In the previous post i write about generic hints, now it's time to release my 'powerplayer' soul
Mercs can be trained even in real time, while they are on duty. This can be quite easy or stressful, depending on your playing style and on how many mercenary you want to train. However, because of the general structure of the game isn't possible to put into effect a massive training. In other words, massive training of more than 3-4 mercs it's pretty impossible and even trainig only 2-3 mercs can become an 'hell on earth'. Best way to use methods described below is to concentrate training on 1-2 mercs, choosing very carefully stat and/or skill that you want to raise. Also, some of the method below can be mixed togheter in various way, just experiment and use fantasy. Also, take in mind that more level means more $$$ to be payed and there are:
- very good mercs that becomes very expensives, Ivan is an example. He is a very good mercs, but he become more expensive than Mike, a Level 7 Ivan will cost 11,000 $ and at level 8 he will cost about 16,500 $ !!
- good mercs that are quite cheap; Grunty & Vinny are an example. Raise Agil & Marks of Grunty and you will obtain a very impressive mercs. Raise Agil, Marks & Level of Vinny (dext & mech needed to be raised also, but just a bit) and you will obtain the perfect lockpicker... no more need to hire Magics or similar mercs.
- poor mercs that are very cheap. Never tried this, but can you figure out a merc like Bruce 'Skitz' Bonner (90$ at level 1) that becomes a 'killing machine' ? or Herman 'Turtle' Regents (Agility 8...) that becomes like Flash Gordon? or Marty 'Kaboom' Moffat (Wisdom 13...) that becomes like Albert Einstein? Pheraps this can be funny ...
Finally, the level... raising skill/stat will raise even the level, and level is the most important factor of the whole game. All the equations that governs each action that can be taken in game have level always as a multiplier. For this reason mercs like Fidel with high explosive level but poor level sometimes aren't able to disarm a simple crappy mine or mercs like Vinny with good Dexterity and Mechanical but poor level becomes 'the perfect lockpicker-mechanic' if you raise the level.
Killing Metaviran Reptiles. (will increase DEX, AGI & WIS)
Simply the best training way!! Stats quickly raise until 90's, then increase slow down. For example: Vinny, killing 16 metaviran reptiles, increases of +5 WIS, +3 AGI and +1 DEX. After the 90's has reached he will increas of about +1 for each stats killing about 20 metaviran reptiles. Some sectors seems to be better than other (S.33 seems to be very good) and some sector are very dangerous, like S.47. Don't forget to save often since even the best merc can be killed by those repetiles.
Finally, move your merc (hopefully with a knife
) through medium deept water and kill, kill kill !! Avoid, obviously low water because merc can't be attacked here and deep water (in wich merc will need to swim) because breath can only goes down and can't be recovered, and because not all mercs are able to swim and except in rare cases no-one has bothered to tell you something.
Hey i've a rock! And it's so funny launch it at my feet! (will increase DEX and EXP)
Well this method can be very boring, but at least isn't dangerous (no need to quick save often). Simply launch the rocks at your feets, at the square just in front of merc. Very helpful, in order to create a bomb dude or to raise the level of a low-level merc. To give an idea: Ivan's explosive skill, after launching 200 rocks, will raise from 50 to 58 (and this require about less than an half day of game time).
Wound the tappers and then cure them (MARK, MED and DEX)
MED will raise very good, MARK will raise quite good, DEX will raise just a bit. If you want, you can use a gun in bad condition (about 50%) in order to raise even MECH, but don't expect great things Mech is one of the slowest skill in game.
Use weapon like S&W, C45 and Beretta, there are a lot of ammos of this kind and you can fire from 1 to 3 time without killing the poor tapper (and remember... save often!). Just place merc 2-3 square away from the tapper and fire! Finally, take in mind that tappers (and also guards) when wounded don't recover the original status, a tapper that become 'critical' will be 'critical' forever... so, go in sectors that are very behind from first line.
Firing with bad damaged weapon against door/sign/trees (MARK and MECH)
Instead of wounding tappers, it's possible to fire against a sign, a door, a tree and any thing on which it is possible to aim. Marksmanship will raise quite good. In this way you can use all the bad damaged weapon that you find in game, without loosing time to repair them. The raise of mechanical will be... insignificant (not tried but probably a good mechanic can do better) so use only the ammo already on the weapon.
Ok, that's all, good luck and be patient if you want to try this training methods
