Fate Game Strategy Guide
Information, Guides, and Help with Your Hero and Pet
This entry page will serve as a general rundown of information you should know about the Fate video game. I'll provide helpful tips to various facets of the gameplay and summarize the information you need to know to be successful in reaching the furthest depths of the Dungeon. You'll find links to in-depth strategy guides for Fate with many lists and descriptions to help you with this fun RPG by Wildtangent.
There are now three expansions for Fate: Undiscovered Realms, The Traitor Soul, and The Cursed King -- generically known as Fate 2,3, and 4. For anyone confused about these versions, they are standalone expansions and each comes with features of the previous versions. So, there is little point to buy Undiscovered Realms as you'll get those gameplay features along with The Traitor Soul and The Cursed King (on May 10). For now, this will cover the gameplay of the first Fate. It is simply easier on a walkthrough writer to gradually add the information. This guide was started on 4/23/11 and will be developed gradually. I'm a little behind the crowd in covering this game, as the original has been out 6 years. However, it's still quite popular and deserves more coverage than it has received, especially with The Cursed King on the horizon. If you wonder if Fate is worth the money, allow me to voice an emphatic Yes. I find this game to be better than Titan Quest, and that was a big-budget Diablo clone costing far more than Fate The Cursed King's $19.99. Even if you're playing one of the expansions, you'll still find information helpful to newbies here.
Hero Guide
In Fate, you play a single character who will descend the depths of a Dungeon seeking fame and fortune, while dealing with unworldly evils that threaten the world. You can choose a male or female human in the first incarnation of Fate, and the difference in gender does not matter. Check out the Hero Guide to learn about Stats, Skills, and designing your Hero.
Pet
Your Hero gets to choose a Pet, either Dog or Cat. There is no difference between the two. The Pet's primary role is to help you in combat. They can deal significant damage and soak it up for your Hero while transformed after feeding them fish. They can wear two rings and an amulet to boost stats. Their secondary role is to run to the surface for you and sell goods. Identify items, and transfer what you don't need on to your Pet. They'll return after some time, depending on how deep you are in the Dungeon, and give you the bounty.
Difficulty
You can choose among four difficulty levels in Fate. The higher the difficulty, the larger the level gap between your Hero and the monsters will be. With this enhanced danger comes greater treasure and a heightened sense of accomplishment. The first Difficulty, Page, is for people completely new to gaming. People who have played an Action RPG before will want to choose Adventurer. Gamers will want to play on Hero difficulty, while people seeking a challenge should play Legendary. Legendary difficulty is very tough the further in you go, as the level gap between your Hero and the monsters will be far greater.
Town of Grove
The Town of Grove is your staging ground. The citzenry will sell you items, and give you Quests. Check this guide to the Town of Grove for information about the various services offered. You can recover gems from items, increase your fame level, gamble, and get items enchanted.
Leveling
As you battle your way through the Dungeon, you'll gain experience points for slaying monsters and finishing Quests. This will give your Hero XP toward a level, and upon reaching it you gain 4 hit points, 1 mana, 1 stamina, 5 stat points, and 2 skill points. When monsters are much higher level than you, they'll deliver way more damage than you can handle, so it's important to clear every dungeon the higher your difficulty setting. When you die, re-run those previous levels as you work your way back down the 3 levels of ground you lost. This will earn your Hero a level and give them more chances to find good loot, fate statues, anvils, and amass power.
Skills
Your Hero can pick a weapon specialization and take up skills in Critical strike, shield block, or dual wield. You can find gear in Fate that will increase your passive skills.
Spells
There are three spell schools in Fate. You can cast Attack (damaging and malicious), Defense (healing and buffs), or Charm (summoning and influence) spells. Extra points in these will make the spells more effective. Each spell will reveal how it changes with additional points in the description. This could simply be longer duration buffs, stronger magic attacks, or more powerful summons. Spells are learned by purchasing them from Shopkeepers (Wizard, Merchant) or finding them as drops in the Dungeon.
Quests
Your Hero can have up to three active Quests at one time. These will grant your hero armor and weapons, gold, experience, and fame points. It's wise to do as many Quests as possible. Shop for Quests and get those available for the next level (or closest) and check again every time your Hero descends a level in the Dungeon. If there is a nice item you need to hand in for a Quest, you can cancel the Quest and sacrifice the experience, gold, and fame to keep it.
Fame
Aside from tracking your experience, Fate also includes a Fame system. You collect Fame for killing Unique monsters and completing Quests. Every time you rise a level in Fame, you'll receive four Skill points to improve your character. A higher level of Fame will also result in better items being offered in shops. Some of the gear requires a particular Fame level to wear. There are a total of 20 levels to gain. To tell where you stand, here's a list of them:
Unknown (1)
Tolerated (2)
Unremarkable (3)
Respected (4)
Local Hero (5)
Local Legend (6)
Well Known (7)
Folk Hero (8)
Rising Star (9)
Distinguished (10)
Prestigious (11)
Famous (12)
Renowned (13)
Glorious (14)
Legendary (15)
Fabled (16)
Mythic (17)
Immortal (18)
Demigod (19)
Unattainable (20)
Aside from the aforementioned Quests and Unique Monsters, you can get the Minstrel in town to sing songs of your heroic deeds and increase your Fame level. This costs a lot of gold but can help substantially with your character's power early on.
The Dungeon
Your ultimate goal is to make it to level 44 of the Dungeon. As you go deeper, the enemies' level will rise, providing bigger challenges and better drops. Throughout you'll find barrels, crates and chests that will contain loot as well as hordes of monsters of all fantasy type. Upon defeating the last boss, you can continue downward, until you hit level 99 and reach a point that is too difficult to pass. So, you can really develop your hero! Some complain about the dungeon as being bland, and that the random generation can be terrible. I agree that I hate long paths to nowhere. All I need is a vehicle for which to throw enemies and loot my way and the Dungeon system of Fate accomplishes that.
Fate Statues, Anvils, and Shrines of Learning
As you adventure the Dungeon, you'll often come across many shrines that will heal you, restore mana, or both. Aside from these, great power can be gained from the more rare varieties. The Anvil works like the enchanter and can boost a piece of gear and possibly add sockets. This isn't a bad idea with a very powerful armor that would cost a million or more to boost, but remember you can lose the enchantments! Next up is the Shrine of Learning, which will give you random stat points, and can possibly deduct them. Last but most important is the Fate Statue. These will either give you two of a gem (possibly a unique one) or spawn a Unique monster that when killed gives fame and solid XP. There is a down side to all of these special objects you'll encounter, but trust that using all of them you come across is a wise move. You'll come out ahead in the end.
Fishing
You should get a fishing pole very early. You can actually afford one (from Bartleby) with your starting funds. Head north of Bartleby to the dock and make up the money by fishing. It's a method of getting fish to make your pet stronger (sometimes permanently) and finding gear and gems. Yep, you'll find armor and weapons swallowed up by a fish. What is more, they're almost always Unique! This is also a reliable way of getting gems, and perhaps the best way to hunt down Unique gems. Learn to love it for its perks and try to ignore the fact that it's extremely boring. You'll get over it when you get a powerful unique item that boosts your character's power. The further you've advanced into the Dungeon, the better loot you'll find in the fishing holes.
Choose Your Fate - Death
Upon dying in Fate, you'll get to choose between three options. First, you can pay Fame and Experience to be resurrected on the spot. This is a bad choice unless you don't mind the loss of fame -- you can make it up by buying a level from the Minstrel. Secondly, you can be teleported to a nearby level for the cost of gold. This is a bad choice because you could go deeper and that could botch your Quest options and cost you fame in the end. Lastly, you can go up three levels (or surface if it's closer) and leave your gold behind. This is the best option. You died, probably because your level is too low for the place you're fighting. Take advantage of the monster re-spawns and gain some experience on your way back down. Clearing all three is best, but can get boring. Still, it's the best thing you can do for your character. Three more levels of clearing results in more money, higher levels, and a stronger pet companion.
Gear - Fate's All About the Loot
Throughout your adventures you'll find some seriously awesome gear for your Hero and Pet. There are numerous armor, weapon, and accessory slots for you to populate. Fate will throw some awesome gear at you, and you always have the option of enchanting it in town to make it even better. You'll find more weapons drop from regular Monsters, so check the Gambler and Armor shops frequently for nice stuff. They are known to sell teal items (unique) fairly often, and the gambler gives a great chance for yellows (artifact). To improve your chances of finding teal and yellow items in combat, get higher magic find on your gear (possibly through gems) and don't forget to fish!
Sockets
Gear can come with sockets or these can be added by using the enchanter or Anvils found throughout the Dungeon. You can place powerful gems, and even unique gems, into these sockets. This will boost your Hero's power substantially, especially when the socketed item is of Legendary quality and already providing great stat boosts. Sockets allow you to tailor your character's extra bonuses to fit your build.
Gems and Unique Gems
Check the Unique Gems guide to learn about these special artifacts that can vastly increase power. Gems are found occasionally through monster drops, but largely by fishing or finding Fate statues. They can also be purchased from the Wizard in town, near the fountain. As your Fame increases, she will sell higher quality gems. Those you don't need, you should sell, as there's no means of combining them to create a higher quality version. Cracked is the lowest grade, with normal being the go-between. The highest grade of a gem is Superior. Unique Gems don't have a grade and always have the same bonuses.