Yet another new guy at IA Options

[(Ø=M)^42]

Hello everyone.
I've finally managed to outsmart my evil email spamfilter, and thus completed my registration here. I'm very interested in IA, but I'm not sure I'm fit for it yet. I've never modded bg more than using tutu, so I don't have any experience of improved encounters. When I fight mages, I throw on some Breach and other similar spells, send fighters on and hope I kill them. From what I've read, IA mages will be just a tidbit harder to kill, using SI:abjuration and massive protections. I'm mostly wondering if there's any point in trying if I'm not sufficiently skilled in tactical bg fighting. Reloading a few times to polish a way to do a battle is of course ok, but really banging my head on a wall would drain the fun quite fast.

Due to that concern, I've also tried to get some ideas to help me out. I'd consider playing on a quite easy difficulty setting, and possibly using multiplayer, to get more powerful characters like kensai, ranger/cleric, swashbuckler, sorcerer and so on. I do view myself as a skilled gamer, but I'm just not fully attuned to bg. Hmm.. getting messy. Well, what I'm asking for is mostly tips for a newbie at IA, stuff like suggested group setup, anything similar to smart moves like having lots of Ruby Rays memorized. Maybe even a suggestion for good starting quests.

Big hugs and love goes out to everyone for helping me get into IA <3

Øystein

Edit: For what it's worth, I used Marvin^42 on SP, since that forum didn't allow for one or more of the characters in this name

This post has been edited by (Ø=M)^42: Jun 21 2007, 05:49 PM

[thetruth]

Welcome to BWL (Ø=M)^42 (heh though I would prefer Marvin )

I'm mostly wondering if there's any point in trying if I'm not sufficiently skilled in tactical bg fighting. Reloading a few times to polish a way to do a battle is of course ok, but really banging my head on a wall would drain the fun quite fast.

Well the choice is up to you.
Improved Anvil is the most difficult of any other mod out there and as leonidas said, having played with Tactics,Ascension and other similar mods for sure can help.

But even then some of the difficult battles of IA can be still very frustrating .

As for your party I agree with Arkain.
F/Ms is the most powerful class in IA and you will have an easier time later in the game with a F/M (also recommended for the improved Mage stronghold).

From the original game Anomen is a good choice as Keldorn is.

You could use some multi-created characters as well:

- F/T (good fighter + Timetraps and UAI later) or a Swashbuckler (great AC)
- Sorcerer (or Kelsey mod) (but careful at the spell selection)
- a Half-Orc Berserker or a Barbarian (with 19 STR,CON)
- R/C

all of them are excellent choices.