what do you advice?

Discussion in 'Arcanum Hints & Tips' started by jorrit, Dec 20, 2003.

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  1. jorrit

    jorrit New Member

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    This is the current situation:

    I'm lvl 8, have Virgil and Sogg. I've finished almost all quests at crashsite, SH and am busy doing my things in the Cumbria kingdom atm.
    These are also the only places I've been (plus Wolf Cave and Liams house/portal).
    I didnt wanted to only specialise in either tech or magic, but I have about nothing from both at this stage. While playing the game I now get the impression that it's almost impossible to play neither of those and just go with a bit of both or completely without.
    What do you think?

    anyway, I've pumped my points (halfelf/bornundersign) in melee, dodge, persuasion, dex, firearms and...hmmm...well that's about it with my 8 lvls...
    also, I cant get Dante. I already collected the taxes (but didnt return them yet). WHen i talk to him again he ask if I need his help and the only thing I can say is "goodbye"...
    I read in other posts that it should make a difference if you have or dont have the taxes. I also had Sogg waiting outside for a free spot.
    Whats up with this?

    How can I get the option for more then 2 followers anyway?
    And....how am I suppose to fight (and live...) at this level against lvl 20 great void lizards, packs of those lvl 12 poison beasts etc etc?

    I have finally managed to find a lockpicking set, but when I try to use it when I still have 0 skills, Virgil keeps nicely quiet....
    argh....why wont the fool make himself a bit useful for once??

    Is there truely another entrance to the pits?
    I read something about 1235/1650 coordinates and 7 screens to the left and 11/12 to the north. Is this correct?
    If there indeed is another entrance, can you give me maybe a bit more clues where to find it, as I've spend hours (ingame fortunatly....) to find it?

    But basicly....do you think I've messed things up to much and should start over?
    I dont think that at this stage I am very far in the game....but I still dislike the idea to hear all the dialogues, do all the quests and explore/loot all the dungeons etc again....
    Can you maybe give some tips how I could build up my new char when it should match about the above subscription but isnt totally effectless?
    ....or is the char I have now not lost at all...?

    many thanks from a puzzled newbe!

    ps. my excuses for the long post
     
  2. Some Strange Man

    Some Strange Man New Member

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    Well, long posts arent frowned on unless they contain nothing but schnitzels.

    Get charisma, persuasion and decent combat skills and you can go through quite easily.

    I would have dumped firearms in favour of intelligence/charisma as they are useful for everyone.

    Dante can only join if you havent gotten the tax yet.

    Boost Charisma.

    you arent. you are meant to take on the challenges in tarant, which if you do a sewercrawl to start with, would see you fighting rats primarily.

    if those are the pits im thinking of, then dont go there, you are far too weak.

    no. it is recoverable if you go to tarant and do some of the easier quests.

    Well to start with

    1. decide what things you would like your guy to do

    i.e. do you want him to be an up close melee fighting elf (melee/dodge str dex con), or do you want him to hide in the shadows and snipe people (firearms/prowl dex per con int) Or, do you want that really cool [insert name here] spell (wis/int + spells)

    2. find easier missions (tarant) and do them for XP

    3. Prioritise with your character points - worry about nice features later.
     
  3. Dark Elf

    Dark Elf Administrator Staff Member

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    Just one point regarding that - you don't really need to push your Int. Unless you plan to use Int-based skills, you could just quaff an essence of intellect on the few occasions it's needed in dialogue.
     
  4. jorrit

    jorrit New Member

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    you arent. you are meant to take on the challenges in tarant, which if you do a sewercrawl to start with, would see you fighting rats primarily.
    (quote from Some Strange Man)

    Is my char supposed to go to Tarant first when I get out of SH instead of Dermhol(or whatever the name is)?
    What about the package mission then? btw, is it true that when I've gotten the misson and then repair the Machine, she wont accept the package when I return to SH?


    Are evil/good balanced?
    Or does one gives you much advantages?
    I can imagine that nice thing about evil is that you just kill much more for additional exp, but maybe the story is cooler for 'good' and there are more quests and stronger followers.
    what do you think about that?

    very basic questions about fatepoints; how do I get fatepoints, what is it that I can do with them excactly?
     
  5. Some Strange Man

    Some Strange Man New Member

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    The main plot takes you to Tarant after SH. Dernholm is not involved in the main plot, but you need it there for the extra missions (and therefore XP)

    i believe so.

    They are fairly balanced if you can allow your good character to do some thieving, which ive never notice affect alignment.

    you get different followers.

    e.g. Perriman Smythe (good) vs Geoffrey Tarrelond Ashe (evil) Human mage vs human mage
    Raven vs Z'An Alurin Elfin archer-mage vs Elfin Mage
    etc.

    The strongest follower IMO is Dog, and i dont think dog cares how good or evil you are.

    The end of the story for "good" people is more interesting than the end of the story for "evil" characters. Though you'd need to be playing someone exceptionally evil to do the evil ending.


    you get fate points when you do something "major", one instance that comes to mind is talking loghaire out of his exile.

    Fatepoints can rescue a battle if you use them for a full heal at an oppurtune time. They can get you damned nice equipment if you pickpocket people. Most people here use it for nice equipment.
     
  6. Tholtan DarkOne

    Tholtan DarkOne New Member

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    Do not be affraid of this quest. I'll give you a VERY worthy tip. When you reported to Liam's mutty, and you are going to destroy a portal you have to do this(read carefully): Follow the road. When some monster notice your presence RUN LIKE HELL (of course still follow the road)! Take magtrap from death body and still run! When are you in one screen with the portal (so u can see it) use trap to it(and run). The destruction of portal kills all Void creatures in the area either. This simple quest will bring you at least 2 levels!


    P.S. - My apologies for such miserable English in all my posts.
     
  7. Shire

    Shire New Member

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    Or if you wait a bit to be rady, you can level forever there, or like I like to do, about 20 levels. I've done this with a pure mage and a backstabber.

    With mage you need Harm, lots of potions which give you fatigue back, a couple of haste potions and a few fatigue slowers. Drink haste, f. slower and start harming the beasts. Once all of them are dead, don't quit your combat just yet. Drink your fatigue to full and then exit combat and staqrt clicking harm on the incoming mosters. When you finally run out of potions to replenish your fatigue, use the magick trap or the scroll to destroy the gate.
    With a backstabber almost same. After every wave of enemies, heal and do whatever you need and then exit combat, re-enter combat.

    Well, everyone prolly knew this, so it was worthless babble. Anyways.
     
  8. Solaris

    Solaris New Member

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    The number of monsters in the portal is limited, but BIG. You can easily gain 15-20 levels. I recommend coming there as soon as you have acquired all followers you're planning to have in your team- and have a feast on those lizards!
     
  9. jorrit

    jorrit New Member

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    what would be an appropiate level for a lockpicking, pickpocketing, persuavive, melee fighter Half Elf?

    (btw, is such char playeble and any good? what background would fit both the dex skills, social things and melee..?)


    =/ I never been beyond Black Root and only had Virgil and Sogg Mead Mug as followers so far..... so frankly I wouldnt have a clue about this.
    but knowing myself I prolly want to have as many followers as I can and the most strongest!

    this Dog figure, is that the Weartless 'Something' described in the followers bank.

    Will going through the middle moral path (alingment of 5-10 on the good side) be any good, or do you HAVE to be either good or 'evil' and tech or magic to get anywhere in the game or to not have a VERY hard time?[/quote]
     
  10. Solaris

    Solaris New Member

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    Appropriate level for doing what?

    Of course he is playable, even though half-elves suffer penalty on tech skills like lock picking (keep that in mind). You have DX bonus that makes you faster, you have no penalties on ST or combat skills... of course he is playable. I suggest a background that gives you bonus on tech skills- to compensate for racial penalty.



    I was talking about the portal near Black Root. Technically, you CAN finish the game with just Virgil and Sogg. The question is- do you want more company? There are some very useful followers out there.

    Worthless Mutt. Yes, he is the one and only Dog, a real killing machine and most lethal follower you can get. Take a train from Black Root to Ashbury, RUN to the tavern and search for poor little level 12 doggy being beaten up by a gnome. If you aren't fast enough, the bastard will kill Dog.

    Alignment doesn't affect game playability. Some followers will only accompany good guys, others won't join a nice guy. Some people will react on you different than others. The only question is whether you feel like defeating the Big Bad Guy and saving Arcanum- or you want to join him and help him instead.
     
  11. jorrit

    jorrit New Member

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    being able to defeat the portal creatures
     
  12. Solaris

    Solaris New Member

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    Depends on your party and equipment. Technically, with good enough weapons and armor you can try it at level 15. The creatures only come out of the portal in packs of 3-4. Make sure to either wear a tough armor with many hot points, or an additional armour suit, because Arayas damage armor for 10 hit points every time they hit you.
     
  13. Blinky969

    Blinky969 Active Member

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    Jorrit, this may be something you haven't realized yet, but every character is playable. Playing a Half-Ogre pure fighter is sometimes easier than playing some super mage, or techie. Every single character type has a way to win.

    If you want alot of followers, raise your ch
    If you want to be a negotiator, raise your ch and be, and put points into persuasion
    If you want to mix it up yourself, put points into dx, st, melee, and dodge

    Don't plan your guys based on what you need now, plan them based on what you want when you hit level 50, then you prioritize that.

    For instance, if I want to make a guy, I say, this guy is going to end up having 5 in all combat. Then, as I go through the game, if I realize I'm using a bow more than my melee weapon, I'll put points into bow first, then melee.
     
  14. jorrit

    jorrit New Member

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    well, I started over and am past SH, been in Cumbria and Blackroot, and having the exp meter at lvl 10.

    then I decided that all the violence made my char snap, so I slaughtered SH. Found some armor which makes me almost naked and people are addressing me with "barbarian".

    I totally think it rocks, though I dislike the fact that I dont get very aggressive dialogue options.
    Apart from being lvl 10, so a bit weak for playing the kill em all dude, I cant get more followers; dante, vollinger, jayna and worthless mugg wont join me and Sogg is about to leave.

    Is there from this point an option to continu playing, following somehow the storyline and pick up some evul followers somewhere?
    Or have I gone totally evul too soon and will it not really work from this point?

    ps. the armor is such kool plx :lol:
     
  15. jankiel

    jankiel Member

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    yes there is always an option to cont playing
     
  16. jorrit

    jorrit New Member

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    :roll:

    k

    someone maybe has a bit more imput?
     
  17. jankiel

    jankiel Member

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    Go to Tarant to the Schulyers and learn about the ring.
    If ya want evil folowers then pick Geoffrey from Ashbur and Torian Kel from an ancient temple
     
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