some help for a rookie

laguardiab · Post by **laguardiab** » Fri Nov 09, 2001 6:08 am

I cleared out that troll infested keep, with a lot of trouble, my guys are real low level and need experience, any suggestions as to what order I should try and accomplish the quests in? They all seem pretty hard for my level guys.

Ned Flanders · Post by **Ned Flanders** » Fri Nov 09, 2001 6:16 am

I usually do the quests in Waukeen's promenade and the slums then move onto D'Arnise keep after doing the little quest at the city gates. Have you played the game before. If not, it shouldn't be ruined for you by reading things in this forum.

Anyway, the D'Arnise keep isn't that tough. Take your time and scout ahead with invisible/shadowed characters. Scouting will save you a lot of reloads.

concluder1 · Post by **concluder1** » Fri Nov 09, 2001 7:05 am

I agree with the previous post, Hit the quests around the city first. The C.C. slaver quests, the circus quest in the Waukeen Prom., most of the quests in the bridge district are pretty easy.

fable · Post by **fable** » Fri Nov 09, 2001 9:32 am

D'Arnise Keep is one of the first I attempted in earlier run-throughs. It gives you a *lot* of magical ranged ammunition, very good experience, some gold, and good magical weapon (Flail of the Ages) and a possible stronghold if you're a fighter: not bad. The challenge of the trolls isn't too hard for a young party, provided you don't go rushing into any given area.

I'd suggest avoiding the Umar and Windspear Hills for a while. Both offer undead of various difficulty levels, and neither is easy for newbie groups. Ditto, Trademeet (whose location you can acquire after speaking with a merchant, I believe, in the Gate area). Of course, it's possible to do any of this fairly easily if you follow a walkthrough, but I'm assuming you'd rather have the fun of doing it on your own.

Who you have in your party also determines to an extent what you can do at that early stage. So who have you got?

laguardiab · Post by **laguardiab** » Fri Nov 09, 2001 5:12 pm

I'm a ranger, paired with Minsc makes 2 of us, the Cleric Fighter, the bounty hunter, the Druid Fighter, and the magic user-cleric. Good or not such a good idea?

fable · Post by **fable** » Fri Nov 09, 2001 7:39 pm

Oh, yeah, you've got the variety to handle things in the Keep. I notice you only mention one other party member by name, however. Does that mean you generated everybody in your party except Minsc? If so, you're missing out on a lot of subquests, not to mention some really neat dialog (and good items).

laguardiab · Post by **laguardiab** » Fri Nov 09, 2001 8:07 pm

no, just trying to not embarress myself with my lack of spelling, it's Jaheira, Minsc, that arrogant Cleric Fighter guy (dont like him much, but he's there for now, I figured not to take Nalia, cause I didn't need another thief, and didn't want the evil Dwarf fighter, so stuck with him), Aeria, and Yoshimo.

Aegis · Post by **Aegis** » Fri Nov 09, 2001 9:30 pm

Nalia is more than jsut a theif. Later in the game, she becomes a kick-ass Mage, and well worth it to pick up. anomen (You self-righteous, arrogant narcissicest) is not really worth it. Dump him, and take Nalia.

NeKr0mAnCeR · Post by **NeKr0mAnCeR** » Sat Nov 10, 2001 2:51 am

that evil fighter is IMO the best fighter and the coolest NPC

"aye, the dwarf will bloody do it"

UserUnfriendly · Post by **UserUnfriendly** » Sat Nov 10, 2001 3:33 am

Korgan is the best tank, actually the best fighter in the game, including saverok cause you can get him up to really high levels if you pick him up early. anlia is a good mage, not theif, imiee is better thief and jan best of all.

Just keep korgan from the ale, and you will have no trouble with him.

Xyx · Post by **Xyx** » Sat Nov 10, 2001 4:33 am

Back to topic...

The Trademeet and associated Druid Grove quests are about as difficult as the Keep.

The thief guild and harper quests in the docks are relatively easy too.

It's actually a good idea to go to Umar Hills. Just running around the village and surroundings can get you a lot of easy XP. However, do not go to the nearby Temple Ruins before your party is level 10 or so.

fable · Post by **fable** » Sat Nov 10, 2001 3:17 pm

Originally posted by Aegis:
<STRONG>Nalia is more than jsut a theif. Later in the game, she becomes a kick-ass Mage, and well worth it to pick up. anomen (You self-righteous, arrogant narcissicest) is not really worth it. Dump him, and take Nalia.</STRONG>

Anomen's not bad, if you want to run a good-aligned group. It's either Viconia or him, and she's pretty much an evil type. Anomen can become a very effective tank over time, and his high level spells and turning ability come in very handy later with the undead. I wouldn't do without a cleric in this game, especially on a first run through.

Kin Zama · Post by **Kin Zama** » Sat Nov 10, 2001 4:32 pm

in reply to Xyx's post, the thief quests can be quite a challenge to a low level party, mainly because you need to kill 1 strong cowled wizard, 2 clay golems and a kindly mixture of assorted baddies (and the big fight with maevar, which can be quite challenging for a low level party). I suggest big guy that you try some of the npc quests themselves (keldorn can be found at the temple district once you undertake the cleric stronghold,which you dont HAVE to do) keldorn's quest involves his wife and 2 children, and lots of XP (in the government district right after you enter it with keldorn)getting all the other NPC's and their quests involve a lot of killing big baddies (mazzy's quest is quite hard, as she is in the Shadow Dragon's domain) edwin and jan are quite easy to find but i wouldnt really recommend them for a good aligned party (jan isnt evil, he bickers constanly with minsc about boo and the two cant get along). I agree with concluder about the Copper Coronet gladiator/slaver quest (lots of XP and a few assorted minor magical items). If you do decide to get korgan, you can do his quest in the graveyard district for a fair amount of gold and lots of XP. Do the WIndspear hills quest after you get keldorn and once your party's general level is 10 or 11. The quest can be acquired from a certain individual named Lord Jierdan Firkraag at the copper coronet. Strange Firkraag doesnt sound like human nomenclature though.........

I hope this helped

laguardiab · Post by **laguardiab** » Sat Nov 10, 2001 9:13 pm

well, now I have Nalie, Yoshimo, Minsc, Korhan, Jaheira, and my ranger, do you suggest I drop say Yoshimo for a cleric, or is my Druid enough with her healing spells? And as far as clerics go, I notice you didn't mention Aeria, who is a mage and cleric, where does she rank in this order?

Aegis · Post by **Aegis** » Sat Nov 10, 2001 11:21 pm

Early on, she isn't that usefull. But, once she gets a chance to develop her abilities, she can become a force to be reckoned with.