various questions on soloing

Levendis · Post by **Levendis** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 10:45 am

Recently, I dusted off BG to take another run through. This time I figured I'd start with BG1 as a Fighter, which I would eventually develop into a Kensai/Mage for BG2. I had never played the K/M before and thought it would be fun to give it a go. I started up the game with my Fighter, and have made it as far as the beginning of Cloakwood.

Just recently, I came across this guide/journal on Baldurdash regarding someone who played through the entire series as a solo mage. Forget the Kensai/Mage, I want to try that.

However, I want to get the full experience (no pun intended) from the game, which includes the NPC quests. Is there any way to "force" them? I remember having to wait many levels between picking up Anomen and finishing his quests. However, I don't want to keep around NPCs other than to help them with their quests.

Also, I'm wondering if there are any other guides regarding a solo mage. The journal I found on Baldurdash covers BG2, but I'm actually more concerned with BG1. I'd like to be thorough, but I can think of a few quests in BG1 where a solo character (of any class) doesn't stand a chance. The traps in Durlag's Tower and the werewolves of Ulgoth's Beard also strike me as a more than significant obstacles.

Any other advice would be nice, though if we could avoid spoilers about ToB and the end of BG2, that would be great. It's been long enough since I've played them that I don't exactly remember how it ends. I'm not even reading the Elmonster's guide past the beginning couple chapters.

Sator · Post by **Sator** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 6:55 pm

There is a separate forum for BG1, but i'm sure one of our beloved moderators will take care of this.

As for soloing the game with a Mage - BG2 and ToB: easy as long as you don't install difficulty enhancing mods. BG1: High on impossible, mainly due to the experience cap and lack of high level spells.. You would face a lifetime's worth of reloads, at the very least

wise grimwald · Post by **wise grimwald** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 6:02 am

Levendis wrote:
Also, I'm wondering if there are any other guides regarding a solo mage. The journal I found on Baldurdash covers BG2, but I'm actually more concerned with BG1. I'd like to be thorough, but I can think of a few quests in BG1 where a solo character (of any class) doesn't stand a chance. The traps in Durlag's Tower and the werewolves of Ulgoth's Beard also strike me as a more than significant obstacles.

The quests you mentioned are not that difficult with a solo fighter/thief, however with a solo mage they would be a real challenge if not impossible. No doubt somebody will have done it and if they have, they have my respect. In my opinion there is no such thing as cheese when trying such a difficult task as this. The main problem will be traps.
Spoilers
As for advice, use invisibility to avoid the worst problems. For instance with a mage even the relatively easy spiders are a challenge, but if you go to the back room invisible, you can then pick them off with a sling. Make sure that you pick up all the wands so that you can cast spells that you are too inexperienced to use. Get as many necklaces of missiles as you can. A lot of the worst enemies can be wiped out whilst out of sight with wand of fire or necklace of missiles, a cheesy tactic with a party, but not so with a solo mage IMO. Algernon's Cloak will be a real boon, but as you aren't a thief, you will have to either kill him yourself with the conse
quent loss of reputation, or wait until you have done Nashkel mines, charm him and send him in to meet that nice mage who lives in an adjacent room. If you have already annoyed that mage he will kill Algernon for you without loss of reputation. After that you can charm enemies and use them to take the flak. e.g. Charm Zargal and use him to attack Bassilus. Charm the powerful fighter located outside Tazok's tent and get him to kill Tazok. Charm the fighter with the boots of speed and get him to kill the others in his party. Even if he doesn't kill all of them, it will make the others easier. When fighting the lesser wyverns outside the cave, retreat over the bridge and you can pick them off with your sling. Are these the sort of suggestions that you want? I could add more, but it will give you a flavour of how to make difficult tasks relatively easy.

wise grimwald · Post by **wise grimwald** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 9:06 am

Spoilers
I personally wouldn't do Durlag's tower until you have the boots of speed so that you can run away. A lot of traps can be dealt with by charming an enemy and using him to set off the trap.

wise grimwald · Post by **wise grimwald** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 3:35 am

Sator wrote:There is a separate forum for BG1, but i'm sure one of our beloved moderators will take care of this. As for soloing the game with a Mage - BG2 and ToB: easy as long as you don't install difficulty enhancing mods. BG1: High on impossible, mainly due to the experience cap and lack of high level spells.. You would face a lifetime's worth of reloads, at the very least

Now you've been and gone and done it! You've set me a challenge, which I am actually finding quite interesting. I've had to use a completely different mindset. I'm actually using an illusionist for the extra spells. However I can't remember if I'll be able to use knock which might be essential later on. however it is certainly making for a different game.

Grombag · Post by **Grombag** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 4:55 am

Checked it in easytutu. You are allowed to take knock. The opposition school of the illusionist is necromancy. Have fun.

wise grimwald · Post by **wise grimwald** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 6:13 am

Grombag wrote:Checked it in easytutu. You are allowed to take knock. The opposition school of the illusionist is necromancy. Have fun.

Thanks a lot. Am having great fun with a completely different game. Decided to have a charisma of three since I could boost it whenever needed. By so doing, I am discovering which quests are affected by charisma. I was surprised at the number that are, and not just in the reward given at the end.
I will certainly have a good character in BG2 as it is so easy to change charisma from 3 to 25 there.
Since there have been no replies to the original question concerning walkthroughs for solo mages, I was wondering if I should write one. I have already got as far as the Iron Fist with ease, the only problem I had being ambushes at the beginning of the game. I have certainly learnt that spells which I didn't think of as being particularly powerful are actually the most potent of them all. I certainly have needed knock. Without it, some quests are impossible.

wise grimwald · Post by **wise grimwald** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 6:31 am

Levendis wrote:Recently, I dusted off BG to take another run through. This time I figured I'd start with BG1 as a Fighter, which I would eventually develop into a Kensai/Mage for BG2. I had never played the K/M before and thought it would be fun to give it a go. I started up the game with my Fighter, and have made it as far as the beginning of Cloakwood.

Just recently, I came across this guide/journal on Baldurdash regarding someone who played through the entire series as a solo mage. Forget the Kensai/Mage, I want to try that.

However, I want to get the full experience (no pun intended) from the game, which includes the NPC quests. Is there any way to "force" them? I remember having to wait many levels between picking up Anomen and finishing his quests. However, I don't want to keep around NPCs other than to help them with their quests.

Also, I'm wondering if there are any other guides regarding a solo mage. The journal I found on Baldurdash covers BG2, but I'm actually more concerned with BG1. I'd like to be thorough, but I can think of a few quests in BG1 where a solo character (of any class) doesn't stand a chance. The traps in Durlag's Tower and the werewolves of Ulgoth's Beard also strike me as a more than significant obstacles.

Also, I'm wondering if there are any other guides regarding a solo mage. The journal I found on Baldurdash covers BG2, but I'm actually more concerned with BG1. I'd like to be thorough, but I can think of a few quests in BG1 where a solo character (of any class) doesn't stand a chance. The traps in Durlag's Tower and the werewolves of Ulgoth's Beard also strike me as a more than significant obstacles.

Any other advice would be nice, though if we could avoid spoilers about ToB and the end of BG2, that would be great. It's been long enough since I've played them that I don't exactly remember how it ends. I'm not even reading the Elmonster's guide past the beginning couple chapters.

Can you tell me which quests are impossible solo? I haven't yet found one in BG1. I may be able to give you some hints. Of course I may have missed some simply by not knowing that they are there.

Klorox · Post by **Klorox** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 4:28 pm

wise grimwald wrote:Can you tell me which quests are impossible solo? I haven't yet found one in BG1. I may be able to give you some hints. Of course I may have missed some simply by not knowing that they are there.

Other than NPC-specific quests, nothing is impossible to do solo in this game.

wise grimwald · Post by **wise grimwald** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 5:39 am

Klorox wrote:Other than NPC-specific quests, nothing is impossible to do solo in this game.

I thought that was the case. What I suspect is that Levendis has not thought through alternative ways of solving problems. I am currently down with the Wyverns in Durlag's Tower with a solo mage and had to work out several alternative methods of dealing with traps and actually using them to my own benefit. SPOILERS When attacked by Kiel, Islanne etc. I positioned myself so that they all killed themselves by setting off traps. In other situations enemies affected by panic have set them off for me. In other cases I walked round them, and in yet other cases I outran their effects. Dimension door is also useful for bypassing them. There are probably other ways of dealing with them, but I am certainly glad that I tried this out. It is far more of a challenge than using a fighter/thief.Apart from the Ducal Palace, I found the main quests to be quite easy as was Ice Island.