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Wizardry VIII RPC Guide
-----------------------

1/07/2002 Version 1.0 by
Razorclaw X (spiceoflife@hotmail.com)
For reference for the PC game Wizardry VIII


Introduction
------------

Wizardry VIII spices up the tried and true Wizardry formula by
allowing you to recruit certain NPCs, termed 'RPCs' (Recruitable
Player Characters) into your party. Up to two RPCs can join your
party at a time, but each of them have their tastes and distastes;
some will hang on dearly to specific items if you try to take them
away, and others will protest when you attempt to enter a certain
area.

WARNING! There are spoilers for the game included within.


This guide covers:

- The available RPCs in the game, and where they will or will not
go.

This guide does not cover:

- RPCs' items they will not part with. You can figure this out
for yourself. If you really want them you can just get them
killed, and then take it (not recommended if you don't have easy
access to Ressurection to throw around).


Version History
---------------

- 1.0 First Release (1/07/2002)


The RPCs
--------

- If you Dismiss an RPC while they are able to gain a level, they
will disappear forever.

- If you're playing an all-female PC party, and you have male RPCs
for when you meet Al-Sedexus, you must Dismiss the male RPCs
first before proceeding, then reinvite them again. This includes
RFS-81.

- Be sure you're playing the latest patch; the out-of-box game will
sometimes stick Vi in the Phoonzang statue after you Dismiss her,
and you will be unable to recruit her again. The patch will fix
this, however.

- 'Returning Location' is the area where the RPC will appear if you
release them, then decide to recruit them back later. For most
characters this is the same as the 'Starting Location.'

- 'Will Not Go' lists the areas the RPC will refuse to go, and will
leave the party if you decide to go ahead. If you somehow got
them there anyway they will complain until you leave the area;
the RPC will not be Dismissable and will suffer a massive drop
in their stats (Example: take Madras to Ascension Peak and he
will be unable to use the more advanced Gadgets due to skills
dropping).

The areas are divided as follows:

- Bayjin: Bayjin, Bayjin Shallows, Gigas Water Cave, Sea Caves
- Umpani: Umpani Base Camp, Mt. Gigas Lower, Mt. Gigas Upper
- T'rang: Marten's Bluff, Lower Marten's Bluff, Old Mines
- Rapax: Rapax Rift, Rapax Castle (all sections)
- Peak: Ascension Peak, Cosmic Circle

Note that none of them will enter the Rapax Away Camp when it
appears due to story/quest reasons (for when you recruit Drazic
and Rodan), and most of the RPCs will not go to Bayjin because
you can recruit Glumph there (again, for quest reasons; this is
particularly lame because the Bayjin -> Sea Caves section takes
a while).

--------------------------------------------------
Name: Vi
Race: Human
Affiliation: Higardi
Starting Class: Valkyrie
Starting Level: 6
Starting Location: Arnika (crashed ship)
Returning Location: Arnika (He'Li's bar)
Will Not Go: Bayjin, Rapax
Condition: None

For most of the game Vi will follow your party,
and you may learn of interesting things about
Dominus from her. She is also a good choice for
her ability to enter Ascension Peak, but you will
have problems getting her anywhere if the Rapax
block the entrance, as she will refuse to enter
the Rapax Castle, where the other entrance to the
Peak is located. If this situation occurs your
best bet is to use a Portal spell set at the Peak
past the rockslide.

Equip her with a Shock or Stun Rod if you have
one (pickpocket a Stun Rod off Z'Ant); both are
very useful weapons and benefit from the Valkyrie
Polearm bonus.


Advantages:
- Early recruit if you started at the Monestary
- One of few characters who will go to the Peak
- Sticks with you for most of the game

Disadvantages:
- Will not go to critical areas such as the Sea
Caves or Rapax Castle

Overall Rating: ****


--------------------------------------------------
Name: Myles
Race: Human
Affiliation: Higardi
Starting Class: Rogue
Starting Level: 5
Starting Location: Arnika (entrance)
Returning Location: Arnika (entrance)
Will Not Go: Umpani, T'rang, Bayjin, Rapax, Peak
Condition: None

The only things keeping Myles from being completely
worthless are the facts that you can recruit him
early, and he has decent Rogue abilities if you
haven't developed any of your own. He helps a bit
early on, but I wouldn't plan on using him long,
as there are so many better RPCs around.


Advantages:
- Early recruit if you started at the Monestary
- Fills in as a decent Rogue if you don't have
one, or your abilities are too low

Disadvantages:
- Won't go to most areas

Overall Rating: **


--------------------------------------------------
Name: Madras
Race: Trynnie
Affiliation: Trynnie
Starting Class: Gadgeteer
Starting Level: 8
Starting Location: Trynton Upper Branches
Returning Location: Trynton Upper Branches
Will Not Go: Bayjin, Rapax, Peak
Condition: Kill the Rattkin Breeders

If you didn't start with a Gadgeteer, but want to
know what's so great about them, this guy is your
best friend. Although he won't go to many of the
late game locations Madras' Omnigun and gadgets
more than make up for this in the early-to-mid
game.

If you have a Gadgeteer, you can pickpocket Madras
for an Omnigun Mk.V if you don't already have one.


Advantages:
- Starts with a good Omnigun
- Good for experimenting with Gadgets

Disadvantages:
- Only useful through mid-game. After that the
diminished abilities penalty hurts him a lot
more than some other RPCs
- Annoying to go back and get him all the time

Overall Rating: ****


--------------------------------------------------
Name: Sparkle
Race: Trynnie
Affiliation: Umpani
Starting Class: Ranger
Starting Level: 6
Starting Location: Umpani Base Camp
Returning Location: Umpani Base Camp
Will Not Go: T'rang, Bayjin, Rapax, Peak
Condition: Must be aligned with Umpani

Her Search ability isn't that important. Overall
Sparkle is not very special, but neither is she
particularly bad.


Advantages:
- Early recruit if you started with the Umpani
- Fills in the spot of a Ranger if you don't
have one

Disadvantages:
- Ineffective in late game

Overall Rating: ***


--------------------------------------------------
Name: Saxx
Race: Umpani
Affiliation: Umpani
Starting Class: Bard
Starting Level: 8
Starting Location: Umpani Base Camp
Returning Location: Umpani Base Camp
Will Not Go: T'rang, Bayjin, Rapax, Peak
Condition: Must be aligned with Umpani

If you don't have a Bard, and like Umpani, this
guy is your best friend. The downside, being
Umpani, is he won't go to any of the T'rang
areas (and you must go to Marten's Bluff
eventually).


Advantages:
- Early recruit if you started with the Umpani
- Fills in the role of Bard if you don't have one

Disadvantages:
- Since you must go to Marten's Bluff at least
once in the game, you will have problems with
him when you try to go there for business

Overall Rating: ****


--------------------------------------------------
Name: Urq
Race: Mook
Affiliation: Mook