Starting Gothic II -- how can I avoid the Lares bug?

[JohnJSal]

Hi everyone. I've been doing a lot of reading so I can prepare myself before starting the game, but one thing I'm not quite finding a good solution for is how to avoid this particular bug. The only thing I'm seeing (other than to start the game over!) is to not go with Lares to the mercenary camp until after you go with him to the Water Mages.

However, if I plan on joining the mercenaries, will this delay me joining them? How can I join them if want to avoid the bug? Or will I be able to do all of these quests with Lares early enough that it doesn't matter?

I'm just trying to get an idea of how it will all work out before I start. I really don't want to have to start over once I get going in the game.

Thanks!

[D'amarr from Darshiva]

Doesn't the community patch from WorldOfGothic fix that bug nowadays?

[JohnJSal]

Originally posted by D'amarr from Darshiva:

Doesn't the community patch from WorldOfGothic fix that bug nowadays?

Not sure. I'm not using any patches. I've heard that they aren't compatible with the GOG version.

[flo :-D]

B lares B ?

[kris.aalst]

Originally posted by johnjsal:

one thing I'm not quite finding a good solution for is how to avoid this particular bug.

Originally posted by johnjsal:

The only thing I'm seeing is to not go with Lares to the mercenary camp until after you go with him to the Water Mages

Trying hard not to be a smartypants here but you did just answer your own question

As for your other question about joining the mercenaries:

- don't worry about a 'delay'. You can do what you want when you want to (except for asking Lares to take you anywhere but to the Water Mages first, which is a bug that's already clear to you), You don't need Lares to escort you to the mercenary camp, you can just travel there yourself.

- most people prefer to complete as many quests as possible before joining a faction anyway, because joining a faction means certain quests (for the other camp) become unavailable to you, so to get the 'full experience' you wouldn't want to join the mercenaries (or any other faction) too soon anyway. If you'd prefer this too, stay away from quests titled 'The quick way to join [faction name]'

So, for example, one of several good orders to take on things would be:
- quest around a bit in and around Khorinis. No big stuff, just some much needed first experience both for your character and for you.
- have Lares take you to the Water Mages. Don't be afraid to explore a bit to lure beasts to Lares, who will kill them for you while you get full XP. But do save often as if you stray too far, he can disappear on you. In the temple where the Water Mages are, try killing the first few beasts but do run past the skeleton goblins and then run circles around the mage a bit further on, who will kill them for you.
- Now do whatever you like: continue the water mages quests for a while, go back to Khorinis and continue questing there, go to the mercenaries' camp, go back to Lares and ask him to take you to the mercenaries' camp now, and so on.

[JohnJSal]

Thanks very much! I suppose I did answer myself, but I was concerned about delaying joining the mercs, but it sounds like that is a non-issue.

But just to be clear, the bug doesn't work the other way around, does it? That is, if he takes me to the Water Mages first, I won't lose the option to have him take me to the mercenary camp, right?

[kris.aalst]

That's right. Although it won't matter much by then. You'll see what I mean, I don't want to post any spoilers

[D'amarr from Darshiva]

Originally posted by johnjsal:

I'm not using any patches. I've heard that they aren't compatible with the GOG version.

The GOG version includes the widely known patches from WorldOfGothic.

[JohnJSal]

Originally posted by D'amarr from Darshiva:

Originally posted by johnjsal:

I'm not using any patches. I've heard that they aren't compatible with the GOG version.

The GOG version includes the widely known patches from WorldOfGothic.

Ah good. I don't suppose that fixes this bug?

[D'amarr from Darshiva]

The old patch notes for 2.6 claim the bug has been fixed also if doing it late in chapter 3 - and the talk options with Lares at the tavern have been adjusted, so he doesn't accompany you into the dangerous eastern forest anymore.

Anyway, since you are aware of the potential problem, there is no reason to be affected in a way that would require a restart. You can save before talking to Lares and give it a try. Letting him accompany you to the excavation site and into the east forest could be done before visiting the mercenaries. It's possible to travel forth and back between the addon world while still in chapters 1 and 2.

And there's also Greg, who accompanies you to a location past the tavern without giving you XP for the kills he does. Going there a first time without Greg and before level up respawns is the meta-gaming option for that.