Sailing away, items to bring?

mattc · Post by **mattc** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 11:30 am

I'm in Chapter 3 on my first play through. I'm about to go fight some vampires, and I'm pretty sure afterward that I'll be leaving Athkatla for a while to go rescue Imoen. I'm not looking for detailed spoilers, but:

I'm a little concerned about leaving without bringing some non-obvious item that turns out to be really important. I've been screwed in RPGs this way before.

Also, I have about 90K gold that I can use to gear up for the trip. I haven't bought much so far--the fast crossbow, the girdle of hill giant strength, the good archmage's robe. I'll probably buy the Robe of Vecna from the Adv Mart lady, and all the potions of speed, invisibility, and master thievery I can get. Maybe some of the buff protection scrolls too, magic and undead assuming I can find them. Beyond that I'm looking for ideas.

Any must-not-forget items? Any suggestions on spending the ox-cart of gold?

Party is me (kensai/mage), Keldorn, Jaheira, Minsc, Yoshi, Aerie.

dragon wench · Post by **dragon wench** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 12:02 pm

This doesn't involve spending gold.. but if you haven't already done so I'd suggest a trip to the Crooked Crane in the City Gates area... Make sure your thief is searching for traps and make a point of checking the walls.
Oh, and be sure to save before taking any actions

If you have ToB installed, you might also want to take a trip to Watcher's Keep. The merchant you deal with there has a couple of useful items, and if you clear out the first level you'll find some handy gear as well.

Stworca · Post by **Stworca** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 12:03 pm

I'm a little concerned about leaving without bringing some non-obvious item that turns out to be really important

Worry not, there are none.

SPOILER!
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If its your first time (i.e. you're a "beginner"), you might want to get Shield of Balduran for this journey. Warning, it may ruin your fun for its a very powerful item. But it will save your life.

Nothing else is THAT important

As for spending gold - upgrading items is one way. Visit Cromwell in Docks and see if you have anything he can work with.

Edit : Buy / steal all scrolls for Aerie / your mage that are higher level then yours. You will gain xp on the way

galraen · Post by **galraen** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 1:28 pm

If you plan taking Imoen with you, which looks likely, take as many scrolls as you can find/afford for her.

Search everywhere in Aran Linvals guild house nd talk to everyone for a useful ring. If you haven't been there already clearing out the Planar Sphere is not a bad idea too.

The robe of Vecna really is a must, your dilemma is whether to wear it yourself or give it to Imoen. I suggest keeping it for yourself, and buying the Bracers A/C 3 for Immy.

kmonster · Post by **kmonster** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 5:02 pm

I'd buy the quarterstaff +4 from Ribald, some monsters can only be hurt by +4 weapons or better.

mattc · Post by **mattc** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 5:11 pm

> I'd suggest a trip to the Crooked Crane in the City Gates area...

Did that, actually ended up feeling a little sorry for the poor guy. Isn't there something in the Evil Overlord rules about not letting your secret weapon get stolen and then used against you?

I was totally destroyed by his mysterious cousin in the Bridge District, though. Will have to deal with him in a later chapter.

I also got the amazingly useful stuff from Watcher's Keep. I'm going there early if I play through again.

> If its your first time (i.e. you're a "beginner"), you might want to get Shield of Balduran for this journey. Warning, it may ruin your fun ...

Probably won't ruin my fun. The Society for Humane Treatment of Fire Elementals thanks you.

> Search everywhere in Aran Linvals guild house nd talk to everyone for a useful ring.

Thanks, I've mostly been thorough, but I never really explored that place after meeting Aran.

> I suggest keeping [ROV] for yourself, and buying the Bracers A/C 3 for Immy.

Hmm. I didn't notice these and don't recall who sells them. Do you offhand?

Thanks for all the suggestions.

Is there a FAQ-list of all the shopkeepers in Athkatla and what goods they carry? I don't see one on gamefaqs.com.

Stworca · Post by **Stworca** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 5:52 pm

mattc wrote:Bracers A/C 3

Hmm. I didn't notice these and don't recall who sells them. Do you offhand?

Ribald in Adventurers Mart sells those.

Nightmare · Post by **Nightmare** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 7:44 pm

Also, there's a particularly good bow in Trademeet that doesn't require arrows available from one of the merchants. I think you'll have to do the Trademeet quests first though, and since there's an abundance of good arrows in the game, getting it isn't required.

Sensei · Post by **Sensei** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 8:52 pm

Must have items hmmmm... alot depends on how you are using your characters and how you play. As a kensai/mage are you more of a warrior or mage? Find the best items for your characters and how you play them is the best advice I can give.

Something important for anyone to bring - is the rod of resurrection (you buy it or loot it) just in case the worse happens.

For character equipment for example Aerie - give her the robe of venca (major $$$) and staff of the magi (if you have it). Are you playing Aerie as a cleric with some mage abilities or is she your major mage for nuking everything and battling other mages? How you equip them depends on your role playing and how you play with them.

Yourself - long swords (day star, rose blade or the katana - buy or loot them - you should have at least 3 different kinds of swords of +2 or better), robe of archmagi [ you are a kensai ie sword saint - and therefore are a sword master of some kind - what do you use as a weapon?] or are you a mage instead that can use a sword just in case you run of spells???

The bow that does not require ammo - from trade meet

Don't forget the belt - the offers protection from magical damage while you are there. Lots of excellent items at Trademeet to get. Your 90k will disappear very fast (give to Aerie).

Lots of spell scrolls and containers - Imoen will need them - not to mention yourself and Aerie to get high Level spells.

Better armor - try to get elfin chain mail - or the bracers 3 (for Immy)

Upgrade items that are upgradeable - e.g. the Horn of V - if you have it.

Potions - healing, speed, strength, invisibility, thief - are all useful

Ammo - if you don't have a bow/slong that does not require arrows/bullets or if you can afford the sling with no ammo - or the special staff for druids, better armor/shield for Jaheria or a better scimitar.

Containers - the most important thing to bring a long and to organize your stuff - get some at Watcher's Keep

Lots of good items to make you stronger or more hearty - don't forget them.

Wands - recharge them if they are running low

Rings - lots of them - protections is great to have or amulets as well

galraen · Post by **galraen** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 5:49 am

IMHO, a Kensai/Mage should definitely keep the Robe of Vecna for him/herself, not many robes/armour a Kensai can wear, and the RoV is one of them.

Jordoo · Post by **Jordoo** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 6:02 am

I'd say that you really don't need anything, there are no quest specific items or anything like that. Yes all the equipement mentioned in the thread will help but you wouldn't necessarily need it.

With Aerie, your PC and Imoen you've got plenty of magic power. I would recomend highly that you get Keldorn the guantlets of dexterity, give him the belt of strength you have and ,make sure that he is usuing Carsymer. If he has that stuff he can cast TrueSight and pretty much wail on everything.

mattc · Post by **mattc** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 11:05 am

Thanks for the further advices. Sounds like it's going to be a tough go.

I have an unrelated question that probably doesn't warrant a new thread.

In old-school D & D, druid levels were capped at 14 or 15. I have gotten the sense that this isn't true in BG2, but I'm not sure. So:

Will Jaheira be able to get past lvl 15 as a druid?

If not, does she still lose half her XP to her druid class after maxing out?

Jordoo · Post by **Jordoo** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 11:10 am

Jaheira will get past that as the druid levels are not capped but there is a seriously large XP jump from either 13-14 or 14-15 can't remember off hand which it is. She will keep splitting experiance in both classes but there will be quite a while where she doesn't level up as a druid.
I find her to be a very effective tank using sword and sheild style (Simitar) Iron Skins and Armor of Faith. She may not rack up the kills that the other tnaks do but she draws the enemy attention takes very limited damage and can really disrupt things up front with some of her spells.
If your into the Druid spells play a multi classed Cleric/Ranger some time they can cast all the druid spells as well as all the divine spells plus you get racial enemy and 2 extra proficiency points in dual weilding.

Nightmare · Post by **Nightmare** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 8:00 pm

About druid levels, when BG2 was released, they didn't want to bother with implementing higher level druid skills so they capped Druids at level 14. When the expansion came out, they beefed up druids a lot but kept the level progression. So, Jaheira will be stuck at level 13 and 14 for a LONG time (and might not advance beyond even after you beat ToB, since the XP required is fairly ridiculous).

I usually used Shadowkeeper to change Jaheira to a Ranger/Cleric in my games partially because of that draw back.