Looking for some clarity on obtaining the Explosives book.

[G315T]

I've seen, on more than one site, a confusing collection of information pertaining to the aquisition of the Explosives book.

Do you have to be 3 star fame to get it? (Not 4, not 5, or 1 or 2, but 3 and only 3?) or can I get it at 3, 4, or 5 stars?

Do you have to have 100% bows?

Do you have to complete a certain number of French missions?

Is there anything pertinent missing from these questions? =p



So far, the combined information seems to suggest that you need 3 or more stars, 100% bows, and a large number of completed French missions.

I'm sitting at 3 stars/full fame with the mission to advance to 4 stars in my contracts list, and I don't want to advance until I'm sure I can pick up the Explosives book later.

[Shinsetsu]

You don't have to do a Majority French/English missions. That's totally irrelevent. Just get 100% research in Bows, then a few missions will be brought to your attention in rumors do those, and after the third one you will be presented with the book.

[G315T]

Okay, cool, 100% bows.

How about the star issue then? Do I have to stay 3, or can I get it at 4, 5, post-game?

[Shinsetsu]

Okay, cool, 100% bows.

How about the star issue then? Do I have to stay 3, or can I get it at 4, 5, post-game?

Hell whenever you get to 100% with Bows I dont think it matters at all when you get them. I'm sure you can get them regardless of fame level.

[G315T]

Cool, thanks much. Lots of confusion out there on that one.

[G315T]

Someone from this forum contacted me on XBL to clarify my experience with the explosives book.

How it worked for me:

It seemed like I had to do a few French missions to get Chrstine de Pizan to show up, but I can't be 100% sure on that. This game's quest/mission requirements are so hazy there isn't much we CAN know about this stuff.

First she showed up and called everybody in the Tavern names.

The next time you see her name it'll be next to a French mission in your contract list with a "!" next to it. When you see her requests, do them. There will be 3 requests from her for Iron, Wood, and Sulphur.

Her requests *WILL* show up in your contract list if you have another "!" mission sitting there. I had the battle of Agincourt sitting there forever and when her requests would show up I'd have two "!" missions in my contract list.

After you complete her missions, she'll go away to research explosives.

It took *FOREVER* for her to come back for me. I did about 100 missions waiting for her to come back. I got bored of waiting and finished the game, and she appeared for me just after I got 5 star fame. She will have you do a mission called the "Battle of Vannes" (I tihnk), in which you test out her new weapons. Shortly after this mission she will give you the explosives book.

[G315T]

Same guy contacted me in a PM to explain how you get Engineering as well. He isn't registered, so he can't post or recieve PM's. I know this information is available elsewhere.


The Engineering book requires you to have 100% in Swords, Bows, and Spears, and have received the "Silver" Weapon from the avatars of each. You need also to have at least 70% in every other book, including explosives. Once those requirements are met, the Avatar of War will show up and give you Engineering.

I can't personally confirm that only those 3 need to be 100%. I had everything but explosives at 100% when I got engineering. I would just try to max every book out, but get them to 70% first.

[Aussie Rage]

i have the book the book of explosives and i dont have 100% bows. i had fame lv 4 and i had finished the game when i got asked by that blond french scientist to search for the just right wood, this is the first quest in the chain. You dont need to win the battle, just as long as you find the just right wood. Same with the just right ore and sulfer. Once you give her all three she will ask you to do another battle which you must win in order to get the book. Now you know how i got it i hope this helps out.l