- Joined
- April 12, 2009
- Messages
- 23,459
In another thread I've promised to give details what I did since the character creation is different than in the first game.
It was my replay with Ergo's fixpack/mod installed, so I thought let's make something crazy.
I knew that the first area is so easy and soloingfriendly that I don't need to bother with the class. Also I knew that I'll be getting a spellcaster as a sidekick soon, and in another area I'll get a fighter and a thief.
All races/casses have a trait, but if I'm not mistaken only one of them can have 4 of those. It's elven spellweaver. So I took him.
His elven worldview (-2 to 4 social skills) is not possible to change, but it also gives you -90 XP to distribute as you wish.
First I've removed Endurance penalty and put artisan Talents Penalty instead. Why? I knew I won't be smithing/potmixing/bowyering/trapping and this way I got a possibility to spam better some special weapon moves but also it means +40XP more to distribute!
Second I've removed Lore Bonus and instead upped the corresponding skills (to 4/5/4) as it's cheap. Why? I don't need Streetwise (thieves always will have it), woundtreating and antipoison is needed only earlygame as I'll up healing spell to remove wounds and make bandages sellable. In the end I only need Arcane Lore at least a bit for the chitchat, but even that I can delegate to the spellcaster I'll get as a sidekick (now I didn't delegate it because I've kicked him out of the party later and I needed that skill high). Instead of Lore Bonus I've put Naive penalty, it's basically the same as Elven Worldview and it doesn't affect Human Nature which I've set to 0.
Spells? Dropped Eye/Ear and Fastness to 0. With the logic I don't need those early most definetly. But maxed Balm of Healing, Helpful Paw and Thunderbolt on 6! In the first area this means - godlike!
That left me with 4 XP which I left unspent with a plan to up a first good weapon I find as I knew there is no decent staff in this game - at least not till near the end.
As I've already posted, pretty early I've found a certain OP fencing weapons recipe, as a magic user I can't have strength of 547634 so all I can do is to make as much wounds as I can. No endurance penalty will help and thus later, I did train Mortal blow on my main hero, not just on the thief sidekick.
By whatnot first I mean additional items some preorder or special game versions had:
http://www.cheathappens.com/show_board2.asp?headID=101964&titleID=16108
Actually all games have those items, and if you browse the static.db4 file with hex editor by searching the word "exclusive", you'll find codes.
From those only Ring of Deception is really nifty, other stuff is pretty much irrelevant. Okay, for a spellcaster level+1 the armor is not bad early as it allows you to summon a better animal/elemental, but it's not really needed and you'll soon stop using it completely. Do as you like, but definetly take the ring of deception "cheat".
Second whatnot is the cash. As you'll discover while exploring the town, some traders have items you want to buy, desperately. On Small Market Place armor trader sells Knight's Armor which is armor8 for every body part and weapons dealer sells Drakkamalmar, the OP twohanded axe that was also in the first game with a 50% chance to knockdown on hit! Yea, the problem is, those two items are unbelievably expensive and you want them as soon as possible, at least that axe. To drop the price, one of your party members needs a high haggle skill! That'll probably, as in my case, be your thief.
Haggle also works when you're selling stuff to traders, you get more cash.
So, do not sell everything as soon as possible, keep it in inventory and later in chests on the boat till you get the haggle at least 15 on your thief.
Now assuming you bought the goddamned axe and the party is kicking some arse, there are more things to buy as early as possible. That's Ring of Strength +3 and Gloves of Dexterity+3. With high haggle you can grab those for less than 70 ducats, each.
.
Safekeeping items and selling only when haggle skill gets high is not the only moneyearning possibility. There is another. Crafting.
As you'll discover, most crafted stuff is too cheap or ingredients are too complicated to obtain early to bother making and selling, but in Hunting Preserve map you'll get a recipe for Stag Beetle dagger (and your dwarf sidekick has good enough default smithing stat to make those) which sells for more than 1 ducat each. All you need is a good animal skinning skill and you'll have dozens if not hundreds of beetle mandibles and leather strips. How come? Those beetles - respawn. Of course you won't lose time on grinding! You'll just grab a few hundreds from bugs you needed to kill to get enough of cash for The axe.
Apart from the axe, the armor, other accessories and etc, there is another thing you'll want to get on your thief's head. It's a reward from Ox sidequest and you have to pay 999 ducats for it as it's the best helmet in the game (except maybe helm of Tie'Shianna in Phileasson's Secret DLC).
Don't rush for that one! Buy other things you need first then start piling up the cash for this helmet.
Remember. The most important thing is not to sell stuff before you have your haggle skill high. But even then…
Now I'll take a break, and will return later or tomorrow with some questions. I hope at least Alrik will know answers. See… There are some things I'm not sure about and would love to know if there is actually something to discover about them.
It was my replay with Ergo's fixpack/mod installed, so I thought let's make something crazy.
I knew that the first area is so easy and soloingfriendly that I don't need to bother with the class. Also I knew that I'll be getting a spellcaster as a sidekick soon, and in another area I'll get a fighter and a thief.
All races/casses have a trait, but if I'm not mistaken only one of them can have 4 of those. It's elven spellweaver. So I took him.
His elven worldview (-2 to 4 social skills) is not possible to change, but it also gives you -90 XP to distribute as you wish.
First I've removed Endurance penalty and put artisan Talents Penalty instead. Why? I knew I won't be smithing/potmixing/bowyering/trapping and this way I got a possibility to spam better some special weapon moves but also it means +40XP more to distribute!
Second I've removed Lore Bonus and instead upped the corresponding skills (to 4/5/4) as it's cheap. Why? I don't need Streetwise (thieves always will have it), woundtreating and antipoison is needed only earlygame as I'll up healing spell to remove wounds and make bandages sellable. In the end I only need Arcane Lore at least a bit for the chitchat, but even that I can delegate to the spellcaster I'll get as a sidekick (now I didn't delegate it because I've kicked him out of the party later and I needed that skill high). Instead of Lore Bonus I've put Naive penalty, it's basically the same as Elven Worldview and it doesn't affect Human Nature which I've set to 0.
Spells? Dropped Eye/Ear and Fastness to 0. With the logic I don't need those early most definetly. But maxed Balm of Healing, Helpful Paw and Thunderbolt on 6! In the first area this means - godlike!
That left me with 4 XP which I left unspent with a plan to up a first good weapon I find as I knew there is no decent staff in this game - at least not till near the end.
As I've already posted, pretty early I've found a certain OP fencing weapons recipe, as a magic user I can't have strength of 547634 so all I can do is to make as much wounds as I can. No endurance penalty will help and thus later, I did train Mortal blow on my main hero, not just on the thief sidekick.
The weapon recipe is Horasian Epee, 1D+6, 1/0 and 25% chance to inflict wounds on hit. I can't remember where exactly I found it, sorry.
By whatnot first I mean additional items some preorder or special game versions had:
http://www.cheathappens.com/show_board2.asp?headID=101964&titleID=16108
Actually all games have those items, and if you browse the static.db4 file with hex editor by searching the word "exclusive", you'll find codes.
From those only Ring of Deception is really nifty, other stuff is pretty much irrelevant. Okay, for a spellcaster level+1 the armor is not bad early as it allows you to summon a better animal/elemental, but it's not really needed and you'll soon stop using it completely. Do as you like, but definetly take the ring of deception "cheat".
That ring gives Haggle +5. Equip it on your party member that has that skill… Wait, I have to write more.
Second whatnot is the cash. As you'll discover while exploring the town, some traders have items you want to buy, desperately. On Small Market Place armor trader sells Knight's Armor which is armor8 for every body part and weapons dealer sells Drakkamalmar, the OP twohanded axe that was also in the first game with a 50% chance to knockdown on hit! Yea, the problem is, those two items are unbelievably expensive and you want them as soon as possible, at least that axe. To drop the price, one of your party members needs a high haggle skill! That'll probably, as in my case, be your thief.
Haggle also works when you're selling stuff to traders, you get more cash.
So, do not sell everything as soon as possible, keep it in inventory and later in chests on the boat till you get the haggle at least 15 on your thief.
My thief in the end with the ring had haggle 24, and that high is not needed definetly, 20 would be awsome, but 15 is more than okay
Now assuming you bought the goddamned axe and the party is kicking some arse, there are more things to buy as early as possible. That's Ring of Strength +3 and Gloves of Dexterity+3. With high haggle you can grab those for less than 70 ducats, each.
There are two +3 STR rings, the first one you can buy from a dwarf near arena when you win all fights. DEX+3 gloves are available in Thieves guild
Safekeeping items and selling only when haggle skill gets high is not the only moneyearning possibility. There is another. Crafting.
As you'll discover, most crafted stuff is too cheap or ingredients are too complicated to obtain early to bother making and selling, but in Hunting Preserve map you'll get a recipe for Stag Beetle dagger (and your dwarf sidekick has good enough default smithing stat to make those) which sells for more than 1 ducat each. All you need is a good animal skinning skill and you'll have dozens if not hundreds of beetle mandibles and leather strips. How come? Those beetles - respawn. Of course you won't lose time on grinding! You'll just grab a few hundreds from bugs you needed to kill to get enough of cash for The axe.
Apart from the axe, the armor, other accessories and etc, there is another thing you'll want to get on your thief's head. It's a reward from Ox sidequest and you have to pay 999 ducats for it as it's the best helmet in the game (except maybe helm of Tie'Shianna in Phileasson's Secret DLC).
Don't rush for that one! Buy other things you need first then start piling up the cash for this helmet.
Remember. The most important thing is not to sell stuff before you have your haggle skill high. But even then…
When you finish all quests in Hammerberg, dwarves will drop their prices and also give you more cash even above your haggle skill!
For example, other traders will pay you 37D 2T for 30 rare coins? Nadoret Dwarves will give 44D 7T! No tax.
For example, other traders will pay you 37D 2T for 30 rare coins? Nadoret Dwarves will give 44D 7T! No tax.
Now I'll take a break, and will return later or tomorrow with some questions. I hope at least Alrik will know answers. See… There are some things I'm not sure about and would love to know if there is actually something to discover about them.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Apr 12, 2009
- Messages
- 23,459