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.