Pretty much every game I play is either no reload or minimal reload - challenge or not - but the adrenalin rush of the no reload tends to make the minimal reload feel quite mundane to me and I find myself losing interest quickly (especially if it begins as a no reload and has to be adjusted down to minimal after a death). I find it changes my tactics and general attitude towards what can or can't be done in combat when I know that if things go south I get a do-over.
On the other hand I think the minimal reload might be a better option for games more centered on roleplay aspects altho I'm not sure that the random set up we are using is the best vehicle for a heavy roleplay campaign particularly from the standpoint of the party choices being more or less forced on you with no opportunity to change it. To me that seems to limit rather than enhance the opportunity to roleplay but it does a good job to increase the challenge of combat with the less than perfect party structure.
For my money the "let the fates decide" model is a much better venue for heavy roleplay and more likely to remain interesting in spite of a minimal reload baseline since RP becomes more the point of the campaign and combat just a puzzle to solve along the way.
In any case I certainly have no objection to adding a minimal reload option and perhaps there could be some manner in which to score the game based on the number of reloads vs how far the party progresses.
Like a certain amount points awarded for each chapter completed perhaps scaled to the difficulty selected (core normal etc) and maybe also scaled to the chapters difficulty -(Chap 4 in Cloakwood perhaps ranking considerably higher than Chap 1 or 2 ).
Then a penalty could be assessed for each reload - perhaps scaling upward - the more reloads - the more each one costs?
Then of course you could also award points based on how awesome or gimped your random party turns out perhaps assigning scores to each available NPC with high end (useful) NPCs getting low or minus scores (their usefulness is their bonus) and low end ones getting high scores to reward you (increase your scores)for getting through with less than stellar companions...
The possibilities are endless...LOL
This is really good feedback, thanks!
My gut feeling, too, is that the offshoot versions such as Roleplayed and No-Meta-gaming, and their various combinations, may be just too difficult for a No-Reload challenge that uses randomly generated parties. So the thought occurred to me that Minimal Reload might be the only way to really make them viable!
The exception to this is SCS by itself (not Roleplayed and fully meta-gamed), which just makes tactics more difficult. Many players can enjoy that as long as they're free to go full-on with the meta-gaming.
Although the hallmark of 'Let the Fates Decide' is using cards and dice, I'm playing it also Minimal Reload (PC death only), and that has given the game that feeling of danger one gets with No-Reload. However there is considerably less restriction on party members (who is encountered and may join--as well as whether a NPC gets resurrected--is determined primarily by roleplaying, and secondarily by turning a card). I feel like in that game I've found there's a nice sweet spot for danger/tension because it is balanced by the certainty that I can complete the game. And, as mentioned, the method also imposes some limitations on who may join. But that's still a far cry from the Random Generation model in which we're limited strictly to the characters we roll. And again, that may just prove too difficult to be fun when even more restrictions are added in via RP and/or No-Meta-gaming.
Another thing to consider is that if you earnestly roleplay all the characters according to alignment/backstory/banters, including your own vision of the PC, then a lot of these random generated parties really have no business forming to begin with. For example, would a LG paladin really add Dorn to her party? No! At best, you'd have to come up with some sort of very twisted logic to make these parties work RP-wise. And that basically undermines the integrity of roleplaying! (Trying to fit a square peg into a round hole, etc.)
The 'Roleplayed & No-Meta-gaming' approach is really about deepening immersion and interactivity with the story itself. You're then enjoying a lot of creative fun with how the story develops. (Although interesting tactical challenges do arise as a byproduct of that.) And in order to maintain the integrity of that experience, my sense now is that it's best not to impose onto it the party structure model that we use in this challenge.
So... one possibility is for our challenge here to have only the following categories:
Classic EEKeepered PCs Allowed SCS
And I guess maybe we can still brainstorm a bit as to whether there is some satisfying way to integrate the random generation method with RP, No-Meta-gaming, and Using Cards & Dice. Perhaps some way can be dreamt up.
@ICN the improved mulahey battle and improved kobolds components of SCS are as far as I know still bugged. I didn't install either. What SCS version do you use? In my install I saw no component that allows to choose NPC's proficiencies or abilities (I think that was a component of the mod Level1NPC for BG2). What I do is I usually pick fighters and thieves as early as I can so I can develop their abilities, and pick the mages later on when they are higher level. Who needs a level 2-7HP Xan anyway?
Taking screenshots is really easy, just hit the "print screen" key and they are automagically copied (bmp) in the "ScrnShot" game folder (in windows7 it is C:\Users\your_user\Documents\Baldur's Gate - Enhanced Edition\ScrnShot)
Alright continuing on the brief story of my LN elven F/M/T (sorry I got a weird name from the name generator that I can't seem to remember, so I'll call the PC F/M/T) ...
The PC and Branwen went to the mines, but not before collecting the wand of frost and getting Varsconia from Greywolf ( 1 cast of hold person did the trick).
In the mines the level 4/3/4 F/M/T and level 5 Branwen literally cut a bloody swath through he kobold infestation. When we arrived at Maulahey, Branwen cast silence 15 foot radius and it was successful. *Here is the strange part... I'm guessing due to the silence effect, he couldn't initiate dialogue, so we forced attacked him and he never even fought back. *
We left the mines and made our way back to Nashkel. We first vistited the temple to have items identified, then the store to sell some loot, and finally we met Nimbul, who died after 1 use of the now identified wand of frost (made him panic) then 1 arrow from the F/M/T.
We then made our way to the gnoll stronghold (this was a big time hit, as it placed us 2 days over our expected timeline, but we were able to get the gauntlests of dexterity adn the tome of leadership and influence (both for our next addition, Ajantis.)
We then headed to Beregost (44 hour trip) and did a few quests here (and stole Ajantis the +1 Bastard Sword from the smithy (Even at 0200 hours all the people were i the smithy, so I had to lift it right in front of them... three flaming fist enforcers were called in, but I was able to slip behind some boxes and hide in the shadows to leave without confrontation or rep loss!)
We then made our way to the FAI where we killed Tarnesh (1st arrow and sling stone). Here we retrieved the evermemory ring and rested for 8 hours to replenish spells.
Next we went north and recruited Ajantis. We then shuffled some inventory around and went on to kill every ankheg we could see... going north from here opened up the bandit camp.
We had considered sneaking in, but decided to go with a full frontal assault. Bandits dropped like flies to the deadly marksmanship skills of F/M/T, Branwen's sling stones, and Ajantis' blade. We came across the leaded of the black talon, a huge man in full plate armor and wielding a nasty war hamer, he was dispatched without blinking as Branwen cast hold person (she got him and 3 near by bandits with one spell) and the party then cleaned up the immobilized enemies. Having then looted the entire camp, the party went into the largest tent and were confronted by 4 guards. The fight was over in moments, as a horror spell cast by F/M/T knocked 3 of the combatants out of the fight as they ran trying to flee. The last opponent (the hobgoblin archer) was quickly subdued by Ajantis as the fleeing guards were quickly slain by the arrows and sling stones of F/M/T and Branwen (mage, gnoll, human).
The party looted the fallen enemies and found out that Tazok had fled to the Cloakwood forest.
The game was saved here at 9 days 6 hours.
Party F/M/T lvl 4/4/5, Branwen lvl 5, Ajantis lvl 5
Right now this party seem really solid. Ajantis with fullplate, the gauntlets of dexterity, a ring of protection, a +1 medium shield and his innate protection from evil is a great tank. Branwen is in ankheg plate, also carries a +1 medium shield, and a ring of protection, with a natural dexterity of 16. F/M/T is currently in plate mail, with a ring of protection, and a 19 in dexterity. Even as a multi-class her THAC0 is really good as an elf using lonbows/longswords, especially now she has the longbow of marksmanship. Now if I can just keep a good pace going forward and get everyone to at least level 7... (cloudkill will not get me this time, I hope)
I'm currently playing a new run with a elf Fighter/Thief, but I'm not posting everything unless we make it to cloakwood (my best result so far). Again, SCS is installed.
Chapter 3, 16 days. The party is Ajantis and Shar-Teel (fron liners), Faldorn (don't have her yet), Quayle and Edwin (spellcasters). I've had a very crappy HP rolls for both Ajantis (lvl4-31HP) and Shar-teel (lvl4-24HP) and neither of them are good tanks. Ajantis gets hit ALL the time, just bad luck, because his AC is -6, but it seems that every gibberling out there just love to critical hit him. He already died to Val and Zal and I had to bought potions of healing since Quayle hasn't that many cleric spells.
F/T are a fun class to play, they rock with longbow and can score a nice backstab now and then.
Now some screenshots, first one my PC:
A stormy night. Seriosly, this happens every time it rains or what?
Area north of gnoll fortress is a melee intense one, not worth exploring...
After Edwin killed Dynaheir the party return to Nashkel. I suddenly read in the combat log "Minsc attack Amnish soldier". My PC went to have a look and, I guess because the party killed Dynaheir, Minsc had gone hostile! Out of respect I did nothing, but eventually the soldiers overwhelmed him. Good ol' Minsc killed 3 or 4 of them.
This time the party had a hard time killing Nimbul. Emotion is a nifty spell, SCS make wizards very dangerous...
Last thing I did, killing Silke. Not very difficult at this level and 5 party members, BUT, when she was near death she used a minor spell sequencer (2x acid arrow) on Edwin. Edwin had a morale failure, I couldn't heal him and died to the next round acid damage. Men, I'm starting to think there's no way to no-reload finish the game
Core Rules First Random Maglynn Fletcher Female Human Fighter (no kit) LE
Forget how many rolls, stats are: 18/95 18 18 9 7 7
Default voice (I chose it; shouldn’t the default be an option?) Party is Dynaheir Minsc Quayle Shar-Teel Kivan
-- It is time to break from our travels. It feels like a tenday since I left Candlekeep but it has only been 5 days. In that time …
Funny how things always begin at the beginning. I awoke, and after Gorion told me we would be leaving, I bought some darts, a mace, and a shield. I would outfit myself with armor from the armory. I went about my chores – well, I call them chores. Sweeping up the Inn and removing any valuables from the rooms ... it is the duty of the strong to take from the week; how else shall they learn to protect what they value with strength?
Unfortunately, one of the visiting nobles saw me going about my business and called a guard. The Watcher could not be reasoned with. In retrospect, calling someone an uppity bald virgin is probably a good way to start a fight.
He chased me around the keep but I think I managed to deflect any of the onlookers with my taunts and flirtatious comments. The Watcher chased me into one of the guest houses – to my good fortune. There was a thug in there, looking for me for whatever reason, whom I dispatched rather easily, and then there was the Watcher. The fool must have forgotten that I *am* the Candlekeep dart champion.
After the Watcher died, I reclaimed my darts and used the idiot thug’s dagger to perforate the Watcher’s face where my darts had pierced him. Crushed the thug’s head with the Watchers quarterstaff. Waited a few minutes, then screamed for help.
Parda came rushing in and comforted me. I explained that I’d wanted one taste of this specific Watcher before I left Candlekeep – and I went into detail. The prude hushed me up and told me to move on. To get out of Candlekeep quickly. There were evil men about, blah blah. When she left for the rest of the Watchers, I took his armor and ran over to Gorion. We left when the Watchers were on their way into the guest house.
Alas for Gorion. While his kindness in general is foolish, it has benefited me. He sacrificed his life for mine, fighting off a fiend in horned armor who came to claim me for his own. I will not forget that – and will punish that man. He will pay life for life. Bane, grant me vengeance.
Imoen tried to help me the next morning. Snuck out of Candlekeep, she said. I robbed her blind and told her to get lost. She could have told me there was danger and instead chose to lie to my face while Gorion and I were leaving the keep. Truly, her knowledge would not have prevented Gorion’s death, but I cannot abide disloyalty and dishonesty. Should she survive the ordeal, she will thank me. I was merciful.
--
That’s it for now! On Day 5, 20 hours, heading to the Gnoll Fortress. I’ll follow up as I get time to write about my adventures.
@dstoltzfus Those were my thoughts on my current run, but at the moment I still wander around without a well-formed plan much of the time. Saunter to a new area, find out that I didn't need it, then go back. Only 16 short hours needed! Tarnesh and the Ankhegs weren't a problem, since I was level 4 at the time with the Ankheg plate mail from Nashkel.
@Dexter My bad on the npc component. I keep a tab open to the SCS readme where it's listed as one of the features, but I guess it hasn't made it into the current version yet. Thank you for the help with screenshots.
I've had a fair amount of free time lately, so I was able to get another good session today. I was considering doing a roleplay thing, but this post will be long as is.
Picking up at the Firewine Bridge, I killed Melium in a 5 on 1 "duel" and then went to the Nashkel circus. We took care of Zordral, and then proceeded to Nashkel itself. We returned a ring, received our honors from the mayor, and killed Nimbul. After that I rolled on up to Bassilus's area, killed the man himself, the hobgoblin with the nice sword, and rescued a talking chicken. Emergency rations well in hand, the group continued on to the lighthouse area where we saved a boy from some wargs and looted the treasure cave. My PC is finally regenerating which was quite helpful. At that point the business with Melicamp was resolved (he lived), and the bounty on Bassilus was turned in. The party picked up it's order of Ankheg armor from the blacksmith at that point, as well as buying the Shadow Armor. At that point we killed Tranzig, and bluffed our way into the Bandit Camp through the guards in Peldvale.
Tazok's tent was the most difficult battle by that point. The party went in with haste and resist fear up, my PC had his rage going, and Baeloth had shield and mirror image. Baeloth died quickly to the archers inside, which ruined any hope of taking on the rest of the bandits outside. Shar-Teel nearly went down, but a heal by Viconia brought her out of the danger zone. Charname quaffed a potion of swiftness and the bandits finally started going down which turned the tables. I finally remembered to nab a screenshot at the end.
After the blindness wore off of Shar-Teel and Charname, I went outside to discuss the matter of an armor transaction with Taughauz. After a spirited debate left Montaron dead at the hand's of Taughauz's crushing rhetoric, the surviving members of the party quaffed invisibility potions and limped back to the Friendly Arm. Once the dead members of the party had been revived and brought back to full strength, it was off to Cloakwood. In the interest of length, I'll skip to the part where Shar-Teel died in the Wyvern den and we had to walk all the way back to the Friendly Arm, getting ambushed twice. Another day of R&R and it was back to the last area of Cloakwood.
At this point we finally came to Drasus's group, which proved to be quite the challenge. But by the power of cheese, hasty retreats, and a fair amount of luck we emerged victorious. No one died, but things came close to cascading to an end.
Again, I got caught up in the fight and forgot the screenshots until the end.
Anyways, after all that Charname (and only Charname) leveled up. The time is around 40 days at this point. And wow, that post was longer than I thought it would be.
Many thanks to @Lemernis for creating this thread. I've been wanting to try something different from my comfortable routine of playing a female LE Necromancer, so I decided to randomize all of my choices, including starting spells. That being said, I laughed out loud after I did my rolls, as it looks like I won't be veering too far from my usual class and party (although it's just enough change to make it new and enjoyable):
Since he's a Half-Elf Diviner from Candlekeep who spent most of his time inside the library, I think I can justify his scores.
Name (random from WotC): Zanneiros Loreweaver (I'm shortening it to just his first name, although "Loreweaver is pretty spot-on for his class)
I really lucked out on my party rolls: Edwin (perfect compliment for a Diviner) Faldorn (I never use her, so it'll be a nice change of pace. Plus, she's basically NE anyway) Viconia (Nice to see you again, Vickie) Shar-Teel (Well, I know now who my thief will be) Dorn (Oh yeah. That's what I'm talkin' about)
Starting spells: Identify, Protection from Evil, Sleep (I'm so glad I didn't get Infravision as my specialty school spell, especially since he's a half-elf.)
Now, if I can just make it to Peldvale to pick up Viconia without getting whacked by some low-life bandit...
Default voice (I chose it; shouldn't the default be an option?)
Yes, I think it's an oversight to Drone's original system that the Default voices weren't included. Over the weekend I'll revise the tables to fit it in. I think most people go ahead and choose whichever voice seems to match up best according to their own taste, which is fine for this challenge--the rolled voice is optional. But anyway, agreed that we should get the Default voice into the mix.
Okay, I revised the Leader Board categories to feature only Classic, EEKeepered Classes Allowed, and SCS because, honestly, Roleplayed and No-Meta-gaming (or both) is just too masochistically difficult for a strict No-Reload challenge such as this that limits the player to a random generated party--in many cases including one or two NPCs that aren't available until chapters 4-5! (I doubt it would be any fun given the sorts of offbeat parties one is most likely to roll.)
Folks are still free to journal their playthroughs in first person for the PC, of course.
Also, for the Classic rules, with respect to using auto-pause (any mode) and heal fully upon rest... I do believe that a 'purist' version of the challenge should place as much control of the game as possible in the hands of the player as a measure of the player's skill, versus letting the game engine do things for you; and re: healing that makes you rely solely on resources acquired in the game, such as healing powers and potions.
Therefore, "Preferred" I have changed to "Purist." The best score for a "Purist" run will trump game settings that make the game easier. And similarly, if someone sets the difficulty slider to higher than Core that will trump "Purist."
"Purist":
vanilla EE (no mods) no custom (modded) combat scripts best of five rolls Core Rules no auto-pausing (any mode) heal normally upon rest
The continued adventures of Holleyrath Huntinghawk (see I looked up my name), LN elven F/M/T.
We returned to the FAI to identify and sell our loot. We also purchased several healing potions and antidiote poison potions.
The party now moved into the cloakwood forest. In the first area we fought a group of tasloi and won a cloak of non-detection. We skipped the druid/hunter quest here and moved into the second level where we cleaned house on all the spiders and ettercaps here. In the third level we merely passed through. In the fourth we cleared all the wyverns out. We finally came to the mine entrance where we were beset by more assassins. Hooleyrath casted web, managing to ensnare all 4 enemies. Ajantis equipped Spider's Bane as Holleyrath and Branwen used their ranged weapons and the enemies soon fell. We then proceeded into the mines.
The first level was merely 2 guards. The next level Holleyrath cleared some traps and then used her wand of fear on a room of guardsmen. The party entered then room, but a few guards had made their saves, including a mage. Ajantis rushed to close on the mage as the others took aim, but the mage got off a lighting bolt spell that felled Ajantis. The mage soon went down to missiles. A scroll of sleep was used to completely pacify the enemies and then they were dispatched as they slept. The party retrieved Ajantis' equipment and proceeded to the next level. On the next level the party was met by yet more guardsmen and hobgoblins. Branwen and Holleyrath and even Holeyrath's pseudo dragon familiar rushed the archers and killed them first. Then the other guards fell to the methodical marksmanship of Holleyrath. They made their way to the bottome level, killing he last guard and confronting Daevorn. Daevorn was brought low by magical arrows and a skeletal warrior. After defeating Daevorn, the party flooded the mine (we saved to slaves).
The party then returned to the FAI (we got a random encounter in cloakwood, but it was the giant spiders, so we just ran), where they had Ajantis restored to life and everyone to health. Here the party identified their new items, sold loot, and rested for 8 hours.
Next they returned to where they had met Ajantis outside of Baldur's Gate and killed many Ankhegs who had killed a local farmers son.
Finally, Baldur's Gate! The party met with Scar and helped him investigate the Seven Suns trading company and a problem with missing people near the sewers. At last they met Duke Eltan who bade them investigate the Iron Throne itself. They managed to work their way to the Iron Throne complex and with sublety get to the top floor, where they met Sarevok's acolytes. The battle that followed was fierce, but the party managed to persevere, although the brave warrior priestess Branwen fell in the combat with a song to Tempus on her lips. We found evidence the Rieltev was en route to Candlekeep, so we left to raise our fallen comrade and report to Duke Eltan, who promptly sent us onto Candlekeep to follow the leaders of the Iron Throne.
In Candlekeep we met with the senior leaders of the Iron Throne, but resisted entering into combat in the sacred halls of our former home. As we were leaving the library, we were arrested for the murder of the very people we had refused to fight! We ended up in the cells and were rescued by Tethoril, but not before finding out they had been framed by Sarevok.
The game was saved in the first room of the catacombs under Candlekeep.
Well, I rolled another five. This time I'm going to try all of them out, in order.
3->2 8->1 13->1 4 - 6 3 4 - 5 20 6 4 3 * I know, ridiculous roll *
Pick: Male Pick: Human Pick: Fighter Kensai
CN 3 Voice4
Coran Quayle Dorn Branwen Mystery
After I picked Human, Fighter, I was hoping for anything but Kensai actually to dual into a Cleric or Druid. Oh well, I'll roll him now and decide whether I'm going for Thief or Mage later when (if) I get there.
Only got a 77 however the exceptional Strength is nice.
Post nº2, Elf Fighter/Thief, Ajantis, Shar-Teel, Edwin, Quayle, Faldorn. SCS installed. Chapter 5, day 37 hour 3.
The party made it to chapter 5. Last time I wrote I had just killed Silke (still chapter 3). I had little money so I thought I could sell some bandit scalps. Went to Larswood and Peldvate (Edwin died to a Call Lighting from one of the crazy druids) and then to bandit camp. After this it was time for Cloakwood. Area 1 is very easy. Cloakwood’s Area 2 is quite more tricky because of “improved spiders”. To begin with, 2 phase spiders appear as soon as you arrive to the area. I managed to kill them and then explored the whole area invisible with my PC F/T looking for traps. Note that he had the potion bag with all antidotes in it.
My PC was far from the party (didn’t move them, I wanted to first clean all traps and then wipe the area) when another phase spider teleported to Edwin’s feet. It’s poison makes 5 damage per second. Edwin died and Shar-Teel followed. To FAI and back.
I wanted the Spider’s Bane sword, so I entered Centeol’s lair (left Edwin outside). I had chant, oil of burning and necklace of missiles ready, but giant spiders now can cast (single-target) webs every few rounds and both Ajantis and Shar-Teel where quickly out of the game. Almost got killed, but 2 potions of freedom (Quayle and my PC), extensive use of wand of monster summoning and my PC’s bow saved the day. To FAI and back again, but now Ajantis has a +2 sword which protects him from hold effects. Would have been much simpler to sneak in, take the sword and drink a potion on invisibility to get out.
When travelling around cloakwood is common to be waylaid by ettercaps. There is always a web trap nearby.
I finally recruited Faldorn, level 5, 22HP and around 15k xp, quite below the rest of the party. Then I went straight to the mines, I had no healing potions so I didn’t take on wyverns. Drasus party was hard. Those fellows are now much smarter and I needed luck (and my whole spell arsenal) to win.
Rezdan charmed Ajantis and I had to wait till his Minor Globe ran out, so I sent some hobgoblins in and moved the party out.
Rezdan was alone and finally died. Rested before going in.
The mines are also tough because of the mages on level 2 and 3. They can cast even level 5 spells like Chaos but it Is worth the risk because they have very important spell scrolls. In level 2 things were chaotic, my PC was running around confused after killing the mage, and there was a room full of guards next door. I was lucky because PC gave the final hit to the mage and chaos effect ran out before it was too late. Edwin drank the red potion from Carnival (25 INT) and inscribed all those important spell scrolls I was keeping. The party rested in every level except the first one.
Ajantis killed Davaeorn. First, I sent some gnolls in to drain some spells/minute meteors from him while the party waited at the entrance. He appeared all buffed up, but this time Edwin had Spell Thrust, which dispel Minor Globe.
So now I’m off to explore the rest of the world map, both to farm xp and some items.
The party is right now (chapter 5, day 37 hour 3)
Baelorin fighter5/thief6 – 43 HP Ajantis paladin 5 – 41HP – died 2 times Shar-Teel fighter 5 – 28HP – died 4 times Edwin conjurer 6 – 26HP – died 3 times Quayle cleric5/illusionist4 – 18HP Faldorn druid 6 – 30HP
It's going really well so far. RP'ing an attractive, happy-go-lucky, adrenaline-junky. with charm and sticky hands has been very fun. Using the potion of speed that I picked up from Imoen, I solo'ed the Ogre and a dire wolf in the beginning. After I picked up Neera (It used to be Monteron that I always rolled, now it's Neera...ugh [I'm a Neera hater]), I leveled (always good to get that early level). I then picked up Tiax, and thought, fuck it, SCS or no, I'll try to take out Silke. Got an interrupt with a wand of magic missles, released Tiax's ghast who then paralyzes Silke multiple times and my party slaughters her (I did waste a command, but oh well). I then pressed my luck and went after Karlat. The potion of defense gave me -6 AC and I was level 2 (giving me 13 hp), so I was a little confident. I managed to not get one-shot, and took him down (unfortunately, I couldn't use the ghast and I couldn't lead Karlat outside).
I'm now almost level 3 and Tiax is almost level 3 thief (Neera started with practically no xp, which is disappointing since I did level right before she talked to me). I'll rest, get gear and head to Naskel next.
I've never played a swashbuckler because I love backstab, but the +AC and hit has some good potential...especially if I can get super AC with potions of defense. I can't wait to get Varscona and hopefully more pips so I can put 3 in dual-wield.
@Dexter, how did you fair in the bandit camp with SCS? What tactics did you use in Tazok's tent? @Mortianna, that sounds like an awesome party/character.
The final chapter of the tale for Holleyrath Huntinghawk, LN elven F/M/T...
When we last left our heroes, they had just been teleported into the catacombs beneath Candlekeep. The managed to fully explore the catacombs and find their way out. They then returned to Baldur's Gate, where they rescued Duke Eltan, obtained Sarevok's diary and killed the pair of assassins hired to kill the last 2 Grand Dukes of Baldur's Gate. After the part rested to regain spells.
After that they crashed a coronation ceremony being held in Sarevok's honor and managed to keep Belt alive. The party along with the Flaming Fist managed to make Sarevok retreat. Belt was able to send the party after Sarevok and in to the thieves maze. This level was completed bringing the party to the abandoned city under Baldur's Gate, where the met some associates of the Iron Throne and a fight ensued. The party managed to beat the 6 enemies, but the brave Ajantis fell in the battle. The party withdrew to a temple to revive Ajantis, heal, and resupply on healing potions. The party then met up with a gnome cleric/illusionist named Quayle, who was happy to tag along with them.
The party once again made their way through the maze and the under-city until the came across a ruined temple. The party entered and there was Sarevok. First the party dealt with Semaj, Sarevok's trusted mage. He was dealt with by Ajantis managing to lure him into several web traps that had gone off upon our entrance. Then a few magic missiles from Quayle and Holleyrath, and a few blows from the strength enhanced Ajantis (storm giant potion and haste) managed to bring the fiend down. Next up was none other than Sarevok himself he rushed at Ajantis and after a brief struggle, killed the initiate of Helm, but not before Quayle could get off a scroll of greater malaison and Branwen a doom spell. Branwen rushed to put herself between Sarevok and Holleyrath, sacrificing herself in order to slay this maddened demi-god. Sarevok was then paralyzed via a wand of paralysis and then a hold person spell almost right in top of it. He was then slain by Holleyrath, Quayle, and a pack of summoned gnolls.
vanilla EE (no mods) no custom (modded) combat scripts (no scripts at all) first legal character rolled (no rolls had to be changed and everything fit) Core Rules auto-pausing (trap found, enemy sighted) heal normally upon rest
Welp, that's it for my run. While clearing out the mines I ran into a mage I didn't remember, and one casting of web and some minute meteorites later my main character died. I'll take a break and try again next week. In the meantime though, congratulations @Fighting_Ferret!
@dstoltzfus I don't do tazok's tent, too risky. I just go to bandit camp on my own and pick a spot for the fight that give me tactical advantage. Then my tank just walk ahead say hello and go back to the party. Bandits sound the alarm and then the whole camp comes after you (including the ones inside tazok's tent), but I'm ready and waiting: web, entangle, grease, hold, glitterdust, blind, oils of burning, necklace of missiles. My archers finish anything still standing. Just be careful with your casters, if they ever get on fire line all bandits will change target and shot them death. I place my tank a little ahead of casters so that he absorbs the ranged fire. Also, don't let the mage do nothing if you can help it, I lost a promising party once after he cast horror. Don't bother with silence, he will cast vocalize right away.
Congrats @Fighting_Ferret, new record! @ICN, yeah those SCS mages are so dangerous!
@ICN How far did you get and in how many days? Best I can see, that effort now belongs at the top of the SCS version of the challenge on the Leader Board.
Finished the Mines and Tranzig along with some extra questing and Basilisk hunting. Currently at Kensai 5 (inactive) -> Mage 4. I told myself "this time dual early at 3-4" but no, had to get greedy. Currently in big trouble with a Vampiric Wolf at Beregost Temple map:
I ran after Dorn died, but the bloody thing followed me inside the temple. I'm hoping I can kill it now with just the two of us.
@Fighting_Ferret Congrats, that's an awesome run. Wanderon and I recall about a dozen years ago a no reload challenge that Wanderon hosted on his forum, and the winner completed the game in 14 days. So it can be done. Good show! You're at the top of the leader board.
@FinneousPJ For this challenge I've now taken to traversing the Song of the Morning Map as close to the side and bottom edges as possible to avoid those blasted vampiric wolves.
@FinneousPJ I try to avoid the wolf like enemies as long as possible until I am a decent level (3+) as their speed will not allow a retreat. And how many no reloads have you seen... [character name] died by wolf.
Comments
My gut feeling, too, is that the offshoot versions such as Roleplayed and No-Meta-gaming, and their various combinations, may be just too difficult for a No-Reload challenge that uses randomly generated parties. So the thought occurred to me that Minimal Reload might be the only way to really make them viable!
The exception to this is SCS by itself (not Roleplayed and fully meta-gamed), which just makes tactics more difficult. Many players can enjoy that as long as they're free to go full-on with the meta-gaming.
Although the hallmark of 'Let the Fates Decide' is using cards and dice, I'm playing it also Minimal Reload (PC death only), and that has given the game that feeling of danger one gets with No-Reload. However there is considerably less restriction on party members (who is encountered and may join--as well as whether a NPC gets resurrected--is determined primarily by roleplaying, and secondarily by turning a card). I feel like in that game I've found there's a nice sweet spot for danger/tension because it is balanced by the certainty that I can complete the game. And, as mentioned, the method also imposes some limitations on who may join. But that's still a far cry from the Random Generation model in which we're limited strictly to the characters we roll. And again, that may just prove too difficult to be fun when even more restrictions are added in via RP and/or No-Meta-gaming.
Another thing to consider is that if you earnestly roleplay all the characters according to alignment/backstory/banters, including your own vision of the PC, then a lot of these random generated parties really have no business forming to begin with. For example, would a LG paladin really add Dorn to her party? No! At best, you'd have to come up with some sort of very twisted logic to make these parties work RP-wise. And that basically undermines the integrity of roleplaying! (Trying to fit a square peg into a round hole, etc.)
The 'Roleplayed & No-Meta-gaming' approach is really about deepening immersion and interactivity with the story itself. You're then enjoying a lot of creative fun with how the story develops. (Although interesting tactical challenges do arise as a byproduct of that.) And in order to maintain the integrity of that experience, my sense now is that it's best not to impose onto it the party structure model that we use in this challenge.
So... one possibility is for our challenge here to have only the following categories:
Classic
EEKeepered PCs Allowed
SCS
And I guess maybe we can still brainstorm a bit as to whether there is some satisfying way to integrate the random generation method with RP, No-Meta-gaming, and Using Cards & Dice. Perhaps some way can be dreamt up.
What SCS version do you use? In my install I saw no component that allows to choose NPC's proficiencies or abilities (I think that was a component of the mod Level1NPC for BG2). What I do is I usually pick fighters and thieves as early as I can so I can develop their abilities, and pick the mages later on when they are higher level. Who needs a level 2-7HP Xan anyway?
Taking screenshots is really easy, just hit the "print screen" key and they are automagically copied (bmp) in the "ScrnShot" game folder (in windows7 it is C:\Users\your_user\Documents\Baldur's Gate - Enhanced Edition\ScrnShot)
The PC and Branwen went to the mines, but not before collecting the wand of frost and getting Varsconia from Greywolf ( 1 cast of hold person did the trick).
In the mines the level 4/3/4 F/M/T and level 5 Branwen literally cut a bloody swath through he kobold infestation. When we arrived at Maulahey, Branwen cast silence 15 foot radius and it was successful.
*Here is the strange part... I'm guessing due to the silence effect, he couldn't initiate dialogue, so we forced attacked him and he never even fought back. *
We left the mines and made our way back to Nashkel. We first vistited the temple to have items identified, then the store to sell some loot, and finally we met Nimbul, who died after 1 use of the now identified wand of frost (made him panic) then 1 arrow from the F/M/T.
We then made our way to the gnoll stronghold (this was a big time hit, as it placed us 2 days over our expected timeline, but we were able to get the gauntlests of dexterity adn the tome of leadership and influence (both for our next addition, Ajantis.)
We then headed to Beregost (44 hour trip) and did a few quests here (and stole Ajantis the +1 Bastard Sword from the smithy (Even at 0200 hours all the people were i the smithy, so I had to lift it right in front of them... three flaming fist enforcers were called in, but I was able to slip behind some boxes and hide in the shadows to leave without confrontation or rep loss!)
We then made our way to the FAI where we killed Tarnesh (1st arrow and sling stone). Here we retrieved the evermemory ring and rested for 8 hours to replenish spells.
Next we went north and recruited Ajantis. We then shuffled some inventory around and went on to kill every ankheg we could see... going north from here opened up the bandit camp.
We had considered sneaking in, but decided to go with a full frontal assault. Bandits dropped like flies to the deadly marksmanship skills of F/M/T, Branwen's sling stones, and Ajantis' blade. We came across the leaded of the black talon, a huge man in full plate armor and wielding a nasty war hamer, he was dispatched without blinking as Branwen cast hold person (she got him and 3 near by bandits with one spell) and the party then cleaned up the immobilized enemies. Having then looted the entire camp, the party went into the largest tent and were confronted by 4 guards. The fight was over in moments, as a horror spell cast by F/M/T knocked 3 of the combatants out of the fight as they ran trying to flee. The last opponent (the hobgoblin archer) was quickly subdued by Ajantis as the fleeing guards were quickly slain by the arrows and sling stones of F/M/T and Branwen (mage, gnoll, human).
The party looted the fallen enemies and found out that Tazok had fled to the Cloakwood forest.
The game was saved here at 9 days 6 hours.
Party F/M/T lvl 4/4/5, Branwen lvl 5, Ajantis lvl 5
Right now this party seem really solid. Ajantis with fullplate, the gauntlets of dexterity, a ring of protection, a +1 medium shield and his innate protection from evil is a great tank. Branwen is in ankheg plate, also carries a +1 medium shield, and a ring of protection, with a natural dexterity of 16. F/M/T is currently in plate mail, with a ring of protection, and a 19 in dexterity. Even as a multi-class her THAC0 is really good as an elf using lonbows/longswords, especially now she has the longbow of marksmanship. Now if I can just keep a good pace going forward and get everyone to at least level 7... (cloudkill will not get me this time, I hope)
Chapter 3, 16 days. The party is Ajantis and Shar-Teel (fron liners), Faldorn (don't have her yet), Quayle and Edwin (spellcasters). I've had a very crappy HP rolls for both Ajantis (lvl4-31HP) and Shar-teel (lvl4-24HP) and neither of them are good tanks. Ajantis gets hit ALL the time, just bad luck, because his AC is -6, but it seems that every gibberling out there just love to critical hit him. He already died to Val and Zal and I had to bought potions of healing since Quayle hasn't that many cleric spells.
F/T are a fun class to play, they rock with longbow and can score a nice backstab now and then.
Now some screenshots, first one my PC:
A stormy night. Seriosly, this happens every time it rains or what?
Area north of gnoll fortress is a melee intense one, not worth exploring...
After Edwin killed Dynaheir the party return to Nashkel. I suddenly read in the combat log "Minsc attack Amnish soldier". My PC went to have a look and, I guess because the party killed Dynaheir, Minsc had gone hostile! Out of respect I did nothing, but eventually the soldiers overwhelmed him. Good ol' Minsc killed 3 or 4 of them.
This time the party had a hard time killing Nimbul. Emotion is a nifty spell, SCS make wizards very dangerous...
Last thing I did, killing Silke. Not very difficult at this level and 5 party members, BUT, when she was near death she used a minor spell sequencer (2x acid arrow) on Edwin. Edwin had a morale failure, I couldn't heal him and died to the next round acid damage. Men, I'm starting to think there's no way to no-reload finish the game
First Random
Maglynn Fletcher
Female Human
Fighter (no kit)
LE
Forget how many rolls, stats are:
18/95
18
18
9
7
7
Default voice (I chose it; shouldn’t the default be an option?)
Party is
Dynaheir
Minsc
Quayle
Shar-Teel
Kivan
--
It is time to break from our travels. It feels like a tenday since I left Candlekeep but it has only been 5 days. In that time …
Funny how things always begin at the beginning. I awoke, and after Gorion told me we would be leaving, I bought some darts, a mace, and a shield. I would outfit myself with armor from the armory.
I went about my chores – well, I call them chores. Sweeping up the Inn and removing any valuables from the rooms ... it is the duty of the strong to take from the week; how else shall they learn to protect what they value with strength?
Unfortunately, one of the visiting nobles saw me going about my business and called a guard. The Watcher could not be reasoned with. In retrospect, calling someone an uppity bald virgin is probably a good way to start a fight.
He chased me around the keep but I think I managed to deflect any of the onlookers with my taunts and flirtatious comments. The Watcher chased me into one of the guest houses – to my good fortune. There was a thug in there, looking for me for whatever reason, whom I dispatched rather easily, and then there was the Watcher. The fool must have forgotten that I *am* the Candlekeep dart champion.
After the Watcher died, I reclaimed my darts and used the idiot thug’s dagger to perforate the Watcher’s face where my darts had pierced him. Crushed the thug’s head with the Watchers quarterstaff. Waited a few minutes, then screamed for help.
Parda came rushing in and comforted me. I explained that I’d wanted one taste of this specific Watcher before I left Candlekeep – and I went into detail. The prude hushed me up and told me to move on. To get out of Candlekeep quickly. There were evil men about, blah blah. When she left for the rest of the Watchers, I took his armor and ran over to Gorion. We left when the Watchers were on their way into the guest house.
Alas for Gorion. While his kindness in general is foolish, it has benefited me. He sacrificed his life for mine, fighting off a fiend in horned armor who came to claim me for his own. I will not forget that – and will punish that man. He will pay life for life. Bane, grant me vengeance.
Imoen tried to help me the next morning. Snuck out of Candlekeep, she said. I robbed her blind and told her to get lost. She could have told me there was danger and instead chose to lie to my face while Gorion and I were leaving the keep. Truly, her knowledge would not have prevented Gorion’s death, but I cannot abide disloyalty and dishonesty. Should she survive the ordeal, she will thank me. I was merciful.
--
That’s it for now! On Day 5, 20 hours, heading to the Gnoll Fortress. I’ll follow up as I get time to write about my adventures.
You could try a dual-class with the Pick Race Thief. Thief -> Cleric with that party..? lol it'd be interesting
@Dexter My bad on the npc component. I keep a tab open to the SCS readme where it's listed as one of the features, but I guess it hasn't made it into the current version yet. Thank you for the help with screenshots.
I've had a fair amount of free time lately, so I was able to get another good session today. I was considering doing a roleplay thing, but this post will be long as is.
Picking up at the Firewine Bridge, I killed Melium in a 5 on 1 "duel" and then went to the Nashkel circus. We took care of Zordral, and then proceeded to Nashkel itself. We returned a ring, received our honors from the mayor, and killed Nimbul. After that I rolled on up to Bassilus's area, killed the man himself, the hobgoblin with the nice sword, and rescued a talking chicken. Emergency rations well in hand, the group continued on to the lighthouse area where we saved a boy from some wargs and looted the treasure cave. My PC is finally regenerating which was quite helpful. At that point the business with Melicamp was resolved (he lived), and the bounty on Bassilus was turned in. The party picked up it's order of Ankheg armor from the blacksmith at that point, as well as buying the Shadow Armor. At that point we killed Tranzig, and bluffed our way into the Bandit Camp through the guards in Peldvale.
Tazok's tent was the most difficult battle by that point. The party went in with haste and resist fear up, my PC had his rage going, and Baeloth had shield and mirror image. Baeloth died quickly to the archers inside, which ruined any hope of taking on the rest of the bandits outside. Shar-Teel nearly went down, but a heal by Viconia brought her out of the danger zone. Charname quaffed a potion of swiftness and the bandits finally started going down which turned the tables. I finally remembered to nab a screenshot at the end.
After the blindness wore off of Shar-Teel and Charname, I went outside to discuss the matter of an armor transaction with Taughauz. After a spirited debate left Montaron dead at the hand's of Taughauz's crushing rhetoric, the surviving members of the party quaffed invisibility potions and limped back to the Friendly Arm. Once the dead members of the party had been revived and brought back to full strength, it was off to Cloakwood. In the interest of length, I'll skip to the part where Shar-Teel died in the Wyvern den and we had to walk all the way back to the Friendly Arm, getting ambushed twice. Another day of R&R and it was back to the last area of Cloakwood.
At this point we finally came to Drasus's group, which proved to be quite the challenge. But by the power of cheese, hasty retreats, and a fair amount of luck we emerged victorious. No one died, but things came close to cascading to an end.
Anyways, after all that Charname (and only Charname) leveled up. The time is around 40 days at this point.
And wow, that post was longer than I thought it would be.
2564 722
Male, Half-Elf, Diviner, Lawful-Evil, 2 re-rolls, Male 1 voice, Dagger proficiency
Ability Scores (78): 8 / 16 / 8 / 18 / 16 / 12 (need Friends scroll!)
Since he's a Half-Elf Diviner from Candlekeep who spent most of his time inside the library, I think I can justify his scores.
Name (random from WotC): Zanneiros Loreweaver (I'm shortening it to just his first name, although "Loreweaver is pretty spot-on for his class)
I really lucked out on my party rolls:
Edwin (perfect compliment for a Diviner)
Faldorn (I never use her, so it'll be a nice change of pace. Plus, she's basically NE anyway)
Viconia (Nice to see you again, Vickie)
Shar-Teel (Well, I know now who my thief will be)
Dorn (Oh yeah. That's what I'm talkin' about)
Starting spells: Identify, Protection from Evil, Sleep
(I'm so glad I didn't get Infravision as my specialty school spell, especially since he's a half-elf.)
Now, if I can just make it to Peldvale to pick up Viconia without getting whacked by some low-life bandit...
Folks are still free to journal their playthroughs in first person for the PC, of course.
Also, for the Classic rules, with respect to using auto-pause (any mode) and heal fully upon rest... I do believe that a 'purist' version of the challenge should place as much control of the game as possible in the hands of the player as a measure of the player's skill, versus letting the game engine do things for you; and re: healing that makes you rely solely on resources acquired in the game, such as healing powers and potions.
Therefore, "Preferred" I have changed to "Purist." The best score for a "Purist" run will trump game settings that make the game easier. And similarly, if someone sets the difficulty slider to higher than Core that will trump "Purist."
"Purist":
vanilla EE (no mods)
no custom (modded) combat scripts
best of five rolls
Core Rules
no auto-pausing (any mode)
heal normally upon rest
We returned to the FAI to identify and sell our loot. We also purchased several healing potions and antidiote poison potions.
The party now moved into the cloakwood forest. In the first area we fought a group of tasloi and won a cloak of non-detection. We skipped the druid/hunter quest here and moved into the second level where we cleaned house on all the spiders and ettercaps here. In the third level we merely passed through. In the fourth we cleared all the wyverns out. We finally came to the mine entrance where we were beset by more assassins. Hooleyrath casted web, managing to ensnare all 4 enemies. Ajantis equipped Spider's Bane as Holleyrath and Branwen used their ranged weapons and the enemies soon fell. We then proceeded into the mines.
The first level was merely 2 guards. The next level Holleyrath cleared some traps and then used her wand of fear on a room of guardsmen. The party entered then room, but a few guards had made their saves, including a mage. Ajantis rushed to close on the mage as the others took aim, but the mage got off a lighting bolt spell that felled Ajantis. The mage soon went down to missiles. A scroll of sleep was used to completely pacify the enemies and then they were dispatched as they slept. The party retrieved Ajantis' equipment and proceeded to the next level. On the next level the party was met by yet more guardsmen and hobgoblins. Branwen and Holleyrath and even Holeyrath's pseudo dragon familiar rushed the archers and killed them first. Then the other guards fell to the methodical marksmanship of Holleyrath. They made their way to the bottome level, killing he last guard and confronting Daevorn. Daevorn was brought low by magical arrows and a skeletal warrior. After defeating Daevorn, the party flooded the mine (we saved to slaves).
The party then returned to the FAI (we got a random encounter in cloakwood, but it was the giant spiders, so we just ran), where they had Ajantis restored to life and everyone to health. Here the party identified their new items, sold loot, and rested for 8 hours.
Next they returned to where they had met Ajantis outside of Baldur's Gate and killed many Ankhegs who had killed a local farmers son.
Finally, Baldur's Gate! The party met with Scar and helped him investigate the Seven Suns trading company and a problem with missing people near the sewers. At last they met Duke Eltan who bade them investigate the Iron Throne itself. They managed to work their way to the Iron Throne complex and with sublety get to the top floor, where they met Sarevok's acolytes. The battle that followed was fierce, but the party managed to persevere, although the brave warrior priestess Branwen fell in the combat with a song to Tempus on her lips. We found evidence the Rieltev was en route to Candlekeep, so we left to raise our fallen comrade and report to Duke Eltan, who promptly sent us onto Candlekeep to follow the leaders of the Iron Throne.
In Candlekeep we met with the senior leaders of the Iron Throne, but resisted entering into combat in the sacred halls of our former home. As we were leaving the library, we were arrested for the murder of the very people we had refused to fight! We ended up in the cells and were rescued by Tethoril, but not before finding out they had been framed by Sarevok.
The game was saved in the first room of the catacombs under Candlekeep.
Time Day: 16 Hour: 9
Holleyrath: level 5/4/5
Ajantis: level 6
Branwen level 6
(To be continued...)
3->2 8->1 13->1 4 - 6 3 4 - 5 20 6 4 3 * I know, ridiculous roll *
Pick: Male
Pick: Human
Pick: Fighter
Kensai
CN
3
Voice4
Coran
Quayle
Dorn
Branwen
Mystery
After I picked Human, Fighter, I was hoping for anything but Kensai actually to dual into a Cleric or Druid. Oh well, I'll roll him now and decide whether I'm going for Thief or Mage later when (if) I get there.
Only got a 77 however the exceptional Strength is nice.
1 6 13->12 1 - 9 10 3 - 26 23 9 18 29
Female
Dwarf
Multi
F/T
CE
10
Voice3
Viconia
Shar-Teel
Eldoth
Montaron
Yeslick
1 3 8 5->4 - 3 10 7 - 17 2 18 7 11
Female
Half-elf
Bard
Pick: Skald
CG
10
Voice:pick
Minsc
Alora
Montaron
Dynaheir
Garrick
2 6 12 2 - 9 1 7 - 1 27 22 26 8
Male
Dwarf
Multi
F/C
CE
1
Voice:pick
Ajantis
Xan
Safana
Viconia
Edwin
1 6 1 5 - 9 7 7 - 6 3 11 21 26
Female
Dwarf
Fighter
Dwarven Defender
CE
7
Voice:pick
Dorn
Mystery
Garrick
Rasaad
Viconia
Chapter 5, day 37 hour 3.
The party made it to chapter 5. Last time I wrote I had just killed Silke (still chapter 3). I had little money so I thought I could sell some bandit scalps. Went to Larswood and Peldvate (Edwin died to a Call Lighting from one of the crazy druids) and then to bandit camp.
After this it was time for Cloakwood. Area 1 is very easy.
Cloakwood’s Area 2 is quite more tricky because of “improved spiders”. To begin with, 2 phase spiders appear as soon as you arrive to the area. I managed to kill them and then explored the whole area invisible with my PC F/T looking for traps. Note that he had the potion bag with all antidotes in it.
My PC was far from the party (didn’t move them, I wanted to first clean all traps and then wipe the area) when another phase spider teleported to Edwin’s feet. It’s poison makes 5 damage per second. Edwin died and Shar-Teel followed. To FAI and back.
I wanted the Spider’s Bane sword, so I entered Centeol’s lair (left Edwin outside). I had chant, oil of burning and necklace of missiles ready, but giant spiders now can cast (single-target) webs every few rounds and both Ajantis and Shar-Teel where quickly out of the game. Almost got killed, but 2 potions of freedom (Quayle and my PC), extensive use of wand of monster summoning and my PC’s bow saved the day. To FAI and back again, but now Ajantis has a +2 sword which protects him from hold effects. Would have been much simpler to sneak in, take the sword and drink a potion on invisibility to get out.
When travelling around cloakwood is common to be waylaid by ettercaps. There is always a web trap nearby.
I finally recruited Faldorn, level 5, 22HP and around 15k xp, quite below the rest of the party.
Then I went straight to the mines, I had no healing potions so I didn’t take on wyverns. Drasus party was hard. Those fellows are now much smarter and I needed luck (and my whole spell arsenal) to win.
Rezdan charmed Ajantis and I had to wait till his Minor Globe ran out, so I sent some hobgoblins in and moved the party out.
Rezdan was alone and finally died. Rested before going in.
The mines are also tough because of the mages on level 2 and 3. They can cast even level 5 spells like Chaos but it Is worth the risk because they have very important spell scrolls.
In level 2 things were chaotic, my PC was running around confused after killing the mage, and there was a room full of guards next door. I was lucky because PC gave the final hit to the mage and chaos effect ran out before it was too late. Edwin drank the red potion from Carnival (25 INT) and inscribed all those important spell scrolls I was keeping. The party rested in every level except the first one.
Ajantis killed Davaeorn. First, I sent some gnolls in to drain some spells/minute meteors from him while the party waited at the entrance. He appeared all buffed up, but this time Edwin had Spell Thrust, which dispel Minor Globe.
So now I’m off to explore the rest of the world map, both to farm xp and some items.
The party is right now (chapter 5, day 37 hour 3)
Baelorin fighter5/thief6 – 43 HP
Ajantis paladin 5 – 41HP – died 2 times
Shar-Teel fighter 5 – 28HP – died 4 times
Edwin conjurer 6 – 26HP – died 3 times
Quayle cleric5/illusionist4 – 18HP
Faldorn druid 6 – 30HP
Sorry long post!
Stothana Catslove
Female
Elf
Swashbuckler
Chaotic Good
9 Re-rolls: 12, 19, 16, 15, 10, 16
4,19,7,25,26
4 - Branwen
19 - Neera
7 - Dynaheir
25 - Tiax
26 - Viconia
It's going really well so far. RP'ing an attractive, happy-go-lucky, adrenaline-junky. with charm and sticky hands has been very fun. Using the potion of speed that I picked up from Imoen, I solo'ed the Ogre and a dire wolf in the beginning. After I picked up Neera (It used to be Monteron that I always rolled, now it's Neera...ugh [I'm a Neera hater]), I leveled (always good to get that early level). I then picked up Tiax, and thought, fuck it, SCS or no, I'll try to take out Silke. Got an interrupt with a wand of magic missles, released Tiax's ghast who then paralyzes Silke multiple times and my party slaughters her (I did waste a command, but oh well). I then pressed my luck and went after Karlat. The potion of defense gave me -6 AC and I was level 2 (giving me 13 hp), so I was a little confident. I managed to not get one-shot, and took him down (unfortunately, I couldn't use the ghast and I couldn't lead Karlat outside).
I'm now almost level 3 and Tiax is almost level 3 thief (Neera started with practically no xp, which is disappointing since I did level right before she talked to me). I'll rest, get gear and head to Naskel next.
I've never played a swashbuckler because I love backstab, but the +AC and hit has some good potential...especially if I can get super AC with potions of defense. I can't wait to get Varscona and hopefully more pips so I can put 3 in dual-wield.
music for the character: Mozart violin concertos!
@Mortianna, that sounds like an awesome party/character.
When we last left our heroes, they had just been teleported into the catacombs beneath Candlekeep. The managed to fully explore the catacombs and find their way out. They then returned to Baldur's Gate, where they rescued Duke Eltan, obtained Sarevok's diary and killed the pair of assassins hired to kill the last 2 Grand Dukes of Baldur's Gate. After the part rested to regain spells.
After that they crashed a coronation ceremony being held in Sarevok's honor and managed to keep Belt alive. The party along with the Flaming Fist managed to make Sarevok retreat. Belt was able to send the party after Sarevok and in to the thieves maze. This level was completed bringing the party to the abandoned city under Baldur's Gate, where the met some associates of the Iron Throne and a fight ensued. The party managed to beat the 6 enemies, but the brave Ajantis fell in the battle. The party withdrew to a temple to revive Ajantis, heal, and resupply on healing potions. The party then met up with a gnome cleric/illusionist named Quayle, who was happy to tag along with them.
The party once again made their way through the maze and the under-city until the came across a ruined temple. The party entered and there was Sarevok. First the party dealt with Semaj, Sarevok's trusted mage. He was dealt with by Ajantis managing to lure him into several web traps that had gone off upon our entrance. Then a few magic missiles from Quayle and Holleyrath, and a few blows from the strength enhanced Ajantis (storm giant potion and haste) managed to bring the fiend down. Next up was none other than Sarevok himself he rushed at Ajantis and after a brief struggle, killed the initiate of Helm, but not before Quayle could get off a scroll of greater malaison and Branwen a doom spell. Branwen rushed to put herself between Sarevok and Holleyrath, sacrificing herself in order to slay this maddened demi-god. Sarevok was then paralyzed via a wand of paralysis and then a hold person spell almost right in top of it. He was then slain by Holleyrath, Quayle, and a pack of summoned gnolls.
Victory!
Time: 18 days 14 hours
Party: Holleyrath Huntinghawk (6 Fighter/5 Mage/6 Thief), Ajantis (7 Paladin) - dead,
Branwen (7 Cleric) -dead, and Qualyle (6 Cleric/5 Illutionist)
vanilla EE (no mods)
no custom (modded) combat scripts (no scripts at all)
first legal character rolled (no rolls had to be changed and everything fit)
Core Rules
auto-pausing (trap found, enemy sighted)
heal normally upon rest
Just be careful with your casters, if they ever get on fire line all bandits will change target and shot them death. I place my tank a little ahead of casters so that he absorbs the ranged fire.
Also, don't let the mage do nothing if you can help it, I lost a promising party once after he cast horror. Don't bother with silence, he will cast vocalize right away.
Congrats @Fighting_Ferret, new record!
@ICN, yeah those SCS mages are so dangerous!
Finished the Mines and Tranzig along with some extra questing and Basilisk hunting. Currently at Kensai 5 (inactive) -> Mage 4. I told myself "this time dual early at 3-4" but no, had to get greedy. Currently in big trouble with a Vampiric Wolf at Beregost Temple map:
I ran after Dorn died, but the bloody thing followed me inside the temple. I'm hoping I can kill it now with just the two of us.