Sorry for spamming the board with my newbieness, but like my martial monk question below, I could not find (or derive) this answer from the manual or the board posts.

Everyone here seems to think that the main attributes to pump for Gadgets are SEN first, then DEX and SPD (in various order, depending on who is posting).

Why, when Engineering is specifically mentioned in the INT description, would no one want to pump that for a gadgeteer, and NOTHING that the gadgeteer does is mentioned in the description for SEN? Bottom line question is what does SEN do for a Gadget monkey, and why would INT not be impt enough to be listed in the "pump these attrib. for this char." type posts?

Thanks again

I pump niether. Dex, Str, Vit for almost all my chars--only if i have a Bish do i put any points at all in Int.
Int is mentioned as a controlling attribute for Engineering, which means it helps you get Skill increases faster. But if you just keep shining your Searchlight and X-Ray Scanner, you'll have all the Skill you need. If you wear Brilliant Helm, you'll have more than enough Int to learn even faster.

Rodeoclown, you are not "spamming" the board with newbie questions. Rather this board is for you and those of us who stick around try to justify our continuing presence by helping out, here and there, when we can.

The key stategic element you are missing is Expert Skills. When attributes reach a natural level of 100, that opens expert skills. That is not a fact in your manual, but a poll of players a while back, on another board, thought it ought to be.

Senses, in particular opens up Eagle Eye, which, according the description, increases both the ability to hit and penetrate with a ranged weapon. This is great for the Gadgeteer's Omnigun.

Intelligence isn't bad, and is a controlling attribute for Ranged Combat and Engineering. However, the expert skill, when Intelligence reaches a natural 100, which is Powercast, does the Gadgeteer no good at all in my experience. In my first game, when I was just a newbie, I had a Gadgeteer that I maxed in Intelligence and then, at level-up, I increased the Powercast skill by three at every level up. It did nothing, there were never any increases through use and no observable difference in spell power (using Gadgets).

Intelligence, by the way, and Powercast, greatly increases the power and effectiveness of any spell (not music or gadget) caster's offensive spells. It actually increases all spells and, even with a Priest, I go for maxing Intelligence rather than Piety.

Good luck!

[ 08-22-2003, 06:30 PM: Message edited by: EEWorzelle ]

I just don't ordinarily get that far: i like to have everybody's Dex up first for the AC boost of Reflextion (which trains just like Stealth and Shield) and most of my parties are smaller so everyone's developed for combat (getting Powerstrike) When i do start someone as a Bishop, i may go for Powercast, but usually by the time i'm Ascending, i've found that high combat ability does much more killing than high magic ability anyway. Though it is fun to put a Death Cloud on a crowd of Scorchers and watch them dwindle from round to round...

I've been staying away from Int. all together lately. I put it all into Piety since I found Int. not really helpful. I know I'll get arguments 'cos I usually do but the extra spell points and Vitality are better than the benefit of Int.

Farseer, no argument from me without more information. Piety add to spell points a bit and gives a nice boost to Stamina. Intelligence boosts spell points, too. The only difference between them (unless intelligence as first named does more) is the direct effect Piety has on spell points which, in my measurements is 0.2% per point of piety. Thus, if you have 400 Spell Points and add a +10 Piety ankh it will give you 408 Spell points.

Your spell points will go up rapidly as you use your magic, and get magic realm increases, since the realm magic strongly affects spell points.

The lack of powercast depends on what you intend to cast, for it's importance. If you just intend to cure, summon, portal, heal, buff, and protect, those spells are about 90% effective without powercast, not too big a hit.

It depends on the party and your preference... go for it!

That's right; I really only use those spells with the Bishop so the more points the better. The three Lords cast Guar. Angel first (in large battles) and then the Bishop does the rest.
My party of 4; Bishop and 3 Lords just took out Nebdar at Lvl: 16. I picked up 5554999 exp and it seemed easier than any time I've used 6 in the party. I took virtually no damage at all. I always build Vitality and Piety for my casters now, even for the mage. I really like it better then working on Int. It's just a personal thing but a caster that isn't dead is always more affective!

Just a side note,
I really don't want to be a Manshoon anymore since I heard they were some evil order. Please change my status, even if you have to lower me, whoever the forum god may be. Thank You

[ 08-24-2003, 07:17 AM: Message edited by: Variol (Farseer) Elmwood ]

Farseer,

In a side response, the avatars (like Manshoon) are just an indication of how many posts you've made. To graduate to a new avatar, you need more posts!

See the FAQ up at the top for a listing of ranks and avatars. At a post count of 200, you need to get up to 250 for the next level.

They are by no means a reflection on you or your personality. Just something to liven up the boards with. :D

i could see piety working extremely well in a lord party. not only does the priest book have limited attacking spells (making powercast overkill), but the additional magic resistance afforded by iron will could make them tough against magic enemies as well.

over the past few months, i've also gotten pretty keen on vitality. early on, i used it by default, but after running a number of ind characters and whole parties without it, i've found it invaluable for the small parties i tend to prefer, but primarily for stamina and carry capacity (not hit points or damage resistance).

i can see this being important for a gadg running up senses, as the extra attacks will burn stamina big time, and you're going to need carry capacity for all that ammo you'll go through (having played few gadg's, tho, i may not be the best judge!)