Dreadmaster not getting +2 WIS (possible bug)

[koliva]

It's the first time I play IWD2 with a Dreadmaster in my party. According to several walkthroughs (including one on this site), the Dreadmaster is supposed to get a +2 wisdom bonus after killing Hiepherus.

I did get the message that said Bane was pleased, but not the stat increase. Is there something else I have to do to get it?

In case there is a known bug that has something to do with having a second cleric in your party (just speculating), here is my party:
-Monk
-Barbarian/Fighter
-Monk/Ranger/Cleric (Dreadmaster)
-Cleric (Morninglord)/Paladin
-Sorcerer
-Sorcerer

[Taluntain]

Do you have the official patch installed?

[koliva]

Originally Posted by Taluntain

Do you have the official patch installed?

Yes, the game is patched to version 2.01 and no mods are installed.

After my initial post, I did a little experiment and removed the Morninglord from the party (before killing Hiepherus, of course). Alas, the result was the same.

[Taluntain]

I'm not sure if that quest reward was actually implemented or whether someone had just seen it listed in Weimer's quest output and assumed it was valid... there are several such quest rewards in the files that don't actually happen. I've added that piece of info to our walkthrough after someone mailed me about it, but I don't recall if he said he'd actually experienced it first hand...

Or it could be something to do with that Monk/Ranger/Cleric, which is a rather odd combination...

[koliva]

I did a few more tests and it turns out that it was implemented.

I replaced my dreadmaster/monk/ranger with a lvl 1 dreadmaster and he got the wisdom bonus. Also, there doesn't seem be a threshold beyond which the game won't increase your wisdom.

As a side note, the odd combination is actually the result of me taking advantage of 1 level of monk for the AC bonus and 1 level of ranger for the free dual-wielding feat.

Apparently, I'm not the only one who has bumped into this problem (http://www.gamebanshee.com/forums/ic...tml#post566283).

I'll do a few more tests to see why some characters fail getting the +2 WIS. Right now, my main suspects are spell resistance (my dreadmaster is a drow) and multi-classing.

EDIT: It seems to be the multiclassing. I tried adding a level of dreadmaster to another character with 0 SR and she didn't get the bonus, either.

EDIT #2: I did some digging and I've found a post by AzathothXy claiming that it worked for his/her multiclassed Dreadmaster (http://www.sorcerers.net/forums/show...93&postcount=9), so it's possible that my conclusion was wrong. Someone also theorized that the dreadmaster has to be the one who talks to Hiepherus, but my tests showed that it isn't so.

[Taluntain]

Interesting... well, at least you got to the bottom of it.

[coineineagh]

Originally Posted by koliva

I did a few more tests and it turns out that it was implemented.

I replaced my dreadmaster/monk/ranger with a lvl 1 dreadmaster and he got the wisdom bonus. Also, there doesn't seem be a threshold beyond which the game won't increase your wisdom.

As a side note, the odd combination is actually the result of me taking advantage of 1 level of monk for the AC bonus and 1 level of ranger for the free dual-wielding feat.

Apparently, I'm not the only one who has bumped into this problem (http://www.gamebanshee.com/forums/ic...tml#post566283).

I'll do a few more tests to see why some characters fail getting the +2 WIS. Right now, my main suspects are spell resistance (my dreadmaster is a drow) and multi-classing.

EDIT: It seems to be the multiclassing. I tried adding a level of dreadmaster to another character with 0 SR and she didn't get the bonus, either.

EDIT #2: I did some digging and I've found a post by AzathothXy claiming that it worked for his/her multiclassed Dreadmaster (http://www.sorcerers.net/forums/show...93&postcount=9), so it's possible that my conclusion was wrong. Someone also theorized that the dreadmaster has to be the one who talks to Hiepherus, but my tests showed that it isn't so.

Sorry, but you're incorrect. I repeatedly played the Hiephierus quest with a party containing 4 dreadmasters (3 were 1-level mix-ins), and the game allocates the +2WIS seemingly random. One time my cleric and bard get it, the next my druid is the only one who gets it, then the next time all but my bard get it. After a while I got so frustrated with the randomness of it, I just ignored it. I edited the unrewarded characters with NearInfinity. With 4 dreadmasters, the chance that the game will randomly allot all 4 party members with the bonus, is very slim. So replay the battle, or edit with NearInfinity.

[JT]

Do you use ORS during that battle?

Were any of your characters charmed, confused, or otherwise taken out of your control?

[koliva]

Originally Posted by JT

Do you use ORS during that battle?

Were any of your characters charmed, confused, or otherwise taken out of your control?

None of them were taken out of my control. I didn't use Otiluke's Resilient Sphere either. (That's what ORS stands for, right?)

I also tried removing all of the buffs on my dreadmaster, as well as gear that gave her stat bonuses or regeneration.

---------- Added 1 hours, 33 minutes and 36 seconds later... ----------

I managed to get the +2 WIS after unequipping every item that the dreadmaster was wearing. The only buffs she had were bless and haste. I've tried it 3 times so far and got consistent results. I can't guarantee that this will work for everyone, though.

Originally Posted by coineineagh

One time my cleric and bard get it, the next my druid is the only one who gets it, then the next time all but my bard get it. After a while I got so frustrated with the randomness of it, I just ignored it.

Coineineagh, did you swap some gear or cast different buffs before your several attempts to get the bonuses?

[coineineagh]

Not really, it was actually my last battle before resting, and I was very happy with the effectiveness of my remaining spells. First I focus on the nearby undead (trying to disrupt them). Once those Neo-Orogs are on top of me, I cast 2 main spells: Greater Command on the whole area, and Insect Plague targeted beyond Hiephierus, so it only engulfs him. When Hiephierus can't cast spells, it becomes straightforward melee. The undead are unaffected, so I take them out first. Then I tackle each Orog, waking them up one-at-a-time. It's a doddle. Throw in a Hold Person later, and I took out Hiephierus with ranged weapons. I tried standing right next to him before he died, but it didn't help, so it's not an area effect problem.
Going in unbuffed will be an even bigger challenge. I still think we don't know the real cause...

[Sir Rechet]

I can confirm the seemingly random outcome of the supposed WIS increase. Nowadays I always save just prior to entering his lair, double-check my WIS score(s) right after and reload & refight in case something bugs out.

By my experience, multiclassing and/or spell resistance can be ruled out as the possible causes of this glitch, and range between the supposed benefactors and Mr. H doesn't seem to matter either. Irritatingly random, is all.

[coineineagh]

Well, for accuracy you can change your thread title to "Dreadmaster not getting +2 WIS (confirmed bug)". Sorry we can't help you any better than this at the moment.

[kmonster]

How would you estimate the chance to get the bonus correctly ? 50 percent ? Higher ? Lower ?

[coineineagh]

Yeah, it's roughly 50-50 I think. I had three goes with 4 dreadmasters, and got the bonus 6 times. So the chance of my 4 dreadmasters ALL getting the bonus, would be 1/16. That's a lot of reloads, so I just edited it in NearInfinity.