Just got the game!

[Jack Daxtor]

Hi guys,

I plan on playing the game through 3 times, first as a Toreador, second a Malk and then a Tremere (for Blood magic mostly ). Anyway I plan on playing through as a talkative, conversationalist type of character. Planescape Torment is my favorite game ever and I loved being able to use intelligence to talk through everything.

I was just wondering though do I need to put points into intelligence? Does it add any extra dialog options? Like I said I have just started as a Toreador and plan on maxing Charisma and Persuasion. But I dont wanna miss intelligence if it will add even more dialog? The manual makes no mention of it in this regard but I thought I would check, as it seems a bit strange that it doesn't.

Elsewhere, my 3 initial Talent points went into Dodge so my defense is already pretty high (dont wanna go fisticuffs and sneaking isnt my thing). I also plan on being a melee character so I will probably skip Auspex and just max celerity and Presence. Sound ok? Not too sure on that computer hacking/lockpicking stuff, Bloodbuff should get the job done for those right?

Yeah anyway it was mainly the intelligence thing I wanted to know.

thanks

[Faust]

[QUOTE=Jack Daxtor]

I was just wondering though do I need to put points into intelligence? Does it add any extra dialog options? Like I said I have just started as a Toreador and plan on maxing Charisma and Persuasion. But I dont wanna miss intelligence if it will add even more dialog? The manual makes no mention of it in this regard but I thought I would check, as it seems a bit strange that it doesn't.

Elsewhere, my 3 initial Talent points went into Dodge so my defense is already pretty high (dont wanna go fisticuffs and sneaking isnt my thing). I also plan on being a melee character so I will probably skip Auspex and just max celerity and Presence. Sound ok? Not too sure on that computer hacking/lockpicking stuff, Bloodbuff should get the job done for those right?
[/QUOTE]

Intelligence is useful in that it adds your scholarship ability and your intimidate ability (which is intimidate + intelligence total). The latter will give you unique dialogue options. It's not as useful as the persuade ability, but still viable.

For a conversational type character, though, you're better off focusing on the persuade skill (so increase your charsima and base persuasion skills) and not worrying about intimidate too much. You may still want to invest some points in intelligence as you progress to increase your cumulative scholarship ability (which is useful for allowing you to use tomes you encounter as the game progresses).

For a melee type character, you probably don't need to devote too much energy to auspex. Celerity will be your bread and butter. It's the most powerful discipline you possess, so focus more on it. Presence is decent, but not as significant.

Personally, I wouldn't neglect security. It will come in handy, as you progress.There will be a number of times you need more than what blood buff can produce. Hacking will be useful as well, unless you plan on using one of the computer password lists (we've got one of this site, I believe).

[Jack Daxtor]

yeah I read on another forum that Intimidate gets you nothing that can't be obtained via persuasion. And Scholarship buys you both research and persuasion so I should concentrate on that. Is there like a max limit when I should stop pumping points into persuasion?

hmmm I actually wouldn't mind a decent seduction skill as well...

I won't be using a computer password list, I've given up on walkthroughs spoiling stuff for games I play!

Thanks alot for the advice.

[Faust]

Intimidate does get you more money. Generally, persuade is more useful, though. It will net you more total experience and is more frequently useful. So, make sure to take it to the 8 or 9th level as the game progresses (if not 10).

Personally, I wouldn't worry about seduction or intimidate if you're already doing persuasion. They pretty much do the same things with a few variation. The only real advantage that seduction gives you is that it allows you to feed a bit more safely.

If you're not using a password list, you'll want to have at least a decent hacking skill. Wits is a useful all around skill, anyway (for the defense bonus), and its one component of that.

[Jack Daxtor]

alright thanks, will stick some points into wits.

last thing, is a Malk alright as a ranged character?

[yrthwyndandfyre]

[QUOTE=Jack Daxtor]last thing, is a Malk alright as a ranged character?[/QUOTE]
Any character makes a good ranged character if you up your ranged feat (perception and firearms). At ranged feat of 10, any character is deadly with ranged weapons.

[Jack Daxtor]

[QUOTE=yrthwyndandfyre]Any character makes a good ranged character if you up your ranged feat (perception and firearms). At ranged feat of 10, any character is deadly with ranged weapons.[/QUOTE]

cheers dude, all I needed to know.

[Faust]

[QUOTE=Jack Daxtor]cheers dude, all I needed to know.[/QUOTE]

Auspex becomes more useful for ranged characters, as well. So, it might be worth your time to work at least a bit on it if you are going that route.

[Jack Daxtor]

Just one more thing...

I have charisma at 3 and scholarship at 3. Scholarship increases both persuasion and hacking, whereas charisma only increases persuasion. So why does the next Scholarship increase only cost 9 exp to get, and yet the Charisma costs 12? Does Charisma have a greater effect or something?