The Best Stronghold in BG2?

stkaye

I'm getting really excited about BG2:EE, and I'm pretty sure I'm going to plan my first playthrough based on the stronghold that I'm most keen to pick up. Help me out by sharing your views in this poll, and your thoughts below.

Think of it this way - which one would you pick if you didn't use an exploit/mod to pick up more than one? It's a fair bet that the first BG2EE playthrough will be without any such mods - we'll be stuck with the class-appropriate stronghold - so the decision is pretty significant.

Actually, if anyone remembers the built-in exploits for getting more than one stronghold, I'd love to hear about them. I seem to remember that it was easier to accomplish with a dual-classed character than with a multi... something like that.

So: What's your favourite stronghold, and why? Is the quest to gain the stronghold fun? Are the bonus quests unlocked when you own it any good? How about the procedural stuff - is it interesting to run, does it include fun interactions, is it convenient or does it tend to interrupt what you're doing? Decent income? Well-written?

Southpaw

I'll stay true to Thieves, so...my own Thieves guild is awesome. But the Bard's and Mage's strongholds are cool as well.
(first!)

stkaye

Yeah, I don't think I ever ran through all the quests associated with it, but the thieves' guild is a lot of fun.

Malicron

I usually go with mage, and thus the planar sphere, but I found the bard stronghold to be the most enjoyable.

Tresset

Don't count on having any exploits to pick up more than one stronghold. We will likely fix such issues before releasing BG2:EE.

Having not had all the strongholds before I think the best one I have played with is the mage one because it gives you some really nice items and has a nice story I guess. Thief stronghold is kinda interesting but it is like one quest and then all it does is make money for you. Fighter is the only other one I had and it's ok I guess, but you put far more money into it than you can make from it.

KidCarnival

I tried all with a little "all strongholds regardless of class" cheating just to see them once. Thief is the one I legally take, but I also like bard and mage.

stkaye

Tresset said:

Don't count on having any exploits to pick up more than one stronghold. We will likely fix such issues before releasing BG2:EE.

Hey, well, you know guys... you can let a *few* of these bugs through. We won't be mad.

Tresset

stkaye said:

Tresset said:

Don't count on having any exploits to pick up more than one stronghold. We will likely fix such issues before releasing BG2:EE.

Hey, well, you know guys... you can let a *few* of these bugs through. We won't be mad.

We are hired to find and squash all bugs and we are very good at our job. I know some bugs are liked more than others but many of us are very relentless and merciless in our hunt.

There should be a mod that will allow you to get more than one stronghold though.

stkaye

I kind of think of it as a 'bug' that you're not allowed to pick up as many strongholds as you like on any given playthrough. I mean, yes, maybe a few exceptions for RP reasons (radical alignment clash or skill shortfall, for example), but I can't really think of any good gameplay reasons to restrict the player more than that.

But yes, there'll be a mod.

SamuelVarg

The keep with a monk as the ruler.

the_spyder

Anyone here think that once you get the stronghold, you should be able to rest in it without getting the 'Dungeon rest' screen?

demented

I enjoyed the Planar Sphere but it has to be the thief stronghold for the amount of gold you can make and because I've always wanted to run a group of thieves.

Nifft

the_spyder said:

Anyone here think that once you get the stronghold, you should be able to rest in it without getting the 'Dungeon rest' screen?

That would be a nice little enhancement.

I'd expect my henchmen, hirelings, footpads, scouts, understudies, acolytes and/or apprentices to keep spiders, rats, and random glowing eyes out of my stronghold.

the_spyder

Nifft said:

the_spyder said:

Anyone here think that once you get the stronghold, you should be able to rest in it without getting the 'Dungeon rest' screen?

That would be a nice little enhancement.

I'd expect my henchmen, hirelings, footpads, scouts, understudies, acolytes and/or apprentices to keep spiders, rats, and random glowing eyes out of my stronghold.

Then again, you still get the 'Rat' scene even if you stay in the 'Royal' accommodations in taverns. LOL.

But seriously, I think this would be a nice enhancement. You do take over and presumably have your own living quarters. Clear out the cobwebs, slap some paint on the walls, a few throw pillows. The place could be quite nice for a Planar Sphere. Just sayin.

OzzyBotkins

Having your own playhouse is awesome
but you can also get the keep with the Nalia Romance mod

stkaye

Bit surprised that the ranger and cleric strongholds aren't getting much love. I seem to remember enjoying the ranger thing, though it re-used a dungeon (which is never good). And I've never done the cleric stronghold, but I always thought there were some real fans out there.

PugPug

The bard one is fun and can get you a nice harp. The mage one is kind of fun, too, and you get some good items.

The thief one is kind of dull and relies too much on random chance, I think. I read that someone did the math and determined that going high-risk across the board averages the best gold return.

The cleric one is kind of meh all around, though it's kind of neat that you get exactly the same decisions to make for all three alignments (deities), and the correct answers are the only things that change.

I haven't done the other ones.

PugPug

Also, the Pally stronghold quest fails hard in that the quest itself fails if you kill Firkraag before being sent to kill him. I hope they fix that bug.

the_spyder

PugPug said:

The thief one is kind of dull and relies too much on random chance, I think. I read that someone did the math and determined that going high-risk across the board averages the best gold return.

There are elements of risk in the Mage Stronghold (Planar Sphere) as well. It's kind of funny when your apprentices 'Fail' in performing one of the tests. You still get the outcome, but......

Malicron

the_spyder said:

There are elements of risk in the Mage Stronghold (Planar Sphere) as well. It's kind of funny when your apprentices 'Fail' in performing one of the tests. You still get the outcome, but......

I've had some very lonely graduation ceremonies.

the_spyder

@Malicron - my most recent play through, graduation was called on account of complete lack of graduating students. We threw a party anyway and toasted the fallen with fireworks from my shiny new staff.

Oxford_Guy

The Bard one is the most fun IMHO

[Deleted User]

I like the Cleric and the Ranger strongholds for when I want to speed through Chapter 2 and so don't want to be hanging around waiting for the next event to pop, but when it comes to my enjoyment of actually playing through the stronghold, Bard takes the top spot. Fighter comes in second by virtue of being the only other stronghold with a lengthy plot line.

CoM_Solaufein

Fighter. I always wanted my own castle.

AaronDemoncia

Mage, the Thieves guild is most profitable, but money QUICKLY becomes a non-issue and swiftly becomes an irrelivency, where the mages' guild gives items. so yay items ^^

[Deleted User]

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[Deleted User]

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DJKajuru

Call me old school - I would love to have my own castle.

CoM_Solaufein

A man's home is his castle.

Xar105

bard and mage stronghold are really great too, but thieves stronghold is for me the best.

BelgarathMTH

You know, in all the years I've played BG, I've never stuck with one of my bard characters long enough to actually see the play I was producing. Are there different play performances based on the choices you make? (Going cheap vs. putting all your spare gold in, choice of actors, etc.)