BG2:EE Export Cloak of Balduran

DarkDogg

Dear BG:EE Team, Beamdog and Overhaul and Trent.
Me and many BG fans would like to see the Cloak of Balduran in BG2:EE. No idea why the cloak wasn't availible in the original Bg2 game, just like the helmet of Balduran. The cloak is not just a fancy and powerfull item, but a base storyline item in BG1, a piece of Balduran's armor set. Later in the game we have an opportunity to get a full Balduran armor set (the armor and the shield in adventurers markt), but still the set is not complete without the cloak. I know, there will be a lot of new items in BG2:EE. But please put the Cloak of Balduran into the game too. Either exporting it via BG1 savefiles or buying it from a shopkeeper like other parts.

Baldur's Gate fan.

[Deleted User]

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Shin

I believe it's generally just considered a little too powerful for an import, given the importance of magic (as used against your party) in BG2 and how it can combine with other items to grant any character a significant MR.

On the other hand, it's not like there aren't already a bunch of quite overpowered/cheesy items in the game, so overall it may not be such a big deal. Anyway, if you want it, the BG2SoA items mod (http://www.shsforums.net/topic/18688-bg2soa-items-mod/) can bring it over for you.

O_Bruce

I don't care if it is in game or not. But, if its going to be implemented, make it hard to obtain, since it's powerful.

KidCarnival

Shandyr said:

I actually agree, because I just like the thought of having a complete Balduran Set.

Though the golden sword of Balduran would still be missing (and his butter knife).

Yet you are missing at least one poll option for those who disagree.
I feel this is not an unbiased poll.

("Do not care" is not the same as being opposed to the idea)

As a paladin of Helm, I completely agree. It is nice to have full sets, but it is also nice to have a poll that includes all options.

elminster

This seems rather lacking when it comes to poll choices.

sarevok57

as @Shin said, it is an incredibly powerful item, it was great for bg1 because there is only 2 items in the game that gave MR ( cloak of balduran and the robes of the archmagi ) so that was there answer for MR, in SoA there is actually quite a few items that give MR and the cloak would make that MR sky rocket, and since SoA and ToB are such heavy magic games, it would be very powerful to have ( plus just the cloak of mirroring by itself is already to damn good, It makes the battle against irenicus a joke) now I love the cloak of balduran but for it to be in the second game? seems a little much, unless of coarse they change it ( instead of 25% MR bring it down to 10%, ) if they did that then I can see that being much better, just like the sword of balduran, they completely revamped it in SoA compared to its TotSC counterpart ( and even the sword of balduran gives you MR, maybe that was their idea for the fact that the cloak wasn't in the game?)

ogreb

Too many OPed items in BG 2 as is.
BG 2 is a cakewalk compared to BG due to all the MR ( among other things ) stuff laying around.
I vote NO !

It's like consolizing a great RPG into mediocrity and boredom.

I would not mind seeing some already in game stuff removed.

I am biased due to my gnomes insane STs though.

If the cloak is added that can make anyone totally immune to magic....yawn !

DarkDogg

Ok. My fault - I added a poll. Actually it's not about the poll and forum choices or trolling here, it's rather a small fan request, just like it was with an evil thief NPC long time ago.
Well, the thief NPC is already in the game...

elminster said:

This seems rather lacking when it comes to poll choices.

Where have you been earlier?
http://forum.baldursgate.com/discussion/15334/cloak-of-balduran-in-bg2-ee/p1

Arctic

well you can do de pause / drop think , or add it by cluaconsole, the item is in the game files in bg2, ofcourse it will be better if it is in the same place as the helm if you imported it

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DarkDogg

Arctic said:

well you can do de pause / drop think , or add it by cluaconsole, the item is in the game files in bg2, ofcourse it will be better if it is in the same place as the helm if you imported it

I think that trick will not be working in BG2EE anymore.

DreadKhan

Well, the bg2 version could instead set mr like Carsomyr... Yes, you can work around it, but as it is I'm pretty sure you can already get inane mr with monks or rogues using uai, though hopefully Kangax won't be supplying 2 rings anymore! such a tempting abuse!

DarkDogg

Well, if you want you can say that almost every magic item is overpowered in BG or hysterics about the cleric\ranger class.

Nerving the mag resistance is a good idea indeed.
Cloak of Balduran is a must in BG2:EE IMO.

scriver

If it's added, it shouldn't be lootable in Irenicus' Dungeonus. Beginning the game with both the helmet and the cloak is just too powerful.

DarkDogg

scriver said:

If it's added, it shouldn't be lootable in Irenicus' Dungeonus. Beginning the game with both the helmet and the cloak is just too powerful.

Of course. It could be looted from an NPC, for example in the Agerons estate (?), where the guy with the Celestial Fury katana is.

Or Ribald is selling the cloak for 15.000 gp. The best way imho

O_Bruce

That powerful cloak fot 15,000 gp? Laughable.

karnor00

Personally I don't think it should be in the standard BG2 because it wasn't in the original BG2 game and there's nothing to indicate that this was an accidental omission or bug. Adding it simply because it's a powerful item that people want isn't a good enough reason in my opinion.

If people want to mod/console it into their own game then they are welcome to do that.

And incidentally, it's a terrible poll.

DarkDogg

karnor00 said:

If people want to mod/console it into their own game then they are welcome to do that.

It's not about the original game, but Enchanted Edition. EE is a huge mod itself.
So why do we buy it? There are 3 powerfull NPCs, not from the original story, tons of new items etc.
Adding a imba powerfull stun mace in BG:EE just at the beginning - is o.k. The mace wasn't supposed to be in the original BG1. Or the Elven Chain Mail from BG2. Overpowered for BG1? Some people said so. Same story.

@CamDawg said about the console trick in Bg2:
"Because BG2 started with the BG dialog.tlk and built on it; the plate mail you cite is the exception, not the rule. Kiel's gear is all there, as is Spider's Bane and other BG artifacts--they were omitted from the game."
I guess the console trick will be fixed in BG2:EE. No more Cloak in BG2:EE even with the export-pause trick.

Thats why I think the cloak should be in the game. It's not just "some item" - it's a BALDURAN item in a game called BALDUR's Gate!

mylegbig

DarkDogg said:

scriver said:

If it's added, it shouldn't be lootable in Irenicus' Dungeonus. Beginning the game with both the helmet and the cloak is just too powerful.

Of course. It could be looted from an NPC, for example in the Agerons estate (?), where the guy with the Celestial Fury katana is.

Or Ribald is selling the cloak for 15.000 gp. The best way imho

Probably should be sold by Deidre with all the other Balduran items. Should cost more than 15k though.

CamDawg

The cloak is in BG2, but I can see why the decision to keep it unavailable was made.

In BG magic was simple--your defenses were saves and magic resistance (and the occasional specific protection item like Helm of Charm Protection) and, if those failed, a dispel magic cures everything. MR also worked against beneficial spells so MR wasn't always a positive.

In BG2 the complexity exploded. There were magical protections, and counters to those protections, and then more protections, and more counters. Dispel magic was no longer a universal cure (e.g. MGoI was no longer susceptible to it) but MR no longer blocked beneficial magic. In that context, +25% MR is a massive benefit.

By comparison, the only place you see MR in BG2 are typically on the scale of +5% or +10%. A handful of very powerful artifacts exceed this--human flesh armor, Carsomyr, Purifier--but you can see how the cloak would rank in terms of BG2 power.

sunset00

Interesting thread actually..
i have no answer to the question but.. makes me think of another question ! ;
is there an already FIXED set of rules for the bg1ee-->bg2ee characters (&new items) inventories exports ?

I mean; will it be exactly like the vanilla/standard one? (like described here for exemple (excellent vanilla bg1 site btw!) : http://www.forgottenwars.com/bg1/miscellany.htm .. so, indeed, not that balduran item..).

I'm asking because..i'm beginning to wonder if i placed well my precious skill points in axes for exemple (for the unique throwing axe +2 for ex..that could have been very useful in early bg2ee for me^) .. damn, i had totally forgotten that old export rule too it seems..but, well, will it be strictly the same old one with (all new possible items) bg1ee->bg2ee so? More generally, any planned additions to the vanilla possible export list, so?

PS;
i voted 'yes', but actually, i really don't know for that one. should be a third option 'i don't know!' ;--)
..the arguments about the MR might very well be relevant too (and the initial reason too)..well, i don't know, for the game balance(?) so..for the 'experts'^..but now i think of it, my char beeing unable to ever wear an helm anyway, that kind of 'simple' cloak (bg1 balduran souvenir) could very well suit him, yes..he won't say no i'm sure, he.. ) ^

DarkDogg

CamDawg said:

By comparison, the only place you see MR in BG2 are typically on the scale of +5% or +10%. A handful of very powerful artifacts exceed this--human flesh armor, Carsomyr, Purifier--but you can see how the cloak would rank in terms of BG2 power.

Can you tell me please, are there any licence restrictions (?) about the cloak maybe?
I mean is it possible to edit the magic resistance effect just for example 5% MR?
Or any any chance to see the cloak in BG2:EE?
Just your opinion.
If not, than we can close that discussion...

CamDawg

We've made some changes already, so editing is not the problem. The problem is that most folks want it for that big, fat +25% MR.

It's the same problem BG2 UB had with all the folks who wanted Spider's Bane in BG2. They added it alright--an unrepairable sword broken by careless sewer cleaners. While not on the same level, we'd be severely reducing the cloak's one huge (and unique) advantage.

Speaking for myself personally and not as a dev, I'd rather keep it out and let a mod make it available at its original stats rather than include a compromised cloak.

DarkDogg

Thanks for your answer.
I think it's clear with the cloak...
So sad.
So we can close that discussion :-(