Trying BG2 again

[Olorin]

I just restarted BG2, this time on a Mac. I've noticed that ToB is now out for the Mac, anyone know if I get it now, if it will affect a game in progress, or would I have to restart?


To make is fun and interesting, I decided to try a party of 6 characters...all of whom are elven sorcerers. I gave two of them higher strength, since I'll need a couple of people for melee blockers. I also gave one of them high wisdom...that will be my wisher. I'm expecting that most of the battles will be rather quick, I have a LOT of firepower. To keep some challenge to the game, I am going to try to play with a minimum of rests. I've never been a fan of resting in the middle of a dungeon, so I'll try to finish all the dungeons without resting. The Keep and Windspear Hills will probably be challenging to conserve enough spells.

I made it out of the Dungeon on only one initial rest (since I started with zero spells--I did wait to free Minsc and Jaheira first to get everyone a level up). There's a marked lack of staffs and daggers in the various weapon caches btw. To handle traps, I used one of my melee sorcs with stoneskin and mirror image. My four artillery mages mostly used MMMs as weapons, as slings and ammo were scarce. I did end up resting just before I left the dungeon...I was short two knocks (I should have had two of my sorcs take knock...fortunately I was able to fix that upon leveling).

I leveled again upon dungeon exit and proceeded to take out the circus tent (unfortunately, newly acquired spells aren't available until rest, so I only had one sorc with dispel magic, and none with remove magic for the tent). I took out some of my own stoneskins and MMMs dispelling the illusions, but the circus is a rather short quest. I had enough firepower left to deal with that rude dwarf and his friends that insulted our elven heritage when we went to the Inn.

This party also is pretty good for getting gold. My protagonist with 18 charisma and the friends spell can get good prices, and we can't use most of the loot we find. After the fight at the Inn, we had enough to buy the bracers AC 3 already, and we've still got a pile of unidentified loot to sell. My next purchase will be a magic license, since we're rather dependent on using spells.

There are a few spell choices I wish I could change. I only took identify with two of my sorcs...and I wish I had more. With six sorcs, you can take a lot of the less common spells by spreading out your choices. Some spells are essential for everyone to have though (stoneskin, mirror image, etc). An essential spell for my "front liners" is Vampiric Touch. It's the only real healing spell I'll have be able to use (I figured Larloch's drain wasn't worth for only 1-4 hp). My protagonist also has a Vampiric Touch and Minor Heal for his abilities (and a very handy slow poison). I debated on whether to make one of the front liners the protagonist (extra hp from familiar vs more chance of dying). I decided to put my protagonist in the middle of the party instead. Being True Neutral, he gets a rabbit that is my sole means of detecting traps. I really only need to worry about disintegration traps, since one of my sorcs with eventually pick up the stone to flesh spell to reverse petrify traps.

If anyone knows of any other mage spells that have a healing effect, please let me know. Or anything that will help against mindflayers (other than some animated dead, and trying to kill them really fast). Beholders are also a worry, although perhaps coordinated area damage will be enough for them (I'd rather not resort to creating an army of projected images or simulcrums).

[Sir Goulum]

Well, I probably wouldn't be too good at answering any questions aside from the first:
Yes, you can just use an already started game. The changes will be done in it.

[Neo the Warrior Cat]

Summons. Lots of them.

6 fireballs at once should kill any beholders. *Get Spell Sequencer with each sorceror, that spell is great for bombings*

As for Illithid.... those guys are going to give you hell.

[Dundee Slaytern]

Not if you spam Mordenkainen's Swords.

[Neo the Warrior Cat]

Oh yeah ¬_¬

And army of those can kill anything..... that doesn't have Power Word: Kill, or Death Spell. (The only things I've seen destroy a Mordy Sword)

[Olorin]

Last night I finished the CC/Slavers quest. It was a stretch to finish it without a rest...I need to conserve spells better (too many instances of hitting something with Acid Arrow only to have the die before any of the extra rounds kick in).

I was glad that I had my front liners take burning hands. 21 damage on a troll is better than I'd get from MM.

I think my next step will be to rest for a couple days in order to ID all the items I've collected.

I do have Spell Sequencers on my list for all six of my sorcs. I've also got two of them planning on taking Mordy's Sword. I might up that (since I've decided not to take Project Image or Simulcrum to avoid temptation).

I haven't made much use of Polymorph Self or Shapechange in the past...are these worthwhile spells for my front line?

[SixOfSpades]

Originally posted by Olorin: I haven't made much use of Polymorph Self or Shapechange in the past...are these worthwhile spells for my front line?

Mustard Jelly is dandy against spellcasters, especially Beholders. Be sure to use an anti-Poison item if you're going against Tactics Beholders, though.
Troll is a great way to Heal in a party with no Priests....but then again, the game shoves Healing Potions down your throat anyway.
In a party with no true Tanks, the Iron Golem is truly a welcome addition--especially after somebody casts Protection from Energy on you, and the whole team targets you (and anyone foolish enough to attack you) with their Area of Effect spells.

[Vedran]

Hm! Quite a good idea! It reminds me of the time I played Icewind Dale with a dwarven "clan". All fighters, one half thief, one half cleric. No fighter/mage dwarves there . Much of the game was a dance anyway.

[Olorin]

Short update:

I've gotten to the point where I'm told to clear Bohdi's lair. I'm on Day 6, level 11. I need to rest before attempting Bohdi, especially since I haven't cleared any of that level of the tombs yet (though I cleared all the treasure tombs already). I've yet to leave the city, but I've done pretty much everything you can within it (apart from the lower tombs, and I haven't touched the sewers in the Temple District yet).

I'm not sure what to do next. I could clear the graveyard and proceed directly to Spellhold, or I could hold off and work on some of the other sidequests first (getting the Mage stronghold is especially tempting). Now that I've added ToB, I'm also considering a detour to Watcher's Keep to pick up a potion bag, and perhaps raid the first level for a certain dart and an ammo bag.

Dealing with vampires got much easier once Aran gave me an amulet (my only possible protection vs. level drain). City encounters against single vampires aren't much of a challenge even without said amulet. 6xMM will easily do over 100 damage. The thought of minor sequencing everyone to fire off a simultaneous barrage of 12xMM against Bohdi would be fun, but I only took minor sequencer for my "tanks" (for Blur+MI) and one artillery sorc (for 2xGlitterdust, Glitter+Horror, 2xChrOrb, etc). Good follow up combos to others casting Gr. Malison. The rest will be choosing it at level 13 or 23.

Next level I get my first 6th level spell choice. I'm planning on getting one True Sight, a Death Spell, and a couple chain lightnings. I'll add contingency later, I don't see using it 3 times a day with anyone just yet. For my tanks, I'm debating the utility of Prot. from Mag. Weps. vs. Tenser's vs. Globe of Invul. Which one would be best to get first? And is Tenser's even worth it for a sorc?

[Assassin]

Originally posted by Neo the Warrior Cat: Oh yeah ¬_¬ And army of those can kill anything..... that doesn't have Power Word: Kill, or Death Spell. (The only things I've seen destroy a Mordy Sword)

ADHW (very common) and Skull Trap (somewhat common) also destroy a Mordy Sword. Anything with decent Magic damage will do in a Mordy Sword.