A question for Technologists.

GawainBS · Post by **GawainBS** » Fri May 24, 2013 2:45 pm

I'm taken up Arcanum again, this time as a Technologist/Gunslinger, rather than going easy-mode with a Warrior-Mage.
Are there any specific Tech-skills that I should be aware off? I'm planning on taking everything in Armouring, Gunsmithing, Mechanics (forgot the name, but it contains Arachnics and Eyegear) and the Charged Ring in Electricity. Probably Healing Salve too, since healing as a Technologist is rather iffy.
Furthermore, points in PE, DX, IN, First Aid, Lockpick and ofcourse Firearms and Dodge. Perhaps 3 points in Melee.
Are the stat-booster schematics any good?

Are there schematics in the game which I should not overlook? As loot or in stores?

Thanks in advance!

Myrr Disparo · Post by **Myrr Disparo** » Fri May 24, 2013 3:07 pm

Well, off the top of my head (it's been a couple months since my last playthrough), you shouldn't miss the bullets schematic (at any gunshop, as far as I remember), and both the eschematics at the ruins of Vendigroth (Vendigroth thingies rule, after all, +1 stats and a crazy good gun, Droch's Warbringer, if I'm not mistaken). Also, machined plate is pretty cool IF the STR bonus is enabled (which, with the unofficial patch, should be)
Jaina Styles can take care of most of your healing needs,

Spoiler:
And you're definitely going to need her if you take the god offerings quest (yes, technically, a technologist should preoccupy himself with such matters, but alas, the rewards are so good that it's hard not to take it, after all, what self-respecting scientist wouldn't feel curiosity as to why a simple offering would grant people certain abilities?) Just remember that curiosity killed the cat (that's where Jaina comes handy), so carry some reanimators (you needn't make them yourself, they're sold at herbalist shops)
Edit: Added the name of the gun at Vendigroth, added spoiler disclaimer

GawainBS · Post by **GawainBS** » Sat May 25, 2013 1:45 am

Thanks. Don't worry about the spoilers, I've been through the game several times. The Gods quest worries me a bit, though. I used to rely on Virgil to reanimate me.
Is Jaina worth it? I intend to have Virgil (if only for the story) and Marcus. Jaina would mean putting another 4 points in CH, while on first sight, I'd only use her for the healing, which I can get cheaply. (Stores, or one point in Herbology.)
Too bad the Vendigroth ruins are so late-game, though. Is the +1 stat potion permanent?
On a side note: were can I find the schematic for the Flowspectrometer Shield? I never encountered it.

galraen · Post by **galraen** » Sat May 25, 2013 4:11 am

Medical Arachnids are broken unless you have a mod that fixes it. The one you get in exchange for the camera works, but if you try making one nothing happens.

The Gods quest worries me a bit, though. I used to rely on Virgil to reanimate me.

I'm puzzled, the only reason for relying on Dipstick is the final 'sacrifice' and it's totally unnecessary in my experience as you revive automatically.

Assuming we're talking about the potion you create after the ruins, the answer is yes, it is permanent.

The schematic for the shield are, IIRC, random merchandise in the tech shop.

The Tesla Rod shouldn't b e underestimated, the best gun of course is Droch's Warbringer.

Chemistry is also very good for such things as Paralyzers, very useful when fighting Barbies, you can't dodge if you're paralyzed!

galraen · Post by **galraen** » Sat May 25, 2013 4:15 am

PS To get the most out of a techy you need to find and download a mod that eliminates the level cap.

GawainBS · Post by **GawainBS** » Sat May 25, 2013 4:18 am

I always play with a level cap removal mod, but thanks for reminding me.
Does the Fanpatch fix medical arachnids?
Virgil is one of the NPCs with an elaborate background and if just for that, I'd keep him. Is there a way to make him stop trying to heal me, though?

galraen · Post by **galraen** » Sat May 25, 2013 6:56 am

Does the Fanpatch fix medical arachnids?

I don't know, I have the patch, but I fixed the problem myself before installing that.

True about Virgil, but been there, done that, got the tee shirt!

Is there a way to make him stop trying to heal me, though?

Not that I know of.

You can find the Vendigroth ruins before the pot takes you there. this excellent walkthrough by our bery own SW Carter has all the info you need. It still takes a lot of painstaking searching to find it though.

GawainBS · Post by **GawainBS** » Sat May 25, 2013 7:13 am

Thanks for the link, but it would break immersion for me, i.e. too much metagaming. It's not that Arcanum is THAT hard.

Myrr Disparo · Post by **Myrr Disparo** » Sat May 25, 2013 7:53 am

GawainBS wrote:Thanks for the link, but it would break immersion for me, i.e. too much metagaming. It's not that Arcanum is THAT hard.

A tech run? A GUN tech run? It's not hard, as in, Wizardry 7 hard, but it ain't easy either. For the record, it's one of the most difficult tasks I've completed in a game. I should also say that I see no point in playing hard modes, unless some chunk of the story is only available in that difficulty setting, a la Max Payne (incidentally, the only game I've played on something other than normal difficulty)

GawainBS · Post by **GawainBS** » Sat May 25, 2013 8:03 am

I'm with you on the difficulty setting about games: the only way they get me to play "Hard" or "Uberleet" mode, is by giving me an incentive.
I have already finished Arcanum once with a Guntechie. I would say that it is more bothersome than hard, since you have to carry all these ingredients/components or hunt them down. That, and you're less invulnerable halfway through the game. (Magickal armour + Wall of Force = virtual immunity.)

GawainBS · Post by **GawainBS** » Sun May 26, 2013 2:19 am

So, is Jaina Styles worth another 4 points in CH?
Is there an easy way to "reset" the shops? Technologists need their gadgets. ;-)

galraen · Post by **galraen** » Sun May 26, 2013 3:20 am

did you get beat with an ugly stick or something? You only need 8 charisma for Virgil (if you insist) and Jayna. If you've done Virgil's quest line before then I'd even suggest Sog and Jayna as for a tech Virgil really is a complete waste of space.

My personal playing style is to hit F5 as soon as an enemy appears though, so if you like your bagmen/ladies to fight your needs might be different.

As for shops, resting for one day completely resets every shop and waste bin in town, as long as you've accesssed them once each. Basically you need to 'prime the pump', by checking every inventory/bin in town then rest for a day, not just until morning.

PS For me the only reason to have followers in this game (story line apart) is as walking storage units. The way the game penalises you for allowing followers to fight makes them a pain in the but, almost as big a pain as their habit of shielding your enemies!!!

GawainBS · Post by **GawainBS** » Sun May 26, 2013 4:32 am

No, but I've got Virgil, Marcus and would need 12 CH for Jaina.
Right now, Virgil and Marcus are useful meatshields/damagedealers. I did make myself a repeater rifle, though, so guncombat is picking up.

galraen · Post by **galraen** » Sun May 26, 2013 5:56 am

The one good thing about Virgil and Sog is they doesn't bitch if you defend yourself when you get attacked in a pub!!! They don't complain about attacking 'good souls' when you try to eliminate the dwarf zombies in P. Schuyler & Sons either. Jayna is almost as sanctimonious as the idiot dwarf!

GawainBS · Post by **GawainBS** » Tue May 28, 2013 2:28 pm

Techies are a pain to play. It's not hard, it's just bothersome: all the items you have to carry around, the walking to-and-fro, buying ammo. It's also disappointing that there are so few decent guns, in the end.

Grend · Post by **Grend** » Sun Oct 27, 2013 7:36 am

Since you need to spend so many points on tech to be a technologist, I figured that there really was not much point in making myself powerful. I would be pretty weak anyway

So what I did when I played a technologist was to just make an army of well equipped companions to do my killing for me

I walked around in my dapper suit with a nice top hat, shooting at people once in a while with my handy revolver, while at the same time my 5 followers, 3 automatons and medical spider demolished anyone and anything that stood in my way.

It is kind of funny to play this way, very roleplayish. But it takes a lot of time gathering stuff, buying and selling and so on. Every battle is super short as your army of doom usually just tears shit up in seconds, but maintaining it and making it takes quite a while. Not sure if I was level 50 when I finished but the last part was pretty much a breeze.

That´s what I love about Arcanum, you can play it using such a wide variety of styles!