Started a v5 game, Will play slowly Options

[Sikret]

I just started a game myself. Since I'm too busy in RL, the game will proceed very slowly.

Those who will use a similar party (even if not a completely identical one) can also use this topic to send their progress reports or journals and we can compare them.

This thread can also be used as a rough walkthrough and suggested quest order for players who may need it.

I will also add some general hints for players who may need them, but I suggest that you try the battles without reading those hints for a few times. Read the hints only if you *really* need them.

My party is this for now:

1- Protagonist:
Human Vagrant
Str: 18/03
Dex: 18
Con: 19
Int: 10
Wis: 18
Cha: 12
Proficiencies:
Two Weapon Skills: +++
Long Sword: +
Axe: +
Club: +
Flail: +

2- Custom NPC:
Human Sorceress:
Str: 18
Dex: 18
Con: 16
Int: 10
Wis: 18
Cha: 10

3- Custom NPC:
Half-Orc Berserker:
Str: 19
Dex: 18
Con: 19
Int: 10
Wis: 10
Cha: 10
Proficiencies:
Two Handed Weapon Style: ++
Two Handed Sword: ++
Halberd: +
Quarterstaff: +

The other mods installed are Dungoen-be-gone and the following components of Ease-of-Use:
-True Grand Mastery
-Shut Up "You Must Gather Your Party Before Venturing Forth"
-Wear Magical Armor AND Magic Rings
-Un-Nerfed THAC0 Table, Saving Throws, etc
-XP Cap Remover
-Bonus Merchants
-No Drow Avatars On Party In Underdark
-Imoen ToB Dialogue Fix
-Romance: Bug Fixes (only the first component; it is redundant actually as I'm not going to romance any NPC)
-Infinite Weapon, Potion and Ring/Amulet Stacking
-Infinite Weapon, Potion Stacking (ToB)
-Multiple Strongholds

I'm currently at the start of the game and intend to kick out Imoen, free and kick out Jaheira and Minsc and use Dungeon-be-gone to get out of the dungeon. I have been careful to wait long enough to see the message "Item Randomizer successfully Initiated" on the screen. Those who use dungeon-be-gone should not leave that area before seeing this message.

I need to think and choose 3 other NPCs. The candidates are Nalia, Valygar, Cernd and Anomen. I should omit one of these 4 from my list which is a very difficult decision to make.

More later...

This post has been edited by Sikret: Dec 11 2007, 08:35 AM

[lroumen]

@shadan

Here's how my battle with Faldorn went. I hope you can get use this in finishing your battle.
SPOILER!

The first battle I rushed in with the quarterstaff and was killed by the first 2 bears (stupid).

The second battle I tried to charm only 2 bears and then kill her with my quarterstaff, but the damage was too little. After 1 charm failed and 1 charm succeeded, the remaining 2 bears killed me before I was able to remove the Ironskins from Faldorn.


The third battle I had learnt enough and I was victorious. It went like this.

I started with Draw Upon Holy Might.
Faldorn starts out with Ironskins and Flameblade (if I recall correctly). Then she calls forth 2 bears and then again 2 bears. When the first 2 appear you'll have Drawn Upon your Holy Might and you may have been able to pick up the quarterstaff. I circled a little bit around the first 2 bears and tried to charm the one closest to Faldorn. I got lucky and set it to attack her while she finished calling the 3rd and 4th bear. I failed to charm the second bear, but continued to try and my 3rd and 4th attempts were lucky.
I now had 3 of the 4 bears, but Faldorn still had her Ironskins and she was out to get me. Each time I charmed a bear I set it to attack Faldorn. She was now moving around trying to get to me but she was blocked by all those bears. Since I had a quarterstaff I was able to hit her from afar whilst she still tried to get to me. After a bit she stopped and called her Nymph.
By now the bears and my Quarterstaff had been able to remove her Ironskins and we were able to damage her. Unlucky as I was, the Nymph was called before the damage went through (I should have used Larloch I think), but the bears did nice damage and even without any points in quarterstaff you can do good damage if you're enchanted with Draw Upon Holy Might. The Nymph called forth her Animals, but by then the deed was almost done. Faldorn was about to die!
She was Near Death when the Nymph set out to heal her and I critically missed... but my bears were with me and with 2 hits they killed Faldorn.

@Sikret.

How many times (roughly) have you rested so far? What is your current date?
I'm asking because I feel as if I'm playing IA very slowly. I've finished Nalia's Keep, but I had to do it in about 6 stages (see spoilertags). I think it's a bit much. Perhaps it is because you know IA better you can use the proper tactics and know which spells you need when?
SPOILER!

Nalia's Keep stages by me.
1. Entry through the sneak passage. Clear the first level and outside. I want to open the Bridge, but I cannot beat the Spider and the Greater Yuan Ti Mage. I return later.
2. Opening of the Keep, I killed the Spider and the Yuan Ti and move to the second level. I'm blocked by the normal Yuan Ti Mage due to a lack of spells. I need to rest.
3. I clear the second level, but I need rest before tackling the Golems.
4. I clear the Golems and clear the extra summons (btw, I only got 2 spawns, not 3. I got 2 spiders from 1 statue and 1 Keep viper from 1 statue, but the center statue spawns nothing extra. Is this supposed to be so?). I need to rest before going down.
5. I cleared everything around Torgal only today

My party is a 5 man though that has slightly more than 5.5M XP in total.
Vagrant, Anomen, Jaheira (Avenger), Nalia, Cernd... waiting for Mazzy or Haer'Dalis whom I both haven't rescued yet because I fear those battles are as tough as the Keep... I haven't been to the Windspear Hills yet nor the Umar Hills Dungeon, nor the Planar Sphere, nor the Planar Prison... but I have finished the Druid, Cleric and Thief Strongholds, and Anomen's Romance and Jaheira's Romance have progressed far (and thus the added quest rewards). Maybe I'll go get Valygar... I think I'm at 40 days or something from all the traveling and resting. I'm about to step up to the Slavership now.... tough going so far. Much more difficult than IA v2 last year (or was it 2 years ago)...

Edit: The things I have not done are still plenty and I wonder how I can compare this to your accomplishments.
SPOILER!

Windspear Hills, Umar Hills Dungeon, Planar Sphere, Planar Prison, Sewers Encounter, Den of Seven Veils Party, Borinall, Guarded compound, the protectors of Gaxx's Body parts, Twisted Rune in the Bridge District, Graveyard District, the whole of Watcher's Keep... and I'm still in chapter 2 currently.

This post has been edited by lroumen: Jan 7 2008, 09:25 AM