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]

Did you do Greater Malison on him beforehand?

No. I didn't want to waste a round, becuuse if GR. Malison, then Emotion, he maybe cast out one dispel. Sometimes 2 Emotion is better then 1 Gr. Malison and 1 Emotion.

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.

Thanks! I've found Minor Seq and Sunfire. I am thinking on a new idea: 2 Webs in Minor Seq. With two casters, that means 4 Web. Does it work? Do enemies have to roll save against each Web invidually in every round?

I've bought some scrolls: Limited Wish, 2 PfMW, 2 Sunfire, 2 Minor Seq, PfNM, 2 Gr. Malison.
Forged: Paws of the Furious Cat, Yeti Hide Cloak, Iron Horn of Valhalla.

Figured out, that 2 different caster means 2 Enchanted Weapons, so Nalia has two +3 longswords.

Progress:
Ashideena guardians
Paina: perma Scroll, yeah!
Spiders in Ogre Tower: Belm for RB.
Chaos: it was hard, because 7 Call Lightning after a Gr. Malison were not enough. So I recruited Cernd back, and took like 12 Call Lightning to kill him. I dont't know how to kill him with only Cernd, if my protagonist is not a druid.

Now I am trying to do do De'Arnise Keep. I will start with Yuan-ti mage + trolls and vengeance trolls. I will try the 4 Webs tactic here.