GameBanshee Forums

I've had the game for quite some time now. I've nearly finished (I'm in the process of defeating Morag) and I haven't yet found a specific purpose for all the miscellaneous gems such as malachite and amethyst. Is there a use for them other than selling them to get money? My friend asked me this the other day and I didn't really have an answer for him.

Simple answer

Nope. All such gems are mearly for selling - unless you have the Shadows of Undretide expansion, where there is a use for some of the miscellaneous gems.

Which gems have other uses?

ALSO …

1. I have found a bunch of Sapphires in Chap2 and they are described as blue variants of the Ruby. Are they more or less valuable than that jewel?
2. What other jewels are in the game?[/list=1]

In chapter one, SoU, you can use any two of: aventurine, phenalope, amethyst or fluorspar combined with a quatz in the machine in Drogans room on the first floor to create more Focus Crystals for the teleportation ring.

1.) Rubies are more expensive

2.) This is the list I could find of gems in the game.
Alexandrite, Amethyes, Aventurine, Diamond, Emerald, Fire Agate, Fire Opal, Fluorspar, Garnet, Greenstone, Malachite, Phenalope, Ruby, Sapphire, Topas

focus crystals

A few further questions, then:

1. Is there any difference in the result depending on the combination?
2. I have not seen many of the lower-value gems since getting to 9th level (a lot of Topaz, tho'). Will these gems reappear in quantity or do we need to save them when we get them?[/list=1]

1.) No - each time you use the teleportation ring in Chapter 1 of SoU you will consume one focus stone. They have no other function, and I don't even think they are sellable, although I've not tried. Each created focus stone is the same.
(Although ... the machine that creates the focus stone can create a few other items as well, a ring and a sword etc. nothing exceptional)

2.) If you are done with Chapter 1 of SoU, or you feel you have enough Focus Stones - sell away, otherwise create a few more stones and sell away. More often then not, the higher level areas will yield higher level treasure, so you will likely see lesser of the "cheap" gems as you increase in level.

Holding on to gems can be a good thing. For one thing, they aren't counted in the gold penalty when you die in NwN.

Diamonds can be used in having special armor made for you in NwN, and Rubies may hold some value late in Undrentide if you have enough of them (no spoilers from me). A few of the lesser gems will help you make the focus stones in Undrentide.

Other than that, yes, they are for selling for cash. I'll often buy a cheap bag to stuff them all in so they don't clutter my inventory, much like i do scrolls and potions. Too bad boxes aren't more common.

Diamonds can be used in having special armor made for you in NwN,

I believe we have also seen Adamite (spelling?) as an 'ingredient' for fordging magical weapons.

I have another simple question, and didn't want to start a new thread for something so basic!
Sometimes, when we are walking around a town, we see people that don't engage in conversation, just say something basic and walk on. Today we ran into one that said he was injured, as opposed to the uninjured that is usually under their names. Since we can't engage in conversation, we tried doing a healing spell standing right next to him, but nothing happened to him. Are we supposed to try to heal people that are just walking by? Since they almost always say uninjured, this just seemed out of place and like we were supposed to do something! Thanks guys!

Rarely will you find a 'non vital' NPC character that has recieved a few bruises because he/she/it attacked something or was attacked. Since they don't 'rest' like you do, they will probably walk around through the rest of the chapter with 'injured' status without it being indicative of a particular quest or some such.

NPC's where their health (lack thereof) is something of interest if they are either on the ground or whining about it in their conversation text.

Originally posted by Mom&Son
I have another simple question, and didn't want to start a new thread for something so basic!
Sometimes, when we are walking around a town, we see people that don't engage in conversation, just say something basic and walk on. Today we ran into one that said he was injured, as opposed to the uninjured that is usually under their names. Since we can't engage in conversation, we tried doing a healing spell standing right next to him, but nothing happened to him. Are we supposed to try to heal people that are just walking by? Since they almost always say uninjured, this just seemed out of place and like we were supposed to do something! Thanks guys!

What chapter and area was this in.?

I don't really recall other then 1 "important" NPC in the original NwN (Chapter 3 I think) that needs healing.

Originally posted by Mom&Son
I believe we have also seen Adamite (spelling?) as an 'ingredient' for fordging magical weapons.

Adamantium is not a gem, but a metal - but yes, you use it for creating magical weapons in original NwN.

Okay, I have to admit some short sightedness regarding my tips earlier.

I just noticed that the Base Attack Bonus post-21 is not cumulative. In other words, a level 8 fighter (+8 bonus) who is also a level 12 Wizard (+6) will have a cumulative attack bonus of +14/9/4. However, no matter which class they level up after 20th, it will follow the Epic chart, not the class chart.

I noticed this because my Fighter 10/ Sorcerer 16 character has a standing attack bonus of +17/+12/+7, not the cumulative 18/13/8/3.

So I have to admit that my suggestion about preferring to advance your caster class above your fighter class is flawed. If you raise your melee class to level 12 before you hit 21st, then you will gain a fourth attack, while a melee 8/caster 12 will be eternally stuck with only 3 main hand attacks.

Furthermore, I was wrong about preferring two handed weapons over sword and shield. It IS possible to get away with Sword-and-shield if you stick with small shields (5% penalty), since it's defensive bonuses will stack above and beyond any other bonuses you may have, unless i'm wrong again. Thus, you could get away with Padded and a small shield and possibly be better defensively (via stacked magic bonuses) than another in leather and no shield. Depends on the shield stacking rules. This would mean that you can more readily choose between the extra attacks of a double weapon, or the defensive boost of sword-and-sheild. Due apologies.

Xandax asked:

What chapter and area was this in.?

At Fort Illkard, outside, there was a guy walking around (as I described above) that had a 'tag' that said he was injured, but we couldn't even talk to him.

Since I posted we've run in to two others: There was an Uthgar warrior in small camp outside in Moonwood that had a 'tag' that said he was "near death". We were able to hold a short conversation with him. But we weren't given any option to actually help him.
There was also a man in the Mercerinary Enclave in bunk area at Beorunna's Well who we could talk to and he said his leg was hurt, and his 'tag' said he was injured. Again, we talked to him and although he told us he was injured, we couldn't find a way to help him.

Does any of that ring a bell?! Thanks for asking for more details and trying to help!

The fort illikard I don't recall as anything at all....

The Uthgard warriors near moonwood - if you heal them, they will give some more convesations, but I've found no plot related to them at all.

The guy in the Mercenary Enclave at Beorunnas Well is involved in a quest. Withouth spoiling to much: he would have been worth healing.

I found a reference to it! I typed too soon!
I went to the walkthrough on Game Banshee (thanks, guys!) NWN walkthrough - Moonwood and, at least in this case, it says we have to be a 'divine caster' to heal them. So, although we can't help them, at least I'm not loosing my mind (about this anyway!).

And here: Beorunna's Well in number 3, it just says 'You can also heal the Zeb’s leg' but we wern't given the option (sorry, Zeb 'ole fellow!).

As for the random guy at Fort Illkard, there is no mention of him on the walkthrough: NWN walkthrough Ft. Illkard
So, I guess we don't have to worry about him.

Well - you can heal people withouth their consent.
The guy in Berounnas Well will not ask you to heal him - you have to do that on your own account. I did the same with the Uthgard warriors.

You can heal people by either casting a healing spell or useing a healing kit on them.