Arcanum Arcanum builds

[StaticSpine]

Bros, have anyone tried to complete the game with a talker/CHA build? is it possible/viable? Any tips?

 

[TheEntitledOne]

Tried something like that once, didn't go to well. Unless you are also a damage dealer you will be missing lots of XP.

 

[StaticSpine]

Unless you are also a damage dealer.

Which is 100% impossible at the beginning.

 

[Scruffy]

Yes. It's fun, and challenging, because if you're not the one hitting the enemies, your XP goes up MUCH slower. It's doable and, IMO, enjoyable, they clearly planned for such a character. It becomes a bit of a vicious circle though, because you need to uniquely focus on your CHA/INT (not beauty) since you level up at a much slower pace.

 

[StaticSpine]

Yes. It's fun, and challenging, because if you're not the one hitting the enemies, your XP goes up MUCH slower. It's doable and, IMO, enjoyable, they clearly planned for such a character. It becomes a bit of a vicious circle though, because you need to uniquely focus on your CHA/INT (not beauty) since you level up at a much slower pace.

can I fully rely on companions in this case? I mean in combat

 

[Jagged Appliance]

It's very doable and once you have the right followers you can just set combat to RT and watch them faceroll everything. You will level up really slowly though.

Add in harm too if you need to.

 

[Kalin]

I had a very nice run as a debutante (same kind MCA picked in his LP), went full technologist and used mainly firearms and grenades (some of them are extremely powerful, stun in particular).

Tech gadgets like eye gear and charged rings are a must to boost stats, and the flow spectrometer helps you detect traps without filthy magicks. Didn't bother with lockpicking or remove traps, I just had my NPC grunts (Virgil, Gar, Sogg etc.) bash doors and containers when necessary (remember to switch their weapons for that, certain materials harm certain weapon types). For the fairer stats of charisma and beauty, blessings and jewelry helped a lot, so I didn't have to put too many points there. In combat I was still a delicate and squishly little snowflake, especially early on, so I used the grunts to keep the ITZ warriors at bay while I fired away from afar and blasted/stunned enemies with grenades.

Once I boosted strength to be able to wield the Mechanized Gun my character was quite powerful, and with mechanized plate armours the crew turned into a snazzy little Jin-Roh Squad! The Mechanized Gun uses bullets like crazy, but it is still one of my favourite weapons. Also, for a pretty charmer, money for ammo and supplies tends to come easy anyway. Later in the game I would recommend Droch's Warbringer, it deals amazing damage and conserves ammo for when you can't easily resupply.

All in all I didn't find it too hard, but I reckon a solo run without those useful NPC grunts would be a very different story.

 

[Harold]

Max CHA & persuasion, but not in the retarded MCA way, only add points as you encounter followers that you want to add/quests that you need higher persuasion for. I recommend the Charlatan background. (You do not need INT, the only worthwhile INT check is when talking to the dwarf king's son, and you can use a potion of intellect for that. ) Supplement that with a ranged skill to do some damage (and get xp) yourself while hanging back. If you're gonna go tech, you'll have a bit of a harder time as you'll need to carry a lot of healing shit on you and use it on all your dudes. If you go mage, you'll have it easier of course, you can also use the best talky-character related item (a ring that gives +3 to CH, BE, haggle and persuasion). If you want to go full-pacifist then yes, you can rely solely on companions as long as you don't mind not reaching max level by the end. Charm Animal will also come in handy in that case.

 

[StaticSpine]

I had a very nice run as a debutante (same kind MCA picked in his LP), went full technologist and used mainly firearms and grenades (some of them are extremely powerful, stun in particular).

Tech gadgets like eye gear and charged rings are a must to boost stats, and the flow spectrometer helps you detect traps without filthy magicks. Didn't bother with lockpicking or remove traps, I just had my NPC grunts (Virgil, Gar, Sogg etc.) bash doors and containers when necessary (remember to switch their weapons for that, certain materials harm certain weapon types). For the fairer stats of charisma and beauty, blessings and jewelry helped a lot, so I didn't have to put too many points there. In combat I was still a delicate and squishly little snowflake, especially early on, so I used the grunts to keep the ITZ warriors at bay while I fired away from afar and blasted/stunned enemies with grenades.

Once I boosted strength to be able to wield the Mechanized Gun my character was quite powerful, and with mechanized plate armours the crew turned into a snazzy little Jin-Roh Squad! The Mechanized Gun uses bullets like crazy, but it is still one of my favourite weapons. Also, for a pretty charmer, money for ammo and supplies tends to come easy anyway. Later in the game I would recommend Droch's Warbringer, it deals amazing damage and conserves ammo for when you can't easily resupply.

All in all I didn't find it too hard, but I reckon a solo run without those useful NPC grunts would be a very different story.

The thing is ALL of my previous runs were a technologist runs. Now I want something different.

It's very doable and once you have the right followers you can just set combat to RT and watch them faceroll everything. You will level up really slowly though.

Add in harm too if you need to.

Okay, though I do not know shit about companions

I only remember Virgil and the doggie.

 

[Scruffy]

Yes. It's fun, and challenging, because if you're not the one hitting the enemies, your XP goes up MUCH slower. It's doable and, IMO, enjoyable, they clearly planned for such a character. It becomes a bit of a vicious circle though, because you need to uniquely focus on your CHA/INT (not beauty) since you level up at a much slower pace.

can I fully rely on companions in this case? I mean in combat

yes, virgil is fine, you can pick up the ogre in shrouded hills right away and that's ok for a while, then you go to tarant and pick up that other guy, the freak in the museum, the orc that's not an orc, and i'd suggest the chick in dernholm as a healer. Better yet, invest some points into making healing salves and BE the healer, and get more fighters, in very little time you'll steamroll anything. Learn magic and teleport preferably, because that allows you to travel around with the dog you rescue in ashbury and that dog is just a fucking juggernaut

 

[StaticSpine]

Max CHA & persuasion, but not in the retarded MCA way, only add points as you encounter followers that you want to add/quests that you need higher persuasion for. I recommend the Charlatan background. (You do not need INT, the only worthwhile INT check is when talking to the dwarf king's son, and you can use a potion of intellect for that. ) Supplement that with a ranged skill to do some damage (and get xp) yourself while hanging back. If you're gonna go tech, you'll have a bit of a harder time as you'll need to carry a lot of healing shit on you and use it on all your dudes. If you go mage, you'll have it easier of course, you can also use the best talky-character related item (a ring that gives +3 to CH, BE, haggle and persuasion). If you want to go full-pacifist then yes, you can rely solely on companions as long as you don't mind not reaching max level by the end. Charm Animal will also come in handy in that case.

 

[StaticSpine]

yes, virgil is fine, you can pick up the ogre in shrouded hills right away and that's ok for a while, then you go to tarant and pick up that other guy, the freak in the museum, the orc that's not an orc, and i'd suggest the chick in dernholm as a healer. Better yet, invest some points into making healing salves and BE the healer, and get more fighters, in very little time you'll steamroll anything. Learn magic and teleport preferably, because that allows you to travel around with the dog you rescue in ashbury and that dog is just a fucking juggernaut

yup, the dog is a real beast!

 

[Harold]

The thing is ALL of my previous runs were a technologist runs. Now I want something different.

Then I highly recommend going Bow-Mage or Chakram-mage. Both are a lot of fun and have cool magical-weapons. You can go down the summoning route to get your army to ridiculous numbers, though it gets pretty superfluous and you'll need to add points to CON and INT/have lots of fatigue potions to sustain all that crap. Alternatively, just grab the Monty Python bunny from the Nature tree and watch him reck shit. In fact, him and the dog can handle pretty much everything, just be sure to have means of healing them quickly when they fight fire elementals, otherwise they'll just go full kamikaze

 

[t]

You can help Virgil with spamming harm until you get Sogg, Chukka and the Dogg, but after that you should be ok.

 

[StaticSpine]

The thing is ALL of my previous runs were a technologist runs. Now I want something different.

Then I highly recommend going Bow-Mage or Chakram-mage. Both are a lot of fun and have cool magical-weapons. You can go down the summoning route to get your army to ridiculous numbers, though it gets pretty superfluous and you'll need to add points to CON and INT/have lots of fatigue potions to sustain all that crap. Alternatively, just grab the Monty Python bunny from the Nature tree and watch him reck shit. In fact, him and the dog can handle pretty much everything, just be sure to have means of healing them quickly when they fight fire elementals, otherwise they'll just go full kamikaze

Nah, bro, I want a talkative gentleman (probably with a revolver) with a gang of bodyguards.

 

[Matalarata]

Bros, have anyone tried to complete the game with a talker/CHA build? is it possible/viable? Any tips?

Yes! Totally doable!

Spoiler

Just invest 1pt in harm and own everyone

Spoiler

It's actually doable, no problems. I did it with a throw specialist and a mixed spellcaster. The latter did all the altar of the Gods quest, so much ownage. Just recruit the Dog and spend point wisely. Cha+magic is the easiest route imho

 

[StaticSpine]

Bros, have anyone tried to complete the game with a talker/CHA build? is it possible/viable? Any tips?

Yes! Totally doable!

Spoiler

Just invest 1pt in harm and own everyone

 

[Matalarata]

You missed my edit bro

 

[ghostdog]

Matalarata is on to something, adding some magic to the build could help a lot. Anyway, just get the dog ASAP and then do whatever you want. There will be some hard fights, but it's perfectly doable.

 

[Shadenuat]

For solo pacifist I'd recommend:
- Charm animal (Nature 1)
- Invisibility (max Phantasm tree)
- Max Mental or maybe use that gnome item trick. Still mental can probably be helpful
- I think 4 persuade is enough actually, but you'll need 15 int + int potion to talk back Kerghan

I began with Charm Animal, Stun & 3-4 Persuade, then maxed Phantasm. Some healing also might be helpful, like Heal&Remove poison
After you max Phantasm it's an easy ride all up to Kerghan's Palace.
I don't remember level I finished game with pacifist, I think it was ~25 (maybe 27 exactly).

Companion talker is just easy, either Revolver > LGR, Charlatan's Protege, Max companions... or magic, your choice.
Techy is more fun for people who like to play dollies with their companions and dress up Sogg in Large Machine Plate.

 

[StaticSpine]

You missed my edit bro

For solo pacifist I'd recommend:
- Charm animal (Nature 1)
- Invisibility (max Phantasm tree)
- Max Mental or maybe use that gnome item trick. Still mental can probably be helpful
- I think 4 persuade is enough actually, but you'll need 15 int + int potion to talk back Kerghan

I began with Charm Animal, Stun & 3-4 Persuade, then maxed Phantasm. Some healing also might be helpful, like Heal&Remove poison
After you max Phantasm it's an easy ride all up to Kerghan's Palace.
I don't remember level I finished game with pacifist, I think it was ~25 (maybe 27 exactly).

Companion talker is just easy, either Revolver > LGR, Charlatan's Protege, Max companions... or magic, your choice.
Techy is more fun for people who like to play dollies with their companions and dress up Sogg in Large Machine Plate.

I really prefer tech over that filthy magic

 

[Matalarata]

I really prefer tech over that filthy magic

I'd say it is still doable, if you have knoweledge of the game Arcanum is really easy.
That said tech, especially gunslinging, is under-performing untill very late in the game. Do you wish to invest in tech or just use tech? If you know how to procure an elephant gun for example your gunslinging diplomat could work very well, take some degree in chemistry and explosives and you're set...

If you want do build your own firearms you'll probably be stretched thin with stats distribution...

Edit: I've been here for less than fourty post... And already someone updates txt??!?

 

[StaticSpine]

I really prefer tech over that filthy magic

I'd say it is still doable, if you have knoweledge of the game Arcanum is really easy.
That said tech, especially gunslinging, is under-performing untill very late in the game. Do you wish to invest in tech or just use tech? If you know how to procure an elephant gun for example your gunslinging diplomat could work very well, take some degree in chemistry and explosives and you're set...

If you want do build your own firearms you'll probably be stretched thin with stats distribution...

Edit: I've been here for less than fourty post... And already someone updates txt??!?

Okay, I'll think it over. I'm still considering the options.

And about updating txt - I just love to post the 'dex smilies.

 

[eremita]

Bros, have anyone tried to complete the game with a talker/CHA build? is it possible/viable? Any tips?

It's absolutely fine, I completed the game with character like that without any problem. You can have a shitload of characters (something like 5 or 6 i believe) and game gets ridiculously easy because of that. You can just stand there and let your goons do the fighting. Maybe level up guns a little bit so you don't feel bad... IRC, I was able to max CHAR/Persuasion and still be a decent gunslinger. (I was also quite handsome, so i could romance Raven. It's without a question the worst romance I have ever encountered. BTW, I fucking love how they make her not romanceable for ugly fuckers.)

Also, while some followers are just muscles with no personalities, some of them posses some level of character. (Virgil - he's most detailed, Magnus - he's quite annoying, Z'an - cool dark elf chick, she even has something to say to one of the endgame "villain", Torian Kel - badass , Raven, Geofrrey, Gar - he's fucking cool!, Franklin Payne). some of them won't join with specific alignment/followers in your party. But this restriction is removed once you're persuasion master.

And try evil path once you're done with first playthrough. It's fun!

 

[StaticSpine]

Bros, have anyone tried to complete the game with a talker/CHA build? is it possible/viable? Any tips?

It's absolutely fine, I completed the game with character like that without any problem. You can have a shitload of characters (something like 5 or 6 i believe) and game gets ridiculously easy because of that. You can just stand there and let your goons do the fighting. Maybe level up guns a little bit so you don't feel bad... IRC, I was able to max CHAR/Persuasion and still be a decent gunslinger.