Foumantoo

Do you prefer 1 Melee in your party? On normal I don't think it matters, how about on hard?

Thanks I agree I do like a melee person-just feels more like the classic "rpg" and that's why I like these games after all I guess...BTW I am taking Pole Weapons on casters to get to Adrenaline Rush, with the comments that this trainer comes sooner in game etc. I actually used a spear a couple times with my casters and they did some damage. This is another restart with better notes and I'm at a whopping level 3 (on Hard this time though unless I get too frustrated) Thanks your answers are really helpful Lilith

Question: At higher difficulty levels- If you have a party with 2 Priests and 2 Mages, you will wind up having someone get banged on right? So if you create a Priest that doubles as a tank, do you have to take some levels of strength stat to don better armor? If so, would you just use one or both for that purpose? Would they be shield users then too? Like clerics in other games perhaps. I would think they would generally focus on Blessings and buffs as they don't have as many damage spells, or do you actually count on them to melee a bit?

I did notice that some places have a combination of easier and tougher battles. It sorta threw me off as I am used to "areas" in games where you should be or not be for your level. I just need to keep some notes on where to come back to. I am lazy with note taking, map making etc though. I try to find those kinds of answers by people who are more knowledgeable about a game than me (who aren't as lazy either)

Is a Dual Wielding Fighter still recommended over a Shield/Pole user? I saw the Minus To Hit went from 20% in AEFTP to 35% in CS. Lillith recommends against taking Sage Lore-is this mainly for Resistance Bonus AL 11/13 whatever gives, for the fact there are a few spells you can't get with Sage Lore? Playing through on Normal doesn't seem to tax me much. In fact I hardly ever use my scrolls,potions etc except healing. I will bump it to Hard to see how it feels-I think a lot of this advice is for a bit more difficulty eh? Slarti suggests getting Magi Clearance right after Demo area without going into another dungeon with though out questing and planning. Unfortunately I guess I will have to play through a few times to learn what those might be, or can someone maybe help with a SPOILER in this regard? I really like the game but come to the forums for hints. tips and Ah-ha stuff... BTW-what exactly IS the demo area-like before chapter 2 or earlier?

Hello, I have been trying AEFTP on HARD mode while playing and learning A2:CS on normal. Regarding Slarti's original posting a couple years ago: ANALYSIS: Min-Maxing A:EFTP, I didn't want to post a reply on a 2+ year old thread so am making sure I ask the question anew and hoping that is proper etiquette on a forum. I really appreciate the 2 build guides you had posted and have read it thoroughly and after playing both games a while understand the terms and ideas much better-thank you for the really good work. Question: Do you consider focusing on survivabilty skills in early game more important, or is there a "best defense is a good offense" sort of process. I understand this to be a general question, but being that HARD is "harder" I think I'm on the right track. Question: Why can Mages wear a shield and armor in the beginning? I'm sure that there is a poibnt where this doesn't make sense. Are you suddenly unable to cast spells or how do you know? CS just says "Encumbers Mages" and that's that. Question: How accurate are those builds with A2:Crystal Souls? I can now understand some differences but it seems there are more simlarities than there are differences. I have seen some posts by Lillith etc that has explained a few of these differences. Question to Slarti: have you considered making a build guide outline like AEFTP for A2:CS? I believe you are somewhat qualified to do so eh? Hey-I'm just having a lot of fun discovering my roots with these Spiderweb Games I guess. Just wait till I start an Avadon (in library) if you really want to get confused! Thanks all

Hi, I have been trying EFTP a bit while playing Crystal Souls. I am trying it on "hard" difficulty and there is a marked difference in getting stomped vs. not a big deal in some dungeons early. Does CS have the same ramp up in difficulty?

YThanks-what I wanted to do was make make the Thread Subject Header read ***SPOILERS*** not actual posts. I'm unable to edit the Thread Header-maybe you can?

Sorry man wasn't meaning to spam-I actually was writing another post when you made this-really sorry wasn't trying to make a mess! You are correct there is a LOT of info over a wide area, much of it older posts too. I will keep my questions limited to this post sorry

So-After playing for a while and reading hundreds of posts for advice, let me know what you think... This is one of the few actual laid out plans for a build that seemed to take advice from some of the veterans of the game. I have some questions at the end, feel free to post answers if you like. There are 3 pages of posts after Bonam made this one, which to a newb is a lot to process. Questions from Fou: -No Sage Lore? (still so confused on this one and VL) -How do all these people get to 15 in weapon skills (to Reach Adrenaiine Rush) when they have 8 total? I realize you buy 2 points of weapon skills and there there are 2 items to wear/use (like a sword and gloves or something) to get to 15 to take Adrenaline Rush. However that would only account for one character to get to 15 right? What about the other three? -Cave Lore? I see there isn't really a lot of fantastic gear to discover, but maybe on first timers get it to a certain number? 10 maybe on first timers? -TU to 14? I see that you need TU to 11 for most items, 13 to escape a dragon or something, and 14 for final. One post says maybe 14 on initial run and 11 if you go again? Perhaps the wily veterans could edit the actual build post when advising with comments at the end of the edit as editing the actual build itself is much easier to wrap a smaller brain around than reading pages of adjustment advice. I realize that I may be guilty of reviving many old questions scattered over dozens of posts from 2015-2016, but seeing as this is the most recent Avernum game, I know that new people will look for a post from a "Newcomer" just as I do, and maybe some of this will help. I really like this game and have actually started playing EFTP to see differences. There is a lot of info etc on that game (not much in the way of maps though like CS) Note: I realize there isn't a magic bullet for this, but looking through a more mature game such as EFTP there is much more

Ah I just spotted this after making a long post with questions on another thread....thanks-there are so many posts to find answers sorry sometimes it's hard to corral them all Does this mean you do NOT take Sage Lore at all?

Hi Again, My characters are around level 17-18, I'm having fun but as always a bit confused. Basically I have been doing side quests in any area that I can handle for my area. I have access to areas as barriers are down, and am sorta wandering....I know I should go to Castle for the Magi Clearance (I guess). I know there isn't really a "walkthrough" and I don't expect one, just want to make sure I have the right idea. I realize it's also the point of the game to discovery stuff, just want to make sure there is no glaring stupidity going on. Lots of choices for buying things though and not sure how not to waste money. I have mainly spent money on spells/rituals for offense and survival, not really on like Cave Lore etc. I am however thoroughly confused on the application of Arcane Lore with Sage Lore and Vahnatai Lore etc.I realize there has been much discussion on this and not sure if I'm really clear on it. See below an excerpt from the "Second Look after balance updates" thread. I'm not sure if I should take Sage Lore, if I should take it for all characters, if I should take multiple levels of it, whether I should take VL or not (4 opportunities to do so), if I should ignore that because there are certain things it doesn't count as AL for (so whats the point) or Ignore SL and VL to get 13 straight points in AL to get some sort of Resistance Buff (I think). I also am seeing the original "Second look at Updates" advice (Slarti I'm guessing is the Demon of Good Taste?) and thinking I should maybe replay at a Hard level with all casters get. The Dual sword guy is fun but even just having Icy Rain and Priest Divine Fire blows any melee out the window. I guess I am the type of player who doesn't like to hope he gets the right skills-I like to explore etc but hate wishing I made different build choices and don't like using the editor, but will. I spend a lot of time reseaqrching my choices for games before I start them, unlike others who jump right in I guess.

Like resistance?

When you say "traits" are you talking about Sage Lore? So this would mean: 2 AL + 2 Traits (Sage Lore) = 8 AL 2 AL + 3 Traits= (Sage Lore)= 11 AL Not counting the Spray Acid, Blink, Cloak of Blades, and Ward of Steel, as those require "pure" Arcane Lore, (From Mikus post) Not sure how to get the Vahnatai Lore as I only got it offered to me once somewhere so far in my game- but it also counts as an AL for spell learning purposes right? Isn't that like $1000 each time or something?

Hello again, I have been using a Sword and Shield early until I could improve my dual wielding skill. I have tried to equip some swords and having a bit of confusion: When I equip a Broadsword or Waveblade, I can only use a shortblade or dagger in offhand-no problem except I sold a bunch of them...how can I tell what blades go where? I don't see a descriptor but it makes sense that a big and a little etc. Just want to know how to figure the combination for the future. I guess I shoulda played around a bit with equipping earlier eh? Thanks

Great Job on this really helpful, and it is a LOT more than just maps. Fantastic work and essential for me.

Oky doke. So an example of my Warrior would be: 12 Str =60% to Hit Armor I'm wearing -40% chance to hit and a Base rate of 50% to hit (or so) Equals 70% chance to hit? Honestly I really ain't worried about it as the explanation of Evasion etc makes sense. I just saw all this armor with a lot of minuses, and what seems like he misses often (sword and shield not dual wielding yet) and it seemed like a lot. The odd thing about it is I usually glaze over when I see people writing all the math involved when explaning internal game mechanics. I assure you I prefer the magic of the games, not the math underneath. Thanks

Right thanks -so I need to hover over each one, then add up the "-to hit" etc and get a total-then add up to offset of strength (or any other item that changes the stat) I have as a modifier etc? Hmm would be nice to have the game keep track of that. I love the old school style of course but there are some UI things (like the above) that are real quality of life helpers, especially for a lazier gamer such as myself.

Hello again-thanks for answering all my questions-I have Grim Dawn, WoW, Deus Ex, and more and this is the game I'm losing sleep playing. I really get back to my old feelings when I play this type of game! Anyway-question: I had asked if there was a way to see you stats such as %to hit, etc and was told no, which is too bad when trying different types of armor etc-would be nice to see how different items change the character to better make decisions on them. Also Is there a screen that shows your total points in say TU or AL, or do you have to add each one up yourself?

I found a piercing crystal that is used for barriers-with all these different barriers around I'm not sure what to use it one without wasting it.

Thank you!

Hi- Question to the OP, whatever your handle may be this week...lol Does Escape from The Pit have a more balanced combat as opposed to the obvious superiority of Magic in this one? Like melee actually is important? I would have thought the newer games would be more carefully balanced no?

Thanks for that! How do you know if your spell level is high enough for level 3 spells after you have the first 2 ranks?

Hi, I,m at level 8 in the Motrax/Formello area. I know it's early. But in the Motrax Cave there are a couple of areas where it says I need "clearance". Is this Magi Clearance? And you mention with careful planning you can get it early (after "demo" area). I don't have a demo so not sure what that means, nor what kind of careful planning I need. My reputation is around 10 I believe and I noticed people have said you need like level 22-25 or so right?