to the "solo players"

[ogopogo]

I'm sorry. I have played the game through once with a full party and the slider set to easiest and I reloaded more times than I care to count. Now I am playing with the difficulty slider in the middle, also with a full party and I am getting killed over and over and over. I am sorry, but, I really have a difficult time believing that the game can be completed with just one character If it is possible, and I highly doubt it without using cheats and setting the difficulty on easiest , but if you are not lying, HOW THE HELL do you do it I am so frustrated right now I am ready to throw my computer out the window and I have a full party...

cheers ogo...

[Lord of Alcohol]

ogo, you seem not to be using a good tactical plan, use lots of missile weapons and summoned monsters. Anything to cause them damage before they get near you. Then put the swords on the tanks and keep the rest back (as best as the situation allows) and go from there. Havent done it solo but like I say its all tactics buddy.

[Accord]

Take things slowly (it is NOT a race), avoid unnecessary conflicts, summoning is one of your best friends (so are potion of extra healing), rest a lot (and I mean A LOT), ALWAYS use area affecting spells on enemies to soften them up, and you don't have to do all side quests.

P.S. I was using a berserker/mage, imported from a previous game, so it is a bit cheesy. There are ppl who solo from scratch however.

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Long live H22A1!!!!!

[ogopogo]

Thanks for the advice but I seem to do all that. The problem being as soon as the enemies get near enough to attack most of my charaters are either held, mental domination or dead and if they try to get a spell off it is disrupted What spells do you think I should have memorized at all times? I dont think that I use magic resistance type spells enough so I will try that... Also, being the second time through I would like to do all the quests and totally complete the game before the next part is released. I love the game but it can be just so frustrating... Maybe my party is not stroung enough? me: kensai/mage-Minsc-Valgyar-Jaheria-Viconia-Jan.
cheers ogo...

[RudeDawg]

Hey ogo...

Whatlevel are you at?
you have a well balanced party, and with the right tactics, you should finish the game easily.

I used a full party my first time, and soloed my second, with an Elven Archer. The solo was from scrath, but I removed the exp cap. I will NEVER do that again. It became too easy. I had the difficulty set to Core rules.

I found my solo game easier than my group game. It was easier to control the battles, since I only needed to concentrate on controlling one person. I was also a bit more cautious, and scouted and planned with my character's in mind. Rangers can use their Stealth skill, and I used it to look ahead, plan, and execute... You do need to pick and coose your battles, and concentrate on what you want.

My racial enemy was dragons, so I killed them all, except for the Silver, but I avoided Kangaxx.

Also, soloists level up quickly, since you are not sharing the exp points. Find the best set of equipment for your style of play, and it can be a great experience...

If you'd like some help outlining some basic tactics, give us an idea of your level, and what you are using for equip. I'd love to help...


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

[Accord]

Originally posted by ogopogo: Thanks for the advice but I seem to do all that. The problem being as soon as the enemies get near enough to attack most of my charaters are either held, mental domination or dead and if they try to get a spell off it is disrupted What spells do you think I should have memorized at all times? I dont think that I use magic resistance type spells enough so I will try that... Also, being the second time through I would like to do all the quests and totally complete the game before the next part is released. I love the game but it can be just so frustrating... Maybe my party is not stroung enough? me: kensai/mage-Minsc-Valgyar-Jaheria-Viconia-Jan. cheers ogo...

Well, I usually use spells like: magic missiles, lighting, flaming arrows, fire ball, knock, melf's minute meteors, lower resistance, stoneskin, breach, cloudkill, spider spawn, ruby ray of reversal, abi-dalzim's horrid wilting, incendiary cloud, ... etc. But I always try to use the spell sequencers and trigger, and contingencies spells in the beginning of the game in case things gets hairy.
Your party looks like it has LOTs of tanks...may want to give Aerie or Nalia a try. (oh no.....is this gonna be another Nalia bash thread?? )

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Long live H22A1!!!!!

[vesselle]

ogopogo,
i have a small suggestion that helped me alot at first. i assigned scripts to each character and kept my ai on all the time. as i was a tank, i would be out front pounding on baddies, but that requires very little supervision. its fairly easy then to jump into your spellcaster's shoes and make sure she is constantly delivering a barrage of magic missiles on the enemies and bless and chant on the party.

V***V

[ogopogo]

Originally posted by RudeDawg: Hey ogo... Whatlevel are you at? you have a well balanced party, and with the right tactics, you should finish the game easily. I used a full party my first time, and soloed my second, with an Elven Archer. The solo was from scrath, but I removed the exp cap. I will NEVER do that again. It became too easy. I had the difficulty set to Core rules. I found my solo game easier than my group game. It was easier to control the battles, since I only needed to concentrate on controlling one person. I was also a bit more cautious, and scouted and planned with my character's in mind. Rangers can use their Stealth skill, and I used it to look ahead, plan, and execute... You do need to pick and coose your battles, and concentrate on what you want. My racial enemy was dragons, so I killed them all, except for the Silver, but I avoided Kangaxx. Also, soloists level up quickly, since you are not sharing the exp points. Find the best set of equipment for your style of play, and it can be a great experience... If you'd like some help outlining some basic tactics, give us an idea of your level, and what you are using for equip. I'd love to help...

My character is a level 9 kensai and level 10 mage. What I have done so far is
spoiler for any who have not far
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I have done Korgans quest, Nalia's quest, copper Cornet, murder in bridge, circus and Valgars quest. I think that is it. Valgars was frustrating for me but I seems I got lucky and beat the wizards and demon. The others were not that hard... Anyhow right now I am trying to do the eye of beholder quest and I am in the basment and trying to fight the (I forget what they are called) They look like beholders but smaller. I think I would be able to kill them but they are joined by I think five shadow type creatures. So this is wat happens... Me- walk just to edge (before I seem them- cast fireball) Then... they are all on my tail!!! so we all run hoping that they all wont follow but that doesnt work Now 3 beholder type things 5 shodow type things Minsc is held... Valgar is held... Jan trying to get off magic missle, Jaheria trying to summon woodland creatures, and Viconia trying to heal everyone... 10 seconds later I am dead... *flash to movie of death* reload try again. This is getting long but I guess I wish that I was not going for that one lucky win I would much rather use tactics and skill rather that just "lucking out" if you know what I mean Oh btw Rudedawg, my character has dual axes- both +3 I dont remember their names (frostheaver? and another) Minsc has lichasor(sp) (the talking one) and Valgyar has his sword and Katana+1 The girls have slings (one +2 and one I dont remember but some fancy magic one I bought) Jan has his crossbow... Sorry for the lengh of the post...
Oh, and Rudedawg I am enjoying your adventures with W&W, I gave up at the stout mines good luck ...
back to try again...
cheers ogo...

[This message has been edited by ogopogo (edited 05-25-2001).]

[ogopogo]

Originally posted by vesselle: ogopogo, i have a small suggestion that helped me alot at first. i assigned scripts to each character and kept my ai on all the time. as i was a tank, i would be out front pounding on baddies, but that requires very little supervision. its fairly easy then to jump into your spellcaster's shoes and make sure she is constantly delivering a barrage of magic missiles on the enemies and bless and chant on the party. V***V

hmmm.... Ill try that. I use the AI with my fighters but they always take off on me and it pisses me off. I have never tried with my mages or clerics though so I will try. Thanks...
cheers ogo...
hmmmm. I need one of those fancy sigs everone has
oh well off to get killed some more

[RudeDawg]

TACTICAL S
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S AHEAD...

Originally posted by ogopogo: My character is a level 9 kensai and level 10 mage. *SNIP* So this is wat happens... Me- walk just to edge (before I seem them- cast fireball) Then... they are all on my tail!!! so we all run hoping that they all wont follow but that doesnt work Now 3 beholder type things 5 shodow type things Minsc is held... Valgar is held... Jan trying to get off magic missle, Jaheria trying to summon woodland creatures, and Viconia trying to heal everyone... 10 seconds later I am dead... *flash to movie of death* reload try again. This is getting long but I guess I wish that I was not going for that one lucky win I would much rather use tactics and skill rather that just "lucking out" if you know what I mean Oh btw Rudedawg, my character has dual axes- both +3 I dont remember their names (frostheaver? and another) Minsc has lichasor(sp) (the talking one) and Valgyar has his sword and Katana+1 The girls have slings (one +2 and one I dont remember but some fancy magic one I bought) Jan has his crossbow... cheers ogo...

OK, in general, you seem to be doing well....

The idea of "best tactics" is very personal. Accord already mentioned that you are usiong a LOT of tanks. I do that when I use a party. I prefer STEEL to SPELL. Others prefer a better balanced attack, still others are more mage-based...

Sun Tzsu taught "To win without fighting is best." His whole idea was to use self-knowlege to gain the upper hand. Know your strengths. Know your weaknesses. Use one, avoid the other.

Your main Weakness: THE WHOLE WORLD IS OUT TO GET YOU !!!! Fear that. Learn to use one of your rangers, or thieves, to scout ahead of the battle.... Cause as much damage to the enemy while keeping yourself out of range. For your party, I would recommend several ideas.

1) Get some bows for your fighters. Ranged weapons will hurt the enemy, weakening them BEFORE they reach you.

2)Use the summoned creatures as a buffer zone. Get them in before you attack the enemy. Keep them between you and them, an use your ranged attacks on them while they are occupied with the summoned ones...

3)CONCENTRATE your attacks. Wounded enemies will hurt you as bad as full-strength ones. Concentrate your attacks on one enemy, then attack the next when it dies. The exceptions are magic users. Ranged weapons will disrupt their spells, so use that. Attack the spell-casters, then concetrate on one. When anyone starts another spell, shoot him again...

4)Use the battlefield to your advantage. This is why scouting is so important. Use corridors, doorways, bulding, WHATEVER to try to keep them comin one-at-a-time. Send in a scout, have him fire at one enemy when only that one is exposed. Run back to the protected party. Concentrate fire on the enemy, one-at-a-time...

Mix and match these ideas, rinse and repeat....

Others will put in their $0.02, and they will also have good points. These worked for me...

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