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]

I checked the problem, and I found that Combat stats page blank only in combat. All other characters have a full combat stats and out of combat RB has also a full detailed Combat stats page.
I just wanted to check in combat what you, Critto, wrote about to hit rolls.

Are these spells removed from IA?
Minor Sequencer
Sunfire
Spell Sequencer

You can ger more potions from roger the fence + soon you'll get gian strength the spell, I always pretty much end up just using that one instead of potions in almost all of the fights.

Thanks. I knew Roger, just I don't want to buy potion until it is absolutely needed. I have Giant Strength spell, just I use Heal, summon, Wondrous Recall (for Chaotic Commands) as lvl 6 spells yet. Avanger protagonist and Sibel using DUHM to reach 22-23 strength in fights (imho it is better than Righteous Magic, because last longer and raise other stats also). Kensai is half-orc with 19 strenth, Giant Strength spell gives 20, so not worth a lvl 6 slot. On Nalia maybe, RB has 18/00, so it is questionable.

Progression:
Jaheira quest
Slavers in Slums: Charged from sewers. That mage was hard, because he was able to dispel my whole party. My only hope was to kick him out with Emotion or Chaos. It took like 6-8 tries. Avenger died 2 times from named slaver and assassins. One time wizard fell from Emotion, but I stepped into trap at stairs, and RB died. Wizard passed save against Emotion/Chaos in few tries, but when he fell 2nd time, I wanted to disarm trap before I move up to him. I don't know if it is possible in combat, because Sibel went near to trap, turned searching on, and wanted to wait, but Sibel headlessly run into trap because he wanted to attack the wizard. Luckily he survived, so fight was over.
Killed crypt king and queen.
Then I was clueless. I thought I could try pirates in dock tavern, I have 2 IH + RB inner IH. Buffed up, but it were hopeless 3-4 tries. Coordinator is untouchable, and dispel my whole party.

Now I am planning Ashidena guardians (maybe 3 IH is enough). and I read in journals, there are spiders in ogre tower at druid grove.
Than I will try Paina and De'Arnise Keep 2nd level.
I hope they are doable with lvl 11 fighters, lvl 12 mages.

This post has been edited by Shadan: Dec 29 2024, 03:46 AM

[DequNew]

Are these spells removed from IA?
Minor Sequencer
Sunfire
Spell Sequencer

They are in game, just bit harder to find ( Minor Sequencer maybe in some shops Watchers keep/Thieves shops in streets night time), Sunfire in Adventures mart Scroll shop I think.

Pirates are doable, but coordinator needs poke in to make some hits, move away/evade start of round not staying near it. But that is tiresome tactic.

I think your team can poke in Shadow Temple ruins, Shadow Jailor should be doable and early part of temple until meet liches (they also doable, but you need find tactic (skeletons to time consume to exaust all PFMW and 1 PFME or Ring of Victor for ultimate disruption tool)). Then Watchers Keep first level easy content. Then testing Windspear Hills dungeon inside. Mencar Pebblecrusher and Party should be doable.

This post has been edited by DequNew: Dec 29 2024, 05:36 AM