about getting the free points

[s.weasel]

Hi guys,

I don't know if there was a thread about this and I missed it, but does anybody have the list of the free points we can earn from the game ?
For example : Nines teaches brawl , and you can gain some points from books?

[Faust]

SPOILERS


I'm sure I'm missing a couple, but this is what comes to mind immediately:

Santa Monica:
Trip's Pawnshop sells a Firearms manual (up to 2nd rank) and a Computer manual (up to 2nd rank)

In the Pawnshop appartments, the apartment directly across from your haven contains a "Stealth" manual under the sink. It's the apartment you'll enter while looking for Muddy. It can either be picked, or there's a key to it (after you accept the quest) under the plant in the hallway.


Downtown:
Nines will teach you a point of brawl (up to 3, I think) when you first talk to him prior to going on the Elizabeth Dane, and a point of melee if you talk to him after the Dane but before going to Grout's mansion. You have to chose the right dialogue options to get these points.

On the second floor of the Skyline apartment building, where you are search for Muddy, you'll find a Melee manual outside of an upstairs closet (will increase Melee to either 3 or 4).

There's a Finance manual on Jezebel Locke's room table (up to second rank) on the Fifth floor of the Empire Hotel..

In a room with a television and some Russian mafia on the top floor of the Empire Hotel, there is a brawl manual (up to 4, I think)

Fat Larry will increase your Finance by a rank if you can persuade him to give you a discount at his store.


Hollywood:
Romero in the graveyard will teach you Firearms up to a third rank if you pimp for him, or defend the graveyard successfully from zombies.

In the Internet Cafe, there is a computer manual on one of the tables next to a computer. It increases computers to 3 or 4, I believe.

China Town:
There is a manual that will increase your melee to 5 in a locked room (requires very high lock picking skill to get into) in the Fu Corporation.

Special:
In Grout's mansion in the library, near the first puzzle, there is a dodge manual lying on the floor (up to dodge 2)

This post details a pretty good list of the stat increases you can get from Beckett (Gangrel can get a bit extra).

There's a security manual (will increase it to either 3 or 4) in the first control room at the bottom of the Museum.

In the Giovanni mansion there is a Dodge II manual (will increase to 3 or 4, I think) on the desk near the entrance to the crypt.

[Celacena]

Remember that if a manual allows more than one starting level for an increase, if you will not exceed the upper level when you get it - do NOT use the manual until after you have sold it and re-purchased it.
there are an amazing number of points to be saved by carefully working out exactly when to use the manuals and also remember to factor in the free skills training you can get from Beckett, Nines, Romero & Larry. Nines can make a big difference - I have had him get me to 4/5 with almost no XP expenditure.

I think Jeanette should give you a seduction point or two and the Regent should offer research - there are lots of characters who should be able to dish out training - you work hard enough for them.

[Faust]

Originally Posted by Celacena

Remember that if a manual allows more than one starting level for an increase, if you will not exceed the upper level when you get it - do NOT use the manual until after you have sold it and re-purchased it.
there are an amazing number of points to be saved by carefully working out exactly when to use the manuals and also remember to factor in the free skills training you can get from Beckett, Nines, Romero & Larry. Nines can make a big difference - I have had him get me to 4/5 with almost no XP expenditure.

I think Jeanette should give you a seduction point or two and the Regent should offer research - there are lots of characters who should be able to dish out training - you work hard enough for them.

Heh. Strauss's reward for completing the Pestilence quests was good enough for my tastes. I was okay without getting any more skill points from him. With all the work Jeanette is, I'm surprised you couldn't get a seduction point for her. I suppose they wanted the seduction scenario to just be an easter egg, and not much more.

Nines is very useful, in particular, for his stat increases. With Romero, you almost have to know that's coming or completely neglect firearms, for it to be that useful at that late point in the game. And, beckett is trickier still.

I could never decide if selling the books to the merchants and buying them back was a legimitate play option, or an unintentional bug. Regardless, it certainly does work and can often get you an extra point in a given skill.