Debra, while the game does have a ton of bugs the identity "bug" you desribed is not one of them. that is a feature of the game, one many hope is changed in the patch. it is actually taken directly from the P&P game.

You're kidding?? Is this part of the new 3.5 rules?
I have never played one that did this. <img border="0" alt="" title="" src="graemlins/woozy.gif" />
Why would you want the identify spell then. I take it so I can use it out in the field and hopefully upgrade weapons or armor. This game needs everything identified and then you still don't know what it does. Even somethings that appeared to be identified already really weren't.
It is confusing.

debra,

go to the official forum and do a search for identify. limit it to title searches and several things will come up, otherwise you will get a ton of matches.

Identify spell bug is one you may want to take a look at.

I looked at that thread and I have to agree with that person who suggested that the overly faithful use of D&D rules may not be best for a CRPG, especially when casual RPG gamers (myself included) are faced with things like the "real" Identify spell.

I think rules like this mean more when you're playing a tabletop game that lasts a lot longer and where identifying a potion is a major event.
In a computer RPG, it should just be more convenient since things happen a lot quicker.

I agree it was a mistake to stick so closely to the rules in this case.

more news on the patch. the patch is now officially being worked on. there was an announcement by atari today:

LOS ANGELES

I guess I have just been used to the BG, Icewind Dale, etc. version of the identify spell. Well,
I have started a third party and we are up to level 5. I botched a Nulb quest so I didn't get to kill the gar and asked Otis
to join, but he's encumbered and won't share a thing. He may have to go back home.
I wait with baited breath for the patch. I hope it won't corrupt our saves or that we have to start over before using it.

Debra, that encumbrance thing was clearly an oversight in the design, many people have complained about it and I think the unofficial, fan-created patch fixes it, but I'm sure they'll adjust it in the official patch as well.

I admire your persistance and willingness to start over. I was lucky with my first party, they hit level 8 fairly easily, but I've stopped playing for now.

Once you get into the ToEE can you leave it again?
Also, is there any better level to be when you
enter it?

You can leave the Temple at anytime, you aren't trapped. However, you have to find the exits, which are in different places for each level.

I think I had just hit level 5 when starting the temple on the Earth level. I did quests for the various temple leaders to get more XP.

To use the Craft Wonderous Item skill do you have
to have a plain cloak or necklace, etc in your inventory so they can make the item from it or is
it just out of the blue? Also, is it better to get the Craft Armor spell than this one?

Debra, I didn't bother with any of the "craft whatever" feats since the manual description was so complex and the cost so high.

You might want to do a search at the Atari forums, they have (finally) split the TOEE forums up so searching should be a little easier.

For some reason I haven't bothered to read the manual on this one. I guess I should do that instead of picking your brain, but.......
So far I've made a couple of cloaks and some bracers 3+ (of armour I think). Money is no object I don't know what I'm doing though.

Is anyone else having this happen to them? I have
Elmo and Rufus in my party and when we go to sell
items they just give the merchant some of the inventory items we have and then I have to buy them back.

Debra, they coded it so NPC's in your party sell their own loot, so whatever they are carrying they will attempt to sell when you are conducting business with a merchant.

That's how I understand it, I never have Elmo hold anything so I don't lose anything.

That's weird. You create a charismatic character
with high appraise skills to sell for everyone
and these NPC's are selling important items that
you don't want sold.
BTW, are those fire, earth, air and water robes
important?

I think wearing the robes help you avoid fights in their respective temples, but I found that the temple leaders talk nice and give you quests even if you're not wearing them.

I eventually ditched them since they were kinda heavy to carry around. You eventually end up fighting most everyone anyway.

Yeah, that's my thing - they're too heavy. I'm
now finding the monsters spawning in the walls thing. Lots to fix with the patch. I tried the
Circle of 8 fan fix, but it didn't change anything
for me. My NPC's still won't share items except money and my Bracers of Armor 3+ still don't give
me the upgrade to my AC. But, I just keep plugging along. I'm sure I'll try to replay it after the patch to get my money's worth.
I think I have more fun creating parties than playing at this point.

Well, I've made it to level 2 in the Temple. I'm
working on strategy for the fire salamanders and
the fire temple guard. I think I need one more level up so my casters will have some better buffs
to offer the rest of my crew.
Where are you Schwab? Are you still on hold? My
mouse is still swimming, but I'm slowly pressing
on.

Yeah, I've still got it on hold, I'm playing Might & Magic instead and waiting for Knights of the Old Republic and Simpsons Hit 'n Run.

I remember that hall with the fire salamanders, it was very, very hard. I had my strongest fighter taking most of the heat (literally) and had the cleric nearby healing him. Elmo helped out by killing the lesser lizards that showed up behind the party. Long fight, plus the game slowed down significantly so it seemed to go on forever.