Newbie Question: Charmer Character

I just started playing the game for the first time. I opted for a Half-Elf with a "Negotiator" Background (haggle and persuasion plus but minus one follower). Trouble is Virgil and I are having trouble staying alive.

We're at level 6 in Blackroot (taxes). I've sunk three points into Bow, one into Melee., two into Beauty, and two into Dex.
Apprenticed in Haggle, Melee, Persuasion and Bow

It feels like it's very hard to gain experience without constant melee and I'm just not good enough at it apparently. I end up doing a lot of running.

Is this hopeless? SHould I start over?

If not, then any advice would be welcome.

Thanks

 

hit the space bar to switch to turn based combat, otherwise being an archer, or gunslinger is utterly useless. think "lionheart"

 

If you're amazing and fast, then real time is doable, but at level 6, you probably aren't so yea, what sleek said.

Blackfey, the beauty of the negotiators is that they don't need weapons to level up. There are easily 50 levels of quests in the games, and you can level up that way. And if you max out charisma and persuation, you can get 6 hulking melee guys to fight for you.

 

Thanks

Yes, I've certainly been using the turn-based mode. I'm glad to hear that you think that the negotiator is doable without melee. I'll keep working at it.
(Just figured out that reactions go up when I wear my nice suit! I guess I'm learning.)

So is your advice to stop putting cps into melee at all and just focus on beauty/persuasion/charisma? (anything I'm missing? haggle?)
Which do you think would be most important?

 

As you have three points in archery, get Expert training. Drenholm, Bow Captian.

There are two items you want in Tarant. The Ring of Influnce & the Jewel of Hebe.

Get to Expert in persuasion minimum. The ring will give you enough boost that you only need two points in for this, but don't stop there. You are are a talker. This is your prime charcheristic.

If you wish to persue bow, think about PE.

 

if you want to invest a few points in technologist then invest them in electricity, get those rings that add to dex, therefore adding to speed, and therefore adding to action points per round. are you a technologist or a magic oriented character? if both i'm not sure how well the rings will help, i think low tech means they only add 1 dex each, but higher dex and they add 2 each for a total of +4 dexterity! which is fucking awesome. i hear technologist archers are really sweet too. but alas i'm still on my first game of arcanum, and i've only used a gunslinger type so far...

 

Is the Bow Captain the same as the Eilte Bow Guard in Drenholm? I apporached him but he just kept offering me apprentice bow training. My bow points are on the border line between 2 & 3. Do I have enough? DOes he only offer expert training if you have the rank necessary?

I just arrived in Tarant and will look for the items you mentioned.

My BE is 12 and my CH is 9. SHould I focus on raising these and if so which is more important?

Lastly, would the "Know Alignment" Spell come in handy or is alignment usually pretty easy to figure out with a little dialogue?

Sorry for all the questions and thanks for the advice!

 

No, the Elite Bow Guards wear leather, The Bow Captian wears a brown woll jacket.

Yes. For Expert training all you need is to be ovar the 2 point line. Any skill.

CH is more important, but do not spend a point there untill you find those items & see what they do for you. Also, if you do walkthroughs or spoilers, run a search on the "Garrisonberg Robery" & the "Gipsy Fortune Teller". Always check my spelling on these things.

What Dark Elf said. No need to apoligise, but we thrive on thanks & praise.

 

Thank you to everyone! This info has been invaluable for me. I'm past my initial frustration and am enjoying the game again.

 

One last question is anyone's still listening:
I've heard that IN is also important for dialogue. Should I be thinking about increasing it and if so, how much will get me decent dialogue options. (I'm still at 8 right now since it didn't occur to me earlier.)

 

Sometimes to get an outcome that you want you need to have a high IN when talking to someone. If you only need IN for dialogs or learning tech schematics, don't waste character points. Buy potions of intellect from wise women or magic traders. They give you +10 IN boost for a very short time. Use the potion before the dialog, and don't waste too much time thinking what option of reply to chose.

 

That works for Longhaire Thunderstone.

 

I did both the Gypsy Fortune Teller and the Garrison Painting but didn't find either of the items (Ring of Influence or Jewel of Hebe)

Is one of them in those crates at the painting address? I couldn't get them open.

 

Jewel of Hebe is in the Panarii temple
If you have an earlier save, get the painting without talking to the gypsy, with the right dialogue, you can get a blessing and double the cash of doing it with the gypsy telling you the location
I think charmer characters are awsome, but you do have to make sure to know what you are planning on doing as far as battle - have a specific way you are planning on fighting, which can be anything from having a set of lackeys (high CH required) or your bow character (I haven't tried that one) or, my favorite charmer, a throwing/force person.

 

Did the quests over again in the order you proposed.
I get it now.
Thanks!