This has probably already been discussed here, but I just found out something more impressive about Arcanum. I've played a half-ogre combat specialist a few times, and the extremely limited selection of large armors was pretty chafing. It was also pretty annoying that I had to kill that guy - sorry, I forgot his name - and his two half-ogre guards to get their armor, even if I was playing a good character. I considered trying to MAKE better large armor, but I suspected that the game wouldn't allow it. I figured that the "Spool of Heavy Wire plus Leather Armor" schematic wouldn't work with "Spool of Heavy Wire plus Large Leather Armor". But I just tried it, and it did. Amazing! Now I've got to see if I can make large elite platemail. What's the best large armor that anyone here has ever found or created?
Generally, I've always considering killing "Lukan the Witless" (an apropos nomenclature indeed) to be a "good" thing to do and *not* killing him and getting the thieves guild quests started to be the "bad" thing to do. But that's just me.
Philes wrote: No, I didn't mean Lukan - that only gets you large leather armor (is that available anywhere else in the game? If not, then it would only be possible to build two large featherweight chainmails or elite plates, which would suck). I was talking about much later in the game, when Teach has lost his ship and you run across the Gambling Master, Killian Drake. He has two half-ogre guards who are wearing what I believe is the best large armor that you can normally find in the game, unless you can find large dragonskin leather for sale (I seem to recall seeing it once or twice, but I'm not sure). It was metal armor...probably chain. Definitely better than large guard leather. But if you wanted it, you basically had to kill him and the bodyguards without provocation.
Large Machined Plate is great stuff. Of course, you need a little help to make that as a half ogre. It's Large Elite Plate plus Minute Steamworks. As for large electro-armor...I've never been able to find large basic plate in the game, at least not in regular Arcanum.
Why do you need help as a half-ogre? I just started a half-ogre Idiot Savant, and was able to get his Intelligence to 20 pretty quickly. I assume he'll be able to make Large Machined Plate, once I get his technical skills to the necessary level?
That's what I meant. Playing as a regular half ogre limits your intelligence, and you need a background boost to make up for it. Either that or take essence of intellect potions.
Since they are bad guys, killing them doesn't lower your alignment. Plus you don't HAVE to kill them, you can bluff them into leaving voluntarily. Any armor you can make, you can make in a half-ogre size, I believe. I prefer the Elite plate over the Machined plate though- it saves a lot of weight and you don't really need THAT much defense. Also, you can find- and steal- two Large Basic Plate Armor suits in Black Root from the bodyguards of the Gambling master (he appears in the tavern when you get the quest to go to Thanatos). The big shame is that half-ogres cannot get the Barbarian background. A Large Barbarian armor could be awesome, as it gives you the defence of a chain mail, but without the burdensome weight.
He won't have any fate points at that stage. Shrouded Hills bridge fate point is the first one you get. Of course, with some patience and save/load the key can be stolen without a fate point and with zero points in pickpocket. Although you don't get a fate point if Lukan stays at the bridge. Bluffing him is a better alternative. Bluffing him AND killing him right after that is ideal, it gives you TWO fate points for one quest.
