Going solo - discussion thread

Curdis · Post by **Curdis** » Sun Jan 21, 2001 9:14 pm

Obviously there are many of us who have nothing better to do than play BGII 10 to 24 hrs a day. After playing through the fourth time with a party I actually didn't do the whole elven railroad ending (no choices, been there, done that, been GOOD, been EVIL, got the saved games..). I then decided that solo was a worthwhile option. I have to say that for the multiple times through gamer it is brilliant. I am being challenged by the game again. Those moments of anticipation (etc.).

So, open questions:

What is the solo code of ethics?
I boot all NPC after having them join so I find out where they go to, BUT in the Irenicus dungeon I kept Yoshimo for the second level because I could not have gotten all the stuff out without him (These are scrolls for an Assassin to be dualled to mage). Also it seems that booting Jaheria at the start means she is forever gone (not in the docks by the Harpers like she said).

What about NPC quests? Which ones happen fast enough to allow a join/boot strategy? Or is this not part of the solo experience.

Traps/Locks?

Who has finished solo and what with?

- Curdis

Alienbob · Post by **Alienbob** » Sun Jan 21, 2001 9:17 pm

um.....Korgan's quest starts as soon as he joins your party.

Rail · Post by **Rail** » Sun Jan 21, 2001 9:30 pm

Heh, heh! I don't think there *is* a solo code of ethics. Whatever floats your boat.

I agree, if you've finished the game several times, try with less characters, or even solo. It does challenge you and force you to come up with new strategies.

The game, as a solo, has plenty of experience points available for the character, so I think you don't need to do the character quests. Just do the main quests (i.e. deArnise, Windspear, Umar Hills, Trademeet, Unseeing, etc.) and you'll hit the cap without problem.

Some people have said you need an NPC with you to gain certain items or pass certain areas, but I think that's part of the fun of soloing, figuring out ways to do this by yourself.

BTW, what kind of character are you soloing with?

Alienbob · Post by **Alienbob** » Sun Jan 21, 2001 9:33 pm

Yes i agree you will hit the cap on the main quests, but what if you turned the cap off?

Rail · Post by **Rail** » Sun Jan 21, 2001 9:41 pm

Even then, you will go way over the cap. I guess, it's just the principle of the thing. I like the challenge of doing the game with only my character. I don't want to follow Cernd's or Korgan's plot. Just mine. It's all about me! ME!!! Heh, heh!

@Curdis- to answer your last question, I'm soloing an assassin, female elf, and I should be in Spellhold in a few days.

[This message has been edited by Rail (edited 01-21-2001).]

Alienbob · Post by **Alienbob** » Sun Jan 21, 2001 9:44 pm

Hmmmm...I prefer to use Npcs in the front lines and let them get killed.

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Alienbob, hunter of the undead, slayer of the unjust, bringer of light, destroyer of evil.

Console Gamers Suck!

Rail · Post by **Rail** » Sun Jan 21, 2001 9:46 pm

That works. You get to loot their stuff, then. Of course, you're playing evil, right.

Alienbob · Post by **Alienbob** » Sun Jan 21, 2001 9:51 pm

well of course. when im playing as a paladin i would sacrifice my life to save my friends. well....sometimes anyway.

Weasel · Post by **Weasel** » Sun Jan 21, 2001 9:59 pm

Sure you would Alienbob

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The Defender of Truth

Curdis · Post by **Curdis** » Sun Jan 21, 2001 9:59 pm

Ah Rail, My Assasain is female too (she's unimaginatively called Morticia, CHA = 3) but I thought dualing to Mage at lvl 13 would be best (x5 backstab - extra weapon proficiency) but it is a real bear getting my mage from level 12 to 14.

Alienbob, To do Korgan's quest he has to be in the party.. so solo he is no go. But for instance Jan's 'the hidden quest' actually ensures he is NOT with the party (however he has to be with the party for 15 days for it to start - now I'm quite happy to have a Jan sleep over for 15 days but he is NOT getting ANY of MY exps!). AND of course it's OK to sacrific party members if your a Paladin. You'd lay down your life for them right? yeah right. - Curdis

Alienbob · Post by **Alienbob** » Sun Jan 21, 2001 10:00 pm

SHHHHH. Damn it Weasel stop giving away my secrets.

@Curdis- of course i would lay down my life for them.

dont listen to Weasel, he is the master of deception.

[This message has been edited by Alienbob (edited 01-21-2001).]

Rail · Post by **Rail** » Sun Jan 21, 2001 10:30 pm

Never trust Weasel. We all know that. Right, Weasel?

Hey, if you're not using the exp. cap, wait till you get the x7 backstab. I'm keeping her as an assassin. At least you won't have trouble betting from lvl 1-8 as a mage. Just have enough scrolls you want to keep and memorize them. Makes it easy.

P.S. As an assassin, what has been your hardest part? Mine has been vampires. Nothing to protect you from level drain. I have to separate them and kill them one by one, and if I am drained, it's off to the nearest temple. Daystar sure helps, though.

Weasel · Post by **Weasel** » Sun Jan 21, 2001 10:52 pm

Who me I'm the Defender of Truth

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The Defender of Truth

Alienbob · Post by **Alienbob** » Sun Jan 21, 2001 10:59 pm

Right.

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Alienbob, hunter of the undead, slayer of the unjust, bringer of light, destroyer of evil.

Console Gamers Suck!

I love you Katie. (even if you like console gamers)

Curdis · Post by **Curdis** » Sun Jan 21, 2001 11:12 pm

Rail, The dualling at 13 to mage was so I could cast all the nifty spells AND wear the amulet of power (permanent negative plane protection). I went from lvl 1 to lvl 10 on all the stolen scrolls

in one sitting. My chief problem currently is traps/locks because I don't want to waste the exps! Doh story; Also dualed before I finished the thief stronghold so I didn't get it

.

And all you good/evil Paladin types unless your dualing (and Paladins can't) what are you doing in this thread? - Curdis

Alienbob · Post by **Alienbob** » Sun Jan 21, 2001 11:19 pm

Are you kicking me out?

sniff. sniff. fine. be that way, i never liked you all anyway.

Rail · Post by **Rail** » Sun Jan 21, 2001 11:41 pm

@Weasel- BTW, who's truth? Just wondering.
You know *I* trust you, though.

@Curdis- All the way to lvl 10?!? That's better than I thought you'd get. Awesome! Dualled a fighter to a thief and got up to lvl 6 (I think) just on the locks and traps in thieves guild and assassins guild, but lvl 10 rocks! XPs go a lot further when you're solo.

@Alienbob- Paladins can't dual. But, since you're sacrificing all your friends and looting their bodies, you obviously can't be a paladin, so you're still included in this.

Alienbob · Post by **Alienbob** » Mon Jan 22, 2001 5:26 pm

ha! see Curdis, Rail still wants me to hang around. so there

.

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Alienbob, hunter of the undead, slayer of the unjust, bringer of light, destroyer of evil.

Console Gamers Suck!

[This message has been edited by Alienbob (edited 01-22-2001).]

Nighthawk · Post by **Nighthawk** » Mon Jan 22, 2001 6:12 pm

Vampires are part of why I picked Berzerker (rather than Kensai) to dual over to thief. I wish I had taken the Berzerker to level 13 instead of 10 for the extra attacks, but that would have made the crossover period much harder.

So far I think my most challenging solo fight has been the bard quest. It's tricky fighting over a half-dozen bounty hunters with nowhere to hide. It's even tougher when two of them are spellcasters capable of instantly killing you if you fail a save.

Fun fights are the one in the sewers and the guarded compound. So far I haven't been able to kill dragons since I refuse to use more traps than I can place in a single pass (no trap/sleep/trap for me).

Potions of Invisibility are VERY, VERY nice.

Rail · Post by **Rail** » Mon Jan 22, 2001 11:07 pm

Yep, I live off the potions of invisibility and the rings. Sometimes I rest just to get them charged again.

The astral prison *was* tough. I used tons of potions there, but the spellcasters weren't too bad. You have to hit them first with backstabs, but you *need* to have those boots of speed if you're a single class thief.

BTW, berserker is an excellent choice. I wanted to try to do it without dualling, but berserker would be my first choice for fighter. Any fighter, however, can get the Mace of Disruption +2 for vampire protection, but it takes a while and you have to go through a tone of vamps just to get it.