Yet another bleeding BG thread *sigh*

[duke o' york]

Entirely out of spoilers, I went back into BG last night after almost a week off, and got into a few fights. I entered a merchants' guild in the far northeast of the city (black and white building ), and was set upon by the watchman and a horde of blink dogs, which were quite cool but not a problem for my party.
I wandered around the fair in the centre of town but there wasn't anyone to talk to so I saved, killed the diviner in the fortune-telling tent, checked my reputation, and moved on.
In the southwest for the first time, I came across an old friend from Cloakwood. Now I have a spoiler question with which I'd like a little help.

Spoiler:

I fought loads of doppelgangers in the merchants' guild here, but messed up and then stopped playing as it was getting late. The next time I try this, has anyone got any tips for killing doppelgangers? Are they undead and can I turn them? Will they burn like billyo if I nuke them with the fireball wand I got from the wizards practising upstairs in Sorcerous Supplies? I've also got a lightning wand and an ice wand, so I'm not doing too badly as far as wands are concerned. Couldn't find an eagle bow though, but I didn't have a good look.

[Drogue]

Spoiler:

Dopplegangers really shouldn't be a problem by now. You will find *loads* more. There is a sword that can help (Bastard Sword, +3 vs Dopplegangers) but apart from that, not really. They're not undead, IIRC, just shapeshifters

[duke o' york]

Spoiler:

I know they shouldn't be a problem, because they weren't that tough, but I ingeniously cast stinking cloud just a tiny bit too close to my party, and it didn't seem to affect the doppelgangers at all. We got poisoned though. And it was only a matter of inches. No fair. I'd imagine that the fight will be easier next time if I don't kick off with that particular manoeuvre.

[Drogue]

I imagine it would They are somewhat magic resistant, IIRC, though I thougt fireballs etc. still worked. Not sure though, test it

[Dis]

melee generally works well. greater dopplegangers might be a little tough in groupsl So try not to take on too many at one time.

[duke o' york]

Thanks for the spoiler Diss.

[DarkCloud]

I can email you a walkthrough if you like.

[Dis]

what spoiler? . Yes I admit it. Greater dopplegangers are tougher than dopplengangers.

[duke o' york]

I was trying to avoid mentioning doppelgangers for anyone perusing the thread who had either never been to the city, or had never played the first BG and fancied it. But since it's all out in the open now then I'm tempted to unspoiler all of my previous posts.

I wouldn't worry, Diss. It was only a joke, and you have to fight them anyway as part of the main plot so it isn't really a spoiler.

[Dis]

I just wasn't worried about spoiling individual monsters. Although this one does have a special talent of concealing themselves. That might be a minor spoiler.

but it's almost like saying there are some orcs you have to fight in this game

[duke o' york]

But there aren't any orcs in BG.
Their equivalent are called Gnolls.

[Kassiopeia]

Are you sure? I could have sworn there are orcs in BG. There must be some in BG2, at least?

[duke o' york]

Unless Gnolls are meant to be Trolls, which would make sense, with the rhyming, but I think that Trolls are traditionally tougher than the Gnolls are in BG, and less likely to construct a fortress. I also think that those irritating things with the fire arrows (something commandos) are the goblin equivalents - pretty useless on their own, but more dangerous in hordes and at range.
I suppose we'll have to wait for Jam to rediscover this thread since Folderol is down, and he is lurking in the NWN thread at the moment. He may have a better idea.

[edit] They're called kobolds! Thanks, I'll go away now. [/edit]

[Dis]

yes Kobolds and Kobold commandos.

Gnolls have their fortress in the southeast.

there are no Trolls that I know of in BG1. They are indeed much tougher. You'll find out in Baldur's Gate2. But they aren't too bad. Just remember to use fire or acid on them when they are down.

And yes there are Orcs in Baldur's Gate 1.

There are some near the walls of the Friendly Farm Inn. One involves a quest to get some ring back for someone in the Friendly Farm Inn compound.

And aren't the bandits like Tarzok orcs as well? They are part of the main plot. They are up in the bandit camp.

[duke o' york]

The bandits in the forest (by certain posters' favourite NPC with cleavage ) are humans, and the creatures that you have to fight to get the ring back outside the Friendly Arms are Hobgoblins. In fact, they're all over the map as one of the standard encounters.