V7 run, after loooong break Options

[Shadan]

So, I will try to write my experiences with the game after a very long break from BG2.
No mods. only EoU, IA and IA Tweaks.


Started with:
Avanger prot: club**, dual w*, and then scimitar *
Custom RB: Flail ***, dual w***
Half-orc kensai: 2Hsowrd****, 2HW**

In Irenicus dungeon I relearned to handle the game... Traps and locks caused a problem, then I went for Yoshi (swapped Jaheira out), and was surprised when he didn't find traps also. Well, then I realized trap finding is a clickable skill...
Since I played DnD 2e since 1989 for more than 10+ years, then came v3.0, v3.5, Pathfinder etc., so I remember on spells quite good, but I was surprised when MAA DoT was not applied. Then I realized spells are changed in IA quite a lot, so I had to relearn them again.
Lesser elementals caused me a problem, I was not able to damage them with weapons. Imoen's spells were not enough to kill all 3 of them. At end I realized maybe summons can help, rested and bears + clan member killed them very fast.
I was a bit afraid of Ilyich, because I remember on my first IA game, when he killed my protagonist several times and I was hardly able to kill him. Now he was walk in the park. However my tactical skills in this game still abysmal.
PC used Str, 3 Wis and Cha tomes. RB used Con tome.

After the dungeon, I picked Sibel. Suddenly after an IRL memory flash I remembered that donation in temple is good in IA. So after a several tries and forum search I donated 4600 gold to get 3 reputations.

Then I did Circus, recruited Aerie. Moved to Slums. Killed annoying guy in Copper Coronet. Recruited Nalia as F->M (swapped out Minsc), recruited Anomen, Korgan and Hexxat. Leveled up Hexxat, increasing her PP skill in hope maybe later I can try some pick pocket things with her. Nalia used Int tome. Got Windspear Hills map. Then Bridge to trigger Neera. Government to get Umar map. Gate to get Trademeet quest.

Wild Forest. Swapped Nalia to Neera. Well, 2 ogres from polymorph trap used hardiness and GWW... Was a big surprise and a big death. Killed them on 2nd try.
Anyway I did 2 minor quests in Hidden Refugee, and left to Umar Hills.

A question: Shall I pay for Cowled Wizards later? I remember that in first BG2 runs, I've never payed, just killed them. But in IA maybe it is too much hindrace to skip arcane magic in the town.

This post has been edited by Shadan: Dec 21 2024, 11:26 PM

[Shadan]

Weapon proficiencies are not so important for all classes those can't achieve grandmastery. You have enough points to put ** in several weapons and you can freely change weapons as the situation demands.
However with grandmastery, especially fighter who can grandmaster in any weapons, you have to choose 2 weapons and reach grandmastery in them. When you are grandmaster in a weapon, it is not too wise to change to a weapon with * or ** unless enemy resistance demands it.

My progress:
Companion quests: Anomen, Cernd, Hexxat (exc. last one), Korgan, Jan, Neera, Rashaad (left him in the monk order).
Opened Planar Sphere with Valyga.
Wilson quest was strange. I remember the quest was in my quest log. After I finished Rashaad quest, and saved Wilson, Hidden Refugee was destroyed. I went to thayan enclave, cleared it, back to Hidden Refugee, then I bpought Wilson back, but there wasn't any reaction from Zaviak and I don't find the Wilson quest in my log. Maybe I missed something or I didn't start the quest because I have often to reload cause of my mistakes...
Temple mission: Sir Sarles (Borinall and Amber golem was still too hard)
Lilalcor: Shadow Lover was hard. I realized I need slash/pierce weapons. I bought Spear of Kuldahar, but still I didn't have enught DPS, because her AC was too high. so RB, kensai and Nalisa used giant strength potions (fire " 2 cloud) and 3 heroism potions. 4 bear + clan hunter, max. buffs. Bears were mostly damage soalers in first 2-3 turns. But I won the fight. I hope I won't miss those potions later...
Xzar and Montaron
Tanova encounter: That was especially hard... On the street, so no arcane magic. Buffed up in CC, but Neg Pl. Prot. is very short, and was dispelled by Tanova. I killed 2 vampires very fast, but Tanova needed +3 weapons, and I don't have many of them yet. And I forgot the +3 short sword on Hexaat, who doesn't want to join back for a while.

Forged Iron Horn of Valhalla, and I am planning to buy several scrolls, like Gr. Malison. I hope I don't waste too much money...

I am playing with LOT of reload. Luckily my power computer reload game instantly. I don't remember on enemies, quests etc. so I work with trial and error to learn which encounters are doable and which aren't. For example Planar Prison (Haer'dalis) and Borinall was too hard. And even fights which are winable, I have to learn enemies weak points by trials.

Another strange thing: Combat stats page of my RB is a blank page. All other characters have a combat stat page with full of detailed stats, only the RB missing this. I don1t really know why...

This post has been edited by Shadan: Dec 28 2024, 07:14 PM