Arcane Symbols and Scarabs

[JARVISN]

How exactly does Arcane Symbols training work with scarabs? Does it help you detect them, or disarm them or what? And how much training should a lockpicking specialist rogue do?

[Shari]

I believe it helps you detect a successful disarming. You get that *scritch scritch* messaging.

Not sure on the ranks. I have my rogue 1x in it. I like it because it allows me to use scrolls too.

[Gan]

There's different schools of thought on this.

I've always heard a minimum of 10 to 12 ranks was sufficient enough to statistically disarm almost all scarabs successfully after they're on the ground.

The theory behind it is that learning AS would allow you to successfully interpret the runes on the back of the scarab thus allowing you to disarm them effectively on the first try - thus retaining most of the value of the scarab that diminishes with each disarm attempt.

[BigWorm]

AS also makes glyphs significantly less difficult.

[LadyLaphrael]

Keep in mind that no matter how much AS training you have, even the *scritch scritch* message isn't 100%. I'm pretty sure it's been stated that there is still a likelihood of getting bit, but that probably comes from a long chain of failed rolls like so:


>disarm scarab
Insert *scritch scritch* messaging...

Hidden d100=1.... okay so you kinda suck, but we'll give you another go.
Hidden d100=1.... really? botched again? even with your AS training? saving throw!
Hidden d100=1.... alright, you shouldn't be failing this bad, try ONE more time
Hidden d100=1.... wow, your luck is so pisspoor, we're just gonna hafta let you die on this one.

>get scarab
A translucent scarab gives a sigh of disdain, and you swear you see it shake its head at you in disbelief at your terrible luck. You are struck down by utter fear.

You are dead.

[Kitsun]

My rogue hasn't messed up a scarab in years. He's just got 303 disarm ranks and no AS.

[JJBummer]

My rogue has 166 ranks of disarm and stopped at 20 ranks of AS. He has been bitten once after the scritch-scritch messaging and has never triggered a glyph. So maybe 10-12 ranks is all you really need until you get to 303 disarm ranks.

[kallindra]

my rogue has 102 ranks of disarm, and 18 of AS... I can't remember the last time I failed a scarab disarm, even with out the *scritch scritch* message

[Gan]

I honestly can not remember when my disarm scarab has failed.

I can remember forgetting to disarm the damn thing and grabbing/setting it off.

I can also remember fumbling the disarm a few times while the bug is in the box. Or being too busy talking and trying to pick right through the bug (forgetting to disarm).