Back, after 14 years Options

[Shadan]

Hi there!

I haven't been here in last 14 years... I've just completed BG3 on tactical with vengeance paladin, and old NPCs in BG3 (like Jaheira, Minsc and Viconia (sadly I had to kill Viconia ) brought back my memories about BG2 and great IA times, so thanks to a sudden urge, I searched on internet and was suprised to see IA is still living and V7 came out, and compatible with EE.
I am thinking on relearning game again, and playing 1-2 IA runs... I have lot of time nowadays...
I've tried to remember what kind of parties did I have in old times.
I remember my start with IA V3.2, gnome F/I protagonist, blade bard (or Hear'Dalis) with his incredible spin, inquisitor with insane dispel (all 3 were nerfed later), usual B->Cleric etc.
I don't really remember to my other runs, just as a V6 playtester I played with necro protagonist and Cernd was my main healer instead of usual R or B -> Cleric.
My last V6 run was melee heavy party: vagrant protagonist, riskbreaker, berserker, swashie, usual R->Cleric, Necro.
As far as I remember, sorcerer, or double sorcerer were also great in the team.

Now, I see in V7 some other NPCs and suclasses are buffed, rebalanced. I am a little clueless about protagonist and party composition. As far as I see new rog NPC is good, also Mazzy is buffed to hell. So any recommendation is welcome on this topic (and on weapon proficiencies).

I am still playing my 2nd BG3 run (honor mode, but more than 1 save ) with a bard. When I finished this, maybe I start an IA run. Nowadays I have less patience, and I am getting bored in things easily, so I am not sure if I will have a strength and patience for IA, but I will see it.

Cheers,
Shadan

[Shadan]

Pekkae, thanks for advice! May I ask why do u make difference between avanger or auramaster regarding to Neera class?

I don't really likes multiclass characters because of slow spell progression.
Multi F/C has more melee potential in endgame from HLAs compared to dual F->C, but the dual one has much faster spell progression. Hopefully there ere 1-2 new good cleric HLAs, I don't know.
Wizard multiclasses similar, but better imho, since in high end difiicult fights, cleric usually buffs and heals, not too much time to melee. Multi F/M-es on the other hand are just fighters, even in end game, with better protection from spells, and their main role are to go into melee as other fighters. So fighter HLAs are more usefull on them as on F/C ones.

Thanks for welcome, Critto!

Fast question: As I see EE newest edition is 2.6 on Steam. If I buy that, can I backroll to 2.5? As far as I saw, IA works only on 2.5, doesn't it? Or do u have any other place to download 2.5 from?

I run through the posts in 2024 (pekkae run, nicoper run etc.), my plan V1.0 is the following:

1: Avanger or Shaman protonist: Druid is must because of new content, and I played auramaster with Cernd earlier. I am unsure however which one I chose.
2. Sibel, dualled to cleric at start.
3. Riskbreaker dual weapon flail+axe. I've played this subclass earlier 2-3 times as mercenary, but I saw there is a new weapon for them, and they are quite powerful. Maybe I change Imoen to RB, stolen the concept from Nicoper. I don't know yet, how should I do this.
4. Hesitating between kensai 2hander and Mazzy. Kensai is incredible offensive power, but Mazzy has a new content, hasn't it? And maybe 2 AC tank (Sibel and Mazzy) aren't needed...
5. Again a choice: Neera as wild mage or wizard slayer. Both are buffed as far as I red from Sikret.
6. Nalia as sorcerer.

[pekkae]

Pekkae, thanks for advice! May I ask why do u make difference between avanger or auramaster regarding to Neera class?

Well, np. I hope it's some use though there are numerous IA legends active again, so they might have more precise opinions than I do .

Avenger works nicely with Sorceror, for you don't need AoP for the druid's amulet. But if you are playing Auramaster (which is tremendous fun), then you need AoP for druid's amulet. And Wild Mages have class specific amulet, which brings the important -1 to casting time. Alternatively you could use Imoen, as she has her amulet which again doesn't overlap. And Imoen can then use Vecna. End result is similar'ish anyway.

I don't really likes multiclass characters because of slow spell progression.
Multi F/C has more melee potential in endgame from HLAs compared to dual F->C, but the dual one has much faster spell progression. Hopefully there ere 1-2 new good cleric HLAs, I don't know.
Wizard multiclasses similar, but better imho, since in high end difiicult fights, cleric usually buffs and heals, not too much time to melee. Multi F/M-es on the other hand are just fighters, even in end game, with better protection from spells, and their main role are to go into melee as other fighters. So fighter HLAs are more usefull on them as on F/C ones.

That's of course true, but for F/M there's a potent potion that remedies this a little bit. And yes, there are very effective new HLA's for cleric's including a nice summon! And yup, in my games the multi F/M is basicly a fighter with wizard spells to protect it. It's a very effective combination for my style at least.

Fast question: As I see EE newest edition is 2.6 on Steam. If I buy that, can I backroll to 2.5? As far as I saw, IA works only on 2.5, doesn't it? Or do u have any other place to download 2.5 from?

I play on the latest 2.6.6.0 (I don't know how to roll back, hah!). The two things that are broken is limited wish globes & sometimes elemetals don't summon properly. So not much imho.

I run through the posts in 2024 (pekkae run, nicoper run etc.), my plan V1.0 is the following:

1: Avanger or Shaman protonist: Druid is must because of new content, and I played auramaster with Cernd earlier. I am unsure however which one I chose.
2. Sibel, dualled to cleric at start.
3. Riskbreaker dual weapon flail+axe. I've played this subclass earlier 2-3 times as mercenary, but I saw there is a new weapon for them, and they are quite powerful. Maybe I change Imoen to RB, stolen the concept from Nicoper. I don't know yet, how should I do this.
4. Hesitating between kensai 2hander and Mazzy. Kensai is incredible offensive power, but Mazzy has a new content, hasn't it? And maybe 2 AC tank (Sibel and Mazzy) aren't needed...
5. Again a choice: Neera as wild mage or wizard slayer. Both are buffed as far as I red from Sikret.
6. Nalia as sorcerer.

1. Avenger is probably the easiest. Couple it with Cernd, Sibel, Imoen (Sorceror), RB + Barb or a Vagrant and you'll have a blast! That's 4 really good fighter and 2 overblownly effective spellcasters.
2. This is the most OP version. I think.
3. This also doens't overlap with anything weapons wise, so the most powerful equipment is distributed among the rest of the crew
4. Mazzy is awesome. Her only "problem" is that some of the items are overlapping with other equipmet, so you have to make a few tough calls (very late game though....)
5. Can Neera be a wizard slayer? I didn't know that, haha!
6. Would use Neera / Imoen, because of their items. But Nalia most likely works nicely as well! (didn' know she can be sorceror?)

Hope this is of use!

This post has been edited by pekkae: Dec 19 2024, 12:21 AM