Got a new CD!

so, while playing Wizardry since about 10-12 years, following questions remain:

a) does dying somehow affect you, or is resurrect a perfect solution? in several RPG's, resurrect substracts some hit points are affects your stats slightly, so is there really no handicap in wizardry (8) ?

b) skill training questions:
- pickpocket: you can't train this, as the result is already calculated. So, steal lets say 3 times, and if you are lucky, your skill will increase, but more than that, there's nothing you can do.
- lock/trap : same as pickpocket, while training (eg the vault) is possible.
- alchemy: you can train this whille using spells, but mixing potions is quite useless, if we leave the money issue aside.

c) shields: the game is all about damage, so using a shield is quite a bad idea, as you can use a good secondary weapon or just use a good 2-handed-swords (excalibr etc). Right, wrong?

d) Vi: she likes polearms, but Maenads Lance is gone, so, as she isn't Lord, she cant use Ravens bill and Faust Halberd. btw, does changing Vi to a Lord add the 'no penalty of cursed, regen-1 items'? So, whats a good weapon for her? I quite always use a mistic spear

thats it folks.

• Some not-so-final answers,ferro287, 08:18 AM, Jan-15-04
• RE: Some final questions,scovey (Guest), 08:26 AM, Jan-15-04
• RE: Some final questions,Avatar, 10:39 AM, Jan-15-04
  • RE: Some final questions,scovey (Guest), 11:13 AM, Jan-15-04
    • RE: Some final questions,Tschordi, 11:53 PM, Jan-15-04
      • RE: Some final questions,rbrown, 12:15 PM, Jan-16-04
        • Dual weapons,Llevram, 02:29 PM, Jan-16-04
          • RE: Dual weapons,Tschordi, 03:24 AM, Jan-17-04
            • Profession changing,Llevram, 09:38 AM, Jan-17-04
            • RE: Dual weapons,Avatar (Guest), 01:41 PM, Jan-17-04
      • RE: Some final questions,Avatar (Guest), 02:55 PM, Jan-16-04
        • RE: Changing Professions...,applebake (Guest), 01:30 AM, Feb-04-04
          • RE: Changing Professions...,Kuli, 02:58 AM, Feb-04-04
            • Build up Vi,ferro287, 04:08 AM, Feb-04-04
              • RE: Build up Vi,applebake (Guest), 02:16 AM, Feb-07-04
                • Gadeteers and Bards - no *spells*,Llevram, 08:07 AM, Feb-07-04
                  • Using Gadgets,ferro287, 09:57 AM, Feb-07-04
                    • All gadgets and insturments...,Avatar (Guest), 06:40 PM, Feb-07-04
                      • forgot about the boom,ferro287, 08:35 AM, Feb-10-04
                        • RE: forgot about the boom,Avatar (Guest), 02:34 PM, Feb-10-04

I'm sure someone else might think differently about it, but here's my two cents.

a) in wizardry < 8 dying cost a point of vitality, so resurrection had a penalty (two points for stoning) in wiz8 this penalty is gone.

b)-pickpocketing can be trained ofc. It just takes longer since you can't rob a single person while reloading. but if you cycle through Dominus there are many ppl who can help you train pp.
-lock/trap nothing precalculated here, so training/disarming is random (and trainable).
-alchemy while mixing the easiest stuff (no spoiler board) will not get you far, the harder to mix stuff will gain tremendous amounts of alchemy, so this is _definitely_ worth it.

c)I'd guess you'll get more than one opinion about that one. imho dualling is additional work you have to invest in you chars until you can reap some benefits, and the benefits are not too great. If you like easier developments shields can be a good idea.

d)I'd rather not answer since one on this board. But changing to a lord means losing the polearm bonus, so if you class change her, the answers will be completely different.

>>>a) does dying somehow affect you, or is resurrect a perfect solution? in several RPG's, resurrect substracts some hit points are affects your stats slightly, so is there really no handicap in wizardry (8) ?<<<

Right. No handicap to dying in Wiz8. Other than the loss of EXP if he/she is still dead when the battle is over.

>>b) skill training questions:
- pickpocket: you can't train this, as the result is already calculated. So, steal lets say 3 times, and if you are lucky, your skill will increase, but more than that, there's nothing you can do.<<

Pre-patch - save PP, if successful save then PP again, if caught reload and PP again, repeat until your bored or NPC runs out of stuff to steal.

Post-patch - Pickpocket is as you described.

>>- lock/trap : same as pickpocket, while training (eg the vault) is possible.<<

Also useful for training with Divine Trap spell.

>>- alchemy: you can train this whille using spells, but mixing potions is quite useless, if we leave the money issue aside.<<

Cash machine for pure Alchemist or Bishop. Good training for Ranger or Ninja though. Merge potions one at a time instead of stacks of 5. Don't waste level-up points until combat skills are at 75. Starting at Alchemy 15, merge those light and medium heals one at a time and you'll get an Alchemy skill increase approx every 3rd to 5th merge. Much better than wasting points at level up.

>>c) shields: the game is all about damage, so using a shield is quite a bad idea, as you can use a good secondary weapon or just use a good 2-handed-swords (excalibr etc). Right, wrong?<<

Yes and no. Good for Bards, Gadgie or casters that can hold one. Shields add AC and chance to block. Melee chars don't need them but sometimes they come in handy. Not completely useless IMO.

>>d) Vi: she likes polearms, but Maenads Lance is gone, so, as she isn't Lord, she cant use Ravens bill and Faust Halberd. btw, does changing Vi to a Lord add the 'no penalty of cursed, regen-1 items'? So, whats a good weapon for her? I quite always use a mistic spear<<

Yes, when changed to Lord she will get that ability but Vi can "cheat death" which IMO is better than the Lord's regen. There are a decent number of regen items to off-set cursed negative regen weapons. Not many really good polearms. Staff of Doom is nice but a Valk does well with swords.

Spence

Re: D. About the best spear in the game is the Dread Spear because in addition to high damage it also has a 50% chance of Hexing the character you're using it on

Dread Spear. Forgot that one. I also have to make a correction to my post. The Staff of Doom is just that - a staff. Not a Polearm weapon.

Even though the Valk has the 25% bonus with Polearms I still prefer swords. Just my play style. Although, the extended reach is always a plus.

I'll have to try a straight Polearm Valk the next time I use one.

Hmmm ... extended reach focus. Giant's Swords, Z-Bo, Dread Spear, Staff of Doom, Vampire Chain.

Gotta love this game!!!

Spence

grmbl, i guess i sold dread spear... gota search.

Anyway, I am just stuck to the imagination, that Valks MUST have Polearms.

In Wiz7 it was quite obvious, the first 3 chars use short, the other 3 extended or thrown weapons.
In wiz8 it's more complicated as you can be surrounded by enemies. So, perhaps Sword and shield are good for Valk, but i have to get used to it.

I know have the LightSword for my Samurai, however, bloodlust (With berzerk) is not worse compared to it. But, with Light, you have also ranged combat.
As I am a fan of the muramasa blade, i prolly will switch to that, when I find it.

Excalibr does huge damage, but somehow i think, with dual weapons, you habe a lot more attacks in a round

"Excalibr does huge damage, but somehow i think, with dual weapons, you habe a lot more attacks in a round "

I was just messing with a samurai last night, swapping Bushido Blade/Thieves Buckler with BB/Wakazashi. The speed+10 from the shield gave him 2 attacks, 2 swings per attack. Without the shield he was 2 attacks, one swing per attack. The BB/Wakazashi combination had one attack each, one swing each. Sword skill, close combat and dual weapons all contribute to the total attacks, but 2 extra attacks with an above average sword is better than 1 attack with 1 low-grade wakizashi.

Some time this weekend I will get the enchanted wak from the waterfall and see if that is any better.

Also, unless you are proficient in this skill, your effectiveness with each drops. For instance, if your sword skill is 75% and yoru dual weapons skill is 20%, if you fight with a sword and dagger, effectiveness with the sword will not really be like 75%.

Tools for Wizardry(r) 7

Another point is:
ok, Excalibrt does Huge damage, but
if you take a good one hand sword, you can either dual wield, or you can use the lightshield, or some other shield.

In a lot of RPG's, I mostly dont like 2handed swords, as the little more damage they do compared to single handed swords doesnt make up for the free hand (Shield etc).

Same in Wiz8: Ecalibr is kinda cool, but I think Fang with Diamond Eyes wielded by a Lord is more effective than Excalibr. What do you think?

I'm just now in a difficult situation: how to distribute the 'good' weapons. In wiz7, is was quite easy, as the good weapons were in the gorrors (or land of dreams).

My party is: Monk (RS 81), Valk (Vi), Lord, SAmurai, F-Ninja, Gadge, Bishop, Bard

I always hated Bards so this is my first time i use bards in a rpg. I dont think too high of them, but they defintely don't suck.

So, as the Zaitochi Bo is a 'seti' item, the monk will get that. But then, WHAT to do with the faboulous staff of doom?
Ok, prolly give them to the bishop
Next,Fairy Ninja: ok, this one is easy, as I hate Ratkins.
Valk: For my a Valk MUST have a polearm, although i think swords are better. So i prolly will stick to draed spear.. but perhaps i have much too many good swords left so...

Samurai: i'm in love with the muramasa blade. so the samurai will prolly use Muramasa and enchanted wakizashi. But then, what the hell do i do with the lightsword

Ok, Lord: lightsword and diamond eyes? Sounds fine, but then what to do with Excalibr?

Gadgeteer: Omnigun i guess.. You never use close combat with a gadgeteer, or am I wrong?

Bishop: staff of doom...

Bard: mmh... mmh.... mmmh... no clue..

So, i really miss a ranger in my party, one question i DO have about changing proffesion:

assume, i change my bard into a ranger, then change it back. Will this character then be able to use ranger items? Or, when changed to Ranger, will he be able to play instruments?

Oh my, i love this game

Some things are class specific - you have to be that class to use/wear them. Other are class requirements - like Bard and Gadgeteer items, which require you to have attained the level necessary. So, once you are a level 5 bard, you can always use level 5 bard instruments, even while you are a ranger. But while a ranger, you won't be able to wear bard specific armor.

Tools for Wizardry(r) 7

Gadgeteer - Flane staff
Bishop - Vampire Chain
Bard - Staff of Doom

Wirh this deadly combo you get 3 leathal weapons, 2 long range multi-round attacks, a variety of crippling attacks possible, and helps keep your Bishop healthy so he doesn't have to heal himself in battle that often

Dread spear is buyable, both Ferro and Bela have been known to have it in stock. Ferro definately Bela less so

I am nearly done in Trynton, went there directly from Arnika (haven't yet been to N. Wilderness etc), party is Rawulf ninja (soon to be ranger), felpurr rogue, gnome gadg, elf mage, mook psi, and fairy alch, plus Vi and Myles. I am really, really concerned that I don't have a priest in the party. Wasn't thinking ahead I guess. Last game I played was wiz 6 (never got wiz 7 running... yet). Do you (anyone) think I should maybe convert Vi to a priestess for a while to build spells? Will she bail out on me at some point?? H

LAST EDITED ON Feb-04-04 AT 04:28 AM (Pacific)

I wouldn't, because your other spellcasters learn the most important priest-spells anyway (Heal wounds, soul shield etc., check the manual for "priest-only" - spells you'll miss). IIRC, your gadgeteer will eventually produce a gadget which casts "Heal all". And Vi, for being a Valkyrie, already learns the priest-spells, and if built properly, she will eventually have access to all the lvl. 7 spells as well (altough they aren't as useful as for example the mage's).

Furthermore, Vi is one of your few melee-type characters. You should be careful not to have too little melee-power, especially as a newbie.

Edit: Typos

What Kuli said. Without the priest spellbook you'll be missing mainly Magicscreen as a buff, but Vi as a Valkyrie can learn that spell as soon as lvl 9. Armorplate, guardian angels and supermen come with your gadgeteer, healalls from gadg & everyone with amulet of healing, and restoration, well, you can live without it (or go for the garland of roses/train vi till lvl 22).

*slight confusion*... what's about the gadgeteer having armorplate, angels & superman? Maybe I missed something, this dude doesn't have any spells. Must be something I haven't found yet... I recall being very dependent on magic screen at the end of wiz6 in facing the (god-awful) dracula & Rebecca - but as my characters got stronger & faster, they were better at silence and this was more effective. Thanks for the reassurance tho, this priest-thing has been on my mind for like 2 weeks! H

But they do get gadgets and instruments that cast the equivalent - i.e. A gadget (made from right gadget components) will "cast" guardian angel.

Tools for Wizardry(r) 7

Btw, have you used the lightning rod you found in the monastery (in combat)? it has an unlimited amount of energy blasts, just put it in your inventory and use it in combat. I dragged that thing with me a long way before i realized the power of these gadgets. Most of them have unlimited uses, like instruments.

All except one each have an unlimited number of uses depending on your stamina in battle. The horn of fear (insturment) and magic mirror (gadget) have a limited number of uses but can be recharged by selling them to a shopkeeper then immediately buying them back. BTW this also works on any artifact with a number of spell charges in it.

There's another gadget with only a single use, the noisemaker.

Got all blown up about that one but because it is a single use and not rechargable, unless you know huw to make a rechatgable one, I didn't count it. The horn and the mirror have a certain amount of charges if you use them all they're gone but if you recharge them they have multiple uses.