Arcanum, Wolf Cave & Ancient Maze, Part XIII

(Part XIII of Arcanum Walkthrough for Troika's cRPG Definition of 2001, Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura).

Due to being located between Shrouded Hills and Dernholm, the Wolf Cave and Ancient Maze are likely to be the first hostile areas discovered by us on the overworld.

Wolf Cave

The wolf cave is really a whole lot of nothing. Other than a stick of dynamite, we found no loot worth a damn, and only 1st level sewer rats and a pack of 3rd level wolves to slay. Of the two skeletal remains found in two separate parts of the cave, only one can be brought back to life with necromantics, but it didn't have anything interesting to say. Thus, we left the cave in disappointment.

Ancient Maze

The ancient maze cannot be navigated by waypoint paths: we have to manually backtrack as we make our way through it, which sucks. For newbies who don't understand how isometric works, make sure you explore the walls for openings, as pathways don't appear until they're stepped through. Bear in mind, also, that your character can leap through gaps in the walls.

The maze is populated by 16th level Stygian Ghouls, 18th level Swamp Shamblers, 22nd level Gore Guards, and 24th level Ore Golems. Therefore, low level parties are going to get TPK'd.

Magickal Sword

See this magickal sword? 

It is called The Sword of Butthurt Generation because we can't even reach it. Ever. Not even with the Spatial Distortion spell of the Conveyance college (because SD only allows us to teleport to a tile that we have a physical path to). We can't vault over a waist-high wall, we can't have our half ogre lift us over the wall etc. ... it's right there and we can't get it. Thus, the butthurt.

In the sarcophagus at the maze's end, I found the following:

Nature's Wrath Helm (non-random, statically-itemized), Magick Axe, Mystic Robes, Small Traveler's Robes.

Nature's Wrath Helm stats: AC 15, DR 5 (+20). Nature's Wrath Helm is also good because it inflicts on-crit entangle on victims (immobilization).

I recall finding a Black Diamond in the maze in my playthroughs in the past, but not this time 'round.

cRPG Blog	8. Thieves' Guild Arcanum	17. Ashbury Arcanum
ARCANUM (Index)	9. Cassandra Pettibone	18. Isle of Despair
1. Arcanum Walkthrough	10. Gilbert Bates	19. Wheel Clan Arcanum
2. Shrouded Hills Arcanum	11. Garringsburg Heist	20. Durin Stone Arcanum
3. Bessie Toone Mine	12. Madam Toussaude	21. Stillwater Arcanum
4. Jongle Dunne	13. Ancient Maze	22. Qintarra Arcanum
5. Doc Roberts Arcanum	14. Dernholm Arcanum	23. Bedokaan Village
6. Amulet of N'Tala	15. Black Root Arcanum	24. Persuasion Master Arcanum
7. Tarant Arcanum	16. Black Mountain Mines	25. Caladon Arcanum (to the end)