Sahaugin & The Road Not Taken (SPOILER!!)

[jlhough4145]

Feedback or discussion?

I've just done the end of ch 4, and found 2 ways to exit and get to ch 5. You can find the key and take the portal directly to Underdark or take Capt Saemon up on his offer of a ship and get to do Sahaugin.

I spent a little time trying it both ways, just out of curiosity. It appears that you can only get the part to the Vorpal Blade, a good two handed sword, and visit Sahaugin city if you go with the captain!

I wanted to go back to the city and sell items and restock before taking on the underdark, so I played a bit more of the scenario that begins the Sahaugin quests.

I'm wondering why the game designers put in such divergent paths without somehow cluing or alerting the gamer to the consequences?

I realize their are many npc dependant quests or activities and items that are not available by taking other paths, or forks in the road. However, this seems to be a major fork in the game's main storyline with little or no notice of the consequences.

I do realize that Saemon does give a hint about a "blade" we might acquire by going with him, and that the portal might lead directly to the Underdark.

1. Am I correct in assuming that the captain's ship is the only way to do Sahaugin?

2. What other major forks in the road appear in the game's main storyline that lead to significant items or XP?

3. What other powerful items or peices can only be gained by joining up with certain NPC's or taking cetain optional paths?

4. If the Underdark path is taken, are there any merchants available soon? That was a big reason I went with Saemon. I was so overloaded that I needed to sell items and free up inventory space.

I read about some of these quest items, such as the Crom Faeyr, which might be nice if I had anyone with hammer skill (I dropped Korgan with some regret because I have a good aligned party), or the Wave if I had Halberd skill, but I thought there might be other more generalized good items that could be useful and easily missed.

I guess skipping Saemon and going directly to the Underdark would shorten the game somewhat, but other than that I see little or no purpose to the different paths, and I see no way (other than walkthroughs or forums like this) that a gamer could know what consequences his decisions would have.

Comments or discussion anyone? Has anyone talked to the game designer's about this one?

I'm not being critical here. It's a fascinating and entertaining game. Just curiosity.

My gratitude to Fable, BuckSatan, Xyx and many others for past valuable input.

Jere

[ 12-01-2001: Message edited by: fable ]

[WizardSlayerFanatic]

I'll say the underdark way is the quickest route but if you can trust that captain, I never he does have a tendency to be in the deep all the time, and me thinks the game developers would say why have one route when you can have two ways, to reach a place and and the Sahaugin city you get extra exp.

my 2cents.

[fable]

@Jere, when you're going to post spoilers about a game (or ask about 'em), it's considered courtesy in this forum to list that fact in your topic, and to do this...
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...so that people who start reading a reply containing a spoiler can back out before they see it in their peripheral vision. I've added the spoiler designation to your title, and would request that you do so, in the future. Thanks.

[Xyx]

The Chapter 4 fork is indeed funny, and I'd also like to know why it was put in (or why this was the only one-sided fork).

1. Yes.

2. There's the Chapter 3 fork, in which you work for Bodhi or the Shadow Thieves. You practically get the same stuff either way, though.

3. There's a small fork in Sahuagin City, where you either side with the king or the rebel prince. Go with the king if you're a Monk, otherwise there's not much difference.

Another minor fork is the Silver Dragon issue. Kill to get some funny armor, help to get a semi-decent crossbow.

Valygar must either join or be killed in order to assemble Crom Faeyr (which is worth it). This is rather problematic when soloing a Good character.

4. Very soon.

And... you're welcome.

[jlhough4145]

Xyx, Thanks for the informed input, and comments on my questions. I just thought it a bit strange that the game designers included only one option to reach Sahaugin, and a somewhat unsavory one at that, and thereby being able to obtain a piece of the wave, a major quest item for those with halberd skill. ;-) I think it's helpful to know something about the consequences of these choices and what they give or withhold, without having to replay every option multiple ways. Very time consuming.

Fable, I will try to comply about the "spoiler" courtesy. However, it does seem to me that just about any information, discussion, questions, answers or comments on a game forum like this one will obviously contain what you call "spoilers". Therfore the entire forum might be considered "spoilers", depending on your definition of the word. If people are here on the forum asking and answering questions then they must be aware that all or most of these are going to reveal infromation about the game in one degree or another. I do try to be accurate in naming my subjects and that should be fair warning to most as to the subject matter.

Just an observation or comment. I'm not trying to be argumentative. Just wondering where you draw the line here - kinda like what is, or is not, cheese. BTW, that should also be labled as such in the subject, if you insist on being technical.

Thanks & Cya, Jere

[Xyx]

Yes, Fable, please enlighten us. I'd like to know as well, since I see spoiler moderation notes popping up in what seems almost a random fashion to me.

Where is the line?