A weird thing I started doing, I count the number of bodies so I know how manyfoes I chunked. Good or Evil, It's satisfying when make your enemies explode in meat balls.
I cannot tell a lie - I absolutely hate his default portrait. After much trial and error, I found that this one just works for me, for some reason. As ever, there's no accounting for my taste. @nano I have to say, I'm very tempted to steal that portrait.
I always recrop the portraits. After playing more than a decade, I've come to terms that not every portrait needs to be in the exactly same style. But I at least want them to have approximately the same size. I also replace several of the portraits I don't like. This is my current BG1 run (Minsc, Kivan, Alora, my elven Bard, Yeslick and Dynaheir):
I have never picked pockets in the EE games and did not do so for the last several years I played vanilla either -
Altho my primary reason for this is I pretty much always play either no reload or minimal reload only reloading on (unintentional) main character death - to me the ease with which pickpockets can be exploited (with potions) is little different than just adding items with the console and the consequences of a failed pickpocket can be so severe that it's an auto reload which amounts to the same thing.
A dilemma I'm facing now: How do you justify (If you can) doing the quests for Renal Bloodscalp with a lawful good party? Does anyone else have this problem?
I mean, to an extent I can imagine my character asking for help from everyone on how to get Imoen back, then realising the only ones who will help are the shadow thieves or the vampires, so you choose the lesser of two evils. But, that sends you straight to Aran Linvail.
So, if you're playing good do you have to skip Mae'Var and co, missing out on the juicy goodies and XP?
Windspear, Umar, Trademeet, Nalia's Keep and the Unseeing Eye are all no brainers for good parties. But the planar sphere and the planar prison are quite hard for me to justify as a LG paladin as well..
I couldn't justify the Mae'Var stuff, so I never did it. Same with Xzar, who Charname knows to be a creepy evil dude he met sooner after Gorion's death.
I had no difficulty rationalising Planar Sphere. You can't kill Valygar as a Good character after he explains his story and his intentions. Helping him to vanquish an evil necromancer seems the noble thing to do.
Planar Prison... memory a bit vague, I got sucked into that quest whilst looking for Unseeing Eye, but I recall just seeing the entire theatre group get arrested and teleported into it. I can't remember what my rationale was... It might have just been curiosity... Oh and I don't think I got paid for rescuing Haer'dalis! lol
Edit: Oh actually I think I was also concerned that saving Haer'dalis might be part of Aerie's questline, and was worried that she may leave Charname if we abandoned Haer'dalis. Had I known the bastard would try to hit on her, I'd have let him rot in there. That said, I think I found my first set of Boots of Speed in there, so it was a worthwhile trip anyway. I imagine it's pretty nasty for a lower level party though. I can just imagine a beginner recruiting Aerie outta the dungeon, and then "Okay, I'll go see Quayle... Okay Aerie, let's go help Quayle's friend... Oh... well we better rescue him... Oh shit... Ragequit."
I feel like the Planar Prison is pretty hard to justify for anyone with an int score over 8... jumping into a portal that's full of demons, probably won't even take you to the same place as Haer'dalis and with no way of traveling back seems like a stunningly bad idea.
I feel like the Planar Prison is pretty hard to justify for anyone with an int score over 8... jumping into a portal that's full of demons, probably won't even take you to the same place as Haer'dalis and with no way of traveling back seems like a stunningly bad idea.
It may not be the smartest thing to do, but they are obviously in trouble and have asked for help, so... I suppose just that being experienced in planar travel, the troupe will be able to get you back if you rescue them.
Well, someone drowning in lava is obviously in trouble as well but you don't see me diving in to swim with them. You gotta do more than ask nicely to get me to jump off a metaphorical cliff like that. It did work out but I say Charname got incredibly lucky not to have ended up somewhere much worse. Not to mention Haer'Dalis has been less than trustworthy in the past...
Well, someone drowning in lava is obviously in trouble as well but you don't see me diving in to swim with them. You gotta do more than ask nicely to get me to jump off a metaphorical cliff like that. It did work out but I say Charname got incredibly lucky not to have ended up somewhere much worse. Not to mention Haer'Dalis has been less than trustworthy in the past...
Good point... although I would say someone drowning in lava is done for anyway. I just think a good character would feel an obligation to make sure they've done everything they can before throwing up their hands and saying 'well, that's that then. Let's go... get a beer'.
I guess my problem with the planar sphere is agreeing to the quest from Tolgerias in the first place, before he even explains what it is. Or can you start it just by meeting Valygar in the hills? If you can start it just by bumping into Valygar in his cabin, then I can see why you'd agree to go slay an evil necromancer.
The problem with Haer Dalis is he's a thief.. he breaks into Mekrath's lab to try and steal his gem. Then you find out the theatre troupe are fugitives from some extra-planar prison. They lie to you, you know they steal, then finally they get arrested after you agree to help protect them from the portal. Maybe that's justice served? Why should you jump to some other plane to try to help some liars and thieves you just met? You've got to get to the business of rescuing Imoen ASAP, and Raelis has already rewarded you for freeing HD.
Of course, with the portal/planar prison, if you take the time to consider all the options, the problem will likely just solve itself anyway. Nice knowing you Haery.
Of course, with the portal/planar prison, if you take the time to consider all the options, the problem will likely just solve itself anyway. Nice knowing you Haery.
Haer'Dalis can rot in the Abyss for all I care. But he's not taking my Boots of Speed with him.
I guess my problem with the planar sphere is agreeing to the quest from Tolgerias in the first place, before he even explains what it is. Or can you start it just by meeting Valygar in the hills? If you can start it just by bumping into Valygar in his cabin, then I can see why you'd agree to go slay an evil necromancer.
The problem with Haer Dalis is he's a thief.. he breaks into Mekrath's lab to try and steal his gem. Then you find out the theatre troupe are fugitives from some extra-planar prison. They lie to you, you know they steal, then finally they get arrested after you agree to help protect them from the portal. Maybe that's justice served? Why should you jump to some other plane to try to help some liars and thieves you just met? You've got to get to the business of rescuing Imoen ASAP, and Raelis has already rewarded you for freeing HD.
You never have to agree to anything with Tolgerias, and I never have. Valgyr will ask for help when you meet him.
As for Haer Dalis, well, I have no problem with jumping to the rescue, to sort of what I see my character as being all about. Even if the actors are a shady bunch, what they've run a fouled of is pure evil. Shoot, I'd fight that evil even with no one at all in trouble...
The Renal Blood scalp quests are what I have the most trouble with. Although even then, if you have Yoshimo with you, he can convince me that it's the smart way to go. But I really don't like that quest line.
BTW, you can do the first two after you rescue Imoen with no problem. That's what I normally do.
@booinyoureyes, did you know about the mod "Alternatives", that puts in a "good" way to get to Spellhold? You get to ally with and help a group of paladins instead of helping thieves or vampires.
I don't think it's compatible with EE yet, though.
And I very rarely use summons, it seems horribly evil to me to summon some creature to die for you.
Actually per the rules, at least in 3.5, summons don't die because they are not real creatures. They are not Gated in and they are not animal companions.
Basically the summon spells create copies of creatures and when their HP goes to 0, they poof, they don't die, so you have no corpses of summons.
And I very rarely use summons, it seems horribly evil to me to summon some creature to die for you.
Actually per the rules, at least in 3.5, summons don't die because they are not real creatures. They are not Gated in and they are not animal companions.
Basically the summon spells create copies of creatures and when their HP goes to 0, they poof, they don't die, so you have no corpses of summons.
Gee that's morally tidy. Pretty sure that's not the case in 2E. I seem to remember the animals even included stipulations on how long it might take the critter to find you.
Comments
Edit: shamelessly stolen from @KidCarnival, if that wasn't already obvious.
As ever, there's no accounting for my taste.
@nano
I have to say, I'm very tempted to steal that portrait.
I also really like your Dynaheir.
Altho my primary reason for this is I pretty much always play either no reload or minimal reload only reloading on (unintentional) main character death - to me the ease with which pickpockets can be exploited (with potions) is little different than just adding items with the console and the consequences of a failed pickpocket can be so severe that it's an auto reload which amounts to the same thing.
I mean, to an extent I can imagine my character asking for help from everyone on how to get Imoen back, then realising the only ones who will help are the shadow thieves or the vampires, so you choose the lesser of two evils. But, that sends you straight to Aran Linvail.
So, if you're playing good do you have to skip Mae'Var and co, missing out on the juicy goodies and XP?
Windspear, Umar, Trademeet, Nalia's Keep and the Unseeing Eye are all no brainers for good parties. But the planar sphere and the planar prison are quite hard for me to justify as a LG paladin as well..
I couldn't justify the Mae'Var stuff, so I never did it. Same with Xzar, who Charname knows to be a creepy evil dude he met sooner after Gorion's death.
I had no difficulty rationalising Planar Sphere. You can't kill Valygar as a Good character after he explains his story and his intentions. Helping him to vanquish an evil necromancer seems the noble thing to do.
Planar Prison... memory a bit vague, I got sucked into that quest whilst looking for Unseeing Eye, but I recall just seeing the entire theatre group get arrested and teleported into it. I can't remember what my rationale was... It might have just been curiosity... Oh and I don't think I got paid for rescuing Haer'dalis! lol
Edit: Oh actually I think I was also concerned that saving Haer'dalis might be part of Aerie's questline, and was worried that she may leave Charname if we abandoned Haer'dalis. Had I known the bastard would try to hit on her, I'd have let him rot in there.
Edit 2: Typo
The problem with Haer Dalis is he's a thief.. he breaks into Mekrath's lab to try and steal his gem. Then you find out the theatre troupe are fugitives from some extra-planar prison. They lie to you, you know they steal, then finally they get arrested after you agree to help protect them from the portal. Maybe that's justice served? Why should you jump to some other plane to try to help some liars and thieves you just met? You've got to get to the business of rescuing Imoen ASAP, and Raelis has already rewarded you for freeing HD.
As for Haer Dalis, well, I have no problem with jumping to the rescue, to sort of what I see my character as being all about. Even if the actors are a shady bunch, what they've run a fouled of is pure evil. Shoot, I'd fight that evil even with no one at all in trouble...
The Renal Blood scalp quests are what I have the most trouble with. Although even then, if you have Yoshimo with you, he can convince me that it's the smart way to go. But I really don't like that quest line.
BTW, you can do the first two after you rescue Imoen with no problem. That's what I normally do.
I don't think it's compatible with EE yet, though.
http://www.gibberlings3.net/alternatives/
It's by Berelinde, who also wrote one of my favorite character mods, Gavin, and she was working on a Keldorn romance as well.
Sure he looked that way!
Basically the summon spells create copies of creatures and when their HP goes to 0, they poof, they don't die, so you have no corpses of summons.