ToB introduces certain new aspects to the game, many of which manifest in the SoA portion of the game. HLAs for example.

If I ToB installed, will extended parts of the romances continue in SoA, or only after I complete SoA? Will evil characters still leave if my rep gets too high, or do I only need to have ToB installed to prevent that?

Thanks,
theGrimm

no and no.

ToB romances are for ToB and SoA ones for SoA.
In SoA you have to deal with the NPC/Rep. issue with or without ToB installed.

That helps, thanks!

Even the HLA alchemy seems to work differently. I don't think I've ever managed to get a potion of Superior Healing, which wasn't in SoA.

Lord, I've never in my life used alchemy. It's always so disappointing when my characters collect all the other HLA's and then have to settle for "scribe scrolls" or "alchemy" every time they level up. I find them essentially useless because at this point the party has more than enough scrolls and potions. Why would I want more of the same low-level items cluttering my inventory?

At least fighter types can get more and more whirlwind attacks, etc.

It would have made more sense for the mage types to have more ability to increase the number of spells per level, or gain detect illusion, increased lore, permanent vocalize or something along those lines.

... ...

Do not forget... the Rogue get Traps too, besides Scribe Scrolls and Alchemy. Bards get the Magic Flute too, which is useful.

Mage are powerful enough in their own right, and seriously... they get IMPROVED ALACRITY.

It's like a General whinging why the other Generals get cool tanks and planes while he's stuck a with a fusion bomb.

[ 04-24-2004, 12:31 AM: Message edited by: Dundee Slaytern ]

Clerics, on the other hand...

... get Implosion, Storm of Vengence, Devas and Energy Blades. ;)

The one class that have been nerfed HLA wise is Bards in my opinion. Lets take them in a row:

Use All Items: The one thing that can justify itself. Still it's designed for thieves. Bards can already use wands, scrolls and so forth.
Evasion+Greater Evasion: Also nice, but seriously not that powerful after all.
Avoid Death: Also somewhat useful, but not the kind of thing you really need. Get some spell deflection/absorbtion up. You are a bard.
Improved traps: And why on earth do Bards get that!
Magical flute: Yep. Nice little thing.
Assasination: According to the manual. Get the backstab multiplier on the next attack. Woooo. Bards don't have any bs modifier.
Enhanced Bard Song: Nice with a party. I solo.
Scribe scrolls & Alchemy: Utterly useless.

Things that would have made sense for a Bard:
Spell mastery: The bard gets spell progression in a subset of level 7 spells
Increased spell mastery: The bard gets spell progression in a subset of level 8 spells
Recharge wands: The bard can add 5 charges to a given wand by deceasing his/her constitution by 2 for 5 turns.
I am sure we could figure out more pretty quickly.

They have just duplicated the thief HLA's and thrown in a few things for good measure.

... get Implosion, Storm of Vengence, Devas and Energy Blades. ;) </font>[/QUOTE]I was referring to the lack of things you can pick once you get one of everything.