Questions about Underdark and HLAs

[Monco]

Question 1:

Is it possible to enter the various dungeons of the Underdark before and/or after the quest given to you by the drow leader? Is it possible to enter before even gaining access to UstNatha? What about after blowing my cover? I know it is possible to clear all three dungeons, but when would be the right time to do it?
If I remember correctly, you can only choose one dungeon for the quest and you have a strict time limit to finish the quest.
I wouldn't want to miss all the awesome treasures you can get in those dungeons.

Question 2

About HLAs... I should start receiving them in a few levels and I'm slightly confused about what abilities to get.

My party is:
PC - Ranger dual wielding swords, short/long bow if necessary
Minsc - 2h swords
Keldorn - 2h swords
Valygar - dual wielding swords, long bow if necessary
Anomen - will dual wield blunt weapons
Aerie

Could you guys recommend what abilities would be ideal to get, and how many should I take? I'm more of a power gamer and less of a role player, although I am going to take 1 Tracking for my ranger.

• I've read that those wielding 2h weapons should take whirlwind abilities, while dual wielders have no need for GWW and should instead take critical strikes.
• I've heard that hardiness is excellent for all warriors.
• What about death blows, smite and power attack? I've heard that GDB is great against some tough monsters.
• Apparently it would be wise for Keldorn to take summon deva, so Aerie could choose something else instead.

Also, how many HLAs do I get? Do I get 1 whenever I gain a level after reaching level 20?

That is all for now, thank you in advance

[Stworca]

Question 1:

Is it possible to enter the various dungeons of the Underdark before and/or after the quest given to you by the drow leader? Is it possible to enter before even gaining access to UstNatha? What about after blowing my cover? I know it is possible to clear all three dungeons, but when would be the right time to do it?
If I remember correctly, you can only choose one dungeon for the quest and you have a strict time limit to finish the quest.
I wouldn't want to miss all the awesome treasures you can get in those dungeons.

Yes. Yes. Cover isn't blown, as long as you don't approach Underdark exit in Kuo-Toa dungeon (and even then you can remain covered), Any time
You remember incorrectly.

Also, how many HLAs do I get? Do I get 1 whenever I gain a level after reaching level 20?

Each level >2 000 000 which isn't level 20 for some classes, and is above for others.
As for HLA's.. Experiment. Try it out yourself.

[galraen]

Is it possible to enter the various dungeons of the Underdark before and/or after the quest given to you by the drow leader? Is it possible to enter before even gaining access to UstNatha?

Yes, and yes.

If I remember correctly, you can only choose one dungeon for the quest and you have a strict time limit to finish the quest.

Only partially true if you wait to be given the quest. There isn't a limit on how many of them you undertake once given the quest, but the time limit makes taking on more than one dodgy. Which is why it's best to take them on before entering Ust Natha, or leaving two of them until after you've exited and re-entered the underdark..

About HLAs... I should start receiving them in a few levels and I'm slightly confused about what abilities to get.

My party is:
PC - Ranger dual wielding swords, short/long bow if necessary
Minsc - 2h swords
Keldorn - 2h swords
Valygar - dual wielding swords, long bow if necessary
Anomen - will dual wield blunt weapons
Aerie

Could you guys recommend what abilities would be ideal to get, and how many should I take?

Also, how many HLAs do I get? Do I get 1 whenever I gain a level after reaching level 20?

That is all for now, thank you in advance

Wow, for someone who considers him/herself a power gamer you don't have any of the most powerful characters, no Edwin, Imoen or Nalia! Aerie eventually become very powerful though, definitely potentially your most powerful character.

As for HLAs, mix and match, obviously Aerie won't be getting them any time soon, but when she does it's a matter of playing style that dictates your choices for her.

Whirlwind and Greater Whirlwind are obvious choices, but I always take Deathblow and Greater Deathblow first for at least one fighter type. For that reason I always leave the Mindflayer hive until after I have one of each of those, a fighter with DB and GDB should be renamed Illithid's Bane!

Apparently it would be wise for Keldorn to take summon deva

I agree.

dual wielders have no need for GWW and should instead take critical strikes.

Strongly disagree with that, all fighters need WA and GWA, CS are almost useless as most enemies from the underdark onward are immune to critical hits.

[kmonster]

You get to choose an HLAs each time you level up at 3,000,000 XP or more, so your rangers and paladins will get the first one when they reach level 18, Anomen when he reaches cleric level 22 and Aerie when she reaches mage level 14.

Anomen will get all cleric HLAs he can before the game is over. For Aerie you might want to take the extra level 6,7 and 8 mage spell HLA early since she's your only mage.

Whether you should take greater whirlwind or not depends on your playing style. When you have belm or kundane in the off hand and cast improved haste you have 7 main hand and 2 off hand attacks per round for many rounds. Whirlwind makes dualwielding quite obsolete, you might as well throw away your secondary weapon so you get the 10 attacks per round with the better main hand weapon and without penalty.

[Monco]

Thank you all for your replies, I shall clear those dungeons ASAP I enter the underdark

Which is why it's best to take them on before entering Ust Natha, or leaving two of them until after you've exited and re-entered the underdark.

I can re-enter Underdark? Didn't know that.

Strongly disagree with that, all fighters need WA and GWA, CS are almost useless as most enemies from the underdark onward are immune to critical hits.

But critical hits are always a guaranteed hit, right? So even if my warriors wouldn't deal critical damage, all of their attacks would hit. Wouldn't this be a good reason to take some CSs?

You get to choose an HLAs each time you level up at 3,000,000 XP or more, so your rangers and paladins will get the first one when they reach level 18, Anomen when he reaches cleric level 22 and Aerie when she reaches mage level 14.

Anomen will get all cleric HLAs he can before the game is over. For Aerie you might want to take the extra level 6,7 and 8 mage spell HLA early since she's your only mage.

So Anomen can't have any of the warriors HLAs? Is this because he gains cleric levels but doesn't gain any fighter levels? Also, thanks for the tip about Aerie's HLAs.

Wow, for someone who considers him/herself a power gamer you don't have any of the most powerful characters, no Edwin, Imoen or Nalia! Aerie eventually become very powerful though, definitely potentially your most powerful character.

Haha, with "power gamer" I meant that I aim to make my party members as effective as possible and therefore the skills I choose for them wouldn't bother my RP experience. (Were I more of a role player, I propably wouldn't equip my PC ranger and valygar with helmets).

But yeah, I think I kinda have the general idea regarding the warrior HLAs, and I plan to mainly stock hardiness, GWA and GDB.

Once again, thank you for your replies

[kmonster]

But critical hits are always a guaranteed hit, right? So even if my warriors wouldn't deal critical damage, all of their attacks would hit. Wouldn't this be a good reason to take some CSs?

A level 21 warrior has a base thac0 of 0, add +3 bonus to hit for 18 strength, +4 for weapon enchantment, +1 specialisation bonus and you'll have a thac0 of -8 which allows to hit AC -10 or better with 95 percent success chance even without buffs. High level AD&D monsters have AC about 0, so you won't have trouble hitting anyway.

So Anomen can't have any of the warriors HLAs? Is this because he gains cleric levels but doesn't gain any fighter levels?

Anomen gets only cleric HLAs. Dualclasses can't improve in their first class any more.