What do you do for the most fun?

Klorox

I don't know what it is, but I'm just a little bored right now. What do you guys do in your games to spice them up a bit?

I don't know exactly what I'm asking for here, but I want to play some BGEE, just don't feel a direction to go in right now.

Kamigoroshi

An odd question that I find rather difficult to answer.

I do a *lot* of head roleplaying, which involves a wide variety of things. Be it hobbies, shunning the plot whenever possible, or creating different character backgrounds for the player character (let's face it: being Gorion's Ward for the 100.000th time is just cringeworthy).

Whenever such things are also fun for other players, I don't know.

lolien

The current playthrough, what i do is the first that i journal, while roleplay it, and it becames my best experience and great fun. It gives a lot to the roleplay. Posting it on the forum add a lot too, feedback is always motivating. I added some spice in the mix with the no item restriction.

Mods can bring new life in the game too, but one must very cautious with them, they can be balance breaking.

However, i also find fun way back, when i did't know how to edit characters with shadow keeper, or else, but i find a bug in the vanilla game: i import export the character in candlekeep to gain one +hp with every reload, and i reach 1000+ hp with this method after few hours clicking. That was an other kind of fun.

CrevsDaak

I play no-reload. So I don't get the typical restartitis, nor the compulsive reload problem (this is much more noticeable on PS:T anyway), besides I role-play and well, I'm addicted to the game (in the good way), so I don't know… I just like playing.

Dee

One of my favorite things to do is to make the "Default" character--that is, a character for whom starting with a Quarterstaff and no other equipment would make sense. Generally speaking this means a Kensai with two pips in each of Quarterstaff and Two-Handed Weapon Style. Then I try to play through as much of the game as possible as efficiently as I can. That means no visiting merchants, no resting at inns, no talking to people that aren't quest-essential...

I don't last very long. But it's fun for a bit.

Lateralus

Klorox said:

I don't know what it is, but I'm just a little bored right now. What do you guys do in your games to spice them up a bit?

I don't know exactly what I'm asking for here, but I want to play some BGEE, just don't feel a direction to go in right now.

Build a 75 point character and try to solo the game on HARD.

Anduin

Occasionally, I play a Gnome. I know they are overpowered... But I like being overpowered!

JuliusBorisov

Install a few mods, try BG1 NPC Project and SCS - you'll definitely remember the experience you'll get. These two mods will make your game much more different. Taste them!

kcwise

A couple of things I've tried to inject some extra fun into the games:

Play as one of the companions you meet in the game. Use the stats for a character like Ajantis or Tiax and see what the adventure would be like if they were the Bhaalspawn, trying to role play reactions as much as possible to reflect their personalities. Alternately, create an iconic character from the D&D novels or other games. If Raistlin from Dragonlance somehow was reincarnated as a Bhaalspawn in the Forgotten Realms what would he do? There are stats and descriptions for such characters scattered around the net.

Recruit every available companion and bring them to a central location (the Friendly Arm Inn is a good choice for the early game) and, using the console commands, keep their XP on a par with the main character. Then, rather than picking one team and sticking with them for the entire game, choose your team based on each quest you undertake. If you're going to be roaming about Baldur's Gate breaking into house and chatting with the locals you might want more thieves and rogues. If you're storming a Gnoll fortress to rescue Minsc's pal you might want more muscle, or more archery support. Save before undertaking a mission and try a variety of combinations just to see what sorts of different situations might arise from a different team. For extra fun, imagine you've sent some of these teams off "on their own" by having your PC stay out of combat entirely for the duration of the quest.

Larkus

The SixOfSpades at the Ironworks Forums once posted a series of screenshots about " Fun things to do in Trademeet on a Saturday afternoon" (unfortunately not available anymore):

End the Trademeet quests with the whole party polymorphed/shapechanged - funny statues in the middle of Trademeet.

Mathsorcerer

Larkus said:

The SixOfSpades at the Ironworks Forums

Wow! Someone actually mentioned Ironworks. I joined there back in 2001 before it became "the brown board". In fact, that was where I first learned that BGEE was in the works in this thread. *sigh* Ironworks was my first home on the Internet--it will always be a part of me and I really miss some of those people, especially Timber Loftis (you may be gone, my brother, but you are not forgotten).

the_spyder

When you get bored, what aspect makes you the most bored? Is it the leveling up not being fast enough? Is it how predictable the game gets if you metagame it? Is it the ease with which you dispatch certain enemies? Is it having the same group? Is it the low slung stunray holster? Or is it that you find coming to terms with the mindless tedium of it all that's a challenge?

Seriously, switch things up a bit. Play with a different Charname than you are used to. Or different NPCs. Or even a different party balance (more or less companions than you like, or no cleric, or no thief etc...).

Something else that helps me is to actually role play charname. Let me clarify that because many people probably role play there characters. What I mean is really dig down into the motivation of the individual class/race/abilities of Charname and come up with reasoning why he or she would act in a given situation. Develop meaningful dialogues between Charname and the rest of the group. Who knows where that will lead you.

Larkus

@Mathsorcerer

Mathsorcerer said:

Wow! Someone actually mentioned Ironworks

I didn't mention Ironworks before, but I did link to Ironworks before:
http://forum.baldursgate.com/discussion/comment/435436/#Comment_435436

There were many knowledgeable people at Ironworks. The SixOfSpades was impressive, as was DundeeSlaytern.

I was mostly a lurker, though. I was more at home at GameBanshee.

Edit: While I'm at it: The Ironworks BG2 Classic Threads Collection
http://web.archive.org/web/20120104193154/http://www.ironworksforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=12862
(Especially good: "The Stud")

AnonymousHero

No-reload + SCS. It's the only way to fly . (Though you may become bored if you go with full Mage prebuffs. I prefer the "only long-lasting spells" pre-buff.)

Merina

Browse the web for a fresh portrait, or create your own one.

View the list of NPCs you can meet, then decide on building a party that is different from what you've played so far. It becomes more spicy if you finish BGEE and transfer the char to BG2EE where it will fit into a different party, too.

Create a char that would replace an NPC because you wouldn't want to have two of the same class in your party.

Consider mixing good, neutral and evil characters just to find out what they say to eachother. Have you been chaotic evil yourself before?

Choose different weapons and weapon styles.

Role-play when choosing from the multiple-choice answers.

My personal favorites: Use found potions early. Only spare a few special ones for special situations. Don't reload if writing scrolls fails. Don't reload for leveling up with high HP. Force yourself to save directly after leveling up.

the_spyder

Merina said:

Consider mixing good, neutral and evil characters just to find out what they say to each other.

This can be loads of fun. Some of the interactions between opposite minded individuals can be really funny.

HOWEVER. Please note that sometimes fights will break out at the most inopportune times. I've never seen someone take a whack at another party member already involved in combat, but I have seen fights break out just AFTER combat ended. Firecam and Viccy are particular culprits for this type of behavior.

Simply said, if you want to do this, and I highly recommend it, SAVE often and in at least three separate revolving save spots. Otherwise, you might end up in the middle of a sticky wicket, minus one or more of your favorites.

Coriander

I give myself a modded weapon that makes everything I attack explode. Or a wand of chickenification. Or a ring that polymorphs me into Sarevok with Haste.

the_spyder

@Coriander - That's very funny. It also gives me an idea. Play with Neera (or with Charname as a wildmage) and never use the chaos defense spells. Just let the wild magic go WILD. See what happens.

After all, they say that Cow happens!!

kcwise

Merina said:

My personal favorites: Use found potions early. Only spare a few special ones for special situations.

That's great advice for the hoarders in the audience, like me. Not sure why, but even though I've played the game more than a few times I still hoard potions, items, etc.

JuliusBorisov

kcwise said:

Merina said:

My personal favorites: Use found potions early. Only spare a few special ones for special situations.

That's great advice for the hoarders in the audience, like me. Not sure why, but even though I've played the game more than a few times I still hoard potions, items, etc.

I've been in the same boat till I installed the SCS mod

kengura

SCS mod. No reload. As less prebuffs as possible. No kiting or hit and run tactics. Party can retreat only if the battle is lost.

JuliusBorisov

If the battle is lost, my party cannot retreat let alone exist...

dunbar

Sometimes I just go with the first stat roll, write an appropriate back story, skip the prologue, go straight to Gorion and exit Candlekeep. From there I let the character's background and innate abilities determine the initial course of action.

WebShaman

I am not sure just exactly what is causing your boredom.

Advance the questline?

Put the AI on, and let your peeps do things automatically, perhaps?

Try out a party with NPCs you haven't tried for spice and variety.

Do an evil party run.

the_spyder

WebShaman said:

Put the AI on, and let your peeps do things automatically, perhaps?

NOOOOOOO. Don't use the Artificial Stupidity.....

Night_Watch

Bear hunting along the Sword Coast. However...

You've been warned!

Also,

does anyone know if the Phoenix Guards in Nashkel are still in the cemetery? They're usually loads of fun, especially when you get the entire town involved.

Lateralus

Night_Watch said:

Bear hunting along the Sword Coast. However...

You've been warned!

Also,

does anyone know if the Phoenix Guards in Nashkel are still in the cemetery? They're usually loads of fun, especially when you get the entire town involved.

They PGs are still there, and if they accidentally on purpose kill a certain bounty collector, he might have some worthwhile loot on him (guilt free murder, yay!).

Jenzafar

Now listen, Ralphie. If you're bored with Balder's Gate, you're playing too much.
If you're not bored with Balder's Gate, you're not playing enough.

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