The Gentlemen's Club

I've started playing Arcanum again after a long hiatus, and have run into a familiar problem: my female character has to bribe Wellington to get into the Club. Now, according to the walkthrough and my own prior experience, if one takes the conversation tree to the option "how about I let you live instead of ripping your throat out," he wimps out and forks over an invitation. I remember in the past having evoked this.

This time around, however, he gets huffy, raises his price, and there is no option to continue to try to intimidate him. I thought at first perhaps it was
because I lacked Persuasion, so I went to Madame Lil's and got Expert with 3 points in and 12 CHR. No joy -- he still won't knuckle under.

So I "borrowed" a few points using the character editor and raised Persuasion to five and CHR to 18, and the bugger STILL insists on his pound of flesh. It seems I must need some other stat or ability to intimidate him. I pumped up strength to 18 (with the Editor), and that still didn't work, even in combination with 5 points of Expert persuasion and the 18 CHR.

It's not a critical thing, since I can always pay his price, but it's annoying. Anybody know what I'm missing?

-- Mal

 

There is indeed a check during the conversation with Mr Wellington, but it's neither a persuasion nor a charisma check. Not a strength check either, but you were close. A melee check it is - 8/20 or more melee is required to convince him to give you an invitation to the Gentlemen's Club for free.

 

Ah, that would explain it, then. This char was using only throwing for combat.

-- Mal