Any benefit in raising a stat over 10?

[Aged Swine]

I can install an implant to get my Intelligence to 11, which would make it "preternatural" - but is it worth it? Are there any checks for 11th stat level? Or are they just provide some more numeirc bonuses like extra skill learning points?

[wizard1200]

Attribute values of 11+ provide -sadly- the same bonuses, but are still useful, because they are, with the exception of feats and equipment, the only option to improve your character.

[Aged Swine]

Thanks for the info. Oh well, I guess it's a bit late for that in chapter 3 then, should have installed a neural uplink in the beginning for proper effect..

[wizard1200]

The effect of the neural uplink is retroactive.

[Aged Swine]

I just tried and I don't see any change in my skill levels / learning points progress.

[wizard1200]

An intelligence score of 11 increases your xp (required to reach a new character level) by 10 %, which is retroactive, but hardly noticeable during the mid and especially late game, because the xp progression is not linear.

[Aged Swine]

Ah, yes, there really is an XP boost the moment I install it. But as far as I understand, the XP only effects my level, which only gives me extra feats, and most of these don't seem very useful for a non-combat run (I already have the ones that are). Leveling up some skills would be nice, but it doesn't do that, sadly. :(

[wizard1200]

You could use the additional feat to select Skill Monkey, which increases the xp of your stealth and science skills by 35 %, but a non-combat run is -sadly- barely supported by the game mechanics (you can finish the whole game with all stats at 4, no feats and tagged streetwise in this case).

[Aged Swine]

Well, I went through 2 chapters without any fights - so far, so good. Sure, I had to ignore some areas which didn't give me any options but fighting (including one are when I'm supposed to run around a turret to disable it, but since technically it is combat, I guess that would make me lost the related achievements too).

It feels very easy to play as a talker, to be honest. I have Int=10 and Cha=10 from the start, all 3 speech skills get learning points together for some reason, regardless of which one I actually use, which feels like a downgrade from AoD where e.g. Persuasion+Trading and Streetwise+Impersonate combos could make for completely different characters.

And whatever I can't solve with talking I solve with Electronics/Computers/Lockpick (the latter I had to tag on Jed though - that gave him a better level than on my main char). Sneak/steal is something I mostly ignore for now, though - I guess I could try a separate "thief/assassin" run later. Not that it's very interesting if 99% of the loot is weapons, armor and meds I don't really need...

Originally posted by wizard1200:

Skill Monkey

I already have it + gifted + educated + bionic + master trader (again, worthless since all the deals' I've seen are just more weapons/armor/ammo). Not much to choose from...

[wizard1200]

Originally posted by Bavovnyatko:

It feels very easy to play as a talker, to be honest. I have Int=10 and Cha=10 from the start, all 3 speech skills get learning points together for some reason, regardless of which one I actually use, which feels like a downgrade from AoD where e.g. Persuasion+Trading and Streetwise+Impersonate combos could make for completely different characters.

Yep, it is really a downgrade from AoD, it is also contradictory to the whole learning-by-doing mechanic and makes it possible to finish the game within about 5 hours.

[Aged Swine]

Well, AoD can be finished with god ending in 3 hours if you know everything and just fast-forward through the dialogues. :) I once did that when I had to restart after dying to that final constitution check... Duration of a single playthrough isn't a problem for a game like this. More important question is how many sufficiently different playthroughs it supports. But that's something I'll have to find out the hard way. :)

[Okamoto]

Diplomatic run was also easy mode in AoD. You could finish it even quicker with a talker. Not really that different.

[wizard1200]

Originally posted by Okamoto:

Diplomatic run was also easy mode in AoD.

Yep, but you had to put at least some thought into the character development, while you can finish CS with all stats at 4, no feats and tagged Streetwise.

[Kurt Vonneguts]

What about skills? Any point to raise over 10?

[Wrath of Dagon]

Yes, combat skills still give you extra bonus over 10. Skill checks however top out at 10.

[REhorror]

Cobra has 11 in Dex, combined with Initiative raising feats, she got like 82 initiative on my run.