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The Ultimate Black Pits Party!...?

marcerormarceror Member Posts: 577
Okay, I don't really think this is the ultimate Black Pits party, but it's one that I'm working on that I think is pretty good. I want to share, and welcome comments and constructive feedback to improve. It took a VERY long time to roll these attributes. I did it a little at a time over several days. Without further ado, here is Kearth's evil pit band:

1. Kearth Berenthal – LE Half-Orc Blackguard – Greatsword, Crossbow
Attributes: 19, 17, 19, 8, 15, 18
(I had to create him as a human and EEKeeper him to Half-Orc, then subtract 2 INT and raise STR and CON by one. If Dorn can do it, why can't I. I'd like to find a non-Dorn male half orc portrait that matches the BG2 art style, but thus far Dorn is by far the best I've found.)
image

2. Dregeth – LE Dwarven Defender – Axe and Shield, Bow
Attributes: 18/00, 17, 19, 14, 18, 7
image

3. Alor Goran – NE Human BerserkerX/Cleric – Flail and Shield, Sling
Attributes: 18/78, 18, 18, 10, 18, 11
image

4. Marianis Fohr’ian – CE Drow Fighter/Thief – Longsword/Shortword TWF
Attributes: 18/63, 19, 17, 16, 10, 14
(She is actually an Elf made to look Drow, since I can't select Drow)
image

5. Leath’laniel – NE Elven Fighter/Mage - Longbow, Bastard Sword
Attributes: 18/23, 19, 16, 18, 13, 10
image

6. Christiana – LE Human Dragon Disciple - Sling/Staff
Attributes: 18, 18, 18, 10, 10, 17
image

Comments

  • SharShar Member Posts: 158
    Looks pretty bad ass, though according to avatar pic your Dwarven Defender is about 1.93 m tall :) Did you give your drow magic resistance in SK? I would probable take just a sorceress instead of Dragon Disciple though.
  • marcerormarceror Member Posts: 577
    edited December 2013
    Is there an HTML command I can use to resize the pictures here, so they are all the same size? I assume there is, but I haven't done HTML in a long time. Anyhow, that picture isn't meant to be a dwarf, I know, but there is something Dwarven about it to me. I imagine that he's a taller than average Dwarf - though certainly not 1.93m!! :P

    I did give the MR to the Drow in EEK, yes. :)

    I took the Dragon Disciple really because I just wanted to try one. I'm not likely to do so in the main game, so this seemed a good place to roll one up.
  • AranthysAranthys Member Posts: 722
    I guess an ultimate blackpit party would look something like 6 sorcerers :p
  • FinneousPJFinneousPJ Member Posts: 6,455
    My ultimate party is

    Human Inquisitor
    Half-Orc Berserker
    Human Ranger 3 -> Cleric (DW War Hammers)
    Human Kensai 6 -> Mage (DW Katanas)
    Human Fighter 3 -> Mage (Longbow)
  • marcerormarceror Member Posts: 577
    Shar said:

    Looks pretty bad ass, though according to avatar pic your Dwarven Defender is about 1.93 m tall :)

    This was my backup Dwarven Defender, for what it's worth. Great picture, but unfortunately, it's Thorin Oakenshield, and I simply cannot suspend disbelief that it's anyone other.
    image

  • SharShar Member Posts: 158
    marceror said:

    Is there an HTML command I can use to resize the pictures here, so they are all the same size? I assume there is, but I haven't done HTML in a long time. Anyhow, that picture isn't meant to be a dwarf, I know, but there is something Dwarven about it to me. I imagine that he's a taller than average Dwarf - though certainly not 1.93m!! :P

    I did give the MR to the Drow in EEK, yes. :)

    I took the Dragon Disciple really because I just wanted to try one. I'm not likely to do so in the main game, so this seemed a good place to roll one up.

    Nah thats not what i meant, thats Jason Momoa on the picture, he is a quite tall guy.

    Yeah Drow MR rules, i try to create a Crinti rather give them about 25% MR because 50 is too OP in my humble opinion.
  • marcerormarceror Member Posts: 577
    Shar said:

    marceror said:

    Is there an HTML command I can use to resize the pictures here, so they are all the same size? I assume there is, but I haven't done HTML in a long time. Anyhow, that picture isn't meant to be a dwarf, I know, but there is something Dwarven about it to me. I imagine that he's a taller than average Dwarf - though certainly not 1.93m!! :P

    I did give the MR to the Drow in EEK, yes. :)

    I took the Dragon Disciple really because I just wanted to try one. I'm not likely to do so in the main game, so this seemed a good place to roll one up.

    Nah thats not what i meant, thats Jason Momoa on the picture, he is a quite tall guy.
    Oh, haha, now I understand.

  • SchneidendSchneidend Member Posts: 3,190
    How'd you get EEKeeper to recognize your Black Pits saves?
  • marcerormarceror Member Posts: 577
    edited December 2013
    The version of EEKeeper I use has a checkbox for blackpits. ;)

    If you don't have this, download the latest version.

    I suppose the other way would be to move your save games to the main save directory, and to that I say, thank goodness for EEKeeper!
  • NonnahswriterNonnahswriter Member Posts: 2,520
    marceror said:

    (I'd like to find a non-Dorn male half orc portrait that matches the BG2 art style, but thus far Dorn is by far the best I've found.)

    I have this one. It wasn't big enough to get a close-up of the face, but style-wise it's all right.

    image

    All a matter of taste, of course. :)
    ORCL.bmp 203.7K
  • marcerormarceror Member Posts: 577
    It's a nice portrait. It doesn't fit with the BG2 portrait style, at least not for my taste. It would bother me too much to have 5 headshots and then a final portrait that includes the torso. I'm sort of weird about that.

    Appreciate you sharing, nonetheless.
  • KidCarnivalKidCarnival Member Posts: 3,747
    image

    I sometimes use this for Dorn if I'm tired of seeing his regular one. Not a perfect match, but it's a half orc and a headshot.


  • SharGuidesMyHandSharGuidesMyHand Member Posts: 2,582
    marceror said:


    4. Marianis Fohr’ian – CE Drow Fighter/Thief – Longsword/Shortword TWF
    Attributes: 18/63, 19, 17, 16, 10, 14

    What do you use a thief for in the Black Pits? How did you distribute her thief skills?
  • marcerormarceror Member Posts: 577

    marceror said:


    4. Marianis Fohr’ian – CE Drow Fighter/Thief – Longsword/Shortword TWF
    Attributes: 18/63, 19, 17, 16, 10, 14

    What do you use a thief for in the Black Pits? How did you distribute her thief skills?
    So far, not much but I only just started. I'm not sure what to expect, and I always have a thief.

    Skills I'm just don't the usual. Whether or not it will be needed remains to be seen.
  • GamingFreakGamingFreak Member Posts: 639
    Ultimate Black Pits Party = Team of Ranger/Clerics + 1 Specialist Mage.
  • KidCarnivalKidCarnival Member Posts: 3,747
    The only useful thief in BP1 is an assassin (dualed to whatever, really - poisoned minute meteors are useful, ranged poisoned weapon too). Stealth tends to fail all the time no matter what (possibly lack of shadows in the arena, haven't tried Shadowdancer) and there are no locks to pick.
  • SharGuidesMyHandSharGuidesMyHand Member Posts: 2,582

    The only useful thief in BP1 is an assassin (dualed to whatever, really - poisoned minute meteors are useful, ranged poisoned weapon too). Stealth tends to fail all the time no matter what (possibly lack of shadows in the arena, haven't tried Shadowdancer) and there are no locks to pick.

    Any need to detect traps or illusions?
  • NonnahswriterNonnahswriter Member Posts: 2,520
    marceror said:

    It's a nice portrait. It doesn't fit with the BG2 portrait style, at least not for my taste. It would bother me too much to have 5 headshots and then a final portrait that includes the torso. I'm sort of weird about that.

    Appreciate you sharing, nonetheless.

    Figured it couldn't hurt. :)

    On the thief topic: what exactly are the requirements to hide in shadows successfully, other than to have a really high percent to succeed?

    I was playing BG1 the other day, and Rasaad, Mr. Naked Monk with 30% in Hide in Shadows managed to disappear into the virtually non-existent shadows outside the Gnoll Fortress. I stared at the screen for a good minute like... "What the heck!? Even my THIEVES can't hide that well!"
  • SharGuidesMyHandSharGuidesMyHand Member Posts: 2,582


    On the thief topic: what exactly are the requirements to hide in shadows successfully, other than to have a really high percent to succeed?

    In addition to having a high % and also actually having shadows to hide in, you're also supposed to be out of other characters' direct line of sight IIRC (unless you're a shadow dancer).
  • marcerormarceror Member Posts: 577
    edited December 2013


    On the thief topic: what exactly are the requirements to hide in shadows successfully, other than to have a really high percent to succeed?

    In addition to having a high % and also actually having shadows to hide in, you're also supposed to be out of other characters' direct line of sight IIRC (unless you're a shadow dancer).
    To clarify, you only need to be out of sight of hostile characters. You can hide all day long in sight of other party members and non hostile NPCs. There does also seem to be an increased chance to hide in darker areas. It's much tougher in broad daylight, but it can still be done. There are die rolls happening behind the scenes, which are added to a variety of modifiers (including your hide in shadows ability) which determine whether or not you are successful.

    Move silently is also used when your character moves, and a lower move silently skill increases the chance that your hiding in shadows will fail due to the sound of your movements giving you away.
  • SharGuidesMyHandSharGuidesMyHand Member Posts: 2,582
    marceror said:

    Okay, I don't really think this is the ultimate Black Pits party, but it's one that I'm working on that I think is pretty good. I want to share, and welcome comments and constructive feedback to improve.

    This is fairly close to what I would do if I was managing an evil BP party.

    My one suggestion is that you may want to start off with a priest of talos instead of a fighter-thief. And you may want to consider just keeping your berserker as a berserker, and allowing him to gain more rages and mastery in something.
  • CrevsDaakCrevsDaak Member Posts: 7,155
    When I played BP I created a party composed of:
    Melee fighter.
    Ranged fighter.
    Melee Bard, Blade.
    Ranged Mage, Wild Mage.
    Melee Fighter/Mage.
    Melee/Ranged Cleric, Priest of Helm.
    It goes well, also, it was amazingly easy.
  • CrevsDaakCrevsDaak Member Posts: 7,155
    @marceror there is a half-orc portrait that cames with BG2.
  • nanonano Member Posts: 1,632
    Is this for the BG1 black pits? Those are good choices, blackguard, berserker and dwarven defender are all pretty awesome there. And archer, of course.

    The only useful thief in BP1 is an assassin (dualed to whatever, really - poisoned minute meteors are useful, ranged poisoned weapon too). Stealth tends to fail all the time no matter what (possibly lack of shadows in the arena, haven't tried Shadowdancer) and there are no locks to pick.

    Any need to detect traps or illusions?
    There is that one level with traps but I find it easier just to use cleric Find Traps and step around them. There are just too many traps to disarm with people shooting you the whole time x_x
  • marcerormarceror Member Posts: 577
    nano said:

    Is this for the BG1 black pits? Those are good choices, blackguard, berserker and dwarven defender are all pretty awesome there. And archer, of course.

    The only useful thief in BP1 is an assassin (dualed to whatever, really - poisoned minute meteors are useful, ranged poisoned weapon too). Stealth tends to fail all the time no matter what (possibly lack of shadows in the arena, haven't tried Shadowdancer) and there are no locks to pick.

    Any need to detect traps or illusions?
    There is that one level with traps but I find it easier just to use cleric Find Traps and step around them. There are just too many traps to disarm with people shooting you the whole time x_x
    I'm planning to run through both BG1 and BG2 Black Pits with the party, which is why I posted in the general forum.
  • KidCarnivalKidCarnival Member Posts: 3,747

    The only useful thief in BP1 is an assassin (dualed to whatever, really - poisoned minute meteors are useful, ranged poisoned weapon too). Stealth tends to fail all the time no matter what (possibly lack of shadows in the arena, haven't tried Shadowdancer) and there are no locks to pick.

    Any need to detect traps or illusions?
    There is one fight against Night Knives (?) who trap the arena. I never disarmed them though and actually use the Grease one to my advantage. It screws the thieves worse because you likely trigger it with your frontliners only, with your casters/ranged fighters out of the effect area. Yet half the thieves get caught, attempting to get away from your frontliners and not using their ranged weapons.
    If you really want to avoid those traps, have a cleric memorize Find Traps for that one; taking a pure thief just for that is a waste. Some casters will use Invisibility, but nothing that justifies Detect Illusion.

    I haven't tried how good (or not) setting traps is, but the arena is so small, I doubt it's an effective strategy.

    My ideal party was - Cavalier, Berzerker, Cleric (Storm Shield is nice, but any tanky cleric/kit will do), Necromancer, Assassin 6 --> Mage, Jester.

  • KaltzorKaltzor Member Posts: 1,050
    I don't think it'll work for Black Pits 2 as well... But I think my most successful party in the first pits was 6 mages, 5 specialists and 1 wild mage...

    That run made me realize just how useful Cloudkill is...
  • marcerormarceror Member Posts: 577
    I wrapped up the Black Pits for BG1 this morning. This group did a serviceable job on hard difficulty. I had to reload a couple of times, but for the most part was able to handle what was thrown at me with little difficulty.

    There was little call for a thief, but since I had no way of knowing that going in, including this made sense to ensure that I had all my bases covered (and I still don't know what I will find in BP2).

    This was an interesting side quest all in all. I was a little disappointed with how easily Baeloth went down. I found some of the earlier fights more challenging, actually.

    On to BP2 next!
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