I decided to record the followers' responses to "ask about" questions. You can ask a follower about any prop (is that the right term?), but for the vast majority they only answer "Looks like (a) [whatever you clicked on]." (Hector/Meleager) or "I'd say it is (a) [whatever you clicked on]." (Timon). For example, if you ask Timon about the book that he wrote, he'll say "I'd say it is a book." You know it's terrible when even the author has no interest in it. Note that only Hector, Meleager, and Timon respond to "ask about"s; Aethon, Ariadne, and Dryas do not.
I've been looking for props that will get a unique response from Hector, Meleager, or Timon. I've found that Hector and Meleager respond to most weapons, shields, and armor (and in most cases, their responses are identical, though Meleager will tell you a little more about blunt weapons). Meleager also responds to rope and moss. Timon will respond to alchemy ingredients (telling you what potions they make), and also responds to several other magical items. Hector and Timon will both respond to the LandKing amulet. So far I've tried all the items, but you can ask about other props too, like beds, statues, altars, etc.; and I'm having trouble finding any that will give a unique response. So far the only ones I've found are Meleager's response to moss, and Timon's response to tomes. Can anyone find any others (or have suggestions for me to try)?
Here's all the responses I have so far:
Hector
Spoiler
Generic:
"Looks like (a) [item]."
Bow:
"A bow is a nice weapon when used at a distance, but useless in close quarters."
Axe:
"An axe can smash an opponent with a bonecrunching sound."
Bomb:
"Those are kind of dangerous, so be careful with them, lest they blow up in your hand."
Cleaver:
"A cleaver can hit an opponent."
Club/gauntlets/mace/miner’s pick/spear/staff/rolling pin:
"It’ll work as a weapon, but I’ve only been trained in edged weapons…"
Dagger:
"A dagger can hit an opponent hard."
Sling:
"A sling is a simple weapon, good at a distance, and only requires one hand to use."
(Short) Sword:
"A sword can hit an opponent extremely hard."
(Long) Sword:
"A sword can smash an opponent with a bonecrunching sound."
Sword (of Heroes):
"Sword can grind an opponent to dust."
Buckler:
"A buckler can parry a minor blow."
Light shield:
"A light shield can parry a small blow."
Round shield:
"A round shield can parry a medium blow."
Full shield:
"A full shield can parry a large blow."
Leather helmet:
"A leather helmet can protect you from a blow that would graze you."
Helmet:
"A helmet can protect you from a blow that would hit you."
Full helmet:
"A full helmet can protect you from a blow that would hit you hard."
Odd helmet:
"An odd helmet can protect you from a blow that would graze you."
Mystic Helmet:
"Mystic helmet can protect you from a blow that would hit you extremely hard."
Cuirass:
"Cuirass can protect you from a blow that would hit you hard."
Metal breast plate:
"Metal breast plate can protect you from a blow that would hit you extremely hard."
Mystic armor:
"Mystic armor can protect you from a blow that would smash you with a bonecrunching sound."
Cloak:
"A cloak can protect you from a blow that would graze you."
Fur cloak:
"A fur cloak can protect you from a blow that would smash you with a bonecrunching sound."
LandKing amulet:
"That amulet bears the symbol of our liege Alaric."
Decorative axe:
"A decorative axe can hit an opponent very hard."
Meleager:
Spoiler
Generic:
"Looks like (a) [item].
Mace:
"A mace can hit an opponent extremely hard."
Dagger:
"A dagger can hit an opponent hard."
Club:
"A club can hit an opponent hard."
Axe:
"An axe can smash an opponent with a bonecrunching sound."
(Long) Sword:
"A sword can smash an opponent with a bonecrunching sound."
(Short) Sword:
"A sword can hit an opponent extremely hard."
Sword (of Heroes):
"Sword can grind an opponent to dust."
Spear:
"A spear can hit an opponent very hard."
Bow:
"A bow is a nice weapon when used at a distance, but useless in close quarters."
Sling:
"A sling is a simple weapon, good at a distance, and only requires one hand to use."
Mystic spear:
"Mystic spear can shred an opponent to pieces."
Rolling pin:
"A rolling pin can graze an opponent."
Cleaver:
"A cleaver can hit an opponent."
Miner’s pick:
"A miner’s pick can hit an opponent very hard."
Decorative axe:
"A decorative axe can hit an opponent very hard."
Gauntlets:
"Gauntlets can smash an opponent with a bonecrunching sound."
Staff:
"A staff can hit an opponent."
Buckler:
"A buckler can parry a minor blow."
Light shield:
"A light shield can parry a small blow."
Round shield:
"A round shield can parry a medium blow."
Full shield:
"A full shield can parry a large blow."
Leather helmet:
"A leather helmet can protect you from a blow that would graze you."
Helmet:
"A helmet can protect you from a blow that would hit you."
Full helmet:
"A full helmet can protect you from a blow that would hit you hard."
Odd helmet:
"An odd helmet can protect you from a blow that would graze you."
Mystic Helmet:
"Mystic helmet can protect you from a blow that would hit you extremely hard."
Cuirass:
"Cuirass can protect you from a blow that would hit you hard."
Metal breast plate:
"Metal breast plate can protect you from a blow that would hit you extremely hard."
Mystic armor:
"Mystic armor can protect you from a blow that would smash you with a bonecrunching sound."
Cloak:
"A cloak can protect you from a blow that would graze you."
Fur cloak:
"A fur cloak can protect you from a blow that would smash you with a bonecrunching sound."
Rope:
"You never know. If you might need to climb down a hole or something, that rope would come in handy."
Moss:
"Be careful - that stuff gives nasty spores."
Timon:
Spoiler
Generic:
"I’d say it is (a) [item]."
Fur cloak:
"Appears to be some sort of magical cloak, of great age."
LandKing amulet:
"That amulet bears the symbol of our liege Alaric."
Belt (of strength):
"Appears to be some sort of magical belt, of great age."
Glowing crystal (first Crolna shard):
"It is some sort of glowing, triangular crystal. The exact nature of it is a mystery to me, but it must have something to do with the Metics."
Glowing crystal (any other single piece of Crolna):
"It looks like a fragment of a larger object. The exact nature of it is a mystery to me, but it must have something to do with the Metics."
Glowing crystal (combination of 2, 3, or 4 shards):
"It is some sort of glowing, triangular crystal, obviously made of several pieces joined together to form something more potent. The exact nature of it is a mystery to me, but it must have something to do with the Metics."
Scroll:
"It’s a magic scroll, containing a spell."
Grimoire:
"By using the tables of correspondances and the like in a grimoire, one can learn a spell from a scroll."
Half disk:
"Fascinating - appears to be of Seldane workmanship."
Seedpod:
"Seedpod is used in making Sustenance Potion."
Sulfur:
"Sulfur is used in making Healing Potion."
Obsidian:
"Obsidian is used in making Mage’s Friend Potion."
Bean:
"Bean is used in making Free Motion Potion."
Spider web:
"Spider web is used in making Antidote Potion."
Peppermint:
"Peppermint is used in making Clear Mind Potion."
Ruby:
"Ruby is used in making Smith’s Friend Potion."
Diamond:
"Diamond is used in making Far Sight Potion."
Black disk:
"Strange, looks like a pearl, but black…"
Liquid (kesh):
"Not sure what it is, but it sure seems nasty."
Strange staff:
"It looks like some sort of magical device, but beyond anything I can figure out."
Mortar and pestle:
"It is used in the making of magic potions and components for spells."
Crystal ball:
"It is a magical crystal ball - quite rare. One gazes into and can see beyond."
Gauntlets:
"Appears to be some sort of magical gauntlets, of great age."
Staff:
"It is a magical staff - quite rare. It can be used as a simple weapon, or it can cast some sort of spell when used."
Strange device (the real one; the edible one only gives the generic response):
"Fascinating. Clearly of Seldane construction, but for what purpose?"
Tome:
"Many a spell has been learned from a tome like that."
Yes, but I haven't found any unique responses this way. For example,
Meleager: Looks like Aethon.
Me: Oh okay, I thought his name was "punk."
Or,
Timon: I'd say it is a seldane.
Me: Ah, that seldane degree is really paying off, isn't it?
I also transcribed all the item descriptions I could find by examining items, and the little messages you get by certain actions, maybe eventually I'll get around to pasting those in here.
Aethon has a bunch of ask-about dialogue that doesn't work due to a bug. You can view it with ReDelv; I don't remember what it was. (I think I also fixed it in the last patch, if anyone actually used it.)
It's awesome to see you, Bryce! ^_^ I'm glad you haven't been devoured by medical school or your many other projects yet! I actually forgot that you fixed Aethon's dialogue, I'll have to go back and collect that too ^_^ I was being lazy and playing on my newer computer, which doesn't have the bugfix-patch because I can't install redelv for... some kind of technical reason... Wizzy explained it better than I am :\ But I still have access to redelv and the bugfix-patch on my other computer!
Yeah, the problem I'm having with Redelv is that it won't run on recent Macs because of the GTK version. Redelv uses GTK 2, and GTK 3 deprecated a lot of calls, but it's the only version I've been able to get installed on my machine. Not sure why it's been so problematic. I tried to port some of Redelv to GTK 3, but it proved more involved than I could get into at the time. Anyways, that was the same issue with your laptop, BW. The linux laptop can run Redelv, but you'd have to work in an HFS volume to preserve the resource fork.
Regarding "Ask About," it's a useful game mechanic. I suppose gandreas put it in thinking it could provide helpful tips to the player, but it was underutilized in Cythera. The potion and weapon info is a good reference; it's just too bad he didn't get more responses written. My favorite example is asking Timon about a Seldane to be told "It looks like a Seldane." Nothing gets past him!
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