Yet. Yet another journal., Turbocharging Shaman & maximising exp & skipping difficulty Options

[pekkae]

Journal Part 0. Prologue.

Welcome. Again.

Ahem. Will play super slowly. (edit: have actually pretty much stormed past the initial encounters)

We're trying to skip some of the most difficult things in the game while maximising exp. And also, we'll be turbocharging our Shaman throughout the game. We'll also ben the rules for a little bit to try some uncoventional things.

So yet again we are not aiming to survive, we are aiming to anhilate. Every an all content in the mod. We think we have what it takes. Ahem. Again.

The Rules

- No non-protagonist related forgin
- We rolled a 96 for our PC (I have a screen cap to prove it =))
- 92 pts for the custom character(s) we have
- We have tomes from bg1 to spread among the crew
- Max HP's for NPC's
- Rotating crew in the beginning, one change towards the end
- Insane all the way
- T/M can use Githzerai Blade. I mean, thiefs can use Katana's so ... I don't get why it's not available?
- Ribald's exteneded store sells Amulet of Master Harper

!! Some items are treated as consumables. Like ring of danger sense (it will give permanent bonus to detect traps). Ditto for reaching ring (S/M will get it) & the druid's ring for extra 5th & 7th level spell slot. Will not spend time on swapping rings

We are going to max out our XP throughout the game. That is the key reason we're taking a Thief with as well.


***

The crew:

Vagrant

Late game tanking, great summons. Str 18, Dex 18, Con 19, Int 9, Wis 12, Cha 18.


Jaheira

Early game comprehensively OP character. Summons Clan Spirits, so an additional damage dealing machine.


Neera

Because her personal item is superb. Early access to swords, trolls + 5 improved hastes.


Swashbuckler/Mage

We need a thief. This should be about the best possible version, combining both effective melee with really good casting ability.


Aerie the Shaman

Aerie, but a Shaman. Shall get a personal item. We haven't decided yet, but +2 spells per level seems like an "IA standard" or so. Not sure what else we should do with it. We'll decide later.


The last slot

Custom DD early game, switch to Keldorn the Undead Hunter later on (90% sure this will happen but one never knows)


***

This post has been edited by pekkae: Mar 19 2024, 02:01 PM

Attached File(s)

 xxxxxxx_cap_bg2.png ( 32.65k ) Number of downloads: 7

 

[pekkae]

Journal, part 4.

So we hop on to ToB.

Illasera

Meh. Just whack. Get all spawns.


Gromnir

Jaheira takes spell turning + minor globe, spirit form for Shaman. And normal buffs. It's rather fun. Though Karun the Black is cheating, since we can't dispel it. Karun causes some troubles but our -2 Shaman handles them easily.

***
Rornach's horn is here. Now DD can reach -33 vs Crushing unbuffed & non dispellable.
***

Berenn

The fire giant enclave has no answer for our double mage (with acid arrows & co's & cone's of cold etc.). DD takes elemental, it's becoming increasingly straightforward those ones with -33 effecgtive AC + all elemental protections.


Nyalee

Well, there's barbarian essences here. DD clocks the doorway at the entrance together with Shaman and the rest whack spiders. We get maybe 5-10 rounds after grandlords are spawned.


Yaga-Shura

Summon an army tactic rules supreme here as well. Keep the bodyguards at a distance. EFG's get remove magic's & acid / lightning / cold damage from mages. The double-caster setup works wonderfully here. For Yaga Shura we 3xpierce shield, gm + doom + try to stun but were not succesfull, though Yaga Shura falls to our army & H2H. Shaman drops a few call lightnings though, which is nice.


Oasis

CC in a few swords. Shaman regens everything & keeps healing throughout the fight. DD with -33AC vs crushing makes it through with little help while taking on 2-3 gems almost throughout the fight.


Amkerthran

Do all if the minor things + forge heartwood ring + montolio's cloak. Ring goes to Shaman and cloak to PC.


Sendai's Enclave

Mid way through Sendai's enclave we are at 400k in monies and we don't have a single thing to forge. We are not even relying on summons anymore, just whack away. I think we get a decent amount of Skellys from the lich. The mano-a-mano fight is the most troublesome here. We manage with AC maxing and a few potions though (+ start the fight with 2xRvE:Regen (we're still not sure if it works like that). Sendai herself is very straightforward, Neera in the middle controls everything, debuffs, damages & buffs our crew. When golems appear she is under IA and just 8xLR + GM + 5-7x PO them into chickens. Sendai's Pet takes a little bit of time but with 4 capable fighters + CS + 2xSwanmays is just a breeze.


**
The crew is so powerful we can just whack away most of the encounters without tactics or "max summons & max prebuffs".

Status

Vagrant (PC): Level 36, 305 HP, AC -16 (-23 with shield), Thac0 -16 / -12, (can reach 85%D DR)
STR 24, DEX 19, CON 21, INT 9, WIS 14, CHA 22
Stuff: Red Coral Armour, Gauntlets of Weapon Expertise, Indigo Ioun Stone, Wooden Horse Necklace, cloak +2, Protector of Woods, RoP +2, Girdle of Lordly Might, Boots of the Ranger Lord
Weapons: Mostly Axe of the Lakesider +5 / Flail of Ages & FoDW off-hand
MPV: Demon Prince
total exp value 26% / 26%
percentage of total kill 26% / 26%

Minsc (Dwarven Defender): Level 39, 243HP, AC -26 (effective AC is between -29 and -33) Thac0 -17 (has +100 resistances in fire & electricity)
STR 25, DEX 18, CON 19, INT 9, WIS 9, CHA 9
Stuff: Great Wyrm Scale, Rornach's Horn, Gauntlets of extraordinary specialization, Talisman +2, cloak +2, Ring of Gaxx +3, RoP +2, Girdle of Bluntness, paws of the cheetah
Weapons: Hammer of Thor / K'logarath / SSoM + supreme shelter off-hand
MVP: Green Wyrm
total exp value 23% / 23%
percentage of total kill 27% / 29%

Jaheira: Level 39, 155HP, AC -10, Thac0 -5 / 0 (can reach -17 buffed)
STR 17, DEX 18, CON 16, INT 10, WIS 22, CHA 11
Stuff: Shadow Dragon Scale, Paws of the Furious Cat, Helm of Balduran, Harper's Ward, cloak +2, 2xRoP +2, Girdle of Fire Giant Strength, Paws of Cheetah
Weapons: Golem Slayer / Ixil's Spike or Spectral brand + Yamato off-hand
MVP: Ancient Dragon
total exp value 23% / 29%
percentage of total kill 19% / 21%

Imoen (Swashbuckler/Mage): Level 9/37, 125HP (reaches 270 or so with RvE:+50% & TT), AC -18 (reaches -24+bonuses), Thac0 -4/0 (reaches -16)
STR 23, DEX 18, CON 16, INT 18, WIS 18, CHA 6
Stuff: Vecna, Hood of the honorless, Amulet of Master Harper, Indigo Ioun Stone, RoP +2, Rop +4, Cloak +2, Cloud giant girdle, Paws of cheetah
Weapons: Githzerai Blade / Rimed Club +4 & Waters Edge off-hand
MPV: Supreme Golem
total exp value 15% / 11%
percentage of total kill 15% / 11%

Neera: Level 35, 95HP, AC -2 (30% resistance to magic / fire / cold / electricity / acid)
STR 11, DEX 14, CON 16, INT 10, WIS 18, CHA 11
Stuff: Greater Robe of Invocation, Bracers of defense AC4, Circlet of Netheril, AoP, Rop +2, Cloak +2, Ring of Acuity, BoIB, paws of the cheetah
Weapons: Royal Elemental Staff
MVP: Chromatic Demon
total exp value 8% / 6%
percentage of total kill 8% / 6%

Aerie (Shaman): Level 35, 142HP, AC -12, Thac0 -1
STR 20, DEX 18, CON 16, INT 16, WIS 16, CHA 14
Stuff: Aeries personal item (AC 1, +2spells per level, -3 save vs death), the brawling hands, Circlet of Golden Flowers, heart of mountain, RoP +2, Heartwood Ring, Cloak +2, Stone giant str girdle, paws of cheetah
Weapons: Noble Staff of Earth
MPV: Viper Queen
total exp value 2% / 2%
percentage of total kill 3% / 3%

**

Neera
1st: Armor, Chromatic Orb, Magic Missile, Nahal's Reckless Dweomer, Shield
2nd: Agannazar's Scorcher, Blur, Melf's Acid Arrow, Mirror Image, Resist Fear
3rd: Flame Arrow, Remove Magic, Slow, Vampiric Touch, lightning bolt
4th: Emotion, Greater Malison, Polymorph Other, Stoneskin, improved invisibility
5th: Breach, Cone of Cold, Lower Resistance, Spell Immunity, sunfire
6th: Chain Lightning, Improved Haste, Protection from Magic Weapons, Goi, Giant Strength
7th: Limited Wish, Mordenkainen's Sword, Ruby Ray of Reversal, prismatic spray, Spell Sequencer
8th: Foreknowledge, Monster Summoning 8, Spell Trigger, ADHW, Pritection from Energy
9th: Chain Contingency, Comet, Dragon's Breath, Energy Blades, Improved Alacrity, MS9, Recast Vital Energy, Summon Planetar, Wish


Shaman:
1st: Armor of Faith, Bless, Doom, Mend Light Wounds, Spirit Ward
2nd: Alicorn Lance, Barkskin, Charm Person or Mammal, Resist Fear, Resist Fire & Cold, Slow Poison, Soothing Fog
3rd: Call Lightning, Dispel Magic, Mend Medium Wounds, Protection from Fire, Protection from Cold, Spiritual Clarity, Zone of Sweet Air
4th: Cause Serious Wounds, Defensive Harmony, Free Action, Mend Serious Wounds, Protection from Lightning, Spirit Fire, Spiritual Weapon
5th: Chaotic Commands, Entropy Shield, Insect Plague, Iron Skins, Mend Group, Recall Spirit, True Seeing
6th: Conjure Animals, Fire Seeds, Harm, Impervious Sanctity of the Mind, Mend Body, Primal Ward, Wonderous Recall
7th: Animal Summoning IV, Creeping Doom, Elemental Summoning, Greater Elemental Summoning, Ethereal Retribution, Fire Storm, Foreknowledge, Globe of Blades, Healing Ward, Implosion, Sense of Limbo, SoA, Storm Shell, Storm of Vengeance
***


Abazigail

We exp max throughout Abazigails lair. This is such a fun fight. Double mages with MM's, AA's & Flame Arrows pretty much handle business here. Whack initial form, Neera does ia, Shaman drops sense of limbo on her, Neera moves in, removes protections, breaches, 4xLR and then mirror images. Once Abaxigail starts casting true sight Imoen (the S/M) moves in and then they release 28xflame arrows and some 20 MM's and that's pretty much it. We also drop some 20 AA's but we're bot sure how many hit in the end.

***
Stuffs left to do: Balthazar & Ede (if we do it). We get the flail head so we can now forge FoA +5, which we won't need in the remaining fights. Our wares are massive.

We have

500k in monies
10 manuals of elaboration(!)
8 permanency scrolls
2 scroll of memory boosting
36 barbarian essences
50 vials of oil of resurgerence
40 scrolls of pfme
80 scrolls of pfmw
50 scrolls of rror
50 scrolls of breach
19 potions of invulnerability
2 full containers of scrolls
2 full containers of other potions (strenght, absorption, insulation)
40 potions of fire resistance (didn't need em in the demofight)
40 potions of acid resistance
etc.

***

Balthazar

Walk in, ih & smite the monks and balthazar.


Ede

Haha. Well, we would haven been overcompetent even without help. But with additional destruction at our side, it should be a breeze though. Won't spoil it.

(edit: it wasn't a breeze through, it was really difficult. we have to adjust immensily. here's where no necro really hurts, as we need to use S/M for buffing (Shaman is too slow and Neera doesn't have the necessary buffs). Which hurts the overall performance as the S/M's damage is away from H2H)


*** a few end notes ***

S/M reached level 37 while Neera reached level 36. We took AI as our last 9th level spell. We "gave up" about 200k of exp in the demofight and some 200k exp (per character) in the supreme golem fight, there was no way we could have made it while getting all spawns. At least I don't think so.

Maximising exp is a lot of fun and Shaman brings some incredibly powerful abilities for this specific strategy. Shaman, combined with a DD or a Berserker/Cleric makes for an ultimate AC tank, which is superbly useful and viable strategy for a play-through. Also, the "max summons, max prebuffs" technique works wonders once you start getting some more powerful summons. It's a little bit different attacking a particular area / enemy with 5x Swanmays, CS, 2xSmilodons, Noble Spider, Greater Djinn, Sunnis and a planetar than + maybe 4-5 trolls/greater yuan-ti's, than only the trolls / greater yuan ti's. Cheating with wish (ih on everyone) becomes insanely powerful then, as well as Shaman's "mend group", which in practice keeps your crew from getting wiped away.

This was much fun and it's a great time to close the journal as the summer is here, and the terraces are open. Wohoo!

Thanks again for all of the work you've put into this.

This post has been edited by pekkae: May 28 2024, 11:16 PM