Jade Empire


I picked up Jade Empire on a Steam sale in 2023. This document contains loosely organized planning, notes, and thoughts. There are no plot spoilers, because I haven't played the game yet. I did look up nonspoiler tips and included some info from those results.


At first, the game failed to launch, showing the "Unable to find Steam" error that is apparently pretty common. I fixed this per these instructions, which say to:
  1. navigate to the game's data directory, which in my case this was C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Jade Empire\data
  2. create an empty text file named SystemInformation.xml
  3. copy the Steam.dll from the Steam folder (a few levels up) into the main game directory (not the data directory)
I also changed the JadeEmpireConfig.exe file to use Windows Vista SP 2 compatibility before I did the above. That didn't seem to help, but I mention it just in case.

I couldn't see the mouse cursor at first. At first, I was in full screen 1920x1080. I tried:

The D3DAdapter did fix an issue with scrollbars I was having - before that change I couldn't properly scroll - it'd jump to either the beginning or end but I couldn't stop in the middle. Even after this, they were twitchy and often didn't work right. But at least sometimes they did.

I also started the game by directly launching the "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Jade Empire\JadeEmpire.exe" file instead of using the Steam launcher.
There are various troubleshooting tips in the Steam discussion forum.

Some people say there's a bug where the entire computer has to be periodically restarted or the game slows down?!!?


From https://forum.rpg.net/index.php?threads/jade-empire-general-advice.247180/:

Only concentrate on a limited number of styles. You basically get enough points that if you do all the sidequests you can max out about four styles, and half-fill another. you'll definitely want to max out your martial arts style and a weapons style; that leaves magic, support and transformation styles. You tend to get better styles later in the game, so if you spend your points early you'll miss out. Therefore: Talk to your companions a lot, to get their entire backstories. After you finish a major quest is a good time.

Pick a morality - either Open Palm or Closed Fist - and stick to it.

Dodging is often better than parrying

Support styles can be used to set up enemies for an insta-kill from your martial style.

If you're doing Closed Fist, then Storm Dragon + Tiger Style is brutal. Storm Dragon initiates a combo when you use its area attack, and also stuns those around you; hitting them with Tiger Style then causes them to explode and drop a Focus power-up. This means that in big fights you can enter focus mode (slowing down you enemies by a factor of three or four), hit those around you with a storm blast and then kill four or so before the effect wears off. They'll all drop focus, so you can keep time slowed down, and move on to do the same to any survivors. It requires decent timing, but it's ludicrously lethal - in game time you can basically turn six to eight enemies to a fine red mist virtually instantaneously.

If you're doing Open Palm, The Paralyzing Palm Harmonic combo permanently paralyzes them, and the Stone Immortal Harmonic Combo kills them in one hit.

One person's favorite choices:

OPEN PALM: ("The Fists and Feet of Heaven Style")
CLOSED FIST: ("Lightning Tiger, Tempest Dragon Style")
Somebody said this: My primary character used the Paralysing Palm/Legendary Strike combo quite a bit. It's not as fast as using Storm Dragon (since you need to do Strong attacks to start the timer), but on the plus side it turns the enemies to stone - the advantage of that (beyond the coolness of finishing the fight with half a dozen statues of your enemies which you then shatter into fragments) is than you can use Spirit Drain on the statues to replenish both your Chi and (via healing) Health. As a result, you're effectively refilling two of your three bars between every fight (if you have the patience you can do the same with Dawn Star in support mode, since she'll slowly replenish your Chi, but it takes ages).

There are three endings: Good (Open Palm), Neutral, and Evil (Closed Fist)

Somebody said: I would recommend not putting points into the Chi damage for styles. It always seemed a monumental waste of points and Chi to me. Also, talk to Kang several times in mid game. He can unlock a separate area that's very useful to you. (Two of my friends played through the game and never knew the place existed until I told them.)

The real key in combat is to leap around like a hyperactive monkey on a sugar high. Dodge lots - not only does it avoid blows, its the fastest way to move around the field. If you dodge towards an enemy you'll leap over their head and land behind them, attacking from behind (this is the other way to break a Block, other than Strong Attack). When facing a group of enemies (which is most of the time) try to cut one away from the group and beat him up until his allies approach, then leap away and pick a new target. Having more than one person actually attacking you at once is a recipe for pain.


From https://www.reddit.com/r/jadeempire/comments/gwsizo/just_bought_the_game_on_steam_any_advice/

Buy every permanent buff item you can from each vendor. Explore to find cool lore. The best parts of the game are your interactions with your companions, so talk to them often. Companions are best left in support mode, as they do very little damage.

Don't skimp on the dialogue skills (charm, etc.). For the best results for some quests you will need all of them.

One companion has a connection to the fighting tournament in the Imperial Arena. When you're in the Imperial City, enter the tournament and fight your way all the way to the champion, Ravager. Then see what happens.

If you read all the scrolls in a set you get a nice little buff and they add up. There is a gem called Gem of the Frail Scholar which doubles that xp, so equip it before reading!

You'll meet two magic teachers in Tien's Landing. One will teach you a new magic style if you reach a certain level of Open Palm, the other will teach you a style if you are far enough on Closed Fist. Both of these styles are cooler and more useful than the ones you can choose from in Two Rivers.

After your first playthough (to avoid spoilers) download and install the mod "Jade empire in style" if you can! It's like a huge overhaul of stuff, from new martial styles, to gems and even mechanics. Get it from jade-empire-in-style.com


From https://www.reddit.com/r/jadeempire/comments/wvwlib/anything_i_should_know_before_playing_my_first_run/

Chi and chi regain are very very strong, since chi can empower attacks, use magic and transformation styles, and regain health at 1:1. (In other words, gaining chi is effectively also gaining health, up to the point that damage is oneshotting you).

Basically every style has a three-attack cycle. Enemies frequently recover from your hitstun between the third attack and you beginning the first attack of the cycle again, so this is when you want to plan to block or dodge. Hit-hit-hit-evade.

Leaping Tiger and Legendary Strike are probably the better beginner choices.

If you get a bug on a transition where your camera just starts pointing at the floor, save and reload fixes it immediately.

Although I personally prefer having the..."guardian" as an active combatant for reasons that will become obvious the moment you meet them, having your party member in meditation mode can downright trivialize the game if you so choose. Having someone constantly feed you chi passively is a huge boon if you're struggling, and that advantage is greater than the occasional derpy AI for combat. The aforementioned "guardian" is the only exception because of how damage types work in this game.

Watch the credits


From https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/918890-jade-empire/55275242

I found the start of the game to be brutal, although others didn't seem to have the problems I had. Better games hold your hand to start off with and this is usually true for Bioware titles. Sadly, it's not true for this game and you have a fairly savage first chapter to negotiate. I couldn't believe how hard it was and I nearly gave up before leaving the starting village. Having completed the first chapter/village, things take a turn for the better and the rest of the game is generally balanced.

===========================

Flyer Controls:


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Configuration of the Horse:

"The tiger feeds on the stone of the cow. All but the cogs are watching for the tiger to feed."
Yields: ???
Configuration of the Ox:

"Foul smelling water must be purified of the taint of a rotten egg. Only the water wheel and the appluading stack can manage it, even then only with the dragon's help"
Yields: ???
Configuration of the Dragon:

"Configuration guided by the tiger burn bright as the cauldron bubbles in the night. The cogs whirl their graceful dances, but they grow tired unless they drink of the water infused with sulphur."
Yields: ???
Configuration of the Snake:

"To think that any machine could be designed around the principles of starting motion with a tiger, of all things, is to dally with utter madness. As if this were not enough, no machine made by the hands can be fueled with iron infused with nickel. The resulting metal, while strong, is inert to reactions. Even application of electrical current and the introduction of chimney smoke into a mechanical caludron, as proposed, produced no appreciable result."
Yields permanent technique: Calm as the Morning Breeze (Mind +5)

Configuration of the Tiger:

"Iron is made stronger through the alloy, and nickel binds well to make a sharp blade. It can also be a reactive fuel, but certain configurations must be preserved. The dragon watches over the controlled lightning, while the cogs spin dutifully on their own."
Yields: ???
====================

Here is the build I used for my first playthrough. It is probably pretty bad, as I tried very hard to avoid plot spoilers, and therefore didn't really know what I was doing.


I gained various stat buffs along the way, and did not record them individually. But I took them into account on levelup by recording the old and new attribute value. So if an attribute appears to jump for no reason between levels, it is probably because I acquired a buff.
Progression details per level (g = granted, s = selected)

Character Level Attributes Skills Other
1 Body: 3
Spirit: 4
Mind: 3		 Style: Legendary Strike
Style: Heavenly Wind
2 Body: +1 (4 => 5)
Spirit: +1 (5 => 6)
Mind: +1 (4 => 5)		 Legendary Strike Damage Increase I (1)
Legendary Strike Damage Increase II (2)
Legendary Strike Damage Increase III (4)
Legendary Strike Speed Increase I (1)
Legendary Strike Speed Increase II (2)		 Style: Ice Shard
(from cave, not level up)
3 Body: +1 (7 => 8)
Spirit: +1 (7 => 8)
Mind: +1 (6 => 7)		 Legendary Strike Speed Increase III (4)
Legendary Strike Chi Damage I (1)
4 Body: +1 (10 => 11)
Spirit: +1 (10 => 11)
Mind: +1 (8 => 9)		 Banked 5 skill points
5 Body: +2 (12 => 13)
Mind: +1 (11 => 13)		 Legendary Strike Damage Increase IV (6)
Legendary Strike Chi Damage II (2)		 Used 3 banked points, leaving 2
6 Body: +1 (14 => 15)
Spirit +1 (14 => 15)
Mind: +1 (14 => 15)		 Legendary Strike Speed Increase IV (6) Used 1 banked points, leaving 2
How'd that math work?
Shouldn't I just have 1 left?
But I had 2.
7 Body: +1 (16 => 17)
Spirit +1 (16 => 17)
Mind: +1 (16 => 17)		 Legendary Strike Chi Damage III (4) I had 9 points to use, even though I only had 2 banked.
Do I get one per level after level 5 or something?
Anyway, I used 4 and banked 5.
8 Body: +1 (18 => 19)
Spirit +1 (18 => 19)
Mind: +1 (18 => 19)		 Legendary Strike Damage Increase V (10) I had 13 points to use, so it looks like the 1 per level is right
I banked 3
9 Body: +1 (20 => 21)
Spirit +1 (20 => 21)
Mind: +1 (20 => 21)		 Legendary Strike Speed Increase V (10) Banked 2
10 Body: +1 (22 => 23)
Spirit +1 (22 => 23)
Mind: +1 (22 => 23)		 Legendary Strike Chi Damage IV (6)
Spirit Thief Chi Damage I (1)
Spirit Thief Chi Damange II (2)
Spirit Thief Speed Increase I (1)
Spirit Thief Speed Increase II (2)		 Used all points
11 Body: +2 (27 => 29)
Spirit +1 (28 => 29)		 Legendary Strike Chi Damage V (10)
Spirit Thief Duration Increase I (1)		 Used all points
12 Body: +1 (31 => 32)
Mind +2 (29 => 31)		 Spirit Thief Chi Damage III (4)
Spirit Thief Chi Damage IV (6)
Spirit Thief Duration Increase II (2)		 Used all points
13 Body: +1 (33 => 34)
Mind +2 (32 => 34)		 Spirit Thief Chi Damage V (4) Banked 3 points
14 Body: +3 (35 => 38) Spirit Thief Duration Increase III (4)
Spirit Thief Duration Increase IV (6)
Spirit Thief Speed Increase III (4)		 Banked 3 points
15 Body: +3 (38 => 41) Spirit Thief Duration Increase V (10)
Spirit Thief Speed Increase IV (6)		 Banked 2 points
16 Mind: +3 (42 => 45) Spirit Thief Speed Increase IV (10)
Paralyzing Palm Speed Increase I (1)
Paralyzing Palm Speed Increase II (2)
Paralyzing Palm Speed Increase III (4)
Mirabelle Damage Increase I (1)		 Used all points
17 Body: +3 (48 => 51) Mirabelle Damage Increase II (2)
Mirabelle Damage Increase III (4)
Mirabelle Speed Increase I (1)
Mirabelle Speed Increase II (2)
Mirabelle Speed Increase III (4)
Paralyzing Palm Duration Increase I (1)
Paralyzing Palm Duration Increase II (2)
 Banked 1 point
18 Body: +2 (52 => 54)
Mind +1 (52 => 53)		 Mirabelle Damage Increase II (2)
Mirabelle Damage Increase III (4)
Mirabelle Speed Increase I (1)
Mirabelle Speed Increase IV (6)
Mirabelle Speed Increase V (10)
Mirabelle Focus Cost Reduction I (1)
Mirabelle Focus Cost Reduction II (2)		 Used all points
19 Mind +3 (54 => 57) Paralyzing Palm Speed Increase IV (6)
Paralyzing Palm Speed Increase V (10)		 Banked 3 points
20 Mind +3 (58 => 61) Paralyzing Palm Duration Increase III (4)
Paralyzing Palm Duration Increase IV (6)
Paralyzing Palm Duration Increase V (10)		 Banked 3 points
21 Spirit +3 (64 => 67) Mirabelle Damage Increase IV (6)
Mirabelle Damage Increase V (10)
Mirabelle Focus Cost Reduction III (4)		 Banked 4 points
22 Spirit +3 (68 => 71) Mirabelle Focus Cost Reduction IV (6)
Mirabelle Focus Cost Reduction V (10)
Fortune's Favorite Damage Increase I (1)
Fortune's Favorite Damage Increase II (2)
Fortune's Favorite Damage Increase III (4)
Fortune's Favorite Speed Increase I (1)
Fortune's Favorite Speed Increase II (2)		 Used all points
23 Body +1 (72 => 73)
Spirit +1 (72 => 73)
Mind +1 (71 => 72)		 Fortune's Favorite Damage Increase IV (6)
Fortune's Favorite Damage Increase V (10)
Fortune's Favorite Damage Increase III (4)
Fortune's Favorite Focus Cost Reduction I (1)
Fortune's Favorite Focus Cost Reduction II (2)
Fortune's Favorite Focus Cost Reduction III (4)		 Used all points
Summary after playing: this was a fun game, well worth the bargin-basement price I paid for it. The build I used worked well. The Paralyzing Palm + Legendary Strike Harmonic Combo was very powerful against enemies not immune to it, and Mirabelle was very useful in various boss fights. The main downside was that I played on PC, and I think the controls would have been much better on console.