Baldur's Gate (again)

[Apocalypse]

Originally posted by Stuie
I finally made it through Durlag's Tower!

Didn't make it through the last time I played. That chess board thing is a real *****. The Demon Knight was down right easy compared to that.

Congrats. They really made that fight hard. Probably took me about 6 tries and I was able to breeze through everything with the party I had up until then.

[Axxaer]

Did anyone else find that on the bottom floor of Watcher's Keep the group of insanely powerful creatures who attack you just before you can go down to the very last level (with demogorgon) were harder than said prince of demons and his minions? Also the watcher's keep dragons were wimps compared to Firkraag and Xzzcxyxyxyylllll (you know, the one in Suldanessalar, I haven't played for a while so I forget the names).

[Axxaer]

Originally posted by DrSpike

Originally posted by Axxaer
I've played both the full BG series and IWD series, and I would be hard pressed to say which I enjoyed more. I have no doubt that the BG games gave me more hours, more enjoyment,

I'll stop you there.

Well, when you put it that way it looks kind of stupid doesn't it...

But what I meant was that the BG seriesitself was more fun, but the way I played the IWD series was better.

[Dis]

we should rate which fight we thought was the hardest.

For me it was the fight you get into at the bottom of the inn (in the town) after you complete Durlag's Tower in BG1 expansion. I can't remember the name of the creature. It perma-kills your characters. Actually the fight isn't so bad if you don't mind losing one of your characters (usually Imoen).

Demogorgon is pretty damn tough as well.

[Jamski]

The Tactics Mod version of the opening dungeon of BG2 was possibly the hardest challenge... well anything from Tactics is insane-o hard

Unmodded... hmm... the flexible order in which you can do quests means you can do a quest when you are under-powered for it, or when you are over-powered for it. Taking a fresh party straight from the Friendly Arm to fight the basilisks could perhaps be the hardest thing I can think of Almost nothing will stop the whole party being turned into statues except incredable good luck.

[Unspeakable Horror]

Originally posted by Axxaer
Did anyone else find that on the bottom floor of Watcher's Keep the group of insanely powerful creatures who attack you just before you can go down to the very last level (with demogorgon) were harder than said prince of demons and his minions? Also the watcher's keep dragons were wimps compared to Firkraag and Xzzcxyxyxyylllll (you know, the one in Suldanessalar, I haven't played for a while so I forget the names).

Did you play with the Improved or the normal ones?

[DrSpike]

Originally posted by Axxaer


I'll stop you there.

Well, when you put it that way it looks kind of stupid doesn't it...

But what I meant was that the BG seriesitself was more fun, but the way I played the IWD series was better. [/QUOTE]

Don't worry, I got you really, it was just too good an opportunity to pass up.

[Axxaer]

Originally posted by Dis
we should rate which fight we thought was the hardest.

For me it was the fight you get into at the bottom of the inn (in the town) after you complete Durlag's Tower in BG1 expansion. I can't remember the name of the creature. It perma-kills your characters. Actually the fight isn't so bad if you don't mind losing one of your characters (usually Imoen).

Demogorgon is pretty damn tough as well.

***CONTAINS NUMEROUS SPOILERS***

I found the hardest ones I can remember were:

*The guardians in Watcher's Keep
*Kangaxx (demi-lich)
*Downstairs in Bridge District, requires Rogue Stone (various creatures including beholder, lich, mage that summons pit fiend, etc.)


Some hard fights I fluked or found easy were:

*Demi-lich in Watcher's keep. First try and all 3 of his imprisonments failed.
*Demogorgon. Don't know how or why but he seemed really easy.
*All of The 5 (except Melyssan). Sendai and the dragon guy were particularly challenging but I still fluked first time wins.
*Irenicus. He just went splat. Not really a fluke because I was already past the BG2 cap and into TOB levels.
*Drizzt and gang. Sure they hit me kind of hard, but apart from Drizzt's habit of not being hit, they pretty easy.
*Dragons in general. I killed every one I came across, and only had to reload a once or twice for those mentioned previously.
*Most liches. Some people claim them to be on of the most challenging opponents, but a sneaky assassin with a x7 backstab can kill them easily enough. Or a barbarian dual-wielding with Flail of Ages+5 and something else. Or... the list goes on...
*Beholders. Can anyone say shield of reflection? (Don't know if that's the name, but it reflects almost everything they cast/shoot/eye at you.
*Sarevok and cronies (BG1). Beat first try and didn't look back.


And the grand prize for hardest battle I fought:

*Second fight against Melyssan at the end of TOB. First fight was easy. Third fight was insanely easy after the second one. Second fight I died. And died. And died. And died. And died. And died. And died. About 50 times. Seriously. I was nowhere near the XP cap and my guys were getting hacked apart by the Shadow Slayers. Also kind of sucked that Melyssan (like Demorgorgon and several others) doesn't get time stopped. But I won in the end and became a goody-two-shoes godly person.

Originally posted by Unspeakable Horror

Did you play with the Improved or the normal ones?

I played through the entirity of BG1TSC+BG2TOB with no added extras, only the regular patches and whatever came with the BG2 special edition. I like to play it all through 'officially' first just to prove to myself that I can beat the game. Then if I play again I use mods and things to add some more variety and challanges.

Originally posted by DrSpike

Originally posted by Axxaer
Well, when you put it that way it looks kind of stupid doesn't it...

But what I meant was that the BG seriesitself was more fun, but the way I played the IWD series was better.

Don't worry, I got you really, it was just too good an opportunity to pass up.

I hate you so much.

[Dis]

I forgot about Kangaxx. I don't think I've ever been able to do that fight without a protection from magic potion.

[Axxaer]

The lich bit was easy, but then BAM! he's a demi-lich...

[Stuie]

You guys are making me want to skip the rest of BG and load up BG2.

[DrSpike]

Originally posted by Axxaer

I hate you so much.

That's ok. Again you said it wrong, but I know you meant worship.

[Axxaer]

Originally posted by Stuie
You guys are making me want to skip the rest of BG and load up BG2.

Nononono! I know those who have played BG2 then BG1 and they find BG1 less interesting because they already know how the storyline turns out!

Yes, the series has a continuing storyline. Sure you fight different bad guys along the way, but there is also a character-based story which you will ruin if you start at BG2.

Just so long as you can bear through the unmentionable graphics of BG1 then you will be very pleased with all the great improvements in BG2 (e.g. being able to open inventory while paused in a battle ). BG1 is still fun and all that, there's just less to talk about because first of all I played it a long time ago, but mainly because you play at a *much* lower level than than the second one, so it is less epic and your opponents are less powerful and impressive. But at least in place of dragon you do get to fight Wyverns


Just a hint, when choosing your character, make sure it's someone who can be hit a few times and not die. I also suggest using *all* the tomes of stats found in BG1 on your protag. because he is the only one that directly follows through. Other characters return but they are not identical to the ones you finished with. Also Ranger>Archer is insane with a bow. Makes the dungeon at the start of BG2 a breeze!

[Axxaer]

Originally posted by DrSpike
That's ok. Again you said it wrong, but I know you meant worship.

Now that I think about it, I guess I do kind of 'hate worship so much' as well.

[Grumbold]

This is motivating me to return to BG1 again. I finally got TotSC and decided it was worth running through it all from the start but lost headway when the DDO beta testing came up. Going back might be a step down in graphics but at least the D&D rules will be (almost) correct