SCS Question
FredSRichardson
Member Posts: 465
I wanted to try and balance my power gamer mentality by increasing the difficulty. Any advice on using SCS with BG2EE? Are there good places to go for tips when I get completely womped? I've heard SCS can be quite challenging...
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Comments
The most significant choice is propably which part of "smarter mages" you want to include. Option 1 (allowing them to cast all short-term buffs instantly) is a significant increase in difficulty and does turn some mage battles into "wizard chess", where you have to carefully get rid of their defenses one by one. I, personally, like it, but there are quite some people who don't.
The "Smarter Beholders" options are notable because they disable simply using the Shield of Balduran as a viable tactic (there are alternatives, like kiting the beholders through cloudkills and bombing them from off screen). Improved vampires can be a bit difficult if one isn't used to it. Improved Abazigal's Lair adds a very notable encounter, which can be quite unexpected and difficult.
I would also recommend not allowing all SoA spellcasters to get HLAs, because it can make even relatively early parts of SoA quite frustrating. SCS Liches are also something to be feared (so taking the option to get only max level spawns, including liches, can be challenging).
Finally, I shoud mention that the option for Tactics Spirit Trolls turns these into really annoying enemies. They can be dealt with, but you will hate them.
https://forums.beamdog.com/discussion/61886/sword-coast-stratagems-scs-threads#latest
My installation includes pretty much every component except for short duration pre buffed mages. That one makes certain early mage fights really hard. Tactics Irenicus is very hard, toned down tactics Bhodi is doable.
Loosing your items in spellhold can be problematic because there is a lich spawning if you enter at higher levels. Like others pointed out, do not push random encounter difficulty too far. One step above normal added some spice to random encounters but really preserved the feel of progression towards a boss.
I would also advice to let 3/4 of the potions shatter. You should end up with tons of potions anyway.
A lot of game difficulty comes from party composition and choice of main character and party composition.
Fighter/Illusionist is probably the best choice for a PC. Thief/Illusionist may be stronger overall but there is a very good Thief/Illusionist NPC already. Cleric/Mage comes third. I'd add in a pure mage to access higher level spells. Haer'Dalis is a good support add-in, especially if you have access to SoD items (improved bard song+bard hat is nuts).
Note there is a currently a bug that prevents Breach from working against certain opponents like the Transmuter Rukh in the Windspear dungeon. Since that Rukh uses PfMW, the fight is very annoying atm.
I started using SCS when I had really "mastered", not that I didn't still die, playing on insane.
Then dropped the insane level to hard or core for the first few times I used SCS.
That gives you time to adapt to the different kind of difficulty SCS creates.
I think the install options outlined by @chimaera are very suitable for first trying SCS.
Thanks! -Fred
You should definitely start a new game after installing SCS.
Well, I think I want to downgrade to 2.4, but I'm not sure how to do that...
P.S. There was no final 2.4 version - 2.3 was the last one.
I don't know if it's the same thing as "rolling back", but approx. 2 months ago I downloaded the 1.3 version from Steam.
So unless it's changed, 1.3 is still downloadable.