Page 2 of 2
Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2001 11:21 am
by Loredweller
I doubt that after Spellhood you need much of thievery anyway. Iomen is good enough for trap finding and lockpicking. The only area Jan is far better is pickpocket. As for setting snares, there are none, anyway. You have killed that fellow what have some sense in it

All the same Iomen is leveling as mage, while Jan must raise both kits. IMHO, in final part you need mages more then thieves anyway. Jan will never cast Project Image while Iomen can. So even rational decision might take Iomen's side. Of course, it depends on how much you've spent on Jan's development and etc. Everyone takes decision of his own
In fact, psychologically, there is two main approaches (with wide variations between them) :
- "well, i'm child of Bhaal and should appear as such";
- "what a pity, i have Bhaal in me, nonetheless i will never let him rule me";
Well, business games (you surely have met) is a very good idea, but even better might be to let play RPGs, BTW
Good gaming,
L.
[This message has been edited by Loredweller (edited 03-20-2001).]
Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2001 11:38 am
by fable
All the same Iomen is leveling as mage, while Jan must raise both kits. IMHO, in final part you need mages more then thieves anyway. Jan will never cast Project Image while Iomen can. So even rational decision might take Iomen's side. Of course, it depends on how much you've spent on Jan's development and etc. Everyone takes decision of his own.
And that about says it, and says it well--though you neglected to mention Jan's personal blaster skulls, which cannot be duplicated by anyone else, and which I've actually seen stun demons. I'm not sure which way I'll go in this, my fourth game. I would regret the loss of pickpocketing without Jan (since you can use it successfully as shoplifting in late chapters), but Imoen does pack those high-end spells. Even with Edwin in my party, and my kensai/mage I'm not sure they wouldn't be helpful.
Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2001 11:51 am
by Loredweller
Fable,
may i notice i'm also going as kensai/mage

Appears we have similar taste

Though i haven't abandoned even Nalia so far, only for some time switched Yoshimo for Jan.
Good luck,
L.
Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2001 12:10 pm
by Xandax
Well I develope Jan, so he got around 80 in trap skill - so Jan can be more vesetail than just trap removing. I used his traps a lot.
I would never swith Jan for Imoen - Jan is to versetail.
The only time I don't take Jan is if my PC is a thief himself.
Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2001 1:11 pm
by Quitch
My problem with Jan is that he isn't versatile....once you hit Imoen type thief stats, anything more is a waste. Jan is a thief, not a real mage, he doesn't go far enough.
Nalia.....urg. Inferior to Imoen in every way, and soooooooooooo annoying.
Plus, there's also the fact that Imoen is going to play a bigger part in the expansion apparently.
------------------
Quitch
"Well since you asked, I would like to register a complaint. I want to kill a dragon. Right now. No, don't look. Go kill one now. Go find one and kill it. Right now. That would be SO cool" - Lilarcor
Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2001 6:44 pm
by fable
Jan's not versatile? I'm afraid I don't understand this. He has excellent thief skills, plus fine resonably decent mage skills. He can push his traps creation skill up, and has better lockpicking and far, far better pickpocketing than the other thieves in the game. His special goggles also let him reveal invisible characters.
What else do you want in the way of versatility? A thief/mage/fighter?

Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2001 1:04 am
by Xandax
Originally posted by fable:
<snip>His special goggles also let him reveal invisible characters.
Oh yeah - I forgot about his detect illiusion. I use this alot - another reason for keeping Jan.
Also in doing the Djini-quest in Trademeet, he blew the "Rahkasa(sp?)"'s cover by looking through it's illiusion - that was cool
But again IMHO - I would rather drop another character to get Imoen than Jan - but I never have this problem, because I build my party around the fact that I have to get Imoen back. So I always (almost) end up with Imoen and Jan.
Jan _is_ versatail. And regarding his lack of stealth just throw an improved invisibility - and you're off. Traps are quick to bring up - he is almost a master of lockpick, pickpocket, find traps and detect illiusion. And then he can cast spells - I mean what more do you want?? (Besides I think he is fun - "AAhh home sweet home ..... whait I don't live here")
Jan rocks
