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Having just finished ToB, I decided to go back to BG and start over with a first level character and play the saga all the way through.

As I've always created a new character for each new version of the game, I have a few questions for anyone who has started in Candlekeep and played all the way through to the end of ToB.

1. Obviously the saga includes BG, SoA and ToB --any other expansions I should know about? Where does Tales of the Sword Coast come into play? Between BG and SoA? If so, can I take a character through that expansion pack and into SoA etc? Neverwinter Nights is not part of the same saga, is it?

2. Any insight into the best class to play from BG onward? I'm partial to a Mage/Thief, since you get spell casting, and because Imoen is such a lousy thief early on in the game, and you don't get another one until Coran . . . any thoughts?

3. I'm assuming that I can just import a character from one game to the next by placing the saved character file into the character file of the new game --is this how it's done?

Any helpful hints and/or answers to the above would be greatly appreciated . . .

Originally posted by Flyboy
1. Obviously the saga includes BG, SoA and ToB --any other expansions I should know about? Where does Tales of the Sword Coast come into play? Between BG and SoA? If so, can I take a character through that expansion pack and into SoA etc? Neverwinter Nights is not part of the same saga, is it?

TotSC adds a few new places to go to in BG1 with some new side-quests, it's doesnt add anything to the main storyline. And yes you can take a character through BG1+TotSC adn continue it in SoA. (I recommand having the golden pantaloons in your inventory when you export your character from BG1 and import it into BG2)

NeverwinterNights isnt part of the story.

Originally posted by Flyboy
2. Any insight into the best class to play from BG onward? I'm partial to a Mage/Thief, since you get spell casting, and because Imoen is such a lousy thief early on in the game, and you don't get another one until Coran . . . any thoughts?

You can play any character through the series. Remeber that in BG2 kits become available. I prefere a singleclass character to go through the series. (PS Imoen is a decent enough thief to finish BG1 without any problems, but a thief might be a good choice since there arent realy any good thieves in BG2 (although again imoen is in BG2 good enough to finish the entire game)

Originally posted by Flyboy
3. I'm assuming that I can just import a character from one game to the next by placing the saved character file into the character file of the new game --is this how it's done?

When you take a look on your character screen you see an export button. export your character and copy the saved character to your BG2 characters directory.
Then start a new BG2 game and import it.
(again remember to have the golden pantaloons in your inventory)

If you have any more questions feel free too ask!

I'm in the middle of doing just that actually. I just finished off BG and ToSC yesterday with a ranger and a party that was pretty much unstoppable...

ToSC comes into play in BG, you can do those quests pretty much whenever you want. Sort of like Watchers Keep in ToB (iirc). I just loaded it up off the very start and did those when I could. Durlags Tower can be fun And yes, you can take a character all the way through, even to NWN, where he starts back at level 1 I believe. As for characters, you can do most whatever you want. I'm playing a ranger personnally...guess I just like them. Imoen is really not all that bad though. I used her, dualed her to some specialist mage at level 6, and whopped on everyone with her after. With her, Dynaheir and Coran doing my thieving and maging, I felt prett covered. I would concentrate on her trap skills over lockpicking before you dual her though, as Coran is a good lock picker (he can open anything pretty much).

To start with your character in BG2, either put a save file from BG in your BG2 save folder, and import from there, or a character file in your BG2 character folder. The advantage of using a save file is that it is possible to keep the equipment he was holding. Just takes a quick finger

Just a couple hundred hours till the end of BG2 for me

Also I recommand taking
- Imoen
- Minsc
- Jaheira
- Khalid
- Dynaheir
With you in BG1 for rollplaying purpose. But the choice is up to you.

I used

Branwen
Minsc (gotta love him )
Dynaheir
Imoen
Coran
PC Ranger - melee heavy

Play through

Well, take your pick on classes, the choice is really one of taste. The only bummer when playing through is the lack of kits and more restrictive class selections in BG - no sorcerors, kits, etc. The choices which change (like weapons proficiencies) will be available for reassignment in BGII.

Of course, you could install Tutu (see BG forum for details), which would help with that - it allows you to play BG with the BGII ruleset. Fwiw, I played a fighter/cleric through on a melee heavy party, and did the TotSC content almost at the end of BG.

Do be aware that any stat bonuses given to NPC party members with tomes will not be reflected in BGII.

Have fun!

Just adding my best party, you can use it with your ranger:

Me, Barbarian
Minsc (for SoA, Savvy for ToB)
Jaheira
Jan
Aerie (romance, even though she is boooring)
Anomen

That's really the good goodie party... but in ToB is a Machine of Destruction... Good Luck

Re: Play through

Originally posted by nephtu
Well, take your pick on classes, the choice is really one of taste. The only bummer when playing through is the lack of kits and more restrictive class selections in BG - no sorcerors, kits, etc. The choices which change (like weapons proficiencies) will be available for reassignment in BGII.

You also have to notate off-screen maps in BG1--not that this is a huge problem until you get to the towns, and particularly BG itself. Then, the absence of labels is a nuisance. Of course, when I first started playing D&D we didn't even have personal computers, but I'm pretty lazy nowadays. I like to enter an area and get the sense from the map screen as I walk that I'm actually getting my bearings about what's where.

POSSIBLE SPOILERS!!!!!!!!!!!





I just got done with the whole series myself. Im partial to the fighter/thief myself. I felt they did good in all the BG series. Because of the exp cap in TOB u might not want to dual class one in BG1, say a level 6/7 or what ever it was for the 89k exp cap.

Id do a kit myself, the assasin/fighter or kensai/thief are good. Use any item that the thief gets is so good!!! If u mutli class then u get only 2 points in a weapon proficency (or at least Jharia only would take 2 points at most). Id do a fighter for the BG1 series and dual once u get into SOA. or just make a new char with a kit once u get to SOA. I dont see the point of importing from BG1 to SOA since u get to redo their skills.

There is a NPC thief/mage already in SOA named Jan Jansen, hes not bad either, and since he's multi class u can still work skills on both classes with him. If i remember correct hes neutral also. so he should fit in any party.

I chose to play a cleric/mage through the whole saga. I am partial to the mighty spellcaster. In BG1 and ToSC, I picked up all the tomes, and I have 19s on Dx & Int, with a 20 in Wisdom. Using the orge gloves, 18/00 st. I then imported to BG2, dropped a few good items, so I could start with them in BG2, like the ring of wizardry, and cloak of Baulderan.

I would solo him though, but he doesn't get xp for traps, so I had Yoshimo join, just for traps.

Combining the robe of vinca and ammy of power, the reaction time is not a problem, as timestop only take 3 or 4, and most other spells take 0.

Soloing is fun, but you miss out on some great experiences. I would choose two or three specific types of chars, and enjoy the process, good luck!

Having started this thread a couple of months ago, I'm pleased to report that I just finished BG and have progressed to SoA.

I played a F to start, then dualed him to a Th at 6th level. It worked great.

I used nearly every NPC at one time or another, since I have a strict no-resurrection policy. Expect for the main character (for obvious reasons), once somebody gets dead they stay dead.

In the end, I beat Sarevok with:

Darwin (dual-class F/Th)
Minsc
Dynaheir
Yeslick
Imoen

I imported Darwin to SoA, and except for the little hole in the story that has Jaheira alive again (when she was killed in Ulcaster in by BG game), it's smooth sailing.

Good choice with the theif change. You'll have fun getting xp for trap and lock picking, and using detect illusions will help for fighting mages. I would recommend finding Aerie in the circus tent. Giving her the belt of strength, sling of seeking +2, and flail of ages will make her a great supporting character. Have fun, and good luck not getting people killed, especially against golems and vampires.

The XP cap can be raised to, somewhere in the 100K range, if you have ToSC installed. I finished with a Ranger (but she got boring in ToB) and a Mage (who just finished Watcher's Keep), and she rocked !!

Just started SoA (after BG1) with a Paladin (BG1) and imported him into an Inquisitor (a little Keldorn). Should be fun.

Going with:
Me (Inquisitor) - a guy this time
Anomen
Jahiera
Jan
Aerie
Nalia/Imoen

Good Gaming!!

AC

I wondered about Detect Illusions . . . how do I use that ability? By activating the 'detect traps' button or by activating the 'thief skills' button?

For the detect illusions, use the detect traps mode. As to the formulas, I don't know what they there exactly, some sort of combo between target level vs theif skill.

When it works, its a wonderful battle change. One minute the mage is mislead, improved invisibility, stone skin, and the next, nothin' but a naked sitting duck!