Playing Solo

[Graeye]

I've never tried playing solo; is it actually possible?

What class(es) would you recommend? I assume you have to dual-class but how can you possibly get the breadth of skills required to do everything? (melee combat against numerous opponents, opening doors and chests, finding and disarming traps, spellcasting, etc.)

Can you handle all of the critters (dragons, beholders, flayers, vampires, etc.) or do you have to avoid a lot of combat? If you want to cast spells then you can't use armor and not all classes can use the Amulet of Power and Shield of Balduran and, without those, you'll get creamed!

Can you play the game at core rules or do you have to play at "normal" or "easy" settings?

Is there a CLUA code for a Bag of Holding in SoA? Without one, there's no way to carry all the stuff you'll need.

Any tips appreciated.

[Baldursgate Fan]

Yes, playing solo is possible. Everything from bard, archer, sorc, monk, kensai/mage to druid has been successfully soloed. You can do a search on this forum to unearth the treasure trove of solo accounts by members here.

Playing solo means not being able to handle certain creatures, eg dragons without cheese.

I always play at Core or Insane.

I don't have the CLUA code for bag of holding, instead I recommend using ShadowKeeper to edit it in.

Cheers.

[JackOfClubs]

Bag of Holding = BAG04

You don't actually need it though. Get a Gem Bag and a Scroll Case which can be purchased in several places and find a convenient place to store the loot you don't want to sell. Since you are travelling alone, you don't really need a lot of stuff.

I would recommend trying a Fighter/Mage/Thief (Half-elf) as a first solo game. This gives you all of the skills you need. Use potions and ring of regen in place of cleric. (Also your innate abilities should include cure light wounds if you are good).

If you get the bracers AC3 from Riebald you don't really need armor. You can add the helm of Balduran, Cloak of the Sewers and Ring of Gaxx (eventually) for a pretty good AC.

Large groups and bosses can be tricky but in some cases it is even easier than with a party since you don't need to worry about weak party members dying (*cough* Aerie *cough*).

[Skuld]

Here's what you do... just try out all different kinds of classes(multis) and see how they fair in Jon's dungeon. For a little more ease get Dungeon-be-Gone. Some classes I've soloed are Monk, Sorceror, and a Berserker dualed to Mage at level 13. But you can effectively solo any class you want to successfully.

[Graeye]

Thanks for the quick responses ... keep those cards and letters coming in, folks.

[IHateUsernames]

check out the updated solo sorc for tips on the sorc playing

[hwttdz]

I think for your first time a sorc would be pretty hard. I've never soloed the whole game but I have soloed large sections of it. Some classes that aren't that bad for doing this are archer, barbarian, swashbuckler, and undead hunter. There are sections written about the barbarian and archer. The swashbuckler is neat because you can avoid most of what you don't want to fight as well as do some neat damage in a pinch, with an amazing ac especially later. The undead hunter is immune to many of the more annoying effects and can use a huge array of equipment. There are some quests that you have to accept not being able to do depending on your class. For example I had some fighter class and couldn't beat a lich because I got imprisioned as soon as I saw it. I had to join up with Korgan who is immune under rage to do that, so it wasn't soloing anymore, but in my opinion more fun.

A lot of the reccomendations you get around here are great if you know all the spells and their ideal uses. But the characters often are weak earlier for example a sorcerer has probally less than half the hp of a 19 con barbarian in the first dungeon.

[nephtu]

Solo play

For a fun read/how to of sorts, try the Elmonster saga:
http://www.baldurdash.org/journal.html