Baldur's Gate 1 No-Reload Challenge
#14726
Posted 25 August 2015 - 05:39 AM
- ussnorway, Serg BlackStrider, Grimwald the Wise and 1 other like this
#14727
Posted 25 August 2015 - 07:31 AM
Bl-scs30 update 1.1,
Safety in numbers;
"Hay Imoen, aren’t you supposed to be studying to become a Bard?… sorry, my mistake mate".
It’s a good thing sis came along or the assassin waiting for me on the steps of FAI could’ve been a reel problem… even with the guards pitching in but Jaheira and Khalid agreed to join us traveling to Peldvale where a Drow named Viconia did the classic damsel in distress!
J wanted to head south via Beregost and we had little money so agreed to hire ourselves out as muscle to a Bard named Garrick but murder wasn't the deal so we dispatched his boss and offered to escort him out of town before the word of his deeds got around.
We arrived in Nashkel via the back roads to find yet another would be assassin but she obviously let egotism gout her into believing that attacking us all single handily was a good idea… her mistake. After listening to the head man full us in on how some demons were trashing the village and especially the mines, our party quickly decided that some better equipment was needed first… with that in mind we headed east deep into the undead lands and sent a stealthy Viconia ahead to loot a tomb single handedly, then we said goodbye to her and agreed to help a somewhat confused Ranger rescue his girlfriend… "Gnoll stronghold you say?" … to even the odds, the party pulled all our funds to purchase a necklace of fireballs and long story short Dynaheir has joined the party leaving Garrick free to go work on some book he wants to scribble.
- Grimwald the Wise, Blackraven and realmuzzy like this
#14728
Posted 25 August 2015 - 08:34 AM
Eriax, the final update
After storming the Iron Throne headquarters, Eriax and Dorn are on their way to Candlekeep where they are to find the leadership of the organization. Just as they are about to make it to Candlekeep they get ambushed by a group of ogre mages. They immediately use potions of invisibility and get distance on the ambush before unleashing their fury. They summon help and the usual silence, poison combo takes care of the the ogres with help of the armor amulet for the barrage of magic missiles the ogres try to unleash. (*lost this screenshot*)
Having taken care of the ambush the two enter Candlekeep where they rest, without talking to anyone. The next morning they head to the main building where they are hoping to locate the Iron Throne leaders. They find them easily and provoked they attack, intent on killing these men who have been in their way all this time.
A silence lands on the mage, and the rest of the fight is straightforward
They are soon arrested, but Tethoril sneaks in to see them and sets them free. He teleports them to the catacombs under Candlekeep where they rest before attempting their escape. Dorn volunteers to scout the potential traps, using protection from lightning, fire and amulet of armor. Using the violet potion he acquires even greater strength and they loot the tombs acquiring many valuables. They next fight through some dopplegangers and a mercenary party sent to get them
The trusty cloak of charm coming in handy again. Once they are out of the catacombs they head back to Baldur's Gate.
On their return to the city various people approach them with news of recent events. They decide they need to investigate the flaming fist compound. Guards try to get in their way, but they kill them all. They find the duke and his fake healer, killing the healer and taking the duke to his friend the harbormaster. They find out that their best chance of getting into the palace to confront Sarevok is to take the invitations from a pair of assassins down in the undercellar.
They prepare heavily, knowing what to expect. Eriax summons an army of the undead, the full amount Xvim allows on the material plane and blesses everyone. Dorn leads the army, while Eriax is sanctuaried from the minds of his enemies. The rogue opens on Dorn while the mage opens on the skeletons chasing her. An arrow of dispelling makes the rogue half as dangerous
and he soon falls
In the meantime the mage is desperately casting spells to fend off the magically resistant skeletons. When the duo moves on to her she still has most of her defenses up so Dorn launches a poisoned dispel arrow.
That activates a contingency and the mage starts running. It's too late though, she tries a desperate invisibility to presumably heal but the invisibility purge from Albruin stops that
and she dies.
Eriax picks up the invitations and some useful items and they leave. They have a short time to rest until the coronation. In the palace they are ready for the commotion to come so they come in prepared with help and buffs. They kill the doplegangers but not well enough
and Sarevok kills the last remaining lord of Baldur's Gate.
- ussnorway likes this
#14729
Posted 25 August 2015 - 08:46 AM
Some follow up for my play through. I should have had a set strategy for that fight, instead of just going in and hoping for the best. Also I should never play early in the morning.
I'm generally both happy and unhappy with how things went. Happy that I got this far and didn't really have major problems before the death. Unhappy because the run was supposed to be about the cleric and his skill set and as the game went on I feel like Dorn did most of the heavy lifting. Next time I'll definitely run a solo cleric.
Also the Xvim kit is super powerful in BG1 compared to vanilla kits. So I don't know how balanced the kits are without installing the sphere system that limits their spell books.
- Golden28 likes this
#14730
Posted 25 August 2015 - 09:14 AM
Sorry to see yet another victim of Ducal Palace fight, realmuzzy. It definitely could be tricky especially for solo/small parties. Better luck next time!
- Alesia_BH likes this
#14731
Posted 25 August 2015 - 09:44 AM
Sorry mate... talking of strategy how do you see a solo Cleric fighting that battle?
#14732
Posted 25 August 2015 - 09:48 AM
Sorry mate... talking of strategy how do you see a solo Cleric fighting that battle?
Thanks. I was thinking after the battle I could've greater malisoned into bhaalspawn fear. Are improved dopplegangers immune to fear? I don't always play with that component because it's not just a tweak to pnp doppies, it reinvents them, and I'm not a huge fan of that.
#14733
Posted 25 August 2015 - 10:07 AM
I'd sum some skellies, buff my pets before the battle and try to 'doom'/ wand of heavens the dopples one at a time.
I'm not sure about fear and would expect scs dopples to ignore it even if it works because they just tend to follow a script during these battles.
p.s good luck in the next run mate
#14734
Posted 25 August 2015 - 12:21 PM
Condolences, realmuzzy.
The Duchal Palace fight can be tricky.
Best of luck with your next attempt!
A.
- Grimwald the Wise likes this
#14735
Posted 25 August 2015 - 12:50 PM
@ realmuzzy,
That fight should not be underestimated. Pls buff more, your characters appear to be only slightly buffed most times which is the way I like to play, but NOT for the palace and end fight.
Cheers!
- realmuzzy likes this
#14736
Posted 25 August 2015 - 04:20 PM
Adelina, Elven Beastmaster
Ok everyone, say hello to my new character: Adelina, Elven beast master
Now say goodbye to Adelina- or at least say goodbye to her in the BG1 thread: she has moved on to Amn.
If you think Adelina's portrait is a little silly, then you are half right: it's a lot silly. The silliness only becomes apparent when you see the full size image. Adelina isn't just a prissy beast master: She's a prissy beast master of albino squirrels and gansta panda bears.
Her theme song is Sandy Feat by High Places. It's not ideal, but its simultaneously absurd, dignified, and naturey- just like Adelina.
https://youtu.be/q-KIIUwynfQ?t=36s
Proficencies: Quarterstaves x 2, Darts, Short Bows, Slings, Two-Handed Weapon Style
Mods: Enhanced Edition, SCS v30 (all creature improvements, all tactical challenges)
Later today I'll provide an overview of Adelina's BG1 run. For now, I'll just note that this was straightforward. The beast masters kit may not be the best for soloing BG2, but its definitely a-list in BG1. Adelina was never threatened. Sarevok was defeated in toe-to-toe melee. Both Liia and Belt survived.
Good hunting, everyone!
Best,
A.
- Serg BlackStrider and realmuzzy like this
#14737
Posted 25 August 2015 - 04:31 PM
Condolences realmuzzy. I second Golden's advice: buff to the max at the Ducal Palace.
Have fun Alesia with Adalina. I love her portrait!
Btw I know you're soloing, but note that BG2EE has a very special NPC that could make a great companion...
#14738
Posted 25 August 2015 - 05:31 PM
Sorry to see you didn't quite make it realmuzzy, but that seemed to be a good attempt.
Are improved dopplegangers immune to fear?
They're not, so Bhaal horror can be useful there. They have good saving throws, but if you malisoned them first you would probably expect to scare a couple of them.
#14739
Posted 25 August 2015 - 07:18 PM
@Realmuzzy - Sorry about what happened at the Duchal Palace fight. Seeing I recently died there myself, I can feel your pain. I also concur with the others, if not a full party, buffing to the max is absolutely necessary. Storm Giant potions, haste and so on.
@Alesia: Adelina looks like a fun character - grats on taking down BG 1 with her, and hope you can continue the fun in BG 2 and beyond.
#14740
Posted 25 August 2015 - 08:06 PM
@Alesia: Adelina looks like a fun character - grats on taking down BG 1 with her, and hope you can continue the fun in BG 2 and beyond.
Thanks. But, honestly, she's a bit too goofy for my taste.
BG1 was fun, but I'm beginning to doubt that she'll retain my interest for an entire run. I'm already kind of bored with her and that's problematic because beast masters demand focus. I'm considering retiring her.
I may go back to Arkona. I did want to run her in EE v30. I'm also thinking to trying a divine caster.
Btw I know you're soloing, but note that BG2EE has a very special NPC that could make a great companion...
You're thinking of Wilson aren't you! That would be cool. And I guess that may be a reason to stick with Adelina. That could be fun.
Best,
A.
- Blackraven and realmuzzy like this
#14741
Posted 25 August 2015 - 08:07 PM
You guys are definitely onto something, I usually just think about buffs necessary to counter the game breakers and end up not having the heroisms, potions of power, and other damage/utility buffs on when necessary. I'll try to up my buffing game!
Soooo... if at first you don't succeed, try try try again. Here is the new contestant: Aliira the CN Heartwarder of Sune
Aliira is wild, impetuous and impulsive. Generally good spirited and kind, sometimes darker elements of her heart take over and you don't want to be around her when she's like that. She venerates Sune as the closest thing to her elven heritage she could get to in Candlekeep. She personally believes she receives her spells from Sune and Hanali jointly.
- Alesia_BH, corey_russell, Serg BlackStrider and 2 others like this
#14742
Posted 25 August 2015 - 08:20 PM
Good luck with your next attempt, Realmuzzy - glad to see you getting back into the saddle.
- Alesia_BH and realmuzzy like this
#14743
Posted 25 August 2015 - 09:10 PM
@realmuzzy. Best of luck with your new run!
@Everyone. I've decided to put Adelina on hold until further notice.
If anyone can tell me how to change the EE NPC Wilson into a panda bear, please drop by the Lounge.
In the meantime, I have a new character that I'm far more excited about. Her name is Adele. She's a F/D. More soon.
Best,
A.
- realmuzzy likes this
#14744
Posted 26 August 2015 - 09:41 AM
*Ok, so Aliira #1 died to a wolf at the crossroads (because I forgot how dire charm works and had him next to me when he turned back hostile a few rounds after being charmed) but Aliira #2 is trucking and this is her story*
Aliira likes Candlekeep, and there are many people there who are very special to her, but she can't deny her excitement at the news that she and Gorion will be leaving as soon as possible. She is itching to see the world, meet new people, find more elves! As she is packing, she gets attacked, not once but twice. Both assassins fall paralyzed in front of her unearthly beauty though and she kills them.
These attacks have unpleasant implications for her upcoming trip, and indeed they are ambushed upon leaving. Gorion dies so she could live, and she promises she will avenge him. Feeling like everything is her fault she goes directly to Beregost, she won't burden Gorion's friends with her mess.
There she spends her time helping people with their problems and trying to get by as an adventurer. Most of her opponents cannot even bring themselves to hurt someone so beautiful. Her routine is interrupted by a dwarf who tells her somebody put a price on her head before attacking. He resists all of her spells, so she runs around until she loses him and goes to sleep and hide. He attacks her again tomorrow but gets overwhelmed by emotion and falls to the ground
Aliira will not go down to assassins easily. She knows the best magic items merchants in the area from Candlekeep, so she goes and buys amulets of mind protection and armor. They come in handy immediately as a cleric of Mask tries to kill her in Nashkel.
Only those who are beyond emotion can fight Sune's chosen though and the cleric is not
When she goes to the Friendly Arm Inn, a mage attacks her. Aliira is glad to know representatives of all classes are trying to kill her. What is a mage to do without being able to manipulate her mind though?
She continues questing undeterred by the danger, often turning enemies against themselves
Her first big job is to kill a mad cleric of Cyric near Beregost. She asks Sune for guardians, and Sune sends spirits of her fallen champions to inhabit golden skeletons that rise from the ground. Aliira is uncomfortable by these, even though they do not emanate any evil. She engages the cleric who attacks in anger. She responds to him casting hold with a doom, she knows she is safe from hold.
Then she silences
The priest is overwhelmed
and she finishes him with a flaming sword
Lathanderites reward her handsomely for her service.
- Alesia_BH, Serg BlackStrider, Grond0 and 1 other like this
#14745
Posted 26 August 2015 - 12:57 PM
- Alesia_BH, Serg BlackStrider, Blackraven and 1 other like this
#14746
Posted 26 August 2015 - 01:43 PM
Adele, Half-Elven Fighter/Druid
With Adelina on hold until I can mod Wilson in to a panda bear, I've decided to roll a new character. Meet Adele, Half-Elven F/D.
Adelina's hold isn't just about Wilson's appearance. It's about my ambivalence regarding Adelina's character intersected with the limitations of the beast master kit. Beastmasters are fine in Trilogy runs (really: they are). But they demand patience and attention to detail. To pilot a beast master through BG2, I'll have to connect with her. I'm not sure Adelina will work. I'd like to try something different. And so I've rolled Adele.
Adele is an experiment. I've never played an F/D, and I have doubts about the class's viability at certain stages of the adventure, given the restrictions I play with. With my recent characters, Arcadia, Aphril, and Arkona, I saw a clear path to the Throne, even before we left Candlekeep. With Adele I'm not so sure. I can say this though: I expect Adele to be fun. So far she hasn't disappointed: BG1 was a blast.
Here's Adele's portrait photo.
Adele's theme song is Yulunga by Dead Can Dance
Starting Proficiencies: Two-Weapon Style x2, Scimitars, Darts
Mods: Enhanced Edition, SCS v30 (all tactical challenges, all creature improvements, full pre-buffs)
I'll document Adele's BG1 run in four posts. The first will cover Candlekeep through the Nashkel Mines. Expect that soon.
Good hunting everyone!
Best,
A.
- Serg BlackStrider, Blackraven, realmuzzy and 1 other like this
#14747
Posted 26 August 2015 - 02:20 PM
Aliira's become quite the adventurer since we last heard from her
Making Sword Coast a better place will do that. As she is now a prominent adventurer she gets hired to investigate the Nashkel mine, a place she suspects is directly connected to the iron crisis. She has an easy time finding the lair of the mastermind of the mine. Only he's not much of a mastermind and falls completely for her lie. Being as beautiful as a nymph probably helps there. She dooms him
and fireballs everyone in the room repeatedly
On her way back she meets an assassin who's unhappy about her investigation. She runs into the store to prepare
and then goes out to silence but the assassin is smart
and follows her back in the store. They play some hide and seek
but finally the assassin gives her an opening to show him the error of his ways, while he is renewing his mirror image
He falls to the ground in despair and the merciless Aliira takes over
Tranzig is an amateur in comparison
and she now has more pieces of the Iron Throne puzzle.
- Alesia_BH, Serg BlackStrider, Blackraven and 2 others like this
#14748
Posted 26 August 2015 - 02:39 PM
Adele, Half-Elven Fighter/Druid: Candlekeep to the Cloakwood Mines
Adele followed my character's standard fast track early game route: Lion's Way to the Coast Way, Coast Way to the Friendly Arm, Friendly Arm to High Hedge, High Hedge to Beregost. Along the way Adele picked up five Potions of Healing, two Oils of Speed, one Ring of Protection, one diamond, the Ring of Wizardy, and the Belt of Antipode. The diamond, the Ring of Protection, and the Ring of Wizardy were sold. Kelddath received a generous donation, which brought Adele's reputation up to 18. Adele leveraged her sparkling reputation to buy a Potion Case and, more importantly, a Wand of Sleep.
Marl was assuaged, Mirianne was assisted. Melicamp was anti-chickenated. Fun was had by all.
With her Wand of Sleep and newly acquired Ring of Protection in hand -and with a fresh level up padding her hitpoint total- Adele was ready for the march south. The ankheg plate was recovered. The Necklace of Missiles and Shield Amulet were purchased, along with a Protection from Petrification scroll.
Time for a basilisk hunt.
I don't recall how many levels Adele attained here, exactly, but she did get her first post Candlekeep proficiency point. She invested it in scimitars.
My characters usually emphasized range weapons- especially in early BG1. Adele's 2 pips in dual wielding and 2 pips in scimitars, were chosen to nudge me in a different direction. In her portrait photo, Adele looks like an ankheg plate clad dual wielder to me. I decided to play her that way. I'm glad I did. It was fun.
Now reasonably leveled, Adele went west seeking gold and glory. The Tome of Leadership, the Gauntlets of Dexterity, the +1 Halberd and the Girdle of Bluntness were all claimed. Scimitars did the damage with an occasional assist from the Wand of Sleep.
There was but one dicey moment in the early going. Still unfamiliar with the Enhanced Edition, I stumbled into the Neera encounter. I was horrified when Neera's unexpected Color Spray pancaked Adele.
Foruntately, Adele survived.
Some of you may have noticed the Shillelagh in that last photo. Adele had to use those because she was breaking too many scimitars. That is also, incidentally, why we were in northern Beregost: we were preparing to raid the major's house for the Potion of Invisibility which, in turn, would aid in the recovery of Rashad's Talon.
After a trip to Ulgoth's Beard, where Adele purchased the Greenstone Amulet, the Cloak of Displacement, and a Wand of the Heavens, Adele dispatched Tarnesh and then received a second Potion of Invisibility from Jaheira.
Happily, the Potions of Invisibility weren't needed in the Durlag's Tower area. The Wand of Heavens and Imoen's Wand of Magic Missiles killed the battle horrors. A Potion of Freedom, from High Hedge, tamed the ghasts, and three Potions of Mirror Eyes (again from High Hedge) kept the basilisks in check. The Talon was claimed. A Greenstone Amulet charge permitted Adele to collect the Durlag's Tower wisdom tome, too.
Now that she was equipped with a weapon that couldn't break, Adele's confidence soared.
Dart of Stunning->Talon for Melium
Greenstone Amulet + Potion of Hill Giant Strength of the sirenes.
Darts of Acid for the flesh golems
Adele was ready for the mines.
The Wand of Sleep helped tame the Darkside kobolds. The last non-magical scimitar broke here.
Atrocious rolls kept the kobold shaman alive longer than expected, but eventually the path to Mulahey was clear.
Shield Amulet + Greenstone + Potion of Hill Giant Strength for Mulahey. Wand of Sleep for the kobold minions.
After swinging through the undead area, Adele returned to Nashkel to claim her reward: a pair of boots hand delivered by a grateful admirer
I'll post on the Bandit Camp and the Cloakwood soon.
Best,
A.
- Serg BlackStrider, Grond0, realmuzzy and 1 other like this
#14749
Posted 26 August 2015 - 02:45 PM
Nice work, Grond0! Great shot of the Bandit Camp!
And Aliira looks promising real muzzy! Keep it up!
Best,
A.
#14750
Posted 26 August 2015 - 02:48 PM
Cimorene, elven sorceress, 3rd entry:
Off she goes to Feldepost’s.
Ok, so I'm finally able to comment on was has befallen Cimorene in her run for the Iron Throne. As I have already reported briefly in the Adventurer's Lounge, my current install, which had not been reviewed for a long time, went very wrong. Unfortunatelly, this elven sorceress was the one to remind me of the necessities of a clean re-install.
I've been experiencing various bugs and misbehaviour of the game environment (such as NPCs remaining neutral when they should have gone hostile or random disappearance thereof). Furthermore, only after reaching level 10 (whops!) I realized that somehow/somewhere, BG: ToSC XP cap has been waived. At that point, I decided to terminate the run for good.
It is indeed a shame as Cimorene has really been a fun lass to be around. After all, she is the only character I was able to get through the walls of Baldur's Gate in this challange thus far. However, she is still there, waiting for her level 1 comeback one day.
T.
- realmuzzy likes this