Hi, while I am new to the forums (cheers all!) I am not entirely new to the game, having finished it three times with a full party. I am now going to try to finish it with a solo character, but I think I might have a problem:
I'm playing with a Kensai (to be dualled to a mage, yay originality) and I thought that quests like the De'Arnise Keep and Trademeet would be excellent for some good experience and items early on.
The problem however, is that my character won't be able to use missile weapons early on, so fire arrows are not going to be an option, and since I don't think you find weapons with additional fire damage lying around in Athkatla, I'm afraid I won't be able to kill trolls!
- So, how does one usually do this? Do you wait with these quests until you have the items/spells that take care of your problems?
- If then, what quests do solo characters usually start out with, apart from the circus tent?
-Or are there swords/axes/whatever that do fire damage to be found somewhere early in the game, and did I forget about them?
If there are already threads about this subject (I tried to search, but didn't find any) just re-direct me, otherwise I would be really happy if you could give me some tips!
Cheers, and thanks in advance,
Devilock
Problem with solo Kensai and trolls?
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Deadalready
- Posts: 903
- Joined: Fri Nov 19, 2004 4:37 am
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You should be able to find the flail of ages somewhere and that has acid plus fire damage to help you on your way.
Failing that there is the "Sword of Flame" and "Flame Tongue" weapons that do acid damage. I think you might be able to claim the Sword of Flame from the Copper Coronet after you've done the missions.
Additionally since you're classing to mage I would like to offer you my solo advice, Death Spell + Wand of Cloudkill = Large group of dead Spectral and Normal Trolls.
Also Chromatic Orb works insane wonders against individual trolls.
Failing that there is the "Sword of Flame" and "Flame Tongue" weapons that do acid damage. I think you might be able to claim the Sword of Flame from the Copper Coronet after you've done the missions.
Additionally since you're classing to mage I would like to offer you my solo advice, Death Spell + Wand of Cloudkill = Large group of dead Spectral and Normal Trolls.
Also Chromatic Orb works insane wonders against individual trolls.
Warning: logic and sense is replaced by typos and errors after 11pm
Spoiler
, it has yet to return
[QUOTE=Deadalready]You should be able to find the flail of ages somewhere and that has acid plus fire damage to help you on your way.
Failing that there is the "Sword of Flame" and "Flame Tongue" weapons that do acid damage. I think you might be able to claim the Sword of Flame from the Copper Coronet after you've done the missions.
Additionally since you're classing to mage I would like to offer you my solo advice, Death Spell + Wand of Cloudkill = Large group of dead Spectral and Normal Trolls.
Also Chromatic Orb works insane wonders against individual trolls.[/QUOTE]
You can buy sword of flam from Ribal inthe promenade right after chateau, while Flame tongue doesn't do acid damage.
As for FoA it's true that does acid dmg, but I don't remember if the first piece you get is the acid/fire one, because if it's the cold, then it wan't kill the first group of troll.
Using the spells is ok, but Devilock need tips for defeating them as a kensai.
Another optio could be the use of potion (flaming oil and so on) to finish the troll.
Failing that there is the "Sword of Flame" and "Flame Tongue" weapons that do acid damage. I think you might be able to claim the Sword of Flame from the Copper Coronet after you've done the missions.
Additionally since you're classing to mage I would like to offer you my solo advice, Death Spell + Wand of Cloudkill = Large group of dead Spectral and Normal Trolls.
Also Chromatic Orb works insane wonders against individual trolls.[/QUOTE]
You can buy sword of flam from Ribal inthe promenade right after chateau, while Flame tongue doesn't do acid damage.
As for FoA it's true that does acid dmg, but I don't remember if the first piece you get is the acid/fire one, because if it's the cold, then it wan't kill the first group of troll.
Using the spells is ok, but Devilock need tips for defeating them as a kensai.
Another optio could be the use of potion (flaming oil and so on) to finish the troll.
Two flail heads are found on the second floor (one in the golem room, one on a charmed guard), and one is hidden in the same room as the forge where you build the flail. Cast invisibility on yourself and grab the heads that you can and then forge it together before going on your troll killing spree! 
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Deadalready
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- Joined: Fri Nov 19, 2004 4:37 am
- Contact:
- So, how does one usually do this? Do you wait with these quests until you have the items/spells that take care of your problems?
- If then, what quests do solo characters usually start out with, apart from the circus tent?
-Or are there swords/axes/whatever that do fire damage to be found somewhere early in the game, and did I forget about them?
1: Personally as a neatness thing I have a tendancy to finish as many missions as I can in Athakatala before going out to the other towns, I think I do it out of habit more than anything. Some quests are easier if you have the gear and patience, also it would depend whether a person doesn't mind multiple reloads or returning to town if outmatched.
Personally I don't like to fall back, even when outmatched. I'd be willing to die 20 times until I get a scenario pefect with all the items and all the kills, this is especially true with Liches and their summons.
With clever tactics (and cheese if that's your thing) you can get around just about anything. With my newest Sorceror I made it a point to do basically every mission possible with out cheese, the staff of magi and resting as little as possible. BUT I did end up needing the staff for tougher missions like fighting beholders and golems.
2: I solo generally with the sorceror, mage, bounty hunter or mage/thief still the quests I attack are similar in order. Though I might need to mention this list won't exactly be too useful for a fighter class.
Easy Quests
Investigate the Circus
Seven Dales [Mencar Pebblecrusher]
Sword of the Sewers
Hendak and the slaves
Wellyn and his bear
Buried Alive
Skinner Mysteries (Much easier with mage class)
Lich in the Gates District (if thief)
Find Ore for Sir Sarles (if I have Daystar)
Mekerath and Sewers
Mae'var's Guildhall
Harper Hold
Hard Quests (leave till last in my opinion)
The Planarsphere
Windspear Hills
Cult of the Eyeless
3: Pretty much answered, I hope you've played through once normally before trying solo?
What have you got your proficiencies in may I ask?
- If then, what quests do solo characters usually start out with, apart from the circus tent?
-Or are there swords/axes/whatever that do fire damage to be found somewhere early in the game, and did I forget about them?
1: Personally as a neatness thing I have a tendancy to finish as many missions as I can in Athakatala before going out to the other towns, I think I do it out of habit more than anything. Some quests are easier if you have the gear and patience, also it would depend whether a person doesn't mind multiple reloads or returning to town if outmatched.
Personally I don't like to fall back, even when outmatched. I'd be willing to die 20 times until I get a scenario pefect with all the items and all the kills, this is especially true with Liches and their summons.
With clever tactics (and cheese if that's your thing) you can get around just about anything. With my newest Sorceror I made it a point to do basically every mission possible with out cheese, the staff of magi and resting as little as possible. BUT I did end up needing the staff for tougher missions like fighting beholders and golems.
2: I solo generally with the sorceror, mage, bounty hunter or mage/thief still the quests I attack are similar in order. Though I might need to mention this list won't exactly be too useful for a fighter class.
Easy Quests
Investigate the Circus
Seven Dales [Mencar Pebblecrusher]
Sword of the Sewers
Hendak and the slaves
Wellyn and his bear
Buried Alive
Skinner Mysteries (Much easier with mage class)
Lich in the Gates District (if thief)
Find Ore for Sir Sarles (if I have Daystar)
Mekerath and Sewers
Mae'var's Guildhall
Harper Hold
Hard Quests (leave till last in my opinion)
The Planarsphere
Windspear Hills
Cult of the Eyeless
3: Pretty much answered, I hope you've played through once normally before trying solo?
What have you got your proficiencies in may I ask?
Warning: logic and sense is replaced by typos and errors after 11pm
Spoiler
, it has yet to return
[QUOTE=Deadalready]-
Easy Quests
Investigate the Circus
Seven Dales [Mencar Pebblecrusher]
Sword of the Sewers
Hendak and the slaves
Wellyn and his bear
Buried Alive
Skinner Mysteries (Much easier with mage class)
Lich in the Gates District (if thief)
Find Ore for Sir Sarles (if I have Daystar)
Mekerath and Sewers
Mae'var's Guildhall
Harper Hold
Hard Quests (leave till last in my opinion)
The Planarsphere
Windspear Hills
Cult of the Eyeless
[/QUOTE]
I agree, start doing the quest in Athkalia to raise money and level up.
I would disagree with the easy list, consider a char. right after Chateau, without great equipment and in that case solo (with a fighter wwhich doesn't help):
Mencar is not easy (specially for a solo fighter right after Chateau) normally (without cheese), and it's very difficoult with tactics/battles mode;
Skinner, not difficoult, but need fire dmg;
Lich in the gates is not easy without cheese for a young adventurer specially for solo fighter;
Sir Sarles, you can't do that before the temple sewers, but agree would be easy;
Sewers: watch for the gang in the sewers, normaly is a fairly difficoult fight for a low exp. party, it's a difficoult fight for a solo young fighter, but with tactics/battles stay away from it until you are strong!
Maevar: with tactics is not easy at all.
I would add within the easy the other quest/fight in the Graveyard, the quest that you can get from the paladin order, some sub quest in Umar hills and Windspear hills.
Easy Quests
Investigate the Circus
Seven Dales [Mencar Pebblecrusher]
Sword of the Sewers
Hendak and the slaves
Wellyn and his bear
Buried Alive
Skinner Mysteries (Much easier with mage class)
Lich in the Gates District (if thief)
Find Ore for Sir Sarles (if I have Daystar)
Mekerath and Sewers
Mae'var's Guildhall
Harper Hold
Hard Quests (leave till last in my opinion)
The Planarsphere
Windspear Hills
Cult of the Eyeless
[/QUOTE]
I agree, start doing the quest in Athkalia to raise money and level up.
I would disagree with the easy list, consider a char. right after Chateau, without great equipment and in that case solo (with a fighter wwhich doesn't help):
Mencar is not easy (specially for a solo fighter right after Chateau) normally (without cheese), and it's very difficoult with tactics/battles mode;
Skinner, not difficoult, but need fire dmg;
Lich in the gates is not easy without cheese for a young adventurer specially for solo fighter;
Sir Sarles, you can't do that before the temple sewers, but agree would be easy;
Sewers: watch for the gang in the sewers, normaly is a fairly difficoult fight for a low exp. party, it's a difficoult fight for a solo young fighter, but with tactics/battles stay away from it until you are strong!
Maevar: with tactics is not easy at all.
I would add within the easy the other quest/fight in the Graveyard, the quest that you can get from the paladin order, some sub quest in Umar hills and Windspear hills.
Thanks for the additional advice, keep it coming!
@Deadalready: I have four points in katanas and two in two-weapon style. I'm thinking of putting at least one point in flails so I can use the FoA on switch, and I'll probably end up using Belm in my off-hand. I've finished the game three times, the last time checking the GB-walkthrough to make sure I wasn't missing out on fun quests and nice items.
I know that there is a number of quests that don't require fighting (Xzar & Monty, Mourning Paladin, the ghost-boy and his teddybear) but wouldn't it be best to leave those for just after I've dual-classed and walk around with a level 7 mage?
@Deadalready: I have four points in katanas and two in two-weapon style. I'm thinking of putting at least one point in flails so I can use the FoA on switch, and I'll probably end up using Belm in my off-hand. I've finished the game three times, the last time checking the GB-walkthrough to make sure I wasn't missing out on fun quests and nice items.
I know that there is a number of quests that don't require fighting (Xzar & Monty, Mourning Paladin, the ghost-boy and his teddybear) but wouldn't it be best to leave those for just after I've dual-classed and walk around with a level 7 mage?
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Deadalready
- Posts: 903
- Joined: Fri Nov 19, 2004 4:37 am
- Contact:
[QUOTE=lompo]I agree, start doing the quest in Athkalia to raise money and level up.
I would disagree with the easy list, consider a char. right after Chateau, without great equipment and in that case solo (with a fighter wwhich doesn't help):
Mencar is not easy (specially for a solo fighter right after Chateau) normally (without cheese), and it's very difficoult with tactics/battles mode;
Skinner, not difficoult, but need fire dmg;
Lich in the gates is not easy without cheese for a young adventurer specially for solo fighter;
Sir Sarles, you can't do that before the temple sewers, but agree would be easy;
Sewers: watch for the gang in the sewers, normaly is a fairly difficoult fight for a low exp. party, it's a difficoult fight for a solo young fighter, but with tactics/battles stay away from it until you are strong!
Maevar: with tactics is not easy at all.
I would add within the easy the other quest/fight in the Graveyard, the quest that you can get from the paladin order, some sub quest in Umar hills and Windspear hills.[/QUOTE]
This is looking at it from my mages (and thieves) point of view, because of the mage's long range ability and the thieve's fade ability this fight much more managable. With Mencar (I'm pretty sure I typed it up somewhere on this forum) it took me a good half hour to hour of real time to kill him using a sling, hard, long winded but fun and rewarding to earn 10k of experience out of the dungeon.
The skinner mystery is tough due to Rune Assassins, they backstab fast and too much for any normal person to survive, the mage's advantage there is he can stone skin to waste their potions, this makes life much easier. (Though things get very bad when you run out of stoneskin). I don't know why you would need fire damage though
The lich depending on how you wish to play can be hard or not, with my mage I simply bought a scroll of shapeshift, transformed into a jelly and then sat there, I also had a wand of frost to kill the pit fiend (which can't hurt a jelly) and the Effreti. You could use a scroll of undead protection for a fighter if you wished but you would not be able to bash open the lock and get the daystar...
Sir Sarles can be done as early as you want as long as you initiate the Unseeing Eye quest you can start doing the (ridiculously easy in comparison) Illithium Ore quest. The daystar takes unnecessary hassles out of the way since it will destroy those ghost children, but you could attempt to concentrate on Neb first, although he has healing potions and can backstab (if memory serves me)
I would strongly be against Windspear early, it's ridiculous that you're fighting orcs that can all be killed in one hit to only end up toe to toe with Admantite golems and greater wolfweres. I have yet to come up with a good tactic for killing greater wolfweres except imprison. -_-
The thing I'd recommend is that you get the cloak of the sewers because it's abilities are quite useful and for a fighter going toe to toe with a Rakasha should be easy. Once you've gotten the cloak you can use it to prevent missiles killing you or regenerate during a fight. The party in the sewers was amazingly easy when I tried it but it was with a mage again, I used my wands to do my dirty work and saved my scrolls of Elemental summoning. Next to the Rakasha of the sewers is a treasure location in the form of a valve, inside in all my times I've found a scroll of elemental summoning. It's not going to survive or kill anything but it takes the spells and heat. I then simply lured the people away one but one and blasted them with the dubious and highly volitile wand of lightning until I killed them all.
~
I know that there is a number of quests that don't require fighting (Xzar & Monty, Mourning Paladin, the ghost-boy and his teddybear) but wouldn't it be best to leave those for just after I've dual-classed and walk around with a level 7 mage?
If I have a problem it's resting in BG2 I only do it when fighting things truely out of my league, for example a solo mage fighting the keeper of thralls at level 12 results in a massive headache. With a mage it's easy to simply read scrolls and level up but most importantly remember the location that you sold those wands from the dungeon. When you sell the wands the storekeep recharges them to full capacity and they become surpremely powerful and can bypass spell protections (but not innate immunities like lich or Rakasha). Using these wands as a substitute for your own abilities is one of the smartest things you can do.
First buy back the wand of frost for about 7000 gold, this one has 100 charges and does major damage against large groups at close range, it unfortunately can destroy items but with planning that can be avoided (just don't use it on "Near Dead") but can even prove immensely useful for killing pitfiends of all things! 16 000 easy experience for a protected from evil mage or silly jelly.
Second the Wand of Summoning, this has 50 charges and costs 15 000 gold this wonderfull item acts not as an army but as a shield to protect oneself from insane powerful magics like powerword kill. Also the amazing thing about this wand is that it will always summon a minimum of 3 monsters per cast.
Thirdly I recommend the wand of cloudkill, as long as you don't use it in unreasonable fashion it is a potent tool for killing annoying monsters or fighting human cannon fodder. Excellent for finishing large groups of trolls that could get up if you're using a weapon, also effective for fighting otherwise dangerous umberhulks.
Finally the choices left are up to you there's two more that have proved useful in situational circumstances for example the wand of stun and wand of fire. The wand of stunning is powerful and useful against elementals, which will always get stunned by the third shot, it comes with about 100 charges and good for separating groups or stopping mages. This is especially excellent for a thief to backstab again and again since it will stun a poor being for 10 rounds (9 backstabs or 9 dooms). The wand of fire is interesting to say the least, it comes with 50 fireballs and 50 agannazar's scorchers, it works well against most undead and can also kill multiple trolls. It is unfortunately let down by fire resistance being so common.
The advantage of wands is you can use them on the street.
Also the scrolls you can't read, you can use, keeping a scroll of web or summon nishruu can save your backside more than pure high level power. I often cast from scrolls if I haven't rested (which is common) or because I'm simply too low level.
Simply put the mage is more than capable for finishing any fight you want at just about any level as long as you think things out.
I would disagree with the easy list, consider a char. right after Chateau, without great equipment and in that case solo (with a fighter wwhich doesn't help):
Mencar is not easy (specially for a solo fighter right after Chateau) normally (without cheese), and it's very difficoult with tactics/battles mode;
Skinner, not difficoult, but need fire dmg;
Lich in the gates is not easy without cheese for a young adventurer specially for solo fighter;
Sir Sarles, you can't do that before the temple sewers, but agree would be easy;
Sewers: watch for the gang in the sewers, normaly is a fairly difficoult fight for a low exp. party, it's a difficoult fight for a solo young fighter, but with tactics/battles stay away from it until you are strong!
Maevar: with tactics is not easy at all.
I would add within the easy the other quest/fight in the Graveyard, the quest that you can get from the paladin order, some sub quest in Umar hills and Windspear hills.[/QUOTE]
This is looking at it from my mages (and thieves) point of view, because of the mage's long range ability and the thieve's fade ability this fight much more managable. With Mencar (I'm pretty sure I typed it up somewhere on this forum) it took me a good half hour to hour of real time to kill him using a sling, hard, long winded but fun and rewarding to earn 10k of experience out of the dungeon.
The skinner mystery is tough due to Rune Assassins, they backstab fast and too much for any normal person to survive, the mage's advantage there is he can stone skin to waste their potions, this makes life much easier. (Though things get very bad when you run out of stoneskin). I don't know why you would need fire damage though
The lich depending on how you wish to play can be hard or not, with my mage I simply bought a scroll of shapeshift, transformed into a jelly and then sat there, I also had a wand of frost to kill the pit fiend (which can't hurt a jelly) and the Effreti. You could use a scroll of undead protection for a fighter if you wished but you would not be able to bash open the lock and get the daystar...
Sir Sarles can be done as early as you want as long as you initiate the Unseeing Eye quest you can start doing the (ridiculously easy in comparison) Illithium Ore quest. The daystar takes unnecessary hassles out of the way since it will destroy those ghost children, but you could attempt to concentrate on Neb first, although he has healing potions and can backstab (if memory serves me)
I would strongly be against Windspear early, it's ridiculous that you're fighting orcs that can all be killed in one hit to only end up toe to toe with Admantite golems and greater wolfweres. I have yet to come up with a good tactic for killing greater wolfweres except imprison. -_-
The thing I'd recommend is that you get the cloak of the sewers because it's abilities are quite useful and for a fighter going toe to toe with a Rakasha should be easy. Once you've gotten the cloak you can use it to prevent missiles killing you or regenerate during a fight. The party in the sewers was amazingly easy when I tried it but it was with a mage again, I used my wands to do my dirty work and saved my scrolls of Elemental summoning. Next to the Rakasha of the sewers is a treasure location in the form of a valve, inside in all my times I've found a scroll of elemental summoning. It's not going to survive or kill anything but it takes the spells and heat. I then simply lured the people away one but one and blasted them with the dubious and highly volitile wand of lightning until I killed them all.
~
I know that there is a number of quests that don't require fighting (Xzar & Monty, Mourning Paladin, the ghost-boy and his teddybear) but wouldn't it be best to leave those for just after I've dual-classed and walk around with a level 7 mage?
If I have a problem it's resting in BG2 I only do it when fighting things truely out of my league, for example a solo mage fighting the keeper of thralls at level 12 results in a massive headache. With a mage it's easy to simply read scrolls and level up but most importantly remember the location that you sold those wands from the dungeon. When you sell the wands the storekeep recharges them to full capacity and they become surpremely powerful and can bypass spell protections (but not innate immunities like lich or Rakasha). Using these wands as a substitute for your own abilities is one of the smartest things you can do.
First buy back the wand of frost for about 7000 gold, this one has 100 charges and does major damage against large groups at close range, it unfortunately can destroy items but with planning that can be avoided (just don't use it on "Near Dead") but can even prove immensely useful for killing pitfiends of all things! 16 000 easy experience for a protected from evil mage or silly jelly.
Second the Wand of Summoning, this has 50 charges and costs 15 000 gold this wonderfull item acts not as an army but as a shield to protect oneself from insane powerful magics like powerword kill. Also the amazing thing about this wand is that it will always summon a minimum of 3 monsters per cast.
Thirdly I recommend the wand of cloudkill, as long as you don't use it in unreasonable fashion it is a potent tool for killing annoying monsters or fighting human cannon fodder. Excellent for finishing large groups of trolls that could get up if you're using a weapon, also effective for fighting otherwise dangerous umberhulks.
Finally the choices left are up to you there's two more that have proved useful in situational circumstances for example the wand of stun and wand of fire. The wand of stunning is powerful and useful against elementals, which will always get stunned by the third shot, it comes with about 100 charges and good for separating groups or stopping mages. This is especially excellent for a thief to backstab again and again since it will stun a poor being for 10 rounds (9 backstabs or 9 dooms). The wand of fire is interesting to say the least, it comes with 50 fireballs and 50 agannazar's scorchers, it works well against most undead and can also kill multiple trolls. It is unfortunately let down by fire resistance being so common.
The advantage of wands is you can use them on the street.
Also the scrolls you can't read, you can use, keeping a scroll of web or summon nishruu can save your backside more than pure high level power. I often cast from scrolls if I haven't rested (which is common) or because I'm simply too low level.
Simply put the mage is more than capable for finishing any fight you want at just about any level as long as you think things out.
Warning: logic and sense is replaced by typos and errors after 11pm
Spoiler
, it has yet to return
[QUOTE=Deadalready]
The skinner mystery is tough due to Rune Assassins, they backstab fast and too much for any normal person to survive, the mage's advantage there is he can stone skin to waste their potions, this makes life much easier. (Though things get very bad when you run out of stoneskin). I don't know why you would need fire damage though
I would strongly be against Windspear early, it's ridiculous that you're fighting orcs that can all be killed in one hit to only end up toe to toe with Admantite golems and greater wolfweres. I have yet to come up with a good tactic for killing greater wolfweres except imprison. -_-
[/QUOTE]
Skinner mystery: if I remember well, in the last fight there is also a troll.
Windspear: I definetly suggest to do it early, at least the outside (some easy kills and driads quest) and part of the doungeon (leaving the king treasure and meeting with Firkragg for later); being at med-low lev you should get normal werewolf, while the Golems (iron at that lev.) aren't a threat if you take them down with ranged attack (they can't reach you due to size).
The skinner mystery is tough due to Rune Assassins, they backstab fast and too much for any normal person to survive, the mage's advantage there is he can stone skin to waste their potions, this makes life much easier. (Though things get very bad when you run out of stoneskin). I don't know why you would need fire damage though
I would strongly be against Windspear early, it's ridiculous that you're fighting orcs that can all be killed in one hit to only end up toe to toe with Admantite golems and greater wolfweres. I have yet to come up with a good tactic for killing greater wolfweres except imprison. -_-
[/QUOTE]
Skinner mystery: if I remember well, in the last fight there is also a troll.
Windspear: I definetly suggest to do it early, at least the outside (some easy kills and driads quest) and part of the doungeon (leaving the king treasure and meeting with Firkragg for later); being at med-low lev you should get normal werewolf, while the Golems (iron at that lev.) aren't a threat if you take them down with ranged attack (they can't reach you due to size).
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Deadalready
- Posts: 903
- Joined: Fri Nov 19, 2004 4:37 am
- Contact:
I've Sola/Tashia/Kelsey/Valen, Tactics/battles, ease of use/Item upgrade, U.B. and rogue imp. stronghold.
I don't think any of them changed the skinner quest, but is also true that is some times since I last did the quest (many months), still I think to remember a troll, but maybe my memory is failing.
I don't think any of them changed the skinner quest, but is also true that is some times since I last did the quest (many months), still I think to remember a troll, but maybe my memory is failing.