Where can I get a decent club?

[Heisenberg]

Anything thats better then the generic starting Club. Can't even seem to find a plus 1. I am using Clubs for Jaheeria since its her only 2 spec melee weapon.



While were at it what are some good Shields as well? 3 of my characters use a shield.

[Myrkul]

Well you can get Blackblood +3 in Trademeet it's a club and it's pretty good for Jaheira. There is another one you get in the Druid Grove that's +2 I believe. As for shields there are a good amount of great shields in the game. There is the red dragon shield in the Windspear Hills that gives you elemental resistances and there is a shield you get in trademeet after you get the genies to leave that is also pretty good. It protects from domination/charm spells and has a good ac boost as well. There is a very good +4/+5 club as well but that's in the Watchers Keep. I do think some merchants sell a +1 club but from what I can recall it's not a common item. I would suggest you head to Trademeet and start the quests there. Once you solve the main quests you have access to the merchants, and they sell very good items. Which of course you can steal with Yoshimo if you give him a few potions of Master Thievery. Oh also give Jaheira some points in Scimitars there are some VERY good ones you find much later one and also a pretty good one in the Druid Grove.

[Paracelsi]

As Myrkul suggested, you'll get a few enchanted clubs and a nice shield from doing the Trademeet quest. There should be an NPC in the Gate District who will tell you of Trademeet's plight, as well as marking it on your map.

Good shields are not too rare, you'll find some nice ones from random encounters (or as you do major sidequests) and you can buy one from Ribald at the Adventurer's Mart.

[Heisenberg]

If I try and head off to the Trade Meet will it take a long time to get that plus 3 club? I am still only around level 8. Tons of stuff still to do. I guess I am asking if I can start up trade meet to get that club and then jump back to everything else I was doing?



Also, where can I buy Potion of Mastery Thief? Been looking all over? I want to steal and then sell back a few items to get some cash flow.




Edit: Is there a reason to go with Scmitars instead of Clubs? I want to go with Clubs because she already has 2 points. This allows me to put her next point into Sword and Shield instead of Scmitar. I wish my MC had gone with Katanas instead of Long Swords though. I am hoping to add two points there eventually.

[dmc]

Heisenberg - let me make a suggestion. Don't ask all of these questions. We're a very helpful community and will inundate you with information. You can quite quickly get bogged down into looking for the best stuff. Don't. This is your first full run through of a game that we mostly think is the best CRPG out there (Planescape: Torment is up there too).

You can win the game without finding most of the stuff, and without getting the best stuff or optimizing your characters. Enjoy yourself. Don't sweat it all that much.

Next run through -- ask and we'll tell you everything you want to know.

This run through, don't spoil the magic.

Feel free to ignore this if you don't mind spoilers, but I think you will regret it later.

[Heisenberg]

Originally Posted by dmc

Heisenberg - let me make a suggestion. Don't ask all of these questions. We're a very helpful community and will inundate you with information. You can quite quickly get bogged down into looking for the best stuff. Don't. This is your first full run through of a game that we mostly think is the best CRPG out there (Planescape: Torment is up there too).

You can win the game without finding most of the stuff, and without getting the best stuff or optimizing your characters. Enjoy yourself. Don't sweat it all that much.

Next run through -- ask and we'll tell you everything you want to know.

This run through, don't spoil the magic.

Feel free to ignore this if you don't mind spoilers, but I think you will regret it later.

Your right man. Its not that I like to spoil the game its just I think I have a problem. I am always so worried about screwing something up. I also have OCD and I think it makes me very anal during games. In most modern games I know I can't really screw things up but this is from a different time. I am going to take your advice and try and be surprised some times.

[Exor]

Originally Posted by Heisenberg

I am always so worried about screwing something up.

If all else fails there always is the Shadowkeeper

[SlickRCBD]

I myself am borderline OCD with games like this (although I really probably have a mild case ofasperger's syndrome) , however I make a rule to try my best to play through the game once without any guides or spoilers, and only consulting a board, F.A.Q., or guide if I'm really stuck.

I can see why it is frustrating with clubs however. I had the same frustration. The others do have a point that the game should be winnable even without finding the best equipment. It will be harder, but if you have installed Throne of Bhaal, the increased XP cap and HLAs should more than compensate.

[Blades of Vanatar]

There is a little, magical, Level 1 Druid spell called Shilelagh. It will get you buy while waiting to get the clubs from the Trademeet quests. Otherwise, they are very rare throughout SoA.

Magical Shields are everywhere. Ribald sells the Fortress Shield, he is located in Waukeen's Promeneade. It's one of the best Shields in SoA. It's costly.

Rest, Memorize and Cast the level 1 Mage spell "Friends" on your highest Charisma character prior to buying anything. It will help with costs. Adding to your Reputation also helps alleviate high costs for items. You can increase your Reputation by completing various quest(ex is the Circus Tent in Waukeen's Promenade..) and by paying small tithes at various Temples....

[Marceror]

Originally Posted by Blades of Vanatar

Rest, Memorize and Cast the level 1 Mage spell "Friends" on your highest Charisma character prior to buying anything. It will help with costs. Adding to your Reputation also helps alleviate high costs for items. You can increase your Reputation by completing various quest(ex is the Circus Tent in Waukeen's Promenade..) and by paying small tithes at various Temples....

Spoiler!

As I recall, you need to have that high CHA character in your top character spot in order for merchants to consider their CHA when purchasing. Make sure to wear that ring that raises CHA to 18 (from the circus), and Friends will stack with it. If you can equip a cloak of charisma (from a merchant in the SE of docks district) and/or the blade of roses (from Copper Coronet), you should be able to get top CHA of 25. It also helps to boost your reputation a bit for the best prices.

[Marceror - he hasn't played the game yet, and these are spoilers, so let him make the decision on whether he wants to spoil it. - dmc]

[Heisenberg]

Ok so I am really trying to ask less questions and let myself be surprised once in awhie but..... there are a couple things I just gotta ask.


1. I choose to side with Bodi because she seemed more interesting. I have all good characters though.... hope this is not a problem please let me know if it is.



2. What the heck does 18/52 or 18/0 STR mean? Which is better lower or higher secondary number?


3. Why does my damage and attack jump so much from 18 to 19 STR. I want Jaheria to wear the belt of STR but it adds 2 attack and 4 damage to my MC. Thats alot right?

[dmc]

1. Don't sweat it.

2, 3. The secondary number goes from 1-100 for fighters, paladins and rangers (and multi/dual classes as appropriation) (the 00 is really 100). These are gradations of strength bonus for fighter types that matter a lot.

For example, a non-warrior with a base 18 strength is +1 to hit and +2 to damage. With a warrior, strength of 18 automatically gets a secondary percentile roll of 1-100. Strength of 18(01-50) is +1, +3. It migrates upwards to 18(00) which is +3, +6. Then, 19 goes +3, +7. That's why you see a difference like you do in question 3.

[Heisenberg]

Originally Posted by dmc

1. Don't sweat it.

2, 3. The secondary number goes from 1-100 for fighters, paladins and rangers (and multi/dual classes as appropriation) (the 00 is really 100). These are gradations of strength bonus for fighter types that matter a lot.

For example, a non-warrior with a base 18 strength is +1 to hit and +2 to damage. With a warrior, strength of 18 automatically gets a secondary percentile roll of 1-100. Strength of 18(01-50) is +1, +3. It migrates upwards to 18(00) which is +3, +6. Then, 19 goes +3, +7. That's why you see a difference like you do in question 3.

So, just to make sure would I rather have STR 18/00 or STR 18/52. The first one right?

[Marceror]

Regarding 2, somehow I had always thought that strength 18/?? was specific to humans. I just double checked the rules, and indeed this attribute is tied to class.

Thanks DMC. I learned.

---------- Added 0 hours, 0 minutes and 46 seconds later... ----------

Originally Posted by Heisenberg

So, just to make sure would I rather have STR 18/00 or STR 18/52. The first one right?

Definitely! 100 is higher than 52, right!

[Heisenberg]

Originally Posted by Marceror

Regarding 2, somehow I had always thought that strength 18/?? was specific to humans. I just double checked the rules, and indeed this attribute is tied to class.

Thanks DMC. I learned.

---------- Added 0 hours, 0 minutes and 46 seconds later... ----------



Definitely! 100 is higher than 52, right!

Right, but I was not positive 00 meant 100. Also, sometimes lower is better in this game!

[Marceror]

Understood that it can be confusing. DMC had mentioned that 00 meant 100, and I was assuming you had seen that.

ION, whenever I see your board name this song gets stuck in my head!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxYrj...yer_detailpage

[T2Bruno]

1. I choose to side with Bodi because she seemed more interesting. I have all good characters though.... hope this is not a problem please let me know if it is.

2. What the heck does 18/52 or 18/0 STR mean? Which is better lower or higher secondary number?

3. Why does my damage and attack jump so much from 18 to 19 STR. I want Jaheria to wear the belt of STR but it adds 2 attack and 4 damage to my MC. Thats alot right?

1. As dmc says, don't sweat it. Both directions are fun to play. Next time side with the thieves.

2. Yes, 18/00 means 18/100 and is higher; higher is better. This comes from some very old rules -- for every point in strength your character can lift 10 pounds over their head (muscling it up from the shoulders, not like a clean and jerk). So a character like Jaheira can lift 150 pounds over her head (not a slouch here -- don't piss a woman like that off). The maximum for a non-fighter is 18. Fighters are basically like professional athletes of today and can get much stronger due an exercise regime well beyond the norm (with or without steroids), this factor is called exceptional strength. When a fighter gets exception strength they get another pound for each point -- so a 18/53 can list 233 pounds over their head, 18/00 can lift 280 pounds (quite a brute). A strength of 18/00 is the maximum for a human, beyond that is ogre/giant strength and the ten pound thing is not valid (a titan with a 25 strength can lift a few tons in the older games).

3. Adding +2, +4 is good -- that means you have a strength of 18/01-18/50. Note that Jaheira has a 15 strength and wearing the girdle will give her +3, +7 improvement. I usually look at what best for the party overall.

[SlickRCBD]

One thing nobody points out when siding with Bodhi is that there is a good chance that some or all of your good-aligned NPCs will abandon you when you sign up with Bodhi and enter the lair. I once had Jaheria, Minsc, Aerie, and Mazzy abandon me simply because I wanted to try my infiltration plan. Valygar has done so as well. I wouldn't be surprised if Keldorn would also abandon you.