I just noticed this thread became scarily storylike the farther I got in the game. No matter, as long as I had fun with it.
I'm actually giving it another swing, too, Luis. However, I'm currently in the process of installing everything all over. I haven't played BG for months, so I need to refresh my memory on what I installed and what I didn't. I'll edit this post later today with a detailed list of the installed Mod's and the respective components I left out.
The list I wrote in my first post is fairly spot-on, though.
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This is what I’ve got installed for my next try:
Improving Difficulty / Quest adding Mod’s:
Ascension
Apack
Battles V5 (skipped components: 3,4,11,13)
Tactics (skipped components: Improved Undead, Smarted Mages and Liches)
DOQuest
Unfinished Business
G3Anniversary
Rest:
The G3 Tweak Pack
DOTweak
ItemUpgrade
Ashes of Ember (Iron- and Stoneskin component. I hate that grey look on my fancy looking NPC’s.)
Banterpack
Flirtpack
EaseOfUse
Refinements
That’s it. I fear I have handed myself too much trouble on my own plate by installing certain components, such as Improved Demons, Master Brain, Firekraag, Temple Sewers Party (that Sorcerer is nasty), and probably Improved Mind Flayers. But I’ll see how things turn out, if continuously dying gets tedious to the point of being totally annoying, I know I overstepped my boundaries.
Luis, concerning your raise dead issue, I always resurrect(ed) party members. They can die, they can be resurrected, thus I do so. When I die it’s over, when an NPC gets chunked, it’s over for him/her. In my opinion, there’s nothing wrong with resurrecting.
Not taking Sola along is probably a good idea, too. I’ve never been able to beat his nasty encounter without the use of cheese and even with the use, I never made it without dying. If you want to finishing the game, without dying, all the way through ToB, how small that chance might be, installing Sola is not advised.
I like your party. You gave yourself a solid, strong character, capable of surviving most encounters as long as he’s protected sufficiently. My character, the Archer/Thief, is kind of on the weak side and has the tendency to die quite easily. Unfortunately I’m addicted to the versatility and capabilities of the class, so I’m stubbornly sticking to it.
You’ve got two mages, Jan and Xan. Are you planning to take Imoen along as well? If so, then definitely no Tashia. If not, then Tashia might be a powerful addition, but not necessary.
You’ve got three rangers, two clerics (you and Aerie/Vic), one thief and more than enough fighters. I’d say you got all the bases covered nicely.
As for your choice of Viconia/Aerie, I advice you to take Aerie along. You got more than enough power on the clerical level to justify Viconia’s absence. Not only that, Aerie is welcome because she’s a mage, too, which gives you three mages. There’s no need for Tashia or Immie in that case.
Keep us updated. Don’t let yourself be knocked out because Illyich is a pain in the butt. Just take it slowly, hit and run, guerrilla warfare is pretty much the key here.
