First time soloing, elf f/m. Anyway, I've done Mae'Var's Guildhall, the first shadow thieves, copper coronet/slavers. I'm at lvl 9/10 w/ ToB installed. I want to beat Planar Sphere b4 de'Arnise, cuz that way I can get them both. I'm thinking of doing the bridge district next. Any ideas after that.

Also, bout what lvls should I b b4 taking on
Kangaxx (and any lich, I've tried, but failed)?
Dragons?
Spellhold?

Definitely the bridge (Planar Prison) next, for the Boots of Speed. Trademeet and Druid Grove should be pretty easy and will net you ALOT of XP. Wait a couple more levels before tackling the Twisted Rune building. At some point in there you will want to hit the Guarded Compound, but make sure you have cloudkill for that. It's hard for me to compare to you cause I'm dauling not multi-classing, but I think I was around lvl 16 mage when I took on the shadow dragon. Beware! SPOILER
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There are several liches in that dungeon, that are guarded by nasty undead like greater mummies.

I'm hitting Spellhold next. Haven't taken on Kangaxx or Firky yet. Probably do them after I get out of Spellhold and the Underdark. Unfortunately it will all have to wait because I've hit the cap and I can't afford ToB until I start working again :(

[ 09-10-2002, 10:58 PM: Message edited by: Lharae ]

You don't have to do the strongholds in any particular order, you can just refuse to marry nalia, then go get your mage stronghold later.

Go after Kangaxx immediately. The ring(s) are worth a difficult fight.

SPOILER

Have Daystar by hand when fighting Liches. This will make your life a lot easier. Also they seem to like the fire, so summon some fire elementals to help and draw the first spells and maybe drink some potions of fire resistance. Of course, don't forget True Sight, they love to cast mislead. Be prepared to counter their spell protections with Breach and Khelben's Warding Wip or similar. Finally have Protection from Evil by hand in case he gates a demon; or you can do the same to have him occupied with it.

Here is a cheesy trick: after they appear and get their spell protections up, leave them alone and do some other tasks. After that come back and see that their protection have weared of.

Finally Kangaxx the demi-lich is really easy with the right tactic. Being a f/m a recommend you to cast Protection from Abjuration spells to be save from his imprisonment spells. Cast Melf's Minute Meteor and Celerity to quicken it. Have some more of these three spells memorized.

How do you deal with NPCs while soloing. I understand that they are needed for some of the quests. Are solo'ers keeping these characters, or are they truly going it alone with no other help?

<font color="gold">Most of the quests connected to the NPCs can be done without them, so what I do is to take 'em along to get the quest, and then kick them out again.
With the others, I keep the NPCs until the quest is finished, before I kick them out. [img]smile.gif[/img] </font>

<font color="lightblue">If you`re soloing, you don`t realy NEED the NPC quests; because you will probably hit the SOA XP Cap before you`ve left the underdark; which is why alot of soloists have cap removers; or atleast TOB. </font>

<font color="lightblue">You don`t get both strongholds by doing the Sphere first; you do De'Arnase, tell Nalia you`ll think about it; then do the Sphere; get it, and go back to De'Arnase and accept it from Nalia.
For liches, get the one in the Crooked Crane done first; use Protection from Evil, Haste, and all your other protection spells before going in; be sure to have atleast two breaches. Fire the breaches first; the Robe of Vecna will help you ALOT. Once his spell protections are gone, use Melfs Acid Arrow; then start hacking im. Once you beat this one, you have Daystar- one of the most useful weapons vs undead.
Dragons, make sure you have Lower Resistance and Greater Malison; once you get those off, use your favourite offensive spells. </font>

SPOILERish
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If you are following the soloing ideals to the letter, how do you get this quest? Don't you have to have Aerie in the party to start it? (Some messenger comes to the party, telling you to visit her Uncle again, and he sends you off to the 5 Flagons Inn). Or is it possible just to walk downstairs and watch their play and pick up the quest from there? Obviously, I haven't gone solo yet but am now considering it... but I just GOTTA HAVE THOSE EXTRA QUESTS you only get from having them in the party (e.g., Jan's relative in trouble, etc)!!!!! [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Yes, you can just go downstairs and get the quest.