To All Divine Divinity Veterans - Part 2

[Albromor]

First of all, thanks to all of you who answered my first post on DD. Anyway...

Just to familirize myself with the game mechanics I went ahead and played a Survivor and though I didn't get too far at least I gained a few gaming skills. Due to the fact that I played years of PnP D&D I easily picked up BG1, BG2, and IWD. To be honest, DD is the first non-D&D CRPG I have ever played and I am trying to figure out the interaction of PC to his world. Here are a few more questions, some for clarification.

1. If I have read correctly, even though I may choose a Survivor, if I wanted to I could place the skill points in magic or weapon expertise, correct? In other words, even though you choose a class in the beginning, the character can have a mix and match set of skills belonging to the other two classes. Correct?

2. I've heard the world is huge. How does one keep track where one is and where one is going considering I heard the game mapping is more of deteriment than a help?

3. :Spoiler Question:
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Jorum mentioned George to me in the beginning and I decided to check him out because I needed equipment. I came across the conversation of his need for a "fix." I came in and he wanted me to get something by thieving ways. Now though I am a Survivor I turned him down because it seemed that whoever this elf was whose property had this herb, it could mean big trouble later on if I am caught ransaking his property. Am I being way too cautious?

4. In BG1 if you killed either an innocent or a Flaming Fist, no matter that no one could be possibily around to see you, it was inevitable that either a) your rep would drop dramatically or b) even more FF would show up, or c) both would happen. So, let's say I do what George wants. I go get the herb, but I am caught and a fight ensues and I kill this elf. Are there game repercussions like BG1? What if no one saw me?

Thanks for being patient.

[Kakero]

1. Correct, you can invest is any skill you want .

2. Later( outside the first village ) a wizard will give you a teleportation map, I use that map to find out where I want to go.

3. never turn down a quest, you'll need all the experience points you can get.

4. you don't need to steal the herb. go speak to the garden ( the place where the herb grow ) owner first.

[Nightowl2]

Yeah, you can put your skill points wherever you like (level permitting); class doesn't mean much for most things.

I never had a problem with the outdoors. Or indoors, either. The auto-map is pretty decent, and the teleporter map is also a great help. You shouldn't get lost anywhere.

Yep, always accept quests. You have to take George's, else you won't be able to buy/sell with him. After you rescue the guy who's half-frozen, you can ask his permission to take herbs from the garden. Also (hot tip) while he's still "on ice", you can slip into his house and take what you want

Nightowl2

[the mighty stamar]

There are a few game ending quests you can break. They are somewhere on larians forums.

One I recall is dealing with monsters or you killing some of the healers. Such as the lizard healer.
Two of the seven people youll need to complete the game are in the healer village so watch that no one dies.
George and the person hes talking to have a few quests involved that come up later. A major game ending quest bug was fixed by one of the patches dealing with the magic pyramids.
Other quests being broken dont matter.

I really liked the game map personally. As new quests come up a new flag tells you where you have to go. you can add your own flags like where you are dumping stuff.

The game is on 4 large areas and many little dungeons. Very large but nothing like morrowind sized.

[Guinness]

Stop worrying about "the right" way and just enjoy playing the game!@!@!

[Bungleau]

I'll join the crowd. Take all quests, no matter how bizarre, and know that whatever happens, the world will be better for your actions.

About the only real impact from your actions is getting caught stealing. It's amazing how fast the cops show up when you grab someone else's orange...

For your first time through, just enjoy the game. You can't break anything that can't be fixed, so don't worry about the implications too much. Save that for your second game...

[Albromor]

Thanks for all the help given so far. I have a need for some clarity concerning trading. I understand that the left column contains my items and the right contains a merchants items. Here are my questions (yes, I read the manual but to me it isn't very clear):

1. Can you trade an item for gold? What do you do with gems?

2. What are the balance scales for in the transactions?

3. Can you buy an item for gold or is this primarily set up as a barter system?

Thanks.

[Kakero]

1. yes you can, in fact you can even do barter.eg, trade your loots for potions etc. gems? just sell them.

2. I don't know, but the more the merchant like you, the cheaper the item he will sell to you.

3. you can do the normal trading or you can do barter.

[Nightowl2]

The scales are used to balance out the transactions with gold, if gold is available in sufficient amount. For instance, if your trading items are worth more than the merchant's, you can click the scales to make up the difference with gold. Also works the other way, if you're buying.

Of course, that's only for items you put in the trading window. Your actual inventory of stuff (or junk) is unaffected.

Nightowl2

[Albromor]

Thanks for all the replys. I am really starting to like this game more and more. By the way, Nightowl2, you say you are from the Plateau of Leng. I may be totally off, but is that not from H.P. Lovecraft?