While we are waiting Options

[Shaitan]

So I've made ready my line up for a game with ver. 4,3 installed. Rather I've two lineups:

The first will be with a party consisting of:
Me T->C dual hammer/maces or hammer or flail
Jaheira (romance) dual scimitar/club
Keldorn two handed
Valygar dual katanas?
Nalia->Immy Shortbow
Xan ?

The second will be:
me F/M dual long swords / flail or hammer?
Ariella (custommade T->C) Slings
Jaheira (romance - what a surprise) dual scimitar/club
Valygar dual katanas?
Kivan Longbow
Nalia->Immy Shortbow

Don't know yet wich to choose... thus I would like some opinions.

I'll have the following mods:
Kelsey SoA+ToB
Allison
Kivan
Xan
Auren
Enhanced BG2
Dungeon Crawl
Tower of Deception
BanterPacks
something from EoU
and ofcourse IA

What say you?

[JohnGalt]

I plan on changing the kits of some of the bioware NPCs before starting a new game. Afterwards, party selection will be by role playing my PC. For example, if the PC needs to resurrect Edwin 3 times in one play session, he might decide to kick Edwin out due to his ineffectiveness. Or if Haer'Dalis makes an insightful comment about how Yoshimo is bearing "heavy chains", maybe the PC is convinced there more to Yoshi than he's revealing and he'll get kicked out.

I guess I'll take Viconia along for the whole ride though, because I've never played with her.

[Sikret]

If a player's priortiy is to see more new content and quests, here is the list of the quests which have some kind of requirements. Those not mentioned don't have any particular requirement.

- Expanded Mage Stronghold: Protagonist is a sorcerer or a mage (single/multi/dual)

- Danger at horbors (Or 'Is it safe to go to Cromwell anymore?'): Protagonist is a pure single-class mage or a sorcerer + Memory of the Apprenti is forged.

- Encounter with Orcus (Prince of the Undead): Grave Lich is defeated; No class requirements.

- Expanded Ranger Stronghold: Protagonist is a ranger.
( - The mystery of the Shimmering Light: Requires 20 reputation.
- The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: Protagonist is vagrant)

- Post-Firkraag Adventures: Protagonist is not evil, reputation 20, Firkraag has been killed for at least one week.

- The mystery of the Third Color: Amariel is not betrayed to drows

- Encounter with Spider Queen: Pai'Na is defeated

- Clash of powers: No special requirements, though it has both good and evil paths to follow.

- Judgement Day (part 1): Protagonist is single-class good aligned warrior, the Supreme Leader of Githyankis is defeated.

- Judgement Day (part 2): Protagonist is single-class good aligned warrior, JD sword is forged.

- Epic Divine Encounter: No special requirements, though mage protagonist may have a different experience than others.

Other new quests or encounters (including 'Deeper than the Underdark') have no special requirements.

Hmm, perhaps I should post this as a separate message and pin it, eh?

This post has been edited by Sikret: Sep 17 2007, 06:01 AM

[Shaitan]

Yes, perhaps your post alone would be good as a guideline to new players (or older)

[Raven]

- Judgement Day: Protagonist is single-class good aligned warrior, JD sword is forged.

Does this mean that to face the second battle of the Judgement Day plot the PC has to be a single-class warrior?

I had thought that any good character could forge the sword, is this wrong?

[Sikret]

- Judgement Day: Protagonist is single-class good aligned warrior, JD sword is forged.

Does this mean that to face the second battle of the Judgement Day plot the PC has to be a single-class warrior?

Even the first battle, yes. (I edited my previous post and added the first part of the quest too)

I had thought that any good character could forge the sword, is this wrong?

In v4.2, any good character could forge the sword. In the forthcoming version (v4.3 or v5 whichever we call it) only single class warriors (including fighters, rangers and paladins) can forge it. F/Ms will no longer rule in IA. (not only for the new level up tables which makes it much harder for multi-class characters to reach high levels, but also for these item-forging restrictions). Other examples are the new Golem Slayer rod and the 'Memory of the Apprenti" which won't be usable by multi-class mages.

This post has been edited by Sikret: Sep 17 2007, 06:02 AM

[lroumen]

I'm currently playing a solo game with an evil F/M/T until v4.3 comes out.

I think I'll play something like this and then I'll find out where I end up.

1. Elven Vagrant with Halberds
2. Jaheira (nice quests like Ployer and the Harper hold)
3. Nalia
4. Aerie -> Haer'Dalis
5. Keldorn -> Valygar -> Mazzy
6. Cernd -> Imoen

Additional mods:

Tower of Deception
Parts of Ease of Use
Parts of Rogue Rebalancing
Unusual Oddities Store
Maybe Virtue

[Shadan]

I have 2 plans also. I want only 5 man party since I am tired in micromanagement for 6 characters.

PC party:
human Vagrant PC: dual flails, clubs
gnome F/I: halberds, dual axes, short swords OR human blade / Haer'Dalis
human ranger 9 > cleric: dual hammers, maces
human swashbuckler 10 > fighter: dual long swords, daggers OR halfing fighter/thief
wild mage

Pro: all classes what I want in my party, weapon prof. and attributes are distributed by me. I always wanted to try wild mage.
contra: no NPC quests, no NPC improved items

NPC party:
human Vagrant PC: dual flails, clubs
Haer'Dalis
Viconia
Korgan or Mazzy or Jaheira or Jan or a mod NPC
Edwin or Imoen

Pro: NPC quests, some NPC improved items
Contra: hard to get 20 repu with evil party or hard to keep evil chars in party with good protagonist, and I want those NPCs who I haven't tried in my previous 4.2 run. Few item upgrades fot these NPCs.
Mazzy interferes with Haer regarding short swords. No thief or Jan is very slow leveling due to 4.3 altered level progression. Imoen is too late coming char.

I think I will bring the final decision when all 4.3 changes, items etc. is published.

[Shaitan]

Due to Sikrets quest list I might just go with the F/M. But I can change my mind for each day it takes before 4,3 sees the daylight notch notch, know what I mean...

[lroumen]

The problem is that as it stands, there are seemingly few real bonuses (read known items) to play the game as an evil character. Sikret also seems to place the spotlight a bit on the Vagrant and Mage protagonists. This kind of means that I will not be playing an evil game in IA and I've been wanting to try out an Avenger, but I probably won't be doing that in IA either. Maybe I'll change my mind once the new itemlist comes out... maybe I'll play a Bard...

[Shaitan]

I think when it comes down to the new XPlists, the single classes are favoured more, the F/M is toned down and the weight switches from rangers (forgetting the vagrant) to pure mages (necros especially) and pure fighters (I guess still berserkers are best). And non-evil are also favoured even more, I think Sikret don't tries to hide, that he fokuses on good parties.

[lroumen]

I've thought it over and I think an Avenger would be nice to try out in IA.
I think I need to check some things concerning items and such.

Druids must be neutral, so I'm going to make him/her neutral evil. I'll be playing neutral/evil after all. Avengers are restricted to leather armor, so I'm guessing that means studded leather is out too? hmm... if neutral evil avengers can wear the improved human flesh then I'm definately in.

Nature's gift may seem too expensive (50.000 gold?) for a mere 500.000 experience, but if the tables are slowed then I guess it looks good again. Can single class druids wear helmets though? The improved Dragon Helmet description doesn't say it's restricted from druids, but I recall that druids cannot wear helmets. At least they'll be able to wear Ioun Stones and the Circlet of Golden Flowers later on. They're pretty good.

Shapeshifting rocks and the HLA shapeshifts are available as well. Coolness. 5 attack sword spider early game should pack a punch, especially boosted by gear.

There need to be some extra good spears, clubs and scimitars for druids though. Club of Detonation ftw.

[Raven]

Druids must be neutral, so I'm going to make him/her neutral evil.

No, when it says 'Druids must be neutral', it means they must be True Neutral.

Can single class druids wear helmets though?

Yes.

Iroumen, why not play an Auramaster? Later on in the mod the Avenger won't be very powerful.

About evil characters: not only do you lose content by playing an evil character, you also risk losing access to magic items which may be components for IA items in 4.3 (since these may be placed in areas/with enemies you are unable to face as an evil character)

@ Sikret: if you think this is a spoiler and want to edit it out then of course feel free, I just thought people should be made aware of it to prevent disappointment later.

[Shaitan]

I guess it's no secret anyway.

[Sikret]

About evil characters: not only do you lose content by playing an evil character, you also risk losing access to magic items which may be components for IA items in 4.3 (since these may be placed in areas/with enemies you are unable to face as an evil character)

@ Sikret: if you think this is a spoiler and want to edit it out then of course feel free, I just thought people should be made aware of it to prevent disappointment later.

It's good that you mentioned it. Yes, there are certain quests and items an evil protagonist won't have access to.

As for druid protagonists, there is indeed one new item upgrade recipe which is specifically for druid protagonist (and incidentally, it's a helmet. )

[Ryel ril Ers]

Sikret, do you plan new content for evil characters?
I know this is a heroic fantasy and the main plot is built for good characters but we are different and somebodz enjoy play like good guy others (like me) loves the dark side.
If anybody want play a real lawful good character he/she must skip the maevar quest and the shadow thief thread (and the bodhi thread too) and he can't sail to asylum.

The good way to handle alignment is in the planescape torment, but i know this would be a gigantic work.

I only ask:
Could you please make a balance in the game (make new content for evil characters too, new quest and new items)?

And a minor modification:
The temple donation system in baldur is laughable, because if you collect 10k gold in the beginning and after this do the circus and the slaver quest your reputation is 20 and you trad with good prices. (if you donate to talos you also popular)
Make the donate more expensive (dont kill it because the evil characters suck with the militia)

[Sikret]

Make the donate more expensive

This seems to be a good suggestion. Any objections or comments?

[Shaitan]

It would like to propose a increased price for ressurrection at temples. I could suggest 1000 goldpieces per level as per igi's tweaks.

Otherwise no objections to a good suggestion from Ryel ril Ers.

[luan]

I've never used the donate option, but yes, I think it is a good suggestion.

[lroumen]

I can edit "alignmnt.2da" and place a "1" at all the five Neutral combinations (NG, CN, NN, LN, NE) and then Druids can be created with a Neutral Evil alignment. That should be bugfree or at least I cannot fathom any bugs appearing with that.

I don't really like the Auramaster kit because I don't really want a pure caster druid. I want to go melee with him/her so it's not an option. The lack of armor and the decrease in stats is just too much. I always liked the idea of the avenger and eventhough s/he's not that powerful later on (about in par with a normal and totemic druids) I'm pretty certain s/he'll fare well.



It's a pity if I lose some encounters when I go evil, but I don't really mind.

In theory, though, an evil person doesn't have to do everything the evil way but s/he can take the 'good' conversation choices if the protagonist temporarily shows signs of remorse or mercy. It would then open up the 'good rewards'.

Areas should only be blocked resulting from 'evil choices' in a quest component or conversation rather than being tied to alignment, or the questst must be tied to the protagonist class (such a vagrant quest logically not being available for mages).
- If in the end I cannot finish the evil weapons because of locked content, then there's a minor design-flaw somewhere which I'll happily report to Sikret.
- If any of the upgrade components to druid, cleric, mage or thief specific items only drop during a vagrant specific quest then there's also a slight flaw.

I trust these two scenarios will not be the case, so I can happily play IA when it comes out.



Besides, Cernd is already an Auramaster.

This post has been edited by lroumen: Sep 17 2007, 06:25 PM