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Thorin Oakshield
06-05-2008, 06:19 PM
Because of the recent connection problems I have with Sacred, I decided to give the SP campains a go again. When doing a search for any useful hints and tips, I discovered there's a lot written about MP build guids, but none about SP (build) guides.

So I thought it might be a nice idea to work one out.

Introduction:

In general there aren't many differences between SP and MP. You can play the same chars, build them up the same way and do the same quests.
The only four differences - other than lacking community to talk to - are:
1) In SP you can play both the "Ancaria Campaign" and the "Underworld Campaign"
2) In SP you can start in Bronze or Silver if you like.
3) It's nearly impossible to find a complete set for your char, meaning you need to improvise a lot. You also don't have the option to socket MF; unless you're playing a Dwarf, thus limiting your finds.
4) You aren't able to enter any level higher as silver with your first char. To unlock a higher level you need to complete the previous campain first.
BEcause of this, I reccommend to start a char in Bronze, then export it, just to import it in Silver to play the entire campaign. By doing so you avoid to be forced to "unlock" an already playable level.

To extend your choices a little, you've got also the option to choose between the lvl 1 characters or imported characters; even those from MP.
Since starting with either of these is a bit different, I will explain the differences a bit.

The "cold" start:

In the "cold" start you begin your campaign with the lvl 1 char of your liking.
In general this char is having nothing, although you do have the chance to get some gear by opening the nearby chest. Usually this chest contains a weapon / staff, a rune or a piece of armour.
With this little equipment you have to defeat a number of foes, wich also activate the main quest.

The "hot" start:

With a "hot" start I mean using an imported char; either one from a previous SP game, or one from MP.
The advantage of using such char is that it's usually having good armour, good weapons and a certain number of used skills, as well as CA's / spells with high dmg and low regen.
Chars imported from MP may even have a full set and several set-pieces of higher level for later use.
It's obvious that these chars have a large advantage over those of the "cold" start, even considering that the foes they have to face are having according levels.

Starting positions:

Each of the characters have their own starting positions, each with their own starting quest. After this starting quest is finished, you proceed to Commander Romata; after which the general main-quest is continued.
The starting positions of the chars and their personal starting quests are:

- Gladiator: starts in the Bellevue Arena. Your task is to defeat two fighters, your employer, some guards and escape with a spy

- Seraphim: Starts in the Bellevue Abbey. Your task is to defeat a band of robbers who have landed at the riverbank north of your position

- Wood Elf and Dark Elf: Starts at the ridge northwest of the farmer with the message to Arrogarn. You have to defeat several Dark Elven Hunters.

Battle Mage: Starts in the Stone Circle of Death (the Stonehenge like construction). You need to defeat an Ancarian Troll, before an ensign takes you to Romata

Vampires: Start in the ruined house near the Graveyard. You need to safe a novice - which is a sister of the ensign - before she takes you to Romata

Deamon: Starts at the graveyard near the ruined house. You've been expelled to this dimension by Anducar and now you're going to try to do good.

Dwarf: Has crashlanded in the woods south of the ridge. Since you're the only Dwarf in Ancaria you decide to make the best of things.

The entire list of main-quests, as well as some hints and spoilers can be found at Wolves Lair (http://wolfes-lair.rpgplanet.gamespy.com/Quests.html).

Starting out:

Since I prefer to use a "cold" start, the rest of this guide is written from that point of view. However, since the only difference is the amount of gear, runnes and gold you start with, this guid can be used for any imported char as well.

My favorite method of playing is to start a char in Bronze, work it up to around lvl 7, before I export it and restart the game in Silver with this exported char.
By doing so I avoid to play the main-campaign twice, while only one time is sufficient.

To get to level 7 I complete every quest in Bellevue, as well as a few in Silvercreek. Depending at your starting point, work your way to Romata first. Kill everything opposing you, open every crate, chest or barrel you see, as well as exploring every magical hidingplace. The main reason for that is that you need lots of gold and equipment to get to level 7 to start with. The drops of the killed foes, as well as those from the hiding places, chests, crates and barrels are sufficient enough to equip your toon with all what's needed and to keep enough gold at hand to improve a large part of it in the next level.

After you talked to Romata, start accepting every quest possible. The easiest ones are Paybook, Burning Hatred, The Messenger and the Blacksmith quest.
Use the small portal to go to the ridge north of the Arena, but instead of finishing the first quest, head to the Abbey. Accept the Tangleweed quest there - for Sera's; accept this quest first, since it's the closest side-quest you have; for BM's: head out first to do this side-quest; before talking to Romata) complete it and then continue to do the rest.
As soon as you got the prototype of the sword, as well as 10 killed Goblins, move to the cave where the novice is being held. Kill the bad guys, save the girl, collect your reward and move on to Silvercreek where you finish the messenger quest.
When that's done, return to Bellevue to accept the several quests near the Arena, as well as those south of the Arena. The Missing Boy does offer you two health pots as reward, which can be very useful. (For Gladiators, accept and complete as many of these quests, before going to Romata).
When the quests south of the Arena are finished, continue to the east to pick up the next bunch of quests.
Start with the letter for Arrogarn (WE / DE / Dwarf: this is your first side-quest), head to Bellevue, but instead of entering the city to complete the quests, take the one to bring back the sheep, backtrack and complete this quest. Then move to the inn to deliver the letter.
The next step is to kill the wolf with Rabbies. When that's done, head over to the graveyard and kill the war-bear, before heading to the most northern cave of this area to rescue the seraphim.
Eventually return to the village over the northern field, killing anything hostile between you and your quest rewards. Talk to the various quest givers, pick up the paybook and return to the garrison, as well to the portal area to get your rewards. Don't forget to activate the portal! :p Also make sure you talk to the Lady Lintara again, as she gives you a reward for delivering the letter too.
When all quest givers in that area are satisfied, take the small portal to the plateau north of the arena and turn to the Abbey again. In front of the merchant one of the novices is prepared to talk to you, giving you some gold as quest reward.
Now head to the arena to collect the last reward for killing the war bear, before you head to Silvercreek.
Usually at this point you're level 6 or 7. If you like you can export your character now, to restart the entire sequence in Silver. If you prefer to start Silver at a slightly higher level, pick and complete the Adelina and Raw Meat quests in Silvercreek. These two give you enough XP to make it to lvl 7 for sure.


To start in Silver you need to choose an Imported Char. Choose the one you like and follow the same pattern as written above. For new chars this will give them the opportunity to get better equipment to replace the Bronze ones. Chars exported from MP often have the better equipment already, but it would still be a good idea to do these quests. Even if it was for the XP only.

And finally:

While the Ancaria Campaign can be started in both Bronze and Silver at any level between 1 and 266, the Underworld campaign demands a minimum level of 29.
To play this campaign you can either use an imported char from MP, an imported char from the Ancaria Campaign or one of the prefixed Dwarf or Deamon.
However, since the Underworld Campaign is a continuation of the Ancaria Campaign, I'd reccommend to play the Ancaria campaign at least one time, so you have a better understanding about the how and why.
And of course, it's also a lot of fun to play.


Thorin :)

Dags
06-05-2008, 10:46 PM
Nice report Thorin, thanks mate.

Thorin Oakshield
06-07-2008, 08:04 PM
As some - most? - if you know, Nightwolfe has posted a way to keep Wilbur alive at her site.

During my SP games I found two ways to keep some of the first hirelings with you as well.
For the Gladiator, Dark Elf, Wood Elf and Battle Mage these hirelings might help you a lot. Especially since they're - just like Wilbur - are immortal!!

Here's what to do.

After you managed to get all quests done; needed to survive the Silvercreek area; instead of talking to Romata, cross the bridge to Silvercreek.
Your hireling will give you a notice that he / she won't come along, because you have some unfinished business to take care of in Bellevue.
Just ignore that message. :D
Instead, cross the bridge and complete all quests in the Silvercreek area. When that's done, continue on to Porto Vallum, where another quest update is waiting for you. Just don't talk to that person, but get the portal and return to Bellevue.
Sometimes your hireling will show up next to you, sometimes you have to move to the bridge to pick him / her up.
Either way, as soon as the hireling joined your party again, get to the portal and select Porto Vallum.
You'll notice your hireling is still there with you, so now you can update your quest by talking to Sgt. Treville. And you can continue your game all the way to the end with the first hireling in your party.

Note: Although the Vampiress got a hireling too, this one keeps running away from the fight and is therefor useless.


Aditional hirelings

Since the 2.28 patch it's impossible to take Adelina, Mocca and a few more hirelings with you.
However, I've found a way to bypass this problems; even get the quest solved; although these hirelings aren't immortal and therefor well need pots to survive.

What is did is in general the same thing Nightwolf has posted at her site.
Here's what to do:
1) Quicksafe (F9) the game before talking to the questgiver, after you got the hireling in your party. (Meaning you picked / her up).
2) Talk to the questgiver, but don't click at [ok]
3) Now quickload the saved game (F8); the hireling will appear in your party again.
4) Click at [ok] to "complete" the quest. The hireling will remain in your party despite this.
But like I said, they're not immortal, so make sure you got enough pots at your disposal.
Also, don't forget to upgrade their weapons from time to time.

Thorin :)

Wyldlyf
07-26-2008, 02:23 PM
Thanks Thorin. This looks really cool.

I could not find what Nightwolfe posted about how to keep Wilbur alive. Could you give a link to Nightwolfe's post or outline the steps?

Thorin Oakshield
07-26-2008, 07:34 PM
I could not find what Nightwolfe posted about how to keep Wilbur alive. Could you give a link to Nightwolfe's post or outline the steps?


How 'bout both? :D

Here's the link (http://wolfes-lair.rpgplanet.gamespy.com/MainQuests/ActIPathsOfDestinyall.html#Sharuka)
Scroll to the bottom of the page.

And here's the text:

NOTE: Normally as part of the main quest Wilbur will die, however there is a trick to keeping him alive for the whole campaign:

Quicksave (F9) before talking to the Sharuka Captain.
Go through the fight normally, to the point where you talk to Wilbur and you get the dialog box with the text "Treachery! Ride on to Wyvren Pass! Warn the prince that the snake DeMordrey is not going to send troops and that he has betrayed us..."
While that dialog box is still up, quickload (F8), then click the dialog box and you will be in Act II with Wilbur still alive.
Note that you must use quickload and quicksave, and after you do the quickload part it will look like you haven't done the quest yet - do not talk to him again at this point, just proceed down to Wyvren Pass and continue with Act II.


Thorin :D

Wyldlyf
07-30-2008, 02:02 AM
Thanks Thorin!