Baldur's Gate 1 No-Reload Challenge
#3976
Posté 28 novembre 2011 - 06:46
I'll restart her from Candlekeep and let the familiar take the trap damage next time (reason I didn't this time is it's much more difficult to heal the familiar).
#3977
Posté 28 novembre 2011 - 06:57
Edit: And third one died in a bandit ambush on the way to Nashkel - trying to save time by not using the familiar invisibility was obviously a false economy.
Modifié par Grond0, 28 novembre 2011 - 07:08 .
#3978
Posté 28 novembre 2011 - 07:51
Sorry to hear about your recent debacles, Grond0. And my Vessen run has not ended yet, but just needed a change of pace.
As I said a long time ago, I am ready to restart Picenon so he is entering the trilogy no-reload challenge. He will be SOLO. This is attempt #3. Below is is character sheet so far, last level was a nice HP roll:

Proficiencies:
** blunt weapons
** bow
* missiles
Thief skills (to this point):
Stealth 130% (with his boots)
Pick Locks: 30%
Find Traps: 20%
Pick Pockets 25%
Setup:
Vanilla BG 1
Tales of the Sword Coast Expasion
Official TotSC patch
Core rules at all times, including level ups
Below is the equipment he is using:

I am using a little bit different philosophy this time around vs. my previous attempts. Before, I hurried to get the shadow armor. But I realized that AC can be irrelevant if you can kill the enemies before they can hurt you. So to that end, I sold the ring of wizardry ring at FAI (among the other loot I've picked up along the way of course) and made 3 major purchases:
1) Quarter Staff +1
2) +1 composiite bow
3) Sleep wand (the only crowd control available for a non-caster)
The sleep wand has already proved itself to be a very good purchase. For one, it helped me to obtain the stealth boots safely. Secondly, in between the area just south of Beregost and just north of Nashkel, I got a 3 war dogs/2 wolves ambush. Normally, with a thief, or low level fighter I would need to run However with 2 shots of the sleep wand, got them all asleep and picked them all off.
I did all the basic quests in Beregost, except for Silke. For all battles, I would attack from stealth, go out the door, stealth, come in attack and repeat.
I've made it Nashkel, took down Neira by going in/out the door and talked to Noober, and considering my next move.
#3979
Posté 28 novembre 2011 - 09:04
----------------------------
Tezrian: Elf Ranger (Stalker)
South of Friendly Arm Inn
Leaving the relative safety (!?) of the Inn the expanded group finished scouting the area immediately south of the Inn, looking for signs of those who had so cruelly ambushed Tezrian & Gorion just days before to no avail. The team proved their mettle against some blue skinned dwarves who were foolish (or desperate ?) enough to attack. Given the shortage of iron it seemed strange to see even these creatures sporting blades ..
Beregost
Returning to the town the party re-equipped and spent some serious gold buying magical bows and a B'stard Sword for Khalid. Another such blade mysteriously found it's way into his hands before we moved on south to investigate these troubles.
South of Beregost
While the path was clear it would make the ideal spot for an ambush and so the team moved slowly with the two rangers up front. Sure enough they encountered two ogre-like creatures feasting on a fallen halfling or child .. Their distraction proved to be fatal however and they'd barely made a few steps towards us before falling to our arrows.
Eager to keep the group focused and sharp Tezrian ordered them to leave the road and clear the surrounding woods. The foul ghouls/ghasts were no match for their righteous fury and a hobgoblin warcamp was also found and destroyed before moving south.
The final stretch before reaching the small community of Naskhal was relatively easy. Some bandits were attempting to ply their trade along the road but quickly found it was them to be ambushed without mercy..
Naskhal
Our attempt at misdirection had failed - another bounty hunter was found awaiting us in the local Inn. While slain quickly we knew she would be one of many - especially as we now promised to investigate the troubled mines.. Speed was of the essence so we moved on to the mines and, once the surrounding area had been scouted (and a mad love-lorn sculptor assisted), we moved into the mines.
It was quickly apparent the miners disappearance was connected to the kobolds .. but who was directing them ? Traps and arrows of flaming fire proved a challenge to the party but all were present when the architect of this madness was cornered.. A foul half orc no less. Letting him tell his lies and expose all of his forces we then butchered him and his minions. Releasing their captive (an elven mage no less!) we looted the chest and made haste back to Naskhal. Yet another would-be assassin made his attempt and was dealt with accordingly and after resting the party was ready to move on.... Someone in Beregost is in need of a surprise visit...
Notes: Tezrian is now Level 3 (and 90 stealth with the boots
When Xan was recruited he was only level 2 so no need to worry about bad choices being made by the computer
I was tempted to exit the mine via the secret passage .. but the party was fairly beat up and it would have been a bit risk to attack the adventurers so I went back up the way I came.
Next I think onward to Beregost and then will go looking for the bandit camp. With this run I think I'll actually just aim to complete relatively quickly (i.e. just follow the story and don't get sidetracked clearing every single area
#3980
Posté 28 novembre 2011 - 12:02
corey_russell wrote...
I am using a little bit different philosophy this time around vs. my previous attempts. Before, I hurried to get the shadow armor. But I realized that AC can be irrelevant if you can kill the enemies before they can hurt you.
Skipping the Shadow Armor makes sense given the approach you plan to take. Plus, in truth, using the Shadow Armor can actually harm your AC (especially for a F/T). It sets your base AC to 4 and provides Studded Leather Piercing, Missle, and Slashing bonuses while preventing Protection item use. Even Unenchanted Studded Leather + Shield Amulet + Protection item beats that and it is readily available early at low cost. Unenchanted Studded Leather + Potion of Defense/Potion of Invulnerability + Protection Item can give you a noticably better AC for the important fights. Assuming your items and potions work correctly and you can manage the dispel risk, that route often works out better on the AC front.
The Shadow Armor can make more sense in a party. Solo, I typically only buy it if I want something stylish and don't mind paying just for that.
Once again, good luck!
Best,
A.
Modifié par Alesia_BH, 28 novembre 2011 - 01:44 .
#3981
Posté 28 novembre 2011 - 02:07
#3982
Posté 28 novembre 2011 - 02:30
corey_russell wrote...
Thanks for the well wishes, Alesia. I almost never use the shield amulet, perhaps I will this run. The main reason I get the shadow armor, besides AC bonus is actually it helps my hiding in shadows. Even at 130% I still often fail to hide in the day time.
Understood If it is the +15% you are seeking, then the price is pretty outrageous- especially since it can compromise your defenses in other ways. Simply travelling at night, staying near Shadows, and using Potions for HIS (Perception, Mind Focusing, etc) bonus in the times when you might have issues stealthing can work out better. I've haven't had trouble getting into the Shadows when it has mattered in BG1 and none of my characters have had base stealth up Picenon has it.
Anyhoo. I do think you made a sensible call. [smilie]http://social.bioware.com/images/forum/emoticons/smile.png[/smilie] And I wouldn't say the Shadow Armor is useless. It is stylish and convenient.
As for the Shield Amulet, it's not that surprising that you've skipped it. Originally, the Magic Missle immunity wasn't implemented correctly so it is a less useful item without a Fixpack (it was stated in the description but didn't work). It's still a bargin though. It grants the same Base AC as the Shadow Armor for a far lower price while also granting -2 to missle weapons. And it won't prevent you from taking your Studded Leather bonuses through the Armor slot or wearing a protection item.
Best,
A.
Modifié par Alesia_BH, 28 novembre 2011 - 03:04 .
#3983
Posté 28 novembre 2011 - 04:23
Picenon (pronounced pik-a-non) did in fact purchase the shield amulet and a protection from petrification scroll. He battled the Great Gazib's ogre with his staff - he had to heal once, but he did prevail. He also found a mage holding another mage under threat - via smacking the mage with Picenon's staff, then running outside, stealth, and come back in and put the beat down with his staff, etc. Picenon saved the female mage, who gave Picenon a heroism potion.
Picenon tried to travel to Beregost, but was ambushed by a wolf and 3 wardogs. The sleep wand took care all but one wardog - Picenon took down the awake wardog and the rest were easy to deal with since they were sleeping.
Once in Beregost, Picenon rested, put the heroism into his barrel (limited inventory space, no bags of holding in my install), and headed to the basilisks area. But Picenon was ambushed by 6 gibberlings and 2 hobgoblin archers. He ran to the
corner, so that he could do a quick escape if needed. He then put up the
shield amulet. He did get hit but only for small damage (like 4 HP).
Picenon then put the gibberlings to sleep. He then put one of the
hobgoblins to sleep and finally traded arrows with the only awake enemy -
Picenon proved himself the better archer. Since all the enemies were
asleep, it was a simple matter at this point to finish them off.
Once in the basilisks area, I recruited the ghoul (I realized later that I better keep my distance from him, would hate to be finished off by my own pet ghoul). We did a straight line to Mutamin's position. The plan was Picenon would remain in the shadows while the ghoul attacked Mutamin. Mutamin was held! That was my cue to unload with arrows and finish him off, as well as his pets. This gained both a fighter and thief level, putting Picenon at level 4 fighter/level 5 thief (a thief level was also obtained in one of the earlier ambushes). We took down the two basilisks by Shar-Teel's position.
The plan will be to clear the remaining basilisks quick as I can while the ghoul is dire charmed. I will leave the adventuring party alone for now. I will definitely one day want to take them down for their slashing belt. Once we clear the enemies on the southern edge on the map, will probably have the ghould do a suicide run against the bears on the east side of the map.
#3984
Posté 28 novembre 2011 - 05:03
What I usually do with every character/party I create in the basilisk area is as follows:
Purchase the Protection from Petrification Scroll from the Carnival, as well as the Necklace of Missiles. As I enter the area, I kill the group of Gnolls spawning a few steps north of Korax, before having the Ghoul join me. Then I cast the Scroll on me(hardly even worth it, but I always do it *just* in case) and drink the potion of invisibility.
Then Korax and myself walks directly to the right, killing the lone Basilisk found there. Then we trail up to Mutamin, kill him first(while invisible Korax handles this perfectly) - then have Korax kill the two other Basilisks. Double time back to where you killed the lone basilisk, head directly down(avoiding all the monster spawns), and kill the lone Basilisk near the "ruins and bones". Head to the right, kill two more bailisks and the greater one - then head a slight tad northeast. You will be able to see the Bounty Hunters there, so send Korax in to stun both the Cleric and the Mage. A group of Gnolls will notice, but the Bounty Hunters wont go hostile. Korax *might*(only happened to me 1/5ish times) kill the Mage. Once Korax is dead, drink the Oil of Speed and fling a Missile from the Necklace into the shadowed area they are located then sprint away. Two or three of these will kill all the hunters and the Gnolls - allowing you to get the spoils. Now head back North and kill the two Basilisks near Shar-Teel and the one east of Mutamin.
Congratulations, you have now killed all the Basilisks and the Bounty Hunters - early and almost risk free!(If you bring a scroll to help the Petrified woman as well you get even more experience!)
#3985
Posté 28 novembre 2011 - 05:21
What's critical is to clear all the basilisks while the protection from petrification is active. I do have the sleep wand for the trash mobs that sometimes spawn.
#3986
Posté 28 novembre 2011 - 05:22
#3987
Posté 28 novembre 2011 - 05:40
#3988
Posté 28 novembre 2011 - 05:42
#3989
Posté 28 novembre 2011 - 06:11
Enjoyed the new character concept.SpiffyKeen wrote...
I came up with a minimalist character: Gyan the Cleric!
No update on Toil, H M Berserker ( Dagger of Venom / Flail +1 ). RL intrusions.
#3990
Posté 28 novembre 2011 - 11:03
#3991
Posté 28 novembre 2011 - 11:25
#3992
Posté 29 novembre 2011 - 12:00
I do feel at the moment there's a decent chance of success so I'm happy to keep sending the lambs to the slaughter for a bit longer.
#3993
Posté 29 novembre 2011 - 12:07
#3994
Posté 29 novembre 2011 - 02:49
Grond0 wrote...
I think trying to complete an insane no-reload as a mage with no XP is enough of a challenge that failing at it doesn't really qualify as taking a beating! In fact to date I've been making it a bit harder for myself by restricting the use of equipment - I had been toying with the idea of trying it only using Algernon's Cloak, but I think that's probably going a bit far.
I do feel at the moment there's a decent chance of success so I'm happy to keep sending the lambs to the slaughter for a bit longer.
Playing core rules it is certainly possible to win using just Algernon's Cloak plus fists. I did it a few years back and it wasn't that hard. On insane it could be a bit tricky, but I think that's what you want isn't it?
By the way, you aren't supposed to be able to kill with fists, but you can. Sarevok can certainly be killed with fists, but I don't know about any others. When I first started playing, I was hoping that if you beat him within an inch of his life that he might surrender, a bit like Tazok. Unfortunately not the case.
#3995
Posté 29 novembre 2011 - 07:14
Picenon is still alive, though he did have some close calls. Incidents of interest:
1) Picenon obtained the gauntlets of dexterity (to sell), charisma tome. Since the xvarts are so low experience, just steathed where-ever I could and ignored them.
2) Picenon wanted Melium's gauntlets. I wanted to conserve my potions as I know I need them all if and when I am ready to face Greywolf. This was almost fatal...a sort of false economy as Grond0 would say. Well, I had a club, the +2 shield and ankheg plate, which puts my AC at -5. I thought that would be enough...well it wasn't. I got an opening 30 pt backstab in, but he quickly proved he was in fact, the better swordsman. So I ran around a rock formation and somehow was able to throw darts and run, throw darts and run, etc. I was only hitting about 1/2 the time, though, at best. I eventually ran out of darts. I had to use 7 heal potions, and was missing tons in melee, so definitely need to ran. I ran south, healed, and used a +1 magical arrow on him - well it missed. I was running out of room and had to run north. I shot again, nice hit of 8 damage. Ran back to the trusty rock formation, one more +1 arrow and finally Melium fell. The gauntlets are mine, but at one point I got down to 25% health - one on one, at least, he's not to be underestimated.
3) Now that I had Melium's gauntlets, went north to the Ankheg country. The sleep wand made this super safe, never even got attacked. I finally got to Ulgoth's Beard and obtained the greenstone amulet and the cloak of displacement. Ambushes should be much less a threat now. Not enough money for the +3 staff. However, now that I have the greenstone amulet.
I activated the amulet and stood right next to Bassilus and talked to him. Using the correct responses, all but one of the undead disappeared. That's better (I've had a lot of trouble of them NOT disappearing, so talking next to him seemed to do the trick). He tried some spells, I used my +1 staff. It only took 3 solid hits to finish him. I got my reward and promptly went to Ulgoth's Beard to get my +3 staff. Large ambush of war dogs and gibberlings. I used the sleep wand...and it disappeared! Bummer. However, with my better equipment, should still be relatively safe. I figured might as well not have the wand disappear in vain and slew all the enemies in the ambush. I did finally get to Ulgoth's Beard and got the +3 Martial Staff.
4) I had to do a few more miscellaneous battles and finally had the cash to get the necklace of missiles. I usually like to use it in the Nashkel Mine. Turns out I didnt really need it -- being able to attack with my powerful bow from stealth is fatal for a kobold - and with the cloak of dispacement and belt of piercing they can only get a hit on a critical. I stealthed through most of the mine. I found a greenstone ring in the 3rd level. I did bother to de-trap a few traps now and then. I attacked the spiders from stealth, each was slain by a single arrow. A ghoul appeared. I didn't want to use a greenstone amulet charge, so used +1 arrows - 2 did the job. Got to the end of level 3 and I went around the first 2 traps (the first trap is hard to disarm, and if you fail you get hit) and de-trapped the one in back which is easy.
Finally got to Mulahey's level. Used a necklace of missile charge on the kobold commandos to speed things up. Could have easily attacked from stealth, backed off, stealthed and repeat if I wanted to. Once in Mulahey's cave I killed the kobolds guarding Xan - sadly, no room for him, must be a party of 1...I moved further into Mulahey's cave while stealthed -- my first hit was a backstab and one-shotted Mulahey. Less experience this way, but that's not really an issue for a soloer -- Mulahey never got a chance to call for help, which was nice. Picked up what loot I could (full of course) and left the joint.
5) I headed to the carnival to rest, identify and sell. The ring of holy power sold for 5000 gold that was nice. Time to head to Nashkel and report my success to the mayor. I was just before the Nashkel Store and used greenstone amulet charge and steatlhed -- I got behind Nimbul and was thinking to myself, "Hmm, if it connects, this will finish him -- but uh, what happens if I get a critical miss?" And that's EXACTLY what happened -- I blame Grond0 (though perhaps Murphy is more appropriate) I run to the store, open the door and fire an arrow (and apparently miss). I take another shot since Nimbul wasting his time with horror. However I then try to get in the store and Nimbul hits me with magic missiles - man those things are fast AND they seem to pause me for a moment, I had to tell my character to get into the store again. I stealthed, went back outside and fired another arrow and ate some more magic missiles. I heal via potion. This is not a good trade. I stealth and then walk just outside of visual range, to try to wait out Nimbul's mirror image. If I am in visual range of Nimbul, the guards will help, but when I show myself to help I get attacked. Go into the store again. I go outside and ignore the guards since they are useless. Eventually Nimbul's mirror image does fall. I hit him with an arrow and tries to get into melee range! Out of spells, eh? I go into the store one LAST time - stealth. Go outside and finish Nimbul with a backstab -- good riddance.
Picenon takes a well deserved rest, and ponders his next move.
Picenon - level 5 fighter/level 6 thief, 48 HP
Modifié par corey_russell, 29 novembre 2011 - 07:16 .
#3996
Posté 29 novembre 2011 - 08:22
I did a reload no XP game a while ago using no items at all and so I know what strategies can be used - the challenge comes from getting them all to be successful in a row in the no-reload context. On insane a particular pinch point I think would be the lightning trap in the bandit camp if no protection is available. While I think it would be possible to survive this there would be a very low chance so a no-reload attempt would probably get very frustrating.Grimwald the Wise wrote...
Playing core rules it is certainly possible to win using just Algernon's Cloak plus fists. I did it a few years back and it wasn't that hard. On insane it could be a bit tricky, but I think that's what you want isn't it?
By the way, you aren't supposed to be able to kill with fists, but you can. Sarevok can certainly be killed with fists, but I don't know about any others. When I first started playing, I was hoping that if you beat him within an inch of his life that he might surrender, a bit like Tazok. Unfortunately not the case.
Sarevok dies a scripted death when he gets low on HPs, i.e. he doesn't directly die from fists. This is annoying because it means you get the XP for his death whether you cause it directly or manouevre him into getting killed by one of his allies or a neutral - so it's not possible to end the game with zero XP.
#3997
Posté 29 novembre 2011 - 09:06
For my part, I am finding having SCS, the Drizzt Saga, and SoA quite enough of a challenge doing it "no-re-load". I am therefore not looking for anyything else to make it harder at present.
Modifié par Grimwald the Wise, 29 novembre 2011 - 09:08 .
#3998
Posté 29 novembre 2011 - 10:05
I will play solo until the (bitter) end, but I am yet undecided what strategy to choose for Duchal palace palace battle - it is still too far ahead.SpiffyKeen wrote...
@Vaclavc - Your Cleric... Mage is doing well. Are you going solo through BG1? If so, I am interested to see your Coronation strategy.
Good luck with your cleric. He would be underpowered evef if all his stats were generated using 3d6 as per original D&D rules
Corey, Melchom, good luck with your respective runs.
Grond0, three times condolences.
Indeed. I am finding vanilla BG1 challenging more than enough for my skills (though I play on max. difficulty).Grimwald the Wise wrote...
For my part, I am finding having SCS, the Drizzt Saga, and SoA quite enough of a challenge doing it "no-re-load". I am therefore not looking for anyything else to make it harder at present.
Short update on Valhyron, human cleric dualed at level 7 to mage.
Valhyron still struggles to reactivate his priest class. He defeated Battled Horrors and numerous Ghasts in Durlag’s Tower, cured Brage, obtained statue of Kozah, killed Doomsayer, cleared Xvart village and areas around Gnolls Fortress.
Extermination of basilisks yielded him enough XP for advancing to level 7.

He needs one more level to reativate his clerical powers, but I think that level 7 mage is powerful enough to challenge Mulahey and Bandit camp leaders.
V
#3999
Posté 29 novembre 2011 - 10:59
Vaclavc wrote...
Indeed. I am finding vanilla BG1 challenging more than enough for my skills (though I play on max. difficulty).
Oh, c'mon! :happy: I'm sure you are ever a modest about thy own performances and skills...
He needs one more level to reativate his clerical powers, but I think that level 7 mage is powerful enough to challenge Mulahey and Bandit camp leaders.
V
Good luck with them! I had exactly the same character (Cleric 7=> Mage) and I love him. Sometimes, I think, even more than my gnomish cleric/illusionist, especially in a party of six...
Keep it up! :happy: And so all other No-Reloaders!
#4000
Posté 29 novembre 2011 - 03:41





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