Starting a new game, At some point, let's see when Options

[pekkae]

Hi

Thinking about starting a fresh run , it’s been a while and there’s quite a bit of new stuff I haven’t really tried yet.

Goal is the usual:
- dominate encounters
- try out new kits / changes
- still end up with something very destructive overall

Current idea for the core:

Avenger PC (as it's overall one of the strongest characters, probably even with down-tuned clan spirits)
Cernd (insta-heal all throughout everything)
Sibel (either Swashie or S/F -> both would be completely new for me)
Neera (Wild Mage . also completely new for me)

So this would let me test quite a lot of the new things at once. And having a wild mage instead of a sorceror let's me also try out the new spells & abilities.

Then I’d need some more muscle on top of that, and I’m not entirely sure which direction makes more sense:

R/C -> lots of new cleric stuff to try (with of course cheated so has access to druidic spells... superbly powerful but maybe overlapping a bit with avenger especially)
Paladin → either custom or Keldorn with the new Pally powers (and keldorn has some new gear as well)

with this party we can spread the “most destructive weapons” around the party and there isn't much overlap - only maybe the we'd need tabitha's hide for the uber-armour, instead of the druidic gauntlets.

As far as I can tell this should end up as a pretty strong setup, but I’m a bit unsure about a couple of things:

Sibel → does S/F make more sense here than Swashie given the rest of the crew?
Neera → how reliable is Wild Mage in IA context these days?
Muscle slot → R/C & Paladin vs. Barbarian, Riskbreaker or a F/M multiclass.

Only character I’m a bit worried about is Keldorn - not sure how well he holds up compared to a custom option in this kind of party. And we're lacking arcane casting powers, though we have abundance of divine casting powers though.

Main goal is still to end up with something that can just steamroll once it gets going, while trying out as much of the new stuff as possible.

[SparrowJacek]

Hey! Good to see you back for another run, I hope you'll have a good time checking all the new elements of the mod

Sibel → does S/F make more sense here than Swashie given the rest of the crew?

Having a Fighter will allow you to check more changes to HLAs (especially if you play witht Controversial Changes), but I think that in terms of power both options are comparable

Neera → how reliable is Wild Mage in IA context these days?

I have never played with a Wild Mage myself, but Sikret really liked the kit. New wild surge tables are MUCH more favorable, plus having access to some form of aura cleansing even before HLAs is amazing by itself.

Only character I’m a bit worried about is Keldorn - not sure how well he holds up compared to a custom option in this kind of party.

Which kit would you pick for him? His stats got a bit better, so he should be a good addition to your party.

R/C -> lots of new cleric stuff to try (with of course cheated so has access to druidic spells... superbly powerful but maybe overlapping a bit with avenger especially)

Maybe a R=>C with assigned kit would be an interesting choice here, if you're willing to make some edits to your character?

[pekkae]

Haha, thanks Jacek!

Having a Fighter will allow you to check more changes to HLAs (especially if you play witht Controversial Changes), but I think that in terms of power both options are comparable

I have never played with a Wild Mage myself, but Sikret really liked the kit. New wild surge tables are MUCH more favorable, plus having access to some form of aura cleansing even before HLAs is amazing by itself.

His stats got a bit better, so he should be a good addition to your party.

Maybe a R=>C with assigned kit would be an interesting choice here, if you're willing to make some edits to your character?

I think Sibel as a S/F should make for quite the powerful character - the biggest downside being that it limits the thief side, with it's major revamp.

But isnt't it so, that if I do "full" controversial changes, then regen won't stack anymore? And also regen doesn't stack with RvE:regen? This would limit the effectivess of divine casters a little bit I think.

Was thinking about Keldorn the Inquisitor, as I think it would get me out of a few difficult fights "easily", as Kruin & he should help with Demo as well. And in general the dispel should be quite powerful. I think though Judgemenet Day would rescue Keldorn in all cases, but is the JD fight still available? And there was some changes to his gear as well?

Then again, maybe I could do something like this perhaps (trying not to cheat too much)

Auramaster PC (doens't get auramaster gear, gets Cernd's gear has cernd's stats - the only reason we're picking auramaster as I want to play through the druid stronghold)
R/C (yes, kitted please - I know it's sort of a double cheat with access to druidic spells, haha - dropping Avenger means we could get the "uber plate" for the R/C)
Neera (Wildmage, ole!)
Sibel (S/F version or pure Swashie)
Keldorn (inquisitor, need to check how we can develop this character)
F/M (or F/I, this would be the PC and we would have cernd as a companion if we could have this PC with druid stronghold quests. but a "major" cheat here: get's IA when gets 9th level spells)

***

So or cheats would be

- We get druid stronghold quests
- R/C has a kit ("big" cheat) + access to druidic spells (sort of a cheat)
- F/M gets IA

Not over the top, I'd say medium tweaks to regular rules.

***

What's the correct install order (IA, tower of deception, sibel, tweaks, controversial changes?) - I know it was somewhere and I can look it up as well, but I didn't find with a quick search.

Thanks again =)!

[SparrowJacek]

But isnt't it so, that if I do "full" controversial changes, then regen won't stack anymore? And also regen doesn't stack with RvE:regen? This would limit the effectivess of divine casters a little bit I think.

Yes, with Controversial_Changes 7th level Regeneration and RVE:Regen don't stack in any way (with itself, or with the other spell).

I think though Judgemenet Day would rescue Keldorn in all cases, but is the JD fight still available? And there was some changes to his gear as well?

From what I remember, there should be a working component for making JD items/plot available for all protagonists. As for Keldorn's items - his armor should be exactly as described in IA readme, no changes were made to it.

R/C (yes, kitted please - I know it's sort of a double cheat with access to druidic spells, haha - dropping Avenger means we could get the "uber plate" for the R/C)

Are you going for classical PoLathander for the Boon ability? Or maybe something more unique?

F/M (or F/I, this would be the PC and we would have cernd as a companion if we could have this PC with druid stronghold quests. but a "major" cheat here: get's IA when gets 9th level spells)

If you want F/M then I'd recommend going for F/I, Illusionist might not be the most powerful kit, but has a few unique features

Oh and Burried Ambitions should be available for all protagonists if you install proper component, so you can go for F/I protagonist.

And since you'll have a Fighter in your party, you might want to go full Swashbuckler with Sibel.

What's the correct install order (IA, tower of deception, sibel, tweaks, controversial changes?)

I think that's correct. ToD should install its bonus component if it detects IA, right? And IA_Rebalance (with Controversial_Changes) should be installed as the last component, as it performs patches of all items etc.

[pekkae]

Yes, with Controversial_Changes 7th level Regeneration and RVE:Regen don't stack in any way (with itself, or with the other spell).

Arlight. If regen doesn't stack then Shaman becomes much more powerful .

From what I remember, there should be a working component for making JD items/plot available for all protagonists. As for Keldorn's items - his armor should be exactly as described in IA readme, no changes were made to it.

This should work then!

Are you going for classical PoLathander for the Boon ability? Or maybe something more unique?

PoLathander (Boon) is too powerful I think. The idea with the kit is mostly that I could try out the new things. Thie R/C with druidic spells is insanely powerful in any case.

If you want F/M then I'd recommend going for F/I, Illusionist might not be the most powerful kit, but has a few unique features smile.gif

Yes, I think there was somewhere a few things for llusionists, but I can't find them anymore? Not in the readme -> but maybe I'll test this myself a little bit.

Oh and Burried Ambitions should be available for all protagonists if you install proper component, so you can go for F/I protagonist.

And since you'll have a Fighter in your party, you might want to go full Swashbuckler with Sibel.

This would make sense. Sibel should get a little bit variability also with standard Swashie armour, so we could switch a little bit. The only thing bugging me here is that I've played hexxat so many times I feel like I've seen a lot of Swashbuckler already, haha.

And if BA as available to all protagonists, that should solve my problem, so I can play with Cernd. This all in all should be quite powerful.

F/I (PC, gets IA)
Cernd (insanely effective healing from chapter 3 onwards)
Sibel (Swashie or maybe S/F, depending on how all of the changes feel)
Neera (Wildmage, ooh!)
R/C (tankimus maximus, this should be the most effective tank in the game. And easily.
Keldorn (Inquisitor)

We sohuld be able to quite effectively distribute all of the most deadly gear in the game between the characters an we shouldn't have that much overlapping gear (well, BoIB goes for upgraded belt (forgot it's name) and Keldorn's armour, so there's that).

And since we won't sacrifice AoP to make something else, it can travel between the crewmembers depending on the fight. Both Arcane casters receive decent casting time bonuses and we can make a totally ridiculous Cernd.

I like these odds, haha.

***

so cheats

PC gets IA
R/C is kitted +has access to druidic spells
We have additional quests as in Buried Ambitions and JD questline.

I don't thins that too OP.

I think that's correct. ToD should install its bonus component if it detects IA, right? And IA_Rebalance (with Controversial_Changes) should be installed as the last component, as it performs patches of all items etc.

Alright. I don't remember anymore but I need to a fresh install here in order to get this up & running. I seem to recall some major obstacles from before but let's see if I can get this working.

This post has been edited by pekkae: Jun 13 2026, 04:08 PM

[SparrowJacek]

Yes, I think there was somewhere a few things for llusionists, but I can't find them anymore? Not in the readme

Hmm, seems that I missed this kit when creating the readme... Anyway, here it is:

ILLUSIONIST: A Mage who specializes in creating illusions to confuse and mislead.

Advantages:
- May cast one additional spell per level.
- Receives a +15% bonus when scribing scrolls from the Illusion school.
- Receives a +2 bonus when making Saving Throws against spells from the Illusion school.
- Targets suffer a -2 penalty when making Saving Throws against spells from the Illusion school.
- Mirror Image spell cast by Illusionist creates 5 additional images.
- When the Illusionist reaches level 15, all his spells that grant invisibility or improved invisibily apply additional Non-Detection spell to all targets.
- At level 16 Illusionists gain Simulacrum special ability.

SIMULACRUM:
This spell creates a duplicate of the caster, which closely resembles the original and acts as a powerful ally. The clone can be controlled freely and can cast spells just like the caster, it will serve the caster for 2 turns. The clone cannot engage in physical combat or use weapons. The spell does not replicate any items the caster is using or wearing. It is created at 60% of the caster's level and can cast spells of up to 3rd level. When the Illusionist reaches level 20, the clone gains access to spells of level 4.

Disadvantages:
- May not learn or cast any spells of the Necromancy school.
- Receives a -15% penalty when scribing scrolls from other schools.
- Cannot dual class.

Requires at least 16 Dexterity.

(well, BoIB goes for upgraded belt (forgot it's name) and Keldorn's armour, so there's that)

Keldorn's armor does not require BoIB since v7.0, or maybe even earlier

[pekkae]

Thanks again!

Decided on against ToD, as ... it's just too easy exp and we have enough "cheats" already, haha.

The only thing I might be missing is multiple strongholds - does that come somewhere or do I need to add it separately? I'm looking forward to getting that reaching ring etc.

Sorry for the flood of questions

[SparrowJacek]

The only thing I might be missing is multiple strongholds - does that come somewhere or do I need to add it separately?

IA does not have its own component for multiple strongholds, so it's advised to get it from Ease-of-Use mod, that's what's suggested in IA installation guide from the readme.

Sorry for the flood of questions

Don't worry, we're here to help with the installation, questions and any bugs you might encounter during your playthrough (and as your posts show, there's still quite a few of them!)

This post has been edited by SparrowJacek: Jun 14 2026, 07:50 PM

[bulian]

It's been a minute since I've played a game, but Sibel S->F was pretty strong, though not as strong as S->C since her weapon isn't as busted. You'll enjoy her either way.

[pekkae]

It's been a minute since I've played a game, but Sibel S->F was pretty strong, though not as strong as S->C since her weapon isn't as busted. You'll enjoy her either way.

Thanks!

I have a plan.

But I of course don't know how that will play out, haha.

Probably won't but let's see.