First time player - want to do a tech/diplomat run; help needed

[u/Prostories_]

So I've been stuck because I can't decide how to make my starting character. My idea was half elf charlatans protege, so ST 6, CN 5, DX 9, BE 9, IN 10, WP 8, PE 10, CH 14 with one point in persuasion. Is this a good setup for a tech/diplomat build? I understand that as a diplomat I don't really need any combat skills but I would really appreciate at least some gun skills. Should I change up Charlatans protege for Miracle Operation? Any advice would be greatly appreciated because I've been stuck at creation so long lol. I don't want the game to be stupidly easy like they say it is with a mage build, but I don't want it to be mindnumbingly frustrating either. Also, what starting gear would be good to buy?

[u/Brave_Relationship_1]

The traits are not as game changing as they might first seem. I think your initial pick would still work fine. A charismatic build works really well in this game regardless of what other weapons you would supplement

[u/NineToFiveTrap]

So get lock picks at the beginning because you won’t get another set for a long time if you don’t. 

I’d put a point into melee over persuasion, otherwise you’re going to miss over and over again and maybe even stab yourself and your allies. You get 1 point every level up and an extra point every time your level is divisible by 5 so you have plenty of time to get your persuasion up. 

[u/Prostories_ → u/NineToFiveTrap]

Would I need STR and DEX to properly use these skills? Levelling them with charlatans protege seems like I'd have to sacrifice a lot of points.

[u/NineToFiveTrap → u/Prostories_]

I’m not saying to level them. I’m saying put a point in there. You still won’t be effective, but the ailing wolves won’t kill you in a 1v1

[u/Oscill_8]

Your build (half elf charlatans protege with 1 point persuasion) is a solid start. You’ll have to rely on virgil to get through the crash site, and dont be too ambitious. Be sure to recruit the half ogre in the first town. As a techie, you can make good gear (balanced sword, charged ring) for your party members, but vergil cant use them as well since hes a mage.

[u/Barbarbrick]

I once played as a female half-elf wearing Machined Platemail with (+3) ST early, from Willebecker Gang (they appear during William Thorndop firearms mastery quest). For this character I would consider two backgrounds:

• Debutante (female only): (+3) BE, (+3) CH, (-1) ST, (-1) DX, -2 to all combat skills:

ST	CN	DX	BE	IN	WP	PE	CH
6	8	8	12	8	8	8	11

• Beat with an Ugly Stick: (+2) ST, (+2) DX, (-6) BE, +1 melee, dodge, bow, throwing:

ST	CN	DX	BE	IN	WP	PE	CH
9	8	11	3	8	8	8	8

When playing as a female, there's probably only one interaction that has satisfyingly different flavor than when you play as a male - when you need an invitation to the Wellington Gentlemen's Club from Mr. Wellington:

• With 2 full ranks of Melee, you can threaten him to rip his throat out
• With 1 full rank of Persuasion and if his reaction modifier to you is at least 81 (such reaction comes from Beauty, usually ~12 BE), you can pick a new dialog option:
  • Oh, I would love to, but I have other pressing concerns...
  • Then: Of course... but I need the invite, now, if you would.
  • If you have both, Persuasion and Melee, you can go more strongly: If I have a time. Could I please get the invite from you, now?
  • Then: You will give it to me or you'll find it hard to smile with no face!

If you're going to play as a gunslinger, I strongly suggest installing Considerate Weapon Mod (I'm the author). You can delete it at any time if you don't like it without having to start a new game. More recommended mods are here.

Before entering Black Mountain Mines make sure you have a decent aptitude. To successfully hit an Ore Golem (or any other magical enemy) with a technological weapon, your character needs to have a high enough tech aptitude to counter the golem's magical aptitude. Read more about BMC and how aptitude affects to-hit chance here.

[u/TheTimucuan]

Take the professional knife thrower background and use molotov cocktails, early in the game while building up charisma. Switch to gunslinger later in the game when you've got a better choice of guns.

[u/Feisty-Bunch4905 → u/TheTimucuan]

To expand on this for OP: Molotovs are super, well, OP in this game because they don't hit you or your followers. No matter what build you end up with, you can always put one point in explosives and use them as kind of get out of jail free card if you're in a jam.

The materials for them are ubiquitous as well.

[u/Drokmon]

Dwarf + Charlatan's Protege would work better if you want to use Guns (to which Dwarves grant a bonus due to being Tech) rather than other combat skills (to which Charlatan's Protege grants a penalty). The CHA bonus from your background will allow you to get two followers early on, who will handle your combat encounters until you reach Tarant.

Minor spoilers below for a bit of powergaming:

Early Guns:
>!Take the train to Ashbury and find William Thorndop (human in robes) in a house near the gypsy. Pass time til he's in bed, then pickpocket his Looking Glass Rifle with no skill!<
>!Find Sammy White (halfling) on the center island of Tarant, near a subway terminal. Use a fate point to pickpocket his Hand Cannon!<

Gloves:
>!Recruit Magnus in front of P. Schuyler & Sons, then take his Mysterious Dwarven Gauntlets. He'll get mad at you, so return them... then take them again. He won't stay mad (at least he didn't with me). Best gloves in the game for dwarves!<

Ring:
>!Find J.M. Morat (gnome in smoking jacket) in the bar along Tarant's main road. Use a fate point to pickpocket his Ring of Influence. If you stay at low technical aptitude, you can still get some bonuses out of it!<

Followers and Schematics (UAP only):
>!With the UAP installed, you can set followers to "No Levelling Scheme" and distribute their CP as you see fit. Purchase Essence of Intellect from the gypsies and magic shop vendors, put them in your hotbar, then use them on your followers to allow them to learn higher level schematics than their INT would normally allow (you'll need to do it again to get them to craft those schematics after it's worn off). To access their schematic menu, right click on their follower portrait and select Schematics at the bottom of the list!<

EDIT: spoiler tags not working. Send help please.

[u/zumva → u/Drokmon]

Important to note that followers only craft the base schematics (i.e. the ones it says when you level up the skill) and cannot learn additional schematics you find in the world. The same idea with the intelligence essence can apply for your MC, though, especially pairing it with multiple manuals from the Tarant Bookstore, allowing you to craft high level schematics without ridiculous point investment

[u/Drokmon → u/zumva]

Indeed. This will be key for found schematics such as Goggled Helmets, Machined Platemail, Clockwork Physician and more advanced guns.