Mad Doctor needs your help

Hello,

My name is Medoc Spiritwarden and I'm a dwarf who specializes in Explosives and Chemistry, and I am currently an apprentice at Throwing and Heal.

My further studies in Technology and Heal will require me to improve my Intelligence, while my Grenade and Boomerang Throwing capabilities will require me to improve my Dexterity. I have read in an ancient manual that practicing ones Strength will allow him to hurl thrown items further than normal, though, Perception will enhance ones ability to use ranged weapons effectively. Which of those two should I improve? Strength of Perception? Or maybe both?

My search for "The Boy" has just begun, as I have just recently met Magnus, and I am looking for interesting folks to travel with. I like having a couple of allies by my side, especially ones who talk a lot (like Magnus and Virgil). Unfortunately, Since I started experimenting with Technology, my friend Virgil's magical healing has started to fizzle. Soon, I'll have to let him go and find some other ally, which doesn't fall unconscious every time he tries to heal me. Even though I'm a Mad Doctor, I am usually very nice and helpful to people around, so cold hearted people might not want to join me. Would any of you know any names of such people who might want to join my cause?

P.S
I'm not from the same clan as Magnus, in case you wondered why a dwarf would tell his family name so easily.

 

Troll, psycho or an honest new innovative member? Will we ever find out?

 

I can't help you with your questions but loved the presentation I don't believe we have met. My name is Chadwick Moore (yes very imaginative) I'm also a dwarf like you and appearently not from Magnus' clan. I'm known for my intellect and skill in shooting. I have written a book - An Unfortunate Affair - and I'm about to become a master of firearms. I also enjoy the way of mechanics and smithy. It's been a pleasure to meet you.

 

Why hello there, fellow traveller! And what an original way of introducing yourself to this forum.

Beware though, for the hints I am giving you below, might be considered SPOILERS.

As far as I know, you really only need to raise your DEX for your Throwing Skill. Once you become a Throwing Expert, you will automatically be able to throw 50% farther than before. Throwing Mastery is not affected by range penalties at all (IIRC).
IF you want to start hurling really heavy objects at people (i.e. those stones in Ashbury or the one at Torin Quarry), you will of course need to up your STR. Raising PER will probably raise your hit chance, but I've played lots of Throwing Characters before and I've never bothered to actually put CPs into PER. Didn't have to. Plus: there are gadgets in the game that'll up your PER for you without having to waste those precious CPs on it. Think: Goggled Helmet. Think: Trapmaker's Spectacles.

That's a mistake a lot of players seem to make. Thing is: Virgil is also skilled in the normal Heal skill and he can perfectly heal Technologists with Bandages instead of magick. Bandages are for sale at regular shops and from Therapeutists. Just put a couple of these Bandages in Virgil's inventory and he'll use them to cure what ails you. Stock up on them each time you visit a town or shop, because Bandages can only be used 10 times and Virgil uses a lot of them in early and mid game.

You could pick up the female Tech healer in Dernholm. I forgot her name though (Jayna?). She's good natured, can make you all the Healing Potions and Poison Cures you need, plus: she can eventually make the first 4 or 5 Therapeutics schematics as well. She kinda sucks as a fighter, though.
Pick up the dog in Ashbury if you need a really good fighter. Pick him up the first time you visit Ashbury, though, and within an hour of Arcanum gameplay, or else he'll have died. Best melee fighter in the game and basically all you'll ever need to stand your own in battle.
Other Techies you could pick up later in the game: Vollinger (he has a nice side-quest and can be found in - I think - Dernholm) and Sebastian (The Boil in Tarant). Sebastian kicks arse.

Also: remember that you can temporarily raise your INT with 10 points by drinking a Potion of Intellect. This is mighty handy if you want to study all the schematics in a certain field (19 INT required), but don't feel like raising your INT to the max. Since you're studying Healing as well, this might not be an option for you (seeing you'll need 18 INT to become a Master Healer anyway), but it's a trick I often use as a Tech character. A Potion of Intellect doesn't work for very long, but it's long enough to study a schematic and make some technological gadgetry.

Oh, and welcome to the forum!

-- floyd

 

I am no troll, I am a dwarf. I am no psycho, I'm a doctor, just a mad one.

Nice to meet you too, my Dwarf friend. May your beard ever be soaked in ale rather than vomit. I am looking forward to reading your book, and will stop in the Tarantian Library to check if it is available.

I thank you for informing me on the latest tests and studies in Tarant University. Since lately I have bought schematics of Fuel, Paralysis Grenade and Knock Out Gas, I am more than eager to follow your suggestion to improve my Technology studies, both in Chemistry and Explosives.

I have to admit that I did not think of that solution, however, no disrespect for my friend Virgil, he is not an apprentice at Heal like myself. Therefore, the bandages are better spent when used by me.

Being unfamiliar with Herbology and Therapeutics, I would like to know the difference between Healing characters with bandages, and Curing them with herbs and medicine. I think I have met madame Jayna in Dernholm, she is not much of a talker (as in, I can't hear her voice) if I remember correctly.

Even though my unimpressive social skills allow me to have only 2 allies in my party, I have no intention of getting a "free ally" that will make all combat boring for the rest of my adventure. I'll just skip this worthless mutt, thank you very much.

 

This thread deserves to be stickied.

 

Welcome, Medoc Spiritwarden. Your manner of speech is a pleasant change from the common string of profanities and non-sequiturs that are often expressed in this place. I would ask you to consider rescuing the Worthless Mutt, as he may have been placed across your path not so much by blind luck as by fate. He is the companion of many travelers.

 

I am still looking for more talkative people who will be able to join me. The only one I have met so far, which is not one of those fancy schmancy spell casters (except for Magnus), is Gar the "world's most smartest Orc". Surely, there are other talkative people in the world, are there not?

Fortunately for me, I am now an Expert at Throwing and Heal, and my current degree in Explosives and Chemistry is Associate (thus, allowing me to create Animal Scent and Smoke Grenade). With my current degree in Technology, the most damaging (or should I say the only damaging) explosives that I can create is the Molotov Cocktail. After creating the less useful Smoke Grenades and Flash Grenade, I keep only several of them on me and sells the rest in one of the local stores.

During my journey so far I have entered only the towns of Shrouded Hill, Tarant, Dernholm and Black Root. Tarant is the most technologically advanced one of them, so I have spent many nights in the Bridesdale Inn. Not only it is a great way to buy new materials and schematics in the near Smythe's Gun Shop, it is also an easy way of collecting new Rags for my Molotov Cocktail arsenal.