Baldurs gate - how should I start.

[Jon Miller]

the healing is given to the main character is independent of class

don't know about stats

Jon miller

[Rufus T. Firefly]

To expand on what Jon said:

Your character, regardless of class or stats, will get certain extra powers during the game; these power seem to be tied to where you are in the chapters, rather your level. The powers also vary slightly based on your reputation. For more on that, highlight the spoiler box:

Spoiler:

Good characters -- reputation 11-20, I think -- get, over the course of the game, 2 "cure light wound" abilities and 2 "slow poison" abilities. Bad characters -- reputation of 10 or below -- get 2 "Ghoul Touch" abilities and 2 "Vampiric Touch" abilities (I think that's right). This is just one other way in which the game massively favors playing "good."

[Jon Miller]

actually played some more

beat the mines

didn't take Xan (but what do I do with his weapon now??)

also, what do I do with my 3000 and something gold? (if I knew somewhere where I could buy nifty spells for my level 3 wizard I would do that)

also, it seems like my cleric has a lot of spells, but to make it so that I can last decently long without resting I have to make them all cure light wounds

is there a better way to do this?

Jon Miller
(currently 7 casts of curelight wounds before resting)

[Jon Miller]

my stats are acutally not that bad

12
18
12
16
14
16

it is just that my HP is low (but I am currently the lowest level with 2 mage and 3 theif)

Jon Miller

[Jon Miller]

I think that my rep is 17

thatr is really high

JOn Miller

[Jamski]

actually played some more

beat the mines

didn't take Xan (but what do I do with his weapon now??)

also, what do I do with my 3000 and something gold? (if I knew somewhere where I could buy nifty spells for my level 3 wizard I would do that)

also, it seems like my cleric has a lot of spells, but to make it so that I can last decently long without resting I have to make them all cure light wounds

is there a better way to do this?

Jon Miller
(currently 7 casts of curelight wounds before resting)

Lots of answers coming....

Well done on the mines
Xan's sword has NO USE without him to weild it. If you can't find a buyer, dump it in a barrel somewhere.
Go WEST my son, from Beregost, and visit the "High Hedge" as small wizards castle. He runs a shop. There you can buy loads of spells. Or get weapons and armour in Bergost at the smithy, or from the tavernkeeper. 3000 gold is quickly spent at these places.
Sorry, low level clerics are just hospitals, but you'll be using the level one slots for CLW for a looooong time, untill you get the level 4 healing spell.
The player character's special abilites are based on ALIGNMENT not REPUTATION. Good get healing spells, stop poison, DUHM etc. Evil get Larloch's minor drain, horror, etc. Neutrals get a mix. I find horror and DUHM the best.
Rangers won't get spells till level 8, correct.

Rep of 17 is good. Maximum is 20, and then you get a 50% discount in all shops

-Jam

[Rufus T. Firefly]

I always make sure that, at low levels, my cleric also memorizes Command. It's extremely useful in the Inn ambushes and a variety of other big fights early on (like those snobs from Amn).

[Jamski]

Bless is great at low levels too. That measly +1 to attack rolls when you have a rubbish Thac0 can really make the difference. That's a good reason to take Jah's and Branwen both. Prot. from Evil is also handy if you're getting charmed, feared, stunned and held a lot. Tat +2 to all saves and -2 AC is pretty handy early on when your saves and AC suck. Shame it doesn't work quite as well as in PnP or it would be THE 1st level spell choice. But if you want "pointy" cleric spells, either you have to take two clerics, or rest a lot more.

-Jam

[Jon Miller]

well, i can't get a better sword for Minsc (+2 longsword)

have platemail for him

I guess my wizard needs most everything, could buy stuff for her

Jon Miller

[Jamski]

Magic slings, bows etc? Rings? Scrolls? Potions? I never have enough cash in BG1 There's some cool but oh-so-expensive stuff in the shops.

Have you been round the shops in Beregost, High Hedge and Nashkell yet? I'm sure you'll find a few things to save up for...

-Jam

[Jon Miller]

I Remember visitn all of them, but it has been a while since I plaeyd (I know that I could us esoem stuff from High Hedge)

looking at the two shops in Beregost I guess I do have stuff to save for

there is nice shadow armor for ~12000

and a crossbow of speed ~7200

and full plate mail (I think this is different than what I have) for ~7200

and ring of protection +1 for ~3500

I am doing real well for potions (on just two of my guys I have ~10, only 4 of which are potions of healing)

Jon Miller

[Dis]

that avatar hurts my eyes Jon

[Jamski]

You should sell potions of freedom BTW. You can't drink them when you're already held. Silly really isn't it

Full plate is much better than plate mail. But it ain't cheap, eh?

-Jam

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Originally posted by Jamski
You should sell potions of freedom BTW. You can't drink them when you're already held. Silly really isn't it

I also tend to sell potions of cold resistance, as well as the ones that raise your wisdom (do those actually help you?) and potions of stone form. Probably others, too, but those are what occur to me straight off.

Full plate is much better than plate mail. But it ain't cheap, eh?

-Jam

Yes, but

Spoiler:

Just about the time you can afford it, you end up in a fight where you can get it off a body instead.

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Rufus T. Firefly
To expand on what Jon said:

Your character, regardless of class or stats, will get certain extra powers during the game; these power seem to be tied to where you are in the chapters, rather your level. The powers also vary slightly based on your reputation. For more on that, highlight the spoiler box:

Spoiler:

Good characters -- reputation 11-20, I think -- get, over the course of the game, 2 "cure light wound" abilities and 2 "slow poison" abilities. Bad characters -- reputation of 10 or below -- get 2 "Ghoul Touch" abilities and 2 "Vampiric Touch" abilities (I think that's right). This is just one other way in which the game massively favors playing "good."

ah, that explains it, I probably first noticed the power in a later chapter, and now im looking for it in an early chapter.