Next steps?

[J'aran]

Originally posted by Wereboar: @Flamestrike: Although you intended a joke when you wrote 'use a dwarf for an axe fighter', it is the truth. Dwarf warriors start with an axe.

Actually, any fighter can start with an axe. If you pump five skill points into the axe skill on character creation, he will start out with a battle axe instead of a longsword.

[Variol (Farseer) Elmwood]

You can get an Axe right at the beginning anyway.

[Nightwing]

I used beastslayer through the whole game and was very satisfide. Get a hammer from arnika and duel wield ax and hammer to build mace skill. The pick up diomond eyes and your set to go. If you stay on berserk you do 40-60 points per swing latter in the game. Not great compared to some swords but it's fun playing an ax wielding fighter.

[Flamestryke]

@Flamestrike: Although you intended a joke when you wrote 'use a dwarf for an axe fighter', it is the truth. Dwarf warriors start with an axe.

This is the RPG stereotype image I was alluding to yes.

Actually, any fighter can start with an axe. If you pump five skill points into the axe skill on character creation, he will start out with a battle axe instead of a longsword.

Actually all you need do is make axe skill 1 point higher than sword and you start with an axe.

[Gadgeteer Tom]

1) Having already made one trip to the Umpani and gotten the demon weapons, I feel like there's little benefit to going back there yet. The swamp and either the tunnels or the bluff seem like the right next step. Any other options?
Did you sign up with the Umpani ?

Suggestion: pick up an Umpani flag before going to Mine Tunnels, if/when you find Z'Ant it'll speed things up - perhaps some Eau D'Rapax also...

I haven't done the cemetary dungeon.
I usually 'open' it early on, then make sure I have some knock picks, or at least 20% lock/trap skill - then go for it (you'll need lock skill to get back out, also will run into magic casting foes and meaningless mapping - although x-ray does seem to work, just can't get there sometimes.

2) The omnigun hasn't really done much yet -- I assume that's because except for some throwing stilletos that took out the oak saplings, I haven't had good ammo. Is there any point to using the gun, and not the gadgeteer devices, for the time being? I'll go straight to Crock and get some more gadget building blocks if I do go to the swamp next.
Remember to label entrances/exits to the swamp, click on the quill on top right of map to activate quill, enter completes entry... Gadgeteers should use gadgets often, but the onmigun will use much less stamina.

Oh, and give your ninja something to throw, in each hand (idle hands are the devils workshop...)

3) Having gotten Element Shield, what should my next priority be for the bishop?

If shopping offers spellbooks, click on bishop, then click on usable items, then look for spellbooks - any usable spellbook is a good thing.

4) Should I give my samurai something other than Bloodlust? If so, who, if anyone, do I give bloodlust to?

There's a fairly good samauri-only primary sword, and an enchanted whatchamacallit (short sword, samauri only) that together make the samauri very dangerous. Right-click on items in question, note that on left of attribute screen is who can use - either race or occupation (gotta be both a listed race and occupation). I often sell bloodlust, it's worth a good price.

5) The Lord has been a very effective spellcaster thus far -- but melee has been so-so. I passed on the enchanted mace and anointed flail in favor of a stun mace because of the ko factor. Is that a mistake?

just assure that there's something in each hand. At first I looked at damage, but later I started to consider 'special' damage quite a bit too - and now I look at initiative (higher is better, that plus speed defines how many attacke per round). I do not think that flails or maces can be used in melee attacks ?? Seems that mostly swords are well suited to meelee

Finally, 6) I'm having a lot of fun. Thanks to all of you for helping me get out of the rut. Does it keep going funwise from here, or does it slow down at all?

Sometimes I'm still startled by 10 Ants, and 10 centipedes - only to fry them mercilessly in one round... but in general, the opponents will grow to match your level, and in some cases the magic resistances can get quite high too ! But my characters are currently level 21 or 22 so are able to meet almost any opponents (Most Rapax are puny levels in comparison).

Have you been to Trynton yet ? North Eastern Wilderness ? (there's a temple with some really nice stuff in the wilderness, just so's Deathwish or Death Cloud can be dealt with - eye for an eye can wipe out the lesser opponents, if you survive).