New to the game, some relatively newbieish questions.

[Gilgamel]

Ok thus far I've got to crock's hut in the swamp. I've done it up to here on Novice with just a little difficulty and I think I understand pretty well how to play. However, I have a few questions. If anyone could answer them I'd appreciate it.

#1 My Dracon has dragon breath. He never uses it. Why not? (using diamond epee and a sheild and a long bow/arrows)
#2 It says my cleric can turn undead and pray. I've never seen her do it. I've also looked all over for a turn undead or pray option, and I can't seem to find it.
#3 I have a level 9 Dwarf Rogue who I am pretty happy with. I hear people talking about bards being much better. At this point, is it worth switching him over, and how is the best way to go about this.
#4 When I switched Myles for Madras, Myles said something about a diamond in between the monastery and Arnika. Anyone know anything about that?
#5 I got this perfume from Crock that's supposed to be irresistable to Rapax, and he mentions one is in the swamp. I went outside and tried to use it but I can't seem to do anything. Any suggestions?
#6 Is the Steelhide BP any good?
#7 My warrior was going to be an axeman. However, I can't find any good axes and I have a bunch of extra good swords, so I gave him the diamond epee(samurai using bloodlust) and he's doing ok with it. Are there any good axes available to me at this point so I can use his main skill?
#8 Is it worth using a shield? I've seen that the offhand attack does very little damage, so I use a shield. Some people say that shield's are worthless. Comments?

Well that's about it for now, all your help appreciated.

Gilg

[GenXCub]

#1 My Dracon has dragon breath. He never uses it. Why not? (using diamond epee and a sheild and a long bow/arrows)

Are you selecting Breathe from the combat menu, or does it just look like a sword? Check all your options, it should be on the bottom right of the combat choices.

#2 It says my cleric can turn undead and pray. I've never seen her do it. I've also looked all over for a turn undead or pray option, and I can't seem to find it.

Again, look at your combat choices... you probably have him stuck on attack. When you click the icon next to your character to choose attack, defend, cast, etc... one will be highlighted for pray, and one that looks like a skull will be for turning undead.

#3 I have a level 9 Dwarf Rogue who I am pretty happy with. I hear people talking about bards being much better. At this point, is it worth switching him over, and how is the best way to go about this.

I'd suggest not doing any class changes. If you don't like your party, it's probably best to start over. I have many parties in mid-game. Bards and Rogues serve VERY different purposes. In fact, I have a party with both. Yes, they overlap in the pickpocketing/locks area, but Bards are useful for their instruments and Rogues are great fighters. Again, I'd suggest not switching. If you want a bard, hire Saxx from the Umpani camp, or just start over.

#4 When I switched Myles for Madras, Myles said something about a diamond in between the monastery and Arnika. Anyone know anything about that?

You'll figure this one out when you go to the northern wilderness near the Umpani Base.

#5 I got this perfume from Crock that's supposed to be irresistable to Rapax, and he mentions one is in the swamp. I went outside and tried to use it but I can't seem to do anything. Any suggestions?

When you speak to Z'Ant in Martens Bluff, the use will be more apparent.

#6 Is the Steelhide BP any good?

I think it's a decent piece for that part of the game and the ingredients are easy. You may as well get it... who knows who might use it. It's great armor for Gadgeteers.

#7 My warrior was going to be an axeman. However, I can't find any good axes and I have a bunch of extra good swords, so I gave him the diamond epee(samurai using bloodlust) and he's doing ok with it. Are there any good axes available to me at this point so I can use his main skill?

Axes are few and far between. I'd suggest doing swords, and maybe your next time through the game you do axes... there's a woodsmans axe north of the monastery on your way to the wilderness that's pretty good. You'll want to get your hands on a Plague Axe eventually.

#8 Is it worth using a shield? I've seen that the offhand attack does very little damage, so I use a shield. Some people say that shield's are worthless. Comments?

This is a personal taste issue. Later in the game, you can get a really kicking off-hand weapon called diamond eyes (it's a mace), However, if you get good with shield and get a lot of blocks out of it, who's to say that's not better? Personally, my earlier parties used shields, but now I go for the dual attacks when I can because it's easier to build weapon proficiencies than it is to build shield. Or at least it's less time consuming.

[ 04-22-2002, 01:59 PM: Message edited by: GenXCub ]

[Helix]

GenXCub pretty much covered everything. However, I have a couple comments to add. I wouldn't use the dracon's breath attack. Why?
You get no skill for using it, as it is simply a special ability.
Same with the Priest's turn and pray.
I mean use them *if* you're in a bad way, otherwise use your skills
and advance them.

Just my $.02

Helix

[armakh]

I kind of like the turn undead sometimes. It's kind of like a minor banish, but it can paralyze, too, which I found helpful when I was in the graveyard. Personal preference, though. I used pray a few times with an earlier party, and I never got anything useful out of it.

[Aelia Jusa]

Originally posted by GenXCub: #3 I have a level 9 Dwarf Rogue who I am pretty happy with. I hear people talking about bards being much better. At this point, is it worth switching him over, and how is the best way to go about this. I'd suggest not doing any class changes. If you don't like your party, it's probably best to start over. I have many parties in mid-game. Bards and Rogues serve VERY different purposes. In fact, I have a party with both. Yes, they overlap in the pickpocketing/locks area, but Bards are useful for their instruments and Rogues are great fighters. Again, I'd suggest not switching. If you want a bard, hire Saxx from the Umpani camp, or just start over.

If you really want a bard, Saxx isn't going to cut it. He barely goes anywhere - he won't go to Marten's Bluff, Rapax rift, Rapax away camp, Ascension peak. Basically anywhere where you'd need him, he won't go, or if you drag him there his stats will be very much compromised. I've never changed classes, but I think it might be too difficult for you now that you're at level 9 with your rogue - the new class starts at level one but levels up at the same rate as if he'd not changed from rogue (ie when going from level 1 to 2, it's the same amount of experience as if he were going from level 9 to 10 rogue). So if you think a bard's a goer, start over. Everyone does it

Originally posted by GenXCub: #8 Is it worth using a shield? I've seen that the offhand attack does very little damage, so I use a shield. Some people say that shield's are worthless. Comments? This is a personal taste issue. Later in the game, you can get a really kicking off-hand weapon called diamond eyes (it's a mace), However, if you get good with shield and get a lot of blocks out of it, who's to say that's not better? Personally, my earlier parties used shields, but now I go for the dual attacks when I can because it's easier to build weapon proficiencies than it is to build shield. Or at least it's less time consuming.

I like shields. There are some good ones out there, and if you don't want to dual wield (which if you're proficient in a sword is a hassle because there are no off hand swords, you have to go with a mace or dagger), shields are the way to go. A bit more armour class and resistances never went astray

[GodSlayer]

to #7 - You can also get the ingredients for the "Beastslayer Axe" - thats an okay axe in the beginning/middle game. This way you could keep training in Axe - btw. Woodmans axe is a two-hander, so I personally wouldn't use it.

GodSlayer
- just for fun

[armakh]

Like you, with my first party, I had an axeman for my fighter, because that's just the way that I do things, but that was one of the many reasons that I restarted to use my current party. I am really disappointed by the lack of axes in the game. I never got to use the plague axe, which looks pretty cool, but I didn't see anything between the woodsman's axe and the plague axe, and that really hurt my fighter. Second time through the game, I might consider using an axewielder, but first time through while you're still discovering everything, I'd sadly say that you might want to use a sword. It didn't really take my guys all that long to become fairly proficient with the sword. My mook ranger got that cool giant's sword a few levels ago after using the bow exclusively for about 15 levels, and he has never missed with it much, and his sword skill and close combat are just skyrocketing.