potions of mind focusing

Ned Flanders · Post by **Ned Flanders** » Thu Jan 31, 2002 11:19 am

I only bring this up because I haven't seen it mentioned around here before, Potions of mind focusing are outstanding.

They are cumulative.

They are abundant.

I'm guessing most of you know this but if not, they provide a great boost. +3 int and +3 dex for twelve hours. drink a couple and the AC bonus alone is worth it.

The only thing I'm not completely sure of is which types of dispels will remove boosts from potions. dispel magic must be one, not sure of the others.

Stilgar · Post by **Stilgar** » Thu Jan 31, 2002 12:42 pm

Their great when you're fighting mind-flayers!!!!
But i usually forget i have potions and end up drinking all at the final battle!

Morlock · Post by **Morlock** » Thu Jan 31, 2002 3:29 pm

Originally posted by Stilgar
Their great when you're fighting mind-flayers!!!!
But i usually forget i have potions and end up drinking all at the final battle!

That happens to me all the time. I always keep scrolls, potions and wands till the end, always saying I'll need them later, and never use them. My current game I'm being more careful, I do spring cleaning every few days, leaving myself only with things I know I will use.

Ned Flanders · Post by **Ned Flanders** » Thu Jan 31, 2002 3:31 pm

yeah, because of current group, i've been forced to be a little more cautious.

UserUnfriendly · Post by **UserUnfriendly** » Thu Jan 31, 2002 3:47 pm

if you are fond of nalia, until I get immie she is it until I get her mess with that weenie roenthal fixed, and I dislike yoshimo and jan intensely, yoshimo for obvious reasons, and jan casue I dont like turnips, ...

well nalia really sucks as a only thief...and its quite hard to find potions of master thievery, so I discovered the blue potions will do very well as substitute...increase her dex high enough, she is very good at thief stuff...in fact, its better than potion of master theivery, since higher dex seems to increase her trap disarm skills, but master theivery will not....

if you take nalia along, make sure you have her memorize a buncha knock and clerics have detect traps, but blue potions will do in a pinch!!!

Morlock · Post by **Morlock** » Thu Jan 31, 2002 4:01 pm

I have found that what the game is sourly lacking, is a good pure theif, to go from start to finish. Thinking ahead I created a theif in BG1, killed Sarevok, imported my theif into BG2 (as a swashbuckler) and picked up Edwin (with happy script, I am playing lawful good) solving both theif and mage troubles for the duration of the series.

Xyx · Post by **Xyx** » Thu Jan 31, 2002 5:18 pm

Originally posted by Morlock
I created a theif (...) I am playing lawful good

Is that even possible? A Lawful Thief?

I found that the game is quite doable without any Thief whatsoever. The Maze traps are annoying when soloing, and it would certainly make things easier if you can shoplift half the town, but mages open doors just as well, and Clerics detect traps even better (though only a Thief can disarm them).

Stilgar · Post by **Stilgar** » Thu Jan 31, 2002 6:43 pm

Originally posted by Xyx

Is that even possible? A Lawful Thief?

I found that the game is quite doable without any Thief whatsoever. The Maze traps are annoying when soloing, and it would certainly make things easier if you can shoplift half the town, but mages open doors just as well, and Clerics detect traps even better (though only a Thief can disarm them).

No, a thief can be anything except lawfull good...... (if i'm not mistaken)

Curdis · Post by **Curdis** » Thu Jan 31, 2002 8:37 pm

Stilgar correctly answered

No, a thief can be anything except lawfull good...... (if i'm not mistaken)

Unless you have a mod.... - Curdis !

Morlock · Post by **Morlock** » Fri Feb 01, 2002 3:08 am

Sorry, my mistake I meant a good party, my theif is neutral good.

@XyX: a. a good theif is better than a cleric for finding traps.
b. Traps can often slip from annoying to dangerous, especialy the ones that don't disapear even if they were stepped on.
c. My theif is much more than a theif. He and Keldorn lead every attack (with CF and daystar) and he is a great scout, with his hide in shadows very succesful. and, something which I have just discovered this past game, detect illusions has almost negated the need for true sight (by almost I mean in the off chance that my theif is incapacitated) and if TS is needed, Keldorn has 4 a day and will get more.

Phantom Lord · Post by **Phantom Lord** » Fri Feb 01, 2002 6:03 am

Traps are a major XP source IMHO, whenever one springs I'm upset because of the XP that escaped me, not because of the dmg I may took (unless I get killed but in that case I have an excuse to reload and disarm the trap). A good trap is worth more than a Troll and causes less effort to disarm.

Btw, to be supercorrect: Thieves can not be lawful alignment, whether they are good, bad or indifferent.

Since we're in a thief topic, I always wondered if there are any significant advantages if ability scores scores exceed 100%?

Stilgar · Post by **Stilgar** » Fri Feb 01, 2002 6:05 am

And to go futher in the thief topic, how come i get different ammounts of exp. when picking a lock, or disarming a trap?

fugitive · Post by **fugitive** » Fri Feb 01, 2002 6:07 am

i always give the potions of intelligence and such to my mage so he can then add as many spells as needed to his mage book. you get some really good and fast XP that way. pretty sweet....

fugitive · Post by **fugitive** » Fri Feb 01, 2002 6:09 am

i think it depends on the difficulty for the lock/trap.. as you know not every trap is as easily disarmed and not every doorlock as easily picked.... for traps it might also depend on the amount of damage or spells it deals out...

lompo · Post by **lompo** » Fri Feb 01, 2002 6:56 am

I did't thought of the potion of mind focusing for improving thievery skills. Sounds a good idea!.
I got Nalia, althought for finding traps I often use Valigar as a scout (hide in shadows) and the spell find traps and if any found have Nalia disarm it.
Anyway Nalia very rarely fail to disarm a trap, what is she lacking is the lockpicking, and for that I have her momorized a spell knock if I find a single chest (and eventualy my PC with girdle of strenght and Draw upon holy might), while if there are several locks to open I drink a potion of master thievery.

Ned Flanders · Post by **Ned Flanders** » Fri Feb 01, 2002 9:38 am

posted by stilgar
And to go futher in the thief topic, how come i get different ammounts of exp. when picking a lock, or disarming a trap?

Can't we just talk about my potion, the real focus of the thread.

Just kidding, with respect to your question stilgar, i believe the experience becomes greater with the level of the thief performing the action. I've always noticed the trend to be this way. If I'm wrong, then I'm wrong. try experimenting with multiple thieves of different levels working the same trap. I'm willing to bet if you have nalia disarm a trap and then reload and have jan disarm the trap, the experience points awarded should be different. again, I'm not claiming 100% accuracy. In fact, I'm quite batty.

Morlock · Post by **Morlock** » Sat Feb 02, 2002 11:05 am

Originally posted by Phantom Lord

Since we're in a thief topic, I always wondered if there are any significant advantages if ability scores scores exceed 100%?

Other than the fact that more is better, I don't see any. Although, some of the skills, like detect ilusion, reach their peak at about 100%. Pick pocketing has to get to about 220% to acheive perfection- 100% success, although I've heard that there is always a 1% chance of failure, I've never encountered failure at 220%.

Littiz · Post by **Littiz** » Sat Feb 02, 2002 12:30 pm

The problem here should be the PENALTIES.
If you try to disappear in a full light, you'll have a malus on your roll.
The same if you try to pickpocket a high-level NPC.
At least, so was in PnP, I think at least the hide in shadows
modifier is implemented.

So, it should be better having more than 100% in your abilities.

THE JAKER · Post by **THE JAKER** » Sat Feb 02, 2002 12:42 pm

Hey Ned, what's up?

I agree that the Mind Focussing are very very useful. I always carry a bunch - you get the AC bonus, bonus to thief skills, bonus to lore, and a bonus on your missile weapon attacks. They are particulary great when dealing w/ pesky mind flayers, but the long long duration makes them a great value at all times. You can steal some of these potions or buy them at any temple, I always have some in stock.

They're great for helping the AC of low dex fighters like Korgan, Anomen, or Keldorn if you haven't gotten the dex gauntlets yet. Also if you have Keldorn and Anomen in the party you can boost the one that doesn't get the gauntlets.

I used mind focussing potions a lot in the first Baldur's Gate game because a point or two of AC REALLY makes a big difference at low levels, and I used missile weapons a lot more in that game.