Starting a replay of Arcanum---any joiners?
#131194
01/24/06 08:38 AM
01/24/06 08:38 AM
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Sig Segorn
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If you don't have the game, GoGamer just got some more copies in. They're going for 20 bucks---well worth it, if you ask me. It's party-based, isometric view, turn-based combat---a real good game, IMO. I'll be playing with the strategy guide, and there's a character editor for it, if you start finding the fights too tough, like I did. An interesting mix of magic and early technology, good music, good travel system across the world map, good recruitable characters . . . lotta good stuff in this one.
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Re: Starting a replay of Arcanum---any joiners?
#131196
01/25/06 10:46 AM
01/25/06 10:46 AM
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 11,557 Virginia
popcorneater
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Hi mary-jo, How are you enjoying space hack?? What little I played I actually found addicting..I wanted to keep hearing those nice squishy sounds.. Ingie
playing DS2, Oblivion and WoW
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Re: Starting a replay of Arcanum---any joiners?
#131198
01/25/06 12:03 PM
01/25/06 12:03 PM
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 11,557 Virginia
popcorneater
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good I am too..sorry Sig..didn't mean to hijack..don't remember playing Arcanum..have to dig in the vault and see if I can find it..hmm..does sound vaguly familar..but so does everything in my mind..I'll check out gogamer's and see what it looks like..have fun y'all Ingie
playing DS2, Oblivion and WoW
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Re: Starting a replay of Arcanum---any joiners?
#131199
01/25/06 12:27 PM
01/25/06 12:27 PM
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,582 California
JMK
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I have it and haven't played yet. Maybe if I breeze through Return of the King and you're still playing I'll join in.
Jean
Playing "World of Warcraft", "Oblivion",and "Silent Hill 2"
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Re: Starting a replay of Arcanum---any joiners?
#131200
01/26/06 01:06 AM
01/26/06 01:06 AM
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,259 Pacific Northwest
Sig Segorn
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Hope you do give it another try, Maryjo. The game as a whole is really quite good. Not the best graphics out there, of course, or the hippest music, but, having played the whole thing before, it almost seems unfair to it to point that out. It's a true and different CRPG with a lot of good elements in it. Here's another one . . . this is the game that has, as one of its recruitable characters, a dog, whose name is just Dog, who you save from a beating by its master, and who is actually good in a fight. This relationship is so meaningful that, later in the game, after the need arose to cut him out of the party, I missed him and, whenever we were back in the town where he was, I'd have to go see him and feed him a loaf of bread. But it's not a game world you wanna stumble blindly through. The published strategy guide (which is a good one) has gotten hard to find---I found one, reasonably priced, but it's not here yet---but I could give you some guidance, or, if you want, you can download Prima's eGuide of it for 10 bucks. And the character editor that's freely downloadable for it, if you ever need it, assures that there won't be any combat you can't get past. Jean, I just started it yesterday and it'll probably take me a couple months to play through it all again, so I could still be at it when you finish Return of the King. Oh, just thought of another good element in the game that I'm looking forward to . . . when you get to, and start doing deeds in, the biggest town in the game, they start writing articles about you in the newspaper, and you can buy these from a hawker and read them. See what I mean? This stuff is just cool. Ingie, no prob. As hijackings go, that one wasn't bad at all.
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Re: Starting a replay of Arcanum---any joiners?
#131201
01/26/06 05:44 AM
01/26/06 05:44 AM
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 557 Dublin, Ireland
metzomagic
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Sig, hi, Why bother with published strategy guides, when some of us have invested 3 or 4 months worth of evenings to write our own free guides that are just as detailed? Have a look at mine, for instance: Steve\'s Guide to Arcanum I've also got some of the most popular guides on the web for: Planescape: Torment Divine Divinity Fallout Fallout 2 Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic They're all there in the Quandary Walkthroughs section Cheers, metzomagic
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Re: Starting a replay of Arcanum---any joiners?
#131203
01/26/06 07:11 AM
01/26/06 07:11 AM
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,259 Pacific Northwest
Sig Segorn
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Steve, a thousand pardons, but you'll be happy when you read this. It just occurred to me that I forgot to mention what you did, so I left the game to come here and post that option, but you beat me to it. On top of that, your guide for this game is excellent---I've used it myself. In fact, I JUST used it to find out how to trigger the bank robbery attempt in Shrouded Hills, so I could help save the day. Thanks again. You walkthrough writers are great---I love you people. But my main point was just that it's a game one ought to have some guidance in. For example, if you don't pick up Dog your first time in that town where he is, you don't get a second chance, and I'd hate to see that happen to someone. Can you forgive me?
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Re: Starting a replay of Arcanum---any joiners?
#131205
01/26/06 03:23 PM
01/26/06 03:23 PM
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 557 Dublin, Ireland
metzomagic
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Sig, hi again, No need for apologies, and thanks Surprisingly, the walkthroughs on Quandary get far more page views on average than any other article. That Arcanum guide is still pulling in 1300 page views per month. Not bad for a 4-year old game! It's nice to know all the hard work is appreciated Cheers, metzomagic
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Re: Starting a replay of Arcanum---any joiners?
#131207
01/26/06 09:32 PM
01/26/06 09:32 PM
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,201 Townsville, QLD Australia
Pib
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Originally posted by metzomagic: Sig, hi,
evenings to write our own free guides that are just as detailed? Have a look at mine, for instance:
Steve\'s Guide to Arcanum
Divine Divinity
Cheers, metzomagic Hey, Steve, I think I average once a week on the Divine Divinity guide just now! Have to check that I haven't missed any major events.
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Re: Starting a replay of Arcanum---any joiners?
#131208
01/27/06 08:00 AM
01/27/06 08:00 AM
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,259 Pacific Northwest
Sig Segorn
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Glad there's no hard feelings, Steve. That "page view" stat of yours is impressive, but the actual number is even higher because the Quandary page isn't the only place on the web that this guide of yours can be viewed, though it may be the nicest-looking. The one that I've been referring to is just the "plain text" version, linked to from Gamespot. Also, if memory serves, it's not as important to have paper maps to refer to while playing this game as it is for a lot of other games in this genre, so one could get by with just a good walkthrough.
Hi, Debra. Oh, did I play it along with you my first time through? I'd forgotten that. Yeah, come on in, the water's fine, as they say. I'm really likin' it the second time around, and it plays just fine on my new Win XP system. And I haven't even got to Tarant yet (the game's biggest town), so you can catch up to me---I take my time. I'll probably leave it installed whenever I finish it this time---this game's just too good.
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Re: Starting a replay of Arcanum---any joiners?
#131209
01/27/06 07:09 PM
01/27/06 07:09 PM
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 557 Dublin, Ireland
metzomagic
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Sig, hi, That "page view" stat of yours is impressive, but the actual number is even higher because the Quandary page isn't the only place on the web that this guide of yours can be viewed, though it may be the nicest-looking Yeah, I know. I'm also published on www.gamefaqs.com (which is probably where you found that text version), www.neoseeker.com, and on www.the-spoiler.com (Veikko Danilas, from Estonia by the way, is a web buddy of mine from way back, and you should check his site out because they have the greatest collection of adventure game walkthroughs on, like, the planet :-) But Quandary is my spiritual home lately. I also do the *cough* site programming there. Having said all that... there is no more single prolific walkthough writer than GameBoomers own MaG Cheers, metzomagic
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Re: Starting a replay of Arcanum---any joiners?
#131211
01/28/06 09:19 AM
01/28/06 09:19 AM
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,259 Pacific Northwest
Sig Segorn
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Oh, MaG is a big-time walkthrough writer? To borrow from Johnny Carson, I did not know that. Another feather in her cap. Gotta love her. Which reminds me . . . how is Zanthia doing? Does anyone know? Yeah, Steve, I know that feeling . . . when you've played the heck out of a game. For me, that would be Lands of Lore 3---7 playthroughs---thorough ones. But the computer games I've played that I actually want to replay---only a half-dozen or so---are something special. Some elements they share are apparent, while others are hard to put your finger on and put into words. It's probably best to speak in generalities, like . . . yeah, you know all about it, but not only does that not spoil the fun, it makes it more fun. It's like re-watching a movie you like, but even better, and a lot longer. And I'll still be playing it a few weeks from now, and way beyond that. And you haven't done The Pits of Dernholm, have you?
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Re: Starting a replay of Arcanum---any joiners?
#131212
01/28/06 07:25 PM
01/28/06 07:25 PM
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 49,859 near Yosemite
Marian
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Debra, Have you tried posting here about your Might and Magic/Windows XP problem? Some of these people seem to know just about everything when it comes to getting Might and Magic to cooperate. It would certainly be worth a try. http://telp.org/mm8/tavern/mm8tavern.html That patch I told you about has worked for just about everyone, but since you can't even get the game to install, I would definitely ask about it here. They have separate forums for all the Might and Magic games, by the way. And sorry, Sig, I didn't mean to hijack your thread.
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Re: Starting a replay of Arcanum---any joiners?
#131214
01/29/06 09:01 AM
01/29/06 09:01 AM
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Joined: May 1999
Posts: 2,397 South Texas
Debra
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Marian, thanks. I'll ask these folks. I've got it running on my old laptop with ME and no problems, but my husband uses that one so it's catch as catch can to play it. Sig, I'm in Tarant and I have a catalog of quests already! I forgot that you had to get the wise women to identify your stuff or buy a very expensive spell so I'm making treks to the rural areas. I've picked a half-elf character with "Debutante" scheme. I must admit I am always tempted to pick "Beat with an Ugly Stick"
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Re: Starting a replay of Arcanum---any joiners?
#131215
01/29/06 06:03 PM
01/29/06 06:03 PM
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 557 Dublin, Ireland
metzomagic
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Sig, hi, Oh, MaG is a big-time walkthrough writer? To borrow from Johnny Carson, I did not know that. Another feather in her cap. Gotta love her. Yup. She must have almost 100 games to her credit by now. She goes by the moniker of MaGtRo. And I'll still be playing it a few weeks from now, and way beyond that. You almost have me persuaded to play again And you haven't done The Pits of Dernholm, have you? Been there, done that. Play all the way through as an evil character, and you can hardly miss the Pits. Cheers, metzomagic
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Re: Starting a replay of Arcanum---any joiners?
#131216
01/29/06 06:09 PM
01/29/06 06:09 PM
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 557 Dublin, Ireland
metzomagic
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Debra, hi, P.S. Steve thanks so much for getting The Pandora Directive to work on my XP. Now I can play my favorite game of all time again! No prob. The beauty of it is, once you get one game up and running in DOSBox, you know how to do them all metzomagic
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Re: Starting a replay of Arcanum---any joiners?
#131217
01/29/06 11:31 PM
01/29/06 11:31 PM
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,259 Pacific Northwest
Sig Segorn
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Oh, I've seen some of her WTs, but I didn't know MaG was MaGtRo, probably cuz of how I pronounce them to myself---MaG as "maw gee" and MaGtRo as "mah GIT roh."
Debra, glad to have someone else along for this adventure. You're doin' good---you're where I'm at and I started days ahead of you. Yeah, I guess that's the only 2 ways to get items identified---well, you can also learn and cast the same spell that's on that super-expensive scroll (Divine Magick, I think it's called), but I think it's the highest level spell in that school, so your casting attempts will fizzle until you're good enough. But paying a wise woman 100 coins for this isn't too bad. You know there's one on the eastern outskirt of Tarant, right?
I'm doing good---enjoying it. I made a character, but just to get the portrait I wanted, I think. The same character I used the first time---a human male with the name I use here, who's mainly a technologist. I usually don't try different kinds of characters and paths when I replay games---it's ironic, I know, but the fact that you can do this means very little to me as far as replayability. Does your character lean more toward magic or technology? Did you do that side deal involving the spirit in that cave at the crash site? Cuz the blessing you get from the wizard he sends you to kill enhances NPCs' reactions towards you. Let's keep each other posted on our progress---it'll be fun.
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Re: Starting a replay of Arcanum---any joiners?
#131218
01/30/06 07:34 AM
01/30/06 07:34 AM
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 11,557 Virginia
popcorneater
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Sounds like a good time..glad y'all are having fun Debra, The site Marian is referring to, works great. Playing M&M VI on it now and not a problem. Nickie also has it loaded on her new putie..and able to play very well...give that site a chance Ingie
playing DS2, Oblivion and WoW
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Re: Starting a replay of Arcanum---any joiners?
#131219
02/01/06 07:24 PM
02/01/06 07:24 PM
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Joined: May 1999
Posts: 2,397 South Texas
Debra
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Sig, I'm roaming the countryside, but I'm supposed to be getting rid of the bad guys at Gilbert Bate's warehouse. This game makes me have ADD. I go to one quest and get another and want to do it and so on and so on. My character is just a hair toward technology, but I love magic so I'm sure I'll edge back the other way sooner or later. I nearly got killed twice at Kree so I just used prowling, got the goods and got out. Anyway, how many $400 suits of Barbarian armor can one chick use? I went to Ashbury just to get Dog. I love dogs and I couldn't leave him there to be abused. Ingie, I will go over to the site and look again, but right now I'm remembering why I loved Arcanum.
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Re: Starting a replay of Arcanum---any joiners?
#131220
02/02/06 06:54 AM
02/02/06 06:54 AM
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,259 Pacific Northwest
Sig Segorn
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Hi, Debra. You're a little ahead of me, but I wanted to do all the Tarant side quests I could before getting into the jeweler and Bates stuff. Yeah, the world map travel is good in this game, isn't it? Was that Baldur's Gate that had a similar system? Think so, but it was more worrisome as far as what you might get waylaid by. I know what you mean about the Attention Deficit Disorder. New quests are always popping up, but I like how the game doesn't really rush you along at all. Even the old-timey strings music and the way a lot of the NPCs just stand motionless is conducive to taking your time. As we both know, it's a big game, so it's good to just settle into it for as long as it takes, and just follow your druthers, but try to be prepared for the more challenging deals by the time you take them on.
It's interesting that your character is more magic-inclined than mine. Haven't been to Kree yet. Just have Virgil and Sogg right now, but I'm gonna go get Dog as soon as I get another chance to pick up that edition of the newspaper that I think puts Ashbury on your map. I've briefly been to Dernholm and Black Root for Tarant-related reasons, and have done other places like the Wolf Cave and that ancient Elven burial site. I think we'll be doing the P. S????? & Sons deal in the next session. It's nice comparing notes with you.
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Re: Starting a replay of Arcanum---any joiners?
#131221
02/02/06 07:06 PM
02/02/06 07:06 PM
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Joined: May 1999
Posts: 2,397 South Texas
Debra
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I'm looking for the Medallion of Beauty for Madam Lil, but I forget where to find it. Also, how do you quick save the game? I have misplaced my little booklet. I have Magus Shalefist, Dog, Virgil, and Sogg in my group so far. I know some didn't like Virgil, but I do. I'd rather have personality than power in my groups. Causes me to die a lot sometimes, but I usually manage to muddle through. I'm so glad you brought the game up again. It's just a neat experience
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Re: Starting a replay of Arcanum---any joiners?
#131222
02/03/06 09:33 AM
02/03/06 09:33 AM
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,259 Pacific Northwest
Sig Segorn
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That Medallion of Beauty is supposed to be on the only woman in the King's Inn & Pub in Dernholm, but, in my case, it wasn't---maybe later in the game. It's also supposed to be tricky swiping it off her, so do a save first. There's no Quick Save in this game---I just checked the manual for myself on that. Bit of a bummer. Wonder why they didn't put that feature in? Besides hard saves, there's only Auto Save and Auto Load in the manual's hotkey list. These are F7 and F8, respectively. My new copy of the game from GoGamer in a DVD hard case (it's the full English import version) didn't even have the manual on the CDs, but I found it available on-line. Here's a link to the web page I got it from: Arcanum Manual Yeah, I like Virgil, Sogg, and Dog. Can't remember who else I picked up in the first playthrough, but I don't care for Magnus---he just seems like another dwarf with an attitude to me. We just did the P. (whatever) & Sons deal. It was no problem, but trying to clear out The Boil just before that was. I'll have to come back to that later. The character editor I need to use only lets you edit skills, spells, and schematics, so my main character can still pass out or get killed if I'm not careful.
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Re: Starting a replay of Arcanum---any joiners?
#131223
02/05/06 12:45 AM
02/05/06 12:45 AM
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 507 Houston TX USA
PeggyH
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Hi, Deb & Sig. I have been playing a few days now and am just beginning to understand how to do things. This is my first try at this game though I've had it on the shelf for a while. Printed my manual off the CD and it is 190 pages of "Arcanum Speak". Something else to dig though for help! Thank goodness for Steve's walkthrough! So far I am really enjoying the game and am quickly becoming addicted. I have made it to Tarant, but am just wandering around finding my way and adding quests as I explore. I like the log book, both quest listings and rumors. Quite helpful. Now to Peggy
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Re: Starting a replay of Arcanum---any joiners?
#131225
02/05/06 11:51 AM
02/05/06 11:51 AM
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Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 12,307 Body in California/Heart in Ha...
syd
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(syd slips her invisibility cloak on, creeps into the thread - takes notes on game and slips out quietly to locate a copy while not alerting the original posters to the fact their thread has been spied upon)
Dark Side : Risen Light Side: I can only please one person a day. Today isn't your day. Tomorrow's not looking good either.
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Re: Starting a replay of Arcanum---any joiners?
#131226
02/05/06 07:47 PM
02/05/06 07:47 PM
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Joined: May 1999
Posts: 2,397 South Texas
Debra
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Thanks, Sig for the link to the manual. Peggy glad you're here, too. If you have any questions just whistle. What kind of character are you playing? Syd, I see though invisibility cloaks. Come on in and join us! I'm in Stillwater now and have captured the Stillwater Giant
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Re: Starting a replay of Arcanum---any joiners?
#131227
02/06/06 11:23 AM
02/06/06 11:23 AM
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,259 Pacific Northwest
Sig Segorn
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(The ever-vigilant Sig puts on his Spectacles of All Seeing and discerns Syd sneaking into and out of his topic, wearing a very handsome cloak, indeed.) Yeah, come on, Syd. We have to make up for all those people who never gave this game enough of a chance. I bet GoGamer has a copy with your name on it. You're in Stillwater already, Debra? Uh . . . I'm glad this isn't a foot race.
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Re: Starting a replay of Arcanum---any joiners?
#131230
02/07/06 10:42 AM
02/07/06 10:42 AM
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 507 Houston TX USA
PeggyH
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Thanks, Sig. The manual has not yet arrived, but I will be on the lookout for it. I made pretty good progress last night and did get increase one of my skills somewhat, though I am not sure how! I had that auto schemes on. Probably did that when I was first looking over the screens. I turned it to "No scheme" so that I can tell when I increase something. Then maybe I will know how I did it. I killed Virgil!! Should I replay or just go on with his replacement? I rather liked him and don't know why he suddenly turned on me. I was only trying to crack open a barrel at Schuyler's... This is a very intricate game and I am loving it. Probably will last me several months. Thanks again.
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Re: Starting a replay of Arcanum---any joiners?
#131231
02/07/06 02:57 PM
02/07/06 02:57 PM
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,259 Pacific Northwest
Sig Segorn
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Too bad about Virgil, Peggy. He's not crucial to have with you, so you can just continue on. You probably didn't wanna resurrect him cuz he turned on you, huh? I don't know why he did that, for just trying to bust a barrel. Is it possible you might've accidentally done the "force attack" on him instead of the barrel? That could've turned him hostile.
Yeah, I don't use any of those Auto Level-up Schemes---I like to spend those precious level-up points myself. I'm not sure how the whole skill increase thing works, cuz I beef up my character's skills with the hack editor, but it might be based on how much you use this or that skill. Anyway, they cover this thoroughly in the manual. Glad you're liking it. Keep us posted.
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Re: Starting a replay of Arcanum---any joiners?
#131233
02/07/06 10:23 PM
02/07/06 10:23 PM
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,259 Pacific Northwest
Sig Segorn
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Yeah, Debra, it's fun making things with those "schematics," isn't it? My fave is all the different funky firearms, but I make a lot of Healing Salves and Fatigue Restorers and other stuff. And aren't the pencil drawings on the schematics good? I love those.
I should be reporting back to Bates in the next session about what I found out in the Black Mountain mines, after having done some extra exploration there, and also in the Tarant sewers.
Speaking of neat things in this game, don't you like those little, purple, floating "Love Lights" in Ashbury? I wish those phenomena really existed, but I guess we'll have to settle for fireflies.
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Re: Starting a replay of Arcanum---any joiners?
#131235
02/09/06 11:04 PM
02/09/06 11:04 PM
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,259 Pacific Northwest
Sig Segorn
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Yeah, I always appreciate eye-pleasing load screens. The train one is my favorite.
Too bad about not being able to pick up Waromon (that lizard humanoid). I had him the first time and want to get him again. True to RPG-ness, though, it's easy to mess up in this game. All it takes is clicking on the wrong reply choice or trying to pick the lock on a barrel within eyeshot of someone. Put it this way . . . I'm hitting F7 a lot.
You killed a Love Light? Yeah, that had to be an accident. Rather serious consequences for that, but it just bears up what I was just saying. Funny how NPCs always assume you do everything on purpose.
My character's a good guy. Yours, too?
I'm back from the Isle of Despair, but the dwarf there wouldn't give me his Wheel Clan spectacles, and the game wouldn't let me have that shopkeeper in Ashbury make me a pair, so I made a schematic for them with the editor, but now I'm going all over looking for a lousy Kathorn crystal I need to make them (we sold all the ones we've collected so far). At least the strategy guide I ordered got here (from Canada), so "dungeon crawling" is a little better with the maps in it. Onward and downward . . .
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Re: Starting a replay of Arcanum---any joiners?
#131236
02/09/06 11:15 PM
02/09/06 11:15 PM
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 507 Houston TX USA
PeggyH
Settled Boomer
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Settled Boomer
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 507
Houston TX USA
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I've done most of the Tarant quests that can be finished there. Tried the Black Clan mines and ran into a golem who made mincemeat of my party! Right now I am trying to decide how best to muscle up and to get some cash. Seems no one wants to buy many of the awesome things I have managed to collect. Oh, how I would love to find one great general store that buys and sells it all! I've crashed a couple of times. I am able to play right through when I start back up so I must be overloading something. Yes. I am still really enjoying. There is quite a long learning curve for me. I am Level 13 and have not learned much! These guys are very stingy with those points.
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Re: Starting a replay of Arcanum---any joiners?
#131237
02/10/06 07:26 PM
02/10/06 07:26 PM
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Joined: May 1999
Posts: 2,397 South Texas
Debra
Addicted Boomer
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Addicted Boomer
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 2,397
South Texas
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Sig, I've got lots of Kathorn (sp?) crystals. You should have asked me. I would have met you at Schuyler and Sons and passed 'em over. Peggy, I think as you upgrade your beauty or charisma you can buy/sell more at any store. Which character are you? Are you a goody-goody like Sig and I? What's your character's name? I am Eleanor, half-elven and drop dead gorgeous. You may touch me now Whatever happened to stealthy Syd?
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Re: Starting a replay of Arcanum---any joiners?
#131238
02/10/06 11:02 PM
02/10/06 11:02 PM
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Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 12,307 Body in California/Heart in Ha...
syd
Adept Boomer
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Adept Boomer
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 12,307
Body in California/Heart in Ha...
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"Whatever happened to stealthy Syd?" ************************************************ She is out buying a cloaking device for her invisibility cloak while waiting for her game to arrive
Dark Side : Risen Light Side: I can only please one person a day. Today isn't your day. Tomorrow's not looking good either.
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Re: Starting a replay of Arcanum---any joiners?
#131239
02/10/06 11:28 PM
02/10/06 11:28 PM
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,259 Pacific Northwest
Sig Segorn
OP
Addicted Boomer
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OP
Addicted Boomer
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,259
Pacific Northwest
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Peggy, sorry to hear the game has crashed on you. It has never done that to me, so I don't know what to tell you. If you're not doing this already, you may want to turn off any programs running in the background before starting a game session (those with icons down by the clock at the bottom of your desktop). And check the game's options for some feature you may be able to tone down. I never had a problem with merchants not wanting to buy decent loot, no doubt because I play with my character edited up to better than he would normally be. I try not to talk too much about the "Even Darker Side" (playing RPGs with cheats), but just be aware that this character editor is available if you want it at some point. You can't edit all their stats, but it sure helps with survivability and building up your money. Also, you can't give them items, but you can change any Found Schematic into any other one that you'd rather have. Debra, we'll have to go multiplayer so you can give me one of those crystals. Yeah, those half-elf chicks are always good lookers, aren't they? Must be something in that pure elven spring water. I'm hoping Syd is in the process of procuring a copy of this game so she can join us. Does she like to play as a stealthy character?
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Re: Starting a replay of Arcanum---any joiners?
#131241
02/11/06 01:52 PM
02/11/06 01:52 PM
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,259 Pacific Northwest
Sig Segorn
OP
Addicted Boomer
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OP
Addicted Boomer
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,259
Pacific Northwest
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Originally posted by syd: She is in the process of procuring the game but you guys will probably be finished before I arrive to play Perish the thought. It's really a big game, especially if you're doing a lot of the side quests. I could be at it for another couple months. Yeah, I'm not much on sneakin' around, either, and even less on things like backstabbing and pickpocketing---only do these when I have to. I like to proceed methodically and cautiously, but to be able to mount a vigorous defense when attacked. Debra, found a Kathorn crystal, made a pair of Wheel Clan spectacles to access this area, did it, and am now in Stillwater. So I'm not too far behind you, I guess. Tally ho!
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Re: Starting a replay of Arcanum---any joiners?
#131242
02/12/06 04:54 PM
02/12/06 04:54 PM
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 507 Houston TX USA
PeggyH
Settled Boomer
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Settled Boomer
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 507
Houston TX USA
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I am still hanging around the Black Root, Dernholm, Tarant and Shadow Hills area trying to build up enough to conquer those baddies in the Black Mountain Mines. Boy what a place! Slowly, but surely I am figuring out the system for adding points. And I now understand why all the trainers brushed me off. I am an expert in Melee, but am leveling so slowly and with stingy points, I will be forever running around the "outback" fighting for experience. Yes, Debra, I am enjoying still. I am a goody two-shoes with a game-generated character, Ker'ee Melange, half-elf. She was a cutie til I started adding armor. Her beauty is dropping rapidly. Guess I'll have to pay the high prices or pump points into haggle. Have found that Rizelle in Shadow Hills buys almost all my stuff, so I run back there frequently. Syd, as you can see, I will probably still be in the area when you crash into the game! I am sure you will arrive in "a blaze of glory"!
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Re: Starting a replay of Arcanum---any joiners?
#131246
02/14/06 11:38 PM
02/14/06 11:38 PM
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 507 Houston TX USA
PeggyH
Settled Boomer
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Settled Boomer
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 507
Houston TX USA
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I have made it to Ashbury and have done most of the quests there. I am now in the haunted castle attempting to slay the dark lord. I succeeded once, but then Magnus wouldn't follow me (I had my party hold while I lured the slaves out to slaughter). No matter how many times I told him to stop waiting, he just stood there. I would leave the stubborn man if I didn't want the stuff he was carrying. I'm replaying with two (dog and Mug) waiting outside the door and trying to lure with Magnus flying into harm's way! We have slain several slaves. Now I am tired of saving and reloading constantly so I am off to bed.
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Re: Starting a replay of Arcanum---any joiners?
#131248
02/15/06 06:36 PM
02/15/06 06:36 PM
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 507 Houston TX USA
PeggyH
Settled Boomer
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Settled Boomer
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 507
Houston TX USA
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This seems to be a bug with Magnus. I had it happen when I accepted the pig slaying quest. After I ask the group to wait only Magnus would not "quit waiting" when I told him to. I do have some dwarven snuff but can't figure out how to get him to recognize that I have given it to him. Once before, when my beauty was down to 4, he quit following me and did mention the snuff. I replayed that part to keep him and shortly thereafter my beauty jumped up to 9. Don't know what I did to make it go down, or how it went back up. Had to be something I was wearing, don't you think? Anyway, I am going back to try to keep him alive long enough to lure all the slaves out to Dog and Mug. Then we can all rush the dark lord and Mug usually kills before any of our party is badly hurt. Will report success or failure later!
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Re: Starting a replay of Arcanum---any joiners?
#131250
02/16/06 12:40 AM
02/16/06 12:40 AM
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,259 Pacific Northwest
Sig Segorn
OP
Addicted Boomer
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OP
Addicted Boomer
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,259
Pacific Northwest
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Peggy, what pig-slaying quest are you talking about? I don't think you mean the one for that farmer in Ashbury, cuz you wouldn't have had party members wait behind for you on that one. How are you trying to give Magnus that dwarven snuff? The way I would do it is . . . open your inventory, drag the snuff over to the "Use box" on the right (that oval with the hand on it), then, when it switches back to the regular game view, click the pointer either on Magnus or his portrait. I don't care for him---he wouldn't even talk to us much when we met him. Let me know if you need some help finding other recruitable characters you might be interested in. And, about your Beauty fluctuations, check the Kills & Injuries tab (I think it's called) in your log book. The "Injuries" refers to you. Since you've been having a tough time of it, you might be all scarred up. What does it say there? Something like "Treated injuries are struck out." About Dog, I also like how he's low-maintenance.
Don't know if you were kidding, Debra, but 98% morally straight means that you're 48% more good than neutral, and even neutral is more good than Dark Elves are, so Z'an Al'urin was seeing quite a disparity between you and her. But I like her more than Raven and picked her up in my first playthrough, though I may not in this one. I just got the location of her village marked on my world map, but I want to do some side quests before going there. In the next session, I think I'll go pick up Jormund (who's a dwarf that I actually like), then fight through part of the Wheel Clan area, so I can get the Mithril ore for the Bronwyck's Gun I wanna make. My party's shaping up nicely. Looking forward to getting rid of the gangs in The Boil when we get around to the re-attempt on that. (Hmm. We need a "Cheers" gremlin who's hoisting a frothy mug of ale. Anyway . . . Cheers!)
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Re: Starting a replay of Arcanum---any joiners?
#131253
02/17/06 11:56 PM
02/17/06 11:56 PM
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,259 Pacific Northwest
Sig Segorn
OP
Addicted Boomer
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OP
Addicted Boomer
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,259
Pacific Northwest
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It seemed like you have to do the Jormund deal your first time in Qintarra, though the strategy guide makes no mention of this. I'm pretty sure I picked him up in my first playthrough, but, this time, I didn't try to clear him of his mentor's death till my 2nd time there, and, no matter what I tried, I couldn't get the necessary dialogue choices to pursue the matter from either the guy guarding him or that gal near the vase that's supposed to have the vial of poison in it. Hated to leave Jormund under house arrest, but there was nothing I could do about it. I'll probably try to pick up Perriman Smythe a little later on, as I'd like to have a spellcaster in the group. Didn't pick him up the first time, but he's my 2nd choice, after Jormund.
No, I've never played any game as a bad character, and I guess I never will. Neutral is as low as I go, but in THIS game I'm as good as I can be. Right now, I'm in the middle of taking out both gangs in The Boil, after which I will loot the whole place. After that, I'll probably go do the rest of the side stuff in Ashbury. Enjoying the discourse in this thread as we all play it together. Syd should be starting any day now, don't you think?
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Re: Starting a replay of Arcanum---any joiners?
#131257
02/19/06 02:42 PM
02/19/06 02:42 PM
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,259 Pacific Northwest
Sig Segorn
OP
Addicted Boomer
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OP
Addicted Boomer
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,259
Pacific Northwest
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Debra, the strategy guide says that you get this password from Hadrian, at the temple in Caladon, when you tell him you're an archaeologist. He gives you the password so you can access an extra section of the catacombs beneath the temple, but it's also used to enter Mannox's cave for that Wheel Clan side quest. Alexander, an acolyte at the temple, directs you to Hadrian, an archaeologist in one of the offices just behind him, when you ask for more information about Nasrudin. Okay?
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Re: Starting a replay of Arcanum---any joiners?
#131260
02/19/06 08:21 PM
02/19/06 08:21 PM
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 507 Houston TX USA
PeggyH
Settled Boomer
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Settled Boomer
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 507
Houston TX USA
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I have gone adventuring in the real world. Took a 3 day trip to New Orleans for the first weekend of Mardi Gras. My younger son was in a parade and we want to give all the help and support that we can. Those folks so need tourists back as the economy depends on tourism. But it is still not quite up to snuff as many restaurants are closed, many hotels are nearly full of displaced persons and clean-up crews. Employers are having a hard time finding staff and on and on. My heart just hurts for them. I bought a lovely fleur-de-lis as so many natives are doing as a symbol of hope. Sig, I don't know where my brain was when I tried giving Magnus the snuff. I just put it in his inventory and thought, "Oh, well. He doesn't recognize that I gave it to him". So, I'll just take it back and "give" it the right way. I had thought of the scarring I must be suffering, but did not know how to check on it. By the time I finish this game I am sure to have figured it out! I am always good as I just like being a hero/heroine. I thrive on all those accolades.
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Re: Starting a replay of Arcanum---any joiners?
#131263
02/23/06 02:08 AM
02/23/06 02:08 AM
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,259 Pacific Northwest
Sig Segorn
OP
Addicted Boomer
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OP
Addicted Boomer
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,259
Pacific Northwest
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Hi, Peggy. About Jormund being gone when you got back, some---maybe most---of the recruitable characters will vanish if you have them wait too long. The other issue, about the various gods and their altars, is more complicated. It takes up 2-and-a-half pages in the strategy guide, and much of that is fine print. Here's part of it:
" . . . some gods will curse you for making offerings to other gods, unless you've first made an offering to an in-between god. Aldous Buxington at Tarant University can explain them to you, give you a book describing them in detail, and show you the diagram for Mazzerin's Mystery---the key to Velorien's Blessing of Ultimate Power."
Hope that helps.
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Re: Starting a replay of Arcanum---any joiners?
#131274
03/01/06 11:05 PM
03/01/06 11:05 PM
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,259 Pacific Northwest
Sig Segorn
OP
Addicted Boomer
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OP
Addicted Boomer
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,259
Pacific Northwest
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No, in this playthrough, I'm not trying to do every side quest, but am picking and choosing. Even without the evil ones and the Thieves Underground ones, which I never do, there's still a lot of 'em in this game, many of which are just covered by little "thumbnails" in the strategy guide, and many of which could be missed by players not using a decent walkthrough. The game won't even let me do 'em all---the Jormund deal, for example. And we're well past the point where Virgil's leaving the party should've been triggered, but he hasn't left yet, if ever. Go figure.
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