Spend 7.5k gold at the start of Act 2?

[Jeff Kaos]

So I just began ACT 2 and one of the first major decisions I was asked to make was whether or not to spend more than half my gold holder on soldiers for my army. Not really understanding the mechanics I just clicked yes and now I'm not sure what it actually did.

Can someone explain what my gold bought here? Thanks.

[Moo]

I think you just get more soldiers for the crusade portion. I have always selected No.

[steventirey]

It buys more soldiers, and is a good idea to do. You can get by without them, but they do help. And it does give you some clerics right at the start, so its easier to keep your troops alive. Plus some more archers and footmen.

[fox5s]

I always get it. It just helps get your army up and running more quickly. And you'll make the gold back super quickly. And what were you gonna use the gold on anyway at that point?

Yeah, you might get Seelah some Full Plate. Probably buy all the cure light pots from the cleric guy. Maybe the cure light scrolls too. But you really don't need anything else.

[Jeff Kaos]

Originally posted by fox5s:

I always get it. It just helps get your army up and running more quickly. And you'll make the gold back super quickly. And what were you gonna use the gold on anyway at that point?

Yeah, you might get Seelah some Full Plate. Probably buy all the cure light pots from the cleric guy. Maybe the cure light scrolls too. But you really don't need anything else.

So were the extra guys added to the Army? Or were they the second army?

I really should've left the camp just for a second to see what the world map was all about because I'm not gonna' lie: I had no idea there was an army mechanic in the game but coming from Kingmaker I should've known there was a "high level" system like the Kingdom management sim stuff in the last game.

[fox5s]

Originally posted by Jeff Kaos:

So were the extra guys added to the Army? Or were they the second army?

I really should've left the camp just for a second to see what the world map was all about because I'm not gonna' lie: I had no idea there was an army mechanic in the game but comi g from Kingmaker I should've k own there was a "high level" system like the Kingdom management sim stuff in the last game.

It will show up as a second Army. But you can immediately move it and join it with your existing army.

Ah! So this is your first playthrough. Let me save you some grief in the Army stuff. Hire Setsuna Shy as your first General. When you go to hire one, it will give you a selection of three. If he's not there, close the screen and reopen it, it will give you new options.

The thing Setsuna Shy has that sets him apart is Master of Maneuvers, which lets you add an extra stack to your army, AND Scorching Ray. Plus, he learns a Cure spell pretty quickly. This is amazing cause bigger army is better. And being able to nuke problem stacks or heal your own is OP.

[Moo]

I have always felt getting the right general for the army will make a bigger difference than a few soldiers, especially for such a short and temporary situation. I'd rather spend the money on stuff that will help my party.

[fox5s]

Originally posted by jeem1972:

I have always felt getting the right general for the army will make a bigger difference than a few soldiers, especially for such a short and temporary situation. I'd rather spend the money on stuff that will help my party.

That's valid. But, I don't think there's too much to buy at that exact point that will make too much of a difference. And what is there can be put off a bit while you gather gold within the Act.

And you are definitely right about the General. Setsuna Shy is OP. :D

[AlexMBrennan]

It buys more soldiers, and is a good idea to do.

No it's not - you get free crusade money which can be spent on hiring troops every week but there is no way to turn crusade money into real money which you can use to buy equipment for your characters.

Given that there is no time pressure whatsoever (in fact, the ludicrous number of artefact projects force you to wait half a year anyway) it would be wiser not to waste your finite real money.

[Moo]

I think I got the bookworm helm, +2 shock mithril fauchard, +3 cloak, and a few other things.

[fox5s]

Originally posted by AlexMBrennan:

It buys more soldiers, and is a good idea to do.

No it's not - you get free crusade money which can be spent on hiring troops every week but there is no way to turn crusade money into real money which you can use to buy equipment for your characters.

Given that there is no time pressure whatsoever (in fact, the ludicrous number of artefact projects force you to wait half a year anyway) it would be wiser not to waste your finite real money.

You can't start doing those artifact projects until Act 3. This is Act 2 we are talking about. There is a minor incentive to get through Act 2 within 60 days (not that buying those extra soldiers will probably affect that). And the soldiers will stick around to Act 3 with you. Assuming you don't get them killed.

And, again, what are you gonna spend the money on at that exact point? You'll get it back before there's any kind of issue.

Originally posted by jeem1972:

I think I got the bookworm helm, +2 shock mithril fauchard, +3 cloak, and a few other things.

The bookworm helm is solid but you should have money for it by the time you get to Leper's Smile where you will actually want it. The fauchard assumes you even have the feat for it and isn't needed since enemies will be dropping +2 or +3 weapons shortly. The cloak isn't bad but it's also cheap if you really want it. Though, you'll be getting plenty of dropped cloaks without having to buy them specifically.

All this is just my opinion. Feel free to buy things that you want. I just like getting the troops and picking up the other things later.

[Moo]

I don't remember anyone dropping fauchards or any +3 weapons in Act 2. I was only able to get them by purchasing them from vendors. Besides, I have never lost any soldiers in crusade mode through battles, so I don't see the point in spending 7.5k gold on them. At that point in the game, 7.5k gold is a hefty chunk of change.

[Roknar]

Everybody is simping for setsuna shy but in my opinion he really isn't THAT strong.
I found extra morale (it gives you extra activations) and straight troop damage to be at least as good. By FAR the most damage is coming from you archers anyway. It's not even a comparison.

You can also get generals with the ability to activate troops twice on top of the moral, so it can happen that you wipe out the entire enemy army with a single archer stack (no such thing as "enough", pump dat stack).
And even for general damage I found the trap elf to do more damage, although it doesn't apply to everything and falls of a cliff in act 5.

My main general was furio and she totally got the job done too.
Mind you I was trickster and they get basically a nuke. Entire enemy army is stunned and then you just hammer them unmolested. Probably helped....a lot.

[Roknar]

As for items, if you got it the will of the inheritor or so medal is by far the most important item, last you throughout the entire game. I think I spent most of my money on scrolls, but that only works if you know what you are going to face. Otherwise might as well save it for drezen unless you have a plan with the items you get now.

There is some really good stuff in Drezen shops early on that will give you a quite an edge.

[fox5s]

Originally posted by jeem1972:

I don't remember anyone dropping fauchards or any +3 weapons in Act 2. I was only able to get them by purchasing them from vendors. Besides, I have never lost any soldiers in crusade mode through battles, so I don't see the point in spending 7.5k gold on them. At that point in the game, 7.5k gold is a hefty chunk of change.

There's a +3 comp shortbow with bleed. Hunter's Assurance or something. There's a +2 Keen Longbow. Various other +2 weapons. Might be a few more +3 but they are prob in Dresen.

Fauchard is an exotic weapon. You aren't going to have anyone who can use it by default. It's not a bad weapon to spec into. But you wouldn't care unless you have already done so.

[Moo]

My scald is using the fauchard. I was debating whether I should go fauchard or falchion, but either way, I had to purchase it. I wanted my scald to be a little further away from the front, so I went with fauchard.