Fable I

[Biosophilogical]

Given the release of Fable 3, and given that I don't have an XBox, I've recently decided to start replaying Fable: The Lost Chapters on my PC. But, it left me wondering, has anyone ever made a 'build' on Fable? I mean, given the growth system, most playthroughs I've done have resulted in me being a super-fast/buff/willed-out/explosion-in-a-can, with every single ability and stat maxed out. And yet, despite my numerous playthroughs, the closest I've come to a 'build' is doing mage-only (plus health), or ranged only (so bows with multi-arrow), or melee only (so maxed physical with multi-strike berserk and slow-time).

This, time, I want to try something different,I want to try a build, something that wasn't just a giant cluster-...bomb of the most powerful abilities in the game, but no matter how much I looked, it seems no-one else has had the same idea (and then shared it). So this is my question; have you, on Fable, ever deliberately limited yourself to some form of build, such as mind control, fire-only, stealthy-ranged assassin?

EDIT: I've started a build (I was going to do a summon/ghost sword/turn-coat build, but none of those gives you experience so it wouldn't work), my build is basically a trader-friendly ninja ... sort of. Basically, no physical shield, mainly melee fighting, force push, heal life, and always use a katana. The idea is the 'fast attacks, dodging everything, the only offensive spell you have is more defensive than anything and the only support spell you have is more beneficial to mercenaries and traders than you' thing, where the build is more about how you fight rather than the abilities you employ

 

[viranimus]

I think the game mechanics basically hinder this from being a realistic thing simply because its far too easy to max everything out well before you get to the end game content.

Fable has always suffered this, and though I am uncertain if 3 will follow the same pattern, Im thinking that it likely will.

Lionhead either needs to make higher levels vastly harder to obtain, or needs to vastly expand the skill trees to the point that can result in the specialization that is required to make "builds" relevant.

 

[RatRace123]

Well, I once limited myself to skill only, I had an archer who could decapitate nearly anyone with just an arrow, of course he also had full guile so he was incredibly sneaky too.

That's the closest I actually got to an actual "build" restriction. Though I do often limit myself to what age I let my character get to, since it's roughly 1 upgrade= 1 year and I don't want to end the game with a 65 year old hero, I usually let him get to his late twenties, since in Fable: TLC I think the character actually ages 3 something years during the course of the story, it ends with my hero in his early 30s.

 

[PrimoThePro]

I did assassin once. It worked out surprisingly well. I believe that was my eighth profile on Fable. If you want to make the game really challenging, you play in what I like to call, "Trader Mode". Set a cap for all strength options to 3, all skill options to 4, and all will options to 1. Including magic. Don't use potions. Only food. You MUST have the trader mustache as soon as possible. No scary tattoos. No "Bald" haircut. You must buy trade items for profit, and sell them to other traders on routes. You must assist all traders in danger, and if they die, you must kill their killer. You cannot own property, and you cannot sleep in inns. You must only sleep in people's houses, preferably barns. No kicking chickens. And no title except for Piemaster. No armor. And that is how you play "Trader Mode"

 

[Z of the Na'vi]

Well, I once limited myself to skill only, I had an archer who could decapitate nearly anyone with just an arrow, of course he also had full guile so he was incredibly sneaky too.

That's the closest I actually got to an actual "build" restriction. Though I do often limit myself to what age I let my character get to, since it's roughly 1 upgrade= 1 year and I don't want to end the game with a 65 year old hero, I usually let him get to his late twenties, since in Fable: TLC I think the character actually ages 3 something years during the course of the story, it ends with my hero in his early 30s.

Is it strange that I read every one of your posts in Tali's voice? Honestly, it makes everything you say all the more awesome. Next thing I know, you'll actually spout words like "Flotilla" or "Migrant Fleet." You're great man, keep it up.

OT: I consider Fable: TLC to be one of my favorite games for the original Xbox, as well as the PC. If one overlooks the few faults it has, it exceeds Fable II in every way possible, especially the ending. Of course this is just my personal opinion, but I do believe the general consensus is that the original Fable is a hell of a lot of fun.

[sub]"Do you have any POTIONS, or FOOD?!?"[/sub]

 

[Rakun Man]

I did assassin once. It worked out surprisingly well. I believe that was my eighth profile on Fable. If you want to make the game really challenging, you play in what I like to call, "Trader Mode". Set a cap for all strength options to 3, all skill options to 4, and all will options to 1. Including magic. Don't use potions. Only food. You MUST have the trader mustache as soon as possible. No scary tattoos. No "Bald" haircut. You must buy trade items for profit, and sell them to other traders on routes. You must assist all traders in danger, and if they die, you must kill their killer. You cannot own property, and you cannot sleep in inns. You must only sleep in people's houses, preferably barns. No kicking chickens. And no title except for Piemaster. No armor. And that is how you play "Trader Mode"

That... is the coolest thing ever.

 

[RatRace123]

Well, I once limited myself to skill only, I had an archer who could decapitate nearly anyone with just an arrow, of course he also had full guile so he was incredibly sneaky too.

That's the closest I actually got to an actual "build" restriction. Though I do often limit myself to what age I let my character get to, since it's roughly 1 upgrade= 1 year and I don't want to end the game with a 65 year old hero, I usually let him get to his late twenties, since in Fable: TLC I think the character actually ages 3 something years during the course of the story, it ends with my hero in his early 30s.

Is it strange that I read every one of your posts in Tali's voice? Honestly, it makes everything you say all the more awesome. Next thing I know, you'll actually spout words like "Flotilla" or "Migrant Fleet." You're great man, keep it up.

OT: I consider Fable: TLC to be one of my favorite games for the original Xbox, as well as the PC. If one overlooks the few faults it has, it exceeds Fable II in every way possible, especially the ending. Of course this is just my personal opinion, but I do believe the general consensus is that the original Fable is a hell of a lot of fun.

[sub]"Do you have any POTIONS, or FOOD?!?"[/sub]

Thank you, I'll remember to report of your species kindness when I head back to the Flotilla.
Also,
[sub]"Try to get your combat multiplyer even higher!"[/sub]

 

[The Austin]

YOU HAVE A NEW QUEST CARD!

Aherm...

Try the "AssHat" build. Dress as ridiculously as possible, alienate everyone, and use a rusty sword as a weapon.

Either that or do an entire build dedicated to slaying Balverines. That's what I did.

 

[Z of the Na'vi]

Thank you, I'll remember to report of your species kindness when I head back to the Flotilla.
Also,
[sub]"Try to get your combat multiplyer even higher!"[/sub]

Ahhhhhh!!! I see what you did there! You took what I thought you were going to say and actually..... hrrugupppfh *ahem* anyway, if it's a battle of the annoying Guild Master you want, then that it what you shall receive. Have at you!

[sub]"Aggressive actions will not be tolerated in the Guild. Stop this right now!!![/sub]

 

[RatRace123]

Thank you, I'll remember to report of your species kindness when I head back to the Flotilla.
Also,
[sub]"Try to get your combat multiplyer even higher!"[/sub]

Ahhhhhh!!! I see what you did there! You took what I thought you were going to say and actually..... hrrugupppfh *ahem* anyway, if it's a battle of the annoying Guild Master you want, then that it what you shall receive. Have at you!

[sub]"Aggressive actions will not be tolerated in the Guild. Stop this right now!!![/sub]

En Garde!

[sub]"Use your stick."[/sub]

 

[kouriichi]

Yes, a very simple one.

You must always be as fat as possible. You must put all of your points on will, but you are only allowed to use defencive spells and your stick. ((the first weapon you learn to use, not the one in your pants)) Your only allowed to do EEEEEEVVVILLLL, mean or cruel expressions, and you must always be known as piemaster. ((my favorite title ever.))

 

[Z of the Na'vi]

After a bit of searching, I found an old video I made 3 years ago in the depths of YouTube. This was from my first playthrough of Fable: TLC, when I chose to be an evil mage. Damn, that was a hard playthrough, but it was so much fun.

Shameless plug for a three year old video go! Man, the graphics were so...BROKEN on that computer. Still, I pressed onward!

En Garde!

[sub]"Use your stick."[/sub]

[sub]"Your health is critical!!!"[/sub]

 

[RatRace123]

Shameless plug for a three year old video go! Man, the graphics were so...BROKEN on that computer. Still, I pressed onward!

Damn, your guy looks like Santa's evil brother.

AAAAAAND!
[sub]Hero, your Will energy is low, watch that.[/sub]
I'm sure, as a mage, you must have heard that a lot.

 

[PrimoThePro]

I did assassin once. It worked out surprisingly well. I believe that was my eighth profile on Fable. If you want to make the game really challenging, you play in what I like to call, "Trader Mode". Set a cap for all strength options to 3, all skill options to 4, and all will options to 1. Including magic. Don't use potions. Only food. You MUST have the trader mustache as soon as possible. No scary tattoos. No "Bald" haircut. You must buy trade items for profit, and sell them to other traders on routes. You must assist all traders in danger, and if they die, you must kill their killer. You cannot own property, and you cannot sleep in inns. You must only sleep in people's houses, preferably barns. No kicking chickens. And no title except for Piemaster. No armor. And that is how you play "Trader Mode"

That... is the coolest thing ever.

I know, and it makes sense.

 

[Scabadus]

I'm not sure if this is quite what you mean, but I did find out how to win the game using only 3 skills? Magic shield, Lightening (you can use fireball or Diving Fury/Unhallowed Wrath if you want, but then you have lightening stuck at level one since you have it from the beginning) and Guile for the money glitch. Cast magic shield and just leave it there while you fry enemies with lightening. Guzzle down potions bought with the money glitch. Win game.

I completed the game 6 times in a row without getting hit ONCE with this setup. Seriously, it got boring.

(For people who don't know what the money glitch is it is this: the game has a supply and demand system where a trader with no diamonds, say, will pay a lot of money for one. But one who has 100 diamonds won't pay much. Thing is, with selling in bulk you can exploit this fairly easily... with the high sales and low buys that comes with level 4+ guile you can aquire several hundred precious gems easily, one at a time. Then sell them all back at once (meaning each and every one nets the "I have no diamonds.. Oh a diamond! Give it to me and I'll give you my life savings!" price) for a MASSIVE profit. Buy them all back again for the "meh it's not my last one, have it cheap" price and you only pay 70% or so of what you sold them for. Rinse, repeat, visit bank, take executive holiday to Aura.)

 

[Z of the Na'vi]

Damn, your guy looks like Santa's evil brother.

AAAAAAND!
[sub]Hero, your Will energy is low, watch that.[/sub]
I'm sure, as a mage, you must have heard that a lot.

That I did. Whether it was the constant reminding of my low health, or the fact that I was in constant need of that blue elixir, the damn Guild Master was always there to hark in my ear.

[sub]"Hey, have you no respect for Guild Masters? You should show more respect while you're here. I could break you, so leave it."[/sub]

Funny, he says something similar to that toward the true ending in TLC, and you knee him in the chin, killing him instantly should you choose to. With all that fire and burning literature around, who wouldn't?

[sub][sub]I did. Hehehe.[/sub][/sub]

 

[RatRace123]

Damn, your guy looks like Santa's evil brother.

AAAAAAND!
[sub]Hero, your Will energy is low, watch that.[/sub]
I'm sure, as a mage, you must have heard that a lot.

That I did. Whether it was the constant reminding of my low health, or the fact that I was in constant need of that blue elixir, the damn Guild Master was always there to hark in my ear.

[sub]"Hey, have you no respect for Guild Masters? You should show more respect while you're here. I could break you, so leave it."[/sub]

Funny, he says something similar to that toward the true ending in TLC, and you knee him in the chin, killing him instantly should you choose to. With all that fire and burning literature around, who wouldn't?

[sub][sub]I did. Hehehe.[/sub][/sub]

Insanely satisfying, whether you impale him with a blade, or crush his back with a frying pan.
Too bad the hero couldn't talk, would've been perfect for him to retort "Your health is low."

 

[xxcloud417xx]

I always went with a Battlemage type of build. Plate Armor and melee, but I maxed out one of my offensive spells, Healing spell, Multi-Hit and the Physical Shield. (hell just the shield makes you unstoppable and get your combat multiplier ridiculously high),

[sub]"The beetles are all dead. You can come out of the woods now."[/sub]

 

[TilMorrow]

"Return to the Guild for more quests"

OT: Personally when I first played the game I aimed to have an evil character who was like a demon assassin but when I realised how powerful the bow was with headshots I decided to forgo all Will and Strength upgrades except for health and toughness. I became so badass that I could headshot anyone from 50 ft away as well as steal anything. Though I have to admit I did use a giant obsidian Hammer from time to time so that I could kill the white balverines.

Did anyone else go all evil then all good in the first fable at least once to see the cool effect of having the horns that grew out of your head have skin grow back over them so that there were flesh mounds on your forehead? I know I did .

Also I suggest to anyone who is playing fable 2 at the moment that you should try to make a character who looks like he is made out of stone. You do this by going fully evil, using the fire spell alot, increasing all abilities to the maximum and then going all good.

 

[JUMBO PALACE]

When I played through Fable I had an archer mage build that was pretty awesome. I focused mostly on my bow but I got important spells like force push and steal life. It was a lot of fun to play.