Why didn't i discoverd this earlier !!

TheDude · Post by **TheDude** » Sun Jul 08, 2001 4:08 am

i like to know if u all have the same thing as i:

i'm playing BGII for the 4th time now, but this time i just figured out that Blur is a great Spell.
other spells i never used because i thought they where useless (doh!)
Armor of Faith, Righteous Magic, Blade Barrier, Sanctuary.

it also took my 2 times playimg the game before i discoverd the power of Fire Shield, Skeleton Warriors and Celestial Fury

eek

so am i the only one are do u all have spells or items of which u say: why didn't i discoverd them earlier???

ReignsOfPower · Post by **ReignsOfPower** » Sun Jul 08, 2001 5:35 am

Because I am dumb and cbf looking through the Manual, please explain what each of these spells do, and how they benefit each other in this combination.

This would not only help me, but many other people as well.

Thanks

Alterailty · Post by **Alterailty** » Sun Jul 08, 2001 5:55 am

i know the feeling. i gues we just think that low lvl spells are full of crap bec u have acess to high lvl spells. It is just too tedious to get try to get what "spell thrust" does when u can "ruby ray of reversal it". I never used the power set because i thought it were too crap. I was worng. Now mages are so easy to kill

Alterailty · Post by **Alterailty** » Sun Jul 08, 2001 5:59 am

[QUOTE]I never used the power set because i thought it were too crap[/QOUTE]

Opps shoud be "I never used the "power world" set because i thought it were too crap"

Alterailty · Post by **Alterailty** » Sun Jul 08, 2001 6:03 am

I never used the power set because i thought it were too crap

Opps shoud be "I never used the "power world" set because i thought it were too crap"

there we go. i hope i got that quote corecct

TheDude · Post by **TheDude** » Sun Jul 08, 2001 6:05 am

do they really work

i also never use them i think they are crap.
But they do work.. interesting

aVENGER2k · Post by **aVENGER2k** » Sun Jul 08, 2001 8:49 am

Yeah,I know exactly what you mean Dude,and I think that a good way to discover all those great,but underrated spells is soloing.Example:I discovered the wonders of the SkullTrap+Prot. From Magical Energy while soloing a Sorcerer a long time ago (note that this should also work with Minor Globe of Inv. but it's kinda bugged).Right now I'm attempting to solo an Avenger (no pun intended

)through SoA and 'gulp' ToB.Well,here's what happened...I reached lvl 14 and finally became Great Druid (does this bring any advantages BTW?) and decided it was time to visit Windsper Hills because I wanted an Ankheg Plate (druids can wear this since all natural armor doesn't disturb their ethos,this also includes Dragon Scale armor BTW

After killing some ankhegs and crafting the armor,I said to myself what the heck,I'll go back and try to mop up this place anyway,and I don't have to fight Firkraag,I'm just a poor solo Druid.His dungeon was surprisingly easy,I managed to kill almost everything with Fire and Earth Elementals,well okay everything except the infamous Greater Wolfwares,those things regenerate sooo fast and have an insane Magic Res. so I just used Improved Invisibility on myself and passed right by them.After I disposed of the mage and rescued that girl,I thought just 4 fun I'll check Firkraag out,with no hopes of success at all.My plan was summon as many Elementals to distract him,while I try to pepper him with Doom,Lightning and Chromatic Orb.Anyway,while browsing through the lvl 7 Druid spells,I notice "Nature's Beauty",hmm never used that one before.since in SoA Jaheira would hit the cap before she'd get it,and in ToB there are much better spells for lvl 7 slots to waste.Sooooo...I read the description and it says something like "all victims who fail a saving throw at +3 will die" hehe not very impressive I thought but since I wasn't really hoping to kill Firkraag I memorized that to

k,so I rested,went down to big F and summoned up my standard 2-man-Fire-Elemental-army + Kittix and an Efreet.Then I talked to the monster so he'd attack me,and the battle started.What happened...all of us got blown away before I could cast anything

but when we recovered,Firkraag started to waste his Fiery Dragon Breath on my Fire Elementals whilst I desperately tried to Doom him

only without luck,each time his Magic Res. would kick in so he resisted and killed everything except one Fire elemental which was hurt badly,so I got desperate and cast "Nature's Beauty" in hopes that through some miracle he would die.Well guess what he didn't,cause he made his save and I took my hands of the keyboard and wait for him to mince-meat me...after a few seconds I notice something...HE IS NOT ATTACKING...so I go like WTF,another bug?Quickly I check,but the game hasn't crashed,and my Fire Elemental is still punching him...sooo I decide to take my advantage and kick his almighty Dragon ass with my Mighty Cleric Staff+3 and a potion of Speed

It took me a while but when Firkraag finally got to Near Death,I noticed that he's trying to heal himself...DAMN...I quickly toss a lightning bolt at him and pooooof...one insta-roasted dragon

Anyway,still not believing I actually did this,I make a Quick save and wonder about the "bug" that caused him to stop attacking...and then it all came together...when I checked on my spellbook and re-read "Nature's Beauty" description and went...AHA...the big bad dragon was BLINDED,despite he made his save!!! LOL,guess this spell doesn't check for Magic Res.Sooooo,now my Avenger is wearing a kewl Red Dragon Plate and I've got new favorite spell...hehe can't wait till I hit lvl 15 for all those free spell slots to appear

BTW,sorry for the enoooooormous length of this post but guys,all this happened like 25 minutes ago and I'm still quite astounded

[ 07-08-2001: Message edited by: aVENGER2k ]

TheDude · Post by **TheDude** » Sun Jul 08, 2001 9:40 am

LOL nice post

Natures beauthy is also i spell i would like to experiment with i have it memorised for some time no but never used it.
just like it discovered Yesterday (

!!) the power of Chaotic Commands.
wow what a spell i took the whole mind flayer dungeon in The underdark with my main char. i cleared the whole thing in less then 10 minutes.
It usually took my a day or 4 (game time 4 hours or so real time).
And even balor went very quickly this time tnx to Chaotic Commands.

aVENGER2k · Post by **aVENGER2k** » Sun Jul 08, 2001 9:54 am

Originally posted by TheDude:
...the power of Chaotic Commands.
wow what a spell i took the whole mind flayer dungeon in The underdark with my main char.

That spell rocks,I remember before figuring out what it does,I used to put Helmets of Charm Protection on all my fighters (to avoid domination) but they would still get confused by the Umberhulks

IIRC,Chaotic Commands lasts 1 Turn/Level so it really pays off,in ToB that and Prot. From Evil '10 quickly became Aerie's favorites.

Xyx · Post by **Xyx** » Sun Jul 08, 2001 3:10 pm

Nature's Beauty is one of the bad @$$-est spells in the game. It has a huge area effect, there is no save versus the Blindness, there are no creatures immune to Blindness, the duration is permanent.

Some other stuff I originally underestimated:

Melf's Minute Meteors. Best damn ranged weapon in the game. Forget about the Gesen Bow, these things are much, much better. +6 enchantment punches through every combat protection in the game except for Protection from Magical Weapons. Goes through (and takes down quickly) Stoneskins and Spell Deflection/Turning/Trap. 5 attacks per turn. Adds Kensai (and probably Swashbuckler) bonus.

Armor of Faith. Stacks. Cast 5 and you're invulnerable to combat damage.

Strength. Lasts all day and stacks up to 18/00.

Glitterdust. Should be called "Mass Blindness" instead.

Slow. Slowing your enemies is even better than Hasting your party. Doing both almost guarantees victory.

Teleport Field. Looks lame, but screws up your enemies' Speed Factor and attack rate. Comparable to Slow, but without a save.

Polymorph Self. The Jelly is immune to magic. Drain all spells from Liches and Mages.

Polymorph Other. Butchering the squirrel gets you the loot anyway.

Mislead. Keeps you invisible even if you attack or cast spells.

Limited Wish - the "horde to overrun my enemies". Enemies go after the bunnies. Ultimate fodder summon.

Chain Contingency. Casts so fast it can be a better alternative to Time Stop. Cast three spells in one second instead of one round.

TheDude · Post by **TheDude** » Mon Jul 09, 2001 4:09 am

it is really strange actually that some spell are so great when u play with them, while when u look them up in the manual u think they suck.
Doom, Nature's Beauty, Feeblement, Armor of Faith, Sanctuarie and also Barkskin.
i thought they all sucked,
damn i was wrong
in the manual most of the spells look like they give little bonuses but much spells give more bonuses when u gain lvl's and that makes spells like: Armor of Faith and Bark skin really powerfull.

question:
Spiritual Hammer deos it only go to a +3 weapon or does the hit and dammage bonus get really big in ToB???
Same with Draw upon holy Might is there a limite to the spell or deos the bonus alwas get bigger???

ReignsOfPower · Post by **ReignsOfPower** » Mon Jul 09, 2001 4:58 am

@The Dude

Could you please explain how this spell combo works please?

TheDude · Post by **TheDude** » Mon Jul 09, 2001 5:08 am

which combo do u mean ?

[ 07-09-2001: Message edited by: TheDude ]

PDF · Post by **PDF** » Mon Jul 09, 2001 9:06 am

Don't forget some cleric kick-ass 3rd level spells :

Holy Smite : super-Fireball effect, hard to resist for evil monster, good party is immune

At 20th level it does 20-80 hp damage to all in the area !!

Animate dead : in BG1 times the lowly skeletons cleaned up the Nymphs and Basilisks area for me, party didn't get a scratch. Now the mighty Skeleton warriors are the best fodder available (Gated demaons excepted), they have a VERY high Magic resistance, need magical weapons to be hit and they easily kill Illithids, Beholders and such puny monsters

Too bad they're easily killed by mage's Death spells...

Meerlight · Post by **Meerlight** » Mon Jul 09, 2001 9:23 am

You know what sucks? All they bonuses on spells you get for being higher level like Horrid Wilting's damage and chaotic commands duration get maxed out at level 20 in ToB! Oh and anybody try out the Bigby's hand spells? They're really cool! Oh yea and Spider Spawn is a really cheap good summon after level 12 because you get Sword Spiders and its only 4th level.

aVENGER2k · Post by **aVENGER2k** » Mon Jul 09, 2001 12:15 pm

Originally posted by TheDude:
Natures Beauty is also i spell i would like to experiment with i have it memorised for some time no but never used it.

Ok,I've been playing some more,and my solo Avenger just reached Temple Ruins.Since he was lvl 14 there were some nasty Liches he had to fight,so I made him memorize my new fav Nature's Beauty and went in with my trusty Fire Elementals.Upon facing the Lich and his undead palls I noticed he was trying to pull off a Timestop.Well,I countered that with my Nature's Beauty (which btw casts faster then Timestop) and here's what happened:

Lich - Blinded
Greater Mummy - Blinded
Greater Mummy - Blinded
Skeleton Warrior - Blinded
Skeleton Warrior - Magic Resistance

Hmm,one skelly was somehow blinded but the other one resisted !!! So it doesn't to ignore MR after all

Well,I guess it would be really overpowered if it did

I think I just got real lucky with Firkraag,cause it sure worked on him,and imagine,that was the first time I ever tried that spell! We'll see how the Shadow Dragon likes it

Originally posted by TheDude:
Spiritual Hammer deos it only go to a +3 weapon or does the hit and dammage bonus get really big in ToB???
Same with Draw upon holy Might is there a limite to the spell or deos the bonus alwas get bigger???

I haven't a clue about spiritual hammer although in IWD/HOW it could be used as a ranged weapon !!! About Holy MIght well,it does get better with levels but,as all other spells in ToB it's capped at lvl 20,so the best stat increase you'll get is +6 which is great but the duration is always only one turn which is,well...not so great.

TheDude · Post by **TheDude** » Mon Jul 09, 2001 12:57 pm

ok thnx
but because it doesn't take long to cast Draw upon Holy Might i think it is still a great spell.
and it gives bonuses over other bonuses so if u have the crom u get a strenght of (ad lvl 21 in Soa) 25 + 6 is 31

that is nice right?

combined with Righteous Magic to get nice hitpoints bonus and max hit each turn is a whole lot of dammage.

humanflyz · Post by **humanflyz** » Mon Jul 09, 2001 1:03 pm

yeah, I used to think that Jaheira's insect summonings spells are crap until I used it on a mage. Killing them is easy since all or almost all the insect summonings can disrupt spell casting to a certain extent, especially creeping doom, 100 percent spell casting failure!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TheDude · Post by **TheDude** » Mon Jul 09, 2001 1:14 pm

yes firts time i played with Jaheira i didn't used them either same with her Fire elementals. I didn't even use Skeleton warriors

.
the next game i played went a whole lot easier

Craig · Post by **Craig** » Mon Jul 09, 2001 1:31 pm

I have a stratitgy get that insect summons to a minion (gnoll) or one of the wizards freinds dire charm him and bye mage or sleep it if the mage is just out of sight