I don't know if or how this playthrough would be categorized - it wasn't a strict no-reload playthrough, although I did accept most of whatever events occurred, and it wasn't either a speed- or completionist run.
I set out on this playthrough for two main reasons: 1. To use this portrait,
2. To test out/showcase some of the mods made available by other forum members.
Here's a run-down of the mods that I had used for this playthrough:
The NPC Project for BG:EE ( http://forum.baldursgate.com/discussion/32379/bg1npc-for-bgee-prerelease-update-v21-pr-20141114/p1 ) I did NOT install the main component that adds additional banters to all of the NPCs, because it felt too overbearing to me. However, here's a list of some of the smaller components that I did install: -Romances for Ajantis, Coran, and Xan. -Relocating Alora's starting location to Gullykin, and Tiax's to Beregost. -Accelerated banter script (increases the frequency at which intra-party banters occur). -Bardic reputation adjustment (basically the reverse of temple donations, it spawns bards at certain locations in the game who you can pay to malign your rep).
Neera expansion mod - Gives Neera additional banters.
This turned out to be probably the most fun and engaging playthrough that I have ever done of BG1, for a number of reasons. For one thing, I focused more on RPing my character more than I ever have before, and found it to be a much more rewarding experience. Also, there were a few bugs and/or strange occurrences that happened along the way, likely due to some conflicts between the various mods that I had installed, but I was able to RP most of those into the storyline and they actually made the gameplay seem even more interesting and spontaneous, even humorous.
I started my first journaled playthrough of Icewind Dale EE as well. I started it back in November, but I held off on posting what I already had because I just didn't have the time to dedicate to it. Now I do! YAAAY! Come take a look if you like!
Ongoing Melissa - chaotic neutral - cleric / Mage Team determined by forum users BG1 run. Having asked the community for my five team mates I ended up with:
Just an update because I know there are probably more viewers of this thread than my individual play-throughs, I've uploaded two new chapters in my stories, one in both Phaendris' tale and in Treyve's. I'm especially proud of Phaendris' new chapter. Laughs, love, battle, and anger are all promised in it!
2: Snowy Tae, the Cleric/Mage/Thief: A minimal-reload solo SCS2 run of SoA, discontinued. http://forums.beamdog.com/discussion/39995/snowy-tae-a-cleric-mage-thief-in-scs2#latest I tweaked a Mage/Thief so it could be played as a Cleric/Mage/Thief triple class. I tired of the mod after a rather lengthy fight in which I got an Amnish Soldier to kill Tolgerias, and used domination spells to prevent the whole map from turning hostile.
3: The Party of Spiders: Sil, Cleric of Lathander(11)->Mage, no-reload SCS2+Ascension run of SoA and ToB, temporarily on hold. http://forums.beamdog.com/discussion/38312/the-party-of-spiders-no-reload-scs2-run#latest This is a party of spellcasters--no fighter levels in the group--which is played like a party of fighters. Rather than relying on summons and offensive magic, this party tries, wherever possible, to beat the enemy with melee and ranged combat. Shapeshifting is prominent in this playthrough. It was put on hold after a near scrape with death with a pack of four dragons--I realized that I was too unfamiliar with ToB to safely continue, and decided to return once I knew more about Ascension battles.
4: The Archer Thread: multiple runs, all featuring prominent Archers, both vanilla Archers and the Tactics Archer fighter kit, single- and dual-classed, party and solo (some failed, one discontinued). http://forums.beamdog.com/discussion/39162/solo-no-reload-archer-thief-scs2-run#latest Basically, this thread is a small collection of runs with an explanation of my no-reload strategies for Archers. I died multiple times, failing the no-reload requirement thingy, but continued anyway to keep researching the uses of the Archer kit.
I know it's been a long time since I've updated any of my threads and I apologize for that. I have a new computer and a metric butt-ton of new games that I've never been able to play before because this is my first PC (as opposed to an Apple), so my attention has been very much diverted. That said, I have a new play-through coming soon, which due to it being made on the computer (as opposed to an Ipad) I imagine will progress both more smoothly, and more quickly. It's also a comedic/simple play-through, so don't expect in-depth role-play or anything like that. That will make it go faster, however.
Anyway, this is just an update as to my relative absence, and information on upcoming new things in the forum life of Elrandir.
Comments
http://forum.baldursgate.com/discussion/33572/adventures-of-alandra-the-barbarian-with-various-mods-installed
I don't know if or how this playthrough would be categorized - it wasn't a strict no-reload playthrough, although I did accept most of whatever events occurred, and it wasn't either a speed- or completionist run.
I set out on this playthrough for two main reasons:
1. To use this portrait,
2. To test out/showcase some of the mods made available by other forum members.
Here's a run-down of the mods that I had used for this playthrough:
BG2:EE GUI in BG1:EE ( http://forum.baldursgate.com/discussion/31069/bg-ee-gui-mods-grey-gui-and-gui-from-bg2-ee/p1 ) - Alters the BG1 interface to replicate BG2:EE.
The NPC Project for BG:EE ( http://forum.baldursgate.com/discussion/32379/bg1npc-for-bgee-prerelease-update-v21-pr-20141114/p1 )
I did NOT install the main component that adds additional banters to all of the NPCs, because it felt too overbearing to me. However, here's a list of some of the smaller components that I did install:
-Romances for Ajantis, Coran, and Xan.
-Relocating Alora's starting location to Gullykin, and Tiax's to Beregost.
-Accelerated banter script (increases the frequency at which intra-party banters occur).
-Bardic reputation adjustment (basically the reverse of temple donations, it spawns bards at certain locations in the game who you can pay to malign your rep).
Neera expansion mod - Gives Neera additional banters.
Ellyrian NPC mod ( http://forum.baldursgate.com/discussion/32979/ellyrian-the-cleric-ranger-npc )- Adds a joinable cleric/ranger NPC named Ellyrian. It was still considered in the developmental stage at the time, but the prospect of adding a cleric/ranger NPC to my party was just too good to pass up.
This turned out to be probably the most fun and engaging playthrough that I have ever done of BG1, for a number of reasons. For one thing, I focused more on RPing my character more than I ever have before, and found it to be a much more rewarding experience. Also, there were a few bugs and/or strange occurrences that happened along the way, likely due to some conflicts between the various mods that I had installed, but I was able to RP most of those into the storyline and they actually made the gameplay seem even more interesting and spontaneous, even humorous.
http://forum.baldursgate.com/discussion/37454/ladys-night-a-journaled-icewind-dale-ee-playthrough
(This is also my first playthrough ever, so... Feedback would probably help. A lot.)
Melissa - chaotic neutral - cleric / Mage
Team determined by forum users BG1 run. Having asked the community for my five team mates I ended up with:
Mel - cleric/Mage
Kivan - Ranger
Xzarena - Mage
Garrick - bard
Safana - thief
Rasaad - "monk"
It's not a bad team... But not having a single bonus hp is annoying! It's also all only done on hard core difficulty.
Mad thing Garrick is actually my powerhouse at the moment!
http://forum.baldursgate.com/discussion/37642/you-pick-my-team-bg1#latest
http://forums.beamdog.com/discussion/37785/restless-run-of-baldurs-gate-2#latest
A normal run of SoA without resting, using a mostly melee-oriented party. There were some unpopular exploits in the early game.
2: Snowy Tae, the Cleric/Mage/Thief: A minimal-reload solo SCS2 run of SoA, discontinued.
http://forums.beamdog.com/discussion/39995/snowy-tae-a-cleric-mage-thief-in-scs2#latest
I tweaked a Mage/Thief so it could be played as a Cleric/Mage/Thief triple class. I tired of the mod after a rather lengthy fight in which I got an Amnish Soldier to kill Tolgerias, and used domination spells to prevent the whole map from turning hostile.
3: The Party of Spiders: Sil, Cleric of Lathander(11)->Mage, no-reload SCS2+Ascension run of SoA and ToB, temporarily on hold.
http://forums.beamdog.com/discussion/38312/the-party-of-spiders-no-reload-scs2-run#latest
This is a party of spellcasters--no fighter levels in the group--which is played like a party of fighters. Rather than relying on summons and offensive magic, this party tries, wherever possible, to beat the enemy with melee and ranged combat. Shapeshifting is prominent in this playthrough. It was put on hold after a near scrape with death with a pack of four dragons--I realized that I was too unfamiliar with ToB to safely continue, and decided to return once I knew more about Ascension battles.
4: The Archer Thread: multiple runs, all featuring prominent Archers, both vanilla Archers and the Tactics Archer fighter kit, single- and dual-classed, party and solo (some failed, one discontinued).
http://forums.beamdog.com/discussion/39162/solo-no-reload-archer-thief-scs2-run#latest
Basically, this thread is a small collection of runs with an explanation of my no-reload strategies for Archers. I died multiple times, failing the no-reload requirement thingy, but continued anyway to keep researching the uses of the Archer kit.
http://forums.beamdog.com/discussion/40393/maybe-this-time-ee-scs-trilogy-no-reload-runs-featuring-butch-baylen-the-bounty-hunter#latest
Anyway, this is just an update as to my relative absence, and information on upcoming new things in the forum life of Elrandir.
Grum's Magnificent Trainwreck
A full BG1 solo no-reload RP run.
Many failed no re-load runs...
One ongoing attempt that is on hold due to RL burnout.
For the advertisement: Fully written out stories, so if that is your cup of tea, take a look.