This timed thing intrigues me and I might give it a try, but I think I have to stick by my opinion that the Kensai/Mage is the best. I dualled at level 15 and the rest is history. I could literally leave my computer while fighting dragons or mind flayers to get a drink and be confident that my character would handle everything on autopilot. The problem with the speed game is, as you guys have pointed out, memorizing spells. My character is at her peak only with stoneskin, blur, and spirit armor, combined with her other equipment, this lowers her AC to -16, which isn't too shabby for a Kensai. I might have to try the fighter thief routine.
Piq
Speed Soloing
OK, I have tried it once again. In the previous attempt I have learned how to go faster by avoiding fights with invisibility (Magi) + backstab (CF), but I was not fast enough.
This time I constantly drank potion of speed and also went for boots of speed. I also switched the weapon proficiencies and used Azuredge (patched) against undead. With these tactics I did all the quests and get all the items I needed before going against Bodhi.
Still there is another key element of the quick run: the trip to Asylum not lasts 7x24 hour, but it lasts till the end of the 7th day! Which means it doens't matter if you start the trip on 1 day + 1 hour or 1 day + 23 hour, you will get there on 9 day 0 hour. So the most important thing is to quickly finish Bodhi (or Aran), to start the trip on the first day and get there on 8 day 0 hour.
This time I constantly drank potion of speed and also went for boots of speed. I also switched the weapon proficiencies and used Azuredge (patched) against undead. With these tactics I did all the quests and get all the items I needed before going against Bodhi.
Still there is another key element of the quick run: the trip to Asylum not lasts 7x24 hour, but it lasts till the end of the 7th day! Which means it doens't matter if you start the trip on 1 day + 1 hour or 1 day + 23 hour, you will get there on 9 day 0 hour. So the most important thing is to quickly finish Bodhi (or Aran), to start the trip on the first day and get there on 8 day 0 hour.
Someone posted a while back about importing a character and speed soloing it that way. My imported fully equipped barbarian just finished in 9 days, 8 hours. (correction 5/2 - the barbarian actually took 9d20h) I never had to rest so I had no dream sequences whatsoever. Therefore, no slayer transform after the first one and I never got the ability since I didn't have the dream.
I think that score is probably within a couple hours of the best possible, probably better than any other class can do since the a speed booted barbarian moves SOO fast.
Some things I have noticed:
1) When you leave the first dungeon, it advances the clock to the next available hour 7 so you have 6 hours to get out of the first dungeon without losing a day.
2) You have to wait until night to go to Mook at the docks. So you have from hour 7 to nightfall to gather resources and power up. I think nightfall is around hour 18 so that means 11 hours and you'll want to gather about 30-40k total gold during that time. IMO Unseeing Eye and Slavers seem to be the best bet. The thief quest requires you to wait until nightfall so you'll have to try to do it AND all Aram's tasks including clearing out Bohdi in the 6 hours or so that leaves you. You might be able to just not worry about rep or getting people in the temple district mad at you and snag the amulet in broad daylight. Thieves could also use the steal/sell trick.
3) When you take the boat trip, it advances it to a specific time (hour 1?) on the 8th day (ex. leave day 0, hour 23 arrive day 8 hour 1, leave day 1 hour 2, arrive day 9 hour 1) So, you need to leave before that time.
Questions still to be resolved:
How much additional time does it take to go with Saemon and is it worth it for the items?
What is the fastest way through the underdark? I think sneaking in, grabbing the eggs, and running back to Adalon may actually be faster than killing Adalon. I'm pretty sure it's easier.
Now back to trying to legitimately speed solo it...and I'm feeling better about my monk. Low equipment requirements are nice, but more important are fast movement and steath. I did the Unseeing Eye in 3 hours and only had to fight 1 Gast, 2 Mummies, 1 Gault and the weakened Unseeing Eye.
Getting regen equipment early on is still tough unless you're a thief.
[This message has been edited by Nighthawk (edited 03-31-2001).]
[ 05-02-2001: Message edited by: Nighthawk ]
I think that score is probably within a couple hours of the best possible, probably better than any other class can do since the a speed booted barbarian moves SOO fast.
Some things I have noticed:
1) When you leave the first dungeon, it advances the clock to the next available hour 7 so you have 6 hours to get out of the first dungeon without losing a day.
2) You have to wait until night to go to Mook at the docks. So you have from hour 7 to nightfall to gather resources and power up. I think nightfall is around hour 18 so that means 11 hours and you'll want to gather about 30-40k total gold during that time. IMO Unseeing Eye and Slavers seem to be the best bet. The thief quest requires you to wait until nightfall so you'll have to try to do it AND all Aram's tasks including clearing out Bohdi in the 6 hours or so that leaves you. You might be able to just not worry about rep or getting people in the temple district mad at you and snag the amulet in broad daylight. Thieves could also use the steal/sell trick.
3) When you take the boat trip, it advances it to a specific time (hour 1?) on the 8th day (ex. leave day 0, hour 23 arrive day 8 hour 1, leave day 1 hour 2, arrive day 9 hour 1) So, you need to leave before that time.
Questions still to be resolved:
How much additional time does it take to go with Saemon and is it worth it for the items?
What is the fastest way through the underdark? I think sneaking in, grabbing the eggs, and running back to Adalon may actually be faster than killing Adalon. I'm pretty sure it's easier.
Now back to trying to legitimately speed solo it...and I'm feeling better about my monk. Low equipment requirements are nice, but more important are fast movement and steath. I did the Unseeing Eye in 3 hours and only had to fight 1 Gast, 2 Mummies, 1 Gault and the weakened Unseeing Eye.
Getting regen equipment early on is still tough unless you're a thief.
[This message has been edited by Nighthawk (edited 03-31-2001).]
[ 05-02-2001: Message edited by: Nighthawk ]
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"What is the fastest way through the underdark? I think sneaking in, grabbing the eggs, and running back to Adalon may actually be faster than killing Adalon. I'm pretty sure it's easier."
I think that you can bribe the Drow guarding the gate to the surface after seeing Adalon, so you don't need to get the eggs.
I think that you can bribe the Drow guarding the gate to the surface after seeing Adalon, so you don't need to get the eggs.
Congrats Nigthhawk! That is superb time.
1) Yes, unfortunately there is nothing interesting in Irenicus dungeon.
2) The nightfall (and Mook/Bodhi)is after 20 hour. So you have more time to do quests and less time to finish with Bodhi/Aran.
3) You should be back till 23 to "catch the first ship" and reach Asylum on the 8 day.
I agree that the key is both stealth and speed. Monk has both of them. Barbarian has the speed. Thiefs has stealth. Other characters need items/potions.
But the time-frame between 7 hour and 20 hour is enough to collect all important items (Magi for stealth and Boots of speed + others), so all character could "rush" after that.
My F/T/M got to the underdark at 8 day 3 hour. I have also tried Sahuguin city (+2 hour), but I'm not sure the Cloak of Mirroring would worth that delay.
[This message has been edited by Kovi (edited 04-01-2001).]
1) Yes, unfortunately there is nothing interesting in Irenicus dungeon.
2) The nightfall (and Mook/Bodhi)is after 20 hour. So you have more time to do quests and less time to finish with Bodhi/Aran.
3) You should be back till 23 to "catch the first ship" and reach Asylum on the 8 day.
I agree that the key is both stealth and speed. Monk has both of them. Barbarian has the speed. Thiefs has stealth. Other characters need items/potions.
But the time-frame between 7 hour and 20 hour is enough to collect all important items (Magi for stealth and Boots of speed + others), so all character could "rush" after that.
My F/T/M got to the underdark at 8 day 3 hour. I have also tried Sahuguin city (+2 hour), but I'm not sure the Cloak of Mirroring would worth that delay.
[This message has been edited by Kovi (edited 04-01-2001).]
Yes, it is hour 20...though I'm not sure how you got to the island on day 8. When I did it with my SpeedBooted Barbarian I was able to do it, but my monk doesn't seem to move fast enough to go from mook to Aram to the bridge to Aram to the Graveyard to Aram in time. The save time from when I'm leaving says hour 23, but it still lands me on the island day 9, hour 0...maybe I need to try once more and see if I can cut out just a few more seconds?
Are you picking up boots of speed early? Doing the 5 Flagon's quest during the day? It's not one I would want to try as a first quest.
On the other hand, reaching Brynnlaw on Day 9 Hour 0 is really easy. Spending the extra day in town enabled my monk to complete ALL the major in-town quests (Cleric, Thief, Bard, Slavers) as well as the Guarded Compound and most of Gaxx. I did Thief before dark by killing the priestess for the amulet which got all the Talos priests mad but didn't seem to bother the Lathander or Helm priests.
As an aside, it's really hard to kill Gaxx before Underdark with a monk without traveling outside the city -- Daystar doesn't work, 1 attack/round from Sling of Everard doesn't beat the regen, and you can't wield Staff of Rynn. I suppose I could run into the government building and kill Tolgerias for his ring of the Ram...but would that be enough by itself?
Are you picking up boots of speed early? Doing the 5 Flagon's quest during the day? It's not one I would want to try as a first quest.
On the other hand, reaching Brynnlaw on Day 9 Hour 0 is really easy. Spending the extra day in town enabled my monk to complete ALL the major in-town quests (Cleric, Thief, Bard, Slavers) as well as the Guarded Compound and most of Gaxx. I did Thief before dark by killing the priestess for the amulet which got all the Talos priests mad but didn't seem to bother the Lathander or Helm priests.
As an aside, it's really hard to kill Gaxx before Underdark with a monk without traveling outside the city -- Daystar doesn't work, 1 attack/round from Sling of Everard doesn't beat the regen, and you can't wield Staff of Rynn. I suppose I could run into the government building and kill Tolgerias for his ring of the Ram...but would that be enough by itself?
I took a look at the game again and it was 9 Day 20 Hours (not 8 hours) for the Barbarian. The other 2 hours along the way are probably due to his faster movement since he gets the speed boost plus the boots. I don't think I optimized with him quite so I think 9 Day 15-18 Hours or so would be an ultimate minimum.Originally posted by Kovi:
Finally finished with F/T/M on 9 day 22 hour, still not sure where did I lost time. Anyway the game was very easy, I have no rest and I have casted only a couple of spells from scrolls.
I'm also rethinking the speed on the monk. If you have a character capable of grabbing the boots of speed during that first day where you have a little time to play with, they may actually be faster than the monk once it matters. I don't think you want to have to take the time to get the boots in the asylum.
Another question: Faster to kill the wizard or plead insanity? Killing the wizard takes longer than talking to Desharik, but it seems you have to sit in the asylum for longer before talking to Irenicus. I'm still leaning towards pleading insanity...but unsure.
As I remember one backstab was enough for the Cowled Wizard. Or some more round with detect illusion.
I did all the quests before Nighfall, the order was: get money (Amulet of Power, Ring of Prot+2), Twisted Rune (Staff of Magi), Guarded Compound (Celestial Fury), Astral Prison (Boots of Speed), Copper Coronet (Azuredge), Kangaxx (Ring of Gaxx).
The boots of speed is necessary to finish Bodhi in time and I have also killed only the "key" vampires to move the story (as always). The 2 hour difference is partially caused by my inexperience in the last chapters (rather than the speed of the barbarian), though I think the time cannot be lowered below 9 day 18 hour.
[This message has been edited by Kovi (edited 04-02-2001).]
I did all the quests before Nighfall, the order was: get money (Amulet of Power, Ring of Prot+2), Twisted Rune (Staff of Magi), Guarded Compound (Celestial Fury), Astral Prison (Boots of Speed), Copper Coronet (Azuredge), Kangaxx (Ring of Gaxx).
The boots of speed is necessary to finish Bodhi in time and I have also killed only the "key" vampires to move the story (as always). The 2 hour difference is partially caused by my inexperience in the last chapters (rather than the speed of the barbarian), though I think the time cannot be lowered below 9 day 18 hour.
[This message has been edited by Kovi (edited 04-02-2001).]
Backed up and made another run at it with the monk. I haven't been able to accumulate the kind of equipment you seem to be able to and still leave on the first boat. On the other hand, a few more levels and the monk won't really need much.
I made it to the island by day 8...but when I tried to kill Dace discovered I didn't have a +3 weapon on me. So, I had to back up again and keep the Shortsword of Backstabbing...which meant only buying 1 of 2 Scrolls of Protection from Magic.
I did Brynnlaw by killing the Cowled Wizard. Since I finished the dream sequence and it was still Day 8 Hour 0 you can't be losing much time that way. Can't backstab, but 2 shots from a Wand of Cloudkill killed him pretty quickly.
Now I'm heading into the underdark and off to the races...don't remember exactly what hour it is. Would be really nice with the Monk to be able to get the gauntlets from the Sahuagin, but clearly it's the long way around.
I made it to the island by day 8...but when I tried to kill Dace discovered I didn't have a +3 weapon on me. So, I had to back up again and keep the Shortsword of Backstabbing...which meant only buying 1 of 2 Scrolls of Protection from Magic.
I did Brynnlaw by killing the Cowled Wizard. Since I finished the dream sequence and it was still Day 8 Hour 0 you can't be losing much time that way. Can't backstab, but 2 shots from a Wand of Cloudkill killed him pretty quickly.
Now I'm heading into the underdark and off to the races...don't remember exactly what hour it is. Would be really nice with the Monk to be able to get the gauntlets from the Sahuagin, but clearly it's the long way around.
Managed to finish on Day 9, Hour 19 with the Monk. Monk only reached level 18 with a little over 150 kills.
I ended up killing the deep gnome leader since I couldn't kill the Balor in the underdark. Saved the one Quivering Palm I got for the black dragon.
[This message has been edited by Nighthawk (edited 04-05-2001).]
I ended up killing the deep gnome leader since I couldn't kill the Balor in the underdark. Saved the one Quivering Palm I got for the black dragon.
[This message has been edited by Nighthawk (edited 04-05-2001).]
Hi guys,
I've been out of the loop for a week, and I'm astonished by the progress!
@Nighthawk - You are truly the experimental master of this forum. Finishing with a monk in 9days 19hours is amazing, congratualtions.
@Bruce Lee - 13 days 8 hours with a dual classed character is equally amazing, well done.
@Kovi - 9 days 22 hrs F/M/T I'm impressed.
@shesgottohaveit - (rant on) I understand your concern but when someone wants to know how the mechanics of say the boat trip to spellhold work in the game these guys will be able to give them an answer which may improve their gaming/roleplaying experience. Most(All?)of the people who involved themsleves in the challenge are multiple times through players who can probably quote the majority of the rpg dialogues from memory. Being part of the challenge wrung some extras fun out of the game for them. (rant off)
Curdis's report - My Half Orc Cleric Theif is still in spellhold day 9 hour 5 trying to think of a way to kill umber hulks. My new F/M/T is in the underdark at day 9 hour 4 trying to bribe the door guards. I tried a monk but gave up when Irenicus's Ogre Magi snotted me. I wear my offical BG2 speed solo wuss badge with pride..... - Curdis
I've been out of the loop for a week, and I'm astonished by the progress!
@Nighthawk - You are truly the experimental master of this forum. Finishing with a monk in 9days 19hours is amazing, congratualtions.
@Bruce Lee - 13 days 8 hours with a dual classed character is equally amazing, well done.
@Kovi - 9 days 22 hrs F/M/T I'm impressed.
@shesgottohaveit - (rant on) I understand your concern but when someone wants to know how the mechanics of say the boat trip to spellhold work in the game these guys will be able to give them an answer which may improve their gaming/roleplaying experience. Most(All?)of the people who involved themsleves in the challenge are multiple times through players who can probably quote the majority of the rpg dialogues from memory. Being part of the challenge wrung some extras fun out of the game for them. (rant off)
Curdis's report - My Half Orc Cleric Theif is still in spellhold day 9 hour 5 trying to think of a way to kill umber hulks. My new F/M/T is in the underdark at day 9 hour 4 trying to bribe the door guards. I tried a monk but gave up when Irenicus's Ogre Magi snotted me. I wear my offical BG2 speed solo wuss badge with pride..... - Curdis
The warlord sig of 's' - word
Making a reappearance for those who have a sig even longer
[quote="Dilbert]That's about the stupidest thing I've ever heard[/quote]
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Making a reappearance for those who have a sig even longer
[quote="Dilbert]That's about the stupidest thing I've ever heard[/quote]
[quote=Waverly]You all suck donkeys[/quote]
[quote={deleted after legal threats}]I am so not a drama queen![/quote"]
:mischief:
:devil:
Repent
For
@Curdis: Thanks!
Monk should be able to kill that Ogre Magi and and still get out in the 6 hours you have. Alternately, just refuse to answer the Djinni's questions. The tough part with the monk is getting money...thieves do that easily.
As far as stealth goes, hide in shadows seems much more important than silent move.
For the Umberhulks in the room that locks you in, I just went around the other way both times. Slightly longer distance, but IMO just as fast and definitely easier.
Monk should be able to kill that Ogre Magi and and still get out in the 6 hours you have. Alternately, just refuse to answer the Djinni's questions. The tough part with the monk is getting money...thieves do that easily.
As far as stealth goes, hide in shadows seems much more important than silent move.
For the Umberhulks in the room that locks you in, I just went around the other way both times. Slightly longer distance, but IMO just as fast and definitely easier.