Bastion
22 Achievements
1,000
15-20h
About the Author
Complete the Stranger's Dream with all ten Shrine Idols invoked.
75
1.81%
How to unlock the About the Author achievement in Bastion - Definitive Guide
Access this particular dream by selecting the History Books in the Bastion. This particular dream only appears in New Game Plus (or Score Attack Mode) and sits just southwest of the Monument, to the left of the Stockpot. It was added as free DLC in the XB360 game.
It consists of 30 waves of all types of enemies.
Glitch? (personally untested): It is apparently possible to use the Battering Ram to complete this dream. If you go through the last level and get to the end [Turn on all 10 idols before starting the last level], choose to pick up Zulf and carry him back. Then when you get to the Bastion, select the History Books and you will enter the Stranger's Dream with only the Battering Ram active. Since there are a number of ranged enemies here I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not but it may be worth a try considering how powerful the Ram is. If you find it too hard with the Ram and you're playing in Score Attack Mode, just finish the game, then click Continue and you'll be back at the Bastion with your regular equipment and you can try it normally.
First off, do this on your 2nd playthrough in Score Attack Mode since that's when you should be worrying about maxing out your level and weapons anyways.
You should be at least lvl 7 before you try this. It's possible earlier, but why torture yourself.
Before I begin, let me preface with this: I've had some questions asked about why I haven't incorporated tips for every single wave (Reflection) or why I have similar solutions for each dream. The reason for this is that you use the same exact method to deal with almost every enemy in the game when using the loadout below (exclusions will be listed in Tips section). Slow them with fire and shoot a mortar at them.
I will provide a few specific tips below for particularly harmful enemies/rounds if deemed necessary or if people comment with questions about specific waves.
Weapons
Galleon Mortar
- Rapid Bombs
- Target System
- High-Explosive Charges
- Dampened Tubing
- Immunity to Bomb Damage (The most important)
Fire Bellows
- Sustainable Fuel
- Napalm Reservoir
- Modified Intake (THE most important tool you'll have. This slows down foes dramatically which makes fast moving enemies much easier to deal with using the Galleon Mortar)
- Contoured Grip OR Shielded Grip (Whichever you prefer)
- Industrial Furnace (Important for range purposes. And since you have the Napalm Resevoir and Modified Intake, just hit them a bit, then roll and use the G. Mortar to finish them off)
Distillery drinks
(I will list the 7 most important ones, then options for 8,9, and 10) :
1) Leechade (THE most important since enemies won't drop health tonics with all idols on)
2) Bastion Bourbon
3) Black Rye
4) Lifewine (You have no idea how useful this is. I was skeptical of it at first but it's literally a lifesaver)
5) Bull Brandy OR Cham-Pain if you don't mind the side-effect
6) Hearty Punch
7) Werewhiskey (This is really important if you still have a few Reflections left but you're out of health tonics. You start doing massive damage at low health which helps you gain back health really fast with Leechade)
8) Bull Brandy OR Cham-Pain (whichever you didn't choose before)
9) Whale Ale
10) Graver Gimlet
Secret Skill
Turret Surprise
(This is extremely useful because besides damaging enemies it also serves as a great distraction and it lasts for a long while if you can help it keep alive. Also, if you've failed a specific round (Reflection) multiple times and find it to be the hardest one, just drop down 2 turrets instead of one)
Tips
Dream Specific:
- There is a "hiding" spot on the far right side of the map. It's behind the 3 stalagmites (pointed cone-shaped rocks). Go on the right side of these rocks (it looks like you're almost falling off the edge). From here you can safely launch your Mortar. Note: some enemies may still be able to reach you so be cautious when using this.
- This dream has tons of more conventional cover that appears over time. Use it constantly, especially to avoid the pincushions.
General:
-Roll......a lot.
-Try to use your Fire Bellows for like half a second to slow down fast moving enemies, then roll out of the way and drop a mortar on their face.
-For squirts, peckers, and stinkeyes, just spray flames all over the places then roll far away and repeat. Don't try to target one individually, your Napalm Reservoir will work it's magic on them over time.
One last tip that can be a huge game changer but is time consuming and/or tricky to pull off:
If you're not at level 10 yet and you're having a very difficult time with a certain dream, get yourself somewhat close to lvling up then enter the dream. If you time it right and can lvl up somewhere near the last 7 reflections or so, then all your health, health tonics, and black tonics will all be restored. This is especially useful for this dream since it is 30 Reflections instead of 20.
If I missed anything or you have any questions please let me know.
Below a clip which helped me get the achievement, using the same settings, weapons, and strategy.
Any suggestions to improve this guide are welcome!
Thanks for voting thumbs up if this guide was useful.
Good luck!
I did this in New Game+ at level 10.
Drinks;
Squirt Cider
Mender Mead
Hearty Punch
Bastion Bourbon
Werewhiskey
Black Rye
Whale Ale
Bull Brandy
Lifewine
Leechade
Weapons;
Galleon Mortar / upgrades = L/R/R/R/R
Brusher's Pike / upgrades = L/L/L/L/L
Trapper's Snare
This level is the bitch of the bunch. The hardest thing in the game to beat. You have to be level ten, with fully upgraded weapons to stand a chance. That's why I did it after my normal and score attack playthroughs because in New Game+ you get more upgrade parts.
If you're careful (ie - take out everything from distance, roll out of trouble, use your shield and hide behind scenery whenever possible) then most of the levels will be pretty easy.
Attack from distance. Use the mortar for almost everything. The pike is perfect for close encounters and also is effective on armoured enemies like those jumping pricks, the bull things and also the plants that close up. You'll be getting some health back for each attack so with some creatures just mash the pike at them and hope to get away with enough health to carry on.
The real sticking points are levels 11 (remaining) where you have archers with poisoned bows (hide behind scenary when you aim you mortar and roll when you aren't), 7 (remaining) where a bastard ninja guy attacks you (this guy is a prick, roll away from him and try to pick him off with your mortar) and the final level (one archer, one ninja and one those underground things that follows you around).
I saved all my black tonics for the final level. I tried it with the 'Turret Surprise' and ate a bag of dicks on it. So then I tried a few others. Ultimately the 'Trapper Snare' did the best job. I was still within one hit of losing the level but I managed it. Just!
www.playstationcountry.com
For each of these Dream achievements, the strategy is basically the same: roll, shoot the mortar, repeat. You won't even block very often, aside from maybe the frog enemies and definitely the sword enemies (VERY important against them - block and only attack after they do). Basically, if you stop moving or are out in the open at all, you're going to get hurt. There are a ton of enemies and you will not get extra health drops, so avoiding damage at all cost is key. Your time doesn't matter, so if you have to roll around the level for a minute to get an opening to shoot, do it. Don't take any chances.
If you can get all the way to Level 10, this will obviously make these achievement easier as you will have more health. However, beating the game will likely leave you well short. I did the first two Dreams at Level 6 and the final two at Level 7.
You will want to bring the Galleon Mortar and the Brusher's Pike for your weapons. The mortar will be your main weapon, as it can wipe out a big group of Squirts in one shot, and kill enemies from a distance which is obviously ideal (especially turrets). The pike is also great for range fighting, but you'll basically only use that in a pinch while the mortar reloads (though it will be your primary against birds and frogs). Make sure you select the "Stonewall Propellant" for the fifth upgrade tier of the mortar so you don't damage yourself. For the other tiers, I'd go with Rapid Bombs, Target System, High-Explosive Charges, and Dampened Tubing. Basically it's a fast/high damage build, getting the most out of quick shots to single targets. The pike upgrades are less important, but avoid anything that mentions throwing it; you won't be doing that.
For your spirits, you'll want to make sure you have Leechade. This is the only thing that will give you extra health (for every hit on an enemy) since you won't get tonic bottles dropping from enemies or between rounds. For the rest, I'd suggest Hearty Punch (+1 Revive), Squirt Cider (+10 Health), Bastion Bourbon (+2 Tonic capacity), Bull Brandy (+15% damage resistance), Lifewine (survive a killing blow), and Cham-Pain (+25% damage/-1 revive). That last one obviously gives you one less revive, but being able to kill most enemies in one shot instead of two is pretty huge. That was my setup at Level 6. Once I hit Level 7 I added Werewhisky (100% critical chance when less than 33% health), but that rarely activated since I tried not to take any damage. Might be better to use Dreadrum (+10% critical chance when at full health).
The Stranger's Dream is the last of the four and also the hardest Who Knows Where stage, accessed by interacting with the History Books memento in the Bastion. The Stranger's Dream features a mix of all the enemies encountered throughout the game, including boss enemies. There are a total of 30 waves.
This was my Spirits setup (Lv. 8):
Tips for Who Knows Where:
- Obviously, reaching Lv. 10 before tackling the Dreams will make this significantly easier. For one, you'll have more health, and two, you'll be able to equip more Spirits.
- In terms of what weapons to carry, personally I found the Galleon Mortar and the Brusher's Pike to be the most ideal.
- A fully upgraded Galleon Mortar is capable of defeating most enemies in 1-2 hits; boss enemies in 6-7 hits. Combine this with its final tier ability, "immunity to bomb damage" and you've not only got yourself a very powerful weapon, you won't take damage from it too.
- Brusher's Pike is ideal because of its incredible range. It is particularly useful when you're waiting for the mortar to reload.
- Having the Leech-Ade Spirit equipped is absolutely essential; its your only source of health. With the Idols activated, enemies will not drop health potions upon being defeated.
- In terms of strategy, it's really simple. Dodge , Shoot/Stab /, repeat as necessary. Constantly dodge whenever you're being swarmed, and hide behind pillars whenever possible (each arena has its own version of pillars). With the mortar equipped, you can pretty much just snipe from behind one while enemies struggle to get around it; easy kill.
Complete all 30 waves, while all 10 idols from the Shrine are invoked, to unlock this trophy.
For those who prefer visual aid, please refer to the video below courtesy of YOGSCAST Nilesy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCfGv3BGdGs
Video tip .
And yes, this dream should be left for last; without certain skills, much may not work out.