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[Pipboy3billion]

I posted that other thread about finding some games like BG and ending up starting another run through of ToEE with a PS:T themed party. It's ok and all, but the entire time I'm thinking that I'd rather be playing BG.

Here's the thing. I've never finished BG2. I've never even made it to the ToB areas. I've mentioned this before, but the game eventually gets to a point where you're just slinging metamagic, GWWs, and other HLAs and that kinda kills it for me. However, I have to finish this game. Finishing this game has been elevated to bucket list status. That's the plan now. This should keep me busy for a good part of the time until Project Eternity comes out.

Can anyone give me any advice to help make this happen? Is there anything you can tell me to help me get past this wall I hit every time. I really want to finish this game.

With that in mind, I'm gearing up to play through the saga again. I'll be taking Imoen, Jah, Khalid, Minsc, and Dyn for BG1 and Yoshi/Imoen, Jah, Minsc for BG2. For the PC, I'm considering a Human that I dual over to a wild mage (with Shadowkeeper) for BG2. However, I'm not sure what to do for the first class. I want to avoid the Fighter line. It's too cliche and munchkiny for me. I think a Thief would be a little redundant with Imoen. That pretty much leaves a cleric . I think that would be interesting, as it would be handy for BG1 and the cleric spells would augment my spellcasting for BG2. I'm not sure when to dual over. I'm thinking if I do level 9, I'd only lose one Mage level at the cap and still have access to up to level 5 priest spells. Or, I can do level 10, still only lose one mage level, and get slightly higher turning and get an extra 4th and 5th level priest spell. What would you think is the best time to dual with a cleric? Or, can you think of a better way to make the wild mage more interesting?

Thanks.

[Grond0]

Pipboy3billion wrote...
can you think of a better way to make the wild mage more interesting?

I would have thought that never being sure that you won't blast your own party would make a wild mage interesting enough. 

If you don't like HLAs then why not just ignore them?  That will allow you to both use tactics you're comfortable with and experiment with using them creatively to deal with the later challenges in ToB.

[corey_russell]

I'm agreeing with Grond0, I'm thinking the surges wouild make any wild mage plenty interesting. Guess I have to say it, in BG 2 vanilla, you can't dual to a wild mage. Just thought I'd mention it - there are ways around it if you are determined though. I think cleric level 9 is a fine level to dual - I wouldn't expect much from your turn undead though (if you ever had Aerie turn undead then you would know what I mean). Being able to use a helmet and large shield would certainly be useful as well.

I agree with Grond0 that if you don't want to use HLAs, don't! Nothing says you must use them.

[Pipboy3billion]

For the dual to wild mage, I plan to use SK to make that happen.

Wild surges are great, which is why I use almost all my slots for Reckless.

I know you don't have to use HLAs, but that's the lesser of the problem. The thing that kills me is that I see a mage as more the evoker/enchanter type. However, later on, you usually have to start combat with breach, spellstrike, lower resistance, and all that other metamagic crap just so you can throw out a cloudkill and also so your fighters can actually hit something other than a stoneskin. Spellcasting feels like filing your taxes. That's what bores me. I'd be half-tempted to skip being a spellcaster entirely and going for a sword-swinging paly charging into the fray, but I'm still going to need spellcasters, so I might as well make the PC one.

[Grond0]

You don't have to use those spells. SCS mages tend to be better protected, but even those you can choose to just wait their buffs out in nearly all cases. Vanilla mages usually leave gaps in their protections - so for instance:
- take someone with Carsomyr along and dispel on hit when mages use mantle / improve mantle.
- use elemental damage weapons / ammunition to get through stoneskins.
- take along standard weapons to keep hitting when a mage uses PFMW.
- Keldorn's dispel magic is normally all you need to put a mage out of action, irrespective of how many buffs he's used. If you don't want him along then a bard will usually do the job (being significantly higher level than a mage of the same XP). If you are tempted to be a sword-swinging pally then a PC inquisitor is lethal to mage enemies.

[corey_russell]

I strongly agree with Grond0's comment about Keldorn - he's perfect to dispel most buffs enemy mages with a single action. Once he gets high enough level, liches become child's play with no defenses.

[Pipboy3billion]

Side note, what's SCS?

So, I don't want to let Carsomyr go to waste, which is why I'll pick up Keldorn after I finish a fair amount of the NPC quests. If it weren't for that, I might play a paly. What about two palys in a party, Keldorn and a Cav/UH? How would you gear them up?

That being said. I'm having a little trouble getting jazzed up about my cleric/wild mage. I've decided that level 9 would be the best point to dual over so I'll catch up pretty quick with my mage. This is going to make all the spells with level dependent effects rather weak, though. I'm assuming that all my cleric buffs will cast like a 9th level caster at the most, which means BG2 enemies will cut through them like butter with a single dispel.

Also, I think the thing that's killing it for me is mage redundancy. I can pick one up to carry the slack until I get Imoen back, then once I have her, she can probably handle everything mage-related.

I dunno, though. What's a fun PC with a canon party? Tanks are too simple (point and click), spellcasters are more about preparation than playing. Is there something that requires dynamic thinking while in the thick of battle?

[morbidest2]

Also it's fairly easy to get Viconia almost 100% resistent to magic and then send her with a +5 weapon against enemy mages.

[Pipboy3billion]

I'm glad you brought up Vicky. I think this is what I've finally decided.

1) Swap Imoen's Charisma and Wisdom scores.
2) Kit her to a wild mage.
3) Play a Cav.
4) Romance Vic.

This way, I can have the best of both worlds. I'll have a wild mage who can work well with wish spells. My character gets to a leader. On top of that, I'll have arguably the best NPC cleric. The whole Paly-drow thing is pretty interesting, especially since I'll get to pull off an alignment change. I think Vic would be a good addition to the canon party, and I'll still have a slot free for NPC quests.

[Mr. Deluxe]

For a full party, and to keep things interesting, I highly recommend the bard (blade). Great lead character.

However, it does lend it self to fair bit of micromanaging. If you aren't up for that, try a skald or even a jester! Other than that, get a kit thief: Assassin is interesting, and a good compliment to Imoen.

But you don't need reasons to change class. Pally is a cool class and works great with Viccy!

[Son of Imoen]

Pipboy3billion wrote...

Side note, what's SCS?

Abbreviation for Sword Coast Stratagems, the mod from the Gibberlings3 modding site, that makes the game harder by making the enemy behave more intelligent. It stands out from other difficulty enhancing mod by playing by the rules.