Posted
by Chris Avellone - Black Isle Studios on Nov 28, 1999 at 13:34:39:
The team's
been busting through the game over the past few weeks, and there's some
common hints for some easier Torment playing we'd like to share with
you so when you pick up the game, you can hit the ground running:
1.
Be sure to examine *every* item you get on your inventory screen. Chances
are, the description gives clues on how the item can be used effectively
-- sometimes, an item's secondary power can be more useful than it's
primary ability.
2.
Be sure to talk to your party members once they are in your party. They
can offer advice, be a good source of experience, and even train you
in skills and abilities. Often, helping them with their problems can
make them stronger.
The topics
you can ask them about can change over time and based on what you do
in the game - especially when you change your class. Chances are, any
mage in your party can offer advice to your character when he becomes
a mage, and the same holds true for thieves and fighters.
3.
Your weapon experience is based on finding tutors and getting trained.
You'll start out with moderate skill in daggers and fist weapons, but
any other type of weapon you try and use will carry penalties until
you can find a tutor to train you. So before you rip that heavy axe
off the Mortuary wall in the hopes of cleaving some zombies, keep in
mind that a dagger might help you live longer until you can find someone
to train you in the axe.
4.
You can RUN. Some critters can't. Use this to give them a bad day...
from a distance. Running is also toggled on the Options screen, so if
your thumb is about to fall off, just jump to options screen and toggle
running on.
5.
Some store inventories change over time depending on what you do in
the game, especially the tattoo parlor and some of the weapon stores.
Always head back there when you have a life-shattering event.
6.
You will NEVER fail to copy a spell scroll if you can cast the spell
and your Intelligence is high enough for you to learn that level of
spell. This is done just to prevent reloading. However, there are a
lot of spells in the game and your Intelligence determines the number
of spells you can actually put in your spell book. So make sure you
don't pump up your slots filled with spells unless you really want them
-- or unless you have plans to raise your Intelligence later.
7.
There are plenty of items and people who can give you stat points throughout
the game. If a stat seems to be limiting you from doing something, try
and accumulate items to pump up the appropritate stat and try again.
8.
Save before talking to important NPCs -- some dialogues are more dangerous
than combat, and you might want a second try at some of them.
9.
There's a lot of combat in Torment, but you'll inevitably be rewarded
a LOT more for not fighting in a number of situations. Don't be surprised
if talking someone down or tricking them is worth three or more times
what you'd get if you butchered them.
10.
Torment favors role-players. Get into your character, play it to the
hilt, and you'll find the game has rewards just for your type of character.
11.
During initial character creation, you can't raise your stats over 18
(or in the case of strength, 18/00). When you start leveling up however
and gaining more stat points, however, this cap is gone.
12.
If you get stuck, read your journal -- within the journal entries are
usually clues to what you can do next. If that fails, ask one of your
companions what you should do next (especially Morte, Annah and Fall-From-Grace).
They can help point you in the right direction.
13.
Hold down the ALT key when you want to rotate your formations.
14.
You can guard an area (like in Baldur’s) just by selecting the
shield and then dragging it out into a circle. This prevents your more
over-zealous characters from running off the screen chasing a fleeing
bad guy.
More Hints (collected by Sorcerer)
