sorry guys...Newb question

<S.O.S.>

I just bought Arcanum ($25.00 online...woohoo!) and have been "playing" for about 2 days. I mean, geez, I keep RESTARTING with new characters.

I guess I just can't convince myself that I have a character who can progress through the game (ie. if I make a mage, I decide I need picklocking skill; if I make a Thief, I decide I need melee and dodge; etc., etc. ad infinitum, ad nauseum *UGH!*).

The last game I had this much trouble with (deciding on a character build) was Deus Ex and it took me, like, 6 weeks to finish !

*Sigh* Sorry...got a little long-winded...anyway, can somebody give me some advice for a decent (doesn't have to be perfect) character build so I can finish (*cough* start *cough*) the game ? I would REALLY appreciate some insight on what attributes, skills, and magic/tech I should pump for a single char who can finish the game.

Thanks in advance...

</S.O.S.>

S_S

 

Okay - you just want some clues...

Fighter/Mage is probably the most powerful combo

Direct Damage mage spells rock

A point of Dodge w/ apprentice and a point of melee or throw w/ apprentice goes a LONG way early on.

A 20 Dex is good for everyone

A couple points of Charisma/Persuasion make the game more fun dialogue-wise

Almost any character that can get out of Shady Hills can be developed into a "game winner" - HAVE FUN!!!

~Aldin

p.s. the efficacy of the STAT boosting level 1 mage spells cannot be overstated e.g. Agility of Fire

 

One more thing:

Don't be afraid to use fate points when you get stuck. For instance: my techie character, no lockpicking, got stuck at a certain door in the game. I used a fate point, pickpocketed a guard, and progressed.
Sometimes, you'll get to a point where your character just doesn't have the skills to progress the way you want. Use that fate point, then!

 

Advice: Choose your followers wisely. :smile:

 

I can relate, I had the same problem at first.

I must have started my character over at least a dozen times because I couldn't decide which way to commit myself.

Personally, I went for tech over magick because I can play magic in countless other games and I wanted to be able to create items from schematics.

For a decent starting character, try this:
half-orc with mad doctor background.
You get a +2 mod to IN and PE. The IN boost is great for learning new schematics. The PE boost is great if you choose to focus on firearms. Besides, the penalties you receive from this background are sort of off-set by the bonuses you get for being a half-orc.

 

I went for a human thief with no significant background.

I concentrated on dexterity and perception and by the end of the game I had a level 50 thief with a mastery in melee, dodge, backstab, pick pocket, prowling and pick locks. After mastering these I invested the remaining points in charisma/persuasion and strength. Allthough my thief had no magickal or technical skills he could kick some serious ass in battle using the prowling/backstab combo with a sword of air.

 

Yeah

I played a thief without magical or technical aptitude and did really well, but I got bored with the melee combat and started another dwarf marksman. Though guns still seem too weak to me, I put some points into throw and explosives for sticky situations, so I'm ok.

 

Just wanted to say thanks for the tips. fellas. I played over the weekend and got my Level 27 Fighter/Mage (Master of Throwing w/ Azura's Star...or something like that), all the 1st-lvl Stat boosting spells, all Conveyance spells (Teleport...gotta love it), Harm, and the Fire tree at level 3, 3 followers and 1 point Apprentice in pickpocket...life is good :smile:

Couldn't have done it without you guys...at least now I'm actually PLAYING. Next time through tho, I'm gonna build me a Dwarf Techie just to be able to ride the damn train !

Thanks again :smile:

S_S

edit: After completing a grueling correspondence course in 3rd-grade spelling, I've recently become aware that the word "the" does not include the letter "o" *sigh*.
Now for my next trick...

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Sirius_Sam on 2001-09-24 15:51 ]</font>