Is this a sound solo strategy?

[Klorox]

I just came up with a kinda cool (at least I think so) solo idea (and a relatively fresh one, if I'm not mistaken). I'm thinking of playing a Lawful Good solo Dwarf Barbarian.



Start in BGI (tutu) -- The tomes help so much. At least the physical ones (STR helps THAC0/damage, DEX actually increases AC (17-18 DEX), and CON grants regeneration. Higher amount of starting XP in SoA also helps in the beginning.

In BGII, concentrate on dual wielding, with ** in Long Swords, Bastard Swords, Katanas, and Flails (I'll have tons of proficiencies left over).

In Watcher's Keep, I'll be able to get the Purifier (Lawful Good). With that, and the Sword of Balduran I'll have a decent magic resistance. If I'm not fighting spellchuckers, I equip the Defender of Easthaven for more physical resistances.

When I get to ToB, my goals are on upgrading the Purifier for an additional 10% MR.

I'm choosing Dwarf for the better saving throws (I considered Half-Orc for the higher STR and DEX, but since this character is based on being able to take a beating I don't think it'll matter much).

After I think about it, maybe I'll go for Half-Orc instead. I'm not sure yet.

So, whatchya think?

[Grombag]

Looks to me it could work, but I'm not that experienced with solo runs. I do remember reading a stratagy guide about runnning a solo beserker. iirc it was on this site in the strategy section.

Edit: yes it was, although it was about SOA only. It can be found here

[Thrifalas]

I wouldn't rely so much on the Purifier considering that it's usable by Paladins only.

[VonDondu]

I think you might be better off with the Axe of the Unyielding. It chops off heads like no one's business.

[Klorox]

I wouldn't rely so much on the Purifier considering that it's usable by Paladins only.

Is it really?


DARNIT!!!!!!!

(BAck to the old drawing boards)

[Klorox]

Looks to me it could work, but I'm not that experienced with solo runs. I do remember reading a stratagy guide about runnning a solo beserker. iirc it was on this site in the strategy section.

Edit: yes it was, although it was about SOA only. It can be found here

Oh, it's a barbarian, just like I was thinking. Oh well.

[Thrifalas]

Is it really?


DARNIT!!!!!!!

(BAck to the old drawing boards)

Definately is. You need to be Lawful Good in order to obtain it, but it's still only Paladins (and thieves/bards) that can equip it.

However, a fine replacement for that loss would be playing evil instead and getting Human Flesh and Hindo's. That'd give 30% MR as well as +4 saving throws, immunity to death spells and a grt. Restoration spell. Also get Ring of Gaxx, Seldarine Amulet, the ToB and Lum bonus for a neat 65% MR.

If you're really scared of spells you can always get Belt of Inertial Barrier and Cloak of Mirroring as well...

[Klorox]

That's a great idea, but I really don't like evil. I always want to be a goody two-shoes.

[VonDondu]

Oh, it's a barbarian, just like I was thinking. Oh well.

So your idea of playing a solo barbarian was not as "fresh" as you thought because someone you'd never even heard of once did it. Um, so what?

I still like the idea that someone else once had of playing a halfling barbarian who dual-wields daggers. That would HAVE to be fun.

[Crenshinibon]

I never tried the dagger idea, but I soloed a halfling barbarian (pretty overpowered in my opinion), and took advantage of the maximum resistances (which we spoke about in another thread). I thought it was fun, well, as fun as hack and slash goes.

Aside from having a good AC (through the Whire Dragon Scales (AC: -2, just as good as any plate you'd have a fighter wear) and having close to three hundred hitpoints, you have a constant 40% resistance and 80% through hardiness. So you don't get hit often, and when you do, it's nothing but a scratch (even dragons do less than ten damage to you).

Not to mention that you can take advantage of the Improved Haste for offensive purposes and Mirror Image for defensive (thus giving you even more survival ability).

[Klorox]

So your idea of playing a solo barbarian was not as "fresh" as you thought because someone you'd never even heard of once did it. Um, so what?

I still like the idea that someone else once had of playing a halfling barbarian who dual-wields daggers. That would HAVE to be fun.

I know, silly, right? It really doesn't bother me too much, I guess I just fancied the idea of doing something for the first time (I'm sure it's been done before though).


RE: Crenshinibon:

I think the dwarf idea is equally as good. I was ripping off of that resistances thread also, but I guess what really bothered me (this is gunna sound dumb) is that I couldn't use the Purifier. I've never used it before, and 30% MR is outstanding.

I might play the dwarf barb anyway (he won't be LG though!)

[Coot]

I still like the idea that someone else once had of playing a halfling barbarian who dual-wields daggers. That would HAVE to be fun.

That was MiniMe. I remember having a lot of fun reading his thread about his halfling barb because he had such an affinity for it.

I played a half-orc barb once (as a matter of fact, it was my first BG char... ever) and although he served me well, the extra str and con are not as useful as a dwarfs resistances.

I'm pretty sure that, by now, all possible race/class/weapon combinations in BG have been tried. if you feel the need to be original (which I can imagine) you might consider using a game editor to create an illegal pc. You know, something like a half-orc wild mage... or a dwarven paladin...

[Fezek]

You could try a dynamic duo. I've just finished playing a Shapeshifter and a Jester team. Kayos and Ballance were their names and they were quite fun..I am just about to enter ToB with them.

[Saros]

Why don't you simply try a F/T multiclass? You can be dwarf or halfling, whatever you want more. Of course, the Purifier will be unavailable to you unless you temporarily join a LG character, which I don't consider major solo-disruption strategy. This way, you can have pretty good physical resistances(45% permanent, 85% with hardiness), great MR(both with Purifier and Carsomyr), nice HitPoint score, and great HLAs. And later in ToB, if you have gone the evil way, you'll get additional permanent physical resistance bonus, making your character nearly impervious to physical damage.

[Dante2377]

I saw this thread last week and decided to Solo using the Dwarven Barbarian (I've solo'd using various Paladins before too).

my original proficiencies were 2x dual wield, 2 x flail, 1 x long sword 1 x short bow with my next 3 points rounding out dual wield, long sword and short bow.

In a couple days of play, I've plowed through every Chapter 2 and 3 quest except for the Twisted Rune (I'm 25th level right now) and all I have left is the last quest for Aran (going and dealing with Bodhi the first time). I was running through it pretty quick, but the only times I "died" were two separate times when I was mazed (once from the Tieflings in the Planar Sphere and once from one of the Liches, either Elemental or Shade) because I got lazy and hadn't noticed my Rage wear off. (I have used the Simmy from Vhailor's Helm vs hard battles like Dragons and Torgal early on).

My primary weapons are main-hand Flail of Ages and off-hand Defender of Easthaven, but with my kit speed (+2) and the Boots of Speed I use the "run around and shoot 4 arrows/round with Tugian Bow" strategy when called for. I occasionally use Daystar vs Undead too.

As for the person who's concerned about Magic Resistance, I haven't missed a save since around level 10 or so - the Fighters have the best saves, plus Dwarves +5 (I have 19 Con) and you get 2 items with +1 to saves right in the first dungeon, can buy another at the Mart right outside, and can get a cloak somewhat soon as well. So you're looking at low saves plus an additional +7 right out of the dungeon and once you get some of the other items, your saves (esp magic) will be well into the negatives in no time flat. So if you're a Dwarven fighter-type, you'll only need to worry about Maze and Imprisonment.



EDIT - I also use the Item Upgrade mod, so I have the upgraded Aegis Hide for the elemental protections. I also usually wear the helm that gives +20 or 25% to elemental resistance as well, so even damage spells like Fireball, I'm saving for half and then that gets halved again.

[galraen]

So if you're a Dwarven fighter-type, you'll only need to worry about Maze and Imprisonment.

That raises a point I've been wondering about for some time. Does the game actually implement the golden rule, that one is always a fail, irrespective of anything else?

I've never been too sure about that, if anyone has a definitive answer it would be appreciated.

PS Apologies to mods if I've gone too far off topic.

[fable]

Not too far off. It seems pertinent, and it's an interesting discussion.

[Dante2377]

I just ran into the Gauth in the Maze and it was a good test b/c I'll get to save vs spells 4-6 times per round.

I did in fact save several times while rolling a 0 (yes a zero).

The actual line is

Conan - Save vs Spell: 0

This was against a Paralyze eye ray (I was not enraged nor did I have anything that would prevent me from being paralyzed) and I didn't get paralyzed. I had that come up several times.

I have a screenshot if anyone wants me to email it to them.

[Dante2377]

FYI, further update - I'm now in hell (I hit the lvl 40 xp cap I installed somewhere in ctr 6). The only thing that fazes the Dwarven Barbarian from a Magic perspective is Maze/Imprisonment. I went through the whole drow city, suldassenar, and Irenicus #1 with only the odd Maze here and there.

I also have Improved Aegis Hide, Helm of the Rock (with Horns, I stopped off and did the first 2 levels of Watcher's Keep so I can upgrade Flail of Ages with the poison head), so between all of that for elemental protection and DoE + Barbarian + Hardiness + GWW, I'm pretty much a killing machine.

Definitely way easier than the Paladin solo I did last year.

[Dante2377]

Soa was a breeze. First parts of TOB are easy (head grove, first challenge, getting out of saradush). Yag shura soldiers are easy, but fire giants are much harder! The elites in yag shura lair called for all my resources (hardiness, gww, invis from Gaxx to rest/regenerate).