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]

Well, I did Sibel's village several times, and with a little help from Critto (thanks!), I think, I've done all there.
I tried 1st level in WK, but abandoned it. Fanatic Spirit hard, maybe doable with full buffs, but I think it is pointless to do know, because Spider Queen is absolutely out of my power.

Went to Temple Ruins:
Shadow Jailor: Was easy on my level.

2 Shade Liches with Skeleton Lords: Well, first they seemed too hard. No Breach, lot of PfMW. So with a hard brainworking I started remember:
SPOILER!

- Kill skellies, planetar fast.
- Pull away mummies and Mordi sword.
- Keep lich busy with mages casting lot of SI abjuration.
- Keep lich using PfMW to keep summons on them.
- Others party is far away, rebuffing them as needed. Swapping to 2 mages near to lich as needed.
- Be sure, only PfME buffed chars near to lich when he is below half HP. (At one try even a 141 HP kensai died from 3 ADHW).

Shade Lord: Was not so easy on my level as I thought:
Strength drain was hard. I used 2 RRR scrolls to dispel his spell protection, then I breached him continously, but I am not sure if he is immune to Breach or not. I've never seen dispel text in combat log.
Sibel is very strong, killed Shadow Patrik in solo. I moved her and Patrik to altar and lot of shades were destroyed by her Blade Barrier also.