To all that Have played a solo game.

The fallen one · Post by **The fallen one** » Fri Aug 03, 2001 10:39 am

When playing a solo game is it possible to play all the side quest. Or is some of it to hard because of to many monsters you have to fight at once. I have noticed sometimes you can get one or two to advance and the rest stay behind. And what about taking out some of the other harder foes like draco in TOB I have a party of six that had trouble taking him out. I would like to solo but do not want no cheese involved. I was thinking of maybe my self and one other charcter. Please let me know if you liked to solo or not or if it is just something to say you done it.

Aegis · Post by **Aegis** » Fri Aug 03, 2001 10:42 am

Everything is possible in the game to do on your own, it is just a measure of difficulty. Draco is an incredably hard fight to do on your own, but with the right wards and attacks, he can be done. There are other quests which are a little more difficult (Anything with imprisonment), but they are all doable.

Doltan · Post by **Doltan** » Fri Aug 03, 2001 12:09 pm

Aegis is exactly right. There is nothing that can't be done, but certainly some of TOB is a little easier if you disable the exp cap and allow your solo char to go over 8 million exp (more true for multiclass than dual class). There was only one battle I found impossible after about 10+ tries: There's a demi-lich on level 4 of Watcher's Keep that keeps casting imprisonment. I didn't have a scroll of magic protection with me and my spells of spell turning kept running out before I could kill him. Imprisonment is instakill for a solo PC.

On a side note, why is Imprisonment instakill? Is your PC just standing there exposed, or are they in some sort of other plane fighting to get out based on their Int? It seems to me that you would be perfectly safe when imprisoned, and could just pop out in a few rounds and continue fighting. Also, why are domination spells instakill? They really should be forced to hack on my PC for as long as I am dominated (just like paralyzation). If they can kill the PC before their spell runs out (doubtful given the large number of protections), then the PC deserve the death. If you ask me, all instakill sucks.

Reidemeister · Post by **Reidemeister** » Fri Aug 03, 2001 12:49 pm

Imprisonment actually makes sense, since you're stuck in "some hellish pocket plane below the earth" or some such until somebody casts freedom. So if you're soloing, you'd be stuck. Maze is probably what you're refering to, and I readily agree with you there.

Xyx · Post by **Xyx** » Fri Aug 03, 2001 12:49 pm

Originally posted by Doltan:
why is Imprisonment instakill? Is your PC just standing there exposed, or are they in some sort of other plane fighting to get out based on their Int?

Imprisonment is insta-kill because you are teleported to some lonely, isolated bubble deep beneath the surface of the Earth!

You are probably thinking of Maze there. That has a duration dependent on your Int.

As to why Maze insta-kills when you are solo... Same goes for Charm Person. Probably because the game is over by default if there are no controllable characters around anymore.

Besides, if I was a Mage and got caught in a Maze, I'd try to rest in there before I came back out, or at least cast every prep spell I had left.

Doltan · Post by **Doltan** » Fri Aug 03, 2001 12:54 pm

Originally posted by Xyx:
Imprisonment is insta-kill because you are teleported to some lonely, isolated bubble deep beneath the surface of the Earth! You are probably thinking of Maze there. That has a duration dependent on your Int.

Oh yeah, I meant maze. Thanks for pointing that out.

As to why Maze insta-kills when you are solo... Same goes for Charm Person. Probably because the game is over by default if there are no controllable characters around anymore.

Sure, it must be a programming thing. But it is frustrating when you are trying to do solo, no deaths/reloads.

Besides, if I was a Mage and got caught in a Maze, I'd try to rest in there before I came back out, or at least cast every prep spell I had left.

Exactly! That is so true. It's like casting Sanctuary on yourself. I'd kick it in the maze until the baddies get bored, then come out and whoop some *ss.

The fallen one · Post by **The fallen one** » Fri Aug 03, 2001 12:55 pm

So you are saying if that you solo and get dire charmed or something the game thinks you are dead and you need to re-load.

polaris · Post by **polaris** » Fri Aug 03, 2001 1:17 pm

Is that true? I can not say because I did not solo BGII. When I did solo BG I, I LIKED getting dire-charmed. That was my signal to go get some snacks and another cup of coffee.....while I waited out the spell.

Are you saying this is not the case in BGII?

Also why does Imprisonment end the game if your pro gets imprisoned? It seems to me that if any of your party is still active, they COULD free you afterwards, right? [My point is that you aren't really dead.]

-Polaris

Doltan · Post by **Doltan** » Fri Aug 03, 2001 1:44 pm

Originally posted by The fallen one:
So you are saying if that you solo and get dire charmed or something the game thinks you are dead and you need to re-load.

Yes, that's the sad point. It makes soloing tough. I've compiled a list of spells that either make you lose control of your PC or lead to instakill (having to reload). If anyone could add to or correct this list, it would be appreciated. I don't have experience with all of these, partially because when you get the death screen you don't always know what killed you.

Non-instakill
Take away control, but do not force a reload:
Sleep
Spook
Horror
Power Word: Sleep
Hold Person
Confusion
Emotion?
Chaos
Feeblemind
Power Word: Stun
Symbol, Fear
Symbol, Stun

Instakill
Force a reload:
Charm Person
Dire Charm
Polymorph Other?
Domination
Flesh to Stone?
Finger of Death
Sphere of Chaos (sometimes?)
Maze (no save!)
Symbol, Death
Imprisonment
Power Word: Kill
Wail of the Banshee

mikeheitz · Post by **mikeheitz** » Fri Aug 03, 2001 1:48 pm

This is kinda on topic... so here goes...

I started a Solo game last night... Swashbuckler that I will dual to Mage at some point... I read on the board here that Swashbuckler/Mage is fun to play and a decently powerful char. My question is this... HOW THE HECK DO YOU KILL ANYTHING AS A LOW LEVEL SWASHBUCKLER???? Oh my god! Me and 1 goblin, toe to toe, for about 50 sword swings before I finally hit him!!! My Thaco is like 17 or 18!!!

Xyx · Post by **Xyx** » Fri Aug 03, 2001 4:28 pm

Originally posted by polaris:
Also why does Imprisonment end the game if your pro gets imprisoned? It seems to me that if any of your party is still active, they COULD free you afterwards, right? [My point is that you aren't really dead.]

Even if you were dead... Why can everybody and their mum be Resurrected, but not you?

Originally posted by Doltan:
Non-instakill
Take away control, but do not force a reload:
Feeblemind
...

Instakill
Force a reload:
...

Feeblemind is permanent, right? If that doesn't give you the 'death screen', that only means you have to go open the 'load screen' yourself...

Also, I kinda take it that Disintegrate should be in there.

Nature's Beauty should also pose monumental problems if it were implemented in a realistic way. No screen. Good luck finding the cure if you're not a priest...

The fallen one · Post by **The fallen one** » Fri Aug 03, 2001 7:30 pm

Jeepers having to be woried about all those mind and body controlling spell that can be casted at you must be a real pain in the butt.
I can understand some of the instakills making you re-load like imprisonment. And there is no one around to save your PC. But lets say that you have a freedom scroll in your back pack???? Then what. But I think that all the spells that can wear off in time should be ok. Then one could say that the enemy will take you out when you are charmed.
Do think the programers made it user friendly to solo?? Or did they make it to be played with more then one.

General · Post by **General** » Fri Aug 03, 2001 8:49 pm

Bah!!! Go into a berserker rage and see how well those charm spells work

spork · Post by **spork** » Sat Aug 04, 2001 12:35 am

As far as I'm concerned, the best soloing journal by one of the best soloists to grace this board is [url="http://www.gamebanshee.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=2&t=004726"]here[/url]. Read the last few pages if you are only interested in ToB stuff. The bad news about soloing is that you will have to do some cheesy stuff: either rest a lot or reload more than you like or use combat tactics that your PnP DM would probably not allow.

The good news about soloing is that you really learn all about the resources available to a class.

I went through from the very start with a swashbuckler who dualled to mage at level 11. I know mikeheitz mentioned he's having trouble with the swashbuckler in Irenicus' Dungeon. My advice is to think hard about an optimal strategy for every fight. Remember that you can hide in shadows and use a shortbow. It's easier with a swashbuckler than with a thief. You'll quickly learn the "divide and conquer" strategy. This is the sort of thing that makes soloing fun.

Whether you go on the "rural" quests should depend on your class. If you're a paladin or a druid, definitely go. The best stuff for a swashbuckler/mage is right there in town (boomerang dagger, boots of speed, gaxx ring, magi staff, in that order). Once you have these, get on the ship (on day 4 for me).

polaris · Post by **polaris** » Sat Aug 04, 2001 12:36 am

IMO Berserker rage is something that works far better solo than in a group. You CAN fail your moral check when Berserk. If you do, you lose control (yellow circle) and attack *anything* near you. Even solo that can do bad things for your reputation.

-Polaris

Sojourner · Post by **Sojourner** » Sat Aug 04, 2001 12:45 am

Another good soloing journal can be found [url="http://ericathecleric.homestead.com/"]here[/url].

Delacroix · Post by **Delacroix** » Sat Aug 04, 2001 12:56 am

About the Imprisonment problem:
Scroll of magic protection
Spell Imunity-Abjuration
beserker
Spell trap, Spell Deflection(for a few seconds protection)
Wizard Eye, as a first target( Send the eye in the front, than after the lich target him go with your group, because the eye is imune and the lich don't change his target).

Quark · Post by **Quark** » Sat Aug 04, 2001 3:57 pm

The reason the protagonist can't be resurrected is based on the fact that you are a Bhaalspawn. Res'ing them is supposed to be harder than normal people. Hell, for Sarevok to come back to life it requires a little bit of another Bhallspawn.

The question is: what about Imoen. Why is she NOT subject to this? Hehe

DrowElf86 · Post by **DrowElf86** » Sat Aug 04, 2001 6:00 pm

about the swashbuckler problem

a way to become powerfull early on with the swashbucklet is to take 3 profs 2 weapon fighting and 2 profs long sword as soon as possible then sneak through the secrect passage on the first floor of the inn in the gates district pick the chest grab the long sword and run and you get a good long sword daystar which is awsome against undead if you side with the Shadow Thiefs then also early on do the druid grove quest kill the stooges in front of the grove and get the flame tounge sword +4 against undead and random +'s against others duel wielding these swords makes you a very formidable opponent in the early game however i recomend a sorcerer for single play because they can use knock and improved invisibleity instead of thief skills but thats my recomendation for a pure swash note with just a swash you will have major problems against high lvl mages like irenicus and lichs for single fighting i would recomend the inquisitor but they cant open locks which makes them immposible to solo with oh well now im rambling hope this helps

Kitka · Post by **Kitka** » Sat Aug 04, 2001 6:55 pm

my thanks to sojourner for posting my solo trek!

i played a cleric and had no problems at all with the *no cheese factor. you see, the only weakness a cleric has is fear inducing spells. can reverse it on others, but remove fear is not like protection from fear.

hee hee. my story is full of helpful tips for strategies and items that have more use for solo guys, like the cloak of sewers- regen in troll form, rat can stroll over any trap. the real trick to sucesfully solo is to know the class strengths and then use them to maximum effect. indeed, dont underestimate the value of potions - there is one for any situation you come across. and gold is no worries when you sell all that armour and stuff you would normally give to other party members.

every class has some way of overcoming what seems impossible. even liches. remember the cheap and plentiful protection from undead ? to initiate conversation, you may have to wait for it to wear off, but it works great in bodhis lair and against varying liches. and an item that you should get and keep, even if you choose no proficiencies in is the mace of disruption with cromwells ilitium upgrade. this is the best against undead.

its a crying shame that ive lost the link to Mishik's story, he took a wizard slayer through soa- and proved that even without potions (and even healing potions at that time-pre tob) there are sufficient items and strategie that allow completion of almost every quest-with possibly one of the hardest classes to choose restriction wise.

another tip that helps out is the shield of harmony from trademeet.the mind shield helps out against so many types of confusion spells that there is no problem. and it lowers your ac. take into account your ability to summon, even if it is only the spider figurine and the horn of vallhalla-these guys can aid you a lot. remember to hold on to the staves of air and fire-helpful summonimg abilities in these. be carefull with your ai setting-its good to use one that will suit the battle you will be entering, as standard attack can cause problems in large groups. *the pause button is still your friend*

you cant be targeted when invisible-so keep a ring or potion handy. and you will level like crazy at the start. think ahead, when selecting proficiencies - it helps if youve played through more than once and know what weapons are coming up. thaco is terribly important! heehee. to open locked doors raise your str-the crom fayer is very good for this-proficiencies or not. people always get annoyed at the traps, and see them as the real problem. truthfully, they can be tough.-but certain traps can be used to your advantage-like the skinner murder - the cloudkill that goes off - go downstairs, then lure the runeassassins upstairs and set off the trap! haha.same in the unseeing eye lower levels. but you can always try to raise your magic resistance or heal afterwards. make sure your wisdom is 11 or better so you can use scrolls of restoration-these also heal you! use the rod of ressurection on yourself to heal! carry antidotes to poison, and potion of genuis to face illithid. save your arrows of dispelling from the planar sphere to take out irenicus easily.-discard all but the arrows/bolts of biting..these are great for spell disruption. use the slayer form-and buy rep at temples. there is every reson to have a go, and no matter what class you pick you will find a way around the problem.

good luck!, XXX Kitka.

[ 08-04-2001: Message edited by: Kitka ]