673 réponses à ce sujet

[SpiffyKeen]

Reloads:  1 - Ogre Mage in Cloakwood Mines

General:  Zigana flooded and left the mines right away (as she should have done the first time).   She had Yeslick join her for the trip to Beregost to sell off their loot, equip up, and collect Zigana's personal effects in Landrin's house.  They also collected on many bandit scapls and a few wyvren heads.  Then they headed to Baldur's Gate where Zigana wanted to go in the first place all those weeks ago.  At Sorcerous Sundries, Zigana purchased a bag of holding, organized her inventory, purchased healing for both herself and the dwarf at the Temple of Helm, and then sent Yeslick packing (although she let him keep his shiny new armor, etc.).  From there she wandered the city for a while wondering what hidden wonders could be found there. 

Quests Completed in BG:  Ragefast and Arbela, Casson and Varci

Current Status:  Level 8 Cleric / Level 10 Thief, ~325k exp (just leveled up thief for +2 hp), Flail*/Dual***, Thac0 11/13, Staying at the Elfsong

Modifié par SpiffyKeen, 29 octobre 2011 - 08:02 .

[Gate70]

Forin, LG human male cavalier, dropped out of the no reload thread after his fifth wyvern ambush proved fatal. Using the cursed berserking sword so unable to alter combat once started, making some battles a lot harder. Gone well so far but this part is taking it's toll.

I glug potions of mind focusing and heroism then cast PfE and glug a potion of regeneration. I manage to target Rezdan and kill him, then start on Drasus. Genthore is next but Kysus is killing me. Two reloads are required before I manage to position between Rezdan and Kysus. After killing the two mages the fighters are easy.


The regeneration allows me to continue into the mine. Hareishan kills me once, a second time a lightning trap kills several guards but my path to the mage is still blocked Could do with the horn of Kazgaroth but left it behind. On the third occasion I use my remaining potions of absorbtion and regeneration and survive. I clear the next few rooms but now have to face Davaeorn with minimal potions.

The first battle horror injures me badly, so I rest upstairs. I defeat the second battle horror on the third attempt by using my final potion of heroism and PfE 150k xp, level 8 and 5 final HP.

My final potion of freedom is enough to deal with Davaeorn. Six reloads, painful.

I free Yeslick and the slaves before flooding the mine. Finally the city is open and I can get a new fix of potions. Another pair of wyverns try to stop me, but I get to buy a bunch of potions. First I sort the Seven Suns building and continue into the sewers, glugging a potion of freedom to deal with an ogre mage and carrion crawlers. I stand confused after defeating them.

Our audience with the grand duke turns into an errand. A protection from fire scroll is followed by potions of frost giant strength, heroism, mind focusing, speed, freedom oops, wrong way and completing with PfE. On to the Iron Throne mercenaries, starting with Diyab and Gardush.


I take a flamestrike (immune), get confused but drop Gardush 67/77hp and Aasim 25/77hp and Melfed so in trouble and dead from something.

I try the same again in the correct order, and add a potion of regeneration. I'm left with Zhalimar, Naaman and Alai only for Agannazars scorchers and magic missiles to kill me again.

Third time I am down to Cloudewulfe and Naaman but get another magical death. Maybe I need to swap the fire protection around to prevent magical fire but this amount of reloads ends my entry here as quickly as it starts.

[SapphireIce101]

Welcome to the fun Spiffy, and I hope to read some more on your adventures.

Also, welcome back Gate70! Sorry about Forin dying to the Wyvern, and the other six reloads.

I may be coming back to Baldur's Gate soon, but first I got to finish my Icewind Dale no reload run.

So, good luck and have fun everyone!

[Charlestonian Knight Templar]

Ulgoth's Beard/Durlag's Tower (Grounds, Walls and Battlements)


General: We left the farmlands and headed east to Ulgoth's Beard. On entering their inn we met a dwarf who asked us if we'd take on the task of retrieving a dagger from Durlag's Tower (DT), “a family heirloom,” he explained. I always knew I needed to go to DT and that that would bring extreme danger upon this party.  The Dwarf's request made it clear to me that this was the time God chose for me to undertake this journey. 
 
After selling and buying a few items we ventured to Durlag's Tower. The first thing we met there was some guy that makes a living selling to adventurer's heading into the tower.  That doesn't bode well.
 
Neither does our initial impression of the kinds of battles we'll be fighting in this place.  We had to battle two Battle Horror's and two Doppelganger’s on the road leading to the main gate. After that, we retired to rest before approaching again.
 
Once inside the gate to the inner wall, we searched thoroughly before actually going inside the tower itself. 
 
***Key Event Occurs Here (See note below) ***
 
To the right of the gate to the inner wall, we found a long staircase. I sent Khalid up, Hidden in Shadow, and he came back to tell us that there were a few skeleton's up there...and a Doom Guard.  So, we sent him up to take one shot, again Hidden in Shadow, and then draw them back down where Minsc and I would be waiting at the base of the stairs with the girls back a bit to provide support. It worked. we drew them down and, surprisingly, easily defeated the Doom Guard and his skeleton escort. We also cleared a few other Long Bow armed skeleton's off the parapets. 
 
Key Event:  On the opposite side of the gate to the inner wall, we found another staircase. Khalid went up, checked things out and returned to tell us that there were about ten skeleton's up there, armed with Long Bows (I hate those kind), and another Battle Horror (I hate those kind more).
 
The plan was for Minsc and I to go up alone to try and take the Battle Horror down and then the skeletons would be easy pickings. I went for the Battle Horror and left the Skeleton's to Minsc.  This Battle Horror was tough and we had a real slugfest. As I recall now, Minsc had to join in to help me finish him before he took off for the skeletons to the north while I headed south and east along the battlements.  The other four had come up by now and we finished the Skeleton's off in short order.
 
Treasure Acquired: (Legend: Sold (S); General Party Use (GPU); Stanley (St), Minsc (Mi), Khalid (Kh) etc; Spellbook (Sb):  Miscellaneous arms (Long Bows), gems, <100GP. 
 
Leader Notes: Three Battle Horrors and a Doom Guard and we haven't even gone in the door to the tower yet.
 
Out problem here is going to be that Khalid isn't as skilled at Finding/Removing Traps as he is Hiding in Shadow. This place is known for its traps so identifying those has to be the priority. We bought Khalid some Potions of Perception to increase his ability but while he is focused on ‘Finding/Removing Traps’ we lose his ‘Hiding in Shadow’ scouting ability. Imoen's advancing to 6th Level Mage/7th Level Swashbuckler gives us hope we will soon have her Find/Remove Traps skills back to compliment his Hiding in Shadows. 


Current Disposition: Resting outside the gates of Durlag's Tower. 
 
Next Steps: Durlag's Upper Levels
 
Game Notes/Questions: None
 
Promotions:  Imoen advanced to 6th Level as a Mage.  Soon we will have all the benefits of her 7th Level Swashbuckler skills as well.  Wow! She memorized Flame Arrow to compliment her third Level Fireball spell. 
 
Current Party:  (Reputation: 20 - Heroic)
Stanley; 7th Lvl Cavalier; (19*,15,19*,10,14*,19*); LS**/SSS**/Mace**; Full Plate Armor, Cloak (Prot +2);Helm (Defense);
   *Ability scores raised by Manuals of Gainful Exercise, Bodily Health; Tomes of Understanding and
   Leadership/Influence respectively)
Minsc; 7th Lvl Barbarian; 2HS***/2HWS**/Flail; Splint Mail, RoP+1, Helm (Charm Protection) ; Spiders Bane, Flail +1;
   AI Script: SC Def
Khalid; 8th Lvl Bounty Hunter; BS/LB/SWS; Studded Leather +1; LB of Mkp; BSwd +1/+3 (ShS); AI Script: Rgd
Imoen; 7th Lvl Swashbuckler/6th Level Mage; SB/SS; Leather Armor +1; SS+1; AI Script: Wzd Agg
Jaheira; 9th Lvl Druid; Cl/Sl/Sc; Leather Armor +1; RoH(oliness)/Club +2 (Eye of the Storm); Cloak (Wolf);
   AI Script: Drd Off/Def
Dynahier; 8th Lvl Invoker; Sl; Knaves Robe; QS+1/RoE(nergy); AI Script: Wzd Def
   
Reloads: 6
1) Nimbul
2) Green Slime (Valley of Tombs)
3) Vampiric Wolf (N. Nashkel Rd.)
4-5) Osmadi/Black Bears (Larswoood)
6) Basilisk (Mutamin’s Garden)
 
Mods Used: Easy Tutu/TOB Patch; BG1 UB; NPC 1 Project; Level 1 NPCs; BGII Tweaks; Hard Times

[corey_russell]

Good luck in Durlag's, CKT. The upper levels aren't too bad, and hey don't forget about that fireball trap that can't be detected very easily and goes off repeatedly in the lower portion of Durlag's. (by Pride and those guys). I think you can go around it.

[Charlestonian Knight Templar]

Thanks Corey, Already found that fireball trap and, no, Khalid couldn't detect it and we tripped it about eight times I think. But that's for a later post. I'll give a sneak peak though...the fireball trap ended up being our saving grace because the Dwarven Doom Guards were kickin' our butts. So, we tried to retreat, badly beaten, toward the torture room & before all was aid and done we ended up losing three party members - Minsc, Jaheira and Imoen who needed to be raised later. However, since my PC is heavily resistant to fire the fireballs didn't hurt me much - but oh boy do they hurt Dwarven Doom Guards. Because of that, my PC and the remaining party members were able to finish them off and live to fight another day.

But I digress...below is what I have for today.

[Charlestonian Knight Templar]

Durlag's Tower (Upper Levels and Basement)


General: Things started out quietly on the main level of the tower.  We found trivial amounts of gold while battling three Ghasts.
 
The second upper level contained a few more Ghasts and three traps that Khalid just could not master. He tried and tried to no avail. Luckily they weren't lethal because we tripped two of them repeatedly. Finally after we returned to the "DT Market" we were able to acquire Potions of Master Thievery and Perception to increase his chances of success. And he was, at least with one of them which led to a staircase to the roof.  He went up to scout it out and came down with a Basilisk on his heels. Using our only Potion of Mirrored Eyes I closed on him hoping to draw his attention away from Khalid. It worked and we killed him but now had to consider the threat of Basilisk's again. That prompted us to make camp and get Dy and Immy to re-commit their Protection from Petrification spells to memory.  
 
When we returned to DT we headed back to the roof and killed a couple of Dopplegangers and three more Greater Basilisks. 
 
Then we headed up to the third upper level. There we found an empty chapel with a Tome of Understanding on the altar. Khalid couldn't detect it but I sensed there was a trap there. Sure enough, when I reached for the Tome a trap was released. Nothing earth shattering though. 
 
Later, while scouting, Khalid was approached by a roguish looking chap named Rigglio asked us to ‘go find our treasure elsewhere’ in the tower. Khalid told him we'd share whatever we found but he didn't believe us. He left us be but just then, when Khalid went to release a trap it went off and stunned Rigglio. The rest of us were waiting outside the door and when we heard the commotion we came running and questioned the rogue. He became aggressive and we ended up killing him. 
 
Later, on the same level, Khalid found a Ghost in one of the tunnels he'd gone down, and after some conversation, it turned hostile and Khalid retreated back to the main body of the party. When the ghost didn't follow Khalid out into the main room of the tower, I sent him back in, Hidden in Shadow, to toss an Oil of Fiery Burning on the Ghost and it injured him. Khalid returned and got good position from which to fire. When the ghost appeared in the main room Minsc and I were up front with Khalid and the girls fanned out behind us. I quaffed a Potion of Magic Blocking and then Minsc and I closed on him. Then he used a Dimension Door to teleport across the room. Minsc and I ran there and started hitting him good while Immy, Dy and Jaheira cast spells at him. Khalid had switched to enchanted arrows (+2). We finally killed him but he was tough. 
 
The fourth upper level was full of Ghasts too and we destroyed maybe seven of them. Then we hit the Key event.
 
***Key Event Occurred Here***
 
We finished in the basement, where we dispatched another five or so Ghasts. 
 
Key Event:  We were knocking out a nest of Ghasts when a Succubus approached Dy. Unimpressed Dy told her we would have nothing to do with her but the next thing we know Khalid is Dire Charmed shooting arrows at us.
 
We started battling her trying to avoid Khalid's attacks and avoid attacking Khalid. It was tricky. She cast ‘Dimension Door’ or something and disappeared to the area between the Game room and the Bedroom. I directed everyone (who wasn't Dire Charmed) into the game room, leaving Khalid standing alone in the tower room - with a nest of bees attacking him that Jaheira had sent him as a gift (wonder if this is payback for when he shot her with an arrow on the Shipwrecked Coast?) The Succubus kept turning invisible and coming back to attack and it was tough to get good steel on her.  Slowly but surely though, we kept attacking and landed enough hits and spells to break her. Minsc, Jaheira and I finally cornered the Succubus and sent her soul back to whatever plain demons go to. 
 
Treasure Acquired: (Legend: Sold (S); General Party Use (GPU); Stanley (St), Minsc (Mi), Khalid (Kh) etc; Spellbook (Sb):  Tome of Understanding (St); Potions of Healing (GPU), Oil of Speed x2 (GPU), Genius (Dy), Invisibility (Kh), Strength (Ja), Stone Form (Im), Miscellaneous arms and armor, gems (S); >270GPs 
 
Leader Notes: The traps here are definitely more difficult than what we've encountered so far in our travels.  Time and again Khalid misses them altogether or can't disarm them when he finds them - that's with a Potion of Perception to help him out. I fear it only gets worse as we head into the Labyrinth's.

Current Disposition: Resting at the Nashkel Inn which I plan to use as our 'rear area' when we need rest and to lighten our load.  
 
Next Steps: Durlag's Labyrinth Level 1
 
Game Notes/Questions: None
 
Promotions: Once we killed Kirindale, Khalid advanced to 9th Level Bounty Hunter. He has been spending half his training efforts on 'Moving Silently' to compliment his 'Hiding in Shadow' and has split the other half between Find/Remove Traps and Opening Locks. He’s getting better and better but we could sure use Imoen’s skills.  
 
Current Party:  (Reputation: 20 - Heroic)
Stanley; 7th Lvl Cavalier; (19*,15,19*,10,15**,19*); LS**/SSS**/Mace**; Full Plate Armor, Cloak (Prot +2);Helm (Defense);
   *Ability scores raised by Manuals of Gainful Exercise, Bodily Health; Tomes of Understanding x 2 and
   Leadership/Influence respectively)
Minsc; 7th Lvl Barbarian; 2HS***/2HWS**/Flail; Splint Mail, RoP+1, Helm (Charm Protection) ; Spiders Bane, Flail +1;
   AI Script: SC Def
Khalid; 9th Lvl Bounty Hunter; BS/LB/SWS; Studded Leather +1; LB of Mkp; BSwd +1/+3 (ShS); AI Script: Rgd
Imoen; 7th Lvl Swashbuckler/6th Level Mage; SB/SS; Leather Armor +1; SS+1; AI Script: Wzd Agg
Jaheira; 9th Lvl Druid; Cl/Sl/Sc; Leather Armor +1; RoH(oliness)/Club +2 (Eye of the Storm); Cloak (Wolf);
   AI Script: Drd Off/Def
Dynahier; 8th Lvl Invoker; Sl; Knaves Robe; QS+1/RoE(nergy); AI Script: Wzd Def
   
Reloads:  6
1) Nimbul
2) Green Slime (Valley of Tombs)
3) Vampiric Wolf (N. Nashkel Rd.)
4-5) Osmadi/Black Bears (Larswoood)
6) Basilisk (Mutamin’s Garden)
 
Mods Used: Easy Tutu/TOB Patch; BG1 UB; NPC 1 Project; Level 1 NPCs; BGII Tweaks; Hard Times
 
 
 

[SpiffyKeen]

Just when I thought I would have time to play, Real Life kicked in again.  Sorry for such a long time between posts.  Thanks for the welcome and condolences. 

------------------------------------------------------------

Reloads: 2 - Jalantha Mystmar, Ogre Mage in Cloakwood Mines

General:  In this session, I competed many things in the city of Baldur's Gate.  Zigana basically relied on the wand of the heavens/necklace of missiles for most battles, although she did melee pretty well against easy to intermediate enemies (spiders are a good example).  This strategy also relied on a bit of running around if there were lots of enemies that did not go down to 1 fireball. 



Against certain foes, she used Free Action and skeletons (mages, slimes, ghasts, etc.).  I made a mistake in trying to pickpocket back the wisdom tome from Jalantha (can it be done successfully?).  She went hostile and killed Zigana with a Flame Strike.  So I reloaded, and only came back to get the tome later with skeleton support. 



Two other battles were close calls: melee against ghasts when Free Action ran out, and mustard jellies in the sewers.  Two quick hits made me run instead of fighting it out against the jellies (although I had meleed jellies rather easily before in Ramazith's tower).  To make the Iron Throne fight easy, she went max ranged defense and used a magic protection scroll!  During the Iron Throne fight Zigana got to Thief level 11, and she is so close to Cleric level 9.  I actually found other intermediate enemies hard to fight unless Zigana used lots of spells, summons, and/or wands.  I am starting to wonder how well Zigana will do in BG2 going solo.  Perhaps I am not approaching solo with the correct mindset. 

I also saw some low resolution commoners in one of the inns.  Anyone know why those characters look so weird?



Quests Completed in BG:  Seven Suns, Marchant League, Ramazith, Marek and Lothander, Ghorak, Sewer Ogre Mage, Nadine and Euric, Warehouse Basilisk, Looted the Duchal Palace! (see above), Brielbara and Yago, Narlen, Ravenscar, Iron Throne Acolytes

Current Status:  Level 8 Cleric / Level 11 Thief, ~440k exp (just leveled up thief for +1 hp, up to 60 pick pockets and 20 trap setting), Flail*/Dual***, Thac0 10/12, Will talk to Eltan and head to Candlekeep soon, Zigana has so much gold at this point (90,000+) and she will need some of it later for lots of recharges, had the 4th dream, and +1 Int, Dex, and Wis during this session!

Modifié par SpiffyKeen, 13 novembre 2011 - 08:06 .

[Charlestonian Knight Templar]

Good Post SpiffyKeen.

I've been off the boards myself lately. As with you, 'real life' took center stage as I needed to focus on my duties to my wife and children for awhile.

Best I can tell, Zigana is flying solo. Never tried that but it seems to be working if you're 11th/8th level Cleric/Thief.

Good work and good luck in future sessions.

CKT

[Charlestonian Knight Templar]

Durlag's Tower (Labyrith's Level 1)


General: We've now moved into a whole new level of adventuring. Durlag's tower promises to challenge us in a way nothing has yet before; the Labyrinths below even more so. 
 
In this first level of Labyrinth, our challenge was to successfully answer four riddles to four Warders: Fear, Love, Avarice and Pride by name. These Warders held the wardstone required to descend to yet another, deeper, level of DT, one that we can only imagine will become even more dangerous. 
 
While tiptoeing, literally, around the corridors and rooms that surrounded the Entrance Room, Dining Hall and "Lift Chamber" we endeavored to find clues and answers to the riddles while fearing with every step that the next trap we 'trip' will be our last. Khalid was an example of absolute courage as he continued to probe ahead, trying desperately to locate traps, and then disarm them despite his mediocre skillset.  In most cases he was unsuccessful and often found them by tripping them and taking damage that would have fallen upon us all but for his determination to sacrifice his safety for ours.
 
Our progress was slow and we found ourselves in combat with various monsters including Skeleton Warriors, Wraith Spiders, Phase Spiders, Ogre Berserkers and Ghasts.
 
We also encountered Battle Horrors in a store room.  I continue to marvel at their relentlessness in combat and how hard it is to defeat them.
 
Worse than the Horrors, though, were three Greater Dopplegangers we had to battle in the Library.  Greater Dopplegangers are just plain nasty and even nastier to fight. They were the first monsters we met at this level and we had to withdraw and camp outside DT to rest and heal afterward. 
 
As we worked our way around the Labyrinth, we did manage to find treasure beyond any we'd yet uncovered.  Some was just lying about in open barrels but most was protected in trapped or warded chests, desks, cabinets, and bookshelves. This place is as extravagant as it is dangerous. 
 
We were finally able to uncover and secure the answer to the last of the riddles and took our answer, a bottle of wine, to the Warder, Love. 
 
Key Event:  Being out adventuring for so long, one learns to expect the unexpected and usually in a very unpleasant way.  The reward for solving the four riddles was not[/i][/b] a feast in the Dining Hall. 
 
I carefully made my way toward 'Love' leaving the rest of the party, except Minsc back at a distance. Jaheira 'Blessed' us and Dy 'Hasted' us in anticipation of something negative. The remainder of us quaffed potions or activated whatever defenses we thought necessary. If nothing happened, the spells and potions would not have been wasted, as caution is always the best choice - especially here.
 
As expected though, the moment we'd successfully solved the last of the four riddles, the Warders went off on us and became hostile.   
 
The six of us went into battle mode and surprisingly took out one of the Warders, not sure which one, quickly.  The second kill came more slowly and time seemed to drag on. While our efforts were focused on one Warder, the other two kept pounding away at party members, wounding us more deeply, it seemed, with each attack. Healing spells were cast and potions quaffed like water in a desperate race against time. By the time the second warder was destroyed the party was down to one - Me. I had the effects of Jaheira’s 'Blessing' and Dy's 'Hasting' as well as Potions of Storm Giant Strength and Heroism but I was deeply wounded. To die here would mean the end of our party and we'd join the long list of forgotten adventurers who'd fallen here.  Instead I chose to fight smart and bide my time. 
 
I used the Haste spell to keep me ahead of them while I gathered personal items from my fallen comrades and the treasure they carried.  I secured their most important personal items and moved them to a barrel nearby where I also discarded what treasure I thought I should leave behind. I retained the most valuable and expendable treasure to sell in order to acquire funds to raise my friends later.
 
I chose to escape the Labyrinth and move up to the Basement Level with two Warders in pursuit. When I got there only one Warder had continued up the stairs. I thought to destroy him while I had him segregated but I could not land the decisive blow and feared that his next successful blow might be my last. 
 
I exited the tower to rest and heal outside on the road toward Nashkel. After doing so I returned to the tower intent on destroying the remaining Warders alone. The one I'd left in the basement was still there, also rested and healed. I'd buffed up on that expectation using Potions of Frost Giant Strength and of Heroism. I took some big hits before I was able to defeat him.
 
My God was protecting me! When I returned to the First Level of the Labyrinth the fourth Warder I thought still alive was nowhere to be found. In the confusion of the first battle I must have lost track that he'd fallen because I was sure he was trailing me when I left to try and buy space and time. 
 
Treasure Acquired: (Legend: Sold (S); General Party Use (GP); Stanley (St), Minsc (Mi), Khalid (Kh) etc; Spellbook (Sb): Arrows: Ice x15 (Kh); Bullets: +2 x11 (Ja); Potions: Cloud Giant Strength (St), Frost Giant Strength (St), Heroism x2 (St/Mi), Perception x5 (Kh), Elixir of Health (Mi), Healing x29 (Ja/GP), Master Thievery x5 (Kh), Oil of Speed x2 (Kh), Antidote x6 (Ja/GP), Firebreath (Kh/Gp), Fire Resistance (Dy/GP), Insulation (Dy/GP),  Absorption (Dy/GP); Scrolls: Monster Summoning III (Dy/Sb), Cloudkill (Dy/Sb), Monster Summoning II (Im/Sb), Hold Monster (Im/Sb), Identify (Dy/Im/Gp), Confusion (Im/Sb), Feeblemind (Im/Sb); Chaos (Im/Sb); Miscellaneous Arms, Armor, Potions, Scrolls, Gems (S); ~ 2800 GPs 
 
Leader Notes: This place is a death trap. Every step might be our last. The traps bother me most of all. No matter how hard I try to ensure discipline, it never fails that one of us, in a lax moment, strays and puts themselves or the entire party in danger. This place requires a patient, deliberate, cautious approach and it's my job to ensure we proceed in that manner. So far I am not succeeding as well as I'd like. I need to keep my head in the game. 


Current Disposition: Resting and Recovering In Nashkel
 
Next Steps: Durlag's Labyrinth Level 2
 
Game Notes/Questions: I continue to marvel at how much harder and different the game is using the Hard Times Mod. In past games at this point, my PC/NPCs have either recovered or purchased Plate Mail +3, Shadow Armor, The Robe of the Good Arch-Magi, Q-Staff +3, Short Sword +2, Short Bow +1 and are loaded with quivers full of enchanted arrows and bullets in addition to what we have[/i][/b] obtained below. With the HTs Mod the treasure you expect just isn't there or, if it is, it is generally much less 'Blessed'[/i] if at all. Additionally, the gems you recover and the stashes of gold are not nearly as valuable most times so you can't buy the items from the stores even if the store has[/i] it.  About 75% of the time it is not stocked as in the 'plain game.' 


Promotions: None
 
Current Party:  (Reputation: 20 - Heroic)
Stanley; 7th Lvl Cavalier; (19*,15,19*,10,15**,19*); LS**/SSS**/Mace**; Plate Mail Armor, Cloak (Prot +2);Helm (Defense);
   *Ability scores raised by Manuals of Gainful Exercise, Bodily Health; Tomes of Understanding x 2 and
   Leadership/Influence respectively)
Minsc; 8th Lvl Barbarian; 2HS***/2HWS**/Flail; Splint Mail, RoP+1, Helm (Charm Protection) ; Spiders Bane, Flail +1;
   AI Script: SC Def
Khalid; 9th Lvl Bounty Hunter; BS/LB/SWS/2WS; Studded Leather +1, Cloak (Displ); LB of Mkp; BSwd +1/+3 (ShS); AI Script: Rgd
Jahiera; 9th Lvl Druid; Cl/Sl/Sc/SSS; Leather Armor +1; RoH(oliness)/Club +2 (Eye of the Storm); AI Script: Drd Off/Def
Imoen; 7th Lvl Swashbuckler/7th Level Mage; SB/SS; Knaves Robe, Cloak (Non-Det); SS+1; AI Script: Wzd Agg (Leather Armor +1 stored)
Dynahier; 8th Lvl Invoker; Sl/QS; Travelers Robe; QS+1; AI Script: Wzd Def
   
Reloads:  6
1) Nimbul
2) Green Slime (Valley of Tombs)
3) Vampiric Wolf (N. Nashkel Rd.)
4-5) Osmadi/Black Bears (Larswoood)
6) Basilisk (Mutamin’s Garden)
 
Mods Used: Easy Tutu/TOB Patch; BG1 UB; NPC 1 Project; Level 1 NPCs; BGII Tweaks; Hard Times

[SpiffyKeen]

Thanks CKT.  I really learn a lot from you and other frequent posters here on the no-reload threads.  Even better are the ideas your posts give me.  It makes playing much more fun to have this group of friendly players.  I now have new ideas for Zigana, and a later idea for a party no-reload game.  I am wondering if I should try the Hard Times Mod as well. 

 ------------------------------------------------------------

Reloads:
6 - Undercity Iron Throne mercenaries, Belt death, Prat, Greater Doppelganger in Candlekeep (Shistal), Jalantha Mystmar, Ogre Mage in Cloakwood Mines

Deaths:  I could have easily run away from the greater doppelganger (reload 3) and blasted it from afar, but I was getting to the point of frustration that Zigana could not melee enemies like this even at Cleric Level 9, so I tried to tough it out and died with the enemy at Near Death.  After that, I stealthed past the most powerful catacomb enemies (only fought spiders and a few regular doppelgangers).  However, I thought that with preparation I could take on the assassination team led by Prat, but this time Zigana fell to Confusion far into the fight after half of them were dead and the other 2 at Badly Injured and Near Death.  After that reload, I just kept going full speed to try out all the hard encounters until the very end, with the intent to learn from my mistakes and hoping to be inspired for another try with Z.  I actually meleed the Eltan's healer greater doppelganger with full plate, +2 ring, etc., and it worked out well (lots of misses for the 'ganger). 
 




With lots of preparation, I took out Cythandria, Slythe, and Krystin relatively easily using summons, wands, and running around a lot.  I actually had to reload during the coronation, as I was lax in protecting Belt (I was careless).  The second time was an easy success.  The maze was no problem, and I was doing fine with the Iron Throne mercenaries until there was just one left: Shaldrissa.  Zigana got Confused while Shal was at Near Death.  Note to self: use Chaotic Commands more often.  That's the 3rd enemy I could not finish off near the end of a battle.  So I just skipped that the second time, and went straight for Tamoko and the final battle. In the temple, the battle was only a mini marathon, and Zigana stopped her brother and his pals on the first try (even with only 2 skeletons). 

I am excited to change some things with Zigana and try again.  I think I can do a complete no-reload with just a few key changes. 

General:  So here is the lead-up to my change of plans for Zigana.  To figure out where I was falling short with my solo strategy, I went all out in a fight against Drizzt.  I did all the buffs I could think of (DEX potion, Potion of Power, Potion of Speed, Protection from Evil, Aid, Chant, DUHM, Righteous Magic) and brought skeletons to keep him distracted for as long as possible. 

He wacked Zigana down to near death pretty fast, and she only hit him once: on a critical.  Her other rolls were misses (14+11=25, 8+11=19, 10+11=21, 5+11=16).  Only getting 5 swings in was bad! I had Zigana retreat, heal (without resting), rebuff, and go again.  More misses (14,8,1,14,5) and one hit: 18+11=29.  Drizzt was even hitting on 3+4=7!  She retreated again, healed, and with just the potions and DUHM she tried one last time, but it was no use at this point.  I had her retreat for good this time.  (However, with these buffs she crushed the Zekar/Jemby bandits (in the same area) in an overwhelming fashion.  So, I know the buffs were working, but just not enough for the overworld-traveling drow.) 



I thought she should be able to hit more often in this fight, and I had expected her to be able to make Drizzt miss more often.  Looking back on it, I was missing the slashing belt, the Balduran equipment, a regeneration potion, and I should have been drinking healing potions each round.  One of the other things that bothered me was that I was at 3 attacks per round on the character page, but I think Zigana was really only getting 2 attacks per round in the battle.  My best guess is that not getting 3/round must be a result of the weapon speed factor (Flail +1 and
Morning Star +1 are both speed factor 6).  I was really bummed when she would engage Drizzt and then get hit twice before she even got to try one swing.  I probably could have even used a shield with 2 attacks per round. 

Anyway, I followed that up with the same buffs in the coronation battle.  It went very well (except for not protecting
Belt the first time).  Zigana was doing 25 damage per hit, and hitting basically every time against the greater doppelgangers.  Again, she used that same buff plan against Tazok and Semaj, and it worked great.  It was not enough by itself against a hasted Sarevok, but breaks to heal and a few attacks from the shadows did the trick. 

 

So, I think it would be better if she went with staffs, since she would get 2 attacks per round anyway (it seems the extra attack per round with dual wield is not so great for clerics who can only use flails/maces/clubs ... or perhaps
hammers?), +3 instead of +1 damage and thac0 in BG1, better reach, and more frequent criticals.  In addition, if she goes with the staff rather than dual wield as her normal weapon, she gets backstab multiplication!  This would be great vs. flesh golems, skeleton warriors, doom guards, etc. 

The other change I will make is to play Zigana as an even more obsessed low-risk strategist:  Don't play with the
"clear the area" mentality, don't worry about milking for experience and/or gold (she can only reasonably get to Cleric Level 9 anyway, and money is not an issue after Cloakwood), avoid fights even more, scout ahead even more often than I did this play through, and before any encounter I will have her really prepare with additional contingency plans ready to go (no bag searching mid battle if I can help it!). 

Quests Completed:  Returned to and escaped Candlekeep, Saved Eltan, Cythandria/Slythe/Krystin, Coronation, Undercity, and Final Battle. 

Final Status:  Level 9 Cleric / Level 11 Thief, ~540k exp, Flail*/Dual***, Sarevok Defeated!

Modifié par SpiffyKeen, 16 novembre 2011 - 07:23 .

[Charlestonian Knight Templar]

Great work with Zigana SpiffyKeen. I think your ideas for hitting the no-reload challenge will be effective - just be cautious and know when to pull back and fight another day.

No-Reload Challenge? Maybe someday for my next character. Right now, I'm up to my knees in Durlag's Death Chamber.

CKT

Modifié par Charlestonian Knight Templar, 17 novembre 2011 - 02:41 .

[SpiffyKeen]

Thanks.  Good luck in Durlag's Tower.  I've never actually finished it before. 

I decided to go with a new character, but still a cleric.  This time, not solo!  That was too much for my normal level of carelessness, and it would have been even worse in Anm. 

[SapphireIce101]

Right now, I'm up to my knees in Durlag's Death Chamber

Good job on going through Durlag's tower, CKT! I just did the whole thing yesterday for the fun of it on a Cleric/Mage with the party of Ajantis, Kivan, Imoen, Khalid, and Jaheira.

I decided to go with a new character, but still a cleric. This time, not solo! That was too much for my normal level of carelessness, and it would have been even worse in Anm.

Good job on defeating Sarevok! Also, clerics are fun, even more so with spell revisions, but unfortunately I had to get rid of Divine Remix. So, good luck and have fun!

I may have to update the challenger list again.

Modifié par SapphireIce101, 26 novembre 2011 - 02:04 .

[SapphireIce101]

First, I'm going to apologize for double posting. Second, I'm going to apologize for not updating the challenger list! I'll get to it I swear! Heh.

Third, its time to start the re-do runs! So I came with the first one that I wanted to re-do. Akiel! Hes gone through some editing.



Name: Akiel
Race: Elf (Really a Drow, but that isn't really an option.)
class: Fighter/Thief
Alignment: Chaotic Evil
Stats: Str - 18/23 Dex - 19 Con - 14 Int - 10 Wis- 6 Cha - 12
Proficiencies: ** Katana, ** Two Weapon Style
Thief Skills: Open Locks: - 60 Find Traps - 20 Pick Pockets - 35 Move Silently - 30 Hide in Shadows - 30 Detect Illusion - 10 Set Traps - 10

Mods(Pertaining to BG1): ToBEx, BG2 Fixpack, BGT, BGSpawn, BG1NPC, BG1UB, Sirine's Call, 1PP, Item Revisions, Spell Revisions, DSOTSC, NTOTSC, TGC: Episode 1, Xan Friendship for BG1, Coran Friendship for BG1, Ktweaks, Song and Silence, BGTTweak, Rogue Rebalance, SCS, BG2Tweak, aTweaks, Item Pack, The Bigg Tweaks, Lightmaps for the Sewers, W_GUI, BP Balancer, BP_BGT Worldmap, Map Labels, Level1NPC, and Generalized Biffing.

Future Party: Montaron - Fighter/Assassin, Xzar - Necromancer, Shar-Teel - Berserker, Tiax - Thief/Cleric, and Kagain - Berserker.

Time to let the party start!

Edit: had to change the Charisma number. Also, I just remembered that I could use Kagain!

Modifié par SapphireIce101, 10 décembre 2011 - 02:14 .

[ussnorway]

So presumably Tiax – will be acting as the angel of mercy for the group… strictly when the muse takes him?

[SapphireIce101]

So presumably Tiax – will be acting as the angel of mercy for the group… strictly when the muse takes him?

Yeah, unless I find Viconia. Then shes definately replacing Tiax.

Modifié par SapphireIce101, 10 décembre 2011 - 02:57 .

[SapphireIce101]

Update time I guess.

Akiel helped people around Candlekeep, but he really didn't like any of the people there. He just acted nice so then he could get money.

Akiel went into the priest quarters, and got attacked by an assassin, but killed him with minimal difficulty! Well, to Akiel, that meant that Candlekeep wasn't as boring as he originally thought.


Akiel did some training with Jondalar, and that went somewhat smoothly. Then, Akiel got asked to clear out a rat infested warehouse. However, another assassin was lying in wait in that warehouse. Akiel had a little bit more of a problem trying to defend himself against this assassin, but he still fought to live another day.



After doing some more tasks for the people of Candlekeep, Akiel was met by another assassin, which Akiel killed with ease again.



Akiel spoke with Imoen, or rather snapped at her. Then, he spoke with Gorion and told him it was time to go. Akiel and Gorion were ambushed by a mysterious armored figure. Akiel ran while Gorion stayed and died.


When Akiel and Imoen went back to Gorion's body, and saw it was dead, Akiel was happy, but Imoen not so much.


Akiel and Imoen met another duo, their names were Montaron and Xzar. Akiel had them join the group, and they headed to Beregost instead of going to the Friendly Arm Inn. (Had to reload twice because I CTD'd whenever i tried to go through the Coast Way. So I had to use the CLUA Console to move myself to Beregost.)


Akiel met Kagain, and Tiax in Beregost, and them both join the group. Kagain to be a tank, and Tiax to well...Akiel wasn't sure of his purpose yet. Akiel also sent Imoen to an Inn in Beregost. Akiel helped out a woman named Silke and killed some innocent men. Also, another assassin was in the Red Sheaf Inn, so the group killed that assassin, but Xzar died.




While heading to Nashkel, the group ran across a drow woman named Viconia, and saved her from a flaming fist and she joined the party. (She kept running away after the encounter was done, so I CLUA Consoled her in and Ctrl+Q'd her into the party.) Akiel lied to some Flaming Fist that he was not a bandit. However, some more assassin's found him, and the party killed Akiel. (I had to reload once here because they got Akiel!).



Four hours after that, Tiax was wondering why Akiel was moving so slow. To which Akiel called the silly gnome an idiot and killed him. Then, just down the road there was a woman named Shar-Teel. Shar-Teel had a hatred of men. So, Shar-Teel challeneged Kagain to a fight, and lost. Therefore, Shar-Teel joined Akiel's party because she has a debt to pay. Also, Shar-teel called Akiel a decent leader.


Akiel: Fighter/Thief - 1/2
Montaron: Fighter/Assassin - 1/2
Xzar: Necromancer - 2
Kagain: Berserker - 2
Viconia: Cleric/Assassin - 1/1
Shar-Teel: Berserker - 2

Reloads: One. (Three if you count bugs.)

[Charlestonian Knight Templar]

@SapphireIce: You're just a bad PC with a bunch of bad henchmen. Can't seem to bring myself to play anything but LGs over and over.

Glad you brought a new story to read. I'll be following your bad Akiel but routing for 'good' to prevail. LOL

Hopefully I can continue Stanley's adventures shortly. Wife & family & work & computer problems all contributing to my lack of activity lately. Would like to wrap him up in BGI/TotSC and carry him over to the BGII challenges.

Nice to see USSNorway posting also. Would like to see more action over here. CKT

[SapphireIce101]

@SapphireIce: You're just a bad PC with a bunch of bad henchmen. Can't seem to bring myself to play anything but LGs over and over.
Glad you brought a new story to read. I'll be following your bad Akiel but routing for 'good' to prevail. LOL
Hopefully I can continue Stanley's adventures shortly. Wife & family & work & computer problems all contributing to my lack of activity lately. Would like to wrap him up in BGI/TotSC and carry him over to the BGII challenges.

Aki has always been evil! The only way he would turn good is if he hangs out with Aerie, Keldorn, and/or Anomen. However, he would probably end up on fire because of all the good/innocence! Also, I know how that is. I usually don't stray away from good people. Example of those good people are, Kalyinara, Soren, and Ayaka. Akiel is just me trying break the usual. Besides, I can't even see him being a good person.

Thanks, and its not necessarily new as it is a re-do of a character, and I figured out a way to slightly improve him, and evil awesomeness? XD.

Hope to read more on Stanley, and life comes first so I know what you had to go through. Only reason I'm back is because the College Semester ends this week. So, once spring semester comes up I'll probably be gone again. Heh.

Update Time!

A couple of hours later, Akiel and his band of evil henchmen reached Nashkel, and asked for a place to rest. However, there was another assassin/bounty hunter in the inn. (I had to reload because she killed Akiel with some sort of chain lighting. I know I have to keep my reputation above four, but below eight.) The group sucessfully killed the bounty hunter even though it was a tiny bit difficult.



After resting at the inn, Akiel spoke with Berrun Ghastkill, and asked how much he was going to be paid for clearing out the mines. Ghastkill was not impressed with Akiel wanting to fill his coinpurse instead of helping the people of Nashkel. Akiel also spoke with a bounty collector and impersonated Greywolf to get some free gold. Then, Akiel spoke with a man named Minsc. Minsc's friend Dynaheir went missing, but Akiel refused to help. So Minsc attacked Akiel and was killed.




Then, Akiel went to the Carnival, and found a mage and called him a bozo. However, the female mage in the room was also killed. Not that it bothered Akiel.


Outside of the mines, Akiel came across another bounty hunter. This one was easily dispatched, and had nothing worth keeping. Then, Akiel found a man named Prism, and killed him. Akiel found some emeralds on Prism's body, and decided that he would sell them to a merchant when he got the chance.



While inside of the mine Kagain said that it smelled like Kobolds. Hopefully that wasn't true, but who knows.


Deeper into the mines there were some more bounty hunters. This time they were Duergars. There it was kind of difficult to slay them, but the reward was sweet with some new armors, and weapons. Some of which were probably going to be sold later.


Even more deeper into the mines, the group came across a half-orc named Mulahey and killed him, and his minions quite easily.


Akiel then spoke to Emerson and to Ghastkill to get some more rewards.



Lastly, another bounty hunter was found. He was killed with ease because Montaron's sword had held him in place.

Akiel: Fighter/Thief - 3/4
Montaron: Fighter/Assassin - 3/4
Xzar: Necromancer - 4
Kagain: Berserker - 4
Viconia: Cleric/Assassin - 4/4
Shar-Teel: Berserker - 4
Reloads: Two. (Four if you count bugs.)

Note: May or may not do some more updates today.

[SapphireIce101]

Another update! Yay! I must be really bored or something. Also, sorry about the double posting.

Akiel led his group to Beregost. A man with a red hat talked to him, but Akiel was really annoyed by him. Then a little girl came and told him to go meet Officer Vai. When Akiel met officer Vai, he was very rude to her. Considering that he hates the Flaming Fist for trying to murder Viconia, and Shar-teel seems to have a deep hatred of them too.



Akiel led his group to Feldepost's inn to find someone named Tranzig. Akiel threatened to kill the man if he didn't tell him where the bandit camp was at, so a fight ended up ensuing and Akiel won. Tranzig surrendered, and ended up dying because Akiel just likes to kill people and hes a mean person.



Outside of Feldepost's inn Akiel and his group found some more bounty hunters, and killed them relative ease.


Next the group went to the Friendly Arm Inn to rest up. There was another bounty hunter there, but he was easily dispatched.


Akiel led his group to Peldvale and joined up with the bandits. Akiel convinced Tazok to let him become a member.



Inside of Tazok's tent a major battle ensued and most of the bandits were killed. Montaron killed Ender Sai after Akiel had spoken to him. Akiel was extremely proud of the halfling.




Outside of the tent a major battle ensued with some more bounty hunters, and the whole bandit camp. Akiel and his party made it out alive, thankfully.



Akiel's group went to the Friendly Arm Inn to rest again, before going back to officer Vai, and another bounty hunter came.


Back in Beregost, Akiel spoke with Vai again, this time knowing full well why Shar-teel hates Flaming Fist. It was because of her father, Angelo Dosan. Akiel got his reward from Vai.




Akiel: Fighter/Thief - 4/5
Montaron: Fighter/Assassin - 4/5
Xzar: Necromancer - 5
Kagain: Berserker - 5
Viconia: Cleric/Assassin - 5/5
Shar-Teel: Berserker - 5

Reloads: Two. (Four if you count bugs.)

Note: May or may not do another update tonight.

[Charlestonian Knight Templar]

@SapphireIce: Naughty, naughty, naughty! And they killed Minsc too? Ya'll are heartless.

Too bad there are no Templar Knights available to dispatch of he and his evil henchman/women. LOL

I'm gonna draft up Stanley and Party's visit to Durlag's Tower, second Labyrinth level today. Hopefully I will post it tomorrow or Tuesday. Heck, it's a major undertaking just to write up my log.

Good luck with Akiel: NOT!

I have to say that. I'm a Templar.

CKT

[SapphireIce101]

@SapphireIce: Naughty, naughty, naughty! And they killed Minsc too? Ya'll are heartless.
Too bad there are no Templar Knights available to dispatch of he and his evil henchman/women. LOL
I'm gonna draft up Stanley and Party's visit to Durlag's Tower, second Labyrinth level today. Hopefully I will post it tomorrow or Tuesday. Heck, it's a major undertaking just to write up my log.
Good luck with Akiel: NOT!
I have to say that. I'm a Templar.
CKT

Akiel is an extremely heartless guy, and yet he has a thing going on with Shar-Teel. Yes, they killed Minsc! Akiel is re-inventing evil one death at a time. ...Pfft. Not really.

Akiel: I wish I could re-invent evil one death a time!

Good guys vs Bad guys. I don't know who would win that one. Just like if Stanley and Akiel got into a fight. I would have to say that it would be close!

Ooh, have fun with that. I don't like messing around in Durlag's Tower, and the same goes with Watcher's Keep.

Good Luck with Stanley...Not. I need to say that because I'm playing an evil man right now. I kid. Good luck and have fun!

Time to have an update because I'm having some CTDs at the Daevorn level, and I figured that I would run the debugging suite to perhaps solve this problem. If not I'll have to find a way around it because I don't want to pull out and uninstall all my mods just yet, but if it doesn't work then I'm going to have to...re-do re-do Akiel. *le sigh*

Akiel met a man near a cabin in Cloakwood. Akiel refused to help the man, and decided to kill him instead! The same thing happened with the man at the waterfall, except Akiel was in a merciful mood and decided not to kill the pathetic man.



Akiel met a bounty hunter in the Wyvern section of Cloakwood, and killed him simply because Akiel wanted his money, and prehaps some armor.


At the mine, Akiel killed a man named The Archdruid. Why Akiel killed him is because really, why would someone call themselves the Archdruid. Then Akiel's group killed the Krasus party with little difficulty.



Akiel refused to free the slaves. Instead, he had an idea to drown them, or make them keep mining.


Akiel: Fighter/Thief - 5/6
Montaron: Fighter/Assassin - 5/6
Xzar: Necromancer - 6
Kagain: Berserker - 6
Viconia: Cleric/Assassin - 6/6
Shar-Teel: Berserker - 6
Reloads: Two. (Five if you count bugs.)
Note: May or may not do another update tonight.  Unless I'm forced to pull out.

Edit: Corrected the levels.

Modifié par SapphireIce101, 11 décembre 2011 - 07:31 .

[SapphireIce101]

Update time! Since I found a way around those silly bugs!

Akiel defeated Daevorn, and flooded the mine with all the slaves still in it! (I used the CLUA Console to Create Daevorn on the third floor.)



On the Wyrm's Crossing, Akiel fought and killed some Elven Bounty Hunters. (I had to use the CLUA Console to get it to the right chapter so then the draw bridge would go down.) Then he spoke to Scar, and said that he was not the person that did the things at the Nashkel Mines.



Elminster came again, and Akiel was going to have none of the old man and his stupid advice. In the harbor section, an elf came to Akiel and tried to kill him because he was like his father, and this made Akiel wonder who his father was. Then, Akiel realized that he needed to talk to Scar, and perhaps tell the truth about the fact that it was his band of evil doers that cleared out the Nashkel Mines. However, once Akiel got to Scar he was prompted into a meeting with Duke Eltan. So then Akiel was hired to investigate the Iron Throne.





Once inside of the Iron Throne building, Akiel cleared the place out. Killing a lot of people along the way. On the last floor was where all the bloodshed took place, and Akiel just demolished the place only to find out that he had to return to Candlekeep to kill the Iron Throne leaders..




Akiel: Fighter/Thief - 6/6
Montaron: Fighter/Assassin - 6/6
Xzar: Necromancer - 7
Kagain: Berserker - 7
Viconia: Cleric/Assassin - 6/6
Shar-Teel: Berserker - 7

Reloads: Two. (Five if you count bugs.)

Note: May or may not do another update tonight.

[Easymask]

A quick question SapphireIce101 - which mod gives the NPC's in the game portraits? If it doesn't alter the game in any other way, I'd love to pick that up for my EasyTuTu install.

Thanks in advance, and good luck with your run!