After completing the game with a party for the second time I've decided I want to have a go at soloing.
Any reccomendations about classes, races, or any tips or hints?

A Fighter/Mage/Thief is easy to solo. A Blade is fun to solo. A Ranger/Cleric is powerful. Any versatile class or class combination should do well.

Remember, if you solo you don't have to spread out your equipment, you can use all the juicy stuff yourself. You also level up much quicker.

[ 08-15-2004, 06:53 AM: Message edited by: Stratos ]

<font color=plum>I chose to use a Skald (Bard kit) as my first solo player. He has some fighting ability, some spells and can Identify any item on sight - which means he can use it right away.

I chose the Skald over the Bladesinger because I felt being +1 with ANY weapon was more beneficial than the temporary advantages of the offensive spin.

A fighter/mage/thief will cover all the skills needed but it will take you a bit longer to level up because your XP is divided among 3 classes. I would recommend just going with a fighter/mage myself. So far, I haven't encountered any seriously deadly traps for my bard (well, except for my quick jaunt through the first level of Watcher's Keep).

A fighter/mage will have much better combat ability than a bard and should have a better selection of spells also. The only real advantage the bard has over the fighter mage is their Lore - which allows them to identify unlimited items almost immediately.

Cleric/rangers are also a very powerful class and can cast "Detect Traps" to make up for the lack of having a thief to do that.

Good luck on your solo attempt. Let us know how it goes.</font>

Go with the Sorcerer. He`s very powerful.

What's your preferred playing style????

If ToB is present, multiclass fighter/thief. Fighting power, thievery and usage of scrolls at ToBlevels! Wickedly evil.

Sorcerer is generally considered the easiest class to solo. The single class character also maximises the increased levelling up rate. If fact, it is too easy. I gave up my solo sorcerer game, after killing one of the more powerful adversaries by accident (honest - I didn't mean for him to die). However, one good thing about soloing a sorcerer is that it taught me to USE the spells. Before I tried the solo, I was always holding back on my mages' spells, just in case I needed them for the next battle.

[ 08-15-2004, 11:48 AM: Message edited by: Andraste ]

I *remember* that story! Oh, that was good.. Adventurers take heed, this one knows what she's talking about.

However, it is possible to make soloing a sorc more difficult if you pick unusual spells or if you don't intimately know the spell system.

"A demon you might be, but you have not seen the power of my spell sequencer filled with Chromatic Orbs!" ((Before you say anything, yes. I know. I know all about Doom and Greater Malison. But this is a solo sorc, and she didn't pick GM.))

"Beware, creatures of the night! I can cast Infravision seven times a day!"

"And now, Irenicus, as you stand nearly dead, I unleash upon you the power of my Prismatic Spray! Have at you! Hey, stop laughing!"

[ 08-15-2004, 12:09 PM: Message edited by: Illumina Drathiran'ar ]

Hey, Chromatic Orb can be quite good. ;)

Especially after GM or Doom!


Sorry Illumina :D

Cleric/Mages can be decent though I don't know if they would be good for a solo game.
Im my eyes:
Pros:Access to every spell in the game with the exception of druid spells, Can use shields/helms/elven chain or mage robes. The Heal spell. Wicked Contingencies/Spell Sequencers(Imagine the possibilities..Oh yes.. [img]graemlins/showoff.gif[/img] )
Cons: Slower access to high level spells(including Heal), bad AC due to being restricted from using armor( but then again there are plenty of spells available with which you can protect yourself).

All in all, if you like plenty of magic, this multiclass might be the one for you!

I dont have ToB as of yet :( maybe get it this week, hopefully. Haven't quite decided over ToB to continue my game, or NWN HoTU so i can play EfU [img]smile.gif[/img]

anyway thats enough off topic ;)

For harder enemies im stand in circle, cast every defensive spell i have. Use items which aid me, get mages w/ spells + missle weapons, send fighters in.
I'm mostly hack n slash, but now I am using traps, spells, stealth etc. more.

And something else about Wizard Slayers. After the big discussions about them I tried one out, and I knew they can only use magical weapons and armour, but no potions?
Its logical, if they hate magic why drink a magic potion, but it doesnt half make the first dungeon hard, especially when soloing

I think I'm going to try sorcerer or fighter/mage. I can always buy the bracers of AC 3 and a ring or cloak of protection +2 to lower AC, plus all those spells.
Thanks for your help guys ! [img]smile.gif[/img] I'll tell you how it goes in another thread!

Well for a fun challenge you could try a barbarian. That was my first solo. They are very good. Especially if you like hack 'n slash!

if you're going for a first solo, i would reccommend a thief in there somewhere, as traps can be a real bugger. also a mage is neccesary in there to disarm mages (unless you take the inquisitor paladin kit).

so a mage/theif perhaps? or even a FMT (imho the easiest solo to do) to take advantage of the backstab. (mislead, every attack is a backstab :D )

and the level ups for a solo triple class character are not that bad at all. my solo FMC really shot up in the level charts in chapter 2 and took out both kangaxx and the twisted rune with relative ease, without the use of major cheese.

As much i would like to debate about Blade vs Skald [img]smile.gif[/img] , I just want to say that blade can dual wield up to 3 weapon specialization points which is pretty cool and dont underestimate the power of the offensive and defensive spins. ;) .

I was thinking though, lvl 40 fighter/mage (meaning lvl 20 each) vs lvl 40 blade or skald, the only thing i can think off that makes fighter/mage better off is the spells all the way to lvl 9. The bard is limited to lvl 6. I "think" a blade can hold off on its on with a fighter/mage if faced with it. What do you guys think? Who will win given the circumstances and without buffing at the start.. and contigencies apply though

ps: sorry for hijacking this thread a little [img]tongue.gif[/img] .

[ 08-15-2004, 09:36 PM: Message edited by: Harkoliar ]

Easy - the one who can cast time-stop.

A mage or sorcerer with 'mirror image' can happily ignore most traps. The traps will take away one of the images with the loss of no hit-points. Other spell combos can deal with the few odd traps that 'mirror image' can't negate. 'knock' can open any picakable lock.

It was in my solo sorcerer attempt that I also learnt that thieves are unnecessary.

you could ofcourse always go for a solo Beast Master

Easy - the one who can cast time-stop. </font>[/QUOTE]i guess that says alot doesnt it :D .

<font color=plum>Not being able to use potions does bite, at first, but I soon found I didn't need most of them. Boots of Speed gave me the Haste I needed and all other fighter buffs I could find from various items. Crom Faeyr gives you maximum allowed Strength and other items increased his M.R. and attack abilities.

Once you install ToB, the Wizard Slayer does get access to Healing potions, which was the ONE he needed that he couldn't get from other items. Of course I also had Jaheira in the party to cast healing spells, but they ran out quickly on the Wizard Slayer until he was able to start drinking the potions.</font>

<font color=plum>I have no interest in debating Blade vs Skald. I have nothing against Blades, I just felt the Skald's abilities were more beneficial for my game.</font>

She had been warned - a cautionary tale. (Windspear Hills spoilers).

I would personally say a class that you haven't used properly before. For example, if you aren't using your Mages properly, trying soloing a Mage. Or if you aren't using that Cleric for anything, try soloing it. It's all been done before, so with the right tactics, it isn't impossible. Soloing really makes you appreciate the power of that Spider Spawn or Chaotic Commands. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

If you want a good ole fun time, try a little Gnome Cleric/Thief. They're oodles of fun if you can use them properly. Backstab, some pretty good summons if you need them, UAI if you have ToB, Fire Storm, Chaotic Commands... It almost makes me want to try a new game just to try it out. :D (Of course, there's that little problem with having no Stone/Ironskin, but if Rataxes can do it on Insane with only a Cleric, I can do it with a Cleric/Thief on Core ;) )

[ 08-16-2004, 10:34 AM: Message edited by: Assassin ]

even without timestop, ADHW and dragon's breath, the fighter/mage wins out in the end. you can empty the spellbooks with stoneskins and prot. from magical weapons until there are no protection spells left (that includes fireshield etc.) the fighter/mage's superior THAC0, number of attacks and HP will win the fight.

Playing the game is different than pitting one character against another... Just because one can beat the other doesn't mean that one is better than the other...

It would seem to me that when soloing someone who depends on magic that you would have to rest very frequently because you would use all of the spells so quickly. Is this true? Does the time in game (number of days and hours) have any effect on the game?

Most of the game's quests aren't time sensitive, so you should be fine, especially after you get regen items. In fact, I can't think of one non-NPC quest that is timed, barring some of the stronghold ones.

<font color=plum><font color=yellow><h2>WELCOME TO IRONWORKS, <font color=lime>SPRACKS</font> !!!</h2></font>

I'm playing a solo bard right now, and while I do have to rest even more often than a fighter/mage would (at least I assume a F/M would have more spells than my bard), I've found that I don't have to rest nearly as often as I thought I would. It's amazing how far you can make your spells go if you choose them correctly - and a few trial-and-errors will help you learn the best selection of spells.

I think somebody already mentioned it before, but DON'T FORGET YOUR POTIONS!!! Oil of Speed can substitute for Haste and they are in plentiful supply around Athkatla. Potion of Defense will give you AC0, freeing up any slots used for Armor or Spirit Armor and other potions provide similar benefits.

And if your character is a bit rougish, you can purchase 2-3 potions of Master Thievery, drink them, then pilfer several more, then used your increased Pick Pocket skills to obtain the items, potions or scrolls you need from other merchants along the way. ;) </font>

Spoilers ( i think it could be classed as spoilers )
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When doing quests for Phaere in Ust Natha
"be here in 3 days" and "i need the blood of a creature in 3 days" [img]smile.gif[/img]

i also saw someone post about having a goblin companion, that would be cool! I might try it with my solo character (when i get around to doing it anyway)

When a Mage or a Sorcerer reaches the magical level of 18+, resting becomes unnecessary. This only applies if you have ToB.

Or an XPCap remover.

[ 08-17-2004, 11:31 AM: Message edited by: Dundee Slaytern ]

I don't think that Wish is in the original SoA, is it?

It`s not IIRC.

No, it isn't.

Besides, the way Wish works can make using it annoying. In most situations you can just rest.

To answer the direct question, no.

To answer the background question, Wish is not the only way to restore spells, so yes, a XPCap Remover can still generate an "Infinite Spells" tactic.

Ah. Well, I suppose that if you want to, you don't need the EXP cap remover. I mean, the Staff of the Magi is also blessed with Spell Trap, and is recharable with the Bag of Holding.

The cool thing about "Infinite Spells" is that it does not abuse any illogics. It follows an infallible formula. Recharging from the Bag of Holding however, requires a "leap of faith" in terms of "suspension of disbelief".

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