If my character can't derive benefit, it goes to an NPC that will be in the second game. And I will edit their stats to reflect it. Viconia has lots of Wisdom in the game with my Cavalier. Imoen is a lvl 2 thief/ lvl whatever mage, I edited all her spells back in. It was annoying as hell. But I wanted to carry it all over this time.
I gave the Cha tome to Imoen, as it benefited my own character (Cha 10) not a whit to use it. Whereas she with the tome and nymph cloak is at Cha 19. And that results in significantly better prices for the party when she does the buying and selling.
I don't know how it will be with BG2 EE but originally the stat increases for NPC's didn't carry over in BG2. You could adjust that with Shadowkeeper as suggested higher, but in more than halt of cases the NPC itself isn't carried over.
My advice: 1. Give the stat increases to those party members that benefit most of them in BG1. 2. In BG2 cheat yourself the manuals that you haven't used on yourself and use them again on whomever you like.
Yes, it's slightly cheat-like. But in a right way. You know you deserve it.
Thanks for all the comments they are really helpfull, I never realised stats on minsc and main NPCs carry on to BG2 - have I understood that correctly?
Tomes applied to NPCs don't carry through to BG2 (and probably not to BG2EE from what I've read elsewhere), only if using BGT.
EDIT: unless you Shadowkeeper their tome-increases stats into BG2, which I'm considering doing, as would like to give the Charisma tome to Dorn
Fot this reason I usually give most of the tomes to CHRANAME (apart from some of the Wisdom tomes and sometimes the Charisma tome to Imoen, Safana or now Dorn).
In BG2 there are some points where CHRANAME may have to drop some stats, so I like to buff CHARNAME as much as possible
I actually build my characters with tomes in mind. My Cleric/Mage for example, 11 Strength, using the tome to then allow use of platemail and medium shield later. 18 Dexterity, extra dexterity always helps for ranged. 15 Constitution, no point going from 16 to 17. If a gnome, then either 15 or 17, will see benefit but 16 won't. 18 Intelligence to 19 allows me to learn all spells. 18 Wisdom to 21 allows for quite a few bonus scores 12 Charisma to 13, plus the friend spell and two items that increase by 3, making it 22 when shopping
I actually build my characters with tomes in mind.
As do I. I'll start non-fighter characters at 15 con, for instance, planning to give them the tome, so that I can put a point somewhere where it will be more beneficial long-term. My first BG playthrough, years ago, I spread them around, but any more they all go to Charname. I'll use Shadowkeeper to make my fighter/mage wear robes or change weapon proficiencies when restarting a character, and can see using it to modify stat distribution (take a point from one stat and move it to another), but I'm uncomfortable with using to straight up increase stats. Of course, I've no problem with others playing single-player games in the way that's most enjoyable for them ...
Unless you're actually going to benefit from it, the PC doesn't need all the tomes. Going from 11 Dex to 12 Dex is idiotic when Safana, Khalid, etc. could go to 18+ Dex. It depends on class and the base stats you roll.
Melee PC going from 18 Strength to 19 Strength = Good Non-Warrior PC going from 16 Con to 17 Con = Idiotic
The problem is that we don't know what information will be imported to BG2:EE. In the original version it was only the protagonist's stats and skills that were preserved, but I'm assuming there's a bit more to it this time (since the Dorn/Rasaad/Neera romances supposedly carry over to the next game)...
The problem is that we don't know what information will be imported to BG2:EE. In the original version it was only the protagonist's stats and skills that were preserved, but I'm assuming there's a bit more to it this time (since the Dorn/Rasaad/Neera romances supposedly carry over to the next game)...
I'm assuming I'll still be able to use Shadowkeeper the modify the stats of any NPC I've applied the tomes to, which I think could be consider legitimate. I'm still going to use most of the tomes on myself, apart from the Charisma one and one, maybe two of the Wisdom ones, though.
For my current game, i've spread the tombs around in my party (well.. Edwin, Dorn and Viconia have gotten some love) Cons/str will go to Dorn. Int to Edwin Wisdom will go to Viconia Dex/cha to my PC the theif Atleast thats my current plan, havent gotten all of em yet ;-)
In the past i've usually used all of them on my CHARNAME and been selfish, i have to admit..
Before BGT I used to use the console in BG2 to give a tome to any of my NPCs who had received a tome in the first game. After BGT I didn't have to worry about it anymore
Now I'll just wait to see how BG2EE will behave regarding stats but I think I'll be going back to using the console until we see a BGT:EE...
STR and CON go to 19 usually, CHA might go to 17 or 18 or 19 depending on what i put in it.
As for the other stats, Blackguards don't need INT, WIS, and for DEX there's gauntlets, if you don't have 18 already, and the next AC boost comes at 21, so there's no point to use the DEX tome, it's better for an archer.
In Icewind Dale, you play a party; every heroe has the same claim on treasure, because they're equally important. In Baldur's Gate, you play a protagonist who happens to be accompanied by a bunch of guys who help her. If Charmane bites the dust, the game is over. La parti c'est Charnom. :P
Yeah, if CHARNAME could be resurrected like any other character, I'd be more inclined to consider a very even distribution of loot. As it is, I have to ensure that I will survive so CHARNAME always gets the best bonus defensive items first.
Comments
My advice:
1. Give the stat increases to those party members that benefit most of them in BG1.
2. In BG2 cheat yourself the manuals that you haven't used on yourself and use them again on whomever you like.
Yes, it's slightly cheat-like. But in a right way. You know you deserve it.
EDIT: unless you Shadowkeeper their tome-increases stats into BG2, which I'm considering doing, as would like to give the Charisma tome to Dorn
Fot this reason I usually give most of the tomes to CHRANAME (apart from some of the Wisdom tomes and sometimes the Charisma tome to Imoen, Safana or now Dorn).
In BG2 there are some points where CHRANAME may have to drop some stats, so I like to buff CHARNAME as much as possible Evil parties are more fun IMHO :-)
11 Strength, using the tome to then allow use of platemail and medium shield later.
18 Dexterity, extra dexterity always helps for ranged.
15 Constitution, no point going from 16 to 17. If a gnome, then either 15 or 17, will see benefit but 16 won't.
18 Intelligence to 19 allows me to learn all spells.
18 Wisdom to 21 allows for quite a few bonus scores
12 Charisma to 13, plus the friend spell and two items that increase by 3, making it 22 when shopping
Melee PC going from 18 Strength to 19 Strength = Good
Non-Warrior PC going from 16 Con to 17 Con = Idiotic
Cons/str will go to Dorn.
Int to Edwin
Wisdom will go to Viconia
Dex/cha to my PC the theif
Atleast thats my current plan, havent gotten all of em yet ;-)
In the past i've usually used all of them on my CHARNAME and been selfish, i have to admit..
Now I'll just wait to see how BG2EE will behave regarding stats but I think I'll be going back to using the console until we see a BGT:EE...
STR and CON go to 19 usually, CHA might go to 17 or 18 or 19 depending on what i put in it.
As for the other stats, Blackguards don't need INT, WIS, and for DEX there's gauntlets, if you don't have 18 already, and the next AC boost comes at 21, so there's no point to use the DEX tome, it's better for an archer.
And no, you can't read them, when I finish! THEY ARE MINE!