Going to try a run through IA5, Could use some starting pointers Options

[The Bigg]

So... I've decided to take the plunge and try a run through IA 5. Since I'm not the greatest tactician (for example, both topical fights of Ascension are over my level), I'd like to ask first-hand if I'm in for a pointless reload game or not.

I'm going for a party as follows:
- PC Vagrant
- Valygar
- Anomen
- Cernd
- Nalia
- Edwin (Minsc while waiting to be able to recruit Edwin)

Questions:
- Is the party good enough (with three weak people), or am I in for hopeless defeat, keeping in mind I'm not a strong tactician?
- I've seen a guy who was going to use Nalia as the main thief. How is that possible? Does that depend on making use of large amounts of Knock spells and avoiding/saving vs. the trap effects, or is there something else?
- If I edit Edwin to be a Sorceror, will this cause problems?
- Ditto for using the patch from Ease of Use to allow him in a good party.


Technicalities: my WeiDU.log is basically a by-the-book IA install (with the exception of WSM, which I cannot imagine being incompatible with anything as far as BG2 is concerned):

CODE

// Log of Currently Installed WeiDU Mods
// The top of the file is the 'oldest' mod
// ~TP2_File~ #language_number #component_number // [Subcomponent Name -> ] Component Name [ : Version]

// Baldurdash 1.12 non-WeiDU goes here.

~SETUP-EASE.TP2~ #0 #0 // Infinite Weapon, Potion and Ring/Amulet Stacking
~SETUP-EASE.TP2~ #0 #3 // True Grand Mastery (extra half-attack, etc.) (Baldurdash)
~SETUP-EASE.TP2~ #0 #4 // Shut Up "You Must Gather Your Party Before Venturing Forth"
~SETUP-EASE.TP2~ #0 #6 // Wear Magical Armor AND Magic Rings (etc.)
~SETUP-EASE.TP2~ #0 #9 // Un-Nerfed THAC0 Table, Saving Throws, Grand-Mastery, and Arcane, Divine Spell Progression (Blucher)
~SETUP-EASE.TP2~ #0 #10 // XP Cap Remover
~SETUP-EASE.TP2~ #0 #14 // Multiple Strongholds (Baldurdash)
~SETUP-EASE.TP2~ #0 #15 // Bonus Merchants (Baldurdash)
~SETUP-EASE.TP2~ #0 #17 // No Drow Avatars On Party In Underdark
~SETUP-EASE.TP2~ #0 #18 // Imoen ToB Dialogue Fix
~SETUP-EASE.TP2~ #0 #20 // Female Edwina
~SETUP-EASE.TP2~ #0 #21 // Romance: Bug Fixes (required for later components).
~SETUP-EASE.TP2~ #0 #25 // Happy: NPCs won't fight with each other or leave the group.
~SETUP-IMPROVEDANVIL.TP2~ #0 #0 // Improved Anvil for SOA & TOB

Tp2 and pre-game suggestions:
- Can you upload (for example in the first post of the Bug Reports Thread) a .zip containing all hot-fixes? Currently, having to hunt them down via the Progress Report Thread looks somewhat cumbersome.
- REQUIRE_FILE ~data\25dialog.bif~ isn't user-friendly for those who have multiple installations and are using older WeiDUs. REQUIRE_PREDICATE (FILE_EXISTS_IN_GAME ~mel01.cre~) has the same effect, but also works if you install IA on a multiple-installs environment.
- (minor) using AT_EXIT ~notepad "ImprovedAnvil\Improved Anvil_readme.txt"~ doesn't work on Mac, Linux, or with newer WeiDUs. AT_EXIT ~view ./"ImprovedAnvil\Improved Anvil_readme.txt"~ is fine in all of these situations. Moreover, it might be worth it to open the other document files as well.

I doubt I'll be able to report anything more useful than "that was too hard for me PLZ nerf them", but I'll try to say useful things at least

[The Bigg]

Regarding the slightly improved Dalok & co.: I was able to draw Dalok away by simply retreating. After that, I was able to rest and the shadow druid didn't re-cast his protections and/or cast Summon Mountain Bears, progressing instead to Call Lightning.

Faldorn: meh, I can't think of a way to do this with a low-level Vagrant and a plain quarter staff. I edited the DLG as it was prior to Multiple Strongholds and did it with Cernd. Wasn't too difficult (what with using Burning hands to interrupt her spells).

Windspear: the Ruhk walked to me (blue-circled), said his line ("Go my minions!") and then walked back to his ambush spot (still blue circled). When raiding his location, he becomes correctly red-circled though. Weird.

This post has been edited by The Bigg: Apr 7 2008, 10:20 PM

[Raven]

Regarding the slightly improved Dalok & co.: I was able to draw Dalok away by simply retreating. After that, I was able to rest and the shadow druid didn't re-cast his protections and/or cast Summon Mountain Bears, progressing instead to Call Lightning.

You'd be better trying to overcome such battles without running away, it's good practice for harder ones (when running away like that is not a possibility).

Faldorn: meh, I can't think of a way to do this with a low-level Vagrant and a plain quarter staff. I edited the DLG as it was prior to Multiple Strongholds and did it with Cernd. Wasn't too difficult (what with using Burning hands to interrupt her spells).

Yes it's hard with a vagrant. If you don't have Larloch's Minor Drain or Vampiric Touch as Bhaalspawn abilities (to interrupt a couple of her spells) it's very tough. As Iroumen says trying to charm the summoned animals with the innate Charm Animal ability is very useful. Since Multiple Strongholds is now recommended in the IA readme I should think about revising the recommended quest order since fighter-type protagonists will struggle against Faldorn.

EDIT: I can't separate Dalok from his companions in the v6 I'm testing so Sikret must have already fixed this.

This post has been edited by Raven: Apr 8 2008, 10:56 AM