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I'm using Minsc as my main fighter, and currently he's using the "Two Handed Sword, Cursed Berserking +3" ... This causes some trouble in fights when I'm not using him alone.

I wondered if I got him Kiel's helmet, would that prevent Minsc from going berserk ??

Any ideas ... ?

Well, welcome to GameBanshee, Gawain.

From my experience with Minsc, I would advise that you shouldn't equip him with the Cursed Two-Handed Berserking Sword. Instead, you're better off giving him a Two-Handed Sword you'll get in a later chapter for a nigh-unto inevitable quest within a certain forest (won't spoil unless requested). Trust me, it's worth it.

Kiel's Helmet only protects against Fear and Morale Failure, not berserk status. In fact, I don't think I've never seen the helm ACTUALLY work against magical/natural fear for some reason.

If I can help with anything else, I'll be glad to. Cheers, and (once again) welcome to the forums.

Just out of curiousity, how do you normally handle his going berserk (via "go berserck" ability)?

Originally posted by Ron_Lugge
Just out of curiousity, how do you normally handle his going berserk (via "go berserck" ability)?

Are you talking about his "berserk" innate ability?

In that case, you might want to consider that when facing certain enemies that can take quite a bit of damage to go down, but aren't able to practically take a warrior down with a scratch. Wyverns, Ogres, and certain undead might be your best bets.

The thing is, you'll want to buff Minsc up with Dex- and Con-enhancing potions (ones that'll set those stats at least at 18), and give him a few shots of Bless, Prot. from Evil, and stuff like that. Be careful around Wyverns and undead, since they can inflict status ailments that could be a detriment (especially if a ghoul/ghast paralyzes him). Also, try to keep party members (especially ones without decent AC and alot health points) away from Minsc when he's berserk, since he could have a tendency to attack them when his targets are killed. You might want to place them behind an enemy (at a parralel from berserked Minsc) so that there is a hint of distance in melee combat, or go with ranged attacks (thieves and warriors with missile weapons would suffice, or mages with long-distance spells). Lastly, you have to keep Minsc above 15 health before his berserking ends, or otherwise he'll die after losing the 15 extra health points.

Overall, you might have to keep Minsc alive as much as you must keep your other guys (your protagonist, mainly) alive. It's a gamble, and so I didn't use it much, only in dire circumstances. Still, it's up to anybody on how they utilize Minsc's special ability.

Er... thanks for the advice, but you misread me. I was asking how he handled his going berserk that way if he can't handle the cursed sword...

Oh, whoops!

Originally posted by Ron_Lugge
Er... thanks for the advice, but you misread me. I was asking how he handled his going berserk that way if he can't handle the cursed sword...

I was thinking you meant something along those lines.

The cursed sword, if you ask me, is best off being sold. Besides, when a character's berserk from the sword, they don't get any stat bonuses, only an uncontrollable, unrelenting attack. If Gawain or anyone were to use Minsc w/ that, they would want to keep their distance from him. Still, since the sword can only be removed by a remove curse spell, it's DEFINITELY not worth it. He can't transition from the sword, to (example) the morningstar or the set of throwing axes you gave him? If slashing weapons don't do alot of damage (or if a creature is immune to that damage), then how effective can a warrior, even with high Str, be when equipped with a cursed +3 two-handed sword that makes him become uncontrollable in combat and can't let him change weapons? Trust me, it's about as bummer a premonition to me, as it is to you guys. I hope this helps as well.

Thanks.

I expect your talking about the sword you collect in the spider's lair in Cloakwood... I actually can't remember that sword, maybe I didn't pick it up or something... Well I'm in chapter seven so I if it's not that sword your refering to, than I would be pleased if you told me where to find it...

My main character's using the light crossbow of speed and lightning bolts, and I have Coran with lot's of potions of speed and boots of speed, and he uses the eagle bow with poisoned arrows, and dynaheir with sling +1, and bullets +2, so when I use Minsc in battle he's backed up by several good archers.

But I wondered wich level Dynaheir has to obtain before she can learn third level spells.... ? Currently she has only one second level spell, and that's stinking cloud...

I also wondered what the point in dualling Imoen is..... I dualled her when she was level 6 thief, into a conjurer, wich she's great at, but she has lost all her thieving skills.. Can't I obtain them in any way ?

Finally I just wondered how you get to the ToSC areas as Ice Island and Werewolf Island.. I've just installed the expansion, and have visited Durlags tower.. Beaten the guards but didn't dare going down the lower levels... But anyway, the two Islands I mentioned isn't on the map, so I wondered if I had to complete the Final chaper before advancing there... ?

Greateful for any feedback
Thanks

Just one more question, wich I guess it's an obvious answer to....

What's all this rolling people "talk" about when they get a level up and make their characters ... ?

Thanks again..

Originally posted by Gawaine
I also wondered what the point in dualling Imoen is..... I dualled her when she was level 6 thief, into a conjurer, wich she's great at, but she has lost all her thieving skills.. Can't I obtain them in any way ?

Finally I just wondered how you get to the ToSC areas as Ice Island and Werewolf Island.. I've just installed the expansion, and have visited Durlags tower.. Beaten the guards but didn't dare going down the lower levels... But anyway, the two Islands I mentioned isn't on the map, so I wondered if I had to complete the Final chaper before advancing there... ?

Greateful for any feedback
Thanks

I don't do much dualling in the original because there is a snag - the new class has to exceed the old before you get all the skills back, therefore you won't be able to use her theiving skills until she hits level 6 again.

talking to people in ulgoth's beard. ice island is easily reached, just chat with a certain character and you'll be whisked away, but you'll have some quests to do before you go to werewolf island, which is probably for the best - it's not easy. just talk to people in the village.

Oh, so you're in Chpt. 7, Gawain?

The sword I was referring to was Spider's Bane, as you may recall. There is a generic +3 Two-Handed Sword that you'll get in one of the expansion's areas, but seeing as it doesn't have any other big enchantments on it (and the minimal you seem to need to hit alot of hard creatures is +2) it's not too big of a deal. Mainly good to have on hand.

How much of the quests did you do overall? From what I remember, I had Dynaheir with 2 or 3 third-level spells, and 1 or 2 4th level ones at the final chapter, maybe much more.

*gritting his and nearly scowling as he says this* Hate to say this, but you might want to go back to a past save if you can and do as many quests as you can. Also, as Robnark said, you might not want to bother with dual-classing Imoen, though using Coran sounds like a bit of a smart idea. Still, you don't sound like you're in too bad of shape, especially if you made it that far.

BTW, what do you have for a main character?

Oh, and, errrr, happy birthday, Gawain.

Many of your questions are answered in the Baldur's Gate manual, but briefly:

But I wondered wich level Dynaheir has to obtain before she can learn third level spells.... ? Currently she has only one second level spell, and that's stinking cloud...

At fifth level Dynaheir gets her first third level spell slot and continues from there. If you're this far through the game I assume she's already past that, so check for empty spell slots in her Spell Book... Note; Mages don't gain spells in the same way Clerics do (who gain their mojo from a Higher Power), Mages gain spells from scrolls you find during the game. When you find one of these scrolls first ensure it's in their equipment, and then right-click on it. If the Mage can use that spell you will be given the option to Write Magic: hit this and your Mage may or may not write the spell to their Spell Book dependent on their Intelligence (you'll find their chance of doing this on the character Record screen). If all goes well the spell will appear in their book and you'll now have the opportunity to learn this spell as normal.

I also wondered what the point in dualling Imoen is..... I dualled her when she was level 6 thief, into a conjurer, wich she's great at, but she has lost all her thieving skills.. Can't I obtain them in any way ?

Your character will need to attain one level higher in her new career to get her old skills, abilities and weapon proficiencies back. Whe she reaches Level 7 as a Conjuror she'll get all her old Thieving abilities again and will be able to use a bow etc. It takes patience, but it's great when it happens...

Just one more question, wich I guess it's an obvious answer to....

What's all this rolling people "talk" about when they get a level up and make their characters ... ?

Baldur's Gate is based on Advanced Dungeons & Dragons - an old table-top game involving dice. In Baldur's Gate the computer 'rolls' the dice for you: when you attack or try to make Saving Throws against enemy spells, for example. Moreover, when you first create a character each attribute (Strength, Dexterity etc.) is 'rolled' randomly by the computer as if it was determined by rolling three six-sided dice and adding up the totals (hence scores between 3 and 18) and when you Level Up it 'rolls' a dice (or 'die' to be insufferably pedantic) dependent on your character class (from 10-sided dice for Fighters down to 4-sided dice for Mages). Most people spend a good bit of time trying for the highest 'rolls' during character generation (because you're then stuck with them for the next untold number of hours play - magic Tomes and Manuals aside) and many other people have noticed that saving your game when one of your characters gets the spangly Level Up symbol allows you to optimise (read: ensure it's at maximum) that Hit Point roll. Whether you find this behaviour unsportsmanlike power-gaming and akin to cheating, or merely getting the best from the game is largely down to personal taste (as far as I'm concerned, you bought the game, you do whatever the bloody hell you want to with it - as long as you have a yadda-yadda- challenging, yadda-yadda- rewarding and, most of all, fun time. 'Nuff said.

Thanks for the greeting

Still I'm a little behind on this "rolling".. I see what you mean with gaining different abilities.. But when you start the game and you set up the character with str dec con int wis cha.. But I don't get the point with rolling.. Isn't there a preset amount of points you can use ... ? So when you add
str
+dec
+con
+int
+wis
+cha
= a certain amount, anyhow you place the points ??

And when you upgrade your character.. How can you see the results of the roll ? How many points do you expect to gain in a level up, and how do you see how many you've been rewarded ? Do you have to write down the abilities of your character before and after you level up and compare them .. ?

To the question about what character I'm using the answer is:
Fighter, can't remember the level right now, but he has about 130k xp, and as I said he's equipped with the light crossbow of speed..

Actually when you mention it, I think maybe he's wearing the Spider's Bane... I think I run out of emty slots, and just equipped him with it, and forgot it since he only uses his crossbow...

Btw, is there any way to check how many percent of the quests you've completed ?

I think about soloing, or at least doing the game with 2 or three characters with PC as a dwarf with 19 in con.. And which of the abilities is the least important for him, when I think to use him as a fighter.. ?

I also wondered what kind of mage is the easiest to solo with.. ? Conjurer.. ?

That's all for now folks

Originally posted by Gawaine
And when you upgrade your character.. How can you see the results of the roll ? How many points do you expect to gain in a level up, and how do you see how many you've been rewarded ? Do you have to write down the abilities of your character before and after you level up and compare them .. ?

If you mean "points when levelling up" by "their stats points", then they don't get any stats points when you level up, unlike Planescape. You will gain HP, thieving skills, spell slots, new spells (if you are cleric, druid, high level ranger), lore bonus, and probably your saving throws and THOAC will go down, but not your stats. The roll, therefore, only applies for your HP (depends on class) and at the character creation. And, no, there's no preset total amount of stats points in BG.

Originally posted by Cass
[Bwhen you Level Up it 'rolls' a dice (or 'die' to be insufferably pedantic) dependent on your character class (from 10-sided dice for Fighters down to 4-sided dice for Mages). [/b]

Could you list the what dice is used for all the different classes ?

Thanks

Originally posted by Gawaine
Could you list the what dice is used for all the different classes ?

Thanks

Check in your manual. Its in the indexes, at the end, inside the exp charts...

Originally posted by Gawaine
Isn't there a preset amount of points you can use ... ? So when you add
str
+dec
+con
+int
+wis
+cha
= a certain amount, anyhow you place the points ??

No, each ability is 3-18. The total maximum is 108, and the theoretical minimum is 18, but I think the rolls are skewed toward the high end. The average seems to be in the high 70s rather than the low 60s where it should be statistically. But I haven't spent a lot of time investigating this, so I could be mistaken.

Btw, is there any way to check how many percent of the quests you've completed ?

No, you just have to keep track yourself. Your journal will tell you which quests you have begun and completed, but it isn't very well organized. BG2 is a little better on this score, but it still doesn't tell you an overall percentage. (It's a role-playing game, after all, so your character shouldn't know of any quests they haven't actually encountered.)

And which of the abilities is the least important for him, when I think to use him as a fighter.. ?

Usually WIS and INT are expendable for a fighter. Some would say CHR as well, but there are some economic advantages to having a high Charisma.

I also wondered what kind of mage is the easiest to solo with.. ? Conjurer.. ?

I never play specialist mages, so I really couldn't say, but many people seem to think Illusionist is the most versatile. This really has a lot to do with your own playing style.

The highest combined attribute dice roll Ive had was 92 after about an hour of rolling...

Originally posted by Harbinger
The highest combined attribute dice roll Ive had was 92 after about an hour of rolling...

Yeah, I got a 94 as my highest roll with a Paladin that I beat the game with. I've heard stories and/or rumors that they have the highest stat rolls of all in AD&D. Then again, I got something like 98 with a bard (who only went so far before I decided to take a long break from the game).

Originally posted by Harbinger
The highest combined attribute dice roll Ive had was 92 after about an hour of rolling...

Originally posted by Galuf the Dwarf
Yeah, I got a 94 as my highest roll with a Paladin that I beat the game with. I've heard stories and/or rumors that they have the highest stat rolls of all in AD&D. Then again, I got something like 98 with a bard (who only went so far before I decided to take a long break from the game).

Is this when you start the game ??

Like when you make your character and you decide where to place the attribute points .... ? So you can like sit there and press the roll dice button until you get a high overall score ?? If that's the case that's utter moronic !!?

Originally posted by Gawaine
Is this when you start the game ??

Like when you make your character and you decide where to place the attribute points .... ? So you can like sit there and press the roll dice button until you get a high overall score ?? If that's the case that's utter moronic !!?

Yup, that's the case. Though for me, those came easily on their own. I swear I must have a good luck charm on me that I don't know about.

Ehhh, if I found it, it would probably lose its power.