Question about mechanics.

GawainBS · Post by **GawainBS** » Sun Jun 06, 2010 2:33 am

I couldn't find an answer using the search function. (I probably suck at searching.)

Humans with INT 1 still get 2 skill points/lvl, right?

XP gained is based on the average party level, and isn't a fixed amount, correct? So, contrary to other Infinity games, playing solo or with six characters will yield the same XP? But playing with 4 high lvl charactes and 2 lvl 1 characters, will increase your XP, since the low lvls decrease your average party level.

Thanks in advance!

BTW, are there any good spears or halberds in the game? I can't recall.

Philos · Post by **Philos** » Sun Jun 13, 2010 1:12 pm

Game Mechanics

If I read your question correctly, the answer is yes solo or a party of six will yield the same XP "in general" and as you mention if 2 of the 6 are below the other 4 then that does affect your party's overall level used to calculate XP. That tactic is often called "level squatting".

That said, as you go through the game there will be a disparity that emerges. For example: with 6 characters it will take 6k total XP for them to advance to 2nd level. Advance all 6 and your "party's effective level becomes "2" (six 2nd level party members is 12 levels divided by 6 (game bases party level calculation on there being 6 party members). If you take that same 6k XP and give it to one character they would be 4th level. Using the formula, you have one 4th level party member and when you divide that by 6 you have an effective party level of just ".67", so a solo will probably go through most of the game earning more xp per monster than they would with a party of 6. I "think" that the number of grunts/troops you face in each encounter may decrease if your party level is well below what the encounter was planned around. I know the reverse is true, I had finished a run through of the game and was curious how some of the high level kill spells would work on low level bad guys. ***SPOILER***

Spoiler

I walked my 18th level cleric into heart of the goblin sappers under the warehouse at the beginning. Instead of about 15 of them, there must have 60 or 70!!! I walked right through the middle of them getting them all to chase me. Once they all had surrounded me, I had them right where I wanted them . I cast Holy Word! Instantly slew the entire crew, that was cool! No XP of course, but it was fun.

By the way the XP you get for doing certain quests is set and does not change based on party level. The difference comes from how many party members are there to split it.

If you use level squatting, it will keep the party's overall "party level" lower and you will likewise earn more XP per monster. That XP is split between the members, but you still come out ahead though. Using the example above again, if you have a party of 6, have earned 6k XP so all can advance to 2nd level, but only level up 5 of the 6, your party will have an overall level of 1.83 (five 2nd level is 10 + one 1st level equals 11, divide by 6), so your party is still considered 1st level in the eyes of the game's XP calculator. Anything below 2 is still a "1", as it doesn't round up. The next encounter will earn more XP than if you were "2".

GawainBS · Post by **GawainBS** » Sun Jun 13, 2010 2:24 pm

Thanks, but I knew the level-squatting mechanics already.

Can you recall any good spears/halberds?

Philos · Post by **Philos** » Sun Jun 13, 2010 6:00 pm

Good Pole Arms

I have been going back through some of my "Chapter Autosaves". This won't be exact but wil give a few hints ***Spoiler***

Spoiler

Chap 2 Somewhere in the Ice Temple (probably one of the Battle Square levels) you can acquire a +4 Ice Spear I believe it shoots an Ice Lance as well. Pretty great weapon at that point in the game. In Chap 3 I found Kyoski's Spear, don't recall its specifics. Somewhere IIRC in Chapter 3 you come across the "Hammer" of Lucerne. It is really a pole weapon but it saved my bacon more than once. It is only +1, BUT "any" undead or outsider (not of this plane) has to save vrs destruction even if the weapon doesn't damage them. Many of those nasty drowned dead exploded like popcorn when hit just once.

That thing goes with me to the end!! Also in either chapter 3 or maybe 4 I found a really plain +2 halberdt. One superb halberdt is the Halberdt of the North, it is +5, and it will do in addition to regular damge, an extra 2d6 frost damage, PLUS an extra frost burst AND a small chance of extra cold damage. Best halberdt in the IMHO. I cannot recall where or when I got it, but I did have in Chap 5 I believe. One really "nasty" halberdt is Pudu's Halberdt, but you don't get it until near the very end of the game (if you plan to use the same crew for an HOF run through, you probably would do well to snag that puppy. It is either +3 or +4, but IIRC the victim hit has to save vs contagion/disease/something. Also somewhere in the Hand is the Massive Halberdt of Hate that a neutral or evil character can use, it is +4 but I don't recall it's extra abilities. Of course at any point in Ch. 5 you buy a generic +3 or +4 halberdt from Conlan in Kuldahar.

There are other spears and halberdts but I probably sold them. Those are the ones I could remember/find in some of my saved games.

Hope that helps.

GawainBS · Post by **GawainBS** » Mon Jun 14, 2010 7:35 am

Thanks for the excellent and thorough answer!