Wizardry 8: RPCs and areas they won't enter

[nick]

Archived from groups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.rpg (More info?)

In Wizardry 8, I understand that if you trick an RPC into an area they don't
want to enter, they'll complain a lot and will lose 20 points from all their
attributes and skills.

What I'm wondering: will they still level up normally, increase their skills
normally, etc.?

I left Vi behind for Bayjin, etc., and the massive experience the other
characters got there left her a couple of levels behind the rest of the
party. So I want to take her through the Rapax Rift and related areas to
keep her from losing even more experience. (I know not to take any RPCs to
the Away Camp area.)

I'm thinking I probably should try and remember to portal out of those areas
before I level her up, so the skill penalty doesn't hurt her spell picks.

I haven't tried taking any RPCs where they don't want to go before, so I'm
looking for feedback on the pros and cons.

--
Nick <mailto:tanstaafl@pobox.com>

Nick's two rules of spammer talk:

1. Spammers lie.
2. If a spammer ever appears to be telling
the truth, please refer to rule number 1.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.rpg (More info?)

I found that the only real drawback to doing this was the fact that the
character tends to complain a lot about it- vocally. If you can put up
with that, it isn't too bad. In your case, since you are going for
theRapax area, you probably have Vi's combat skills nearing 100 anyway
(80 with the penalty)

I know that when gaining a level, bonuses to skills do not count, so I
wouldn't be surprised if penalties don't either. I would suggest the
first time you gain a level, use the quicksave (I am assuming you are
not playing in ironman mode), and then test it.

Of course, I portalled around a lot anyway- I always left a portal by
the magic fountain in Trynton for quick refuelling

 

[nick]

Archived from groups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.rpg (More info?)

On 23 Mar 2005 07:48:29 -0800, in comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.rpg, "The Qurqirish
Dragon" <qurqirishd@aol.com> wrote:

>I found that the only real drawback to doing this was the fact that the
>character tends to complain a lot about it- vocally. If you can put up
>with that, it isn't too bad. In your case, since you are going for
>theRapax area, you probably have Vi's combat skills nearing 100 anyway
>(80 with the penalty)

Thanks for the quick response!

I'll probably back up a couple of saves and keep Vi in the party. I had
dropped her off in Arnika, but by now I'm used to having her around.

I think the only issue with the attribute and skill penalty will be her
carrying capacity: with 20 points less of Strength, I'm going to have to
leave behind some of the heavy plate armor she's been clanking around in.
Shouldn't make much difference: I keep her in a flank spot, so she usually
doesn't get hit too much.

I originally started Wiz 8 a year and a half or so ago, but burned out part
way through it. This time I'm bound and determined to complete it, but I
have reached the point where I just want to plow through the Rapax part and
get to the end of the game. The combat and the game play are starting to
get repetitive, and I'm ready to finish this and start something new.

--
Nick <mailto:tanstaafl@pobox.com>

TANSTAAFL! (There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch!) R.A.H.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.rpg (More info?)

In article <ao0341t0mpii6l0p3esc5e7g1pg3rv0mu3@4ax.com>, Nick wrote:
> In Wizardry 8, I understand that if you trick an RPC into an
> area they don't want to enter, they'll complain a lot and will
> lose 20 points from all their attributes and skills.
>
> What I'm wondering: will they still level up normally, increase
> their skills normally, etc.?

Yes, they still advance just the same, although they are usually
ineffective.

> I left Vi behind for Bayjin, etc., and the massive experience
> the other characters got there left her a couple of levels
> behind the rest of the party. So I want to take her through
> the Rapax Rift and related areas to keep her from losing even
> more experience. (I know not to take any RPCs to the Away Camp
> area.)

Because of the nearly exponentially increasing XP requirements,
she should catch up in level. It's not really a big deal.

I ran one party of four magic classes, a Bard and a Gadgetter and
used Vi and Miles as human shields until they were no longer
needed. It was pretty fun. Buying equipment and choosing skills
for human shields is much easier than trying to develop them to
be effective fighters.

> I'm thinking I probably should try and remember to portal out
> of those areas before I level her up, so the skill penalty
> doesn't hurt her spell picks.

Hmmm. I never thought of that before, but I don't think it's an
issue.

> I haven't tried taking any RPCs where they don't want to go
> before, so I'm looking for feedback on the pros and cons.

It's not that bad, but not terribly worthwhile either. Most NPCs
are not worth the effort or XP loss, unless slow advancement is
what you are after. I usually arround Vi and Miles in every game
until clearing out Trynton, just to avoid Juggernaut battles on
the way there (if you're low enough level, they won't appear).

--
Neil Cerutti

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.rpg (More info?)

In article <njc341h34a6pd7j0lg89qhin30uv535jj4@4ax.com>, Nick
wrote:
> I originally started Wiz 8 a year and a half or so ago, but
> burned out part way through it. This time I'm bound and
> determined to complete it, but I have reached the point where I
> just want to plow through the Rapax part and get to the end of
> the game. The combat and the game play are starting to get
> repetitive, and I'm ready to finish this and start something
> new.

Ah! Conquering the Rapax will really open up the game for you.
The armorer there has the best items in the game. I predict the
fun factor increases quite a bit very soon.

--
Neil Cerutti

 

[nick]

Archived from groups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.rpg (More info?)

On 23 Mar 2005 07:48:29 -0800, in comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.rpg, "The Qurqirish
Dragon" <qurqirishd@aol.com> wrote:

>I found that the only real drawback to doing this was the fact that the
>character tends to complain a lot about it- vocally. If you can put up
>with that, it isn't too bad. In your case, since you are going for
>theRapax area, you probably have Vi's combat skills nearing 100 anyway
>(80 with the penalty)

I see what you mean about putting up with the complaints: I haven't
strangled Vi yet, but it's getting tempting...
>
>I know that when gaining a level, bonuses to skills do not count, so I
>wouldn't be surprised if penalties don't either. I would suggest the
>first time you gain a level, use the quicksave (I am assuming you are
>not playing in ironman mode), and then test it.

Well, as I just confirmed, the penalties DO affect what level spells you can
select at level up.

Vi just made level 18, and in the Rift she only had level five and below
spell picks. When I portalled out of the Rift, she had the level six picks
she was ready for.

And I'm not so sure about the bonuses not counting. I didn't say anything
before, because I didn't take notes, but I am fairly certain that some of my
characters only got high level spell picks a couple of times because the
bonus boosted their spell book skill (taking into account the 10% boost you
get from realm skills).

--
Nick <mailto:tanstaafl@pobox.com>

May you live in interesting times...

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.rpg (More info?)

Nick wrote:
> And I'm not so sure about the bonuses not counting. I didn't say
anything
> before, because I didn't take notes, but I am fairly certain that
some of my
> characters only got high level spell picks a couple of times because
the
> bonus boosted their spell book skill (taking into account the 10%
boost you
> get from realm skills).

My psionic (+25% so mental spells) couldn't learn level 7 spells when
the base skill was in the 80s, even though the skill with bonuses was
over 100 (you don't need more than 100 to learn any spell- I have read
that 90 is enough for level 7s, but I didn't check that in-game.), so
at least SOME bonuses are not counted. Perhaps artifact bonuses are
counted?