Wizardry The Wizardry Series Thread

[Bladderfish]

Thankfully I've just found that the area, the one with the Keeper of the Crypt, is designed so that you can avoid the slimes easily - lots of nature pillars, and the slimes patrol between two points on either side of the Keeper's area. Yeah, its a bit of a shame to miss out on all that xp, but there are easier ways to get it.

There is a use for chameleon after all!

 

[Eyeball]

Most of the Wiz8 adventure-puzzles are alright. I, too, managed to figure out the "vines" puzzle on the first go - the item description was a bit of a giveaway. Some puzzles are downright odd, however. I'm particularly thinking of the "Capture Rapax Assassin" quest in Marten's Bluff. Sure,the game pretty much tells you how to get the bait for the trap, but why the hell is there a rapax dummy on stand-by? And why is a super-leet assassin so dim he'll fall for something that obvious?

I was halfway expecting Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd to show up. "Oh boy, Wapax twacks!"

 

[DraQ]

Most of the Wiz8 adventure-puzzles are alright. I, too, managed to figure out the "vines" puzzle on the first go - the item description was a bit of a giveaway. Some puzzles are downright odd, however. I'm particularly thinking of the "Capture Rapax Assassin" quest in Marten's Bluff. Sure,the game pretty much tells you how to get the bait for the trap, but why the hell is there a rapax dummy on stand-by? And why is a super-leet assassin so dim he'll fall for something that obvious?

I was halfway expecting Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd to show up. "Oh boy, Wapax twacks!"

Apparently male Rapax think with their balls when subjected to female pheromones.

Rather inoffensive in a game with space rhinos that have starships and supercomputers but use black powder muskets and swords in combat.

 

[Cenobyte]

Most of the Wiz8 adventure-puzzles are alright. I, too, managed to figure out the "vines" puzzle on the first go - the item description was a bit of a giveaway. Some puzzles are downright odd, however. I'm particularly thinking of the "Capture Rapax Assassin" quest in Marten's Bluff. Sure,the game pretty much tells you how to get the bait for the trap, but why the hell is there a rapax dummy on stand-by? And why is a super-leet assassin so dim he'll fall for something that obvious?

I was halfway expecting Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd to show up. "Oh boy, Wapax twacks!"

Yeah, that was really odd. I guess it's because of engine limitations or something. Or the programmers just wanted to make the game even more lulzier than it is already
I didn't mind it, I found the whole thing rather amusing :D

 

[Mackerel]

Rather inoffensive in a game with space rhinos that have starships and supercomputers but use black powder muskets and swords in combat.

Yeah, they fit the Spelljammer setting much better, but I guess the guys at Sir-tech really liked Giff.
http://www.spelljammer.org/monsters/con ... /Giff.html

 

[DraQ]

I've always found it best for really surreal games like Wizardry 8, Anachronox and Divinity 2 to power down my critical thinking facilities and go full

.

It's more fun this way - for example, doesn't one of the methods of getting from Wiz 6 to Guardia include flying there on board of a spaceship piloted by a typical fantasy dragon?

 

[Shannow]

I see no problem with that

 

[Darth Roxor]

Yup, Wizardry's general over the top level of goof was one of its greatest assets

 

[Cenobyte]

Wise words @ DraQ

It's fine for all except consistencyfags

 

[DraQ]

I see no problem with that

Sure, but the point of Wizardry verse isn't creating consistent cohesive world. It mostly consists of stuff thrown in because it's cool/awesome.

You could create a consistent and interesting verse with spacefaring dragons, but you aren't supposed to even try to make sense out of melange of clashing elements that is Wizardry.

Just go

and go with the flow.

Wise words @ DraQ

It's fine for all except consistencyfags

I *AM* a consistency fag, but sometimes you just have to know when it would just completely miss the point - see Darth Roxor's post.

Trying to make sense out of Wizardry would be just plain... wrong.

 

[Cenobyte]

You really like that smiley, don't you?

 

[DraQ]

You really like that smiley, don't you?

It's only appropriate in this context.

 

[Sceptic]

It's more fun this way - for example, doesn't one of the methods of getting from Wiz 6 to Guardia include flying there on board of a spaceship piloted by a typical fantasy dragon?

IIRC it's also Wiz6's best ending.

Trying to make sense out of Wizardry would be just plain... wrong.

Same with M&M. I loved both series precisely for throwing random shit at you in the weirdest way possibly. Failed miserably in Ultima 2, works beautifully in M&M and Wiz 6-8.

 

[DraQ]

It's more fun this way - for example, doesn't one of the methods of getting from Wiz 6 to Guardia include flying there on board of a spaceship piloted by a typical fantasy dragon?

IIRC it's also Wiz6's best ending.

I need to do 6-8 playthrough for this reason alone.

 

[Gragt]

Wouldn't all that goofy stuff make sense inside the own "reality" of Wizardry? I didn't play the games (yet) but I see no problem with it, especially since that stuff has been done for far longer than video games existed. It would be a problem if one expects a by-the-numbers fantasy setting but then the problem lies with the preferences of the person, not the game itself.

 

[DraQ]

Wouldn't all that goofy stuff make sense inside the own "reality" of Wizardry? I didn't play the games (yet) but I see no problem with it, especially since that stuff has been done for far longer than video games existed. It would be a problem if one expects a by-the-numbers fantasy setting but then the problem lies with the preferences of the person, not the game itself.

Except it's not a coherent setting, just a loose collection of cool stuff.

Witcher had seemingly anachronistic knowledge of genetics, but it made sense in the setting, Morrowind had steampunk, autonomous robots and, with Tribunal, even cyborgs and neural interfaces, but it all managed to fit together, Arcanum was built around the conflict between standard fantasy stuff and industrial revolution, Mieville's Bas-Lag also tends to make sense if you disregard often retarded races and rather heavy-handed socialist author-tracts. Wizardry doesn't seem to even try.

 

[CrimHead]

WHERE IS THE DWEMER PUZZLE BOX

 

[Sceptic]

Witcher had seemingly anachronistic knowledge of genetics, but it made sense in the setting, Morrowind had steampunk, autonomous robots and, with Tribunal, even cyborgs and neural interfaces, but it all managed to fit together, Arcanum was built around the conflict between standard fantasy stuff and industrial revolution

Even Might and Magic (sorry, I just have to plug them everywhere) made sense if you pay attention to the setting's overarching plot, it's played similarly to TES's technology (ie artifacts of an earlier, more advanced civilization).

Wizardry doesn't seem to even try.

And then you have Wizardry 6-8 (distinction must be made as 1-4 had no technology to speak of). It's like MM1's use of aliens and blasters (bwuh?) without any of the backstory that made it make sense in the M&M universe. It literally boils down to one of the writers sitting down and thinking "a spaceship piloted by a dragon? awesome!" It's like Bethesda themeparking done right.

 

[Cenobyte]

Wouldn't all that goofy stuff make sense inside the own "reality" of Wizardry? I didn't play the games (yet) but I see no problem with it, especially since that stuff has been done for far longer than video games existed. It would be a problem if one expects a by-the-numbers fantasy setting but then the problem lies with the preferences of the person, not the game itself.

Jep, it's basically like this. Furthermore, there was never an attempt to create a complete, encompassing lore (like it has been done for the Forgotten Realms, The Dark Eye or the Elder Scrolls), so the whole setting is quite open to new additions.
Nevertheless, the whole thing is still full of cheesy stuff. It shouldn't be taken seriously at all (and it doesn't take itself seriously, anyway), it's like DraQ said, a loose setting to offer the player a rough story framework for the exploration of the gameworld and the dungeon crawling. And it does a damn fine job at this.

 

[coldcrow]

All this Wiz 8 talk made me fire it up again and now I have witnessed the most stupid party death ever

In the first room of the upper Monastery I lockpicked one of the crates and jumped a bit when the screen suddenly turned white and "your party has been crushed". Turned out the falling lid of the crate was responsible - a fact I wasn't aware of, even with dozens of playthroughs.

 

[Gnidrologist]

I'm starting my second playthrough and was wondering about the Saxx guy. Is it worth to avoid making bard of your own and wait till the Umpani base to have him? I've heard he's an entertaining fella. What about his stats and what level is needed to be to recruit him as i remember he was saying something along the lines that my party should get more experienced the first time i tried to get him in my low level party.
Abut the RPCs in general. I did have Vi with me the whole time in the first runthrough and the cyborg later on. They were really fine warriors, especially the robot. What about the others?

 

[Cenobyte]

I'm starting my second playthrough and was wondering about the Saxx guy. Is it worth to avoid making bard of your own and wait till the Umpani base to have him? I've heard he's an entertaining fella. What about his stats and what level is needed to be to recruit him as i remember he was saying something along the lines that my party should get more experienced the first time i tried to get him in my low level party.
Abut the RPCs in general. I did have Vi with me the whole time in the first runthrough and the cyborg later on. They were really fine warriors, especially the robot. What about the others?

Vi and RFS (the robot) are by far the most useful RPCs, since they follow you into nearly all areas. Vi is also heavily involved in the main plot and gets a special dialogue near the endgame, so if you plan to get the maximum story out of the game, you should definitely keep her with you.

Saxx is also okay and will follow you to Ascension Peak. If you plan to use him extensively, you can of course drop the bard from your build. To be able to recruit him, you must be allied with the Umpani.

All other characters are limited in their use since they won't follow you to Ascension Peak or many of the special locations (Bayjin, Rapax Castle etc.). Nevertheless, in the end it's very much a matter of personal taste. If you're a big fan of our cute private Sparkle, for example, just hire her and use her till she won't follow you any further.

 

[Shannow]

You also don't need a bard in your party. You can drop the bard and not take Saxx
Don't know much about most recruits since I've always gone with Vi and RFS, too.

 

[Gnidrologist]

Vi is also heavily involved in the main plot and gets a special dialogue near the endgame, so if you plan to get the maximum story out of the game, you should definitely keep her with you.

I know. As i already stated, this is my second play and i don't intend to use the same RPCs again. Was more interested if there are any benefits from the other ones.

You also don't need a bard in your party.

I wont have a mage and gageteer this time around so i need an additional caster to support the psyonic and someone who takes care of lockpicking/traps (no rogue either).

 

[dr. one]

I'm starting my second playthrough and was wondering about the Saxx guy. Is it worth to avoid making bard of your own and wait till the Umpani base to have him? I've heard he's an entertaining fella. What about his stats and what level is needed to be to recruit him as i remember he was saying something along the lines that my party should get more experienced the first time i tried to get him in my low level party.
Abut the RPCs in general. I did have Vi with me the whole time in the first runthrough and the cyborg later on. They were really fine warriors, especially the robot. What about the others?

well, as with most of the Wizardry 8 RPCs, the biggest drawback of Saxx are area restrictions - he won´t go to Bayjin, Marten´s Bluff and Rapax areas. as mentioned above, besides Vi and robot he´s the only RPC who won´t refuse to enter Ascension Peak.
i´ve used him once for the majority of game and he worked well enough as party´s only bard. he starts with high dexterity so he can get reflextion early, other important attributes are around 60 os so. since he´s male, he can´t use the stamina regenerating amulet acquirable in the early game.
he´s a musician with laidback attitude which strongly reflects in his comments and i definitely enjoyed his vocal input throughout the game.

there are various ways how to deal with area restrictions, but if you want to use Saxx as your only bard for the majority of the game and want to enjoy the class development more fully, editing some of these areas out (Bayjin and Rapax Rift&Castle come to mind) via Cosmic Forge is also an option.

as for the other RPCs, can´t really comment on anything as I always end up using Vi + RFS, the game with Saxx was an exception. the others i´ve used only for a short chunk of time.