16388 réponses à ce sujet

[Alesia_BH]

@Blackraven. It looks like I'm going to stick with Ariel: Grond0 has rolled a new swash.

 

A C/T would be cool. And of course, there's still no reason why you can't run a F/T. There's nothing preventing us from running the same class, although character diversity is cool.

 

Best,

 

A.

[Alesia_BH]

I don't recharge anything, there's simply no need - the ammount of Wands is absurd in BG1. 

 

I find that the no recharge rule helps with the amulets and the Ring of Invisibility. As for wands, yes: there are too many wands, with too many charges. Recharge restrictions are ineffective on their own.

 

Best,

 

A.

[Grond0]

Dyna - halfling swashbuckler (update 1)

 

Despite Rifft's demise I'm feeling pretty confident about my ability to get a swashbuckler through SoA.  So to give you all a hearty laugh when I fail miserably again - here's Dyna .

 

She's been cautious thus far.  Where the last version of Rifft did quite a lot of melee, even at a fairly early stage, she has stuck pretty much to ranged or stealth attacks.  She's also avoided the main road so far to ensure she doesn't turn into a pin cushion in a bandit ambush.

 

She started off as usual with Shoal and then completed some normal tasks in Beregost, Nashkel and the FAI.  While travelling up to the latter she took her first damage while attacking Zargal.  His archer friends were dead, but an elite hobgoblin had joined the battle.  With that at near death from stealth attacks I thought it was safe to continue shooting in the open, but hadn't looked closely enough to see that it was berserk rather than running.

Spoiler

 

She then moved on to the basilisk area and realised too late that she should have called on Greywolf first, or at least brought more than one melee weapon.  Her long sword broke when attacking the second basilisk.  She briefly tried punching them, but that didn't give her a bonus so was doing very little damage and she took her second lot of damage when the basilisk retaliated in melee.  

Spoiler

She switched to arrows, though she hadn't stocked up with the intention of killing the basilisks with those.  Nevertheless she was able to finish them all off - with Korax once more performing well to stop Mutamin in his tracks after only being slightly injured.

Spoiler

 

Korax also did well against the party to the south - paralysing Kirian with his first blow and also stopping Baerin before he died.  Dyna didn't muck about and 3 Necklace fireballs from the shadows killed all except Lindin.  She tried to finish him off with arrows and one trap, but couldn't quite manage it before she found herself down to a single arrow.  However, a bit of running and hiding later and she had punched Lindin into submission to enable her to make that arrow count.

Spoiler

 

Dyna stealthed through the Nashkel mine.  Her traps didn't quite kill Mulahey's summoned skeletons and she took a bit more damage finishing them off.  She then set more traps and tried a few stealth shots on Mulahey.  He showed no signs of noticing her, so she decided to speed things up a bit by showing herself more clearly.  That led to her being held and Mulahey advancing gleefully to find her.  He just had time to notice a glint of something metallic on the floor and say "oh bu ..."

Spoiler

 

[Blackraven]

Hey folks, thanks for thinking along with me

I started an Assassin run yesterday, but I wasn't really feeling her, and I'm also hesitant to give my Strifeleader of Cyric/Thief a second chance as I fear his poison weapon ability once per six levels and his ability to use darts might make him overpowered and/or less interesting for readers such as you guys.

An unkitted Cleric/Thief would be slightly more challenging for a Charname I think, which is why I'm currently modding my BGEE install, and upgrading BG2EE to the latest patch. (I'll keep my BGT install with Divine Remix Cleric kits for NPCs or maybe single/dual class kitted Priests). Going back to EE will also allow me to test the impact of the EEs' better pathfinding on gameplay (discussed earlier, something I don't remember having noticed), and to try out Dark Horizons that a number of no-reloaders over at the BG Forums are using, without keeping any OP equipment in order not to unbalance the original game.

Found a really good portrait for a female Bard or Swashbuckler (I now have two such portraits) and I have two suitable male Cleric/Thief portraits (one Half-Orc, one Gnome). Since both Alesia and Aasim mentioned Cleric/Thief, I'll go with one of those... Probably solo, the Bard would be a good party option.

[Aasim]

I started an Assassin run yesterday, but I wasn't really feeling her, and I'm also hesitant to give my Strifeleader of Cyric/Thief a second chance as I fear his poison weapon ability once per six levels and his ability to use darts might make him overpowered and/or less interesting for readers such as you guys.

..........................................
 Cleric/Thief, I'll go with one of those... Probably solo, the Bard would be a good party option.

Fwiw, I'd totally dig Strifeleader/Thief with darts & poison. The clerical weapon restrictions are dumb imo. "I can't spill blood since I'm a man of faith, but rest assured, I'll whack your head with a spiked mace."

​ I allow my clerics crossbows, but I find shied+sling/mace/flail to simply be better overall (Harmony is talior-made for clerics imo).

Daggers are also very fitting from my perspective, even if I don't use them (ceremonial stuff and all, doubly so for Cyric priests.). 

I haven't really found a run (other than one of my attempts over 2 years ago with a monk who died to Corvhale and Amalas) which was uninteresting in it's own right. Even vanilla game playthroughs I find very enjoyable - so much that I actually played one (few months ago, undocumented, but wanted to see if I could do it) with 2 barbarians - mostly because they can move fast. Died in Suldanesselar - the mage there Mazed both.   

 

As per solo/party, why not duo-trio? Two bards singing tales of a Strifleader? Skald+backstab is very nasty; the bonus damage is  multiplied, so the scores get quite insane . Add that spell which causes max damage per hit (Holy power?), you got a real killer of a character. Bards also have rather nice casting abilities, so you could have it all covered. 

The only thing that stops me from playing a bard in my games are - Kit Revisions hasn't yet done them, and I cannot stand that message "singing battlesong" being constantly spammed in the feedback window. 

[Grimwald the Wise]

@Aasim: There is a reason for the clerical weapons rule Aasim. It may have actually existed in the early medieval period. If you look at the Bayeux Tapestry for instance, you will see William's brother who was a bishop using a mace. I agree with you. It was a silly rule if it in fact existed, but it is said to have existed.

 

If you look up Odo on Wiki, you will find this: "Here Odo the Bishop holding a club strengthens the boys". It seems that his clerical status forbade him from using a sword,^[2] though this is highly suspect and the club was a common weapon and used often by leadership.

 

Here is an argument on the other side: http://l-clausewitz....com/394539.html

 

Another point to be taken into consideration could be that nobody wanted to kill their opponent unnecessarily, not necessarily just the clergy. Ransoms were the way that victors paid for their wars, and it simultaneously made the losers poorer and thus unable to carry on a war.

 

As in a lot of these historical arguments there are lot of "mights" and "coulds". If we are honest, we might have to admit that we just don't know. There could have been some clergy who had an aversion to weapons designed to shed blood, and others who did not.

 

Isla and Evel are progressing OK. After killing Bassilus they helped a boy trapped in a lighthouse, an archaeologist and Brage. They are now in Beregost picking up the armour and weapons of various followers of Lathander after they have been killed by Silke. They are hoping to become heroes despite Evel being Evil.

[Aasim]

I know it existed, but it was dependant on faith  as well, no?

Since BG allows for worship of different Gods (Divine Remix does a really nice job on that) - I don't really see a cleric who worships Cyric as someone who's reluctant to use poisoned daggers or darts - he'd want suffering and pain to last.

[Blackraven]

Thanks Aasim for your further input. I agree with you on the clerical weapons rule, and the idea that different deities impose different weapons rules/restrictions on their followers. Maybe I'll roll with Teyl again after all. Item Randomisation alone should make the playtrhough complicated enough.

However I'm also eager to try Dark Horizons, in my BGEE install (without Divine Remix). Maybe I'll go with the Bard first then haha. I'm sure I'll make up my mind today

As to duo/trio runs, I like that concept, but would probably do it with NPCs rather than a custom party. 

Btw compliments for taking to Barbarians into Suldanessalar in vanilla BG2. After years of playing modded BG, I might actually not get as far...

[Alesia_BH]

 

As per solo/party, why not duo-trio? Two bards singing tales of a Strifleader? Skald+backstab is very nasty; the bonus damage is  multiplied, so the scores get quite insane . Add that spell which causes max damage per hit (Holy power?), you got a real killer of a character. 

 

Agreed: Killer indeed.

 

Btw. The spell you are thinking of is Righteous Magic. It causes maximum damage hits, adds 1HP per level of caster, and raises strength 1 point for every 3 levels of the caster. Holy Power grants a cleric the THAC0 of a comparable fighter and set strength to 18/00. If Righteous Magic is cast after Holy Power, the strength bonuses will stacks.

 

Btw. Here are the results of a cheesy experiment I once did with an assassin->cleric and a quintet of illusion casting Haer'Daelis clones. That cow never saw it coming. 

 

A C/T sounds cool, Blackraven. Good luck! 

 

Best,

 

A.

[Alesia_BH]

 

Dyna - halfling swashbuckler (update 1)

 

 

 

A charisma of 14. Is Dyna hoping to impress someone? A certain someone in particular? 

 

Good luck!

 

Best,

 

A.

[Aasim]

Btw compliments for taking to Barbarians into Suldanessalar in vanilla BG2. After years of playing modded BG, I might actually not get as far...

Hahahaa...prior to them (safety in numbers!!!), I rolled a solo cleric/ranger. I really liked this kit when I started playing BG - tanky, ton of spells to cast, blasts Undead, armor, shield, Flail of Ages, Chaotic Commands, Stealth - what more can one wish for? I felt it was the "perfect package" for solo play.

Died to vanilla *Nimbul*. Falied save vs Horror + Magic missiles, done. I honestly admire anyone who finishes BG1+BG2 in any way, modded or non-modded, they prefer. The game features so many ways to die, that surviving all of them is a feat by itself.

 

 

However I'm also eager to try Dark Horizons

I played it once, didn't really appeal to me. Has nice story, nice areas, but items are ToB artefacts. You get a short sword which works better than Celestial Fury south of Beregost, I kid you not. Do try it out - it does beef up a number of vanilla oponnents. If you use SCS over it, you're in for quite a ride  .

 

 

As to duo/trio runs, I like that concept, but would probably do it with NPCs rather than a custom party. 

I do too. The problem I have with this is that if I start single-player, I end up soloing up to level 5-6-7, then picking up high-leveled NPCs to match up, then do "real" playing. 

In addition, sometimes I just can't use level1NPCs to get what I want. While I can see Jaheira as an Avenger, I cannot picture her as a cleric/mage or Diviner and similar. 

 

 

Btw. The spell you are thinking of is Righteous Magic. It causes maximum damage hits, adds 1HP per level of caster, and raises strength 1 point for every 3 levels of the caster. Holy Power grants a cleric the THAC0 of a comparable fighter and set strength to 18/00. If Righteous Magic is cast after Holy Power, the strength bonuses will stacks.

Got it. It's level 5, yes? In SR, it's a bit different (called Righteous Fury), but also very powerful:

Spoiler

This is a powerful combat spell that enhances the priest's physical prowess, charging him with positive energy and transforming him into a juggernaut of destruction. The caster's strength is augmented by 4 points, his armor class is improved by 2 points, and he gains 1 temporary hit point for every level he has attained (up to a maximum of 20). Furthermore, the caster deals an additional 1d6 points of magic damage whenever he strikes an opponent with a melee weapon. The effects last for the duration of the spell or until dispelled. Multiple castings of this spell are not cumulative

 

Btw, nice assassination. Did it *have to* be a Cow?

[Grond0]

A charisma of 14. Is Dyna hoping to impress someone? A certain someone in particular? 

I thought if I was going to roll a new character I should at least keep some options open ...

[Alesia_BH]

Ok. Having completed my install tests, I'm ready to post on the re-configured Ariel. Give her a warm welcome. (And note the change in proficiencies).

 

 

Starting Proficiencies: Scimitar/Wakizashi/Ninja-To x 2, Short Bow, Two Weapon Style

Mods: Baldurs Gate Enhanced Edition, SCS v30 (full pre-buffs, all tactical challenges)

 

Gaming Notes: I should begin with a confession: I have no idea what I'm doing. I said that prior to Arcadia's run, but this time I mean it.

 

That may sound strange. I'm familiar with rogues, and I'm familiar with Baldur's Gate. And having successfully completing a BG1  SCS v 30 run with a variant of Ariel, while also having gotten a peak at BG2 v30 with Aria, I'm even somewhat familiar with SCS v 30. But new versions bring new challenges. I'm sure I'll encounter something unexpected. And it's the expected that frightens me even more.

 

When I first built Ariel, I configured her with my standard rogue proficiency assignments: Quarterstaves and Two-Handed Weapon Style for a range 2, speed factor zero weapon; a Short Bow for Dispelling Arrows; and Darts for Darts of Stunning. The idea being to evade melee altogether: to hit and to run, to dispel and to stun. Not for Ariel. I need a change of pace. I need to get out of my comfort zone. This time I'll be trying something different- something I've never tried before.

 

Ariel will be a melee duelist, who opens with a backstab and then stands her ground whenever possible. She'll prefer melee as much as my other thieves have disfavored it. That's fitting for a fighter/thief, I think. And fitting for me, at this stage. Again, I need a change of pace.

 

It's hard to abandon something that works for something that you have every reason to believe won't work as well. But I think I'll learn something from the attempt even if Ariel doesn't make the Throne. I expect to have fun, if not victory. Hopefully, Ariel will have both.

 

Wish Ariel luck everyone!

 

Best,

 

A.

[Alesia_BH]

I thought if I was going to roll a new character I should at least keep some options open ...

 

That's a good call. Rogues can take Balthy out in their opening using Time Traps so he's less of an issue for them (I'd be willing to play an evil thief), but I think it's still wise to take him out of the equation- especially in a first playthrough. Do you remember the short lived reboot of the Ascension Solo Challenge? Do you remember when Balthazar trashed one of Gate70's characters repeatedly, forcing him to retire, even with infinite reloads? Balthazar can be a menace at the Throne for some classes.

 

I hope Dyna makes it!

 

Best,

 

A.

[Aasim]

If you look up Odo on Wiki, you will find this: "Here Odo the Bishop holding a club strengthens the boys". 

Heh. You know PnP features the spell "Mace of Odo"? It deals extra damage vs Undead, forces a save or stuns the target, and can be used to apsorb a spell after which it dissapears. Interesting read at Clausewitz, ty.

[Alesia_BH]

Ariel, Halfling F/T: Update 1

 

Ariel completed her early game tasks in standard fashion, though with some adjustments to accomodate her proficiencies. She is now a level 4/5 F/T with a reassuring hitpoint total.

 

Ariel's first move was to pad her coffers and invest in reputation. She purchased the Wand of Sleep and Potion of Mirror Eyes at High Hedge, and then made her way to the basilisk area, by way of the Nashkel Carnival.

 

The basilisks were killed using a different method. I typically try to avoid overuse of Korax, and instead reserve him for Mutamin. I use the Necklace of Missile to kill most of the basilisks. I find this more statisying and also feel the use of charges helps rebalance the XP fest, to an extent: at least it costs something. iI my prior install, excessive use of Korax was also inadvisable, since the basilisks would attack him in melee. If he fought too many, he might not be around to fight the one enemy he's needed for: Mutamin. In EE v30, however, the smarter basilisks are slightly dummer, at least with respect to Korax: they don't melee him nearly enough and instead use their ineffective gaze attacks. Having noticed this -and knowing that Ariel had other basilisks to slay to claim her preferred weapon- she allowed Mutamin to fight the southern basilisks while she remained in the shadows with an emergency Potion of Mirror Eyes at the ready, rather than consume the scroll of Protection from Petrification. In EE, Korax can not continue attacking an enemy unless he is within sightline of the PC. Consequently, Ariel had to stay at the very edge of the combat zone. This was nonetheless safe, since Ariel was hidden in shadows (with a Potion of Mirror Eyes in hand) and the basilisks were held while she waited.

Spoiler

 

The fact that Korax can not attack outside of the PC's sight range intersected with Aria's lack of AoE disabler defenses (save the Candlekeep PoC which she wanted to keep) made killing Mutamin tricky. Mutamin -whose script activated as soon as the first northern basilisk engaged- ultimately survived, along with some of his basilisks. This didn't concern Ariel at all. She had gotten the early level ups she needed. There would be more basilisks to come.

 

After taking her level ups, Ariel headed west to collect the Girdle of Bluntness, the Halbred +1, the Gauntlets of Dexterity, and the Tome of Leadership and Influence. She then went north for the Girdle of Piercing. Some of her early foes were killed with the aid of the Wand of Sleep.

Spoiler

 

Others, with opening backstabs and follow up melee barrages. Occasionally, a fall back trap was used as well.

Spoiler

 

Once she had collected enough gold, Ariel headed north to Ulgoth's Beard. There she picked up the Greenstone Amulet and the Cloak of Displacement. She also lifted the Ring of Free Action and a Potion of Fire Giant Strength off of Dushai under Potion of Mind Focusing + Potion of Perception + Potion of Master Thievery. With her inventory loaded with goodies, Ariel sought to add to her collection at Durlag's Tower. The traps were foiled. The basilisks were slain. Rashad's Talon was hers.

Spoiler

 

The Talon got its first backstab test against Melium. Looks good. And with those skifty newbracers, it will only get better.

 

Iin order to finance Ariel's last pre-Mulahey purchase, two more encounters would have to be completed : Vax and Zal, and Greywolf. Vax and Zal were first.

 

Ariel set a trap and then revealed herself to Vax. Vax approached. But the moment he arrived. Ariel hid in shasows in preparation for a backstab. The backstab was a critical miss, but the trap triggered and follow melee blows won the day. The isolated Zal fell soon after.

 

Spoiler

 

The Greywolf fight was a fun little melee duel. Both Ariel and Greywolf quaffed Potions of Hill Giant Strength, but a pre-battle trap and an early offhand critical for 30 damage gave Ariel a lead that Grewolf never recovered from. In her Ankheg Plate, Ariel was reasonably well protected. Greywolf only landed one blow.

 

Ariel was now fully equiped for the Nashkel Mines. I'll post on the Mines and the Bandit Camp soon.

 

Best,

 

A.

 

EDIT: I just fixed an insane number of typos. Apologies to anyone who read the first version. That was atrocious.

[Alesia_BH]

Btw, nice assassination. Did it *have to* be a Cow?

 

Yes, yes it did. It was a chaotic evil cow specially prepared for sacrifice.

 

Best,

 

A.

[Blackraven]

Alesia, for an ecologist you have pretty animal-unfriendly Charnames

[Alesia_BH]

Alesia, for an ecologist you have pretty animal-unfriendly Charnames

 

And don't get me started on the Disney Princess angle...

 

Best,

 

A.

[Grond0]

Dyna - halfling swashbuckler (update 2)

 

In Beregost Dyna failed to finish off Nimbul quickly.  He had about 5 lots of invisibility (via sequencer and spell as well as potions) and she had to offer herself up as target regularly - keeping her own potion of invisibility ready for emergencies.  However, she only took minimal damage and wasn't targeted with anything lethal before she eventually wore her way through his defences - only for a soldier to pinch her XP!

Spoiler

 

In Beregost there was some odd behaviour from Tranzig when his AI got stuck in a loop.  He tried to surrender dozens of time while Dyna got the odd attack in between denying him mercy until she finally connected with a fatal blow.

Spoiler

 

At the Bandit Camp she again sneaked into the main tent and used fireballs to pacify the inhabitants.  

Spoiler

Venkt got some retaliation in, but eventually had to concede defeat.

Spoiler

I realised too late though that I had forgotten to do a bit of stealing to reduce reputation to 9 and Dyna got a useless slow poison while resting instead of horror.

 

On the way up to Ulgoth's Beard she robbed the ankheg nest.  She successfully restealthed initially, but stealth then failed near two ankhegs while she was encumbered by the weight of a body and she chose to use a potion of invisibility rather than risking an attack.  Prices were expensive, at 33k gold for the invisibility ring. To reduce the price a bit she went to get the charisma tome and then pickpocketed Algernon's Cloak - but it appeared the local authorities were alerted to her presence.

Spoiler

 

She left the inn and successfully stealthed outside - only for two of the amazons to appear outside beyond her and block her exit.  Going back inside her stealth failed and she tried using the Greenstone Amulet to protect against charm and hold - it didn't though protect against the backstabs from both thieves, which she was lucky to survive!  

Spoiler

She managed to get upstairs and stealth again, before coming back down and taking healing potions.  I decided then it was time she graduated to doing some melee and she successfully took on all the amazons at once - though at the cost of a shield charge, 2 Greenstone charges and several healing potions.  

Spoiler

She got to level 8 there, but only got 4 extra HPs.

 

With prices now slightly better she bought the ring from Ulgoth's Beard before heading for the coast to sort out some sirines.  I haven't got the improved versions from aTweaks in this installation, so a single potion of clarity was plenty to take care of them.  

Spoiler

The golems then fell to stealth attacks.

Spoiler

 

Dyna is about to travel to the Cloakwood. 

[Grimwald the Wise]

Hahahaa...prior to them (safety in numbers!!!), I rolled a solo cleric/ranger. I really liked this kit when I started playing BG - tanky, ton of spells to cast, blasts Undead, armor, shield, Flail of Ages, Chaotic Commands, Stealth - what more can one wish for? I felt it was the "perfect package" for solo play.

Died to vanilla *Nimbul*. Falied save vs Horror + Magic missiles, done. I honestly admire anyone who finishes BG1+BG2 in any way, modded or non-modded, they prefer. The game features so many ways to die, that surviving all of them is a feat by itself.

 

 

I played it once, didn't really appeal to me. Has nice story, nice areas, but items are ToB artefacts. You get a short sword which works better than Celestial Fury south of Beregost, I kid you not. Do try it out - it does beef up a number of vanilla oponnents. If you use SCS over it, you're in for quite a ride  .

 

I would say that Dark Horizons is well worth trying a few times. However as you learn the weaknesses of the assassins, eventually you will want to either uninstall it or avoid using some of the overpowered weapons. The sword already mentioned is a case in point. The first few times I played, it ended the game. Then I found a way of not getting stabbed and then I realised how stupid my tactics were and it became easy to get it. I think after about three more successful run-throughs, I will be uninstalling it and perhaps re-installing others.

[Alesia_BH]

Dyna is about to travel to the Cloakwood. 

 

 

I'm surprised Ariel and Dyna haven't run into each other. Ariel just did Tranzig, the Amazonians, and the Flesh Golem cave as well. She's headed to the Ankheg lair next and then the Bandit Camp.

 

That double Unholy Blight/double backstab opening from the Amazonians is nasty. I'm glad Dyna made it!

 

Keep it up!

 

Best,

 

A

[Grimwald the Wise]

Hahahaa...prior to them (safety in numbers!!!), I rolled a solo cleric/ranger. I really liked this kit when I started playing BG - tanky, ton of spells to cast, blasts Undead, armor, shield, Flail of Ages, Chaotic Commands, Stealth - what more can one wish for? I felt it was the "perfect package" for solo play.

Died to vanilla *Nimbul*. Falied save vs Horror + Magic missiles, done. I honestly admire anyone who finishes BG1+BG2 in any way, modded or non-modded, they prefer. The game features so many ways to die, that surviving all of them is a feat by itself.

 

 

I played it once, didn't really appeal to me. Has nice story, nice areas, but items are ToB artefacts. You get a short sword which works better than Celestial Fury south of Beregost, I kid you not. Do try it out - it does beef up a number of vanilla oponnents. If you use SCS over it, you're in for quite a ride  .

 

I would say that Dark Horizons is well worth trying a few times. However as you learn the weaknesses of the assassins, eventually you will want to either uninstall it or avoid using some of the overpowered weapons. The sword already mentioned is a case in point. The first few times I played, it ended the game. Then I found a way of not getting stabbed and then I realised how stupid my tactics were and it became easy to get it. I think after about three more successful run-throughs, I will be uninstalling it and perhaps re-installing others.

[Aasim]

I would say that Dark Horizons is well worth trying a few times. However as you learn the weaknesses of the assassins, eventually you will want to either uninstall it or avoid using some of the overpowered weapons. The sword already mentioned is a case in point. The first few times I played, it ended the game. Then I found a way of not getting stabbed and then I realised how stupid my tactics were and it became easy to get it. I think after about three more successful run-throughs, I will be uninstalling it and perhaps re-installing others.

I think I played through it only once, when I last actually finished whole BGT full-megamod sans Ascension (more than 3 years ago). I might give it another shot - but I'd definitely do something about those damn weapons. Iirc, there was an initiative over at SHS to make a mod which nerfs them, but the mod creator was against it.

[Grimwald the Wise]

Heh. You know PnP features the spell "Mace of Odo"? It deals extra damage vs Undead, forces a save or stuns the target, and can be used to apsorb a spell after which it dissapears. Interesting read at Clausewitz, ty.

 

I picked up most of the information about Odo when we went to see the tapestry and also Bayeux Cathedral. Well worth a visit. I also learned about that time what a nasty piece of work William was. Totally evil IMO. He burned all the villages and crops in the part of England where I live. One of my ancestors came over with him.