Newbie questions about IA Options

[Dementia]

Hi everybody!

I'm new to Improved Anvil and have heard a lot of good about it.

I have a few questions before playing:

i) I see a lot of talk about playing mage or vagrant, but I really like playing some kind of cleric ie C/R or C/F or a pure cleric. Can I enjoy IA without playing vagrant or mage?

ii) I don't consider myself a very good tactician, can I enjoy IA without being too frustrated. I accept reloads. But I would hate to sit a whole day not getting further. I would skip very tough challenges like the slaver compund but otherwise follow the plot and most else.

iii) I do like the banters of NPC does IA change that?

iv) Will I have to make custom NPC's? I would prefer to use Bioware's NPC or a few other like Xan, Auren or Kivan.

v) I never played ToB before, well I remember years ago I tried the big dungeon (I don't remember the name) but I didn't come through. Will that matter if I intend to play IA?

ahh well I think I got most of my questions. Thanks for your help in advance

Dementia

[geh4th]

I'm still relatively new myself, but I'll try fielding these for you.

1) The most new content for extended stronghold quests (as of IA 5.0) is for the Mage and Vagrant classes. That's why they're heavily suggested. Vagrants in addition will have access to some of the most powerful item upgrades available. I'd check out the item upgrades document in the read me in detail.

2) You might not be a very good tactician now, but IA will teach you that by hard knocks. I'd advise that you follow the pinned "suggested quest order" initially to avoid particularly hard early battles. Many places and encounters you might be used to tackling early are way too strong to try beating early in IA. Learn to recognize when you're in over your head and go do something your group is more capable of instead. You'll find yourself partially completing lots of quests and coming back to finish them later.

Check this forum if you're having trouble with a particular battle or type of creature. Most of what you might ask will probably have been asked already, but don't ruin it for yourself by reading too many spoilers. The fun is in the seeing stuff for the first time. Don't cheat or be cheesy when fighting encounters, you only hurt yourself (there's a thread about that); but reloading is a way of life when learning and certainly isn't considered cheating.

And get used to tough mages and very strong new monster types.

3) I don't think IA affects banters in any fashion.

4) You certainly don't HAVE to make any custom NPC's, but you can. I'd suggest considering a custom sorcerer, they rock in IA. Imoen is a sorceress, so you might not need a custom Sorcerer past getting her back if you don't want two. If you want to use Xan or another 3rd-party mod NPC, be sure to read the readme for any known compatibility issues. Also, some mods add items that are imbalancing in the early stages of the game (Xan comes to mind.)

5) Throne of Bhaal: Once you've survived even the earliest of IA improved battles and monsters, you'll begin to learn how to apply new skills at tougher and tougher encounters. I doubt you'll even notice game play being any harder once you get to ToB. I haven't yet been that far but that's my impression.


Good luck and above all, BE PATIENT. I wasn't, initially, and got a little bit discouraged. Do NOT lose faith, just reload a bad encounter and try again, unless it's obviously beyond your party's ability. Emphasis: the suggested quest order is a great way to start.

[Dementia]

1) The most new content for extended stronghold quests (as of IA 5.0) is for the Mage and Vagrant classes. That's why they're heavily suggested. Vagrants in addition will have access to some of the most powerful item upgrades available. I'd check out the item upgrades document in the read me in detail.

Ahh so it requires planning ahead? Is it recommended to focus on a particular item to build or should I just see what falls off?
So a party could be this:
Vagrant (PC)
Imoen
Jaheira
Minsc
a sorc/mage
some other guy...

I don't really know about the vagrant. Is the summons good? Where do I find stats about these swans?

2) You might not be a very good tactician now, but IA will teach you that by hard knocks. I'd advise that you follow the pinned "suggested quest order" initially to avoid particularly hard early battles. Many places and encounters you might be used to tackling early are way too strong to try beating early in IA. Learn to recognize when you're in over your head and go do something your group is more capable of instead. You'll find yourself partially completing lots of quests and coming back to finish them later.

Will I get enough xp to handle ie Windspear hills (Firkraag) or the planar sphere after those initial quests?

3) I don't think IA affects banters in any fashion.

That's a shame, can I use the Banterpack and others like that affecting banters?

4) You certainly don't HAVE to make any custom NPC's, but you can. I'd suggest considering a custom sorcerer, they rock in IA. Imoen is a sorceress, so you might not need a custom Sorcerer past getting her back if you don't want two. If you want to use Xan or another 3rd-party mod NPC, be sure to read the readme for any known compatibility issues. Also, some mods add items that are imbalancing in the early stages of the game (Xan comes to mind.)

I understand sorcs are popular (I never really liked them as I'm a bit oldfashioned) but why are they so good compared to mages in IA? I will not use Xan then it he's cheating...

5) Throne of Bhaal: Once you've survived even the earliest of IA improved battles and monsters, you'll begin to learn how to apply new skills at tougher and tougher encounters. I doubt you'll even notice game play being any harder once you get to ToB. I haven't yet been that far but that's my impression.

I heard of EDE from one of my friends. Can I avoid that?

Good luck and above all, BE PATIENT. I wasn't, initially, and got a little bit discouraged. Do NOT lose faith, just reload a bad encounter and try again, unless it's obviously beyond your party's ability. Emphasis: the suggested quest order is a great way to start.

Ok thanks I'll try. I hope to get as many tips & tricks from you folks around here.

I understand also, that I have to use Baldurdash. Why is that, because I use to use the Fixpack which I guess there's some good modding reason for. Can I have other questadding materials installed? Are there any recommended? Where do I find that Ease of Use? Is that maintained?

How does the randomizer work? I like that idea it makes the game better. Thanks for that.

[Vuki]

Ahh so it requires planning ahead? Is it recommended to focus on a particular item to build or should I just see what falls off?
So a party could be this:
Vagrant (PC)
Imoen
Jaheira
Minsc
a sorc/mage
some other guy...

Planning is really required! One of the real pain in the game is that you have to make tough decisioan how to spend your money. Money is a real issue in the game. Most of the upgrades are very expensive: just check the item file in the IA document directory and you will see what I am talking about. My strategy is at the moment is to buy only those items that can be used in later upgrades (so, no Harmonium Halberd), the only exception was the Nymph cloack (because it gives +2 charisma).

There is one problem in playing with a sorcerer: the spell selection is not easy. It is a good idea to start a dummy game and check the spell selection for Imoen (she is a sorcerer now) and do the same to your sorcerer (of course in a new game). Spells like Larloch's Minor Drain, Vampirich Touch, Emotion, Sunfire, Spell Immunity are all obligatory to pick up in the game (and do not forget to pick up the new spells against golems!).

In generally you need the following in the game:
- 1 main and one assistant mage
- one single class main priest (can be a dual)
- 1 tank (best is maybe a blade and he can be also your assistant mage - this guy is a 2 in 1)
- 2-3 single class warriors
- maybe a thief but it is not essential (Ryel like the idea to dual a swashbuckler from 10th level to a warrior, it has less HP but more versatile and has better +2 AC/THAC0/damage)

I prefer dual-class against multi but it is up to you. But be prepared that your multi class character could learn HLA much later in the game than single class characters. I see no reason to start a game with a single class cleric, intead of it use a dual class (berserker or ranger).

I am also not an expert in IA, so if I told something not true than guys, please do not hesitate to comment it!