The Drunken Lizard Pub

How many levels are needed before this skill does anything? In the Mac version, at least, it seems that 1 level (3 points invested) does nothing to reduce the (double) cost.

Jude

I think every point decreases/increases by 1-2 %

It's not one of the more valuable skills in terms of how much benefit you get vs how much it costs. I'd just suck it up and swallow the 4x difference between sell cost and buy cost, and devote those skill points to having a more powerful character so you find more stuff faster and can therefore sell more stuff and make more money through volume rather than price.

That's where all the fun is!

One of the greatest expenses in the game, skill training, isn't affected by this skill anyway.

There is a book, "Buying and Selling," that will teach you the skill, for what it's worth. If you already have it, it gives you two additional points in it, I think.

There's also an Amulet of the Master Merchant that gives you +3 in Mercantile. I got mine in a chest, but I've also seen it in a shop - value is 425, although you'll pay more for it!

How do books work? Is just reading them enough, or do you have to keep them afterward in your inventory or somewhere specific? I found books, read them, and then sold them, thinking that they were just for story flavor.

Jude

Mechantile changes the price value 2% per point.

Books that affect skills add 1 level if you haven't trained in them or 2 levels if you have trained in them. You can sell the book afterwards and only one book works per skill.

Mercantile is very valuable if you don't want to use alchemy. I've found as little as 5 skill points can make a reasonable difference buying and selling equipment or consumables. I typically invest 3 points and startup and have the five points by level 3. Finding the book pumps mercantile up to 7, and the amulet makes it 10 (which you only need to wear when you are buying/selling). I played a heavily armoured fighter and found that selling all the alchemy ingredients made more than enough money to buy potions. By also investing in survival and wearing a survival cloak, I saved money on the use of healing potions. Of the course the ultimate use of mercantile skill would be a light fingered rogue

You just read books, Jude, then you get the skills increase. After that, you can chuck the book, keep it or sell it (preferred!). Makes no difference.

Jude wrote:How do books work? Is just reading them enough, or do you have to keep them afterward in your inventory or somewhere specific? I found books, read them, and then sold them, thinking that they were just for story flavor.

Jude

There are books for gaining/enhancing skills AND there are 'fiction' books to add flavor to the game and its background history. You can tell the skill b ooks by their sell price of 50 gold. Any other lower cost and its just something to read and sell. The others can be saved for later (after you gain 5 pts of skill) and then add an instant 2 levels to that skill or use to get a new skill when you discover you need it later in the game.

Thanks, that's good to know.

Jude