Doesn't anyone play Lionheart anymore?

[Ravager]

I don't mind when we start. I suppose we can just post our initial stats whenever ready, which will be sometime during the day for me I think.

And Demokin's fine by me.

[Fljotsdale]

I'm about to go to bed - it's 12.30am in the UK - and I will be out part of tomorrow; but I should have a char ready by late afternoon my time.

Not sure I'll have much time to play until after the Christmas thing, but you can bet I'll find SOME time!

[Ravager]

Yeah, I live in the UK too. That was the kind of time I was planning to sort out mine.

Heh. Yeah, I'm confident.

[Fljotsdale]

Here is my char:

Name: Fidelia Fidelis (Don't laugh! )
Race: Demokin
Spirit: Elemental
Tags: Unarmed, Lockpick, Divine:Fortitude

Points per level:17

Attributes:
STR 8
PER 6 (with Stargazer)
END 5
CHA 5
INT 7 (with RM Trait)
AGI 8
Luck 3

Racial Trait: Forked Tongue
Traits: Studious Tinkerer, Renaissance Man

Current level 4
Current XP 9478

Aggregate Fight: 74 (of which 41 Unarmed)
Aggregate Thief: 162 (including Temp points)
Aggregate Divine: 48

Lvl 2 perk: Swift Learner

Also have:
First green crystal
Sceptre of Bone
Stargazer perk
Eloquent Works (Shakespeare)
Ring of Promise (Shakespeare)

[Ravager]

Looks good.
I took my character stats just on the level 1 to level 2 area of experience. I think I just managed level 3 today.

Lionheart Character

Tordek
Level 1
36 HP (On access to Lvl 2)
56 Mana (On access to Lvl 2)
47 AC
Demokin Male
Divine Spirit
Racial Trait: Lucky Devil +1 Luck, -15 Speech
Optional Trait:Good Natured +35 Barter –5 to Melee skills
Tag Skills: Unarmed, Ranged, Tribal Magic: Domination

STR: 6
PER: 6
END: 5
CHA: 5
INT: 6
AGI: 7
LUC: 7 (6)

AP: 8
HR: 2
Crit Chance: 7

Skills:
Tribal Magic
10 Domination
All other branches at 0
Thought Magic – 0
Divine Magic- All branches at 1
Thieving Skills
At 20 each apart from Diplomacy (16)
Barter at 51, Speech at 1
Melee Skills
Unarmed 24
One Handed Melee 15
Two Handed 14
Ranged Weapons 30
Evasion 19

I also have the Sceptre of Bone and the Prophet's Amulet.

[Fljotsdale]

Hm - going for Ranged as well, I notice. Interesting char. Stats more balanced than mine - but I wanted the 8 STR and AGI so that I can get the Slayer perk later. I decided it was worth low LUCK until I get the 2 Luck points from Wererats and Dryad. I don't really want to take a GAIN (stat) perk.
I've never used Domination. It'll be interesting to know how well it works.

I didn't put in some stuff that you did. I'll rectify that tomorrow. I think my char is Lvl 9 now, so I can start getting some more interesting Perks.

I considered Ranged. But decided to concentrate on Unarmed. Which is not easy for me because I almost always use ranged, and melee is a totally different way of fighting. Ya have to get up close and personal. I SHALL feed points into Ranged, for the area where it is most needed, but not yet. I want to be almost exclusively Unarmed.

I'm a bit surprised you didn't Tag a Thief skill.

I have the Prophet's Amulet as well - forgot to include it.

[Ravager]

Originally Posted by Fljotsdale

Hm - going for Ranged as well, I notice. Interesting char. Stats more balanced than mine - but I wanted the 8 STR and AGI so that I can get the Slayer perk later. I decided it was worth low LUCK until I get the 2 Luck points from Wererats and Dryad. I don't really want to take a GAIN (stat) perk.
I've never used Domination. It'll be interesting to know how well it works.

Well, ranged is pretty essential as we both know.
Yeah, I should have looked into the perks a bit more, I'd forgotten the STR requirement for Slayer. I suppose that'll make things harder for me without it. Well, I remembe that there were quite a few perks that required high AGI so I wanted to stick quite a few points in there and I've never really concentrated on Luck though I think I saw some good things written about here.
Yeah, I wanted to go for a branch of magic I'd never really tried before and some of the abilities in that branch seem interesting. I'll probably still stick lots of points in Divine branches though.
I'll see how a character with 9 luck (after the wererats and dryads) goes through the game.

Originally Posted by Fljotsdale

I didn't put in some stuff that you did. I'll rectify that tomorrow. I think my char is Lvl 9 now, so I can start getting some more interesting Perks.

Sounds good.
I added the Inherited Resistance perk to my character. If I remember correctly it can only be taken very early in the game and the advantages of it are definitely worthwhile.

Originally Posted by Fljotsdale

I considered Ranged. But decided to concentrate on Unarmed. Which is not easy for me because I almost always use ranged, and melee is a totally different way of fighting. Ya have to get up close and personal. I SHALL feed points into Ranged, for the area where it is most needed, but not yet. I want to be almost exclusively Unarmed.

Ahh, okay. I'll probably do the same. Tagging Ranged is mainly preemptive, for when I do start needing it (probably around the army destroying time).

Originally Posted by Fljotsdale

I'm a bit surprised you didn't Tag a Thief skill.

Well, I managed to get away without one tagged the last time and did surprisingly well. I'm a pack rat so I'm bound to collect potions of Master Thievery and items that provide bonuses to the various Thief Skills.
My low Speech skill certainly didn't work in my favour, Cervantes is now imprisoned by the Inquisition, something I haven't seen before.

Which faction do you think you will go for this time, if you haven't already allied yourself to one?

[Fljotsdale]

Originally Posted by Ravager

Well, ranged is pretty essential as we both know.
Yeah, I should have looked into the perks a bit more, I'd forgotten the STR requirement for Slayer. I suppose that'll make things harder for me without it. Well, I remembe that there were quite a few perks that required high AGI so I wanted to stick quite a few points in there and I've never really concentrated on Luck though I think I saw some good things written about here.
Yeah, I wanted to go for a branch of magic I'd never really tried before and some of the abilities in that branch seem interesting. I'll probably still stick lots of points in Divine branches though.
I'll see how a character with 9 luck (after the wererats and dryads) goes through the game.

Yes, good idea - and I can learn from YOUR experience!

I intend to feed quite a lot of points into SNEAK, so I am hoping I won't have so much need for high Ranged skill. I'd really like to do without it altogether, which is why I am feeding points into Thought: Ice. Useful against Lava trolls early on, of course, but Ice Javelin is quite a good ranged weapon in it's own right.

Originally Posted by Ravager

Sounds good.
I added the Inherited Resistance perk to my character. If I remember correctly it can only be taken very early in the game and the advantages of it are definitely worthwhile.

Yes, It was my intention to start with Inherited Resistance, because it IS very worthwhile - but for some strange reason it didn't show in the list of Perk Options which is why I went for Swift Learner first, instead. Oh well - plenty of potions, and I'm using Fortitude so I have spells to counter disease and poison.

Originally Posted by Ravager

Ahh, okay. I'll probably do the same. Tagging Ranged is mainly preemptive, for when I do start needing it (probably around the army destroying time).

Heh! Yeah!
I have already discovered that Unarmed is not much good against the 2nd and 3rd summoned from the pink crystals. Good thing I found an Amulet of Exorcism - but it isn't that effective without Boots of the Walking Dead to boost it.

Originally Posted by Ravager

Well, I managed to get away without one tagged the last time and did surprisingly well. I'm a pack rat so I'm bound to collect potions of Master Thievery and items that provide bonuses to the various Thief Skills.

True. I almost didn't Tag a Thief skill myself, but I really HATE not being able to open chests first time round, even WITH a potion of Master Thievery!

Originally Posted by Ravager

My low Speech skill certainly didn't work in my favour, Cervantes is now imprisoned by the Inquisition, something I haven't seen before.

GOSH!! I DID wonder about your low Speech! Now see where it gets you! Those gauntlets he gives you are quite good for an Unarmed fighter, too. Oh, well. Are you going to try to get him out of prison? Or is there no option for it?

Originally Posted by Ravager

Which faction do you think you will go for this time, if you haven't already allied yourself to one?

I thought about it for quite a while while I was doing the very early stuff. Inquisition is not for me. So it was a choice between Templars and Wielders, and I enjoy Wielders more than Templars. So - guess!


So you can do a proper comparison with your lvl 2 char I loaded my first savegame of the char, just after levelling to 2:

HP 38
Mana 77
AC 44
AP 9
HR 2
Crit Chance 3

Fight:
Unarmed 23
1 & 2 hand 9
Ranged -4
Evasion 9

Thief:
Traps/doors 20
Locks 43
Sneak 16
Diplomacy 18 (Speech 33, Barter 18)

Divine:
Fort: 16
Smite: 6
Favour & Protect: 4

Thought:
Ice: 4
Others 0

Tribal:
Nature's Fury: 4
Others: 0

[Ravager]

Originally Posted by Fljotsdale

I intend to feed quite a lot of points into SNEAK, so I am hoping I won't have so much need for high Ranged skill. I'd really like to do without it altogether, which is why I am feeding points into Thought: Ice. Useful against Lava trolls early on, of course, but Ice Javelin is quite a good ranged weapon in it's own right.

Hmm, that would be interesting. I was considering going with Sneak but I'll probably focus on other things now. Why don't you stick with Sneak for a while (if you weren't already) and see how it progresses through the game? It could work out well.
I'll probably stay from the elemental spells as I normally do for my characters, I prefer putting points into things that will work more of the time, rather than be useless against a creature that uses the same type of spell.

Originally Posted by Fljotsdale

Yes, It was my intention to start with Inherited Resistance, because it IS very worthwhile - but for some strange reason it didn't show in the list of Perk Options which is why I went for Swift Learner first, instead. Oh well - plenty of potions, and I'm using Fortitude so I have spells to counter disease and poison.

Maybe it had something to do with your 3 Luck?
As for the Fortitude spells, the anti-disease and poison spells are more preventative and resistance rather than removing the affliction. The same goes for potions.
Swift Learner is useful in it's own right though, especially when taken at lower levels.

Originally Posted by Fljotsdale

I have already discovered that Unarmed is not much good against the 2nd and 3rd summoned from the pink crystals. Good thing I found an Amulet of Exorcism - but it isn't that effective without Boots of the Walking Dead to boost it.

Well, I seem to be doing around 6 damage a hit and when I went up against one of the Huge Brittle Skeletons considering I wasn't hitting too often earlier I put down a Firepowder Keg which dealt with one. After that, I just went for the usual Unarmed approach and took one of those skeletons down quicker than I expected. That seems to be the biggest advantage so far, otherwise Unarmed seems quite weak to me so far, I'm hoping piling more points into it will help a lot.

Originally Posted by Fljotsdale

GOSH!! I DID wonder about your low Speech! Now see where it gets you! Those gauntlets he gives you are quite good for an Unarmed fighter, too. Oh, well. Are you going to try to get him out of prison? Or is there no option for it?

Yeah, it's an available quest. I may even get more experience for freeing him. Who knows?
I'll get him out of the Inquisition's hands at some point, but it may be a while. It's quite a tough area.
I may not put that many points into Diplomacy this time round though I did put in a few points to it after failing to save Cervantes.

Originally Posted by Fljotsdale

I thought about it for quite a while while I was doing the very early stuff. Inquisition is not for me. So it was a choice between Templars and Wielders, and I enjoy Wielders more than Templars. So - guess!

You could try the Dark Wielders. You just find Relican near the Slave Pits and deliver the Sceptre of Bone to him. It would depend how far along you are with the Wielders whether you can become a Dark Wielder though. It's the only real 'Evil' option in the game, though of course it changes little overall.
I may go with the Templars, I haven't tried them since I first bought the game when it originally came out (and I never won with the Templar either).

[Fljotsdale]

Originally Posted by Ravager

Hmm, that would be interesting. I was considering going with Sneak but I'll probably focus on other things now. Why don't you stick with Sneak for a while (if you weren't already) and see how it progresses through the game? It could work out well.
I'll probably stay from the elemental spells as I normally do for my characters, I prefer putting points into things that will work more of the time, rather than be useless against a creature that uses the same type of spell.

That's true, about Thought spells not working against some enemies. But I'm also feeding points into Smite until I get Celestial Smite which combines Electrical and Fire damage. That way I will have all three. I'm getting 19 skill points per level at the moment - 20 with Armour of Mastery (only leather, but not heavy to carry around until I need it). I have a belt of Voodo, but not an Amulet of Voodoo yet. Anyway, I have enough to feed a few points every time into sneak, plus having items that enhance Thiefly skills. I won't need it THAT much until I also need Ranged!

Originally Posted by Ravager

Maybe it had something to do with your 3 Luck?

Oh! Bah! I never thought of that!

Originally Posted by Ravager

As for the Fortitude spells, the anti-disease and poison spells are more preventative and resistance rather than removing the affliction. The same goes for potions.

Well, I have noticed that they quite often DO cure. Not always, but often enough to make it worthwhile.

Originally Posted by Ravager

Swift Learner is useful in it's own right though, especially when taken at lower levels.

Yes, I usually take Inherited Resistance, followed by Swift Learner 1 & 2 (nice cumulative 10% more XP ), then Educated. After that I feel free to take what I really want. My char took Pugilist at lvl 11 (now lvl 12)

Originally Posted by Ravager

Well, I seem to be doing around 6 damage a hit and when I went up against one of the Huge Brittle Skeletons considering I wasn't hitting too often earlier I put down a Firepowder Keg which dealt with one. After that, I just went for the usual Unarmed approach and took one of those skeletons down quicker than I expected. That seems to be the biggest advantage so far, otherwise Unarmed seems quite weak to me so far, I'm hoping piling more points into it will help a lot.

Er... I haven't noticed exactly how much damage my char does, but I have to say I am very impressed with Unarmed so far. We went through the Unholy Oubliette like a hot knife through butter! Easiest I've ever done it, and I only used Exorcism a couple of times when I had several Huge Fragile Skeletons all at once. Mind you, it might also have something to do with STRENGTH. We found a belt of Titan strength in that chest in the sewer's central aisle on the intro level, where the Vodyanoi are; so STR is now 8 (10).

Originally Posted by Ravager

Yeah, it's an available quest. I may even get more experience for freeing him. Who knows?

Let me know how that works out. It's interesting.

Originally Posted by Ravager

I'll get him out of the Inquisition's hands at some point, but it may be a while. It's quite a tough area.

I go in pretty early on to rescue the sylvant's brother, and to talk to Galileo. With a potion or two of Stealth it isn't too difficult - unless you want to take on the demon, of course! I never have. Have you?

Originally Posted by Ravager

I may not put that many points into Diplomacy this time round though I did put in a few points to it after failing to save Cervantes.

Heh! Yes, 1 point Speech is pretty useless!

Originally Posted by Ravager

You could try the Dark Wielders. You just find Relican near the Slave Pits and deliver the Sceptre of Bone to him. It would depend how far along you are with the Wielders whether you can become a Dark Wielder though. It's the only real 'Evil' option in the game, though of course it changes little overall.

I don't think I will. I don't like playing 'bad' characters. Which is why I can't play Inquisition. In RL they were truly vile, and I just felt too uncomfortable the one time I tried.

Originally Posted by Ravager

I may go with the Templars, I haven't tried them since I first bought the game when it originally came out (and I never won with the Templar either).

Templars are ok, actually. A bit limited in comparison to Wielders, I think, but but a pretty good class, all the same. Some useful Fight points. Wielders can get some as well, but I only went for it once. I usually go the Brains way, and get Scholar of the Crescent.

I am not likely to get much time to play tomorrow - I suppose the same applies to you - but I may get a little time late evening.

Have a great Christmas, Ravager!

[Ravager]

Originally Posted by Fljotsdale

I'm getting 19 skill points per level at the moment - 20 with Armour of Mastery (only leather, but not heavy to carry around until I need it). I have a belt of Voodo, but not an Amulet of Voodoo yet. Anyway, I have enough to feed a few points every time into sneak, plus having items that enhance Thiefly skills. I won't need it THAT much until I also need Ranged!

That many points? Wow, that's impressive.
Sneak might help you explore the map and it can get you a lot of the XP an enemy is worth without needing to attack them.

Originally Posted by Fljotsdale

Oh! Bah! I never thought of that!

It may be completely unconnected. I was only kidding about the Luck really.

Originally Posted by Fljotsdale

Well, I have noticed that they quite often DO cure. Not always, but often enough to make it worthwhile.

Yeah, that's true. With 100 or so Fortitude points the Cure chance is over 50% I think. I'm just saying that's it not really the main purpose of the spell and in most cases the damage done by disease/poison is so minor it's hardly worth healing especially if your Healing Rate is decent enough.

Originally Posted by Fljotsdale

Er... I haven't noticed exactly how much damage my char does, but I have to say I am very impressed with Unarmed so far. We went through the Unholy Oubliette like a hot knife through butter! Easiest I've ever done it, and I only used Exorcism a couple of times when I had several Huge Fragile Skeletons all at once. Mind you, it might also have something to do with STRENGTH. We found a belt of Titan strength in that chest in the sewer's central aisle on the intro level, where the Vodyanoi are; so STR is now 8 (10).

That's good.
I wish I'd found something anywhere as near as good in that chest.
Hopefully I'll find one of those belts again in the not too distant future. Those helped a lot in my last run through.
I wasn't really taking note of the damage being dealt it just seemed very consistent, so it was quite hard to ignore (and I remember small odd details like that).

Originally Posted by Fljotsdale

I go in pretty early on to rescue the sylvant's brother, and to talk to Galileo. With a potion or two of Stealth it isn't too difficult - unless you want to take on the demon, of course! I never have. Have you?

Ahh, well I very rarely use Sneak or the potions of Stealth, I normally fight my way through.
Heh. That demon...spoilers follow.
Yeah, I've had dealings with it. If you free it by clicking on the crosses next to it, it gives you a free perk before vanishing (good a good perk though it apparently makes people react more negatively to you).
Also, you can attack, though it regenerates health too quickly to do lasting damage (even if you hit every time), though the result is quite amusing and it may even give you a reward if you're very persistant.

Originally Posted by Fljotsdale

I don't think I will. I don't like playing 'bad' characters. Which is why I can't play Inquisition. In RL they were truly vile, and I just felt too uncomfortable the one time I tried.

Hmm, yeah, I guess there's that, but I've never really equated them with the RL Inquisition. Events in the game have shaped them in different ways. Plus, the ones in the game are good compared to others such as the Daevas (and the Dark Wielders).

Originally Posted by Fljotsdale

Templars are ok, actually. A bit limited in comparison to Wielders, I think, but but a pretty good class, all the same. Some useful Fight points. Wielders can get some as well, but I only went for it once. I usually go the Brains way, and get Scholar of the Crescent.

Hmm, you seem to be referring to the Knights of Saladin there. I often join them but like the Beggars/Thieves they don't constitute a proper faction unlike the Knights Templar. That was who I was considering joining.

Originally Posted by Fljotsdale

Have a great Christmas, Ravager!

Thank you. You too.

[Fljotsdale]

I've prepared everything and I have nearly 2 hours before the family shows up, so...

Originally Posted by Ravager

That many points? Wow, that's impressive.
Sneak might help you explore the map and it can get you a lot of the XP an enemy is worth without needing to attack them.

17 from INT, plus 2 from Educated Perk. Then 1 from armour. And as soon as I get an Amulet of Voodo (if I do), I will get one more while wearing them, making 21. THEN I will get +1 INT from Scholar of the Crescent, which will add another point, so I anticipate finishing up with 22 skill points per level. Which ain't bad.

Originally Posted by Ravager

It may be completely unconnected. I was only kidding about the Luck really.

Just checked. The only limit is 5 END, lvl2 or less. So I don't know why it didn't show up. Must be just a minor abberation of the programme, I suppose. Meh.

Originally Posted by Ravager

Yeah, that's true. With 100 or so Fortitude points the Cure chance is over 50% I think. I'm just saying that's it not really the main purpose of the spell and in most cases the damage done by disease/poison is so minor it's hardly worth healing especially if your Healing Rate is decent enough.

True. I only bother if a char is hard pressed, losing health points rapidly and I don't have mana/healing potions

Originally Posted by Ravager

That's good.
I wish I'd found something anywhere as near as good in that chest.
Hopefully I'll find one of those belts again in the not too distant future. Those helped a lot in my last run through.

No, it's usually just saleable junk in there. Apart from the odd potion.

Originally Posted by Ravager

I wasn't really taking note of the damage being dealt it just seemed very consistent, so it was quite hard to ignore (and I remember small odd details like that).

Men always notice things like that. You have better spatial awareness then women, too. Usually. My middle grandson has amazing spatial awareness. Amazing to me, anyway.

Originally Posted by Ravager

Ahh, well I very rarely use Sneak or the potions of Stealth, I normally fight my way through.

Everywhere else, I agree. But I go in there at level 2 and there's no way I could fight those nasties down there!

Originally Posted by Ravager

Heh. That demon...spoilers follow.
Yeah, I've had dealings with it. If you free it by clicking on the crosses next to it, it gives you a free perk before vanishing (good a good perk though it apparently makes people react more negatively to you).
Also, you can attack, though it regenerates health too quickly to do lasting damage (even if you hit every time), though the result is quite amusing and it may even give you a reward if you're very persistant.

Really? Well... I guess I'll have to make another visit...

Originally Posted by Ravager

Hmm, yeah, I guess there's that, but I've never really equated them with the RL Inquisition. Events in the game have shaped them in different ways. Plus, the ones in the game are good compared to others such as the Daevas (and the Dark Wielders).

Meh. I don't like 'em. Have you seen the racks and other torture stuff down there? Nasty.

Originally Posted by Ravager

Hmm, you seem to be referring to the Knights of Saladin there.

Yeah. That's who I meant. Dunno why I was relating it to Wielders.

Originally Posted by Ravager

I often join them but like the Beggars/Thieves they don't constitute a proper faction unlike the Knights Templar. That was who I was considering joining.

True. But Saladin gives +1 INT and +10 Speech if you go for the Scholar option (I forget what you get if you go for the Fighter option), and Beggars give +1 LUCK, so well worth joining!

Let me know who you decide to join.

I have only 1 book left to get for Weng Choi, then I can get Weng Choi's Shaolin Secret, which is VERY good for Unarmed fighters.

Originally Posted by Ravager

Thank you. You too.

[Ravager]

Originally Posted by Fljotsdale

Really? Well... I guess I'll have to make another visit...

Oh, if you want to try attacking it, you'll have to do it manually through the Attack button. It has a little sword on it I think.

Originally Posted by Fljotsdale

Meh. I don't like 'em. Have you seen the racks and other torture stuff down there? Nasty.

Well, it is a dungeon. Of cliche proportions.

Originally Posted by Fljotsdale

True. But Saladin gives +1 INT and +10 Speech if you go for the Scholar option (I forget what you get if you go for the Fighter option), and Beggars give +1 LUCK, so well worth joining!

Oh, I always go and join the Knights of Saladin, they're an easy option woth good rewards. Joining them doesn't progress the main quest (to go to Monserrat and further). I prefer the Scholar route too. The fighting one is harder to win and the reward is not as good in my opinion.
Oh, I've gone for the Beggars as well. I've just killed off the Thieves and left the sewers. The Unholy Oubliette (with the toughest of the Sewer encounters) was too difficult for me, the Skeletons hit for too much damage.

Originally Posted by Fljotsdale

I have only 1 book left to get for Weng Choi, then I can get Weng Choi's Shaolin Secret, which is VERY good for Unarmed fighters.

Have you only donated the books that cannot increase skills? I think it is possible to find enoough books to gain that perk and not give away one that increases a skill, but it's not easy.

Character Update--

Level 6
60 (59) HP
122 Mana
68 (47) AC
Demokin Male
STR: 7 (6), PER: 6, END: 5, CHA: 5, INT: 6, AGI: 7, LUC: 7 (6)

Skills:
Tribal Magic