Fixing stupid followers A.I in combat.

Some evil force is breeding zombies and giving them shovels to dig up their kin! When you reply to a post that is over 3-4 days old it is considered a "gravedig". But, still this post isn't the most pointless gravedig I've seen.

 

Looking at this kind of post I agree with xzbyte - perhaps making people register before they post wouldn't be so bad. Or at least make them read the forum rules.

 

With respect to the site owners, I can't say the value in allowing anybody to post under the anonymity of "Guest." It's a troll magnet at worst, and an annoyance at best that makes it difficult to maintain correspondence and constant identity in any forum.

 

OKAY everybody, I'm now registered with the same handle (TROBS) and no longer anonymous. I've also read the faq. I also posted my question (above) in the correct, relevant place in this forum. To keep this posting on topic, I'd appreciate anyone's comments on my biggest concern about Hard Acranum: Can a newby play it?

I've been playing my first game recently, at difficulty "moderate". Can I get the advantages of H.A (without the worst of the challenges) by playing H.A. at the moderate or easy setting?
Cheers, everyone!
-trobs.

 

The new version of hard arcanum and i am not sure if i am going to name it hard arcanum any more will have multiple difficulty settings that will make it from extra hard to extra easy.

So no you cannot download it yet.

For a preview of what kind of choices you will have read this.

{1}{Hello @pcname@ .I am your dungeon master. I would like to ask you some questions . After your answer my questions you can continue playing. Select difficulty level please.}{Hello @pcname@ .I am your dungeon master. I would like to ask you some questions . After your answer my questions you can continue playing. Select difficulty level please.}{}{}{}{}
{2}{Very easy.(Monster hit pints max 65 %)}{}{1}{}{13}{gv 1211 0}
{3}{Easy(Monster hit points min 65 % max 100%)}{}{1}{}{13}{gv 1211 7}
{4}{Normal.(Monster hit points min 65 % max150 %)}{}{1}{}{13}{gv 1211 17}
{5}{Hard.(Monster hit points min 65% max 200 %) }{}{1}{}{13}{gv 1211 27}
{6}{More ...}{}{1}{}{7}{}
{7}{Select difficulty level.}{Select difficulty level.}{}{}{}{}
{8}{Very hard.(Monster hit points 65% min max 250 %)}{}{1}{}{13}{gv 1211 37}
{9}{Insane.(Monster hit points 65% min max 300 %)}{}{1}{}{13}{gv 1211 47}
{10}{Elite.(Monster hit points min 65 % max 350 %)}{}{1}{}{13}{gv 1211 57}
{11}{Impossible.(Monster hit points min 65 % max 500 %)}{}{1}{}{13}{gv 1211 87}
{12}{Back ...}{}{1}{}{1}{}
{13}{Do you want to allow player's beauty to modify summons hit points ? 5% per point of beauty 55 % for 1 beauty 150% for 20 beauty ?}{Do you want to allow player's beauty to modify summons hit points ? 5% per point of beauty 55 % for 1 beauty 150% for 20 beauty ?}{}{}{}{}
{14}{Yes (recommended).}{}{1}{}{16}{gv 1213 10}
{15}{No . I want summons to have the hit points they always had.}{}{1}{}{16}{gv 1213 1}
{16}{Do you want to get an one time bonus to hit points and fatigue in order to make the game easier ?}{Do you want to get an one time bonus to hit points and fatigue in order to make the game easier ?}{}{}{}{}
{17}{No.(master).}{}{1}{}{21}{gv 1218 0}
{18}{Yes.(+10 life +10 fatigue)(expert).}{}{1}{}{21}{gv 1218 10}
{19}{Yes.(+20 life +20 fatigue)(experienced)}{}{1}{}{21}{gv 1218 20}
{20}{Yes.(+30 life +30 fatigue)(beginner ).}{}{1}{}{21}{gv 1218 30}
{21}{The reason that followers that have magick do not cast spells is that the A.I is very conservative with regards to fatigue. Do you want your followers to have more fatigue so that they can cast more spells ?}{The reason that followers that have magick do not cast spells is that the A.I is very conservative with regards to fatigue. Do you want your followers to have more fatigue so that they can cast more spells ?}{}{}{}{}
{22}{No.(not recommended)}{}{1}{}{29}{gv 1219 0}
{23}{Yes. Give them 40 % more fatigue.(Recommended)}{}{1}{}{29}{gv 1219 8}
{24}{Yes. Give them 80 % more fatigue.}{}{1}{}{29}{gv 1219 16}
{25}{The way the game works is that in combat when you change sector ( 64 tiles square) your followers teleports close to you if they are far away. For finer combat control you want your followers to teleport when.}{The way the game works is that in combat when you change sector ( 64 tiles square) your followers teleports close to you if they are far away. For finer combat control you want your followers to teleport when.}{}{}{}{}
{26}{No leave it as it was.}{}{1}{}{29}{gv 1220 40}
{27}{8 tiles max in combat(Lots of teleports fine combat control)}{}{1}{}{29}{gv 1220 8}
{28}{15 tiles(recommended)}{}{1}{}{29}{gv 1220 15}
{29}{This version introduces death strike. Death strike effects 90% of monsters and undead. It is a chance to kill with 1 strike or spell.}{This version introduces death strike. Death strike effects 90% of monsters and undead. It is a chance to kill with 1 strike or spell.}{}{}{}{}
{30}{Please go on.}{}{1}{}{31}{}
{31}{The chance to do a death strike is constant. But you are only going to have a chance to do a death strike if you are the same level as the monster and your perception is maxed 20.For every point that your perception is lower than 20 you must be 2 levels higher than the monster.}{The chance to do a death strike is constant. But you are only going to have a chance to do a death strike if you are the same level as the monster and your perception is maxed 20.For every point that your perception is lower than 20 you must be 2 levels higher than the monster.}{}{}{}{}
{32}{Please go on.}{}{1}{}{33}{}
{33}{What chance do you want to have (you or your followers) to make a death strike ?}{What chance do you want to have (you or your followers) to make a death strike ?}{}{}{}{}
{34}{Six per cent .(recommended)}{}{1}{}{38}{gv 1221 6}
{35}{Three per cent.(Hard)}{}{1}{}{38}{gv 1221 3}
{36}{Nine per cent (Makes game much easier if you max perception)}{}{1}{}{38}{gv 1221 9}
{37}{One per cent (Not recommended)}{}{1}{}{38}{gv 1211 1}
{38}{Do you want random encounters to be disabled ? They will disabled anyway if you have the CAR as a follower. This will not disable encounters with the wilderness merchants.}{Do you want random encounters to be disabled ? They will disabled anyway if you have the CAR as a follower. This will not disable encounters with the wilderness merchants.}{}{}{}{}
{39}{No.(recommended)}{}{1}{}{41}{gf 2819 1}
{40}{I hate encounters with random monsters(Makes the game much much easier.)}{}{1}{}{41}{gf 2819 0}
{41}{Where do you want to find the car ?(The car is very useful)}{Where do you want to find the car ?(The car is very useful)}{}{}{}{}
{42}{I want it right away at shrouded hills.(Not recommended)}{}{1}{}{47}{gv 1222 1}
{43}{Put it somewhere in Tarant(Not recommended)}{}{1}{}{47}{gv 1222 2}
{44}{Put it in the "Dangerous village" location.}{}{1}{}{47}{gv 1222 3}
{45}{Put it in the "unnamed staff" location.}{}{1}{}{47}{gv 1222 4}
{46}{Put it in Caladon.}{}{1}{}{47}{gv 1222 5}
{47}{That is all .Do you want to finalize your changes and go play the game or nullify them and select everything from the start ? You will be able to see your choices under the section reputations in your book.}{That is all .Do you want to finalize your changes and go play the game or nullify them and select everything from the start ? You will be able to see your choices under the section reputations in your book.}{}{}{}{}
{48}{I am satisfied. I want to start playing right away.}{}{1}{}{50}{}
{49}{I want to change some options. Lets 'go again.}{}{1}{}{1}{}
{50}{Just one thing more. I must inform you that encumbrance in the world of Arcanum not only reduces your speed but also your dodge skill and magickal aptitude. More specifically each level of encumbrance reduces your magickal aptitude by 10.You can however spend more points in spells to compensate.}{Just one thing more. I must inform you that encumbrance in the world of Arcanum not only reduces your speed but also your dodge skill and magickal aptitude. More specifically each level of encumbrance reduces your magickal aptitude by 10.You can however spend more points in spells to compensate.}{}{}{}{}
{51}{Please go on.}{}{1}{}{52}{}
{52}{Each level of encumbrance also reduces your dodge ability by 2/4 .You cannot put more points in dodge than the usual five. However there is a way to manage your encumbrance problem.}{Each level of encumbrance also reduces your dodge ability by 2/4 .You cannot put more points in dodge than the usual five. However there is a way to manage your encumbrance problem.}{}{}{}{}
{53}{Please go on.}{}{1}{}{54}{}
{54}{I can transfer to you right now some items .Each of those items when placed in your inventory will allow you to carry 2000 stones without encumbrance problems. Please do not think of this as cheating. It is just a way to modify the rules for your benefit.}{I can transfer to you right now some items .Each of those items when placed in your inventory will allow you to carry 2000 stones without encumbrance problems. Please do not think of this as cheating. It is just a way to modify the rules for your benefit.}{}{}{}{}
{55}{Ok .What do you advise me to do ?}{}{1}{}{56}{}
{56}{I advise you to accept those items. Later you can throw them away if you want. You can ask me only once for those items.}{I advise you to accept those items. Later you can throw them away if you want. You can ask me only once for those items.}{}{}{}{}
{57}{Ok please transfer one of those items to me.}{}{1}{in-5735}{62}{in-5735}
{58}{Ok please transfer two of those items to me.}{}{1}{in-5735}{62}{in-5735 ,in-5735 }
{59}{Ok please transfer four of those items to me.}{}{1}{in-5735}{62}{in-5735 ,in-5735 ,in-5735 ,in-5735 }
{60}{Ok please transfer nine of those items to me.}{}{1}{in-5735}{62}{in-5735 ,in-5735 ,in-5735 ,in-5735 ,in-5735 ,in-5735 ,in-5735 ,in-5735 ,in -5735}
{61}{I do not want any of those items.}{}{1}{}{62}{}
{62}{That is all .Have a nice adventure @pcname@. Remember : you will be able to see your choices under the section reputations in your book.}{That is all .Have a nice adventure @pcname@. Remember : you will be able to see your choices under the section reputations in your book.}{}{}{}{}
{63}{E:}{}{1}{}{-2}{}

 

Why should encumberance decrease magick aptitude :-? What's the logic?

Chris, are you sure you're not being too hard on the magick oriented players??? Sure, playing a tech is fun, but have some mercy on the poor wizards!

 

First of all if you do not like this rule just carry those items that the dungeonmaster will give you and you can forget about encuberance in general.


Now why ?

In D&D

Mages cannot Wear plate armor , chain armor , metal shields , use swords blah blahh.
And if you are a priest a heavy armor drops your chances of casting the spell.


So why ? balance.

And realistically

You are an arcane mage . You have spend 50 or 500 if elf years of your life to learn and practice spells.

And someone puts 200 kilograms in your back to carry all the time.

Would this not make you suffer , lose your concetration and reduce the power of your spells ?

You are an ARCANE ARTIST for god shake NOT A MULE !!!!!!


Let me repeat . If you do not like this rule just use the items that the dungeonmaster provides you exclusively to negate this rule.


Also you can put more points in spells . 2 more spells will permanatly negate 1 level of encuberance as far as MA is concerned.



Finally your followers will now be really casting more spells .

Or mayby you do not want that mayby you want to use them as mules ?

Or mayby you want to use the items that the dungeomaster gave you (IF YOU CHOOSE TO TAKE THEM) to make them both kick a%s mages and mules ?

Not realistical but it is YOUR CHOICE.


As for your original question no.
I have made other changes that balance this.


Any more questions ?

 

Chris, you sounded kind of offended. I certainly did not mean that. I was genuinly wondering about your decisions, that seemed kind of unusual to me as someone who haven't played D&D.
I can understand your argument about encumberance vs. magick aptitude- but what about battlemages? One would expect them to be strong enough. Oh and wouldn't scientists also have to be kinda sickly and unfit as pack mules?

 

They are hampered even more actually

Each level of encumbrance also reduces your dodge ability by 2/4 .You cannot put more points in dodge than the usual five.

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

Finally did you notice the death strike ability ?

Does this work with area of effect spells ?

Well it does .

Think about that .

You hit many enemies at once and each of them can have a chance to immidiatelly die if you max perception.


Or think about the fact that max beauty increases the life of your summons by say 55 %.