Minor spoilers inside?
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I think from my travels so far that the Shield of Balduran is by far the most useful item available. Beholders are tough compared to anything else i have fought (dragons included) but with the shield one person can waltz through encounters with them. I think these battles would have taken me forever to accomplish without it (ie the Underdark and sewer beholder lairs). Weapons like crom fayer etc. are useful but not as awesome as the shield.

What are the stats of the shield?

I know there is a penalty of -1 of somthing, am i correct.

I think that its stats are as follows:

+4 AC, reflects Beholder rays, -1 STR

-1 STR ouch !!

I reckon the Cloak of Mirroring is far more useful
any char can wear it and it stops the majority of spell stuff
Beholders cannot do nothing against it
Evil Orbs have Maze as their only way of beating it (a beserker enraged cancels that though)

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Tarox:
-1 STR ouch !!

I reckon the Cloak of Mirroring is far more useful
any char can wear it and it stops the majority of spell stuff
Beholders cannot do nothing against it
Evil Orbs have Maze as their only way of beating it (a beserker enraged cancels that though)<hr></blockquote>

i think its imprisonment, which is a loooot worse, especially if your main character gets it

The sheild is class.
It almost makes me fell sorry for the poor beholders.

-1 STR is no big deal at all! considering the huge advantage you gain on those many-eyed bastards with the shield, a -1 STR just means that you'll have to smash him one or twice more as you sit there swinging and unharmed by any attack the beholder is making. its an item to be used for specific crawls, not something to really equip on someone indefinitely.

Where do you find the shield?

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Ares:
Where do you find the shield?<hr></blockquote>

You buy it from Deidre, a bonus merchant who can be located in the Adventurer's Mart. You can download them, if you do not have the special edition, from Balderdash.

Balderdash

thanks dundee..heehee...more fun more carnage; YAY!!

While this shield certainly is good, I wouldn't say that it's the "most" beneficial item there is. It's invaluable against the beholders and such, but ONLY against those. It has little to no use anywhere else, with anyone/anything else. Still, I keep it in my pack..

As to what is THE most useful item, I don't know. Many things to many classes. Bag of Holding definately strikes my mind, very handy, sad that cannot get it right away (BG2: SoA). What else.. Full platemail as such for tank classes, good armor which will still let you use other magical items like rings and such. Crom Faeyr for those hamemr wielders, smacks 'em all and everywhere, not to mention the zoomy bonuses. Carsomyr for 'em goody-goody paladins. Robe of Vecna for the casters, literally a 'must have' item. Staff of Magi, definately handy thingie for any travelling caster. Boots of Speed, when you have the need and lack the speed..

And so on. Many things are handy, in different situations, for different classes. I cannot name one item which is THE superior for all, there's something for everyone :D

The most superior item in the game has got to be the Ring of Regeneration stolen from Ribald. It heals 1 hitpoint every 6 sweconds. It pretty much makes the cleric class obsolete. Name 1 other item out there that makes an entire class obsolete...

No NO NO the best item I have found is by far the clock of mirroring.

No magic can touch you. You can walk past the spell casters and not get hurt. However the caster will do him self the damage that was ment for you!!

Its super

The ring of regen

I won't spoil outright
but there is a ring that heals every 3 seconds and has other benefits to it/ [img]smile.gif[/img]

Ah yes, I forgot to mention few of those zoomy rings.. Now one of them, that I would perhaps call one of the most beneficial item in the game - anyone can wear it, and it sure has some zoomy properties. That one would perhaps be the "most beneficial item" in my eyes. Just that the 'owner' of it got out of the "bed" and right on the left foot..

Bag of Holding gets my vote. I will gladly part with 10,000 Gps for a Bag of Holding.

I think that the bag of holding is an underappreciated item. All of the various combat items are easy to appreciate. Being able to carry very large (although limimited) number of items without regard to weight is a very useful capability. (The ToB version of the bag of holding is even better. There seems to be no limit to the number of items that can be placed in the ToB version of the BoH.)

The bag of holding is great for increasing the amount of plunder you can carry before either running back to a store or dropping less valuable items. It's also great for carrying those items/weapons that have very specific uses that you don't equip 100% of the time, but don't want to leave at home. (The Dragonslayer sword and a rod of resurrection are be an examples.)

While I'm certain that none of this is news to anyone that's played thru SoA a couple times, the value of the Bag of Holding is easy to overlook when compared to the more exciting weapons and armors.

Of course, all of those other bags/cases also fall into this category (i.e. containers for potions, scrolls, and gems, and from ToB ... ammo). All are indespensible for successful adventurers!!!

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Barloc:


i think its imprisonment, which is a loooot worse, especially if your main character gets it<hr></blockquote>

it's Maze not Imprisonment. I've tested it. Get the Cloak of Mirroring and use that against the Beholders.

--------------------

We will exterminate the fair skinned surfacers.
They can not hide.

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by AcePylut:
The most superior item in the game has got to be the Ring of Regeneration stolen from Ribald. It heals 1 hitpoint every 6 sweconds. It pretty much makes the cleric class obsolete. Name 1 other item out there that makes an entire class obsolete...<hr></blockquote>

Cleric isn't only healing - a cleric has many other useful spells, from sunray on down. Why do people always think cleric is only healing? They also have attack and combat spells, party-improving, etc. Not just healing.

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Debaser:
-1 STR is no big deal at all! considering the huge advantage you gain on those many-eyed bastards with the shield, a -1 STR just means that you'll have to smash him one or twice more as you sit there swinging and unharmed by any attack the beholder is making. its an item to be used for specific crawls, not something to really equip on someone indefinitely.<hr></blockquote>

Do you realise the difference between 18 and 19 strength? STR 18 = to hit +1, damage +2.... STR 19 = to hit +3, damage +7

is that not a big difference?

The clerics main function is to heal.

Its secondary functions are to fight and cast spells.

In fighting, it is not the equal of a fighter.
In spellcasting, it is not the equal of a mage.

By acquiring the Ring of Regen, the clerics main function has been eliminated because you can regen your hp.

Therefore, I believe that the most important item in the game is the ring of regen because it completely eliminates the primary function of an entire class.

I suppose it depends on how you use your clerics. I actually use mine as secondary healer, primarily using useful spells. During combat, if I need healing, I drink potions - the spells take too long. Insect Plague is the ultimate weapon against mages [img]smile.gif[/img] , and that's just one of the useful spells clerics and druids have [img]smile.gif[/img]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Del' L'eherd'dareth:
it's Maze not Imprisonment. I've tested it. Get the Cloak of Mirroring and use that against the Beholders.<hr></blockquote>

Dude, not to be mean or something, but your tests are wrong. Elder Orbs do cast Imprisonment. The best way to demostrate this is to enable text messages in your textfield. Then let the Elder Orb Imprison you, you will see the message "so and so got Imprisoned".

I am guilty of neglecting my Clerics, I only use Anomen as a fighter, the other Clerics are backline members.

I primarily use Clerics to buff up the party, and turn Undead.