The bare minimum (*** SPOILERS ***)

[Taipan]

*SPOILERS*
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Here's one for the deep thinkers out there. I was just wondering what the absolute bare minimum is to complete the game. There is a lot you CAN do, and a lot that is DESIRABLE to do (for items of equipment and such like), but what is the absolute LEAST you have to do in order to finish the game?

Here are some examples to illustrate what I am getting at:

In Chapter 1 there are only two items that you NEED (as far as I can see) in order to get out of the Dungeon. The Activation Stone to give to the Golem to open some doors, and the Portal Key to gain access to the second dungeon level. Anything else you do is superflous to actually finding your way out. (The Wand Keys are handy for the traps that await upstairs, but you don't actually NEED them as you only need to pass through one magical trap to get to the passageway leading to the exit. The trap doesn't do lethal damage.)

In Chapter 2 your goal is to obtain 20,000 gold in order to go on to Chapter 3. Two quests (Renal Bloodscalp and Nalia) will net 10,000+ apiece and thus achieve your aim. However, do you need to do more or is that sufficient? (e.g. Do you need to complete - fully or partially - the Umar Hills quest in order to get the Temple Ruins on your map? You have to go there in Chapter 6, but will they become visible if you haven't been there before?)

In Chapter 4 there are only 3 items (I think) that you HAVE to obtain in order to exit Bodhi's Maze (because they are needed to open magic doors), and a lot that can be bypassed or ignored. The two riddle rooms are fun but have no bearing on whether you get out or not.

In Chapter 5 is it possible to bypass the entire Silver Dragon/Drow City quests and just make a run for it out of the Kuo-Toa caves? That would certainly be the quickest way out of the area, but is the exit available at that point or only triggered after you have met the Matron Mother? Can you get into the Temple without doing the required tasks first? In which case, is it viable to kill the Drow in there, swipe the Dragon Eggs, then run like hell knowing that the whole City will now attack you on sight?

Chapters 6 and 7 are almost entirely "directed actions" i.e. things you have to do without any choice in the matter. You can't have the final battle with Irenicus without having done the Five Tears of Bhaal tests, for example.

Another major consideration - and this is a subjective question - is whether or not you have to do lots of quests in order to boost your experience sufficiently to stand any chance against major opponents. The same question needs to be considered in relation to whether or not certain items are considered of paramount importance in order to deal with situations or enemies. Is there such a thing as a definitive "bare minimum" walkthrough? What do you think?

[Ubik]

Quite interesting... someone has to think more about it. And... about those wand traps, there IS a way to go pass them, WITHOUT the keys and WITH NO DMG taken!

Just get your characters one by one so close as it is possible to the wall with the wands - you should get through without trigerring those wands. Worked four times with me, so it shouldn't be a bug or something, right?

[Black Hand]

You can escape the Underdark as soon as you have received the Drow-Illusion from the dragon. If you go to the Underdark exit then, you can bribe the guards (1000GP I think) to open the exit.

[Taipan]

Ubik - yeah, it's true you can avoid the traps if you're careful by walking close to the left wall, However - in the context of my question - it isn't necessary to walk to the end of the room. You'll miss out on the Ring of Protection but it isn't needed to get out of the dungeon.

BTW, I did a quick runthrough of the Dungeon and found that in fact you can completely avoid that first trap, as the first passage on the right (in that room) leads to the dungeon exit, and the first trap doesn't extend down that far. So, none of the Wand Keys are needed at all to exit that area safely.

Black Hand - Thanks for the tip (I didn't know about bribing the guards). Looks like that IS the quickest way to exit Chapter 5. I checked to see if you can get out of the Kuo-Toa cave without doing anything else, but the door is magically sealed. So, guess one has to get the Light Gem (Deep Gnome quest) to get into the dragon cave, then talk to dragon, then leave.

[renyu]

Originally posted by Ubik:
Quite interesting... someone has to think more about it. And... about those wand traps, there IS a way to go pass them, WITHOUT the keys and WITH NO DMG taken!

Just get your characters one by one so close as it is possible to the wall with the wands - you should get through without trigerring those wands. Worked four times with me, so it shouldn't be a bug or something, right?

yah bcos the trap is only on the carpet thing and that doesnt go all the way to to the wall