A new type of challenge.... (Spoilers are definitely possible)

[Jafin]

I'm going to try something new, I'm going to play through all of the Baldur's Gate series as if it were real AD&D, I mean, when you die, you DIE. And if anything bad happens, I have to live with it, like a character chunking. This came up when I was talking to a friend of mine with whom I play AD&D, and I mentioned something about a lvl 31 Kensai being REALLY powerful and he said you really can't get that high, you'll die first. I said that I was able to accomplish it in BG 2: ToB and he said something about always being able to reload and dared me to try a game where I can only load when I start up the game. I accepted.

Ok, so what I'm trying to figure out is, what class/race would be best suited to this tremendous task? Remember, not only can my main character not die ONCE but I can't reload if one of my characters chunks, or I somehow lose a magical item or if I accidentally go tick off the city guard, or whatever. I'm playing something that's basically hardcore Diablo II or an ironman game in Wizardry 8. So, what should my character be? I've considered Elf Fighter/Mage, Half-Elf Druid (Avenger), Paladin (Cavalier), Dwarf Fighter (Berserker), and Elf Mage (Possible going to Wild Mage in BG2) and Elf Thief (Swashbuckler). Do any of these sound like a good choice? Or maybe something else? Any tips welcome, Thanks!!!

-Jafin

[ 09-09-2002, 10:19 PM: Message edited by: Jafin ]

[True_Moose]

I'm thinking maybe a monk or a H-O fighter/thief.

That way, you don't have to put your a$$ on the line too often. Just a Q though: r u going it solo? Cuz as a pnp player, it would be right to only control one char, but you wouldn't be playin alone. Maybe on IW we could get six guys together in a party like u just described. Could be fun!

[Dundee Slaytern]

Play an Abjurator. Everytime a fight starts, start casting all the most potent protections spells and stay at the back sucking your thumb while your party members handle the battle... ...

Okay, okay... seriously.

A frontline fighter bears the most risk even though he/she has the best AC and saves. Just one crummy save from a Finger of Death or Petrify and voila! Instant misery.

A Mage has very little Hp and some of the events in the game require you to handle things one on one. Too risky.

So we want a backline member that has reasonable Hp. Preferably useful in combat too. Archer comes to mind, but his inability to wear metal armour and lack of excellent melee combat incurs risk as well.

I recommend a multiclassed Half-Elven Cleric/Ranger. Able to wear the best armour, and he/she can stay at the back casting spells 24/7 or using a sling to pelt the enemy. If forced to resort to melee combat, the C/R is more than able to hold his/her own. Do not forget to give him/her a good shield too.

[Timber Loftis]

I usually don't entertain the notion of powergaming like that mentioned here, but if the Cleric suggestion is good, isn't a Druid suggestion better? For survival, the Iron Skins could certainly help, plus you wouldn't be limited to only blunt weapons (not that it matters, as blunt weapons kick a** in BG). I am of course still suggesting multi-class. Druid/Mage or Cleric/Mage w/ SotM would be your best "turtler," I think. Maybe dual class would be better than multi -- get your HPs up faster as one advancing class, then switch at a time when you can catch up without risking your neck too much.

Your friend is right though- you wouldn't survive. Or, if you did, you'd likely miss a lot and/or go REAAALLLY slow. This is 'cause you know the game, but the hypothetical character would not. How many times, before you knew the game like the back or your hand, did you stumble into a battle you weren't prepared for? Sure, after it kicked your ass and you reloaded, it was an easy battle - but the surprise made all the difference in the world. So, there's not way to avoid the "cheat" of knowing everything about the game.

Oh, and if you intend to play a "live with your mistakes" rule, I don't know that a rod of resurrection is off-limits. Remeber, in the D&D world, such an item is no less "real" than Carsomyr or Floating multi-eyed genius ball-like monsters that cast spells. I'd see it as something to try if BG had the "hovering on death's door" rule, as that rule makes a lot of sense (if you go below 0 HP you are unconscious and bleeding, -10 HP is final death). But, without that rule, you are putting a limitation on your game that, though it certainly makes the game *harder*, has little to do with your notion of "keeping it real."

Final side note - in D&D rules, I don't think elves can be resurrected (anyone feel free to tell me if I'm wrong)

[Timber Loftis]

You know, Jafin - I just noticed. Yours is not a "no resurrection" rule, but a "live with it if you get chunked characters" rule.

Sorry for my misunderstanding.

[Dundee Slaytern]

The Druid class cannot be multiclassed with the Mage class. However, because I combined the Ranger class with the Cleric class, the Cleric/Ranger can cast both Clerical and Druidic spells.

Hence, a Cleric/Ranger can cast Call Lightning, Ironskins, Insect Plague, Creeping Doom, etc... in addition to Draw Upon Holy Might, Holy Smite, Bolt of Glory, Righteous Magic, Regeneration, etc... ...

Elves cannot be raised from the dead, but they can be resurrected. A subtle difference, but there you go.

EDIT] Grammar and spelling mistakes.

[ 09-10-2002, 02:32 PM: Message edited by: Dundee Slaytern ]

[andrewas]

Originally posted by Timber Loftis: Final side note - in D&D rules, I don't think elves can be resurrected (anyone feel free to tell me if I'm wrong)

AFAIK, elves are immune to the raise dead spell but not the resurrection spell.

[DJG]

Is that pure elves, because I never has a problem with Jaheira or Khalid, but then again, I don't think there are any Pure Elves apart from the Elven Swashbuckler I play. Oh, Viconia! Can she be raised from the dead, or do you have to cast Resurrection?

[Dundee Slaytern]

Originally posted by DJG: Is that pure elves, because I never has a problem with Jaheira or Khalid, but then again, I don't think there are any Pure Elves apart from the Elven Swashbuckler I play. Oh, Viconia! Can she be raised from the dead, or do you have to cast Resurrection?

Khalid? That be BG1.

Memory is fuzzy, but I do recall a boardie who could not use Raise Dead to bring Jaheira back to life. This is unconfirmed of course, but I think so. I rarely use these spells, since I prefer no deaths in the first place.

Jaheira is Half-Elven.
Viconia and Aerie are Elves.

[andrewas]

I can confirm that the elves are immune to raise dead, but only for IWD. Since BG2 is later it should apply there, but ive never gotten a pure elf killed.

In fact, IIRC there arent any pure elven NPCs? That sounds wrong, but I cant recall any. Aside from Viconia, but drow elves are different.