I am running a party without a Bard or a Gadgeteer. Don't really plan on picking up a NPC one either (Maybe next time through the game). Question is - Can I sell all the gadgets and instruments I collect without ruining my ability to finish all aspects of the game? I could really use the $$$, but I don't want to get to a point in the game where I say "Boy, I really need a Gadgeteer/Bard with gadget/instrument to get through this". Any thoughts would be appreciated.

I really enjoy both my bard and gadgeteer but no, there's no NEED for them, just an enjoyment. You can safely sell all the gadgets and instruments with no penalty to finishing the game. It's just that those SP-free heals and freezes and negatairs and so on can really be useful if you've got those classes.

BTW, the game will not let you sell or drop anything it considers that you NEED but some things that you have to use won't disappear afterwards (some keys and boxes come to mind) but you can store them in a chest if you don't want to weight yourself down with them after you've used them once.

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The only exceptions to that rule are the 3 weapons needed to unlock the doors to the Retro dungeons but since those are optional, they didn't make them 'sticky' like other special items. For those you need a plain dagger, plain long sword and plain short staff.

Jem - Thanks! I have been storing all that stuff in Antone's and Anna's chests. Now I can go get me some money for more spell books!