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Ideas for a fun playthrough: Wild Mage or Jester?

mrdeluxemrdeluxe Member Posts: 98
edited September 2013 in Archive (General Discussion)
Hi everyone,

I got the itch to play BG again, all the way to ToB, but I wanted something new. I'm tired of most NPCs by this point, so for BG1 I'll probably just keep Imoen around, or I might go just plain solo…

I'm now torn between Wild Mage and Jester. Wild Mage because I never played much with a wizard-type protagonist, and the Wild Mage seems very interesting. Jester because I like the versatility of the bard (having played a Blade extensively) and that Jester Song could create some interesting tactics.

What do you think? Any other ideas for a duet/solo game?

Thanks!

Comments

  • KidCarnivalKidCarnival Member Posts: 3,747
    Jester charname, then take Neera as NPC. Though, the jester gets the same enhanced song as other bards, so in end game, you'd lose the unique song. Something to consider. I'd prefer the jester PC simply because I could have a Wild Mage NPC in both games.
  • meaglothmeagloth Member Posts: 3,806
    What @KidCarnival said I think is a good idea. You and neera could have a little lovers and heroes sort of thing going on, if you want. That could be fun. The way the jester looks in my head is a cross between the joker and the doctor, so I've just started a jester playthrough. Actually, this is a fun idea, I shall do that. Thank you for your brilliant ideas.

    Now, if you don't like that idea, I would play as a wild Mage. If you don't play mages much this would mix things up some, and with imoen as a thief, your pretty much set. I have played a little wild Mage and its a lot of fun.
  • mrdeluxemrdeluxe Member Posts: 98
    Thank you! I think I'll go ahead with the Wild Mage for CHARNAME, in a duet with Imoen. It will give me an opportunity to really know the magic system like never before.

    Let's see how hard the beginning will be with a squishy level 1 and 2 mage! :)
  • meaglothmeagloth Member Posts: 3,806
    Probably a good idea to go with the Mage. I just found out how hard it is to kill tarnesh with a lvl 1 solo bard.
    Little hint: if you play evil you can get an archmagi robe from bealoth right of, I think. It's been said you must be lvl 6, but I have done it with a lvl 1 solo sorcerer, if I remember correctly.
    Bug?
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  • KidCarnivalKidCarnival Member Posts: 3,747
    meagloth said:

    Probably a good idea to go with the Mage. I just found out how hard it is to kill tarnesh with a lvl 1 solo bard.
    Little hint: if you play evil you can get an archmagi robe from bealoth right of, I think. It's been said you must be lvl 6, but I have done it with a lvl 1 solo sorcerer, if I remember correctly.
    Bug?

    I don't think Baeloth even appears if you go to his spawning point below level 5. I wouldn't count on this.
  • mylegbigmylegbig Member Posts: 292
    I'd go with wild mage. The jester is a bit boring for a PC because you spend a good deal of the time just standing still and singing. Enemies under the jester's song also tend to attack you anyways rather than each other or just wandering around, so it's not that effective even when it works. However, confused enemies don't cast spells, which is a big plus. Also, you can use bard song while invisible. Cheesey, but it's not that great in practice.
  • Night_WatchNight_Watch Member Posts: 514
    Wild Mage. Jester's can't randomly drop cows on people XD
  • CorvinoCorvino Member Posts: 2,269
    If you play as a wild mage, save often and in multiple slots.

    One wild surge can turn you to stone. Game over.

    If it happens to Neera you can stone-to-flesh her, not so with CHARNAME.
  • elminsterelminster Member, Developer Posts: 16,317
    edited September 2013
    (Not that it matters anymore but...)

    I'd say Jester. Requires more interesting strategy.
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  • meaglothmeagloth Member Posts: 3,806
    @thespace: not really, it only lasts for two rounds, and with two people you'll hit the Xp cap before cloakwood, anyway.
  • mrdeluxemrdeluxe Member Posts: 98
    I wish BG:EE had the Wild Jester mod…
  • mrdeluxemrdeluxe Member Posts: 98
    Ok, a little update:

    I went ahead with the Wild Mage. I had played (finished) a solo run of BG1 with a Bard once (Blade), and I really wanted to know a little bit more of the magic system in Baldur's Gate. With all my playthroughs of BG1 and BG2, most were done with a melee character of sort, and the mages were there mostly for backup.

    I ended up not opting for a solo, since I couldn't break Imoen's heart, and I've been rotating certain NPCs, during certain quests: right now I'm in the Cloakwood Mines with Imoen, Viconia and Coran. Imoen is just dualed to Mage (to keep it canon and to have her my backup mage, Coran will take care of the traps and locks in the meantime). I think I'll keep this party until the end.

    However… and after a couple of levels of mild difficulty, particularly in a small party, at level 6 my mage is a beast. I think that if I had the patience I could solo this whole game with the mage *easily*, with little to no kiting!

    It was against Drasus and his cronies where the power of this character dawned on me. Usually his group gives me quite some trouble… this time, and in order to test my little Wild Mage, I ordered the party to stay behind and let me tackle it by myself.

    After engaging the enemy (I love the "Always kill the mouthy one" line), I turned invisible, went out of sight and cast Web, followed by a couple of Fireballs and a Skull Trap. That only left Drasus and Genthore standing: Chaos followed by two Chromatic Orbs left them confused and blinded/stunned. Then I Magic Missiled them to death.

    That was it, with spells to spare! And I though playing as a Cavalier in BG1 was powerful!

    Now comes the battle against Davaeorn. First battle against a powerful mage. Let's see how it goes.
  • mrdeluxemrdeluxe Member Posts: 98
    Well… Davaeorn was a little tough, but only because I decided to face the two Battle Horrors as well. Used Web on them then a couple of fireballs, skull trap, chromatic orb and magic missile AND some shots with a wand of frost to take them down.

    After that I didn't have much left against Davaeorn himself, so I just sent in Viconia (with her Magic Resistance and everything) to try and dispel his protections. He teleported away and shot a lightning bolt that almost took Viconia out, but after that we was defenseless against Coran's arrows and Viconia's Hammer of Shar™, while Immy and I pelted him with bullets.

    Not a great fight and a reminder that a Mage is only as good as the spells he has memorized.
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    edited September 2013
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  • elminsterelminster Member, Developer Posts: 16,317
    thespace said:

    Nice sharing!

    What Battle Horrors are you talking about with Davaeorn? I've never seen any, and I've kicked this goon's but plenty of times.

    They only appear if you trigger one of the traps.
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