Some Newbie Questions

[Zeno]

Firstly, yes, this is my second topic asking some sort of stupid question. Have I annoyed all of you, yet?

Anyway, I'm having trouble figuring out some general stuff. My main problem is an extreme lack of gold. I realize that this game has a tough economy, but at any given time, I have around 150 gold or less. How do I make money? Chests don't respawn, nor do enemies, so I can't find any source of stuff to sell. I took everything I could find in the South Parish, and most in the North. I've started into the Salt Coast, but I keep running out of health potions and dying. Which is another thing: WHERE'S ALL THE HEALTH POTIONS?! Maybe I suck at combat or something, but every time I get jumped by slimes, noximanders, bandits, or whatever else, I end up using one or more Health Potion IIs. That, or I run away, usually into a dead end, and get killed.

Finally, I don't know what I should be leveling up. I started as a Ranger focusing on bows, but quickly found that they're essentially useless in dungeons (two-handed) and run out of arrows far too fast. Instead, I am focusing on Cleaving Weapons, which are a little better. Still, I have no idea what to upgrade. I have 5 Alchemy, 4 Cartography, 2 Walk Silently, 3 Light Armor, 5 Bows, 7 Cleaving Weapons (10 with the amulet I'm wearing,), and 3 Hide in Shadows from a cloak I found. Any suggestions there?

In closing, if you actually read this, I commend you. Also, I love the game, so don't take this as an angry rant. I would, however, love some advice!

[Unclever title]

Oh, well thanks for the commendation.

A good bit of advice for battles is running. Early in the game health potions are a bit rare so it's best to not need them. Resting is good for in between of after running away chance of ambush via random encounter though (which seems to increase the longer you sleep) but this is a good method of spawning enemies to gain experience or possibly loot from.

Your skills seem fine, maybe a point or two in light armor for the moment. But more importantly what are your stats focused in? Or are they focused at all? I know the natural tendency for me when starting this game for the first time was to spread things out in an attempt to balance. Not the best idea.

This game rewards stat specialization especially early on. (Ironic as it also rewards skill generalization.) Since you're a ranger I'd suggest upping dexterity for now (and perhaps concentration if your max damage with bows is too low, your own discretion really) improving your to-hit and your base armor rating making it both easier to hit and more difficult to be hit. If your to-hit is decent enough go for endurance and get your hp higher.

I also recommend spells, predator sight is awesome for rangers particularly in dungeons, but requires elemental and you likely won't find it for a while. Cat's eyes is great in dungeons but requires divination. Also spells cost 300 gold so sounds like it's a bit out of your price range. Bless and Leatherskin are also VERY handy (divination)

Always make full use of your terrain whenever possible and look for portcullises and exploding barrels, the great weapons of opportunity. If ever possible try to either funnel or lead off your opponents so you can face them one on one. Along the edges of the Salted coast are a couple peninsulas near bandits where you can pick them off at a distance and they'll never reach you if you stand in the right location. Anyway it gets easier as you progress, good luck!

[Zeno]

Thanks for the fast reply!

I've been focusing mainly on Strength, Dexterity, and Endurance. I have all my skills in the teens (except wisdom, which is at 11) but Strength is at 16, Dexterity at 17, and Endurance at 16. I dunno if that's considered focusing, but those are my highest skills. Speed is at 15, I believe, so that's up there, and Concentration is at, like 14 or something. Intelligence, wisdom, and perception are probably my lowest stats. I don't normally play magic users in RPGs...

Yeah, running seems to be the most viable strategy at the moment. Except that doesn't get me any Exp, so how'll I level up? Hmm.. quests, I suppose?

EDIT: Oh yes, and all those spells you mentioned I've been making through potions. Not reusable, but I'm not a magic user so that's my best bet, it would seem.

[Randomizer]

While containers don't replace items, if you save before opening and save the result in a different slot, you can loot farm with reloading the first save to get a better group of items from some containers. It may take 10 tries of save and then reloading until you like a result by saving the best one, but early in the game it does pay off.

Keep a clear line of retreat and just run away to heal up. It's boring, but it beats burning healing potions. Most monsters only attack in melee so as a ranger outdoors, those missle attacks add up and weaken a monster just before closing and finishing it off with a melee attack.

[Zeno]

That's cheating!

... On the other hand, I've been doing that to avoid disease. I hate disease.

[CrazyBernie]

Since there's no time restrictions on the game, you can spawn enemies by camping outside until your sleep is interrupted. Slow, but if you're close to leveling before entering a dungeon or having a bigger encounter then it certainly doesn't hurt.

I also find myself loot farming early on at least enough to gear up a little or get some items to cash in for potions. I may be cheating, but I'm a big fan of the quicksave button anyway. (just wish I had a quickload... >.<)

[Zeno]

I would love a Quickload.

Oh yeah, I had almost forgotten about the sleep-spawned enemies. I've gotten used to sleeping in small chunks to stop encounters. That aside, though, I'm afraid what'll sneak up on me in my sleep, considering I've nearly been dropped by bumble bees on multiple occasions. What's up with that?

Oh yes, and I learned Merchanting (or whatever it is) by a book. Is that worth upgrading, or should I focus on my aforementioned skills?

[Randomizer]

There is an amulet to give a bonus to merchant skill for use when buying and selling.

There really isn't a need for improving merchnat skill, because after halfway through the game you usually don't have a problem with money. This is a common problem in most games where money is tight at the start to buy better items and training, but when you start finding the higher value stuff to sell, you no longer need that money.

[Zeno]

Yeah, I've always been annoyed by that "Let's starve the player in the start, then make 'em rich," mantra. When has that ever made sense?

[Elveronion]

Yeah, I've always been annoyed by that "Let's starve the player in the start, then make 'em rich," mantra. When has that ever made sense?

I think this is just like real life! How many people are born into wealth? not many for sure, but some are. For those who are not you must work very hard to aquire some gold. Then just like in real life, you may become wealthy enough that gold doesn't even mean anythiung to you...you have more than you need, just like some rich people today!!

[Zeno]

Yeah, I've always been annoyed by that "Let's starve the player in the start, then make 'em rich," mantra. When has that ever made sense?

I think this is just like real life! How many people are born into wealth? not many for sure, but some are. For those who are not you must work very hard to aquire some gold. Then just like in real life, you may become wealthy enough that gold doesn't even mean anythiung to you...you have more than you need, just like some rich people today!!

Never thought about it that way.

I found a bunch of bandits and killed a few of them. Now I actually have money, kind of. I'm gonna focus on bows for a level or two, and see if they ever become actually useful.

[Zeno]

Well, it would seem I have found a sword from a chest in Tangletree Forest, but I don't know what it is. It's listed as "Unknown" with all the type and whatever details listed the same way. How do I get it identified?

Also, I just bought some training in Magick. Elemental, specifically. But I'm afraid I may be spreading myself out too much, as I'm now supporting Magick, Bows, Cleaving Weapons, and Light Armor, among other skills... what do I do? Predator Sight was too tempting...

[Randomizer]

For unknown items the easiest way to get them identified is to go to a merchant, but that is expensive. Next is to use the divination spell lore cast on the item while in inventory and level 4 ususally works. Last is to increase intelligence and lore (there are items) and see if you can now identify the item.

Or to cheat you can get it identified by a merchant and reload knowing what it is to decide if you want to use it. There is the http://www.basiliskgames.com/forums/vie ... f=3&t=1795 Fixed Item Compendium that would have that item.

[Turtle]

You won't be allowed to use it unless it's identified. You can sell it, of course, but only for a quarter of its value.

My preferred option is to stash the item until I can find or buy a Loremaster's Ring (or two).