Larian Studios Forums Divine Divinity (English) General first time player

hi everyone,

I'm new to this site as well as divine divinity. I can't say that the game seems good, because I don't know what the heck I'm doing. As soon as I reach my first opponent on the other side of the fence(first map area), I get killed. I can't figure out how to use health, magic or whatever I need to proceed. I'm a long time player of Diablo II & Sacred, so this is only my 3rd RPG. Could someone be so kind as to help me get started or at least point me to where I can get some good answers?

Thanks for your time,

ficarosso

There is a fair bit you can do before you leave the first town, to level up and get better equipment. Explore everywhere, loot whatever you can (save first if there is a chance you could be caught by a nearby NPC) and talk to everyone.


Early Starter Tips (NON-Spoiler Version)

Divine Divinity Manual - pdf file


You can use a potion or select a spell (to then be cast by right clicking) by clicking on the appropriate button on the interface at the bottom of the screen, then clicking on the potion/spell in the icon bar that pops up.
To assign a hotkey, hover your mouse cursor over the desired potion or spell in the appropriate icon bar, then hit a function key (F1-F9,F11,F12). For example, if you open the potion bar and highlight the icon for minor restoration potions, then hit F1, there should be an 'F1' shown in the corner of the icon, and after that hitting F1 will use a minor restoration potion (as long as there is one in your inventory). At the start of the game bread/meat and healing potions are better, but once you level up some, restoration potions become more effective.


There is a patch for the game, though some re-release versions may already be updated to the latest 1.0034A version, as shown in the bottom right corner of the main menu, so would not need to be patched. The DVD version is already updated, and the patch (designed for the CD version) should not be installed.


Welcome to the forum. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wave.gif" alt="" />

Raze,

thank you so much for the advice and patch information. Hopefully all starts going well, if not I may come crying <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cry.gif" alt="" />

thank you

ficarosso

actually, I added that patch, but then everytime I get the house, where the keeper ask you to fetch ??? herbs for him, the game always closes to my desktop. No messages, nothing

Thanks,
ficarosso

Did you start a new game after installing the patch? You do not have to, but there are a few fixes and additions that only apply to new games, and you are still pretty close to the start.


Is this the first time you approached George's shop this game? A cutscene is triggered then which might be the source of your problem. In that case, try running the configuration program and temporarily switch to Software mode, and lower the game resolution to 640x480. That may allow you to get past the cutscene, then you can save and restore the original configuration options.


Try deleting all of the files in the '..\Divine Divinity\Run\Dynamic' folder. If you have the patch installed (or you bought a re-release version that was already updated to 1.0034A) and reset the configuration files at least once after a crash when prompted, the dynamic folder should already have been cleared.
This folder is used as a cache for the game. Files are created / copied there from the save game folder when you load, and written / copied from that folder when you save a game. The files will be re-created as required the next time you start Divinity. If there was a corrupt file in that folder, deleting the files should fix the problem.

After this, try starting a new game, skip past the intro conversations and run over to George's shop. Do you still get a crash? If not, try your previous save.


Troubleshooting Tips (& manual install procedure)

it appears to have worked, many thanks. I hope I can take it from here, if not do you mind if I bug you with questions?

Thank you

ficarosso

That is what the forum is for (questions, etc).

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/kitty.gif" alt="" />

Raze,

I'm really not sure what is going on. I remember re-setting the config, then starting over and it was no problem. Didn't play for a few days but when I did I was able to get the pyramid, got down in the catacombs, And the game kept blanking out (like it did when I was at George'). Now, I've been going through the first fence and after making several kills, the same thing keeps happening, so I erased the game and am willing to start a new one. Can anything else be done?

thank you

ficarosso

[color:"orange"]I erased the game and am willing to start a new one.[/color]

If you start a new game (perhaps with a difference character class/gender), do you notice any difference in the frequency of the problem?

It sounds like the crashes are more random than before, rather than at specific locations, correct?


[color:"orange"]Can anything else be done?[/color]

I assume you already re-tried what you did before?

There is a file verification procedure in the troubleshooting tips topic you could use to see if there are any problems with the game itself.

Did you try the other troubleshooting tips (shutting down all non-essential programs before starting the game, etc)?

Do you have any other DirectX games (or other resource intensive programs) that you have played recently, and if so have you had any problems?

I'm going to try a different character, you're right it is more sporadic this time. This is really the only resource intensive thing I have running.

I'll keep you posted

thanks
ficarosso

If you had another DirectX game to try that would help narrow down the problem. A system issue (outdated or corrupt drivers, bad RAM, etc) should effect all programs that make heavy use of system resources. If only DD has problems, then the source would have to be in the game itself (which the file verification procedure may identify) or a conflict between it and a driver or background program.

The graphics benchmark 3DMark has a demo which stresses graphics more than most games do. It has been awhile since I've use the program, though, and I don't recall if you can loop the demo in the free version. If you have a high speed internet connection and can handle the 178MB to 580MB download (depending on version), check out the system requirements first (for example 3DMark03 supports Win9x, but 3DMark05 and 06 require at least XP).
There may be other, smaller graphics benchmarks that would work just as well for this purpose.


Anyway, LMK how the other troubleshooting stuff goes.

Raze,

luckily I haven't had any issues (crossin my fingers). I'm now getting somewhere, I have both the portals, but not sure how to use them. Could you please help me out or point me in to the right direction?

Thanks again <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I started the game again yesturday and I got to about level 9 or 10 before I left the town.

[color:"orange"]luckily I haven't had any issues (crossin my fingers).[/color]

Perhaps corrupt data with the other character type (gender/class)?


[color:"orange"]I have both the portals, but not sure how to use them.[/color]

This is described on page 38 and 39 of the manual (pdf link above).

Generally you would leave one teleporter stone at your home base or beside your favourite merchants. The other you carry with you and when you need to sleep, buy stuff or get rid of loot, drop and use it, then do what you need to, use the teleporter stone at your base to get back where you left off, pick up that teleporter stone and continue.

If you have one teleporter stone on the ground you can just click on the other in your inventory to use it, if you don't need to get back that way (otherwise you can drop it and then click on it to use).
With one teleporter stone in your inventory, there are 3 icons available when you click on the skill menu button, to 'drop', 'use', or 'drop and use' the teleporter stone.
As a shortcut for picking up a teleporter stone (or anything else which does not have a default action of being picked up when clicked on) you can drag and drop it onto the menu interface along the bottom of the screen, rather than having to open your inventory.

doesn't anyone act like me? I open the catacombs and recieve the pyramids. then with the help of my piramids (Joram's bed is quite comfy) I clean up the orcs around aleroth. and thén I come back and just own the whole catacombs.
it isn't impossible...(altough I didn't try it yet on high difficulty <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/think.gif" alt="" />)

Thank you everyone,

I feel like a total idiot, how could I have not seen that <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/sleepey.gif" alt="" /> .


Thanks for everything

I usually kill about 10-15 so im about level 5-6 when I go into catacombs. But I don't leave Aleroth until I'm about 10. I use the teleporter at his bed, yeah.

Hello,
I just got this game for Christmas and am new also. I LOVE Diablo 2 and Sacred and although, like you, I wasn't quite sure about this game at first, I think it ranks right up there. The only thing I've found so far that I don't like is there are no town portals lol. Anyway don't try to head out of town right away, there are people to talk to and quests to kind of start you off in town first. I'm still learning myself, so I'm sorry if I'm not much help. I hope the game grows on you as it has me, I can tell this is going to be added to my fav collection.

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />

Alicia

The teleporter stones can serve the same function as town portals, but they are much more flexible. You get one teleporter stone the first time you enter the Aleroth catacombs after freeing Lanilor, and can either drop and use it to get to the second (save first), or wait until you find it later.