Mechalibur

Honestly, I've played for over 100 hours and I haven't achieved any of the three victory goals. Just because I love the setting, the environment and searching around for optional quests. The game is fantastic and I can't wait for Avernum 2 tomorrow! Day one purchase for me! ...But I guess that means I'll have to stop dillydallying and get around to completing the quest.

I'm having trouble imagining this. I beat the game twice (once on normal, once on torment), and even after exhaustively doing every quest, the playthroughs were about 60 hours each. What's going on in those other 40 hours? o_o

I've only played the first two, but I've had a few ideas.

For both:

Updated graphics and UI (especially in regards to the inventory system)

More areas/quests, or even expanding old areas into two parts (Goettsch, for example, could have a separate dungeon you need to go through to get the Shaper Gloves)

Creature balance changes to make the less useful ones usable.

Maybe a revision to the stun system? At the very least the game should tell you how many AP is lost whenever you stun an enemy.

Battle disciplines similar to A:EftP could be cool. Maybe unlocking them is a new skill.

Dynamic boss fights (like A:EftP)

Maybe the ability to infiltrate certain sects without first having to drop the one you're in. For example, in GF2, getting the permission of Zakary to join the Awakened/Barzhites in order to infiltrate their research centers.

Geneforge 1:

Adding the spells from 2. Canisters for them could be in new zones, or existing canisters can be redistributed to accommodate new abilities.

Adding trainers, which would also help with the above. A few should be neutral, some should expand if you join the right sect, and some should require joining their sect (like the Takers probably wouldn't allow non-Takers to even learn basic skills)

The new creations in GF2 should *not* be added, however, since they were a part of the story of GF2.

Different ending if you kill Goettsch and Trajkov, but don't use or destroy the Geneforge. Right now it gives you the same ending if you destroy it.

Change in ending based on how many canisters you've used, maybe?

Danette's spirit in the Shaper Tombs should probably have some dialogue. She could reveal a lot of information.

Geneforge 2:

Trainers should be able to give 2 level ups in skills regardless of if you received a bonus elsewhere. This was fixed in GF3 I think?

Maybe some way for unaligned or loyalist shapers to create the T4 creatures. Maybe not though... it does make the decision to join a sect a lot more interesting.

It would be cool if we could get to know Shanti a little more (platonically, I mean )

Casting unlock should give exp similar to using living tools.

After an NPC joins your party, and they leave, maybe they could go back somewhere for you to talk to afterward.

Things I'm ambivalent about:

Being able to pick either gender for classes

Romances (especially in the first 2 games, they'd be a bit out of place)

More classes

(Incorrect information)

It doesn't really matter where you put your points. None of the sidequests are as difficult as the main storylines, so if you beat the game, don't worry about it.

while steam will not record you as having earned an achievement if you don't have the game through steam, it will also not record you as not having earned the achievement

That sure would be impressive.

Thanks, but how do you think I came to have lvl 2 in bolt of fire, cloak of curses, protection, and curing without purchasing training from a store? I'm pretty sure I haven't trained because I haven't purchased anything yet from a store (other than 1 spider fang). I've just been hoarding up to now.

Bolt of fire, cloak of curses, and protection all start at level 1, so finding their tome will get you to level 2 without having to buy from a trainer.

I think that's actually fairly standard for games that take over 40 hours. For example, the achievement to beat Xcom on normal mode has a bit under 5% completion, and that game's even shorter than Avernum.

Adrenaline Rush on spellcasters + multiple AoE spells. That'll do it.

Usually by the time my casters have adrenaline rush, I'm done fighting slith

But in general, that is the standard strategy for most late game fights.

Personally, I don't like using Call the Storm to take care of Slith; the warriors seem to dodge cold far more frequently than lightning (high endurance or something), and I usually don't like to move them around much so that I can keep them in position. I would just keep with the strategy you're already using, really. Running out of SP isn't that big of a deal since you can just go to town. If you're in a dungeon, just move slowly, and stay in combat mode so that you can almost guarantee the first turn for yourself (they seem to have fairly high initiative).

Oh man, I remember when I fought Drath on Torment. I remembered to go through the secret door in order to bypass the barriers, but I completely forgot to drink from the battle frenzy and invulnerability basins. It ended up being probably the second hardest fight in the game because of my inability to pay attention

For the most part I usually use them as soon as I get them. Near the end, however, I crafted all my resources into 20-something wisdom crystals so I could get one of my characters to level 35 (I accidentally messed up his skill point allocation, so he needed the extra levels )

It also depends on level difference as well. For example, that lone slith is do-able on normal at a much lower level than on torment.

Well, that's because in torment enemies ignore a flat percentage of armor (34% I think), right? Torment was incredibly frustrating that early on when enemies were all hitting for full damage because your armor didn't do anything yet! Still, makes it all the more satisfying when you win.

Regarding your first question, I think you get 1 free steal attempt before everyone in the town starts attacking you. It's actually a bit harder to steal in this game, since you can't close doors after you open them. NPCs with names in blue also don't count as part of the town, so you can steal in front of them. At any rate, you should quicksave before you try and steal anything.

Destroying the eggs has no consequence for any other part in the game. It's morally dubious, sure, but no one sees you do it, so no loss in reputation (and people hate Slith enough that they probably wouldn't care)

There is one quest where you have to do something morally questionable. The only penalty for doing it is a loss of reputation, which really isn't a big deal.

There are also two quests new to the remake where you have to choose between giving an item to three different people. None of them lock you out of any content, the only difference, really, is what rewards you get.

Once you get partway through the game, enemies regularly have around 66-95% armor. If you want to see what your damage looks like before armor, try fighting goblins or something (usually one or two will spawn every time you go to the Goblin caves)

As for the hammers:

 

The smith in Silvar needs 3 hammers, 3 bars of iron, 3 picks, 3 shovels, 3 pincers, and 3 tongs.

 

The shovels and picks are part of the quest before the hammers, so it looks like those were already turned in, and don't need to be collected again.

No, they never go away.

Actually, most of them do go away. If you give Jen at least 50 bags, then ask her if she needs any more, she'll say no, and the quest will be removed from your list. The only ones that can't be removed, I think, are Aranea Fangs and Works of Magery. Although in the actual game, I've never managed to get enough iron bars or wine to remove those two quests from the list.

As for hammers, I remember there was a good number of them in an early dungeon... the Goblin Caves or Bandit Fort maybe. They also had a number of pincers and tongs for the following delivery quest.

Well, the other possibility would be to give some kind of advantage to humans, instead of just the absence of disadvantages.

I hadn't thought about that. What kind of advantage would a human have? Maybe the equivalent of having the negotiator trait for every human in your party or something. Or maybe they could be better at magic since slith are the strong and sturdy race while Nephil are the quick and deadly ones. Only problem with that is it encourages racial specific builds and puts you at a disadvantage if you want to play a slith priest or something.

If it weren't for the remakes, I probably never would have gotten into the Avernum series. I have no shame in the 120 hours I've put into A:EftP, and I'm extremely glad that the sequel is being remade. I just have to be careful with avoiding spoilers here!

I'm really curious how the different races will work in the remake. He seems to have done away with experience penalties, so I wonder if slith/nephil characters will have disadvantages in other ways.

Well, I recently finished torment with a somewhat hybrid party. What I've found out is that you can branch out your character in terms of stats and skills, but you shouldn't expect to have a character that's equally good with weapons and magic. There's very little point to it; if you have two modes of attack, you should just stick to the one that's the most powerful. My party had two mages and a priest in it, and they had 10 points in melee or ranged. The point of this, however, wasn't to have a backup attack option, but instead to put points toward adrenaline rush and either hardiness or gymnastics.

I only ended putting up around half of my points into the primary stat (int for my 3 casters, strength for my warrior), while the rest went into dexterity for the warrior and one of the mages (it was extremely important for outdoor battles, since total party dex decides who goes first), and endurance for the other mage and the priest. In fact, the priest ended up being the tank. It worked out very well having her in front, especially since the penalty to attack from all her armor didn't end up mattering much.

You *can* beat the game with pretty much any party, especially on normal, but specializing in one attack type is usually for the best.

Wow, thanks a lot man! You know Avernum like the back of your hand. That's seriously helpful, I appreciate it. Once I get to continue playing it (I'm on the last quest in Avadon II) I'll read everything I can and hopefully I can get back into the game like I left off yesterday.

No problem. Enjoy the game!

I generally use Flaming Sword + Spectral Falchion. I swap the Flaming Sword for Demonslayer against demons since many of them are immune to its fire effect anyway.

And finally, the items:

Crown Token - The mayor of Formello gave this to you. It is required to enter the Castle, the capital of Avernum

Blessed Athame - You took this from the Tower of Magi. It's a dagger so sharp that it can cut anything, but the blade is too small to be used in combat.

Silver Circlet - You conned the leader of Spire out of her most prized possession. No one really knows what it does, but you might find a use for it later on.

Lost Message - Not sure... I think maybe this is what you're supposed to give to Shaynee

Demonslayer parts - You have 2 out of 3 of them. Check the map for where the last one is, I think the one you're missing is in the Nephar prison. They're parts to Demonslayer - a powerful artifact brought down from the surface.

Drath's Spellbook - A lich's spellbook, which you took when you killed Drath (or injured him enough to let him escape). 3 NPCs will end up wanting this, but not until you've done Pyrog's Papers.

Graymold Salve Recipe - You found this in an abandoned hut. This lets Kai in Patrick's Tower make Graymold Salve.

Brooches - These are found in various locations. At this point you don't know what they're for.

Keys - Various keys that open doors. One that I noticed you're missing is the Gold Key. If you've helped Patrick out in the Tower (his quest isn't in your quest log so I think you have), then he'll tell you to check his journal out in his room. That journal gives you the password to open a gate in the Castle which allows you to get the Gold Key.

I think I can summarize most of the quests and items

Collection Quests - these are ones where you just have to drop off items to certain NPCs.

Aranea Fangs - Alchemist in Fort Draco wants these. I think she gives 50g per fang

Mushroom Meal - Jan in Formello wants these to feed the townsfolk. She gives you 15g per bag, and collects up to 50 total.

Iron Bars - I think this was the blacksmith in Blosk. She gives you 20g per bar I think, and collects up to 42

Fort Draco Wine - Bill and Bill in Fort Draco want the wine. They'll give you 10g per bottle

Alequest - A guy in Spire wants Ale. He gives you 10g per bottle, up to 30 total.

Bars and Hammers - The smith in Silva wants 3 iron bars and 3 hammers. After this, he'll ask for 3 pincers and tongs, I think (check the job board after handing them in)

You also seem to be missing a collection quest from Benth in the Castle. You have a Crown Token, so you can enter the Castle without a problem.

Major Quests (ones directly related to beating the game, I won't spoil anything)

The Castle (just go inside and talk to the King).

The Empire Orb - You've met an anti-Empire group called Scimitar. To join them, they want you to destroy a communication device that the empire is using.

Erika the Archmage - You need to talk to her for one of the main quest lines. You can't get to her unless you have the North Seas boat or the Orb of Thralni

Banish Adze-Haakai - You've spoken to Solberg, a former leader of the Tower of Magi. He's concerned because a demon was summoned in the Tower. He recommends reforging Demonslayer before trying to fight it (it looks like you have 2/3 pieces of it). This quest needs to be completed because it gives a particular item that you need for a later quest.

Orb of Thralni - I don't know if you've finished this quest or haven't received it yet (check your inventory for it). The item is required for all of the endings, I believe.

Other Quests

Murdering Mentta - Dexter in Almaria wants you to kill him for some reason (I think he was cheated in a deal or something). You can kill him in Dharmon without the guards attacking you, but your reputation will suffer: Dexter isn't exactly a law-abiding citizen.

The Wisdom of Khoth - A priestess in Formello wants to see if the dragon Khoth has a scroll that she wants to read.

Pyrog's Papers/Knowledge - 3 different people want these papers, and you can only give them to one of them. They are Evyss in Kyass, Rita in Patrick's Tower, and Thrantia, an empire agent under Formello. The dragon Pyrog has them, and won't give them up without a fight.

Message - Shaynee - Shaynee runs a Bazaar near Fort Spire. Leith in Blosk wanted you to deliver a message to her.

Recruitment: Abyss Mage - You've spoken to Kyass of Kyass, who is recruiting mages for his new city. This particular one was sent to the Abyss, and you can find him in Fort Spire.

Black Drake Fang - An alchemist near Bargha wants a black drake fang. You can find it in the north seas (you probably don't have access to that boat yet.)

Ethridge's Ghosts - A trainer in Bargha has ghosts that are haunting her. They're NW of the city, and if I recall, they're a bit difficult.

The Walking Dead - Mayor Vicky in Blosk wanted the undead destroyed before they attack a town and get out of control. I think they're near the scree pits, but the location should be marked on your map.