General game questions

[jasta85]

Hello, I played Vargas a little after it launched but then moved on to other games for whatever reason. I got the hankering to get back into it and just started a new game. I've forgotten most of the mechanics so am relearning everything and have a few questions on various mechanics.

1. Do professions and attributes across companions and your character all stack, or are only the highest used? So for example if I have a companion with 3 intimidate and I have 1 intimidate do I effectively have 3 or 4 intimidate? Same question regarding attributes.

2. How do you level up companions? I've gotten into some fights, done trading missions etc but my companions have not gotten any insight.

3. Does it matter who takes a deputy spot? as in do attributes/professions matter or is it all the same no matter who is slotted?

4. where can I get gifts to make my companions happy? because whenever I make a decision there's pretty much always someone who loses loyalty.

5. Is there any way to see what skills/professions do at max level before putting points into them? hard to decide what to level up when I don't know what they do when maxed out.

[Wlerin]

Originally posted by jasta85:

Hello, I played Vargas a little after it launched but then moved on to other games for whatever reason. I got the hankering to get back into it and just started a new game. I've forgotten most of the mechanics so am relearning everything and have a few questions on various mechanics.

1. Do professions and attributes across companions and your character all stack, or are only the highest used? So for example if I have a companion with 3 intimidate and I have 1 intimidate do I effectively have 3 or 4 intimidate? Same question regarding attributes.

They stack, but your companions won't all be present for every check. If you're alone during an event, only your own perks will be used. If you ventured down into a cave with only a select group of companions, only your own perks and that of those companions will be summed together, those companions left behind won't count for any tests you face in that cave.

Originally posted by jasta85:

2. How do you level up companions? I've gotten into some fights, done trading missions etc but my companions have not gotten any insight.

You gain Insight. Your companions gain Proficiency, when you level them up using your own Insight.

Originally posted by jasta85:

3. Does it matter who takes a deputy spot? as in do attributes/professions matter or is it all the same no matter who is slotted?

I think it's all the same, just depends who you can spare the points on to unlock the relevant Deputy skill.

Originally posted by jasta85:

4. where can I get gifts to make my companions happy? because whenever I make a decision there's pretty much always someone who loses loyalty.

Whenever you talk to your companions (i.e. during camp or in town) there'll be an option to offer them gifts. Each companion wants different things, e.g. Gor'Goro wants oil for his armour, Harvek wants hard drugs, Garrick wants all of your money. For most of the companions there's one or two repeatable gifts that you can give them about once a month, and you'll usually see those options even if you don't have the right items on you. Some companions also have one-time gifts, often those are hidden if you don't have the relevant items. There's exceptions to both of those, e.g. I don't think you'll see the option to gift Survival Equipment to Eylani if you don't have it, but that one is repeatable.

Originally posted by jasta85:

5. Is there any way to see what skills/professions do at max level before putting points into them? hard to decide what to level up when I don't know what they do when maxed out.

Not really. They could certainly do more in this regard. For active skills, once you get them to the second level you can see what max level (more or less, though some skills like Nedir's summon, don't really give you any useful information in the description). For traits, I think you can mouse over the different pips? Very few of them have more than 2 pips anyways. Regardless it's usually just more of the same, i.e. if the first level gives +1 INI and +3 ACC, the second will too (stacking with the first). A guide or wiki page outlining what every active skill and trait actually does would be great but I don't know that one exists yet.

Professions don't do anything different between first level and max level. Most professions are just used in tests, the ones that have other benefits it's literally just x2, x3 for level 2 and 3. I.e. if Engineering I gives 0.02 Worker Workforce, then Engineering III will give 0.06 Worker Workforce. Attributes don't have any effect outside of tests and, for companions, unlocking traits, deputy roles, etc.

[jasta85]

thanks for the answers, and I didn't realize it was my insight being used to level up their prowess, would definitely have use it a bit more wisely early on.