Gothic 2 question.

[Super Smurf]

I just started playing this last week after hearing so much about it on these forums. I must admit that I was a bit dubious of the gameplay after playing the demo, but with so much positive comment from you all I got it any way, and now I'm gald I did.

Now for my question:

I just joined the militia, and immediately went to talk to lord Hagen. After the conversation I got a message saying I was now in chapter 2. Does advancing to another chapter restrict anything I have not done that was available in the previous chapter? All my open quests from chapter 1 are still in my journal so I assume not. I just wanted to make sure I was not cutting myself off from any undiscovered chapter 1 content before I advance any further. If so I can relaod to right before I talk to Hagen. Also, what level should you be around when you advance to chapter 2? I am currently at 3.

Thanks

[POQWAD]

Yikes! You'll have a heck of a tough time in the Valley of Mines at level 3, Super.

I don't *think* being level 2 disrupts any unresolved quests from chapter 1. But I'm not sure. I'm usually around level 16 or so before I go talk to Hagen. There's just a TON of stuff to do.

So tell me...did you *sneak* into Khorinis the first time you got there? heh heh...I always sneak in. And go down to the docks and talk to Lares. It's worth 500 exp. points. A considerable sum for early in the game.

[Super Smurf]

I do still have a lot I can do. I was just wondering if the official chapter 2 message would lock out any undiscovered quests. Just to be safe I'll reload it to right before I talked to Hagen. No sense in taking any chances. Besides, it's just a matter of talking to him again when I'm ready. I just didn't think talking to him would advance the chapters, I assumed the chapters were divided by geography.

I got in using the clothes from the farmer. Since I'm going the Paladin route, I decided to take a more or less honorable approach to completeing the quests in the spirit of role playing.

Thanks POQWAD.

[Dhruin]

I would reload but you certainly don't have to. As you have already found, the chapter changes are triggered by reaching certain critical plot points. You can still complete all of the quests - that isn't a problem. Every chapter change triggers a refresh/restock of merchants with new and higher gear and the world repopulates with new (and often higher level critters).

You can certainly keep going but the new critters might make things difficult. You also have zero chance of surviving the old valley -- not that you have to do that immediately by any means.

I would guess (based purely on your level) that you haven't explored much. Gothic/2 expects you to explore, hunt and discover side quests -- not just follow the critical plot path. It doesn't hold your hand, so it's up to you. To explain: I would want to be ~lvl 10 before going on to Ch. 2.

Go explore as much as you can: be prepared to run for your life because you'll certainly face dangers way beyond what a level 3 char can face...but you'll also find a lot more quests to help you advance and learn more about the terrain and enemies.

Just save in different slots regularly. ;)

[POQWAD]

You're welcome, Super. And that's good advice, Dh.

I usually join the Thieve's Guild. I did so even as a Paladin. (I decided I was a "Robin Hood" type. Steal from the rich--give to the poor. So I donated money to the various "gods" and statues.

Oh...that reminds me, Smurf. There are various statues of Innos around. You can get ten "special" blessings from them. Stat increasers.

You get BETTER increases once you're a full-fledged Paladin. So you might want to wait a bit. The Magician of Fire in Khorinis also has beneficial blessings. Do them 50 gold at a time.

[Super Smurf]

Dh-

Your right, I haven't done that much exploring, which is why I was uneasy about advancing to chapter 2 so soon. I still have a journal full of open quests, and I have just started working for the militia. I also have a few personal items to take care of. Most importantly, how to get the merchants to start selling to me again, how to get back at Canthar and find out what happened to Sarah (I refused to help Canthar get her stall, but it looks like he got it anyway). Thanks for the advice though it's a big help.

POQ-

You mentioned in another thread that you set up hot keys. How do you set those up? I couldn't find anything in the menu or manual about them. Are the stat bonuses from the statues permanent?

[txa1265]

Wow ... level 3 ...

I tended to have the other problem - I couldn't decide who to apprentice with, and realized you could do all the quests, but not commit ... then found you could look into joining the different groups, but not join, and so on ... and by doing so, you wander around, getting attacked and killed by all sorts of things, but quickly levelling up - and toughening up!

I know I was in the 'teens' even with my first run through ... to the point where I could take on the new enemies in the 'old city' pretty well (until they swarmed, and used some ... special attacks, then it was back to dying, levelling and so on)

Mike

[POQWAD]

I'm with Mike. I wandered around...did all the merchant apprentice quests. Got the EXP. bonus from all of them. I'm usually around level 15-16 before I start Chapter 2 and head out for the Valley of Mines.

Smurf...you can change stuff in the Gothic 2 system folder...the Gothic configuration settings file.

[Super Smurf]

Since I already knew what faction I wanted to join I tried to get in as quickly as possible in order to get better armor and weapons. I know I have alot more exploring to do. The farthest I have been out the east gate is Aiken's(?) farm, where you kill the mercenaries, and to the bandit cave just past that.


Smurf...you can change stuff in the Gothic 2 system folder...the Gothic configuration settings file.

Ah, thanks. I'll look at that when I get home from work.

[txa1265]

Since I already knew what faction I wanted to join I tried to get in as quickly as possible in order to get better armor and weapons. I know I have alot more exploring to do. The farthest I have been out the east gate is Aiken's(?) farm, where you kill the mercenaries, and to the bandit cave just past that.
The thing is, I did something similar to that my first time, as I wanted to be a pure Paladin ... but I levelled by questing everything else and doing much more exploring. But then I realized you could do a whole lot of the quests for one group or other without joining ... so on my 2nd run - Fire Mage - I almost became a mercenary before becoming a mage.

Mike

[POQWAD]

Yup.

What Mike said.


(But ain't that always the case?) ;)

[Super Smurf]

I got a couple more questions if you guys don't mind.

How can I get the lock picking skill? Thorben(?) the carpenter keeps telling me I have to prove myself trustworthy, but he dosen't give me any quest to do so, and I have not been able to find anyone else who offers it. I have been all through out the city including the harbor, and the mercenry camp (they probably wouldn't teach me anyway since I'm with the militia).

Also, is it worth the LP's to learn how to harvest bloodfly stingers? I have read that they fill your helth to max no matter what. Is that true?

Thanks again for all your help.

[POQWAD]

Supes...are you apprenticed to one of the merchants yet? Thorben's tapped out due to his neice's lavish spending so he can't hire you on...but you CAN get his approval.

All you have to do is go talk to Vatras (The water mage preaching there in the city) and get his blessing. To do that, just be truthful with him. Then go to Daron, the Fire mage, and get his blessing, too.

Daron will charge you. I drop all my gold except for 25 pieces and that gives you the cutrate price of only 10G. Once both those guys Bless you, Thorben will teach you lockpicking (he charges 200 gold tho!)

Check your Log/Diary and see what it says regarding the apprentice quest.

I've never done the bloodfly stinger thingie--never really needed it. As I understand it, tho, the effects on health ARE finite. That is, after so many uses the stingers no longer heal you. I don't know, however, what that number of uses is.

However, if that hunting skill fits your character concept, then go for it.

[Gorn]

From the walkthru:

Thorben is one of the Master Merchants in Khorinis and can be found hammering
away on his furniture close to the South Gate. By first proving you are an
honest fellow (by completing the Matteo and Gritta quest), he can teach you
the skill of Lock Picking for 200 gold.

Gorn

[POQWAD]

Thanks for the clarification, Gorn...I guess I was confused, as I *thought* getting the gold from Gretta (or paying Matteo yourself) got MATTEO's approval...

...I'm *pretty sure* Thorben wants you to get blessed twice over before he teached lockpicking...tho I've been wrong before...

[Dhruin]

** Spoilers **

You don't do the quest directly for Thorben; go talk to Matteo and sort out a debt that Thorben's niece Gritta owes. You may also need to get Thorben's approval by getting one of the priests to vouch for you (Thorben is religious - follow the conversation threads about religion).

After Gritta is sorted (and possibly after you get Thorben's approval), he'll you teach lockpicking.

Edit: beaten by a dozen other people - I must be typing slow. ;)

[phalzyr]

I'm pretty sure you have to do both of those quests first. Both get blessed and pay his daughters fee.

[Super Smurf]

That's strange, Matteo never offered me a quest to get his approval. I already got thorben's approval, and I am apprenticed to the smith. Can I still do the quest for Matteo? How do I get it? Even before I was apprenticed Matteo never offered me a quest. I hope I didn't screw myself, because I am really tired of finding all these locked chests that I can't open.

Thanks for all the help everyone.

[POQWAD]

Thorben isn't the *ONLY* lockpicker around, Supes.

There's always the thieves guild, you know.

I dunno if the Matteo quest is still viable--but go ask him about the paladins. I think that triggers the Gritta quest. *It generally pays to exhaust ALL dialogue options.*

But even if you have *missed* the Gritta "quest"...it's not that big of a deal anyhoo.

[caz]

AARRGHH

All your vivid talking of G2 makes me wanna pull it down from the shelves and replay it :-)

Really can't wait until nr. 3 arrives.....

caz

[POQWAD]

Wonder which will arrive first...G3 or DL patch 1.4? :confused:

[Gorn]

Or... The new Elder Scrolls.

[Moonshadeaux]

I am still waiting for E.A. to realize that there are Might and Magic/Heroes fans out here. Oh well I can't seem to win the lottery either.
Moonshadeaux

[Super Smurf]

I think Gothic 4 will come out before a new patch for DL.


I am still waiting for E.A. to realize that there are Might and Magic/Heroes fans out here. Oh well I can't seem to win the lottery either.
Moonshadeaux

Good news then. They announced HOMM5 in my july issue of CGW.
If you want to thank me you can cut me in on that winning lottery ticket. :D

Back to the thread topic:

Is bartok an essential character in the game? Meaning, if he say, I don't know...... "accidentaly" walked in front of my sword while we were fighting the shadow beast while hunting and consequently died, should I consider reloading an earlier game? :o

[POQWAD]

Hey, Supes! I see you press on with G2. Excellent!

No, Bartok isn't "essential"...however...you *might* wanna keep him alive a bit longer...

...there's more dangerous things there in the woods he can help you kill...

[Super Smurf]

Thanks again for all the help guys.

I would have posted that earlier, but I had to go play Marine in the CA desert for a couple weeks. However I am back now and playing Gothic 2 every chance I get and have some questions and comments.

First off I was able to get Thorben to teach me lockpicking finally. You have to get the ledger from the moneylender and give it to him, it gives you 200 exp and he will then teach you lockpicking. You can also buy the ledger back from him then give it to the tavern keeper for another reward, then buy it back from him and give it to Hanna at the inn for a third and final reward.

Also I had a question. As a member of the militia specializing in melee combat is worth while to develop dexterity or missile skills, and if so to what degree?

Last thing, I found this web site:

http://www.mondgesaenge.de/G2DB/index_eng.htm

It's a database with everything you would ever need to know. It has walkthroughs, databases for creatures, items, merchants, npcs, etc., and interactive maps that show everything. Just thought I'd share this just incase you all didn't know about it. I caution you though that this site has EVERYTHING, and it is really easy to get side tracked when looking for one piece of info and spoiling something for yourself.

Thanks again guys.

[txa1265]

Also I had a question. As a member of the militia specializing in melee combat is worth while to develop dexterity or missile skills, and if so to what degree?You will definitely be wanting ranged skills, and my choice as Paladin is always crossbow. I want my 1- or 2- handed skill really high, so I only use the bow skill tree to a lesser extent. Dex is useful for picking locks as well, so put some points there. Depending on how much you plan to use ranged combat (I used it a lot to pick off those nasty bloodflies!) you can just get more arrows and less skill.


Last thing, I found this web site:Cool site! Hadn't seen it before ... it does have everything!

Mike