Doesn't anyone play Lionheart anymore?

[Fljotsdale]

Yay! Great!

That is a pretty nifty character!

Heheh! You do like lugging a lot of trophies around with you, LOL!
Pity you didn't find a Ring of the Metal Fist.
Nice Crit Chance! Decent Mana, too, considering your Cha and Int stats.
I notice you put a lot more points into Ranged than into Unarmed. Tsk! Tsk!

How did you find Domination? Was it helpful in the Acid Wash? Or were you depending on Ranged more than spells? And did you find the crossbow more effective than the pretty bows? I liked the pretty bows.

[Ravager]

Originally Posted by Fljotsdale

Heheh! You do like lugging a lot of trophies around with you, LOL!

A lot less than I could have. Once I entered the Fortress, I couldn't be bothered to go back to the merchant, so most items I recovered from chests I left behind, except the Full Plate of Thief Eyes and the Club of Luck (yeah, I really found that and the Two-Handed Sword of Strength ). I dropped a bunch of Small Shields of Electrical Resistance and Armours with +20AC bonuses...

Originally Posted by Fljotsdale

I notice you put a lot more points into Ranged than into Unarmed. Tsk! Tsk!

Actually, it was around the same, at the end I didn't have the Belt of Brawling equipped which would have given an extra 10 points to Unarmed and I had the Gauntlets of Blessed Archery equipped giving a 44 point bonus to Ranged. The stats I included, include item bonuses.
So, the total would have been around the same for Unarmed and Ranged if both were unmodified.

Originally Posted by Fljotsdale

How did you find Domination? Was it helpful in the Acid Wash? Or were you depending on Ranged more than spells? And did you find the crossbow more effective than the pretty bows? I liked the pretty bows.

To be honest, I didn't use the Domination spells too often. It was simpler to use Ranged Weapons, when I had a combination of Bonus Rate of Fire and Sniper, I could easily take on two Assassins or Master Assassins from a distance.
That's how I finished the Acid Wash area too.
I used the Crossbow of Mastery I had throughout most of the last areas (when I wasn't going unarmed).

[Fljotsdale]

Originally Posted by Ravager

A lot less than I could have. Once I entered the Fortress, I couldn't be bothered to go back to the merchant, so most items I recovered from chests I left behind, except the Full Plate of Thief Eyes and the Club of Luck (yeah, I really found that and the Two-Handed Sword of Strength ). I dropped a bunch of Small Shields of Electrical Resistance and Armours with +20AC bonuses...

I generally drop a load of stuff in there, too. Seems pointless to keep it unless it is immediately useful - which most of it isn't.

Originally Posted by Ravager

Actually, it was around the same, at the end I didn't have the Belt of Brawling equipped which would have given an extra 10 points to Unarmed and I had the Gauntlets of Blessed Archery equipped giving a 44 point bonus to Ranged. The stats I included, include item bonuses.
So, the total would have been around the same for Unarmed and Ranged if both were unmodified.

My char (for that competition game) had no points added to Ranged. Everything went into Unarmed, and she was unstoppable. She used mainly Celestial Smite in the Acid Wash.

Originally Posted by Ravager

To be honest, I didn't use the Domination spells too often. It was simpler to use Ranged Weapons, when I had a combination of Bonus Rate of Fire and Sniper, I could easily take on two Assassins or Master Assassins from a distance.
That's how I finished the Acid Wash area too.
I used the Crossbow of Mastery I had throughout most of the last areas (when I wasn't going unarmed).

Yeah, it's simpler with a good Ranged skill, and a good Ranged weapon - but I proved Unarmed could do it without Ranged.
I buggered up with my two-hander, though.

I think concentrating on only one weapon skill is probably better than sharing points between two, but that is only my opinion: you seem to have managed fine with the two.

[Ravager]

Originally Posted by Fljotsdale

I generally drop a load of stuff in there, too. Seems pointless to keep it unless it is immediately useful - which most of it isn't.

Usually I would pick up the stuff and take it back to the merchant, maybe even go round a few of them to see what kind of items they had on offer. I will probably then buy something that looks really good but is useless for my character.

Originally Posted by Fljotsdale

My char (for that competition game) had no points added to Ranged. Everything went into Unarmed, and she was unstoppable. She used mainly Celestial Smite in the Acid Wash.

Yeah? I didn't really bother putting many points into spells, so that's why I concentrated on the fighting skills...

Originally Posted by Fljotsdale

Yeah, it's simpler with a good Ranged skill, and a good Ranged weapon - but I proved Unarmed could do it without Ranged.
I buggered up with my two-hander, though.

You win some, you lose some...
But it its good to see what can be accomplished in that area without the Ranged skill.
I agree with Ball of Fire that it makes the game more interesting that not every route has some easy solution though.

Originally Posted by Fljotsdale

I think concentrating on only one weapon skill is probably better than sharing points between two, but that is only my opinion: you seem to have managed fine with the two.

I think it's a case of there being a minimum amount of points required in a fighting skill to hit an enemy. Once you've passed that point, you can hit that type of enemy easily. That seemed to be the case for the English, on my first run through the game, I didn't have enough points in the fighting skills, so I could barely hit them, even with a good fleshseeking weapon.
It also helped that I had both Unarmed and Ranged tagged and the Gauntlets raising the skill by 44 points...

Now, I'll have to find a different game to play...hmmm.....

[BallOfFire]

Fljotsdale, are you still stuck? I'm getting worried about my own character getting stuck since yours sounds more well-balanced. I currently have no ranged spells of any kind, and the only ranged I plan on getting is from putting 100 or so points in Smite. Will that be enough? Would more points do it? I don't want to have to start over again to tag Smite. ><

[Fljotsdale]

Originally Posted by BallOfFire

Fljotsdale, are you still stuck? I'm getting worried about my own character getting stuck since yours sounds more well-balanced. I currently have no ranged spells of any kind, and the only ranged I plan on getting is from putting 100 or so points in Smite. Will that be enough? Would more points do it? I don't want to have to start over again to tag Smite. ><

Yep. I've given up on that particular character.

Put in enough points to get Celestial Smite (the 3rd spell in Divine:Smite) to a decent level. It is a combination of Fire & Electrical damage. The Master Assassins are quite resistant to Ice and Fire, but Electrical hurts them.

[BallOfFire]

How much is enough?

Do you two heal yourselves mid-battle or between battles? So far I haven't put a single point in Fortitude beyond the 11 I started with, and that has been more than enough. I just fight, heal, fight, heal, etc. It seems like a waste to have tagged it if I'm not going to put points into it. ><

[Fljotsdale]

Originally Posted by BallOfFire

How much is enough?

Do you two heal yourselves mid-battle or between battles?

Yep. Smack, smack, heal, smack, smack, heal, etc...

Originally Posted by BallOfFire

So far I haven't put a single point in Fortitude beyond the 11 I started with, and that has been more than enough. I just fight, heal, fight, heal, etc. It seems like a waste to have tagged it if I'm not going to put points into it. ><

So put points into it!

[Fljotsdale]

Originally Posted by Ravager

You win some, you lose some...
But it its good to see what can be accomplished in that area without the Ranged skill.

True.

Ranged and Unarmed are far and away the best Fight skills, imo. But a nice ranged spell backup is VERY handy, either way.

Originally Posted by Ravager

I think it's a case of there being a minimum amount of points required in a fighting skill to hit an enemy. Once you've passed that point, you can hit that type of enemy easily. That seemed to be the case for the English, on my first run through the game, I didn't have enough points in the fighting skills, so I could barely hit them, even with a good fleshseeking weapon.

Weapons that increase skill are very good, too.

Originally Posted by Ravager

It also helped that I had both Unarmed and Ranged tagged and the Gauntlets raising the skill by 44 points...

Now, I'll have to find a different game to play...hmmm.....

Well, Oblivion comes out in March. Hopefully.

[Ravager]

Originally Posted by Fljotsdale

Yep. Smack, smack, heal, smack, smack, heal, etc...

Yeah, the same for me, though the majority of my healing is after a battle. I'll do part of it during the battle itself though.

Originally Posted by Fljotsdale

Ranged and Unarmed are far and away the best Fight skills, imo. But a nice ranged spell backup is VERY handy, either way.

Yeah, one of these days, I'll commit to a elemental based spell...
Though I prefer something more versatile.

Originally Posted by Fljotsdale

Weapons that increase skill are very good, too.

Yeah, those are quite rare though. I haven't found too many other than the Everlasting.

Originally Posted by Fljotsdale

Well, Oblivion comes out in March. Hopefully.

I don't know if I'll bother with Oblivion, I never really liked up close and personal style of Morrowind that much. I'll probably wait for it to get a lot cheaper before buying it and focus on NWN2 and Dragon Age. I'll looking forward to those being released...

[BallOfFire]

I think it would be fun to try a character that ONLY uses spells. It would be really hard to do because you would run out of mana sometimes, but if you put all your skills into 2 or 3 elements then your mana would soar and you might be able to handle it. But I'm playing too safe at the moment to try it myself, so I'll just throw the idea out there.

If the videos are any indicator of game quality, Oblivion will be the best purchase you will have ever made, regardless of price.

[Fljotsdale]

Originally Posted by BallOfFire

I think it would be fun to try a character that ONLY uses spells. It would be really hard to do because you would run out of mana sometimes, but if you put all your skills into 2 or 3 elements then your mana would soar and you might be able to handle it. But I'm playing too safe at the moment to try it myself, so I'll just throw the idea out there.

If the videos are any indicator of game quality, Oblivion will be the best purchase you will have ever made, regardless of price.

Ah... I tried that, once. Apart from the aggressive spells, you need darned good protective spells as well - and they COST a lot of mana. And early in the game, even with a high CHARISMA, you don't have that much mana. You will NEED to invest a lot of points in SNEAK.

I gave up on it. I hope you do better.

[Fljotsdale]

Originally Posted by Ravager

Yeah, one of these days, I'll commit to a elemental based spell...
Though I prefer something more versatile.

Yeah... there is only so much you can do with ice/fire/electricity.

Originally Posted by Ravager

Yeah, those are quite rare though. I haven't found too many other than the Everlasting.

That's the best; but I have sometimes found bows/crossbows that increase the range.

Originally Posted by Ravager

I don't know if I'll bother with Oblivion, I never really liked up close and personal style of Morrowind that much. I'll probably wait for it to get a lot cheaper before buying it and focus on NWN2 and Dragon Age. I'll looking forward to those being released...

That's a pity. I always loved the Elder Scrolls games, from Daggerfall on. Daggerfall's dungeons were really scary! I'm surprised I didn't have a heart attack the way horrible big werewolves and things would suddenly creep up on you from behind...

I like the NWN games too. Dragon Age I know nothing about. I'll check it out.

[Ravager]

Originally Posted by Fljotsdale

That's the best; but I have sometimes found bows/crossbows that increase the range.

Really? I've seen ones that increase the skill, damage and speed of attacks but not the range of attacks, as far as I know...

Originally Posted by Fljotsdale

That's a pity. I always loved the Elder Scrolls games, from Daggerfall on. Daggerfall's dungeons were really scary! I'm surprised I didn't have a heart attack the way horrible big werewolves and things would suddenly creep up on you from behind...

That would be one of the things I don't like, I don't want to be scared by some ugly monster creeping up behind me, if I wanted that I'd just buy Doom.
That's what I don't like about the Elder Scrolls games that much.
Eventually, I'll buy Oblivion out of curiosity and the like but I won't snap it up as soon as it comes out and that has little connection to the price. I bought NWN and BGII as soon as they were released and never regretted that, but I don't like Morrowind enough to do the same for Oblivion.

Originally Posted by Fljotsdale

I like the NWN games too. Dragon Age I know nothing about. I'll check it out.

Yeah, there isn't that much information on Dragon Age yet, though it is being released on PC and developed by Bioware, so it should be good. Some of the screenshots were very impressive.

@BallOfFire, sounds like an interesting idea, the huge amount of Mana regenerating potions out there might elp as would the 'Spirit Guide' perk (+10% out of every Mana spirit). I think there may even be a trait that has a similar effect...

[Fljotsdale]

Originally Posted by Ravager

Really? I've seen ones that increase the skill, damage and speed of attacks but not the range of attacks, as far as I know...

I could be mistaken, of course; but I think I had a bow that increased range.

Originally Posted by Ravager

That would be one of the things I don't like, I don't want to be scared by some ugly monster creeping up behind me, if I wanted that I'd just buy Doom.

Meh. I'm no fan of Doom. I've seen my two older grandsons play it. Not my thing at all.

Daggerfall used to give me real adreneline rushes. Not Morrowind so much though. A tamer game, even if the graphics ARE tons better. It doesn't scare me at all. Maybe I've got hardened to the genre.

Originally Posted by Ravager

Yeah, there isn't that much information on Dragon Age yet, though it is being released on PC and developed by Bioware, so it should be good. Some of the screenshots were very impressive.

I've not looked at the game info and screen shots yet.

Originally Posted by Ravager

@BallOfFire, sounds like an interesting idea, the huge amount of Mana regenerating potions out there might elp as would the 'Spirit Guide' perk (+10% out of every Mana spirit). I think there may even be a trait that has a similar effect...

I haven't noticed a Trait or Racial Trait that adds to directly to Mana. However, the Studious Tinkerer Trait adds 4 starting points to the Magic school(s) you Tag, if those schools are appropriate for your Spirit. And all other spell schools you add 1 point to, gain 4 points. Which is helpful.

And you get several opportunities to add to the amount of Mana you have: Galileo, for starters...