Rare Spell Scrolls

[onlynoly]

How can I find rare spell scrolls? When I played as an Enchantress, I wanted to use Dense Nimbus but I finished the game without luck of finding a single scroll for that. Now that I'm playing as a Theurgist, I wanted Lockmelt but I can't find it in dungeons and merchant's stocks.

[Kreador Freeaxe]

Meet the X factor. Vendor stocks are randomly generated from tables according to the particular vendor. Sometimes you'll find 100 copies of a scroll, and other times none. The X factor is that whatever you're really really looking for is almost inevitably the hardest to find. Things you can do: Vendors restock once a week, so check for changes in their inventory every week. If you're not using the fixed random seed, save before visiting the vendor and keep reloading until their new stock meets your needs.

[Painted Lady]

The X factor is that whatever you're really really looking for is almost inevitably the hardest to find.

I feel the odds of not being able to find a necessary scroll are much higher in Book II than they were in Book I. One time my archer absolutely could not find Predator Sight - it made my life miserable.............

[Kreador Freeaxe]

The X factor is that whatever you're really really looking for is almost inevitably the hardest to find.

I feel the odds of not being able to find a necessary scroll are much higher in Book II than they were in Book I. One time my archer absolutely could not find Predator Sight - it made my life miserable.............

Nothing made life miserable for my archer. I just waited four turns (or took four steps) between every shot. Never miss with the feat.

[Painted Lady]

Nothing made life miserable for my archer. I just waited four turns (or took four steps) between every shot. Never miss with the feat.

Seriously - even in the dark?

[IJBall]

I feel the odds of not being able to find a necessary scroll are much higher in Book II than they were in Book I...

They absolutely are - this is one of my pet peeves about Book II, along with the (relative) scarcity with vendors of even basic items like Torches and Empty Flasks.

That's why I suggested adding a second Scroll seller into Port Kuudad for the v1.05 expansion. Unfortunately, it didn't happen.

But, yeah - merchant availability is one thing that still needs to be "balanced" going into Book III, IMHO: if items were too plentiful in stores in Book I (and, FTR, I don't feel they were in Book I - just try finding a Charm scroll in Book I some time if you don't believe me!!), they were absolutely too scarce in Book II.

So, I hope this is an issue that gets further 'refined' and perfected in Book III...

[onlynoly]

Oh! Geez! And if on the next game week they still don't have the items I want, I'm gonna eat all my food waiting for another week.

[onlynoly]

Anyways, thanks guys! This forum is a big help indeed.

[Kreador Freeaxe]

Nothing made life miserable for my archer. I just waited four turns (or took four steps) between every shot. Never miss with the feat.

Seriously - even in the dark?

Seriously. The weapon feats are guaranteed hits, and once your skill level reaches 32, you hit the max refresh rate of every fifth turn.

[KillingMoon]

I feel the odds of not being able to find a necessary scroll are much higher in Book II than they were in Book I...

They absolutely are - this is one of my pet peeves about Book II, along with the (relative) scarcity with vendors of even basic items like Torches and Empty Flasks.

That's why I suggested adding a second Scroll seller into Port Kuudad for the v1.05 expansion. Unfortunately, it didn't happen.

But, yeah - merchant availability is one thing that still needs to be "balanced" going into Book III, IMHO: if items were too plentiful in stores in Book I (and, FTR, I don't feel they were in Book I - just try finding a Charm scroll in Book I some time if you don't believe me!!), they were absolutely too scarce in Book II.

It's very much a matter of opinion, of course. Personally I like scarcity, it makes it more special to find that special sword or that specific scroll.
Though I'm somewhat surprised you want the amount of spell scrolls increased, IJBall, since you're also writing:

In general, I still feel like Magick is too powerful in Eschalon (esp. in Book II), so anything that 'nerfs' Magick and makes it more comparable to everything else in the game is good by me.

At first sight, that looks like a contradiction. Can you explain a bit better how you'd like to see magic or mages tweaked?

[IJBall]

I feel the odds of not being able to find a necessary scroll are much higher in Book II than they were in Book I...

They absolutely are - this is one of my pet peeves about Book II, along with the (relative) scarcity with vendors of even basic items like Torches and Empty Flasks.

But, yeah - merchant availability is one thing that still needs to be "balanced" going into Book III, IMHO: if items were too plentiful in stores in Book I (and, FTR, I don't feel they were in Book I - just try finding a Charm scroll in Book I some time if you don't believe me!!), they were absolutely too scarce in Book II.

It's very much a matter of opinion, of course. Personally I like scarcity, it makes it more special to find that special sword or that specific scroll.

Fine - then make it a game option.

Personally, I don't enjoy games where I have 'grind' camping for a week just to get another shot to buy a scroll or item I need.

If some people enjoy that, great - but make it a game option so the rest of aren't forced to play that way.

Personally, I like the way Book I handled this much better.

And really special items/scrolls can be made quest items instead of merchant-purchasable items.

Though I'm somewhat surprised you want the amount of spell scrolls increased, IJBall, since you're also writing:

In general, I still feel like Magick is too powerful in Eschalon (esp. in Book II), so anything that 'nerfs' Magick and makes it more comparable to everything else in the game is good by me.

At first sight, that looks like a contradiction. Can you explain a bit better how you'd like to see magic or mages tweaked?

The way to "restrain" spell scroll availability is cost IMO, not vendor scarcity - the former makes you work to get the spells you need; the latter is just random capriciousness. Again, if some people enjoy the latter, great - but I'm not one of them.

As for 'nerfing' Mages in general, I don't necessarily want their spell selection altered - I'd just prefer that some of those spells are reworked or balanced a little, and/or MP regeneration rates fiddled with again a little, to make Mages less powerful so playing Mage isn't such a breeze.

(Again, I found nothing wrong with the way Mages operated in Book I - even that game was a relative breeze playing Mage, I found - though I guess that's apparently the minority view on Mages in Book I.)

Now this is just one guy's opinion, and BW is under no obligation to pay attention to one guy's opinion - but this is my $0.02 on the issue of scroll and item availability in stores in Book II...

[KillingMoon]

Okay, now I'm getting a much better picture of how you're looking at this. Thanks for the clarification!