Old questions...

[Rush]

Old questions never die out...they simply get re-posted.

With that in mind, I'd like to ask if anyone is thinking about creating a comprehensive walk-through for Eschalon Book I?

Funny...I'm the king of typos and yet every-time I type up a post upon Eschalon's personal forum boards...the word "Eschalon" is highlighted as being a misspelled word (grins)...

Back to the walkthrough...I know Gamefaqs has two up, but both are sketchy at best, and I'd like to know what I missed in the game without having to crawl all over the web looking for a hint or two.

Thanks for listening...

---Rush.

[BasiliskWrangler]

Well, Jedi_Learner's Unofficial FAQ (yet somehow officially endorsed! ) is about the most comprehensive solution list available, but it is certainly not in walk-through form. There is also a thread around here that discusses secret locations of gemstones in Whistling Cave and a few other interesting facts that Jedi_Learner doesn't have in his FAQ.

[Rush]

Thanks!

I guess what sparked a rebirth of the question--->I was exploring Elderhollow more deeply when I brushed up beside a wall and some gemstones were revealed embedded within that particular wall.

Fairly cool, I thought, and then decided the "spot hidden" skill just might reveal more hidden secrets, and so I started another game in another save and seriously loaded up on the skill. Funny, but when I explored that particular wall again...I found nothing over and over and over again.

I guess I am thinking a more comprehensive walk-through could and would reveal such things and much, much more.

Thanks again...

---Rush.

[Rush]

SPOILERS!

I am planning (on my next run-through) to make the best of the skill trainers available within the game. I am currently making a few notes in advance.

Oh, um...I would answer the following questions myself, save for the fact that I no longer have the game installed upon my computer (waiting on a better computer)...

Anyway...I go to Aridell, accept the sextant quest from Garret, retrieve the sextant from the Eastern Salted Coast, then return it to him back at Aridell, and as a reward, he will sell me 5 skill points of cartography?

If so...suppose I already have, say...2 points of cartography. Will he still sell me 5 skill points, or will he only sell me 3? I guess the same question goes out for all trainers, as well.

Thanks, people...

---Rush

[Dragonlady]

He will sell 5 point IF you have none at all. If you already have 'x' amount then he will sell you enough to total 5 points. After that you have to add points when you go up levels. There is a book that will give you +2 points if you already have Cartography, best not to read it till you have 5 points already. That way you instantly go up to 7 points.

[Rush]

Thank you, Dragonlady-! I was going to start a new topic for that question, but I figured it "was" an old question (heh).

Okay, I have another...

I was thinking about choosing a magic-user and using daggers only as my weapons of choice (I like challenge). I will also be using light armor.

Now, I never tried dual classing a character, and while I know that to cast mage spells, I will not be able to use a shield...could I also learn priestly spells, or, do I have to choose a priest for those particular spells during character creation?

If I "can" be a mage "and" learn priestly spells...will my dagger (as a cutting weapon) interfere with the spells of priests and priestesses who generally use blunt weapons in most role-play situations?

---Rush.

[Turtle]

You can cast priest spells if you invest in Divination. As for your weapon, the only limiting factor is weight. You won't be able to cast spells near hostiles with more than a few pounds of anything in your hands (that's why no shields). How many pounds depends on your strength, but as a spellcaster it's not worth wasting attribute points on strength--you're going to need them elsewhere. A dagger should be fine, but you could always keep something heavier in the alternate weapon slot and switch at will.

[Rush]

Thank you for your post, Turtle-!

---Rush.

[Rush]

Am I correct in thinking that I could be a Rogue, for example, and...I could learn both Divination "and" Elemental magics? Would I have any penalties using Divination and/or Elemental magic because I am in fact a Rogue, and not a Priest or a Magic-User?

I am not actually certain I would use both magics, considering the skill points I would be forced into contributing to both Divination "and" Elemental magics in order to get each set of spells up to higher levels.

On another front...while the game is designed to be played as the player sees fit, would it be a waste of skill points to have a character skilled in both Elemental magic "and" bows, for example? Both cause damage from a distance, so why spend skill points doubling up?

Hmmm...I suppose the bow skill "would" come in handy during a fight when a player's magic points have been exhausted...provided the player is able to continually attack an enemy or enemies from a distance.

Thanks, people.
Any thoughts are very welcome.

---Rush.

[Turtle]

There are no penalties. In fact, when playing as a rogue, there are one or two spells that are extremely useful, although you can get many of the same effects with potions. But since Rogue is the only class that doesn't really need a heavy investment in its primary skills, you can afford to spread your skill points around a little (I understand that this is going to change in Book II). You can cast very useful spells like Predator Sight without a big investment of skill points--or any actually, if you wait until you have access to trainers and/or books.

To your second question, probably a waste, yes. It takes a big investment to bring Bows skill and Dexterity to a level sufficient to reliably hit and do damage. Plus there's the weight issue (arrows add up) and the cost issue (arrows cost money and are not recoverable when you miss, which you will, a lot). There are ways to cope with the mana problem, and running away is always an option!

On the other hand, Bows or Thrown Weapons are a good choice for a rogue, since Dex is his primary stat anyway.

[Unclever title]

One benefit I found by the end of the game for having elemental spells and bow weapons (though admittedly my elemental skill was only as high as it needed to be to cast portal cause I don't like to walk across the desert) is that spell that increases your elemental resistance.

I would cast the spell on myself, toss a demon oil II or higher on the ground (throwing skill not needed) and then walk into the center receiving no damage from the flames and enemies would not come near me as I made pincushions out of them with my arrows.

But this was by the end of the game, this kind of strategy only really becomes available at about halfway through the game and requires bow weapons, decent dexterity and concentration, alchemy (demon oil ain't cheap), and a little bit of elemental.

But then again that's a specific strategy, personally I found the best characters are physical attack focused but with spells to enhance stats, and alchemy eventually becomes VERY valuable.

[Rush]

Thanks, people, for the info. Usually, when given the option while gaming, I always pick thieves/rogues as my main characters (mostly when playing table-top D&D/AD&D). I surprised myself when I chose a Mage right away for my first time through with Eschalon. It was the lure of magic, I guess, not realizing at the time that I could have my Rogue "and" magic.

---Rush.

[IJBall]

Farwalker made a list of fixed items for Book I, you can find it here.

Come to think of it, a link to that thread from the FAQ should be added (if it isn't in there already - I don't remember seeing one, but I haven't looked to closely for it...).