Baldurs gate - how should I start.

[Traianvs]

Another big advantage of the crossbow is that if powerful enough, it could pierce the heavy armour the knights wore back then. That's what made everybody so pissed off, as knights ruled the combat and were not supposed to be harmed too much.

There was a knight's honour code, if a knight was knocked off his horse for example, he couldn't move anymore due to the heavy armour. Instead of killing him, he was often taken hostage and asked a ransom => so you could make a could sum of money on it

Also, considering the amount of battles in the middle ages, there would be noway near enough knights imo to support those wars if the knights got killed all the time.

On the other hand, it required a lot of time to arm a crossbow..
Highly skilled people could fire 2 bolts/minute.
It requires a lot of fysical strength to pull the string back.

[Jon Miller]

I sort of wish my chracter could handle a weapon

he is a theif/mage

I iwsh he was a figter/thief/mage

anyways, I got a twohandedsword +1

which is better, my longsword +2 or the two handed sword +1

Minsc is the only one who would really use them

Jon Miller

[Dis]

fighter/thieves rock. Why do the mage?

I used to think that was a good combo. But really, it's difficult to use them to their full potential. Look at Jan in BG2- he really isn't that great.

A Thief/Cleric would be better than a thief/mage I'd imagine (though I can't say for sure, never tried), as Cleric gets some buffs that can beef them up.

[Dis]

Originally posted by Trajanus


My tactic exactly
Unfortunately I Was constantly charmed and confused (as you know those spells never miss, they follow you around no matter where you run )
didn't know what the hell to do about that so I quit playing BG2

too much frikking confusion, and whenever I cast it myself, the baddies are immune to it
Got real fed up with it, because one confusion spell usually confused about 2-4 characters of mine on average, and those get butchered in an instant of course in BG2

chaotic commands works well with confusion. It lasts a long time as well.

I used to hate that as well. My first encounter with- argh I can't remember the name of those creatures whose main attack is to confuse you. They are in Nalia's Keep I believe. Of courses you could lure them with meat- but I didn't know that at the time.

Once you reach a higher level, there's less chance of that. But mind flayers can mess you up as well. Just use chaotic commands.

[Jamski]

which is better, my longsword +2 or the two handed sword +1

I'd say its six and two threes The longsword will hit ~5% more often, the twohander will do ~1.5 more damage per hit on average, but the longsword gives you a sheild too.

Diss, they're called Umber Hulks. Nasty critters.

-Jam

[Traianvs]

Yeah, fortunately that kind of monsters can be slaughtered by firing a volley of arrows and projectiles at them. Most of the time they hardly get the chance to fire, or they are hit so often that they can't reach your party... It's the frikking mages that piss me off; they ALWAYS cast confusion...every goddamn time! And of course, mind flayers are deadly too, had a looot of trouble with them.

I know chaotic commands, but as far as I know it only applies to one character, well I think... it should be a spell cast on your entire party. Also does it last that long? I don't know, I thought it wore out pretty quickly...

[lord of the mark]

Does the level of the NPC's who joing my party depend on the level of my existing party? seems that way.
Does the level of monsters and bandits depend on the level of my party?

It seems i got the power to heal after seeing the Gorion dream. Nice touch.

[lord of the mark]

Ive now got Myself (arathorn - a ranger) Imoen, Khaled and Jaheira, Garrick and Minsc. Have done most of the availbale quests in Beregost, in Nashkel and its fair (NOT the mines) Everybodys level 2 except Garrick, whos 1, and Imoen who's 3 (and not dual classed). Decent armor all around, but only 2 magic arrows - we've got money, but there dont seem any magic arrows or bolts for sale anymore, even at the Smithy in Beregost - perhaps we've bought and used to many in getting to this point?

Arathorn and Minsc are tanks, Kaled, Imoen and Garrick fight with long bow, short bow and cross bow respectively. Jaheira either casts spells, uses her sling, or her +1 staff depending on the situation.

Ive headed toward the Gnoll stronghold, and encountered neville and his pals and died, in a badly managed battle. I will reload - this time I will make sure Khaled has his 2 magic arrows in his quiver. I will have the magic ring of protection weve got on one of the tanks, not on Imoen. I will have Jaheira cast "bless" before we encounter Neville (is that cheesy?) I will probably have her entangle Neville, and send the tanks after the Hobgoblin archers, as well as having all the ranged fighters do the same. Then deal with Neville later.

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Rufus T. Firefly
I think it's realistic that range weapons rule, in general; being able to strike from afar has always been an advantage. But there are also a couple of things in BG that make bows cheesey:

Note that according to this article, bayonets were used in hand to hand fighting in Baghdad, in the Falklands, and in Viet Nam. Meelee figthing isnt dead, even in 2003.

The debate over the bayonet

[centrifuge]

Originally posted by lord of the mark
Does the level of the NPC's who joing my party depend on the level of my existing party? seems that way.
Does the level of monsters and bandits depend on the level of my party?

1. Yes

2. I don't think so.


All of this talk about Baldurs Gate has inspired me to start up a new game

My wife is not going to be pleased

[centrifuge]

Originally posted by lord of the mark

I will probably have her entangle Neville, and send the tanks after the Hobgoblin archers, as well as having all the ranged fighters do the same. Then deal with Neville later.

Just some advice, although I'm sure you already know, Focus your fire on one enemy at a time.

This will knock them off at a quicker pace...

... an injured enemy still does the same amount of damage as a healthy one.

[Traianvs]

In BG1 the enemies will always be the same strength

BG2 however adjusts the enemies to your XP level, more or less of course (you won't kill a lich just like that anyway). If you choose not to do that much sidequests your XP won't be very high, so you would eventually get stuck if the game didn't adjust that a bit!

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Originally posted by lord of the mark



Note that according to this article, bayonets were used in hand to hand fighting in Baghdad, in the Falklands, and in Viet Nam. Meelee figthing isnt dead, even in 2003.

The debate over the bayonet

I never meant to suggest otherwise; I only meant that range weapons have an absolute advantage over melee weapons because they allow you to attack without putting yourself in immediate danger.

But back to topic. In answer to your questions:

1. When you meet companions, they will either be level 1, 2, 4, or 6. Which level does indeed depend on which level you are (though I've never seen Jahiera at level 1, even when I've made a beeline for the Friendly Arm Inn; but that does seem to be the general formula).

2. Monster levels don't adjust to meet your party's. However -- not that this affects your current game, but just so you know -- monster numbers to adjust in some cases (a party of 3 will face fewer gibberlings in a random attack than a party of 6 will, for example).

[Jon Miller]

now I have over 10000 gold

I have leveled Imoen up to 5, than dualed her to theif (when will she be able to use her theif skills?)

I am a level 3/4 mage/theif

the mage and cleric are both level 3 I beleive

the two rangers are both level 4

Jon Miller

[centrifuge]

Originally posted by Jon Miller
now I have over 10000 gold

I have leveled Imoen up to 5, than dualed her to theif (when will she be able to use her theif skills?)

I'm confused??? Imoen starts as a theif.


Anyway, after dualing a character, you have to wait until you reach the level of your first class with your new class, before you get the skills back.