help me with some basic strategies
I played BG back in the day. About a week ago I bought the Enhanced Edition and have been having a ball with it. I do think I'm really missing something though. I think the biggest thing I'm missing is on how to use thieves/thieving abilities. With Imoen I pretty much just use her to unlock chests and as a ranged attacker. There's got to be a lot better use.
I'd love to make use of her backstab, but I can't seem to figure it out. Should I just keep putting her in stealth over and over, so that when I stumble upon enemies, she's all set for it? Also, when I position her behind someone, as soon as I attack she leaves shadows. Am I missing something here?
My main is a stalker, and it took me til he was level 3 to notice that he's got a couple 'spells' (cure light wounds and charm animal) that I could use. That's the type of thing I'm looking for.
Also, Jahiera is a cleric, shouldn't she be able to turn undead?
Do you guys use up lots of potions? I keep everyone with a few healing potions but I try to use spells first if I can. But I feel like I'm just stockpiling all these others, maybe I should just use them up with reckless abandon?
What about buying magic items? I just spent virtually all of my gold on the +3 shadow armor for my main, only to find that he can't use it. So now Imoen has it.
Anyway I guess what I'm getting at is I feel like there's a lot of really basic strategies I'm missing out on or overlooking.
In battles, I tend to use sleep or web if there's a lot of low level opponents, but I find that web backfires more often than not (ie, I end up stuck in it myself, or I realize that I've got them caught in the web but they're still using ranged attacks). Maybe I should ditch web for something else? What other spells are good to use? I tend to stick to identify, sleep, magic missile...I don't seem to like any of the lv 2 spells yet.
Also, how do clerics learn new spells?
As you can see I've got lots of questions and I feel like I'm just rushing through this game and missing a lot.
I also want to check out mods at some point but I guess that's a different topic entirely...
I'd love to make use of her backstab, but I can't seem to figure it out. Should I just keep putting her in stealth over and over, so that when I stumble upon enemies, she's all set for it? Also, when I position her behind someone, as soon as I attack she leaves shadows. Am I missing something here?
My main is a stalker, and it took me til he was level 3 to notice that he's got a couple 'spells' (cure light wounds and charm animal) that I could use. That's the type of thing I'm looking for.
Also, Jahiera is a cleric, shouldn't she be able to turn undead?
Do you guys use up lots of potions? I keep everyone with a few healing potions but I try to use spells first if I can. But I feel like I'm just stockpiling all these others, maybe I should just use them up with reckless abandon?
What about buying magic items? I just spent virtually all of my gold on the +3 shadow armor for my main, only to find that he can't use it. So now Imoen has it.
Anyway I guess what I'm getting at is I feel like there's a lot of really basic strategies I'm missing out on or overlooking.
In battles, I tend to use sleep or web if there's a lot of low level opponents, but I find that web backfires more often than not (ie, I end up stuck in it myself, or I realize that I've got them caught in the web but they're still using ranged attacks). Maybe I should ditch web for something else? What other spells are good to use? I tend to stick to identify, sleep, magic missile...I don't seem to like any of the lv 2 spells yet.
Also, how do clerics learn new spells?
As you can see I've got lots of questions and I feel like I'm just rushing through this game and missing a lot.
I also want to check out mods at some point but I guess that's a different topic entirely...
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Comments
1. Imoen requires quite a bit of help to make use of her backstab. She has a pitiful strength and therefore a pitiful melee thaco. This never really gets any better until she gets to BG2 and gets spells that can compensate for some of her weaknesses. In terms of leaving shadows, you get the message prompt for leaving shadows immediately upon attacking, but you don't actually become visible until the animation fades.
2. Jaheira is a druid, not a cleric, and as such cannot turn undead.
3. Potions are better than most healing spells because they are instant and don't require one of your characters to position themselves in combat and waste time casting the spell.
4. Money comes as you progress through the game. Trust me, there will reach a point where you have more money than you know how to spend.
5. All of the spells you listed are fine for for level 1 spells, and yes it is annoying(but logical) that enemies can still fire upon you with ranged attacks while rooted.
6. Clerics do not have to learn new spells. Their spellbook is automatically completed and you get to pick which spells you want to memorize from their entire spell list for that level.
I pretty much always buy the Shadow Armor for Imoen, eventually. It is expensive! Magic items in stores generally are pricey, but for so many of them that's the only way to get them. As indicated above, you will eventually have plenty of money for whatever you want.
I tend not to use area of effect spells much for exactly the reasons you mention. But I have gotten better with them! Its not hopeless. Still, I prefer single target spells.
Anyway. How to backstab, some things you need to know:
1) Changing your weapon while stealthed makes you break stealth. Have your backstab weapon already in hand, don't scout with a bow or something you can't stab with.
2) Stealth isn't as reliable as... Invisbility potions and spells, simple as that. With potion/spell, you can search and disarm traps without breaking stealth; hiding in shadows doesn't let you do that.
3) You need to position the stealthed/invisible character behind the enemy. The first attack is the backstab. It helps to use Haste, Paws of Cheetah or Oil of Speed for a quick escape if the backstabber isn't able to handle melee.
4) Your stalker can backstab, too, with the same weapons a thief can use for it.
Jaheira isn't a cleric. She is a druid/fighter. She has divine spells, but they are slightly different from a cleric's spellbook. Only clerics and paladins can turn undead. In BG1, that's Ajantis (paladin), Branwen (neutral cleric, repells undead), Viconia (evil cleric, turns undead friendly) and Yeslick (good cleric/fighter).
Clerics/divine casters don't "learn" new spells like mages (from scrolls) or sorcerers (picking on level up). They just get access to all available spells when they reach the level to cast those. Once Jaheira can cast level 2 spells, she'll have a new page in her spellbook with all level 2 druid spells.
Magic items. You find a lot good stuff by doing quests, but there are items worth buying. The armor is the best one a thief can get, so you got that covered. Buying spells for your mage or bard is a good investment; don't rely on finding all you need. Dagger of Venom is neat to backstab with. High Hedge has various useful items, like spells, wands and robes.
A level 2 spell you really want is the universally useful Glitterdust. It's a party friendly AoE spell that lowers the saving throws of enemies, so you have a better chance to hit them with disables. Web isn't bad, but I personally also dislike it. Glitterdust --> Sleep, Glitterdust --> Slow and later Glitterdust or Greater Malison (also lowers saves) --> Emotion Hopelessness are good spell combos.
You are on the right way with your mage strategy by already trying to use magic to disable enemies. Play around with some spells to see what works for you. Some people like Spook or Horror, - I don't because I dislike chasing panicked enemies around, but it still works for some.
Magic Missile is a good choice if you don't think of it as a damage spell. On high levels, it will be, but for now, the main function is to disrupt enemy casters. MM has a fast casting time, so you can prevent nasty stuff like Hold Person from being used against you. If you see an enemy mumble and wave his hands - MM, so he'll get interrupted.
Acid Arrow is used in the same way - it disables enemy casters.
Also important - Dispel/Remove Magic, to clean your party from negative effects, and enemies from benefitial effects.
Sleep is one of the most useful and powerful spells in BG1... so that's already a good idea; at level 4, you more or less replace it with Emotion Hopelessness for the same strategy (lower saves --> disable).
Potions, always keep and use strength potions for your frontliners. Not for every bunch of kobolds, but when you feel you are heading for a tougher battle. Oil of Speed is useful for your backstabbers and frontliners. Potions for various immunities/elemental protection are situational (Cold/Fire/Electricity/Acid). I usually sell them, there are cleric spells that do the same for the few occassions where it comes in handy.
Potions of Invisibility are invaluable for your backstabbers because they provide better stealth than actual stealth and have no chance to fail (like you probably noticed, hide in shadows can). Potions to increase thief skills are useful if your thief doesn't have 100 in traps and locks yet, or not enough for pickpocketing. Situational. Stat increasing potions - it depends. I don't think I ever used a potion to have 18 wisdom in BG1. Intelligence increasing potions can help arcane casters with less than 18 int to scribe spells, so these are useful for all mages and bards except Edwin (and charnames with 18 or 19 int). Dex can be useful if your frontliners need an AC boost or for extra increase of thief skills.
Potions of Explosion/Oil of Fiery Burning are basically Fireball spells in a bottle. I like using them, but they aren't essential.
Web can be very powerful in BG. You will learn the area of effect, often the hard way
Another first level spell that I use quite often is blindness. When an enemy is blinded they will often just stand still patiently getting pelted with arrows. Just be aware that a blinded enemy can see their immediate surroundings. Simply move beyond melee range and then they can't see you.
Level 2 spells are not overtly amazing, but there are some very useful ones.
Resist Fear is a terrific party buff. Enemies love to cast fear spells and they can create a lot of havoc.
Horror can save your life in a tough spot. See above. Why not cast it on them? The annoying thing about this spell is that you have to chase enemies around the map to kill them, but it can turn the tide of a tough fight.
Glitterdust is a like a mass blind spell that also detects invisibility. The duration isn't as nice as Blindness, but it is over a wide area.
Mirror Image is an incredible defensive spell, especially if you are playing a fighter/mage or solo mage. In a party, it keeps your back row casters safe from archers.
Blur is also very useful for a fighter/mage. It's rather like a ring of protection +2.
Melf's Acid Arrow is merely OK at low levels damage-wise, but it can be used to disrupt enemy spell casters. When a mage is poisoned, they will be interrupted when trying to cast spells. (speaking of which, the dagger of venom is an excellent backstab weapon for a thief or your Stalker on an enemy mage for this reason)
Level 2 has some very good cleric spells. Hold Person, Silence (mind the area of effect on this one), Draw Upon Holy Might, and Slow Poison are all very useful for a long time. Unfortunately Jaheira only gets Slow Poison from this list. Her best spells come later...
Jaheira is a Druid, which are a little different mechanically than a Cleric. They can't turn undead, but eventually get some really neat spells at their disposal. She also can attempt to pull some enemies her way in melee combat, but not for very long. Clerics and Druids learn spells as they grow in power.
I've very recently traveled to the world of potion use, and it makes a world of difference. My mentality always was that if I could scrape by on ability alone, I would. But potions/scrolls/wands are very powerful items. I'm a packrat in almost every game, I really hang on to almost every type of potion and some scrolls "Just in case", but I never end up using them. But really, these items make the game run a little more nicely.
I usually hold onto one sleep or web spell to slow down a horde of enemies, and they have the potential to combo well with other aoe spells and staves. But I use common sense on where and when I case a spell like web or fireball. If there is a chance my own characters will be caught in the blast, I usually don't do it. Last thing I need are my front liners webbed while my mage and cleric have to fend for themselves. Usually I cast a spell with a large radius at the beginning of an encounter, and either back up or wait for the enemy to come to be while I fire missile weapons and spells. I typically prefer a lot of buff and single target spells, however. I can make better use of their power and abilities with my play style, but everyone has different preferences. Magic missile is decent, I like to use it on enemy casters or to quick finish off an enemy. But I prefer Chromatic Orb.
Don't be afraid to spend gold for the better of the party. In the words of Marcus Kincaid "Your money isn't worth a thing if you don't spend it." And it really isn't worth anything to you if you're dead. In due time you will have quite the treasury built up. Something about being an adventurer...
My advice is "try different things".
If you are playing an unmodded game, you don't have to worry, you'll finish the game anyway, so try many different things.
Everytime you face real enemies, give a potion to each character, you'll see by yourself if or when they are handy.
Use autopause a lot (expecially autopause when spells are casted), and read everything that happened since the last autopause.
You'll notice if your character makes more (or less) damage than you expected, and wich buff the enemies cast on themselves.
Try every ability your party members have.
Don't use spells like magic missile, you already know what they do. Try all the other spells. Read carefully if the enemies pass the saving throw.
Use buff on your party members, like Protection from evil or blur, or armour of faith or whatever you want to try.
If you want, you can repeat an interesting fight even if you won the first time, just to see how different spells, potion or tactics work.
Eventually, if there will still be something you don't understand you can ask.
If you find a combo that's working too well (like web+fireball) don't use it anymore.
If you are plaing BGEE use 2 different thieves, you won't have enough thieves point to use every thieving ability in a single thief, but if you have 2 thieves, you could use them in different ways (one for backstabbing and scouting, one for traps and chest).
Most important. Use your mage as a mage (not as a bad sling user) and your cleric as a cleric (not just as a nurse who learned how to be bad fighter).
Mage must always use spells (a first level specialist wizard with the ring of wizardry has 4 1st level spells, and it will only get better).
A cleric should not learn healing spells. Give him different spells, and you'll have fun with him.