GameBanshee Forums

Just started playing BG2, enjoying it hugely,
my party is Me (Archer), Minsc, Anomen, Jaheira, Yoshimo, Aerie.
I haven't got too far into the game so far, done some small quests around Amn, and the D'arnise Keep, and Trademeet+Druid quests. But I already have some n00b questions!

1) Fallen Paladins quest. I went to temple district and got the quest from Sir Ryan Trawl. Then off to Docks district and I found the paladins fighting some shadow thieves. I ended up killing all the paladins while they fought it out with the thieves, and didn't get to talk to them first.
I had a look around and there doesn't seem to be any way to continue, the quest is still active.
Have I shot myself in the foot or is the quest possible to complete from here?

2)Aerie is the only mage in my party, and even thought I've gone for her instead of Jaheira as my romantic target, I'm just wondering if she's the best mage available and worth keeping. I've got a reputation of 18 (Heroic) so if I got Edwin instead of Aerie would that cause many problems? Are there any other neutral/good mages about better than Aerie?

3) Can't remember off hand what level Aerie is, but I'm getting a message that her intelligence is too low to learn more high level spells. Any way around this? I've got a potion of genius that will bring her INT up to 25, so I could rush-learn the scrolls I've saved up, would this work? She has INT of 16 IIRC.

4) Jaheira, I've got her dual wielding 2 clubs, but I'm still not sure whats the best way to use her, as a tank or spellcasting and using sling. I've got Minsc and Anomen as well. What are the alternatives to having her in the party? Cernd? anyone else?

5) My character is an Archer, and I've maxed out his proficiency with long bow, at the moment he's using the +3 Elven Court bow, is there a better bow out there, and if so where do I find it? The Bearpaw/Bearclaw bow available at the Adventurers Mart seems like a good one, but needs 19 strength, how do I get 19 strength and is it worth it?

6) I've just completed the D'Arnise Keep quest, and I have the Flail of Ages, but nobody in my party has proficiency with flails, is it worth giving it to Minsc or Anomen maybe seeing as its such a good weapon?

7) Battles against mages. If I can foresee a battle against a fairly powerful mage, I usually cast defensive harmony and chant and bless on my party. when the battle starts the enemy mage usually cast all sorts of spells on himself, stonskin, protection from normal weapons, etc, and is pretty much untouchable by minsc/anomen/archers.

I then get Jaheira/Anomen/Aerie to cast remove magic/dispel magic, but sometimes by this stage the mage has cast all sorts of nasty spells that leave my party injured/confused/held or whatever.
whats the best way to "get" the enemy mage quickly? I've usually no problems at all with the melee enemys but the spellcasters often leave me having to reload and have another go.

Thanks for any help!

Hello and welcome to GameBanshee forums.

Okay, I'm at my work and can't answer all of your questions, but here are some (in no particular order).

First thing, though, I have two questions:
-Have you got Throne of Bhaal (ToB) add-on, too?
-Do you like play hack'n slash, or you like using spells?


Reply
6) Keep the Flail of Ages. There're some monsters you have to hit with +3 or above weapons which were not so easy to get in the early stage of the game. Also the flail does elemental damage which could be handy to fight against some types of monsters. Besides, you have an opportunity to upgrade even further if you have ToB.

3&5) If you have ToB, you will have an opportunity to raise your stats permanently. It works for any one of your party members, though it only works for once (ie, if you give Aerie +INT, nobody else can get it after that). There are many stats enhancing equipment available during the game, such as belts and gloves. And, yes, you can use potion to raise Intelligence or Wisdom, though they are only for temporary, but it shouldn't be problem for Aerie learning spells.

2) Aerie. There are totally different opinion of her use. She's a multi-class, so she goes up levels slower than single/dual class mages, such as Edwin, Nalia, and Imoen, and won't be able to use 9th level spells without ToB, though that helps for her relatively low Intelligence for mage (at least 18 Int required, I think). At the same time, she has so many spell for you not even using them all! If you are romancing her, I'd say keep her but take another mage rather than replacing her.

4&7) When I fight mage, I always cast Insect Plague, the best druid spells that disrupts spell casting. Druids are best using for summoning. Also, it is helpful if you have True Sight spell memorized to fight against mages.

There are many different party you can create, and I am sure you will play the game again straight after the current one. So, if you ask *my* personal opinion on your mage questions, here's one: Replace Minsc or Anomen with Keldorn the Inquisitor. He has True Sight and Dispel as innate ability for the kit. He's great with his two handed sword, and even greater once he gets the best weapon in the game.

Have a fun!

1) You indeed have shoot your foot, you shouldn't interfere with them (or help them kill the thiefs) so to aproch them.
2) Aerie is a good mage, but not the best. Although she is a multiclass c/m so she is the NPC who can cast more spells than anybody plus you can put in sequencer/triggers both arcane and divine spells (can be very good and cheesy), plus if you have ToB she will become very, very powerful. In a good aligned party is a sure keep. Plus with her high wisd. she has the best options in the wishes spells.
(SPOILER) you will get back Imoen (a good mage) later and at the same time you will definetly lose one of your actual teammates.
3)Use the potions of genius and you wan't have any problem with int.
4)She is very flexible and can use her either as a tank (IMHO the best option), give her a shield and her AC can be very high (iron skin helps a lot here), or she can stay in the back casting spells+plus sling, last option let her dual wield a club plus Belm and she becom an impressive fighter (give her a strenght enhancing item too).
5) You'll get some better longbow later, but IMHO the best option for an archer is the small bow Tuigan bow (3 attack/rnd), an extra attack is much better than the extra Tach0/dmg of the long bows (due to the natural benefit of the kit), plus later you will get the best bow in the game (still a short bow).
6) FoA is a fantastic weapon, one of the best weapon of both SoA and ToB, give it to Minsc if he is not using great swords, or Anomen (built proficency).
7) Use brech to get rid of their stoneskin, so you can hit them, or hit them with weapon with elemental dmg (FoA, blackblood etc.), have Jaheira cast insect plague, use area of effect spell, attack them immediatly with magic missile to disrupt their spellcasting, use caotic command/free action (via spell or item) instead of def. harmony vs. mages. They are hard, but thats the fun!

Originally posted by Minerva

First thing, though, I have two questions:
-Have you got Throne of Bhaal (ToB) add-on, too?
-Do you like play hack'n slash, or you like using spells?

not got TOB
prefer hack and slash at the moment, but I'm guessing later in the game is a bit easier if you've good spellcasters and know how to use them

Originally posted by Minerva
Reply
6) Keep the Flail of Ages. There're some monsters you have to hit with +3 or above weapons which were not so easy to get in the early stage of the game. Also the flail does elemental damage which could be handy to fight against some types of monsters. Besides, you have an opportunity to upgrade even further if you have ToB.

I've got Anomen using it now, and as soon as he gets another proficiency point I'll give him Flails

Originally posted by Minerva
3&5) If you have ToB, you will have an opportunity to raise your stats permanently. It works for any one of your party members, though it only works for once (ie, if you give Aerie +INT, nobody else can get it after that). There are many stats enhancing equipment available during the game, such as belts and gloves. And, yes, you can use potion to raise Intelligence or Wisdom, though they are only for temporary, but it shouldn't be problem for Aerie learning spells.

sorted I think now, used potion of genius, and bought another 4 for later

Originally posted by Minerva
2) Aerie. There are totally different opinion of her use. She's a multi-class, so she goes up levels slower than single/dual class mages, such as Edwin, Nalia, and Imoen, and won't be able to use 9th level spells without ToB, though that helps for her relatively low Intelligence for mage (at least 18 Int required, I think). At the same time, she has so many spell for you not even using them all! If you are romancing her, I'd say keep her but take another mage rather than replacing her.

I think I've played out the romance part with her, afaik, bit boring must go for Jaheira next time, she seems more feisty!

Originally posted by Minerva
There are many different party you can create, and I am sure you will play the game again straight after the current one. So, if you ask *my* personal opinion on your mage questions, here's one: Replace Minsc or Anomen with Keldorn the Inquisitor. He has True Sight and Dispel as innate ability for the kit. He's great with his two handed sword, and even greater once he gets the best weapon in the game.

I'm guessing I'll be dropping Minsc, funny and all that he is, pick up Keldorn, I like Anomen arrogant sod though , because he's got spells, is a decent tank and can use that Sling of Seeking +2

thanks for your help!

Originally posted by lompo
4)She is very flexible and can use her either as a tank (IMHO the best option), give her a shield and her AC can be very high (iron skin helps a lot here), or she can stay in the back casting spells+plus sling, last option let her dual wield a club plus Belm and she becom an impressive fighter (give her a strenght enhancing item too).

I've got her dual wielding Blackblood and Gnasher (I think?) clubs now, is the Belm scimitar better though?

Originally posted by lompo
5) You'll get some better longbow later, but IMHO the best option for an archer is the small bow Tuigan bow (3 attack/rnd), an extra attack is much better than the extra Tach0/dmg of the long bows (due to the natural benefit of the kit), plus later you will get the best bow in the game (still a short bow).

I've got the Tuigan bow, but I have Yoshimo using that bow that needs no ammo, doesn't really seem as effective though


thanks again,
and sorry for double post!

Fallen Paladins: as far as I know there is no way to continue that quest -go back to the temple to make sure though. Unfortunatly you can't complete every quest in the game so your journal is a little untidy.

Edwin is by far the best mage in BGII- a little unfair as he is evil (not good for the RP aspect of your game). If you picked him up he will winge incessently about your rep- if it goes higher he will eventually leave.

Jaheira: as she levels up she becomes increasingly better (multiclass- much slower) and with spells like iron skins etc she is easily a potential front line tank. Takes a little time though and her THAC0 is amazing so give her the good braces...

Keep FoA...

Mages: as your party is fairly low level you have no doubt been frustrated by area spells such as confusion, fear etc which almost always work as you havn't developed low saving throws as of yet. If you can't be bothered backstab. Pause game when mage protections are released and read whats happened then adjust your game plan. Use elemental damage (FoA) as it is not stopped by stoneskin and interrupts casting, and insect plague (see above). (it really is a joke with insect plague- semi cheese ). Haste is great to remove stoneskins quickly and magic missiles and throwing meteors (arhh, cant remember what their called). Set traps to inflict ongoing damage.

Scimitars are average in BGII, stick with clubs (there not that much better either).