shadowbeasts (possible spoilers)

[mr_sir]

ok, so i killed the first shadowbeast i met while hunting as one of the 'get an apprenticeship' tasks thanks to a lot of help from another hunter i recruited (he also made the orc scout a lot easier lol). anyway, i'm loving this game but the fights are so hard. after numerous attempts i finally managed to kill the 3 bandits in the lighthouse and then i discovered a shadowbeast lair behind it. after hardly scratching it before dying i eventually just sneaked in, got all the loot, and sneaked out again. i'm planning on becoming a paladin, and i am level 6 i think with 34 strength, 20% one-handed weapons, and my fine long sword from the militia plus my militia armour (oh and 197hp). anyway, i was wondering what level is best to actually fight these things as its pretty much impossible at the moment? i'm still in chapter 1 and just having loads of fun exploring the area while i do quests here and there (this has got to be one of the best rpgs i've ever played as its so non-linear) but keep having to reload cos i stumble across stuff i can't kill. also, any advice for the tough things like the shadowbeasts?

[Acleacius]

Wow, congrats.

Killing those Bandits at that level for your first time, must have been tough.

Well what you need to fight Shadowbeast is Strength and Sword, strength is added to your sword damage.
So if a Shadowbeast has say 100 armor, your sword is 50 dam and your strength is 34, then you can hit 84 armor, so it is not level based other than getting more LP to spend.

I like doing everything I can to get as many LP as possible before starting chap 2, ie talking to Lord Hagen whom gives you the key to Valley of the Mines.

You can reach maybe 15 th level before starting chap 2, but that is if you know all the tricks, so shoot for 10th to 12th, maybe.
Whatever you are comfortable with, there are 2 ways to get to the Valley Sneak thru a cave or Fight several Orcs (very tough opponets), which are also the same methods to reach your objective in the Valley.
So you can go very early Sneak or build up levels Fight, Orcs are great XP but very difficult to fight in groups which are easy to run into.
In Gothic it is best to taunt one maybe two at the most away from bigger groups to break down the groups.
To do this you inch forward till one notices you (takes a little practice and works with all creatures and NPCs), then to make sure you do not draw the attention of the others, run back a bit to a safe location to fight, rinse and repeat.

[mr_sir]

yeah, those bandits were a nightmare but i was stubborn and refused to give up - i went through a lot of healing potions though lol and did quite a bit of running away

i impressed myself by killing an orc warrior in a cave when i was level 7 and at the same level i killed 2 shadowbeasts by getting them to chase me til i could climb on a ledge then i just used a crossbow on them its the big packs that get me - the wargs are a nightmare to try and seperate. i honestly don't think i've ever played an rpg that has battles that are so hard so early on, but then again its probably cos i'm not exactly doing all the easiest quests first lol. i've given up exploring now though as i kept running into wargs and orc elites and skeletons and couldn't survive very long. just started chapter 2 but i have still got a few things from chapter 1 to do (i haven't even visited the landowners estate yet or the tavern) but i didn't realise talking to the paladin guy would trigger the next chapter so i'm kind of finishing off chapter 1 on my way to the place for chapter 2 lol. its a good job its not like nwn in the sense that each chapter is in a different place to the previous one or i'd be in trouble

[sensitive]

im a bit stuck in chapter 3 atm (first time playing it) and i need spoilers and i need them FAST!! (cant w8 to see what happens next in the storyline )

1.where is the monastery....been at several places in khorinis and i have no idea where to continue the search
2.a quest from lord andre: The weed deal....i have no idea from whom i have to buy the weed, i know i must not wear any armor, there is a guy at the harbor, but every time i ask him about the weed, he tells me to piss off
3.i guess i have been doing the chapters too fast, im still lvl 13 (guess thats a bit too low for this chapter)

[Acleacius]

Wow, yeah that is low for chap 3, you must be missing lots of quests.

Monastary is near the Dead Harpy Taven (on the way to Onars) take the road to your left before you get to the Tavern, near a shrine of Innos.

Try Naddia, dancer in the Red Lantern.

[mr_sir]

the easiest (or possibly hardest lol) way to level up fast is to go exploring - you can get a lot of xp just from killing the easier beasts like those fly things and wolves and scavengers etc. its just a nightmare if you accidentally run into a harder enemy lol. or try taking out a few orcs in the valley of the mines - if you are careful you can get some of them one at a time and they are worth at least 250xp each

for the weed - you have to pay to have some 'fun' with nadia. once up to the room, just talk to her and you can ask about the weed.

[sensitive]

lol, lvl 14 and chapter 4 now , i guess im not yet strong enough to face a dragon, if im ever going to find one in the valley of mines (knight's armor, about 210hp only and a 58dmg bastard sword, 60% one-handed weapons)

thanks for the spoilers

[mr_sir]

for a better sword, go see the smith in the main city then go to the monestary and get it consecrated then you have your own special magic sword for paladins

also, for more hp etc., go see the fire mage by the east gate in the city and donate 1000gp to him in 50gp installments