Questions on basic game mechanics. Please Help.

Before I get started let me say that I have searched for answers to all these questions and I have read the manual. The manual (all 189 pages of it) is a very good piece of documentation, but it does have some shortcomings – the exclusion of a Table of Contents and an Index being a few of the more obvious ones. Let me also say that I am thoroughly enjoying what I *can* comprehend, but I wish to completely enjoy the experience, so please indulge me…
1) How exactly do I use a magic item. For example, I found an enchanted sword which has magical abilities. It says it has magic power (MP) of 100%. I also have a staff with MP of 64% but also mana of 40. I had to have them identified, which I did. I don’t see how I actually use these. What do I do?
2) I assume that some skills are passive. On the character page, if I go to ‘combat skills’ and increase ‘Bow’, will I automatically shoot more precisely with my arrows and possibly do more damage? As the red bar increases to the right do I just get better in combat without really doing anything other than pointing and clicking on an enemy?
3) Does this work the same with the ‘Heal’ skill except I have to have a medical kit to ‘use’ on a subject first? And why is it that after I spent money to train my guy to apprentice level, the red bar didn’t increase any to the right?
4) After summoning an Orc, and winning the battle (with him surviving) I can’t seem to get rid of him and my ‘fatigue’ level keeps dropping because of this. I see that there is a ‘dispell’ spell, but without any points right now to buy it, I think I have to go back to an earlier save. Killing him is not an option as Virgil becomes upset. Is there another way?
5) In the description of an item in inventory, one of the acronyms is ‘TH: +5’. I see no explanation of ‘TH’ in the manual. What does this mean?
6) Now to get to the really troubling part: there seems to be a bug with Virgil (maybe). Sometimes when I give an item to him to carry for me, if he doesn’t have enough room (or even if he does, occasionally), the item drops from his inventory and simply vanishes. It’s not on the ground, it’s not in either his or my own inventory. It’s just gone. Also, sometimes I give him an item and the item changes into something different. I gave him a regular jacket I had been wearing and it turned into a robe. I gave him a magical staff, and it turned into a regular staff. Wait… is this just a case of Virgil automatically wearing/using the better item? And if it is, how do I get it back?
7) And is it just me, or is the ‘World Map’ very hard to see. Everything seems so tiny. The regional map and City map is just fine.
I am using the UAP081229 patch, the ‘en 1074’ patch and the HighRes 1.0 patch. I also have the HQ Townmaps installed. My machine (XP) runs the game easily and I have plenty of HD space.
So far, what I see, I really like. I’m a veteran of many RPGs, but obviously new to Arcanum. I really want to play this. Please help. Thanks very much IA.

 

You wield them. The percentage of magic power available is based on how magical the item itself is and your aptitude. The more magical you are, the more you benefit from the magical bonuses the item has. Some magical weapon have a mana pool of their own and when you cast spells, you use this pool first rather than your own fatigue.

You automatically benefit.

Getting apprentice/expert/mastery in a skill gives perks that normal training (ie: investing character points) doesn't. It's different for each skill and should be listed in the manual. Getting apprentice, etc doesn't actually increase your skill.

You click the spell icon at the top of the screen to deactivate it. Spells that you maintain have an initial cost of fatigue and a continuing cost so long as the spell is in effect.

To Hit.

The item "changing" is because he automatically equips it, replacing his old equipped item with the new one. You might want to try changing the automatic equip option off in the game options. I'm not sure if that works only for your character tho'.

 

Archmage Orintil:
Thanks a lot for helping out with all my questions... Things are much clearer now. The only thing that still puzzles me a bit is the use of magical equipment.

You Said: "You wield them. The percentage of magic power available is based on how magical the item itself is and your aptitude. The more magical you are, the more you benefit from the magical bonuses the item has. Some magical weapon have a mana pool of their own and when you cast spells, you use this pool first rather than your own fatigue."

What is unclear to me are some parts of the manual. I have the 189 page version and on p.41 it states: "Item Spell Button: Located on the left hand side of the hot key bank, this button is used to access the spells of a wielded magical item."

I have never seen that button become active. Also on p.80-81 there are pictures of more options for spells in the >center bottom< of the screen (figures 3-42 and 3-43).
Has none of this shown up for me because I possibly don't have a magical item that also has spells attached to it? Will these options show up later *automatically*? Or is this when the left hand side button comes into play?
Thanks a lot for all your help. The game becomes much more fun when you understand what's going on (doesn't everything ).

 

This is my favorite! Virgil the Transmuter!

 

The button is active for magical items, which do have spells attached to it. Note, that not every magical items have spells. To say more, most of the magical items do not have spells. Only some of the weapons have them, and if they do, the button becomes available when you put it in your weapon slot, no matter your magical aptitude.

In your follower inventory, over his items there are two buttons, one with a sack and one with a human. They allow you to switch between your followers inventory and the items he wears. And then, you can take back anything you want.

The automatic weapon switch, no matter if it's on or off, doesn't do anything with your followers, sadly. They will always equip what's the best item in their inventory in their opinion.

 

Muro Lightning:
Thanks a lot for clearing all that up. I think I've just about got the hang of things now...

 

Ah, ok. I wasn't sure, so I figured I'd mention it.

 

Best is subjective.
I made the mistakes of giving Virgil and Magnus guns and ammo for storage at different times.
They proceeded to equip the guns, then detonate on our next encounter.

 

That's why I put emphasis on the fact, that they equip what's best in their opinion. Let's be honest, they have no fucking idea what they are doing. The best thing is how Loghaire prefers to use a railroad spike over his trusty Harrow. Yes, I know why it works that way, still, it's hilarious.