I finally soloed all the way through ToB on Insane mode with fighter/mage.
I died like hell even though I cheesed. I hired Jan and got 2 rings of Gaax and put scroll of protection from magic, protection from undead, and rod of resurrection so the summoned simularcrum could cast them on me. The most frustrating thing was Magic Missile which did double damage. If they were lucky, they did 50 damage to you with one casting.
The best thing to do was to use tenser's transformation (best spell in the game), contingency, chain contingency, timestop, improved alacrity, black blade of disaster in combination. This could bring a dragon down to "near death." Breach and lower resistances in spell trigger, I think, was very handy against mages. I chose the flail of the ages and crom fayr. Casting everything from mirror image to impoved mantle before fights helped, too. You don't need AC - just lots of magic resistance. Mislead is the way to go until you get staff of the magi.
One thing I realized was that you sometimes to use things extensively to help you. For instance, my level wasn't high enough to cast timestop against Irenicus, so I cast it with a scroll.
Anyways, the ToB bosses were tough, especially Balthazar. I used 29 healing potions. Mellisan was easier than I thought because by then I had Wish and could rest after each battle.
The most difficult fight in SoA was Pebblecrusher and his buddies when I took them right after Irenicus dungeon. In ToB, it was the seal guardians in Watcher's Keep. I was forced to summon about 30 planetars and Mordenkainen's swords with project image.
The best skills to use was definitely Whirlwind.
It was a good experience, but you sort of want to never play the game again. Maybe I'll do it again with Ascension.
Soloing
Solo-ing.
Its very addictive. Have soloed Sorc & Monk SOA & ToB, am working on a solo swashbuckler right now with ascension mod cannot wait to see the new ending.
Planning to run a f/mu/t through Bg1, Bg2, and ToB next so I can get the golden pantaloons..... wish I could run a monk through Bg1. Now that would be neat.
Its very addictive. Have soloed Sorc & Monk SOA & ToB, am working on a solo swashbuckler right now with ascension mod cannot wait to see the new ending.
Planning to run a f/mu/t through Bg1, Bg2, and ToB next so I can get the golden pantaloons..... wish I could run a monk through Bg1. Now that would be neat.