Too difficult... what's wrong with me?

[Palog]

Hi all,

I'm playing a Rogue and find the game a lot too difficult. I feel my character in on slope going more and more bad. I have now 10GP and not much to sell, soon won't be able use my bow because of arrows price I can't afford. Each time I level up I get more difficult fights during each rest. I don't see much quest to get more money. I suspect it' because my skill choices don't perform well but not sure. Usually I wouldn't continue the game but as I recently made an impulse buy I'm not ready to give up yet.

I have: Virtuous Rogue Level 5
Alchemy 3 / Light Armor 4 / Cartography 1 (teacher) / Mercantile 1 (book) / Pick locks 6 / Skullduggery 4 / Bow weapons 3 / Swords 3
STR 15 / DEX 20 / END 15 /SPD 15 / INT 12 (item+2) / WIS 12 / PER 20 / CON 16

I don't want play a warrior brute and doubt I'll get easier game with some magic user.
Anyway what you suggest or any comment of this character and skills choices?

[BasiliskWrangler]

In some cases, it is possible to build a not-so-successful character, but I've never seen a character that can't be salvaged with a bit of effort.

You've got a lot of points in Perception, which is more of a Magick-User skill (though it can help Spot Hidden objects). For a Rogue, DEX and CON are always good to boost high (and should improve your Bow use) but don't overlook END for Hit Points.

Concentrate on JUST combative skills for the next couple levels. Get your BOW and SWORD skill boosted so you can kill enemies as quickly as possible, lessening the time they can hurt you. Keep boosting DEX and END for natural Armor Rating and more Hit Points.

Camp often. Fight and run if needed, then rest. It is a bit monotonous, but this is sometimes the best technique for getting a weak character built up.

I am sure other players here can give even better advice than me!

[Palog]

Thanks for the advices.

I haven't choose initially bow but I did when I felt poisoning monsters too dangerous.
Then I realized that at first levels arrows cost too much for money they can earn.
So I started put points into close combat.
I lost 300 Gold into a cure disease, dam that is rude and now I have 10 gold.
And when I rest I get thieves generation and end in a worse state if I ever succeed killed one.
That resulted more into plenty run into dark.

Yes PER was at character creation to help find stuff but I have now a char that has plenty mana and can only cast a poor bless spell!

I see everything in grey at this point.

[Dragonlady]

Check everything for loot, and don't forget to bash open sealed barrels to get stuff. Ask shopkeepers if they need help (when option given) to get extra little quests to bring in cash. The blacksmith and magic seller in the first town send you off looking for things, as do many of the others in the other towns do too.

[Palog]

Thanks for the additional advices. With the character I mentioned above I had already done the mithril quest, the sextant quest, the retrieve medal quest, but haven't found the book for the magic shopkeeper nor found the husband lost.

Well I restart a new character but backup the save of the previous just in case. I created the new with the advices in mind, first focus on fighting skills and not forget END and for Rogue DEX is nice. I also learned Bow this time at creation but level 1 to put focus first on sword but have an occasional option with the bow.

This character is now level 2 and ready to level 3. At level 2:
Virtuous Rogue
STR 15 / DEX 20 / END 20 / SPD 15 / INT 10 / WIS 11 / PER 13 / CON 16
Alchemy 2 / Light Armor 2 / Mercantile (get again the book!) / Pick Lock 5 / Bow 2 / Sword 5

That makes a real difference with previous character because this one fight quite better with sword.
But next level will be a key with generated monsters that are poisoning. At this time I used a bit bow for the Sextant quest but in general fight with sword only.
One key I think is to always take care if possible to have a character that will have easy fights against monsters generated during a rest. That makes the life a lot easier.

[Dragonlady]

Thanks for the additional advices. With the character I mentioned above I had already done the mithril quest, the sextant quest, the retrieve medal quest, but haven't found the book for the magic shopkeeper nor found the husband lost.

Hint: When you go into the crypt to get your special object from someones crypt (don't have my notes handy), you'll find the book somewhere in there..check the walls and you find a surprise.

[Palog]

Mmm check the walls? Walls can be checked? Ot is it like the wall with some gems in the town destroyed at the beginning? For this one I don't see how a check can be done it's just dependent of random and PER level. Thanks for the little spoil I would have never find by myself and that avoid me to look a walkthrough for that.

About closed barrels, I don't touch them anymore, I have the feeling they are almost always empty and the weapons break too often so money lost don't make worth the try. I know I have seen the trick about hand fighting skill but that cost 3 points.

I felt in a similar problem with my current character than with the previous one, again a disease and again I don't succeed rest up then priest don't let me choose heal only the disease but also the health and again 300 Gold vanished if I pay.
And that time just to have check a skeleton. Discouraging, I should try cheat a little and restore if any disease but I hate that.
Well I'll put back the game for some time.

Again, thanks for the advices.

[Rush]

Do not be too hard on yourself, Palog. The only person upon these boards who might judge you for cheating a little bit is you. Eschalon "is" a game worth playing, so weigh your options when you find yourself within a tight spot, and consider whether or not your restraint, with regards to cheating a little bit, is helpful, or a hindrance towards you enjoying the game.

---Rush.

[Kreador Freeaxe]

Also, if you're hurting, stop for a drink at the well in Elderhollow. The water is very refreshing.

For barrels, pick yourself up a hammer (often found randomly). Never use your sword. Even without skill in the hammer, you can use it to bash barrels.

Did you get your stuff from the stump where you wake up? There are some goodies for you.

[Rush]

Just rambling here...

In the beginning stages--->unless you plan on playing the game through without the use of magic<---it might be advantageous to assign 2-4 skill points to Elemental magic in order to make use of the ranged "Fire Dart" spell.

Remember...replenishing magic, verses replenishing arrows, is a free process via resting, while arrows can dip heavily into your accumulated funds.

Now, if you are into the game, and do not wish to start over...there is a certain Book within Eschalon which gives you a free skill point or two towards the Elemental skill. Also, there is a certain someone within a certain town who will sell you the first 5 points towards Elemental magic, again, saving you skill points which can be allotted elsewhere.

---Rush.

[Randomizer]

If you are running a rogue, then puts some points into getting a few levels of hide in shadows, then wait for night or quench the torches in crypts to fight in the dark. You may have to move after hitting a monster, but they will be less likely to hit you. After killing everything, you can light a torch or wait for daylight and come back to loot.

[Rush]

If you are looking for a good place to level up some before conquering some of the more involved quests, my location of choice (there are many such locations throughout the game) is in Grimmhold's maintenance level. Drop down in and then rest until enemies discovered you. Fight, and repeat the process.

Of course, this was easy for me, due to the fact that I had two handy Elemental spells with me: Fire Dart, which causes 2-4 points of fire damage per casting level, and Air Shield (because of the many archers you will encounter) which shields you from most projectiles (such as arrows). The duration of Air Shield is 20 rounds per casting level.

If you level up here, the result of each battle will often leave you with one or more bags of goodies for you to plunder...including a certain key you will need before finishing off Grimmhold.

---Rush.

[Palog]

Also, if you're hurting, stop for a drink at the well in Elderhollow. The water is very refreshing.

For barrels, pick yourself up a hammer (often found randomly). Never use your sword. Even without skill in the hammer, you can use it to bash barrels.

Did you get your stuff from the stump where you wake up? There are some goodies for you.

Well: Dam I go bash my head, I had quoted the special well.... so obviously I had to use it just before seeing the priest for healing disease. Well it will take time (in my last save 40/50 healing click) but that will help anyway.
Hammer: For the hamer, as hand fightng I saw the hint here but never seen one at this point. Plus this weapon is special and will never broke?
Stump; Yes I already get stuff in the log.

In the beginning stages--->unless you plan on playing the game through without the use of magic<---it might be advantageous to assign 2-4 skill points to Elemental magic in order to make use of the ranged "Fire Dart" spell. Remember...replenishing magic, verses replenishing arrows, is a free process via resting, while arrows can dip heavily into your accumulated funds.

Now, if you are into the game, and do not wish to start over...there is a certain Book within Eschalon which gives you a free skill point or two towards the Elemental skill. Also, there is a certain someone within a certain town who will sell you the first 5 points towards Elemental magic, again, saving you skill points which can be allotted elsewhere.

Arrows vs Magic: Yes if I create a new Rogue I'll think of that but I'll also have to find the scroll to learn the spell.
About the book: Mmmm forget try achieve the potion quest, with my first character I was certainly not far as I wanderer west quite far. Mmm that's not the guy with the skin disease? He said nothing about that.

If you are running a rogue, then puts some points into getting a few levels of hide in shadows, then wait for night or quench the torches in crypts to fight in the dark. You may have to move after hitting a monster, but they will be less likely to hit you. After killing everything, you can light a torch or wait for daylight and come back to loot.

How do you wait? I got once or twice a situation where I had to wait and could not camp or move and waiting has been very boring because I couldn't keep the key pressed.
About shadows skill I was wondering the use, should be that but without a cat spell is it really worth it?

If you are looking for a good place to level up some before conquering some of the more involved quests, my location of choice (there are many such locations throughout the game) is Grimmhold's maintenance level. Drop down in and then rest until enemies discovered you. Fight, and repeat the process.

Of course, this was easy for me, due to the fact that I had two handy Elemental spells with me: Fire Dart, which causes 2-4 points of fire damage per casting level, and Air Shield (because of the many archers you will encounter) which shields you from most projectiles (such as arrows). The duration of Air Shield is 20 rounds per casting level.

If you level up here, the result of each battle will often leave you with one or more bags of goodies for you to plunder...including a certain key you will need before finishing off Grimmhold.

Grimmhold, I met the dying knight with my first character but didn't venture further because of his words. I could try but probably will worth it only if I have the spell. But for another place well I'm not sure I wish try such thing particularely if I don't have drops, because that will be slow and repetitive level up.

Thanks all for the advices, some was at my hand and if I had think a bit more I could have think to use them.

[Turtle]

Hammer: For the hamer, as hand fightng I saw the hint here but never seen one at this point. Plus this weapon is special and will never broke?

Sure it'll break, but you won't care because it's not your primary weapon. Hammers and axes of various kinds are readily available for free.

How do you wait?

Well, you could wander around in cleared areas, talk to shopkeepers, etc. If camping is really causing you trouble, try doing it near the town--just beyond the point where you get the "It's not a good idea to camp here..." message. If you get attacked, just flee toward the town and let the guard handle it. He kicks salamander butt.

About shadows skill I was wondering the use, should be that but without a cat spell is it really worth it?

Hide in Shadows is mind-bogglingly useful, but it's true that it will be hard for you to hit without potions or spells of Cat's Eyes or Predator Sight. But remember that you can use it to sneak past your enemies without fighting them. This cuts down on your XP, but you can always come back later when you're stronger.

A rogue is probably the toughest class to play at low levels, because you're so underpowered, but with a couple of spells (or some Alchemy) and a good investment in Bows (arrows will later be plentiful) and Hide in Shadows, a higher-level rogue becomes a nearly invulnerable killing machine. And focus on Dex to the exclusion of all other attributes, at first.

[IJBall]

A rogue is probably the toughest class to play at low levels, because you're so underpowered, but with a couple of spells (or some Alchemy) and a good investment in Bows (arrows will later be plentiful) and Hide in Shadows, a higher-level rogue becomes a nearly invulnerable killing machine. And focus on Dex to the exclusion of all other attributes, at first.

For another view, I found Rogue to be a pretty straightforward play-through, provided you put 5 Levels into Bow (and maybe 2-4 points into Lt. Armor), and get the Dexterity Attribute up to about 30, during the character creation process.

As long as you continue putting most of your early level-up skill points into Bow and attribute points into Dexterity (or maybe Concentration), Rogues aren't too tough, at least IMHO.