Help me to decide which attribute to sacrifice
Azaloom
Member Posts: 56
I'm having difficulties at deciding at the Spellhold, when the demon asks for a permanent attribute sacrifice what to choose. I've played and developed my character all the way from BG1 start and imported my character from there. She's a high stats cleric, which I dual classed at level 14 to mage and is now at level 12 at that. The stats are STR19, DX19, CON13, INT19, WIS21 and CHA9, and they better be as I'm playing with Stratagems installed and pretty much all difficulty maxed out both on the mod and in game. I'm using Girdle of Fortitude to up the CON to 18 after rest, and that lasts 8 hours. What should I choose? I wouldn't like to lose any slots on either memorizable mage or cleric spells. Is a CON drop preferable, and would it really matter at all, with the habit of using the girdle?
0
Comments
C:CreateItem("book0x")Replace "x" with the number of the book you want.Book03 = Con
Book04 = Str
Book05 = Dex
Book06 = Int
Book07 = Cha
Book08 = Wis
Off the top of my head, the only possible issue would be if you are considering taking the +2 CON bonus in the Hell trial (Trial of Fear; EVIL path) and then the CON bonus in Watcher's Keep to get you to a base 16 (and the max HP bonus for your character) so you don't need to bother with the belt in Throne of Bhaal.
In that case dropping INT would be okay. An INT of 18 still allows you to cast 9th level spells and INT does not affect the number of spells you can cast per day if you already qualify to cast spells of a given level. However, INT 18 has an 18-spell per level limit in terms of writing spells in your spellbook while INT of 19 is unlimited. Personally, while I do like memorizing every spell for completion's sake, I've never needed nor used anywhere near 18 spells of a given level. INT 19 also increases your chance to write a spell in your spellbook from 85% to 95%. Drinking a Potion of Genius before scribing let you overcome these two disadvantages, and you can get that INT point back in Watcher's Keep. There is practically no advantage to 20 INT over 19 INT.
There are bonus divine spell slots associated with higher Wisdom though (3rd and 5th levels at 21 WIS), so I would definitely opt to keep WIS.
Using the above mentioned strategy to boost to 16 con permanently seems a good idea though DUHM has much the same effect.
Don't lower Str, as 18 and 19 str are worlds-apart. 19 dex helps with melf's minute meteors, sol's searing orb, and energy blades. Int and wisdom are untouchable for your char. Cha 9 already penalises you in reaction rolls, 8 will be worse:however if you have the ring of human influence and a friends spell, you can get by when you really, absolutely, desperately needed charisma to impress someone. (Heh, I wish I had that ring in real life, when dating someone cute)
Btw. is Watcher's Keep miles ahead or is it realistically done after the Spell Hold? I suppose my party's a little higher than what Spell Hold would seem to require. For example I've already managed (although after several dozen attempts) to slay Thaxxl'ssillyia, with these insane difficulty settings.
edit: Thank again for everyone for the tremendous insight you already provided on short notice!
Muahahahahahahahhahahahahaha!