GameBanshee Forums

*THIS THREAD CONTAINS SPOILERS*

I was hoing for hints and tips on strategy..

Welcome to GB.

I play the game. Doesn't seem that many people do though or at least they don't have questions about it.

If you have any questions I'll try and help.

I'd advise putting lots of points into Ranged Weapons, they come in useful especially near the end of the game. Keep in tight control of any henchmen you have otherwise they may run out to a fight and alert an army of enemies. Personally I don't bother with them most of the time.
Use lure tactics to split up enemies making fights easier.

Hiya, Ravager.

Yes, I already found out that ranged weapons are best. And ranged Thought spells. And the shoot-run-shoot-run strategy. Lava trolls and Ice Bolt taught me that! And the 'lure enemies one at a time' strategy - I found that years ago with Daggerfall (my first game).

I have played several characters as far as Montserrat, and one to the Crypt; but they all seem to have weaknesses that make things very difficult.

I have realised, belatedly, the importance of Diplomacy! Especially with Daevas.

I never take on companions any more. As you say, they are more trouble than they are worth.

What I really want to know is how best to make your character powerful. The miserable 41 attribute points are an annoyance. And only having 3 tag skills! Yeah, I know I'm a moaner! Actually, I didn't mind having only 3 tag until I found out how great Diplomacy is.
Anyway, I always used Ascetic and Studious Tinkerer as Traits because they carry the most benefits with the least disadvantages, imo. (after all, you get the -1 Perception back pretty soon, and as for gold, you don't miss what you don't have.
But now I think Gifted is better than S.Tinkerer because it puts all your attributes up one point which is worth it even though you lose 4 skill points on levelling.

I've tried all the races and all the races with different Spirits - but they all seem to fail as you get past Montaillu. Maybe I'm just doing the order wrong? I go from Montaillu to the Crypt, and the Crypt kills my char every single time. I'm thinking of going to wherever it is the Rock Titans have enslaved the citizens instead.

For tag skills, you're stuck with 3.
Choose them well though, once you start putting 100+ points in them, they're incredibly useful. Personally I always go for a weapon skill (usually One-Handed Melee and/or Ranged) and Fortitude (for healing - much better than simply relying on potions). The third skill I change over, sometimes Open Locks, sometimes Speech or Find Traps. It depends on what kind of character I'm going for.

Traits are optional IIRC and I don't normally go for more than 1 of them, I don't like the disadvantage too much.

But now I think Gifted is better than S.Tinkerer because it puts all your attributes up one point which is worth it even though you lose 4 skill points on levelling.

I'm always looking for more skill points on a level (through the Perks + Belt & Necklace of Voodoo combination), the more skill points per level you get at the beginning the better the character will be at the end. So when you see any Perks offering extra skill points I'd generally go for those.
I don't normally go for other spells, I've tried them (particularly the Necromancy spells which were useful) but I prefer melee.

I've tried all the races and all the races with different Spirits - but they all seem to fail as you get past Montaillu. Maybe I'm just doing the order wrong? I go from Montaillu to the Crypt, and the Crypt kills my char every single time. I'm thinking of going to wherever it is the Rock Titans have enslaved the citizens instead.

The spirits are effectively pointless, they only offer 1 point in each spell branch they focus on (e.g. Divine Spirit puts a point in each of the Divine spell branches- something that you could gain easily enough on your own).
I remember having great difficulties with the Brimstone Soul Reavers on the first time through the Crypt. Hitting them was very hard. The best solution is just to pile points into whatever weapon type you are using. That way you should be able to hit creatures easier (and keep doing it as enemies DO get a lot harder). The Crypt was probably my favourite area in the game though, with lots of treasure dotted around. One item can be found behind a secret door called the Ivory Mace of Divinity that does extra damage and has the chance of annihilating an undead foe. That helps especially with the regenerating Revanants you will find.

Also I'd recommend continually going back to the merchants, for me, they seemed to have new items every time I levelled up. Especially Alvarez, the merchant at the Crossroads.
One way of getting good experience is to take advantage of the random Crystal encounters. Clicking on a blue crystal that transports you somewhere sometimes deposits you in an Etheral area which can have Goblins, undead, Hujark etc. dependent on level. These areas ALWAYS seem to have some hidden treasure to find. Good quality treasure too.
Just keep clicking on the crystals and you'll either be transported to the random area or shown the map- if you're shown the map, exit it and click on the crystal again. Keep doing it until you do get the random encounter.
Look out for items that increase stats and resistances, I always kept the best elemental resistance shield and weapons that improved skills like Find Hidden Doors (and sometimes just bought them so they could be used for those specific occasions).

I think that's all I can offer for now.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask, I'll try and remember more stuff if you need it.
Sorry that's such a long post, it's probably my longest ever.
Hopefully you'll be able to follow what I've written.

Thank you Ravager. I agree about always wanting more skill points!

Studious Tinkerer gives 4 points to any magic you spend 1 skill point in (at Level 2 only). So it is good for that. And Ascetic gives you 10 extra skill points at Level 2 as well. Which is why I always choose it.
Educated Perk gives 2 extra skill points in addition to starting skill points, which partly compensates for the loss of 4 if you take Gifted. And Swift Learner gives extra XP, which is good.

You use Divine:Fortitude a lot as a Tag skill, do you? I have mostly gone for Divine:Smite. It is incredibly useful against undead. And Tribal rotection=Absorb Spirit, is good for vacuuming up health from dead bodies; though I never use Tribal for anything else.

I mostly use merchats to buy Health potions. Very rarely I will buy an item that is good, if I have enough gold, but usually I rely on finding stuff.

Your suggestion about the crystal is a good one, and one I have not tried. I will do so!
I did get transported once, in one game. It never occurred to me to keep clicking on the crystal until I got a 'random'. I can be really dense, sometimes.

Which Faction is the best, in your opinion? I have tried Templars and Wielders, but not Inquisition. I go for high Intelligence rather than muscle power, so I favour Wielders...

It's been a little while since I played Lionheart last, so I don't remember the traits and available perks that well. I generally pick those perks that increase skills and attributes at the same time. Otherwise, I would normally leave the Attribute perks alone, I think. I also try to leave those perks that increase a skill alone until it takes 3+ points to increase them, or if they will prove useful (like the ranged skills at the end).

[QUOTE=Fljotsdale]You use Divine:Fortitude a lot as a Tag skill, do you? I have mostly gone for Divine:Smite. It is incredibly useful against undead. And Tribal rotection=Absorb Spirit, is good for vacuuming up health from dead bodies; though I never use Tribal for anything else. [/QUOTE]

I always seem to use Fortitude, if only for the Heal spell (though the others like Poison Reist can be useful- and Disease Resist where they are Zombies).
I used to use Smite, the Cripple Enemy spell was useful in doing damage when there was trouble hitting something.
I'd recommend checking out Necromancy, the Undead Summoning can be useful, and if (or most likely when) it gets defeated, it's not a permanent loss.

[QUOTE=Fljotsdale]I mostly use merchats to buy Health potions. Very rarely I will buy an item that is good, if I have enough gold, but usually I rely on finding stuff. [/QUOTE]

I do that too, sometimes I stock up all the Extra Healing potions I can find. The Heal spell is much more renewable though (relies on Mana rather than a finite supply), so that has definite advantages.
I would definitely recommend snapping up stuff as it appears, it may not again. Sometimes you will find effectively unique equipment and kick yourself for not spending a bit of gold on it, before it disappeared from a merchant's inventory. Other times, you won't lose out too much on gold- etc. you have a weapon that gives 35 to Find Hidden Doors and see one that gives 40. You don't need both, so give the 35 up in exchange for the 40.

[QUOTE=Fljotsdale]Your suggestion about the crystal is a good one, and one I have not tried. I will do so!
I did get transported once, in one game. It never occurred to me to keep clicking on the crystal until I got a 'random'. I can be really dense, sometimes. [/QUOTE]

It's not something I thought of straightaway either, it's just something I thought of after seeing so many encounters and wondering what caused it to happen .
You do have to have patience with it though, sometimes it takes 20+ clicks to get one.
And when you get there, be cautious, many of the areas have very tough enemies like Revenants. In those cases, sometimes it's better to find a weaker part of the area first and run if you have to pass through a tough area to exit it. Standing there and fighting back is a death sentence.

[QUOTE=Fljotsdale]Which Faction is the best, in your opinion? I have tried Templars and Wielders, but not Inquisition. I go for high Intelligence rather than muscle power, so I favour Wielders...[/QUOTE]

Let's see, I've tried the Knight's Templar (first time through), the Wielders, the Dark Wielder's (when I won the game) and latest the Inquisition. I think I probably prefer the Wielder's too, even though I prefer melee combat. They give you serious Mana bonuses (through items and Intelligence increases). The Dark Wielders also give you something similar and provide an interesting evil path through the game.
The Inquisition aren't too bad, but the bonuses and quests connected to the Wielder's are probably better.

Something I almost forgot to write is, stockpile the Firepowder Kegs sold by Weng Choi in Barcelona, he should get a new shipment every time you level up. They're cheap and invaluable against the really tough encounters. I ended up with at least 49 and don't think I could have won the final battle of the game without them (and all the healing potions).

I've played through Lionheart a few times but only once have I really managed to get to the final areas and complete it.

Thanks, Ravager. You are very helpful.

[QUOTE=Ravager] It's been a little while since I played Lionheart last, so I don't remember the traits and available perks that well. I generally pick those perks that increase skills and attributes at the same time. Otherwise, I would normally leave the Attribute perks alone, I think. I also try to leave those perks that increase a skill alone until it takes 3+ points to increase them, or if they will prove useful (like the ranged skills at the end).[/quote]

Hm. Useful tip. Thanks.

[QUOTE=Ravager]I always seem to use Fortitude, if only for the Heal spell (though the others like Poison Reist can be useful- and Disease Resist where they are Zombies).
I used to use Smite, the Cripple Enemy spell was useful in doing damage when there was trouble hitting something.
I'd recommend checking out Necromancy, the Undead Summoning can be useful, and if (or most likely when) it gets defeated, it's not a permanent loss.[/quote]

Yes, I use Heal, of course, and poison/disease resistance if I get that far. I've never had Fortitude as a Tag skill though. And I'm not that keen on Summoning, though Boots of Dead Walking have given access to summoning a Zombie, which is handy sometimes. Exorcism in the Smite branch is good against anything, and CAN wipe undead in one casting, if lucky.
But I will have a go with Necromancy.

[QUOTE=Ravager] I would definitely recommend snapping up stuff as it appears, it may not again. Sometimes you will find effectively unique equipment and kick yourself for not spending a bit of gold on it, before it disappeared from a merchant's inventory. Other times, you won't lose out too much on gold- etc. you have a weapon that gives 35 to Find Hidden Doors and see one that gives 40. You don't need both, so give the 35 up in exchange for the 40. [/quote]

Yes, I have seen some REALLY good stuff in the merchant at the Crossroads, but not had a tithe of the gold needed to purchase it. SO annoying! And yes, I do swap out good for better!

[QUOTE=Ravager]It's not something I thought of straightaway either, it's just something I thought of after seeing so many encounters and wondering what caused it to happen .
You do have to have patience with it though, sometimes it takes 20+ clicks to get one.
And when you get there, be cautious, many of the areas have very tough enemies like Revenants. In those cases, sometimes it's better to find a weaker part of the area first and run if you have to pass through a tough area to exit it. Standing there and fighting back is a death sentence. [/quote]

Ehhh... yeah. I've been trying it since you posted... I'm one of those people who will slug it out to the bitter end, LOL! "Revenant huh? Come on if you think you're big enough!" SPLAT !!!!

[QUOTE=Ravager]Let's see, I've tried the Knight's Templar (first time through), the Wielders, the Dark Wielder's (when I won the game) and latest the Inquisition. I think I probably prefer the Wielder's too, even though I prefer melee combat. They give you serious Mana bonuses (through items and Intelligence increases). The Dark Wielders also give you something similar and provide an interesting evil path through the game.
The Inquisition aren't too bad, but the bonuses and quests connected to the Wielder's are probably better.[/quote]

Good! It's what I thought, too. Good to have it confirmed.

[QUOTE=Ravager]Something I almost forgot to write is, stockpile the Firepowder Kegs sold by Weng Choi in Barcelona, he should get a new shipment every time you level up. They're cheap and invaluable against the really tough encounters. I ended up with at least 49 and don't think I could have won the final battle of the game without them (and all the healing potions). [/quote]
But those kegs are heavy! 5lb a keg. My char rarely has innate STRength above 4. I give it all to INT, Per, Agi and Cha. I should probably give more to End than 5. My current char has a belt of Titan strength, giving +2 STR, and Boots of Carrying as well, but even so, I don't fancy lugging lots of kegs around.
I tried to use them once, in one game, but they never seem to go where you want them to. Is there a way of placing them exactly?

I always try to get items of multiple benefits, as well, preferably triple benefits!
And this game I found a ring of Missile Damping which I never found before.

[QUOTE=Ravager]I've played through Lionheart a few times but only once have I really managed to get to the final areas and complete it.[/QUOTE]

That tough, hey? Erk. But I'm determined to do it!

[QUOTE=Fljotsdale]Yes, I use Heal, of course, and poison/disease resistance if I get that far. I've never had Fortitude as a Tag skill though. And I'm not that keen on Summoning, though Boots of Dead Walking have given access to summoning a Zombie, which is handy sometimes. Exorcism in the Smite branch is good against anything, and CAN wipe undead in one casting, if lucky.
But I will have a go with Necromancy. [/QUOTE]

IIRC, those boots just give a bonus to the skill. The Summoning spell improves as you put more points in it- first the Zombie has more HP, then it gets replaced with a tougher creature and it repeats that way.
I think the spell summons a Greater Skeleton at one point and can also summon Soul Reavers.
As for Exorcism, you should find a Mace in the Crypt that has a similar effect and doesn't draw on Mana.

[QUOTE=Fljotsdale]Ehhh... yeah. I've been trying it since you posted... I'm one of those people who will slug it out to the bitter end, LOL! "Revenant huh? Come on if you think you're big enough!" SPLAT !!!![/QUOTE]

*wince* I usually have to be very high-level before Revenants become a comfortable fight- in the crypt though, there are sarcophagi that contain 3!
Most of them are avoidable fights though, thankfully. Just always save before opening sarcophagi.
Those encounters should help you rack up your experience a bit anyway, just don't forget to check for the treasure!

[QUOTE=Fljotsdale]But those kegs are heavy! 5lb a keg. My char rarely has innate STRength above 4. I give it all to INT, Per, Agi and Cha. I should probably give more to End than 5. My current char has a belt of Titan strength, giving +2 STR, and Boots of Carrying as well, but even so, I don't fancy lugging lots of kegs around.
I tried to use them once, in one game, but they never seem to go where you want them to. Is there a way of placing them exactly? [/QUOTE]

I thought that once you bought one and had that 5lbs. that additional ones didn't add to the inventory weight, but I may be wrong. I always went for characters with at least 5, preferably 6 starting strength (though I always struggle with encumberance too).
You just right-click on a keg and it gets placed on the ground where you're standing, exploding after 3 seconds. Best of all, it doesn't damage you or your allies.

[QUOTE=Fljotsdale]I always try to get items of multiple benefits, as well, preferably triple benefits!
And this game I found a ring of Missile Damping which I never found before. [/QUOTE]

Yeah, the game can throw out some good surprises.
Once you find something like that it seems to trigger availability of more of those items in merchants inventories, e.g. you find a Heartseeking weapon somewhere and suddenly merchants sell variants of it. The random encounters sometimes introduce new variants that you haven't found either. Did you defeat the Goblin Khan? He has some high-quality treasure too.
Missile Dampening wasn't that good though IIRC (not for me anyway- it only takes 5% away I think).

[QUOTE=Fljotsdale]That tough, hey? Erk. But I'm determined to do it![/QUOTE]

Mainly the game caught me by surprise. Soon enough from where you are at the game goes very combat-oriented. You get transported into the middle of an area filled to the brim with enemy soldiers and if you can't hit them, you're going to have great difficulty. So if you're having trouble with the Crypt now, you should probably take the majority of points you get and put them into a weapon skill.
Otherwise, you'll need lots of potions or spending half an hour waiting for 150 Mana points to regenerate (something I think I did )
And it's good you're determined.

[QUOTE=Ravager] IIRC, those boots just give a bonus to the skill. [/quote]
True.

[QUOTE=Ravager]As for Exorcism, you should find a Mace in the Crypt that has a similar effect and doesn't draw on Mana.[/quote]
Nice!

[QUOTE=Ravager]*wince* I usually have to be very high-level before Revenants become a comfortable fight- in the crypt though, there are sarcophagi that contain 3!
Most of them are avoidable fights though, thankfully. Just always save before opening sarcophagi. [/quote]

Ah, yes. So I discovered in the game I got that far. I beat the first lot, but it took everything I had. So I went back to an earlier saved game, and even saving before opening the sarcophgi, so as as to avoid them, I still couldn't manage it. I hope I do better this time.

[QUOTE=Ravager]I thought that once you bought one and had that 5lbs. that additional ones didn't add to the inventory weight, but I may be wrong. I always went for characters with at least 5, preferably 6 starting strength (though I always struggle with encumberance too).
You just right-click on a keg and it gets placed on the ground where you're standing, exploding after 3 seconds. Best of all, it doesn't damage you or your allies. [/quote]
No, they weigh! They don't hurt your char? Damn! The one time I used 'em I dumped them and ran...

[QUOTE=Ravager]Yeah, the game can throw out some good surprises.
Once you find something like that it seems to trigger availability of more of those items in merchants inventories, e.g. you find a Heartseeking weapon somewhere and suddenly merchants sell variants of it. The random encounters sometimes introduce new variants that you haven't found either. Did you defeat the Goblin Khan? He has some high-quality treasure too.
Missile Dampening wasn't that good though IIRC (not for me anyway- it only takes 5% away I think).[/quote]
The Missile damping I have is 7%.
Yes, done Goblin Khan. Brought me up to lvl 15. Yeah - some of the chests are ok; some are not.

[QUOTE=Ravager]Mainly the game caught me by surprise. Soon enough from where you are at the game goes very combat-oriented. [/quote]

Yeah. One thing that annoys me is that XP depends primarily on fighting. In Morrowind it's USING your skills, and then the particular skill(s) levels up, which is much more sensible. Still, Lionheart isn't Morrowind, so I shouldn't grumble.

[QUOTE=Ravager]You get transported into the middle of an area filled to the brim with enemy soldiers and if you can't hit them, you're going to have great difficulty. So if you're having trouble with the Crypt now, you should probably take the majority of points you get and put them into a weapon skill.
Otherwise, you'll need lots of potions or spending half an hour waiting for 150 Mana points to regenerate (something I think I did )
And it's good you're determined. [/QUOTE]

Heh! I've done that - waiting around for Mana to regenerate. And since my char currently has almost 500 mana it takes a while...
I almost always have Ranged as my Tag weapon skill, but I steadily add points to one-hand melee as well. Currently, my present char (with boosts from equipped items) had 101 Ranged. and 48 One-hand melee. And I have fed lots of points into Divine:Smite, so that I now have all the spells in that branch available - and exorcism nicely boosted by both amulet and boots. It is a terrific spell when you are surrounded by a lot of enemies. Cave vodyanoi are a bit resistant to it, but it get's 'em in the end!

I think I am ok for the time being, now Ravager, but when I get to the Crypt again, I might just be yelling for more advice.
Thank you very much. You have been very helpful. Much appreciated.

Raveger: I owe an apology - you were right about the kegs. I was sure they weighed, but I just bought a second lot of 3 and the weight didn't go up at all.

Sorry.

[QUOTE=Fljotsdale]Ah, yes. So I discovered in the game I got that far. I beat the first lot, but it took everything I had. So I went back to an earlier saved game, and even saving before opening the sarcophgi, so as as to avoid them, I still couldn't manage it. I hope I do better this time. [/QUOTE]

You managed to defeat 3 revenants in one go?! Wow.
Generally if I opened one of those sarcophagi, I just wouldn't bother to fight and reload again.
Only if it was one or maybe two, would I bother to fight.
They're very fast, so it's hard to evade as well, unless you're good at sneaking maybe, but I never bothered with that skill, especially seeing as I prefer the heavier armours that hamper the skill.

[QUOTE=Fljotsdale]Damn! The one time I used 'em I dumped them and ran...[/QUOTE]

And you can use as many as you want, though if the enemy is close to the explosion it's more likely that they'll get injured, so stay near the keg. As for the weight issue, it would make more sense if each new barrel weighed more, but it certainly helps that it doesn't...
I would have expected each barrel added to the weight myself, but I wasn't too sure if that was the case.

[QUOTE=Fljotsdale]Yeah. One thing that annoys me is that XP depends primarily on fighting. In Morrowind it's USING your skills, and then the particular skill(s) levels up, which is much more sensible.[/QUOTE]

I'm used to this kind of XP system myself and prefer it to the Morrowind one. It's less realistic but I'm just used to it.

[QUOTE=Fljotsdale]Heh! I've done that - waiting around for Mana to regenerate. And since my char currently has almost 500 mana it takes a while...[/QUOTE]

Most of the time you can use mana spirits, but when you're in an area surrounded by enemies...
Fortunately, in those areas many of the enemies drop mana spirits when they die.

[QUOTE=Fljotsdale]I almost always have Ranged as my Tag weapon skill, but I steadily add points to one-hand melee as well. Currently, my present char (with boosts from equipped items) had 101 Ranged. and 48 One-hand melee. [/QUOTE]

You can use a bow pretty well in close combat without penalties, so you may want to stick with that, it should be easier to hit enemies with that than One-handed (unless you put more points in). There is a good free bow on offer in Montaillou if you complete one of the quests there.

[QUOTE=Ravager] You managed to defeat 3 revenants in one go?! Wow.
Generally if I opened one of those sarcophagi, I just wouldn't bother to fight and reload again.
Only if it was one or maybe two, would I bother to fight.
They're very fast, so it's hard to evade as well, unless you're good at sneaking maybe, but I never bothered with that skill, especially seeing as I prefer the heavier armours that hamper the skill.[/quote]

This is why I like Divine:Smite so much. Hit with 'Weaken Enemies' first, then 'Cripple Enemies', then hit them with Exorcism several times. It DOES mean using LOTS of Extra Health and Spirit potions. I had over 50 Extra Health potions at the start of the Crypt (don't remember how many Spirit), but by the time I finished with my first Revenants I had none left. Not that I had used them all on the Revenents, but still...
I figured my char was not going to be able to complete the Crypt...



[QUOTE=Ravager]And you can use as many as you want, though if the enemy is close to the explosion it's more likely that they'll get injured, so stay near the keg. As for the weight issue, it would make more sense if each new barrel weighed more, but it certainly helps that it doesn't...
I would have expected each barrel added to the weight myself, but I wasn't too sure if that was the case.[/quote]

Yes, I've tried it now. I figure I shall take a lot to the Crypt in my current game. Thanks!

[QUOTE=Ravager]I'm used to this kind of XP system myself and prefer it to the Morrowind one. It's less realistic but I'm just used to it.[/quote]

Yes, I was used to it too. Morrowind spoiled me.

[QUOTE=Ravager]Most of the time you can use mana spirits, but when you're in an area surrounded by enemies... [/quote] Quite. Move a limb and they get ya!
[QUOTE=Ravager]Fortunately, in those areas many of the enemies drop mana spirits when they die.[/quote]
Yes, but some places there are nowhere near enough! My characters always depend heavily on Magic (Exorcism is 80 mana per cast), so Mana goes down rapidly.

[QUOTE=Ravager]You can use a bow pretty well in close combat without penalties, so you may want to stick with that, it should be easier to hit enemies with that than One-handed (unless you put more points in). There is a good free bow on offer in Montaillou if you complete one of the quests there. [/QUOTE]

I've been wondering whether to just add points to Ranged and forget melee. But I feel a bit naked without a melee weapon in my inventory, even if I never use it... silly me.
Yes - got it last time. There is also a nice blue one that does Cold damage at that Merchant's just before the Pyrenees - Duro Plains, I think. Nice weapon.
The main problem with Ranged is getting enough decent arrows/bolts. They can be VERY expensive to buy, and you don't find that many. The Everlasting ones don't do that much damage. I've taken to saving up the good ones to use later in the game.

By the way - I've noticed that you can sometimes find items 'of the Sylvant' and 'of the Feralkin'.
So far, I haven't found anything 'of the Demokin. Are there such items, do you know?

[QUOTE=Fljotsdale]This is why I like Divine:Smite so much. Hit with 'Weaken Enemies' first, then 'Cripple Enemies', then hit them with Exorcism several times. It DOES mean using LOTS of Extra Health and Spirit potions. I had over 50 Extra Health potions at the start of the Crypt (don't remember how many Spirit), but by the time I finished with my first Revenants I had none left. Not that I had used them all on the Revenents, but still...[/QUOTE]

Weaken Enemies is useful.
Today, I've been trying it in combination with the 'Everlasting' Hammer, the spell weaken the enemies AC and Crushing resistances which helps.
Also, I managed to kill about 6 or so Revenants in the Crypt (I had an old save from that point) thanks to the Mace of Divinity that destroyed them.
You should be able to use the Mace against many of the toughest foes, if you can survive long enough then the Mace should destroy them and you still get the experience for it too.

[QUOTE=Fljotsdale]Yes, I was used to it too. Morrowind spoiled me. [/QUOTE]

Uh, I meant I preferred the Lionheart system. There's also vaguely similar systems in Baldur's Gate, Icewind Dale and Neverwinter Nights, so I'm used to something like Lionheart over Morrowind. Besides, some of the skills seemed to take forever to increase in Morrowind (unless paid for) .

[QUOTE=Fljotsdale]Yes, but some places there are nowhere near enough! My characters always depend heavily on Magic (Exorcism is 80 mana per cast), so Mana goes down rapidly.[/QUOTE]

I think it depends on how tough the enemy is and what kind of location it is. Revenants probably drop 10 times the mana a zombie does.

[QUOTE=Fljotsdale]The main problem with Ranged is getting enough decent arrows/bolts. They can be VERY expensive to buy, and you don't find that many. The Everlasting ones don't do that much damage. I've taken to saving up the good ones to use later in the game.[/QUOTE]

Personally I just stick to the Everlasting missiles and just improve the bow itself. Composite bows increase damage as do the bows a step above that. Find Carnage bows for an acid damage bonus on top of that. The game will start will start to switch over more to archers and they generally have lots of arrows to spare.

[QUOTE=Fljotsdale]By the way - I've noticed that you can sometimes find items 'of the Sylvant' and 'of the Feralkin'.
So far, I haven't found anything 'of the Demokin. Are there such items, do you know?[/QUOTE]

I vaguely remember finding a Demokin item, maybe a helm. But it would be rare and it was in none of my savegame files (I think I deleted the ones from when I completed the game ).

Seeing as I was looking through my savegames today, and regained an interest in continuing where I last left off, I thought I'd post some of my character details- from a character now on the 2nnd level down of the Crypt.
I thought it might be interesting for you.

------------------------------------

The Everlasting (currently equipped weapon)
Ivory Mace of Divinity- 6-12+4- Extra 3-9 damage vs. Undead, +1 to all Divine spell branches, 3% of hits destroy undead
War Hammer of Revealing- +60 to Find Traps
Crossbow of Accuracy, Carnage and Fleshseeking- +7% to hit, +4 acid, +23 Divine Fortitude
Composite Long Bow of Agility- +1 AGI
Helm of Protection & Hard Bargaining- +5 AC, +20 Barter, +1 CHA (First time I'd seen a 'Hard Bargaining' item- from the Goblin Khan I believe)
Medium Shield of Charisma- +2 CHA (and normal Medium Shield benefits)
Belt of Titan Strength and the Thief- +2 STR, +10 Find Traps
Belt of Endurance- +2
Rod of the Inquisitor - +1 PER, +10 Divine Favour, +1 Healing Rate, 2-7+4 Crushing Damage (one of the bonuses for becoming an Inquisitor)
Belt & Necklace of Voodoo- When both are worn +1 skill pt. per level.
Amulet of Crushing Carnage, Slashing Carnage and Acid Touch- 10% bonuses on crushing and slashing damage and 1-3 acid damage every 3 seconds (IIRC) on enemies within melee range.
(bought today for 16000 gold )

Perks- Master Trader, Weng Choi's Shaolin Secret, Weapon Handling, Salesman, Scholar of the Cresent, Stargazer, Swift Learner, Hero of the Inquisition, Galileo's Magical Battery, Debt of Brimstone, Tough Hide, Bramble's Patience, Thief Comrade, Thief, Educated, Power from Beyond

Inquisitor- +1 PER, +5 Unarmed, +1 skill pt. Per level, +5% Cold, Elec and Fire resistances
There's another higher rank of Inquisitor gained later in the game I think (the same will apply to Wielders- they become High Wielders)

Trait- Good natured
Racial- Skin of thorns
Stats- STR- 6 (8)
PER- 8 (9)
END- 7
CHA- 5 (7)
INT- 7
AGI- 6
LUCK- 6

Nice character!

I don't think my char will be able to use those nice melee weapons. She is exclusively Ranged, with ridiculously low melee points. Ah, well, can't have it all ways.
I started over, btw. I thought I would try out your recommendation of tagging Divine:Fortitude (but I still have Divine:Smite tagged!). My other tag skill is Ranged. And I'm equipped with enough Thiefly stuff that I am managing fine without having one tagged; even Speech skill is almost as good as Barter (one is around 80 and the other 70, iirc)


I'll post mine tomorrow - just turned off my game computer and don't want to go there again today, since I feel I ought to go to bed; it's after midnight...

That helmet of Hard Bargaining - I got one, too. Never seen it before; I laughed out loud when I found it! Nice, though! I just have to remember to equip it before selling stuff...
I also found a ring I'd never come across before: Ring of the Metal Fist. Unarmed +6; Unarmed damage +6%; all melee weapons -3.


Anyway - you are right about Fortitude. VERY useful. I didn't realise just how much damage I was taking from poison and disease previously. Fortitude and Smite are a good combination. There is also a neat little spell in Tribal: either Feral Lash or Natures Balance. It ACTS like Feral Lash, but in the game it is being called Nature's Balance, even though it has the Feral Lash icon. It is second spell of Natures Fury in the game, but first in the Manual. (That is a pretty poor manual, imo, anyway.) I only have it because I have an item that adds points to it. I didn't give that branch any points myself.

Oh, I can give you her current stats at level 13:

STR 4 (6 with Belt of Titan Strength and the Thief)
PER 8
END 5
CHA 6 (8 with Shakespeare's ring and the Hard Bargaining helm)
INT 8
AGI 7
LUC 5

I think something else has a boost as well, but I've not marked it on my character notes...

Racial Trait: Forked Tongue
Traits: Ascetic, Good Natured
Perks:
Swift learner 1
Swift Learner 2
Educated
Mastery of Smiting

'Freebies':
Galileo's Magic Battery
Stargazer
Shakespeare's Eloquent Words book (+15 Speech)
Book of Death (+15 Necromancy)
Rio Ebro Monument (She's a wielder)

She has just started the Goblin Khan Quest for the Dryad and the Inquisition.

If you haven't already, try the [url="http://www.gamebanshee.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26300"]patch/update[/url] that's posted on this forum. It adds a bonus area and merchant to Barcelona. That was quite good.

[QUOTE=Fljotsdale]I don't think my char will be able to use those nice melee weapons. She is exclusively Ranged, with ridiculously low melee points. Ah, well, can't have it all ways.[/QUOTE]

You can use bows a lot at least. And there are spells and items that incease melee skills at least temporarily.

As for the Helm of Bargaining I think I just keep mine equipped permanently. The charisma boosts Mana I think. Definitely the best helm I've seen in Lionheart.

[QUOTE=Fljotsdale]Anyway - you are right about Fortitude. VERY useful. I didn't realise just how much damage I was taking from poison and disease previously. Fortitude and Smite are a good combination. There is also a neat little spell in Tribal: either Feral Lash or Natures Balance. It ACTS like Feral Lash, but in the game it is being called Nature's Balance, even though it has the Feral Lash icon. [/QUOTE]

I don't think I've used that spell, does it just increase the damage you do?

[QUOTE=Ravager] If you haven't already, try the [url="http://www.gamebanshee.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26300"]patch/update[/url] that's posted on this forum. It adds a bonus area and merchant to Barcelona. That was quite good.
I don't have my games computer on-line, so I can't. This computer that I use on-line had to be reformatted SO many times due to viruses and worms that when I got my new computer I swore I would never risk it on-line. I had what I thought was good anti-virus software, too, automatically updated. But the worm even corrupted that!


[QUOTE=Ravager]You can use bows a lot at least. And there are spells and items that incease melee skills at least temporarily.
Yes. And my current char has pretty good Ranged skill and weapons. And yes, I use stuff that boosts skills!

[QUOTE=Ravager]As for the Helm of Bargaining I think I just keep mine equipped permanently. The charisma boosts Mana I think. Definitely the best helm I've seen in Lionheart.[/quote]
I only use it for buying/selling. I prefer the Hlmet of The Eagle/The Falcon/ and Protection (or a Resistance).


[QUOTE=Ravager]I don't think I've used that spell, does it just increase the damage you do?[/QUOTE]
It's the one with a fist enclosed in a pink circle. It causes damage to the enemy who hits you. Pretty much the same effect as dragonscale armour. It's not much at low level (which is what my char has), but it should improve a lot with more points. I'm keeping it in mind for when I use a Feralkin, rather than spending points on it now.

Anyway; my char, properly, at level 19:
Demokin.
Elemental Spirit.
Wielder, Favoured of Saladin

STR 4 (7)
Per 7 (9)
END 5
CHA 6
INT 9
AGI 7 (8)
Luc 6

Racial: Forked Tongue
Traits: Ascetic, Good Natured

Tag: Ranged, Divine:Smite, Divine:Fortitude

Perks:
Swift Learner 1 & 2, Educated, Mastery of Smiting, Mastery of Fortitude, Enlightenment.

Freebies:
Galileo's Magic Battery, Stargazer, Eloquent Works (book +15 Speech), Book of Death (+15 Necromancy), Rio Ebro Monument (Wielders only), Luck Potion (from Druid), Scholar of the Crescent, Bramble's Patience.

Currently Equpped items:
Full Plate: Protection/Fortitude/Carrying - +11 AC, +12 Fortitude branch, +50 Carry

Helmet: Protection/Falcon/Eagle - +3AC, +8 One-hand Melee, +5 Locks, +4 Sneak, +8 Ranged, +5 Locks (aggregate 10 ), +7 Find.

Bow: Icy Carnage - +20 Cold Damage (spells, items of cold), +20 Piercing

Amulet: Protection/Exorcism/Elemental Attunement - +12 Exorcism, +1 Perception, + 2 skill points Divine:Heal and Tribal:Balance of Nature

Belt: Titan Strength/Cold Resistence/Thief - +2 STR, +5% Resist cold, +10 Locks/Find

Gauntlets: Blessed Archery/Thievery/Gladiator - +23 Ranged, +12 Locks/Find, +1 STR, +5% Slash damage, +10 Two-hand melee.(not that the last two are any use to me...)

Boots: Adder/Loadbearing/Spirit Regeneration - +20 Resist poison, +10 Poison Ring spell, +50 Carrying, + Increased mana regen.

Ring: Protection/Divine Attunement - +4 AC, +2 skill all Divine branches

Ring: Protection/Crush Resistance - +5 AC, +8% Crush resistance.

I also have a variety of rings & necklaces, including Voodoo neclance, and a Voodoo belt (but I only equip those two just before I notice I am due to level up), the Helm of Hard Bargaining, and the stuff collected in the Quest Objects list, some of which are VERY useful.

What level is your char, now? And where is he? Have you completed the Crypt?

Erm...

What to do with a big blue robot thingie? When I got this far before, I just reloaded and pretended it wasn't there, LOL! Does it have something to do later in the game, or is it just useful backup in tricky situations? I was thinking it might be handy in the Crypt.

I'm about half-way through the crypt, just completing the second floor of it. Not sure of the character level though. Maybe 21.

What to do with a big blue robot thingie? When I got this far before, I just reloaded and pretended it wasn't there, LOL! Does it have something to do later in the game, or is it just useful backup in tricky situations? I was thinking it might be handy in the Crypt.

Sounds like the Lightning WarGolem. Quite a useful companion. Electric damage heals it and it packs quite a punch. I'm using it throughout the Crypt myself.
Just make sure it doesn't become a target itself, otherwise it won't last long.
That may be more trouble for you if you're using a bow, the golem is moe likely to approach the enemy, probably getting more attention in the process.
Like with all companions I just tell it to stay in a location and lead bigger groups/tougher encounters into it's sight and then get aid as necessary.
If you don't want it with you just talk to it, and release it from service, it should stay in the same location (for as long as you can access the area anyway).

Thanks, Ravager.

Erm... how do you control the companions you get options for? My game just seems to give the option to let 'em go. Maybe I'm doing things wrong...