What are the instant "Game Over" circumstances?

Klorox · Post by **Klorox** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 5:43 pm

I'm going to give that no reloads thing another shot, but this time I will only start in BG2. I am trying to figure out the ways characters can be instantly killed. Please help me formulate a list here. My theory is that I can easily put together a party of 5 NPCs to handle all of the game, but I want to make a Protagonist that is most likely to avoid instant death.

I can think of:

Charm (I'm pretty sure the Protagonist getting charmed instantly ends the game)
Imprisonment

TIA

Crenshinibon · Post by **Crenshinibon** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 6:08 pm

Protagonist getting Mazed (Looking at the Barbarian versus Berserker thread, I do believe that the Berserker's Rage protects against Imprisonment and Maze)

Jedi_Sauraus · Post by **Jedi_Sauraus** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 1:59 am

hehe it seems to me your getting it backwards, Crenshinibon. you recommend the Barbarian in the other thread to somebody just out to play and a berserker to someone who choses to play no reloads ?? Here is a situation where the Barbarians near immunity to all forms of damage really shines, and choosing a class to make 1-2 fight's (Demi-Lich) easier.......... well I wouldn't do it. for charm you can always use the shield when you know your going to face it, chaotic commands for everything else. he is running with a team after all

I would recommend a Cavalier or Monk and, for you, with no reloads I'd lean towards Monk. I'm sure your familiar with his many advantages. It's the perfect anti K.O class

that being said what you should look out for (in no particular order)

Fear - running around and perhaps into traps is never good for survival

Stun - if you get stunned while tanking it is game over for you, the enemy has some rudementary AI and will focus it's attack on you once your stunned

Imprisonment - 2 fights only don't worry about this one.

Maze - real killer even low level mages can cast this and in your case 1 failed saving throw is all it takes.

Mind Flayers: avoid these like the devil they are smart

the instant you get stunned by their psionic blast they will rush you and 2-3 hit kill you (auto hit's when your stunned)

Poison: strong poison can really screw you over if your not prepared for it
high level mage spells: wail of the Banshee and Abu Dazims horrid wilting both deal either death or insane damage

Firkraags fire breath can easly take down 3 casters at a time. don't get caught with your pants down in that fight 90% FR is minimum

Thrifalas · Post by **Thrifalas** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 2:04 am

Charm doesn't end the game, and I'm very unsure about the others, although Imprisonment and Petrification ends it instantly. Anyone with saves at appropriate places or knows how to summon in charming/mazing creatures to try both on the lone protagonist and the protagonist of a small party?

From the top of my head, I'd say that spells that removes you from the party ends the game instatly, as you in that way "looses" your main character, just like romances ends if your loved one gets imprisoned. Imprisonment and petrification has that effect, but neither charm nor maze does. Maybe they do if you're the last one to stand.

Anyway, very unsure about this, would like to get some evidence on it =)

Thrar · Post by **Thrar** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 7:53 am

I'm pretty sure - to the extent that I would make my game depend on it - that from what's been mentioned, only Imprisonment and Petrification instakill as long as you have a party with you.
Charm, Domination and Maze (maybe more) are only deadly for solo characters (not sure what happens if the whole party is affected at the same time). Confusion is not, neither is fear (although both can easily lead to an untimely death!).
Of course, there are several "save or die" spells, starting from the lowly chromatic orb at higher levels. Finger of Death is seen quite frequently later on, but I suppose you know about that kind of spells. Death Ward or Protection from Magic (Necromancy) is enough against most of them.

Crenshinibon · Post by **Crenshinibon** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 2:03 pm

Any sort of mind control, be it charm or domination, ends the game instantly, at least for the solo character.

VonDondu · Post by **VonDondu** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 3:52 pm

[QUOTE=Thrar]Charm, Domination and Maze (maybe more) are only deadly for solo characters...[/QUOTE]
That is correct. If you have a party, the game doesn't end when your main character gets Mazed or Dire Charmed, for example.

[QUOTE=Thrar](not sure what happens if the whole party is affected at the same time).[/QUOTE]
That's an interesting question. I'm sure it must have happened to my party at least once, but I can't remember what happened.

I've been playing a no-reloads game of my own, and everyone except my main character has died at least once. Jan got chunked by a dragon (the one that is added to the game by the Saerileth mod), so he is gone permanently.

The main enemies I worry about are Beholders, which can cast Disintegrate, Petrification, death spells, and (in the case of Elder Orbs) Imprisonment. My party is in the Underdark at the moment, and I had Imoen clear the southern tunnels with a Wand of Cloudkill. I don't think it was quite as cheesy as it sounds because they DID chase her through the tunnels and basically she was gassing the whole place and setting "traps", so to speak, while relying on nothing but her own stealth. (She wasn't using the Cloak of Mirroring or the Shield of Balduran, but I did give her the Boots of Speed.)

Thrar · Post by **Thrar** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 7:45 am

That elder orb imprisonment, does that require touch (ie a successful melee attack), is it a close range spell, or is it the same thing Kangaxx does?

CFM · Post by **CFM** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 1:10 pm

VonDondu wrote:That's an interesting question. I'm sure it must have happened to my party at least once, but I can't remember what happened.

I think that happened to me at some point. I was only able to sit back and watch the action. It was kinda funny: everybody mindlessly running around this way and that. Then seconds later, one of my dudes suddenly stopped running and was green again. I selected him (her?), and was back in business.

But I could be remembering wrong. I don't even remember if that happened in BG1 or 2.

Thrar · Post by **Thrar** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 4:04 pm

What you're saying sounds like Chaos, which isn't deadly for solo characters either. If they were charmed/dominated, they shouldn't run around mindlessly.