How

Quote: Originally written by ef: E1/A1 is your entrée into a cave world, an underground terrain where those unfortunates who didn't manage to obey the empire's strict set of rules were thrown into to die or struggle to survive with no option of return to the surface. You get the idea? When powerful mages were banned to the caves they fought monsters and demons and created conditions that made life possible, even enjoyable down below. Your party arrives in Exile/Avernum, so you explore and get to know the world and participate in its struggles. You may finally assist a mage seeking revenge and assassinate the surface emperor. In E2/A2 you are part of an underground world at war with the empire. The emperor's death has shown the cave world's unexpected power and the empire now seeks to annihilate the pit. While the war is raging, magical barriers appear everywhere, blocking the paths, barriers of a type unkown and not of surface origin. It appears that a people far older than you and natural citizens of the caves has taken offence because of a deed you know nothing about. You will have to be your people's ambassador and journey into the unknown. In E3/A3 your battle with the empire has been successful and your people have started to contemplate means of returning to the surface. You are an insignificant party sent to the surface to explore; you are easily replaceable. But what you meet above is unforeseen desaster, and if you ever want a chance up there you'll have to support the surface dwellers, if they'll let you. E2/A2's plot is by far the best and it is therefore the most highly recommended game. E3/A3 gives you both cave world and surface experience which has a charm of its own. Also E3 is easier to get used to than E1 and E2, because of its changed dialogue system and overall appearance. The Exile series is less streamlined, less linear and 'polished' than its Avernum remake. There's more freedom to follow your own paths and much more to explore. The graphics, though older, nevertheless are of higher quality than the Avernum ones. Avernum is technically more advanced and that's what a lot of people prefer, but the original draft had more content. I've heard that a major difference between A and E is that the E games allow for 6 in your party and the A games only 4. This would appear to be a significant change, imo. I wonder why this was implemented? Anyone know?

Quote: Originally written by Dikiyoba: To answer your original question, you can also put points into first aid to recover spell points, but it only kicks in after you kill enemies. Dikiyoba. Oh?! That's a good one to know. How much does FA help with SP recovery?

Quote: Originally written by ef: A4 is a mixture of Avernum and Geneforge elements, therefore no outdoors anymore. If you ask just me, it successfully got rid of almost everything that made me fall in love with Exile a decade ago, but those who like the occasional hack an' slash seem to enjoy it nonetheless. Interesting commentary. Thanks. As someone totally new to all these games, which one would you recommend I play first? Are you suggesting that it be Exile? Appreciate your input.

I am new to A4 and wondering if I really have to keep running back to town to recharge my casters mana? No way to Rest out side of town? Sorry if I'm missing some other obvious way to regen spell points.