Larian Studios Forums Divine Divinity (English) General Just started the game, and I could use some advice

Anyways...

1. What class is the easiest, and why? I wanna start out easy since I'm new to the game.

2. What are the first few things that I should do?

3. Any other advice that you can give me?

4. Is there any difference between a male or female in this game? I mean, I've played quite a few games where your sex actually makes a difference, and I'm curious if this is one of them

5. For the suggested class that you're suggesting to me, what skills should I work on? And while i'm here, how do I gain skill points?

6. I know that this is a dumb question, but how do u set up hotkeys?

7. What certain items do I need to use alchemy?

8. Where can I find lockpicks?

9. Where is the first repair person?

10. Do I need a specific item to repair my equipment?

11. Don't you just love quicksave? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />

12. Finally, anyone know of a a really good Guide for this game?

Warriors are probably the easiest class, since they tend to get the best benefit from the primary stats (except for mana gained per intelligence point). Some people find mages or survivor better, though; it kind of depends on your style.

differences between classes (minor spoilers) The only gender difference is the voice and starting skills.

Early Starter Tips (NON-Spoiler Version) (contains much of the information in the above topic).

Early Starting Tips (minor spoilers)

There are a few quests you can do in town before venturing into the catacombs, though the first thing you should do is loot. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/badsmile2.gif" alt="" />

If you quick save before running your mouse over an item/chest/merchant or hitting the alt key, you can identify the item or trade with the merchant, then quick load to get different stats or inventory. This can be done repeatedly to get the best stats or specific bonuses on an item (save after finding good candidates) or looking for specific items (such as spell books or charms) from merchants. Don't waste too much time with this, though, it really isn't necessary to get the best possible equipment.

You get a skill point each level, and an extra point every 5 levels. Also, mage spell books can be bought (and every bookcase has a small chance of containing one).

ARIC'S WARRIOR GUIDE

Kaan's Mage Guide

Playing a mage character...


To set hotkeys, open the weapon / skill / potion pane, hover the cursor over the icon, and hit the function key you would like to use. See also Tutorial-Changing F1-F12 hotkeys to different keys.

ALCHEMY SPOILER THREAD

Lockpicks are dropped randomly, and later in the game there are merchants who sell them. If you installed the patch before starting a game, they are easier to get, since a certain NPC was changed to carry a lot more inventory than previous, including survivor type supplies.

Otho (dwarf healer) can repair, though at least one skill point in Repair would be handy (there is no durability loss repairing things yourself).

Locus Inn's Quest Guide (there is also a lot of information there, including a detailed description of all the skills).


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

1. My personal favorite class is the mage, because he's better suited for spells, and I believe the most powerful build in Divinity is a spellcaster. Also, keep in mind that any character can choose any skill, making powerful hybrids an option.

2. Click here for Raze's early starting tips. In this, Raze also details the differences between the classes.

3. If you have any questions, just ask or search the forum. The forum is full of info.

4. There is no difference between sexes of a class, other than the starting spells. I recommend whichever sex you find most attractive.

5. My personal favorite build for a mage is a summoner. Click here for my thoughts on building a summoner. Click here for Kaan's mage guide. And here is yet another thread about how to play a mage.

6. I wish I knew off the top of my head. I'm sure someone else knows.

7. You will need an empty flask, and at least one point in the alchemy skill.
The full details of the process can be found here at the Locus Inn.

8. Lockpicks can be bought at some vendors and are occasionally dropped by monsters. Some names you should keep in mind for reliable lockpick vendors are Tingalf (in Ars Magicana) and Finnigan (in Verdistis).

9. George is the first person in the game who can repair your items. Another smith is Geoff of Ars Magicana, in case something, uh, bad, happens to old George.

10. No, you don't. You only need skill points in the skill "Repair" found in the warrior skill tree. Activate the skill and then click on your damaged equipment to repair it.

11. Yep.

12. My personal favorite is Val's Quest Guide at the Locus Inn. It's nice and organized and very thorough. Click here to view it.

-Sigh- I'm trying so hard to become an angel. Just too slow. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />
:Shakes fist at Raze:

Sorry, next time I'll wait an extra minute, to give you time to post. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/silly.gif" alt="" />

I forgot all about George being able to repair (I was too cheap to pay for repairs, and don't think I needed to get much fixed before I could put a point into the Repair skill myself).
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/kitty.gif" alt="" />

better to have an item that gives u a point in repair so save that point for more important skill. & welcome to the forum, super_rpg_dude! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/delight.gif" alt="" />

what did you just say?

He said: Instead of spending a skill point in Repair, find an item that gives you a bonus point in Repair. That way you can spend the skill point elsewhere and still repair items just by swapping equipment temporarily. Welcome to the forum! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/delight.gif" alt="" />

Welcome to the forum from me too! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

He was refering to an item (say, piece of armor or weapon) that gave you +1 to the skill of repair. Not that easy to find, it's a random find.

But, basically the way repairing works (to follow up on what flixerflax said) is that to repair something, you need at least one point in the Repair skill. Level 1 repair lets you repair up to 60% damage, level 2 up to 70%, etc. So you put a skill point or two to that skill, select the skill, right click to activate it, and click on the item you want to repair. Kind of like the skill was used in Diablo I, if you ever played that. (And maybe Diablo II, for all I know)

He was also saying hello. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />

Edit: Never, ever leave a post window open for 20 minutes before you post... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" /> Someone will beat you to the point!

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/delight.gif" alt="" /> I'm usually the culprit for that.

One clarification on Repair: the skill repairs up to 60% of maximum at level 1. So if you reapir an item at 40% durability, it will have 60% durability, not 100%. Repairing the item again will have no effect.

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/offtopic.gif" alt="" /> i'll make sure that i'll be clearer next time, so sorry. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shame.gif" alt="" />

finding item(s) that can give u a point (or more) in repair skill isn't that hard though this game tends to be very very random in attribute generation. there's always 'reload'. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />

furthermore early in the game u'll need every spare point that u can get to survive. only later (i'd say later half) in the game will u have a number of spare points that u can dump in any skill u think fancies u.

but first & foremost, have fun.

Playing a warrior, I almost always had unused skill points, even near the beginning of the game. I'd save them up if there were a couple skills I wanted to get when I got to a certain character level, and didn't put points into skills unless I needed them (later in the game I could be freer with skill points). At the end of the game I had 10 unused skill points, after putting 5 in a skill I did not use and topping off a few I didn't need once I got to the wastelands.
Mage spell books can be bought, so that can help alleviate a shortage of skill points.

i agree with raze...
i ran a minimalist ( <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> ) archer and at one point had as many as 22 unused skill points - (here with 19) - http://www.speakeasy.org/~legolas357/before%20charms-skills.jpg
personally, i think having 1 point in repair is one of the smartest ways you can go (along with something in alchemy). and this should be done almost immediately. later in the game you'll have so dang much money (with nothing to buy, until you get to the gold charms) that repairs won't be an issue.

yeah, like the leather leggings of lockpicking, which i definately am gonna keep <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />

D2+BG= DD= way better <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/party.gif" alt="" />