Randomizer

I think there is a mistaken assumption. While Sucia Island was the origin of the shapers, Danette's Geneforge was independently created without ancient knowledge but as the outgrowth of centuries of research. It represents a systematic way to achieve results instead of the trial and error that originally destroyed the island. Shaper's try to regulate new knowledge and who gains access because of the results with mistakes. In GF3 there is the case of burrowing mold that has gotten loose and infected the man at Fort Kentia. The necromancers and other mad mages that want to try out anything are what needs to be stopped. The problems is the mistreatment of serviles. They are treated as a step up from tools and animals. When the Shaper's Council accepts that they deserve better then a moderate course can be started.

Loyalists have their faults, but they aren't out of control as the rebels. The Sholai in GF1 only have a leader who isn't totally out of control, but the others have become wild power addicts. The rebels have decided that anything goes in the later games in order to overthrow the Shapers. They no longer care what happens to anyone else. Letting rogues loose to terrify the serviles that just want to survive.

You hit upon the flaw of a central leader with no checks on his power. When the leader is good then things are okay. But a corrupt or incompetent leader can destroy everything around him. The real world example is the Bush administraion believing that they are the onl ones that know what is best for the world. When reality intrudes they try to force it back into their vision of what should happen or deny that it has happened. Iraq is an example where Rumsfeld thought he knew better than experienced military men how to run a war. We eliminated the old regime, but there wasn't and still isn't the manpower to control the country. We have the power to destroy the area, but not enough people there to police and repair it. The Shaper Council has the members balancing each other, but are slower to react to change. This prevents anyone of them getting out of control, but a good leader is blocked by the others from making major changes. In all the previous Geneforge games every side has had flaws. What has been lacking is a synthesis of the best ideas from each side. In order to achieve this the Shaper Council would have to recognize that their creations are not just tools to be used and discarded. The creations though have to accept some limits on what they can do, Currently the rebels are going all out to exceed the Shaper's power with no cares or restraints on what they will do. This has lead to powerful creations that are trying to dominate the weaker creations and destroy the shapers.

You can reach Athron, but you need to know the right questions to get the useful info. Actually making it all the way in should be saved for the later part of the game. I think you need to see Erika first to get the last part. Just killing the other monsters on the way in should be enough for the start.

Pyrog is the only dragon that you need to kill. The others all have information that you need to fulfill different quests. Be sure to save a file before killing any of the other dragons in case you find that you haven't got all the info.

You need to go north to investigate the giants near Loreli and then start the war between the giants and trogs. The roach quest is easier and will give you access to priest spells at a relatively low cost.

You want to check both sides of the main entrance because even though the passage doesn't go through and you fight several drakes and fire lizards there is some decent treasure. Athron was always a female and worrying about first her eggs and then the hatched drakes.

I still say blast all the pylons. You have to go back to Fort Remote to recharge every few pylons, but the treasure is about 3000 for just the crystals. Once you complete it you can pass through each area without going into combat mode with a few mouse clicks to reposition your destination each time. I could go from Fort Remote to R-I's place in under a minute when it came time to take the place. After R-I flees the pylons go neutral and you can pass them freely.

I still say blast all the pylons. You have to go back to Fort Remote to recharge every few pylons, but the treasure is about 3000 for just the crystals. Once you complete it you can pass through each area without going into combat mode with a few mouse clicks to reposition your destination each time. I could go from Fort Remote to R-I's place in under a minute when it came time to take the place. After R-I flees the pylons go neutral and you can pass them freely.

It's just one of those quirks in the game. A3 in the Golddale mine had a slith with a fireball wand that was gone after you killed them. Did anyone ever get a choice for a password that didn't initiate fighting?

If you are really lucky a vahnatai in the Sulfurous Flats cave or in the slaughter of Houghton will drop a fine waveblade. Otherwise you have to wait until you visit R-I's tomb.

It's also easier to kill the Almaria shade if you don't have to kill the town to get to it. Still you could always do both.

In BoA's Valley of the Dying Things the was a room in the mage school near the GIFTS that was 20 tool use to unlock and had an empty square behind it. A4 has a room in the Castle near the Levitt reward room that Jeff purposely left at difficulty 90 with nothing there.

*I is right, changing dexterity, quick action, hasting/slowing, and a few other items can change the order that the party acts in. I've had it happen between successive combats where I didn't think anything much had changed.

The second trial is north of Formello and east of the Prongtail Mines. The mark on your hand is something else. There are plenty of threads giving info on finding the 3rd trial, but it sounds like you found the door.

I'm not sure which Exile game you are in but it sounds like Exile 2. There shouldn't be any problem with Erika unless you entered someplace she tells you not to and steal something of hers. Usually you just get attacked for your effort by some guardian monsters unless you took an NY item. Erika is touchy.

There are a fixed number of job board quests. Some are added as you finish other quests and claim your reward. You must click on a job board quest before you can get a reward message even if you finished the quest. Torment has a few encounters that are harder to do and require thought. Hrickris, Nodicuas, and Dorikas are the worst ones in the game. Even on torment mode there is a lot of hack and slash.

It appears to be mindset over ability. There are several people that started training and were rejected for their views. Treating serviles as equals or with too much caring is the big one. There is a lot of emphasis in GF3 in the book at Greenwood Academy that it is more important how you use your abilities than to have ability. The mad shaper going out of control and unleashing rogue creations is the Shaping Council's main worry.

i think someone did get inside those rooms and found nothing. It was a test of what levels you needed to have to use unlock doors on impossible doors.

Good combat engine, but the plot needs work, a lot of work. Money limit is a real problem.

The only summon I liked was summon shade. They are immune to cold and charm spells. As a singleton I used them versus Nodicuas to slow him down and keep his demon buddy from attacking me. I tried to use them to block the chitrach near Fort Remote from getting out. You have to keep summoning them since they wander off. Didn't like divine host since you only get one and he kept dying too quicky at the end.

Not all of them are on the upper level and there are more than are needed for the quest.

I always like the riddles and puzzles in Exile. I though the tests in Avernum 2 where the intelligence was replaced with patience was a weak point. Pushing around a crate where it didn't fall off the ledges when it was supposed to was a flaw. The Nethergate dialog method is tedious in going through all the choices to be sure you don't miss some information.

The problem with quickfire is that it obscures your view of objects. In Exile 2 there are a few places where treasure and chests are hidden in quickfire squares.

It's better to delay getting help from the Vahnatai until after going south and dealing with the Darkside Loyalists down at Erika's ruins. I didn't ask for help until after I killed everything between the first place and the haakai guarding the bridge.