New guy lost in forum needs advice

[ziserman]

Hey all, I just dug off of my shelves this very old game from when I had first bought it (and was completely unable to understand it) and I started playing again but I'm having some issues with it. The question I'd like to ask is where I should post my questions. Here, on this very thread? If not, where?

My questions are related to my party composition, some technical issues mainly with equipment uses, a few fights that were awfully hard to beat and 2 questions regarding levelling up and resting.

Thanks in advance

[Darth Gavinius]

This thread is as good a place as any. But you could also do a search of old threads to see if your questions already have answers.

[ziserman]

Ok, the questions:

- I'd like to swap a lot of characters, get to play with a lot different playstyles in a single game, but would it limit XP gains too much for them? If yes, then is it possible to have one spot which I'd be constantly swapping to get only 1 underleveled guy?

- I feel like I'm resting too much. Aside from special quests that have a time limit, does it affect the gameplay? I mean Irenicus wouldn't come in and slap me if I slept 10 times on the first level would he?

- Jaheira has 2 stars on club and 0 on dagger. Currently I have a normal club and a +2 dagger. What should I equip her with and why? Is it too imperative to get a nice club for her or she can do fine this way?

- Finally my party composition is this:
Me (Conjurer mage, main spellcaster)
Jaheira (was main tank with spirit armor and shield, now she offtanks)
Viconia (main tank with spirit armor and shield)
Minsc (good damage, I use either the +3 elven longbow or Lilarcor)
Yoshimo (thief, saving it for Imoen)
Aerie (stands back and casts cleric/mage spells)

I'd like to hear whether the roles of each character respond to their jobs I have in parenthesis. If not (1) what should they be doing instead? And (2) what should change in my composition (eg. not enough fighters - kick Aerie and get a paladin)?

Thanks in advance

[Stworca]

Ok, the questions:

- I'd like to swap a lot of characters, get to play with a lot different playstyles in a single game, but would it limit XP gains too much for them? If yes, then is it possible to have one spot which I'd be constantly swapping to get only 1 underleveled guy?

Don't worry about leveling the NPC's too much, but it's best to have a set party before leaving for Spellhold to get Imoen back.

- I feel like I'm resting too much. Aside from special quests that have a time limit, does it affect the gameplay? I mean Irenicus wouldn't come in and slap me if I slept 10 times on the first level would he?

No effect whatsoever. There are very few time-limited quests. The only time where you absolutely have to rest as few times as possible is when you're disguised in a certain point of the main quest.. in a certain city underground

- Jaheira has 2 stars on mace and 0 on dagger. Currently I have a normal club and a +2 dagger. What should I equip her with and why? Is it too imperative to get a nice club for her or she can do fine this way?

Stars work like this :
1 slot (Proficient) 0 / 0 / 0
2 slot (Specialised) 1 / 2 / 0,5
3 slot (Mastery) 2 / 2 / 0,5
4 slot (High Mastery) 2 / 3 / 0,5
5 slot (Grand Mastery) 2 / 4 / 0,5
Where X / X / X is Bonus To hit / Bonus To damage / Bonus attacks

- Finally my party composition is this:
Me (Conjurer mage, main spellcaster)
Jaheira (was main tank with spirit armor and shield, now she offtanks)
Viconia (main tank with spirit armor and shield)
Minsc (good damage, I use either the +3 elven longbow or Lilarcor)
Yoshimo (thief, saving it for Imoen)
Aerie (stands back and casts cleric/mage spells)

I'd like to hear whether the roles of each character respond to their jobs I have in parenthesis. If not (1) what should they be doing instead? And (2) what should change in my composition (eg. not enough fighters - kick Aerie and get a paladin)?

Thanks in advance

Imo it all depends on how good you're as a spellcaster. If you feel like having one mage is enough, kick aerie and replace her with another melee guy. Its nice to be able to dish out lots of physical damage

Answers in quote

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

Ok, the questions:

- I'd like to swap a lot of characters, get to play with a lot different playstyles in a single game, but would it limit XP gains too much for them? If yes, then is it possible to have one spot which I'd be constantly swapping to get only 1 underleveled guy?

Yes, and IMO it's one of the best ways of doing it. Have a 5-person 'base' party with the sixth slot free for 'quest' NPCs - i.e. take Nalia for the De'Arnise Keep, Keldorn for the Unseeing Eye, etc etc. - and rotate them for different quests. You'll get more dialogue, sometimes more XP and rewards, and in ToB (if you have it) you'll get a sixth fighter-type NPC to fill the gap. As long as you leave Watcher's Keep for the start of ToB he should level up just fine.

- I feel like I'm resting too much. Aside from special quests that have a time limit, does it affect the gameplay? I mean Irenicus wouldn't come in and slap me if I slept 10 times on the first level would he?

Nope.

- Jaheira has 2 stars on mace and 0 on dagger. Currently I have a normal club and a +2 dagger. What should I equip her with and why? Is it too imperative to get a nice club for her or she can do fine this way?

If you don't mind cheating a bit, get [url="http://www.mud-master.com/shadowkeeper/"]Shadowkeeper[/url] and alter her weapon proficiencies. I suggest either dual-wielding scimitars (tbh clubs just suck in BG2) or focusing on spears and staves, if she casts Righteous Magic and someone casts Improved Haste on her she's death with the Impaler and later the Staff of the Ram.

- Finally my party composition is this:
Me (Conjurer mage, main spellcaster)
Jaheira (was main tank with spirit armor and shield, now she offtanks)
Viconia (main tank with spirit armor and shield)
Minsc (good damage, I use either the +3 elven longbow or Lilarcor)
Yoshimo (thief, saving it for Imoen)
Aerie (stands back and casts cleric/mage spells)

I'd like to hear whether the roles of each character respond to their jobs I have in parenthesis. If not (1) what should they be doing instead? And (2) what should change in my composition (eg. not enough fighters - kick Aerie and get a paladin)?

Thanks in advance

It's mostly a good party, but Viconia isn't all that great as a tank, and you're a bit heavy on cleric-types. If I were you I'd drop Viconia, have Minsc and Jaheira as your tanks, Jaheira and Aerie as divine casters, your PC as your main caster with Imoen and Aerie as secondary mages, and Imoen as your thief later on. Leave the sixth slot free for rotating NPCs.

[galraen]

That party should make for an interesting cat fight at some stage!:laugh:

It's going to be a very spell casting oriented party after you pick up Imoen,

Jaheira isn't a bad tank; you wil; find some faitly decent clubs eventually, but I'd concentrate on scimitars from now on if I was you.

There are some very prolonged arguments on here about who is best between Vici and Anomen, truth is there's not much to chose between them, but unless you are set on having a romance with her I'd consider swapping her for a real tank.

Talking of real tanks Minsc isn't one of them, definitely the weak point in your party, and he won't get any better. There are far better NPC's who you can pick up.

Yoshimo ... well the 'saving it for Imoen' coment implies you know the score there.

Aerie, arguably becomes the most powerful NPC in the game, or very close to it. I have to disagree with Stworca on that issue.

As you have one divine caster (Aerie) and Jaheira, who can cover all your healing needs pretty much, I'd stronly recommend trading Vici (depending on your romance plans) in for a fighter, the best pure fighter (IMO) being Korgan.

I'd also trade in Minsc, for Keldorn (but only if you are unloading Vici), Valygar or Mazzy. However, as anyone who knows me will tell you, I have a blind spot where Minsc is concerned, I hate him with a passion!

[ziserman]

Thanks a lot for your help guys. I have doubts only about my last question now.

Seems like I'll keep one slot to swap with other characters. I love Viconia, but I don't think I'm interested in romance thingies, especially after I found out that the romance character dies to Bodhi. I wouldn't like to swap anyone besides Minsc to be honest, but if you guys insist on Viconia I'll do it. Currently I have swapped Minsc twice and I met Viconia after Nalia's quest, so I guess it counts as one swap for Viconia too.

(1) The game is played on core difficulty. Is it possible to alter my party's "jobs" so that I don't need to be swapping Viconia and instead swap Minsc? If you guys insist I swap Viconia, should I keep her after I'm done with the others or it is imperative that I get a fighter?

(2) Also, Minsc dishes out a lot of damage wielding a 2hand or 2 weapons. But if I made him a tank, wouldn't he require a shield?

[Crenshinibon]

SPOILER:

Spoiler

The character only dies temporarily. You will have a chance to revive them after a certain quest.

1. You never really need a fighter. You can have one sure, but your spellcaster classes can easily cover the loss with a different spell choice.

2. I personally never like to use shields and will rarely give up my character's offensive power for defensive power. Even without a shield, Minsc should have a decent AC. What you can do is improve his physical resistance, thus also nullifying some incoming damage. You can add it in two ways (before you reach the epic levels):
a. Equip the Defender or Easthaven (20% physical resistance and 1 AC)
b. Cast the spell "Armor of Faith" (up to 25% physical resistance).

[galraen]

I found out that the romance character dies to Bodhi

Proof that a little knowledge is dangerous; remember death isn't necessarily permanent in the Forgotten Realms!

Minsc may dish out comparitively good damage in the early going, but he loses that before too long, and by the time you're half way through the underdark he will pale in comparison to other fighters.

if you guys insist on Viconia I'll do it

Never do anything just because of other people's opnions, do what you want to do. Any combination of characters can sail through this game, some may do it more easily than others, but the best thing Bioware did with this game was get the balance right.

But if I made him a tank, wouldn't he require a shield?

Not really, the best form of defence is a good offence, but that's where Minsc falls down eventually of course. If you want someone to wield two handed swords then Keldorn is the best bet; want someone to dual wield in the front rank, none are as good as Korgan; neither of them require a shield. You'd actually be better off with Mazzy once you get her a girdle of strength.

[Stworca]

I wouldn't trade Viconia for a fighter, as she's a perfect tank. 19 Dex, Armor of faith, defensive spells that protect her from death / elements / imprisonment AND 65 Passive Magic Resistance!. She suffers from low health and strength, but strength can be enchanted for everyone easily (with one of the belts or weapons)

However : While the above posters (and me) may have a point behind our opinion, know that every party can beat the game, and there is no such thing as 'best' party. It goes even further, most NPC's are good at more than just one thing, and you can customise your party even further.

What i'm aiming at is - even tho everyone suggests you to switch Vici for a fighter, in my party she's one of the core-fighting pillars and it does work wonders. Hell, she's one of the TWO characters in BG2 that has something better than a PC char would, and a solid pick even for custom-made parties.

In short : Everyone is right in their own way, but it's your playstyle that will define what is true for you.

And the best tank is Sorcerer anyway, and best party 5 Sorcerers and Edwin

[QuenGalad]

Actually, party composition is only "good" or "bad" when contrasted with your playstyle. I got the impression from the first post that you haven't played BG before, so you might just want to experiment.

Certain npc require more "micromanaging" than others. That is to say, Keldorn or Korgan can just charge and yell, while Viconia and Aerie need to buff up first. In the end, both will defeat the enemy, but you, as a player, will be required to do different things to make that happen. Do you like to mix different spells, read their descriptions and create combos? Go with Viconia. Do you prefer to supervise the slaughter and keep aen eye on healing potions? Pick up one of the brawny guys. And always do whatever you want to make the game fun.

Even if it means some bizarre idea, like a druids and rangers-only party that does not use summoning spells because that's enslaving other creaures .

[wise grimwald]

Most of your questions have been answered comprehensively, but you do need to know that there are some areas in the game where excessive sleeping brings penalties (and XP :laugh .

[ziserman]

Very well. My playstyle would like to include the party as it is and swap Minsc only, what I wanted to know is if it's viable, as I was afraid that with improper party balance the game would be impossibly hard.
So I guess we've come to terms that Minsc/Viconia can be swapped for one of the better fighters in-game.

If I don't like it, I can tank with Viconia if I give her strength (which I have, gauntlets of ogre strength I think). I can also tank with Minsc not wielding a shield because he'll still be killing faster or just use Viconia/Jaheira to soak up damage while Minsc does the damage with 2 weapons. In case something isn't correct, let me know.

Thanks a lot guys, this really helped a new guy lost in the forums

[ziserman]

Hello again, I have one more question -spoiler-

Spoiler

I'm in chapter 2 and I have finished a lot of quests. Currently, I'm to the end of level 12 and I'm the highest level character after Yoshimo who has reached level 14(!). The problem is I have A LOT of gold, about 80k and I have spent probably 30-40k in my journeys. Yoshi is level 14... Imoen should be where I left her which was 7 I think? or 9. The question is this:

At which point in the game should I had given the money to Gaelan?

-spoiler end-
Thanks again

[galraen]

The answer to the last question is as soon as you've decided to go with the thieves guild, and before fighting vampires.

You will need every penny you can get eventually, not just for buying items from merchants (and don't forget to pick-pocket them if your thief is good enough) but to upgrade items with Cromwell. This is even more true if you are using the Item Upgrade mod.

[ziserman]

So I'm accepting congratulations for I have finished this game finally (it was tough ).

Just wanted to post the conclusions the way I see them for future reference.

First and foremost Viconia has been an outstanding tank. By the end she had an AC of -14 (!) that goes to -18 (!!) with Draw upon holy might and defensive harmony. She had magic resistance 80% (!!!) and can easily gain other resistances through spells.
She has 18 constitution for 8 hours a day (girdle of fortitude) and when she doesn't have it she's a bitch to get hit anyways (and with a few spells like aid or draw upon holy might the girdle doesn't do much difference anyway). Finally she has 25 strength from crom fayer, although I think letting minsc, or any physical damage dealing character keep belt of frost giant strength and Viconia keep the gloves would've been better, seeing that only she can use the crom fayer (can't do without strength) and she isn't hitting too much anyways, while strength on Minsc helps more...

Second I'd like to add that Imoen is indeed underleveled by 1 level, she's missing about 0.45 kk experience which is much. I probably should've given the money to Gaelan as soon as I had gathered a total of like 30k gold or so, counting those spent as well.

Also, I don't know if Minsc pales compared to other fighters in the end-game, but for now Minsc is having -4/-1 THACO without buffs (and judging from my party which has 2 clerics 1 druid and 1 ranger I get to have loooots of buffs). I guess he could be better still, but he hasn't let me down in the slightest up to now.

Finally, having a party with too many casters has proven very suitable to my style actually, and with Viconia tanking I don't need to rest much either. So no problems if I'm having few fighter-type characters.

For SoA at least this party combination served me well. Thanks a lot for the advice guys.

[galraen]

he hasn't let me down

None of the NPCs 'let you down' not even Cernd in the long run, in fact as you will have sussed by now from other threads, you don't actually need any NPCs to finish the game, they just make it more interesting. We all have our favourites, and the fact that being a different race/class yourself, and using different NPCs makes for a game worth replaying, which is the true strength of the Baldur's Gate saga.

PS Congratulations, best of luck with ToB.

[Stworca]

First and foremost Viconia has been an outstanding tank. By the end she had an AC of -14 (!) that goes to -18 (!!) with Draw upon holy might and defensive harmony. She had magic resistance 80% (!!!) and can easily gain other resistances through spells.
She has 18 constitution for 8 hours a day (girdle of fortitude) and when she doesn't have it she's a bitch to get hit anyways (and with a few spells like aid or draw upon holy might the girdle doesn't do much difference anyway).

It's not like i wrote exactly the same thing. Oh, wait, i did

You will learn to trust me