{"id":7771,"date":"2019-12-20T13:45:47","date_gmt":"2019-12-20T13:45:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.offkorn.com\/blog\/?p=7771"},"modified":"2020-08-20T05:30:05","modified_gmt":"2020-08-20T05:30:05","slug":"avernum-ii-crystal-souls","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.offkorn.com\/blog\/avernum-ii-crystal-souls\/","title":{"rendered":"Avernum II: CRYSTAL SOULS"},"content":{"rendered":"

The followup<\/a> to Escape from the Pit<\/a> improves upon just about everything.<\/p>\n

The GUI is a bit slicker, the environmental textures are a bit more varied, it starts off somewhat linear to ease you into the game, some puzzles\/traps get introduced that trigger off of careless movement, there’s a lot more loot to sell, the ending quests aren’t as mindlessly hack & slashy, and there’s even a sidequest that has multiple outcomes (though neither actually affects anything).<\/p>\n

There wasn’t any dedicated walkthrough for it though, so I had to do some searching to compile an effective assortment of skills and efficient initial location order. I ended up with:<\/p>\n

Paladin
\nInt; End on levels 3\/6\/9\/12\/15\/18\/21\/24\/27\/30
\nMelee 8, Priest 14; Hardiness\/Parry\/Spellcraft\/Resistance 10; Tool Use 1
\nMelee+Hardiness\/Parry x7 -> Priest+Hardiness\/Parry x7 -> Priest+Spellcraft\/Resistance x6 -> Spellcraft\/Resistance x7 -> Hardiness\/Parry x2
\nNimble Fingers, Negotiator, XP x2, Parry Master x2, Elemental Focus x5, Improved Int x5, Health x3, Luck x2, Improved End x3<\/p>\n

Warmage
\nInt; End on levels 3\/6\/9\/12\/15\/18\/21\/24\/27\/30
\nPole 8, Mage 16; Spellcraft\/Hardiness\/Resistance 10, Luck 3; Tool Use 5, Cave Lore 1
\nMage+Spellcraft\/Resistance\/Tool Use x12 -> Pole+Mage\/Hardiness x6 -> Pole+Spellcraft -> Spellcraft+Hardiness\/Resistance x5 -> Luck+Hardiness\/Resistance x5
\nNimble Fingers x2, Negotiator, Sage Lore, XP x2, Elemental Focus x5, Improved Int x5, Luck x2, Blessing Focus x5, Health<\/p>\n

Mystic Theurge x2
\nInt; Dex on levels 4\/8\/12\/16\/20\/24\/28
\nBow\/Priest 8, Mage 16; Spellcraft\/Resistance 10; Tool Use 2, Arcane Lore 1, First Aid 8
\nMage+Spellcraft\/Resistance x15 -> Bow+Tool Use -> Bow+Spellcraft\/Resistance x4 -> Bow+Priest\/First Aid x2 -> Priest+First Aid\/Resistance
\nNimble Fingers, Negotiator, Sage Lore, XP x2, Elemental Focus x5, Improved Int x5, Luck x2, Health x3, Improved Dex x4<\/blockquote>\n

All human, since it’s hard to argue with eight free traits. I went with a full magic party this time and only regretted it a little in the final assassination mission with all those warded enemies that had to be physically hit before they could be damaged. Initial order for Chapter 4 was:<\/p>\n

– Move Mountains 2 (Formello)
\n– Buy\/Upgrade Spells (Various)
\n– Blessed Athame (Totem Tunnels -> Halls of Chaos)
\n– Move Mountains 3 (Serpent Cult)
\n– Dispel Barrier 2 (Kill Limoncelli)
\n– Deciphering Lens (Magi Clearance -> Patrick’s Tower)
\n– Dispel Barrier 3 (Magi Clearance -> Barrier Tower)
\n– Orb of Thralni (Secret Empire Fort -> Kothtar)<\/p>\n

This worked out extremely well and resulted in being able to systematically clear every area afterward without any need for backtracking (besides when destroying the portal, as I forgot to pick up the Scepter first). It was a much more enjoyable experience overall than the prequel, though I think for the next game in the series<\/a> I’m going to actually try and use an all-archery party (with magic backup). Hopefully it won’t turn into a depressing grind.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The followup to Escape from the Pit improves upon just about everything. The GUI is a bit slicker, the environmental textures are a bit more varied, it starts off somewhat linear to ease you into the game, some puzzles\/traps get introduced that trigger off of careless movement, there’s a lot more loot to sell, the ending quests aren’t as mindlessly hack & slashy, and there’s even a sidequest that has multiple outcomes (though neither actually affects anything). There wasn’t any dedicated walkthrough for it though, so I had to do some searching to compile an effective assortment of skills and efficient initial location order. I ended up with: Paladin Int; End on levels 3\/6\/9\/12\/15\/18\/21\/24\/27\/30 Melee 8, Priest 14; Hardiness\/Parry\/Spellcraft\/Resistance 10; Tool Use 1 Melee+Hardiness\/Parry x7 -> Priest+Hardiness\/Parry x7 -> Priest+Spellcraft\/Resistance x6 -> Spellcraft\/Resistance x7 -> Hardiness\/Parry x2 Nimble Fingers, Negotiator, XP x2, Parry Master x2, Elemental Focus x5, Improved Int x5, Health x3, Luck x2, Improved End x3 Warmage Int; End on levels 3\/6\/9\/12\/15\/18\/21\/24\/27\/30 Pole 8, Mage 16; Spellcraft\/Hardiness\/Resistance 10, Luck 3; Tool Use 5, Cave Lore 1 Mage+Spellcraft\/Resistance\/Tool Use x12 -> Pole+Mage\/Hardiness x6 -> Pole+Spellcraft -> Spellcraft+Hardiness\/Resistance x5 -> Luck+Hardiness\/Resistance x5 Nimble Fingers x2, Negotiator, Sage Lore, XP x2, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[33,7],"tags":[460,28,121,120,473],"class_list":["post-7771","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-pc","category-video-game-related","tag-avernum","tag-fantasy","tag-rpg","tag-tactical-rpg","tag-third-person-perspective"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t