The artifacts (SPOILERS)
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| Author | Topic: The artifacts (SPOILERS) |
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Electric Sheep One
Member # 3431
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written Tuesday, May 17 2005 06:14
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EDIT: Final (?) draft The eight artifacts are great things, but several of them compete for scarce ingredients, so you have a few choices to make about which ones to forge first. To choose you need to consider not only what the various artifacts do, but also how hard it is to get their ingredients. One artifact may be better than another in itself, for your particular character, but have a prohibitive opportunity cost, in that making it will prevent you from making an even more important artifact. The major ingredients and their locations (third draft, needs a bit more correction): On Greenwood: Blood Poison: dropped by the venemous artila in the caves under Kentia South Gate on Greenwood. On Harmony: Crystalline Fibers (1): Krya's Refuge (crypt under West Dock) Solidified Flame (1): storeroom in San Ru Tunnels. On Dhonal's: Crystalline Fibers (2): lying unguarded just inside Purification Plant south door! Deep Crystal: in the Inner Purification Plant, golem-guarded storeroom Deep Focus Orb (1): in Spharon's back room Purified Essence (1): Darkstone Core, SW corner. Unmelting Ice: NE entry area of Creator's Hall, unguarded On Gull: Demon Claws (1): Khyryk's Tower, in a back room. Pure Crystal Shard: Khor's Deep, Hoge's bedroom On Spears: Drakon Skin (1): Orois Blaze, Breeding Valley Drakon Skin (2): vatbrood Drakon, Forest of Spires Demon claw (2): Benerii-Eo, demon-golem NE corner. In Monastery of Tears: Solidified Flame (2): Firewind Wyrm drops it, NE corner In Monastery Caves: Purified Essence (2): Ratlord Eye drops it Crystalline Fibers (3): In Ratlord Eye's cabinet Deep Focus Orb (2): Alpha Creator drops it Drakon Skin (3): Radiant Ur-Drakon in NE corner What objects you can make when (assuming you find enough Demon's Bile for the elixirs!) On Dhonal's Isle you can make: Creator's Belt OR Crystalline Shroud as soon as you finish off Spharon; Essence Aegis as soon as you finish Darkstone Core (if you are willing to postpone the Infiltrator's Ring to near the end of the game); All-Protector, when you have gotten to the Creator's Hall through the Searing Chamber. On Gull you can make: the Emerald Chestguard (if you postpone Avenger's Ring from near end of game to very near end); the Infiltrator's Ring (if you held off making the Essence Aegis); On Spears you can make: the Lightning Girdle; the Avenger's Ring. After pulling stuff out of the Monastery Caves you can make anything. You can also make a second Essence Aegis, which you should wrap up carefully and leave in town, so that it doesn't get all scratched up the way your first one surely will have by that point. Then you can polish it nicely and carry it in your victory parade, looking very sharp for the cameras. In what order should you make the artifacts? The game's biggest artifact choice is between the Creator's Belt and the Crystalline Shroud, because the second Deep Focus Orb is guarded by the worst monster in the whole game, deep in the Monastery Caves. So either one of the Creator's Belt and the Crystalline Shroud can be your very first artifact, and will make a big difference in your game; but then the other will pretty much have to be your very last, and won't really make any difference at all. Choose carefully! Agents and offensive Guardians should take the Shroud, Shapers and defensive/creation-making Guardians the Belt. Making the Essence Aegis uses up your Purified Essence, which will force you to postpone making the Infiltrator's Ring from Gull Island until very late in the game, after you get into the Monastery Caves and beat Ratlord Eye. There are enough Tinker and Infiltrator items in the game that this is probably just a matter of personal taste. Even a melee Guardian may want to have an Essence Aegis in the wardrobe, so they can equip it at the start of a tough zone to get better Augmentation, Essence Shield, etc., or to raise Energy high enough to cast Speed. On the other hand the Infiltrator's Ring is a lot easier to carry around all the time, for a convenient Mech boost whenever you need it in the game. There is probably no reason not to make the All-Protector as soon as you can on Dhonal. The only case I can see is if you really want the Lightning Girdle as soon as possible, and feel able to take out Orois Blaze or the Forest of Spires vat-drayks before you think you can make it in the Monastery of Tears. I generally try to clear the Monastery before the Isle of Spears, so I make the All-Protector on Dhonal, knowing I'll get my second Solidified Flame before I get my first Drakon Skin anyway. It seems likely that everyone should go ahead and build the Emerald Chestguard as soon as they get the Demon Claw. The Avenger's Ring is great, but the characters who will benefit most from it will benefit even more from the Emerald Chestguard -- even if they already have the Crystalline Shroud for its +2AP -- and they will enjoy this benefit nearly a whole island sooner. The only uncertainty I have about this is that +4 QA might make a surprisingly big difference to some characters. My characters always have high Quick Action throughout the game anyway, so it is never that big a deal for me to get a bunch more. The only other real conflict is over the Drakon Skin for the Lightning Girdle or the Avenger's Ring. A loyalist has no problem because two Drakon Skins are available near the beginning of the Isle of Spears, but a rebel can only get one of these without angering Icy End. The Lightning Girdle is probably a better item, though again +4QA might possibly make a surprisingly big difference, depending on what your Quick Action already was. [ Sunday, June 05, 2005 08:55: Message edited by: Student of Trinity ] -------------------- We're not doing cool. We're doing pretty. Posts: 3335 | Registered: Thursday, September 4 2003 07:00 |
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His Mighty Tentacle
Member # 627
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written Tuesday, May 17 2005 08:33
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I know for certain that I have found three bits of purified essence. I can not remember where though. -------------------- If I could make just one wish, I would want a tasty vlish. Geneforge IV. Still no tasty vlish. Posts: 1104 | Registered: Tuesday, February 12 2002 08:00 |
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Raven v. Writing Desk
Member # 261
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written Tuesday, May 17 2005 18:28
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I just replayed Darkstone mine, and the reagent in the SW by the monstrosity is Purified Essence, not Unmelting Ice. -------------------- Slarty vs. Desk • Desk vs. Slarty • Timeline of Ermarian • G4 Strategy Central Posts: 3560 | Registered: Wednesday, November 7 2001 08:00 |
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His Mighty Tentacle
Member # 627
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written Tuesday, May 17 2005 18:34
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That would explain how I made the Essence Aegis with out leaving Dhonal's Island. I was going nucking futs trying figure out how I did that. -------------------- If I could make just one wish, I would want a tasty vlish. Geneforge IV. Still no tasty vlish. Posts: 1104 | Registered: Tuesday, February 12 2002 08:00 |
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Electric Sheep One
Member # 3431
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written Wednesday, May 18 2005 06:28
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Ha! Thanks very much. But now where on earth is the Unmelting Ice? I'm sure it's on Dhonal's Isle somewhere ... -------------------- We're not doing cool. We're doing pretty. Posts: 3335 | Registered: Thursday, September 4 2003 07:00 |
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FAQSELF
Member # 3
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written Wednesday, May 18 2005 09:30
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Unmelting ice is near the creator, I think if you enter from the east. -------------------- A few cats short of a kitten pot pie... Radioactive cats have 18 half-lives. Check out a great source for information on Avernum 2, Nethergate, and Subterra: Zeviz's page. Finally, there's my Geneforge FAQ, Geneforge 2 FAQ, and Geneforge 3 FAQ. Posts: 2831 | Registered: Tuesday, September 18 2001 07:00 |
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Warrior
Member # 5731
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written Thursday, May 19 2005 06:29
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Just found a solidified flame on top level of Monastery. Dropped by Firewind wyrm. Posts: 107 | Registered: Tuesday, April 19 2005 07:00 |
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Electric Sheep One
Member # 3431
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written Thursday, May 19 2005 09:34
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Thanks! I guess I'd forgotten that. By now I'm suspecting that I was wrong in thinking Solidified Flame could be found earlier, in Maker's End for instance. Or are there actually three Solidified Flames as well? -------------------- We're not doing cool. We're doing pretty. Posts: 3335 | Registered: Thursday, September 4 2003 07:00 |
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Warrior
Member # 5731
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written Thursday, May 19 2005 09:41
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I only remember ever finding 2 flames. I'm on my third go-through right now. btw, anyone have an idea where that 2nd purified essence is? I looked all over Khor's Deeps and the other areas nearby and couldn't find it. Posts: 107 | Registered: Tuesday, April 19 2005 07:00 |
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Apprentice
Member # 4415
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written Sunday, May 22 2005 11:52
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Where do you find the recipes for all these astounding artifacts? Posts: 9 | Registered: Friday, May 21 2004 07:00 |
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Electric Sheep One
Member # 3431
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written Sunday, May 22 2005 12:30
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They are scattered throughout the game. Some people tell them to you (e.g. Hawthorne). Most of them you find written in old books. Or you can just look at the hint book, or at the old topic posted by Drakefyre in this forum some time back. If you're looking here I expect you don't mind a spoiler, so: Recipe for a Geneforge 3 Artifact. 1 cup Demon Bile 1 cup Mandrake Tincture 1 shaped belt/shield/plate OR 1 platinum ring 2 rare special items First, combine the two liquids on an enchanted forge. Mix well to produce one pint of Purifying Elixir. Then combine that with the equipment item, to produce a Perfected Belt/Shield/Plate/Ring. Finally combine the Perfected item with the right pair of special items, and you have made yourself an artifact. Serves one. The pairs of special items, for the eight artifacts: Creator's Belt: Blood Poison and Deep Focus Orb Lightning Girdle: Solidified Flame and Perfect Drakon Skin Crystalline Shroud (it's armor): Crystal Fibers and Deep Focus Orb Emerald Chestguard: Deep Crystal and Demon Claw Essence Aegis (a shield): Crystal Fibers and Purified Essence All-Protector (a shield): Solidified Flame and Unmelting Ice Avenger's Ring: Demon Claw and Perfect Drakon Skin Infiltrator's Ring: Pure Crystal Shard and Purified Essence Guten Appetit. -------------------- We're not doing cool. We're doing pretty. Posts: 3335 | Registered: Thursday, September 4 2003 07:00 |
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Apprentice
Member # 5830
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written Monday, May 23 2005 13:04
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I don't know if this is a bug or not, but the Crystalline Shroud can be enhanced. I used a Golden Crystal on it, and it now gives me something like +20% hostile effect resistance. -------------------- "The mobs of great cities add just so much to the support of pure government, as sores do to the strength of the human body." -- Thomas Jefferson Posts: 2 | Registered: Thursday, May 19 2005 07:00 |
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Electric Sheep One
Member # 3431
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written Monday, May 23 2005 13:10
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You can enhance both armors and both belts, but for some reason not the shields. I think you can enhance the two rings, but I'm not sure. Golden crystals are rated the best enhancement by the marketplace, though for melee Guardians a Reviving Crystal on your sword is too good to pass up, and a lot of Steel Spines on your other gear are excellent automated payback. -------------------- We're not doing cool. We're doing pretty. Posts: 3335 | Registered: Thursday, September 4 2003 07:00 |
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Raven v. Writing Desk
Member # 261
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written Monday, May 23 2005 17:51
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Yes, has anyone figured out what in the world determines if you can enhance a particular piece of equipment? I can't find any pattern and it seems to be completely arbitrary (except that I think all completely nonmagical equipment cna be enhanced). -------------------- Slarty vs. Desk • Desk vs. Slarty • Timeline of Ermarian • G4 Strategy Central Posts: 3560 | Registered: Wednesday, November 7 2001 08:00 |
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Raven v. Writing Desk
Member # 261
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written Monday, May 23 2005 18:10
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The Reviving Crystal, btw, is probably the best weapon enhancement for any character, since none of the others are defensive, and the extra damage from the other enhancements will likely make little difference for a character who hasn't put many points into sword skills. Incidentally, has anyone experimented with the elemental blades (well, the Acid and Ice ones, since the Fire one didn't get tagged with the fire effect, presumably a bug)? Are they very effective, and at all worth considering over the Guardian Claymore? -------------------- Slarty vs. Desk • Desk vs. Slarty • Timeline of Ermarian • G4 Strategy Central Posts: 3560 | Registered: Wednesday, November 7 2001 08:00 |
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Infiltrator
Member # 5785
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written Tuesday, May 24 2005 13:47
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Good damage, but nothing beats that +2 Str. -------------------- "..The seventh wave of Thrall stumbled and climbed over the slippery, piled dead and Mazzarin saw The Watcher with them and at last knew the number of his days." Posts: 522 | Registered: Wednesday, May 4 2005 07:00 |
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Electric Sheep One
Member # 3431
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written Thursday, May 26 2005 06:53
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The Oozing Blade is quite a bit better than the Claymore against golems and Drakons, and it seems to be fine against Gazers, Drayks and Glaahks. It is awful against Rotghroths. The Frozen Blade doesn't seem to be that great for damage, though it has a nice slowing effect and a cool sound effect. I gave up on it quickly, though. The Puresteel Soulblade is pretty good, but my tests weren't that extensive because by the time I got it there wasn't much left to fight. The Oozing Blade is most definitely worth keeping for a melee Guardian. Pack it along with the Claymore -- it's worth switching back and forth. I doubt any of the other weapons in the game are important competitors for those two. [ Sunday, June 05, 2005 09:03: Message edited by: Student of Trinity ] -------------------- We're not doing cool. We're doing pretty. Posts: 3335 | Registered: Thursday, September 4 2003 07:00 |
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Electric Sheep One
Member # 3431
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written Sunday, June 5 2005 08:57
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I revive this topic to settle it. The first post has been edited into what I think is the final version. I do not believe there are three Purified Essences in the game, despite a few people claiming that there are. I haven't been able to find more than two, despite looking carefully in my last run through the game. And nobody has ever been able to say where the third one is. -------------------- We're not doing cool. We're doing pretty. Posts: 3335 | Registered: Thursday, September 4 2003 07:00 |
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Warrior
Member # 3629
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written Wednesday, June 8 2005 00:33
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How do you make the Infiltrator ring on Dhonal if the Pure Crystal Shard is on Gull? Posts: 51 | Registered: Friday, October 31 2003 08:00 |
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FAQSELF
Member # 3
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written Wednesday, June 8 2005 11:43
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You can't. However, the purified essence used to make the infiltrator's ring can be used instead to make an essence aegis on Dhonal island. It's a matter of personal taste. Oh and Student of Trinity- mind if I use this info in a FAQ? I'll provide full credit. [ Wednesday, June 08, 2005 11:44: Message edited by: Schrodinger ] -------------------- A few cats short of a kitten pot pie... Radioactive cats have 18 half-lives. Check out a great source for information on Avernum 2, Nethergate, and Subterra: Zeviz's page. Finally, there's my Geneforge FAQ, Geneforge 2 FAQ, and Geneforge 3 FAQ. Posts: 2831 | Registered: Tuesday, September 18 2001 07:00 |
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Electric Sheep One
Member # 3431
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written Wednesday, June 8 2005 14:18
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It would be an honor, of course: go ahead! Somebody else posted a nice summary of all the artifact powers and features a while back, too; that would be a good complement. And of course Drakefyre started us off with his Recipes thread. -------------------- We're not doing cool. We're doing pretty. Posts: 3335 | Registered: Thursday, September 4 2003 07:00 |
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Agent
Member # 2210
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written Friday, June 10 2005 09:28
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Please give the location of shaped items for items-- this will make it much easier to finish artifacts-- belt, shield, plate, etc. -------------------- Wasting your time and mine looking for a good laugh. Star Bright, Star Light, Oh I Wish I May, I Wish Might, Wish For One Star Tonight. Posts: 1084 | Registered: Thursday, November 7 2002 08:00 |
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Warrior
Member # 5731
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written Friday, June 10 2005 09:38
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The shaped items are everywhere-- not a ton of it, but more than enough to accidentally sell that shaped plate and still find 2 more to do stuff with. Heck, you can get a shaped shield (2?) on the 2nd island. When you get to Lord Rahul, one of his guys'll sell you shaped stuff. If you're playing with your eyes open you can't miss them. Posts: 107 | Registered: Tuesday, April 19 2005 07:00 |
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Apprentice
Member # 2045
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written Saturday, June 11 2005 23:26
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I haven't found a recipe anywhere for the Crystalline Shroud? Any clues? Posts: 6 | Registered: Tuesday, October 8 2002 07:00 |
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...b10010b...
Member # 869
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written Saturday, June 11 2005 23:42
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The answer can be found in this post, in the thread you're reading right now. -------------------- The Empire Always Loses: This Time For Sure! Posts: 9973 | Registered: Saturday, March 30 2002 08:00 |
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