Help! Is it possible to finish BG2 w/o thief?

TheKinslayer · Post by **TheKinslayer** » Sun Dec 17, 2000 2:30 pm

Right now I am doing the Cult of the Eyeless quest, and I chose to take Keldorn. I kicked out Yoshimo to take Keldorn. My problem is that now I am left theifless and can't detect traps or disarm them. My party is comprised of: Me(archer), Minsc, Jahera, Aerie, Keldorn, and Haer'dalis. Does anyone have any advice. What are my best options? I would prefer to keep my party together, but I don't have to.

Weasel · Post by **Weasel** » Sun Dec 17, 2000 3:10 pm

I would drop Haer'dalis. He will end causing trouble.It mainly depends on how you play.(Cavalier:me , Minsc , Jahera , Aerie , Yoshimo/dual to fighter , Nalia )This way i had two thief's.Also check the topic (do you really need a thief)You will see most believe Imoen is the only you need.I would get Nalia for her spells.

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(I would betray the world before i let the world betray me.) Cao Cao 192 a.d.

[This message has been edited by Weasel (edited 12-17-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Weasel (edited 12-17-2000).]

Yuusuke · Post by **Yuusuke** » Sun Dec 17, 2000 3:50 pm

Sure it's possible, but you'll have to eat alot of traps. And you'll have to miss alot of stuff in locked chests and behind locked doors. OR you can just mem a buttload of knock spells and even then, you'll need to rest alot of have enough of them to open EVERY locked door and chest in the game.

TheKinslayer · Post by **TheKinslayer** » Sun Dec 17, 2000 4:38 pm

So maybe drop aerie for nalie after this quest? Which one is better mage?

Thomas · Post by **Thomas** » Sun Dec 17, 2000 4:45 pm

Nalia is a very bad thief and Airie is a much better mage. I suggest you take Yoshimo instead of Haer'Dalis and pick up the bard later on when you got Imoen back. Imoen, and maybe some potions, are all the theif you need really. Or you could do like me and change Nalias class to true thief class. Made her an assassin myself since that is in accordance to the backstabbing nobility that raised her. ;-)

Weasel · Post by **Weasel** » Sun Dec 17, 2000 4:48 pm

Nalia she can level up to 17; Aerie can only go so far because she is dual and she will cap out.

Yuusuke · Post by **Yuusuke** » Sun Dec 17, 2000 4:50 pm

Nalia is by far the better mage in terms of being able to cast more spells and write more spells. But don;t forget that Aerie can do cleric spells and duties also, like turn undead.

But Nalia is pretty deadly with a bow due to her thief background.

It's all up to you, I have both of them with me in most of my games.

Hazim ibn Gorion · Post by **Hazim ibn Gorion** » Sun Dec 17, 2000 10:13 pm

Well, Kinslayer, I think you need to rethink your party in part because of your thief shortage, but also for mage shortage. I disagree with the respondent who said that Aerie was a better mage than Nalia. Later in the game, you may find yourself wishing you had more mage power than a multi-classer with only 16 intelligence. Then again, pairing Aerie with Imoen is a pretty strong magic duo if you prefer to play fighter types.

Right now I'm playing Me (undead slayer), Mazzy, Valygar, Jahiera, Nalia, and Imoen. Nalia and Imoen are really all the thief you need, I think. Another plus to using Nalia and/or Imoen is that they can use short bows, and there are several really good ones in the game.

Hex92 · Post by **Hex92** » Sun Dec 17, 2000 11:20 pm

I have to agree with Hazim. You will have a very tough time (and alot of reloads) if you don't get some more spell-casters in the party. A dedicated mage will do you more good IMO than Jahiera, or Haer'dalis. I would dump them for Nalia and Yoshimo. Or even better, Jan. He is a good theif and magic user. I have been doing pretty good with only a Ranger and Keldorn for the front line (Vic, Nalia, Jan, Aerie in the back).

Hex92

Omar · Post by **Omar** » Mon Dec 18, 2000 7:56 am

I did hardly use any thieving skills after the debacle with Yoshimo:

---pick locks: knock (3x memorised with Aerie)
---detect/remove traps: Viconia walked right into every trap and didn,t suffer much damage because of her magic resistance; if you don't play with her then use this: a character with good saving throws backed with some minor healing spells
---pick pockets: Yoshimo and later Haer'Dalis
---other skills: unnecessary "after Yoshimo"

Mr Sleep · Post by **Mr Sleep** » Mon Dec 18, 2000 8:11 am

I went through the game with three mages and found it much easier (bear in mind these mages were of my own creation) you also have to have quite a good selection of fighters.

I went through the entire game without a thief (second time round)

TheKinslayer · Post by **TheKinslayer** » Mon Dec 18, 2000 4:49 pm

So how would this go...I trade Haer'dalis for Yoshimo untill I get Imoen back, and then I trade Imoen for Aerie and Haer'dalis back for Yoshimo. Would that leave me too weak in magic?

Weasel · Post by **Weasel** » Mon Dec 18, 2000 4:51 pm

That will work.

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(I would betray the world before i let the world betray me.) Cao Cao 192 a.d.

The_Pope · Post by **The_Pope** » Mon Dec 18, 2000 5:02 pm

It's quite impossible without a thief...
I'm having Imoen (after that dick Yoshimo betrayed me; the dood was kicking! could find all traps, open all locks, backstab each enemy and pickpocket any character...). Well, Imoen's good enough, at least she doesn't whine about "I'm sure these setbacks are only temporal", stupid gay Yoshimo... At this point in the game, I don't really need to open any locks anymore.

Anyway, the moral is: play evil and get Jan, he rocks.
That'll be for the next time through.

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-Amen

flinfman · Post by **flinfman** » Mon Dec 18, 2000 5:28 pm

Jan is a great thief and funny as hell too. Him, plus at least two fighters, two mages, and one wildcard is how I play. But a thief is a must-have for those traps (which are rather creatively located at times).

Elenias Nal'nair · Post by **Elenias Nal'nair** » Mon Dec 18, 2000 6:23 pm

There were always chests which I wasn't able to break even with STR20 but can't remember if the stuff was worth it.
btw. I love that 'Room of the many doors'. Never again had a thief earning that much XP, so get a thief, check this room and kick him out if you don't want to have one.

Seabass · Post by **Seabass** » Tue Dec 19, 2000 10:22 am

Eyo does anyone know where you can get a knock spell, cuz Im haven a real hard time finiding one. I dont have a thief, maybe it was dumb, but Im doing pretty good anyways ( me, a 17th level mage, Edwin, Viconia, Valygar, Korgan, Minsc ) But see I wanna get into the Lich at the city gate area. And lucky me its locked.

Maurice · Post by **Maurice** » Wed Dec 20, 2000 5:16 am

I'm not sure ... but couldn't you get one on Waukeens Promenade? Either in the back of the Adventurer's Mart, or otherwise the scroll merchant somewhere at the top of the Promenade.

KidD01 · Post by **KidD01** » Wed Dec 20, 2000 10:54 am

Actually to open locked chests or doors you can force open it with the attack button, but sometimes it does not work. I guess the strength of the character forcing the locks is the problem.

About detecting traps, you can still detect traps with spell, but you must save lots of Detect traps spell on your spell caster. Perhaps you will consider resting if your spell caster ran out of that spell

I always keep 2 thief on my party, but i never ever use Yoshi again after i've realized the thing he'll do when i used him once.

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They can only kill me with golden bullet !

[This message has been edited by KidD01 (edited 12-20-2000).]

[This message has been edited by KidD01 (edited 12-20-2000).]

[This message has been edited by KidD01 (edited 12-20-2000).]

Seabass · Post by **Seabass** » Wed Dec 20, 2000 6:21 pm

Yeah I found the spell, only needed to use it once through the whole game, to get the daystar. Just passed it, without a thief.
All I had was 3 fighters:
minsc(flail of ages),
korgan(frostreaver),
valygar(dual wielding day star & Celestial Fury, I like that one)
2 mages:
myself
Edwin
And last but not least, our beloved cleric:
Viconia