16388 réponses à ce sujet

[Grimwald the Wise]

You are talking about a mod there - who knows what the developer intent there was. If you believe it was a bug, just state what you did and move on.

Got a message when talking to people that there was a string missing, so couldn't complete the plot. Missed out on a lot of experience, but not too disastrous.

Can't get back to the Sword Coast so used Move to area. Then fought Drasus et al. Two party members were both panicked nand confused. The others defeated the bad guys and moved out of sight. The confused party members fought for a while before desisting. Regained control of them, healed everyone and slept.

[Jianson]

(though from a meta-gaming point of view I would never do so if I have a thief, which I do this run).

I return them, then Zhurlong has an "accident". In my current setup, there is actually a journal entry that comments on this:

 

Guttax brought both emeralds to Oublek so that they can be returned to their rightful owner. (Incidentally, I never do this when meta-gaming - 1500 gold is far more helpful than 200 experience

I return one of them and sell the other. Then, after I collect his other reward (or not, should I decide to deliver Brage to the temple instead) and I need a reputation drop (for more useful Bhaal powers, or to keep evil characters in party), I Charm Oublek, drag him away from the busy street and let him have an "accident". I can now collect some cash, and two more emeralds.





Glasya, half-elven Sorceress with random spell picks, adventuring in chapter 7 with Branwen, Minsc, Imoen, Coran and Dynaheir

We saved Duke Eltan without problems. Coran did the job alone, the sneaking way. I first though that Imoen should do it, but I realized that she is far too petite to carry Eltan's body, and can't wear ogre power gauntlets or drink giant strength potions.


As usual, I lured down Cythandria's ogres downstairs to the small doorway. An invisible Dynaheir blocked the way. This run, I have screwed up Kivan's sea elf quest, so I have no +2 returning dagger. But Minsc has the +2 halberd, 'Suryris´ Blade', found on Zhalimar's corpse earlier in this very building. The superior range kept him away from golem hits.

Cythandria herself was fought with a little hide and seek, and summons.

A great setback happened here. Dynaheir did not approve of Glasya's decision to not show Cythandria mercy when she begged for it. Something about that me being too much like the Lord of Murder or something.

As I was sorting through loot, I noted I could not open Dynaheir's inventory screen. Why? She was hostile! Passive, but with red circle. Must be that 'decency' that she values so much, or maybe the fact that I have party AI off? Otherwise there could have been Skull Traps and such thrown at my party...

That's harsh of her, I think. Couldn't she have mentioned her take on this *before* I got to choose my answer?

What to do? She is still in party but refuses to move, so I can't leave this floor without removing her from the party. If I do that, all the stuff she wears and carries will be lost unless I kill her. I don't want to do that. She's been a great ally and it would be devastating for Minsc as well.

I decided to charm her first. Doom from Branwen, then we attempted a Mental Domination and all Glasya's Charm Person spells (5 or 6). She saved against everything. I burned the Domination scroll I just found on Cythandria. That worked, and I could collect the items. Had to let Dynaheir throw away her four MMMs at Branwen (none hit) in order to be able to take her +1 staff and magical sling bullets...

Decided to rest to see if she would come to her senses:
(yes, I have the Rest Anywhere component installed. I do not abuse it, but i think it makes the game more flexible and I think it makes more sense if you use it with discretion)



Uh, guess not.
I charmed her again, then reformed party. Talked to Minsc to take him along without Dynaheir.


Second mage permanently lost. Replacement? Xzar or Xan. Both are complete wimps when it comes to hitpoints, even with lucky rolls from here on, but I suppose I have little choice. One of the bards or Quayle will take too long to level up so they can use level 4-5 spells. There is not that much left of the game. Most of Durlag's, yes, but little else.

Xzar was conveniently located in Shop of Silence, and he's level 4 with decent HP rolls (4, 4 and 1 for a total of 13). I bought back the Robe of the Evil Archmagi I sold to a weapon merchant in SW BG earlier. Cost me a pretty penny, as did the wands of monster summoning and fire. They have 5 charges each.

The Husam sideplot is pretty interesting. I haven't noticed before that they are Shadow Thieves. I almost picked a fight here, just to see if I could handle it:


I figured Glasya could get an Emotion off, Coran could detect invisibility, Xzar was a bit away from them, etc.
But naah, 7 thieves could still be dangerous for Xzar, Glasya and Coran in particular, and it's only Husam that gives good XP. Besides, I wanted to see all he had to say.


Undercellars - what a mess!
When I entered, there were several green slime attacking courtesans. Xzars doing from before...

The fight with Slythe was reasonably clean. Surrounded him with skellies and had Coran and Imoen fire at him:


Pretty easy kill. It got much worse when Glasya added monsters to fight Krystin. There were Chaos spells confusing my critters, plus I think the slimes attacked them, they fought back and that may have caused some courtesans and nobles to turn red, and that is of course dangerous to be around my summoned monsters:



Soon after, another courtesan dropped dead, then a nobleman. Rep was down to 4! Oh no, maybe Xzar will be my only companion when this is over! Quenash got hit, another coutesan got hit. One more courtesan died, but that was a slime's fault, NOT mine.

Thankfully, my summons expired. Krystin seemed to have wasted most of the more devastating stuff (I noted Sunfire, 3x Lightning Bolt, a couple of lethal Chromatic Orbs, several Magic Missiles, 2x Melf's Acid Arrow). Branwen, Coran and Minsc worked on her Stoneskins with elemental damage:


Coran's Bolts of Lightning were especially useful. Too bad he's out of them now.

Krystin would not go down without scaring me first. She fled and just happened to catch sight of Glasya. Jeebers, a Flame Arrow followed by her last MMM! Good thing Glasya wears the 'Batalista's Passport' ring.


I want to build up Xzar before we take on the coronation. Especially a well-timed Slow, and if I can get him to level 7, Greater Malison would be awesome. He has several very good spells in his book. I really hope I can keep him safe in Durlag's Tower (not a guarantee, especially since he has no Stoneskin and no invisibility spells).

We have made some progress on the Great Many Doors level and killed five regular Greater Doppelgangers, and one of the shifting kind that showed up when we tried to rest. The Durlag form is quite the melee brawler. But it's the Islanne form that concerns me the most. She knows disabling spells and Lightning Bolt. There will be several shifters to fight next.

Oh yeah, Xzar levelled up to 5, with a maximum HP roll (17 now).

[Charlestonian Knight Templar]

En route to the place called Dryad Falls, another of place I’d heard of growing up but had never been to, my subordinates & I encountered & killed six Xvarts & collected their short swords, little gold & two or three gems.

 

On arrival I found Dryad Falls a painfully boring really. While there I counted among my victims two Dread Wolves, a Dire Wolf, six Winter Wolves & four Cave Bears.

SHAR-TEEL! AN ACQUIRED TASTE THAT KEEPS ME ENTERTAINED BY NIGHT & SWINGS TWO MEAN LONG SWORDS!

Key Event: There really was no ‘key event’ to speak of.  I ran into a Dryad, who begged me to help her w/two goofy oafs who were threatening to cut down a tree they thought might be full of riches.  My plan was to let them do most of the work, offering Kagain to help out & see if there was anything in the tree. If so, I’d kill them & the Dryad & take it for the glory of Malcanthet. When the Dryad figured out my plan she turned hostile. You should’a seen those first two goofy bastards run, they were in Baldur’s Gate before I blinked. So I killed the Dryad but think I should killed the two goof balls first as one of ‘em might‘a had something worthwhile. 

GENTLE WOOD SPIRIT MY BUTT. GOOD FOR NOTHING BUT THE END OF MY BLADE.

Just as I was getting ready to leave four Gnolls approached Shar-Teel demanding money to pass. Needless to say, we stopped after I killed them & I built a make shift alter to Malcanthet, where I prepared their bodies & sacrificed them to her glory.  

MALCANTHET LIKES 'EM DEAD WHEN I SACRIFICE THEM SO I GET THE JOY OF KILLING THEM FIRST!

Not welcome at the store in Nashkel, I decided to go to the Nashkel Carnival. I decided to see what was in the woods there & ended up bagging 15 Kobolds running around north the carnival.  Then I went to the carnival where I’ve never been hassled before & I was talking to a merchant one of us touched something on one of his tables, next thing I know the blow-hard is hollering for the Amnish Guard. We weren’t even going to take anything so I just left & had Viconia cast a Hold Person on the guard since Quayle was outta Blindness spells – he keeps four memorized. 

 

I evaded the guard & went to the wagon area where the Potions Merchant & Magic Weapons Merchant locate themselves. I spent the night there, as I have many times, after unloading everything but the six Winter Wolf pelts that the guy in Nashkel wanted. Oh well, I’m sure I get to unload them in Beregost in a few days before I go to Fireleaf Forest.

 

Before I left, Nashkel Carnival, I popped my head in a gambling tent & some guy tried to pickpochket me! Said his name was Vitiare.  I stress his name was Vitiare & he was good for some gold & a Potion of Master Thievery. 

 

VITIARE HUH? SAFANA WOULD BE YOUR GUILDMASTER...BUT THEN AGAIN, YOU'RE DEAD NOW ANYWAY!

I checked out another tent where some guy was just standing there, I guess waiting for me to approach him. Instead, I had Quayle cast Blindness on him & Safana quaff a Potion of Mastery Thievery & pick the lock on that big ole chest he was standing beside.  I picked up some gold, a Potion of Invulnerability,a Potion of Healing & another, I can’t remember. Even w/that, he started screaming & I knew the guards would be there soon so I headed west on the road that leads to Nashkel.  Clean break.

.

Treasure of Note: Maybe the Winter Wolf Pelts or the Potion of Invulnerability, nothing really though

 

Current Disposition: Resting, resupplying @ the Nashkel Carnival

 

Next Steps:  Headed to the Fire Leaf Forest. Have heard no sign from my Queen so I continue to think I am where she would have me now, laying low in the south while the FF look for me. I seem to be able to get into Beregost with no trouble

 
Level Up: None

 

Current Party: (Reputation: 5 - Disliked) (killing Dryads is kinda like killing Paladin’s in the eyes of this warped society we endure in this life.  Bring on the abyss my Queen, when it pleases you to bring me into your presence. 

 

Ironside: Ftr/Fallen A-Pal//7, FP Mail +1 w/RoP +1) wBoots/Avoidance, Girdle/Bluntness, Gauntlet’s/WEx; Spiders

                Bane**, B/Sword+1/+3 vs SSs**, (THWS**); Lord Foreshadows Ring) (Greater Bassilisk)

Shar-Teel: Ftr//7 w/FP Mail w/Clk/P +2 /2 L/Swords*** w Gauntlet’s/WS & RoFAction, (2HWS***)(Shoal the

                Nereid)(AI: Std Atk)

Kagain: Ftr/Bkr//7 w/Pl Mail & RoP +1; Battle Axe +1 *** (or Throwing Axe***)(2WS***)(Sword Spider)(AI: Sp/Cstr

                Atk)

Viconia: Cleric//7, S/Mail RoP +1 w/S/Shield*, Mace*, Slg*; R/Animal Friendship, R/Holiness (Phase Spider)(AI: Clc

Aggr)

Safana: Thf//8 w/S/Leather, Dart +1 (x34 etc.) *, S/Swd +1x2*, Dgr* (2WS) (Davaeorn) (AI: Thf Adv/Thf Sct)

Quayle: Mage/Ill//7, Dgr*, Slg*(Whebber Ott) (AI: Mage Def)

 

Mods Used: HardTimes-v2; BG1UB_v12; bg1npc-v20; X0black101 (Blackguard); level1npcs-v1.9; bg2_tweaks-v14; Randomizer-v68; scs-v21 (- Tactical Challenges)

 

Blue Font: New information;

Red Font: Monster encounters (first use)

(Best kill)(Current AI)

[Charlestonian Knight Templar]

 

SORTING THRU SCROLLS & PLANNING FURTHER DESTRUCTION

So it was down to the Fireleaf Forest, in keeping w/staying far south of Baldur’s Gate & the FF. I remain confident that my actions are in keeping w/Malcanthet’s desire for me now & so I keep going. I’ve added some enchanted items, mostly to those w/i my party to strengthen those who protect me.  After killing two Worgs I came around a large hill & ran into two knuckleheads named Vax & Zal. Vax told us that Zal was the fastest dart thrower in Faerun or something & that he was angry b/c they’d not been able to rob many people today. I & my subordinates obliterated the two of them in roughly a minute.


SOMETIMES I WISH SOME OF THESE MOUTHY ONES HAD A LITTLE BUTT BEHIND THEIR TALK


I KNOW IT'S GONNA BE A GOOD NIGHT
Key Event: I guess the key event in this exploration was a run in w/a trio of Amnish Mercenaries, led by a mouthy wench who called her partners, Alexander and Delgod. We’d been working on a formation that put Safana up front Hidden in Shadow. The idea being when she spots enemy, she raises her hand & we halt to give us time to set up & decide what to do based on what her situation report dictates. This report is supposed to include size (# = how many & S (Kobold),M (human) L ((Ogre); activity (what are they doing); location (where exactly are they); unit type (i.e. FF, BTE, mage types), equipment (type weapons). She pulled it off perfectly & Viconia started casting Hold Person, Quayle Blindness on one of the two men, both Archers, while the wench came right @ me as I was trying to cast Horror. I pulled out Spiders Bane as Kagain & Shar-Teel came up beside me to help. We murdered the three of them but Safana got caught up front when her ‘Hidden in Shadow’ faded and one of the guys w/bow killed her so I returned to have her raised. She is integral to my team - & I’d still like to sneak off w/her one night/day when Shar-Teel’s not looking. 
LIKE I SAID, WILL THE MOUTHY ONES EVER BACK UP THEIR BOASTING?

Aside from those two, I led my subordinates to victory over eight Skeleton’s w/Composite Longbows, three weird humanoids: a Kobold, a Xvart, & a Tasloi.  One of them had a scroll on him that was too Ironside & signed by Larry, Darryl & Darryl which netted 25 gold in Beregost.  In addition, I led us to kill six Xvarts, three Kobolds & some dog. 

IT LOOKS LIKE A KINKY ONE TOO...BUT AS A SERVANT OF MALCANTHET ALL IS ACCEPTABLE & THEN SOME!!!

Treasure of Note: Boots of Grounding (Shar-Teel); Girdle of Piercing (Kagain);

 

Current Disposition: Resting in my room w/Shar-Teel @ the Nashkel Inn

Next Steps:  Gibberling Mountains

 
Level Up: None

 

Current Party: (Reputation: 5 - Disliked)

 

Ironside: Ftr/Fallen A-Pal//7, FP Mail +1 w/RoP +1) wBoots/Avoidance, Girdle/Bluntness, Gauntlet’s/WEx; Spiders

                Bane**, B/Sword+1/+3 vs SSs**, (THWS**); Lord Foreshadows Ring) (Greater Bassilisk)

Shar-Teel: Ftr//7 w/FP Mail w/Clk/P +2 w/Boots of Grounding /2 L/Swords*** w Gauntlet’s/WS & RoFAction, (2HWS***)(Shoal the Nereid)(AI: Std Atk)

Kagain: Ftr/Bkr//7 w/Pl Mail & RoP +1 & Girdle of Piercing; Battle Axe +1 *** (or Throwing Axe***)(2WS***)(Sword

                Spider)(AI: Sp/Cstr Atk)

Viconia: Cleric//7, S/Mail RoP +1 w/S/Shield*, Mace*, Slg*; R/Animal Friendship, R/Holiness (Phase Spider)(AI: Clc

Aggr)

Safana: Thf//8 w/S/Leather, Dart +1 (x34 etc.) *, S/Swd +1x2*, Dgr* (2WS) (Davaeorn) (AI: Thf Adv/Thf Sct)

Quayle: Mage/Ill//7, Dgr*, Slg*(Whebber Ott) (AI: Mage Def)

 

Mods Used: HardTimes-v2; BG1UB_v12; bg1npc-v20; X0black101 (Blackguard); level1npcs-v1.9; bg2_tweaks-v14; Randomizer-v68; scs-v21 (- Tactical Challenges)

 

Blue Font: New information;

Red Font: Monster encounters (first use)

(Best kill)(Current AI)

[corey_russell]

Guttax the role-playing half-elf Ranger/Cleric - Update 4

 

Guttax finally cleared out the Firewine Ruins the long way. Shar-Teel only had it a little bit better then her predecessors and she did get some luck as well. For one, she detected a trap - and she was standing on it!! However, she managed to back off and de-trap it without setting it off. Praise Tymora for defective traps.

 

Then she found an evil mage - she wanted to backstab but she was blocked from his back. So she stabbed him with her +2 short sword and ran for her life. She gulped a potion of absorption too, hoping to draw out the mage's lightning bolt - but she had a run as an ogrillion was in hot pursuit. Shar-Teel lead the ogrillion to Khalid and Minsc, who just two hallways down - they killed it quick. Shar-Teel returned and was just about to backstab the mage when he turned randomly! Then a kobold commando blocked her escape route! Shar-Teel decided no guts no glory and attacked the mage anyways - she did finally draw out his lightning bolt - Shar-Teel was immune to that, but the kobold commandos arrows were tearing her up and killed (though not chunked) her. The party then avenged her death - but wait it's not over yet - Minsc spotted an ogre mage at extreme range - what if HE did lightning bolt too? Yikes! We've been carrying some haste potions since Candlekeep, perhaps now would be a good time to use one - So Minsc does, charges the Ogre Mage but at an angle (so the bolt doesn't come toward the party). As it turned out, a hasted Minsc was too much for this Ogre Mage to handle. Then was just mop up of the few enemies left. The cloudkill and fireball spells, Dynaheir welcomed them - too bad she's not high enough level to cast either.

 

We met a red robed mage who said the bandits we seek are in the North-East. So we began our search in the Larswood. Poor Minsc was killed TWICE by the black talon elite - these guys are vicious. Minsc really needs the full plate from the Smithy, but we still can't afford - especially can't afford when we pay 800 gold every time to raise Minsc!! We also had to pay 800 gold to raise Dynaheir, who got killed by enemy archers in an ambush.

 

We do eventually clear the Larswood - bandit camp isn't here, we will press into Pelvale next.

[corey_russell]

Guttax the role-playing half-elf cleric/ranger - update 5

Traveling with: Minsc, Khalid, Jaheira, Shar-Teel, Dynaheir

 

The team has cleared Pelvale, this time without deaths - the Black Talon Elite however, put a hurting on both Minsc and Khalid nevertheless. They both need full plates, but still not to be yet. What's helped is Guttax would throw some hold persons if available and Dynaheir would try her paralyzing wand to try to reduce the amount of archers attacking at once, and this has helped. Guttax still hasn't reached level 5 cleric yet, so still no animate dead yet.

 

The team has also cleared out the bandit camp. We used some strength potions on Khalid and Minsc to try to make up for their armor deficiencies - this did seem to help, though both of them still took quite a beating. Khosann's full plate (he got held) went to Minsc (Khalid has the boots of avoidance so he can get Thunderhammer Smithy's full plate). Tazok's Tent was fun - we had resist fear/chant/bless, Khalid tried a firebreath potion on Venkt - Khalid kept the melees busy, Jaheira did an entangle and Guttax a hold person on a  melee. This worked out great, Venkt didn't live long with the concentrated fire on him. Dynaheir wanted to practice her magic so used a scorcher on Hakt.

 

 

After looting the place clean, we can finally purchase the Smithy's full plate, which went to Khalid. We found a +1 medium shield, so Guttax finally puts away his plain large shield has carried since leaving Candlekeep. Braving the Cloakwood Forest is our next goal...

[Grimwald the Wise]

The mines were not difficult. The first mage did a certain amount of damage with a lightning bolt, but after using true sight Natasha was eay. she didn't get to use a single offensive spell. True sight was still in operation when we met an ogre mage, so he was similarly easily dealt with. At the bottom Mazzy was badly hurt by the doom guards, but was quickly healed by the rest of us.

Davaeorn tried to use charm but failed and was quickly killed. Of his loot the halberd +3, the armour and the boots of speed were the only items of note to this party.

 

Went round Baldur's Gate doing all the good that we could find, though haven't entered the Iron Throne yet.

 

I don't think that I will use an all paladin party again as it seems to be just hack and slash. I prefer to have to use brainpower rather than brawn.

[Charlestonian Knight Templar]

Just west of the Nashkel Mines lie the Gibberling Mountains. I decided to swing through there en route to the place where I’d come up from when in destroyed Mulahey & his Kobolds months ago it seems. My ultimate goal is the Valley of the Tombs but it seemed I might miss something if I skipped the GMs. I didn’t & I wouldn’t have. 

 

I swatted through around 30 Gibberling’s, two Winter Wolves & a pack of Wild Dogs. Some dirty woman wandering in the wilderness asked me to help her ‘friend’ who was lying sick on the ground. I had Safana help herself to his Long Sword & a gem or two that were in her pocket instead.

 

 

MALCANTHET WOULD DESPISE A SACRIFICE AS LOWLY AS THESE

Key Event: It’s pretty bad when the highlight of an adventure is when your rogue finds somethin’ hidden in the cracks of a cliff side.  Sure enough, Safana has that skill where she detects hidden doors & it works sometimes like it did in the GMs.  Suddenly, she just stopped, walked over to a cliff, said something looked out of place. She reached in & came out w/a Dropside Gym, a Lol Gym & a pair of Bracer’s of Defense AC8.

Treasure of Note: Bracer’s of Defense AC8 (sold for 600 gold in Beregost)

 

Current Disposition: Camping @ the Nashkel Carnival near the wagons of the Potion Merchant & the Magic Weapons Merchant.

Next Steps:  Valley of the Tombs

 
Level Up: Really? Here?  I think we lost experience going to the Gibberling Mountains. 

 

Current Party: (Reputation: 5 - Disliked)

 

Ironside: Ftr/Fallen A-Pal//7, FP Mail +1 w/RoP +1) wBoots/Avoidance, Girdle/Bluntness, Gauntlet’s/WEx; Spiders

                Bane**, B/Sword+1/+3 vs SSs**, (THWS**); Lord Foreshadows Ring) (Greater Bassilisk)

Shar-Teel: Ftr//7 w/FP Mail w/Clk/P +2 w/Boots of Grounding /2 L/Swords*** w Gauntlet’s/WS & RoFAction, (2HWS***)(Shoal the Nereid)(AI: Std Atk)

Kagain: Ftr/Bkr//7 w/Pl Mail & RoP +1 & Girdle of Piercing; Battle Axe +1 *** (or Throwing Axe***)(2WS***)(Sword

                Spider)(AI: Sp/Cstr Atk)

Viconia: Cleric//7, S/Mail RoP +1 w/S/Shield*, Mace*, Slg*; R/Animal Friendship, R/Holiness (Phase Spider)(AI: Clc

Aggr)

Safana: Thf//8 w/S/Leather, Dart +1 (x34 etc.) *, S/Swd +1x2*, Dgr* (2WS) (Davaeorn) (AI: Thf Adv/Thf Sct)

Quayle: Mage/Ill//7, Dgr*, Slg*(Whebber Ott) (AI: Mage Def)

 

Mods Used: HardTimes-v2; BG1UB_v12; bg1npc-v20; X0black101 (Blackguard); level1npcs-v1.9; bg2_tweaks-v14; Randomizer-v68; scs-v21 (- Tactical Challenges)

 

Blue Font: New information;

Red Font: Monster encounters (first use)

(Best kill)(Current AI)

 

 

[corey_russell]

Guttax the Role-playing Half-Elf Cleric/Range - Update 6

 

Guttax's team has cleared out Cloakwood areas 1-4 without much trouble. However, he accidentally raised his reputation to 19 - it's been there for a while, but Shar-Teel had enough and left the group forever - so our thief issues continue. She stole the boots of stealth and much worse she stole the Bow of Markmanship when she left. For Chapter 4, the only thief we can recruit is Coran so we duly recruit him - we have to do his quest, which was hard, as we were low blue potions, low antidotes and low ammo - but once done we return to Beregost and Beregost Temple to get our reward, get antidotes and ammo. We then went to Durlag's Tower to talk to the merchant and bought all the blue potions he owned. We returned to FAI to rest and then we will press onto the Cloakwood Mines - we hope Coran's thief skills are up to the task.

[corey_russell]

Guttax the Role-Playing Cleric/Elf - Update 7

 

Time for the surface of the Cloakwood Mines. The party's casters were pretty devasting, 2x silence, web, fireball, skull trap, and 2x call lightnings - otherwise the party ranged. The enemies couldn't get anything going and were slain

 

Parts of the Mine were a bit tricky - we finally looked at Coran's trap score - it's only 20%. So we buffed Khalid what little we could, most important being potion of absorption so he could survive the hallway trap at the 2nd level and also bolt from Heirashan. Khalid wasn't able to get a quick kill on the mage, so the party ran to assist him as he was running out of blue potions - we won that fight good.

 

For the next level, the basic enemies were of no consequence - a buffed Khalid once again dealt with the mages on this level OK. We were full inventory here so we left the Cloakwood - we bought all the blue potions at the Durlag's Tower merchant, we need them badly. We also bought a potion of perception while we were here - this combined with the potion of mind focusing will HOPEFULLY boost Coran's trap skills enough to de-trap those battle horror traps - luckily, Coran leveled after killing Davaoern's guard! So thus with the potions and level up trap points, Coran did in fact disarm all 4 traps. Coran was elected to solo Davaoern - he tried to wait out the mirror images but they seemed to last forever. He tried a few potshots with his arrows of acid and hide, but they weren't doing much. Guttax decided that Coran needs a little help - thus some skeletons starting attacking Davaoen try to draw out his spells/mirror images. As it turned out, Davaoern started attacking with his staff! Coran used MM wand to get rid of Davaoern's mirror images, then 2 backstabs finished Davaeorn.

 

Remember that we are role-playing in the City of Baldur's Gate - we won't wander into any house unless there's a RP reason to do so (Iron Throne, commoner gossip, etc.) I should have noted a few things that normally I don't do but did so for RP reasons - we left Kirian's party alone (though normally I never do that) - reason is, Guttax (Corey_Russell) doesn't kill people for insults. Likewise, Melium was not killed either, because Guttax (Corey_Russell) doesn't kill someone for being a braggart either. Karhk's "woman" (or whoever she is), Guttax let her be, he (Corey_Russell) certainly would not take her jar from her.

 

As a result of going only quest/commoner gossip related places, the party is somewhat underleveled (1/2 level 6, other half level 5) but I expected that. I know Gate70 has done a few runs with very low experience, so it should be possible to still be successful.

[Grimwald the Wise]

Having been told that defeating the Banites who were wanting to use the Stone of Askavar was far more important than fighting the iron Throne, we spent some time in getting it back to the harpers. Faithful got killed in the final battle, but by then gold was not a major problem and we were able to have him raised at the temple. All party members are now at level 7.

 

Edit

 

I'm glad that for this mod I didn't have SCS installed. As it was I was fighting two stone golems, archers with arrows of ice, mages and clerics simultaneously. With them able to call those out of sight, that would have been tripled. This isn't SoA!

[Charlestonian Knight Templar]

I was anticipating some challenging confrontations in the Valley of the Tombs. One would think I could enjoy killing plentiful Ghouls & Ghasts allowing me to indirectly poke my Queen’s enemy Yeenoghu in the eye as he commands their fealty thru their ‘King of the Ghouls’, Doresain, a vassal of Yeenoghu. Normally, I wouldn’t ever write, let alone speak the names of these Demon Lords but I sense my Queen’s protection from direct retribution by either so I kill their subjects w/o restraint, w/fervor even. I attack Gnolls, Flinds, Ghouls & Ghasts w/o restraint or concern for their numbers. And so I was off & filled w/anticipation for bloody annihilation of my Queens enemies. 

 

Key Event: After a pack of Wild Dogs, my subordinates & I walked headlong into a group of Amazon Assassin’s. One started casting a spell before I even knew there were four total. I opted to use one of my Scrolls of Magic Protection, Shar-Teel quaffed a Potion of Magic Shielding & Kagain went Enraged which seems to protect him from the average spell. Viconia cast Command First, then Doom & maybe Hold Person before wading into the melee w/her Spiritual Hammer which she likes to whip out & charge into the fight in hand. Quayle cast Confusion from a scroll before picking out one enemy @ a time a blanking them w/Blindness. Safana tried to position for a back-stab Hidden in Shadow but they’d seen her & she wasn’t gonna pull that off but she did manage to land a couple of attacks @ the end. We dominated them & only kagain really rook a good blow or two.

 

 

ANOTHER MOUTHY CHALLENGER

 

FIREWORKS BEGIN

 

PREPPING THE BATTLEFIELD

 

MIXIN' IT UP IN MELEE

 

ONE DOWN, THREE TO GO

 

THREE DOWN & NARY A SCRATCH

 

PRAISE BE TO MALCANTHET, VICTORY

 

After a rest for a few hours, I came upon & killed a pack of Wild Dogs & some Skeletons and, later a mage with two Mustard jellies who was working on an experiment to control Jellies & the like. He was so excited talking about it but when I asked about his sharing it w/us he went berserk. I immediately cast Chaos on myself, Shar-Teel quaffed a Potion of Magic Blocking & followed w/Silence 15’ Radius where we last saw the mage who’d become invisible, Kagain went Enraged, Quayle cast Detect Invisibility but then became the dying victim of a Lightning Bolt. I returned to Nashkel but then remembered Viconia could Raise Dead w/one of three scrolls she has. We cleaned things up, sold some loot & moved back to finish up.

 

 

A SLIGHT ANNOYANCE

 

ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL

 

From there on out it was hack & slash: two more packs of Wild Dogs, a pack of Worgs, two Ogres, 12 more Skeleton’s guarding a tombs.  In the first of the three tombs were three Ghasts & two Skelton’s, quick work. In the second was some undead zombie thing, but stronger, also quick work. In the third was a single Ghast, also now dead.

 

THE ZOMBIE THING, A REVENANT THEY CALL IT

 

Treasure of Note: Studded Leather +1 & Darts of Wounding (Safana); Potions unidentified mostly but we know what they are on sight; Dagger +2 (Quayle); Gobs of gems including a Pearly Necklace & a Mithril Ring

 

Current Disposition: Resting @ the Red Sheaf

Next Steps:  it seems the Lonely Peaks; I’d thought of Durlag’s Tower but something, my Queen, is dissuading that now, I don’t know though, maybe it’s time & maybe I’m just a tad too aapprehensive

 
Level Up: None

 

Current Party: (Reputation: 9 - Average)(I'm havin' trouble seducing Safana so I offered some alms & she seems more receptive)

 

Ironside: Ftr/Fallen A-Pal//7, FP Mail +1 w/RoP +1) wBoots/Avoidance, Girdle/Bluntness, Gauntlet’s/WEx; Spiders

                Bane**, B/Sword+1/+3 vs SSs**, (THWS**); Lord Foreshadows Ring) (Greater Bassilisk)

Shar-Teel: Ftr//7 w/FP Mail w/Clk/P +2 w/Boots of Grounding /2 L/Swords*** w Gauntlet’s/WS & RoFAction, (2HWS***)(Shoal the Nereid)(AI: Std Atk)

Kagain: Ftr/Bkr//7 w/Pl Mail & RoP +1 & Girdle of Piercing; Battle Axe +1 *** (or Throwing Axe***)(2WS***)(Sword

                Spider)(AI: Sp/Cstr Atk)

Viconia: Cleric//7, S/Mail RoP +1 w/S/Shield*, Mace*, Slg*; R/Animal Friendship, R/Holiness (Revenant)(AI: Clc

Aggr)

Safana: Thf//8 w/S/Leather, Dart +1x34, Wdgx11, Stgx3, etc.) *, S/Swd +1x2*, Dgr* (2WS) (Davaeorn) (AI: Thf

                Adv/Thf Sct)

Quayle: Mage/Ill//7, Dgr +2*, Slg*(Whebber Ott) (AI: Mage Def)

 

Mods Used: HardTimes-v2; BG1UB_v12; bg1npc-v20; X0black101 (Blackguard); level1npcs-v1.9; bg2_tweaks-v14; Randomizer-v68; scs-v21 (- Tactical Challenges)

 

Blue Font: New information;

Red Font: Monster encounters (first use)

(Best kill)(Current AIs)

 

 

 

[corey_russell]

Guttax the role-playing half-elf Cleric/Ranger - update 8

 

Just a quick note. We are done with chapter 5, and are about to be sent to Candlekeep. Somewhat surprisingly, the commoners didn't say much about side quests, though they had a lot to say about the main quest. Therefore, we didn't do much. I thought I would I would have to pass on the DEX tome (Guttax doesn't steal from anyone, except enemies). But when we got invited to talk to the thieve's guild leader, he asked to steal for him - we said we will not steal. In response he and his entire guild tried to kill us - that was a blunder and the thieve's guild was slain. Since the guild is dead, guess they can't make much use of the DEX tome after all, so Guttax got that as payment for these guys trying to kill him and his friends.

 

It's interesting how under-equipped most of the party is. Everyone that can wear a helmet is wearing a plain helmet, no one has any waist items, and no has any bracer items either, except Minsc has Gauntletes of Dexterity. Minsc has the Nymph Cloak, otherwise no one is wearing any cloaks either.

 

Regardless, it was time to investigate the Iron Throne HQ per Duke Eltan's request. On the 2nd floor, I did the response that Corey would actually say (vs. the meta-gaming answer) and we had to slaughter a large wad of Iron Throne guards that appeared from my answer. 

 

For the 5th floor, Guttax didn't know for sure there would be a fight, or even what was on that floor. So the only buff we had before going up was the long lasting resist fear buff. Minsc opened with potion fortitude (increased his HP by almost 50%), Khalid did a magic blocking potion, Jaheira and Guttax with their fear wands, Dynaheir with horror, and Coran threw a potion of explosions.

 

Coran's potion hurt Dynaheir - she's not to survive this battle, she is also closest to the enemies. So she does a fireball and skull trap before she is slain - Minsc is understanbably upset. Coran just shoots arrows everyone after this. Minsc and Khalid take down Gardush, but it's taking a while for them to get it done. It appears our opening spells have disrupted the enemies, though some of them still seem to be casting. Jaheira and Guttax did another round of the fear wands, then Guttax tried to silence the casters - problem though I think a pillar got in the way and Guttax moved up right in the midst of the enemies!  Guttax quickly retreats and tries a silence but is held by an enemy (cleric presumably) before he got it off! Right about here Minsc, Khalid and Coran finally finish off Gardush. Jaheira, Minsc and Khalid immediately move to put themselves between Guttax and the enemies, attacking the nearest enemy. Coran continues firing his basic arrows, prioritizing casters. Jaheira realizes an entangle would not only prevent enemies from charging the still held Guttax, but also lower their defensive scores. Once she does, the enemies are having too much trouble and only ended killing only Dynaheir. Good result for almost no buffs.

 

 

We looted, got Dynaheir resurrected, sold the junk, unloaded stuff in our barrel that we didn't need for Candlekeep, and are about to report to Duke Eltan our success. Even though Coran's locks score is excellent, his traps still stink (even with potions), so Minsc is going to set off the traps and open the crypts for the party.

[Charlestonian Knight Templar]

I wanted to knock the Lonely Peaks out too & they were more interesting that the GMs a few days ago. We had a pretty good tussle w/some Ogres, an Ogrillon & a Half-Ogre.  I’m for anything that shows me what this party can do & they knocked ‘em out pretty good.  


OGRES, HALF-OGRES, OGRILLONS, EVEN A TRICK BEAR 
 

There were two more Ogres farther south & we roughed them up too, then hit three more as we were finishing up.  All dead w/their Two-Handed Swords or Morning Stars & a handful of gold.  We killed a couple of Brown Bears & a handful of Xvarts. Some guy was whining about how they we attacking his cow & my first thought was to kill the cow anyway but then Safana made a comment about how great her travelling companion was & suddenly I had flashes of doin’ just enough to get her in the sack when Shar-Teel is snoring one night so I let the cow be. 

 

There was a battle w/a Half-Ogre & four/five of his companions. We beat them senseless & moved on where we found a cave. SOP before entering a cave is for Viconia to Bless or Chant for us or both & she did. It was trapped & there was a single Ettercap in there. Of course, Shar-Teel & I don’t worry about such things & whooped his butt & had Safana check for traps before raiding his treasure.

HALF-OGRE CONVENTION ENDS IN THEIR MASSACRE
 

Key Event: Really the challenge of the adventure was suddenly running up on two ogre Mages out of the blue. Viconia cast Silence 15’ Radius, Command & then Miscast Magic while Quayle went w/Blindness I guess – not sure. Shar-Teel & I both quaffed Potions of Invulnerability while Kagain just went Enraged. We whooped ‘em good, it was just surprising to see them pop up there.  In all battles Safana is working on moving around behind Hidden in Shadow to backstab & she is getting better & better especially now that she has two enchanted Short Swords & Dual Weapon Style which she is proficient in. She landed blows here too.

 

NO MESSIN' W/THESE THINGS, ESPECIALLY TWO OF 'EM! WE SMOKED 'EM THOUGH LIKE CHEAP PIPE TOBACCO!

I was bored & tired & tryin’ to get out of there when three bandits attacked us. They’re now laying out in the field, food for worms minus their gear.

 

BANDIT CHALLENGE...


BANDIT CARCASSES FOOD FOR WORMS!

Treasure of Note: A couple of Bloodstone Amulets, an Aquamarine Gym, two Waterstar gyms, a dropside Gym etc...

 

Current Disposition: @ the Red Sheaf getting ready to spend the night w/Shar-Teel (& check on Safana to make sure she’s ‘okay.’)

 

Next Steps:  Firewine Bridge, Gullykin, Ulcaster

 

Level Up: None, hopefully will notch up a couple between Firewine Bridge, Gullykin, Ulcaster

 

Current Party: (Reputation: 9 - average )(wonder if I can tightrope this rep long enough to bed Safana w/o messin' up w/Shar-Teel - I like to keep it between 5-7 but Safana is much more receptive @ low average).

 

Ironside: Ftr/Fallen A-Pal//7, FP Mail +1 w/RoP +1) wBoots/Avoidance, Girdle/Bluntness, Gauntlet’s/WEx; Spiders

                Bane**, B/Sword+1/+3 vs SSs**, (THWS**); Lord Foreshadows Ring) (Greater Bassilisk)

Shar-Teel: Ftr//7 w/FP Mail w/Clk/P +2 w/Boots of Grounding /2 L/Swords*** w Gauntlet’s/WS & RoFAction, (2HWS***)(Shoal the Nereid)(AI: Std Atk)

Kagain: Ftr/Bkr//7 w/Pl Mail & RoP +1 & Girdle of Piercing; Battle Axe +1 *** (or Throwing Axe***)(2WS***)(Sword

                Spider)(AI: Sp/Cstr Atk)

Viconia: Cleric//7, S/Mail RoP +1 w/S/Shield*, Mace*, Slg*; R/Animal Friendship, R/Holiness (Phase Spider)(AI: Clc

Aggr)

Safana: Thf//8 w/S/Leather, Dart +1x34, Wdgx11, Stgx3, etc.) *, S/Swd +1x2*, Dgr* (2WS) (Davaeorn) (AI: Thf

                Adv/Thf Sct)

Quayle: Mage/Ill//7, Dgr +2*, Slg*(Whebber Ott) (AI: Mage Def)

 

Mods Used: HardTimes-v2; BG1UB_v12; bg1npc-v20; X0black101 (Blackguard); level1npcs-v1.9; bg2_tweaks-v14; Randomizer-v68; scs-v21 (- Tactical Challenges)

 

Blue Font: New information;

Red Font: Monster encounters (first use)

(Best kill)(Current AI)

[Charlestonian Knight Templar]

Pretty pumped to get through seven 'side-quests' this weekend, i,e., Bear River, Xvart Village, Dryad falls, Fireleaf Forest, Gibberling Forest, Valley of the Tombs, & Lonely Peaks as my PC lays low in the south hiding from the FF. Not lots of experience here but a few very good enchanted item pickups & some good gems to strengthen my party as we head north toward Ulgoth's Beard. Still hopin' to stumble in the 'Tome of Clear Thought' so I can dual Safana & pick up Skie & drop Quayle.  Problem is, Safana is 8th now & w/Randomizer I have no idea where it will pop up.  

 

Oh well, a productive weekend w/no spousal hassle to break me away.  

 

Now back to being a real officer/soldier in the early AM guys & gals.  Hopefully, I can knock out Firewine Bridge on Tuesday as it looks like I have spousal duties this coming weekend.  

 

Thanks for all the tips & 'thumbs ups'  & tips everyone. CKT

[corey_russell]

Guttax the half-elf cleric - update 9 - Chapters 6 and 7

 

Guttax and team have successfully negotiated chapters 6 and 7. They certainly weren't without their challenges. I had intended for Minsc to trigger the traps and open the tombs - but I forgot the STR 24 potion and left in a barrel! Oops...this meant that Minsc had to trigger the floor traps, Coran would open the locks and run away, then Minsc would open the crypt and trigger the trap. This worked pretty well. The REALLY tricky one though was the repeating lightning bolt trap on the way to the strength tome. I could NOT give Coran the lightning protection he needed. So Coran, VERY CAREFULLY, hugged the southern wall of the hallway. This way he could unlock the tomb, while Minsc of course triggered the trap. Coran had to carefully walk back as well.

 

Everything in the crypts was battled, we certainly need the experience. Dopplegangers weren't too much trouble - the skeletons were annoying, but we used range fire/necklace of missiles so we didn't trigger any traps ourselves - wasn't sure if Coran was up to the task, so just didn't bother de-trapping the center traps.

 

For Prat, we had lots of skeletons - Guttax then did silence, which worked on Prat, but NOT the other mage/bard (not sure which). The party concentrates fire on Bohr at first (because that mage/bard went invisible), then when Bohr dead we concentrated on that mage/bard. That mage didn't live too long, but they did manage to confuse Khalid/Minsc. Luckily Minsc got caught on a wall and didn't go anywhere dangerous. Khalid on the other hand was hemmed in by our skeletons, so he couldn't cause much trouble either. The 4 party members in control defeated the remaining members of Prat's gang by ranged fire/spells.

 

Originally, the plan was for Khalid and Minsc to root out the spiders - but Khalid nearly died, and only a nicely timed antidote kept him from death. We decided Minsc would do the rest. I was wary of the Basilisk poison, so Minsc the skeletons tried to take them down (Minsc protected by the protection from petrification spell), Minsc with Prat's throwing axe. However, this was going way too slow, so Minsc engaged in melee - he got the job done before his protection wore off fortunately.

 

Thanks to the Quad Run, I now know the only battles I must do in Chapter 7 is Slythe and Duchal Palace. I was pretty sure the Palace wouldn't be much trouble with hasted, blessed and chanted skeletons (and it wasn't). We pulled Slythe by himself but he still hit really hard - we spammed heals on Khalid but he was still dying - fortunately we killed Slythe in time. We didn't have much buffs when facing Krystin, but Jaheira's purge invisibility caused her a problem - Krystin's death to be exact.

 

Incidentally we were VERY LOW on blue potions at this point - we only had like 4 for Duchal between all 6 party members!!! This run we bought all potions in the Sword Coast (not counting Ulgoth's Beard - which we never even visited, no RP reason to do so) AND all blue potions in ALL temples in the City of Baldur's Gate. We tried to buy what we needed for Sarevok, but we RAN OUT OF MONEY! Guess what we bought will have to do...

 

The skeleton warriors in the thieve's maze were a HUGE problem! Minsc gulped like 15 blue potions himself...it didn't help Jaheira had no way to hurt the things, and Guttax spammed heals on Minsc and did the wand of heavens till it poofed. Dynaheir cast a few spells to try to help, but she couldn't do much (she doesn't have a Ring of Wizardry, for RP reasons). Coran tried to help by backstabbing, running away, and repeating - but he could only do that a few times that he became so badly hurt by the skeleton warrior arrows he had to stay hidden, unable to help. What finally made is difference was Guttax' warhammer.

 

Fortunately no more fighting in the maze, and Coran was able to de-trap the 3 traps in our way (thanks to his buffs). We definitely don't want to waste resources on the Undercity Iron Throne Party - so we battled the many undead by going the way around to the Temple of Bhaal.

 

Next we hear of Guttax, he will either die or be victorious against his evil half-brother - wish him luck! Incidentally this is the FARTHEST BY FAR I have gotten a ranger/cleric - they used to die early for some reason. I really enjoyed having a character who could do both animate dead and call lightning.

[Blackraven]

A lot of catching up for me to do... Probably tomorrow. For now, two final installments on Vallon:
***
Inside the Cloakwood Mines Vallon cast Protection from Magic from a green scroll on himself. He took the time to finish off Hareishan, but after that he rushed straight to Davaeorn in order not to have the protection from magic expire. The Davaeorn fight was uneventful. The wizard didn’t hurt Vallon in any way. His Battle Horrors did, but Vallon would simply quaff healing potions while keeping his focus on Davaeorn until the wizard fell, which caused the undead to fall as well. Since his Protection from Magic was still in effect, Blackraven Vallon, who takes great pleasure in killing evil wizards, returned upstairs to deal with Natasha. At one point his protection wore off, allowing the pyromaniac to injure him, but not enough to prevail. Vallon returned to Davaeorn’s lair where he looted the Mage’s body and, with a Fire Giant STR potion, most of his chests. The Boots of Speed were his (principal) reward.

Spoiler

At the FAI Imoen rejoined with Vallon. Together the two traveled to BG City, where she fetched him the Helm and Cloak of Balduran, a Tome of Understanding from the Lady’s House, a Tome of Clear Thought from Ragefast (whose life was spared), and a Manual of Quickness of Action from a drawer in the Seven Suns after Vallon had taken care of the local Doppelgangers. Ramazith was slain as well mainly thanks to a Bolt of Biting that would interrupt his spellcasting. Imoen subsequently looted the chest and book case on the top floor, but there wasn’t much of interest for Vallon there (Bracers AC7, Ring of Protection +1, couple of spells).

Spoiler

Imoen was then thanked for her help and told to wait for Vallon at the Elfsong Tavern. Meanwhile Vallon took care of Desreta and Vay-Ya at the Low Lantern and of Jenkal and an Ogre Mage in the sewers (hoping in vain for good randomized loot). More importantly, Vallon took on the Iron Throne. The latter fight was relatively easy. His first victim had been Diyab, whom he fought with a potion of magic shielding at the ready without having to use it though. After that, Alai and Naaman (the most dangerous spellcasters) followed him downstairs at the same time, so that it only cost him two potions of magic blocking (and to be safe the daily Enrage ability of his Sword of Rage) to have them waste their spells on him while he took them on. The others, inferior fighters and a vulnerable priest (Aasim), were never a threat.

Spoiler

Vallon reported to Belt and traveled with Imoen to Candlekeep. Ogre Mages near the entrance took too long in dying for Vallon, who didn’t want to spend more than one potion of magic shielding on them, so he just went inside with (invisble) Imoen.

Spoiler

With Imoen waiting downstairs, Vallon proceeded to dispatch the Iron Throne Leaders in the Candlekeep Library. This was a piece of cake after two of his last Bolts of Biting neutralized Rieltar, allowing Vallon to take on first Rieltar and later the others with just his trusty two-handed greatsword and without having to worry over any magic tricks. Vallon was rewarded generously for his actions: he found the Manual of Gainful Exercise and a pair of Gauntlets of Weapon Expertise on his fallen foes’ corpses. (This fight went so fast I didn’t think of screenshots.)
Below Candlekeep Imoen helped Vallon unlock the vaults. They held little of notice for Vallon though (a Wand of Fire, Ring of Fire Protection, Ring of Holiness, gems, potions, green Scroll of Protection from Magic). The fight with Prat and co soon turned into a fight with only Prat and Sakul, as the latter grilled his companions with his multiple Sunfires, Fireballs, Lightning Bolts and what not. Vallon too, suffered from Sakul’s destructive magic, but he survived thanks to four potions of extra healing. With a Potion of Clarity and later his Sword’s Enrage ability he slew both spellcasters.

Spoiler

A green scroll of Protection from Petrification he had found in the Iron Throne building back in Baldur’s Gate allowed Vallon to slay two Greater Basilisks and leave the catacombs safely with Imoen, who was promptly instructed to wait for him at the FAI while Vallon himself traveled to the High Hedge to get loot identified (STR Tome among other things) and to have the Gauntlets of Grandmastery produced by Thalantyr (Thac0 +2, Dmg +2, AC +1). On his way to Baldur’s Gate, Vallon recruited Kivan the Stalker and north of the FAI Ajantis the young Inquisitor, who were both mor than willing to help Vallon expose Sarevok and thwart the latter’s evil plans. In the city both warriors would wait for him while Vallon rescued Eltan, took on Cythandria and her Golems (that were first lured downstairs) and slew Slythe and Krystin at minimal risk with one of his three remaining green scrolls of Protection from Magic.

Spoiler

[Blackraven]

With some healing done, and his anti-magic globe still in effect, Vallon re-recruited Ajantis and Kivan. The three of them went straight to the Ducal Palace where his companions protected themselves against Horror (a spell that Greater Doppelgangers like to cast, Vallon had learnt from Rashad, Eltan’s pseudo-healer). The three annihilated the Greater Doppelgangers, saving both Liia and Belt.

Spoiler

Vallon thanked his warrior friends and told them he looked forward to working with them again. He then followed Sarevok through a heavily trapped maze inhabited by oozes and undead. He protected himself against the traps using another green scroll of Protection from Magic. The scroll’s protection also helped him against the iron Throne hirelings that were looking for Sarevok. There was one exception though: Shaldrissa. The Mage, very intelligently, went invisible and waited for Vallon’s protection to expire. At that point Vallon wished he had been an Inquisitor with True Sight, but then he remembered he wouldn’t be as badass as he was now, so he accepted his situation and simply waited. He had to quaff a Potion of Magic Blocking right after he became susceptible to magic again and his foe began casting. Her visibility also meant her end.

Spoiler

The final fight was quite entertaining. Vallon, once again protected from Magic as per the green scroll, polymorphed Diarmid into a Squirrel with a single Bolt of Polymorphing and slew the archer and his animated skeleton. The same trick didn’t work against Tazok, who consistently saved against the effect. However, Vallon was pleased to see that the warrior he had shunned in the Bandit Camp, was no longer a match for his prowess. Invisible Semaj and Angelo’s presence was detected by multiple castings of Vallon’s innate Detect Evil ability (which shows a white shimmer around even invisible characters when cast). The wizards were softened up and provoked to waste their healing potions with about 10-12 Potions of Explosions / Oils of Fiery Burning, though they wouldn’t fall or even show themselves. It meant that Vallon had to wait again for his protective sphere to dissipate. When it did, Vallon drank a potion of Invisibility and while invisible two potions of Magic Protection that gave him more magic resistance than he would ever need against his two foes (2x50 from the potions + 25 from the cloak = 125%,). An oil of speed for the extra APR allowed him to take down the two mages in close combat with little difficulty.

Spoiler

This left only Sarevok, who had been carefully avoided in the fight until then (Vallon had provoked his nemesis to pursue him toward the northwest corner of the area, and then quaffed a potion of invisibility and left, leaving Sarevok behind.)
For the confrontation with Sarevok, Vallon first healed and then buffed heavily, with potions of Mind Focusing (for improved AC), Speed, Heroism, Storm Giant Strength and Power, after which he engaged in his brother in melee combat. The two formidable warriors dealt each other severe damage until both reached near death status. Vallon was better prepared than Sarevok though. Vallon quaffed another potion of invisibility, healed himself with potions, and then finished Sarevok off.

Spoiler

Before reporting back to Belt, Vallon slew Lasala and Denak (Red Wizards of Thay) after having quaffed a spare potion of Magic Shielding. Denak dropped the Elves’ Bane Girdle which Vallon presented to Thalantyr, together with the Golden Girdle and the Girdle of Bluntness, to have it made into the Girdle of Bravery (+1 STR, +3 AC, Regeneration 1HP per 6 seconds). I might add that item and the Gauntlets of Grandmastery to BG2. Vallon is going to get captured by Mae’Var on his way to Amn. It makes sense that Mae’Var strips him of those items, before handing him over to Irenicus.

Spoiler

All in all a pretty smooth run. The mod added Sword of Rage’s daily ability to enrage has been very helpful, although by the end of the game I still had plenty of protective potions and more green scrolls of Protection from Magic than I needed, so I should have been able to make it through the game (including a number of optional spellcaster fights) without the Sword. Something I’ll surely test in a future attempt.

[Grond0]

Well done Blackraven.  Best of luck in Amn.

 

I hope Guttax will be there shortly too ...

[corey_russell]

@Blackraven - Congratulations! Hope you are as successful in Amn...

@Grond0 - this time at least, looks like your hope is fulfilled - Guttax did make it!

 

Guttax the Half-Elf Cleric/Ranger - FINAL BG 1 Update!

 

We did lots of buffs - but it was tricky, since in my install it unpauses in inventory, as soon as I started buffing I had to quickly re-stock the potions/scrolls, etc. In this case, though I don't think the buffs pre-battle were too important - our buffs during battle and especially how we pulled the enemies, was.

 

Phase 1:

We were buffed and had our 24 skeletons on stand-by. Dynaheir cast a dispel magic from the left side (out of sight), this got rid of Sarevok's and Semaj's buffs,then she fired a fireball from her wand and ran back to the party - who would come?

 

Phase 2

Sarevok showed himself first, so we fired at him - but the next Semaj shows himself. We switch to Semaj since Sarevok is playing with our skeletons. Coran's dispelling arrow was quite helpful to get rid of Semaj's buffs - we then hit Semaj with everything we had (we had pretty stinky ammo on most of us except Coran, because of money issues). Guttax did bless and chant on the skeletons and Dynaheir hasted the skeletons. Minsc was throwing some stunning darts at Samej. All Semaj could do was greater malison before he fell dead. Angelo and Tazok still don't notice what's going on, so they are out of the picture.

 

Phase 3

Just my evil half-brother left - everyone concentrates range fire on Sarevok. After about 4-5 more rounds or so, Sarevok has fallen!

 

Guttax moving onto BG 2. I've never made a cleric/ranger to BG 2, though I've tried a few times before this. Think I want to see what a high level cleric/ranger is like, so will do a "standard" run in BG 2. E.g., won't try to RP every single dialog like this run.

[Serg BlackStrider]

Congrats, Blackraven and Corey! All the best and safe travels in Amn!

[Grimwald the Wise]

Congratulations to Blackraven and Corey.

 

The return to Baldur's Gate was the easiest ever! No problem saving both dukes, and the Iron Throne was easy too. Split them into three parties by timing my exit when spell casters were in the middle of casting.

 

Someone told me that an all paladin party was a powerhouse and they were right even though I am nowhere near the experience cap. One level still to go!

 

I now have to decide whether to go for Sarevok straight away or whether to do enough of the ToSC quests to reach the cap. 240,000 experience needed for all the party to reach the cap.

[corey_russell]

@Serg, @Blackraven, @Wise: Thanks! Feels good to have made it despite passing up on so much good stuff on RP grounds...

@Wise: You play your own game wise. But as for my paladins, as long as everyone was level 7, we went after Sarevok. I do that because while Paladins are great against enemies, not so much against traps, which you would have to face to get that experience you mentioned. Unless of course you got a ton of mods, so maybe you could do it...

[Blackraven]

@everyone, thanks for your congratulations
@Jianson, highly entertaining. I'm wondering: what were your CHA and your rep when Dynaheir left you? I remember slaying Shaldrissa with my Fallen Beastmistress at rep 4, but she was wearing Lord Foreshadow's Ring of Human Influence which sets CHA to 18.
@Corey, nice work there, looking forward to reading about roleplayed Guttax' exploits in Amn.
@CKT, why do you want to get rid of Quayle? Isn't he the perfect support caster for your party?
@Grimwald, like Corey, I wouldn't bother with farming XP to make your Paladins reach level 8. A well-equipped 6 man army or level 7 Paladins rocks pretty hard already.

[Grimwald the Wise]

I took Corey's advice and killed all but Sarevok (I think) Horrendous battle! All of us very madly mutilated due to not taking enough potions.

 

I thought that we could just take on Tazok to start with, but they all attacked. Faithful was Faithful unto death. We decided that the best option was to leave, get everyone healthgy again and return.

 

Next time a bit easier perhaps.

 

The Grey Clan Episode would have given another tome to boost intelligence which in my party is sadly lacking.

 

However, I think that we will restock and return to Sarevok.