Baldurs gate - how should I start.

[Traianvs]

You should give Minsc a 2 handed sword, not a longsword (he's not proficient in it.. => he receives a penalty when using longswords)

give him a big shining 2 handed sword, and a composite bow


Most potions I didn't use... You can use certain potions like fir giant strength etc, or stone form if you are going to do a very tough battle, they'll definately help.. but raise intelligence etc potions are only useful in a few occasions.. I never bothered using them

[Dis]

I rarely use potions. I always mean to use them, but never get around to it . Only a few times have I used potions- and that was in BG2 only once, and Icewind dale, and only before supertough battles I couldn't do without potions the first couple of times.

[Jamski]

Healing potions are the GOD's own drink The rest are of doubtful usefulness, apart from "Oil of Speed" which is actually BETTER THAN THE SPELL HASTE !

Re : the special abilites, you gain one each time you rest for the first time after starting a new chapter (not including the prologue)

give him a big shining 2 handed sword, and a composite bow

Minsc has no prof points in bow (-4 to hit, -8 when firing at targets in melee) and a pretty average DEX. He can't hit the side of a barn. He does have the highest strength in BG1 though....

-Jam

[Jon Miller]

but it is a longsword +2 (With +1 cold)

and I only have one other melee character

and she is a cleric

Jon Miller

[Jamski]

Oh, here's a WONDERFUL site for all you mage fans. Read it and weep at the things that you learn about magic in the BG games. Its a real eye-opener. All cheeze tactics are marked with a triangle of cheddar :

http://members.chello.nl/~j.vanthull/BG2SR/Main.htm

-Jam

[Dis]

how is oil of speed better than haste? I imagine it doesn't fatigue you after it's over.

Of course I use healing potions. But only in emergencies (ie during combat) I never use them outside of combat. They are too hard to come by, and too expensive to buy. I never buy healing potions (unless I'm real desperate), I just use the one's I find.

[Jamski]

Haste gives +1 attack per round oil of speed doubles and no fatigue. The two stack

-Jam

[Traianvs]

I just meant that you'd better equip Minsc with a composite bow than having him slaughtered/hurt if that's not even necessary...

Composite bows are more powerful than slings, so only give slings to your mages and other useless combat characters (it's really handy if you have tales of the sword coast expansion installed, because then mages have 2 quick weapon slots => Xan can wield the moonblade+sling,.... Actually you should equip your mages with a sling anyway because they wouldn't even hit a sick gibberling )

[Jon Miller]

yah, everyone has ranged but Minsc and the Cleric

can you dual twice? (mage fighter sorceror, or mage fighter cleric)

or can you dual mage to sorceror?

Jon Miller

[Dis]

you can't dual a mage to a sorcerer in the baldur's gate games. You can in 3rd edition rules.

[Jon Miller]

thanks

Jon Miller
(I know very well how third edition works)

[Rufus T. Firefly]

About Minsc:

Trajanus - Long sword and 2-handed sword are the same proficiency in BG (the way short sword and dagger are also the same proficiency), so the long sword +2 is a great weapon for Minsc -- the best he'll be able to get for a while. Besides, Minsc's so-so dex and constitution make it desireable for him to be carrying a shield.

Jamski - Minsc has always come with a bow proficiency point when I pick him up (he also has two in long sword and one in axe). It's not worth using, but it is there.

[Dis]

Originally posted by Jamski
Oh, here's a WONDERFUL site for all you mage fans. Read it and weep at the things that you learn about magic in the BG games. Its a real eye-opener. All cheeze tactics are marked with a triangle of cheddar :

http://members.chello.nl/~j.vanthull/BG2SR/Main.htm

-Jam

holy cow, I still learn so many things about this game. I don't normally do cheeze tactics unless I'm desperate.

I like that one: Blade Barrier and Sanctuary. That would be a cool sight- go up to someone and just start shredding

yes that site also covers cleric/druid cheese as well. In fact, that site makes me want to load up a new game and play as a druid. I normally ditch the because they suck . Maybe I'll take a closer look at them.

[Jamski]

Jamski - Minsc has always come with a bow proficiency point when I pick him up (he also has two in long sword and one in axe). It's not worth using, but it is there.

You must be picking him up at a higher level then. When I pick him up at level 1 he has no bow skills.

@Diss, its great isn't it I like the infinte spells tricks.

-Jam

[lord of the mark]

OK - Some thoughts on cheese


In my current game the early parts seem fairly easy. Now between playing the opening chapters over and over again, getting some hints here, and peaking at some online walkthroughs, I know alot of what to expect. But then Im not only new to BG, but to RPG's, DnD, etc. Ive been roleplaying good, and really reduced my looting and theiving to a minimum. I ve equiped Khaled and my non-warrior party members with ranged weapons, but insist on keeping my main character (ranger) as a melee fighter.

It seems that to play good and steal everything you can would make this game too easy. It also seems that to arm EVERY party member with ranged weapons would do so as well. Kinda like ICS in Civ2. OTOH maybe Im incorrect, since i havent played much past the beginning of ch 3 (entry to Nashkel) yet.


Additional question:
Re superiority of ranged weapons. Is this a bug or a feature? IE is there ANY story based reason for ranged weapons to dominate? Is forgotten realms a place where ranged weapons are more dominant for whatever reason, than they are either in real world Middle Ages, or in Tolkien? Or is this simply an oversight on the part of the designers? My impression is that its the latter - the large number of melee weapons available, the depowering (?) of ranged weapons in BG2, etc would lead me to believe that it was mistake.