Wow. I can't say i expected as many replies (after only 1 day!) as ive seen, so thanks to all for some really useful advice so far.
As for questions etc., ill try to answer most if i can:
Firstly, i only used shadowkeeper for 2 reasons. One, without curing spells it took me about 30 days to cure my wounds while resting, and i didnt want to multi class to a cleric or something just for healing spells. Two, i realised that a mage has no trap detection, and again i didnt want to become a thief for just this reason alone. Without getting too defensive, ill point out that i havent touched shadowkeeper since creating my char, and ive played through on core difficulty up to this point.
Speaking of traps though, i have noticed two things: first, summoned monsters cant open chests or doors and thus disarm (or activate) traps themselves, second - i still have no way of disarming traps myself without the theiving skill. While most of the 'instant death' traps in the game are not compulsory for the main quest to pass, if i find myself up against one later on i will have no way to disarm it other than 'activate it & hope for the best' which is kind of scary.
On the subject of Maze, perhaps i didnt make myself clear but i simply meant that maze is VERY deadly solo, as it will instantly end the game if someone casts it on your character (already happened a few times too). hopefully ill be able to counter this later on with spell trap & improved magic resistance, the same for imprisonment (though at least with that spell they need to stand next to you to cast it).
As for the xp cap, i agree with everyone - soloing with less than 3mill max xp is pointless unless your a complete psycho or something. Thankfully i do have ToB installed however (ive even removed the xp cap on that just to be sure) so thats not a problem for me.
Crymson77 asks how i gave my char innate abilities in shadowkeeper: actually i didnt, they are simply 2 priest spells (cure light wounds & detect traps) which appear in the innate section. most innate abilities will be added to your char as spells that you can cast once per day from what ive noticed.
As for the question of 'why solo?' i guess i can say that ive created that many normal party games with all the npcs by now that it just got boring (aerie seems to whinge more each time). Soloing feels a lot more 'hardcore' to me, like your always on the edge & can die at any time. A great thing about it is that you get to make a char so powerful they can walk into a room & obliterate everything in a few seconds, but ill admit that casting all the protection spells i use (stoneskin, mirror image, etc.)before each big battle is pretty monotonous after awhile.
Oh, as a last thing tidbit for this post- ive just completed the first battle with irenicus (spellhold) solo, & it was the easiest ever. Only 1 clone appeared instead of six (was easily dispatched) then after an improved alacrity i summoned a planetar & 4 skeleton warriors in under 10 seconds(robe of vecna), along with a simulacrum buddy so i could tell myself how good i looked.
Almost felt sorry for irenicus actually... 'almost'
