A brief note about Yeenter and gang: the Bandit Camp has been vanquished - Minsc got a few upgrades there, Khosahnn's full plate and also the long bow of markmanship. The Cloakwood Forest is our next target...
Baldur's Gate 1 No-Reload Challenge
#14151
Posted 14 July 2015 - 12:13 PM
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#14152
Posted 14 July 2015 - 03:16 PM
Sorry to hear about your quick death, Wise. We've have some bad ambushes too, including a 10 bandit archer/6 gibberling ambush. Xan went invisible with about 10% health left, was close...Will keep at it - well after I get off work anyways I will.
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#14153
Posted 15 July 2015 - 05:20 AM
Yeenter the Dwarf Update
Traveling with: Minsc, Viconia, Imoen, Xan, Dynaheir
Permanently dead/gone: Xzar, Montaron, Kagain, Khalid, Jaheira
No deaths this session - I'm amazed how long Xan is living - I've had many runs where he dies left and right and takes thousands of gold in resurrections - guess he knows I won't raise him if he falls. The bulk of the Cloakwood is cleared of enemies. Next session we will work on the Cloakwood Mines.
The key battle, is, of course, the battle with Drassus. We battled Drassus and pals even though we were fatigued. We threw 5 fireballs and emotion 1st round - this killed the mages outright, Genthore was unconscious, and Drassus failed to make an impression on a Xan protected by mirror image - not to mention he felt the full might of the 6 party members.
Genthore of course was easy to mop up, since he still hadn't waked yet when we attacked him.
Here's the stats of the party:
Yeenter, level 6 Dwarf, Fighter, 64 HP, 501 kills
Minsc, Human, level 6 Ranger, 50 HP, 258 kills
Viconia, Drow, level 7 Cleric, 41 HP, 110 kills
Imoen, Human, level 7 Thief, 42 HP, 221 kills
Xan, Elf, level 7 Enchanter, 20 HP, 92 kills
Dynaheir, Human, level 6 Invoker, 30 HP, 89 kills
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#14154
Posted 15 July 2015 - 05:32 AM
Glad to see Yeenter making progress.
That was some fireball!
Best,
A.
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#14155
Posted 15 July 2015 - 12:21 PM
Glad to see Yeenter making progress.
That was some fireball!
Best,
A.
Thanks! To be a bit more precise, it was 5 different fireballs, all going up at once. We had some potions of explosions and necklace of missiles for the non-mages to help with the explosions.
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#14156
Posted 15 July 2015 - 06:09 PM
I decided to do another run with Blackstar the Fiery.
The two runs have been as different as chalk and cheese.
She has got as far as level 7 and I was trying to decide whether to go solo like my last run or pick up a party. I decided to ring the changes by having a party. This will mean lower experience in Amn. That could be a problem as I thought I had loads of experience in my last game and came unstuck at the D' Arnise stronghold, a quest where I rarely fail.
There were three incidents which were noteworthy.
Silke after becoming hostile went inside an inn.
I followed her and was followed by hostile spiders.
Silke dislikes them even more than she dislikes me. However the lightning bolt not only kills spiders, it also kills, Finch, and the innkeeper. I think that she also got injured.
When fighting Tristan and Isolde, I charmed Bob Snickt with interesting results. He fought very well and seemed to be either immune or strongly resistant to hold.
I charmed Geltik to fight Greywolf and didn't position him well with the result that he only lasted one round.
However, fighting Sil my positioning couldn't have been better. She couldn't get past the sirene to speak to me and I was able to kill both of them before she became hostile. My rage was invaluable against them.
I intend having Gavin, Ajantis and possibly Imoen in the party. She is a thief/mage courtesy of Level 1 NPCs.
I thought that I might have Xzar/Montaron temporarily in the party to engage with Shoal. I would have no qualms whatsoever if either or both of them died permanently. If that happened, the Sword Coast would be a better place.
I can forsee one problem. Who do I choose if both Gavin and Ajantis proposition me?
I don't know whether either or both of them will fancy a dwarven maid with a temper.
I like her. Sometimes you empathise with a character and sometimes you don't. With her I do.
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#14157
Posted 15 July 2015 - 06:54 PM
I like her. Sometimes you empathise with a character and sometimes you don't. With her I do.
I'm glad to hear that. I always find that I'm at my best as a player when I know and like my character. I hope you find the the same.
As for Blackstar the Fiery's love interest, I'd definitely go with Gavin. Ajantis's "yeah!" is bad enough as a selection sound. It would be unbearably awful in other situations.
Good hunting!
Best,
A.
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#14158
Posted 15 July 2015 - 07:16 PM
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#14159
Posted 15 July 2015 - 07:21 PM
Grand performance Grond0, and enjoy your new home!
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#14160
Posted 15 July 2015 - 07:29 PM
I love it. Grond0 moves into a new home. And what's the first thing he does: No reload. He doesn't even unpack.
Awesome work. The Wrecking Crew looks impressive. Amn-ward bound!
Best,
A.
Btw. It seems like completing Durlag's Tower has become part of the new standard in BG1. That's great. But it doesn't bode well for me: I've never done Durlag's Tower. Ever. In any install or gaming context- no reload or otherwise.
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#14161
Posted 15 July 2015 - 08:08 PM
I love it. Grond0 moves into a new home. And what's the first thing he does: No reload. He doesn't even unpack.
Awesome work. The Wrecking Crew looks impressive. Amn-ward bound!
Best,
A.
Btw. It seems like completing Durlag's Tower has become part of the new standard in BG1. That's great. But it doesn't bode well for me: I've never done Durlag's Tower. Ever. In any install or gaming context- no reload or otherwise.
I wouldn't feel too bad about that Alesia - I haven't completed Durlag's either, no-reload or otherwise. Also, since most of the time you are solo, you would never need Durlag's for the experience, maybe some items - but most likely the only item you would want would be the wisdom tome. When solo, I personally don't like doing a lot of extra stuff (like Durlag's) if I am at my level cap - I like to only get upgrades/main story line by that point, not get side-tracked on unnecessary side ventures - I think you are the same way.
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#14162
Posted 15 July 2015 - 08:48 PM
Btw. It seems like completing Durlag's Tower has become part of the new standard in BG1. That's great. But it doesn't bode well for me: I've never done Durlag's Tower. Ever. In any install or gaming context- no reload or otherwise.
I wouldn't feel too bad about that Alesia - I haven't completed Durlag's either, no-reload or otherwise. Also, since most of the time you are solo, you would never need Durlag's for the experience, maybe some items - but most likely the only item you would want would be the wisdom tome. When solo, I personally don't like doing a lot of extra stuff (like Durlag's) if I am at my level cap - I like to only get upgrades/main story line by that point, not get side-tracked on unnecessary side ventures - I think you are the same way.
In my humble opinion you both missed at lot by skipping Durlag's... It's great adventure and well worth the time spent there. Personally, I run it from top to bottom in all of my runs. Always. Just try it and, I think, you'll not be disappointed.
And congratulations, Grond0, with both moving in your new home and defeating the Demon Knight!
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#14163
Posted 15 July 2015 - 09:01 PM
In my humble opinion you both missed at lot by skipping Durlag's... It's great adventure and well worth the time spent there. Personally, I run it from top to bottom in all of my runs. Always. Just try it and, I think, you'll not be disappointed.
And congratulations, Grond0, with both moving in your new home and defeating the Demon Knight!
Serg - you understand, of course, that I often do portions of Durlag's, just not the whole thing. Also, Dogdancing and I could not finish Durlag's WITH RELOADS. That little detail doesn't bode well for a no-reload attempt doing the same thing...the other detail is that I don't know Durlag traps like the back of my hand, like I do for the rest of the traps in BG 1, so that kind of discourages a solo attempt through there.
I do agree with your statement that Durlag's does reward you for the effort.
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#14164
Posted 15 July 2015 - 09:50 PM
In my humble opinion you both missed at lot by skipping Durlag's... It's great adventure and well worth the time spent there. Personally, I run it from top to bottom in all of my runs. Always. Just try it and, I think, you'll not be disappointed.
Yeah. I'm a little silly in that way, I guess. I love BG, obviously. And I've been playing BG for years, obviously. But there are still things that I've never done. Durlag's Tower. The Demi-Lich in Watcher's Keep. They're both examples.
I just find the RP justication for Durlag's Tower so absurd in the context of the adventure, at least given the personalities of my characters. The Sword Coast needs to be saved. Gorion needs to be avenged. And I take a huge, uber-dangerous side trip for a dagger? In real life, if Hurgan made his proposal, I'd be all: "You lost your dagger, huh? Bummer. Good luck with that. See you around!"
On top of that, I'm scared. I may seem fearless as a player, but I'm not. Fear is a guiding emotion in my approach to the game. I'm always afraid.
Whatever, though. I should do it. Eventually I will.
Best,
A.
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#14165
Posted 15 July 2015 - 10:39 PM
- Good luck Grimwald, with your Dwarven lady. I
- I agree with Serg in that Durlag's Tower is fun and worthwhile. With my solo characters (the majority of my playthroughs) I don't tend to bother, but I've tried a few times with a party. The last time was with Butch, who prevailed, but I also remember my Skald Euphonia and my Mage(3)->Fighter Victor meet their doom there.
Glorydd (take 2), TN Dwarven Fighter/Thief
Here's the selfie:
I did something I'd never accomplished before: I had Glorydd reach her BG1 level caps, i.e. 140k XP, before even doing the Nashkel Mines. I still don't really understand how I pulled that off. Of course, Mutamin's Garden including Kirian (27k XP), Durlag's Tower's outside areas and top levels including Kirinhale (35k XP), Tenya/Brun/Ankhegs (25k XP), Lighthouse area (20k XP) helped Glorydd well on her way. But that still leaves circa 30k XP she apparently accumulated elswhere: Charleston Nib, Brage, Greywolf, Meilum, the easy FAI-Beregost-Nashkel quests, Bassilus, and what else? I wonder. Shoal for one is still alive.
Hereinafter I'll focus on sketchy moments and on the plot quests.
After Dagny (who'll get another chance, or several, in the future), Glorydd felt powerful and vulnerable at the same time. Powerful because she kills faster than Dagny, for now at least, and more vulnerable because of mages and their debuffs. She got an early taste of that from Mutamin. The devious Gnome cast Remove Magic at her, with two of his pets still around, eager to add Glorydd to their sculpture garden:
When she was done her oil of speed was still active and she was still Greenstone-protected, so she backstabbed Kirian and co. Bassilus was also neutralized with the Greenstone Amulet.
The Battle Horrors at Durlag's Tower fell to backstabs; the Basilisks were tackled with potions of mirroring eyes (of which she owned five and used up three). A real scare she had inside Durlag's Tower when she missed a trap, and found it to be magical in nature.
Glorydd entered the Nashkel Mines as a lvl 7/8 Fighter/Thief, as mentioned before. She owned pretty much every available item she had any use for at that point: Helm of Charm Protection, Shadow Armor, Claw of Kazgaroth (that unlike her PfP did get dispelled by Mutamin), Boots of Stealth, Gauntlets of Weapon Expertise, two dual-wielded Short Swords +2 (one bought from Raoul, a Song & Silence addition, one taken from Zargal's chunked body), a composite shortbow +2 (Rogue Rebalancing item for sale in Ulgoth's Beard), Sandthief Ring, Greenstone Amulet, Girdles of Piercing/Bluntness/Slashing, Necklace of Missiles, numerous potions, and a nice collection of enchanted arrows.
Only Kobolds that stood in Glorydd's way would briefly know of her presence, right before she Fireballed them into oblivion with her Necklace of Missiles. Mulahey she fought with the protection of a charge of her Greenstone Amulet, although her 3 APR kept him from casting his Hold Persons anyway.
Nimbul succumbed to a single backstab, Tranzig required two. When she left Feldepost's Glorydd got another taste of trouble. Leaving the shadows she had been hidden in, she spotted Molkar waiting to waylay her. She moved to a tree to hide again and to quaff potions of freedom and clarity. (I reckoned Greenstone's duration might be too short.) Molkar followed her, did his little talk, and before she knew it she was surrounded by the tree and two of Molkar's friends that appeared out of thin air. She was stuck. A third foe, Drakar stood a bit further away. He summoned a Skeleton that didn't hesitate in joing Molkar and the other two, aggravating Glorydd's predicament. She managed to slay Molkar, but that didn't offer her any means of escape as the Skeleton immediately took Molkar's place. She got badly injured, and decided to use a charge of her Sandthief Ring.
Either way, Glorydd healed and waited for Halacan's MIs to disappear. She then slew the Gnome, and after that she felled Morvin and Drakar with backstabs (both followed her into Firebead's neighbor's home.)
Glorydd befriended a bunch of bandits in Larswood and had them show her the way to the Bandit Camp. She looted that place with a thievery potion (as she was low on gold), buffed in front of Tazok's tent with a potion of defense and went in, hoping to kill Venkt with arrows of biting. But the wizard proved sturdier than expected as he survived two hits. Hakt came to the wizard's defense; he poisoned Glorydd. The Dwarf went invisible, drank an elixir of health, applied an oil of speed, and grudgingly Greenstone-protected herself. She then finished Venkt just as the wizard failed to Dispel her buffs,
When she stepped outside, she found not only Taugosz but also Lamalha and her friends waiting for her.
Normally a swarm of resilient, potion-quaffing bandits comes to Taugosz's aid, but this time only Taugosz and the amazons followed suit. Maybe Lamalha's script that causes her companions to appear, overruled Taugosz's script, I don't know.
Glorydd Greenstone-protected herself again, and finished her foes without suffering a scratch. Note that Taugosz fell to backstabs; he would have injured her otherwise.
Glorydd's currently supplying herself at Thalantyr's, in preparation of her excursion to the Cloakwood.
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#14166
Posted 15 July 2015 - 11:04 PM
Yay! Yay! Yay! Oh how I hope this run is a success!
Can I see Weidu logs for BG1 and BG2?
Best,
A.
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#14167
Posted 15 July 2015 - 11:12 PM
Yay! Yay! Yay! Oh how I hope this run is a success!
Can I see Weidu logs for BG1 and BG2?
Best,
A.
Haha, thanks! I hope so too!
It's a BGT install, the same as I last used with Dagny (so including the BG1NPCsSoA mod), so only one log. It's fairly extensive:
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#14168
Posted 15 July 2015 - 11:21 PM
I just read Glorrdd's first post: staring wide-eyed, munching a slice of vegan pizza, following every word. I like what I'm seeing so far!
In my install, Rigid Thinking applies Confusion (128). Potions of Clarity provide protection.
Good work at the Bandit Camp. I hate it when the Amazonians join the bandits, or even just Taugosz. That can be tough.
Best,
A.
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#14169
Posted 16 July 2015 - 02:07 AM
A note about Yeenter and gang: Cloakwood Mines enemies have been defeated, including Davaeorn. The mine was flooded by pulling the river plug. Unfortunately for Davaoern, he doesn't know True Sight, so Yeenter protected by improved invisibility was way too much for Davaoern to handle. As is my custom in this area, all mages were never battled by the party, but rather a buffed up fighter, usually by potions, though items/spells would supplement it. Since Yeenter has the most HP (79) of the party, as well as the best saves, he got the job - he did great.
I am really, really surprised both mages of the party (Dynaheir and Xan) did not die in the many, many Cloakwood ambushes - good party coordination perhaps.
There's no time like the present! Thus Yeenter is going to take a stab at completing all of Durlag's. Imoen is almost 100/100 at traps/locks, and next level she will be. She's not far from leveling either. Most of the party is level 7, except Minsc.
I realized that one possible reason Dogdancing and I failed at finishing Durlag's is we were a duo. I have a balanced, well equipped party, so that I do think that changes things, enough to give it a shot.
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#14170
Posted 16 July 2015 - 03:58 AM
I realized that one possible reason Dogdancing and I failed at finishing Durlag's is we were a duo. I have a balanced, well equipped party, so that I do think that changes things, enough to give it a shot.
Indeed. Doing it without a thief is a pain, but if you use an invisible thief to detect and disarm traps you're halfway there! Best of luck.
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#14171
Posted 16 July 2015 - 05:01 AM
259 kills (Battle Horror - doesn't Sarevok count?), XP value of kills = 141,800
I'm afraid not as technically it's not your party who kills Sarevok (he can't drop below 1 HP for he has to say his 'What... is this?' line) but the engine that kills him once he falls below 3(?) HP.
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#14172
Posted 16 July 2015 - 05:21 AM
If you are a thief or thief multi, even if you have another party member raiding Durlag's is a must.
You can leave your non-thief near the merchant. (Corey, Dogdancing could make the two of you a cup of coffee whilst you raid the tower. It's a bit boring just sitting watching whilst the other part of the team goes solo.)
You don't want to get involved with fighting the guards near the entrance.
You should have oil of speed, potion of perception and potion of master thievery. The oil of speed is no that your other potions do not run out before finishing the raid. Potion of mirrored eyes is also helpful for getting a good scimitar.
You are a thief not a fighter, so you just go through it disarming traps and looting, running from enemies, and when there are powerful enemies near loot, you lure them away from the loot and then dash in and grab it.
With a solo thief I have gone from level 1 to level 5 doing this.
You can then form your party at this higher level or carry on solo.
Doing this you can acquire:
A tome of wisdom,
Durlag's Plate +3
Cloak of protection +1,
Halberd +1,
Scimitar +2,
Cloudkill scroll
A lot of minor items,
A lot of treasure.
Gem bag is also a must.
The thing to remember is that you are a thief. If you get involved in conflict your potions will run out before you have completed the raid.
Note that doing it at level 1 or 2, all your thieving points will have had to have been put in stealth, disarming traps and opening locks.
Note that I haven't tried this with SCS installed.
You can if you so desire return with the heavies at a later date when you are more powerful.
Writing this reminds me that it is a long time since I played a thief.
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#14173
Posted 16 July 2015 - 05:42 AM
That's awesome, Wise.
Hilarious.
Best,
A.
#14174
Posted 16 July 2015 - 05:45 AM
bgee run update 1.3, the rangers;
It wasn't long before Kivan departed to look for his revenge, then we encountered another very famous ranger and he was a good sport about who actually rescued whom from a large pack of gnoll skirmishers but the experience boasted our spirits if not our purse strings. At this point we realised our gear wasn't up to the demands adventuring in this area needed so with the two pallies tag teaming the melee and my sister tossing buffs/ heals from the rear, we managed to defeat a bounty hunter named Wolf (something) which gave us a good sword then we tracked down a concussed guard captain for the church and rescued a female water sprit from her evil pimp handler (nice helmet).
My innate abilities detected Viconias' true nature so we stepped back whilst the Iron Fist mercenary carried out his lawful duty and they also gave me the edge against some more water spirits to recover a boost to my constitution then we helped yet another ranger to rescue his witch from a stronghold in the south-west… we explored a little bit extra for a nice charisma bonus.
After selling the junk and using the proceeds to purchase a necklace of fireballs we descended into the Mines to cleanse them… this proved surprisingly easy with fire and being immune to poison no doubt helped us too. We rescued an elf wizard within the mines and he agreed to join our little troupe of do-gooders until some disaster strikes him dead… this gave us a party member that could finally use these wands we have been lugging about for ages and he seems to enjoy defeating battle horrors even though he insists "we're still doomed!"
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#14175
Posted 16 July 2015 - 06:00 AM
@Blackraven,
YAY!
Cheers!
ps: as a thief, Glorydd is very carefull, no?
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