16402 réponses à ce sujet

[Grond0]

Gorthaur X wrote...

The Fred wrote...

Headed deeper in, and had a hairy moment when some ettercaps waylaid us; Imoen refused to cast any spells (turns out I somehow set many strange flags on her when using SCK, so she was secretly beserk, confuse, petrifiied AND dead)

I don't know why, as it really shouldn't be that funny, but I lol'd.

Yeah - with that collection you can't really blame the poor gal for not wanting to cast a spell can you.

[Gorthaur X]

Gotta admire her spirit, though. She may be berserk, confused, petrified and dead, but when asked if anything's wrong, she hides it all behind her cheerful demeanor.

[The Fred]

I think she was also flagged as "not valid" or something. I'd been having trouble with her talking to people (i.e. she wouldn't), but only really noticed when she stopped casting spells. Funny, since she used her wand just fine.



Anyway, I headed to the Gnoll Stronghold, and poor Xan got killed en route by a Worg (one-hit, critical, 20-damage hit). Well I was fine to carry on like this since it got the others a bigger share of XP, and I even made it to the Tome Cave, but for some reason my PC refused to come out of sleep mode and had to be rebooted instead - putting me back by the bear river. Now I feel as though I ought to get Xan killed on purpose to make things fair again, since my PC decided to time-travel me back to when he was hale and hearty. On the other hand, this could cause unforseeable mayhem in the space-time continuum, and chaos could ensue.

[Wierdo]

Grond0 wrote...

Wierdo wrote...
That is interesting. Theoretically, the spell Blindness is an "Illusion/Phantasm" and therefore should not affect ghouls as they are mindless undead. At least, that is how I would rule it if DMing a PnP D&D game. I would have never even have thought to use that spell on undead in BG. However, I am not raising an issue with you - if it work it works.

Could be a nice discussion there.  I suppose it depends on your view of how illusion spells work.  If they only work by affecting minds, i.e. there is no physical component, then undead would not be affected.  However, they might produce something real, but insubstantial.  The spook spell for instance might conjure up a ghost - but ghouls would not be affected by this as they don't feel fear.  Blindness would be a very localised spell, effectively making the air in front of something's eyes turn opaque, i.e. it would not be the ghoul itself that was affected, but the air (the saving throw would then partly represent how difficult it is to position the spell as well as the monster's chance to use its own abilities to dispel illusions).

@Grond0 I think that your interpretation of the blindness spell (e.g. as a physical manifestation that somehow blocks light getting to the eyes, or whatever a monster uses for eyes) is a valid one, and I have changed my view on this issue myself. Which is that, generally speaking, the undead should be affected by illusions.

I would note that in the original AD&D Monster Manual (MM) it states that ghouls "are subject to all attack forms except sleep and charm spells" and are of "low" intelligence - which suggests that other spells affecting the mind might work. Nothing is said about illusions. The Monstrous Compendium (MC) notes that ghouls possess a "terrible cunning" and always attack "without fear", but it is not clear whether they are actually immune to fear spells. Might be worth trying fear on ghouls as well.

Skeletons are similarly described as being immune to sleep & charm. However the MM goes on further to say that they are also immune to hold spells (which are actually an enchantment/charm, so this makes sense) and cold. The MC goes further again to note that skeletons are immune to fear. This all makes sense because skeletons are described as being of "non-" intelligence in both tomes, which should make it impossible for enchantment/charm spells of all kinds to work on them.

This topic also touches on the question of whether undead should be fooled by invisibility, as this is technically an illusion as well. However, it is apparent that neither non-intelligence nor immunity to enchantment/charm type spells give a monster protection from illusions.

Some might point out that skeletons and other undead don't actually have eyes, so how do they really see anyway, and therefore how could blindness or invisibilty affect them? Well, we just have to assume that they do see in some kind of normal fashion and that they do so without some fantastic but unmentioned powers to "dead-sense" people and their surroundings. So, if we conclude that undead are able to see by some variation of normal human ways, albeit necromantic in nature, it is then reasonable to assume that they must also be subject to visual illusions like invisibility, mirror image & blindness unless clearly stated (& explained) otherwise.

Some further exploration of this issue is available courtesy of Sean Reynolds, who has posted a good article (he calls it a rant) on his blog:
http://www.seankreyn...hillusions.html

Modifié par Wierdo, 20 février 2011 - 01:42 .

[Wierdo]

The Fred wrote...
Imoen refused to cast any spells (turns out I somehow set many strange flags on her when using SCK, so she was secretly beserk, confuse, petrifiied AND dead).

Some of my bureaucratic colleagues in the public service seem to share these traits. So, not as strange as you might think.

Modifié par Wierdo, 20 février 2011 - 01:42 .

[Deaderinred]

Wierdo wrote...

Partly I'm reflecting that some people have commented earlier in this thread that they find the Durlag chessboard and the battle with cultists & the demon Aec'Letec to be the toughest battles under SCS. They are pretty tough, to be sure.

I actually fluked through the chessboard, i had everything set up, ai turned off, buffs all on.. made sure noone moved and let them all come to us, i started pausing alot making sure the weaker of my group were casting spells, launching fireballs to soften them up and not getting my group dead when suddenly all the red circles just turned around and walked off into the fog of war, turns out while i was focusing on my spellcasting, my pc and minsc had actually taken out the king in record time and im not sure how since i thought he was supposed to be pretty tough, either he wasnt or something glitched up, or my pc and minsc are badasses.

Modifié par Deadinred, 20 février 2011 - 02:12 .

[Bhryaen]

Wierdo wrote...
Well, we just have to assume that they do see in some kind of normal fashion and that they do so without some fantastic but unmentioned powers to "dead-sense" people and their surroundings.

I assume "dead'sensing." I don't see no eyes in them sockets! Of course illusions might still be able to interfere with dead-sense too... It's a little like the "freedom" vs "hold person" debate whereby "freedom" taken at its simplest form- "magic that enables motion under any circumstances-" works against HP, but taken technically "freedom" doesn't work against mind spells from which HP derives. If you assume "blindness" means "magic that prevents all ability to directly detect something without groping about at a disadvantage" then it should block even dead-sense, but if you want to be more technical you see that illusions don't necessarily affect creatures that pursue sightlessly. I still vote for Blindness to blind skeletons though... Their previous form of humanoid used sight, so...

Anyway... my belated second attempt at the no-reload challenge...

Mods... I put the WeiDU list here so as not to spam this thread (BGT + tweaks & BG1 quest mods). Hopefully I haven't exceeded my tweak limit to the point of rule breaking for a no reload. It certainly didn't involve any invulnerability tweaks...

[EDIT: Odd! I tried pasting the picture but it didn't show up in the pre-post window at all, but when I posted, the links show up in text... sheesh]

Gah, I wish I knew how to get photos into the window here rather than just adding links. What's the secret? I've experimented a number of times and thought I had it earlier today copying from an online source and pasting, but when I tried to upload a screenshot edit, I can't transfer it to here by copy-paste. For now I have to settle with this...

It was hard to resist making a rogue type... but I couldn't resist making a char with STR, so I made a FTR-MAGE. Although I've changed my ways regarding elves & dwarves (and was going to run a dwarven assassin), I went with an elf to get that multiclass. Somehow I doubt I'll be able to keep from tanking him, but... should be interesting.

No longer do I get to use the power of the "Next" movie where I didn't really die but was just seeing ahead to what would happen if I went that way... "Wait! Sniper behind and to the left on the stairs..."

Modifié par Bhryaen, 20 février 2011 - 04:29 .

[Wierdo]

Bhryaen wrote...
If you assume "blindness" means "magic that prevents all ability to directly detect something without groping about at a disadvantage" then it should block even dead-sense, but if you want to be more technical you see that illusions don't necessarily affect creatures that pursue sightlessly. I still vote for Blindness to blind skeletons though... Their previous form of humanoid used sight, so...

I think that whichever way you look at it, skeletons must have some necromantically created way to see around pretty much like humans. However, that does not give any extra-special "dead-sense" ability or immunities. It just means that they have the same advantages, disadvantages & weaknesses of a normally sighted human. So, by this reasoning, Blindness should work normally on skeletons & ghouls.

Bhryaen wrote...
Gah, I wish I knew how to get photos into the window here rather than just adding links. What's the secret? I've experimented a number of times and thought I had it earlier today copying from an online source and pasting, but when I tried to upload a screenshot edit, I can't transfer it to here by copy-paste. For now I have to settle with this...

You need to surround the http link to your image with {img} and {/img}, except use square brackets not curly ones. As an example, you could try using the 'quote' function to draft a reply to this post. Then you'll be able to see the BBCode that I have used below:



You might need to click on the 'BBCode' button in the title bar of the posting window to see how it is coded.

Modifié par Wierdo, 20 février 2011 - 05:36 .

[Wierdo]

Wierdo's Bhaalspawn Bretheren

Secret of Bone Hill - Keep on Bone Hill



Explored the outside of the Bone Hill area and the keep. Killed quite a few hobgoblins, but nothing too special.
Found undead around a fort in the SW corner of the map, decided to leave them for now.

Found +2 ring of protection in the secret 'temple' on the second level.

Wierdo set off a lightning trap while opening the door to the wizard Telvar's room. Nearly died (3hp). Should be more careful.

Met Telvar. He wants us to get a horn. He seems like a complete b********* so we cast detect evil on him: Chaotic evil, no less. Well, clearly we won't trust him at all, but we'll get that horn.

Took out the undead. Found the horn but saw that it was cursed - so don't use it. Skeleton warrior was quite tough and cost Annakin a lot of hit points. Imoen leveled (Thief LV8).

Went back to Telvar with the horn and decide to kill him rather than giving him the horn - because he is evil and didn't say "thank you" nicely.

Explored the catacombs beneath the keep. The Wraith taunted us but died pretty darn quickly. That may be due to our timeless strategy of creeping into position invisibly then attaching him simultaneously (in fact, Wierdo's backstab killed the Wraith). Killed a fire giant and explored below. Some undead including more skeleton archers, which are actually pretty painful if you don't take them out quickly, and a non-hostile skeleton the demanded 'restoration'. So we cast a restoration scroll on it and got 6000xp and a Limited Wish scroll as a reward.


(NB: brightness of this image has been adjusted to make it clearer)

Finally, we killed the Spectator-beholder and its gas spore buddies using the 'immolation' strategy:
- Make party invisible (thanks Spangle)
- Annakin strolls in with 100% fire resistance (2 rings + helm of defence)
- Simultaneously, Wierdo & xan cast fire balls while Annakin + Buddha launch oil of firey burning.
- Annakin attacks anything left standing (there wasn't anything left alive!)
- Snaffle all the nice treasure including a Tome of Clear Thought (+1 int for Wierdo, now up to 21!) and the Sword of Flame +2 (for Annakin, of course!).

I almost forgot to mention that Wierdo talked to a statue who rewarded the party with a Helm of Mind Warding (immune to mind spells + True Seeing 3/day) and she found the Staff of the Blue Dragon (electrical resistance + Lightning Bolt 2/day + Chain Lightning 1/day), which I suspect may cause us some troubles later on.  After that, the party went back to the castle and mopped-up a few hobgoblins we forgot on level 1, and recovered some nice treasures we'd nearly forgotten including the fabled Ring of Air Control, which allows Improved Invisibility once per day! Hehehehehe. Were going to have some fun with this.

All-in-all, a good haul. Time to go back to Restenford for quest completions and some welcome rewards & appreciation from Pelltar & others.

Modifié par Wierdo, 10 avril 2011 - 09:53 .

[Grond0]

Wierdo wrote...

Bhryaen wrote...
Gah, I wish I knew how to get photos into the window here rather than just adding links. What's the secret? I've experimented a number of times and thought I had it earlier today copying from an online source and pasting, but when I tried to upload a screenshot edit, I can't transfer it to here by copy-paste. For now I have to settle with this...

You need to surround the http link to your image with {img} and {/img}, except use square brackets not curly ones.

I'm not sure if it's possible to import directly rather than via online.  From Photobucket (which you seem to be using) you should just be able to click on the IMG link there (hover your cursor over a photo to get the links to appear) and then paste it into your response.  This comes ready equipped with the coding as set out above by Wierdo.

[wise grimwald]

Wierdo wrote...

Wierdo's Bhaalspawn Bretheren continue their adventure:



Explored the outside of the Bone Hill area and the keep. Killed quite a few hobgoblins, but nothing too special.
Found undead around a fort in the SW corner of the map, decided to leave them for now.

Found +2 ring of protection in the secret 'temple' on the second level.

Wierdo set off a lightning trap while opening the door to the wizard Telvar's room. Nearly died (3hp). Should be more careful.

Met Telvar. He wants us to get a horn. He seems like a complete b********* so we cast detect evil on him: Chaotic evil, no less. Well, clearly we won't trust him at all, but we'll get that horn.

Took out the undead. Found the horn but saw that it was cursed - so don't use it. Skeleton warrior was quite tough and cost Annakin a lot of hit points. Imoen leveled (Thief LV8).

Went back to Telvar with the horn and decide to kill him rather than giving him the horn - because he is evil and didn't say "thank you" nicely.

Explored the catacombs beneath the keep. The Wraith taunted us but died pretty darn quickly. That may be due to our timeless strategy of creeping into position invisibly then attaching him simultaneously (in fact, Wierdo's backstab killed the Wraith). Killed a fire giant and explored below. Some undead including more skeleton archers, which are actually pretty painful if you don't take them out quickly, and a non-hostile skeleton the demanded 'restoration'. So we cast a restoration scroll on it and got 6000xp and a Limited Wish scroll as a reward.


(NB: brightness of this image has been adjusted to make it clearer)

Finally, we killed the Spectator-beholder and its gas spore buddies using the 'immolation' strategy:
- Make party invisible (thanks Spangle)
- Annakin strolls in with 100% fire resistance (2 rings + helm of defence)
- Simultaneously, Wierdo & xan cast fire balls while Annakin + Buddha launch oil of firey burning.
- Annakin attacks anything left standing (there wasn't anything left alive!)
- Snaffle all the nice treasure including a Tome of Clear Thought (+1 int for Wierdo, now up to 21!) and the Sword of Flame +2 (for Annakin, of course!).

I almost forgot to mention that Wierdo talked to a statue who rewarded the party with a Helm of Mind Warding (immune to mind spells + True Seeing 3/day) and she found the Staff of the Blue Dragon (electrical resistance + Lightning Bolt 2/day + Chain Lightning 1/day), which I suspect may cause us some troubles later on.  After that, the party went back to the castle and mopped-up a few hobgoblins we forgot on level 1, and recovered some nice treasures we'd nearly forgotten including the fabled Ring of Air Control, which allows Improved Invisibility once per day! Hehehehehe. Were going to have some fun with this.

All-in-all, a good haul. Time to go back to Restenford for quest completions and some welcome rewards & appreciation from Pelltar & others.

Looks like I will have to get the Bonehill mod if I can find somewhere where the download speed is reasonable.
Here in Nepal, finding a good place to download can be tricky. My dongle with a local telephone company makes snails look like cheetahs!  Still, there are internet cafes if I can get to one after work.

[Bhryaen]

Wierdo wrote...
You need to surround the http link to your image with {img} and {/img}, except use square brackets not curly ones.

Hey! You've got a char just like mine! hehe Thanks! Yes, reverting to BBCode makes it a lot easier to see the mechanics behind it...

Grond0 wrote...
I'm not sure if it's possible to import directly rather than via  online.  From Photobucket (which you seem to be using) you should just  be able to click on the IMG link there (hover your cursor over a photo to get the links to appear) and then paste it into your response.  This comes ready equipped with the coding as set out above by Wierdo.

I'm only using Photobucket because I discovered that a number of others were using it and experimented, but I'm glad I did. Ohhh, that's what you were saying! Yes, now I see that maybe I don't need to trigger the BBCode (keep wanting to write BBC Code)- which makes all my bolds and italics turn into b's and i's. Too late for this post, but further experimentation to come... I was using "direct link" instead, so I had to setup the img surrounds myself. Will it work if I do the surrounds without toggling BBCode? It works for quotes and lists, I suppose.

I like this char's soundset- from a character named Dakkon, I believe from Planescape: Torment. "I follow you only so I might die..." hehehe Maybe not so good for a no-reload game... I may need to change his alignment to N (and reputation down by 1) given the personality that's shaping for him...

Day 0... A beginning...
Informed rather brusquely by Gorion that I would be needing to journey, I had a sense that something rather dire was afoot. I approached Winthrop for supplies, but after a bout of his preliminary jests, it appeared he was reticent to simply accomodate me and his response was all business. (Not to mention another of his usual scurillous allusions to my "elven arse," but that was the least of my concerns.) These are hard times, and I could not afford all for which I anticipated a need. So I acted in my own best interests and did what any self-respecting intellect would do in dire circumstances... I broke into and looted every chest and barrel in the Keep. Winthrop didn't seem to mind from whence I procured the currency and items, only that a proper transaction be conducted.

Yet still it wasn't enough. Will it ever be? I considered essential a suit of splint mail and helm, large shield, bastard sword of my liking, longbow, perhaps some more healing potions, since, well, things may become a tad harried. I managed the splint, helm, and shield, and was able to... borrow, as it were... a rather poorly crafted longsword from the garrison, but otherwise I was insufficiently equipped. So I stooped, yes, to hunting rodents in the warehouse as a paid service for Reever. I gathered myself, equipped with the shield and sword, and sallied forth...


"No idea what's inside there with Dark Horizons installed..."

Alas inside- among a swarm of amiably cohabiting rats and cats- was a brutish sort- certainly not an animal trainer- who immediately spoke of my time in Candlekeep coming to an end. It seems he and Gorion had already spoken; however, Gorion didn't attack me while this fellow did. The individual appeared somewhat more capable a foe with the blade he brandished against me than the two previous challengers I'd faced earlier in the Keep residences. Oh, did I not mention that? Neither presented much of combat difficulty, but both seemed intent on my demise. Do they not know that a demise will come inevitably to mortals? Why the imprudence?

As I faced off against this new assassin, fortunately for me I'd memorized "Blindness." Unfortunately for him he had a long 8 hours ahead of him before it would wear off. I managed to steer clear of him and dispatched the rats on the other side of some crates. Notably the rats scurried right up to me as if longing for death- no harmful intent at all, merely blocking my movements- since it was somehow impossible simply to walk over or step onto them- until I could part them from their company of felines. Perhaps more notably it took many strikes to bring these strange vermin to the conclusion for which they braced themselves. Whatever gods created rats apparently have a tedious sense of humor! Perhaps it's something they've been feeding upon in the warehouse...


"I swear Vanilla rats were easier than this..."

It was at that point that I recognized that I had forgotten to purchase a ranged weapon. Of course it had more to do with cost than memory lapse, but still... I was lacking a proper means to the assassin's end. One simply cannot waste a perfectly well-crafted "Blindness" application by approaching the afflicted with a weapon from which he may sense one's location. So I bid him adieu for the time being and strolled back to Winthrop to purchase the only ranged weapon I could afford, even with the meagre 5gp that Reevor offered for my troubles.


"Kitty just hopes one of us gives it a proper meal."

There were many slingshots in stock and even more bullets, so I was able to terminate the transation successfully despite a shortfall in my equipment expectations. When I returned to the warehouse, the poor fellow was still there, poised not unlike the rats to await his demise patiently and even welcomely. Perhaps it is some substance in the warehouse affecting any who linger overlong. I removed his leather armor and a tidy sum of gold to extricate myself from that dusty enclave forthwith.


"Hm, Kitty thinks that would be me... How much XP for cats?"

I'm not sure why I then purchased a short bow, but so be it. Nearly 14 hours since Gorion's initial mention to make haste, I am prepared to dally no longer! I wonder if he is still waiting at the library entrance after all this time?

Modifié par Bhryaen, 20 février 2011 - 02:26 .

[Gate70]

Linux/Wine EasyTutu with TUTUFIX, BG1NPC, BG1UB, TUTUGUI and Generalised Biffing. Removed Hard Times & Randomiser.

Hargis, NG human male beast master. ** longbow, ** quarterstaff, +4 vs lycanthrope.

Str 18/76
Dex 18
Con 18
Int 11
Wis 18 (R>C or dead!)
Cha 9

After the untimely death of Gorion I take the scenic route to the Friendly Arm Inn. An assassin called Tranzig is mortified to see me arrive in the company of Imoen, Ajantis and Alora. After a brief journey Khalid manages to out-stare two basilisks, leaving Jaheira free to travel with us. (1 free slot and trying to limit xp before npc 5 joins).

Ajantis insists on taking a girdle (piercing) from an ogre and gauntlets (dexterity) from an ogrillion before we head into Nashkel mine. He forgets to retreat from Mulahey and is held/killed as we fight off kobolds and skeletons. The skeletons killed Alora too so only Jaheira and Imoen are by my side. I sneak up on Mulahey as we attack. Imoen is held, and I am next. Jaheira saves vs hold and moves in to melee. She heals herself once and badly wounds Mulahey before I recover to kill him. It costs 200gp to raise Ajantis and 400 for Alora. We return to the mine, empty a chest and run into an assassin called Nimbul. He deducts another 200gp for Ajantis and almost kills Imoen too.

Tranzig, Teven, Raiken, a caravan bandit leader and Deke are next on our list. Crime evidently doesn't pay so Imoen decides to become a mage.

Our lack of experience shows against Ardenor Crush. Worse, Taugosz Khosann chases Ajantis round the bandit camp while the rest of us pick off bandits one by one. He stupidly remains focused on Ajantis and eventually collapses from missile damage.

Venkt manages to Melf Ajantis before perishing, and I minister aid only for Hakt to poison me. Britik is also dead so Ajantis deals with Raemon while Jaheira sorts out the poison and the rest of us kill Hakt. We need to head into Cloakwood now.

Ajantis, paladin 3. 42 kills, Tranzig. "Borrowed" forge b sword.
Hargin, beastmaster 3. 89 kills, Taugosz Khosann. Composite longbow.
Alora, Gullykin thief 5. 25 kills, Raiken. Sling +1.
Imoen, mage 1 (thief 4). 22 kills, cave bear. Shortbow>sling.
Jaheira, fighter 3, druid 3. 45 kills, Raemon. Sling.

[Bhryaen]

Day 2... An Ending...
It appears that Gorion's lack of forthrightness in sharing his knowledge shall irk me for the last time. I have discovered in a rather grisly manner the limitations of his spellcasting prowess. Heading out from Candlekeep by his side, he preceded the venture with a cure wounds spell... despite that I hadn't even a blister of which to complain. And where did he get a healing spell from anyway? Perhaps he had a brief background of priesthood that he also failed to mention to me... It was not a particularly powerful healing spell...

It was nightfall by the time we finally left, so clearly there was no real hurry, and I could've rested again to regain a spell for use should I have preferred. I believe Gorion wished to offer his parting flirtations with the new librarian before looking his last. When we set off, however, we were set upon by a troupe of ogres and absurdly overdressed thugs. From what I caught of their discussion with Gorion, the troupe was seeking Gorion's "ward," which I assume meant myself, but one can never be certain. They seemed content to simply murder my former "warder" and leave me be in the wilderness. This contents me none.

I made my way back to the scene of the crime and was relieved to find no one present other than present company. One of the ogres possessed a well-polished onyx gem- perhaps worth 50gp or more, I am uncertain. Unable to bring Gorion to a temple after a rather thorough hacking done by the thugs, I returned to a southern road and followed it east, discovering en route a valuable gem- perhaps worth fully 20gp- couched within a tree knot. Hard times indeed! Just the beginning of a fortune to be had outside the walls of the Keep...

The path led many hours east toward a town in the distance, and, after an inconclusive and enigmatic encounter with a rather powerful-looking red-robed mage, I proceeded south toward the town. A gibberling accosted me, somewhat more formidable than the type which I'd seen hours ealier in the morning, but still quite vulnerable to sling stones and in possession of a few gold coins.

In keeping with the amassing of my fortune- or rather the fortification of my self-protection- I decided upon entering the sizable town of Beregost to see what treasure might be available. Many doors were locked, but my strength training has not been for naught. I made my way through a limited segment of the town, sampling the local merchants, appropriating a small home that appeared both cozy and uninhabited, and of course pilfering when suficiently inconspicuous.

In a local inn named the Feldepost a disagreeable cad attempted to taunt me into a brawl. Well, this was quite unexpected, but I managed to abate his sanguinary temperament with flippancy and pretentions of experience. The end justified the means... and I moved on with some satisfaction. South of the Feldopost I discovered a home that appeared uninhabited also, but upon reaching the second floor I was surprised to find a child in the center of the floor. His innocence notwithstanding, I was on a mission of procurement, and with his guardian obliviously napping nearby, I simply proceeded with my pilfering. The chest there was locked but no match for my musculature. As I subsequently opened the lid, I heard an odd click that filled me with a grave apprehension-


Maybe I should've recruited Imoen the Swashbuckler after all?

Next! See, Grond0? I'll beat your record in no time!

Modifié par Bhryaen, 20 février 2011 - 04:32 .

[Bhryaen]

Can't do mages for a while... Maybe better I try to take my favorite fighter-thief type through to ToB first... and given a new-found respect far ye hardy dwarven folk, enter...

[The Fred]

Hey, it's good to have some fresh blood characters going through the challenge - I was starting to worry that the Wierdo would finish up and I'd be left all alone! Good luck everyone.

[Wierdo]

wise grimwald wrote...
Looks like I will have to get the Bonehill mod if I can find somewhere where the download speed is reasonable.

It is certainly a lot of fun. I am having a lot of fun with a thief-type character. I played the original PnP SOBH adventure when I was a teenager at school with a fighter-dualed-thief character and had a lot of fun. The mod re-creates some of those experiences. It certainly gives good rewards for clever thieving and subtlety, but can really punish a hack'n'slash approach.

[Wierdo]

Bhryaen wrote...
Maybe I should've recruited Imoen the Swashbuckler after all?[/i]
Next! See, Grond0? I'll beat your record in no time!

Oh dear! better luck next time. If you are going to be intent on playing like a thief and stealing stuff, you need a rogue! Having said that, an undetected trap can within a breath of taking my illusionist/thief protagonist's life recently (->3hp).

[Wierdo]

Wierdo's Bhaalspawn Bretheren

Secret of Bone Hill - Thieving

Wierdo was on her was to Pelltar's tower when she noticed a locked box near some statue or something. Imoen sprang the lock and revealed 3 scrolls: Cloudkill, Delayed Blast Fireball & Protection From Evil!

After talking to Pelltar, Wierdo looted the Baron's castle using Improved Invisibility from the Ring of Air Control. Lots of very valuable gems and necklaces to find, also a Wand of Monster Summoning and a Wand of Cloudkill. You may remember that Imoen had picked all of the locks earlier.

After invisibly looting all the houses, shops and barracks in town, Wierdo had collected some impressive loot including the famous Arbane Shortsword +2 and the Frostreaver Axe +3. Shame that none of my party use axes (now that Starria is gone, sniff). Figuring that the party  had exploited this town enough errr..... done all the quests, they asked Pelltar to send us home.

However, Grellus appeared and accused the party because there have been more thefts (Really? Swear it was not us guv'! ) and murders (No, no, we have killed no innocents, rep=20) in town to investigate, and more bandits have appeared. So, Wierdo's mob set off to explore some old sewers they previously hadn't heard of, and found lots of almost invulnerable and poisonous/contagious giant rats and about 4 otyugh (5000xp each).

Theyr also used the opportunity to invisibly loot the clerics in the rectory. Nice treasures. Buddha has started to use the Ring of Air Control's Improved Invisibility powers to steal freely, as the invisibility lasts only 10 rounds and Buddha can move very quickly - therefore he can steal more.

Anyway, further investigating the murders took us to the lighthouse where Wierdo met Sirius. The party went in invisible, but found nothing. So, on a hunch, Xan cast Detect Invisible and Lo! revealed the little murderer hiding invisibly in the room! So we all set upon the little pr!ck and he died quickly. I can only imagine what damage he might have cause but for the invisibility from Spangle and Xan's spell. Choice treasures from Sirius included the almost mystical Ring of Regeneration (OMG! Wow ), Kundane's Shortsword +2 and the Hand of Glory (which I believe may not be around for too long).

Wierdo levelled as both illusionist and thief (LV 6/7), and she put all her thief points into pickpocketing (-> 80%). Now to use a Potion of Master Thievery (+40% PP ->120%).

Some bold pickpocketing of Baron Grellus was rewarded with a Ring of Energy and the Flame Tongue +4  longsword! (Wow! I never expected this at all!).

Pickpocketing Fairwind on LV2 yielded a Wand of Magic Missiles and a Ring of Protection +2 (double wow!).

Wierdo went to the temple (west of Restenford) and told Acolyte Almon that Qualton wasn't feeling well. Almon went to check. While he was gone, she took the opportunity to open the secret passage below the temple (trigger is on the far left) and looted all the good stuff there. There are a lot nice gems and good scrolls, especially 4th level spells like Stoneskin, Invis 10' Radius and Minor Globe of Invulnerability.They  made sure to go back and reset the altar so no-one would notice that they had been there.

Modifié par Wierdo, 10 avril 2011 - 09:50 .

[Gorthaur X]

Oberon continues his adventures.

I take up Minsc's offer for a quest to rescue a damsel in distress, which goes uneventfully and gains Oberon a point of Charisma, bringing his natural charms up to over 9000 19. I also find another Wand of Lightning with four charges on the body of a gnoll ambusher. Lucky the fool didn't use it.Then the team backtracks to Nashkel, taking Edwin aboard, and then to Beregost, where I replace the Rashemi pair with Viconia. It occurs to me that Garrick might be useful for identifying some of the random magical stuff we've accumulated, which he does masterfully. Emboldened by the bard's abilities, I then decide to have him pickpocket Algernon at Feldepost's - at which he fails miserably, and before I know it, Kivan has put an arrow between the fat man's eyes and my reputation has dropped to eight. What a tragedy - I accept no responsibility for my actions, and instead blame Garrick's incompetence for this dreadful bloodbath that claimed an innocent life. Goodbye, Garrick.

Oh well. At least Shar-Teel has stopped complaining - my reputation was getting dangerously high for her liking.

To take our minds off things, we decide to brave the Nashkel mines. Not wanting to bother with the kobolds, I make the call to simply sneak past them with Smog's invisibility spell. However, just as we're in the middle of the biggest kobold concentration on the third level, Edwin breaks invisibility to pop a sling bullet into a kobold in an uncharacteristic fit of bloodlust (I had forgotten to change his script from "default" to "SCS ease of use"). What a clustersomethingsomething! I quickly toss the Girdle of Piercing to Kivan, who starts shooting kobolds left and right in hopes of distracting them from Edwin, who casts Mirror Image and runs away in a wholly characteristic fit of cowardice. Oberon has only 4 level 1 spells left to tackle Mulahey with, but he is forced to use one sleep to handle the horde.

Still, we survive and press on. Next is the kobold chieftain and shaman, and I decide to have Shar-Teel backstab the latter while the rest of us approach and take the former out with missile weapons. Sadly, my timing is off and the Shaman spots Oberon before Sharty can kill him, and I end up taking both a poison arrow and an Acid Arrow at the same time. Oberon runs and gulps a potion of extra healing, and we end up with two held characters before taking out the Shaman. We only narrowly avoid paying a heavy price for our overconfidence.

Mulahey himself is fortunately an easier opponent. We enter his cave hasted, and Edwin casts Monster Summoning  for some extra fodder. The fight is over in a flash. As we rest, I'm a little disappointed to gain the evil Bhaalspawn ability (Drain Life) instead of the far more useful healing power, but I suppose I deserve it for poor Algernon.

Now it's only a matter of collecting some loose gear over the Sword Coast before heading off to the Bandit Camp. Hopefully we'll also manage to trigger the assassin encounters before then - in my last game, Molkar chose to attack us just when we exited Tazok's tent, forcing us into a fight against both his bounty hunter group and Taugosz Khosann & the Black Talon, costing my party three lives.

Modifié par Gorthaur X, 20 février 2011 - 07:02 .

[Gate70]

Hargis, NG human male beast master.

Cloakwood. We walk a few steps south, and find a short-cut leading deeper into the forest. Alora deals with 3 of 4 traps, carefully tripping the last and our second short-cut means we only have to kill 4 spiders and 4 ettercaps then out-run a 3 spider ambush.

Cloakwood part 3 is epic, with us simply walking east. Two wyverns have other thoughts but we run east from them too and a third wyvern swoops from above, nearly hitting us with a cow. We sidle through the final part of Cloakwood (to the north of the hamadryad) and escape a second wyvern ambush despite Jaheira being bitten.

A  small group of mercenaries are waiting for us at Cloakwood Mine. Kysus is badly wounded by my first arrow and Alora finishes him off with a bullet. We ignore Drasus, doom Genthore and target Rezdan. His defences soon fall and Ajantis chunks him. Drasus is next and is badly wounded by the time Ajantis has to start running. It is clear the two of them would win in a fair fight but I kill Drasus first and then Genthore.

We kill a few guards and two ghasts in the mine before paying to release the slaves. Yeslick volunteers to join us and as he looks like a sturdy little fellow we give him our best armour and shield. Ajantis takes my longbow of marksmanship and I am left with a composite crossbow. He wants to kill Davaeorn and flood the mine but I suggest we should come back a bit later.

Imoen protects Yeslick from petrification and we quickly clear Mutamin and his pets, followed by more basilisks and Linden. We head back to Cloakwood mine but have to rest outside. As we reach the guardhouse Yeslick whines about protecting his mine and clears off with our best equipment (boots of speed, golden girdle, gauntlets of dexterity, a fistful of potions, full plate, shield +1).

Ajantis makes do with spares. We attack the mine guards from Yeslicks cell, killing Hareishan and one or two guards before slamming the door shut on them. Alora sits out one poisoned arrow, then we attack from the kitchen. Alora is poisoned again so Jaheira uses her only slow poison spell. Then Ajantis is poisoned. We retreat as I slow his poison. He is poisoned a second time and has to continue while Jaheira can only cast a minor healing.

Only three guards remain, and I help Ajantis melee them so no more arrows are shot at us. After clearing up we head outside to rest before moving deeper. Ajantis and I are badly wounded in the next room, so we head quickly to the stairs and descend deeper still.

The lone guard almost kills Ajantis, then we heal him as Alora deals with some traps. I have a sneaky look at Daveorn then we buff my pseudo dragon and send it in. After a few ineffective spells the dragon has to run away from two ogres and two ogrillions. Davaeorn is using his quarterstaff so we move in and Ajantis kills him.

Another rest outside sees us returning to deal with an ogre mage jailor, Natasha and a mustard jelly. No sign of Yeslick or our missing gear so we flood the mine and depart. Ajantis is our front-man but without the gauntlets I suspect I am going to have to switch positions with him soon.

Ajantis, paladin 5. 82 kills, Davaeorn.
Hargis, beastmaster 5. 142 kills, greater basilisk.
Alora, thief 6. 42 kills, Kysus.
Imoen, mage 4 (thief 4). 26 kills, cave bear.
Jaheira, fighter 4, druid 4. 58 kills, lesser basilisk.

[Bhryaen]

[Gah! I messed up this post on accident... PIeced together the initial part just for congruity in the thread. The lost bit was Akgrogan's first adventuring segment...]

Wierdo wrote...
It is certainly a lot of fun...

I never did that mod, and it's looking quite elaborate and interesting... and I must keep it a surprise!...

Modifié par Bhryaen, 21 février 2011 - 05:48 .

[Grond0]

Bhryaen wrote...
I never did that mod, and it's looking quite elaborate and interesting... and I must keep it a surprise!...

A mod you haven't loaded up already - now there's a surprise.  Having said that I must admit I'm tempted to give it a go at some point myself (even though this was one I didn't do as PnP), although just glancing through the treasure list acquired it looks like there could be some balancing issues for the remainder of the game!

Modifié par Grond0, 20 février 2011 - 09:12 .

[The Fred]

Speaking of balancing issues, I'm having much the same thoughts about Dark Horizons, and that's with the bugged returning throwing dagger removed (which I really would have liked to have, for Xan and later Immy). Dark Side of the Sword Coast was almost as bad in parts, and the Drizzt Saga was the worst of the lot (though I guess that's partially excusable given the nature of the thing). I know mod-makers like to add cool new things, but I can't see why they can't restrain themselves just a little when peppering the place with loot - I'm almost tempted to make a "tone-down" mod to install on top of all these others.

[Bhryaen]

The Fred wrote...

Speaking of balancing issues, I'm having much the same thoughts about Dark Horizons, and that's with the bugged returning throwing dagger removed (which I really would have liked to have, for Xan and later Immy). Dark Side of the Sword Coast was almost as bad in parts, and the Drizzt Saga was the worst of the lot (though I guess that's partially excusable given the nature of the thing). I know mod-makers like to add cool new things, but I can't see why they can't restrain themselves just a little when peppering the place with loot - I'm almost tempted to make a "tone-down" mod to install on top of all these others.

Hear! Hear!

Actually when installing The Grey Clan you're offered a "normal" and a "lite" version. I'm not sure if "lite" means they go lighter on the loot drops or simply tone down the excessive enemy powers. It would be nice to see the former type of option on all quest mods, particularly if they're going to keep being that subject to imbalances. I haven't seen a single BG1 mod (and it might apply to BG2 quest mods too) that does not bend the stick too far on generous magic items. I remember as a very young PnP DnD DM feeling like I wanted my players to keep getting neat things, but as a much less young player I know it's a lot more fun not to. It may also be self-consciousness about a mod that's not particularly interesting storywise, peppering "wow" items like a cosmetic enhancement. There is so much work that must go into making the mods, I just wish there would be more interest in and attention to giving experience rather than XP. But beggars can't be choosers, and since I have no way to offer a mod of my own, I'm content to run through them once just as they are, even if I'll probably not do any twice. I at least want to see them. I seriously don't like DSotSC's XP spamming and disjointed area reworks, but I'd have been worse off having not tried it to see for myself.