First of all, what an awesome game! Being a huge fan of Fallouts 1 +2, I can't believe I missed this until now. I bought it here about a year ago, and tried playing several times but never getting past the first town, due to the learning curve of dealing with the interface. My earlier tries ended with battle getting stuck during the bank robbery or not figuring out how to save my game - thanks to this forum I am now many hours in and having a blast. I have a couple questions:

1. At the college in Tarant, the guy gave me the rituals book but my inventory was full so i didn't get it. When I ask again, the game thinks I already have it. Is there a way around this? I am assuming I need the book to get the new locations on my map.

2. On my way from Dernholm to Black Root, a new location (wolf cave) popped up on my map when I walked near it. Does this happen with all locations? If you pathway near them they reveal on your map screen? I ask this because I'm trying to find the thieves hideout for the mayor of Black Root and can't. Seems like I walked every damn map pixel around that town.

3. I'm trying to find the skulls I need in Tarant. There's a warehouse with a guard who just paces back and forth right in front of the door. How do I get in there without killing this guy?

4. I get my magical equipment identified, but I still don't know what they do. I identify a sword only to find out it's a "charmed sword". Lolwut? Is there a way to figure out exactly what magic is on these weapons and armor? Or am I overlooking something. I'm having a very hard time figuring out which weapon is better, which armor is better, etc. I want to equip the best stuff, but I can't figure out what is better than what.


SOME SPOILERS BELOW:







I'm having a blast with this game. The fireflash spell is awesome. At Schylur + Sons basement I ran past all the zombies until every one of them was chasing me and got all bunched up around me, turned around and nuked them all at once lol. Then at the sons I nuked them also, before an explanation. I was gonna redo that last part, but figured screw it, that's exactly what my Vic Mackey type character would have done. Most satisfying part of the game so far.

Was it dropped on the floor? I think that some locations do not show up, unless your character has been told about them. But, you might still be able to find those locations by traveling WITHOUT using the world map, where you're just running across the wilderness. However, I think it's more likely that the area you're looking for is simply not where you expect. I've definitely spent some time trying to find locations and felt like I'd searched everywhere, and then later found them, either farther away than expected or in a slightly different direction. I don't remember the specific place you're looking for though, anyone else know where it is and whether it shows up by searching the world map?

As for question 3, I don't think I've done that quest before, so I don't know how else to get inside, but it's worth checking for windows or back doors. Also search the sewers; sometimes there are entrances into buildings from the sewers. You could also see if the guard moves away at a different time of day (you might need to go somewhere else, wait, and then come back for it to work).

To add on to what Waltorious said:

1. The book should have been dropped by your character (since your inventory is full) and so directly under your feet - if you move the character it should be right where you were standing. If not however it isn't a huge deal, I believe the book can be found somewhere else (maybe the Tarant Library - though you do have to pay to get in). Also the book itself does not mark locations on the map I don't think (or at least not all of the altars) - it is more a puzzle / set of clues to direct you to the order in which you need to make the offerings. Honestly I've never done it legitimately because I couldn't figure out the puzzle the first time I was trying to get through the "Gods' Blessings Quest" and so from then I have have known (or just rechecked) when doing the order.

2. Yeah, most locations do show up as you're traveling if you happen to pass close enough to them. So locations are more "sensitive" than others - the wolf cave for example, and most cities, are fairly easy to get to appear on your map if you know the general area they are in. Some locations require almost precise coordinates to "force" the location on your map.

In your case with the bandit camp: you're looking to far afield. You don't have to go to your world map, they are just outside the city, still on the same map, a bit past the train (go over the tracks) and over a stream/river.

3. The warehouse the skulls are in does not have any windows if I recall, so no, you have to go in the front door.
[Edit: I wish there were spoiler tags on this forum, or some way to hide text, because this is annoying to make my message so much longer with just adding spaces.]






SPOILERS



However, the warehouse you are talking about is Bate's factory warehouse and not the one that has the skulls in it. The one you are looking for is down by the docks and has a locked door.



/SPOILERS








4. Once the item is identified mouse over it to see what its stats are and if it has any special effects. Most magical items like a charmed sword are just weapons that have stats which change according to the holder's Magicka level (higher means more power up to the maximum for the weapon or armor, below a high magicka level the item gives you a percentage of the maximum power it has; if you have a negative Magicka level (meaning a high Technology level) magical items are prone to failing when trying to use them, and don't get any bonus stats).

There are some magical items which do have spells imbedded in them. Some staves can summon things, or cast spells (which might say in the mouse over - but to check for sure you equip the item and in the UI the left hand side of the hot-key slots there will be a circle button thing that has the Magicka symbol on it, you can click that to open up the item's spells).

Thanks for the replies. In the past 2 days I figured most of these out. This game is a lot of fun

1. Couldn't find the book on the floor. It was still in his inventory. Ended up having to use my first and only fate point to get it.

2. I'm just realizing that I should always follow trails and walkways on the map, they always lead to something lol

3. Found it.

4. I still don't completely understand weapons and armor, but I have a slightly better grasp now with your answers. I guess I should figure out what all the abbreviations stand for. I'm sure I'll have it down by my 2nd or 3rd play through.

I'm a pure mage, and I'm just ripping it up with 'haste', 'fireflash', and 'harm'. I'm looking forward to trying a diplomat/gunslinger next. After that a pure evil thief and recruit all these evil followers I keep seeing. I've never played a game with so much replay value.

Technologists are fun, but point-intensive and honestly harder.
Not so hard you can't defeat your enemies. It does make a difference in efficacy, though.
For a second playthrough, I find that's a good thing!

Edit: Don't worry about using your fate point. You get lots more as the game goes on. And using them to pickpocket NPCs when you don't have the skill is probably one of the best uses for them actually.

Yeah there are a lot of seemingly random abbreviations in the descriptions of items. I believe the manual covers them, but I could be wrong and don't the manual on me to check. If you can't figure an abbreviation out though don't hesitate to ask! :)

Diplomat-gunslinger is a great combination. You get to make (or use at least, depending on what you are spending your points in) cool tech equipment, which is a rather fun part of the game in my opinion, and with a high intelligence, charisma, and persuade you get lots of interesting dialogue that you probably won't have from your first play-through. Yeah I totally agree. I love playing gunslingers because of the increase in difficulty, but still really being quite powerful.

Those abbreviations are listed in the manual, near the end if I remember correctly. There's like a reference page before the appendices. Or maybe it is one of the appendices. Anyway, a convenient page lists them all in one place, and is pretty much essential to understand the equipment.

Thanks, I got it. I usually skip manuals, but this game has a higher learning curve than most. I recognized most of the abbreviations, as this isn't my first rpg rodeo, but it was 'NP' that I couldn't figure out for the life of me.

Another question:
At falcon's ache I can't seem to make the humans leave without bloodshed. What gives?
I'm level 42 with 9 points saved up to spend, 0 fate points. Is there an easy way here I'm missing or do I have to spend character points? I'd rather not spend points for just one quest

^^nevermind, I figured it out. That was a pretty cool way to solve a quest lol, reminded me a lot of a 'fallout' type solution