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]

As she levels up and gains her improved gear, her chances of hitting the good parts of the wild mage table will grow significantly. But yeah, it's always a bit of a gamble.

Is it possible to check wild mage table somewhere? Just to know what effects I've got and what are the chances.

The entrances to that area are never locked, so you can (and perhaps should) come and go, peeling off the edges gradually. It's an incredibly hard fight to win in one go.

Since I've invested a precious potions (6 of them), I didn't want to rest and loose potion effects.

You did have one final talk to Lavok and brought him out into the street, correct?

Yes. I also checked the process again. Sadly I have a hard save only before Tolgerias, and I realized the problem when autosave and quick saves are after the Sphere. So I reloaded Tolgerias save and just killed everything with Ctrl+Y. When I went back to Lavok, there was just 2 options, one of them to deny him, the other to bring him out. I choose the bring out option. Outside there was not any option, just Lavok said, Sphere is mine. So I am sure this happened in my normal play also.
I don't want to replay Tolgerian + all golems, just to see same thing happening. So I thought I ask first, if I missed anything in the Sphere or outside after the Sphere. I've checked Gambanshee, and I did all thing in Sphere and no mention anything to do after the Sphere. Multiple stronghold option is installed, since I have all other strongholds.