Possible cures for "restart-itis"
SharGuidesMyHand
Member Posts: 2,582
There are a lot of threads that encourage people to open up about their afflictions with restart-itis, but very few that actually offer a cure. So for a change of pace, I thought I would discuss what actually stopped me from chronically restarting.
My biggest problem was that I would feel too restricted and/or bored with any character class that I chose.
-I tried playing as an archer, but I didn't like being restricted to mainly ranged fighting.
-I tried playing as a berserker or cavalier, but I didn't like being restricted to mainly melee.
-I tried playing as a barbarian (which had historically been my favorite class to play BG2), but I didn't like being restricted to split mail (which I came to realize was a much bigger hindrance in BG1 than in BG2).
-I tried playing as a cleric, but I didn't like being restricted to either blunt weapons or 1 APR.
-I tried playing as an undead hunter or inquisitor, but I quickly got bored waiting for their special abilities to come into bloom (which probably don't really happen until BG2).
...and so on.
Eventually, I tried playing as a fighter/thief multi, which is the first time that I had ever played BG as a multi. I really enjoyed it at first, and for a time I thought that I had finally cured my restart-itis. However, I eventually came upon an all new problem: it was too good! Right from the beginning, I was able to open any chest, amass a whole lot of money, buy a lot of magic weapons and items, and the game quickly became little or no challenge. On top of that, having a thief as a charname basically made any other thief NPCs redundant - which most people would probably say is a blessing, but I prefer to keep Imoen for RP/sentimental reasons, if nothing else. I thought about dualing Imoen to a mage, but that would then make Neera (along with any other mage) redundant, and I was intent on trying out her quest. Eventually, after it took me only a few split seconds to dispose of the normally frightening Nimbul, I decided to restart once again.
So by now I was very despondent. I began to think that maybe me and BG:EE just weren't meant to be - a thought that would've seemed incomprehensible when the game was released a year earlier. However, I decided to give one last shot at an option that I had sometimes mulled over, but never seriously considered: vanilla ranger. I had always brushed off this idea because the thought of playing as a "vanilla ranger" just seemed so bland, especially with the addition of class kits in EE, plus I was concerned that my char would come to feel boring in BG2. However, the more I thought about it and read the in-game description for this class, I came to realize that it may actually be the solution that I had been searching for: after all, now I could alternate between a dual-wielding tank and a long range sharpshooter with equal effectiveness. As of now, I've cleared out most of the main map areas, completed Neera's quest, and am about to enter the Cloakwoods - far and away the farthest that I've gotten on any playthrough so far. I don't know how I'll still feel about this class as I get into BG2 - but what good is worrying about the future if you can't even get past the present?
For those of you who have also overcome your afflictions with restart-itis, what is the secret to your success?
My biggest problem was that I would feel too restricted and/or bored with any character class that I chose.
-I tried playing as an archer, but I didn't like being restricted to mainly ranged fighting.
-I tried playing as a berserker or cavalier, but I didn't like being restricted to mainly melee.
-I tried playing as a barbarian (which had historically been my favorite class to play BG2), but I didn't like being restricted to split mail (which I came to realize was a much bigger hindrance in BG1 than in BG2).
-I tried playing as a cleric, but I didn't like being restricted to either blunt weapons or 1 APR.
-I tried playing as an undead hunter or inquisitor, but I quickly got bored waiting for their special abilities to come into bloom (which probably don't really happen until BG2).
...and so on.
Eventually, I tried playing as a fighter/thief multi, which is the first time that I had ever played BG as a multi. I really enjoyed it at first, and for a time I thought that I had finally cured my restart-itis. However, I eventually came upon an all new problem: it was too good! Right from the beginning, I was able to open any chest, amass a whole lot of money, buy a lot of magic weapons and items, and the game quickly became little or no challenge. On top of that, having a thief as a charname basically made any other thief NPCs redundant - which most people would probably say is a blessing, but I prefer to keep Imoen for RP/sentimental reasons, if nothing else. I thought about dualing Imoen to a mage, but that would then make Neera (along with any other mage) redundant, and I was intent on trying out her quest. Eventually, after it took me only a few split seconds to dispose of the normally frightening Nimbul, I decided to restart once again.
So by now I was very despondent. I began to think that maybe me and BG:EE just weren't meant to be - a thought that would've seemed incomprehensible when the game was released a year earlier. However, I decided to give one last shot at an option that I had sometimes mulled over, but never seriously considered: vanilla ranger. I had always brushed off this idea because the thought of playing as a "vanilla ranger" just seemed so bland, especially with the addition of class kits in EE, plus I was concerned that my char would come to feel boring in BG2. However, the more I thought about it and read the in-game description for this class, I came to realize that it may actually be the solution that I had been searching for: after all, now I could alternate between a dual-wielding tank and a long range sharpshooter with equal effectiveness. As of now, I've cleared out most of the main map areas, completed Neera's quest, and am about to enter the Cloakwoods - far and away the farthest that I've gotten on any playthrough so far. I don't know how I'll still feel about this class as I get into BG2 - but what good is worrying about the future if you can't even get past the present?
For those of you who have also overcome your afflictions with restart-itis, what is the secret to your success?
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Comments
Most complex class with the given spell variety.
It was so over powered in BG1 that I felt like cheating all the game (I've soloed BG1, party BG2), but in BG2:EE it feels almost the same, she's level 21 IIRC and she has 171 Hit Points... I remember my elven Mage/Thief that had 71 Hit Points at the end of ToB, with some HP increasing items and all.
Another thing that stops my restartitis is reaching level 5 before going to the Nashkel Mines, for solo runs it becomes so easy that you don't tend to reload (fighter class, so I've reloaded like 20 in all the run), fights are mostly easy, the key to success on a Fighter solo is the Ring of Free Action; I use the FPS at 60 so the game runs at double speed, so there is no need for the Boots of Speed (and I also use CRTL+J...).
If not I tend to restart before the Bandit Camp or while in it.
So, I have nothing to add. Following to read others' ideas.
In your case however, I would advice taking up a Bard (to be specific a Blade) since they are the Jack of all Trades after all. You can use a Blade to do Melee combat, but also to do Ranged combat and they are also able to use Wands and spells, so in fact you can play something from all classes.
But the cause for me is not so much that I get bored with a playthrough, it's that I want to try out new characters.
For instance in the last week I made..
Necromancer focusing on death magic spells, to dual to cleric once I get my first HLA.
Swashbuckler dualled to mage at 10.
Bifflechump, the gnomish wizard slayer (Gonna roll with Mazzy, Korgan and Jan).
I haven't actually abandoned my previous games yet.. they're just on hiatus.
That way you keep having a goal to finish BG1. That solved my restart-itis issue for BG1
For BG2 however it is still there :
When my character reaches its peak (quite early because i play solo), the game becomes too easy and i stop playing it very soon after.
Most of the times it goes that way :
- do most chapter 2 quests to reach 3mxp
- slaughter the asylum
- get bored and restart in BG1 with another character
The problem with that method is that i know BG1 so well that it has become a chore now : i rush through it in 1-2 hours max, avoiding most fights and quests (save for mandatory and major xp/loot fights)
There are many ways to creatively approach the game. The Challenges and Playthroughs forum is intended as a place to share about such creative ideas, show examples, etc.
But anyway, I can relate to the sense that the grass might be greener with this or that playthrough idea. Although when I do find a way of playing the game that grabs me, I get absorbed in it, thankfully.
Sorry... All in good fun I promise
@Quartz - Funny, think you are, Hmm?
I also suffer from that affliction. I think probably most of us do to one degree or another. I'm currently struggling with wanting to restart and play a party to ultimately look like this:
Charname - TBD
Keldorn
Anomen
Aerie
Nalia/Imoen
Valgar
Primarily because they are members I don't normally play with. Only I can't find an appropriate Charname. I'm thinking a 'Good' version of my normal mage, but that is just me. And would it be 'That' different than my other play-throughs?
Though I think you have plenty of arcane power, what about a Fighter/Mage (Illusionist, even?) that focuses on self-buffing, leaving the debuffing and damage spells to your other two Mages?
As far as 'plenty of arcane power', can you ever have to much of that? Particularly in later levels?
The only issue for some is that it requires more micromanagement, but that doesn't bother me.
Edit:
Since you're open to playing a F/M, I highly recommend a Fighter/Illusionist - the Necromancy spells you lose can easily be covered by your other casters, and as a multiclass, you'll appreciate the extra spell slots even more. Plus, being a Gnome, you'll be rocking some ridiculous saves.
And hey, who doesn't like Gnomes?
And remember the old adage:
"What did the ruffian say to the Gnome Fighter/Illusionist after making fun of his/her stature?
Nothing, because the ruffian is dead."
That being the case, it is why I usually do not multi or dual class. Pure fighters, thieves, and casters have many weaknesses and many strengths.
There are plenty of multi-class combinations that I would recommend if you had a mind for it. But likewise, if that isn't your playing style, that's great as well. I personally 'generally' play single class mage (which, if played right is WAY OP at later levels), but still appreciate various combinations.
Where I have a problem is in 3E, where every single character can do a little bit of everything. That, in my mind, really breaks the whole 2 Fighters, a Wizard, a Thief and a cleric dynamic. If your fighters can pick locks and heal, why do you need a group? But I digress.