A few questions for readers...I am currently working on two BG games, both with solo characters. One is a NE Cleric-Fighter, and one is a Paladin that's already gone through the game once. What I'm minding, though, is that a ninth level paladin (I allow myself that much illegitimacy) has a significant amount of trouble on his own (especially with battles preceded by unaviodable traps), but my cleric has even more trouble because he doesn't have alot of hp...

Anyway, I'd like some advice on how I can help my cleric out with traps, and what I should be prepared for with Sarevok versus a tenth level paladin (which is my forcast, anyway [img]smile.gif[/img] )

Also, is it bad roleplaying to have a crusading paladin who takes on quests from evil characters soley to get below their defenses...?
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I'm talking about the Ragefast/nymph/Ramazith quest, which I sabatoged by setting the nymph free and then going to confront Ramazith.

well, you should see this coming, dude, but...

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WELCOME TO IRONWORKS, "ILANDER!!"
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BTW, you're roleplaying fine.

[ 01-02-2004, 10:41 PM: Message edited by: Dron_Cah ]

OK, "Dron," but what about Saravok...that'll be tricky, and I'm curious about what kind of pre I should do...

I forgot to welcome you before, so

<font size=6 color=skyblue>WELCOME TO IW!!!</font>
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Sarevok will be tricky, you're right. But not if you use the right tactics...............okay, I lied, he will be a <u>piece of cake</u> if you follow these tactics:

Have at least 2 potions of invisibility in you quick item slot. Walk up to Sarevok, and he will initiate dialogue with you. Since he is the one initiating the dialogue and not you, I think you will stay invisible, but if you don't, then drink the other potion. Wait for the mage to cast a spell (he will probably cast cloud kill right away), and then run back towards the entrance. Every one should stay there, and take damage from the Cloud Kill. Every one died for me except for Tazok and Sarevok, who was left unharmed. Tazok came and beat the crap out of Khalid and Jaheira. Minsc put up quite a fight with him till he lay crippled before Tazok's feat. Dynaheir attempted to use Magic Missiles, but IIRC, they didn't affect him. She was taken out in 1 or 2 swings. All throughout this attack, I had Imoen firing away at Tazok with her Eagle Bow, but she basically missed every time, and she could withstand Tazok. While all this was going, my PC fighter was buffing up at the entrance, using every potion he had that was useful (Since you're going solo and won't have anyone to distract the others, buff up before entering the temple). He went in, whacked Tazok a few times, ran back out and healed up (and running away with the boots of speed when Tazok got close to him) until he had all his health back. He charged back in and took at Tazok. All that was left was Sarevok. I had my throwing axe +2 (obtained in chapter 6 in the Catacombs below Candle Keep) and boots of speed. As Sarevok chased after me, I'd run around the picture of the skull on the ground and throw my axe at Sarevok whenever I got the chance. Make sure not to step on the circle as there are many traps on it that can't be disarmed. This may take a while, but Sarevok will fall, and it's really not that complicated either ;) .

also for a cheesy way to take out the mages, use a scroll of protection from magic, that way u mince them and they cant touch you!

Oh and by the way, with solo you could easily get above level 10, you dont even have to explore every area, just do every quest in baldurs gate and youl get heaps of xp.

"potions." lots and lots of potions. ;)

Your cleric is able to detect traps and then you could use some summons (skeletons) to 'remove' the traps ;) .

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Insane

I didn't think summons were able to set off traps? :confused:

Moiraine Sedai

IIRC I have done that a couple of times, when my dual mage/thief haven't got her thieving abillities back. But it could have been a charmed monster I used instead - not sure. I'll try, next time I get the time to play the game.

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Insane

I've never been able to trigger traps with summons. Mystra knows I've tried.

Since everybody loves advice that rhymes, "When in doubt, write it out." Pop open Notepad and do a brief bit of in-character scribbling. You'll get inside of your character's head and possibly flesh his personality. Importantly, know his principles (or lack thereof). What motivates him? Why's he do what he does? What's he planning on doing?

After you've done this, ask yourself which alignment the character seems most like. If it matches the alignment you were trying to play, you've done fine. If not, the character's alignment may be shifting. Or there may be another reason why the character is acting unusually. It's up to you.

In any event, alignment shouldn't be a burden. If it seems like a burden, you're probably being too rigid in your thinking. There are countless ways of playing the same alignment.

-Lem

Paladins are sort of supposed to be rigid and carry alignment as a burden. But I suppose perhaps an open-minded paladin might be able to do that... A paladin of a god like Mystra, or Sune. Certainly not Ilmater. Have you given any thought to your paladin's god?
(I realize this might seem irrelevant to gameplay, but you're mature enough to concern yourself with acting IC, it's something you should think on)

if you're not averse to a little cheating i've read of people CTRL-Qing summons into their party and triggering the traps with them that way

i might have got the command wrong - not my field of expertise ;)

The alignment should not be a burden on the player. That makes things boring. If sticking to the alignment seems like a burden to you, there's probably another way of doing so that won't. Ideally, realize that you RP the character, not the alignment. (RPing an alignment is akin to roleplaying the embodiment of a moral.) The alignment is just a reflection of the character's opinions, beliefs, values, etc., and those are up to you. That was my meaning.

My Paladin abandoned his deity after discovering his heritage, feeling not fit to serve.

-Lem

[ 01-08-2004, 10:16 AM: Message edited by: Lemmy ]

True, alignment should NOT be a burden on the player. This is a good point... and also why I never play paladins.. They're just not for me. (I have problems with the Lawful Good alignment and holding oneself to it above everything else... because sometimes you are made to choose between law - orders - and good - what if they're BAD orders?)But if you can make them work then hey, go for it.
And that's a nice touch about abandoning your god... but then, where does your power come from...?

I myself am much more suited to psychopaths, sociopaths, and other demented characters. They're just so much more fun to *write*.

A box of Cracker Jack. You'd be amazed what you can find in those things.

-Lem

I've never really thought of any of my paladins abandoning their gods, (which I'm playing as Helm this time, so...). My paladin, I think, would Just work twice as hard to be good, to the point of (maybe) joining the "eternal struggle against evil". I think if this one was one paper, he'd end up being the one I sent to Ravenloft...though that wouldn't last too terribly long....

I imagine an internal dialogue something like...

"Of all ironies, this is most cruel. It is treachery! Am I a wolf in sheep's clothing, to be used unwillingly against my god? Why must I be a danger when I wish to bring peace? Can you do nothing for me, god, to remove this burden?!" The Paladin pauses for some moments, struggling with what next to do. Finally he decides, "I have asked this a dozen times before, and still I feel no relief. If you, god, can do nothing for me, perhaps nothing can be done. Too many have died because of what I am. I renounce my god and my vile heritage! I will be nobody's pawn!"

What better than the PC's heritage to spark a crisis of faith? BG1 and BG2 provide some great opportunities (traumas) for character development. Flawed characters are just fun. I've a really great BG2 Wild Mage who was "altered" and left bereft of himself. I'm very happy with the way I'm penning his adventures. I may share the yarn when I finish. He's only in Chapter 4, halted for too long by writer's block. (Aggh! User Journal is a blessing and a curse.)

Examining the literature (i.e. 2nd Edition Pally Handbook):
All paladins have innate abilities that set them apart from other character classes. These are granted powers resulting from the paladins' strong faith.

Their abilities stem from their faith in something. Deities for sure, but some also pledge to a particular philosophy. I reason a Paladin experiencing a crisis of faith shouldn't lose his abilities so long as he remains true to his core values.

-Lem

(Sings) "To Ravenloft we go, to Ravenloft we go...."
(upon entering) "Yes, well.... maybe this wasn't such a good idea."

:D hehehehe

what is with ravenloft?

Very, VERY scary for good characters. Well, it's scary for any character, but especially a good character, and even more so as a paladin. You become a beacon, and the hordes just keep coming! :D

After the initial wave of evil bunnies and trees was repulsed, (the first few seconds), the evil dirt golems would start rising up out of the ground...Ravenloft is an EVIL, unescapable alternate dimension, and well, I think a 50th level paladin would last about one hour...just long enough to use all healing...he he he.

Actually, good guys have it hard, but evil guys have it harder. Evil acts result in "gifts", the more done, the greater the gifts. Each gift taints you further and further into darkness, until you finally go completely over into darkness (and as a result, lose your character). The various areas of the Demiplane of Dread (what Ravenloft is called) are actually prisons for powerful evildoers that got trapped by the plane.

Thanks Nerull. Couldn't have said it better myself, which is why I didn't...Anywho, the Paladin solo game indeed will end with the paladin at level 10, somewhere over 600000 exp. Maybe I didn't do enough quests or something, but considering that he started at about 100000, I'd say I did fair. The Cleric-Fighter game is on hold til the paladin finishes...I'll keep y'all updated as well as possible.

Oh, and as a question, what level would other character classes be if they were at 600000?

Thieves would be at LEAST one higher, fighters probably one...I wonder if any would be two or more....

Sarevok dead, thanks to running away from his mages (oil of speed), and then the Longbow of Marksman + Arrows of Piercing +2 or more dots in bow =death.

So, now, back to the cleric game, which I imagine will be tougher. Such is life.

You can install the Harder MOD, which give the monsters triple HP, but you gain double XP killing them.

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Insane

ooooooh, that sounds cool! Kobolds, here i come! (big 21 xp, now)

No no no no!

big 14 XP and 3 times the HP to the creatures! Did I say it was easy? It is Harder you know ;)

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Insane

BTW: If you want to start all over, then you can install DSotSC too. It gives both new monsters and more monsters in the existing areas AND some new areas. Need I say that this will up your XP roof too?

Well, I guess the external hard drive's going to school, then....