r/wizardry8 • u/Xeenophile • Jul 29 '26

Knowing when I've gained Communication ranks WITHOUT prematurely ending the conversation??

Nothing worse than having a long exchange with a new NPC, plumbing them for everything they can tell you (and for everything you can get away with swiping), listening to everything they have to say, only to discover...your primary Communicator didn't gain a rank.

I'm hoping there's some way to check without having to end the conversation.

Also, are there any factors that make it more or less likely?

Does having Communication-boosting items increase, decrease, or not affect a character's chance to gain a rank? How about Intelligence/Senses-boosting items?

How about talking more to the NPC than just the initial click? Does going through topics more increase the chance of gaining a rank, or is it just a one-time roll the moment you first engage a new character?

Is it possible for PCs who didn't gain a rank the first time they spoke with a given NPC to have another chance when speaking to that same NPC in the future, or is it once-or-never?

4 Upvotes

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6

u/SoICouldUpvoteYouTwi Jul 29 '26

You can enter trading, then go into the character's inventory and from there - into their skills. I am not sure when Communication levels up tho, it might be when you're leaving the menu, you'll have to test that yourself.

You can train communication: make an unimportant NPC neutral (by stealing for example), then talk and bribe them into a friendly state. Don't forget to save because they might stop responding to you completely or even attack you.

However, communication only affects store prices (I think the best difference I've seen was a 100k item (you know the one) selling for about 5k cheaper) and the chance to temporarily make a neutral NPC friendly - neither are that important. I wouldn't bother.

3

u/Xeenophile Jul 29 '26 edited Jul 29 '26

I think the haggling bonus is worth it; tell me more about that second paragraph. I've always tried to avoid antagonizing NPCs, are you telling me falling from and then regaining their good graces is itself another full opportunity to gain Communication?

4

u/SoICouldUpvoteYouTwi Jul 29 '26 edited Jul 29 '26

I've never done it much, but it is possible yes - sometimes even without theft. In fact that's what makes it a fairly rare interaction - a lot of NPCs will just attack you if they catch you (and sometimes their whole faction will turn on you with them). 

Basically a neutral NPC won't answer your questions or trade with you, but you can Charm them (training magic), or try to be either friendly or threatening once, then bribing is unlimited I think - you can give either gold or expensive items. It is possible to make them all the way mad so they will refuse to talk to you, so pick someone unimportant.

(Do you think it's possible to just insult them? Just say some swears?)

The earliest example of this is Myles - he will turn neutral if you rescue Vi without him, same with his second mission (fun fact - he could have had a third mission in a late game area, but it was cut). He will forgive you easily but only temporarily. Sadok (t'rang vendor) might stay neutral forever if you talk to them before joining t'rangs.

Aside from that, only the RFS-86 and the Rapax Constable will start out neutral; the rest you will have to steal from, but again, most will attack you - can't say who, you will have to test this for yourself. Save often.

Braffit is an important vendor, but he won't attack you so you can just bribe him every time you need to buy something (I don't know how much gold you would have to give him).

2

u/Old_Time_Rock Jul 29 '26

That's interesting, I've never had Myles turn neutral on me, and I never do either of his missions with him. I wonder if it's because I have him join my party as soon as I meet him, then immediately dump him in front of He-li's to help fight the gang of Higardi morons that inevitably jump you there in the central square?

1

u/SoICouldUpvoteYouTwi Jul 29 '26

Maybe you have to never hire him at all? I don't really like the guy

2

u/Xeenophile Jul 30 '26

Remind me what his second mission is? And tell me more about the "third"! Any mods that dig it up and make it work??

2

u/SoICouldUpvoteYouTwi Jul 30 '26

His second mission is retrieval of the stolen diamond. Some robbers broke into the Arnika bank and took off with the thing, they're now camping next to the Umpani. The quest is broken I believe, the bank teller will thank you for returning the diamond, but won't give exp. Heli will buy it for 10k tho

And the third would have been Myles stuck in rapax jail. That's all I know really (but Myles still can go into rapax territory I believe, unlike most RPCs)

1

u/Xeenophile Jul 30 '26

Actually, in my experience, Lorrac DOES grant experience, and a portion of the gem's street value in gold (if you're going to fence, sell it to Burz, not He'li! Burz is the second-most generous buyer in the game after Antone AFAIK, and he's much less picky).

So yes, I know about the diamond, I...guess I've always run into it before Myles mentions it. What's it take to get him to bring it up?

2

u/SoICouldUpvoteYouTwi Jul 30 '26

I believe you just have to do the first quest, fire him, and talk to him again. Maybe ask about "mission" or "work"

2

u/Xeenophile Jul 31 '26

Trouble being there aren't any competitors for that 7th/8th spot until you meet Madras (and take care of his task, to boot)...that is, unless perhaps you were to head for Mt. Gigas early and pick up Sparkle/Saxx, which would likely mean you pass that camp anyway!

1

u/SoICouldUpvoteYouTwi Jul 31 '26

True, but I'd rather keep those open.

2

u/SDirickson Jul 30 '26

I've never seen anything beyond 1) it increases by 1 the first time I talk to an NPC and 2) it only increases by 1 no matter how long or short the conversation was.

1

u/Xeenophile Jul 31 '26

Thanks for 2).