Hello everyone:

I'm having a great time with this game! I have the strategy guide, so haven't had to ask anything yet here, but now I do have a question that I can't find an answer for.

I have 4 people in my party and want to add a fifth, a pet. The innkeeper keeps telling me that I can't add a fifth until I become a "true veteran". When is that? I'm assuming it's a level. Or do I become one after a certain chapter?

Jean

Hi Jean, <img border="0" alt="[santa]" title="" src="graemlins/santa.gif" />

First time through the game you may only have 4 in your party-which includes a pet..so pet and 3.
After you beat the game, you can then move on the next stage I think Veteran and pick up a 5 party and the 3rd time 6 can be in it..strange and at first hard to grasp for me..
I used a Ranger for me, Got the half-giant,
Had Taar the nature mage and had Chilly..the ice element. Darn glad I had him by the end of Act I.
Fun too, watching him grow and get so excited over the goodies I fed him..but he and the half-giant were by far my best fighters in Act I.
Suggest also that you save at every teleporter you run across as you probably know my now..your game always begins at that Acts town teleporter.

Have fun, I loved this game and had a grand time exploring

Ingie <img border="0" alt="[grinch]" title="" src="graemlins/grinch.gif" />

Thanks, Ingie. I guess I'll have to play it through again, then, to get more characters. I didn't know that. I have a half giant, Lothar (a knight), Taar (a nature ice mage), Deru the Ranger (who also has a little nature), and myself, a combat fire mage. I sure wish I could have a pet now.

I'm leveling all my characters up the way the strategy guide recommends, so they're pretty tough. And, I'm trying to do all the secondary quests.

I think I enjoy this one more than Dungeon Siege I, since there are more characters to interact with. I'll know better the further along I go.

Thanks for your help!

Jean

No problem and I agree I loved this game a bit more, I think it's having a little more control over the characters.

Your party sounds good, you'll use Taar and she has the ability to freeze and heal..very useful.

That's the giant..man is he good..he was my work horse and did all and more than I could have thought possible.

You can always trade out one in the Inn and go to the pet shop and pick up a pet..just for the fun of it.

Some of the other characters in the story will have quest once they join your party..so some I picked up just to get their quests done.

After a bit, you'll be a pro..happy hunting

Ingie <img border="0" alt="[grinch]" title="" src="graemlins/grinch.gif" />

Hi Ingie:

So far there's no one hanging out at the Inn for me to trade. I'm still pretty much in Act 1. I haven't gone through the Kithraya Caves yet, and I have a feeling after I go through those more people will show up at the Inn.

I don't know who I'd let go, though. I really get attached to my characters after building them up. Everytime we pick up new equipment after a battle I shift things around, which is why it sometimes takes me forever to finish a rpg which is detailed. I really fuss over the equipment.

Jean

Ack, another me ..I do the same thing..I want everything neat and in order. I call it "going shopping" and I can spend hours doing just that if I find a lot of goodies. thinking DD here, egads wonder I ever finished..

I try out so many different character's at first too.
That takes me a while because I have to see if I like their actions and manners. So, that will take me days..
Hey it's our little fantasy world and we want it like we enjoy it!!!!

Ingie

What I want to know is, where are the good looking men in the game? I was happy to see my red-headed mercenary at the beginning of the game, but all I see now are female dryads. Now, Sacred Underworld had male dryads, also, and they looked pretty good. As a matter of fact, that's why I kept getting killed -- watching them.

Will I ever see my red-head again?

Jean

I don't think so..but they're are some cuties in the other acts..no one like our blacksmith from DD though, I still have dreams about him.. :kiss:


Ingie <img border="0" alt="[grinch]" title="" src="graemlins/grinch.gif" />

You two need to take a cold shower. Ah no, your redhead is toast, sorry to say.

You can dismiss one of your party at any time, and until you dismiss (or not take someone when they are available) you won't have anyone at the inn to choose from. Some characters are very helpful in a particular spot, and then a liability afterwards.

Ahhh, yes, the blacksmith! I remember him. No more redhead?

That's a shame I have to dismiss someone to see a new person at the inn, Nickie. Right now I'm doing Taar's quest. Maybe in a little while I'll dismiss one of them to see who shows up at the inn. It's a hard decision to make.

Jean

My advise is CLICK SLOWELY threw the dialog. There's a active bug. If you click too fast threw the dialog your Quest may become UNCOMPLETABLE. It happened to me. The talk is too fast. Thats the bug. The save system should have been better too. So talk slow.

Thanks for the dialog tip, Maryjo! I'll try to be careful not to click through too fast.

Nickie and Ingie, I found a redheaded blacksmith in an underground hideout. I'm trying to help him locate his anvil but my team isn't strong enough yet. Too bad I can't take him with me.

Jean

Jean, <img border="0" alt="[santa]" title="" src="graemlins/santa.gif" />
**Edit Here** Jean, that quest for the blacksmith is hard..and it leads to several others, so you'll see him for a bit..good luck..just fight everything behind the walls and doors

What I had in my group...oh lookie at the pretty snowmen!

Anyway, what I had was...myself as a Ranger, the half giant Lothlar, Taar and Ice Element for Act 1
In Act 2..I think is when I began changing..I put Chilly in the Inn..I later released him, just had to make sure I didn't need him again..and tried one of the fire element pets..I didn't keep him long though, changed him out for Finnala..who could complete a the Caverns-fixed the elevator down thingee- She's a fire mage, so I kept her with me..I would change in and out between her and the half-giant to get the other quests..
but always went back to that combo..It worked for me, and was fun changing to see how each handled the load..

The one you meet in Act II..Evangala I think-is very good at fighting..and you'll need her for she's part of the main quest..but just for a bit of time..

Hope that helps a bit..one of my joys in RPG is character selection..I love seeing who does what..

Ingie <img border="0" alt="[grinch]" title="" src="graemlins/grinch.gif" />

THanks, Ingie!

When is the other half-giant available? I'm wondering if it wouldn't be better to take him for the blacksmith quest since the fighting is all close up, rather than my ranger.

Jean

You know, I think it's in Act II..have you run into in Act I??..

Making the half-giant a melee fighter is the best way to use him I thought, he was a power horse.

In the caverns, you'll find a lever and platform, it will be broke and will tell you, someone like Finila(however it's spelled) could fix it. You'll find her in Act II by a bridge..

Good luck,
I know what's lurking in those caverns


Ingie <img border="0" alt="[grinch]" title="" src="graemlins/grinch.gif" />

I'm beginning to wonder which act I'm in!! I haven't seen Finala yet. As far as I know I'm still in Act I, but if I need her in the caverns I don't know what to do. Anyway, I do have the hive quest for someone and should be able to do that one.

I'm really not looking forward to a hive.

Jean

Arrghhh! I turned Vix down because I wanted to compare his stats to my ranger, and now he's gone! Will I run into him again? Usually they just stand in one place, but he disappeared.

Jean

I think I'm confusing you - when you go to the inn, you just see people you have dismissed, or people you met who you didn't take with you. You meet new characters all through the game, and can elect to have them join the party (but you have to dismiss someone else to have them join). For instance, Vix will now be at the inn.

Thanks, nickie!! I turned him down without realizing that his higher stats wouldn't start showing until I hired him, and the book says he's tough. So, I'll check him out at the inn.

I went through the caverns and can't do the elevator, so that will have to wait for Finala.

I have to say this is a really enjoyable game -- much better than Dungeon Siege I, although I had fun with that, too.

Jean

Yep still Act I..you'll know when you're in ActII, the game will show you..and the big boss fight at the end of ActI will be a good hint..

**Edit Here** Oh and yep Vix will show up again in Act II...you didn't miss much..

Ingie <img border="0" alt="[grinch]" title="" src="graemlins/grinch.gif" />

I went ahead and hired Vix, just to see what he could do. I sure hope I did the right thing. He looks kind of scrawny compared to Lothar! I guess time will tell!

I've got to run and do some chores, so I have to leave my Dungeon Siege friends until this afternoon. I hope they don't get into trouble without me.

Jean

I used Vix just for his own personal quest that was fun, and then dismissed him, because not only was he dying easily, he whines a lot!

I used Lothar, Deru, and Vix through the whole game and they did great. Deru was the nature mage and my elf was the combat mage, Lothar dual wielded melee weapons and Vix shot arrows.

The other half-ogre that will join your party is in the Windstone Fortress before the very end of Act I, he is in a hole in the ground near the NPC's

Thanks, everyone, for your advice! I took Vix back to the inn and picked up Deru again, since she's at level 14 and he's only at 12, and I'm doing the Blacksmith quest again. Once I decide to do Vix's quest I'll take him along.

Jean

Does anyone remember how they defeated the dead mage in the crypt in the "Family Heirloom" quest? This is the one where you answer questions a statue asks, and he opens a door for you to go through. The mage is level 30 and really tough. My guys are all around 21 or so.

Jean

Jean, this is preparing you for a big fight at the end of the Act..

I think at this point of the game-don't remember stats-but I had Lolthar the Giant, Me the Ranger,
Taar-nature maze and Chilly my ice element pet.

This is in the desert area right? If so, I mainly used water spells on anything..had as much protection and juice as I could get..kept my fingers on the keys for health and mana...and fired away..
We got him.

If too tough for your group..I suggest backing out
and seeing if you have other quest you can complete. Wish I could remember our levels..
You'll nail him now that you asked!!!

Ingie

I had to back out of it and come back when my stats were higher, around 27 I believe, and then it was a breeze. I had a similar party to Ingie, except I was playing as a death mage.

Thanks, nickie & Ingie. I went back and got killed again, so I guess I'll wait. I'm a fire mage, Taar is a nature mage, Deru is a ranger with some nature mage capabilities, and Lothar is a knight. They are all levels 20-21.

Does anyone know the way to Windstone Fortress? I've done the Azunite Shrine and have the map to the weapon, but can't find that either. I'm assuming everything lies to the Northeast, but I can't get to the northeast. Any ideas?

Jean

Hi Jean, <img border="0" alt="[santa]" title="" src="graemlins/santa.gif" />
Actually you're at a good level for where you're at; according to the SG..

For Windstone Fortress..
"Retrace your steps up the spiral staircase and find the Ancestor waiting for you on the northern side of the chamber. Speak with him again, and he'll open a northern passage..go through it, after that head east to activate the teleporter you'll be at the cliffs of Azunai".

Ingie <img border="0" alt="[grinch]" title="" src="graemlins/grinch.gif" />

Hi Ingie:

I don't remember ever seeing a spiral staircase. Where is it? I've been all over the shrine and through the caves, and haven't seen an ancestor either.

I've got to go out in a few minutes so I'll check back in to see if any of you can lead a trail-blind person out!

Jean

Jean

Ingie <img border="0" alt="[grinch]" title="" src="graemlins/grinch.gif" />

Hi Jean Ingie, we posted at the same time, but you were a bit faster.

Hi Ingie and Nickie:

I just got home, and thanks for your replies. I've been through the caves that lead to the Azunite Shrine, and been through the Shrine. I have the mirror and map, but haven't heard anything about a lost vault I just looked at the description of the mirror and it mentions finding the lost vault with it. Hmmm.

I don't have any idea where the vault is, though. Is it in the Shrine somewhere? And the only puzzles I solved in this area is the riddle in the crypt, where the mage keeps killing me, but that's a secondary quest.

I'm missing something somewhere, and it's probably very simple. Heeellpppp!!!!!

Jean

Ah-ha..

This puzzle makes you place the mirror in the statue that it will go..then you turn the different statues to make a continual beam of light that will then activate the lost vault..took a little time to figure out how many turns for each statue, but fiddling with it will get you what you need..

If you need help, I still have my trusty SG and we can give you better directions.

Ingie <img border="0" alt="[grinch]" title="" src="graemlins/grinch.gif" />

Hi Ingie:

Thanks! Where is it, though? Is it still in the Shrine? I made it out of that area and am wandering around the Lost Azunite Valley, is it near there?

You know, I have a strategy guide, too, but my brains have turned to mush, and I can't figure out where to go.

Jean

Jean, I can't tell exactly where you are, and I don't remember much of this from when I played, but the Gamespot guide may help, click here for the specific quest info:

DS2 LOST AZUNITE ARTIFACT

Jean, <img border="0" alt="[santa]" title="" src="graemlins/santa.gif" />

Yep, when you do the mirror puzzle correctly; a doorway to the north of you should open up..that is where you can talk to the ancient one

Great maps there, this game really needs to look into how to make a map..even the SG is not very good at mapping

Ingie <img border="0" alt="[grinch]" title="" src="graemlins/grinch.gif" />

Thanks Schwab and Ingie! That helped, and I'm on my way there. You're right, the maps in the game and SG are really bad, and since I can't read maps well in the first place I'm continually lost!

Jean

ARrrghhhh!!! I have the light puzzle done exactly like the screenshot and nothing's happening! No vault or door opened.

Edited to say: Duh! It always works. I had one statue turned slightly to the left.

Jean

Okay this is what the SG states..

"The completed mirror puzzle opens a new passage.
Descend the sprial staircase..looks like face East and descend down..at the bottom of the staircase there will be the vault to the bottom. Approach the pedestal in the valult's cent and Pick up the Azunite Artifact. Speak with the Elven spirit. The Ancestor of the Azunties appears and provides your next quest. Open the big chest for your reward. You need to find a hidden vault in the Windstone Fortress to power the artifact."

You may be like me, and looking for something more obvious, remember you're in a cavern, so it will be rocky..not a wooden spiral..hope that helps a bit..
I'm lost tonight too.

Ingie <img border="0" alt="[grinch]" title="" src="graemlins/grinch.gif" />

Thanks, Ingie! I got through that patch and am now on my way to the Fortress. I'm done for the night, so I'll leave that discovery for tomorrow.

Jean

I got to Windstone Fortress, cleared it out and did all that stuff there. I decided to take on Sartan, so now I have two melee fighters, a combat mage and a nature mage. I dropped my ranger off at the inn, and I'll get her back later, but right now I need more muscle, I think!

I finally went back and retrieved the family heirloom from the crypt. I didn't actually kill the mage there. I saw the heirloom laying on the floor, and while we were fighting had someone run and pick it up. That way, once we were all killed I still had it! Quest complete, even though in a sneaky way. Maybe at some point I'll go back and get that mage when my levels are much higher.

Jean

Oh you clever girl...love it...


Ingie

Heellppp!!! I'm stuck in Istheru's caverns. I'm doing the quest for the parts of Arinth's staff. I'm supposed to go down into a dungeon to get the focusing stone. I'm definitely in the right place -- I've turned on both water levers and gotten to the treasure room. But, I can't find the button to the lift so I can get to the ghost. Does anyone remember where it is?

Jean

Found it! As usual, as soon as I posted it magically appeared. This one was really hard to find, as it was a stone set in a step.

Jean

Works like magic, doesn't it? I had a hard time finding that tricky little lever too.

I've just met up with Evangalina. What a little snob! Unfortunately I have to take her with me to Snowbrook Haven. I didn't want to give up my nature mage, so had to give up Finalia, who've I've made into a really strong death mage.

Evangelina keeps jumping in where she shouldn't, and I have to keep pumping her full of potions. I can't wait to get Finalia back.

I'm having a lot of fun collecting the special sets. I have so many different things now that it's hard to decide which to use!

Has anyone played a second time around past the mercenary stage? I think I'll give that a try once I've been through it once.

Jean

Nope on the play again, well that's not right I did try just a piece of it..have it still on board Jean, so let me know and I'll try with you..irght now, I'm so in love with M&M that it's hard to pry myself from it.

Santa did bring me 2 games this Christmas..Bard's Tale and Simon the Sorcerer..loaded and on board!

Eva is a good fighter, I think when I took her, I left Lothlar at the Inn, and kept my mages ( I was a ranger)..

Remember to take her back to the location of the burned out caravan.

Ingie <img border="0" alt="[newyear]" title="" src="graemlins/newyear.gif" />

Thanks, Ingie! Lothar is at 31 now, so I hate to give him up. Plus, his armor is up really high. I have Eva doing dual wield, so she doesn't have a shield, and her armor is lower yet. Hopefully I'll find something for her soon.

I haven't been to the burned out cavern yet, so thanks for the tip.

Jean

Jean,

That's where the main story kicks in again.

I understand about Lothlar, but I really wanted my magic folks to level up..
Eva is a really good fighter, and you'll soon be glad you have her around..just use her as you will..she's strong and wins most fights for you..
I think I used her as a Knight with shield and long sword, hard to remember..but I think she'll be great with 2 weapons..tough lady, I liked her.

Ingie <img border="0" alt="[newyear]" title="" src="graemlins/newyear.gif" />

I finally made it to Act 3 tonight! I'll tell you, that dragon, Talon, scared the heck out of me when he crashed through that wall at the end of Act 2. I've seen a lot of dragons in a lot of games, but this one had to have been the scariest.

So far I'm keeping up with all the secondary quests, except for the one where you find and give the regents to the mage to make a special enchantment. I'm not really enchanting anything, so I let that one go. I'm still working my way through the Arena, too. I've finished 6 levels, and so far the 7th has been too hard for me.

The ghosts are interesting, and make me so sad when I hear their tales.

And how about that killer chest in Snowbrook Haven? I can't tell you how many times it killed me before I finally got it.

Jean

Heellllpp!! I'm stuck again. I'm on the quest for the Pet Seller Galeron to get the Mithrilhorn. Khortos the Wise said to meet him at the Rift Gate. Bot my strategy guide and the one online say to go northeast of the teleporter site and all run into him. All I find northeast is the Peaceful Oasis, where Deru found the last of her treasure. I can see an archway beyond the entrance to the oasis, which I'm assuming is the gate, but I can't seem to get there. Any ideas?

Jean

hahahaha! It took me 8 minutes from the time I posted to find it. And I had been looking for hours.

Jean

Glad you found it, Jean, some things are hard to locate in this game!

Those chomping chests always made me jump, and by the time I did something, my poor little party would be dead. Sounds like you're making great progress! Oh, and I never got anything worthwhile with doing the enchantments, so I stopped doing that - too much stuff for the taking along the way to bother.

Hi Jean,
Just one note about switching companions, switch the armor too. Before sending someone to inn, take all the armor so you can use it on someone else. I really liked Eva more than Lothar, I picked her up when she was few levels below my party, but she cathes up.
Happy New Year to All!
Jeja

Thanks, Jeja, that's a good idea! I have Eva as a dual weapon knight, Lothar as a knight with shield, and Sartan as a two-handed weapon knight. I keep Lothar with me but switch between Eva and Sartan. Now I have good armour sets for both two-handed and dual wield -- so much fun trying to decide who gets what.

I am a fire combat mage, and I also have Taar as an ice nature mage who I keep with me. Finella is a death combat mage. Whew. I haven't done much with my archers lately. I can see I'll have to play it again to be able to add my people in.

I'm sooo addicted to this game. The other day outside I almost smashed a vase. (Just kidding!)

Jean

Good group you got going there Jean!!
You've left plenty of room for a pet or ranger if needed..
This game is constant fast on the action, makes you stay on your toes

I enjoyed the game a lot too..and just refused to rush with it..knowing it would end all to soon as it was.

Have to tell you though M&M has now stolen my heart..and I tried a bit of the Bard a Santa gave me..right up my sacastic manner...

Ingie

Hi Ingie:

One of these days I'll get around to M&M. Isn't the Bard funny? I still have the game loaded and may do it again someday.

Last night I completed the Sartan's Suspicion quest. Poor Sartan! I felt sorry for the big guy.

Jean

It

JeJe:

Do you mean that the second time around you don't keep your characters the way you built them up? That would be upsetting! Lothar, Taar and me and all at level 39. I'd hate for that to change.

Jean

I think there is an option..I know I took my crew back with me..I think, hm..got it on board have to take a peak..

That's very interesting that they do that, really gives you the option to mix things up a bit

Ingie

That's a relief, Ingie!

Jean

We do love our dreams, don't we Jean??

blacksmith..sigh

Ingie

Hi Jean,

You keep all your characters, I have Eva as knight, Taar as nature mage and Deru as sharpshooter, and all of them level 44. I met Lothar and Deru on the main terrace in Aman'lu, like doubles, they are level 40 and have new abilities. It should be possible now to add 5th companion. I wonder can you have two Deru's?


Jeja

That's funny! So you met another Deru? Let us know what happens if you try to add a second one.

You should be able to add a 5th character now. I pulled out my manual and it says you can add another when you reach Veteran level. I don't know if you have to play the next level to add a 6th, though.

Jean

I'm stuck again, this time at the Agallan tests. I got the first two waterways open, but can't seem to find the controls for the southern and eastern ones. Neither the strategy guide nor the online walkthrough make sense to me.

Jean

I hate to say this, but this may be where the game ends for me. I just can't see a way of opening the other two gates.

Jean

I think there's a bug in the game here for me. In the secret room, right next to the incantation shrine, when I run the cursor over an area in the right a hand appears as if there should be a lever there. Unfortunateley there isn't anything, and clicking doesn't do any good. I think this is the problem I'm having.

Does anyone have any ideas?

Jean

I got it! Complaining always helps.

Jean

Finished! What a fun game this was. The ending was a surprise, but sure leaves room for a sequel.

I'm starting over as a mercenary so I can have more people in my party. The ending of the first game was me, a fire combat mage, Taar, an ice nature mage, Lothar, melee, and Vix, throwing range weapons. We all ended up at level 44.

Jean

Congratulations, Jean! Sure sounds like you've enjoyed it, especially if you're replaying it already.

I don't know if I'll play the whole game, nickie. I'll see how it goes. Usually the charm is gone after I've played it once, but I'm really curious to see how the others do when I have them all together.

Jeam

Good job, Jean

If you do end up playing on the next difficulty level, keep us posted

I can finally start this game! Upgrades installed on 'puter, and things are just flying along! New processor and new graphics card. Whee! I'm looking forward to it, once I finish Thief DS and Splinter Cell CT.

Hagatha, you'll love this one. Schwab, I played a little last night and this morning at the veteran level. Your opponents start out at level 40! My people are 44, but....still.

Jean

yep, makes it more "challenging" (my new favorite word today)..I played through it until I was no longer a prisoner and then stopped.

Jean, did you just go in from the game you were in, or did you start over, chosing veteran..know what I mean??

Ingie

Hi Ingie:

I just went in from where I was. I haven't played it, though, in a few days. Somehow I don't think I will. I sure wish I had the attention span to go through these games more than once.

Jean