Jan Jansen, the Boo-hunting Gnomish thief/illusionist with the big family and an even better way with words, is said to be an NPC who would invent some items during the course of game. I'm almost in Suldanessellar and all I have seen of this sneaky person's inventions is the Jan Jansen's Flasher Master Bruiser Mate (TM).
Does anyone know some other of his 'promissed' inventions?

Only the stuff on him I guess for the course of this game. His not that bad though. But I dont know if he is in shape for the final battle.

[This message has been edited by Alienboy (edited January 12, 2002).]

Alien, do you mean the items he has on him when you get him? If so, I think Master is talking more about items he makes during the game...

As far as I know of Jan doesn't. I've had him in nearly every party (as you said, good with words and turnips :D )

The only items Jan invented in the game are the equipment he has on his body when he enters your party: His robe, gloves, goggles, crossbow and these skulls it fires. He can reproduce ammunition for his crossbow as an innate ability though. That's it.

His bruiser mates are very useful because they stun the victim which makes it easy for your melee fighters to chop your enemies down. Jan can make 5 bruiser mates once per day!

His "mates" are pure sh*t because of no enchantment. Such bolts can't even scratch half of opponents in the game.

I'd suggest you to dump all types of bolts except +2 ones.

i like his mates. what about bolts of electricity? why dont you want them?

Jan's bruiser mates are great esp. companied with Greater Malison.

I've already said what I should.
Bolts +2 are the best bolts to get in SoA. Other bolts are not enchanted (except +1 ones).

And without enchantment - no damaging the opponents.

Arrows and bows have wider variety (i.e. arrows of detonation or self firing bows). The bullets are also nice - Sunstone ones are +4.

Recap: Crossbows in SoA are crap. That doesn't mean Jan is crap - if you know how to (ab)use that guy... But to keep Keldorn for crossbows...:rolleyes:

bleah, Jan bruiser mates does not to deal out damage. It just has to hit the person and stun it so your melee fighter can chop it down to size. It just a stun attack!!! So i dont think they are sh*t. Stunning the victim is great!!For example the celestial furry just a formidable weapon with out that stun ability it won't be as good as it is now.

You can't stun no enemy with those if the enemy is immune to normal weapons, pal!

How many times must I repeat this?

I found these mates quite usefull in the early game, but it didn't take long before I thought they were crap. And with them the Flasher Launcer +1.
But what about the Jansen-Brand Techno-Thieving Gadgetizer gloves (pick pock/lock +20), or Jansen-Brand Metal-Repellant Adventure wear(dryclean only!)? and the Spectroscopes?

[This message has been edited by Master of Nuhn (edited January 14, 2002).]

True, Jans bruiser mates arent very useful. And the lack of enchanted bolts can also be pain. The bolts of biting are great but the lack of enchantment make them useless in any encounters.

Sometimes you guys astonish me .......... :grin:

bleah, Jan bruiser mates does not to deal out damage. It just has to hit the person and stun it so your melee fighter can chop it down to size. It just a stun attack!!!

hmm, just a stun attack ? You mean an attack that leaves your opponent help- and defenseless against further attack ? Perhaps with agnazar's scorcer, flame arrow, acid arrow, fireball, cloudkill .... (just to name a few) .... :rolleyes:

Actually my about favourite spells are non-damage spells like emotion, chaos, feeblemind, hold person, confusion, domination, idiocy and later the symbol and powerword spells. Sure, I learn defensive and armor spells as well as offensive/ countermagic stuff as well, but I think the best way to keep a mage safe and a fight easy is to disable your enemies. To dislike a spell or weapon effect (like Jan's bruiser mates) for it doesn't cause damage IMO is lacking long-sightetness.

Otherwise I'm with Extremist: Bolts +2 are very effective and about the most effective alltround bolts.

However, bolts of biting have the advantage to cause acid or poison (which one ?) damage that is handled just like a magical attack (given you hit). IIRC Jan's bruiser mate damage is handled the same way: when you hit it works like a spell - when you hit the target has to save or be stunned, when it's immune to magical weapons till +2 this doesn't really matter ;)

[This message has been edited by Ragusa (edited January 14, 2002).]

I know we're getting a little off topic here, but I have to say that the lack of enchantment is not always a problem. A mage with stoneskin, for example, can be easily taken down with the bolts of lightning as the extra lightning damage bypasses the protection, thus interrupting spellcasting. Of course, Extremist is right in saying that +2 bolts are the best all around. However, we were given three ammunition slots for a reason; just because a weapon/spell/character/tactic/whatever isnt a regular workhorse, it doesnt mean that there isnt some application for it.

I have an aversion against spells that have a save. It seems like all enemies ahve ridicoulus low saving throws. Greater Malison doesnt lower it that much. I prefer straight out damaging spells and weapon effects.

Greater Malison doesn't lower it that much? Opponents under influence of this spell make all saves with a -4 penalty! IMO, it quite a lot. Imagine 3 GM's in a Trigger/Sequencer (which?)...

And Ragusa...bolts of biting do 30 poison damage in 15 seconds, save vs. death for none. Just to answer your little question. :)

[This message has been edited by Master of Nuhn (edited January 14, 2002).]

Greater Malisons stack? I wasn't aware of that...hmm. This could lead to some intresting spell sequencers for my Assassin/Mage :idea:! I don't think any spell would fail with 2 or 3 greater malisons in effect...

Ok if this is true, here's what I'm going to try:

Stuff 2 greater malisons and one Spook in a Spell Sequencer! I believe spook starts with a saving throw in the negatives and goes all the way down to -6 at higher levels. Could be great fun if used on a dragon!

But Greater Malison effect is not cumulative, so don't waste.

[This message has been edited by Laksol (edited January 15, 2002).]

Sorry guys! :heh:
Didn't know Greater malison was not cumulative. I usually put Greater Malison and Lower resistance in a sequencer and it works great!

Wait a minute...

I never used it twice but I really think it IS cumulative.
The spell affects the hostiles not as effect but lowers the saves one by one (in a decrease value manner I've wrote some time ago in post on how to "fix" the Boots of Speed).

Anyone can really check this? My game is not in workable shape... ;)

(enable cheats, summon something hostile, add it to party, summon it again, cast it twice, add the second summon to party and compare)

[EDIT]
Master, keep up the good work! ;)

[This message has been edited by Extremist (edited January 14, 2002).]

Darn! Laksol is right about that...:) (im happy he is)
Greater Malison is not cumulative. :(
I summoned a gibberling, looked at his saves, summoned an other, casted Gr.Mal. Then you see: Gibberling-Saving throws lowered. When I casted it an other time, it said nothing. then I looked at its saves and there was 'only'a penalty of -4 to all saves

I think they are great early, but then they get crappy later on.

Ack, so much for that. Well a greater malison and two spooks would probably work just as well, since they would have to make two saves in the negatives.