I've been playing DnD roleplaying games for years on and off in between other things. I finished bg2 without mods a long time ago and after i finished nwn with expansions and nwn2 i thought about checking out bg2 again with mods. After trying out lot of things i ended on a thread talking about the advantages and disadvantages of IA vs SCS vs others mods. After reading up on the forums i thought I'd give IA a whirl and got sucked in. I love a challenge and been looking for something like this for a while.

I played a few times through chapter 2 and 3 with a variant of party's some with all multiplayer chars and some with BG2 NPC's. I've read up the forums alot and i know about the vagrant extra q's or the solo mage kit quests but after trying them out i decided they weren't for me atleast not for my first run. So i created a new party and decided to throw around my quest order at the start a bit for some extra challenge and to pick up one or two BG2 NPCs. And after a few days playing i thought why not write it up give people another perspective from a new kid but with a slightly different approach. This is the first time I'm doing something like this so if you have any suggestion for the game or the writeup either way feel free to let me know, constructing criticism is appreciated.

Party:
Protag - Gnome F/I - I love these guys especially in IA since you need a good tank and this guy can do it all... ATM he's +++ Two weapon ++ short sword + flail + axe
Multi 1 - Human Riskbreaker - A really interesting kit, and i don't mind the babysitting early on. ATM he's +++ Two weapon ++ club ++ longsword
Multi 2 - Dwarf Cleric of helm - I'd like Anomen here for his nice shield upgrade... but i can't stand him sorry. ATM she's + in most blunts
Multi 3 - Elf Wild Mage - I never tried one out and thought I'd see how it works even tho it might mess with some tactics if the roll goes wrong. WON'T! use her to wish (10 wisdom) or anything cheesy with reckless deomer.
Multi 4 - Elf Sorc - Well the basic buffbot / debuff with some damage thrown in. Will be replaced with Imoen, can't do it without her.
NPC slot - Mostly filled by Keldorn for a 2h specialist sometimes Jan steps in for the occasional pickpocket spree. And maybe other NPC's to do their quests not sure yet.

All expect priest are lawful good, i've progressed a bit into Chapter 2 and I'll sum up my progress and quest order so far short if anyone would like me to elaborate I'll of course do that.

I've started with Dungeon be gone to leave CI, also a side note for new people who want to use DbG also... Do not make 6 Multiplayer NPC's, if you don't get Imoen in the party the teleport guy won't show up! Ofcourse you could make 5 take Imoen wait for the autosave kick Imoen and remake the group adding a 6th NPC but I'm not sure how that would work with the mod Sikret would have to reply to that.

After that i went for the circus, completed didn't talk to the guard sold and bought my reputation to 14 guard taking it to 15. Headed to the slums did the Gaelen thing, walked to CC whilst dispatching of some annoying duo who stopped me. I picked up Nalia's and Firkraag's quests like usual. Then i left and went for the Temple district (yes you heard me) to pick up Keldorn and some quests, knowing that Suna Seni would be waiting for me I picked up the Cleric stronghold quest, Sir Charles and Fallen paladin quests. I went into the sewers and grabbed Keldorn and headed for the 2nd and then 3rd level. Everything went smooth until I hit the Big eye himself who was extremely hard to kill even with the rod and all. I accepted the cleric stronghold and then left the temple district to meet the dreaded encounter. All in all it went great although i almost lost my Riskbreaker due to my bad micro that put him in the thick of it I learned my lesson though.

After that i went and did the usual unmodded quests building my bankroll and reputation mostly. I accepted the rogue stronghold as its a semi nice source of income and i don't need the sword (i won't cheese it for cash but i like the encounter you get in Waukeens) Keldorn complained but my high reputation helps shut him up fast. As soon as i hit 19 reputation (bridge district helps allot) i went for Umar hills, i did the minor quests there and picked up Valygar's body. After that i went to Trademeet did the genies and druid stronghold that got my cleric a nice shield and got me to 20 reputation. I bought the blackblood club from the merchant and went back to the city. There i did the beastmaster encounter and hendrak getting me a nice +3 club and getting me ready to trade in 2 of my +3 clubs for a +4 one. I left Keldorn at the paladin camp for a bit while doing some pickpocketing with good old Jan. I forged my Treefolk and got back Keldorn. After that i went to Windspear Hills and cleared the first level including Tazok (except for Samia / some guardian fellas). That's about as far as i got so far from now on i'll give a bit more information etc.

So far ->
F/I --- 9/10 --- 30% --- Coin Golem ---- Wielding mostly 2 enchanted weapon shortswords (2 spells no cheesing) going for FoA and frostreaver axe for him soon.
Risk --- 10 --- 32% --- Bone Golem ---- Wielding Treefolk and a +3 club
Cleric --- 11 --- 7% --- Gaal --- Wielding a Flail +1 and Harmony shield or Shield of the Lost (depends on encounter)
WildMage --- 11 --- 8% --- Mae'var --- Wild surges so far had no real impact on battles unless you count making my party and enemies uncontrollably belch during both the Suna Seni and Tazok encounters.
Sorc --- 11 --- 4% --- Hareishan --- Mostly buffing interupting and debuffing.
Keldorn --- 10 --- 15% --- Coin Golem --- Wielding Cleric staff +3 or his sword or a Halberd +1 depending on what i need.

I'm thinking about where to go now, maybe shadow jailor and 1st floor, maybe help out nalia or get my insane talking sword and clear the slavers. But at the moment I'm leaning towards helping out Nalia since i think it would be a nice challenge.

Also if you think the Wild Mage can help me make the game too easy let me know please. If i am heading toward the keep i could change her for Nalia although that would put me in a crappy position concerning the expensive and good scrolls i bought for her. I know i can control myself easily and not use any cheesy tactics with the wild mage but i cant control her wild surges which could be really good... or really bad. Besides i doubt the wild mage will give much more benefit then Nalia's ring does.

I have one question this go to spellhold before a certain level. How does that work with multiclass characters like mine? should i just watch my riskbreakers level make sure hes below 15? I don't wanna make it to easy so I don't want to wait till my prot is 13/14 orso if that is possible. But I'd like to squeeze in as many encounters as i can so i can see them at the level they were meant for.

Yes, it will be a nice challenge for sure. Greater Yuan-Ti was in fact a game-stopper for my level 9/10 party on my first run.

Wish you luck, buy some scrolls and potions and you'll be fine. ;]

Well after selling i went to the keep and you were right. Damn that Greater Yuan-Ti is bad... after about 5 or 6 reloads i got the hang of it tho and managed to put a stop to him although Keldorn did bite the dust so i had to rest to memorize a raise dead. I'll update this post as i progress in the keep.

SPOILER!

Seems to be unable to edit since I'm still a visitor (or maybe I'm just missing the button somehow) so I'll make a new short post for the rest of the keep. Clearing it went pretty smooth no real mayor problems or reloads until i hit Tor'gal. Short recaps below.

Glacias:
SPOILER!

Keep Viper:
SPOILER!

Now for Tor'gal I needed a handful or reloads but no more then 3 or 4.
SPOILER!

After i finished up the keep an accepted it from Nalia I payed off my 15k to the shadow thieves and did Aran's first two quests
SPOILER!

Went to the slums and for the Lilarcor
SPOILER!

Then i had to help out a mate with some work for classes so i couldn't get to the slavers compound yet will update tomorrow.

Hello Mithlean

Just some toughts of mine...
IMO, a custom Inquisitor is far better than Keldorn for a simple reason - clerics won't turn him, and you can roll better stats than Keldorn's abysmal dexterity and strenght. His armor is not worth it - again, my toughts of it, but I've already stated my opinion of Inquisitor class anyway so really wouldn't comment on it anymore. There are such "turning paladin" battles almost the entire game.
It's a strong party you have, anyway, I am also a Riskbreaker fan, even tough I'd give them grandmastery in flails and dual Foa and Phosphorous, but clubs longswrds is nice also.
As for Wild mages, they CAN (depends what battles you'll do prior to Spellhold, and wether they have 18 WIS) make Spellhold and Underdark, and pretty much rest of the game practically candy-like easy. Overpowered IMO. Tried once, ended Wishing for Hardiness in Spellhold...not my cup of tea. I'd switch him for Imoen or Nalia, if you want a thief
I also ran a f/i for my first run of IA (almost a year ago...) and they're so great in Anvil.
As for your question when to go to Spellhold, I suggest when your sorc is in between 14 and 15th lvl.
Don't wait for 13/14 protagonist, you'll be sorry, trust me.

What happens to spellhold at 14? I'm always over 14 when I go.
SPOILER!

What happens is SPOILER!

lol, yup. That is indeed annoying. In the ia document files, it says if you wait too long to go to spellhold, irenicus has stronger preparations or somin like that.

Is that the same thing as having a high protagonist level? Or is it yet another difference in spellhold as a result of taking too many days to leave?

IMO, you pretty much gotta do the multiple strongholds to completion before you leave for spellhold. Because more often than not, you come back and the messenger stops showing up, even in the vanilla game. Therefore, I've never gotten to chapter 4 under level 14 because I am obsessed with completing all available stronghold quests (and even useless nether scroll or book of kaza), and thus am forced to complete a ton of extra content along the way unless I waste game days by traveling between areas continuously (/yawn).

Even still, I see alot of writeups from veteran players like yourself, who complete the game in like 300+ days, while my average game takes around 150. What are you guys doing for the extra 150+ days geez? And your levels are low enough that it is obvious you are purposefully avoiding extra kills such as golem spawns or master/coordinator assassins. I just kill whatever is a weak target, because I wanna rack up at least 1000 kills before ascending to godhood. I dont mind solo-gibbing every kobold/orc I come across either.

If a player doesn't rest excessively, he should normally finish the SOA portion of the game in less than 145 days. This estimation is for IA v5; it will take longer in v6 to complete all of the new quests.

300 days is too long. Where have you read a report by a veteran IA player who has completed the game in 300 days? Give me the link to the report; I might have missed the post.

Well... I was in discussion with Kerkes, so the first one that comes to mind is his fmc thread. I don't mean 300+ days for just SoA, I mean for a full playthrough, which includes killing Melissan.

The one I'm thinking of is at the end of Kerkes's FMC playthrough: The level reference I made was based off of his sorc level, which is only 31, which means he's avoiding extra kills religiously, especially with a group of only 5. I always play with 6 and my sorc usually ends up somewhere around 36. I'll just cut/paste from his original post.

Not much, but it will have to do.
Finished all of the left PP challenges.
Went to do EDE, on day 401 of my adventure.
party levels
prot - 20/18/21
blade - 40
kensai - 38
sorc - 31
B-C - 8-39

Day 401??!!!

An F/M/C doesn't even have access to as many new quests a vagrant has; and my estimation of 140-145 days for SOA was for a vagrant in v5. An F/M/C should complete the game even sooner.

Tell us the truth, Kerkes! What were you doing during all those days in the game? Were you resting at the 2nd floor in the tavern in Ust Natha?

Well, those drow ladies are tempting.

Heh. If I wanted to lie about something, I'd just write "Went to do EDE, on day 201 on my adventure"...

No, the truth is I waited a long time for those Stronghold Quest messengers, then traveled to other areas, then I waited there (resting), sometimes I just wondered around SoA because I like it etc. Stronghold messengers never spawned, ironically.

As for party lvls:
my protagonist had an extra 750K exp due to that book which gives it permanently if prot is a fmc. So, add that to his lvls (1 for each class approx.)
I never rest in areas to trigger more enemy spawns, especially beholders and other such exp-yielding easy enemies. If I have to rest in, say, beholder cavern in Underdark (I usually do), and 3 Gauths spawn, I kill them using Ctrl + y. I know this by itself is cheese (it CHEAT, man!!! Plain CHEAT!! ) however I find that if I kill them for some extra exp (over 20k actually) this even a bigger cheese.
Even with Vagrant protagonist (6 member party), with all quests/exp.stronghold/Judgement day fight I NEVER had my sorc above 31 or 32, up until I finished EDE. I simply don't know where you can get that exp. Nor money. I know that people say "In ToB, money is no longer an issue...".
It is, it still is. If I want Gaxx upgrade/Dragon Halberd - and I do - I sometimes have to sell even healing potions, cloaks of protection, pfmw scrolls etc.
Sikret's estimation is correct. If you don't wonder about, which I do.

Drow ladies rock. That Viconia chick is...ummmm