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.

Good luck! I found with Sibel game is more easy than it had ever been.

For all pickpocket targets I made list In questions post threads. There are not many left, most are removed.

Do not pay wizards. After casting arcana spells 5 times and kill spawned wizards there is lich wizards Zallanora encounter.

Allright

Godspeed!



I don't ever pay'em these days. The Zallanora fight is quite fun. Plus one can always prebuff indoors when needed.

Thanks.

Finished Umar Hills minor quests. Recruited Valygar.
Finished Trademeet animal quest, rakshasa quest, 1st druid stronghold quest.
Druid grove was not a problem neither the genie quest. I had a fade memory about rakshasa fight, so I had Zone of Sweet Air, but Absolute Imm. surpised me. But 2 bears, clan hunter, 4 melees + Yoshi, I switched target, endured AI, and killed them fast, when AI ended. Neera just watched the fight. Faldorn was easy also, at 1st attempt I was suprised whenI was naked without equipment, but I did it on second try. However the werewolves surprised me, when I left the Grove. They were hard, so I needed like 5 tries to beat them. Main problem was (beside their incredible DPS), when they were near death, they started to run away and with their insane regen, they regenerated to half HP back easily within a seconds. At least 5-6 times in one fight...
Another surprise was the noble troll at troll mound... I realized after 3-4 tries, that I am not able to damage him. Then I searched the forum and saw that this is a late SOA challange. Happily I didn't try Temple Ruins at Umar, because I remembered it is not a beginner fight.
Founder of Trademeet was similar to noble troll. I thought, there are several skellies in this quest, and bum, no arcane magic, half party dead within a seconds. So I did Schwarzie move: I'll b back... and left the crypt.
Delivered some beer to Refuge Hideout, then moved to Bridge District to solve the murder. I hope, that is doable on my level.
I am eagerly waiting for Sibel get back her thieving skills, then I can swap out Yorhi. He is quiet useless beside traps and locks.

That's quite strange that it happened. Did they get frightened?

Np!

I had this a lot when starting. And to me, it was somewhat discouraging. Might I suggest a simple solution, as there's multiple journals available so have a look at the numerous journals around & where/when they initiate a specific fight, that should help quite a lot with pacing of the fights & even strategies.

Founder is quite tough but there's ofc a few tricks that help, a lot.

And if you run into a wall, just ask away - there's a lot of helpful experience here @ the forum.



You didn't switch Yoshi to a Kensai or so? I always found it useful to drag him to Brynnlaw, because SPOILER!

No horror or any fear effect. Just low HP.



Yes, I constantly checking journals here. I wrote also 2-3 journals 15 years ago. And no, it doesn't discourage me, as I played IA from 3.2 to 6.0 at least 5 times. Just it was so long ago, I am getting too old, and hard to remember things 14-15 years before.



No, I didn't. To tell the truth I don't really like swapping the party. I like to get my final party asap, then just swap out 1-1 member for a short time to do NPC spec. quests. And since I have Sibel, I don't want to keep Yoshi too long.

Question: Why does some ppl refuse thief stronghold? I remember I did it also,. but I don't remember why...

I think the main reason is that you get the Short Sword of Backstabbing +3, which is a good weapon against enemies that are vulnerable to piercing damage. I've never really accepted the stronghold, so it's hard for me to tell any other reasons

I think the rewards for that particul stronghold are not very good and one is better off with the sword.

Thanks!

Also I am very dissatisfied with Neera as a a wild mage. I feel sorcerer would be much useful. As sorcerer she should have optimized spells (I am afraid of buying scrolls because they are expensive and money is tight), more casts and could cast whatever is needed. As a wild mage it caused me several reload because of wild surges...
Will she be better in middle and late game compared to sorcerer or a specialist mage?

By accepting you get around 40k+ gold (or bit more with one trick if not fixed). Refusing option is short sword +3, which is useful for piercing damage dealer vs coin golems, but you can get more of those much later.
So it is either:
1. much earlier +3 piercing weapon (refusing guild) or
2. 40k+ gold (accepting guild). If thinking long term, I usually take guild and finish its quests.

Hi Shadan!

Wild Surge table is revised in v7. So yes, she will become much better soon.

Thanks Sikret!

Great moments in IA when memories comes back... I started to free the slaves in CC. I didn't remember on it at all, so I did usual buff, killed guards, then started exploration of area. Suddenly I met with a familiar face: Beastmaster. And I immidiately remembered on him... he will precast Ironskin and similar defenses and his most dangerous weapon is to cast Creeping Doom. Protagonist countered its casting with minor drain. And this was a great moment of Neera, he casted remove magic with +3 levels. Bye bye Ironskin and other protections, dead beastmaster.

I killed Dorn. He seemed to be very evil and 2 repu is too much for him. Do you guys usually recruit him?

Dorn Questline gives some decent experience and there are much more reputation gain to loses so in long run it won't matter. Last quest of Dorn Questline there is also useful mask Visage for Breathe Acid ability (aoe acid + save vs. Death at -4 or fall unconscious for 2rounds), but there were some restriction of its use, evil or something only can use. I remember it was handy to disrupt casting and it + Horn of blasting strike into enemy crowd before rushing in was decent tactic.

Thanks! Maybe next time, however I don't like to do evil things with non evil party, and nowadays I don't play any evil. But I did Edwin's quests in maevar line, I thought it is not a problem for KN character, and I needed the XP.

Qustion: I pkayed Gaelan. I have some money. Is there any item what should I buy in CH3? I forged ankheg armor, but is was pointless. I thought, maybe Sibvel could use it, but her armor seems better, however worse AC.

There wer some great moments with Neera... When she casted double level remove magic from Nahal, sadly wizard was even higher than double level. But she casted 3 SI: Nec from Nahal.

Most people (me included) tend to forge Phosphorus +4 before going to Spellhold and you need to buy one mace from Trademeet or from Copper Coronet for that if I remember correctly. Other than that, a scroll of Limited Wish is a good choice, maybe Martial Staff +3.

And you could forge an Improved Ankheg armor, but Tabitha's Hide is required for that and it's better used for Thistledown Gloves since you have an Avenger protagonist.

There are some useful early +3 weapons sold in Trademeet after you liberate the grove, those are a good investment.

Sibel armor will get free upgrade when you proceed her questline, but I suggest to have secondary armor for her just in special cases (full plate mail or some) vs slashing dmg.

Focus getting +3 weapons for everyone and buy belt vs crushing dmg from temple and get belt vs slashing dmg from planarsphere quest.
Here are few easy to get:
Dwarven Thrower +3 (crushing/missile type)
Flail of Ages +3 (crushing)
Spear of Kuldahar +3 (piercing)
Cleric's Staff +3 / Martial Staff +3 (Crushing)
Forstreaver +3 (Slashing)
Lilarcor +3 (Slashing)
Maybe few more other.

The Improved Ankheg Plate can be improved further in later stages of the game, but yes it is a choice where and how to use Tabitha's Hide:

And again:

I continue to play after a few days xmas break.
My progression so far (not in this exact order):

Umar Hills, except Temple Ruins.
Full Trademeet, except Founder quest.
Druid stronghold and 1st quest.
Suna Senai: It was a bit hard, because that mage is untouchable. I killed cleric fast, Gr. Command and Emotion took care of Suna and others. Than I endured that mage until his protections was faded. Confusion, Chaos etc. was a bit hard and messy.
Bridge District murder
Fallen Paladins
Copper Coronet backroom including Beastmaster.
Payed to Gaelan Bayne
Maevar quest line, refused stronghold to get +3 piercing.
Temple Sewers (exc. adventurer party, but including horrid rakshasa). To tell the truth I kited here quite long. I kited him while his Abs. Imm. was up, and tried to run away from Abi-Dalzim, so only 1, max. 2 character was hit by that nasty spell.
Graveyard quests (Tirdir, Wellyn, Risa)
Cult of Eyeless: It was hard. I was not able to find any good solution for multiple gauths and they have incredible DPS on this level. Unseeing Eye was hard also. 4 good melee chars, clan hunter, mountain bears and fire elemental, all buffed. Breach on UE, while Neera kept him busy with spell protections, like Spell Imm, Minor Globe etc. UE had an urgent surge to cast RRR and similar spells on Neera. Melees was able to distrupt his spellcasting several times, so no Abi-Dalzim. However that 90% resistance to all was a bit hard...

Finally Sibel got her thieving skills back. So I went to De'Arnise Keep, and swapped Yoshi to Nalia. Cleared 1st floor, but vengeance trolls were too hard. I went back to BG and started minor companion quests. Swapped Nalia to Hexxat and started her quest. After I did all unmodded and doable companion quests, I will get back Nalia.

My concern now is the weapon distribution:
Avanger PC will use clubs dual wielded, spears as piercing.
Sibel: her own club, hammers (Crom), maces. As a piercing or slashing I don't have a clue...
Both of them are using shield atm. for better tanking.

RB: clearly flails and axes.
Kensai: staves, halberds, 2handed swords. Now she is using 2Hsword.
Nalia: I am planning to use 2handed weapons with her. Staves and whatever.
Neera. Not really important.

I am thinking that I don't have a good long sword user and Crom is not the best at Sibel, maybe. Plus 2 fighters with 2 handed weapons maybe a bit too much, one could be enough, and kensai could be a dual wielder. I don' know.

Gauths are susceptible to
SPOILER!


Well, as a Cleric, Sibel can only use crushing weapons.


Avengers can use scimitars and there are a few nice ones, but the kit was mostly supposed to be a 2h wielder, though nothing stops you from using dual wield

Her damage output with the club is so high I wouldn't worry about suboptimal choices here. Unless the enemy has a total immunity to blunt, she'll be able to contribute. Just make sure to pre-buff with her with spells.


I used to theory-craft weapon choices a lot in the past, but in the end I realised it really does not matter that much. When you have many melee chars, you will be able to deliver enough damage even without insane optimisation. There are enough 2-h weapons to equip two fighters, and kensai is a good choice to be one since he's not the sturdiest one to stay on the front lines. One thing I'd recommend is consider using staves on the avenger protagonist. There will be some superb items available later. Though the dual-wield route is fine too. You can go for treefolk items and use belm/water's edge in off-hand to boost APR.

Weapon proficiencies are not so important for all classes those can't achieve grandmastery. You have enough points to put ** in several weapons and you can freely change weapons as the situation demands.
However with grandmastery, especially fighter who can grandmaster in any weapons, you have to choose 2 weapons and reach grandmastery in them. When you are grandmaster in a weapon, it is not too wise to change to a weapon with * or ** unless enemy resistance demands it.

My progress:
Companion quests: Anomen, Cernd, Hexxat (exc. last one), Korgan, Jan, Neera, Rashaad (left him in the monk order).
Opened Planar Sphere with Valyga.
Wilson quest was strange. I remember the quest was in my quest log. After I finished Rashaad quest, and saved Wilson, Hidden Refugee was destroyed. I went to thayan enclave, cleared it, back to Hidden Refugee, then I bpought Wilson back, but there wasn't any reaction from Zaviak and I don't find the Wilson quest in my log. Maybe I missed something or I didn't start the quest because I have often to reload cause of my mistakes...
Temple mission: Sir Sarles (Borinall and Amber golem was still too hard)
Lilalcor: Shadow Lover was hard. I realized I need slash/pierce weapons. I bought Spear of Kuldahar, but still I didn't have enught DPS, because her AC was too high. so RB, kensai and Nalisa used giant strength potions (fire " 2 cloud) and 3 heroism potions. 4 bear + clan hunter, max. buffs. Bears were mostly damage soalers in first 2-3 turns. But I won the fight. I hope I won't miss those potions later...
Xzar and Montaron
Tanova encounter: That was especially hard... On the street, so no arcane magic. Buffed up in CC, but Neg Pl. Prot. is very short, and was dispelled by Tanova. I killed 2 vampires very fast, but Tanova needed +3 weapons, and I don't have many of them yet. And I forgot the +3 short sword on Hexaat, who doesn't want to join back for a while.

Forged Iron Horn of Valhalla, and I am planning to buy several scrolls, like Gr. Malison. I hope I don't waste too much money...

I am playing with LOT of reload. Luckily my power computer reload game instantly. I don't remember on enemies, quests etc. so I work with trial and error to learn which encounters are doable and which aren't. For example Planar Prison (Haer'dalis) and Borinall was too hard. And even fights which are winable, I have to learn enemies weak points by trials.

Another strange thing: Combat stats page of my RB is a blank page. All other characters have a combat stat page with full of detailed stats, only the RB missing this. I don1t really know why...

True, although I'd argue that it's much easier in case of 2-handed weapons. You're pretty safe maxing out staff, with the second weapon being 2-handed sword or halberd (depending on your end-game preferences).


Does the kit function correctly otherwise? Were there any errors or warnings during the installation (you can check setup-improvedanvil.debug for it)?

Yes. Kit works correctly, and there was not any error during installation.

Alright, great progress!

The Wilson thing is very buggy, I don't think I've ever managed to get it properly working and for me it's just not worth it for 5k exp points (or something like that). As it takes planning and numerous reloads etc...

You can ger more potions from roger the fence + soon you'll get gian strength the spell, I always pretty much end up just using that one instead of potions in almost all of the fights.

Have you tried leveling up? Maybe that'll clear the issue.

I checked the problem, and I found that Combat stats page blank only in combat. All other characters have a full combat stats and out of combat RB has also a full detailed Combat stats page.
I just wanted to check in combat what you, Critto, wrote about to hit rolls.

Are these spells removed from IA?
Minor Sequencer
Sunfire
Spell Sequencer



Thanks. I knew Roger, just I don't want to buy potion until it is absolutely needed. I have Giant Strength spell, just I use Heal, summon, Wondrous Recall (for Chaotic Commands) as lvl 6 spells yet. Avanger protagonist and Sibel using DUHM to reach 22-23 strength in fights (imho it is better than Righteous Magic, because last longer and raise other stats also). Kensai is half-orc with 19 strenth, Giant Strength spell gives 20, so not worth a lvl 6 slot. On Nalia maybe, RB has 18/00, so it is questionable.

Progression:
Jaheira quest
Slavers in Slums: Charged from sewers. That mage was hard, because he was able to dispel my whole party. My only hope was to kick him out with Emotion or Chaos. It took like 6-8 tries. Avenger died 2 times from named slaver and assassins. One time wizard fell from Emotion, but I stepped into trap at stairs, and RB died. Wizard passed save against Emotion/Chaos in few tries, but when he fell 2nd time, I wanted to disarm trap before I move up to him. I don't know if it is possible in combat, because Sibel went near to trap, turned searching on, and wanted to wait, but Sibel headlessly run into trap because he wanted to attack the wizard. Luckily he survived, so fight was over.
Killed crypt king and queen.
Then I was clueless. I thought I could try pirates in dock tavern, I have 2 IH + RB inner IH. Buffed up, but it were hopeless 3-4 tries. Coordinator is untouchable, and dispel my whole party.

Now I am planning Ashidena guardians (maybe 3 IH is enough). and I read in journals, there are spiders in ogre tower at druid grove.
Than I will try Paina and De'Arnise Keep 2nd level.
I hope they are doable with lvl 11 fighters, lvl 12 mages.

They are in game, just bit harder to find ( Minor Sequencer maybe in some shops Watchers keep/Thieves shops in streets night time), Sunfire in Adventures mart Scroll shop I think.

Pirates are doable, but coordinator needs poke in to make some hits, move away/evade start of round not staying near it. But that is tiresome tactic.

I think your team can poke in Shadow Temple ruins, Shadow Jailor should be doable and early part of temple until meet liches (they also doable, but you need find tactic (skeletons to time consume to exaust all PFMW and 1 PFME or Ring of Victor for ultimate disruption tool)). Then Watchers Keep first level easy content. Then testing Windspear Hills dungeon inside. Mencar Pebblecrusher and Party should be doable.

Weird. I never really paid attention to that page during the combat, will have to check myself.


Righteous Magic packs a bit more of a punch because it also sets an effect that causes the character to deal max damage. Also, for maximum efficiency you could also pre-buff with Holy Power before RM/DUHM to increase THAC0 as well.

There's also a trader in the bridge district (mrs. craigsmoon) who sells a lot of potions as well.


Did you do Greater Malison on him beforehand?


The key with Coordinator is to spread out and know what to anticipate in order to outlast his attacks. Buy some supplements such as fire res potions.

No. I didn't want to waste a round, becuuse if GR. Malison, then Emotion, he maybe cast out one dispel. Sometimes 2 Emotion is better then 1 Gr. Malison and 1 Emotion.



Thanks! I've found Minor Seq and Sunfire. I am thinking on a new idea: 2 Webs in Minor Seq. With two casters, that means 4 Web. Does it work? Do enemies have to roll save against each Web invidually in every round?

I've bought some scrolls: Limited Wish, 2 PfMW, 2 Sunfire, 2 Minor Seq, PfNM, 2 Gr. Malison.
Forged: Paws of the Furious Cat, Yeti Hide Cloak, Iron Horn of Valhalla.

Figured out, that 2 different caster means 2 Enchanted Weapons, so Nalia has two +3 longswords.

Progress:
Ashideena guardians
Paina: perma Scroll, yeah!
Spiders in Ogre Tower: Belm for RB.
Chaos: it was hard, because 7 Call Lightning after a Gr. Malison were not enough. So I recruited Cernd back, and took like 12 Call Lightning to kill him. I dont't know how to kill him with only Cernd, if my protagonist is not a druid.

Now I am trying to do do De'Arnise Keep. I will start with Yuan-ti mage + trolls and vengeance trolls. I will try the 4 Webs tactic here.

When the spells are already active in the area, then you will roll saves against each one individually.

It's a bit tricker when the sequencer just fires. In general, there's usually only one saving throw roll of a particular type, but in some cases (especially when auto-pause: spell cast is used) the engine forces a character to roll individual saving-throws not only against each spell, but even against each effect inside a single spell. This why people occasionally report situations when a character seemingly made a successful saving throw against a spell, but still got a portrait icon or animation hanging above the character's avatar. This is a known engine issue due to how time is tracked inside the game.


One solution is to postpone the encounter until a later date. It's much easier in ch6. Also, in v7 druids get an improved call lightning later that packs a bigger punch.

Well, De'Arnise Keep drove me to crazy. Let me to write down, how blind and stupid I am...
I cleared 1st floor a while ago. I went back yesterday, cleared the 2nd floor, Glacias, golem room etc. Then I started to look for the stairs to the roof. I found stairs to basement, but I didn't want to face TorGal yet. After an hour of looking, I abandoned this, all stairs were blocked. So I moved to basement. Then, just before TorGal, I realized I forgot FoA and food for umber hulks. Stairs was blocked, so I reloaded older save, and went to kitchen and to the forge. In the forge, I was surprised because only FoA+2 was available. I checked on net, where are the heads. I looted Glacias and golem room, and at "1st-floor-clear" the crypt also. I noticed that I am missing the cold head from crypt. I thought that I misplaced it earlier, so I started to reload older saves to check in which save do I have the cold head. I haven't found anything, then I searched here in IA forums, and realized that gate yuan-ti has it. I haven't lowered the bridge yet, because I forgot that and haven't found that stairs outside. Started the search now, but I haven't found again how I can lower the bridge. After a while and net search I've found the stairs outside what I've missed, because I am blind.
So FoA+3 was forged and TorGal waited for me. Well it took hours and a lots of tries to kill him. I tried several tactics, but he was immune to all spells, Lower Res could be work, but in this fight you don't have time for that. Chaos, Emotion, Hold Monster didn't work on noble trolls even after GM. I tried to lure trolls and gem golem out, to kill the gem golem while TorGal casting Storm, but then Storm hit that room room. So I realized, best tactic to storm TorGal. I was able to disrupt Storm casting, but dispel was casted, and that was game over always. I realized, I need more offensive, so I tried the wual wield with avanger and Sibel. Well, the THACO was not enoght high with dual wiled, but lower AC meant they were killed more easily. So I need defensive power also, I drunk Potion of Defense with avanger, Potion of Fire G. Str. on RB and Nalia. Now I was able to kill TG 3-4 times, and even disrupt dispel, but I was badly damaged and gem golem + nobel trolls killed at least 1 character. So I changed my spell selection, skipped Chaotic C., it seemed that is not needed here, so avanger had more Ironskins, and Sibel had a Mass Cure. Finally, I was able to kill that bastard.

My team:
Avanger: lvl 12, Club+3, Shield of the Lost+2, AC was -14 with Potions of Defense.
Sibel: lvl 11, her club, Saving Grace+3, AC was -12.
RB: lvl 11, FoA+3, Belm, Fire Giant Str.
Kensai: lvl 11, Lilacor
Nalia: lvl 12 mage, 9 fighter, 2 longsword+3, Fire Giant Str.
Neera: lvl 12

2 mountain, bears, Joolon, Kitthix, clan hunter. Full cleric buffs including Free A and Prot. from Fire, buffed clan hunter also.
Avanger tanked TorGal, Nalia moved to get aggro from gem golem. Sibel, clan hunter, kensai on TorGal, RB waited a bit, to avoid a lot of aggro, then attacked TG also. Neera Breach.
Nalia Gr. Malison when reached the golem, and started to attack TG after spell is cast.
Neera Chaos after Breach (no success on trolls), then started RoFs on golem. When TorGal was dead, my summons were dead also except clan hunter, so launched 2 webs from Minor Seq. Avanger, RB, kensai (with staff+3) and Nalia attacked the golem, Neera kept casting RoFs. When golem was dead, started to cast Fireballs and Sunfires with 2 mages.
Used up several healing potions, 1 Heal, 1 Mass Cure, renewed Ironskins once, Stoneskins 2 times on Nalia.

It took appr. 8 hours of playing to clear this keep and kill TG. Nex time ti will be probably 1, max. 2 hours I hope.

Well, I did Sibel's village several times, and with a little help from Critto (thanks!), I think, I've done all there.
I tried 1st level in WK, but abandoned it. Fanatic Spirit hard, maybe doable with full buffs, but I think it is pointless to do know, because Spider Queen is absolutely out of my power.

Went to Temple Ruins:
Shadow Jailor: Was easy on my level.

2 Shade Liches with Skeleton Lords: Well, first they seemed too hard. No Breach, lot of PfMW. So with a hard brainworking I started remember:
SPOILER!


Shade Lord: Was not so easy on my level as I thought:
Strength drain was hard. I used 2 RRR scrolls to dispel his spell protection, then I breached him continously, but I am not sure if he is immune to Breach or not. I've never seen dispel text in combat log.
Sibel is very strong, killed Shadow Patrik in solo. I moved her and Patrik to altar and lot of shades were destroyed by her Blade Barrier also.

Did you tried Shadow dragon? Might seems hard at first but I think it is easier than Shade Lord.

No, I left him, I thought it is impossible at this level. Maybe I will try prespellhold then.

Shadow Dragon should generally be doable pre-Spellhold, but there are certain things that might make this fight easier.

SPOILER!

I thought as well, but when I came back from spellhold, I realized it is doable. I did not felt he was IA improved. It felt pretty much like in the base game. He died so fast.
You could try.

The dragon is improved 100%. But it is doable pre-Spellhold.

My progress:
Planar Prison finished. Neera as a wild mage sometimes very annoying. Like when I am buffing from 10 mins, and she fizzles one important spell at end, like Impr. haste... However she saved me in PP several times. From Nahal's RD:
- She RRR-ed the elite Bounty Hunter.
- Nosave Emotion on yuant-ti mage under SI:Div+ Impr Inv.
- 2 succesfull RRR on Warden. All in all PP was not too hard on this level, but was a challenging a bit.

Planar Sphere:
Lavok: Was not too hard. Protag tanked Skelly Lords, others killed golems fats. I thought Lavok is a lich, but apparently, he was not. Neera RRR-ed from Nahal's after a several wild surge, and he was dead.
Tolgerias was a bit harder, because 2 mages were there.
Golems at engine were a nightmare however... 6 coins, 6 gems, 2 bone in three grp. It was hard to keep alive even Sibel, not to mention RB and kensai. And in 3rd fight I was out from IH and many important buffs. Drank 3 Clod Giant, 2 Invulnerable and 1 Defense potions before I engaged combat with 1st golems here.

I went to Cromwell after this:
- Phosphorous, yeah!
- Potion of Clear Thinking
- Improved Yeti Hide Cloak

However I am a bit confused. After forging I went back to the sphere and there is no sign of Solamnic knights and any Wizard stronghold stuffs. Shall I do anything else to get wizard SH? I haven't found anything else on net.

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.


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.


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

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



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



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.

Maybe try resting few days at entrance of sphere

I went to Umar Hills and Trademeet after Sphere. Rested in CC for 1 day, rested outside of the Sphere for 2 days. All in all appr. 5 days passes. Nothing...

As far as I see now, maybe the problem was that I didn't go back to Sphere immediately after Lavok died outside. So I cannot avoid replay those hard fights, just I don't have strength to do it now again.

What does your journal say? Did you finish the quest?

This should be the normal order of things, so everything should be fine.

Anyway, you are playing an avenger? The extended mage stronghold then provides you with a few extra fights (4 or so) through an NPC called Marvella, who is located after the room with solamnic knights at where tha halflings used to be.



Even console is quite useless vs. those golems, I guess the easiest options would be to

1. Fix the variables, if Critto + Jacek + Sikret have those?
2. Use the saved game, import barbarian essences through console and just make your party invulnerable and whack away.

Thanks, but I won't cheat in normal games. If I cannot fix this stronghold things, I replay battles normally and I try to go back into the Sphere immediately.

Send me save game or screen of variables and I can test and find issue. I got lot of saves so can find issue by comparing variables

Thanks, I sent a message.

There are two testing items (wands) in the game, one reduces the enemies' stats to zero and the other one deals a lot of damage. These can help you win the fights easy and still gain the experience (technically, you've already passed the challenge of the fight, you can just discard the resources you've used). Let me know if you wanna go that route.

Otherwise, it's hard to say without testing, hopefully Dequ will be able to help you if not. I'll try to take a look at it.