Game bug universal sword
Game bug universal sword
Okay, I'm really annoyed. I love that there are universal swords, BUT if you do any weapon specialization or focus, you don't get the bonuses. Anyone else noticed this too?
- Siberys
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Weapon focus and specialization are specifically for a type of weapon. It's not just swords in general, it's your choice of short sword, dagger, rapier, scimitar, or any one of the other swords.
Listen up maggots, Mr. Popo's 'bout to teach you the pecking order.
It goes you, the dirt, the worms inside of the dirt, Popo's stool, Kami, then Popo.
~Mr. Popo, Dragonball Z Abridged
It goes you, the dirt, the worms inside of the dirt, Popo's stool, Kami, then Popo.
~Mr. Popo, Dragonball Z Abridged
I realize that they are for a specific weapon ( in the case of my lvl 10 Weapon Master, my selection was the Katana), but the whole point of the Universal Sword is that anyone with a sword skill can use the universal sword...but if you don't get the bonuses for your specializations what's the point? And if the case is that you don't get your bonuses for the Universal sword, shouldn't there be a feat that is Weapon Focus/Specialization/Improved Crititcal/Power Critical/ etc in Universal Swords? I'll just use my Katana +3 (upgraded) instead of the plot based sword which has alot more enchantment/power becuase I still do more damage using my weapon specialization.
- Ningengirai
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I haven't gotten to that part in the game yet, but man, I was afraid of something like that ever since knowing you'd get a Universal Sword. My character has Weapon Focus in Kukris, the other in Quarterstaff. Yeah, what's the point? I'm probably going to keep using my weapons, too - I spent a lot of money on them.
{ De Die Nocteque }
It is universal since you will need to use it during the plot (for approximately 10 seconds). Most of the weapons cannot be used by all classes, so it has to be something which is out of these.
And whining for a plot item cannot be specialized in, is rather strange. Do not use it if you specialized in something else, and the problem is solved.
And whining for a plot item cannot be specialized in, is rather strange. Do not use it if you specialized in something else, and the problem is solved.
- Ningengirai
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10 seconds? Funny, my fight against thezamiel wrote:It is universal since you will need to use it during the plot (for approximately 10 seconds). Most of the weapons cannot be used by all classes, so it has to be something which is out of these.
And whining for a plot item cannot be specialized in, is rather strange. Do not use it if you specialized in something else, and the problem is solved.
Spoiler
Nightstalker
What bugs me the most is that the Universal Sword has stats you won't find on any other item in the game unless you go into the toolset and create it yourself. I don't think that even the Craft Items feat can give you an item like that. Sure, you can equip several items that come *close* to it, but not real close. For anyone playing a character that doesn't have 200+ hitpoints, that sword is a godsend - most casters, I'd imagine - and a curse, because in melee? Uhm, yeah, you're pwned.
Of course I don't have to carry the sword *all* the time, but in the fights that matter and are likely to kick my butt, I have the choice between sacrificing all my worked-for weapon feats by using the sword, or not using the sword and making myself more vulnerable toward attacks the sword was intended to protect against. At the point I'm at right now, not using the sword would be suicide - and I spend most of my time as a caster hiding behind my fighter henchmen because I just *can't* deal out enough melee damage with that sword to be effective in a fight.
{ De Die Nocteque }
Sure, but you do not need the sword for all that fight, just for a specific part of it.
You can damage the nightstalker with whatever weapon you want, you only have to wield the sword for destroying the portal.That shouldn't be more than 10 seconds.
By the way in forged items you may only have 3 effects. For example a alchemical silver greataxe may have a +5 enchantment +d6 fire damage +d6 cold damage. However the properties of mithral (-% weight) darksteel (+ damage/resist) and adamantite count as one. So imho it isn't worth making an adamantite weapon (+2 damage is really silly as an effect).
No, weapon feats are not useless because you cannot use them on the universal sword. They are the feats which make you far better with any weapon than wielding that damned sword. Which is - however - is not a good weapon. For a caster, yes (and will he need any weapon proficiency? no, since he is a caster), but for a melee char it deals soooo little damage.
You can damage the nightstalker with whatever weapon you want, you only have to wield the sword for destroying the portal.That shouldn't be more than 10 seconds.
By the way in forged items you may only have 3 effects. For example a alchemical silver greataxe may have a +5 enchantment +d6 fire damage +d6 cold damage. However the properties of mithral (-% weight) darksteel (+ damage/resist) and adamantite count as one. So imho it isn't worth making an adamantite weapon (+2 damage is really silly as an effect).
No, weapon feats are not useless because you cannot use them on the universal sword. They are the feats which make you far better with any weapon than wielding that damned sword. Which is - however - is not a good weapon. For a caster, yes (and will he need any weapon proficiency? no, since he is a caster), but for a melee char it deals soooo little damage.
- Ningengirai
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Maybe it's just me, but I find that a wizard without at least a little combat experience is pretty much dead meat once we come to the 5-20 people mobs, not to mention the magic users later in the game.
The thing is, the way the game was scripted forces your character to be at the front of the group every time conversation is initiated, and five times out of ten, conversation ends in combat. By the time I manage to get my wizard to a safe distance for spellcasting, I've incurred at least 2 or 3 attacks, not to mention the AoO you incur while casting in close proximity, and that leads to spell failure and whatnot even at higher caster levels. Unless I micromanage my henchmen, they tend to FOLLOW me if I run away from the battle, which leads the mob straight back to me. Furthermore, I don't understand how they could script henchmen AI that makes Khelgar, for example, ignore the vicious mob of 6 right in front of us in order to run around the group ( and possibly get stuck somewhere thanks to the pathing ) to attack a lonely archer somewhere in the back of the attackers.
So unless I've somehow missed something, I didn't yet find a way to make my wizard survive mobs while standing in the middle of them, and that's where combat feats come in. Subsequently, that's where my gripe with that sword comes in.
The thing is, the way the game was scripted forces your character to be at the front of the group every time conversation is initiated, and five times out of ten, conversation ends in combat. By the time I manage to get my wizard to a safe distance for spellcasting, I've incurred at least 2 or 3 attacks, not to mention the AoO you incur while casting in close proximity, and that leads to spell failure and whatnot even at higher caster levels. Unless I micromanage my henchmen, they tend to FOLLOW me if I run away from the battle, which leads the mob straight back to me. Furthermore, I don't understand how they could script henchmen AI that makes Khelgar, for example, ignore the vicious mob of 6 right in front of us in order to run around the group ( and possibly get stuck somewhere thanks to the pathing ) to attack a lonely archer somewhere in the back of the attackers.
So unless I've somehow missed something, I didn't yet find a way to make my wizard survive mobs while standing in the middle of them, and that's where combat feats come in. Subsequently, that's where my gripe with that sword comes in.
{ De Die Nocteque }
Well, there are some spells called Stoneskin, Mirror Image, Etheral Visage, Greater Stoneskin, which all help you survive battles. And in the case of a mage this means to succesfully cast its first spell, since usually it devastates the whole area. But memorizing/choosing spells known is another question; maybe you should start a thread about that
- Ningengirai
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No offense, but I've been playing wizards in NWN1 and other games for almost four years now. I didn't think about anything else when I picked up NWN2 because they are my favourite class, and yes, I use all those buffs - when I have the time to cast them.zamiel wrote:Well, there are some spells called Stoneskin, Mirror Image, Etheral Visage, Greater Stoneskin, which all help you survive battles. And in the case of a mage this means to succesfully cast its first spell, since usually it devastates the whole area. But memorizing/choosing spells known is another question; maybe you should start a thread about that
Still - surrounded by a mob, your henchmen doing god knows what, AoOs, spell failure... yeah. Wizards are among the weakest classes, physically, and they get pwned in melee. Which wouldn't be so bad if the henchmen did their job. Which they do only if I micromanage them. Which means, to be effective, pausing the game, selecting the henchman in question, pointing them at an enemy, and then hoping that once I switch back to my character, they don't do something stupid. Now try this on Hardcore settings. You end up nuking your own company with area damage spells.
Anyway - thanks for your input. I just vented in another thread, and now I feel a little better. ( And sorry to mods for hijacking the thread )
{ De Die Nocteque }
Man, I really empathize with y'all. How many times did I set Ammon Jerro to casting True Name, only to fnd him moments later in front of me, whacking away at a ghast. Sometimes even micromanaging didn't work. In this case, you had to basically give up the other players and sit on Jerro's fat *ss to get him to complete the spell!
Build a man a fire, and he will be warm for a night.
Set a man afire, and he'll be warm the rest of his life.
Set a man afire, and he'll be warm the rest of his life.
- Bombastard
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Back to the sword...
I managed to reforge the sword about two quests after I'd finally found my "Holy Avenger." Felt pretty gyped until I realized that you can equip it as a second hand weapon and use shard storm to occupy casters while you work the guy in front of you (or hit said caster while prone to make up for some off that dual wield penalty). Better yet, toss it to someone with a crappy weapon. I tossed it onto Zhaeve so I can have her shard up casters while healing me up. Otherwise it seems to suck as a weapon but it does give you some tasty boosts. So yeah, primo off-hand weapon.
I managed to reforge the sword about two quests after I'd finally found my "Holy Avenger." Felt pretty gyped until I realized that you can equip it as a second hand weapon and use shard storm to occupy casters while you work the guy in front of you (or hit said caster while prone to make up for some off that dual wield penalty). Better yet, toss it to someone with a crappy weapon. I tossed it onto Zhaeve so I can have her shard up casters while healing me up. Otherwise it seems to suck as a weapon but it does give you some tasty boosts. So yeah, primo off-hand weapon.
- bobjohnson113
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...
I agree, my barbarian/berserker/fighter/nw9 (yea thats right, four classes) focuses on bastard swords and hes way better off with bloodletter than with the silver sword. I thought about sticking it on one of my caster henchmen but when you play with D&D hardcore rules the shardstorm hits you as much as your enemies so its basically useless. In fact casters are useless in general when playing hardcore because they are so stupid .
I agree, my barbarian/berserker/fighter/nw9 (yea thats right, four classes) focuses on bastard swords and hes way better off with bloodletter than with the silver sword. I thought about sticking it on one of my caster henchmen but when you play with D&D hardcore rules the shardstorm hits you as much as your enemies so its basically useless. In fact casters are useless in general when playing hardcore because they are so stupid .
I also wound up not using the Sword except for the 10 seconds mentioned earlier where you HAVE to use it...
My Aasimar Paladin/Divine Champ took one look at the reforged Sword and threw it in his pack, along with the Holy Avenger, and kept using his +5 Holy Longsword with 1d10 Sonic...
And i seriously doubt my Tiefling Fighter/Weapon Master will be willing to give up his +5 Cold Iron Holy-Flaming Dwarven Waraxe...
As for Mages and survival, with spells like (improved) Stoneskin, improved Mage Armour (or just Bracers of armour +8) etc, i never had any trouble staying alive with a Mage/Sorc (in NWN1 and NWN2)...
And as for area spells, the good thing about standing in front is you can nuke the enemy before your friends get stuck in, and there is always Chain Lightning!
And as for attacks of opportunity disrupting your spell, that's what Defensive Casting is for! (as long as the damn game does not shut it down on its own)
My Aasimar Paladin/Divine Champ took one look at the reforged Sword and threw it in his pack, along with the Holy Avenger, and kept using his +5 Holy Longsword with 1d10 Sonic...
And i seriously doubt my Tiefling Fighter/Weapon Master will be willing to give up his +5 Cold Iron Holy-Flaming Dwarven Waraxe...
As for Mages and survival, with spells like (improved) Stoneskin, improved Mage Armour (or just Bracers of armour +8) etc, i never had any trouble staying alive with a Mage/Sorc (in NWN1 and NWN2)...
And as for area spells, the good thing about standing in front is you can nuke the enemy before your friends get stuck in, and there is always Chain Lightning!
And as for attacks of opportunity disrupting your spell, that's what Defensive Casting is for! (as long as the damn game does not shut it down on its own)
Universal Sword ??? -- Arcane Mages are wink links.
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I am glad I read this thread. What the heck is the Universal Sword everyone is talking about? I can find no reference to it in the database but am curious if it is the Sword of Gith.
I think it was in Might & Magic VI that I got tired of them dying all the time because they could not go physical to protect themselves when they were mobbed. Since then I have always built my mages especially in the early stages by giving them some fighting skills with at least one weapon type and shield if possible as they have so few hit points a ghost saying 'BOO' would probably kill them with a heart attack. I just switch his shield and armor before he casts his spells. I found that I lose fewer mages using this method and I haven't noticed that much of a negative effect on his spell casting abilities. He usually carries far more mana than he would along with extra health potions.
Mages are far more at risk in NWN 2 because in most games I could always have at least my battle ready Cleric to defend them. I have used a greater stone elemental cast by my mage who seems to stay closer to the person who summoned it and they provide a good shield.
What really irks me about this game is the way that party members run around like chickens with their heads cut off. Khelgar often gets himself in trouble and you have to send someone to rescue him even when he is set to defend the leader and stay close to him. I have yet to see Ammon Jerro cast any sort of spell and I would like to see what this supposedly powerful Warlock can do. He almost refuses to cast the spell true name and so he isn't in my party unless I need him. Unfortunately I am nearing the time to go after Black Garius and his Shadow Reavers, multitude of undead, and constructs and somewhere in there I'll probably have to have Ammon in my party. First there is the Siege and all the undead. I had Grobnar busy making weapons for every member of the party. They now all have at least three sets for evil, chaotic and the undead and usually each weapon is meant for two of the types of enemies they will face. One of the best weapons is the is spell Mass Heal because you can damage the undead and heal your party members at the same time.
Zhjaeve is the one who actually killed Tholapsyx as my Paladin was fighting him up close and Khelgar was on a coffee break while Neeshka was running around killing everything else. My paladin needed some quick healing and I did not think he could afford to take time to guzzle a heal potion much less cast heal. I sent Zhjaeve closer and had her cast mass heal on the ground in the area where they were fighting and since Tholapsyx and my Paladins health was low I had her cast it twice and she killed the dragon. I checked the chat window and she was listed as having killed him though my paladin as leader got the Dragonkiller badge or whatever. I am going to try that spell during the Siege of Crossroads Keep to help control all the undead as undead turning seems useless.
I would normally have finished this game sometime in January but the party AI sucks as bad as quicksand or a leech that I got tired of everybody running off and doing their own thing in battle so I am put of finishing the end. I started playing Spades online when I got frustrated.
I have never seen such down right colossal boneheaded, illogical, dumb party AI as this game has. I sure hope they don't have an expansion planned as I doubt I would buy it if the party AI is this bad. The party that fights together stays together and lives longer. I ‘d like to send the whole AI developer to Iraq to learn the meaning of a party and how they protect each other because they depend on each other.
Kel
*****
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I am glad I read this thread. What the heck is the Universal Sword everyone is talking about? I can find no reference to it in the database but am curious if it is the Sword of Gith.
Hi Ningengirai, I totally agree that wizards are dead meat in a crowd because they are a prime target known to not have a whole lot of hit points.Ningengirai wrote:Maybe it's just me, but I find that a wizard without at least a little combat experience is pretty much dead meat once we come to the 5-20 people mobs, not to mention the magic users later in the game.
I think it was in Might & Magic VI that I got tired of them dying all the time because they could not go physical to protect themselves when they were mobbed. Since then I have always built my mages especially in the early stages by giving them some fighting skills with at least one weapon type and shield if possible as they have so few hit points a ghost saying 'BOO' would probably kill them with a heart attack. I just switch his shield and armor before he casts his spells. I found that I lose fewer mages using this method and I haven't noticed that much of a negative effect on his spell casting abilities. He usually carries far more mana than he would along with extra health potions.
Mages are far more at risk in NWN 2 because in most games I could always have at least my battle ready Cleric to defend them. I have used a greater stone elemental cast by my mage who seems to stay closer to the person who summoned it and they provide a good shield.
What really irks me about this game is the way that party members run around like chickens with their heads cut off. Khelgar often gets himself in trouble and you have to send someone to rescue him even when he is set to defend the leader and stay close to him. I have yet to see Ammon Jerro cast any sort of spell and I would like to see what this supposedly powerful Warlock can do. He almost refuses to cast the spell true name and so he isn't in my party unless I need him. Unfortunately I am nearing the time to go after Black Garius and his Shadow Reavers, multitude of undead, and constructs and somewhere in there I'll probably have to have Ammon in my party. First there is the Siege and all the undead. I had Grobnar busy making weapons for every member of the party. They now all have at least three sets for evil, chaotic and the undead and usually each weapon is meant for two of the types of enemies they will face. One of the best weapons is the is spell Mass Heal because you can damage the undead and heal your party members at the same time.
Zhjaeve is the one who actually killed Tholapsyx as my Paladin was fighting him up close and Khelgar was on a coffee break while Neeshka was running around killing everything else. My paladin needed some quick healing and I did not think he could afford to take time to guzzle a heal potion much less cast heal. I sent Zhjaeve closer and had her cast mass heal on the ground in the area where they were fighting and since Tholapsyx and my Paladins health was low I had her cast it twice and she killed the dragon. I checked the chat window and she was listed as having killed him though my paladin as leader got the Dragonkiller badge or whatever. I am going to try that spell during the Siege of Crossroads Keep to help control all the undead as undead turning seems useless.
I would normally have finished this game sometime in January but the party AI sucks as bad as quicksand or a leech that I got tired of everybody running off and doing their own thing in battle so I am put of finishing the end. I started playing Spades online when I got frustrated.
I have never seen such down right colossal boneheaded, illogical, dumb party AI as this game has. I sure hope they don't have an expansion planned as I doubt I would buy it if the party AI is this bad. The party that fights together stays together and lives longer. I ‘d like to send the whole AI developer to Iraq to learn the meaning of a party and how they protect each other because they depend on each other.
Kel
*****
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"Time is a honest judge and a relentless master ..... Use it well or regret it later."
*
"Time is a honest judge and a relentless master ..... Use it well or regret it later."
*
Strange. I found the game much easier with a wizard than with my earlier game with a rogue/duelist/ranger. Had to reload only a couple of times. The buffs really worked (stoneskin, greater stoneskin, premonition, shades, etc.), and firebrand/chain lightning, etc. wiped out masses pretty quickly. Empowered firebrand was my favorite for crowd control. Actually I was disappointed that the game was so easy with a wizard (hardcore rules).
I also had INT at 30 + spellcasting prodigy at the end (headband of intellect +8), so most of my higher level spells were pretty much irresistable at the end and the area spells did a lot of damge
I also had INT at 30 + spellcasting prodigy at the end (headband of intellect +8), so most of my higher level spells were pretty much irresistable at the end and the area spells did a lot of damge
- Ningengirai
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Wizards seriously rock once they hit the higher levels, but until they do and aren't multiclassed with anything that gives them the slightest bit of advantage in a fight ( say, a few levels of rogue for evasion, etc ), they're cannon fodder. At least that's my experience. I mean, I agree - I have a Lvl 40 female elf wizard over in NWN1 and nothing much even touches her once she gets into the casting of Empowered Isaac's. But Lvl one starts off with less than 10 hitpoints and you don't always find buff potions or have the gold to buy them in the beginning.Jaypee wrote:Strange. I found the game much easier with a wizard than with my earlier game with a rogue/duelist/ranger. Had to reload only a couple of times. The buffs really worked (stoneskin, greater stoneskin, premonition, shades, etc.), and firebrand/chain lightning, etc. wiped out masses pretty quickly. Empowered firebrand was my favorite for crowd control. Actually I was disappointed that the game was so easy with a wizard (hardcore rules).
I also had INT at 30 + spellcasting prodigy at the end (headband of intellect +8), so most of my higher level spells were pretty much irresistable at the end and the area spells did a lot of damge
I think what most people are disappointed with, at least in NWN2, isn't the wizard class itself, but the way the AI works. I'd bet that if there were an 'Stick to wizard leader as if you're glued to them and EAT anything that comes close' option in the AI controls, the henchmen would STILL do stupid stuff, leaving their potentially weakest link ( at low levels ) unguarded.
{ De Die Nocteque }