Returning Player with some questions - Guild Wars Forums

YJ2k2 · Oct 03, 2009, 02:11 AM // 02:11

Hi everyone, I played Guild Wars a lot from release to just before Factions came out. Now that I'm returning there are some things that the wiki can't answer for me.

1) Inscribable weapons etc. If I understand these correctly, they offer no inherent advantage over the old weapons, but are customizable to your liking, correct?

2) Unlocking skills -- I'm stumped on this. If I use Balthazzar faction to unlock a skill, will it be available for my PvE heroes on any character? Can I use an elite tome and learn that spell right away on a level 1 character?

3) Zaishen key -- Do these have any value other than getting the emote?

Divine Ashes · Oct 03, 2009, 02:40 AM // 02:40

1) You are correct, an insribable weapon offers no inherent benefit over a non-inscribable weapon of the same kind, but allows you to change the inscription whenever you like (say from Dam +15%>50 to Energy +5).

2). If you unlock a skill with balth faction, it will not only be able to be used by pve heroes right away, but yes, if you use an elite tome or tome on your pve char and you have the skill unlocked, you can use it even at level 1.

3). Z-keys have monetary worth in game (ranging from 4-5k each usually), and have value in not only getting the emote, but the random game of using the keys on the actual zaishen chest, which gives you a chance to get everlasting tonics/any rare weapon in the game (albeit a very low chance...I've used 500 keys and have gotten nothing of value).

Have fun

ogre_jd · Oct 03, 2009, 02:41 AM // 02:41

1) Yep.

2) Skills unlocked with Balthazar faction are available to your Heroes and to any character of the appropriate profession that uses a Tome or Elite Tome.

3) Not a clue, since I've never dealt with 'em.

Saph · Oct 03, 2009, 02:44 AM // 02:44

1. Correct. Inscribable weapons are just easier to modify, but they have no advantage over uninscribable weapons.

2. When you unlock a skill using Balth faction, it becomes available for all heroes on all your character. To make the unlocked skill available to pve characters, you must use a tome. So yes, you can use an elite tome to learn an elite skill on a lvl 1 character.

3. Zaishen keys do give you an emote, but they also give you a small chance to obtain valuable items such as Everlasting tonics and other rare items like Crystalline Swords, Voltaic Spears, etc.

Xenex Xclame · Oct 03, 2009, 03:26 AM // 03:26

2) In case you didnt know,unlocking the skills will also make it available for your own character at any of the trainers in the campaign that skill is from.

(even if normally you would have to wait all the way to Ember Camp for example to get a prophecies skill)

Quaker · Oct 03, 2009, 04:38 AM // 04:38

Just to add to the confusion:

1. The inscription slot replaces the "inherent mod" on oldschool weapons. For example, the inherent dmg +15% while health is above 50% is now an inscription that can be fitted, replaced, and/or removed on any (appropriate) weapon with an inscription slot. Check the wiki(s) for details of what inscription there are and what weapon types thay can be used on.

2. Yes, the unlocked skills are available for all (appropriate) heroes on all your characters. It also means that you can use a Tome to acquire them on other characters, and that they will be available at any trainer (as Xenex says above)

3. As has been said, Z-keys can be sold or used to open the Zaishen chest.

Oct 03, 2009, 02:11 AM // 02:11	#1
YJ2k2 Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Jun 2005 Guild: The Calling of [Time] Profession: A/Me	Returning Player with some questions Hi everyone, I played Guild Wars a lot from release to just before Factions came out. Now that I'm returning there are some things that the wiki can't answer for me. 1) Inscribable weapons etc. If I understand these correctly, they offer no inherent advantage over the old weapons, but are customizable to your liking, correct? 2) Unlocking skills -- I'm stumped on this. If I use Balthazzar faction to unlock a skill, will it be available for my PvE heroes on any character? Can I use an elite tome and learn that spell right away on a level 1 character? 3) Zaishen key -- Do these have any value other than getting the emote?

Oct 03, 2009, 02:40 AM // 02:40	#2
Divine Ashes Wilds Pathfinder Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Chicago Guild: LFG Profession: R/	1) You are correct, an insribable weapon offers no inherent benefit over a non-inscribable weapon of the same kind, but allows you to change the inscription whenever you like (say from Dam +15%>50 to Energy +5). 2). If you unlock a skill with balth faction, it will not only be able to be used by pve heroes right away, but yes, if you use an elite tome or tome on your pve char and you have the skill unlocked, you can use it even at level 1. 3). Z-keys have monetary worth in game (ranging from 4-5k each usually), and have value in not only getting the emote, but the random game of using the keys on the actual zaishen chest, which gives you a chance to get everlasting tonics/any rare weapon in the game (albeit a very low chance...I've used 500 keys and have gotten nothing of value). Have fun

Oct 03, 2009, 02:41 AM // 02:41	#3
ogre_jd Wilds Pathfinder Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Canadia Profession: W/	1) Yep. 2) Skills unlocked with Balthazar faction are available to your Heroes and to any character of the appropriate profession that uses a Tome or Elite Tome. 3) Not a clue, since I've never dealt with 'em.

Oct 03, 2009, 02:44 AM // 02:44	#4
Saph Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: Feb 2009 Profession: R/	1. Correct. Inscribable weapons are just easier to modify, but they have no advantage over uninscribable weapons. 2. When you unlock a skill using Balth faction, it becomes available for all heroes on all your character. To make the unlocked skill available to pve characters, you must use a tome. So yes, you can use an elite tome to learn an elite skill on a lvl 1 character. 3. Zaishen keys do give you an emote, but they also give you a small chance to obtain valuable items such as Everlasting tonics and other rare items like Crystalline Swords, Voltaic Spears, etc.

Oct 03, 2009, 03:26 AM // 03:26	#5
Xenex Xclame Desert Nomad Join Date: Mar 2006 Guild: DPX Profession: R/	2) In case you didnt know,unlocking the skills will also make it available for your own character at any of the trainers in the campaign that skill is from. (even if normally you would have to wait all the way to Ember Camp for example to get a prophecies skill)

Oct 03, 2009, 04:38 AM // 04:38	#6
Quaker Hell's Protector Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Canada Guild: Brothers Disgruntled	Just to add to the confusion: 1. The inscription slot replaces the "inherent mod" on oldschool weapons. For example, the inherent dmg +15% while health is above 50% is now an inscription that can be fitted, replaced, and/or removed on any (appropriate) weapon with an inscription slot. Check the wiki(s) for details of what inscription there are and what weapon types thay can be used on. 2. Yes, the unlocked skills are available for all (appropriate) heroes on all your characters. It also means that you can use a Tome to acquire them on other characters, and that they will be available at any trainer (as Xenex says above) 3. As has been said, Z-keys can be sold or used to open the Zaishen chest.