*** Based on previous misunderstandings between people on this board, I want to make it absolutely clear that I am not angry with Rikard. He has been very helpful, as have many others here, and yet I must bring him to task for this one bad suggestion (guess he did not believe my name - LOL) ***

Ahem... Rikard, why I ever let you lead me to believe I could be a mage (at least at this point in my gaming career), I will never know.

I shall summarize: Prologue - was killed at least three times each by those lame assassins at Candle Keep (wound up avoiding them altogether). Chapter 1 - let's see... hmmm... so many deaths, so little space. It got to the point where I am ABSOLUTELY CONVINCED the NPCs were hiding from me because they knew to join me was certain death. Even faithful little Imoen sobbed uncontrolably, shook so badly she couldn't hit the ground with an arrow and quit sleeping altogether. Don't know if it was a bug in the game but I could not keep Xar, Montaron, Khalid & Jaheira together. Every time we stopped by the temple at the Friendly Arm to buy a potion/scroll or two, they'd start whacking at one another.

I spent a few days, attending many funerals for my companions, trying to come up with a better strategy than running away and leaving others to fight but could not.

Therefore, in the interests of preserving the health (not to mention LIVES) of NPCs throughout BGI, I am returning to my previous life as a big, dumb (okay, maybe not so dumb)warrior/tank. I have already made it to Baldur's Gate and hope to finish in the next day or two. Eventually, I will try again as a mage but I need much more practice. Until then, I shall heed the advice I remember from "The Hobbit" which said, "Stay out of the affairs of Wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger."

note to self: check amazon.com for "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Magery." LOL

Oh well, for those with a long and humourous memory (and those who remember angry lil' man....where the hell did he go anyway)


MAGIC SUX AND SHOULD BE BANNED FROM BALDURS GATE YEAH!!!!! (In your face Rikard!!!)

Magic Users

oh hell that was funny!!
as you can tell mages aren't my thing either at later levels the are strong but there is nothing more fearsome than a 6' 200lb fighter in full plate thats about to slice you up like a pizza or a thief that sneaks up from behind you a slices your throat of course the little mage always has a routine of WARRIORS te protect his #ss enough said about mages

Those were my thoughts, at one point, Yorick. However, I must say Dynaheir has been a marvel for me (between defensive and offensive spells). Don't see how I could make it through the game without a quality mage and, at least, 1/2 cleric. It must be my mindset (or thorough incompetence) that won't allow me to succeed, even a little, as a mage. Mayhaps I should try dual class before being a straight mage.

In BG1 it was as hard as hell to start with a mage, and by the time your mage becomes a "decent" spellcaster you would be near 75% of the game. Fighter/Mages were the best choice if you wanted a mage.

I remember a female conjurer I created back in BG1, I raised her to level 14, and I even BEATED the game with her ALONE in the party, with the help of a 25 strength/constitution
and the longtooth dagger+3 =).

I remember that I killed Sarevok with a sling+1 and some bullets+2 and some summons to keep him entertaiend =).

Yeah in BG1 you could 'summon an army' for you every time. Glad they changed it for BG2.

I don't why you guy keep on picking on mage
but there must be some wicked way of being afraid of having stroing characters
BTW i got killed 39 times in one day at the beginning of my mage party
BUT after raising about level 12 MAGES KICK ASS

And you keep on saying ah a mage need warrior protection
HAVE YOU EVER SEEN MY PARTY????????
NO Warrior at ALL (well maybe that blade)
So what do you keep on ■■■■■■■ about????????
¿why do you even get attaked?
if you are a really good player a fighter will NEVER see you

MAGES RULE FOREVER
and why?
well why not?

I do get people who are fighter though
being afraid to get killed so having a lot of HP and get killed anyway
It's a way you wanna play but not a nice way

Well Ertai I'm sure you got something to add to this
and maybe Gabriel aswell

C'mon Rikard can't I jest? What would life be like without poking a Dutchman in the ribs? (smiles)

I've got a new one that should make angry lil'man proud:

MAGES ARE ALL WOOSEY GIRLS BLOUSES AND SHOULD BE SHOT

Ehm about the cloths
GW
eh
damn
i think you right

ehm
SHUT UP
yeah

why is everybody always pickin’ on me?
does anybody really know a thing about me?
but one of these days we’ll be in the same place
in the same place punk, at the very same time yeah,
but when it takes place and you wanna talk shit
then step your ass up and say right to my face
you’ll get knocked the ■■■■ out
‘cause your mouth’s writing checks
that your ass can’t cash
knocked straight the ■■■■ out
‘cause your mouth’s writing checks
that your ass can’t cash
i ain’t believing all the shit you’ve been talkin’ about me
don’t even know me and still your talkin’ shit about me
but one of these days i’m gonna catch you in the act
in the act, red-handed caught up in the act, punk
and that’ll be the day the one and only day
to step your ass up and say right to my face
you’ll get knocked the ■■■■ out
‘cause your mouth’s writing checks
that your ass can’t cash
knocked straight the ■■■■ out
‘cause your mouth’s writing checks
that your ass can’t cash

[Bangs head on keyboard] I offer a challange to everybody who thinks magic users are crap make a party without any magic users on ANYKIND!!! then lets see you get through the game!
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Divine spells are magic too.

I agree with Malla Gabriel. I am a person who prefers to play paladins, but I cannot imagine taking on Jon in the very late parts of the game without a couple mages. I suppose that it could be done, but it would be mighty difficult.

In the reverse, I cannot imagine playing the game with a party of pure mages (no dual or multi class chars).

While I may prefer to play a carry characters that carry a stout shield and a good yard of steel, I know that my party also needs strong spellcasting support.

Rikard - you got me laughing tonight!! What the hell is that a Limp Bizkit song? If not, it should be! "your mouth's writing checks that your ass can't cash"? (laughing) what the hell does that mean? (laughing). It's people like you that keep me coming back to this Board! Don't ever change Rikard!

Rikard: I sincerely hope you don't think I am picking on magi in general or you in particular. I guess my mindset/playing style at this point does not allow me to be a successful mage. The party I am currently playing in BGI consists of a fighter (me), two Rangers (Minsc & Kivan), Jaheira, the dwarf cleric/fighter from Cloakwood Mines (Branwen got croaked and Viconia ditched me 'cause I didn't keep an eye on my reputation) and DYNAHEIR who has done an excellent job for me. I cannot imagine trying to get through BGI, and especially BGII without quality magic wielders. Just can't seem to be a mage myself (yet).

To give you an idea of my problems, the following is the conversation which occurred the last time I tried being a mage. Gorion has just met his end and I am still patting out the flames from the encounter with Sarevok:

Imoen: Heya, it's me, Imoen. Where ya gonna get us killed today?

Maximus Moronicus: C'mon now, try and show a little positive attitude. I've put a lot of thought into our situation and come up with a plan.

Imoen: You've been THINKING?!? Give me half a second and I'll just fall on my sword now. It'll save you some time and me some aggravation.

Maximus Moronicus: Hold on there, give me a chance! This plan could actually WORK.

Imoen: Sure, just like the "If-we-stick-to-the-road-nothing-bad-will-happen-to-us" plan. Remember THAT one? The last thing I remember hearing was, "You have been waylaid by enemies and must defend yourself." The last thing I felt were a quiver or two of bandit arrows in my derriere. And, I KNOW the last thing I saw was you running all over the place, trying to get your hands free of your sleeves to cast some spell. I TOLD you to buy a short-sleeved robe from Winthrop before you left.

Maximus Moronicus: Um, yes, well, ah -

Imoen: By the way, what spell did you cast?

Maximus Moronicus: Uh, Cure Light Wounds.

Imoen: LIGHT WOUNDS?!? I was hemhorraging faster than Chiktikka Fastpaws!

Maximus Moronicus: Look, dammit, I'm only a level one mage.

Imoen: True, sorry. I don't get it, though. I didn't feel even a tiny bit better.

Maximus Moronicus: Yes, well, um...

Imoen: What in the Nine Hells did you do?

Maximus Moronicus: Uh, remember that bandit you hit?

Imoen: Sure I do! Best shot I ever made. He panicked right away and was completely out of the fight. I was drawing a bead on the next bandit when I became a pin cushion... Wait, don't you DARE tell me you...

Maximus Moronicus: Calm down, woman. After all, the ungratefull bastard killed me too...

And that is when I went back to being a fighter (for now). It's all true. I swear it. Well, maybe it was a flashback from those mushrooms I smoked back in 1979...

ehm Moiraine Thanks
you make me feel so wanted
-------(rikard sits in the corner crying of happiness)----------
And It IS a limp Bizkit song
It's called Full Nelson and it's track 4 on Chocolat Starfisha dn the hotdog flavoured water

coz you mouth writes checkes that your ass can't cash
well that kinda mean you say more than you can do

and IR
well I KNOW
but Yorick and GW
well they don't

BTW Idiot Rogue
one question
You are calling you character Maximus Moronicus
do you honestly think a character named Maximus Moronicus is motivated to be good
i would be named Maximus Moronicus i would let myself get killed

Ehm Rikard aka Secret Agent Jay C Mendez
Limp Bizkit pulled out of their Big Day Out tour in Australia

(I don't really listen to them but I hate people pulling out of tours

PS you're right, mages suck until they get to level 10 at least then they start kicking some serious ass.

ehm... i will stand by Rickard againt all yer onslaught against mages... Im a necro.. mages RULEZ!!! ... anyway... since i understand that Idiot Rogue cant be a mage... its in his nature... as he is saying right now...

My utter failure as a mage (it is an insult to magi everywhere to consider my brief excursion as a wielder of magic qualifying me as a mage), makes it far too embarrassing to reveal the name I selected for that ill fated mage character. I changed the name in the above dialogue to protect that worthy name and to better reflect the results of my misadventure...

"Do not meddle in the affairs of Wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger."

you IdiotRogue is way to funny you made me LOL
i don't remember the last time i laughed so hard
and earlier i stated that fighters and thieves are better,well that was to show that YOUR class is more of a direct reflection or inderect image of your self actually no class is better than the other i see it as a chain that if you didn't have one class the whole chain would fail ,but still fighter and thieves are better
cool song i liked the meaning

Fighter-thief, I didn't forget you, I only fund myself very busy last evening,
and I may not have time to give you a reply today,
but I will !

thank you and sure ill be here for awhile

fighter-thief: I agree whole heartedly with your "chain" analogy. In order to make it through a game (without some serious hacking/cheating) you need a well balanced party. Seems to me from reading other posts that I inadvertantly usually assemble the most common type of party - 2.5 - 3.0 fighters/tanks, 1.0 -1.5 clerics, 0.5 - 1.0 thieves and 1.0 - 2.0 magi.

My character being something of a reflection of myself is also somewhat true. If there's a nasty fight brewing, it goes against my nature to hang back. My first inclination is to get in there and start whacking away at someone... Very poor judgement for someone possessing an AC of 7 and only 14 or 16 HPs.

Anyhow, I have not given up on magery altogether. For me, I think at a later date I will dual a fighter. Might survive the prologue with sufficient HPs .

Hey, IR, a good way to learn how to play a different Characters is to play the Icewind Dale game. Read the manual to figure out what stats you need for whatever chars you want to play and go at it. Not a very long game, but fun stuff.

BK