MiniFAQ
From CthulhuNationWiki
Contents |
Fighting
I can't fight!
- You need a weapon. Using a weapon requires skill with that type of weapon. Everyone begins the game with the weapon skill H2H ("hand to hand"). There are several weapons available on the Remote Islands, and plenty more in the wider world, that you can wield starting out.
The amount of skill you need to have depends on the weapon. For instance, a Bullwhip requires (+2) in H2H. The "+2" value refers to your modified H2H skill.
- Skills are modified by stats and by equipment. Each skill has a particular stat that it draws on: For instance, H2H is linked to Strength. The formula seems to be Skill_Modifier = Skill_Level + Stat_Modifier + Equipment_Bonus. For instance, if you're a PI with a starting STR of 11, your STR modifier is +3 (STR divided by 4, rounding down). Everyone starts out with H2H skill of 1, so your total H2H modifier is 1 (from skill) + 3 (from STR) + 0 (using no equipment) = 4. That's enough to wield the Axe you can buy in the Island Weapons Shop at 8,9.
- If that last bit didn't make any sense, the game already calculates your modified skill for you: It's the second number after the skill name in your Skills List. (Click the Stats button to find your Skills List.) So the PI in the example should see: H2H (+1) (+4) (experience bar) (1001).
I can't hit anything!
Combat calculations are actually pretty simple - no, really! :)
Step 1: The game rolls dice for your Dexterity and your opponent's Dexterity. Whichever has the higher roll, wins. If you win, then you hit; move on. If you lost, the opponent dodged; stop here. (The dice rolled depend directly on the values. +4 versus +4 should have roughly equal odds.)
Step 2: The game compares your weapon skill with the opponent's resistance. If the resistance is higher, no damage was done. If your skill was higher, move on to...
Step 3: The game calculates the amount of damage you do, based on the minimum and maximum values (conveniently listed in the right-hand bar under the paper target, just above the mouth icon for Chat). Then it subtracts the opponent's armor value, in the form of its CON. The result is the damage done.
- An example: A PI with a modified Dex of +10 attacks a Mercenary with a Dex of +8. The PI rolls a 9, the Mercenary rolls a 3; the PI hits. The PI is using a Scimitar, his Melee skill (modified) is +11; the Mercenary's resistance is 12: No damage is done. (Had he picked on a Zombie Servant instead, with no resistance, he might've done 50 points or more.)
- The messages seem to be:
- "Nasty Critter evades the attack of Your Character!" -- you didn't pass the Dexterity roll in Step 1.
- "Your Character misses!" -- you rolled to hit, but you didn't pass the resistance check.
- "Your Character swings the Weapon at Nasty Critter for 37 damage!" -- Hmm, I wonder what that means...
Skills
How do I train skills?
You have to use them. Each time you use a skill, you'll get a small amount of XP in that skill. Eventually your skill will "level up".
How do I gain stats?
Each time one of your skills levels up, you level up. Each time you level up, you get a stat point that you can spend any way you like.
I'm so bad at ___ I can't use it to train it!
This is where skill modifiers come in. Each skill is linked to a particular stat. For instance, H2H skill is linked to STR. Your effective skill level gets boosted by the modifier from that stat. (For instance, if your STR is 12, you get +3 to H2H skill.)
So in the worst case, you can still train some other skill, level it up and put the stat point into whatever stat is linked to the skill you really want to train. Keep going until you can use the skill you really want well enough to train it.
Another possibility: There are a number of items that boost key stats or skills. For instance, the LabeebPothsinks Ward gives +15 to STR, and a +5 bonus to H2H. (It's sold in the gem shop on the Remote Islands; if you missed it, look for it on auction.) Handy bonus tip: Wearing any kind of armour boosts your CON, so skills that depend on CON also get a boost from your armour! :)
What happened to my old level?!
(conversion characters only)
It's still there... you just have to reclaim it. Whatever level you were before the update to version 11, you received that many points to spend on skills - any skill you like, and each point will always give you precisely one skill level. (Again, skill level => character level => stat point.)
Suggestion: You start out with only 4 skills. You may want to train others quickly later on. If you go nuts and spend all your free skill points right away, you might miss out on the chance to train more useful skills later!
Exploring & Quests
I can't go into any caves or mines...?
The world of CN has finally addressed the dangers of diving into strange caves with inadequate preparation and knowledge. Specifically, now you must have a map of the cave before entering. This does not apply to Archaeologists and Shadows, who can enter caves in order to make maps with their skills (Cartography and Cosmography, respectively).
If you can't make your own maps, you need to get them from someone who can. Check the auction house, or ask around for a friendly explorer.
I know there's a quest at ___ but it won't start!
Some quests now require a "key", in the form of a set of quest notes from a Journalist. (The notes themselves don't tell you anything but the name - not even where to go when you begin. Why Journalists are so stingy with the info is anybody's guess.) Again, if you can't make your own (the skill "Editor's Notes"), you need to get them from someone who can; check the auction house, or ask around for a friendly journalist.
Magic
How do I get spells?
You have to learn them. This requires the skill Esotericism, which can be learned at the Academy for a price.
But first you have to buy the scrolls they're written on; there are a few shops that sell them. One of the easiest to get to, and with the cheapest spells, is Unio Mystica in Peru (coordinates 31,13).
If you don't have the INT to learn Esotericism, or the money to buy the spells - be patient. It's not really designed for the very inexperienced. Go train some other skills first, gain some levels and some money. The magic will still be there. Locked away in that scroll. Waiting for you. Did I just hear some papers... moving?
All my spells are gone!
(conversion characters only)
Not gone; you've just forgotten your skill with them. But! you should have a number of spell points to train them up again. It's the same idea as the skill points for gaining levels.
