Baldur's Gate with Ranger/Cleric

[twillight]

I never played this game dualclassed for probably obvious reasons, and not played cleric for less obvious reasons. Maybe this time.

Again I play solo from BG1 to ToB.

I started a ranger, and later I want to dual to cleric. No idea when, please help to decide. I checked the exp-charts, and until level 11 of ranger it seems I only loose one level of cleric, but as cleric lvl 40 requires 8,000,000 exp, one cleric lvl is the price for dualclassing anyway, so I can finish BG1-ToSC with being a ranger *crosses fingers*

As I hate gathering money, I gave myself at the very start a wooping 1,000,000 coins. Not spent too much after an early visit at High Hedge. Not that I used Claw of Kazgaroth at all, or the full plate mail for long (I changed it at the first visit in Nashkel to Ankegh Plate), but still.

This time I had no problem starting the game (assassin at Friendly Arm Inn is a pain), though I used my potion of clear thoughts to avoid some mindaltering spell here.

I used a speed potion in Beregost against Silke to prevent her castings.

Otherwise I rarely needed anything (= healing potions, antidote potions) then my trusty weapons. I started with axes (best weapon is in that class for BG1, and in BG2 I'll have to relocate anyway), but it'd have been better to start with one of the sword classes. Curently I hold a longsword +2. I cut through myself gnolls and thee like pretty easily, although I try to avoid ghouls (I see special attacks are the weak spot of this char).
I only used bow once against the Bear on the Bridge.

I've not long ago came out from the Nashkel Mines, just cutted the loose ends from before that. Hope I can report my progress here later. Until that, feel free to give me advices.

[hunvagy]

Should I even ask why not half-elf ranger/cleric?

[Tomekk]

As I hate gathering money, I gave myself at the very start a wooping 1,000,000 coins. Not spent too much after an early visit at High Hedge. Not that I used Claw of Kazgaroth at all, or the full plate mail for long



That just has challenge written all over it. <.< And you're still asking for help despite taking the liberty of cheating at the very beginning?

[Sarin]

Should I even ask why not half-elf ranger/cleric?

If my memory serves me right, ranger/cleric is not available multiclass. And dualclassing is only open for humans.

Difference between multiclassing and dualclassing is that multiclass begins as lvl 1 in both classes and progress simultaneously in both. Dualclass is when you start as one class, then you terminate progress in that class and start taking levels in another.

[kmonster]

The only benefits you get for taking 11 instead of 9 ranger levels are a little stealth bonus and 2 hitpoints once you've reached cleric level 39, before this point you'll be inferior.

Another option for dualclassing is level 13, at the XP cap the ranger13/cleric36 will have only 6 instead of 7 level 7 spells per day and 4 hitpoints less than a ranger11/cleric39 but have 2.5 instead of 2 attacks per round.

[twillight]

@kamonster
ty for the analysis.

@Sarin
Ranger/cleric (and ranger/druid) IS a valid multiclass, else it would not be valid dualclass either.

@Tomek
Adding gold isn't really cheating. With one character you'd have plenty of gold early anyway, but itemselling trips are a BIIIG timewaster.
As you would gain the gold anyway, and you could replace it by doing some "stupid shortcut technic" (= running in highlevel areas just for a treasure chest then running out), I found this acceptable. Please don't argue about it.

And just for your sake I tell you I'll do the "hey, Minsc can have it too!" bypass too.

@hunvagy
I think ranger offers only very little adventages, and as requires hugh amount of exp to progress in it, it'd just slow me down (especially on the turn undead side).

Otherwise: I never dualclassed before, and this is the only chance I'll ever do the cleric stronghold.


Progress: I'm heading towards the Cloakwood Forest. In the bandit camp the boss outside the tent was too hard for melee, had to shoot arrows. Arrows also helped against the group of red mages in some area.
Sirens if you have only 1 character near them, are still a joke, as unlike in BG2 being charmed doesn't mean instadeath (got the Constitution-book).

[hunvagy]

If my memory serves me right, ranger/cleric is not available multiclass. And dualclassing is only open for humans.

Difference between multiclassing and dualclassing is that multiclass begins as lvl 1 in both classes and progress simultaneously in both. Dualclass is when you start as one class, then you terminate progress in that class and start taking levels in another.

It is. For half-elves. Anyway back on topic, if memory servers clerics still have to obey their ethos, so even if you dual class and retain your ranger abilities, you won't be able to use any slashing weapon at all. Unless they have a backdoor like in 3e, where one of the gods favors swords/axes. Also to note that you might want to consider your alignment up front, since the one step rule applies in ADnD too. And try not to become a fallen ranger :bleh1:

That reminds me.. how come you have trouble with mind affecting spells? You should have pretty neat saves agains mind affecting, if you're buffing wisdom for the cleric.

Edit2: http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/75251-baldurs-gate/49607384 Read this one on the ranger/cleric xD Seems Bioware was fond of interesting bugs from the get go.

[kmonster]

It's a good thing you can reselect your weapon proficiencies at the start of BG2, weapon proficiencies clerics can't use are lost when dualclassing.

Pick other weapon proficiencies during the dualing period than before, 2+1=2 in this case.

Full plate is better than Ankheg Plate unless you've carrying capacity trouble, it's considered non-magical and grants 3-4 additional AC bonus versus everything except crushing.

[twillight]

There is a "backdoor" on weapon prophiciencies. When you transport your game from BG1 to BG2, you'll have all your points unspent because of the big changes between the two games (like two weapon style, single weapon style etc.). Similar thing to the racial enemy.

S'seldog has currently (after CON Tome) these stats: 18(48)/18/19/11/18/9. Sadly mind-altering spells are overpowered (that's why they got a hugh nerf for BG2).

About fullplate-mail: in the game it equalls with the Ankegh plate in AC, only it is nonmagical. But I almost never wear of Protection jewelry. Anyway, my favourite armor from BG1 is the Plate Mail +3.

I've reached the Cloakwood mines, where against the assassination attempt I required the use of a Potion of Heroism.
Interrestingly on the second level of this mine, at the stairs to the third level, the large group's mage shot a lightning what killed basically everyone in that room:woot:
On the final level I removed my armor, hided amongst the shadows, and shoot some arrows from the sidepassage to start the battle with the mage, and avoid the Battle Horrors. In addition I used up the Potion of Stone Form I had to avoid spells like Hold Person. And that's where I am now, being level 7.

[hunvagy]

So your cleric will use weapons that are against cleric ethos by letting the game cheat for you? Right, nothing to do here then, carry on with your non-cheating playthrough. :sick:

[Tomekk]

Isn't Full Plate +3 only worn by Sarevok? <.<

EDIT: Nevermind, mixed it up.

[twillight]

So your cleric will use weapons that are against cleric ethos by letting the game cheat for you? Right, nothing to do here then, carry on with your non-cheating playthrough. :sick:

Heck, next time i'll be criticised 'cause BG2 allows casting higher then lvl3 druid spells for ranger/cleric, lol.

I've reached the maximum lvl (8) amongst the Firewine Ruins. And I didn't even do random-monster hunting (like basilisks or vampire wolves which gives tons of exp). Now I can bless myself before bossbattles. Sucky that only 1 spell is usefull, and even that can be achieved in TotSC only...

I've reached the maximum exp of TotSC after Ulcaster's Dungeon.

To get the Golden Girdle I again draw out my arrows. More then one mage, you know.

Seems I won't ever visit the area sout of the lighthouse, neither the farm north of BG'S bridge.


There is a nasty bug appart the occasional crashes: NPCs refuse to talk with you. To solve the problem do a save, then reload. All will be fine then.


I hate Durlag's Tower. From lvl -2 the enemies are hard and many, and there is no healer nearer then Nashkel. What a trip.
Also most of the traps here do not deplet when triggered, so be cautious (I tend to remember the place of the traps blindy here after a while). Though it means you can use them as weapons!
But here are also some bugg-packaged items (more then 5 in a package), so keep an eye for those.
Last but not least without lockpick I had to use Giant Strenght potions a couple of times to get access to the cool equipments. But even that did not help to get Kiel's shield (seems it is only for characters with lockpick).

Against the 4 dwarven guardian of DT lvl -2 I had to use a Potion of Heroism, and even that way it was a close battle. Used my Bless spell against the bottom left dwarf (he has the best AC, and the 2nd best damage).

Tips for DT lvl3:
- when you finally get through the northwest door from the starting room if you go east from there on the wall you'll find switches. All the maddening puzzles can be skipped by fiddling all switches into the open-position (opens all door on the level).
- at the teleport runes if you transport yourself to the other side, you can shoot down the appearing Durlags safely.
- when you reach the ghasts on the south corridor a potion of freedom can be a lifesaver against their hold person effect (what it seems destroys your AC for the period too). I did this too. Sadly this cause a strange bug appear what disables your Boots of Speed permanently. I could only reactivate it by asking a priest to cast Dispel Magic on me (it was only allowed as I wear the Claw of Kazgaroth).

DT lvl4 starts ugly, better have good arrows, as without those the 3 wyverns are quite impossible. After you rise the five npc you have to power to vanquish one, then the snipers shall be sacrifised to the second what you hit melee from the back. Then pick up the ranged units arrows, you'll need those too. The only fortunate thing is, wyverns are LARGE critters (gets stuck in doors).


The last part (the chessboard and further) of Durlag's Tower is very-very hard and not really productive on the resource-side, so I consider skiping that, although with warrior class it'd be useful to finish even lvl 5.
But seriousl the final reward not worth it: a hammer of +4 vs giants? There are not even giant creatures in BG1!! (appart from some occasional ogrillion or something, but they are puny)

[twillight]

Ok, I did it. I finished the fifth lvl of Durlag's Tower. Not that Ivolunteered by free will, but because after I entered lvl 4 I could not leave the place anymore (gates closed behind me, no idea if that's some bug). Man, how much I had to sleep to pump back my health!

I went in for Bala's Axe stealthed. For the four elements the phonix guards were nothing, but the baby-wyvern was too much without a potion of speed – what lasted until the chessboard. I also used a potion of heroism here what I had enough. Again thx to pure luck I just had a package of fire arrows to kill the slime.

The chessboard turned easy, because I always carry a Potion of Absorbtion. I just got stealthed, and runned up&down before the opponent's figurines until they were dead.

The fifth lvl was kinda disapointment after the reallife years I last went down there. The slimy part though was maddening me, as where the talking ghoul is were a large group of enemies right behind the door of the room. Also one Greater Ghoul there always respawns. I used 2 potion of freedom until I managed to cut myself through on the entire area and anther oil of speed and a STR19 potion as well as some scrolls I've found (I think defensive harmony and champion's strenght, but really, just use everything you could lay hands on).
The only thing I had to cheat in was a STR 24 potion, what can be bought in BG's entry area to get access to Flame Tongue. If I could have go backwards, or knew this requirement beforehand, I not had to do this. And I don't know if after the Durlag lady sends you out can you go back again (you have to be teleported to the chessboard what has the requirement of killing the elemental monster – from the ice ones only the bear).

Bugs: - did you notice when you reload you hp rises?
- I again got the potion of freedom bug. This time I needed a potion of speed to bypass it.
- one point of „bad design” in the game that when you reach Cadlekeep's 6th floor you're sent down to lvl 5. BUT when you just arrive to lvl 6, you get arrested. Bummer.

Strangely the city of Baldur's Gate, neither Candlekeep offers nothing interresting in battles, only stories of the main plot. Oh well. At least I have all the statbooks.

The Werewolf Island with all the nifty equipments on one warrior-type character makes that quest easy too. I would be curious how a spellcaster could do it - but really there is little reason for that anyway.


Now I'm at the final part of BG1, namely the only remaining field is the metropolis itself. As there are plenty of god things to consider keeping, I wait a day with trying finishing it (so this night I'll try my luck most probably - wish me success).


Oh, and a chart to analyse when to dualclass ranger/cleric:

- lvl 7: you can regain ranger abilities at the end of BG1.
- lvl 9: the last level you gain HPs by diceroll.
- lvl 11: you can still reach lvl 39 with your cleric.
- lvl 12: you can reach lvl 38, but gain another proficieny point. Considering how restricted a priest is on the weapon side, I doubt it worth it.
- lvl 13: you gain +0.5 attack because the ranger class, but loose casting power of the priest. For the reasons I won't choose this possibility, but it is a matter of taste of course.

[hunvagy]

Heck, next time i'll be criticised 'cause BG2 allows casting higher then lvl3 druid spells for ranger/cleric, lol.


There's a difference between an engine bug that you can't do anything against and purposefully putting skill points into skills you normally couldn't/shouldn't have. And yes, if you would use for instance the 3 caster bug of NWN2, you'd get kicked from most places. But to each his own, you carry on.

[twillight]

There's a difference between an engine bug that you can't do anything against and purposefully putting skill points into skills you normally couldn't/shouldn't have. And yes, if you would use for instance the 3 caster bug of NWN2, you'd get kicked from most places. But to each his own, you carry on.

It is a problem of design between the two games, not an engine-bug. That (engine-bug) would be Fake Talk, or Everyone Can Have a Familiar.
But to each his own.


Onto more serious buisness:
After reaching the Temple of Baal I went on the left side inside. This way I could activate the battle, then run back and kill the mage appearing at the main enterance.
Then I went back up left, and let the archer chase me to a coloumn, so I could kill him melee, AND he healed me with his Arrows of Detonation.
Then I went up on the right, activated Sharevok, and made him chase me to the upper left corner, where I took down my armor, and hided in the shadows, and went back to fight Tazok.

After that win I could finally save the game.

Then I drew out bow and shread Sharevok to pieces with piercing arrows.

Voilá, I won. The battle against Sharevok is really missprogramed. He is unbeatable in melee, but pathetic against ranged attacks, mostly because boots of speed and oil of speed stack. There are great challenges in this part of the game, but Sharevok is not amongst them. Now I go and find out why my stats have to be rerolled in the stupid second part of the game. I didn't play the first game just to skip the alignment-choice, dammit! (And I'd be interrested how to be evil alignmented with this char as soon as possible to kill with turn undead!)

EDIT: Lol, the stats are only carried over if your pictures are copied with the savegame! (I use custom portraits)

stats at end of BG1 (+TotSC): 19/19/19/12/21/9
items carried over: Full Plate Mail +1, gauntlets of weapon expertise, helm of balduran, kiel's helmet, large shield +2, 2*ring of fire resistance, claw of kazgaroth, cloak of balduran, boots of speed, rogue stone, diamond, horn of kazgaroth, 9*potion of magic blocking, 3*scroll of magic protection, 3*scroll of protection from undead, golden girdle, cloak of the shield (planed to use against Sharevok, but got not used), long bow of marksmenship, 20*arrow of detonation, 20*arrow of piercing, ring of holiness, staff mace, golden pantaloon, violet potion.

[twillight]

As the next thing I zapped through Irenicus' dungeon, and by that reached lvl 9. Then drank a potion of speed and a potion of invulnerability, and managed to kill Mencar Peablecrusher's band in the local inn. As always the hardest part was to kill the thief (likes to backstab, and runs away when seriously wounded), then disposing tha mage/mephit who cast confusion.


For proficiencies: while waiting for gaining back the ranger abilities you'll only be allowed to put 1 proficiency point on your weapons skills, so watch out. But after ranger gets reactivated, 2 points on skills will be avaiable again.

As ranger I rised my two weapon fighting to 3, quaterstaves to 2 (I plan on assembling Staff of Ram out of curiosity, but also the only piercing weapon for cleric is in this weapon class), warhammer and mace. During the early cleric-levels I plan on using flails and slings. As weapons I plan on Crom Faeyr + Flail of Ages, but this can change slightly according what I experience. Not that there'd be too much room for changes on the weapon side...


Now I go back and try to find some exp for my ranger and keep some easy exp for my cleric. Will update later in this post if no comment will come.:hello:


EDIT1: I went to the Slums to speak with Gaelen, and almost finished the "Free Hendak" quest. Only not finished to spare some easy exp for me as cleric. Then went for Nalia's quest - there are nice exp there ad the Flail of Ages - not to mention you can spare reporting your success to Nalia for later.

In the De'Arnise keep I used oil of speed against the chief guard and the main troll. I avoided the Umberhulks by brewing the dogstew, and killed the golems with the Flail of Ages and the Staff Spear (found on Xzar).

I finished the quest of "Rescue Montaron", and started the quest for the Shadow Thieves what I delay until I change my class as I don't want to find some scripting bug because of alignment-problem or some such thing.

EDIT2:Finally I've reached Ranger lvl 11, and turned into a Cleric. I'm slowly regain my abilities (currently I'm lvl 8).
I basically did everything what I could without possible interference with the stronghold-related quests. For example I've saved Viconia (then said bye-bye), payed for the Cowled Wizards, solved the Skinner Murder in the Bridge District, killed Valeria's band (had to use a potion of invulnerability + potion of heroism + oil of speed here), killed the guys related to theLimiting Wish adventure (I can't cast that spell, so I started a brawl), and went to Windspear Hills to kill the knights at the arrival + the bandits raiding the landlord's house + kill every single monster in the area. I even had to enter Firkraag's lair to kill the orcs at the enterance (killed a Vampiric Mist too what wandered there for some reason).
Part of this was required because I wanned to step level by level as cleric, and not just gain 40K exps at once and step like 6 one time to avoid any possible loss of abilities. Maybe this was being overcautious, but it was possible to do.

After this I went back the BG, and cleared the Circus Tent. Good amount of exp in separate doses, so it is a fine area.
After that I finally could go around harvesting end-questexp, like saving the dryads from Irenicus' dungeon, freeing Hendak for sure, giving Aegis' body to the Cowled Wizards (Bridge district's murder quest) and other minor things.

Now the plan is to find Lilarchor, and do minor errand-quests until reactivating the ranger-levels, then starting chapter 3 on Bodhi's side.

Oh, and I realised my mistake above, GOOD priests destroy the undead. So I'll be as strong as a fully equipped Vicona, but with better abilities!

Too bad strenght-potions are no loger useable. But there are nifty spells for clerics if you watch without all the carzy super-bonuses of an entire part and their equipment. I still wonder how the heck will I have the required offensive output, but we'll see what can be made up.

EDIT3:

I always forget to add this: back in BG1, on the Werewolf Island the Greater Werevolf was not damageable with Bala's Axe (+3 weaponry). Only +4 weaponry worked.

Back to BG2:
As I much needed exp I went first to Trademeet. There isn't that many exp, but it isn't to bad either, and provides some items as well as good story. As I wanned the Efreeti bottle I did not care for the genie-quest - I killed them by the sword after the Druid Grove quest. But on the way to the Druid Grove I went to the Raksasha/potionseller, bought all coool potions, then buffed myself to kill 'em. As they sell an unidnentified potion what if you try to drink you do a save vs. polymorph I think that's a hint to force-attack 'em without even the genie quest. The buff still lasted for the last druid group.
Against the second druid group here I casted Silence.

I still was only lvl9 priest at the end (I stored the Heroe of Trademeet reward for later. Much later), so with a shrug went to Windspear Hills. The most notable difference here was that at a corridor instead of vampires I met mumies.

I actually killed Firkraag too. I buffed myself there with all things on me after a good sleep (like Potion of power, chant, draw upon holy might, champion's might etc.), and with a couple of tries (less then 10) managed to hit the beast with a Harm (reduces hp to 1). Then it was easy. Oh, and just before Firkraag I reached lvl 12 of cleric, so regained all abilities.

My next move was to enter the Temple District and finish all quest for the shadow thieves, then side Bodhi. and that's where I am now.

[twillight]

EDIT1: Oh-oh: "The same thing happened to me with a dual-classed Ranger/Cleric. I think you may be able to get the temple stronghold if you do the quest before regaining the ranger levels, but I'm not sure.

In any event, yes, this is a known bug. It hasn't been fixed by any patch and Baldurdash doesn't address it."


EDIT2: Not just I don't get the cleric stronghold, but seems because of that I can't get the Armor of Faith either. Bah, that'd have been a cool armor for a priest. The cleric stornghold sux, but if I'd have to decide between an Armor of Faith and a Monn Dog Figurine, I'd go for the first one.

Anyway, some progressdetails:
During the Unseeing Eye quest I met my first lich. It had protection of this, absorption of that – but no defense against Turn Undead :) I already experienced the wast power of the ability in the Graveyard, but this was fun. Interrestingly the two Greater Mumy at the same place just kept running away.
Be cautios though, that during the Kangaxx quest it has no use. At least it had not for me. And after I got frustrated by being mislead and mazed, used up a scoll of prot. from undead, and ran around with my precious Mace of Disruption +2. It made short work on even Kangaxx Demilich Form – I didn't even had to reload for another try.

At Arain Lingvail (head Shadow Thief, has a nice but not-that-useful Ring of Djinn) he kept casting prot. from magical weapons, so I pulled out my Berserker Figurine (got the Beljuril to upp it fully at Firkraag , in Tazok's room) and the Black Spider Figurine to finiish him off.

More bugs I encountered:
- sometimes the AI works insufficiently, and a „sane” enemy (red circle around it) acts like with morale failure: afraid.
- the „character appears busy” bug is very frequent. Fortunatelly it does not effect dialogues starting when you are present.
- Wellyn's ghost no longer appears since I got his teddybear. Might be related the way of the conversation I got it back from the thief.

Oh, a good thing: when my ranger levels got reactivated I could again drink potions avaiable only to the ranger class and restricted from clerics.

And as I LIKE to be a good priest for blowing up undeads, I decided I won't try to be an evil nonfallen ranger (I heared if you go the evil way during the ToB pocket-plane tests your alignment can shift without being Fallen). The advantage of it would be of course to wear the Human Flesh armour (besides of the insane curiosity of AD&D 2nd ed. evil nonfallen ranger part).

Some things like the Guarded Compound, where I went pretty late were joke-easy. Now I have nothing else to do then Trademeet, then the Planar Sphere and the Rogue Stone Doorway, then it'll be time to go to Spellhold.


About bringing items from BG1 to BG2: It is not really necessary or helpful at all. Gems can be refound easy, and most of the stuff you'll change fat anyway (and not a little will be unusable). What DO helps though is a good armour (what you'll change of course sooner or later as Armor of Balduran is at least only costs money, and there are even better armors out there), maybe an ok weapon to start with instead of the nonmagical crap, and all the magic-blocking scroll/potion just in case (not that I used any until now). The Helm and Cloak of Balduran are unbeatable of course, and instant 2 ring of fire protection (they stack!) is a good thing too.
But otherwise don't try too hard.

EDIT3: The Shadow Draghon was... lame. You can go behind the pillars, and if you have some unlimited amunition ranged weapon and make sure it can't horror you with its breath, you can win without a scratch.

Hm, Stone golems can be hit by anything, not just piercing weapons? Another odity is, why the Ringf of Danger Sense (+25% find traps) is avaiable for any class. How will I do Find Trap with a cleric?
Btw, being dualclass ranger/cleric suck not a little on the field of HLAs. There are not many, nor any you can get twice :( Within the Rogue Stone Doorway I required these equpiments: Mace of Disruption +2 against the lich and the vampire, Shield of Balduran against the beholder, and Shield of the Lost against the mage. The ninja bothers you least.
On lvl1 of Watcher's Keep if you pick up the Holy Book from the altar before doing the ritual the two topmost statue comes alive. Makes the fight easier if you want it.
On lvl1 of Watcher's Keep if you pick up the Holy Book from the altar before doing the ritual the two topmost statue comes alive. Makes the fight easier if you want it.
An interresting sidenote is, somewhere along Watcher's Keep someone put Deafness on me (50% casting failure). Didn't bother me too much, but after a while it became uncomfortable, especially as it not seemed that it want to expire. I left the keep to go to the shop on its top to make it removed – but no success! Shops has unlimited spell level, no?!? In the end I met some snakemen, whose priest casted Dispel Magic on me what removed it (my own did not work either).
The dragon inside Watcher's Keep though not fit through its doorway, but regularly casts stoneskin as natural ability. I did not want to go Deva, instead went for Energy Blades. Three pack made short work on 'im. Be aware of the Dragon's attack pattern: dragon breath, remove magic, nothing. So wait with vasting EB until the dispel-state is done, else you waste your spell.
I'm currently at the fifth lvl of Watcher's Keep. I WILL TRY the final seal for the Gauntlet of Extraordinary Specialisation. See you then.

EDIT4: At the signs I started with the red orbs. During its last wave I've reached lvl 39, the maximum. Then I only did 1 from the blue and purple series, but I liked the green abilities, so went for it. I did not brought here the Shield of Balduran, and I did not want to go back for it, but as it turned out it was not needed. The biggest problem here is the Elder Orb's Maze/Imprisonment ability, so if you can win over that mnster, you're almost surely will win. Be cautious though as the Hive Mother makes you constantly interrupted. The third beholder will in the first seconds be killed by... I think by its fellows. I've finished the Watcher's Keep quest solely for roleplaying purpose - and because the remaining bits are pathetic compared to the Final Guardians, against whom I use a lot of devas and the „no monster can open a door” trick. Actually the Fgs are not that strong if you do them one-by-one. Ok, you need a +4 weapon to be able to actually hit them, but otherwise most of them are plain fighters. There is a cleric, but that has low HP. The Hive Mother we already know. So that leave only the Ytosshi, but strangely enough a deva and some energy blades did short work on it. I mean I'm seriously doubt my two skeleton warrior and the berserker warrior counted too much. What I take with me to the Underdark in my backpack: golden firdle, cloack of shield, Kiel's helmet, Horn of Blasting (my quickslots will be: Bottle of Ereeeti Summoning, Wand of Wonders, Monndog figurine), 1 scroll case with various scrolls, 1 gem bag with jewelry, 1 potion bag with lots of super heling potions, 4 oil of speed, 5 potion of power, 5 potion of invisibility and some more.

EDIT5: Well, about the tests in the Abyss: I did manage to become neutral-evil at Sharevok without being fallen, but I did not go for the +1 STR bonus streight from Sharevok, and (maybe) thus not got the Holy Symbol repleaced. While on the other hand at the Selfish Tear when I tried out the evil path I GOT fallen, got another Lathender-symbol, my alignment did not change, I lost not just the ranger abilities but also the cleric-ones amongst those using items like Amulet of Power or the Sensate Amulet! So just don't try anything funny here or elsewhere I think.

Now on Joneleth: I summoned a Deva at the start to distract the opponents, and ran away for a little breath. Ironskin was active, but even that proved too much. I separated the demons from Irenicus and bashed them with not hard effort. As save was not possible, I went and destroyed the Mislead, then summoned a Deva, and Blades of Energy. This was all what was needed to destroy Jon basically. I start to feel confidence.

Btw, I forgot to go back to Trademeet for reward and statue of the Slayer. Turned out the statues are made when you step out the door of the Mayor, but you are forced back to human form when you are in Slayer form. A pity I think.

A sidenote: the Crom Faeyr isa bad joke. Ok, it gives 25 STR what helps to someone like Viconia, but what's the use when you solo? Not much. Trolls are anoying no quarel, but do we really need a special weapon against them? The stone golems are again only minor nusiance the time you assemble the hammer. And ettins? The only ettin in the game is in the Underwater City, thus appears before you can get access to this legendary tool. Bah!


Now onto the first challenge: As being „good” allignment as the final wave I've faced the prime enemies of the first two games: the Exile, Bodhi and Sharevok. Well, I think Sharevok's secondlife career ended fast... But the mage is the worst for summoning and all the crazy shit a mage can do, so kill him first. I got so many summons against me I launched a fireball from the Book of Infinite Spells centered me. Bodhi, being a vampire, is nothing to aa priest. An adive for this battle: a good AC helps a lot. So if you went to the Watcher's Keep ask Caspenar to make the dragon armor (I can stealth in it!), and wield a shield. At the very least. The Golden Girdle and other additions are good idea too. Interesting fact is, that at the start Girdle of Piercing is the best, then Girdle of Bluntness offers the most, and finaly (soon after the second's time) Golden Girdle will be your best friend. Naturally as -20 is the best AC, after assembling the BMU, you'll only need the Belt of Inertial Barrier.

[twillight]

Last post of mine here I think (to avoid talking with myself), though not the one you'd think (yet).

I've started a paladin too to go the whole series. You can't cheat or suffer bugs with a paladin, even in BG1 the "roll best human stats" cheat doesn't exist.
I also guessed up a more compact format to tell tales.

Just to mention I've never played paladin before. I'll give it a kit in BG2: cavalier. Analyses:
- the paladin is a warrior, so gets greater whirlwind, what makes any dispell-ability or true sight dismissable. Ok, Inquisitor is a hellish party-tank, but its abilities are useless in solo.
- undead hunter has too little to offer. Better hit against undeads? There is turn undead to destroy them in the blink of an eye. Immun to leveldrain? Use mace of disruption and avoid messing with too many traps. May not LoH? In solo it can be a nice ability, so it IS a loss. Immun to hold is a cool thingy, only there is Ring of Freedom (or the spell even), but around middle-level you WILL save against it.
- cavalier will be my choice. Ok, not many dragons and demons are in the game, but they ARE hard (examples: Abizgail, Ravager, Firkraag). Immunity to horror IS a big help. Extra resistances DO help. The remove fear is redundant, and immunity to poison is obsolate because of Ring of Gaxx, but this kit still offers the most if you ask me.
Items bought:
- In Candlekeep I bought Splint Mail, Composite Bow, 60 arrows, Helm, Large Shield.
- In Friendly Arms Inn I bought Large Shield +1 (best shield for a VERY long time).
- During my first visit in High Hedge I could afford to buy the Horn of Kazgaroth. No more dying from magic missiles 'cause of lowlevel HP! The other piece, Claw of Kazgaroth is an endgame item, so it can wait.
- Composit Bow +1 in Beregost. For many Acts this is best.
- Claw of Kazgaroth
- Cloack of Displacement from Ulgoth Beard. On lvl7 I could finally kill ankeghs to get here!
- (Potion of Storm Giant Strenght + Oil of Speed + Potion of Heorism)*3 from Sorceous Soundries
Though battles:
- assassination attempt at Friendly Arm Inn (hide behind the local guards)

- ogre south of Friendly Arm Inn (use a bow)

- Silke
- I used my Wand of Magic Missile (took it from Imoen before disposing her forced join) against Zargal to finally have a (+2) magic weapon. He simply had too good AC against bare weapons.
- the three sirens and the flesh golems at the Tome of CON
- Mulahey (he has some nasty hold spells and that combines with minions)
- Davaeorn: the cloakwood Mines are just very far away, and the real pain are the battle horrors (I think all of 'em have higher lvl then normal). If you can avoid those, he isn't really that big of a deal though.
- battle on the top of the Iron Throne. The problem is the sheer number of enemies (good idea to throw some fireball-potions on 'em).
Other things:
- Meh. Being female you won't be mistaken for Greywolf, what means no eraning 200$ or +1 reputation. And in BG2 you can't have sex. That's about equality of sex.
- The only good think I could have had from the expansion-disc was the Large Shield +2 (appart from the +1 WIS book), so practically I didn't do anything with it.
- I defeated Sarevok in melee! I used a strenghtbuff potion, prot. from evil, Oil of Speed and Potion of Power against Sharevok. As I wear the Claw of Kazgaroth I did not changed between the goons and him my rings (from fire prot. rings to AC-rings), so even higher achievement I think.

[dosraider]

Last post of mine here I think (to avoid talking with myself), though not the one you'd think (yet).......
It's not because we don't reply we don't like to read about your adventures.

[yoga]

Last post of mine here I think (to avoid talking with myself), though not the one you'd think (yet).

I've started a paladin too to go the whole series. You can't cheat or suffer bugs with a paladin, even in BG1 the "roll best human stats" cheat doesn't exist.
I also guessed up a more compact format to tell tales.

Just to mention I've never played paladin before. I'll give it a kit in BG2: cavalier. Analyses:
- the paladin is a warrior, so gets greater whirlwind, what makes any dispell-ability or true sight dismissable. Ok, Inquisitor is a hellish party-tank, but its abilities are useless in solo.
- undead hunter has too little to offer. Better hit against undeads? There is turn undead to destroy them in the blink of an eye. Immun to leveldrain? Use mace of disruption and avoid messing with too many traps. May not LoH? In solo it can be a nice ability, so it IS a loss. Immun to hold is a cool thingy, only there is Ring of Freedom (or the spell even), but around middle-level you WILL save against it.
- cavalier will be my choice. Ok, not many dragons and demons are in the game, but they ARE hard (examples: Abizgail, Ravager, Firkraag). Immunity to horror IS a big help. Extra resistances DO help. The remove fear is redundant, and immunity to poison is obsolate because of Ring of Gaxx, but this kit still offers the most if you ask me.
Items bought:
- In Candlekeep I bought Splint Mail, Composite Bow, 60 arrows, Helm, Large Shield.
- In Friendly Arms Inn I bought Large Shield +1 (best shield for a VERY long time).
- During my first visit in High Hedge I could afford to buy the Horn of Kazgaroth. No more dying from magic missiles 'cause of lowlevel HP! The other piece, Claw of Kazgaroth is an endgame item, so it can wait.
- Composit Bow +1 in Beregost. For many Acts this is best.
- Claw of Kazgaroth
- Cloack of Displacement from Ulgoth Beard. On lvl7 I could finally kill ankeghs to get here!
- (Potion of Storm Giant Strenght + Oil of Speed + Potion of Heorism)*3 from Sorceous Soundries
Though battles:
- assassination attempt at Friendly Arm Inn (hide behind the local guards)

- ogre south of Friendly Arm Inn (use a bow)

- Silke
- I used my Wand of Magic Missile (took it from Imoen before disposing her forced join) against Zargal to finally have a (+2) magic weapon. He simply had too good AC against bare weapons.
- the three sirens and the flesh golems at the Tome of CON
- Mulahey (he has some nasty hold spells and that combines with minions)
- Davaeorn: the cloakwood Mines are just very far away, and the real pain are the battle horrors (I think all of 'em have higher lvl then normal). If you can avoid those, he isn't really that big of a deal though.
- battle on the top of the Iron Throne. The problem is the sheer number of enemies (good idea to throw some fireball-potions on 'em).
Other things:
- Meh. Being female you won't be mistaken for Greywolf, what means no eraning 200$ or +1 reputation. And in BG2 you can't have sex. That's about equality of sex.
- The only good think I could have had from the expansion-disc was the Large Shield +2 (appart from the +1 WIS book), so practically I didn't do anything with it.
- I defeated Sarevok in melee! I used a strenghtbuff potion, prot. from evil, Oil of Speed and Potion of Power against Sharevok. As I wear the Claw of Kazgaroth I did not changed between the goons and him my rings (from fire prot. rings to AC-rings), so even higher achievement I think.

:OK:
Go on dear twillight,
we like You.
Of course we do..

Your analysis is very valuable.

[twillight]

It's not because we don't reply we don't like to read about your adventures.

I know, I always check the viewer-counter. It is just to hold on Abanodnia's policy. The posts grew really large I confess.

Some monir detail on the paladin:
I did carry through a lot of equipment, but I thought, hey, it's not necessary, and maybe it gives more fun, and definitly more respect, so I threw away them unused. Although just in case I kept (in stash) the Gauntlets of Weapon Expertise, and a Ring of Fire Protection. I'm hesitatnt about the Cloak of Balduran though...

Items bought:
- after Irenicus' Dungeon I barely had enough gold to buy the Glasses of Identification (and a Gem Bag).
- Then I scratched everything to get 2K gold to make fun of the Kobold (bought Staff or Guril Berries), then after Lilarcord I could afford Azuredge.

Other:
My prophiciencies will be: two handed sword, two handed weapons, axe, flail, two weapon style. The rest is disposeable.

[DarthHelmet86]

Wow that is some unreadable text. Perhaps you would get more of the people who don't post to read this if they could in fact read it. Fluro blue does not work.

[twillight]

Ok, colour changed. Hope this'll work.

Items bought:- bought prot. from magic scroll to get the Horn of Valhalla
- bought magic licence
- payed for Bodhi
- bought shield of Balduran
- bought Helm of Vhailor
- bought Scroll of Protection from Petrification (1 is needed in the Planar Sphere when time comes)
- bought Ring of Energy (damn, I need fire damage to kill trolls, lol, and it don't deal that!)
- bought Defender of Easthaven

Tough battle:
- the Tanner
- Shadow Thives Guildhouse: in the middle of the fake street-square, where thives pop from nothing for ambush their leader is pretty buffed. Otherwise ok.

Other
- item definition error: the Sling of Everard can be used by Cavalier
- item definition error: the Amulet of Power can not be used by Paladin

[Eagle of Fire]

I don't see the difference in colour but I simply highlight all what you write so I can read it...

[dosraider]

I don't see the difference in colour but I simply highlight all what you write so I can read it...
Same here, djees twillight, why do you post in such shitty colors..??????
WHY ?
If you want to outline (is this correct?) comment versus gameplay text simply cursive non gameplay related text, or whatever.......
:palm:

[yoga]

Dear twillight,

i have no any trouble with your colors after the change.

I never seen so strict and deep analysis of the game.

Bravo!

:OK:

[hunvagy]

The Sling is not an error. Cavaliers can't use ANY kind of ranged weapons. Guess what the sling is.

And the amulet looks like it's for casters only.

[DarthHelmet86]

He said "can use" if it is a sling and they can use it when they shouldn't be able to then it really is an error. Unless he meant to say can't.

And that text is readable but only just, blue on this brown background just doesn't work when it is light, is there a reason it can't just be the normal text colour?

[twillight]

All slings are missile-weapons. The only "missile" weapon a cavalier should be able to use are the throwing axes, as they have melee function too. So the sling IS an error (probably the code simply refers to SLNG, and the forgot about the WA items).

PS: Ok, forget about colours. Will use italian for paladin and normal letters with bold "EDIT" for C/R.

PPS: woot, abandonia seems to work under Win7 + IE.

[DarthHelmet86]

Just put a title above the paragraph saying Paladin or C/R. No need to do anything else we can easily tell what you are talking about after that.

[yoga]

All slings are missile-weapons. The only "missile" weapon a cavalier should be able to use are the throwing axes, as they have melee function too. So the sling IS an error (probably the code simply refers to SLNG, and the forgot about the WA items).

PS: Ok, forget about colours. Will use italian for paladin and normal letters with bold "EDIT" for C/R.

PPS: woot, abandonia seems to work under Win7 + IE.


Hey, twillight You speak so good for Your hero that You will induce me to start BG again..

OFF
:smugulon:
IE?

Excuse me, what is this?

yoga

[DarthHelmet86]

Internet explorer Yoga.

Also I see you have found the new image.

[twillight]

paladin:
Bought items:
- 10 potion of Power from the Raksasha in the Druid Grove
- Ras
- Belt of Inertial Barrier
- Staff of Earth
- Kaligun's Magic Amulet
- Helm of Brilliance
- Scroll of Invisibility (could not find yet a darn Scroll of Improved Haste to it)

Tough battles:
- Chromatic Demon (you must KNOW your character to win here)
- The group of baatezu in WKlvl3. They are though, they are many, the chief summons more constantly, one of them drains lvl, and you can't prebuff as the room before it is a no-magic zone. (The tana'aris aren't easy either, but not THIS hard.)

Other:
- solved the trollkilling issue with the Ring of Djinni summoning and the Staff of Fire
- at Frikraag you can't hide, but he has no special protection
- at Thaxalyssia you can hide, but he has prot. from magic weapons, and the breath drains level.
- at Saladrex if you have 100+ fire resistance and a ranged weapon, you are invincible.
- the Dragon on WKlvl5 is a standard dragon who casts Dispel a lot.
- best to have at least 11 permanent INT (with bonuses) as illithids drain 5 stat per hit.
- in the Underwater City if you have high CHA and rep., and a rogue stone, you can have unlimited gold.
- Nizidramanii'yt is a standard dragon who can cast entangle, what'd be nice if you'd meet it earlier then the endgame.
- the Dragon at Pride is a standard dragon.
- in the Nine Hell if you do any task evil you become neutral evil, but otherwise there are no consequences. If you go evil during the Selfishness trial, that is more serious: paladin and ranger looses class. The vanilla priest changes aliance toward his/her god, and therefor gains a new Holy Symbol (it must be a bug that he/she gains another of the previous alignment – interresting question what happens with evil priests). No idea on the others.
- at the Wrath Tear a paladin gain +1 CON if he yells on Sharevok above the gate's bonus. A fighter/barbarian gains +1 STR. No idea on the rest.

EDIT1:
WTF!? Ok, I did the evil path at the Wrath Tear, but it was definitly allowed! I mean at the Selfishness Tear I would have been fallen, so with all the patch and dust if I don't become fallen at the other tasks I am definitly allowed to do that! Especially as I keep my title until I beat Yaga Sura!
Then poof, comes from nothing I become FALLEN??? And I even said the nice things (it doesn't matter, I checked the evil sayings too)!!

You know what?! I WILL CHEAT! I WILL FIND A DAMN SHADOWKEEPER AND MAKE MY CLASS ACTIVE! YES, THE CHILD OF BHAAL INCARNATE!

What kind of moronic bug this is :picard:

Bought items:
- Scroll of Prot. from Undead (just in case)
- Scroll of Improved Haste

Tough battles:
- entering the Marching Mountain's caverns

Other:
- the paladin chooses HLA from the warrior pool AND can choose Summon Deva (it'll be amongs the special abilities as many times you choose it)
- although you can have 100+ resistance against blunt damage, Yaga Shura's fire giants still can damage you! (maxed fire resistance along it don't help neither)

EDIT2:
Oh, ok, no panic. It was just I summoned a Deva, and to make it dangerous as usual put on it the bladeshield imediatelly what crampled up the running citizens accidently, so my rep. fell a lot. Heh, I remain the Anti-Paladin :OK:

EDIT3:
Bought items:
- K'logarath (needed a new weapon to replace Azuredge, what could be used until I removed it from weapon slots)
- Enkidu's full plate
- Gargoyle boots (imagine stoneskin + mirror image + hardiness + armor of fait + defender of easthaven combined!)
- rod of reversal (never used, bah)
- potion of superior healing*3 (not that I needed any more then I've found anyway, pfff)

Tough battles:
- Draconis. He has some attack what deals 100+ damage, what combined with instant invisibility and done repeatedly is just ridiculous. A good idea to try to save between the two forms. The human form is pathetic though, as well as the invisible stalkers, as you should be immun to them.
- ice salamander at the first hole in Abizgai's lair (their ice shield deal back to you ridiculous amount of damage, and salamanders have good attack anyway, so better have some protection)
- Ravager: ok, with a fully built paladin he is almost joke-easy, and with all other class you should use some cheesy tactic, but he can't be missed from the list, can he?

Other:
- Shuruppak's plate strangely rises you THAC0 instead lowering it with the +1 DEX.
- the Rune of Clangeddin can not be bashed from the chest that contains it (bah, I knew I should have put proficiencies into Bastard Swords for Foebane instead to Warhammers for a better Negative Plain Protection weapon!)
- the cavalier's 20% fire resist with the Tear bonuses means 40%, what with 1 ring of fire resist means 90%! Do not underestimate this.
- Carsomyr's magic resistance is bugged. If you change weapon, or simply click on the fast item slot of it (to force-attack), it overrides your MR, and have to re-equip all other MR-equipment to have the correct value).

And as only Melissan remains, here are the stats:
stats: 23/19/21/11/16/19
THACO: -13 (stats are with Caromsyr +6)
number of attacks: 3
saving throws: -7/-7/-7/-12/-7
AC: -17 (with BMU, secondary armor is Enkidu's plate)
HP: 223

equipment:
BMU, Carsomyr (secondary weaponry is FoA + Defender of Easthaven = that high dmg res. with FoA's slowness means incredible tanking), Gauntlets of Extraordinary Specialisation, Roranach's Horn (secondary: Helm of Balduran), Amulet of Seldarine, Ring of Gaxx, Ring of Earth control (secondary: Ring of Fire control), Cloak of Mirroring, Boots of Speed, Belt of Inertial Barrier.
Fast item slot: Red Globe (heals 64 HP), 5*Potion of Superior Healing, Horn of Blasting

[dosraider]

...........
What kind of moronic bug this is :picard:
............

The kind that makes a game even more interesting to play ..??? :D
More frustration -> makes the game funnier.

[twillight]

The kind that makes a game even more interesting to play ..??? :D
More frustration -> makes the game funnier.

Fortunatelly as I described there was no bug.


I've just finished the paladin's game. Some words on Melissan:
- the first form was hard, mostly because I did not know what shall I expect, so tried to restrict myself. Not that I had a chance to do that. I precasted Hardiness, then whirlwinded her to retreat.
- the second form was where I prepared the greatest, but turned out overcaution. Still, at least the whirlwinds (what I originally had 10) were used by the Simularcum. I also summoned a Deva, but as I said it didn't look necessary.
- the third from was by any means the hardest, because for most of the times no damage I suffered, then imediatelly incredible amounts. I suspect her shadow-slayers are one reason of that damage, so a big luck is needed here on the side what she summons.
The tactic what finally brought me through was to cast Hardiness + Armor of Faith + stoneskin + mirror image + Draw Upon Holy Might + summon deva to hinder the original 4 shadow slayer. Then start the battle with vanilla whirlwind, then hope the best and greater whirlwind her to death on the other side of the arena.
- the third pool's guardians were... not able to harm me? The only thing required attention the one lvldraining monster amongst them (change Carsomyr!). To kill the mariliths I used the Improved Haste charges from the Ring of Gaxx. (Did you know that from the special monsters Kangaxx is maybe the only with a valid class (conjurer)? Still, don't CTRL+Q it, there is some dialogue-glitch when it is in the party.)
- the fourth form was... Well, I summoned my second deva (the one at the second form came from the simularcum), my last Hardiness (4th one), Armor of Faith, then my remaining 3 GW... did not finish her out. I expected that though, so pulled out Amulet of Cheeta Speed for another Improved Haste. I felt overwhelmed though (I still had that Improved Cloak of Protection +2 for another IH, but felt I won't have the time), so I waited until I felt safe without a dying breath-try (I think she has more stoneskin appart the one kicking in at the start), and shot Ring of Ram. Epic victory :bleh1:


On the roleplaying part of this character: I decided I'll turn Evil alignmented (and thus Anti-Paladin), as I felt: hey, I am a force of good who by everyone is forced along the way of some stupid prophecy to become the heir of that moronic psychopat Lord of Murder, Mr. Evil himself, and I ... can't ... do ... a ... darn ... thing about it!
So my char decided to go with the flow, but at the turning points instead fullfilling the role ment for 'er, she insted KILLS THE BASTARDS if kill is what they want!!!

According to that perspective in the end I chose freedom, and remained mortal.


Some analysis on soloing the series:
The first game can be done by anyone (use a ranged weapon + boots of speed + oil of speed).
For Throne of Bhaal:
- any character who uses the warrior pool can pass the game. Their cheesey ability is Greater Whirlwind. It "dispells" all protective magic if anyone worried about those.
- any character who casts cleric spells (so druid class too) can probably pass the game (remember, I'm still working on this). Their cheesey ability is Harm. Anything with a mere 1 HP can be beaten. If the target has magic resistance cast Rigtous Magic on it first. To remove the last HP use eg. Ring of Ram.
- any character who uses the rogue pool can pass the game EXCEPT the first battle against Melissan. Their cheesy ability is Spike Traps. Any idea how to pass mentioned battle will be appreciated.
- any character who uses the mage (or wizard?) pool can probably pass the game except the first battle against Melissan. Anyone wants to do a playthrough? (theoretical analysis are not considered valid. A dualclassed character is acceptable, if it duals INTO a mage)


Thank you for reading this.

[yoga]

..and You played BG for 5-th time? Or more?
:D
nice experience.

[twillight]

..and You played BG for 5-th time? Or more?
:D
nice experience.

I played (not in order, just numbered):
1) avenger druid in vanilla BG2
2) monk with ToB
3) cavalier (paladin) solo BGseries
4) mage/thief dualclass solo BGseries
5) ranger/cleric dualclass solo BGseries (in progress)
6) barbarian solo ToB
7) blade kit (bard) ToB
8) wild mage ToB
9) fighter BG1 (or ToB? I don't remember this clearly)

[yoga]

I played (not in order, just numbered):
1) avenger druid in vanilla BG2
2) monk with ToB
3) cavalier (paladin) solo BGseries
4) mage/thief dualclass solo BGseries
5) ranger/cleric dualclass solo BGseries (in progress)
6) barbarian solo ToB
7) blade kit (bard) ToB
8) wild mage ToB
9) fighter BG1 (or ToB? I don't remember this clearly)

Bravo, You are dedicated fan of BG.
I like your long and careful analysis for every different class of protagonist. You dig deep and deep in the details, which is very good info for novice.
I sorry to play only main storyline without ToB and other.
But in the future this may and will be change some day.
Now I will concentrate on the 3-th game of TES - Morrowind.
What You are playing now, if i may politely ask You?

OFF
Do You installed Win 8?
I am with 7 and XP still.

[twillight]

I sorry to play only main storyline without ToB and other.
But in the future this may and will be change some day.
Now I will concentrate on the 3-th game of TES - Morrowind.
What You are playing now, if i may politely ask You?

OFF
Do You installed Win 8?
I am with 7 and XP still.

It really worth it if you can aquire it. Will have an eye on you:ouch: For now go and play that thingy, I already checked your topic.

I don't think Win8 is real. Maybe it is some update of Win7 or something. So no, I did not install it, nor do I plan it. We need a fix operation system, and Win7 was introduced, what a year ago? Maybe one and a half? At least for the wide market. That's nothing.

And I play RL. Sry, no computergames for a while.

[Scatty]

Just a note about few things:

- although you can have 100+ resistance against blunt damage, Yaga Shura's fire giants still can damage you! (maxed fire resistance along it don't help neither)
If I remember correctly fire giant's unnamed "monster-weapons" are defined as axes, therefore dealing slash damage, along with some fire damage.

Other:
- Shuruppak's plate strangely rises you THAC0 instead lowering it with the +1 DEX.
That is a known issue in the vanilla (even patched) game, fixed with the original Baldurdash's TOB FixPack 1.12. Or you can use DragonLance Total Conversion Editor Pro (DLTCEP) and edit the item in question yourself. I think few other plates also rise your THAC0 without the Fixpack, don't remember which.

[twillight]

That is a known issue in the vanilla (even patched) game, fixed with the original Baldurdash's TOB FixPack 1.12. Or you can use DragonLance Total Conversion Editor Pro (DLTCEP) and edit the item in question yourself. I think few other plates also rise your THAC0 without the Fixpack, don't remember which.

Another AC-problem: if you hold an unloaded ranged weapon while you have the skill onearmed combat, you get the AC and can fight unarmed! (good trick for monks)

Trolls die from poison besides fire and acid.

Ioun stones protect from critical hits.

Wand of Wonder is not usable by monk.

Item definition error: monks can not use Vhailor's Helm :(

[yoga]

Another AC-problem: if you hold an unloaded ranged weapon while you have the skill onearmed combat, you get the AC and can fight unarmed! (good trick for monks)

Trolls die from poison besides fire and acid.

Ioun stones protect from critical hits.

Wand of Wonder is not usable by monk.

Item definition error: monks can not use Vhailor's Helm :(

:hihihi:
What about a review of BG?
Even You and Master can cooperate for a nice short review.

But pls do NOT enter so much of details because there are some lazy persons (incl. your humble slave - shame of course) who will not read this future review to the end. 5-6 pages..
Just the important info:
Paladin - best weapon --bla, bla, bla
best spells - bla bla

Monk - best weapon --bla, bla, bla
best spells - bla bla

Then the Novice will say - Aha, i will chose Solo Barbarian

Or for example gamer like me will want again to play the game with ToB or so.
..capisca?

OFF
Dear twillight, i will never forget your brave attempt to play Fallout just with a STONE in the hand?
You are the Brave!!!

not this stupid BG yoga
(BG - Bulgaria, sry not Baldur gate:bleh1:)

[twillight]

:hihihi:
What about a review of BG?

Just the important info:
Paladin - best weapon --bla, bla, bla
best spells - bla bla

Monk - best weapon --bla, bla, bla
best spells - bla bla

Then the Novice will say - Aha, i will chose Solo Barbarian

Or for example gamer like me will want again to play the game with ToB or so.
..capisca?


Well, I make the format you asked here yoga for the basic classes, and some hot tips on multi/dualclass here. If you have some specific questions after that, feel free to ask.

Best equipments:

best armors: BMU (for AC - yes, monks too can wear this!), Human Hide (works antimagic), Robe of Vecna (reduces casting speed a LOT), Enkidu's plate (to prevent backstab)

best rings: Holy Symbol for cleric, ring of Gaxx (best ring in the game for any purpose), ring of fire control/ring of protection +3

best amulets: Amulet of Seldarine (magic protection), Amulet of Power (best allaround necklace, only not wear if you need that 5% more magic resistance), Harper Pin (if you romance with Jaheira this might be worthy)

best boots: Boots of Speed, Boots of Grounding (for monks)

best gauntlets: Gauntlets of Extraordinary Specialisation, Gauntlets of Weapon Expertise (if you can't use the above), Gauntlets of Crushing (for monks), Gauntlets of Archery

best helmets: Helm of Balduran, Roranach's Horn, Helmet of Defense, Pale Green Ioun Stone (for monks), Circlet of Netheril (for mages)

best belts: Girdle of Inertial Barrier (you won't need STR bonus or extra AC with a wellbuilt character)

best cloaks: Cloak of Balduran (if you bend the rules), Cloak of mirroring (for antimagic), montolio's cloak (for rangers)

best shields: Dragon Scale Shield (against elemental damage), Sentinel (for AC), Shield of Balduran (against beholders), Shield of Harmony (against instadeath conditions)

weapons: you have to cover four areas: 1) main weapon 2) blunt damage against clay golems 3) nonmagical weapon against magic gloems 4) ranged weapon for occasional use. +1) you'll need +4 weaponry in vanilla SoA against Kangaxx (and even +5 or stronger weapons to fight the demon in the drow city if you decide so).

Class-specific tips:

fighter:
- best to dual or multiclass
- required HLA: 4 Hardiness, the rest to Greater Whirlwind (maybe 1 Smite can be taken instead)
- best weapon: depends on personal taste
- kits: wizardslayer or kensai (both MUST be dualled to thief, or the kensai to mage!)

paladin:
- choose a kit. Cavalier is best solo, Inquisitor is best for a party
- required HLA: 2 Summon Deva, 4 Hardiness, the rest to Greater Whirlwind
- best weapon: Carsomyr, Flail of Ages + Defender of Easthaven

barbarian:
- required HLA: 4 Hardiness, the rest to Greater Whirlwind
- best weapon: Flail of Ages + Defender of Easthaven

monk:
- note: he is VERY weak at the beggining of the game!
- required HLA: 4 Hardiness, the rest to Greater Whirlwind
- can use 3 mage scrolls: stone to flesh, remove curse, summon nishruu
- best weapon: fist

cleric:
- best to be dualed from ranger
- best kit: Priest of Talos
- required HLA: all
- best weapon: Flail of Ages + Defender of Easthaven if dualwield

bard:
- never be without kit!
- best kit: blade for solo, skald if you want a pure supporter
- required HLA: UAI, spike traps
- best weapon: depends on personal taste

thief:
- best to dual or multi
- best kit: swashbuckler (if you want a fighter without being a fighter), but the best is to not have a kit
- required HLA: UAI, spike traps
- best weapon: Sword of Mask

ranger:
- best dualed to cleric
- best kit: archer
- required HLA: 4 Hardiness, the rest Greater Whirlwinds
- best weapon: Flail of Ages + Defender of Easthaven

druid:
- best not played at all
- best kit: avenger in vanilla SoA

mage:
- Edwin is better then ANY mage of the player even if you play a Conjurer (can summon Skull Traps + Magic Missiles = two best spells in the game), so try Sorcerer, or best: Wild Mage (on very high level it can cast ANY spells from its special lvl1 spell without risk)
- required HLA: extra lvl 6-8 spellslots, summon (dark) planetar, energy blades, improved alactricity
- best weapon: staff of the magi (if main class is mage)

Tactics:
Just in short notes, ok?
- "only you can see me" - even though enemies come in large groups only those may attack who actually see you
- "not another summoned creature" - summon ANYTHING for this. They can block the way, but more importantly: if you stand behind a corridor and send them out one by one, the enemy spellcasters on the other side will waste their best spells on these puny creatures
- "I'm ooze" - in ooze form (cast the spell "polymorph self") the character is immun to magic. Have someone else from the distance kill the mageling aiming the ooze during this. Adapt this strategy in many form.
- "I can open doors" - enemy can not open door, and will stop if you run out of its sight. Use potions, cast buffs, sleep during the gained time.

spells:
in VERY short, so leaving out most combos, and only mentioning what I found useful:
priest/druid spells:
lvl1: Armor of Faith (extra dmg res.), bless (minor buff spell), prot. from evil (against summoned demons), remove fear (it also PREVENTS fear, so useful against dragons)
lvl2: aid (minor buff spell), chant (minor buff spell with long duration), draw upon holy might (rises STR, TACHO)
lvl3: animate dead (summons), Glyph of Warding (trap spell for clerics), holy smite (weak, but it goes through magic resistance!), protection from fire (good buff ocasionaly)
lvl4: call woodland being (a somewhat useful summon), defensive harmony (ok buff spell)
lvl5: chaotic commands (superb defensive buff), flamestrike (in party you have time to cast, and its dmg is ok), insect plague (multienemy castingprevention), iron skin (cool buff), magic resistance (cast it on the enemy to lower its resistance!), rightous magic (ok buff), true seeing (if you are really bothered by invisibility)
lvl6: blade barrier (good buff), bolt of glory (it is very slow, but don't check megic resistance, so starting battle against a nonhostile moster with this is nice), harm (last resort cheesy ability)
lvl7: nature's beauty (ok spell), shield of archons (ok defensive buff)
HLA spells: elemental summoning (secondary to Deva, but can have multply cast), summon deva, energy blades, implosion
wizard spells:
lvl1: find familiar (of course have the familiar - in your backpack), identify (best spell ever, with Glasses of Identification it becomes obsolate actually), magic missile. Larchor's minor drain is ok on lowlvl.
lvl2: Horror (not as spell, but if you have it as special ability, it is ok for lowlvl), Agannazar's scorcher (not as spell, but from the BMR. The other good thing from the BMR is against hordes the Flasher while you whirlwind!), Melf's acid arrow (acceptable trollkiller and scpellcasting preventer), mirror mage (good buff)
lvl3: Melf's minute meteor (it hits EVERYTHING), remove magic (if you are singleclass mage), skull trap (it is almost as good as the thief's traps)
lvl4: fireshield blue (retribution dmg, and there are few resistances against this version), polymorph self (to become ooze), spider spawn (best summon), stoneskin (cool buff)
lvl5: breach (good nerfing), cloudkill (good area attack), sunfire (good offensive if you solo)
lvl6: chain lightning (ok attack), death spell (not as spell, but from the Death Mask for saving the drow girl), invisible stalker (good offensive summon on higher levels), improved haste (not as spell, but from the many items), wyvern call (ok defensive summon even on higher levels)
lvl7: Khelben's wardin whip (best nerfing), limited wish (for the onetime wishes), mordekainen sword (invulnerable summons!), project image (combined with simularcum you can have literaly an army), spell sequencer
lvl8: Bigby's clenched fist (physical dmg spell!), simularcum (in combo with Project Image, or from Vhailor's Helm), spell trigger
lvl9: chain contignency, freedom (onetime quest purpose), shapechange (it is told all hits while timestop is autohit, so shapechanging to mindflyer can drain anyone's inteligence to death, but it never worked for me!), time stop (for the rare occasion you have the time to cast it, and the enemy is not immun)
HLAs: energy blades, summon (dark) planetar, improved alactricity


I hope this helps.

[yoga]

Well, I make the format you asked here yoga for the basic classes, and some hot tips on multi/dualclass here. If you have some specific questions after that, feel free to ask.

Best equipments:

best armors: BMU (for AC - yes, monks too can wear this!), Human Hide (works antimagic), Robe of Vecna (reduces casting speed a LOT), Enkidu's plate (to prevent backstab)

best rings: Holy Symbol for cleric, ring of Gaxx (best ring in the game for any purpose), ring of fire control/ring of protection +3

best amulets: Amulet of Seldarine (magic protection), Amulet of Power (best allaround necklace, only not wear if you need that 5% more magic resistance), Harper Pin (if you romance with Jaheira this might be worthy)

best boots: Boots of Speed, Boots of Grounding (for monks)

best gauntlets: Gauntlets of Extraordinary Specialisation, Gauntlets of Weapon Expertise (if you can't use the above), Gauntlets of Crushing (for monks), Gauntlets of Archery

best helmets: Helm of Balduran, Roranach's Horn, Helmet of Defense, Pale Green Ioun Stone (for monks), Circlet of Netheril (for mages)

best belts: Girdle of Inertial Barrier (you won't need STR bonus or extra AC with a wellbuilt character)

best cloaks: Cloak of Balduran (if you bend the rules), Cloak of mirroring (for antimagic), montolio's cloak (for rangers)

best shields: Dragon Scale Shield (against elemental damage), Sentinel (for AC), Shield of Balduran (against beholders), Shield of Harmony (against instadeath conditions)

weapons: you have to cover four areas: 1) main weapon 2) blunt damage against clay golems 3) nonmagical weapon against magic gloems 4) ranged weapon for occasional use. +1) you'll need +4 weaponry in vanilla SoA against Kangaxx (and even +5 or stronger weapons to fight the demon in the drow city if you decide so).

Class-specific tips:

fighter:
- best to dual or multiclass
- required HLA: 4 Hardiness, the rest to Greater Whirlwind (maybe 1 Smite can be taken instead)
- best weapon: depends on personal taste
- kits: wizardslayer or kensai (both MUST be dualled to thief, or the kensai to mage!)

paladin:
- choose a kit. Cavalier is best solo, Inquisitor is best for a party
- required HLA: 2 Summon Deva, 4 Hardiness, the rest to Greater Whirlwind
- best weapon: Carsomyr, Flail of Ages + Defender of Easthaven

barbarian:
- required HLA: 4 Hardiness, the rest to Greater Whirlwind
- best weapon: Flail of Ages + Defender of Easthaven

monk:
- note: he is VERY weak at the beggining of the game!
- required HLA: 4 Hardiness, the rest to Greater Whirlwind
- can use 3 mage scrolls: stone to flesh, remove curse, summon nishruu
- best weapon: fist

cleric:
- best to be dualed from ranger
- best kit: Priest of Talos
- required HLA: all
- best weapon: Flail of Ages + Defender of Easthaven if dualwield

bard:
- never be without kit!
- best kit: blade for solo, skald if you want a pure supporter
- required HLA: UAI, spike traps
- best weapon: depends on personal taste

thief:
- best to dual or multi
- best kit: swashbuckler (if you want a fighter without being a fighter), but the best is to not have a kit
- required HLA: UAI, spike traps
- best weapon: Sword of Mask

ranger:
- best dualed to cleric
- best kit: archer
- required HLA: 4 Hardiness, the rest Greater Whirlwinds
- best weapon: Flail of Ages + Defender of Easthaven

druid:
- best not played at all
- best kit: avenger in vanilla SoA

mage:
- Edwin is better then ANY mage of the player even if you play a Conjurer (can summon Skull Traps + Magic Missiles = two best spells in the game), so try Sorcerer, or best: Wild Mage (on very high level it can cast ANY spells from its special lvl1 spell without risk)
- required HLA: extra lvl 6-8 spellslots, summon (dark) planetar, energy blades, improved alactricity
- best weapon: staff of the magi (if main class is mage)

Tactics:
Just in short notes, ok?
- "only you can see me" - even though enemies come in large groups only those may attack who actually see you
- "not another summoned creature" - summon ANYTHING for this. They can block the way, but more importantly: if you stand behind a corridor and send them out one by one, the enemy spellcasters on the other side will waste their best spells on these puny creatures
- "I'm ooze" - in ooze form (cast the spell "polymorph self") the character is immun to magic. Have someone else from the distance kill the mageling aiming the ooze during this. Adapt this strategy in many form.
- "I can open doors" - enemy can not open door, and will stop if you run out of its sight. Use potions, cast buffs, sleep during the gained time.

spells:
in VERY short, so leaving out most combos, and only mentioning what I found useful:
priest/druid spells:
lvl1: Armor of Faith (extra dmg res.), bless (minor buff spell), prot. from evil (against summoned demons), remove fear (it also PREVENTS fear, so useful against dragons)
lvl2: aid (minor buff spell), chant (minor buff spell with long duration), draw upon holy might (rises STR, TACHO)
lvl3: animate dead (summons), Glyph of Warding (trap spell for clerics), holy smite (weak, but it goes through magic resistance!), protection from fire (good buff ocasionaly)
lvl4: call woodland being (a somewhat useful summon), defensive harmony (ok buff spell)
lvl5: chaotic commands (superb defensive buff), flamestrike (in party you have time to cast, and its dmg is ok), insect plague (multienemy castingprevention), iron skin (cool buff), magic resistance (cast it on the enemy to lower its resistance!), rightous magic (ok buff), true seeing (if you are really bothered by invisibility)
lvl6: blade barrier (good buff), bolt of glory (it is very slow, but don't check megic resistance, so starting battle against a nonhostile moster with this is nice), harm (last resort cheesy ability)
lvl7: nature's beauty (ok spell), shield of archons (ok defensive buff)
HLA spells: elemental summoning (secondary to Deva, but can have multply cast), summon deva, energy blades, implosion
wizard spells:
lvl1: find familiar (of course have the familiar - in your backpack), identify (best spell ever, with Glasses of Identification it becomes obsolate actually), magic missile. Larchor's minor drain is ok on lowlvl.
lvl2: Horror (not as spell, but if you have it as special ability, it is ok for lowlvl), Agannazar's scorcher (not as spell, but from the BMR. The other good thing from the BMR is against hordes the Flasher while you whirlwind!), Melf's acid arrow (acceptable trollkiller and scpellcasting preventer), mirror mage (good buff)
lvl3: Melf's minute meteor (it hits EVERYTHING), remove magic (if you are singleclass mage), skull trap (it is almost as good as the thief's traps)
lvl4: fireshield blue (retribution dmg, and there are few resistances against this version), polymorph self (to become ooze), spider spawn (best summon), stoneskin (cool buff)
lvl5: breach (good nerfing), cloudkill (good area attack), sunfire (good offensive if you solo)
lvl6: chain lightning (ok attack), death spell (not as spell, but from the Death Mask for saving the drow girl), invisible stalker (good offensive summon on higher levels), improved haste (not as spell, but from the many items), wyvern call (ok defensive summon even on higher levels)
lvl7: Khelben's wardin whip (best nerfing), limited wish (for the onetime wishes), mordekainen sword (invulnerable summons!), project image (combined with simularcum you can have literaly an army), spell sequencer
lvl8: Bigby's clenched fist (physical dmg spell!), simularcum (in combo with Project Image, or from Vhailor's Helm), spell trigger
lvl9: chain contignency, freedom (onetime quest purpose), shapechange (it is told all hits while timestop is autohit, so shapechanging to mindflyer can drain anyone's inteligence to death, but it never worked for me!), time stop (for the rare occasion you have the time to cast it, and the enemy is not immun)
HLAs: energy blades, summon (dark) planetar, improved alactricity


I hope this helps.


Absolutely!
Well done.

[twillight]

Just to tease myself, I ran through the game with a monk. No BG1 naturaly, and still before Melissan, but I won't be any better, so some endnote:

- I won over the Chromatic Demon with a Wand of Lightning, as my physical force was not enough.
- against the Ravager I summoned the ToB-equivalent of the Ras to hinder the Bone Swords, then when I got wounded I just ran around until had time to heal myself with potions and such. The Ravager against my AC was useless with its ranged attacks.

Besides the above there is no encounter to mention.

Stats (with gear described below):
24/20/22/13/15/5
AC: -22
HP: 149
THACO: -15
thief skills: ca. 150 each
saves: -7 each

note: magic res.: 107%!

Gear:
BMU, Gauntlets of Crushing, Pale Gree Ioun Stone, Amulet of Poewer, Ring of Gaxx, Ring of Protection +3 (the AC and savthrows seemed more important then the +2 STR from the Deck of Many Things - oh, monks gain STR from Sharevok at the Wrath Tear), Cloak of the Sewer (the only cloak what gives AC and works with other enchanted gear) (secondary: Cloak of Mirroring), Boots of Grounding, Belt of Fire Giant Strenght. Prime weapon: fist, secondary: firetooth.


EDIT: this is most frustrating: I can't save after the second retreat of Melissan. The first round was nothing special: stomp her to death. The second round is shitty: she is more strong, starts with knocking me out for a second, and if I don't have a summon she casts timestop. So I summon the Berserker Warrior to change the results = she casts a death spell instead. Then I can stomp her to death. Important to not try to run around as she has some regular-heal ability grrr. The second guardians at the powersource are no problem, the problem is Melissan for the third round. No matter what I do I died until now. I'd need the save to try out strategies much more comfortable!!!

EDIT2: Ok, done. I just required some luck (I managed to save after waiting some ingame hours), so she summoned the right things, not attacked me physically, not runed away, I got not stucked etc. Seems the whole Melissan-encunters are about dealing damage FAST, as it seems she gets full heal periodically. Meh.
A minor note: to open the door in the sewers of Saradush requires 24? or 25 STR. 23 STR is not enough. But remember: the Slayer has 25 STR.

[yoga]

Just to tease myself, I ran through the game with a monk. No BG1 naturaly, and still before Melissan, but I won't be any better, so some endnote:

- I won over the Chromatic Demon with a Wand of Lightning, as my physical force was not enough.
- against the Ravager I summoned the ToB-equivalent of the Ras to hinder the Bone Swords, then when I got wounded I just ran around until had time to heal myself with potions and such. The Ravager against my AC was useless with its ranged attacks.

Besides the above there is no encounter to mention.

Stats (with gear described below):
24/20/22/13/15/5
AC: -22
HP: 149
THACO: -15
thief skills: ca. 150 each
saves: -7 each

note: magic res.: 107%!

Gear:
BMU, Gauntlets of Crushing, Pale Gree Ioun Stone, Amulet of Poewer, Ring of Gaxx, Ring of Protection +3 (the AC and savthrows seemed more important then the +2 STR from the Deck of Many Things - oh, monks gain STR from Sharevok at the Wrath Tear), Cloak of the Sewer (the only cloak what gives AC and works with other enchanted gear) (secondary: Cloak of Mirroring), Boots of Grounding, Belt of Fire Giant Strenght. Prime weapon: fist, secondary: firetooth.


EDIT: this is most frustrating: I can't save after the second retreat of Melissan. The first round was nothing special: stomp her to death. The second round is shitty: she is more strong, starts with knocking me out for a second, and if I don't have a summon she casts timestop. So I summon the Berserker Warrior to change the results = she casts a death spell instead. Then I can stomp her to death. Important to not try to run around as she has some regular-heal ability grrr. The second guardians at the powersource are no problem, the problem is Melissan for the third round. No matter what I do I died until now. I'd need the save to try out strategies much more comfortable!!!

EDIT2: Ok, done. I just required some luck (I managed to save after waiting some ingame hours), so she summoned the right things, not attacked me physically, not runed away, I got not stucked etc. Seems the whole Melissan-encunters are about dealing damage FAST, as it seems she gets full heal periodically. Meh.
A minor note: to open the door in the sewers of Saradush requires 24? or 25 STR. 23 STR is not enough. But remember: the Slayer has 25 STR.

OK.
Noted and wrote in my game archive forever.

[twillight]

I had nothing better to do, and got curious because of my hesitation with the description of the mages above, and thought yoga would appreciate some actual spelluse, so I ended up at the end of BG2 (not yet ToB) with a WildMage.
Seems I won't have the Improved Chaos Shield... Not that I'd use Nahal's Reckless Dweomer intensly. Btw, the wild surges like "change sex" seem to have duration, so all is temporary. I had some funny experiences :smile2:

So here are the spells I've used. I turned lvl40 right at the beggining by finding an unlimited moneyspot, and an unlimited scroll-spot, so after 5 minutes after Irenicus' Dungeon I was lvl40. Cheesy, but I have my limit of patient too. So, the list of spells I've actually used:

lvl1:
- magic missile
lvl2:
- melf's acid arrow
- knock (by STR you can't bash the Clay Golem Page)
lvl3:
- fireball (in the first half of BG2)
- skull trap
- melf's minute meteor
lvl4:
- spider spawn
- stoneskin
- ice storm (to finish off the fire trolls in Watcher's Keep lvl2, don't know why not used a wand of frost)
- minor sequencer (at the beggining to have more melf's acidic arrow)
lvl5:
- sunfire
lvl6:
- chain lightning
- death spell
- true sight (at one ocasion)
lvl7:
- sequencer (never used up)
- prismatic spray
lvl8:
- simularcum (at the Chromatic Demon only)
- incindenary cloud
lvl9:
- summon planetar
- wish (once, to avoid rest in Ust Natha)
- improved alactricity (once, don't remember where)

[Scatty]

No Abi-Dalzim's Horrid Wilting? That one is a killer, usually on my "got-to-have" list. Add to it Vecna's Robe and Amulet of Power and you can get it out at decent speed. Protection From Magic Weapons can also be useful sometimes, even with Stoneskin, especially if playing without party, and facing a dragon going nuts for example.
Looking at the amount of spells, I take it you didn't have Intelligence above 18?

[twillight]

No Abi-Dalzim's Horrid Wilting? That one is a killer, usually on my "got-to-have" list. Add to it Vecna's Robe and Amulet of Power and you can get it out at decent speed. Protection From Magic Weapons can also be useful sometimes, even with Stoneskin, especially if playing without party, and facing a dragon going nuts for example.
Looking at the amount of spells, I take it you didn't have Intelligence above 18?

I personally prefer damage-over-time spells for their much higher summed damage then Abi-Dhalzim's. Incindenary Cloud is perfect with a mage, as for lvl 8 there are basically no good spells for BG2. The drawback of course is, that it deal fire damage, but at least in massive amount. Abi-Dhalzim is "cast it in the heat of battle", preferably with improved alactricity, and although not fire-based, but when that question comes into play magic resistance will also be an issue (where long duration again helps, eg. drows).

I did not found prot. from magic weapon, and it has short duration to my liking, and to be honest I wasn't whacked too much with my summon + boots of speed + stoneskin (what I regularly memorize 2-3 at once). I also not fought any dragon (no reason to).

My stats:
22/19/18/21/22/5 after all the bonuses and downs. When I've rolled were:
18/18/16/18/17/3

Note: I've in my spellbook ALL the spells avaiable in the game, except of course Summon Cow what is only a wild surge effect, and Improved Chaos Shield what I'll investigate soon if I can aquire it if started from BG2.

[Scatty]

Note: I've in my spellbook ALL the spells avaiable in the game, except of course Summon Cow what is only a wild surge effect
You can also get that spell directly, but only through a cheat or Shadow Keeper. As well as the 3, usable already at level 3, Daer'Ragh spells with the effect(s) of Improved Alactricity.

[twillight]

You can also get that spell directly, but only through a cheat or Shadow Keeper. As well as the 3, usable already at level 3, Daer'Ragh spells with the effect(s) of Improved Alactricity.

never heared about that Daer'Ragh, but surely don't want to cheat. What'd be the point?

[Eagle of Fire]

A character with 3 charisma? Really?

Coming from a real GM, please allow me to :doh: and :sick:...

[Tomekk]

Why no Globe of Invulnerability? (or what's that spell that makes you immune to certain spell levels)

[Scatty]

never heared about that Daer'Ragh, but surely don't want to cheat. What'd be the point?
You can meet Daer'Ragh in Baldur's Gate 1, it's a sort of an easter egg, look here:
Daer'Ragh (http://www.eeggs.com/items/6501.html)
As for the three spells in Baldur's Gate II with his name, look here:
Daer'Ragh spells (http://www.gamebanshee.com/forums/baldurs-gate-ii-shadows-of-amn-9/daerraghs-aura-cleaning-increased-acuity-6664.html)
Sort of fun if you want to explore the limits of BG2 and to poke around what else is there. But it sure makes a spellcaster overpowered easily. Which is probably why those three spells are not available through normal playing through BG2.

[twillight]

@Eagle of Fire
Ye, character with 3 CHA. Why would you need charisma? There is Ring of human Influence for the Drow City, ok? The rest is just about prices, and I could care less.

@Tomekk
There are a couple of reasons. One is, I massacre most mages outside of their view (and it is damn hard to cast anything with Incindenary Cloud under your boots). Second is, I have planetar. Third is, there is Cloak of Mirroring, and damage-spells only hit when reached the target, unlik things like imprisonment, so if I even care for some measily 10 HP-loss (Belt of Inetial Barrier is your friend too), I have time to swap equipment (only armors are fixed during battles9).

@Scatty
Oh, that guy? Ye, I remember from BG1, and the spells when I once ctrl+Q-d Elminster. Ok, they are there, category is basically the same as Summon Cow.


progression:
add to my list Prot. from magic weapons (used once, but I bet i'll be equally must-have at the Ravager and Melissan) and Mordekainen's Sword.

EDIT:
progression:
add to my list: time stop, shapeshift, energy blades, abi dhalzim's horrid whilting, sequencer, spell trigger, chain contignency, pierce shield, pierce magic, greater malison.
With a terrible combo the Ravager died in like 20 seconds!!

[Eagle of Fire]

@Eagle of Fire
Ye, character with 3 CHA. Why would you need charisma? There is Ring of human Influence for the Drow City, ok? The rest is just about prices, and I could care less.
Because, within the normal D&D rules, charisma is the sum of your personality and your physical beauty. Someone with a charisma of 3 would be so warped, so ridiculously psychotic that it would be night impossible to even initiate normal talk. Even forget about chit chat: people would simply find you revolting and your personality traits would even make it worse if you actually tried to communicate like "normal" people.

That's without even mentioning the fact that if you somehow manage to get down to charisma 0 (which should be fairly easy in any kind of normal D&D setting), you would either die right on the spot or fall into some kind of coma. Whichever the DM prefer.

I think it is a very good example of the limitations of such roleplaying games. The code allow you to do it in the game because it was coded that way and the developpers didn't know better... But any DM knowing his salt would never allow this to pass by without turning the game into some kind of living hell for the player in question.

Of course the stat generation of BG has absolutely nothing to do with the normal way of rolling stats... But anyways, what do you want? It was made that way for a reason, I guess.

[twillight]

Oh, I slmost forgot: this is final phase of the game, so stats and equipment:

THAC0: 3 with Inertial Barrier, 1 with Girdle of Frost Giant Strenght
AC: -8 with staff of magi, -6 with staff of ram
HP: 92
saves: -9 each with Staff of Magi, -7 with Staff of Ram

lore: 138 (who needs a bard, heh)

familiar: rabbit (must be the result of aligment change - started with ferret -, but shouldn't it be imp?)

equipment: staff of magi (secondary: staff of ram +6, elemental staves), Robe of Vecna, Bracers AC 3, Circlet of Netheril, Amulet of power, Ring of Gaxx, Ring of protection +3, Boots of speed, Belt of inertial barrier (secondary: belt of fire giant strenght), Cloak of NonDetection (secondary: cloak of mirroring)

[twillight]

I noticed the BG series is on the new config at me not the '98 old one, so just for the lol and all the discourage against druid, and 'cause I still have the save of my "no item solo playthrough" (I'm at the start of act 3), I gave some tought for solo druid build.

So single, dual or multiclass was the first question.
Dual/multi means base druid class, so let's check what we loose on druid kits:
- Avenger: druid shapeshifting abilities suck hard, so big no-no. Avenger is good in 6 character - only SoA - full legit playthrough where you don't even steal/resell stuff, but otherwise don't worth on the long term. From the bonus spells all have save to negate and believe me in ToB everything throws all saves. So the only good thing would be Chain Lightning, but does that worth -4 on your stats? Big no.
- shapeshifter: ridiculous statchange (in down direction of course), no regeneration eve in greater werewolf form, no spellcasting while transformed... What's this, a wannabe fighter? Pure fighter is better even.
- totemic druid: summon stuff. I estimate maximum Animal Summoning 3 equivalents. Waaay better then vanilla druid, but not worth losing dualclass on term of raw power.

Multiclass... Druids level from a certain point painfully slow, so forget it. We already saw how much Jaheira sucks with this.

Dualclass only avaiable from fighter. The restrictions of druid itself is painful, so don't worsen it by wizardslayer or kensai, ok?
Remains Berserker and vanilla Fighter. As berserker don't have a drowback (only the archer kit would really rely on ranged weapons in this game), there is no reason going vanilla.

When to dualclass?
This is easy. Although druids stop gaining stuff after lvl 25, but HLAs are cool, so let's turn to druid as soon as possible.
You start SoA at lvl 7 (but surly below lvl 10 even importing from TotSC), but don't change yet.
Lvl 10 fighter if you EXACTLY change at 500K exp can reach lvl 30 druid (maximum with ToB), bu how likely is that? So dual at 9.
Other reasons for dualing at 9: that's the last lvl you gain buffed HP as fighter, and you gain another proficiency point, what means you can have 5 point in one weapon and 2 in a weapon style.

Which weapon to learn?
Well, druid is kinda limited on weapons. Spear suck hard. Club? The best you could have is the Cub of Detonation what suck still. From daggers the only thing is Dagger of Star, from scimitars only Belm is to consider holding. This leaves you with quaterstaves.
On the ranged weapon field you can go darts or slings - the unlimited ammo sling can be found earlier, easier, and has better magic (+5).

Now shield, dualwield or twohanded weapons?
While there is a shield what rises your elemental resistance as it should, what weapon would you use along it? So skip this investing seriously as fighter yet.
Dualwield? Well, making everyone sleep with Dagger of Star hasened by Belm is a fun idea, but face it: in ToB basically everything sees the invisible as far as I care, AND it'd even require one more skillpoint then you have at lvl 9. Still worth to mention.
So go and invest in twohanded weapons for quaterstaff fights.

Stats are hard requirements for this setup (STR 15, WIS 17, CHA 17), but I managed to roll a character with this:
18/85, 18, 15, 5, 18, 16.
Reasons: from BG1 you'll have the Tomes of stats, so CHA will go up to 17 as needed. Illithids drain 5 INT, but we need a dump-stat, and with the Tome of... we'll have 6 INT as long as needed (plan to loose INT in the dream later on). Still will require caution, but hey!
CON affects the least, and this was a lucky roll anyway, so go with it.

Well, as there was no fighter/druid guide for Baldur's Gate I wrote these down here. Cheers!