Turn Undead

[KiTThiX]

Hello Everyone! I've finished bg2 once in normal battle mode using a half-elf fighter he was so easy to use since he doesn't have too many buttons to tweak with. But i've noticed some of the characters in my party have that turn undead button like for a paladin or a cleric i think. I don't know how to use it, i know the manual must have a good explanation for it but im too lazy. so what the heck does it do? I would like to start a new game using a priest of helm character, is he good? and what does the seeking sword do anyway?

[Angelousss]

turn undead can have several effects, depending on the level and alignment of your character. first it scares the undead making them run away(hence the name) at later levels it can destroy or charm them. i don't use it to much because to be really effective you have to be kinda high level and it takes a little while to do but some people use it with great effect. Clerics are generally pretty good characters, but i don't know how helm compares to the other gods.

[Jim]

Paladins and Clerics can turn undead, although the paladin turns as if 2 (i think) levels lower than a cleric of the same level. Good priests can eventually blast undead to oblivion, evil ones can eventually gain control of them, but as Angelousss correctly stated, for the first part of the game you'll be lucky to scare them away.

The higher level you are, the more powerful the undead you can turn. At around level 25, you can destroy/gain control of powerful enemies such as liches. Demi liches can never be turned however.

To use turn undead, simply select the icon from the quick bar, and walk around undead infested areas. You cannot do anything other than walk when turning however, for example, as soon as you try and attack an emeny, turning will be disabled.

[Radek]

1. Turn Undead has been explained above. Only notes:
Liches are usually level 18 - 27 (Kangaxx the Lich and Kangaxx the Demilich are level 27)
Vampires are usually level 8 - 13
Mummies are usually level 7
Greater Mummies are usually level 14
Your level must be considerably higher than the level of your victim if you want to destroy the undead. Your level must be at least comparable with the level of your victim if you want to scare the undead. Naturally, the Turn Undead ability does not work on non-undeads.

2. Priest of Helm. I don't see any advantage of him with respect to the general priest but I don't see any disadvantage, too. Give your priest a special kit according to his alignment. You cannot spoil anything.

3. The Dancing Sword. You must have the sword prepared but not equipped, i.e., the sword must be in your weapon slot but it must not be in your hand. Now, you get a new icon among your "special abilities" icons. Click the icon. The sword will behave as the Mordekainen Sword: it will go and fight itself without need of your presence or intervention for some time. Then it returns to your inventory.
Notes: The damage caused by the Dancing Sword seems to be higher than the damage caused by the Mordekainen Sword. On the other hand, the Dancing sword is "only" +2. The Mordekainen sword is +4.
You do not get the icon if the sword isn't in the weapon slot of if you keep the sword in your hand.

[Angelousss]

your best bet is to have a pure cleric do it. In one of my current games aerie is my only cleric and she is multi so she levels slower. with her the only time i ever do it against a group of relatively easy undead(such as shadows, zombies the like) and then it's usually easier to cast false dawn and hack through

[Throrgrim]

i NEVER use turn undead. too unreliable. i use daystar etc.

[dulouz]

Who cares if its unreliable. And its not unreliable in the way a Wild Mage is, its unreliable because you might not be high enough level to use it effectively. Nothing *bad* can come about from pushing the button. And thats all you do, you push a button. Its not like you're wasting a spell if it doesn't work. And if it does work, you've either bought some time to cast a spell or even detroyed some enemies. As a roleplaying strategy, its quite fun. The whole wrath of god striking down your enemies. I like it.

I don't however like the Turn Undead of evil alignments. Atleast at lower levels, as i've not played with it much at high levels. Take Viconia for example. Turn the undead and you end up having a dozen or so undead at your command for a while. But if they all turn, then you really have nothing to fight so just make them fight each other or wait until the Turn Undead wears off. It's kind of boring. Turning undead as a Good character is much more fun.

Turning undead as a Good character is a good thing to do. Especially when you can walk into a room of vampires, and destroy them all without using a single spell.

dulouz.

[ 11-26-2002, 07:03 PM: Message edited by: dulouz ]

[Rataxes]

Turn Undead can make entire groups of vampires and other powerful undead go *poff* just like that. It is EXTREMELY powerful at semi-high levels, I started to pop Liches with my Undead Hunter at lvl 21.´

[ 11-26-2002, 07:21 PM: Message edited by: Rataxes ]

[pcgiant]

For best results, turn invisible then turn undead. The undead will not attack you (well, most undead) and you have all the time you want to turn them.

[Radek]

I am always trying Turn Undead when the level of my priest is enough high. Say, level 20 (I am playing a group of three characters). I am usually getting a very nice results. Bodhi's Lair? A nice place for a little walk of my priest