What are gems good for?

[jetnerd]

Okay, first question: What are gemstones good for, I know they all have stats on them and I feel like there's some way to put them into gear but I can't find it for the life of me so I usually sell the heck out of them? (I know they're good for alchemists, a dwarf or two I've seen, and Trikaul's Maul but I can't find a use outside of those).

[Stuntofthelitter]

In general they're something to sell/transmute for gold. Alchemists have skills to imbue them in a chest piece, and alchemist escorts can teach that tree to other classes. There's a prodigy that can be taken to also gem belts and hats. Their golem also has the potential to directly wear gems if you pick up the Advanced Golemancy tree.

Mindslayers can mentally wield something, and when a gem is used for that they gain stat bonuses as well as the bonuses on the gem. They have a generic talent that can consume a gems as well.

Aside from those class-based uses you can have a gem imbued into a ring at the jeweler in Angolwen or Gates of Morning. There's also potentially a quest for the Gates of Morning jeweler to have him be able to make amulets that two gems go in.

[jetnerd]

Thank you! this is helpful, if you know, do gems add any power to the sanctum place when transmogrified?

[Radon26]

i think all the items add energy to that place.
but to be sure you could just transmo 20 of them at once, and check the energy before and after.

[twas Brillig]

Gems are actually a great way to add energy to the fortress. Unless you really need money for something early game, it's good to just carry around all your gems until you unlock the fortress and link your chest. Transmuting all your early game gems is usually enough to let you link your Rod of Recall with some to spare.