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Solo Heart of Fury EL1 Ironman (SHEL1I) Runs - Every Single Class, and Comprehensive Guide!

iwdee_fmc_soloiwdee_fmc_solo Member Posts: 60
EDIT:
I have begun making individual threads for each of the separate classes in the interest of organization. Here are the links.

F/M/C: https://forums.beamdog.com/discussion/88840/solo-hof-el1-ironman-runs-fighter-mage-cleric/p1?new=1
Undead Hunter: Coming Soon
Druid: https://forums.beamdog.com/discussion/88841/solo-hof-el1-ironman-runs-druid/p1?new=1
Fighter/Druid: https://forums.beamdog.com/discussion/88845/solo-hof-el1-ironman-runs-fighter-druid/p1?new=1
Barbarian: https://forums.beamdog.com/discussion/88842/solo-hof-el1-ironman-runs-barbarian/p1?new=1
Archer: https://forums.beamdog.com/discussion/88839/solo-hof-el1-ironman-runs-archer/p1?new=1
Sorcerer: https://forums.beamdog.com/discussion/88843/solo-hof-el1-ironman-runs-sorcerer/p1?new=1
Thief: https://forums.beamdog.com/discussion/88844/solo-hof-el1-ironman-runs-thief/p1?new=1

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Hello everyone! I have just recently joined the forums here, but I have been playing Icewind Dale and Baldur's Gate since I was a wee lad watching my dad play through the games. Now, as an adult with master's degree in engineering and a career as a programmer I have reconnected with them.

I became fascinated by the concept of a solo HoF Ironman run that starts from Experience Level (EL) 1 over a decade ago, and at the time came across an old series of YouTube videos featuring an Evil Cleric that completed the challenge using Sanctuary and Blade Barrier.

On my own I have completed solo, non-Ironman, runs with an F/M/T (non-HoF), an F/M/C (HoF), a Sorceror (BG2:SoA), and Ironman runs of the Age of Wonders (Evil Route) and Age of Wonders II campaigns so while I have never completed a solo, HoF, EL1, Ironman, I know what goes into one. I sadly do not have a record of any of these runs as it was before I became interested in doing so.

Recently, I've begun writing a comprehensive guide that details the route through a solo HoF EL1 Ironman (is there a better acronym for this, haha) for every single class and kit in the game. As part of this project, I will naturally be playing through this challenge with every single class and kit in the game.

I'm hoping to use this thread to keep in touch with the community while the guide, and the runs, progresses. I know that there are fellow players here who have been playing for as long, or longer than I have, and who have greater knowledge and skill than I do about all the different paths one can take while fighting their way through the Dale. I am VERY much interested in learning from everyone what strategies and tactics they have found success with implementing.

Lastly, and I hope the purists will not disdain me too hard for it, but there are two things I must note about these runs:

(1) Double quest XP is on
(2) Rolls are done via console + subtraction

The reasoning for (1) is that an EL1, solo, HoF, Ironman is already enough of a challenge. In order to proceed smoothly through the run with minimal amounts of cheesy, time-consuming tedium like kiting massive groups one-by-one, it is necessary for some classes to hit specific XP benchmarks at certain times.

For example, the Druid must have EL7 after full-clearing the initial Easthaven quests in order to head into the Orc Cave and Goblin Pass with Animal Summoning I. Otherwise, they will need to either flee from encounters, or one-by-one kite their way through them until they acquire enough XP to begin summoning their army of wild animals.

Time economy is the reasoning for (2). I simply do not have the time to sit around waiting for a 93 so that I can play a Fighter/Mage/Cleric that doesn't take an hour to kill some Beetles in a tavern cellar. I would use an autoroller, but I am on Linux Ubuntu, and frankly I cannot find one that I can make work. I would rather just activate the console, and then subtract a reasonable amount of points.

Yes, it is not as great an expression of skill as running with the first roll that you see, but it is more fun for me to play this way and from a scientific perspective, I also like that it gives a study of how the strongest possible version of a class will do.

With that out of the way, I'd love to post the current Ironman runs that I've got going, and how they are :smile:

The first is Arathi, an EL6 Elven Archer who managed to full-clear Easthaven (except for Gaspar), and survive the Wolf Valley in order to report to Hrothgar the status of the caravan. She nearly died killing the Goblin Bridge to get Damien his fish back. After getting entangled due to a desync between the sprite and hurtbox, a goblin narrowly missed her just in time for her to escape and run to Tempus for healing.

Flail / Morning-Star = 1*
Longbow = 4*
Two-Weapon Style = 3*

7j2zoc2pvbd6.png

The second is Bodhi, a 6/6/6 Half-Elf F/M/C with perfect stats :wink: who has just finished clearing out the Orc Cave with an army of undead. She nearly died as well after I left her afk, wailing on an orc that I thought was distracted by her undead army. I returned just in time to save her one hit away from death, and also found a magical belt that blesses her :smiley:

Flail / Morning-Star = 2*
Sling = 2*
Two-Weapon Style = 2*

5ww2zdebsta2.png

We also have Grunselda, an EL6 Half-Orc Barbarian who has just finished full-clearing Easthaven, and is getting ready to brave the Wolf Valley in order to advance the plot. Of course, she will first see if she can take one of the wolves, and potentially all of them, down (she probably can't :tongue:)

Flail / Morning-Star = 2*
Longbow = 2*
Two-Weapon Style = 2*

82hxyubv7lg5.png

Next, we have Erethan, an EL4 Elven Sorcerer who spent over an hour killing some Beetles with a sling, and is next going to kill a bunch of Goblins and a Wolf gradually with Magic Missile.

Sling = 1*

1: Find Familiar / Magic Missile / Charm Person
2: Invisibility

tg6912mkaodb.png

Post edited by iwdee_fmc_solo on

Comments

  • YigorYigor Member Posts: 758
    Great idea! 👍

    For Mages and Sorcerers, I'd suggest to use the Chromatic Orb, it's highly effective starting from level 4-5. 🪩

    Here i the link to my current HoF run with a pure melee fighter ⚔️ :

    https://forums.beamdog.com/discussion/88061/solo-hof-from-scratch-melee-fighter

    I have also a HoF game with a solo Bounty Hunter 🪙:

    https://forums.beamdog.com/discussion/87754/developing-a-dual-classed-bounty-hunter29-fighter30
  • iwdee_fmc_soloiwdee_fmc_solo Member Posts: 60
    Yes, I have fond feelings for Finger of Dea- I mean Chromatic Orb :smile: definitely going to be my next SL1 selection on Sorc.
  • WisteriasWisterias Member Posts: 82

    Next, we have Erethan, an EL4 Elven Sorcerer who spent over an hour killing some Beetles with a sling, and is next going to kill a bunch of Goblins and a Wolf gradually with Magic Missile.

    Sling = 1*

    1: Find Familiar / Magic Missile / Charm Person
    2: Invisibility

    tg6912mkaodb.png

    This is a 106 roll? :o
  • iwdee_fmc_soloiwdee_fmc_solo Member Posts: 60
    Wisterias wrote: »

    Next, we have Erethan, an EL4 Elven Sorcerer who spent over an hour killing some Beetles with a sling, and is next going to kill a bunch of Goblins and a Wolf gradually with Magic Missile.

    Sling = 1*

    1: Find Familiar / Magic Missile / Charm Person
    2: Invisibility

    tg6912mkaodb.png

    This is a 106 roll? :o

    No, it's a ctrl+8 with the console activated :wink:. Granted the Int and Wis are arguably too high. Disdain me if you must but I can't find an autoroller that works on Linux, and I don't have the patience for rolling up 90+.

    Yes, it's not as great an expression of skill but that's okay with me because I'm more interested in writing a comprehensive guide on the route :smile:. The attribute rolls only increase the consistency, not the reliability or practicality of a class.
  • AerichAerich Member Posts: 227
    It’s obviously not an issue if one uses the console, but Str is a critical stat for a solo. It’s quality of life for carrying stuff, especially before cashing in the Ring of Shadows for the Bag of Holding.

    I also highly recommend the staff proficiency with two handed weapon style for non-warriors (and non-arcane, who can’t get weapon styles). Otherwise, the time spent killing beetles is truly insane. It’s also handy for a summoner to have a two handed weapon to attack with from relative safety, and mitigates ammo supply issues somewhat.
  • YigorYigor Member Posts: 758
    edited October 30
    Wisterias wrote: »
    This is a 106 roll? :o

    Sorcerer doesn't need WIS=18. It seems that WIS penalties for saving throws are not implemented, so even WIS=3 would be okay. 👈
  • AerichAerich Member Posts: 227
    Only reason I can think of for high Wis on a Sorc is the Wish spells. I read somewhere that 16 is sufficient. I suppose there’s also a moderate bump to Lore.
  • AerichAerich Member Posts: 227
    On the subject of stats for solos, non-console, one sometimes has to make tough choices. Cha is ok for a dump stat, so long as you don’t mind paying at the shops. I don’t recommend using Int as a dump stat, as min 9 is required for scrolls and wands. Wis is good if not playing for Wish or divine bonus spells. Con is a stealth decent dump stat, at least down to 8, if you need a few more points. The difference between 8 Con and 16 for a non-warrior is relatively slight, but a warrior class should try for the 18 of course.
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