Info about Tales of Maj'Eyal - Ashes of Urh'Rok:

Official game description:
  
Many in Maj'Eyal have heard of "demons", sadistic creatures who appear seemingly from nowhere, leaving a trail of suffering and destruction whereever they go. Their Fearscape floats far above the skies, watching and waiting, but not idly; their agents scout the land, their legions build up their forces, and their scholars develop new spells and strategies. As the barrier between our worlds begins to crack under their scrutiny, helpless Eyalites have begun to disappear, whisked up to serve as their slaves and playthings. They imbue these victims with magical powers to better survive the ensuing stresses - can you use your new-found abilities to escape the legions of Mal'Rok?  
*   Start with a new class, the Doombringer! These avatars of demonic destruction charge into battle with massive two-handed weapons, cutting swaths of firey devastation through hordes of opponents. Armed with flame magic and demonic strength, they delight in fighting against overwhelming odds, softening up the crowd with waves of fire, then feeding on the flames and suffering of their surroundings to stay alive while quickly reducing any group to a pile of ash and gore.  
*   Unlock a new class, the Demonologist, with an all-new item enhancement mechanic! Bearing a shield and the magic of the Spellblaze itself, these melee-fighting casters can grow demonic seeds from their fallen enemies. Imbue these seeds onto your items to gain a wide array of new talents and passive benefits, and summon the demons within them to fight on your side! Ever looked at a gigantic demon-cursed minotaur and wished it was on your side for once? Well, now you CAN summon one to pound your foes into paste while you cast devastating spells from afar, or call forth a squad of Fire Imps to pelt your enemies to death while they exhaust themselves on your impenetrable defenses! Demons have persistent health, making them a little more precious than disposable necromancer skeletons or summoner beasts, but can be revived from death nonetheless.  
*   Two new zones, with all-new art, foes, and bosses! You've seen the plains of the Fearscape before, now see the lairs and headquarters of the demons themselves!  
*   Over 10,000 words of written lore to find! The demons were once an enlightened, peaceful race, hailing from a distant planet known as Mal'Rok; learn what drove them to plot Eyal's eternal torture! Discover monuments to each of the demonic species and noteworthy individuals, showing the place of honor each has among them! Get a glimpse into the culture and daily lives of these sadistic invaders and their brainwashed thralls!  
*   Unlock a new race, Doomelves: Shalore who've taken to the demonic alterations especially well, corrupting their typical abilities into a darker form. Blink away to safety, transform into a shadowy dúathedlen to hide in the shadows or prey on your foes with blasts of darkness, use your new resilience to soak up status effects and critical hits, and assault your enemies' minds to leave them unsteady in combat!  
*   Between the aforementioned classes and Doomelves, a whopping 75 new talents!  
*   Unlock two new cosmetic options! You know you've always wanted demon-horns.  
*   Two new events, appearing anywhere in Eyal!  
*   20 new artifacts, with unique and interesting effects. Collect the Obsidian Treasures to amass more and more power! Slip your hands into the Will of Ul'Gruth and watch your sweeping blows smash down walls! Wear a giant hideous hell-mouth as a fashionable belt!  
*   7 new achievements! Conquer the worst Urh'Rok's forces can throw at you, and hang their metaphorical skulls from your profile page!

Release date: Oct 27, 2014

Categories: Traditional Roguelike, Turn-based Tactical, Character Progression, Summoning Mechanics, Demonic Theme, Deep Character Building, Old-School Mechanics


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $10.00 - $20.00
  - Reasoning: The translated Japanese review highlights roughly 30 hours of gameplay with good cost-performance, suggesting the base game delivers substantial value at a mid-range price. The English reviewer bought the game on sale for about $0.70 and felt compelled to donate an additional $5, indicating the community values the base game above $5. DLC and expansion price comments were excluded. Together, these points support a fair base-game price range of roughly $10–$20.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 30.0h
  - Story completion: N/A
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The only numerical playtime claim is the Japanese review stating that winning with the two added classes takes about 30 hours; this supports a cumulative gameCompletion figure for the DLC's class content. Other reviews mention dozens of hours of experimentation, multiple runs, and years of replay value, but these are qualitative and do not provide separate hours for storyCompletion, sessionLength, or endgame. No review gives a single-run story completion time or typical session length.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: Reports on the Doombringer class are largely negative, describing it as boring even after reaching level 35 and weaker than comparable classes. A minority of comments praise the added lore and zones, so the class-focused time-to-fun profile leans toward never clicking.
  - Stance: Never clicks
  - Anchor: N/A
  - Time to anchor: N/A
  - Friction: steep learning curve for new mechanics; balance quirks; class feels weak and squishy compared to other classes; class design described as boring
  - Unlock drivers: N/A
  - Conditions: Even reaching level 35 does not improve enjoyment of the class; Enjoyment depends on which class is being played; Added lore and zones are enjoyed independently of the class
- Player Archetypes:
  - Hardcore Roguelike Systems Veteran (buy)
    - Motivation: Mastery of hardcore roguelike systems and complex class builds.
    - Playstyle: Carefully managing heat, stamina, minions, and multiple resources while exploring deep, old-school content.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Community-Focused Single-Player Socializer (buy)
    - Motivation: Social interaction and supporting the game's community and developer.
    - Playstyle: Plays single-player but actively uses in-game chat to link items, discuss progress, and view others' deaths and achievements.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: ToME
  - Cautious Newcomer Intimidated by Complexity (buy)
    - Motivation: To get past the steep learning curve and discover the deeper game.
    - Playstyle: Learning basics, experimenting cautiously, and trying to understand mistakes after deaths.
    - Experience: newcomer
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- New classes add replayability (weight 0.97): The expansion introduces two new classes—Doombringer and Demonologist—that integrate seamlessly with the existing system and offer unique playstyles. The Demonologist, in particular, provides a Pokemon-like feel and can be played legitimately, while both classes are strong and interesting.
- Great DLC for fans (weight 0.56): Fans of ToME consider this a great DLC that provides more content and is worth buying to support the developer. It adds more to the main campaign than Embers of Rage and maintains the game's status as a bang-for-buck title.
- High value for low price (weight 0.52): Many reviewers highlight the extremely high amount of content relative to the price, calling it one of the best bang-for-buck games. The DLC is cheap and adds substantial value even if it adds less content than other expansions.
- Rich lore and story (weight 0.52): The expansion adds substantial lore about demons, including a fleshed-out story for the demon race and their god Aroluk. Reviewers call it the best writing in the game, with powerful and compelling narrative that expands the demonic invasion mythology.
- Deep and complex gameplay (weight 0.47): Players praise the amazing depth and complexity of the gameplay despite simple graphics. The turn-based tactical combat rewards precise decision-making and punishes complacency, appealing to those who enjoy complexity and masochistic difficulty.
- Massive content and replayability (weight 0.47): The game offers hundreds of hours of replayability, multiple game modes, and a story mode that can be enjoyed for a month without getting bored. The expansion deepens complexity and replay value without reinventing the wheel.
- Demonologist durable and interesting (weight 0.4): The Demonologist class is noted for being more durable than the Doombringer and having more interesting skills. It merges summoning with close-quarters combat and uses demonic seeds to enhance gear, offering a unique and engaging playstyle.
- Fleshed out demon story (weight 0.33): The new fleshed-out story for the demons is fantastic and considered the best writing in the game. It provides more demonic lore to puzzle over and works well with the overall narrative.
- New race: Doomelves (weight 0.32): The expansion introduces the Doomelf race, which embodies corruption and adds thematic cohesion to the demonic theme. However, one reviewer notes that the race is horribly crippled, and a new starting area is provided for it.
- Brilliant skills and spells (weight 0.26): The game features brilliant skills and spells that contribute to the enjoyable character building systems. There are multiple ways to build a successful character, adding depth and variety.
- Retro oldschool graphics (weight 0.25): The game features retro, oldschool graphics that are described as lovely. This aesthetic appeals to players who enjoy reliving old PC glory days and playing a real roguelike.
- Many unlockables and discoveries (weight 0.25): Players appreciate that there are many things to discover and unlock, with randomly generated equipment and legendary equipment that stays the same. The game includes various characters and settings that are fun to explore.
- More demons and fire (weight 0.25): The expansion adds more demons and fire content, which is appreciated by those who felt the base game did not have enough fire. It is an excellent DLC about demons.
- Demonic seeds enhance gear (weight 0.2): Demonic seeds allow players to enhance gear with traits harvested from slain enemies, adding deep build customization. Reviewers find the mechanic fun and offering many options for tackling monsters.
- New regions and enemies (weight 0.2): The expansion adds new regions steeped in ash and flame with demonic strongholds and corrupted creatures. New enemies rely on status effects, elemental attacks, and summoning reinforcements, keeping combat tense.
- Hardcore and wicked (weight 0.18): The game is just as hardcore and wicked as the original, appealing to players who enjoy a challenging experience. It maintains its status as a go-to game for playing a real roguelike.

Common complaints:
- Doombringer class underpowered and boring (weight 0.41): Multiple clusters highlight that Doombringer is weak, squishy, and deals insufficient damage, making it unviable compared to other classes. It is also described as boring, like a weaker version of Berserkers.
- New content too difficult for newcomers (weight 0.4): New players might find the new content much more difficult than the base game, with a rough starting area featuring teleporting, fireball-shooting enemies that can jump and pull players. Combined with new mechanics having a steep learning curve and initial stat overload, this can overwhelm less experienced players.
- Harsh start leads to frequent deaths (weight 0.32): Starting in essentially hell does not help, and a new player may easily overplay their hand and die without understanding what they did wrong. Even the greatest of heroes will die again and again, requiring a devious mind just to escape from the demons and survive.
- DLC lacks content compared to Embers (weight 0.27): The DLC adds very little content: one race, two classes, and a few artifacts, and doesn't have anywhere near the total content of Embers. The two new zones are very similar and only accessible to the new race and classes.
- Demonologist resource management overwhelming (weight 0.25): Demonologists must juggle multiple resources and minions in chaotic battle, which can be overwhelming. Additionally, many skills are useless and the demon seed mechanic has a lot of randomness.
- DLC availability and access issues (weight 0.2): Players report that purchased DLC for all three does not show as available, and they cannot play the DLC. This is a critical technical issue preventing access to content.
- Doombringer talent and resource issues (weight 0.19): Doombringer talents are often nonsensical or too investment-heavy on a melee gish, and the class requires careful heat and stamina management to avoid self-destruction. This adds complexity without sufficient payoff.
- Rare monsters with player abilities (weight 0.19): Rare monsters can have player abilities, and a snake Doombringer can easily kill you in a single turn. New classes also affect rare enemies, increasing difficulty for non-added classes.
- Doombringer accuracy and Abduction problems (weight 0.19): The important attack Abduction can easily miss even at higher levels with extra dexterity from escorts and talents. Low accuracy is a big hindrance because points cannot be spared on accuracy talents early on.
- Doomelf racials inferior to Shalore (weight 0.19): Doomelf racials are much worse than Shalore racials, and only one class can somewhat make use of Doomelfs, with Shalore and Halflings being better even then.
- General balance quirks and roguelike difficulty (weight 0.17): Occasional balance quirks are present, and playing rogue leads to roguelike hell, indicating broader balance issues beyond specific classes.
- Summoned creatures ineffective for summoner builds (weight 0.11): Most summoned creatures are awful for combat if you want something close to a summoner, making the summoner playstyle weak and unsatisfying.
- Orc chainsaw class steam weapon issue (weight 0.11): The new orc chainsaw class cannot equip steam weapons at birth, which is a significant oversight for a class that likely relies on such weapons.
- Korean patch version compatibility issues (weight 0.1): The Korean patch is stuck at version 1.2.2, and bugs may occur in version 1.2.5 or higher, potentially causing instability for Korean players.

Gameplay feedback:
- DLC adds new classes and race (weight 0.74): The expansion introduces two new classes (Doombringer and Demonologist) and a new race (Doomelf). These additions expand strategic possibilities and are frequently highlighted.
- New classes and strategic depth (weight 0.45): The new classes, Doombringer and Demonologist, offer unique playstyles: Doombringer mixes melee with magic and fire, while Demonologist combines summoning and close combat. Their skills and talent trees enhance strategic depth.
- Roguelike with experimentation and replayability (weight 0.38): The game is a true roguelike with randomly generated equipment, typical RNG, and a design that encourages experimentation and replayability. Death is frequent but drives learning.
- Demon-themed content and lore (weight 0.33): The DLC focuses on demons, adding new demonic enemies, lore fragments, and reading material about the Demon race and Aroluk. The campaign now includes more demon-related areas and stories.
- Complex and punishing gameplay (weight 0.33): The game is described as complex, difficult, and punishing, with numerous statistics that can be overwhelming initially. Heroes will die repeatedly, emphasizing challenge.
- New zones and starting area (weight 0.32): The DLC adds new zones integrated into the base campaign without disrupting pacing, plus a new starting area for the Doomelf race. The starting area is essentially hell and features dangerous enemies.
- Classes and races expand strategy (weight 0.31): The variety of classes and races, including Shalore, Halflings, and the new Doomelf, expands strategic possibilities. Each has unique abilities and backstories.
- Progression and character building (weight 0.31): Progression involves unlocking and discovering many things, with deep character building systems and skill trees that require point investment. This provides long-term engagement.
- Turn-based tactical combat (weight 0.26): Combat is turn-based and tactical, with resource management systems for classes such as heat, stamina, and multiple minions. Rare monsters can also use player abilities, adding unpredictability.
- New items and artifacts (weight 0.26): The expansion introduces many new artifacts, items, and a few new enemies, along with lore notes. It also adds four storage slots for managing gear.
- Lore and worldbuilding expansion (weight 0.19): Lore fragments and side stories expand the worldbuilding, adding depth to the game's universe. The DLC includes in-game reading material about demons and Aroluk.
- Dangerous new starting area enemies (weight 0.19): Enemies in the new starting area can teleport, shoot fireballs, jump onto the player, and pull them, making the area highly lethal. A snake Doombringer can kill in one turn.
- Retro graphics and old-school feel (weight 0.18): The game features retro or old-school graphics, which appeal to fans of classic roguelikes but may not suit all players.
- Free base game with online chat (weight 0.18): The base version of the game is free, and it includes an online function that is essentially a chat where players can link items, talk, and see others' deaths and achievements.
- Three game modes supported (weight 0.17): The game supports three game modes, including a single story mode. This offers different ways to experience the content.
- Unique classes like Orc Chainsaw (weight 0.16): There are unique class concepts such as an Orc chainsaw class and steam weapons that are normally equippable, adding flavor.
- Classes compared to updated ones (weight 0.1): The new classes are often compared to other currently updated classes in terms of power and design, indicating balance discussions.
- Escorts provide extra dexterity (weight 0.09): Escort quests can provide extra dexterity as a reward, adding a minor progression element.
- Environmental interaction can kill (weight 0.09): Environmental interactions, such as touching a statue, can cause death, adding a layer of danger and surprise.

Performance notes:
No performancepoints

Recommendations:
- Essential for base game fans (weight 0.41): Many reviewers state that this DLC is a must-have for anyone who enjoys the base game, describing it as a natural evolution of the core experience. They highly recommend it to existing players looking for more content.
- Good value for money (weight 0.33): Several clusters highlight that the DLC is easily worth its price, especially when bought together with the base game or as part of a package. Reviewers find the content justifies the cost.
- Recommended for specific tastes (weight 0.24): Reviewers recommend the DLC for players who enjoy complex roguelikes, retro graphics, and challenging experiences, as well as those who wanted more fire-based content in the base game. It caters to niche preferences within the roguelike community.
- Supports developer and community (weight 0.19): A few reviewers recommend buying the DLC primarily to support the developer and the community, even if they are not deeply interested in the new content. They see it as a way to give back to a dedicated creator.
- New class appeal (weight 0.18): Some players mention that the Demonologist class alone might be worth the purchase for those who enjoy new playstyles. Others note that the Lovecraft-inspired DLC offers more fleshed-out class kits, suggesting class content is a key draw.
- Newcomers may need base first (weight 0.17): One cluster suggests that newcomers might use the DLC as an incentive to explore deeper once they grasp the base game fundamentals. Another points out that players are better off getting other DLCs first if they want a campaign.
- Conditional recommendation (weight 0.1): A reviewer advises against buying the DLC unless you specifically want another Sun Paladin or Berserker class or wish to support the developer. This contrasts with the general praise, indicating the content may not appeal to everyone.
- World and lore interest (weight 0.09): The DLC is recommended for players interested in the game's world and lore, suggesting it adds meaningful narrative or setting depth. It appeals to those who want to immerse themselves further in the game's universe.
- Try new features (weight 0.09): Some reviewers suggest buying the DLC if you want to try out the new features it introduces. This is a straightforward recommendation for players curious about the additions.
- General positive sentiment (weight 0.08): A cluster of reviews simply gives a thumbs-up or says 'buy it, you won't regret it', indicating overall satisfaction without specific details. This reflects a broad positive reception.

Other player notes:
- Favorable comparison to other DLCs (weight 0.32): The DLC is compared favorably to all other expansions for the game, which are also called excellent. It adds more to the main campaign than Embers but has less total content and was made first.
- Compact expansion, strong experience impact (weight 0.31): Despite its relatively small size, this expansion significantly changes how the overall game is experienced. It is described as a first major expansion that was released after the base game.
- Supportive developer and community (weight 0.31): Darkgod is the developer and regularly interacts with players online. The DLC supports a great community and developer, and the developer is considered great.
- Released after base game (weight 0.24): The DLC was released after the base game and is the first large expansion for the game. It is the first major expansion to Tales of Maj'Eyal.
- Distinct demonic environmental aesthetics (weight 0.18): Demonic environments have a distinct aesthetic identity through color, lighting, and enemy design. The presentation uses a utilitarian style with functional visuals over high-end graphics.
- Compared to other roguelikes (weight 0.17): The game is compared to Caves of Qud as a go-to real roguelike. It is also compared unfavorably to Vagante and Diablo, which one reviewer calls pale in comparison.
- Least content among expansions (weight 0.11): This expansion adds the least content compared to other expansions for the game. Embers gives a full campaign, and the Lovecraft-inspired DLC has more fleshed-out class kits.
- Writing praised like classic RPGs (weight 0.11): The writing is compared to Baldur's Gate and the epic quality of MUDs like Gemstone. This suggests a high standard for narrative depth.
- Ominous soundtrack and sound design (weight 0.1): The soundtrack and sound design feature ominous tones and haunting melodies. This complements the game's dark atmosphere.
- Free base game aids decision (weight 0.1): The base version of the game is free and may help determine whether the game is for you. This allows players to try before purchasing the DLC.
- Korean localization outdated (weight 0.09): The Korean localization is stuck at version 1.2.2. This may affect Korean players' experience with newer content.
- Developed and published by Netcore (weight 0.08): The expansion is developed and published by Netcore Games. This is a factual detail about the DLC's production.

Emotions:
- Excitement (weight 0.16): Players are excited by the addition of new classes, races, enemies, and story content, which encourage them to experiment with fresh playstyles and return to the game. The new DLC and the depth of the game also contribute to this excitement.
- Frustration (weight 0.13): Frustration arises from gameplay issues such as the Abduction attack frequently missing and low accuracy being a hindrance. Additionally, the DLC not being available, the new orc chainsaw class unable to equip steam weapons at birth, and the Doomelf race being underpowered compared to Shalore all contribute.
- Appreciation (weight 0.09): Players appreciate how the expansion enriches the lore and strategic depth of Tales of Maj'Eyal. The fleshed-out story for the demons is praised as fantastic and the best writing in the game, and the add-on's additional classes and content are valued.
- Disappointment (weight 0.06): Disappointment stems from the Doombringer class being boring, weak, and squishy even at level 35. The DLC also adds very little content, leading to unmet expectations.
- Love (weight 0.06): Players express love for Tales of Maj'Eyal, describing the game as great and addictive, unable to stop playing.
- Boredom (weight 0.06): Boredom is caused by the Doombringer class being boring to play, which led some players to take a break and later pick the game up again.
- Overwhelmed (weight 0.03): Players feel overwhelmed by a stats overload at the start of the game.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.03): Satisfaction comes from discovering and unlocking many things in a nice game.
- Impressed (weight 0.03): Players are impressed by the amount of content offered for the price.
- Intimidation (weight 0.03): Intimidation arises from the complexity of new classes and mechanics, which can overwhelm less experienced players.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.03): Nostalgia is evoked by reliving glory days on an old PC with a real roguelike.
- Admiration (weight 0.03): Admiration is felt because ToME is considered one of the go-to real roguelikes.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.03): Enjoyment is derived from the demon seed mechanic being fun and providing options.
- Displeasure (weight 0.03): Displeasure is caused by the Demonologist having useless skills and randomness in demon seeds.
- Caution (weight 0.03): Caution is advised because new content is much more difficult than the base game and can easily kill new players.
- Thrill (weight 0.03): Thrill comes from the adventure that often whisks the player down a deadlier path.
- Warning (weight 0.03): A warning is given to take nothing for granted, as even the greatest heroes will die again and again.
- Anger (weight 0.03): Anger is expressed at being sick of fire-using classes in the game.
- Fascination (weight 0.03): Fascination is due to the game having so much depth and offering so much for such a little price.
- Guilt (weight 0.03): Guilt is felt from picking up the game on sale for very cheap, leading to donating more to support the developers.}