Question about fighting Faldorn Options

[geh4th]

I'm a IA beginner, just started my first game on v5.

As with any beginner, I'm trying to adjust to the new tactics required by Improved Anvil.

I'm following the suggested path of early quests to try to keep myself from getting in TOO deep too quickly. I'm currently at the druid grove.

What I can't seem to determine - and can't remember from my days of playing Vanilla BG2, if indeed it was an issue - is how do you arrange for Cernd to fight Faldorn instead of my protagonist? The latter is a Vagrant, who at L8 doesn't seem to stand a chance at defeating Faldorn. I've tried a few times - with no equipment or magic to speak of, I'm wasted almost immediately.

My guess, such as it is, is that with multiple strongholds (Ease of Use) the game considers ME a druid and doesn't give me the option of having Cernd fight Faldorn. Is this theory correct?

Beyond that, is it that I am actually too weak at this point to really consider fighting Faldorn in the pit, and should count this as one of those encounters that I need to return to later? I've seen commentary from others that Faldorn was "too easy", but that might have been in reference to earlier versions of IA.

Thanks in advance to any who respond with information.



Great mod, Sikret. I love what I've seen and read about so far.

geh4th

(p.s. - I wouldn't think that anything I've posted above would be considered a "spoiler". If I cross the line into revealing spoiler-ish info, I'd appreciate it if someone lets me know. I don't want to ever ruin anything for another player, now or in a future post.)

This post has been edited by geh4th: May 28 2008, 08:15 PM

[geh4th]

Well, I don't have a non-Cernd/Jaheira druid in my party, so apparently I'm stuck with...me (Vagrant protagonist.)

I had forgotten what alignment-dependant special abilities you get as a Bhaalspawn, but it's obvious that you don't get any attack spell abilities such as Larloch's minor drain if you're Lawful Good. So that option is out.

I'm also not proficient in the weapon available in the fighting pit, so that hurts too. And I still can't get my inherent charm animal to work (It worked a single time of 4 tries on one load, but I was very close to death at the time and by then it was far too late.)

I realize that many encounters are deliberately designed to be way too tough to handle right away, but it's clear that this one is considered doable based on the suggested walkthrough path. I've read the advice to re-think your combat tactics and try something new, but this seems pretty cut and dried. With only a single first-level divine spell, no equipment, and no applicable special abilities (except one that doesn't seem to work) I just can't see what a Vagrant can do at this level.

I'm missing something but haven't yet seen what it is.

G