Dumb questions thread

[kazak]

Is there some trick to the whole betraying escorts without going anti-magic bit? Right now, I can betray escorts after going anti-magic, but I never get the option otherwise. Several runs on a mindslayer today, for instance, in the starter dungeons with only starting equipment and talents, I don't get any options other than the normal two (help or don't help).

My understanding is that you're supposed to be able to do this now, so I'm not sure if it's a bug (I play on OSX) or if I'm just stupidly overlooking something.

[stinkstink]

You need to read the sign in Zigur with any character to get the "Birth power: Zigur Sacrifice" unlock.

[nate]

And, you need to not have any runes or spells (including racial spells) or a mana bar. When I had similar "Why can't I betray?" issues it was because of runes.

[lukep]

...and it has to be a magical escort. For example, you can't betray a warrior.

[Mewtarthio]

I'm pretty sure you can betray with a mana bar, so long as you don't currently know any spells.

[kazak]

Thanks! Probably the sign that's the problem. Never occurred to me.

EDIT: Yep, that did it.

[wobbly]

Does creeping dark matter to the AI? seems to me when I use it, I can't see them but they can see me.

[tylor]

(spolier)
I reached end of Charred star and stonewalked to guys there. One of them chased me, and none of what I did could not hurt him. So I had to retreat and wait until end of timer and quest said "could not interrupt" (even though at least one of bosses was far away from portal, camping me). Is it a bug? I probably should have not used stonewalk, but I have not noticed that there were a hole I could squeese through...
(/spolier)

[Crim, The Red Thunder]

(spolier)
I reached end of Charred star and stonewalked to guys there. One of them chased me, and none of what I did could not hurt him. So I had to retreat and wait until end of timer and quest said "could not interrupt" (even though at least one of bosses was far away from portal, camping me). Is it a bug? I probably should have not used stonewalk, but I have not noticed that there were a hole I could squeese through...
(/spolier)

Definitely a bug, though it would be EPIC if someone could actually KILL those 2 things there, even if it would affect the storyline...

Normally when you walk through the diagonal chunk of rock, there's a bit of dialogue and a fire demon boss thing is generated, while the other 2 retreat. You should probaby take that to the bug report forum.

[lukep]

Does creeping dark matter to the AI? seems to me when I use it, I can't see them but they can see me.

Not really. It's been that way for a while.

[tylor]

1. Should I do all tier 1 zones for better chance of manageable escort quest? Or there is some limit on having quest for zone/being not too high level, etc?
2. Where can I find Harkor'Zun? I cleared Daikara like 15 times already with different characters, but never seen one.
3. Will I have better chance of proc-ing Arcane Combat if I have more bolts? Or one at 5/5 is enough?

[Velorien]

1. Should I do all tier 1 zones for better chance of manageable escort quest? Or there is some limit on having quest for zone/being not too high level, etc?
2. Where can I find Harkor'Zun? I cleared Daikara like 15 times already with different characters, but never seen one.
3. Will I have better chance of proc-ing Arcane Combat if I have more bolts? Or one at 5/5 is enough?

2. I've also seen Harkor'Zun in Tempest Peak and the Ruined Dungeon (nothing like five Fragmented Essences spawning in a row next to your starting tile in a long corridor).

[Mewtarthio]

1. Should I do all tier 1 zones for better chance of manageable escort quest? Or there is some limit on having quest for zone/being not too high level, etc?
2. Where can I find Harkor'Zun? I cleared Daikara like 15 times already with different characters, but never seen one.
3. Will I have better chance of proc-ing Arcane Combat if I have more bolts? Or one at 5/5 is enough?

1. The escorts are pre-placed at the start of your game. If you don't find any escorts in the tier 1 zones, that's because, when your character was generated, no escorts were placed in tier 1 zones. Note that the order in which you do the tier 1s does matter, since escorts only spawn in the first two.

2. Harkor'Zun spawns randomly wherever you can find xarens. Daikara is helpful in that it's got a disproportionately high number of xarens. Try putting off Daikara as long as you can: You're more likely to find the fragments if you're at least level 17.

3. The number of spells you know doesn't matter. It's a random chance to proc Arcane Combat, and, when it procs, it randomly selects a bolt from the spells you know. (In the past, it could select spells on cooldown, which would fail to trigger, meaning you were actually less likely to proc Arcane Combat if you knew several bolts and used a couple of them as spells rather than procs, but that's been fixed).

[Crim, The Red Thunder]

1. Should I do all tier 1 zones for better chance of manageable escort quest? Or there is some limit on having quest for zone/being not too high level, etc?

No, not for manageable escorts, but you should ALWAYS clear at least 4 (norgos, heart of the gloom, trollmire and korpul) of the tier 1's, as this puts you on MUCH more even footing. As for the remaining 2 tier 1's, Rhaloren camp is VERY mage heavy, and can be dangerous for some characters. Scintillating cave isn't horrible unless you get swamped, but again, quite magic heavy. These 2 should always be the last tier 1's you do unless you have a very special reason for doing them earlier. That said, whether you do both of them before or after your first tier 2 (maze or old forest, usually; then followed by the other of those, then sandworm lair, and daikara last.) is up to you. Doing more dungeons means more EXP, which means higher level and better stats/skills for you. (And closer to an appropriate level for Harky.) Also means more loot generated, especially artifacts that drop off the bosses.

[Moander]

My standard zone to-do list is something like this.

• Norgos. Quite a few single width passages so you can generally fight your enemies one at a time.
• Trollmire. Quite a few single width passages so you can generally fight your enemies one at a time. Don't enter Bills(?) glade.
• If you have a strong ranged attack or can quickly move to your enemies (rush for example) go to Scintillating cave. Be careful to not rush straight into the open if there can be more crystals in the area.
• If you have found a digger go visit Korpul. When you enter the boss zone, take a step to the left of the wall and dig the south east wall. This lets you start your fight 2 steps away from the boss. Don't try and attack him through the long hallway, he will just freeze you and kill you.
• Heart of Gloom. You sometimes starts the zones in the middle of a open space surrounded by creatures that pins you down with ranged attacks. You will need a bit of hp to survive here. Find a small corridor and fight you enemies there, especially the boss. His shadows hits hard.
• Rhaloren Camp can be very dangerous. You will probably outlevel your enemies by now but they can still kill you.
• Go to the maze if you have confusion resist, otherwise go to the sandworm queen.
• Go to the old forest.

After that it is up to what character you are playing.

Sometimes if I have been *really* lucky with my equipments I might skip a few tier 1 zones but otherwise every zone boss will often give you at least one artifact.