Newbie questions

[Richard_Cypher]

I've been reading this forum for a few weeks, and I really appreciate all the help. I have a few questions, though... anyone interested in spouting off, please jump in.

1) I've had the same party in every Wiz game since Revenge (or Return, I forget) of Werdna. (1982 or so). I've been religous about preserving disks and such. However, I couldn't import them into this game. It's set up to do so, the save file from the last game is intact, but I couldn't import. Any ideas?

2) My wiz is almost maxed out on the spells he can pick. I've read several places not to change classes, but in earlier games, I've always cross trained all my players. It used to always give me uber-whackers that could do everything. Any VALID reason why I shouldn't? He's level 23 now, so changing and trying it for a while isn't very attractive, as it takes so long to level now.

3) I also read to pick a weapon, and stick with it. You'll whack and stack faster, I'm told. However, I found a neat staff in the rift that I've given my ninja. (Flame staff, I think) It hits hard, and though his skill is still below 10, he's getting 3 or 4 attacks a round (1 or 2 in at the beginning, and 1 or 2 at the end), and 1 attack does more damage than 4 attacks with his fists. Anyone have an opinion on sticking with the staff versus going back to feet of fury? Also, I do a lot more damage with him with a sling and stones, as opposed to this boomerang shuiriken I found. I get more crithits with the shuiriken, but the damage is better with stones, and more attacks. Any opinions?

4) Has anyone found a decent one-hander that will fit in secondary to use with a samurai? I've been using the wakazashai, but I found a light shield some time ago, and have decided to go with that, as the little sword doesn't do crap for damage. I'd like to stick with a sword, but I have a mace called Diamond Eyes that's pretty cool. Stick with shield? Know where to get a better sword?

5) In the last game, there were ways to get the special skills with items and such. I've got a boatload of gadeteer items, and some vaporizer pistols, but no gadet skill. I'd rather not dump the NPCs that I have. (Monk and Valkerie) Anyone find the gadeteer to be worthwhile? Should I sell the pistols? Anyone using a blunderbuss with any sucess?

[the mighty stamar]

1> No idea there sorry. It can import from wizardry 6 or 7 I think.

2> Different from other wizardry games. If you have maxxed out on your spells, the most attractive switch is to a fighter type to use the infinity helmet you can buy from ferro.

3> I dont see you training up polearm a lot before you finish the game. Im not sure though.

4> Yes there are good 2nd hand weapons for samarai only you havent gotten to yet, and there is an excellent 2nd hand sword for anyone you can have amde.

5> You can skip the gadgeteer. His best use is to make triple shot crossbows for you. Your fighters can use andvanced weapons. In general youll run out of ammo for them so I would say you dont have to worry about it.

From the manual:

1) To import your saved characters from Crusaders of the Dark Savantor Wizardry Gold: 1) Copy your saves into the Wizardry8\Saves\Import folder 2) Select "Start New Game" from the Main Options menu 3) Click on the import button (7\8). Wizardry 8 will show you a list of your previous save games. Select one and off you go. Remember, Wizardry 8 has multiple beginnings, and where you start depends on what you did in the previous game. Imported characters begin the game at level one. However they can immediately level up to level 5 when the game starts. To level up an imported character, start the game, then click on the white plus sign next to the character's portrait. Your party was no doubt pretty powerful back in the days when they roamedthe world of Lost Guardia. However, the long period of inactivity during their recent space voyage has softened them up a bit. Don't be surprised if your characters aren't exactly as you left them when you start the game. Things are very different on Dominus than they were back on Guardia. Check the Wizardry 8 Web site for more information on what's changed.

If you are experiencing technical difficulties that are not addressed in the basic instructions, the Wiz 8 techs are usually prompt at helping out players with problems.

2) Can't help you there...I picked a career and stuck with it throughout my games.

3) When I found better weapons, I ditched the old ones and kept the new ones...don't know what difference it made beyond being able to do more damage with the better weapon but I wouldn't call that a bad thing.

4) See the mighty stamar's reply.

5) I never found much use for the modern weapons or the Gadgeteer...there is a Gadgeteer in Trynton if you want to try him out to see what they are capable of.
The only suggestion I'd have for the blunderbuss and pistol is to sell them but to take some of the ammo with you when you go to the Rapax Away camp.

A spoiler on ammo
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If you don't buy up the crappy arrows, bullets stones, etc. from the shop keepers, they stay there and multiply, hindering your way to getting better arrows and bullet stones in bulk and taking the place of items you'd rather see there...buy them up and throw them in a chest somewhere that you'll not use for storing items you will use later or toss them in a corner, on the ground...anywhere that you won't mistake them for treasure you haven't found yet....(a chest is preferred since they take up space in a room or outside)...this also makes it simple to take a small cache of musket balls with you when you go to the Rapax Away camp.

Welcome to Ironworks, btw! [img]graemlins/happywave.gif[/img]

[ 04-04-2003, 11:52 PM: Message edited by: Lil Lil ]

[Kakero]

2) that advice is always given to newbie as this may make their character very shallow and couldn't handle later challenges. but if you have played wiz8 for sometime. go ahead and multiclass.

3) you need to look at how much the damage the wepon does, if you found something better. use that new one.

4) enchanted wakasashi is good second hand weapon for samurai. plus it's a sword and when you found it your sword skill should be pretty high already.

[the mighty stamar]

BTW, Isnt diamod eyes for Lords only? I cant remember. That is a very strong weapon. Its hard to analyze it all based on the info I have. Theres 2 or 3 ,or more depending on what you luck out on, excellent swords. There is always fang, very strong.

Skill makes a big difference I think. Youre level 23, youre ready to beat the game. At most you are going to raise 2 to 4 more levels... Youre not going to train up enough skill in new weapons to make enough difference by the end. I think... I think the extra misses that putting in new weapons will outweigh how much stronger they are.

Definitely two weapons are better than a shield... You get more lightening strikes and criticals....

[ 04-04-2003, 02:00 AM: Message edited by: the mighty stamar ]

[Kakero]

Diamond eye is a mace and Fighter, Lord, Valkyrie, Ranger can wield it. also faerie can't wield it .

[Wereboar]

Changing professions:

In Wiz8, changing professions will usually crippled characters instead of uber-characters. If you know the game and plan ahead, you can get quite goodmulti-class characters. But you're quite late in the game, and a mage(27)mage is probably better than say a mage(23)/priest(4).

If you change to another profession, your spellcasting skills will stop to improve (unless you switch to something that uses the same skills at level 1).
In addition, your mage level (not your character level) is used for tearing through enemy resistances, so if you change, you'll do a less damage.
And you'll loose your 25% wizardry bonus, which probably means that you can cast your high-level spells somehow less high.

Possible changes at this late stage:
- fighter: Mainly to be able to use better armor. You won't become a fighting machine, and will continue to fight with spells, not weapons (since you have neither good stats nor weapon skills). But you can use the infinity helmet (+5 spell point regeneration). Not recommended.
- Samirai: Like fighter, except that you'll be able to improve your spell skills again when you reach samurai level 5. This will be very late in the game. If you want to use infinity helmet, switch to this one.
- Bishop: In this case, you'll continue to improve your spell skills. You'll loose the wizardy spell bonus, and need a bit more experience per level. But you can start to learn any low-level spells, and use some better armor. Can be a good switch, but IMO not that late.

Ninja weapon skills:

The main point about the ninja is his ablity do do criticals. That means you want many attacks, and many hits. The total damage isn't that important.
With the staff, you might do a bit more damage. But you'll miss more often(especially against tough opponents). And you should have up to 12 attacks by now (twice up to 3 swings each primary and secondary). Thats a lot of critical chances.

The same thing applies to the ranged attacks. For the ninja, the critical skill applies to thrown weapons, but not slings. In addition, you should have more attacks with darts or shuriken than with a sling. Didn't you know that you can throw things with both hands? If you don't, well, you can start now. But you dual wield skill is probably 0, so you'll hit somehow less often for some time.
My suggestion: Stick with hand&feet and throwing, for max critical chance.

Samurai secondary weapon:

The best secondary sword is enchanted wakazashi (and it's samurai only). You should have it by now. If not, explore mountain wildernesse with x-ray. It doesn't do high damage, but has a critical chance.
Well, but you have the *light* *shield*. A very rare item; i found it only in one game (out of ~15) without scumming for it. Compared with a normal shield, i'll use a wakazashi for additional damage and critical chance. In your case, the shield might be better. Without it, the AC of the samurai is probably much worse than ninja and monk, and the enemies will concentrate on him.

Gadgeteer items, and pistols:

Gadgeteer items are only useful for a gadgeteer. And the gadgets you'll make from them require a specific gadgeteer level (not character level) for use.
I don't like gadgeteers much (prefer bards), but if you want to try one, do it in a new game. He'll need a long time to build up and to get his gadgets, but will be powerful once you reach level 19-26.
The vaporizer isn't great. I usually ditch it with gadgeteers. How often does your priest has to cast Instand Death until it finally works?

Blunderbuss can be a nice item. Especially earlier in the game. I once had a party with 5 rangers, and one used it. He did most damage early, when the others didn't have their strength improved. But he often had to use a bow, since there are not that many musket balls for sale.