THACO and other combat questions

Derfasciti · Post by **Derfasciti** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 9:57 pm

Ok, maybe it's just because I'm insanely tired or something but it seems to me that the higher the THACO of a char, the harder to hit a mab, is this true? This is entirely theoretical from reading the manual, I haven't experimented or anything.

Also, can someone give me the basic rundown on AC, proficiencies, etc.?

I've read a good bit of the manual but I am a little bit confused to any tips or information would be really helpful.

Stilgar · Post by **Stilgar** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 6:27 am

You attack by rolling a 20sided dice.
A 20 always hits...a 1 always misses!
Inbetween you work with Thac0 and Armorclass (AC)

Thac0 means: To hit armor class 0 (zero).
So a thac0 of 8 means you need to roll a 8 or higher to hit a person with AC 0.

If your enemy has an AC of 3 and you still have a thac0 of 8 you need to roll a 5 (8-3) or higher on your to-hit roll.

So you want your thac0 and your AC as low as possible!

As for proficiencies, you need to place atleast one point in a weapon (largeswords, bows etc) to use that kind of weapon without a penalty.
The more points you place in it the more bonuses you get with that weapontype (you can read them by clicking on the type i think).

Certain weapons are rare, so i recommand going for largeswords and bows for your fighters. Bows and shortswords for your thief, blunt for your cleric, and missile for your mages.

I hope i cleared things up a little, if not feel free to ask for more detailed information.

Derfasciti · Post by **Derfasciti** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 8:09 am

Ok that sounds about right. The thing that got me really confused was that a short sword I just identified had a +1 THAC0 "bonus" so does that mean it actually lowers Montaron's THAC0?

I have a few more questions if that's all right.

I now have lvl 2 chars and a lvl 3 Imoen. Each time I level them up I never can raise their attributes. Is there a tab I'm missing or something? Is the character sheet that i go to when I'm leveling up show the bonuses I get? I don't think so because I've checked and it looks like things just stay the same except for hitpoints.

What is Lore mean on a character sheet?

I know how to find traps, but how do I disable them?

The higher the popularity the cheaper items are?

Sorry for all the questions.

Stilgar · Post by **Stilgar** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 8:20 am

Yes, a +1 longsword lowers your thac0 by 1

Attiributes: No, you cannot change your attributes when you level up.
At certain levels you can get a proficiency with a weapon, spellcasters get new spellslots, and thieves can devide a certain amount of points among their skills. Furthermore you get extra hitpoints, and a lower thac0 when you level up.

Lore: Lore is a skill that let's you identify magical items without the use of a indentify spell (lvl1 magespell, or in temples/certain stores). Lore is dependand of our class, your intellect and your wisdom. Bards and mages usually have the highest lore.

Traps: Once you found a trap, you can disable it if your skill is high enough by useing the "pick lock"" skill on it.

Reputation: Yes, the higher your reputation, the lower the storeprices.

Glad to be of help.

Derfasciti · Post by **Derfasciti** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 9:05 am

Yes you've cleared a lot of questions out of my mind. But on the Disabling traps with picklock, can I do that multiple times or with multiple characters or if once it fails, it fails?

I don't know if I should be doing this but I think it might be better if I contain all my questions for now on one thread. Now I have a walkthrough kinda question: I've beaten Nashkel Mines and I have a full party, khalid, imoen, jaheria, montaron and Xzar. The last two seem to be getting mad at my reputation (16) when will they desert me and are there any preferably good or neutral aligned new characters to be seen real soon? I've just explored all of Lars wood for exp and am in Friendly Arm ready to head east to the bandit camp.

Also, are there alternate endings depending on if you've done a good campaign or an evil one?

DaemonJ · Post by **DaemonJ** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 1:59 pm

The same character can attempt to pick the same lock multiple times. You will only be able to make an attempt every 6 seconds though as that is how the game is setup. Don't be surprised if there are a few seconds of "lag" from the time you select to pick the lock to when it actually happens.

Evil characters will leave a party when the reputation is high. When they leave is also based upon your charisma. A higher charisma means they will stay longer but they will leave regardless when your rep. hits 18 thus denying you the best store benefits.

In Nashkel you should have met Minsc in front of the barracks. He is an awesome tank and wants you to rescue Dynaheir, his "witch" (mage). Pick Minsc up and go get Dynaheir from the Gnoll Stronghold and then you have 2 good characters (good as in good to play and good aligned).

You should have also encounted a few other good characters in your travels. Kivan, Branwen, and a few others.

No alternate endings to the game.

Derfasciti · Post by **Derfasciti** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 2:22 pm

Ok, I had to kill Minsc beause he attacked me because I wouldn't save that one woman. the mage evil looking guy also in Nashkel I refused to kill a "witch" on the grounds of I wanted to know the crinme. and the LN mage in the mines I denied because I already had a full party. I just beat the bandit camp and am on chapter 4. Montaron died so I could use a replacement, preferably a melee guy.

Minerva · Post by **Minerva** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 3:47 am

[QUOTE=Derfasciti]Ok, I had to kill Minsc beause he attacked me because I wouldn't save that one woman. the mage evil looking guy also in Nashkel I refused to kill a "witch" on the grounds of I wanted to know the crinme. and the LN mage in the mines I denied because I already had a full party. I just beat the bandit camp and am on chapter 4. Montaron died so I could use a replacement, preferably a melee guy.[/QUOTE]

You can pick up either Kivan, an elven ranger standing in High Hedge, or Ajantis, a paladin, just north of FAI (Ankheg area).
Kivan is better ranger than Minsc IMO, and Ajantis is the only Paladin available in the game.