Someone help the poor lil newbie?

Hello all...I just bought BG a few weeks ago, and I've been trying to get a feel for the game. Unfortunately, the only thing I've really been getting a feel for is....dying.
Anyway...if anyone has any comments, suggestions, etc. for someone who is not the most experienced crpg'er and is just starting out in BG, I would greatly appreciate it.

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"It is impossible to know all the answers. Content yourself with knowing some of the questions."

[Accord]

Hmmmm...haven't play BG for quite a while, but maybe some tips can help:
1) explore slowly, if you have a thief in your party (or ranger), try to hide in shadow and explore
2) when you encounter enemies, assuming you are traveling as a group, concentrate on one target before moving onto another; and try to attract enemies' attention one-by-one, try not to have all-out war
3) rest often, rest until fully healed, and don't be afraid to use healing potions
4) always have archers/slingers (i.e. range attackers) in your party
5) since your characters are usually at lower level, poison can kick in fast and I suggest you have some antidotes in your inventory
6) party members are good pack-rats, have them carry equipments that can be sold for gold
7) SAVE THE GAME OFTEN!!


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Long live H22A1!!!!!

[RudeDawg]

1) Remember, at the beginning you are at low levels, so BE CAREFUL.

2) The Pause Key is your friend, the Space bar is it by default.

3) SAVE OFTEN, everytime you find something cool, or finish a battle, save.

4) Keep multiple saves for every succesful step. At first, you be tempted to overwrite the same file, but leave yourself a back door.

5) Rangers and Thives make good scouts, while in Stealth mode.

6) Pick up party members quickly, but save before you speak to them. Safety in numbers.

7) Think about using the Auto-Pause feature, configure it to pause when an Enemy is Sighted, and you'll never be caught unaware again.

8) SAVE OFTEN


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The RudeDawg
Known in these Forgotten Realms as Perin LightEyes
and my girlfriends, Pamila and Phil

[Fljotsdale]

Character Creation screen is where to go. When the ATTRIBUTES screen comes up, don't just go with the first set of figures that come up. Keep rolling till you get 90+ as your total, then distribute between attributes most suited to your character. For example, a Figher needs Strength and Dexterity and Constitution to be 18 each. He doesn't need much in the way of Intellect or Wisdom! A Thief needs 18 Dexterity... and so on.
As a Newbie, I would recommend that that you start out with a CLERIC - at least, that way you get to heal yourself when you are wounded!
The Attributes screen is the most important factor in the life and death of your characters..
Team Members you pick up along the way generally reflect the level of your lead character

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Smile! Life is too short for bitching!

Fljotsdale

[Greadius]

I hope everyone dies alot. I die almost every screen at least once. Damn poison.
I played BG2 first and I died about a third as much in that as I do in BG. Probably because of the level difference.
Of course, now i get to play my BG2 character from level one, nice time warp thing, especially seeing I've got almost the identical party... just getting to cloakwood mines now.

Another bit of advice is to remember the enemies have bad pathing/intelligence. You can often run them in circles so their attacks are wasted. Additionally, if you find a group to big for you to fight at once, you can move your party back and have one person fire an arrow into the outermost one. You can kill large groups of enemies one at a time.
Kind of cheap and takes alot of time, but helps for us beginners.

[Fljotsdale]

Originally posted by Greadius: Additionally, if you find a group to big for you to fight at once, you can move your party back and have one person fire an arrow into the outermost one. You can kill large groups of enemies one at a time. Kind of cheap and takes alot of time, but helps for us beginners.

Not just beginners! 'Lure and kill piecemeal' is a recognised tactic of even experienced players, let me tell you! MUCH more sensible than attempting wholesale slaughter when the enemy is way stronger than you are!


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Smile! Life is too short for bitching!

Fljotsdale

Thanks for your help everyone! I know everyone dies a few times when first starting out, but it's giving me a complex hehe....

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"It is impossible to know all the answers. Content yourself with knowing some of the questions."

[Epona]

Also one good tactic in BGI is .... RUN LIKE CRAZY
This one works, if you can get to the edge of the map before being killed that is! It can get you out of a few fights when you're at a low level especially when facing animals which don't have ranged attacks - I wouldn't really advise running from archers!

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Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so.

Epona of The Laughing Hyenas

[Fljotsdale]

Originally posted by Epona: Also one good tactic in BGI is .... RUN LIKE CRAZY I wouldn't really advise running from archers!

Too true!

CyberPixie, you run TOWARDS archers, and thus force them to use melee weapons. Then take them out and get their arrows. Watch out for fire arrows, though! They are lethal at low levels!


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Smile! Life is too short for bitching!

Fljotsdale

[Halbred]

i think im gonna be in trouble... i just finished BGII and now im gonna start BG I and im so used to just not worrying about archers cause i was a monk... damn time to change playing style i guess