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I got SOA for Christmas last year, was trying to find a decent game to play on my slow machine. However, it wasn't working properly in Win2k and I was always too lazy to install it on my Win98 partition until a couple of weeks ago. One of the first RPGs I got into (besides Zelda many moons ago) was Ultima Exodus for the NES or SNES, don't remember which and a couple Wizadry games I had rented over the years. I never got around to owning any for the computer until I got Planescape in the bargain bin. It was ok, a little too much reading and got boring about halfway through. So, i heard about SOA and figured it sounded great. Anyhow, I have been playing a couple of weeks now and have a few questions.

I was having trouble deciding on a PC because there are so many choices and I didn't want the default newbie class Paladin (though I did get an awesome role when I created one all 18's except 12 in INT), it just seemed to standard and generic. I did create 3 PC and then imported into single player so I could try out a few different classes and still add NPCs.

My main character is Shylaman, a dual Fighter/Druid. I really like him. Druids seemed cool from a role playing point of view, but plain was a little too weak for it being my 1st go round. The fighter/druid is really nice, though. I started off with 5* in scimitar, but found there weren't enough good ones, so I switched with Shadowkeeper to staves. He is 15 16 17 8 18 17, a nice well rounded character, the roll was hard because of the requirements. I dualed him at lvl 9. Now I am at 9/13. Cast stone skin then send in some conjured creatures and mop up with my AC that just got to -10, it is great.

Also, I made a dual Ranger/Cleric, dualed at lvl 9 with 18 18 18 12 18 7. She, Emi, is a nice tank, I cast stone skin also and go in with flail of ages and frostreaver. I see why people say it is a really strong class, many benefits.

My third was Sasha, a dual fighter/thief dualed at lvl 9 18 18 18 12 10 10. 5* in katana and 2* in sword and shield. I got hide in shadows and move silently up to 100, hoping to backstab. Only problem is I don't really know how to, it doesn't say in the book. She is pretty deadly regardless.

Then for my NPCs currently I have Aerie, Imoen, and Korgan. I had other ones to do quests.

One of my problems is that I did several quests in Chapter 2 to build up money and EXP and it took a long time. Then i got soem money to free Imoen after first buying some items and then chapter 3 and 4 went by in just few hours of play time. Now I am in the underdark. I spent a week and half in Ch2 and no time in 3 and 4. I still ahd several quests I wanted to do from earlier, but when I went to save Imoen it just kept progressing and I never got back to the main land. I am in the Underdark now. So are the other quest lost? Do I just have to do them the next time I paly the game? Which I will have to, there are other characters I want to play. I like the fighter druid, but I don't knwo about you guys, but even while I am having fun playing with these characters I can' stop thinking about what I want to play next. There are so many possibilities. Not to mention something besides dual class so I can try other races besides human. And I want to dump Aerie next time and try a different romance, she wines all the time and has low HP. Plus, it'll give me another free spot for a different NPC to carry through, maybe Jaheira.

Also, I should get TOB for my next time thorugh. Should I install it before or after I start? I though I read soemthing about soem differences in characters you can create depending if it is installed or not. Like no Ranger kits or something in a dual class.

Also, what other games are like this? Is Icewind Dale liek this? I haven't seen any other RPGs with a good ADD rules set and all the character possibilities and the great setting and gameplay like SOA.

Soryy for the long post, I jsut had a lot of stuff to go over as I am very excited about the game. I do tend to get held and poisoned/diseased/etc all the time though and that sucks. And I have a little trouble with the magic casters, seems teh magic aspect is fairly complex and takes a lot of knowledge of the various spells to be successful. Most of the time I never use half of my spells, I msut be doing something wrong and just don't realize their benefit Well this is long enough, but I am sure I will have more stuff soon.

To answer your question about the quests you didn't finish back in Athkatla, the answer is, you will eventually return to Athkatla, and you can finish them. As far as those quests go, it will be as if you never left town.

To avoid being held, there's a Cleric/Druid spell called "Free Action", a potion called the Potion of Freedom, and an item called the Ring of Free Action. To avoid disease, there's an item called the Ring of Gaxx, and acquiring it is a lot of, uh, fun. (It might seem difficult at first, but nothing is impossible if you know the right strategy.) You can also cure disease with a Cleric/Druid spell.

I think Throne of Bhaal can be installed on top of your current game. I don't think it will cause any problems. It's an expansion. There are new spells, new abilities, a higher experience cap, and new quests. Only one of the new quests (Watcher's Keep) is accessible before you finish Shadows of Amn. When you get your soul back and kill your tormenter, Throne of Bhaal will begin, and you can treat it like a new game (none of the quests in Shadows of Amn except for Watcher's Keep will be accessible).

Instead of installing Throne of Bhaal on top of your current game, you could also finish your current game and then install Throne of Bhaal and import your Final Save. Some people would argue that the game balance is a lot better that way. I think I would agree. After finishing Watcher's Keep, the big, bad Irenicus will seem like a chump.

I don't know what to tell you about which class to play or which NPCs to take with you. It's entirely up to you and how you like to play. I could share some of my own experiences, though. I've played BG2 about ten times, and I can say that my own tastes have changed quite a bit over time. I used to rely on ranged weapons a lot, then melee weapons, but now I really enjoy using spells. There are a hundred different strategies for each major battle; it's up to you which style you prefer.

As for NPCs, it's possible to complete the game (with flying colors) with ANY group and ANY NUMBER of party members. I used to play with a full party of six because I enjoyed the NPC interactions so much. But now that I have most of the dialogue practically memorized, I use my own imagination to fill in the dialogue, and I assemble my party according to their abilities and role-playing requirements. I once played a party of troubadours that included a Blade, a Skald, a Jester, Haer'Dalis, Aerie (her vocals improved), and Imoen (on tambourine). In my last game, I had a half-elf Cleric/Ranger and Imoen in my party. When Imoen was unavailable, I temporarily recruited Nalia and Keldorn in those rare moments when my Cleric/Ranger needed help, or when it suited the game from a role-playing perspective. (For example, Keldorn was sent by the Temple to assist my character with a specific quest, so I thought it was appropriate to let him join. But I didn't expect Keldorn to work for Bodhi, so I dismissed him before I joined her.)

Throne of Bhaal added some new twists to my role-playing enjoyment, and even inspired me to go back and play BG1 again. There are also a lot of "MODs" out there that add new quests, new dialogue, and new characters to the game. I really enjoyed the Ascension MOD for Throne of Bhaal.

BTW, if you don't like Aerie now, you might change your mind about her in Throne in Bhaal. In a lot of ways, I think she's very true to life: she's a young girl who's never been with a man before, and she lacks confidence, so she requires a great deal of patience on your part. But after she has been with you for a while, she grows up and becomes a genuine sex kitten. Personally, I think her romance is a lot more fun overall than the romances with Jaheira and Viconia (or Anomen, for that matter).

There are other games that use the Infinity Engine, but you're probably spoiled now that you've played Shadows of Amn. BG1 was the greatest thing ever back in its day, and the Tales of the Sword Coast expansion made it even better. I bought Shadows of Amn instead of Icewind Dale back in 2000, so I haven't played Icewind Dale. But some people speak very highly of it, especially if you also get the expansion packs, Heart of Winter and Trials of the Luremaster (sp?). Icewind Dale 2 should be on the shelves pretty soon, and it looks very promising. It actually incorporates some of the 3rd Edition rules, which should be interesting. There's also NeverWinter Nights, which you might have heard about. There's also a game called Planescape: Torment, which isn't your typical D&D adventure, but you might really like it.

Learning to choose the right spells, and use them, will come when you have listened to miles and miles of cheese posts here.

Also, IWD is like BG2 but more hack and slash like.

Tob, only adds one other class, the wild mage, and set the Xp Cap to 8'000'000 or something. Plus some high level abbilities and spells.

Bow to VonDondu and his lightning (and long) typing.

Thank you, Bloodmist. But I'm a she, not a he.

Originally posted by VonDondu
Thank you, Bloodmist. But I'm a she, not a he.

I sincerely appologize.

Don't worry about it, Bloodmist. There's no way you could have known.

UncleScratchy, I'm not opposed to using an avatar, but I do have trouble picking one that suits me, because I can't make up my mind about how I want to represent myself. The size restriction (50x50 pixels) is also a bit of a problem. I've never had any problems choosing avatars for the characters I play, though, so I think I'll just use one of those (I cropped it). It wasn't my first choice (the others don't look good when they're reduced), but it looks good despite its small size. I hope you like it!

Now what's that suppose to mean...

Originally posted by UncleScratchy


@Bloodmist: Honestly, you couldn't tell? Geez o' meez friend. Even I feel bad now. I mean she has good grammer, spells well, has logical thoughtful dialog, tries to be helpful, dislikes cheese and cheating, etc. Compare to your typical guy - can't spell and doesn't care, doesn't know what grammer is, disoriented, sounds brain damaged, loves cheese, etc. Okay, an avatar could be helpful but she doesn't have one. Maybe we can help her rectify that.

...men really suck when it comes to proper use of language?!!!

As for Shadow Walker, take it easy. I would like to think that you would have the time to experiment all possible combos you can think of. Just like Uncle Scratchy, I tried using all the NPC's available and after that I started making my own party using the multi-player option. My first "multi" party was a take off from the 6 out of the 9 walkers of the Lord of the Rings: Aragorn (Stalker), Gandalf (Mage), Legolas (Archer), Gimli (Wizard Slayer), Frodo (Fighter/Thief) and Boromir (Berserker).

EDIT- BTW, welcome to GB, Shadow Walker.

@Von: Nice avatar. Would give other GBettes a run for their money.

aharlika

@Bloodmist: Honestly, you couldn't tell? Geez o' meez friend. Even I feel bad now. I mean she has good grammer, spells well, has logical thoughtful dialog, tries to be helpful, dislikes cheese and cheating, etc. Compare to your typical guy - can't spell and doesn't care, doesn't know what grammer is, disoriented, sounds brain damaged, loves cheese, etc. Okay, an avatar could be helpful but she doesn't have one. Maybe we can help her rectify that.

At least, the average guy is gallant, it seems!!
(Let's leave something for us, too!!

Originally posted by UncleScratchy
I love it! Beats the heck out of a kitty or puppy. Your avatar could give an old gnome a heart attack. Now, if I could just hold Boo while I take my last breath, I will die happy.

Sorry I'm responding so late, but thanks for the compliment. You too, Maharlika. But if the face in that portrait could give you a heart attack, it's a good thing you haven't seen the rest of it. But if you think you can handle it, here it is, if you dare to look.

Warning to new person...

Dont know about anyone else but when you buy a new game, like bg2..

You start playing and its like
"Yeah! +2 long sword, my character rules!"

and all is innocent, and fun..

Game boards like this will utterly rob you of that *gaming innocents* there the metaphorical apple weilding snake.. As is Sk, Beware

On the subject of Avatars, the 50/50 size thing, pisses me off!

I hope my avatar is suitably gnomethingyish, id die if it wasnt , id just die

Originally posted by VonDondu


Sorry I'm responding so late, but thanks for the compliment. You too, Maharlika. But if the face in that portrait could give you a heart attack, it's a good thing you haven't seen the rest of it. But if you think you can handle it, here it is, if you dare to look.

Truly a lovely picture, @Vondondu. Enchanting though it is, however, I'll wager 'tis but a pale reflection compared to your own radianty beauty.

Originally posted by Ode to a Grasshopper
Truly a lovely picture, @Vondondu. Enchanting though it is, however, I'll wager 'tis but a pale reflection compared to your own radianty beauty.

When talk like that begins.. Theres only one thing for it,

"ABANDON POST!!! GNOMES AND SKELETAL RATS FIRST!!!!"