Hanse on 24/7/2002 at 18:37
Okay, I'm posting this here because I it's rather spoiler-ish, but I'm not looking for hints or anything, just suggestions. :)
I started my character as a Thief. Some time ago I became the Master Thief. Hurrah for me. ;)
Then I got really involved in the main storyline... I've been named Nerevarine and Hortator by everyone that matters, and I've met with Vivec, been given my quest to go take out Dagoth Ur.
Anyway, before I did that, I thought to myself "Hmmm... think I'll get myself some more experience before I go do this..." (I'm currently level 29).
So I had joined the Fighters Guild way earlier in the game, but never did many of the quests.. didn't get past second level I think, partially because of quests, but also because my required stats in the skills categories didn't mean the requirements either. So I went back and decided to fo ahead and finish the Fighter's Guild quests. (I wanted to get my Long Sword skill up anyway ;)) So now I'm head of the Fighters Guild as well.
I don't really feel like going to fight Dagoth Ur just yet (even though I'm sure I can take him on ;))... so what should I do to kill time now? I've wandered around a bit and explored various smuggler caves and such (woohoo, loot galore!), but that's wearing thin too.
So I think I might join some other guilds or houses, but I don't know what. First, does Caius ever come back so I could get more quests and get advanced in the Blades? Or is there someone else I need to see?
Also, I am considered "Clanfriend" of the Ashlanders... who would I see about advancing that? Or is that even possible? The stats screen seems to indicate that it is... :)
Finally, if I want to consider joining one of the great houses (Hlaalu, Redoran or Telvanni), which should I join? Are there specific benefits? Could I join them all if I wanted? Or can I not join any since I'm Hortator of all three?
Such decisions!
WingedKagouti on 24/7/2002 at 18:50
IMO Level 29 is more than enough to handle Dagoth Ur unless you truly suck in combat.
Caius doesn't return and you can't advance further in neither Blades nor Ashlanders. It is most likely that you will find it easier to advance in Hlaalu than Redoran and Telvanni (you can only join one house without using plugins/bugs) mainly due to the skill requirements, the standard way of grouping them is (mainly based on skills and rewards) : Hlaalu - thief, Redoran - fighter and Telvanni - mage.
The most notable reward/benefit of joining a house (and rising high in the ranks) is getting your own stronghold which will be in the style generally used by that house.
Edit : Being Hortator only makes it easier to reach the highest rank in that house (you already have the support of the living council members).
Forsythe on 24/7/2002 at 20:51
Hmm.. one small correction, you should be 'Hearthfriend' with the Ashlanders, no? ('Clanfriend' after you do the initiation rite, 'Heathfriend' after going Koghorun[sp?] for Sul-Matuul) Hearthfriend is as high as you can go w/out plugins though; the other ranks are simply for consistency's sake (it'd be silly if the gulakhans, ashkhans, etc. were all 'Hearthfriend's, no?)
As for a faction to do, after the Thieves Guild I've always liked the Temple quests; they're almost all 'go out and help someone' and 'go find something in a dangerous place' quests, and you get the Ebony Mail at the end.
Myoldnamebroke on 24/7/2002 at 21:11
As a crazy nightblade-type chappy, I joined the Mages Guild and Telvanni pretty early. I could do the Figher's Guild quests - combat is a breeze if you can do X damage for X seconds and then vanish :D - but they don't really seem in-character.
I prefer my thieving to be mine, as such, and am hording all sorts of valuable treasures (I don't want to give up my Bitter Cup! ;)) in my vault. So I don't really fancy the Thieve's Guild. In the end, I joined the Morag Tong, and get to appear out of nowhere and whack people :D. Seems more fitting.
I also joined the Temple once they decided to stop perscuting me, because I liked the idea of doing the pilgramages. And I was fed up with the Ordinators calling me 'scum' :D.
Telvanni gives you the coolest stronghold by far, and has the best Council Chamber.
Hanse on 25/7/2002 at 03:33
Forsythe - yeah, you're right, I am in fact Hearthfriend. :)
Thanks everyone for the advice and info. I've think I'm going to join Hlaalu, since it seems well suited to my existing class anyway. And besides, I prefer the Hlaalu architecture to the Telvanni and Redoran anyway. (Sorry MONB.. although I agree, the Telvanni council chamber was way cool ;))
I forgot about the Morag Tong though.. mebbe I'll join them too. :)
Oh, and eventually getting around to killing Dagoth Ur. ;)
Zaphod on 25/7/2002 at 11:57
CookieGirl -
Here's what I did (dunno, looking back, if it was the best idea or not, cause it kinda knocked down the immediate replayability, but...): I started out a Thief. Then I joined the Fighters Guild. Then the Morag Tong. Then the Mages Guild. Then the Imperial Cult. Then the Temple. Then the Imperial Legion. I got to just about the same point you were at with the Main Quest, except that I didn't go so far as to spoil people's attitudes toward me (specifically, the Temple people) and then did guild stuff until I had risen to the top rank of every guild. It was fun... but after a while it seemed a little monotonous. The Cult and Temple stuff really showed me good stuff on the island that I probably wouldn't otherwise have seen (dungeons, specific people, parts of Ebonheart that I never had bothered with, islets I would have left unexplored). But I never bothered to join a House. So I can't give advice there. But I'd say at least JOIN the factions... whether or not you bother going through terminal advancement or not... at least check them all out.
Suffice it to say, it's possible to become arch-poobah of every faction, even if your skill set started out as Thief. But you might want to save those for another run-through, another character.
