New all purpose Baldurs Gate thread

[Traianvs]

Btw Jam, if you play BG2, do you set it to hardcore mode, where all monsters have 200% HP etc?

Maybe that'll be more of a challenge

[Drogue]

Originally posted by obstructor
But if you played PT you would surely realise that their magic abbilities in BG2 don`t have any sense when trying to relate it to their original game.

That's the idea. People look at them and smile. It's not trying to relate to the original game, it's just there for colour.

[Illuminatus]

Originally posted by Drogue

That's the idea. People look at them and smile. It's not trying to relate to the original game, it's just there for colour.

So where is Magic Ring of Little Pink Elephants?

[Dis]

Originally posted by Drogue

Have done, that raises it one, for turning him in.


Arrrggg! I refuse to go anywhere near him. I specifically walk the long way round the Government District so I never have to meet him. Most anoying character ever. He's worse than Noober.


With Keldorn in the party? Besides, have to do Fallen Paladin's first.

Jan is cool.

So is Noober for that matter.

[Jamski]

Btw Jam, if you play BG2, do you set it to hardcore mode, where all monsters have 200% HP etc?

Of course. Doesn't everyone? And I have full "Tactics" and "Acenction" installed as well. I LOVE "Improved Demogorgon" on Insane

-Jam

[Traianvs]

Originally posted by Jamski


Of course. Doesn't everyone? And I have full "Tactics" and "Acenction" installed as well. I LOVE "Improved Demogorgon" on Insane

-Jam

woot de fook...

what's that Tactics and Ascension again? Enlighten me

[Dis]

The regular demogorgon is challenging enough. I don't want an improved version.

I don't like my games to be that difficult. I tire of micromanaging spells.

[Drogue]

I just use it on core rules. It's how it's meant to be played, how it was set up to be.

[lord of the mark]

well i just bought Planescape:Torment for $5(US) at my local bargain bin - a triumph in shopping, at least.

The game seems a bit ghoulish though. (im still in mortuary at the beginning) trying out the interface. I do like the dialogues, but.......

[Marid Audran]

Originally posted by obstructor


So where is Magic Ring of Little Pink Elephants?

Heh heh...I agree with you obstructor, but at least that isn't as bad an the fan-made mod which includes "bonus merchants" for IWDII hocking items from the Baldur's Gate series. Valygar's family leather and katana, Jan Jansen's "adventurewear," Nalia's signet ring, etc. Besides the similar discontinuity in having them available and for use in the first place, the Icewind Dale series takes place before the generation from Baldur's Gate was even born!!

Originally posted by lord of the mark
well i just bought Planescape:Torment for $5(US) at my local bargain bin - a triumph in shopping, at least.

The game seems a bit ghoulish though. (im still in mortuary at the beginning) trying out the interface. I do like the dialogues, but.......

Part of the charm, my friend. The ambience of Sigil is other-wordly...quite literally. No Tolkein-esque blandness here. The game picks up as soon as you spring yourself from the Mortuary and you're on Senior Collector Pharod's trail...

You came upon a bargain of CRPG-ing goodness for the price of a latte and a biscotti! From how you described your Baldur's Gate experience PS:T is probably more up your alley...combat is scaled back in favor of dialogue and character interaction. IWD I/II, on the other hand, swings the pendulum to the other extreme.

[Qilue]

Just giving advice here.

None seem to have mentioned the IWD merchant that is placed in the Copper Coronet. Most of what he sells is good, except for 1 item which is excellant, The Sling of Everard.

This requires no ammunition, is +5 so it can hit almost anything (even a certain demi-lich), and can even bypass the magical defenses of most low to medium level wizards. Also, a 'feature' in BG2 adds the melee strength bonuses to sling damage. Jaheira makes a good canditate for a belt of giant strength.

About paladins (especially if they have been buffed by the tomes in BG1) for BG2 - a certain two hand sword held by a crimson dragon and the inquisitor kit makes them a lot of fun to play. The Inquisitor's true sight ability will make mage fights much much easier.

The cleric/ranger multi class is another good combination when dual wielding Crom Faeyr and an upgraded Mace of Disruption.

Viconia may be everyone's love of their life, but Anomen's undead turning/destroying ability cannot be underestimated. At lvl 16+, standard liches become little more than a minor delay. At lvl 18+, vampires are no longer any kind of threat and at lvl 21+, undead of any kind are longer a threat (a certain demi-lich seems to be immune though). Also, a lich's magical defenses provide no protection from undead turning.

Just so you know I have played the games
Completed BG1 4 times (elf mage/thief, human paladin*, ½elf cleric/mage* and ½elf cleric/ranger*)
Completed BG2 6 times (three *'s above, dualed ranger->cleric, monk and sorcerer)(didn't get around to playing the mage/thief)

[Dis]

PS:T.

I just finished it. Here are some thoughts.

I can't say I like the gameplay as much as BG1 and 2, or even IWD 1 and 2. But the game is the same engine, so the gameplay isn't bad. But overall the combat just isn't as good. I did have some fun when my The Nameless One as a mage was a higher level. I was sending him out solo killing packs of demon creatures . Some of the higher level spells are interesting. And while the graphics of those spell effects aren't of real high graphical quality, I found some of the spell effects to be better than the BG and IWD games. So that is something to look forward to. That's why I recommend using your main character as a mage- if not you can pick up one single class mage later on, but that's later in the game. And Dakkon is a multi-class- he never does get any high level spells.

So the combat does improve. And the game does improve once you add more NPC's. Annah and Fall from Grace are the more interesting ones. That might be because of the romance implications and their feelings for you etc. And of course Morte is a hoot. But overall there isn't as much interaction as you have in BG2. But much better than IWD 1 and 2 obviously.

The story line is top notch. And the ending is the best of the infinity games I think. The game kind of won me over with the ending. It helped make up for lackluster gameplay somewhat. The entire plot ranks pretty good. Just as good as the Baldur's gate 1 and 2 plot.

I have no regrets about the time spent with this game. I may play this game in the future, who knows.

[Jamski]

what's that Tactics and Ascension again? Enlighten me

Its two BIG mods that make all the boss fights harder, add insane random encounters, give Abasigal a brother in ToB etc etc. Fun.

I just use it on core rules. It's how it's meant to be played, how it was set up to be.

Sure, but its so easy. I like a chance to exist that my characters might die, otherwise it gets dull, fast.

well i just bought Planescape:Torment for $5(US) at my local bargain bin - a triumph in shopping, at least.
The game seems a bit ghoulish though. (im still in mortuary at the beginning) trying out the interface. I do like the dialogues, but.......

You swine. $5. I paid a lot more than that, last week And yeah, the whole game is obsessed with death.

Also, a 'feature' in BG2 adds the melee strength bonuses to sling damage.

Only in BG1. It got taken out for BG2, it was a mistake.

Diss - congrats. I hope you didn't get spoiled by what I posted on Iplay.

-Jam

[Dis]

no, I skipped over that.

I'm not sure about sling damage. I usually only used them for my sorcerer who had an average strenght anyways.

And shouldn't slings add strength to damage bonus? If you can pull the sling back farther, it should hit harder...

[Drogue]

Originally posted by Qilue
None seem to have mentioned the IWD merchant that is placed in the Copper Coronet. Most of what he sells is good, except for 1 item which is excellant, The Sling of Everard.

Is this an add on? Sling of Everard? Where from in the CC, I've never seen this?

Originally posted by Qilue
About paladins (especially if they have been buffed by the tomes in BG1) for BG2 - a certain two hand sword held by a crimson dragon and the inquisitor kit makes them a lot of fun to play. The Inquisitor's true sight ability will make mage fights much much easier.

Or just use Keldorn. The PC can be used for something while still having a decent Inquisitor

Originally posted by Qilue
The cleric/ranger multi class is another good combination when dual wielding Crom Faeyr and an upgraded Mace of Disruption.

Nice idea, though i intend to use Korgan for that, but with Crom Faeyr and one of the nice axes (Stonefire or Frostbite probably). Sunblade is also wonderful, and can be dual-wielded with Blduran's Sword, Blade of Roses, etc.

Originally posted by Qilue
Viconia may be everyone's love of their life, but Anomen's undead turning/destroying ability cannot be underestimated. At lvl 16+, standard liches become little more than a minor delay. At lvl 18+, vampires are no longer any kind of threat and at lvl 21+, undead of any kind are longer a threat (a certain demi-lich seems to be immune though). Also, a lich's magical defenses provide no protection from undead turning.

Why is Anomen's better than Viconia's? Turning undead is nice However having her and Keldorn can get interesting when she turns him