Any Tips for Noobs?

[Woofy]

I just got this game. I have played Divine Divinity before and some of Dragon Commander.
Thought I'd try this one next.

Thanks!

[Raze_Larian]

The DK's armour class improves with his level, so he doesn't need strength for armour requirements. If you are going to use an archer, he would be able to focus more on agility.
For the start of the game, the opponents are more susceptible to slashing and crushing damage, though.
I left my DK using (2 handed) swords, and my hero clubs or walking sticks for most of act 1, switching to a bow for some tough fights, then upon reaching the last sections of the act, switched to a crossbow full time (using arrows, then power arrows; splitting arrows can be useful in specific circumstances, but I never bothered swapping elemental arrows around to match opponents' vulnerabilities, hoarding them in case I needed them later).
With archers, I tried to max Reload Time (direct bonus to speed), but other weapon expertise subskills I didn't, just putting a point or two into damage and accuracy.

The act 1 summoning doll can equip a crossbow, so can provide good support if kept out of melee combat (even upgraded they are not that tough). They can also be used as mules, and summoned before speaking to a trader to sell things they are carrying.
Summoning dolls can be used to clear proximity based traps, but can not open trapped containers (or use stairs).

A non-lead archer character set to aggressive (right click their portrait) will attack opponents in range, so can provide a bit of an early warning for opponents as they approach (especially if you have an inventory window open doing something).

The more effective, and mana efficient, spells start to become available in act 2.

Starting the game on the easiest difficulty level gives an extra couple of skill points, and you can increase the level after (though there isn't a way in-game to reduce the level after putting it on the hardest level). The hardcore difficulty level gives random skill point bonuses at each character level (30% chance), and in some cases there are extra opponents. Summoning doll stats are determined by the difficulty when they are first used, so if you are playing on a low difficulty, you can get better stats by temporarily increasing the difficulty to tactical (same for using permanent potions).

Beyond Divinity Strategy Guide[www.locusinn.com]

[Woofy]

That's very helpful - Thanks!

[American Dove Mitten]

I have a tip . Do not create 2 identical skills just because the game allows you to do that XD . When I played first time many years ago , I thought my 3 Sword skills stacked .

Keep like 5 save points. This game can brake itself.

Increasing attack value helps a lot in my opinion more so than Damage/Crit/Deadly Strike .

Also make sure the weapon that you using actually benefits from the skill that you leveling . There are some one handed ( 2 handed weapons in game ) That are not labled as two handed and do not have 2 handed animation .

Also Damage spells really do not scale very high in this game . Just saying .

[Raze_Larian]

Speaking of keeping multiple saves (make named saves when entering new areas or taking stairs to new levels, etc): near the end of the game a merchant requests that you retrieve an amulet for him. You can get the amulet, but don't return it (there is not much of a reward, anyway); there is a bug with the download version of the game that can cause saves made after completing that quest to crash on load.

[Woofy]

Interesting. The tips have made things easier so far.

I just entered my first Battlefield dungeon, but all the shops have really expensive training. Can I return to a Battlefield Dungeon later? I mean after I complete the quests?

The game feels a lot different from Divine Divinity. Does it get to be less of a Dungeon Crawl in later Acts?

[Raze_Larian]

You can return to the BF throughout each act (and the merchants regenerate their inventory each time you enter). When you move to the next act, there will be a new BF that you will need to find the key for.
The dungeons themselves are optional; you can return to them, but opponents do not respawn.

You can usually find less expensive trainers than the BF merchants (the strategy guide skill appendix lists books and trainers for each skill), but they are convenient, and sometimes teach things earlier or to a higher level than trainers in the main game.

Act 1 starts to open up a bit towards the end (and have some NPCs to talk to, some with small quests), and then act 2 and 3 have a lot more freedom, and more variety in environments, each with a (mostly) friendly settlement as a hub.

[eric]

My characters are stuck in sneaking. How do I turn it off?