I have found that the optimal number of portals for your party is at least 4.

You want one for the T'Rangaporter.

One for Arnika (4 vendors, if an item can't be sold in Arnika, it's a quest item, and must be dropped in a chest).

One for Z'Ant.

One for Yamir.

This gives maximum flexibility, as a lot happens in Arnika, and you can sell items, and recharge Mana Stones quickly. This also allows Rodan and Drazic to not die after saving them.

Yes to Trangaporter, without doubt the one for all party compositions, up to late game.

Arnika is close enough to the arrival teleporter in house on ATR that a spell is not justified in my book.

Same for Zant at even higher degree bc of the short way through the hatch.

Yamir is still in imo reasonable distance via Trangaporter -> house on ATR -> house on AR



If you dont do the templar quest, a portal at AP is mandatory
very good place is behind the rock near mana stone, also safe to rest there if positioned correcty.

Potentially highly important spot for Speedrun is up the hallway to the spiderspwan at LM

On the plane at AP, 1m away from where the rapax prince spawns with the army as soon as you enter with at least 2 of the artifacts,
later portal in with 2 and take that bugger out (like the 2 other version of him before at castle and camp)

Next to the chest in DD temple at AP so you can put the DD in right after you convinced Marten to "donate" it to you although you didnt come with the helm.

Mana well at Trynton for caster parties unless you camp at Crocks for stones

As cloise as possible to that dangerous wandering group in one of the AP passages, so you can avoid them after radar shows that they passed the spot.

Z'Ant and Yamir are not NPCs i visit regularly; the only times I ever visit either of them is when accepting or handing in a quest.

I'm thinking that good places to put a portal are as follows:
* T'Rang Teleporter (lets you easily warp to multiple locations)
* Trynton restore/hex fountain (Recover resources without having to rest, though the hex lasts a while if not cured with a spell)
* Ferro (unlike most of the other merchants, he is not in a convenient location)
* Bela (similar situation to Ferro, but less vital; this is the one I'd drop first)
* Current location (set the portal here, return to other portals, then when done with business there, warp back with this one) Except those parties that don't get access to the spell, of course. (Such parties are at a disadvantage, though if you have level 11 Bard and Gadgeteer, the only critical spells you're missing are Enchanted Blade, Missile Shield, and the portal spells, so manageable mid/late game.) Couldn't you, instead, take separate trips to Ascension Peak after getting each artifact?

It might actually make sense to get the Destinae Dominus first, as it's the most out of the way artifact and the process should get you strong enough to withstand Ascension Peak; the other two are quick to get by comparison.

Yes. missed Ferro, lil tricky bc members of big patrols may stroll into the backroom,
good place is either in the passage to the cellar or inside the armoury, Btw you can close the doors from inside,
Bela is still in reasonable distance from Trangaporter -> NW, or AP mana stone -> MW
Current loc ofc, unless youre short on the spells casters and/or plan ahead to avoid to need it Yes ofc, but that would deprive you of the pleasure of dealing with the prince ;)

Does this prevent you from visiting the Rapax Away Camp?

Then again, keep in mind my unorthodox way of dealing with Crock. (I glitch the game to prevent the kidnapping in the first place.)

Note that Bela offers some late game equipment that Ferro has (though Ferro has everything that Bela has, and more). You can safely camp at Ascension Peak (that leg from the Mtn. Wilderness to the landslide is completely safe, as no monsters spawn, or wander, there). This is how I got my party 6X Cloak of Many Colors, the Ranger's Eagle Eye Bow, and the Valkyrie and Ranger's Dread Spears fairly early.

Note that most RPCs are entirely unnecessary. Most of them start at lower levels than your party may be at, their stats may be poorly distributed, and they won't go where you want to go most of the time.

The exceptions are quest RPCs. Myles and Vi Domina, in the early game, can get you some decent items, gold, and experience, while not stealing party experience if you are careful. Of course, they will be dismissed quickly from the party, once Arnika has been cleared out.

Late game, the only important RPCs are: Sgt. Glumph (late Umpani quest), and Drazic and Rodan (very late Alliance quest). Therefore, because these RPCs are so low level compared to my average party level, they're a liability in combat. They are vulnerable, and will take experience away from the 6 core party members.

The portal to Yamir will save Glumph, and the portals to Z'Ant and Yamir will save Rodan and Drazic from having to participate in combat.

I'd rather not load that area in until I'm actually ready to spend time there.

(This is especially true once I reach the point where the landslide could trigger.)