New OOTS products from CafePress
New OOTS t-shirts, ornaments, mugs, bags, and more
Page 6 of 42 FirstFirst 1234567891011121314151631 ... LastLast
Results 151 to 180 of 1242
  1. - Top - End - #151
    Titan in the Playground
     
    Morty's Avatar

    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Poland
    Gender
    Male

    Default Re: Baldur's Gate: The Thread

    So, I suppose the plan would be to... put invisibility on someone, have them shut down the mage with the Protection from Magic scroll, and then try to duke it out with Sarevok. He's a monster in melee, but I have a melee-heavy party, so it might work. If it doesn't, I might back-track and get some summoning wands... assuming that's possible. My party's around level six. That's not much, but I'd rather not go level-grind.
    My FFRP characters. Avatar by Ashen Lilies. Sigatars by Ashen Lilies, Gullara and Purple Eagle.
    Interested in the Nexus FFRP setting? See our Discord server.

  2. - Top - End - #152
    Librarian in the Playground Moderator
     
    LibraryOgre's Avatar

    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    San Antonio, Texas
    Gender
    Male

    Default Re: Baldur's Gate: The Thread

    So, in BG1:EE, which NPCs have sidequests that are worth doing?
    The Cranky Gamer
    *It isn't realism, it's verisimilitude; the appearance of truth within the framework of the game.
    *Picard management tip: Debate honestly. The goal is to arrive at the truth, not at your preconception.
    *Mutant Dawn for Savage Worlds!
    *The One Deck Engine: Gaming on a budget
    Written by Me on DriveThru RPG
    There are almost 400,000 threads on this site. If you need me to address a thread as a moderator, include a link.

  3. - Top - End - #153
    Troll in the Playground
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Gender
    Male

    Default Re: Baldur's Gate: The Thread

    Quote Originally Posted by Morty View Post
    My party's around level six. That's not much, but I'd rather not go level-grind.
    My brain is full of kremówki there.

    You don't need level-grinding to have fully maxed out characters in BG1 (and level 6 certainly isn't fully maxed), even if your characters are all multiclassers. Did you just kind of speedrun and not bother with the sidequests at all? I tend to be close to maxed out while entering Baldur's Gate, and that's without going through every single patch of the wilderness, just big things like Gnoll's Keep, Gullykin, Ulcaster's, the lighthouse...

    Well anyway, here's things that can be of assistance:
    • Angelo's fireball arrows can prove lethal to his own allies if you prepare accordingly (that is, stack Resist Fire on your frontline). Semaj, who sometimes casts Dimension Door right into the middle of your team at the start for some reason (especially if you send your frontliner with Boots of Speed forward and then immediately retreat to the backline), tends to get blown up immediately. Granted, the enemies do have high fire resistance, but with some proper positioning (active pause is your friend as always) I've been able to screw Angelo over. I once even had Angelo deliver the final strike to Sarevok.
    • Make sure that you do not trigger the traps on the Bhaal symbol in the middle of the room and on the sides, because you certainly don't want to face Battle Horrors as well. Try to hold the battle outside the circle, next to the exit.
    • Tazok really is nothing special. Pincushion him if you can spare the time.
    • Ranged weapons are also your friend because you can kite a lot more then, if nothing else. It's way, way easier to kill everyone at range (esp. Semaj; your best chances in melee are against Angelo), and it's easier to make the battlefield not cramped this way, too, you don't want to surround Sarevok while he's still in trap vicinity. Also the magic arrows are very strong.
    • Even if you don't want/can't completely abuse summons (because it's perfectly possible to just destroy Sarevok by overwhelming him with minions), they're still very useful - Animate Dead, Summon Monster, whatever you get. Cast them on top of Angelo, send any melee fighter to 1v1 him. Cast minions on Sarevok to buy yourself time.
    Quote Originally Posted by Eldariel View Post
    Mordekaiser for president.

  4. - Top - End - #154
    Troll in the Playground
     
    Sylthia's Avatar

    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    MO, USA

    Default Re: Baldur's Gate: The Thread

    Quote Originally Posted by Mark Hall View Post
    So, in BG1:EE, which NPCs have sidequests that are worth doing?
    All the new NPCs have pretty extensive side-quests. Minsc's Gnoll Rescue quest is pretty staple, too. Many of them prompt you to do stuff you'd do anyway, like going to the mines.

    Avatar by Sajiri

    3DS Name: Rezzy, FC: 0104-0343-1530

    Lots of bred Pokemon, complete list on my Gym Leader Page of the Giant League Wiki, PM me if you'd like to trade for one.

    Fire Emblem Fates Castle Address
    05107-66614
    62592-54117

  5. - Top - End - #155
    Titan in the Playground
     
    Morty's Avatar

    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Poland
    Gender
    Male

    Default Re: Baldur's Gate: The Thread

    Quote Originally Posted by Winthur View Post
    My brain is full of kremówki there.
    I suppose there are worse things a brain can be full of; those are at least tasty.

    You don't need level-grinding to have fully maxed out characters in BG1 (and level 6 certainly isn't fully maxed), even if your characters are all multiclassers. Did you just kind of speedrun and not bother with the sidequests at all? I tend to be close to maxed out while entering Baldur's Gate, and that's without going through every single patch of the wilderness, just big things like Gnoll's Keep, Gullykin, Ulcaster's, the lighthouse...
    Nope, I wouldn't say I speed-run. But maybe I did miss a lot of the subquests somehow. They're often squirrelled away in weird places. Maybe I'll just use the console to give myself some XP. I don't particularly feel like doing the ToSC content anyhow. I haven't done it yet, so I guess that explains it.

    • Angelo's fireball arrows can prove lethal to his own allies if you prepare accordingly (that is, stack Resist Fire on your frontline). Semaj, who sometimes casts Dimension Door right into the middle of your team at the start for some reason (especially if you send your frontliner with Boots of Speed forward and then immediately retreat to the backline), tends to get blown up immediately. Granted, the enemies do have high fire resistance, but with some proper positioning (active pause is your friend as always) I've been able to screw Angelo over. I once even had Angelo deliver the final strike to Sarevok.
    • Make sure that you do not trigger the traps on the Bhaal symbol in the middle of the room and on the sides, because you certainly don't want to face Battle Horrors as well. Try to hold the battle outside the circle, next to the exit.
    • Tazok really is nothing special. Pincushion him if you can spare the time.
    • Ranged weapons are also your friend because you can kite a lot more then, if nothing else. It's way, way easier to kill everyone at range (esp. Semaj; your best chances in melee are against Angelo), and it's easier to make the battlefield not cramped this way, too, you don't want to surround Sarevok while he's still in trap vicinity. Also the magic arrows are very strong.
    • Even if you don't want/can't completely abuse summons (because it's perfectly possible to just destroy Sarevok by overwhelming him with minions), they're still very useful - Animate Dead, Summon Monster, whatever you get. Cast them on top of Angelo, send any melee fighter to 1v1 him. Cast minions on Sarevok to buy yourself time.
    Makes sense. Tazok really is kind of a hanger-on in this fight; the real threat are the fireball arrows, 5th level spells and Sarevok's giant pile of hit points and powerful attacks.
    Last edited by Morty; 2014-12-11 at 04:25 PM.
    My FFRP characters. Avatar by Ashen Lilies. Sigatars by Ashen Lilies, Gullara and Purple Eagle.
    Interested in the Nexus FFRP setting? See our Discord server.

  6. - Top - End - #156
    Troll in the Playground
     
    Sylthia's Avatar

    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    MO, USA

    Default Re: Baldur's Gate: The Thread

    Quote Originally Posted by Morty View Post
    I suppose there are worse things a brain can be full of; those are at least tasty.



    Nope, I wouldn't say I speed-run. But maybe I did miss a lot of the subquests somehow. They're often squirrelled away in weird places. Maybe I'll just use the console to give myself some XP. I don't particularly feel like doing the ToSC content anyhow.



    Makes sense. Tazok really is kind of a hanger-on in this fight; the real threat are the fireball arrows, 5th level spells and Sarevok's giant pile of hit points and powerful attacks.
    Most of the sub quests you can run into by simply uncovering all of the locations on the map.

    Avatar by Sajiri

    3DS Name: Rezzy, FC: 0104-0343-1530

    Lots of bred Pokemon, complete list on my Gym Leader Page of the Giant League Wiki, PM me if you'd like to trade for one.

    Fire Emblem Fates Castle Address
    05107-66614
    62592-54117

  7. - Top - End - #157
    Halfling in the Playground
     
    ElfRangerGuy

    Join Date
    Jun 2011

    Default Re: Baldur's Gate: The Thread

    My suggestion would be to load your melee characters with rings and potions of free action.
    Then keeping your group near the exit fill the middle of the area with entangle and web, then send someone with free action and haste up to activate the bad guys and run back.
    It should hopefully slow them enough so that you can pick them off.
    Remember to reuse the potions if they get dispelled.
    another fave are the potions that give 100% electricity immunity, then let loose with the lightning bolts

  8. - Top - End - #158
    Troll in the Playground
     
    Sylthia's Avatar

    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    MO, USA

    Default Re: Baldur's Gate: The Thread

    Quote Originally Posted by Aran Thule View Post
    My suggestion would be to load your melee characters with rings and potions of free action.
    Then keeping your group near the exit fill the middle of the area with entangle and web, then send someone with free action and haste up to activate the bad guys and run back.
    It should hopefully slow them enough so that you can pick them off.
    Remember to reuse the potions if they get dispelled.
    another fave are the potions that give 100% electricity immunity, then let loose with the lightning bolts
    Lightning Bolt never seems to work for me, even without having to worry about it killing my own party, it never seems to hit the enemy more than once.

    Avatar by Sajiri

    3DS Name: Rezzy, FC: 0104-0343-1530

    Lots of bred Pokemon, complete list on my Gym Leader Page of the Giant League Wiki, PM me if you'd like to trade for one.

    Fire Emblem Fates Castle Address
    05107-66614
    62592-54117

  9. - Top - End - #159
    Titan in the Playground
     
    Morty's Avatar

    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Poland
    Gender
    Male

    Default Re: Baldur's Gate: The Thread

    Giving everyone in the party 89000 XP, which is the amount you start with if you make a new BG2 character, is enough to haul my warriors and Imoen to level 7, but not enough to give Neera level 8 or Faldorn level 9. Still, a point of Thac0 won't hurt while fighting Sarevok. I thought Neera was only level 6, but I was misremembering.
    My FFRP characters. Avatar by Ashen Lilies. Sigatars by Ashen Lilies, Gullara and Purple Eagle.
    Interested in the Nexus FFRP setting? See our Discord server.

  10. - Top - End - #160
    Troll in the Playground
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Gender
    Male

    Default Re: Baldur's Gate: The Thread

    Quote Originally Posted by Aran Thule View Post
    My suggestion would be to load your melee characters with rings and potions of free action.
    Then keeping your group near the exit fill the middle of the area with entangle and web, then send someone with free action and haste up to activate the bad guys and run back.
    It should hopefully slow them enough so that you can pick them off.
    Remember to reuse the potions if they get dispelled.
    another fave are the potions that give 100% electricity immunity, then let loose with the lightning bolts
    Also those potions that give you +5 saving throws and throw in Stinking Cloud into the mix as well.
    Quote Originally Posted by Eldariel View Post
    Mordekaiser for president.

  11. - Top - End - #161
    Titan in the Playground
     
    Morty's Avatar

    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Poland
    Gender
    Male

    Default Re: Baldur's Gate: The Thread

    Well... that went easier than I expected. My plan to use a Protection from Magic scroll on the mage didn't work, but when he teleported in, he got straight-up murdered by my warriors, whom I'd brought up to level 7 by console, hasted and doped up on strength potions. Angelo and Sarevok didn't last much longer.
    My FFRP characters. Avatar by Ashen Lilies. Sigatars by Ashen Lilies, Gullara and Purple Eagle.
    Interested in the Nexus FFRP setting? See our Discord server.

  12. - Top - End - #162
    Troll in the Playground
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Gender
    Male

    Default Re: Baldur's Gate: The Thread

    Quote Originally Posted by Morty View Post
    Well... that went easier than I expected. My plan to use a Protection from Magic scroll on the mage didn't work, but when he teleported in, he got straight-up murdered by my warriors, whom I'd brought up to level 7 by console, hasted and doped up on strength potions. Angelo and Sarevok didn't last much longer.
    Yay!

    Incidentally I looked up some ways to do that battle and this popped up. Thought it was pretty interesting and touched up on the tactics I wrote up.

    what the hell is up with tazok's lines though


    Also, you missed out on Durlag's Tower which I actually prefer to BG2's Watcher's Keep for the "expansion pack bonus dungeon" award.
    Last edited by Winthur; 2014-12-12 at 04:44 PM.
    Quote Originally Posted by Eldariel View Post
    Mordekaiser for president.

  13. - Top - End - #163
    Titan in the Playground
     
    Morty's Avatar

    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Poland
    Gender
    Male

    Default Re: Baldur's Gate: The Thread

    I've been to Durlag's Tower in a previous playthrough. Didn't like it that much, so I'm fine with that.

    Now, having started BG2... maybe it's my nostalgia talking, but Irenicus' crib has a sort of unique, weird ambiance to it. Except for the part where you have to run back and forth to retrieve the Chaos Blade. I wonder what sort of team I'm going to go with this time. I know I'll recruit Neera, like I did in BG1... maybe Rasaad, as well, since he should be less of a weakling in BG2. Hexxat could be an interesting choice. I'd use Shadowkeeper to keep my Reputation neutral, but I don't think it works with Enhanced Edition, so I guess I'll be stuck playing a hero of the land.
    Last edited by Morty; 2014-12-12 at 05:05 PM.
    My FFRP characters. Avatar by Ashen Lilies. Sigatars by Ashen Lilies, Gullara and Purple Eagle.
    Interested in the Nexus FFRP setting? See our Discord server.

  14. - Top - End - #164
    Troll in the Playground
     
    Sylthia's Avatar

    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    MO, USA

    Default Re: Baldur's Gate: The Thread

    Quote Originally Posted by Morty View Post
    I've been to Durlag's Tower in a previous playthrough. Didn't like it that much, so I'm fine with that.

    Now, having started BG2... maybe it's my nostalgia talking, but Irenicus' crib has a sort of unique, weird ambiance to it. Except for the part where you have to run back and forth to retrieve the Chaos Blade. I wonder what sort of team I'm going to go with this time. I know I'll recruit Neera, like I did in BG1... maybe Rasaad, as well, since he should be less of a weakling in BG2. Hexxat could be an interesting choice. I'd use Shadowkeeper to keep my Reputation neutral, but I don't think it works with Enhanced Edition, so I guess I'll be stuck playing a hero of the land.
    You can download EEKeeper, which does pretty much the same thing as Shadow Keeper. I used it to make Hexxat a Fighter/Thief.

    Avatar by Sajiri

    3DS Name: Rezzy, FC: 0104-0343-1530

    Lots of bred Pokemon, complete list on my Gym Leader Page of the Giant League Wiki, PM me if you'd like to trade for one.

    Fire Emblem Fates Castle Address
    05107-66614
    62592-54117

  15. - Top - End - #165
    Titan in the Playground
     
    Morty's Avatar

    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Poland
    Gender
    Male

    Default Re: Baldur's Gate: The Thread

    That's convenient. I might make her a Thief/Mage, since I'd rather not rely on Neera for all my arcane spells. I've already recruited both, although Neera starts with strangely little experience. I need to decide who my divine caster will be, now.
    My FFRP characters. Avatar by Ashen Lilies. Sigatars by Ashen Lilies, Gullara and Purple Eagle.
    Interested in the Nexus FFRP setting? See our Discord server.

  16. - Top - End - #166
    Troll in the Playground
     
    Sylthia's Avatar

    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    MO, USA

    Default Re: Baldur's Gate: The Thread

    Is there a way to adjust how often characters try to initiate conversations?

    Kelsey is constantly hitting me up for conversations. He's a nice enough guy, but his over-eagerness is a bit off-putting. If he gave me a bit more time, I might be more willing to give him a fair chance.

    Avatar by Sajiri

    3DS Name: Rezzy, FC: 0104-0343-1530

    Lots of bred Pokemon, complete list on my Gym Leader Page of the Giant League Wiki, PM me if you'd like to trade for one.

    Fire Emblem Fates Castle Address
    05107-66614
    62592-54117

  17. - Top - End - #167
    Troll in the Playground
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Gender
    Male

    Default Re: Baldur's Gate: The Thread

    Quote Originally Posted by Rezkeshdadesh View Post
    Is there a way to adjust how often characters try to initiate conversations?

    Kelsey is constantly hitting me up for conversations. He's a nice enough guy, but his over-eagerness is a bit off-putting. If he gave me a bit more time, I might be more willing to give him a fair chance.
    Sadly, this is a problem with most NPC mods where the author decides to really cram in a lot of stuff and show his work.

    Kelsey isn't as bad as Chloe or Saerileth, though, which basically never shut the **** up.

    AFAIK there's a way to force romance conversations through a console command, but I'm not sure if there's a way to delay them. Perhaps if you set Kelsey's romance to a failure state and then kept bringing it back up whenever you felt like talking to him?
    Quote Originally Posted by Eldariel View Post
    Mordekaiser for president.

  18. - Top - End - #168
    Titan in the Playground
     
    Morty's Avatar

    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Poland
    Gender
    Male

    Default Re: Baldur's Gate: The Thread

    Hmm. A bit of a random question: what do you all think is the easiest school go get by without if you make a specialist mage? Obviously, the optimal solution is to have another mage in the party to cover the bases the specialist can't, but let's assume for the sake of the exercise there isn't one. Divination can be safely dumped, since identification in stores doesn't cost that much, and True Seeing can be cast by clerics and druids. It gets a bit trickier with others. I did fine as a Transmuter, and thus without Abjuration, in BG1, but I can't imagine it working well in BG2. You lose access to the protection-stripping spells like Breach, and the high-end protection spells.
    My FFRP characters. Avatar by Ashen Lilies. Sigatars by Ashen Lilies, Gullara and Purple Eagle.
    Interested in the Nexus FFRP setting? See our Discord server.

  19. - Top - End - #169
    Troll in the Playground
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Gender
    Male

    Default Re: Baldur's Gate: The Thread

    Quote Originally Posted by Morty View Post
    Hmm. A bit of a random question: what do you all think is the easiest school go get by without if you make a specialist mage? Obviously, the optimal solution is to have another mage in the party to cover the bases the specialist can't, but let's assume for the sake of the exercise there isn't one. Divination can be safely dumped, since identification in stores doesn't cost that much, and True Seeing can be cast by clerics and druids. It gets a bit trickier with others. I did fine as a Transmuter, and thus without Abjuration, in BG1, but I can't imagine it working well in BG2. You lose access to the protection-stripping spells like Breach, and the high-end protection spells.
    Definite no-nos are Transmuter and Abjurer. Both of those spell schools are crucial. The spells they give up on are too significant (are you seriously going to give up on Stoneskin, Haste, Teleport Field [a very significant spell in many Tactics/Ascension/whatnot battles!] and the sheer late game power of Shapechange and Time Stop? Or on all the various Dispels?)

    In BG1, definitely do not pick Invoker, because in BG1, they lose two spellschools. In BG2, they only lose Charms, which is eh (loss of Greater Malison, Chaos, Emotion - basically mid-game crowd control and also one hell of a major debuff spell. Past level 6 there are no more Charms.). In my ongoing BG2 MP session, our mage is an Invoker and it wasn't ever really a huge roadblock, just more of a "Aw, shame we can't use this and this here" but then we found something out and prevailed anyway.

    Enchanters are actually fine if you have a very supportish mage in mind. I like Xan in BG1 in my party, especially coupled with someone like Edwin. If you feel like trying out a playstyle where you absolutely throw away Magic Missiles and Fireballs and the like, Enchanters are okay, and there are ways to supplement the early game spells. In BG2, you lose out on Wish, Mordenkainen's Sword (which is an imba summon) and all the Spell Sequencers though, and pretty much most of the damage spells. You lose out on Magic Missile, which is the best way to interrupt enemy spellcasters, and on Melf's Minute Meteors, which are hugely versatile and let you tackle both lowly trolls and mighty liches. For solo play either summon yourself a beatstick or make yourself a beatstick, pretty much.

    Illusionists are an interesting subject because Gnomes get to multiclass as them, which is a pretty cool perk. In general, I approve of Gnomish Cleric/Illusionists because they have a ton of spellslots and if you roll high CON as Gnome, you get higher saving throws, which can contribute to making your C/I a very potent frontliner. Gnomish Fighter/Illusionists are also great for the same reason, as none of the barred Necromancy spells are important self-buffs.
    Illusionists don't give up on a lot of crazy good spells - the loss of Horror can be easily supplemented with Web, Skull Trap kinda sucks to not have (it's superior to Fireball), Death Spell is a good summon-clearer and surprisingly useful against a bunch of potentially tough creatures (Umber Hulks die to it) plus it's REALLY fun to look at, but not mandatory. Finger of Death isn't something you should rely on anyway, so the worst blow struck against Illusionists is the lack of Abi-Dalzim's Horrid Wilting, which is pretty much one of the best damage spells in the late game if not the best. Lack of Chain Contigency -> 3x ADHW can hurt. Animate Dead is an amazing spell, but better left in the hands of your Cleric. Extremely viable for solo play, in my opinion.

    Necromancers give up on Mirror Image, which is pretty massive esp. in BG1, both Project Image and Simulacrum (which are MASSIVELY cheesy, and straight-up mages don't get to wear Vhailor's Helm, so it can be quite a blow) and all the Invisibility spells. You can work around it mostly, though. It's not that crippling until you realize that Improved Invisibility is a really superb spell. Improved Invisibility + Spell Immunity (Divination) = you win mage on mage duels.

    Diviners lose out on Conjurations. You could replicate them by wands in BG1, but still Invisible Stalkers, Nishruus and whatever else can prove remotely useful. Overall though unless you want to cheese with Gate and the like, Diviners don't look too bad. The only other spell that sucks to lose is Glitterdust and I think Wish (which belongs to two spellschools and I'm not sure how it works with banning it), I think. Summons are probably very useful in solo play though.

    Conjurers are by far the most optimal because Divination is extremely easy to replicate with just your cleric, and in BG2 you're only likely to use Identify and True Seeing. Roll a Summoner, buy the Identify Glasses and hire Keldorn or any Cleric. Bam, you're set for life. It might be worrying to play it solo without True Seeing, though.

    Wild Mages are a candidate depends on how much you plan to save/load, so they're no-go if you're on an Ironman run but very strong otherwise.

    So IMHO Conjurer and Illusionist (if only because you get to be a Gnome) are the best and I wouldn't consider the others too much unless flavor/challenge because there isn't much need for it. As long as you're not rolling Transmuter or Abjurer, you won't gimp yourself too hard.

    Also, when it comes to efficiency, I honestly believe that if you want an optimal MC spellcaster, you should go for Sorcerer or a multi or dual-class Mage. Hybrid Mages just own and there's not much of a reason to stay single-classed other than somewhat faster spell progression (but it doesn't matter as much because in BG2 the best scrolls don't appear until Underdark and after). Mage/Clerics are super-versatile and have massively unique opportunities that other classes just don't get and are really comfy for solo play. Sorcerers are great. You can beat the whole game solo without giving much crap about spell diversity and preparation between battles as long as you know which spells to pick (So don't be that guy who picks Find Familiar as a first level spell for Sorcerer) -- just buy a lot of scrolls and keep wands with you in case some niche spell is necessary. Also Sorcerers don't need Intelligence, so you can max out Wisdom instead and have the best results for Wishes, or make him a Charisma monkey. Sorcerers are great primary spellcasters if you know what to pick.

    EDIT: Alesia_BH once did a solo Transmuter run documented on Bioware forums, which I remember being a fun documentation but I can't find it right now, so I guess it's not that bad aside from being horrible.
    Last edited by Winthur; 2014-12-13 at 07:08 PM.
    Quote Originally Posted by Eldariel View Post
    Mordekaiser for president.

  20. - Top - End - #170
    Troll in the Playground
     
    Sylthia's Avatar

    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    MO, USA

    Default Re: Baldur's Gate: The Thread

    Quote Originally Posted by Morty View Post
    Hmm. A bit of a random question: what do you all think is the easiest school go get by without if you make a specialist mage? Obviously, the optimal solution is to have another mage in the party to cover the bases the specialist can't, but let's assume for the sake of the exercise there isn't one. Divination can be safely dumped, since identification in stores doesn't cost that much, and True Seeing can be cast by clerics and druids. It gets a bit trickier with others. I did fine as a Transmuter, and thus without Abjuration, in BG1, but I can't imagine it working well in BG2. You lose access to the protection-stripping spells like Breach, and the high-end protection spells.
    I second the above opinion that Conjurer is the best specialist Mage that you can go for.

    Sorcerer is great for a second playthrough, if you know which spells to pick.

    Avatar by Sajiri

    3DS Name: Rezzy, FC: 0104-0343-1530

    Lots of bred Pokemon, complete list on my Gym Leader Page of the Giant League Wiki, PM me if you'd like to trade for one.

    Fire Emblem Fates Castle Address
    05107-66614
    62592-54117

  21. - Top - End - #171
    Troll in the Playground
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Gender
    Male

    Default Re: Baldur's Gate: The Thread

    Wanted to chime in one more time to confirm that yes, Transmuter Alastria did manage to clear Ascension Throne of Bhaal and the primary tactic to win BG2 was a massively buffed mage (Haste, all sorts of Blurs, Mirror Images, Minor Sequencer (Strength), etc) turned into either Spider Sword (poison, 5 attacks per round) or Gnoll (+3 weapon) through Polymorph Self spell and making mincemeat out of the opposition. Teleport Field becomes a major crowd control spell. Later on Tenser's Transformation and Shapechange to win encounters. So, basically, melee mage.

    Makes me want to play the game again to try out a really polymorph heavy approach. I mostly abuse the Cloak of Sewers Rat form on my Clerics (2-3x Armor of Faith + Rat form = immune to physical damage. Couple with Blade Barrier for damage. Stick in a chokepoint esp. if your team is archer-heavy.) and everyone's favourite Mind Flayer (can kill unkillable NPCs, including Yaga-Shura when he's in "immortal" mode).

    EDIT: Alastria's no-reload incarnation (Sorcerer this time) vs Sarevok. Manages to beat him in melee after dispatching his cronies. Also this is buffed Sarevok from Sword Coast Stratagems. One for you, fans of non-cheese playthroughs.
    Last edited by Winthur; 2014-12-13 at 08:56 PM.
    Quote Originally Posted by Eldariel View Post
    Mordekaiser for president.

  22. - Top - End - #172
    Troll in the Playground
     
    Sylthia's Avatar

    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    MO, USA

    Default Re: Baldur's Gate: The Thread

    Ah, new mage, first thing I do is spend half an hour force feeding them my case full of scrolls.

    I think I forgot to mention it, but if you finish Minsc's Boo quest, you get an Arcane Magic license for free.

    Update on my playthrough:

    Current Party:
    Rhea, Ranger/Cleric
    Jaheira (Almost done with her rather long quest chain)
    Hexxat
    Kelsey (does he have a side-quest?)
    Keldorn (Just picked him up and started the Seeing Eye Quest)
    Jan (Just picked him up, will keep him for Thieving until Hexxat relearns her skills, and I knock off his quest)

    Retired/Inactive Party Members:
    Minsc (Quest Done)
    Nalia (Quests Done)
    Yoshimo (He'll come and go as needed)
    Aerie (Might get her back later)
    Viconia (I rescued her, then just told her to wait in the Graveyard)
    Edwin (Used him to finish up Mae'Var's HQ, will grab him again when I get Korgan to do their quests together)

    Avatar by Sajiri

    3DS Name: Rezzy, FC: 0104-0343-1530

    Lots of bred Pokemon, complete list on my Gym Leader Page of the Giant League Wiki, PM me if you'd like to trade for one.

    Fire Emblem Fates Castle Address
    05107-66614
    62592-54117

  23. - Top - End - #173
    Librarian in the Playground Moderator
     
    LibraryOgre's Avatar

    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    San Antonio, Texas
    Gender
    Male

    Default Re: Baldur's Gate: The Thread

    Recently restarted BG1... made a few mistakes with my Skald, decided to reroll as a Kensai I will dual to Druid.
    The Cranky Gamer
    *It isn't realism, it's verisimilitude; the appearance of truth within the framework of the game.
    *Picard management tip: Debate honestly. The goal is to arrive at the truth, not at your preconception.
    *Mutant Dawn for Savage Worlds!
    *The One Deck Engine: Gaming on a budget
    Written by Me on DriveThru RPG
    There are almost 400,000 threads on this site. If you need me to address a thread as a moderator, include a link.

  24. - Top - End - #174
    Troll in the Playground
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Gender
    Male

    Default Re: Baldur's Gate: The Thread

    Quote Originally Posted by Mark Hall View Post
    Recently restarted BG1... made a few mistakes with my Skald, decided to reroll as a Kensai I will dual to Druid.
    Be advised: you need pretty outrageous stats to dual a fighter into a druid, because the requirements are minimum 15 Dexterity, 17 Wisdom and 17 Charisma, because for some reason it's a very important druid stat even though druids don't use it for anything in this game.

    Also, you're a brave man if you want to play Kensai in BG1. None of the kits were balanced for BG1 and playing Kensai in that game is utter suffering.
    Quote Originally Posted by Eldariel View Post
    Mordekaiser for president.

  25. - Top - End - #175
    Titan in the Playground
     
    Morty's Avatar

    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Poland
    Gender
    Male

    Default Re: Baldur's Gate: The Thread

    I forgot that my plan to turn Hexxat into a Mage/Thief will be stymied by the fact that she only has 14 in Intelligence. Oh well. I'll just replace her with Jan. Her daylight vulnerability is inconvenient, anyway, as powerful as she is otherwise. Now to decide whether I'll replace Minsc or Korgan with Rasaad, and who's going to handle my divine spells. I'd take Cernd, but he's, well... Cernd. And Anomen becomes either Lawful Good or an even bigger git. Maybe I could look for EE-compatible neutral cleric mods.
    Last edited by Morty; 2014-12-14 at 10:09 AM.
    My FFRP characters. Avatar by Ashen Lilies. Sigatars by Ashen Lilies, Gullara and Purple Eagle.
    Interested in the Nexus FFRP setting? See our Discord server.

  26. - Top - End - #176
    Troll in the Playground
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Gender
    Male

    Default Re: Baldur's Gate: The Thread

    Quote Originally Posted by Morty View Post
    I forgot that my plan to turn Hexxat into a Mage/Thief will be stymied by the fact that she only has 14 in Intelligence. Oh well. I'll just replace her with Jan. Her daylight vulnerability is inconvenient, anyway, as powerful as she is otherwise. Now to decide whether I'll replace Minsc or Korgan with Rasaad, and who's going to handle my divine spells. I'd take Cernd, but he's, well... Cernd. And Anomen becomes either Lawful Good or an even bigger git. Maybe I could look for EE-compatible neutral cleric mods.
    If you were considering Cernd, then just take Jaheira. She can carry your Belm +2 and is a mean tank once Iron Skins kick in. In ToB, she's easily one of the better tanks because she can Greater Whirlwind a Staff of the Ram with Iron Skins on. She can also fire off a sling (and there's some good slings including the one from Joluv), later on she can cast Energy Blades (which are like Melf's Minute Meteors on steroids), so she's a versatile warrior and an easy candidate for the party's backbone. And of course, she can summon the Elemental Princes. Every single ToB playthrough I've had with Cernd ended up with him being an Elemental Prince vessel, sadly.

    You could also pick Viconia (provided nobody in your team clashes with her) with the promise of turning her neutral through her romance, I guess.
    Last edited by Winthur; 2014-12-14 at 10:58 AM.
    Quote Originally Posted by Eldariel View Post
    Mordekaiser for president.

  27. - Top - End - #177
    Titan in the Playground
     
    Morty's Avatar

    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Poland
    Gender
    Male

    Default Re: Baldur's Gate: The Thread

    I considered Viconia, but I'm also bringing Rasaad along, and I've heard they clash because his personal story involves a lot of dead worshippers of Shar. Tankiness isn't a problem, since I have my Fighter Bhaalspawn with Defensive Spin and either Minsc or Korgan, but I need comfortable healing. I suppose Jaheira will do. For all her... personality issues, she's a decent stop-gap if you don't know who else to bring along. I'd like to have another EE NPC apart from Neera in my team this time around.
    Last edited by Morty; 2014-12-14 at 11:36 AM.
    My FFRP characters. Avatar by Ashen Lilies. Sigatars by Ashen Lilies, Gullara and Purple Eagle.
    Interested in the Nexus FFRP setting? See our Discord server.

  28. - Top - End - #178
    Troll in the Playground
     
    Sylthia's Avatar

    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    MO, USA

    Default Re: Baldur's Gate: The Thread

    I notice that EE doesn't keep Imoen's unique character sprite for some reason.

    I'll probably get Rasaad in my team as well, once I clear out most of the NPC side-quests. Monks are crazy at high levels in 2nd ed.

    Avatar by Sajiri

    3DS Name: Rezzy, FC: 0104-0343-1530

    Lots of bred Pokemon, complete list on my Gym Leader Page of the Giant League Wiki, PM me if you'd like to trade for one.

    Fire Emblem Fates Castle Address
    05107-66614
    62592-54117

  29. - Top - End - #179
    Librarian in the Playground Moderator
     
    LibraryOgre's Avatar

    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    San Antonio, Texas
    Gender
    Male

    Default Re: Baldur's Gate: The Thread

    Quote Originally Posted by Winthur View Post
    Be advised: you need pretty outrageous stats to dual a fighter into a druid, because the requirements are minimum 15 Dexterity, 17 Wisdom and 17 Charisma, because for some reason it's a very important druid stat even though druids don't use it for anything in this game.

    Also, you're a brave man if you want to play Kensai in BG1. None of the kits were balanced for BG1 and playing Kensai in that game is utter suffering.
    Druids have always required Charisma, and I like my main to be high-cha anyway... since I'm going full kensai in BG1, I've got a 18/x str, an 18 Con, an 18 Charisma, and a 16 wisdom (which will turn into 19 by game's end, which is sufficient). Two levels of single-weapon style for a bit more AC, and of course she got the first ring of Princes. AC 5 isn't fantastic, but I've done worse with a Bard, and the bard wasn't getting 14 HP per level.
    The Cranky Gamer
    *It isn't realism, it's verisimilitude; the appearance of truth within the framework of the game.
    *Picard management tip: Debate honestly. The goal is to arrive at the truth, not at your preconception.
    *Mutant Dawn for Savage Worlds!
    *The One Deck Engine: Gaming on a budget
    Written by Me on DriveThru RPG
    There are almost 400,000 threads on this site. If you need me to address a thread as a moderator, include a link.

  30. - Top - End - #180
    Titan in the Playground
     
    Morty's Avatar

    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Poland
    Gender
    Male

    Default Re: Baldur's Gate: The Thread

    You lose a lot of damage output by not going for two weapons as a Kensai, though.
    My FFRP characters. Avatar by Ashen Lilies. Sigatars by Ashen Lilies, Gullara and Purple Eagle.
    Interested in the Nexus FFRP setting? See our Discord server.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •