Taking prisoners - viable or a waste of resources?

[NixBoxDone]

Hello thar, fellow pillar smashers.

I have - as you, probably - built a dungeon in my stronghold, figuring that if you take somebody prisoner, surely something must result that would be worth building the facility for, right?

But so far I haven't had a single offer for the people I imprisoned, instead they seem to escape almost faster than I can add to their numbers.

While thinking about this problem, it occured to me that not only was the monetary investment and the time so far a total waste, but it also lost me the loot of the people I threw into the dungeon - which is not a small thing, as the people you get to take prisoner most often tend to be the people you should most look forward to looting.

My question here is: Am I wasting my time and valuable loot on a wild goose chase? Did you guys actually get offers for your prisoners, and if so, did they seem worth it?

I really want to like the idea of taking people prisoner instead of killing them, making them go towards the better good, so to speak. But so far, no joy, and I am reluctant to keep trying if all it nets me is regret.

Your thoughts on this?

[Sosseres]

I got one 200 money offer from an animancer for one. The second one escaped, third I let go for the benevolance I got. Doesn't seem worth it from what I have seen.

[Damedius]

You do.

However by the time you get offers the money seems insignificant compare to how much money you have.

The adventures you send your companions on seem to be much better.

[NixBoxDone]

So they offered you 200 copper for one of your prisoners? That's worthless.

If they carry even one enchanted object you get the same + the chance that the item might be something you would otherwise have had to buy.

It might be an item with a unique effect. Many of the named foes actually have armor and weapon enchanted, too.

Not to mention the fact you need to build the damn dungeon in the first place, and the chances of getting something at all seems pretty small, seeing as I have yet to keep a prisoner long enough to RECEIVE offers.

Waste of an interesting mechanic, then?

Or has anybody gotten something special out of it? It'd be worth it for a rare artifact, for example.

[Zor]

The best offer I have seen for prisoners was from a slaver (2000 per person), but overall, there only one quest that 'needs' a prison (and by needs, i mean, if you want to do the 'good' option).

[glenn3e]

Most of the prisoners have good items if you kill them. Nyrid only drops a Grimoire, so you can take him and try your luck. I save/load before taking all prisoners to check their loot.

[Erei]

Honestly, I think the prisoner feature is a failure. It's a good idea, but that's it. First, you don't loot the prisoner. Then they escape fairly easily, even with high security. And finally, the ransom is so low, you'd make more by killing them and selling the loot.

[NixBoxDone]

Yeah, maybe they should think about giving you the loot when you take them prisoner. Not only does it make sense - who doesn't take away highly enchanted weapons and armor when imprisoning his foes? - but it would also reduce the "gamble" to whatever amount of experience you lose for not killing them.

Maybe make them take up money for prison guards/food to make up for it, or something.

I'd be willing to spend copper to find out if there are any good offers (the wiki hinted at unique items, which is the onlything at the moment that would justify the expense) if I didn't guarantee myself a net loss by it.

Especially peeved because I think I may have lost a unique item or two already. :(

"Yer a mage, aye? Better thank yer lucky stars ya ended up with mah liege, pretty boy. Boss don't hold with lootin his foes. Anybody sane'll take away yer grimoire before cashin you in, maybe rip out yer tongue... We? We just throw ye in this here cell, ayup."

[President T]

I had an animancer offer 200 for Nyrid. Now the Readceran slaver is offering 1200 cp for him.

What makes prisoners worth holding onto, however, is this, in my opinion

"If you have cleared the dungeon and built a prison under your stronghold, then when you are fighting some of the named NPC’s in the game, you will be given an option to take them prisoner instead of killing them. Prisoners are kept in a cell in your prison, where you can visit them and talk to them, and occasionally use them as leverage later in the game."
&
"Some visitors will offer rare items for sale, and some might even offer a very rare item in exchange for one of the prisoners in your dungeon."

I'm still waiting for any of that exciting sounding stuff and not just meager coppers...


Quotes taken from

http://forums.obsidian.net/topic/64350-update-63-stronghold/

[KnorKater]

I only stumbled into 2 opportunities to take prisoners in the whole game. Had to kill the first one, cause I had no prison at that point. For the second one I only got 3 offers, every time the same guy with 200(or was it 300?) copper to take one for his experiments. I built the prison pretty early and completed the game some days ago. I also think its a good idea, but poorly executed.

Same goes for the whole stronghold itself. I'd like to see a DLC dedicated to it, adding more value and purpose to that thing. For example: I raise taxes, but who does pay them? I mean it's a miracle that no local lord has come to kick me out, because land is usually given by the ruler of the country. You don't just go to the next ruin and rebuild it. Why should anyone pay taxes? Is there some kind of village nearby? Why can't I visit it and talk to my people? Why doesn't anyone come to my hold and complain about his neighbor stealing his pig? And why can't I set the tax level?

Neverwinter Nights 2, even though horribly buggy, did a better job with its stronghold there.

Anyway, PoE is still one of the best RPGs I know, even with it's weaknesses.

[Sentinel 08295]

There's a lot out of balance with the Stronghold and I'm certain many facets of it will receive an overhaul or at least some fine tuning.

[Kinja]

Originally posted by iDz !ce.Cream<3:

I only stumbled into 2 opportunities to take prisoners in the whole game. Had to kill the first one, cause I had no prison at that point. For the second one I only got 3 offers, every time the same guy with 200(or was it 300?) copper to take one for his experiments. I built the prison pretty early and completed the game some days ago. I also think its a good idea, but poorly executed.

Same goes for the whole stronghold itself. I'd like to see a DLC dedicated to it, adding more value and purpose to that thing. For example: I raise taxes, but who does pay them? I mean it's a miracle that no local lord has come to kick me out, because land is usually given by the ruler of the country. You don't just go to the next ruin and rebuild it. Why should anyone pay taxes? Is there some kind of village nearby? Why can't I visit it and talk to my people? Why doesn't anyone come to my hold and complain about his neighbor stealing his pig? And why can't I set the tax level?

Neverwinter Nights 2, even though horribly buggy, did a better job with its stronghold there.

Anyway, PoE is still one of the best RPGs I know, even with it's weaknesses.

This is very spot on but let's not forget they can still do a lot of balance work in the future patches. I loved Crossroads Keep(i think it was called) in Neverwinter Nights 2, bugs aside it was one of my favorite aspects of the game. Also, while i doubt they will launch any stronghold DLC, that does not mean it might not get some more love in one of the expansions(or in both for that matter). Would actually be kinda stupid if it didn't, it was afterall a big "feature" and it would be a shame to just leave it like this.

[Aepervius]

Build it for the flavor.

You are swimming in money anyway after a while, so why look at advantage or disavantage only ? You get to have a keep ! Immerse yourself and repair it no matter what it "state wise" may bring you !

[McBam]

Just realized: Not only has Nyrid taken his loot with him to jail, as far as I can tell he's also taken Purnisc's Grandmother's ring! He'll be quite set up after his inevitable escape.

[Sentinel 08295]

Originally posted by TomIsNoob:

Just realized: Not only has Nyrid taken his loot with him to jail, as far as I can tell he's also taken Purnisc's Grandmother's ring! He'll be quite set up after his inevitable escape.

9 month Necro achievement!