New Player Questions after reading docs and forums Options

[dante2377]

To give people background, I've been playing BG2 since it came out and have played with a ton of content mods (NPCs, items, quests, etc) - things like Item Upgrades, The Undying, questpack, etc. But I haven't played with any tactical mods or with much tactics to be honest - Breach/Pierce Magic/True sight and then wail away with overpowered weapons.

I've spent the past couple days reading the FAQ, readme txt files, the stickied threads, and many of the threads on the first 6-7 pages of this forum. After all of that, I have a few questions:

Rather than blowing away my current install (Vanilla+G3+various content mods), I was just going to do a second installation in a different directory (c:\games\IABG2 or something like that). Does anyone know off the top of their head if I'll run into issues (registry issues, other pointers that could messed up, etc) - I've never run the game with different installs.

I usually start BG2 with the official BG1 cap (161k xp) or sometimes uncapped bg1, so ~237k XP. Is IA designed for your character to start with 89k or 161k starting XP? If I start higher than 89k will it throw off the IA experience?

I typically use Dungeon Be Gone and see that it's supported here. I see the note about waiting for the randomization text to finish before zapping off. My question here is - am I going to miss any content (I assume whatever items are randomize will show up in the piles at the exit)? I didn't see anything in the "Tactical Content" file, but thought I should ask. Does DBG give the correct amount of XP for IA (the regular version gives 100k XP to party, I'm not sure if this is changed in IA).

I see people discussing the Bioware NPCs with different classes (Cernd as Auramaster, Minsc as Berzerker, Imoen as Sorcerer, etc) - is this the standard Level1 NPC mod? shadowkeeper? Or does IA change NPC classes as part of the mod?

If I start a multiplayer game for more than 1 character created by me, should I move the save game from mpsave folder to save folder and play it in single-player mode (like I do now in vanilla games)? In either case, should I install that "fix" listed in one of the stickied threads in case the player-created extra character gets Imprisoned?

After reading throught the various threads on party composition, particularly for new IA players, I thought of using this party:

Vagrant (protagonist)
Berzerker
Valygar
Anomen
Nalia
Sorcerer/Imoen

is 1 full-class cleric enough? Should I replace someone with Jaheira?

I am aware to mix up the fighters' individual weapon proficiencies between the 3 physical damage types.

thanks in advance!

[Sikret]

Hi and welcome to BWL, dante2377!

Rather than blowing away my current install (Vanilla+G3+various content mods), I was just going to do a second installation in a different directory (c:\games\IABG2 or something like that). Does anyone know off the top of their head if I'll run into issues (registry issues, other pointers that could messed up, etc) - I've never run the game with different installs.

As far as I've heard, this is possible but a tad complicated. I haven't tried it either. Someone else who has practically tried two different installations on a single machine can probably give an accurate answer to this question.

I usually start BG2 with the official BG1 cap (161k xp) or sometimes uncapped bg1, so ~237k XP. Is IA designed for your character to start with 89k or 161k starting XP? If I start higher than 89k will it throw off the IA experience?

It's recommended to start BG2 with the standard amount of xp rather than with higher xp.

I typically use Dungeon Be Gone and see that it's supported here. I see the note about waiting for the randomization text to finish before zapping off. My question here is - am I going to miss any content (I assume whatever items are randomize will show up in the piles at the exit)? I didn't see anything in the "Tactical Content" file, but thought I should ask.

You won't miss anything. Just wait to see the message "Item Randomizer successfully initiated" before leaving the dungeon.

Does DBG give the correct amount of XP for IA

Yes.

I see people discussing the Bioware NPCs with different classes (Cernd as Auramaster, Minsc as Berzerker, Imoen as Sorcerer, etc) - is this the standard Level1 NPC mod? shadowkeeper? Or does IA change NPC classes as part of the mod?

IA changes Cernd to Auramaster and Imoen to sorcerer. Minsk is not touched. Those who change Minsk's class, do it using shadowkeeper (it's harmless for Minsk and Jaheira, but don't try it for other NPCs).

If I start a multiplayer game for more than 1 character created by me, should I move the save game from mpsave folder to save folder and play it in single-player mode (like I do now in vanilla games)?

Yes, it's necessary to move the saved game.

In either case, should I install that "fix" listed in one of the stickied threads in case the player-created extra character gets Imprisoned?

Yes, you need that fix.

[Shadan]

Your party seems to be perfect. 1 cleric is enough.

[dante2377]

thanks shadan.

I have a question about proficiencies. In his "started a V5 game" thread, Sikret had his protagonist with these proficiences:

Two Weapon Skills: +++
Long Sword: +
Axe: +
Club: +
Flail: +


If it's important to mix up the damage types, why have 2 slashing and 2 blunt weapons with no piercing? Wouldn't something like short sword be more appropriate?

Or is the mix-up-the-damage-types recommendation more across the party, not necessarily across each fighter-type?

So far just with DBG and the Circus, nothing has killed me yet. But I've yet to leave the Promenade.

PS I also use the widescreen Mod (mine is set to 1280 x 800) and it works great - the regular size (1024x768) is stretched since I have a widescreen laptop.

[Frazurblu]

Welcome Dante and good luck with your 1st run through. That is a great party composition for a first run.

With the Vagrant protagonist I usually go with Axe , Flail and Short sword, like you suggest, as it covers all damage types. You can come across good versions of these weapons relatively early on and either upgade them later or find new/better ones in the mid to late game. I always leave the longsword for later because there really isn't a good longsword option (compared to Axes) in the early game but perhaps too many good ones later. Also because the Vagrant can put only 2 points into proficiency/weapon there will be plenty of time to add it later (usually after Spellhold).

You could use Clubs instead of Flails as there are Boss Clubs available early on. I usually leave Clubs to either Valygar or my custom Swashie/Cleric , Ranger/Cleric etc. as I plan on getting the Flail of defending and wounding much later on for my Vagrant. Having said that I see that you have Anomen in your party and he has 5 points in Flails so you can go either way. There are 2 great Flails available early (well one is a Morning Star but its the same proficiency).

Also don't forget about Daggers (you don't have to be a thief) as there are some very cool ones to be had and you get to use Firetooth as a missile weapon for free.

This post has been edited by Frazurblu: Jun 12 2009, 09:49 PM

[dante2377]

thanks....I'm basically going to follow along the weapon prof's I see in the two "walkthrough" type threads. If I do this

Protagonist: Frostreaver Axe +3 & Flail of Ages +3 (dual wields)
Berserker: Lilarcor (has also a clerical staff +3 for when needed)
Valygar: His own katana + Short Sword of Backstabbing +3 (has also Club +3)
Anomen: Borok's fist +2

and give protagonist Short Swords as well (for piercing), are there enough good short swords to go around or should I find another piercing weapon.

Looking forward to some of the first tough battles tonight after my wife and I get back and she goes to sleep.

thanks all,

Bill

PS - are people interested in me posting my IA newbie progress?

[Frazurblu]

You might consider giving Anomen the Flail of Ages instead of using it as your prot. off hand weapon for the following reasons
* Anomen has grand mastery in flails and can be devastating in the early game with appropriate buffs and a speed potion.
* As an off hand weapon you will not hit with it often enough to utilise it's awesome slow power.
* Vagrant could utilise an off hand weapon with a useful power like Arbanes short sword (immunity to hold person) or Namarra (even though you are not prof. in longswords , its immunity to charm and confusion can be helpful and you won't hit that often with it anyway). Ilbratha is another possibility but I usually have Valygar equip it for the mirror image as he can be a bit weak defensively in the early going.

The shorty of backstabbing is a fine weapon and will take care of most anything even into the middle stages. There is a nice upgradeable short sword that uses cutthroat +4 as its template but it is a bit of a financial stretch considering that will not be your primary weapon. Cutthroat on its own should suffice, I think the Short Sword of Mask +4 is awesome with its 15% chance to entangle.

This post has been edited by Frazurblu: Jun 12 2009, 11:56 PM

[Frazurblu]

Incidently @Sikret

I encountered a Noble Rakshasa recently and this is what happened:
SPOILER!

He was busy being his usual nuisance self gating in horrids and spewing Abs. Imm. when my Necro and Imoen both hit him with remove magic. At that moment an imp. hasted Valygar (equiped with Sword of Mask) went Critical on said beast and seemed to entangle him. No more Abs. Imm. issued from Noble although it seemed he had time to cast them and he died soon after.
Was he really entangled or was that just the animation? Rakshasas are immune to spells below 8th level are they not?

In any event the sword of Mask is an underrated weapon IMO esp. when combined with Critical Strike.

[Sikret]

See the Progress report for IA v6 (the entry about Swords of Mask). I quote:

- Short Swords of Mask (+4 and +5) are fixed and tweaked. Wrong power numbers in their effects are fixed. The +4 sword's chance per hit to entangle the target is reduced to 10%. The +5 sword's ability to level drain is omitted, but its chance to entangle is 15% per hit.

In the original game, those two swords had wrong power numbers for their effects which could cause problems similar to what you have noticed. They are already fixed in v6.

[dante2377]

So I missed the part in the suggested quest order about not going into ogre tower in the Druid Grove. That ended....badly for me.

Guess ill skip that in the morning and just try some more druids.

[Raven]

* Vagrant could utilise an off hand weapon with a useful power like Arbanes short sword (immunity to hold person) or Namarra (even though you are not prof. in longswords , its immunity to charm and confusion can be helpful and you won't hit that often with it anyway).

Namarra is the sword you get from the Crypt King in the Graveyard District. It doesn't grant immunity to Charm or Confusion. Perhaps you are thinking of another longsword? The Equaliser is the only one I can think of that gives those immunities.

[dante2377]

Adjatha the Drinker protects from Charm and Domination, maybe that's what he meant.

[Frazurblu]

I am pretty sure that there is such a sword early on (one gets the names mixed up ) . Perhaps it is Adjatha.

[dante2377]

A couple of questions

- i didn't have a druid in my party. Some of the other posts I see have the protagonist challenge Faldorn, but I didn't see that option. I had Cernd take her out, but didn't know if I did anything wrong.

- After the trademeet quests (druid grove and Potion seller), I've got about 25k in gold. With my party description above, any advice on how to spend it (buy potions, a particular item, etc). I've just got some scrolls for Nalia so far.

- after the shadow thief in Trademeet told me about the rakshasha, when I went to fight her, I just attacked her - the other two didn't spawn in and she didn't seem to fight back from what I remember. After I attacked her, she turned red (e.g. I didn't use the Fake-Talk strategy)...

On a non-game related to the forum mods, how many posts are required to be validated until my posts don't have to approved and I can use the PM function? The forum and board FAQ/readmes weren't all that specific - "The BWL Council reviews each new user, and will probably relax this moderator approval restriction for their account."

[Sikret]

- i didn't have a druid in my party. Some of the other posts I see have the protagonist challenge Faldorn, but I didn't see that option.

In your main BG2 folder, there is a text file names "WeiDu.log"; copy its content and paste it into your next post here.

[dante2377]

Basically there were 2 options - I offered to challenge, but she said I wasn't a druid and basically to go away. The "let's make a deal" option didn't give anything either.


Weidu log is pretty straightforward (and IA is the last)

// Log of Currently Installed WeiDU Mods
// The top of the file is the 'oldest' mod
// ~TP2_File~ #language_number #component_number // [Subcomponent Name -> ] Component Name [ : Version]
~SETUP-EASE.TP2~ #0 #0 // Infinite Weapon, Potion and Ring/Amulet Stacking
~SETUP-EASE.TP2~ #0 #1 // Infinite Weapon, Potion Stacking (ToB)
~SETUP-EASE.TP2~ #0 #3 // True Grand Mastery (extra half-attack, etc.) (Baldurdash)
~SETUP-EASE.TP2~ #0 #4 // Shut Up "You Must Gather Your Party Before Venturing Forth"
~SETUP-EASE.TP2~ #0 #5 // Faster Chapter 1&2 Cut-Scenes and Dreams (Karzak, Blucher) (SEE WARNINGS)
~SETUP-EASE.TP2~ #0 #6 // Wear Magical Armor AND Magic Rings (etc.)
~SETUP-EASE.TP2~ #0 #9 // Un-Nerfed THAC0 Table, Saving Throws, Grand-Mastery, and Arcane, Divine Spell Progression (Blucher)
~SETUP-EASE.TP2~ #0 #10 // XP Cap Remover
~SETUP-EASE.TP2~ #0 #15 // Bonus Merchants (Baldurdash)
~SETUP-EASE.TP2~ #0 #16 // Keep Drizzt's Loot, Disable Malchor Harpell
~SETUP-EASE.TP2~ #0 #17 // No Drow Avatars On Party In Underdark
~SETUP-EASE.TP2~ #0 #18 // Imoen ToB Dialogue Fix
~SETUP-DUNGEONBEGONE.TP2~ #0 #0 // Dungeon Be Gone V1.6
~WIDESCREEN/WIDESCREEN.TP2~ #0 #0 // Widescreen Mod: Widescreen Mod v1
~SETUP-IMPROVEDANVIL.TP2~ #0 #0 // Improved Anvil for SOA & TOB

[matti]

A couple of questions

- i didn't have a druid in my party. Some of the other posts I see have the protagonist challenge Faldorn, but I didn't see that option. I had Cernd take her out, but didn't know if I did anything wrong.

- After the trademeet quests (druid grove and Potion seller), I've got about 25k in gold. With my party description above, any advice on how to spend it (buy potions, a particular item, etc). I've just got some scrolls for Nalia so far.

- after the shadow thief in Trademeet told me about the rakshasha, when I went to fight her, I just attacked her - the other two didn't spawn in and she didn't seem to fight back from what I remember. After I attacked her, she turned red (e.g. I didn't use the Fake-Talk strategy)...

On a non-game related to the forum mods, how many posts are required to be validated until my posts don't have to approved and I can use the PM function? The forum and board FAQ/readmes weren't all that specific - "The BWL Council reviews each new user, and will probably relax this moderator approval restriction for their account."

Ad. 1

Uninstall IA - install "multiple strongholds" form ease of use - install IA again (probably you've need to start a new game)

Ad. 2

Save the money for Treefolk's Arm, the best option, imo.

Ad. 3
Afaik, there's no hostile dialog option with her/it until you pick quest from Dao (sorry for my english), if you attack her/it directly sidekicks will not spawn, iirc.

[dante2377]

What is everyone's thoughts on the multiple stronghold option (I know it was recommended in the FAQ or readme)?

So you'd recommend saving for the blackblood club then (part of the Treefolk Arm)? Is the Root of the Problem retrievable early on (if you follow the standard walkthrough)?

[matti]

Yes and yes. Treefolk's Arm is one of the best weapons in IA 5, if not overall the best. It's +6 weapon (I mean THACO) vs. unnatural creatures, the one and only +6 weapon in entire mod, not to mention it's mage's nemezis (+ 4 acid damege per hit) and cosidering the usefulness it's extremely cheap. No suprise that in IA 6 Treefolk's Arm is tweaked. ;]

You probably must install multiple strongholds for Root of the Problem if your prot is not a druid.

This post has been edited by matti: Jun 15 2009, 06:21 AM

[Frazurblu]

AFAIK , are not the upgraded Staff of the Ram , Ravager and Dagger of the Star +6 also?