Baldur's Gate 3 II: The Urge for a Second Playthrough

[Anonymouswizard]

Restarted again because the fact that weapon models don't rescale was annoying me, so now I'm a Tiefling Wild Magic Sorcerer. Making sure I have a more eclectic mix of spells instead of my normal practice of going full blaster, so I've nabbed Hold Person before even looking at Sorching Ray or the like. My first two level three spells will be Lightning Bolt and Counter spell, but I'll probably drop Chromatic Orb for a third one.

[Frozenstep]

Anyone have comments on Monk/Druid? It's a combo I always wish worked, but never quite does.

Tavern brawler was changed to work with many non-weapon using wild shape forms, so there's some nice overlap between stuff you want. Elixirs of cloud giant strength will buff your strength even in a wildshape form. I'd say level 6 moon druid for owlbear + magical attacks gets you pretty far, then you could easily go 6 shadow or 6 open hand and get some of their best features, too.

Only thing is, I imagine these play like 2 separate characters. You're in owlbear form being tanky and doing damage until something chews through your 65 base hp, then you can use another wild shape to keep going, or just punch things and do insane damage because of tavern brawler. Maybe that's appealing, maybe not.

The only other thing I can think of is using spores druid to give yourself extra necro damage on attacks via symbiotic entity...but since it only lasts while you keep the temp hp, you want to make sure you're not the one being hit. A warding bond can go some distance, but other tactics might also be needed.

[LibraryOgre]

Also, I played around with it last night, turning my level 10 Halsin from an abandoned playthrough into a 6 Moon/4 Elements... whether or not Wisdom was applied to AC was inconsistent across forms. Alas, the idea won't work as well as I would like.

[t209]

Spoiler: Act 3 spoiler

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Currently trying Iron Throne run…and just realized that I can attend Gortash coronation without causing timed quest issue embarrassingly enough.
Also I am not sure if it just from me basing on memes, but Viconia feels off from BG 1 and 2…like say Minsc seems to think that she wanted to dissect Boo. Also Jaheira didn’t mention her much, either during or after her fight.

[ArlEammon]

So, there is more than one way to play this character. He's supposed to be "King Bowser Koopa" from the Super Mario franchise. My first run is a Fighter/Warlock hybrid. Any advice on how I can make a build of him that makes sense for Bowser that's still decently strong but?
I also made a Mario build, I'm about to multiclass him too, and also Peach.
What do you guys suggest for these builds?

[Errorname]

Spoiler: Act 3 spoiler

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Currently trying Iron Throne run…and just realized that I can attend Gortash coronation without causing timed quest issue embarrassingly enough.
Also I am not sure if it just from me basing on memes, but Viconia feels off from BG 1 and 2…like say Minsc seems to think that she wanted to dissect Boo. Also Jaheira didn’t mention her much, either during or after her fight.

Spoiler: Returning Characters

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They really made a botch of Viconia and Sarevok. Really hard to reconcile their portrayals in this game with their original characterization, and it's not like they did anything interesting enough to make that reconciliation worth doing, if you know the characters these aren't satisfying endings to their stories and if you don't know the characters they don't make you care, and it's not like you can really walk either back short of retconning these versions as impersonators.

[LibraryOgre]

Just finished the Goblins on this playthrough, but I'm making a much more concerted attempt to take my time, if that makes sense. Normally, I'll do the first area on maybe one or two long rests. This time, I made an effort to do three. Not dawdle, but take my time, let those night time scenes play out.

[Psyren]

I generally do as few rests as possible until I expose the Shadow Druids / stop the ritual, then once that soft timer is removed, I spam rest until my Camp Events mod stops pinging, then rest whenever something new triggers or I absolutely need to before/after a tough fight like Ethel or the Phase Spider Matriarch.

So, there is more than one way to play this character. He's supposed to be "King Bowser Koopa" from the Super Mario franchise. My first run is a Fighter/Warlock hybrid. Any advice on how I can make a build of him that makes sense for Bowser that's still decently strong but?
I also made a Mario build, I'm about to multiclass him too, and also Peach.
What do you guys suggest for these builds?

For Mario I'd do a Dwarf Fighter or Barbarian (something Str-based for big jumps) using a Warhammer and thrown barrels. There's probably a way to weaponize your jumps in this game too but I haven't looked into it, so I'd go old-school DK Jumpman.

Peach is tricky because her videogame portrayals have varied wildly. Sometimes she's known for healing and singing, sometimes for flight, sometimes for throwing things, sometimes for... ugh... weaponizing her emotions. I'd probably go for some flavor of Bard or Sorcerer.

For Bowser I'd probably do a Dragonborn Vengeance Draconic Sorcadin, with some mix of green and red to get the look and the fire breath, with plate armor serving as the shell.

[ArlEammon]

For Mario I'd do a Dwarf Fighter or Barbarian (something Str-based for big jumps) using a Warhammer and thrown barrels. There's probably a way to weaponize your jumps in this game too but I haven't looked into it, so I'd go old-school DK Jumpman.

Peach is tricky because her videogame portrayals have varied wildly. Sometimes she's known for healing and singing, sometimes for flight, sometimes for throwing things, sometimes for... ugh... weaponizing her emotions. I'd probably go for some flavor of Bard or Sorcerer.

For Bowser I'd probably do a Dragonborn Vengeance Draconic Sorcadin, with some mix of green and red to get the look and the fire breath, with plate armor serving as the shell.

How's Mario going to use fire if he's a Fighter or Barbarian?

[Psyren]

How's Mario going to use fire if he's a Fighter or Barbarian?

The same way the "real" Mario does, via a magic item.

Less facetiously, anytime you're doing a translation like this you have to make concessions somewhere. What's more important to you - shooting fire, wielding hammers, changing size, or killing enemies by jumping on their heads? If you can fit everything he does into one build, great, have at it.

[LibraryOgre]

Mario is a Monk.

He uses improvised weapons. He jumps on people's heads to kill them. He shoots fire. Make him a duergar and he can even change size.

[Cikomyr2]

Mario is a Monk.

He uses improvised weapons. He jumps on people's heads to kill them. He shoots fire. Make him a duergar and he can even change size.

That has always been by take as well.

He's a jumpy jumpy monk that access to Enlarge, Firebolt, and whatever accessories you feel is appropriate.

[Psyren]

My problem with Mario as a monk is that in 5e and BG3, monks don't jump all that well since it's based on Strength. Since we're already using items and consumables however, A BG3 Mario-monk can overcome the limitations of the base chassis.

[Cikomyr2]

My problem with Mario as a monk is that in 5e and BG3, monks don't jump all that well since it's based on Strength. Since we're already using items and consumables however, A BG3 Mario-monk can overcome the limitations of the base chassis.

Just give him a permanent Jump effect, or Boots of Acrobatics.

[tonberrian]

Just make Mario a Tavern Brawler monk, make him hugely muscley.

[Psyren]

Just give him a permanent Jump effect, or Boots of Acrobatics.

Boots of what now? Did you mean Striding and Springing?
Those don't exist in BG3 afaik, but Bonespike Boots should be doable. They don't show up till Act 3 though.

Just make Mario a Tavern Brawler monk, make him hugely muscley.

The issue with muscle monks is that monks are MAD, which makes high Str tough to squeeze in. An item like Gauntlets of Hill Giant Strength lets you override your strength score and bypass that issue - but again, you'll be waiting until Act 3 (and fairly late at that) to pick these up.

[LibraryOgre]

Boots of what now? Did you mean Striding and Springing?
Those don't exist in BG3 afaik, but Bonespike Boots should be doable. They don't show up till Act 3 though.

Until then, Swiresy Shoes from Grat in the Goblin Camp should be a good start... +1 to acrobatics and 1.5m to jump.

The issue with muscle monks is that monks are MAD, which makes high Str tough to squeeze in. An item like Gauntlets of Hill Giant Strength lets you override your strength score and bypass that issue - but again, you'll be waiting until Act 3 (and fairly late at that) to pick these up.

Ok, let's try him out...

Mario Mario, Duergar Monk
Str 10
Dex 16
Con 14
Int 10
Wis 14
Rizz 10

Guild Craftsman Background (he is a plumber)

Skill Proficiencies: Athletics, Acrobatics, Insight, Persuasion

Choices:
Level 3: Way of the Open Hand
Level 4: Athlete
Level 8: Magic Initiate: Druid (Produce Flame, Guidance, Enhance Leap)
Level 12: Mobile

It might not be the best version of him, but I think it covers someone who runs, jumps, and shoots fire sometimes.

[Eldonauran]

Elixirs of Hill Giant Strength of available in Act 1, and if you purchase/make enough of them, it'll hold you over till Act 3 if you want a high strength Mario.

[t209]

So Patch 6...
other than kissing, part of me is thinking about its new dialogue system according to notes.
"We’ve also made some improvements to speaker selection. When dialogue triggers automatically, the game will now try to prioritise your avatar as the main speaker - so your party members should have less main character syndrome when clearly you’re the star of the show."
Granted no problem if the player is the face (like Bard, Paladin, or Charisma character)...but wondering about use of other NPC who had better stats for rolls (especially if speaker didn't trigger on one you wanted).
Though this sounds useful in say...

Spoiler: Act 1 spoiler

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If you are a Drow Female and talking to a Drow Wizard, who will surrender if you play up "Drow Matriarchy", but only trigger on a character you got after combat ends.
OR Aunt Ethel try to surrender and offer you a scalp.

BUT I am on Act 3 and still downloading it.
Might want to get a headsup.

[Eldan]

Finally reaching the end of act 2 on my very slow playthrough. And man is this game still frustrating sometimes. So here I am, trying to carefully strategize my way through Moonrise Tower. Laying down area control spells (a wall of fire, black tentacles), and... Jaheira jumps in the middle of both ongoing spells, gets peppered by six arrows and dies immediately. Tried this fight three times now, it keeps happening.

Urgh. Maybe I should just let her die, I spent three hours on this yesterday. From all I've heard, she's only a not-very-good cameo anyway, like all the other returning characters.

[diplomancer]

Finally reaching the end of act 2 on my very slow playthrough. And man is this game still frustrating sometimes. So here I am, trying to carefully strategize my way through Moonrise Tower. Laying down area control spells (a wall of fire, black tentacles), and... Jaheira jumps in the middle of both ongoing spells, gets peppered by six arrows and dies immediately. Tried this fight three times now, it keeps happening.

Urgh. Maybe I should just let her die, I spent three hours on this yesterday. From all I've heard, she's only a not-very-good cameo anyway, like all the other returning characters.

Not having Jaheira means not having Minsc. And Minsc is fun. And I didn't play the previous games, so didn't know anything about them. But, obviously, you can do without them.

[Eldan]

This is the reason why I play this game so slowly. Every other week, I take it out on the weekend, play a few hours, run into something enormously frustrating and put it away for another two weeks. Act one, it was mainly controls and party composition, now it's just stupid NPCs and annoying dungeon design.

[Psyren]

If you're Dark Urge I would definitely keep her around (resisting or embracing both get great content with her) otherwise feel free to skip her.

[Lycunadari]

Finally reaching the end of act 2 on my very slow playthrough. And man is this game still frustrating sometimes. So here I am, trying to carefully strategize my way through Moonrise Tower. Laying down area control spells (a wall of fire, black tentacles), and... Jaheira jumps in the middle of both ongoing spells, gets peppered by six arrows and dies immediately. Tried this fight three times now, it keeps happening.

Urgh. Maybe I should just let her die, I spent three hours on this yesterday. From all I've heard, she's only a not-very-good cameo anyway, like all the other returning characters.

If you tell her before the battle that you need her at your side (and not with her harpers) you get her as a temporary companion, and she doesn't replace one of your other companions, so you can control her and just keep her safe in the back.

[BRC]

If you tell her before the battle that you need her at your side (and not with her harpers) you get her as a temporary companion, and she doesn't replace one of your other companions, so you can control her and just keep her safe in the back.

Oh I didn't know that! I assumed that it meant she joined your party right then. I'd just gotten Halsin and wanted to play with him, so I didn't want to double up on druids.

[Eldan]

How do you get Halsin to actually join you? I'm fighting my way through Moonrise tower now and he still doesn't want to talk about anything.

[Keltest]

How do you get Halsin to actually join you? I'm fighting my way through Moonrise tower now and he still doesn't want to talk about anything.

Spoiler: Halsin's Quest

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You need to complete his quest about breaking the Shadow Curse to the point where you rescue Thaniel from the Shadowfel. After that, talk to him in camp and he offers to join you.

[Eldan]

Huh. I'm sure I talked to him after that. Thanks.

[Eldan]

Argh. Okay, this time i had Jaheira join my party before the tower fight.

Now the game freezes every time it's her turn.

[Cikomyr2]

Argh. Okay, this time i had Jaheira join my party before the tower fight.

Now the game freezes every time it's her turn.

She Has to Die