Guide to Tactical mods (spoilers)

Tricky · Post by **Tricky** » Wed Dec 08, 2010 10:41 am

Oh, I just remembered I'll probably be playing this game over a LAN with my girlfriend who hasn't played much beyond the Sims and Civilization. Erm.. I think I should keep it clean of tactical mods for now, at least. Unless you have something that might still be good for a newbie too.

Stworca · Post by **Stworca** » Wed Dec 08, 2010 11:06 am

Tricky wrote:Oh, I just remembered I'll probably be playing this game over a LAN with my girlfriend who hasn't played much beyond the Sims and Civilization. Erm.. I think I should keep it clean of tactical mods for now, at least. Unless you have something that might still be good for a newbie too.

Try SCSII on easy? Vanilla BG AI is dumber than rocks, so i couldn't play without SCSII ever

Tricky · Post by **Tricky** » Thu Dec 09, 2010 3:31 am

I'll read up on what exactly it modifies then. If something gets too hard for her, I can at least still go Dumbledore on them.

Tricky · Post by **Tricky** » Sat Dec 18, 2010 1:46 pm

I think I messed something up on the installation order. BG2 Tweak Pack and BG2 Fix Pack can be installed together right?

For the LAN game, I have that those two + SCS2 installed, with the Tweak Pack last, as you suggested.

Stworca · Post by **Stworca** » Sat Dec 18, 2010 2:59 pm

Have you installed the official patch as first? Then fixpack, followed by any other mods you want, then SCSII, and as last Tweaks.

Tricky · Post by **Tricky** » Sat Dec 18, 2010 3:10 pm

Official patch! Forgot that one. I am getting old.

Stworca · Post by **Stworca** » Sat Dec 18, 2010 3:20 pm

Tricky wrote:Official patch! Forgot that one. I am getting old.

According to "old rpg" thread in general forums you're old when you hit 1 year. So i'm affraid we all are.

At any rate, we've just crushed the "Spoilers" thread with views! Whoo!

Stworca · Post by **Stworca** » Fri Apr 01, 2011 11:49 am

Updated the guide to Improved Ilyich with videos. These were made with a custom party, but at the same time 'tis was insanity.

Stworca · Post by **Stworca** » Sun Apr 24, 2011 10:43 am

Added a minor video of Minor Tactics encounter.
"Gnome Fighter/Illusionist in Docks"

Visit post 13 or Index of post 1 to find it.

More videos on their way.

Stworca · Post by **Stworca** » Sun Apr 24, 2011 4:20 pm

I've added a video walkthrough of Kuroisan's fight. Link in the second post.

Stworca · Post by **Stworca** » Thu Apr 28, 2011 1:06 pm

Another hidden Tactics jewel.

"Lich in the Docks" fight video has been added to the guide.

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgUQguUkO88&hd=1"]You can also view the video here[/url]

Mr.Waesel · Post by **Mr.Waesel** » Fri Apr 29, 2011 3:46 am

Could you do a write up of SCS Sarevok? I could only beat him by resorting to cheese (arrows of dispelling) and I still haven't found a good way to tank Sarevok himself

Stworca · Post by **Stworca** » Fri Apr 29, 2011 7:27 am

You mean Baldur's Gate 1? I only finished it once, despite playing six times to boost all stats by 6..

There aren't many spells you can use in the first game, unless you mean with ToTSC. I started playing BG1 again a few weeks back, and we haven't gotten into Neshkel Mines yet.

If i get to Sarevok, then i may install SCS1 and write a guide for it (i will have a sorcerer in party for sure), but don't hold your breath. BG is so low on the "to do" list that i have "stare in the ceiling while drooling" above it. :laugh:

Mr.Waesel · Post by **Mr.Waesel** » Mon May 16, 2011 4:46 pm

Hi, some info:

In SCS II remix version, the fight is much differend. First of all no adds appear unless you set it with console by yourself, next - you dont lose any items in phase one. And last but not least - there are only 2 phases, second one is exacly the same as vanilla game fight.. Except for upgraded demons (2 balors and 2 glabrezu).

In the SCSII version, in phase 2, Irenicus is actually a spellcasting Slayer. He starts off with spell protections out the ass and immediately casts Time Stop. If it goes off he will usually kill 1 or 2 party members before the duration runs out.

Stworca · Post by **Stworca** » Mon May 16, 2011 5:32 pm

Mr.Waesel wrote:Hi, some info:

In the SCSII version, in phase 2, Irenicus is actually a spellcasting Slayer. He starts off with spell protections out the ass and immediately casts Time Stop. If it goes off he will usually kill 1 or 2 party members before the duration runs out.

Can you give me more information about the actual fight (SCSII remix)? It seems that it's a version change.

Thank you for assistance.

Mr.Waesel · Post by **Mr.Waesel** » Mon May 16, 2011 5:45 pm

Played on Core

Phase 1 is the same as in Tactis, as far as I can tell. It's Jon the mage + the wraith (still only hurt by nonmagical weapons) + the dragon with its level drain breath (or melee attacks, it died too quickly for me to tell) + the sword that is only hurt by magic damage + a beholder that can buff itself like the SCSII elder orb. Jon still has shatter magic.

Easy phase, beat it in one go. Wasn't paying that much attention to the monsters' abilities but Jon said bits in his opening speech about the orb draining con and the sword or wraith draining strength that sounded familiar from when I did this fight in tactics.

Phase 2 is comparatively hard. The game saves, everyone gets resurrected and healed, and teleported to the same spot in front of the door as in phase 1 (and presumably tactics). Jon appears, give his vanilla speech ('can't even prevent your companions from helping you' etc) and summons the 4 demons he summons in vanilla. However, he also turns into the Slayer (keeping his spellcasting ability).
He autobuffs with the same buffs any SCSII high level mage buffs himself with, most notably SI: Abjuration and Spell Trap. He has an imp invis/Fire Shield/Fire Shield spell trigger as well.
As soon as the fight starts, he begins casting Time Stop. Once it goes off he starts meleeing the nearest party members, and he beat my 220 HP antipaladin to death through Hardiness, so he's a melee machine. I eventually beat him after quite a few tries by having my mage cast Time Stop asap. Then when it ran out Jon refused to cast his Time Stop for some reason and I kited him while I dealt with the demons. After that it was just a simple matter of debuffing him and beating him to death. He doesn't rebuff as far as I can tell, though he did have 2x Melf's Acid Arrow in a sequencer

Once he's dead the game proceeds to the epilogue as normal.

Overall easier than I remember the Tactics fight being, but I haven't played that in years.

Stworca · Post by **Stworca** » Fri May 27, 2011 4:04 am

Well, i might look into the hybrid once more in the nearest future, but for now we have the more cheesy encounter on our horizon.

Speaking of Horizon :

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCCN6OoJoaI&hd=1"]Watcher's Keep favorite : Demon Wraith. No trap disarming (our thief died..). SCSII + Insanity, as always.[/url]

Has been added to minor encounters in the guide. Above link takes you to the video.

Stworca · Post by **Stworca** » Sat May 28, 2011 5:02 am

A fun, SCSII-only minor fight video :

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gocTJvIMXhY&hd=1"]Six Glabrezu Summoners. Watcher's Keep.[/url]

Has been added.

Stworca · Post by **Stworca** » Sat May 28, 2011 2:08 pm

You want more dragons!?
[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZjsiRxv_qo&hd=1"]Here you go! Saladrex on insanity video. We see some 300ish fire attacks here.[/url]

Encounter added to minor encounter list.

Stworca · Post by **Stworca** » Mon May 30, 2011 5:24 pm

With SCSII the Watcher's Keep demi-lich is the toughest one of the bunch. He has HLA's, there is no room to dodge his attacks, he summons a planetar and two balors during two time stops and is immune to god himself from the word go.

Can such a being be destroyed without cheese? With a character other than these pathetic lvl 40 dual class "winners"? No slayer change?
[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnndWbtzo_g&hd=1"]Yes. Yes he can.[/url]
Five minute long fight video has been added to the guide. Not very exciting though. You have been warned.