1. I didn't really like the bg2 EE content. I didn't feel like it fit in with the rest of the writing and the dialogue responses were sometimes really limited. I can't remember where it was in Rasaad's quest but I remember a dialogue where the only options to respond were aggressive or just silly. Fortunately this is not the case in SoD.
2. Super unpopular opinion inc: I adore Anomen. I enjoyed his romance and having him as a party member. I typically play a paladin or cleric so I send her and Anomen off into a pack of undead and watch the undead explode around them in a shower of gore.
I gotta say - reading your opinions, guys, is great fun and there are here same really insightful notions I'd never think about. 52. Don't know how unpopular it is, but however I like Aerie, I wish there was an option to corrupt her, just like you can redeem Viconia and Sarevok. Fun option of evil Bhaalspawn.
Abjuration spells are overrated. I never use anything outside of an occasional breach.
Now, that's an interesting assertion. I have trouble parting with Dispel Magic, and there's lots of cool stuff you can do with Spell Immunity (one of the most versatile spells in the game really), but you can probably live without those. And there's also Lower Resistance, but lemme say this about that one:
Lower Resistance is overrated. Why, exactly, are you planning to spend three or more level five spells to be able to blast (i.e., use even more spells) and take down *one* opponent?! For something really big like a dragon, it can work and be worth it, but only if they're all loaded up in a Spell Trigger, otherwise you're handing them plenty of time to disrupt your efforts. If you're facing bad guys with magic resistance, then buff the fighters and let them go to work. It's that simple, so don't infringe on their territory. You have better things to do with your spell slots.
I think Lower Resistance is mainly good in solo runs. I agree that it's not very good in parties. I've almost entirely stopped using it in party runs myself.
I think Lower Resistance is mainly good in solo runs. I agree that it's not very good in parties. I've almost entirely stopped using it in party runs myself.
Even then, I'd prefer summons. Skeleton Warriors for Drow, magic swords for golems/dragons. Imprisonment for Adamantite Golems because they're just cheap with their 90% resistance to everything.
About not-so-useful spells: 53. Protection from magical weapons, Mantles, Globes, and so on are useless in most cases - if you are not playing solo or warrior-mage of some combination, you'll be trying to keep your wizards out of danger anyway; so why waste slots on those spells?
Yes something like that. My mages are never the target of foes so protection spells are not needed. Debuff is also not required, just use your other party members if you cannot get past spell defenses (or use other spells).
About not-so-useful spells: 53. Protection from magical weapons, Mantles, Globes, and so on are useless in most cases - if you are not playing solo or warrior-mage of some combination, you'll be trying to keep your wizards out of danger anyway; so why waste slots on those spells?
I think their main use is against groups of golems that have Clay Golems included among them - the hasted attacks will tear down stoneskin/mirror image too quickly, but leading with a mage is still a good idea to save your party a pounding while also hitting back with fireshield.
"53. Protection from magical weapons, Mantles, Globes, and so on are useless in most cases - if you are not playing solo or warrior-mage of some combination, you'll be trying to keep your wizards out of danger anyway; so why waste slots on those spells?"
If you've got SCS installed, it's quite likely that your wizards will be targeted 90% of the time. On the other hand, it's better to cast invisibility spells and wait until the enemy is distracted instead of casting a powerful 6th level spell.
The stat boosting items in BG2 are ridiculous and far too common.
I mean look at Aerie in my party right now...
Str19* Dex17 Con18* Int16 Wis16 Cha18*
How are those stats possible? With the exception of Int and Wis, it doesn't matter what your dump stat is. There is an item which makes it perfect. I mean, hell, I'm only in the underdark but...
Charname (paladin)
Str19 Dex19 Con19 Cha19
Keldorn
Str21* Dex18* Con17 Cha18
Minsc
Str18/00* (these strength items are so common that I figured 'why not') Dex16 Con16 Cha18*
The stat boosting items in BG2 are ridiculous and far too common.
Well, I'm now getting flashbacks to this Pathfinder campaign I played a while back, where the moment I hit level seven, the party was suddenly sporting +4 stat boosters for Int or Str, depending on who they were. Again, level seven, so late BG1 by our standards.
About not-so-useful spells: 53. Protection from magical weapons, Mantles, Globes, and so on are useless in most cases - if you are not playing solo or warrior-mage of some combination, you'll be trying to keep your wizards out of danger anyway; so why waste slots on those spells?
Nonono, see, the point isn't to protect the wizard. It's to use the wizard's face to protect everyone else.
I wish the Blackguard was named Antipaladin instead if only to give some familiarity with the Githyanki example we see in vanilla.
I also wish the Blackguard had another ability that wasn't poison weapon...What kind of ability I don't know. But I've always had problem with the implementation of the Blackguard in the NwN games as well. Sneak attack, poison weapon and a few other minor useless abilities. It always felt like a really half-assed attempt at an unholy warrior.
I hate the multi/dual classing for the companions being so common, BG2 being the biggest offender.
One or two - fine. Nearly of them? No, just no. There's a kit system that's more than adequate without the homogeneity that MC/DC brings. Kit classes bring individuality and experimentation to party make up where I can see Pure classes may not have have seemed numerous enough. I can only assume MC/DC was used so much to nerf XP gain for companions in some way.
BG1 is a little more forgiven because the kit system wasn't in the original. BG2, BG2:EE and BG:EE? At risk of stepping on some toes, I think Beamdog should've reclassed, re-equipped (with some unique items) and re-statted nearly all the companions, and sod the purists!
Peeve 2
I hate being rail-roaded into quests and romances. BG2 naturally, is terrible for this. It's great that there's all this content, and I get that it's 99% optional, but it hardly ever feels optional. I don't want to go into a new zone and have 8 urgent matters thrown at me. Let me look around a bit first; hit a tavern, sell the loot weighing me down. For Athkatla, it's stepping over a line from what should feel like a busy city to one which can't possibly cope without you.
And how about a way to turn down companion offers to join or be romanced without being made to look a total dick? I've got a world to save, your psychodrama is not my concern! How are you a successful adventurer? You sound like a teenager! Gaaah!
To be fair, I don't think any EE NPCs are multi/dual classed, and they use a lot of kits, so it seems like Beamdog has been listening to that complaint.
To be fair, I don't think any EE NPCs are multi/dual classed, and they use a lot of kits, so it seems like Beamdog has been listening to that complaint.
Yeah, but...that's the new characters. I know BeamDog wanted to make their mark, but BG games have plenty of companion choices already, they just needed fixing/improving/overhauling. I'm much interested in seeing Safana built as an Assassin, Montaron as a Wizard Slayer etc etc.
Yeah, but...that's the new characters. I know BeamDog wanted to make their mark, but BG games have plenty of companion choices already, they just needed fixing/improving/overhauling. I'm much interested in seeing Safana built as an Assassin, Montaron as a Wizard Slayer etc etc.
I'm not sure they were allowed to, there's all these restrictions on changing things about the original games, and I can't pretend to understand them all. Just for one, I know that's why the new love interests aren't Bodhi-napped, they weren't allowed to be.
Yeah, but...that's the new characters. I know BeamDog wanted to make their mark, but BG games have plenty of companion choices already, they just needed fixing/improving/overhauling. I'm much interested in seeing Safana built as an Assassin, Montaron as a Wizard Slayer etc etc.
I'm not sure they were allowed to, there's all these restrictions on changing things about the original games, and I can't pretend to understand them all. Just for one, I know that's why the new love interests aren't Bodhi-napped, they weren't allowed to be.
To be fair, I don't think any EE NPCs are multi/dual classed, and they use a lot of kits, so it seems like Beamdog has been listening to that complaint.
Yeah, but...that's the new characters. I know BeamDog wanted to make their mark, but BG games have plenty of companion choices already, they just needed fixing/improving/overhauling. I'm much interested in seeing Safana built as an Assassin, Montaron as a Wizard Slayer etc etc.
Unless you said that just to prpvides an example, I must say that so far safana doesn't "assassinate" targets and montaron isn't specialized in slaying wizards to follow those kits effectivelly.
Unless you said that just to prpvides an example, I must say that so far safana doesn't "assassinate" targets and montaron isn't specialized in slaying wizards to follow those kits effectivelly.
For that matter, I'd argue that either of those specific changes would make those characters less viable in BG1. Poison weapon wouldn't make up for the loss of thief points at that low a level, and wizard slayers really aren't worth it in BG1.
Comments
Abjuration spells are overrated. I never use anything outside of an occasional breach.
2. Super unpopular opinion inc: I adore Anomen. I enjoyed his romance and having him as a party member. I typically play a paladin or cleric so I send her and Anomen off into a pack of undead and watch the undead explode around them in a shower of gore.
52. Don't know how unpopular it is, but however I like Aerie, I wish there was an option to corrupt her, just like you can redeem Viconia and Sarevok. Fun option of evil Bhaalspawn.
Lower Resistance is overrated. Why, exactly, are you planning to spend three or more level five spells to be able to blast (i.e., use even more spells) and take down *one* opponent?! For something really big like a dragon, it can work and be worth it, but only if they're all loaded up in a Spell Trigger, otherwise you're handing them plenty of time to disrupt your efforts. If you're facing bad guys with magic resistance, then buff the fighters and let them go to work. It's that simple, so don't infringe on their territory. You have better things to do with your spell slots.
53. Protection from magical weapons, Mantles, Globes, and so on are useless in most cases - if you are not playing solo or warrior-mage of some combination, you'll be trying to keep your wizards out of danger anyway; so why waste slots on those spells?
If you've got SCS installed, it's quite likely that your wizards will be targeted 90% of the time. On the other hand, it's better to cast invisibility spells and wait until the enemy is distracted instead of casting a powerful 6th level spell.
I mean look at Aerie in my party right now...
Str19*
Dex17
Con18*
Int16
Wis16
Cha18*
How are those stats possible? With the exception of Int and Wis, it doesn't matter what your dump stat is. There is an item which makes it perfect. I mean, hell, I'm only in the underdark but...
Charname (paladin)
Str19
Dex19
Con19
Cha19
Keldorn
Str21*
Dex18*
Con17
Cha18
Minsc
Str18/00* (these strength items are so common that I figured 'why not')
Dex16
Con16
Cha18*
I also wish the Blackguard had another ability that wasn't poison weapon...What kind of ability I don't know. But I've always had problem with the implementation of the Blackguard in the NwN games as well. Sneak attack, poison weapon and a few other minor useless abilities. It always felt like a really half-assed attempt at an unholy warrior.
http://www.d20srd.org/srd/prestigeClasses/blackguard.htm
I believe it's generally received as a weaker class unless you dip a few levels in a blackbard build.
I much prefer Pathfinder's attempt at it with their anti-paladin.
http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/alternate-classes/antipaladin
I believe I'm allowed to link d20srd stuffs.
I hate the multi/dual classing for the companions being so common, BG2 being the biggest offender.
One or two - fine. Nearly of them? No, just no. There's a kit system that's more than adequate without the homogeneity that MC/DC brings. Kit classes bring individuality and experimentation to party make up where I can see Pure classes may not have have seemed numerous enough. I can only assume MC/DC was used so much to nerf XP gain for companions in some way.
BG1 is a little more forgiven because the kit system wasn't in the original. BG2, BG2:EE and BG:EE? At risk of stepping on some toes, I think Beamdog should've reclassed, re-equipped (with some unique items) and re-statted nearly all the companions, and sod the purists!
Peeve 2
I hate being rail-roaded into quests and romances. BG2 naturally, is terrible for this. It's great that there's all this content, and I get that it's 99% optional, but it hardly ever feels optional. I don't want to go into a new zone and have 8 urgent matters thrown at me. Let me look around a bit first; hit a tavern, sell the loot weighing me down. For Athkatla, it's stepping over a line from what should feel like a busy city to one which can't possibly cope without you.
And how about a way to turn down companion offers to join or be romanced without being made to look a total dick? I've got a world to save, your psychodrama is not my concern! How are you a successful adventurer? You sound like a teenager! Gaaah!
I'm sure you're right, it's just a shame.