New all purpose Baldurs Gate thread

[Stuie]

Originally posted by duke o' york

*duke obviously fishing around for small, general, hints*
While Imoen is a thief, which abilities should I improve? Any specifically, or all at the same rate?

Locks and Traps, IMO. Sorry if this is spoilerish, but I never used her other skills going through BG1. If I wanted stealth, I'd use an Invisibility potion. As for picking pockets, my Paladin wouldn't have condoned such action (yes, I really like to role-play even in CRGPs).

[Drogue]

Originally posted by duke o' york
I'm thinking that I'll need another magic missile scroll for Imoen when she dual-classificates, because I gave the last one to Xzar (is this the necromancer's name? I'm sure it is, but can't remember), and I want her to be able to cast that too. I remember from playing AD&D (1st edition), that although you can get some cool spells at higher magic levels, the spells you already know can become even more powerful than some of the new ones.

'Tis true. Magic Missile gets better, as does Chromatic Orb. Some don't, like Armour and Sleep, however.

Originally posted by duke o' york
Or is there somewhere in the near future I can just happen to find a magic missile scroll and should spend my money on another spell?

They're quite common to find, one of the most common spells to find. However it's not much money either, and it's worth buying it if you don't have one on you when you have a mage that needs it, IMHO.

Originally posted by duke o' york
While Imoen is a thief, which abilities should I improve? Any specifically, or all at the same rate?

Depends on your style. Find Traps is a necessity. Open Locks is well worth it for doors and stealing. Stealth is useful if you hide and backstab, or use your thief to draw out enemies. These are the three I concentrate on. Usually, Stealth and Open Locks at the begining and level 2, and Find Traps solely on level 3. Pickpocketing I don't bother with. The one time it's actually useful, you can either kill them and take the rep hit, or use potions to buff up your abilities. You can go through the whole game without pickpocketing and not miss it. Find Traps is essential, dungeons are very, very hard without it, but it isn't needed until you do dungeons (i've forgotten how far on you are). Open Locks and Stealth are useful, and while non-essential, it almost spoils the point of having a thief if you don't use them. Stealth can be buffed by magic items later though.

[Jamski]

While Imoen is a thief, which abilities should I improve? Any specifically, or all at the same rate?

1.) Disarm Traps
2.) Open locks (can be done with force or Knock spell)
3.) Stealth (can be done with Invisibilty much better)
4.) Pick Pockets (kill them and take the stuff, yeah?)

So only traps is ESSENTIAL.

So, how do you decide which quest is best?

Heh, that's the charm of the game. Don't forget Imoen is waiting for you too.

I'd get rid of the poisoned man, thats easy, and do the quests that leads you into (Xzar etc...) because they're quite easy too and give some useful rewards and gear.

Then I would see about Trademeet's problems, or perhaps see what the theifs have to say.

I would stay in the city mostly to start with though. Umar Hills and Windspear Hills can be quite... umm... HARD.

-Jam

[Drogue]

Originally posted by Stuie
Ok, I made it through the tent, went to the Adventure Mart, and then headed over to the Copper Coronet. Rested up and decided to head out of the city to try one of the many quests that have been accumulating, only to get yet another quest (this one involving getting a poisoned man to a certain location back in the city). I now have about seven or eight active quests. Is there any good way to know which ones I should tackle first (obviously getting the poisoned guy off my hands is #1, but I get the feeling it's going to lead to even MORE quests due to the destination).

So, how do you decide which quest is best?

First do one with time limits (poisoned man). If roleplaying do ones that possibly should have time limits (Keep, Umar Hills). However since most don't, do them in whichever order you want. The poisoned man is a nice quest actually, IMHO. Includes some interesting characters, is quite fun and puzzling, but not too difficult, and gives a decent amount of XP

*Possible spoiler*
What class are you? Do you know about Stronghold Quests? Each class has a quest that is their stronghold. It's a major RP feature.

Spoiler:

If you're a fighter, do the Keep; a ranger, the Umar Hills; a wizard, the Umar Hills; a Paladin, the Windspear Hills; a Druid, Trademeet; a cleric, thief or Bard, the Athkatla quests.

These lead to other quests over time, and features.
*End spoiler*

Personally, I like the Keep, it's satisfying, fun and not too hard. The Umar Hills is long, leads to other quests and is pretty hard, but is a nice one. Trademeet is only that good with a druid, IMHO. Windspear Hills is a nice one, but the hardest of the lot, IMHO. I usually do a few Athkatla quests, then go and do my stronghold, then most of the Athkatla quests, then leave the city and do the other ones.

In my current file, I've done most of the city, the Keep and the Windspear Hills. Am about to do Umar, and then Trademeet.

[Stuie]

I was actually on my way to the de'Arnise Hold (Nalia's quest) when I found the poisoned guy. I figured it was closest, so hopefully that meant easier. Hopefully. But since I'm back in the city, I guess I'll poke around some more.

And at this rate, Imoen's just going to have to wait. I don't have the cash to spring her right now.

[Jamski]

de'Arnise is really quite tough unless you have certain weapons (saying nothing)

Getting the cash for Imoen is not a big problem - there's PLENTY of quests to be done. I really reccommend you visit Renal Bloodscalp in the Shadow Thief's place.

-Jam

[Drogue]

Originally posted by Stuie
I was actually on my way to the de'Arnise Hold (Nalia's quest) when I found the poisoned guy. I figured it was closest, so hopefully that meant easier. Hopefully. But since I'm back in the city, I guess I'll poke around some more.

Actually, they're all the same distance away. 20 Hours. Good plan with staying around the city a bit. So much to do there

[Stuie]

Originally posted by Jamski
de'Arnise is really quite tough unless you have certain weapons (saying nothing)

Getting the cash for Imoen is not a big problem - there's PLENTY of quests to be done. I really reccommend you visit Renal Bloodscalp in the Shadow Thief's place.

-Jam

Cool. Thanks.

You know, one thing that has really impressed me having gone from BG1 to BG2 is the amount of NPC interaction. Minsc is constantly babbling to Boo on different topics (instead of the repetitive "Comeraderie, adventure, and steel on steel. The stuff of legends, eh Boo?"), Jehira seems to be performing a running critique of my actions, and Aerie, well, she's annoying. Once I hit the docks Yoshimo (or whatever his name is) started piping in, too. Seems he has a problem with Renal that needs to be addressed. Hmm...

Anyway, I'm having much fun with this. Too bad there are only so many hours in the day...

[Drogue]

Originally posted by Jamski
de'Arnise is really quite tough unless you have certain weapons (saying nothing)

You get given the right weapons though.

Originally posted by Jamski
Getting the cash for Imoen is not a big problem - there's PLENTY of quests to be done. I really reccommend you visit Renal Bloodscalp in the Shadow Thief's place.

'Tis a fun quest

[Jamski]

Spoiler:

Don't forget to kill Renal too, to get his boots of speed. But how to do it without turning everyone hostile? (there is a way - more than one)

You get given the right weapons though.

Better, and easier, if you have bought a certain axe and a certain club, and a certain sword though...

-Jam

[duke o' york]

I have made lots of progress since the first BG thread as I now know which one you're talking about.

I agree that when Imoen went up to level 2, I didn't bother putting any ability points to pickpocketry, but I think that find traps only got 5%. Is find traps the pointer with the mask on? Or have I just not worked out when and where to use it yet? I managed to disarm a trap in Beregost, but that was only because it was on a chest and I automatically tried to pick the lock.

Oh, and Drogue: I'm only messing about around Beregost, and not very far in at all yet.

[Jamski]

Disarm traps/pickpockets/open locks is ALL the icon with the "mask" or "8 on its side" icon. Search for traps is the one with "arrows in the corners" Hide is the one with the face.

-Jam

[duke o' york]

I know that, but it was just that I had never seen the icon for find traps.

[Stuie]

DoY - to use find traps, just click the "arrows in the corners" button, and your thief will start looking for traps. They will keep looking until you see a message that says "[ThiefName] has stopped looking for traps." This kind of confused me at first, too. Stupid .pdf manuals!!

The actual mouse pointer does not change when looking for traps. The thief is understood to be searching the general vicinity.

[Drogue]

Originally posted by Jamski

Spoiler:

Don't forget to kill Renal too, to get his boots of speed. But how to do it without turning everyone hostile? (there is a way - more than one)

Spoiler:

Oooh, I didn't know he had those. I thought the only place you got boots of speed was in the Planar Prison. Could you spoiler one or two of the ways?Pickpocketing maybe? Also, how hard would it be to kill them all? If you do, would that hostile all the thieves leading and around Arun Lindvale too? I don't mind having Renal and the ones around there dead, but I need Arun alive.

Originally posted by Jamski
Better, and easier, if you have bought a certain axe and a certain club, and a certain sword though...

Club?

Spoiler:

I presume you mean Stonefire for the axe and Flametongue for the sword.