOR as much as I do

[@mechwarrior13]

I used to think it was nostalgia that's why we always think older games were better. But ever since I started playing it again a week ago, I realized that this game was just a better game, so many details and nuances that simply just does not exist in a lot of newer games.

[@juandemarko8348]

It's one of the pinnacle games that the original xbox produced.

[@TeSs_TiCkLeS101]

I play on my android 😎

[@bearwarren8789]

Yea i just hope they don't mess up the remake but I'll be getting it no matter how it turns out

[@bladestar2322]

Just need to find more original Xbox consoles. Over the course of 8 years I've fried 4 and I need one now. And they are getting really hard to find and you take your chances online with eBay, Mercari, or anyone else.

[@wunderwaffefries]

Save level ups for difficult battles so you can get the full health boost when they are low mid combat

[@buttkissery2k]

Dang, we really are doing old school tactics lol they def work tho

[@colbyneblett8454]

The importance of diversifying skills for weapon upgrades can't be overstated. The mid/end game upgrades are so unbelievably strong. Just gotta get over the initial difficulty hump and it's smooth sailing And like you said always upgrade your companions gear. Have some tricked out weapons in your inventory for later sections. You don't wanna have to fight Hanharr as Mira with a base blaster pistol on hard Also you can use medpacks from the inventory screen once per turn without using up a turn. This tip can save your life trust me.

[@marklee1194]

Most importantly, save your game in multiple slots. In case you enter a very difficult battle or a situation where you are not sure what to do, if you make a mistake, you can always reload a previous savepoint. I usually create at least 5 or 6 per playthrough. Also, make sure you read and pay attention to the dialogue in-game; let the dialogue play out. This goes for your companions and non-player characters (NPCs). Sometimes, people will mention important information that could be useful in an upcoming battle/situation. If you skip ahead too much and/or too quickly, you might miss out on crucial, game-changing details.

[@cosinguspalpatine4449]

Use life support kit from the inventory menu during combat it’s a game changer

[@ryano9520]

You are right about 2 weapon fighting in the early game, but the game stacks damage output far better than defense after like level 8 and it only gets bigger as you progress through both games

[@qazplm567]

first kotor is easy on every difficulty if u know how to play, i recommend difficult, second one is little more difficult at the and but if u picked right feats and powers that's easy, light side is better than dark side, may the force be with you

[@rpgmusik2172]

For K1, don't level up the main character on Taris. You can do all quests at level 2. For the deuling ring, you have to use the inventory medpac/shield exploit where you use items from the inventory screen as a free action. Use shields on all fights except Marl, against melee pop an alacrity stim run around and drop mines, and juke Bendak's grenades. Don't bother with concussion grenades in the deuling ring on hard, but poison grenades work excellently against stationary targets. If you collect all the XP from Taris but don't level up until your class changes on Dantooine, you will get about 4-5 extra levels of your Jedi class and force points. This is huge for caster classes

[@captainomoplata643]

I read the ideal is to stop leveling around lvl 5

[@kiana.malcolm]

I used to play this game EXCLUSIVELY on easy mode because it made it more alike the movies where the main character is so unnecessarily OP. I play on hard mode now to learn new things about the strategy for when I finally get enough courage to play DND

[@buttkissery2k]

I’m not gonna lie, reading all these strategies is such a big throwback for me. It’s great!

[@TheGlock30owner]

I've gotten my 8 year old daughter to start playing this game. She seems to like it, but still prefers that abomination called Roblox.

[@Chefvonbreezy]

MAAAAAAAN I KNOWWWWWWWWW

[@RealMysticalMan]

Roblox actually has a lot of innappropraite things in it that they don't tell you about. They even use bad words in it.

[@BeowuIfs]

You know there's been communities based around KOTOR on ROBLOX. Actually someone I know made all the planets from the game besides for Kashyyk.

[@BobsBurgers6996]

My 7 year old keeps asking to play Minecraft Guess dads gonna have to force him to watch me play video games for once.

[@4477superman]

8 is a bit young to appreciate kotor and it’s mechanics. It you force something on a kid they’re more likely to resent it rather than like it.

[@Lunk42]

"how to beat hard difficulty" Step 1. run away and heal every 2 seconds done

[@cornpop838]

glad 2 see you're still making content vro

[@tricisport8259]

Do not confuse/ mix up games with real life. Keep the dark side ONLY for games. F4/ F5 doesn't work in Real, so do not make your companions suffer in real life. Going only dark side in games will take a toll from you regardless and that doesnt mean you'll level up, or get Shock, or Choke. So use the Light side, too - it's powerful and beautiful.

[@assassin3g]

M character is the ultimate goodboi in conversations but that doesn't mean I'm not gonna use some of that Unlimited powerrrr!

[@travisadams6279]

WTF are you talking about...? Was that even English?

[@carcrash1875]

@@travisadams6279 The Dark Side I sense in you.

[@tricisport8259]

@@carcrash1875 It's hard to deal with womp rats when you got a gundark on your back.

[@JordanKD94]

Great video. Hope to see more Kotor videos soon from you. You're doing a good job.

[@GamingYourOwnWay]

Thank you!

[@lsodiumoverdosel]

As usual great video. Good tips for people who just beat the game and want to really test thier metal.

[@hankhooper1637]

Helpful content. I have been playing with one weapon and high strength. So nice to be able to hit opponents! Feel like i was mostly missing with two weapons.

[@beauhartwick8927]

Great video! Honestly going with stun/disable/destroy droid with shock and lightning is a HUGE leg up especially early game

[@Wwcnwo3n498cn]

Avoid levelling up as long as possible until you become an official jedi. Then when you do become one you get heaps more jedi powers during level ups whereas before they are only skill and base stat level ups

[@marklee1194]

That's right. In KOTOR, I usually stop levelling up at around level 4-5, though there are many skilled players who only stop at 2.

[@Thelonous]

Another great video! I think everything you said is spot on, though an elaboration on buyung equipment may have been warranted. Contrary to many other RPGs, the best equipment in kotor 1 is usually purchased from merchants. This is even more prevalent on PC with Yavin station. Implants, belts, gloves, weapons, power crystals, ect, the best are all acquired from standard merchants or Yavin Station in kotor 1. By in large, the only gear you'll find rather than purchase are your Robes and Headpiece.

[@Sithplayer]

Don’t try to cosplay as the canon heroes. Talk to everyone. Mind trick/domination can save Time and supplies. Always go darkside

[@GamingYourOwnWay]

"Tell the thugs to give you all their credits then jump in the central pit"

[@Sithplayer]

The_Lone_Gunmen constantly exploit the hutts for more swoop bike money

[@starmada105]

@@Sithplayer or just dupe items and sell them to the dude on yavin

[@GamingYourOwnWay]

I always find it interesting when people talk about using exploits or glitches to make money, why not just cheat and give yourself like infinite credits?

[@starmada105]

@@GamingYourOwnWay because dupe exploits feel a little less detached and involve a lot more work. I feels a bit less like cheating I guess? Especially since credits honestly do very little in the grand scheme of things. But if I turn on cheats my stats and skills are going up to 99 and my character is going to be maxed out earlier. Just feels better. My favored method of duping is the animation equip glitch, which takes a few minutes to get a few thousand credits. So yeah, just feels less cheaty I guess lol.

[@confyucius4564]

I think your earlier videos are in a way easier to look through and get what you need without devoting your time to watching everything. The companion guide is my favorite so far

[@thestarwarslounge]

These are fantastic tips - great video! Definitely going to check out more of your content

[@GamingYourOwnWay]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@danielalvarez0]

Amazing break down! Glad to see this game gettin some love

[@lordrevan7569]

the upgrading weapons and armor is definitely the most important one - once you get that pontite lens/expert fencing emitter/ultiamate diatium powercell/biorestorative underlay mark V/armorply plating overlay mark IV - you are basically on easy mode even with terrible feats and powers

[@ColbyNeblett]

As a kid my strategy of put all your points in strength and constitution, wear heavy armor and use no force powers was enough to beat the game on hard. I didn't grow up playing DND so I didn't understand the terminology or the mechanics. I brute forced the game thru blind trial and error. Honestly I didn't know what Keen was until I was an adult lol they really needed an ingame encyclopedia or something that explains all the terminology. Games like final fantasy did that like 10 years prior.

[@thisisiampie6946]

just bought it for the switch and the final tip is the most important. i was getting frustrated at the combat and was in a point where I felt stuck and didn't want to backtrack. I went on easy mode and was still struggling but it got through it. currently am on the jedi planet and am about to do my first quest. I wanna experience the game for what it has and getting hung up on difficulty was about to make me not want to play. it's okay to go down a level and play at your own pace, especially on your first run like I am right now.

[@iPhone-su8li]

That's why Easy mode is amazing. Every game should have it

[@tlotpwist3417]

4:18 what's that armor? Looks rad

[@Roricsseal]

I just duplicate Carth's blaster 20 times (20 times 400 equaling 8000 credits) right in the beginning of Kotor 1. After getting my 8,000 credits I buy the Sith Sniper Rifle, sound dampening belt, and the Bon armor (defense is a 9 and a +4 Dex cap), then I'm set to be OP through Taris at level two.

[@GamingYourOwnWay]

Why not use a console command to just give yourself 8000 credits?

[@salazarcosplay]

@@GamingYourOwnWay you cannot use console commands if playing on xbox or switch, I assume it would disable achievements on steam playthrough

[@zach5751]

You got a good channel brotha! Thank you!

[@mithosirving]

I need to try Kotor 1 restored on impossible difficulty, now that would be a challenge

[@jimmideerichards9554]

I smash hard every time no problem. Been playing the game for like 20 years. I recently played a few play throughs and I armoured up my jedi/Sith, as it just made them look really cool, but yes also adds a good challenge by restricting what force powers you can use

[@kostazarikos3383]

Would be interested to know what skills/powers u restrict

[@michaelproctor8100]

Tip 22: When playing KOTOR 2, don't use lightsabers, go with a gunslinger build. With the right feats and a pair of Mandalorian Disintegrators you can mow down all enemies before they get close to you. Sometimes you won't be able to find even one disintegrator, the were times I could only find Zabrak Heavy Blasters which are only second to the disintegrators. Make sure you have a high repair skill so you can upgrade these blasters fully.

[@GamingYourOwnWay]

So uncivilized

[@jimmy2494]

I’m gonna try this for a play through.

[@JayF2912]

"No, no I don't think I will" - Steve Rogers, Jedi

[@mithosirving]

regarding two-handed weapons versus one-handed companions, I agree, with the exception of Atton. and I always level him up to 19 scoundrels, sneak attack 10 it too good to pass up, and having two weapons for extra sneak attack damage is the trade-off, but yes dueling is way better for the others

[@troublemakerbros4267]

4:05 So make sure to grab the industrial strength hairdryer! I hear you cant live without it! o.o

[@alexanderzack3720]

another reason why companions should have decent equipment as well is shown in a clip here... sometimes said companions are locked in a solo battle without the main character and they need to fend for themselves

[@MattC78]

I did not realize using two individual blades was considered a two handed weapon. I thought that meant double ended blades, and lightsabers. Thanks for the tip.

[@ElGringoCastellano]

I would argue that scoundrels specifically should use two weapon fighting because sneak attack synergizes so well with two weapons.

[@TheMagicianBee]

Great video. Very helpful.

[@GamingYourOwnWay]

Awesome!

[@dustinzhane7329]

The 2 hand thing is super useful to know

[@silverchairsg]

There's also Impossible difficulty (from a mod). It's for veteran players who are bored by hard difficulty.

[@NunYaa504]

Kotor 1 is PUNISHING on normal mode even lol, I remember back in the day before I understood anything about the mechanics, I spent like a week on the Mandalorians. Kotor 2 is significantly easier imo.

[@bobbob5007]

i played kotor 2 before one for some reason thought one would be cake walk on kotor one was a surprise to say the least best of all i went straight to korriban after dantooine lol

[@mikeg7750]

Your guides have helped a lot bud, thanks

[@GamingYourOwnWay]

Glad to hear it!

[@pmcate2]

The only hard/annoying part in KOTOR 1 is Taris. The best way to play Taris is to go directly for Zaalbar, then Bastila. Then do side missions. Of course, you have to have played the game before to know the most direct route to do this. Also, the game is more difficult if you are not soldier/guardian class, but if you use stims, shield, and properly manage companions in battle then it's not too bad.

[@qlasalle]

I never played this game in its prime just bought it as it used to be on game pass but left before I could beat it

[@Maartun]

Kotor 1 and 2 are probably my favorite games ever!

[@golfer435]

Meanwhile I am replaying a scout with blaster rifle focus. Running around Taris with a Sith Sniper Rifle right now

[@dipflop5530]

Bro....the restoration content mod's impossible difficulty is so brutal D: it forces you to use all your shit like adrenals and grenades and shields omg

[@barstokians365]

You wield two weapons too early because it looks cool, like Darth Maul or Ahsoka. I wield two weapons too early because I like seeing extra red numbers over the enemy's head. We are not the same.

[@jordanbrewster3190]

For someone called the lone gunmen it's a bit funny saying you never game alone. Good video I'll try out hard difficulty, I always forget its an option so I'm always on normal difficulty.

[@cosinguspalpatine4449]

I play KOTOR like every 2 years or so just to play and escape from work whatever etc, and I’ve always played on hard all the way up until Malak 😩

[@Christian-be6eg]

Hey for #10 I play on a Chromebook and the game really doesn't give you an option of leveling up your teammates (I've played it on phone to but didn't have the same problem)

[@GamingYourOwnWay]

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaat? Seriously, that super sucks!

[@Chefvonbreezy]

I do have one question and maybe someone here in comments and or you yourself can speak on it but in KOTOR 1 and 2 I give the Wookiee’s 2 handed weapons even tho in kotor 1 he’s a scout I find that their melee weapons have higher dice rolls than your other companions

[@TheGlock30owner]

Are you talking attack or damage rolls?

[@GamingYourOwnWay]

The wookiee characters will deal more damage because they have high strength, but nothing will change about their attack or damage rolls from anyone else. If you ever need to confirm, you can always check the combat log in the messages portion of the menu which breaks down each roll.

[@Chefvonbreezy]

The_Lone_Gunmen thank you for that explanation

[@Chefvonbreezy]

The_Lone_Gunmen they just kinda feel like a jail break early game once you gain heal if you’re rocking a counselor build and you get master heal and master valor they can be more tanky if that’s a word lol

[@GamingYourOwnWay]

Yeah. They're very strong, but they can also be overwhelmed since they're only defense comes from their dex modifier. If you're running a consular and just keeping them alive though, yeah they can crush pretty much anything haha, they're super fun to play with!

[@younggrasshopper3531]

When I was a kid I played on easy on original Xbox. Now I’m in my 20s and find hard to be pretty easy… probs cuz I overplayed the heck out of kotor lol

[@Wwcnwo3n498cn]

use force speed to run around the map

[@hannibalscipio10]

Great video!

[@BluntMaster5000]

Thanks for the tips! Remake hype!

[@johnonia1386]

Funniest thing about your force immunity tip is, I've played kotor 1 on the highest difficulty I think 10 times and I've never gotten force immunity, I always get force suppression to use against Malak and the dark jedi and I always beat him I might start getting it now on future runs.

[@golfer435]

Force Breach is so broken

[@loganbarnes9672]

Good tips! Thank you.

[@GamingYourOwnWay]

Glad it was helpful!

[@PowerLvL9000]

Yoda would starts using a double-sided staff and flurry on Peragus…just sayin’.

[@Xakto187]

Very helpful. Thank you!

[@GamingYourOwnWay]

You're welcome!

[@normaaliihminen722]

I have never witnessed other than party members making those big jumps towards enemies How can player execute those attacks?

[@GamingYourOwnWay]

only a jedi guardian can, you have to be a certain distance away (can't remember how far) and use just a basic attack.

[@normaaliihminen722]

@@GamingYourOwnWay Okay thank you, I try it on next playthrough. However I think I have seen my Jedi consular built doing it also but as AI controlled while I was controlling party member.

[@GamingYourOwnWay]

There is a specific set of robes in KOTOR 2 that give you the force jump ability, but otherwise it is completely restricted to the Jedi guardian class.

[@normaaliihminen722]

@@GamingYourOwnWay Oh I forgot to mention that this was in KOTOR 1 and not KOTOR 2 so apologies for possible confusion.

[@CaelanCromwell]

If you really want hard difficulty, try beancounter's hardcore mod. That will test your builds potential.

[@pwner332]

meanwhile Carth on Taris with power shot or improved power shot is OP

[@darklight5383]

I just need one tip: HOW TO FIX THE FIRST CANTINA CRASHING THE GAME

[@MrEffectfilms]

The best things to buy from merchants are armor (particularly Jedi Armor that doesn't restrict force abilities), Lightsaber components (Lens, crystals, power cells), computer spikes, and repair parts. You can get these by looting but particularly with the armor and lightsaber parts, these can be VERY rare drops so it's especially worth it to buy these when you can. 12:30 This is why half of my companions have Destroy Droid, when fully maxed that power is straight-up devastating to droids.

[@Lucas61616]

Eh, I feel like the advice on saving money falls way flat in both games, unless you try to obsessively buy out every item in every merchant's shop, an experienced player should have no problems with money in either game. The most stingy you'll ever find yourself is on Telos in Kotor 2, but the more you level up and start getting rarer drops in game, the more easy it is to gain money. Being a hoarder is actually great, because you can sell off all the random stuff you and your companions never ever use (or break them down for components if you need to) and end up with unimaginable amounts of credits for literally anything you'll ever need from a merchant. With that in mind, Kotor 1 is even easier in that regard. Taris is much more generous with credits than Telos in KOTOR 2, even towards light side players who are most likely turning down easy credits from selling the rakghoul serum, losing the chance at 2 bounties and not getting paid for betraying the Beks. Even with all those factors in mind, the money you can get in Taris is insane for a first world. The Taris dueling ring is already lucrative, offering a total of 1500 credits plus an extra 700 if you kill Bendak... unless you have a good persuade skill, in which case you can get an extra *900* instead. So thats 2100 credits from the ring. The bounties only add on to that, since Bendak has one. Easy 300 more credits (400 with good persuade, this applies to ALL bounties) Even assuming you've voided Largo and Dia's bounties by completing their quests light sided, you can still collect Selven, Matrik and Bendak's bounties with ease, gaining 900 or *1200* more credits. Finally, the Black Vulkar base just straight up has another 2000 credits in a strongbox, behind the locked door in the garage (opened from the garage head's terminal, or by programming one of the droids to ram the door.) You can leave the planet with 10000 credits when factoring in other quest rewards and just normal drops (and selling stuff you won't use) and to top it off, swoop racing on tatooine and Manaan dump you with incredible amounts of credits as well. You gain a total of 120 racing bonds for beating all 3 tiers of swoop racing on Tatooine, which can be sold for a total of over 15,000 credits or so, probably even more if you sell them to the merchant on Yavin 4 instead. Manaan just gives you credits outright, totaling 7500 credits after beating all 3 tiers. All of this to say that credits are a minor concern in Kotor 2 at best, and a complete non issue in Kotor, no need to be stingy unless you KNOW something real expensive is coming up that you want. On a different note, I also struggle with using all my characters, but for me its more of a REFUSAL to do so since the AI LOVES immediately screwing with whatever perfectly setup chain of actions you made the moment you decide to swap into another character. Even if you meticulously set up the actions in the pause screen, the AI may very well immediately ignore the orders you set on someone simply because you swapped to someone else for a second. Further advice relating to one of the tips here, mainly for Kotor 2: If you find the Bothan sensory visor, use that instead of the retinal combat implant. In Kotor 2 specifically, implants can be insanely good, and the retinal combat implant only gives crit immunity, nothing else. The Visor takes the head slot, which can be rather powerful, but definitely not as powerful as the implant slot can be. Plus, it gives you extra Awareness (good for dialogue in Kotor 2) and Security as well (good for T3 repairs and getting upgrades) so its just a much better choice of crit immunity gear.

[@ingolf82]

Tip 21: for KoToR 2: don't level up Atton/Mira/Handmaiden/Deciple/Bao-dur before turning them into Jedi, it is a waste of levels. this might not be doable on hard, I need to test it out. I usualy play on normal, there you can hold the levels just fine.

[@Lampaluile]

Bruh I did my first playthrough on hard and it was way too easy and I was playing solo as often as possible

[@tobyplace6184]

What robes are those?

[@GamingYourOwnWay]

They're like the Jal Shey robes, it's a mod to retexture them and make them look cooler.

[@stevenshaneyfelt]

What is minmaxing?

[@GamingYourOwnWay]

When you try to build your character to deal the absolute most damage physically possible in the game, or just try to optimize a part of the game(doesn't have to be combat) to make your character the absolute best at it the game will allow.

[@infraredxray]

imo stick to 1 blade until level 3 of two weapon fighting

[@darthrevan4435]

I hardly ever use energy sheids

[@4477superman]

I find them annoying because they stay on during dialogue after battles

[@Lilkuro777]

Uhm ur showing both Kotor I and II..?

[@GamingYourOwnWay]

So?

[@nor2003]

Me checking this guide while playing on normal 🤣

[@de-frag6517]

😅?minmax?

[@billcipher9068]

Would love to see an play through without crit immunity +insane mode mod lol

[@GamingYourOwnWay]

Why do you hate me? 😅

[@TheGlock30owner]

Two-handed and dual wielded (including dual weapons) are very different. I dont recall any specific two handed weapons in KOTOR, but per the d20 rules used by the game, a two handed weapon adds bonus damage of STR x 1.5

[@GamingYourOwnWay]

They may be different in that the main hand deals bonus damage of 1.5xSTR (while the offhand still deals 0.5xSTR) but their attack roll is the same and they're both affected by the two weapon fighting feat, so best to avoid either of them early on until you can actually land hits with both hands.

[@TheGlock30owner]

@@GamingYourOwnWay I believe you are still confusing the terms. A character with a two handed weapon, wields a single weapon with two hands (great sword) Dual wielding is when two weapons are used, one in each hand (long sword/short sword). Dual weapons, like the dual bladed lightsaber, can function as either, but not both. Mixing up these long defined (since the 70s) terms can be very confusing to a player.

[@GamingYourOwnWay]

When you're talking about attack, it's a distinction without a difference. Two vibroblades vs a vibro doubleblade have the same attack calculation and both are affected by the two-handed weapon penalty.

[@TheGlock30owner]

@@GamingYourOwnWay there is no penalty for using a two handed weapon, there is a penalty for using two weapons or a dual weapon.

[@GamingYourOwnWay]

If you're insinuating that there is a melee weapon in KOTOR that takes up both the right hand and left hand slots and does not incur a two-weapon penalty then that is incorrect. The only weapon that occupies both the left and right hand slots and does not incur a penalty is any member of the blaster rifle/carbine family. Doublebladed swords/lightsabers, two swords/lightsabers, or two pistols all incur the penalty. There is no melee weapon in KOTOR that is the equivalent of a longsword in DnD with the versatile property (can be used as either one-handed or two-handed).

[@Nephalem2002]

Woah woah woah woah. *YOU PLAY THIS GAME ON HIGHER THAN EASY?*

[@thelifeoffuller]

K1 tip don’t use blasters only melee weapons. Thank me later they’re terrible.

[@darthrevan4435]

I forget the hard mode

[@darthrevan4435]

But if I do I'll be doing it as level up not Auto

[@chrispappas3750]

One poster yet the name he uses is Gunmen? Plural?

[@GamingYourOwnWay]

Facts

[@unangwatataro]

Hard is piece of cake, download restored content mod and play on Impossible

[@tokyopp]

first time playing it and i am enjoying it a lot on hard difficulty

[@GamingYourOwnWay]

You're a brave soul! I got really frustrated when I tried it on hard, but it's still a good time, glad you're enjoying it!!

[@thegoon3088]

lol you don't need tips this is literally one of the easiest games. Just do w/e you want you'll still beat it