about the game:
install high res patch.

-if you have charisma=9, you can add more companions (so you can add Sodd Mead Mug at the beginning.)
-charisma ALLOWS you to increase persuasion
formula is cha/4 = number of followers (+1 if you are persuasion expert.)

-you can use points navigaion on map view. (buttons on on the right, on the map screen. use 'w' for map.)
-to go to another town, head out of town, till map becomes blue.
-to open locked items, unequip weapons from followers, aim at locked chest, and press f2. press f5 to stop.
-f7 quicksave, f8 quickload
-to use item, put it in your hand, then click on enemy. you can use explosive this way.
-press 'r' to start fight
-space will switch between realtime/turn based
-in realtime mode you can run without using stamina!

magic guide:

explanation for magic:
-the more magical aptitude you have, the more powerful your spells are (well, harm spell, anyway.)
-you can increase MA by choosing history for your char, choosing specific race, and adding more spells (later).

TO increase increase MA at the beginning of the game:
-pick elf (+15%)
-and "day mage" history (+20% during day, -20% during night).
if encounter enemy during travels when it is nigth (after 6pm or before 6am), reload, and try again, hoping for the 'day encounter'.

-(if you use "only child" it will lover your "Charisma by 4 and your Persuasion and Haggle Skills by 2 each", which is bad,
so I don't want to use it. you wont be able to add followers easily.)


-choose just harm spell (this will also add +5% to MA). it will be enough for now.

-use "rest for one hour" when depleted mana.


-main stats are there to increase derived stats
for example, "constitution" and "will power" increase mana.
-and to allow to select more powerful spells. (depends on wp)


-LATER you can add time magic spells, or teleport, or fireflash... etc.


quick game guide tips:
-Crash Site:
pick chest at south on crash site
go inside cave on north east

-arbalah house:

-shrouded site:
-increase charisma to 9*. pick up Sodd Mead Mug at the inn.
-go to at the inn room, pick up message, and things from thugs.

-house in front of tunnel, go to tunel west, pick up stuff.
-bring boot to ritzo. DO NOT give him camera.

-then deal with bandits at the bridge. first with lukan.

-In Durnholm: you need +1 persuasion* for Archibald.
-in sewers, you can destroy mechanical arachnid without entering the room, using harm spell.

look up steve's guide to arcanum, and also tips. (here in forum)
and arcanum guide on gamebanshee site.

That "do not give the camera" thing is sooo meta-gaming-oriented

From the short-term perspective, there's no difference between giving camera and Bessie's boot because both can be sold for the same price in Tarant (Camera in general store; Bessie's boot in H.T. Parnell's) but keeping the camera is superior choice because it's useful later on in Caladon (!) and buying it back requires a considerable amount of money (over 1000 gp's iirc)/

Regarding the Day/Night mage - after some thinking I'm actually unsure if it's a good idea to take any of those backgrounds - more or less, if you need to save-scumm with them to get through engagement it means it might not be the best choice.

Yeah I have to agree with faello man. I think we all need to do what we can to make this game more understandable to new player, but a lot of your recommendations here and in other posts are really sub-optimal.

The sky/day/night mage type backgrounds are all pretty much useless, especially compared to only child or sold your soul.

A lot of your recommendations also include really annoying strategies, like "if you don't encounter an enemy at the right time of day, because I told you to choose day mage, reload the game every time." Another one from your melee post was "get agility of fire and strength of earth and cast them before each battle."

It's better to just recommend the best character builds, none of which include annoying things like that. There are plenty of ways to just become incredibly overpowering without having to reload because of random chance.

The post I was referring to was not you, I was mistaken. Apologies.

ok :)