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[Fast Jimmy]

I've been interested in this game for a while now... let me ask you, these choices you speak of-- how consequential are they, exactly? I'm kinda hoping it won't be like choosing to be a blood mage in Origins.

It depends? Both on the choice and on your definition of consequential.

You can legitimately kill everyone on the planet. Like, go from town to town and murder each individual person. You even get a title for wiping out a specific city (I think it's the Butcher of Tarrant or something).

In addition, you have choices in the game. Help an NPC out and they may become a companion, then lead you on a series of quests that rediscover their lost heritage, which is addressed in the ending slides (similar to the Fallout games). Or you can just tell them to buzz off, never to see them again.

And, of course, the choices in your character's build. I mean... there's so many. SO many. They affect your stats, your starting equipment, how people react to you and offer some random nuggets and references in some cases.

Want to be a beautiful half ogre Mage who ran away to join the circus but also likes to tinker with machinery? That's not just a head canon background, but options you can seriously choose and which have weird ways it affects the game. WARNING - it's VERY easy to create a character that is dang near impossible to get out of the first town with, let alone survive the entire game. So while it can be a blast creating off-the-wall builds, it also has nearly zero rails in preventing the player from character generating themselves right off a cliff.



All in all, a game with a lot of pockmarks and blemishes, but which is pretty much unparalled in giving you a world and saying "hey, try and solve these problems in any way you want to try."

[Fast Jimmy]

Also... to tackle the topic of being a Blood Mage...

There is a karma meter, which your companions do react to and will leave or even attack you for going too far in any direction (yes, that includes being too GOOD as well). In addition, there is a Magic v. Technology dynamic meter as well, where casting spells is influenced by the presence of technology, and vice versa. You can't be a gun toting Mage without the risk of your spells failing and your guns exploding all of the time. In addition, Mages don't usually get along with tech heads, and vice versa.

Lastly, there's Virgil. Virgil is your designated tag along (although BA in his play through left him at the very beginning, something I wasn't aware was even possible). Regardless, if you do bad things, he'll start becoming bad and converting to a Black Necromancer. Stay good, and he'll remain on his path of good, being a White Necromancer (basically a cleric) and even get the ability to get the most powerful spell in that circle of magic.

Anyway, lots of options, but I'll disclaimer that it's not everyone's cup of tea. It's a wee bit slow to start and, like I said, you may waste an hour or two before realizing your build is practically worthless. But still - a legendary game.

[Fast Jimmy]

I hate Virgil so much. I usually tell him to leave.

Watching him turn evil is strangely satisfying for me.

[B.A. Broska]

8th day of the 1st month 1885

 

*After completing a few tasks and odd missions for the people of Shrouded Hills my character has reached level 6 with 2 points spent in firearms and 1 point spent in perception*

 

Asking around town I managed to find a few paying jobs, from destroying the town's steam engine for Jongle Dunne to selling the Constable machine parts to fix their broken Steam Engine, there were some Bandits on the bridge out of town who asked me to destroy the town's materials for building a new bridge and after completing the job I was offered an invitation to the Thieves Underground in Tarant (definitely something I should pursue when I reach Tarant), Percival Toone asked me to investigate the curse on the family mine and while I have not managed to clear the ghost of Bessie Toone from the mine as of yet I did manage to track down a lead that suggests that his sister is now living in Dernholm which is something I should look into when I get the chance. I even helped the self appointed peace keeper Doc Roberts save the bank from the Bowen Gang. I also managed to obtain apprentice training in throwing and pick locks from the folks around town and expert training in firearms from Doc Roberts.

 

With the healthy coin purse and supplies gained from the work (and a few thefts) in Shrouded Hills I feel it is time to move on, but not before one last score in Shrouded Hills, the Shrouded Hills bank. I already stopped the Bowen Gang from claiming the riches in the vaults so now all that is left to do is claim them for myself.

 

Walking into the bank the Teller initially looks pleased to see me

 

 

That is until she sees the gun

 

 

 

I tell her if she keeps quiet she will not be harmed but before I have a chance to silence her for good she runs screaming from the bank summoning the guards. Gunning down the initial wave of guards and citizens foolish enough to attempt heroism i quickly enter the back room with the key gained from the Teller and pocket a measly 500 coins, oh well better than nothing I suppose.

 

Due to the robbery I gain a new reputation.

 

[B.A. Broska]

With the cash pocketed and the guards hot on my heels I make haste for the only bridge out of town killing anyone foolish enough to get in my way, the trail of bodies I leave behind me gains me an additional level and skill point to spend as well as a new reputation

 

 

I spend the skill point in the explosives tech discipline allowing me to create Molotov Cocktails.

 

By the time I reach the bridge out of town I notice word of my deeds have already reached the ears of Doc Roberts (the man I once assisted in defending the Bank) who was already stationed at the gate with 2 guards from Shrouded Hills.

 

 

Lukan the Witless and his cronies would be no help in this fight as it would seem the Doc and his possy had already shot them by the time I arrived. Thinking on my feet I quickly craft some Molotov Cocktails from some fuel and rags I obtained in Shrouded Hills and rain fire down on the wannabe lawman and his men before finishing them off with my hunting rifle.

 

Before the dust has a chance to settle I bolt across the bridge not looking back only to find some gnome blocking my path. I tell the gnome that this really is not the best time and he tells me that he knows all about the ring and that I should hand it over. Not in the mood for such nonsense I gun the gnome down, searching his body I find another one of those strange amulets as well as a note.

 

 

This just keeps getting stranger, I have no idea what these guys want with the ring and why they are so keen to kill off any survivors from the blimp crash, it is definitely a mystery I should look into when I get to Tarant but for now I gotta make a quick detour to Dernholm.

[Fast Jimmy]

The fact that you can do pretty much all of the above is s testament to the awesomeness of Arcanum. Although you have trouble getting the reward for fixing the mine with such a poor reputation... not to mention the possibility you might have gunned down Percival in your escape!

You've convinced me - I'm firing up this game again sometime this weekend.

[B.A. Broska]

22nd day of the 1st month 1885

 

My trip to Durnholm has been relatively uneventful, I did however manage to track down Sarah Toone for more information about the curse plaguing the family mine, a brief conversation with Sarah revealed that her mother killed herself because of her brother selling the mine, apparently it was Bessie's wish that the mine stay in the family and the loss of the mine is what sent her over the edge. After asking who her brother sold the mine to she gave me an address, apparently the new owner operates out of Stanton Importers at 25 Lion's Head Circle in Tarant. Sarah has also expressed interest in reclaiming ownership of the mine in order to keep it away from her brother, perhaps this might be the better option due to the unfortunate circumstances surrounding my departure from Shrouded Hills.

 

I also managed to find a new traveling companion, a Half Elf medicine woman by the name of Jayna Stiles who has the ability to create healing salve out of common herbs, an ability that should come in useful on my journey.

 

Having heard from the Blacksmith that an expert lockpick trainer is currently taking up residence in Black Root I feel it might be prudent to pay him a visit on my way to Tarant.

 

 

 

1st day of the 2nd month 1885

 

My stay in Black Root is only a brief one stopping only shortly to get expert training in the art of lock picking, with my training complete I now head towards the Black Root train station where I shall purchase 2 tickets and board the next train to Tarant.

 

 

 

5th day of the 2nd month 1885

 

I have finally arrived in Tarant, after booking a room in the nearest hotel I decide my first priority should be to track down a contact in the Thieves Underground. Growing tired of Jayna's constant objections to murder I decide to leave her in the hotel room and explore the town on my own. After a brief shopping spree in which I obtain a snazzy new smoking jacket I finally find the man I am looking for lurking in a dark alley, after I drop  the name Lukan the man reveals all I need to know about joining the Thieves Underground and sends me to talk to a man named Thaddeus Mynor.

 

On my way to see Thaddeus however I notice a very classy looking establishment by the docks

 

 

While the Half Orc Dominatrix was tempting and I had been a very bad boy I was feeling in the mood for something a little more unusual

 

 

[Laamaa]

Like many others, this thread makes me want to start this game again o.o I should probably first wrap up my Icewind Dale playthrough.

 

Nice character you have btw ^^

[Fast Jimmy]

Back in MY day, paying to have sex with a sheep only cost a nickel!

[B.A. Broska]

7th day of the 2nd month 1885

 

I am now a fully fledged member of the Thieves Underground, my task for initiation was to steal a map of the Tarant sewer system from Department of Water which was a simple task of sneaking into the back offices and picking the lock on the safe. After having performed a few heists for my fellow thieves and a few jobs for the people around Tarrant I have managed to aquire a substantial amount of coin and 1 gypsy blood curse. Considering my next job will take me out of town to rob an ancient elven burial ground I have decided to take the train to Ashbury to see the sights, I will obtain the elven funerary stone on my return trip to Tarant.

 

 

 

11th day of the 2nd month 1885

 

Walking the streets of Ashbury I happen to find a gnome taking his frustrations out on a poor defenseless animal

 

 

I decide to give the Gnome a taste of his own medicine. Having saved him from the wrath of his cruel master the dog has taken to following me around, I think I shall name him Bosco.

 

Suddenly the urge for some grave robbing overwhelms me and I decide the best course of action would be a visit to the local cemetery, standing outside the gate I am greeted by a rather strange fellow.

 

 

The man introduces himself as a necromancer going by the name Geoffrey Tarellond-Ashe and informs me of the recent zombie problem plaguing the graveyard expressing an interest in finding the source of the problem. Delighted to meet another man as fond of corpses as I am I suggest we work together on the matter to which Geoffrey responds by telling me he will give me 500 coins for my assistance, sounds like a good deal.

 

Finding the entrance to an underground crypt we suddenly find ourselves knee deep in zombies, Bosco goes into a feeding frenzy tearing zomies limb from limb while the Geoffrey on the other hand only manages to get in the way, forgetting how to cast spells the necromancer instead chooses to engage the zombies in hand to hand combat only summoning his own critters after the battle is over. It is only through the intervention of Bosco or myself that the necromancer is able to survive most encounters.

 

Moving deeper into the crypt we finally find the source of the problem, clearing the final burial chamber of zombies we find a gem just lying there on the ground, however as I pick it up the Necromancer demands I hand over the gem before things get messy, not being one to take orders from pompous twits I decide it is time to put an end to our partnership.

 

[B.A. Broska]

12th day of the 2nd month 1885

 

Having heard that the firearms master has taken up residence in Ashbury I decide to go pay him a visit

 

 

However all I find is a broken old man who for strange religious reasons removed both his index fingers in order to prevent himself from ever firing a gun again, I try to argue that you don't need index fingers to train somebody else to be a firearms master but he just shakes his head and tells me that he swore an oath never to aid others in the pursuit of violent arts, I try to convince him of my need but our conversation is interrupted by a screaming halfling shouting for help.

 

 

I politely try to brush the halfling off but he keeps screaming about how the Willenbecker Gang has taken his wife hostage and that she will be killed unless the firearms master comes to face them, he then hands us a note.

 

[B.A. Broska]

Without his index fingers William Thorndop would be as good as dead if he went to face the Willenbecker gang by himself, sensing an opportunity I offer go in William's place to rescue the halfling's wife on the condition that I receive training as a firearms master if I am successful. At first William seems resistant to the idea but after a bit of convincing he finally agrees, setting out with my faithful hound by my side I set off to face the Willenbecker gang.

 

 

Bombarding the Willenbeckers with molotovs and gunfire I send Bosco in to wreak havok in the barn. With the Willenbeckers dead and the halfling's wife safe I return to William Thorndop for my reward.

 

After thanking the Firearm Master for his assistance

 

 

I take the looking glass rifle (a significant upgrade over the hunting rifle I am currently using) off his corpse to remember him by.

 

[B.A. Broska]

How is your stat allocation in int?

 

Sorry did not see the question until now, I do plan to master the explosives discipline so my intelligence will need to be at least 19 (unless I raise it through other means) to be able to create dynamite but that will probably be later on in the build, why do you ask?

[B.A. Broska]

3rd day of the 3rd month 1885

 

Having arrived back in Tarant with the elven funerary stone I decide it is time to go collect my payment, the client seems happy with the stone and pays me 250 gold for my trouble, another job complete. With my schedule free I decide that it is finally time to investigate the ring handed to me by the strange gnome at the crash site.

 

After a quick search I find the entrance to P. Schuyler and Sons in a back alley in the commerce district. Outside the door I notice a fellow dwarf just standing there, however on asking the dwarf his name he flies into a rage about how rude it is to ask a dwarf his name, not keen to take lessons on dwarven etiquette from some upjumped city dwarf the conversation takes a sour turn

 

 

 

Deciding the the mysterious dwarven gauntlets the city dwarf was wearing would look better on me I continue through the door to P. Schuyler and Sons. After negotiating entrance to the back rooms with the store clerk

 

 

I continue down into the cellars below

[B.A. Broska]

What I find down there however is an ancient dwarven burial ground with the corpses of long dead dwarves being re-animated by dark magics to serve as slave labour, keen to find those responsible I travel deeper into the burial grounds. Sure enough I find the necromancers responsible.

 

 

However the necromancers aren't as forthcoming with information as I would like and I am forced to put them down. Taking a key of the corpse of the head necromancer I check the filing cabinets for clues concerning the owner of the ring. Sure enough I find a telegram concerning the purchase of a ring to be given as a gift to one Gilbert Bates, figuring that is who the initials "G.B" on the ring refer to I set out to find the man but not before putting the dwarven zombie workers out of their misery.

 

Asking around town the townsfolk are quick to point out the large mansion at the end of town as the current residence of Gilbert Bates, however trying to get in through the gates I am turned away by the guards, perhaps one of his competitors will know of a way to reach Gilbert Bates.

 

Asking around town I am directed to a man named Cedric Appleby, sure enough the man also has beef with Gilbert Bates and claims to know how to reach him, however before he is willing to trust me with his master plan to expose Bates he sets me a tast to test my trustworthiness, handing me a stick of dynamite he sends me to destroy one of Bates prototype steam engines in a nearby factory.

 

 

Considering the job is right in my wheelhouse I set off eager for the opportunity to create more destruction and mayhem.

 

Sneaking in through the back door to the Bates factory I soon locate my target and plant the dynamite

 

[B.A. Broska]

4th day of the 3rd month 1885

 

Pleased with the destruction of the prototype engine Appleby finally lets me in on his master plan, handing me a servant's outfit he asks me to sneak into the Bates mansion and bring back any incriminating evidence I can find. Leaving Bosco at the gate I put on my disguise and convince the guard I am one of the new servants gaining me access to the Bates mansion.

 

 

At first my disguise works perfectly, that is until I am caught trying to pick the lock on the second floor bedroom. Figuring my disguise is blown I silence the guards and equip my combat gear. Inside the bedroom I find a locked chest containing the journal of Gilbert Bates.

 

 

Reading the journal it tells the story of a young boy who tried to impress the dwarves by stealing the plans for their steam engine and how this particular clan disappeared overnight because of it, this is exactly to sort of dirt Appleby needs however before completing my mission I decide it is time to confront Gilbert Bates himself for answers about the ring.

 

Placing a breaching charge on the door to Bates office

 

 

I enter the room to get answers from the man himself.

[B.A. Broska]

At first Bates does not seem to happy to see me

 

 

But his mood soon changes when I show him the ring and tell him my story, after a long conversation I learn that the gnome who gave me the ring was not a gnome at all but a dwarf by the name of Stennar Rockcutter who had shaved his beard to disguise himself as a gnome, he then goes to tell me the story about how he came to invent the steam engine, eager for him to get to the point I tell him that I already know the story as I have read his journal, he does not seem amused by this admission

 

 

Considering I already left your guards in a pool of their own blood I am not sure that is an option sir

 

 

Laying the ring on Gilbert's mutilated corpse I fulfill Stennar Rockcutter's last request and decide to get out of there before the city guard have a chance to arrive.

[B.A. Broska]

As of the last journal entry my stats are

 

 

plus 2 skill points in throwing and 1 skill point in explosives

 

Current reputations are

 

 

Taking suggestions on where to go next, continue on to investigate the disappearance of the BMC, explore the ancient temple or something completely different?