Abusing Turn-Based mode: two avoidance techniques

I'm sure many people have already discovered how to abuse Turn-Based mode for combat, e.g. with the Backstab skill. In this post i'd like to share what i've learned about abusing TB mode (mostly with magick-using characters) for the sake of virtually never needing to suffer combat in the first place. I've used these methods to waltz through the BMC mines, Hardin's Pass, Thanatos, and even Vendigroth and the Void utterly unmolested.

For those of you who would try a pacifist character: these techniques, while not necessary for success, will make your task far less frustrating and thus more enjoyable.

Random encounters

Be sure to have TB mode set BEFORE departure. As soon as the encounter starts, hit R to initiate combat modeand F5 to call off your party. Natural beasts are easy to quiet with Charm Beast, but people and magickal beasts are more troublesome. In the past i would try Stunning them and then running away, but here's a much more convenient alternative:

Once all enemies are stunned, place your cursor some space above the skill key icon. You want the cursor to be in position to immediately click the round 'travel' button that appears with the world map. Placement will vary if you're using Drog's high resolution patch, but a few tries will show you where you need to go. With your cursor in place, hit W to bring up the map and immediately click the round button. Painless! (NOTE: If you forget to call off your party, they will re-initiate combat.)

The Flash

A high Speed score is required for this. With Enchanted War Boots, high Dexterity, and decent Magickal Aptitude, Speed 30+ can be attained. (Aside: The real-time run speed of a Speed 30 character is MUCH higher than that of a Speed 29 one, so watch your encumbrance level.)

Before an enemy closes with you, initiate combat mode and call off your party. Arcanum's NPCs only check if they see you at the beginning of THEIR turn, and usually that first turn is a 'surprise round' in which they do nothing. We'll use this to our advantage.

Run as usual until you have almost, but not completely, depleted your time units/action points. Don't end up adjacent to an enemy. Now the trick: quickly double-tap R. Combat will end, then restart -- on your turn! All the enemies you passed on your way through are completely oblivious to your existence. Some nearby enemies may become hostile, but your speed will put you easily out of reach on your next turn. Simple and elegant.

NB: Because time is nearly standing still while using this technique, there are some side effects:
- fatigue will not decrease from running OR from constant effect spells
- poison will not damage you
- fatigue limiters, boosters, etc. will last indefinitely
- you may feel like you are breaking the game

NB: You can loot the bodies of people (e.g. the Hand agents in the BMC mines) using the Pickpocket skill.

Final note: If you must double back, you risk being locked in combat with enemies previously made aware. Try alternative routes, or timing your 'time recharge' to give you a security buffer around hostiles.

I hope these two tricks are helpful for those people looking to try a different way of playing Arcanum. If you have any similar tricks of your own, please share them with the rest of us!

Sky

 

Some noteworthy things you mentioned there. Things I've used before at least once during an awkward situation, heh. Essentially, I've found switching between TB and RT can offer a few extra tactics if you're stuck, and help a good deal during difficult situations.

On the subject of abusing survival methods though, there's another 'cheap' method I've used, not really a Turn-Based thing, since it can be done in Real-Time as well. You can abuse the pathing AI from certain angles, and attack an enemy right next to you without receiving a scratch in return.

Simply put, if an enemy is in the tile exactly to the left of the player, and there's something blocking the tile above and between the two, the enemy will stand defenceless while you destroy both them, and all fair play. Works best with structure corners in the blocking role, but not all objects work as 'blockers.'