The Journeys of Theodoric: Hero of the Sword Coast (Solo Cavalier Playthrough BG1Complete. On Break)
Elrandir
Member Posts: 1,664
Yes, I am starting another solo playthrough alongside my solo archer. However, this won't be the same as my other playthrough, since I'll be giving a very basic "This is what happened" sort of recap. I won't be doing a role-play story based playthrough with Theodoric (The cavalier) like I did with Roisin, my archer.
The idea behind this character is that he is a traditional heroic knight, who will always strive to do the right thing, and be the hero. He won't journey with anyone because he doesn't wish them to come to any harm while traveling with him. There will be one minor exception to this rule, but it is minor. I will, however, accept people's aid to begin with, and then leave them behind, just so they stay in the game. Occasionally I may use them for their services, e.g. Garrick being used to identify things ect. ect. In BG2 I may take people and complete their questline, but I won't be using them after that. Also, a fun fact about the character's name? It's an altered form of my own. My name is Theodore, and I simply changed the name to sound more medieval and knightly. I certainly don't think I'm a paladin, but I wanted a knightly sounding name, so I just went with that. The name (Theodoric, not Theodore) means "ruler of the people", and while it doesn't exactly mean anything terribly knightly, it sounds good.
I've already played a bit with the character, and he's level 4 now. I'll post another picture later showing his progress, but for now you can just see the basic lvl 1 image from Candlekeep.
If you wish to provide tips or ideas for how to deal with a certain challenging fight or what gear I should use, you can go to this thread, http://forum.baldursgate.com/discussion/31066/tips-for-a-solo-cavalier/p1 , which I made a few days ago. I doubt anyone who sees this won't have seen that one, but on the off chance you missed it, there it is. This thread is (ideally) reserved for conversations about the journey itself, and (obviously) the recap. I'll go ahead and do a recap of his journeys so far. (Spoilered for size convenience) If I leave something out, it's because I played last night, so I'm writing this from memory\the journal's completed quest log.
Chapter 1: The Adventure Begins
The idea behind this character is that he is a traditional heroic knight, who will always strive to do the right thing, and be the hero. He won't journey with anyone because he doesn't wish them to come to any harm while traveling with him. There will be one minor exception to this rule, but it is minor. I will, however, accept people's aid to begin with, and then leave them behind, just so they stay in the game. Occasionally I may use them for their services, e.g. Garrick being used to identify things ect. ect. In BG2 I may take people and complete their questline, but I won't be using them after that. Also, a fun fact about the character's name? It's an altered form of my own. My name is Theodore, and I simply changed the name to sound more medieval and knightly. I certainly don't think I'm a paladin, but I wanted a knightly sounding name, so I just went with that. The name (Theodoric, not Theodore) means "ruler of the people", and while it doesn't exactly mean anything terribly knightly, it sounds good.
I've already played a bit with the character, and he's level 4 now. I'll post another picture later showing his progress, but for now you can just see the basic lvl 1 image from Candlekeep.
If you wish to provide tips or ideas for how to deal with a certain challenging fight or what gear I should use, you can go to this thread, http://forum.baldursgate.com/discussion/31066/tips-for-a-solo-cavalier/p1 , which I made a few days ago. I doubt anyone who sees this won't have seen that one, but on the off chance you missed it, there it is. This thread is (ideally) reserved for conversations about the journey itself, and (obviously) the recap. I'll go ahead and do a recap of his journeys so far. (Spoilered for size convenience) If I leave something out, it's because I played last night, so I'm writing this from memory\the journal's completed quest log.
Chapter 1: The Adventure Begins
Theodoric did all the quests in Candlekeep, but did not fight Shank or Carbos, since he had no reason to enter those buildings. He purchased splint mail and a greatsword, and also had the enchanted dagger from Fuller. He set out from Candlekeep and you all know the next bit. In the morning Imoen joined him and he decided to take her to Beregost so she'd be safe. He traveled east from the starting area and picked up a ring of protection, which he promptly equipped. He then traveled south to Beregost, and dropped Imoen off near the middle of town. He then went into Feldpost's inn and peacefully solved the dispute between a local and himself, earning 900 xp. He then traveled around town a little, finding most of the important places before giving a book to Firebead and getting the scroll case along with some experience. He then dealt with a dwarf mercenary sent to kill him in one of the inns. He then traveled south, killed two ogrillons, gaining the scroll for Mirianne. Traveling further south he found three flaming fist mercenaries who he failed to convince of his lawfulness. He would not let them arrest him, however, since he had done nothing wrong, so they fell to his blade. He looted a nice new helmet, and some shiny plate armor, along with the rest of their gear which he took back to Beregost to sell. He gave Mirianne the letter, gaining another ring of protection which he would sell, and then sold his gear to the smithy. He then traveled north to the Friendly Arm Inn, found the ring of Evermemory, killed Tranzig, spoke with Dorn briefly, then went upstairs and talked to Landrin about her house and the spiders. Landrin also gave him six antidotes, which he would sell when he got the chance. Theodoric then spoke with Joia, and went to get her ring, which he quickly returned. He then went south, past the South Beregost Road and found a necklace on some dead bodies, which he would soon return. He traveled east, found and slew some half-ogres, gained an enchanted greatsword, and also searched a nearby cave, killing an ettercap and gaining some mild valuables. He then went back to Beregost, gave the necklace to the father of the dead child he had found the necklace on, and then dealt with Garrick and Silke, leaving Garrick next to the Red Sheaf for when he needed an identifier. He also dealt with Neera, saving her, and then proceeding to take her gem bag and ditch her. (Look it was payment, ok? He’s still a nice guy) He then killed the spiders at Landrin’s and brought the things she had asked for back to to her. On the way to the FAI, he killed the belt ogre and got both belts, though he's going to sell the cursed one. He's now at the Jovial Juggler and is level 4.
Post edited by Elrandir on
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Comments
(I'm also thinking about a next playthrough, since I love BG1. Am one of very few who like it better than BG2. In that case I'd also keep a more concise log.)
Yes, even though it's too soon to judge, (having never really done much with BG2) I think I prefer BG1 as well.
A nice concise log is rather nice. It's certainly easier to make than the expansive story I do for Roisin. The work involved in this is really only as long as I choose to play, whereas with Roisin it's generally 2 hours an installment, at the very least. And only a third of that is generally play time.
Chapter 2: Building a Reputation
Charname selfie!
Your knight has indded no reason not to ignore weight.
Chapter 3: Basilisk Slashing
Charpage and inventory pics.
Pretty empty inventory, so far.
Chapter 4: Pre-Mining Operations
Chapter 5: Why's It Always Gotta Be Mines?
After reading some letters Mulahey had, Theodoric learned that apparently Mulahey was not behind the iron crisis, but was merely in charge of the operations here. There was someone above him who had planned it. Apparently a messenger named Tranzig was in Beregost, and was the go-between for Mulahey and his employer, who was named Tazok. Theodoric decided to find this Tranzig and get what information out of him that he could. Before leaving he rescued an elf enchanter named Xan, who was the owner of a moonblade that Theodoric found in Mulahey’s chest. Together they traveled from Mulahey’s lair, and left the mines by a hidden passage that Theodoric had noticed while looking around. Once they left the mines, they traveled back to Nashkel, with little trouble. Once there, they met and dealt with another assassin. On his corpse Theodoric found some valuable tools, including several throwing axes. Afterwards, Theodoric bid Xan farewell, and went to speak with Berrun Ghastkill. The mayor was greatly appreciative, and payed Theodoric for his services. Theodoric then asked around town to find the dead miner’s family. He found his wife, who was struck with grief when she heard the news, though she was appreciative that he had brought the ring to her. After this, he traveled to the store and sold his loot. While there were several valuable tools among the gear he had taken from Mulahey and the assassin, he only kept Mulahey’s boots of electrical resistance, and the assassin’s ring of infravision. His helmet already provided the same effect, but he figured he would likely find a different helmet eventually. He also sold half of the throwing axes, as even twenty of them was a hundred pounds, and he thought this was too much. With this, he traveled to the inn, rested for more than a day, and then prepared to go to Beregost. He also gained another healing ability in the night, but assumed that it was simply a blessing from the gods for his good service to the land.
Charname selfie and inventory.
In case you didn't know, I'm merely the editor of his travel journals. He's a retired adventurer now, and he handed his journal over for publication. I simply make it a little more grammatically correct and add in a few personal comments, all while retaining his style of writing. =p
Chapter 6: Bandit Blastin'
He continued his way through the camp, cutting down human bandits as they showed themselves. He found a group of them near a well armored and cruel looking man that Theodoric assumed was the leader of the human bandits. He launched two fireballs into their midst, killing the majority of the bandits, but the leader was more skilled, dodging the fireballs (I totally did NOT just miss him…) and charging Theodoric. Theodoric was greatly pleased to find such a skilled warrior among his foes, but even this man was unable to stand against Theodoric. After dealing with him and all the other bandits, he searched them for scalps and loot. The warrior was wearing a fine suit of full plate mail and an enchanted shield and warhammer. Continuing to the largest tent, just behind the warrior, Theodoric slew five more bandits, before healing himself and entering. Inside he was accosted by a bandit, to which he replied aggressively. A group of four skilled combatants began attacking him, two using blades, another using a bow, while the last of them began casting magic. Despite injuring himself by doing so, Theodoric decided to begin using the amulet over and over, trying to burn them all down, believing his endurance to be far higher than their's. It was an incredibly effective way to deal with the enemies, as all but the mage fell with three uses. On his own, the mage was doomed, and Theodoric charged him, blade held high. He managed to hit Theodoric with two acid arrows before succumbing, but Theodoric resisted the damage and cleaved the mage in two. He noticed a man near the back of the tent, but saw that he was in chains, and so sheathed his blade. He asked the man who he was and learned that the man was named Ender Sai. He told Theodoric about the true foe, the Iron Throne, and then left.
After looting the place and resisting a lightning trap, he left and began cleaning up the remaining bandits around the camp. He also wrenched open as many chests as he could and looted their contents. After killing and looting all the bandits and tents, he left and returned to Beregost. Once there, he spoke with Vai, and told her about the camp. Afterwards he went to Thalantyr’s, sold his loot, and recharged his amulet, having it made even stronger than it was when he first purchased it. From there, he traveled to the FAI and rested, before heading into the cloakwood. At the FAI he met with Elminster again, and they spoke briefly about the presence of this “Iron Throne” in Cloakwood Forest. While resting, Theodoric gained yet another magical ability. This time it was to slow poison, which would be most useful in the area he would next head... If, of course, he wasn't already immune to it...
(Am glad you didn't hurt Ender Sai btw with your blasts)
Chapter 7: Spider's Bane (And we're not talking about a sword)
Once he had dealt with them all, he hoisted Chelak’s body onto his shoulders but collapsed to one knee, underestimating the weight. Realizing he had few options, he tossed his throwing axes on the ground and abandoned them. It didn’t make him light enough to move quickly, but he could at least walk slowly back to Tiber. Afterwards he traveled north to unlock the next area, and then returned to Thalantyr for a quick selling spree. He also gave the greenstone amulet to Thalantyr and had him supercharge it, giving it five times the number of uses it had before. He then returned to Cloakwood, coming to the new area. In this next area he dealt with a wyvern tamer and spoke with several shadow druids, none of whom he fought with, since they wished their forest cleared of the Iron Throne. He did not accept Faldorn’s help, however, as he believed ‘would be best for him to go alone. He traveled east from there. In the next area he killed a hamadryad who’s magic was useless against a cavalier wielding Spider’s Bane. He traveled northeast from the hamadryad and found a wyvern cave. He had already killed four wyverns while traveling in the forest, but he decided to kill these as well. He used the One Gift Lost to blast the wyverns, killing the babies with two blasts and wounding the adults. He then drew his blade and slew them. He looted a corpse in there, and then left, heading further east, to the mines themselves. Finally he arrived at the mine. He killed the two guards at the bridge and then, sensing danger, took out the greenstone amulet. His intuition was proven right, as just a short ways ahead of him stood two well armored men and two impressive looking mages. They were more assassins, though they had been left at the mine, as Theodoric was expected.
Rather than try to fight them one at a time, Theodoric instead used his greenstone amulet and then charged forward, sword held high. He charged the mages first, but one used a dimension door, so he targeted the other first. He finally slew the mage, but not before he summoned a xvart and a war dog. Deeming these as minor threats, he turned next to the second mage, cleaving him into pieces with two mighty blows. He turned his attention to the cleric next, trying to bash his way through his armor with sheer brute strength. After a few blows he finally slew the cleric and turned his attention to the warrior. Theodoric saw the two summoned monsters disappear and grinned, swinging his sword one final time, his full force behind the blow. He cleaved his foe into two fully separate halves, and with that he gained his final level. He gained little with his level, but he was certainly somewhat stronger. Wounded as he was, (even if it was only 5 points of damage…) and with so much loot, he returned to Thalantyr. He replaced his enchanted flail with the enchanted morning star, and his boots of electricity resistance with the boots of speed. He then took the wyvern head to the temple, selling it for 2000 gold pieces before returning to the mine to destroy it.
Max level at last. Look at that crazy HP! And a beautiful 7 THAC0. Not to mention the huge 13-22 dmg.
You may note that we picked up Nester's dagger on the way to Ulcaster