Yeah, yeah, Baldur's Gate update... with pictures!
Well, just character pictures.
Anyway, my two main parties are as follows now:
Thorim
Xan
Good Party:
Thorim the Dwarven Cleric, Level 8 STR 13 DEX 12 CON 20 INT 10 WIS 19 CHA 11
Imoen the Human Invoker/Thief, Level 8/6
Ajantis the Human Paladin, Level 7
Branwen the Human Cleric, Level 8
Garrick the Human Bard, Level 9
Xan the Elven Enchanter, Level 9
Thorim has some nice equipment now, like Ankheg Armor, Warhammer+3 (electrical), Large Shield+1 vs. Missiles, etc... The bad thing about Ankheg Armor is it looks kind of bad (green)...
I almost lost the game when a strange bug happened - Xan had cast Polymorph Self and was a bear, and after I saved he didn't turn back... At this time, I was in a dungeon with thin hallways, which the bear could not get through (effectively trapping me in the dungeon). I tried using various cheats to change Xan's avatar, but that didn't help - he was a new avatar, but still polymorphed into a bear. Ultimately, I found that all I had to do was use a cheat to get me a new Scroll of Polymorph Self (since the bear couldn't cast spells, but could use magic items) to cast the spell again, and turn into a human (phew!).
Am in a tough place now (can't leave until the quest is over, I guess), with wolfweres all around! They don't give much experience (650-1400 or something?) but are really tough, and come in groups - it's funny, because I wonder if they should appear in each character's "strongest defeated" information, but I still get sirines, greater basilisks, and battle horrors instead. Basilisks in particular are like nothing if you have the Protection from Petrification spell on you, but they give out loads of experience. These damn wolfweres are ripping me apart! I have to cast multiple boosting spells, invisibility, defense spells, and then use lots of magic missiles and fireballs to finally get these creatures to go down... Plus, greater wolfweres are only affected by certain very magical weapons, of which I don't have many...
Volgart (old)
Volgart (new)
Bad Party:
Volgart the Human Fighter/Thief, Level 6/8 STR 18/00 DEX 18 CON 18 INT 9 WIS 9 CHA 12
Kagain the Dwarven Fighter, Level 7
Viconia the Drow Cleric, Level 7
Edwin the Human Conjurer, Level 8
Tiax the Gnomish Thief/Cleric, Level 7/7
Alora the Halfling Thief, Level 8
Voldort looks nice and evil (even though he is really Chaotic Neutral - it's hard for me to be REALLY evil, even in a game)... Kagain is the only evil character in my group now, actually. I guess I will have to kick out Branwen later to make room for an evil cleric or whatever... At this point, Voldort's equipment is something like this: Scimitar+3 (great weapon but looks like a normal sword), Splint Mail, Large Shield, Helmet - will have to obtain some better items soon (a Medium Shield+1 soon on the way).
Doh, found Viconia too late, and her HP are so low! Augh! (Kicked out Branwen, kind of sick of her.)
Tried Yeslick and Alora, too - Alora is lots of fun, whattacutie!
So, kept Alora this time and sacked Imoen (sorry, Imoen). Alora's HP are woefully low for her level, but, ah well. Guess I will have to try to raise her level quickly, but it takes so long just to go up one level... Viconia's HP are now in a safe range, and Tiax's high Constitution has his just fine as well. Alora's interactions with the rest of the party are just a barrel of monkeys, though - it's great having her in an all-evil party (she is good). Her pickpocket and open-lock skills are also excellent - she NEVER gets caught pickpocketing, and always opens the doors.
Also, just started a new game again:
Female PC:
Laurel the Elven Mage, Level 5, STR 18 DEX 19 CON 17 INT 18 WIS 9 CHA 10
Kivan the Human Ranger, Level 5
Safana the Human Thief, Level 5
Coran the Elven Fighter/Thief, Level 4/4
Faldorn the Human Druid, Level 6
Yeslick the Dwarf Fighter/Cleric, Level 4/5
I managed to find these guys at: level 2 (Kivan, Safana), level 3/3 (?) (Coran), level 4/5 (Yeslick), level 5 (Faldorn). I can't seem to manage getting Alora at any level but 6.
Well, finished going through the second big dungeon - actually, much easier this time for some reason. Things that helped out:
1. Lots of characters who can fight well using ranged weapons, i.e. composite longbows, longbow of marksmanship, light crossbow of speed, sling+1. Only Laurel is basically useless in battle, but her high Strength helps her kill whoever attacks her in melee every so often. Barraging normal enemies like hobgoblins or mages is very useful, and as all bows and the light crossbow of speed fire twice/round, or more for those with specialization, you can make quick mincemeat of most enemies.
2. The Stinking Cloud-Skeleton-Dread Wolf strategy. Basically, Laurel was only level 4 at the time, giving her only access to up to 2nd-level spells, but in her repertoire was Stinking Cloud. So, my new ultra-cheap strategy is thus:
i. Use Safana (any thief) to slink around and check out the area; set Laurel just where she can't be seen, but can cast her Stinking Cloud spell into the crowd of strong enemies.
ii. Before hand, have Yeslick (any cleric) cast Animate Dead to create an army of skeletons. Once most of the crowd of enemies falls unconscious due to the Stinking Cloud, send the skeleton army in to kill everyone, since they are immune to the effects of the Stinking Cloud. (I also send in Faldorn's Dread Wolf (who is affected by the cloud, but has a high saving throw and saves often, as well as being very strong in melee and a fast mover; I think Tiax's Ghoul would work well also, but he can't join yet.)
iii. Use all your archers to gun down others in the cloud, being careful to keep them away from it. Use Laurel (mages) to send Magic Missiles or whatever attack spells you have to do extra damage.
iv. Enjoy the easy kill!
Unfortunately, Safana (being my crossbower), ran out of bolts in this long dungeon, and unlike arrows basically you have to always buy bolts to get more, so... she was mostly a lock-opener and shadow-hider by the end. Buy your bolts!
Geez, wasn't easy getting Safana so early (when she was at Level 2) - the accompanying quest is not an easy one by far, but with cheap tactics and a quick obtaining of magic weapons/armor (by killing, finding, stealing, and pick pocketing), I just barely managed. Not sure if she will leave if we overgo the time limit or whatever, though.
Safana has a bug, though - when she gains a level (from 2 to 3), she loses her unique special power (Charm Animal)... Oh, well. Perhaps if I got her at a higher level she would keep the ability?
Also, I would like to get Alora the Halfling Thief, but I guess I would need to get rid of someone... who? Faldorn? Safana? Coran? It's hard to choose.
Gee, at this rate, my entire party will be full of thieves... Lots of back stabbing might be fun, though.
Playing girls is sometimes fun, too.
My other party - well, I haven't touched them for awhile...
Anyway, my two main parties are as follows now:
Thorim
Xan
Good Party:
Thorim the Dwarven Cleric, Level 8 STR 13 DEX 12 CON 20 INT 10 WIS 19 CHA 11
Imoen the Human Invoker/Thief, Level 8/6
Ajantis the Human Paladin, Level 7
Branwen the Human Cleric, Level 8
Garrick the Human Bard, Level 9
Xan the Elven Enchanter, Level 9
Thorim has some nice equipment now, like Ankheg Armor, Warhammer+3 (electrical), Large Shield+1 vs. Missiles, etc... The bad thing about Ankheg Armor is it looks kind of bad (green)...
I almost lost the game when a strange bug happened - Xan had cast Polymorph Self and was a bear, and after I saved he didn't turn back... At this time, I was in a dungeon with thin hallways, which the bear could not get through (effectively trapping me in the dungeon). I tried using various cheats to change Xan's avatar, but that didn't help - he was a new avatar, but still polymorphed into a bear. Ultimately, I found that all I had to do was use a cheat to get me a new Scroll of Polymorph Self (since the bear couldn't cast spells, but could use magic items) to cast the spell again, and turn into a human (phew!).
Am in a tough place now (can't leave until the quest is over, I guess), with wolfweres all around! They don't give much experience (650-1400 or something?) but are really tough, and come in groups - it's funny, because I wonder if they should appear in each character's "strongest defeated" information, but I still get sirines, greater basilisks, and battle horrors instead. Basilisks in particular are like nothing if you have the Protection from Petrification spell on you, but they give out loads of experience. These damn wolfweres are ripping me apart! I have to cast multiple boosting spells, invisibility, defense spells, and then use lots of magic missiles and fireballs to finally get these creatures to go down... Plus, greater wolfweres are only affected by certain very magical weapons, of which I don't have many...
Volgart (old)
Volgart (new)
Bad Party:
Volgart the Human Fighter/Thief, Level 6/8 STR 18/00 DEX 18 CON 18 INT 9 WIS 9 CHA 12
Kagain the Dwarven Fighter, Level 7
Viconia the Drow Cleric, Level 7
Edwin the Human Conjurer, Level 8
Tiax the Gnomish Thief/Cleric, Level 7/7
Alora the Halfling Thief, Level 8
Voldort looks nice and evil (even though he is really Chaotic Neutral - it's hard for me to be REALLY evil, even in a game)... Kagain is the only evil character in my group now, actually. I guess I will have to kick out Branwen later to make room for an evil cleric or whatever... At this point, Voldort's equipment is something like this: Scimitar+3 (great weapon but looks like a normal sword), Splint Mail, Large Shield, Helmet - will have to obtain some better items soon (a Medium Shield+1 soon on the way).
Doh, found Viconia too late, and her HP are so low! Augh! (Kicked out Branwen, kind of sick of her.)
Tried Yeslick and Alora, too - Alora is lots of fun, whattacutie!
So, kept Alora this time and sacked Imoen (sorry, Imoen). Alora's HP are woefully low for her level, but, ah well. Guess I will have to try to raise her level quickly, but it takes so long just to go up one level... Viconia's HP are now in a safe range, and Tiax's high Constitution has his just fine as well. Alora's interactions with the rest of the party are just a barrel of monkeys, though - it's great having her in an all-evil party (she is good). Her pickpocket and open-lock skills are also excellent - she NEVER gets caught pickpocketing, and always opens the doors.
Also, just started a new game again:
Female PC:
Laurel the Elven Mage, Level 5, STR 18 DEX 19 CON 17 INT 18 WIS 9 CHA 10
Kivan the Human Ranger, Level 5
Safana the Human Thief, Level 5
Coran the Elven Fighter/Thief, Level 4/4
Faldorn the Human Druid, Level 6
Yeslick the Dwarf Fighter/Cleric, Level 4/5
I managed to find these guys at: level 2 (Kivan, Safana), level 3/3 (?) (Coran), level 4/5 (Yeslick), level 5 (Faldorn). I can't seem to manage getting Alora at any level but 6.
Well, finished going through the second big dungeon - actually, much easier this time for some reason. Things that helped out:
1. Lots of characters who can fight well using ranged weapons, i.e. composite longbows, longbow of marksmanship, light crossbow of speed, sling+1. Only Laurel is basically useless in battle, but her high Strength helps her kill whoever attacks her in melee every so often. Barraging normal enemies like hobgoblins or mages is very useful, and as all bows and the light crossbow of speed fire twice/round, or more for those with specialization, you can make quick mincemeat of most enemies.
2. The Stinking Cloud-Skeleton-Dread Wolf strategy. Basically, Laurel was only level 4 at the time, giving her only access to up to 2nd-level spells, but in her repertoire was Stinking Cloud. So, my new ultra-cheap strategy is thus:
i. Use Safana (any thief) to slink around and check out the area; set Laurel just where she can't be seen, but can cast her Stinking Cloud spell into the crowd of strong enemies.
ii. Before hand, have Yeslick (any cleric) cast Animate Dead to create an army of skeletons. Once most of the crowd of enemies falls unconscious due to the Stinking Cloud, send the skeleton army in to kill everyone, since they are immune to the effects of the Stinking Cloud. (I also send in Faldorn's Dread Wolf (who is affected by the cloud, but has a high saving throw and saves often, as well as being very strong in melee and a fast mover; I think Tiax's Ghoul would work well also, but he can't join yet.)
iii. Use all your archers to gun down others in the cloud, being careful to keep them away from it. Use Laurel (mages) to send Magic Missiles or whatever attack spells you have to do extra damage.
iv. Enjoy the easy kill!
Unfortunately, Safana (being my crossbower), ran out of bolts in this long dungeon, and unlike arrows basically you have to always buy bolts to get more, so... she was mostly a lock-opener and shadow-hider by the end. Buy your bolts!
Geez, wasn't easy getting Safana so early (when she was at Level 2) - the accompanying quest is not an easy one by far, but with cheap tactics and a quick obtaining of magic weapons/armor (by killing, finding, stealing, and pick pocketing), I just barely managed. Not sure if she will leave if we overgo the time limit or whatever, though.
Safana has a bug, though - when she gains a level (from 2 to 3), she loses her unique special power (Charm Animal)... Oh, well. Perhaps if I got her at a higher level she would keep the ability?
Also, I would like to get Alora the Halfling Thief, but I guess I would need to get rid of someone... who? Faldorn? Safana? Coran? It's hard to choose.
Gee, at this rate, my entire party will be full of thieves... Lots of back stabbing might be fun, though.
Playing girls is sometimes fun, too.
My other party - well, I haven't touched them for awhile...