Matchstk

Also, you can sail the boat back up the rapids, if you're referring to the Portage. Just click above it and the boat will go there. No, your party isn't impossibly strong - you'll be carrying the boat up. The first time you descend the Portage, there's a text box that explains this, but it's very easy to click through and not notice.

Athron - to speak with Athron, you have to be persistent and impose on the dragon a bit. Look for a hidden switch. Portal location / Scepter - I wondered about Madhavi's lack of response to these accomplishments as well. I believe you are on your own. Once you have the scepter and know the location, it's up to you to simply go there and deal with things.

Wait ... you play with a Singleton on Normal (giving you base stats well above what the game expects you to have) while also using the editor to give yourself free Cave Lore, Arcane Lore and Tool Use (giving you 30+ extra points to allocate to combat/defense skills) ... and you're compaining the combat is repetitive and dull? Try playing a four character party on Torment without using the editor - see if that makes it more interesting for you.

The icon for Crystal Souls shows as a generic app icon. I can see in the package contents there is a circular icon there, but I don't know how to make the app use it. I've looked around for info on how to change it, but nothing conclusive. Cleared the PRAM, checked permissions, nothing. Mac OSX 10.6, icons have always worked before. Gotta have that Vogel border in the dock. Thanks.

Trying to find the garbage patch with the Forager Boots. Need that point of Cave Lore. "The List" describes it as SW (general area) North of Cotra. There is a patch immediately north outside the ruins. And it keeps giving me the option to search but I don't find anything. I experimented with the editor, maxing Cave Lore (just to see if that was the obstacle) but that didn't do it. Searched high and low in the area north of Cotra, but no garbage patch. Where do I search?

Answer: Take your team into the tunnel just east of the tower, south of Formello. This draws them from the coast and gives you time to return and land the boat. Thanks for the reply.

Loving the game, but one problem - outdoor, random monsters are blocking both paths to Solberg's Tower and they won't go away. I already did the Inspect Tower quest, but I know I'll need to come back here later. Will they vanish by then? Is there a code to take them away? Am I not landing my boat correctly? I assume I shouldn't worry about it, but it bothers me that I can't get back there. Apart from this though - loving the increased number of random outdoor encounters. Though I had to flee from Slith for a while. "Run Away !!!!"

I'm a diligent, persistent herb collector. Once all the herbs respawn, it only takes about a minute to run around to all seven locations - start on foot with the Healing Herbs north of Cotra, down to the Healing Herbs between Silvar and Fort Avernum, down to the Spiritual Herbs east of Metris, shortcut through the Honeycomb to the Energetic Herbs (trying to avoid the merchants) - double back to my boat off the shore of Fort Dranlon, boat north to the Healing Herbs by the Monestary, back south and west and north to the Graymold, then a jaunt west into Giant Lands for the Mandrake. Take the boat back to Fort Dranlon and set the run up again. Basic rule of thumb is that after going into an area, fighting a bunch of enemies, finishing a quest, the herbs will be regrown. It doesn't take long to collect them and the benefit of Wisdom Crystals and Invulnerability Potions is great. I hold off on using the Wisdom Crystals until the endgame, then see how levelled I can get my characters. 4 player - level 38. Singleton - maxed out with many left over. I'm looking forward to seeing how levelled I can get a two character party.

I'm planning a two character run and trying to estimate how levelled they'll become. A 4 player party with persistent herb collection gets to Level 38. My singleton hit the ceiling of Level 61 with 51 Wisdom Crystals left over. Factoring XP split between two characters, with a little more XP earned than a singleton mid-game since they won't be as high level-wise, I'm thinking they'll hit Level 45 before the Wisdom Crystal rush. Anyone tried a two character run?

Oh, I know. My character, Reaver Storm, has been untouchable for a while. I'm only playing on hard, first time attempt at a singleton. Those passive gains from Primary Attributes really put you ahead of the curve. Watching a circle of giants all swing and miss, dragons, demons, might hit me once every ten tries. Next singleton attempt will be Torment.

That was a surprise. What am I going to do with the 51 Wisdom Crystals I have left over? For the curious, this is a singleton game (one character only.) The top level I've reached in a four character party is level 38, twice.

A tip for the invulnerability basin: don't use it until the end of the fight with Drath, when the notice arrives that Drath is close to death and about to expel massive amounts of energy. In fact, a good strategy is to fall back to that room and stand near the basin, let Drath follow you and get out of reach of all his helpers spells. One thing about the Sulfras fight with the room full of Golems. The player should really get XP for those things. I understand low level summoned creatures not giving XP, but a room full of powerful Golems and a dragon - there should be some decent XP there.

You should also know that if you help out Kyass with Pyrog's Papers (as well as Drath's Tome) you will have access to many spells and skills at "pretty average" prices, which is about as good as it gets, fiscally.

I've always wondered if Demonslayer isn't cursed somehow. I have two fighters and I progress their stats and skills identically. And whoever wields Demonslayer always seems to miss a lot, except when fighting demons. Could be coincidence, but I've always suspected it.

You may also consider investing a few points in Endurance. It gives you better resistance to poison and acid, as well as increasing your health by another 5 points. And as many will attest, the early stages of the game can be tough. Being able to take a bit of damage can smooth the ride a bit.

I've indulged in that kind of editor boosting before, but only after playing the game straight a few times. And my character really might not need it. I don't see gold being a problem, and it seems unlikely I'll be able to get the top spells, which would take away the need for exceptional Arcane Lore. Perhaps after running through a few times, I'll let my character be an exceptionally natural sage/thief/botanist.

Great suggestions. I'm seeing that Tool Use and Arcane Lore might not be needed. It's easy to see that gold won't be a problem. There are many spells I won't need to learn (Mass Healing, Mass Curing, Unshackle Mind) and I only have to buy skills for one character, not four. So not getting loot won't be a big deal. And I can always bump it a bit at levels 35, 40, 45, 50. Gotta have the Cave Lore though, have to make those herb runs. In fact, getting Cave Lore to 10 for the mandrake seems to be a priority. The idea of "hiring" a specialist is interesting, but going outside the game engine to create then delete a character seems to negate the challenge of doing it all solo. And good to know of another account of the transition from melee to magic. The big choice is how advanced I make Mage or Priest spells. I hadn't thought about the Wards. Ward of Elements was a must-have in a regular four-character game. Perhaps I'll need to abandon the idea of any top-3 spells. Hmm. Thanks for the tips.

Thanks for the replies. Crunching the Skill Point numbers, it seems unlikely I would be able to max out both Mage and Priest spells, that I'll have to make a choice. Mage spells seem better - Cloak of the Arcane and Arcane Blow. Though Divine Retribution is nice. Hm. The Skill Points must be tight - Hardiness and Resistance seem essential, plus Luck for further defensive bonuses. Getting the battle skill Adreneline Rush as well. Fascinating, can't wait to get started.

Reaching level 40 is definately not needed to win the game. It's just a nice even number. Looking forward to my singleton run - cap seems to be about level 55 and change. By the way, how long does one need to keep the space bar depressed to regenerate herbs? Put a book on the space bar and walk away for a few minutes? Hmmm.

Thanks for the reply. I really want my Torment team to reach level 40. But apparently that can't happen in the normal course of the game.

It occured to me that waiting to report a quest finished until much later in the game might give a team an extra level or two. It would make the early game more difficult, although XP gain from monsters might increase a bit. Perhaps waiting until level 37 or so might get a team to level 40. Of course, some quests are on a chain and have to be reported. I'm assuming the XP gain from finishing a quest remains the same. If the amount of XP earned is on a curve like XP from monsters, then it wouldn't work. Is quest XP static?

No debate and yes, ironic. Spiderweb Software is one of a kind. (ahh I'm a Traveler now, no longer a Cave Dweller.) (only took ten years.)

Heh, fair enough. For once, Mac users have to wait in line behind the Windows folks. Man, my team will save so much money and get buffed out quite well. I might have to start using the Wands of Corranus to make the bosses tougher.

Heh, thanks for the reply. And give it time, you'll be an old pro in no time. Welcome to the madness of Spiderweb Software. Between finding out that the Kyass fortress could have given me spells/skills at "pretty average" and now knowing this, I'm bummed for my Torment team. I could have given my mage and priest Parry boosts, my fighters low-level spells to cast, all kinds of bumps and bonuses. As it is, I only have Grah-Hoth left. And the dragons. Can't abide dragons. Is there a Mac version on the way with the reduced price structure? Does anyone know?

Wait, is that "yes, it's true!" or "yes, that's good news!"