QFG4 - Why Paladin, Why Thief?

[Crimson_Eviscerator]

I recently started replaying the series and I always start as thief class with magic abilities. I understand in previous games the dividing lines between Paladins and Thieves (Q2 breaking in and stealing things is dishonorable, etc.). But in all the games, regardless of class you save people or solve their problems. I don't understand in 4 why Paladin's are the only class who can save the Rusalka.
To further complicate/test things I started a new game as a Paladin*. I was able to get into the thieves guild, get all the gear, etc.. I had expected it to stop me or prevent me from accessing the TG (like you can't get the sword in the adventurerers' guild if you're a thief). So I can play as a Paladin class, save her and still use thief abilities, maybe at the cost of some honor points.
*I imported from a previous game and like always, it gets my class wrong. You have the option to change it, so I did. I know it isn't very Paladin-y, but all I want to do is the save the GD Rusalka and it bothers me that you have to be that class to do it. Does anyone know why other than just because?

[Rithm Fluffderg]

Part of it is Piotyr's influence. He only hangs around to help the Paladin out. He's the one who directs the Paladin to the g*psies and tells him that they have the answers, so the Paladin is the only one that knows to even ask them how to cure the Rusalka.

One of the things QFG3 mentions is that the more good a Paladin is, the more good he can do. While it's referring to the powers you gain as you get more honor/Paladin Points, I like to think that it also applies to the plot - you can do more good for people BECAUSE you're a paladin.

By the way, while being a Paladin with thief abilities works out well enough in Shadows of Darkness, you're gonna run into problems in the fifth game - because a Paladin with thief abilities gets locked into the Thief storyline, meaning that you're literally forced to break into a place at one point, and you're locked out of some Paladin-specific deeds (like catching a thief and helping him get his life back on track)

So, sorry, you do have to be a paladin to save the Rusalka. And you have to be a wizard to fight the Fair Folk. That's just how QFG4 is.

[Lady_Regret]

In a game design sense it's replay value. If each class has it's way of doing things, and not everyone can get all the special tasks then you have more reason to play the game again which makes a game more enjoyable because you can play and have fun with it many times.

[mistermiller]

This is undoubtedly be late, but look into enabling debug mode in QFG4. If you use the item code to give yourself the Rusalka's hair, you may be able to force the game to enable this with any class. You can only ask the Rusalka's hair after learning about the process, so it's very likely that using the broom with the hair on the grave isn't linked to the conversation with Magda about the process. I may try this myself just to see if it works...

[mistermiller]

Well, I attempted it. The item codes for the broom and hair are 38 and 39. It didn't work. You can fight the Wraith and avenge her, but she's still in the lake in all her... glory. It could be possible that this is a post ♥♥♥♥♥ coversation quest marker, or it could be that the trigger isn't set until you meet her after learning her name, which is a Paladin specific dialogue tree resulting from learning her name after learning the cure from the ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥.

Sorry. Apparently some problems require a Paladin to solve them.