bashing vs. disarming/unlocking

Skilless · Post by **Skilless** » Wed Jul 10, 2002 9:15 am

Normal convention holds that bashing has a chance of destroying the contents of a chest. Has anyone noticed if bashing a chest is any different than disarming it and/or unlocking it?

If there is no difference, I think I'll change what henchman I normally travel with.

Arakasi · Post by **Arakasi** » Wed Jul 10, 2002 11:28 am

bash away my friend

as far as i can tell bashing or picking a chest makes no difference to what you get out of it IE: something

best nwn basher is grimclaw, he can get to parts that other adventurers cannot reach

i also noticed that the items in chest are random, because i found a chest that, after disarming its trap had a magical cloak, reloading the game again gave me a different item but still magical...strange

Skilless · Post by **Skilless** » Wed Jul 10, 2002 12:42 pm

This is how I understand the items in chests/boxes/etc. to be given out:

There is a table in the manual (same one as the XP for level) that outlines what the single item value and total value of equipment is allowed for a level. Chests generally generate a random distribution based upon its "value" (probably a min-max thing). If the chest's value exceeds your level limitation, then your sub-set is used instead. It goes to follow that if you reload a saved game before opening a particularly good chest, then its contents will differ based upon its value or your limitation. This is one way in which you could "power game" NWN to get the best items allowed to you/your level.

Magus · Post by **Magus** » Wed Jul 10, 2002 3:39 pm

Err...yeah, I kind of exploited that to get boots of speed.

Actually, I just wanted a nice suit of chainmail (I was tired of getting useless junk), but after about 25 reloads boots of speed was what I got.

Calogrenant · Post by **Calogrenant** » Thu Jul 11, 2002 1:06 am

Err...yeah, I kind of exploited that to get boots of speed. Actually, I just wanted a nice suit of chainmail (I was tired of getting useless junk), but after about 25 reloads boots of speed was what I got.

**Minor Spoiler ahead**

What Chapter are you talking about, Magus? Because I bought mine off the local priest, the dwarven one (can`t remember his name at the moment), as soon as I began Ch3

And if it wasn`t the priest, then some local vendor `round Beorunna`s well

**Big Spoiler now, beware

**

And yes, that exploit can also be used to get even better equipment later in the game... For instance, with every Boss Chest in chapter 3 and beyond (I.E. Dragon´s Lairs`coffers) Can`t believe how crap like a Rod of Resurrection can be in the same value chart as Red Dragon Armor, or the Hammer of Thunderbolts... unless someone tell me the mentioned rod has some sort of use in single player that reloading does`nt fix

... Anyway, you can always buy a rod at yer local temple, but you`ll never be able to buy Dragon Armor

Trix · Post by **Trix** » Thu Jul 11, 2002 4:55 am

Minor spoiler ...

My Cleric found a light hammer with the Knock spell on hit ...

Combine that with Protection from Elements to soak trap damage, and Thieves suddenly don't look so invaluable.

Unfortunately she found the hammer in chapter 4.
If I'd found it earlier on, I've have been using Tomi's Contract as toilet paper ...

Magus · Post by **Magus** » Thu Jul 11, 2002 7:54 pm

*Minor spoiler*

I got them towards the end of Ch.2, on Alhelor's dead body. I saved when he was at "almost dead", so every time I reloaded he would collapse to the ground almost instantly. I'm in the Host Tower now, and boy have they served me well...

Haste is so cheap, especially in 3rd Ed.

Not only do you get 50% increased movement rate, an extra attack per round...you get +4 to AC! It just doesn't get any sweeter than that. And having permanent haste means you're immune to slow too, though my cloak of freedom makes that a moot point anyway.

But's it's still not quite as cheap as it was in Icewind Dale. In IWD, the 3rd level mage spell was area-effect! It alone turned the tide of otherwise very difficult battles...

Magus · Post by **Magus** » Thu Jul 11, 2002 8:01 pm

*More spoilers*

The random item generator can also bite you in the rear...I just finished clearing out the famed Illusk Ruins and found squat. I could have reloaded a billion times to get uber-items, but I decided I'll be a good little roleplayer and continue on, mumbling about what a waste of time that was.

Kameleon · Post by **Kameleon** » Fri Jul 12, 2002 2:36 am

Originally posted by Magus
I got them towards the end of Ch.2, on Alhelor's dead body. I saved when he was at "almost dead", so every time I reloaded he would collapse to the ground almost instantly.

You don't need to do this, actually - what's in the loot isn't decided until you actually open the loot bag. So you can kill a boss, then save before you check their loot, and you don't have to time it perfectly or anything

They call me "Mr. Powergamer"!

Dik Lionheart · Post by **Dik Lionheart** » Fri Jul 12, 2002 4:28 am

possible spoilers

I know a lot of people here are saying that the monk was perhaps 'over tanked' this time, as was the paladin in BG2, but was it just me who found that looking at chests, barrels etc in Ch. 4 was pretty much useless, when your character could just get away with their natural rolls anyway? I mean, all the searching and looting and 'adventuring' did was make about one million gold, or so I've found.

Magus · Post by **Magus** » Fri Jul 12, 2002 9:51 pm

Originally posted by Kameleon

You don't need to do this, actually - what's in the loot isn't decided until you actually open the loot bag. So you can kill a boss, then save before you check their loot, and you don't have to time it perfectly or anything

They call me "Mr. Powergamer"!

Actually, I tried that, but got the same loot 2 or 3 times in a row. Maybe it was just a coincidence...though it never happened again in the 25+ reloads that followed...

Biljac · Post by **Biljac** » Sat Jul 13, 2002 7:29 am

Interesting that this thread came up. I was thinking of starting one. Seems I have made a sad mistake. Well not really a mistake per sae but definately "misled". Since I have the +4 reflex boots and have had since chapter 2, I did not need to have Tomi constantly. With good reflex, traps aren't a problem. Its in my judgement now that the game could have been much more interesting with another henchman. I mean I have the knock flail (can be made in chapter 1) and Grimy can bash the crap outta anything (That guy is scary at level 17...glad he isn't a boss. would hate to have to fight him.) Well I guess there is always the second time through

I will definalty not lock into Tomi the second time but try to switch around. Should make the game more interesting I think.

Nygma · Post by **Nygma** » Sat Jul 13, 2002 11:27 am

Originally posted by Dik Lionheart
looking at chests, barrels etc in Ch. 4 was pretty much useless, when your character could just get away with their natural rolls anyway? I mean, all the searching and looting and 'adventuring' did was make about one million gold, or so I've found.

Useless? Yes. Did that stop me from compulsively checking every barrel and bag I found and then spinning the camera to make sure I hadn't missed any? Of course not. Must add that 3 gold to my 1.1 million gp hoard!

Originally posted by Biljac
With good reflex, traps aren't a problem

Have you had any problem with acid traps always going off? My monk had improved evasion (if fail save, 1/2 damage; if success, no damage, even if should take 1/2) and a reflex save of 22. Everytime I hit an acid trap I took damage, even though the save was a success. Every other type of trap I tripped with no problem. I know I'm obsessing here, but this was so bizarre it was really annoying. And I haven't heard anyone else say they had this problem.

Biljac · Post by **Biljac** » Sat Jul 13, 2002 7:41 pm

aye the acid traps get me also. mostly just an annoyance because of the paralyzation (sic). but as far as damage, IF I take any it gives me something to do with those 3 bags of health kits and heal potions I been carrying around for ages

Kameleon · Post by **Kameleon** » Sun Jul 14, 2002 3:25 pm

Originally posted by Magus
Actually, I tried that, but got the same loot 2 or 3 times in a row. Maybe it was just a coincidence...though it never happened again in the 25+ reloads that followed...

I've found, over a long period of experimentation, that loot from bodies is random in most cases, but occasionally it is set when the dude hits the deck. I need more data to determine the exact conditions for this though. As soon as you bash a chest, however, the loot is determined always. Not much of a problem though.