BGT solo monk arrived in Amn (spoilers)

[Faceman]

Pretext:
After quite some time now I've picked up my BGT solo LE monk again and transitioned to BG2. Until now it's a walk in the park, as he was lvl13 when I left BG1 and no enemy can match that at the moment. But we'll see when it'll get harder.

To the tale:

++ Whoa my head is spinning. Belt told me to leave the city before they get me, but it was to late. I met those annoying people again, including the little brat Imoen, and they demanded to stay with me. Needless to say we got ambushed, they must have been followed. I'm in some sort of cage now, must have been here for quite some time. Someone is going to pay for this.
++ My captor has shown. He's some kind of crazy mage and says he's got plans for me and that I hold power. He keeps trying weird spells on me. I'm not quite sure which way I should twist it when I finally rip his heart out.
++ There's chaos everywhere. Apparently the Mage is under attack. Imoen has freed me from my cage and I'm up and about again. Jaheira and Minsc are still locked up.
++ I freed everyone and cut them loose. They'll be a nice distraction until I figured out what's going on here.
++ Strange things happen here. I encountered a Djinn that did not make any sense, Souls trapped in jars and a bunch of annoying Goblins and Mephits. I gotta get out of here before I get crazy
++ Skinned three Dryads, they had some potions and a Flask that looks ancient.
++ Duergars! Should've guessed there are some of those down here. I encountered a Djinn who gave me Sarevok's sword in exchange for the flask. I don't see any use in it unless I sell it.
++ Finally got out. No, wait I'm just at a different location. Met a Thief who wanted to join me. To eager for my liking. I sent him away but I'll stay alert.
++ Obviously the attackers are part of the Shadow Thieves, they do not seem to believe my story and prefer dying to talking. Whatever.
++ Daylight, finally. I ran into Imoen again on the way up. She was kinda crazy and started attacking Irenicus - our captor - when we met him outside. Then some wizards teleported in and took both of them away. I gotta know what Irenicus had planned - and where I am.

++ People tell me I'm in Athkathla. I have deciced to stay at an inn nearby before I continue on and have a look at the local stores.
++ Why do people always want to fight me? I got into a bar brawl with some amateurs. They left some nice stuff for me, but I just don't need this kind of entertainment right now.
++ I have finally figured out how to block magic attacks by concentration, that should prove helpful in the future. The local store is quite well sorted. I got rid of all my loot and am ready to go now. I decided to explore the city for a bit and stay friendly and law-abiding for now. Don't wanna cross the authorities on my first day here.

[ 05-05-2004, 04:51 AM: Message edited by: Faceman ]

[RoSs_bg2_rox]

WWWWWOOOOOOOHHHHHHH, hes pick it up again! hopefully this one is as good as when he was in bg1

[Faceman]

++ Okay, so I'm in the city of coin and it seems to be ripe for the taking, but I need to build up my reputation if I want to play it big here.
++ Perfect, the town circus seems to be in some kind of trouble, time to put on my heroic face.
++ An illusionist gnome, Kalah, was the root of the problem. I made quite some loot and earned some rep with the town's guard. This is easier than I had thought.
++ I met a guy named Gaelan Baye who promised to get me to Irenicus for the sum of 20000gp. Seems to be connected to the Shadow thieves.
++ There are people begging for rescue all over the town, but I'm still waiting for a big oppurtunity to show.
++ I freed some slaves in the Copper Coronet, a local bar. If it was for me they could have stayed rotting there, but the bar seems to be a good base of operations and I like it to be run by someone who is dependent on me.
++ Apparently someone in the bridge district is killing beggars and collecting their skin, about time somebody started to clean the streets.
++ I've located the murderer and it seems like he has some interesting plan. I must get into this.
++ I sent the investigating officer after the guy which got him killed. Good, that should be a blow to the police force here and I can take credit for wiping out the Skinner.
++ I found some interesting things at the murderers hideout, I have to visit the Umar Hills and meet his contact, but first I have to get hold of him. The fellow escaped with the help of some mage. There seems to be even more to it than I thought.
++ Damn slavers, they are all over the town. I rescued a man that demanded to be brought to a compound in the docks. I remember Jaheira mentioning something about the Harper's headquarters when she left. Could be useful to get in there.
++ Arrived at the Harpers compound but they wouldn't let me in, even after I delivered their sick friend. I knew why I never played the hero thing before.

[Faceman]

++ I met Xzar (don't I know him from somewhere). A necromancer who urged me to look into the Harpers compound again.
++ After doing some errands (the fun type ) for the Harpers they let me in. Some nice stuff to pick up there. Why do those pansies not guard their own house???
++ Found Montaron the Necromancers friend. He's been turned into a bird. I feel a strong urge to squish him, but I'll wait until I have both of them reunited.
++ I'VE BEEN PLAYED! The bird was a Harper assassin and took down the Necromancer. Actually I don't mind, but I don't like it when plans are carried out without my knowledge.
++ I visited Renal Bloodscalp, the leader of the Shadow Thieves. He said I could make a little sideline by investigating a rogue Rogue (haha, pun). The name - MaeVar - sounds familiar.
++ I met EDWIN at MaeVar's I thought the Nereid left him dead (or did I) but here he is again. Most of the assignments he gives me are assassinations, I'm beginning to like this job.
++ I finally figured out who MaeVar is. He was the guy who ambushed me outside of Baldur's Gate. The bastards so going to pay.
++ Took him down and earned a little respect from the Shadow Thieves.
++ I've been having strange dreams lately. They promise me power. I must get into what's behind this. Maybe I'll pay a visit to the Temple.
++ The temple district is in chaos. Apparently there's a new cult of the eyeless. What whacko would rip his own eyes out???
++ Investigating the sewers I was attacked by a group of bandits who wanted me to pay a toll for passing by. Why do people keep picking fights with me? I was not even slightly impressed by their efforts, but the loot was quite nice and I finally got to play with some dismembered bodyparts again.
++ An old Paladin approached me. Didn't like his tone so I "silenced" him. He was getting too old for this anyway.
++ I'm finally with this blind cultnuts. They sent me to retrieve a powerful item.
++ Intrigue, I like it. Former cult members have told me that I must not retrieve the rod or better I must retrieve the rod but deplete it and then unretrieve yadayadayada. Come to think of it I don't like intrigue.
++ Just out of curiosity I opened a sarcophague and suddenly was up against a lich. I was worried at first, but when I realised tha I can effectively block his magic by concentrating (I'm getting better!) he got boring quickly.
There were Golden Bones in the coffin. I'll keep them for selling to some necromancer.
++ I retrieved the rod from an avatar of Amanautor. He told me that I may not take it away blahblah grail may not cross the seal blahblah No Elsa what are you doing blahblah Where was I again?
++ I found a beholder lair which is apparently what the cultists are worshipping. I don't get this: They sarifice their eyes to creatures who have too many eyes anyway so that they can't see their gods, but their gods can see them better...or what?
++ Beholders are fun. Especially since magic does not bother me anymore. The Main beholder managed to stun me, but he couldn't even scratch me even when I was frozen. When I got back again I just started collecting eyes. Maybe I'll make a necklace out of them.
++ After selling loot to my trusty friend Roger I explored a little more and found a mage holding a strange slave. He's got pointy ears, but is not an elf (a Vulcan maybe?). After disposing of the mage the slave left and told me to meet him in the bridge district.
++ The dreams keep coming back and I grow more curious every day. I gotta be quick securing my place in Athkathla and then move out to find this Irenicus guy.

[Link]

Mae'Var ambushed you? Is it something I've missed all of the time?

[Faceman]

Originally posted by Link: Mae'Var ambushed you? Is it something I've missed all of the time?

It's added by BGT. The transition from BG1 to BG2 is done by a completely new ingame-cutscene where you are ambushed by MaeVar and his rogues. He will mention that later in BG2 (again added by BGT).

[Link]

Okay.. Does it make the story more believable? I can't see what Mae'Var has to do with Irenicus, really

[Xen]

Keep up the good story Faceman. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Faceman]

Sorry guys, but the story ends here.
Reason: The monk is just too damn powerful on lvl14+
After getting the magic resistance everything was a walk in the park. Hordes of monsters supposed to be scary were just wandering XP and boosted him, so that I reached lvl20 when doing the Unseeing Eye (still in the story). The lair was done without reloads, without potions just one LayOnHands that's it.
Looking for a challenge I decided to take on Watchers Keep BEFORE Spellhold. Big mistake.
Everything went smooth. Arriving at Lum The Mad's I hit lvl50 (which even with the ruleset seems to make NO difference to lvl40 except for the HP and the bonus AC vs. missiles). I cleared the last level without reloading or resting and on top of all that taking down Demogorgon took me 3 seconds only.
FRIGGIN 3 SECONDS!!!
This game is NO fun anymore, just stupid hack'n slash. I'm at the point where I can leave a fight with 3 beholders and 2 Lichs with the AI on and go make a sandwich until it's over.

Conclusion: A solo monk is BIG fun through BG1 and really challenging, but once you hit lvl14 in BG2 it's over. The magic resistance nullifies the strong use of magic in SoA and degrades mighty wizards to punching balls. Soloing from the start of BG1 will also give you an XP edge, that will make you hit VERY high levels all too soon in SoA thus killing the balance.
Again sorry guys, but I think I'm gonna take a break from BG and maybe pick up a new party game later - with banter and tactics and dying and cursing and actually playing.

[ 05-07-2004, 03:05 AM: Message edited by: Faceman ]

[Black Baron]

How did you manage to kill demogorgon in 3 seconds? What was your thac0 and damage?