Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura Tips & Tricks

The excellent classic RPG Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura by Troika Games, published by Sierra On-Line in 2001 is an unique game to play. A must play for serious RPG fans.
0:00 - Intro.
0:14 - 1. Take time to get used to the UI.
1:00 - 2. Level-up by killing things.
1:31 - 3. Keep an eye on armour and weapon condition.
1:50 - 4. Travelling basics.
2:40 - 5. Certain areas can only be reached by ship.
3:04 - 6. Magic use with melee for balanced builds.
3:52 - 7. Managing fatigue.
4:42 - 8. Companion use.
5:26 - 9. Persuasion and trap detection skills.
6:42 - 10. How to attack objects.
7:13 - 11. Real time or turn-based combat.
7:20 - 12. Outro.

[@ravenlord4]

At 5:10 I notice many keys in your inventory. The general stores can sell you a key ring. it is nice because you can keep all of your keys on the one key ring to save space (and to help not lose keys) :) Also Arcanum has a wiki that can be helpful.

[@bangleyjelly]

Thank you

[@silverjohn6037]

One trick for levelling is that you gain exp for each kill but also for each successful attack. Using a fast, low damage dagger (Fine Steel Dagger or Dagger of Speed) will give you more experience per kill. Staffs that damage fatigue are also an option as you can knock an opponent unconscious then slowly beat them to death getting more experience.
Reference force attacking an object like a locked door or chest some weapons are better than others as they're less likely to be damaged in the process. Axes are a good choice but throwing weapons like boomerangs or chakrams will never be damaged unless you have a critical fail. As some others in the comments have mentioned you can use F5 to back off your companions so they don't damage their weapons when they help you.
If you aren't using one of the fan patches Molotov Cocktails cost no action points in turn based combat. In addition to damage they also do knock back so they can be useful if you're doing a ranged build that doesn't want the enemy to get close. Just be aware you'll need a few points into throwing to really benefit from them and at least neutral on the Magic/Tech spectrum. Too many magic spells and they'll start critically failing.

[@ouzei]

Neat video! Even though you say you cant controll the companions after doing some research I found out that you actually can!
- "Walk" - Commands a Follower(s) to walk to a target location
- "Attack" - Commands a Follower(s) to attack the selected target
- "Stay Close" - Commands a Follower(s) to follow at a lesser distance
- "Spread Out" - Commands a Follower(s) to follow at a greater distance
- "Back Off" - Commands a Follower(s) to stop fighting its target (very useful if they start attacking some wrong doors or whatever. )
Just figured this would be helpful to anyone starting the game

[@godofwarandpeace]

I usely play a leader mage that let his folowers do the fighting. only need the spells Harm, teleport, and resurect and the folowers will do all the rest.

[@michadomeracki5910]

First :D This is a great game. Probably the best steampunk game ever. I love classic rpgs.

[@middleagesgaming30]

I am having more fun with the classic RPGs than anything that's currently on offer with new releases.

[@michadomeracki5910]

@@middleagesgaming30 Yeah. The current state of gaming is pathetic. I don't care anymore. Older games are great.

[@middleagesgaming30]

@@michadomeracki5910 I couldn't agree more, sadly.

[@deimantebruzaite5343]

This game was my 1st pc game I ever played since 2003 and my most favourite, at nowadays is hard to find, but actually I playing Genshin Impact, Cookie Run Kingdom and Cookie Run Ovenbreak and they have quests, but GI mostly RPG based and I like it, but I also like playing playi g CRK and CROB, because interesting has to offer, I used play Knigthood, but I took hiatus, because become too monotomic and not much changes everytime.
Also I used play another RPG games, but at nowadays I can't find something interesting, so I was playing Arcanum again and few games I playing everyday.

[@middleagesgaming30]

@@deimantebruzaite5343 It is difficult to find interesting games these days.

[@antzd]

I would have loved this game when I was a kid.

[@middleagesgaming30]

We all still have that kid in us.

[@antzd]

@@middleagesgaming30 the kid inside me has to take a back seat to the full time job and maintaining my fitness

[@Cruor34]

@@antzd lol.. if you don't have time to play a single player game you are doing something wrong. Unless you look like the Ultimate Warrior did in the early 90s and work 80 hours a week on top of that, you can play. I got MORE time as I got older, school + homework + parents making me do things was WAY more time than a job + gym is.

[@middleagesgaming30]

If there's a will, there's a way...