As I mentioned before, am in the mood for solo play, so rolled up an oldie but goodie - some of you from the BioWare forum might recognize his name. Corerage always uses the cursed sword in BG 1, and then various two-hand swords in BG 2/ToB. Duchal palace he will use Arghain's sword, but intends to use the cursed sword for the rest of the encounters. I got the cursed berserking sword (Brage's sword) as soon as I can, although not before I obtained full plate and the helm of defense. Here he is:
Corerage IV
Two-handed Sword: ****
Two handed weapon style: **
I managed to not slay any civilians yet, partly as I remembered from last time the more tricky parts:
1) For Tarnesh ran as far up the stairs as possible - this meant only Tarnesh died and no civilians
2) For Nimbul, I realized I would kill 1/2 the town if I approached from south or charged from north. I waited at the north end of town while Nimbul slaughtered Rasaad and a bunch of useless Amnian guards. Once it looked like there were no more guards, approached from behind the Nashkel Inn, and then turned a corner in front of the store, enraged and destroyed Nimbul. Thus these dead guards in the screenie is Nimbul's handi-work, not Corerage IV.
3) Basilisk area cleared without much trouble. A new strategy was to use protection form acid to minimize damage from the melf's from both Mutamutin and Kirian. The battle with Kirian went very well.
Killing Kirian's group was vital, as the golden girdle is vital to have a chance of going toe-to-to with Sarevok.
4) Since Corerage IV was rapidly approaching the experience cap, he went ahead and joined the bandit camp. A magic blocking potion and targeting Venkt 1st was more enough for victory in Tazok's Tent. One problem! Corerage aggroed Ender Sai! Will he suffer rep loss here? But no! He's smart for a berserker and tripped the trap on the chest so the trap killed Ender Sai instead of Corerage IV! Close call...
5) Kaldo and Krumm pulled away from Dryad so she wouldn't get killed. This worked.
6) CON tome obtained. Potion of clarity was enough for sirines and then potion of freedom insured that Corerage IV wouldn't get held from the trap.
Corerage IV will venture into the Cloakwood next session - Father, I am one step closer to avenging you.
[Corey_Russell note: Nashkel Mines was fun - kobold body parts exploding and going every where. Had to reload once after beating Mulahey as the sword wouldn't let me get control, but I couldn't see any enemies. This was clearly a bug.]
In which things quickly go south for the coalition, who did not bring any silver weapons
Croll wandered around Baldur's Gate, finishing preparations for his march north with the coalition. Citizens eyed him uneasily.
Miraculously, he found Viconia waiting outside the Ducal Palace with a duergar on the morning of departure. She didn't seem to remember anything about her time as a werewolf, and rejoined Croll without complaint. The two of them marched together out of the city. Although her skin had a strange brown tint... she looked very much unlike her usual self.
Corwin called a halt to the march and soldiers set up camp. But the night was only just beginning.
Croll threw down his pack; but quickly noticed that Viconia had fallen to her knees. Her skin was writhing and she was making hideous choking sounds. She clawed at her face, her mind slipping away. Her body shimmered and disappeared, leaving only a slavering beast in her place.
Viconia, Greater Werewere, began to destroy the coalition camp from the inside.
Soldiers fought valiantly, but none had weapons that could harm the beast. Several mages were able to get past its defenses, but not its massive regeneration. Croll attempted to stab Viconia with a silver dagger, but even while hasted, he could barely scratch the beast.
Distasteful as he found the drooling ranger, Croll turned to Minsc for help. He tossed over the Sword of Balduran and a few potions, hoping that Minsc could turn the tide.
The tide turned, all right. Minsc and Dynaheir succumbed to the infection. Soon there were three Greater Wereweres tearing tents and soldiers to pieces.
In the midst of the fray, Croll persuaded the quartermaster to step aside and look through his wares for anything that might help. Croll bought everything he could afford, figuring that the camp was likely to fall, and this might be his last chance to buy potions or scrolls.
Croll ran away into the forest, leaving Corwin, Duncan and the others to fight the hopeless battle on their own. But Minsc-beast and Dynaheir-beast decided to chase him.
Croll put on his boots of speed to stay ahead of the pack. He managed to accomplish a few quests, such as finding Takos' lost artifacts. (He persuaded the halfling to give him a dart in reward, then killed the little guy as he was on his way to reunite with his wife. Even while fleeing werewolves, Croll is still among the most heartless and cruel half-orcs in Faerun).
Croll bought a stone golem from an evil mage. Then he decided to destroy her artwork (and ensure that the missing refugees would never be found).
Meanwhile, the battle in the camp raged on. Casualties included Edwin, Mizhena, Soralis, and most of the Flaming Fist contingent. Only Corwin seemed able to stand her ground.
The only place Croll could find to rest somewhat safely was an old mine filled with dwarves and loads of undead. At the bottom of the shaft, he encountered a Lich... who he bargained with in exchange for support in a future battle. The dwarven priests at the top of the mine were surprised when Croll turned on them. Their surprise was short-lived.
Croll parlayed with Caelar at a destroyed bridge. He was mean, rude and disrespectful. After the conversation, he and several Fists killed the crusader force still trapped on the south side of the river.
Croll returned to camp to find the quartermaster dead. Somehow Corwin was still standing against three greater wereweres. "You all right, Croll?" she asked, even as a werewolf clawed at her face.
Croll decided that enough was enough. The crew, what was left of them anyway, fled into the forest toward Boarskyr Bridge.
(Amazingly, it appears that I haven't yet broken the game...)
I don't really bother attempting to clear the field, or maintaining any buffs. Frisky Bits just pokes at the mage statues with the Staff of the Magi to remove their buffs while we putter around and wait for the other Sendai statues to join the fight. If you can call it a fight.
Shadowdancers are terrible at certain parts of the game, but not this one. Or at least, the Staff of the Magi makes this area a non-issue. We just alternate between the Staff of the Magi and Hide in Plain Sight so we can land stronger hits with Firetooth +3.
Eventually we clear up the area and summon some clones before finishing off the last statue. This way, when the real Sendai finally shows up, she has three Shadowdancers with the Tuigan Bow firing nonmagical arrows right through her Stoneskin spells.
Then her PFMW spells wear off, and we switch to Firetooth. The whole fight is really unfair.
The next fight, however, is not so easy. We're heading back to Abazigal's lair, which means we have to deal with Ascension's quadruple dragon ambush. The first two dragons trample all over our opening Shadow Twin clone, and even Frisky Bits themself is having trouble dealing with all the enemy pressure.
We actually have to burn a charge from the Rod of Resurrection to stay afloat. Both dragons are hasted, so we can't easily escape their extensive reach. I try to stack some THAC0 penalties with the Soul Reaver, but without the Defender of Easthaven in our off hand, Frisky Bits' damage resistances are only 50% with Shadow Form, and landing hits with the Soul Reaver takes time when we only have 2 APR.
I am forced to run away once again, and the dragons close in on me down at the south. As always, Shadowstep is our get-out-jail-free ticket against enemies who can see through invisibility but can't box us in.
I finally bother to nail the dragons with a couple Arrows of Dispelling to remove their haste effects, but even then, my initial plan to tank them would just take way too many charges from the Rod of Resurrection, and while I can easily recharge all three of them, I don't want to burn so many resources on a single fight.
Instead, I bust out the Wand of Wonder and fire it over and over until I land the 12% chance of a no-save, MR-bypassing, level 0 petrification effect on both dragons.
Frankly, it's the best dragon killer in the game, as long as you're willing to recharge it. Even in no-reload runs, the wand's 50 charges mean there's not really any chance of losing the wand before petrifying your target. The odds of missing that 12% chance after spending 49 charges is only 0.1904%.
Then the green dragon arrives, and while he pesters us with an insect spell, he's only one dragon, and his poisonous breath weapon is useless against us thanks to the Ring of Gaxx and its 100% poison resistance. This means we can just smack him with the Soul Reaver until he can't touch us.
He survives a very long time after that, since SCS dragons have crazy HP pools, but that doesn't help him when his breath weapon is useless and his melee attack has a 95% miss chance.
Carnifex is sturdier and his breath weapon would require us to maintain buffs or switch items, so I just blast him with the Wand of Wonder until he dies. It only takes three charges, though the black dragons at the start drained many more.
I used to really worry about this fight, but now it seems kind of broken. You can grab the Wand of Wonder just with a Protection from Undead scroll, the Boots of Speed, and an Oil of Speed--you only need to fight one or two groups of mind flayers in the Temple sewers back in SoA--and once you do, you have a virtually guaranteed kill option on any dragon aside from Abazigal.
I use clones with the Shield of Balduran and Firetooth +3 to very slowly cut down the Tyrant Golems in Abazigal's lair, with Farsight scrolls to guide the process. It's slow, but it works.
We still recruit Bondari the reloader to grab the gauth eyestalk, since it's faster and safer than tackling the beholders ourselves, but the Bronze Pantalettes are useless to us without the Golden and Silver Pantaloons alongside them.
Now we have to deal with Abazigal. Remember Abazigal's Maze spells?
Corerage IV the solo dwarven bersker using Brage's cursed sword - Update 2
So as much as possible, Corerage IV would try to skip fights and get to the Cloakwood Mines. Sometimes he could run away, sometimes not. He would always enrage on Wyverns, since they are extremely dangerous (and have ended some of my solo runs before). With protection from magic, Drassus and pals was simple. In fact making it to Davaeorn's level was quite simple. What was NOT simple is what you see in this screenshot...
So he has to go ALL the way back to Candlekeep and recruit Imoen who is LEVEL ONE!!! Imoen had no equipment to speak of (a bow and non-magical arrows that was it). I tried to keep her out of fighting, but she gained lot of levels on the way to Davaoern's. YES, she can detect Davaoern's door (yay!). Imoen then stays out of the way while Corerage IV buffs and charges Davaeorn - success!
Corerage IV was grateful for Imoen's help, and escorted her to the FAI, where he politely said good-bye to her.
As for the city of Baldur's Gate, the only things of interest is the INT tome and the DEX tome. We went ahead and killed the Ogre Mage and his pet crawlers (why not).
Ok time for Iron Throne! Corerage IV went invisible to 4th floor, buffed a little bit, then charged! You can see the video below which shows the battle, which is a sample of how battles usually go for Corerage IV.
Cool! It's nice to see a short video of a key section of a no-reload run. A full-length no-reload run in a single video, or even a video of a single session, would be too long for watching (no-reload runs take, what, 20-80 hours?), but a smaller-scale video of an important fight shows more than screenshots could on their own.
Corerage IV the solo dwarven berserker used cursed (Brage's) sword - Update 3
Corerage IV made it through Candlekeep without anything of note happening. He was well protected vs. the traps and Prat's gang and spiders and finally mirror eyes potion was enough for both basilisks.
It was necessary to unequip the cursed sword for Slythe and Duchal Palace. With STR 25 and haste, and also luring Belt (who was badly hurt) away from Sarevok, these were no problem Even with Arghain's sword, Slythe was still of no match.
I then equipped the cursed sword and made it my way through the maze, protected by a protection from magic scroll. I went around the Undercity party - I noticed my save vs. death was 2, so gulped an invulnerability potion in case a ghast got a lucky hit.
So I finally get to Sarevok and realize something important - I have NO WAY to dispel Sarevok's haste! Just as bad, I have NO WAY to pull him! I will have to charge him with all his buddies helping him! I think I setup a good weapon/armor config and good buffs. So to make sure Sarevok was targeted 1st, approached invisible - I have auto-pause on enemy sighted, which allowed me to target Sarevok before the cursed sword took over. Result? See video below! (click the link to see video, if you don't want to see video click spoiler)
Corerage IV will be solo in Amn. He intends to use two-hand swords, then halberds. He will allow Imoen to join for the dungeon, and Corerage IV will be solo once out. He will also allow her to stay in his party at Spellhold on RP grounds (after all, Corerage would have failed if Imoen didn't find Davaoern's door) - he will let her go once she has her soul back, and Corerage IV will be solo from thereonin, though I don't really expect him to get that far.
Well done Corey. Best of luck in BG2 (you could of course continue to use the berserking sword there as well if you wanted to continue the fun - I'm sure Orcslicer at the Seven Vales would give it to you if you asked nicely ).
Well done Corey. Best of luck in BG2 (you could of course continue to use the berserking sword there as well if you wanted to continue the fun - I'm sure Orcslicer at the Seven Vales would give it to you if you asked nicely ).
Yes I know but it's not at all practical in BG 2. Magic is more dangerous and requires different approaches depending on the situation. The other thing is vampire ambushes, if the cursed sword took over, could conceivablably wipe out a lot of civilians, then enforcers would arrive who could easily kill Corerage IV. I only used cursed sword in BG 1 because I knew he could succeed. He has zero hope of success with it in BG 2. The other thing the cursed sword is very powerful in BG 1, not so much in BG 2 plenty of +3 weapons in BG 2 and more powerful ones even.
EDIT: The other point is there are plenty of enemies that require a specific kind of weapon to kill (Sand golem/clay golems blunt weapons, trolls fire/acid). Having a weapon equipped that doesn't let you select other weapons would only get you killed if you ran into such enemies. And there are plenty of such enemies.
EDIT2: Also, in my opinion, immunities are far more important than damage in BG 2. For example, I have Minsc using Lilacor for a long time, because a charmed or confused Minsc is bad for the party (which has happened a number of times). It's more important in the long run to make him immune to such effects, even bypassing using a +4 sword so he can retain his immunities. Like-wise, the Arbane is only +2, but you might want it instead say the cut throat sword (which is +4) if you need the hold immunity, etc.
Well done Corey. Best of luck in BG2 (you could of course continue to use the berserking sword there as well if you wanted to continue the fun - I'm sure Orcslicer at the Seven Vales would give it to you if you asked nicely ).
Yes I know but it's not at all practical in BG 2. Magic is more dangerous and requires different approaches depending on the situation. The other thing is vampire ambushes, if the cursed sword took over, could conceivablably wipe out a lot of civilians, then enforcers would arrive who could easily kill Corerage IV. I only used cursed sword in BG 1 because I knew he could succeed. He has zero hope of success with it in BG 2. The other thing the cursed sword is very powerful in BG 1, not so much in BG 2 plenty of +3 weapons in BG 2 and more powerful ones even.
EDIT: The other point is there are plenty of enemies that require a specific kind of weapon to kill (Sand golem/clay golems blunt weapons, trolls fire/acid). Having a weapon equipped that doesn't let you select other weapons would only get you killed if you ran into such enemies. And there are plenty of such enemies.
EDIT2: Also, in my opinion, immunities are far more important than damage in BG 2. For example, I have Minsc using Lilacor for a long time, because a charmed or confused Minsc is bad for the party (which has happened a number of times). It's more important in the long run to make him immune to such effects, even bypassing using a +4 sword so he can retain his immunities. Like-wise, the Arbane is only +2, but you might want it instead say the cut throat sword (which is +4) if you need the hold immunity, etc.
That's all true - but that's why it would be a challenge .
I had been thinking anyway it was about time for another attempt at this and seeing Corey get through BG1 decided I should try and follow and spent a bit of time today on that. Bash has had several different incarnations, but in this one he's a fighter/illusionist. That provides him with a wide variety of potential tactics, but he's restricted by being forbidden from acquiring XP for killing anything except by use of the cursed berserking sword. That range of tactics would potentially allow him to make progress in the same way in BG2, although I'm not certain if it's possible to get past the mephit portals in Jon's dungeon without getting their XP. To make things a bit more challenging, Bash is operating in an SCS installation.
His first task was to avoid any killing on the way to find Brage and bring him back to Nashkel. After grabbing the ankheg armor he returned to Beregost and Algernon became his first victim. That allowed him to pull sirines out of Beregost temple and wear them down against enemies before finishing them off. That's not entirely straight forward as it's necessary both to keep Bash out of sight of enemies and keep the sirines on the move so they don't use invisibility. However, everything went well - taking Bash up to level 3/3.
Blindness was used to annoy Imoen - allowing her to be killed without joining the party. I had a plan for her oil of speed and went next to the Lake area. Bash's cat familiar was let out of the bag to spot gnolls there with the aim of getting them to attack Drizzt. However, 2 were seen at once and the cat pulled them back to where Bash was waiting - expecting those to be killed so it could go and find another. Regrettably Bash lost control the instant he saw a gnoll - at which point the cat was the closest thing to him. With a different familiar that would have been OK, but the cat is slightly slower than most familiars and couldn't get away from Bash. Unlike with LoB losing double the bonus HPs did not mean an instant death, but the loss of a constitution point was a pain in more ways than one.
After healing up, a replacement familiar was used to activate a gnoll to attack. That did over 70 damage without breaking its weapon, so Bash left the area to reset Drizzt's HPs. Trying again the same thing happened and Bash again had to retreat to save Drizzt. Would it be 3rd time lucky? Well, in a word, no. I would normally have given up before now, but having lost so much already in the attempt I wanted to get something out of it, so tried for a 4th time - and failed once more. Although in v2.5 the gnolls' weapons are far more robust than they used to be, I've got plenty of experience to show they are not in fact unbreakable and tried for a 5th time, but once more failed. A 6th was no better, but finally, on the 7th attempt - after inflicting over 500 damage on Drizzt - a halberd couldn't stand the strain. Once Drizzt was unconscious Bash took an oil of speed and attacked - successfully targeting Drizzt before he lost control. That gave him another level for each class before mowing down the gnolls.
Dushai was the final target to finish trashing his reputation before he started a programme of quests to restore that. I was lucky during those with Charleston Nib - I had intended to try and charm him with Algernon's Cloak, but lost control too quickly to do that, but fortunately also regained control immediately after killing the last digger. A number of tasks were then done without trouble, including clearing the ankheg nest to get up to level 5/5. However, there was a nasty moment when an ogre mage sprang an ambush while Bash was travelling through the Cloud Peaks. With only 44 HPs Bash was very vulnerable to damaging spells and I decided to risk a scorcher on the ogre mage. Luck was with me once more as the two lots of damage didn't kill it, but did induce morale failure to allow Bash to get a killing blow in.
I guess I was still distracted thinking about how the odds had panned out in that fight though and made a fatal mistake immediately afterwards. For Caldo and Krumm I wanted to protect the nymph and could have done that by charming them both and moving them away. However, I just charmed Krumm and sent him to kill Caldo out of Bash's sight - but Bash is not allowed to cause any deaths except by using his sword .
I'll have another go at that and see if I can keep my familiar alive next time ...
Well done Corey. Best of luck in BG2 (you could of course continue to use the berserking sword there as well if you wanted to continue the fun - I'm sure Orcslicer at the Seven Vales would give it to you if you asked nicely ).
Yes I know but it's not at all practical in BG 2. Magic is more dangerous and requires different approaches depending on the situation. The other thing is vampire ambushes, if the cursed sword took over, could conceivablably wipe out a lot of civilians, then enforcers would arrive who could easily kill Corerage IV. I only used cursed sword in BG 1 because I knew he could succeed. He has zero hope of success with it in BG 2. The other thing the cursed sword is very powerful in BG 1, not so much in BG 2 plenty of +3 weapons in BG 2 and more powerful ones even.
EDIT: The other point is there are plenty of enemies that require a specific kind of weapon to kill (Sand golem/clay golems blunt weapons, trolls fire/acid). Having a weapon equipped that doesn't let you select other weapons would only get you killed if you ran into such enemies. And there are plenty of such enemies.
EDIT2: Also, in my opinion, immunities are far more important than damage in BG 2. For example, I have Minsc using Lilacor for a long time, because a charmed or confused Minsc is bad for the party (which has happened a number of times). It's more important in the long run to make him immune to such effects, even bypassing using a +4 sword so he can retain his immunities. Like-wise, the Arbane is only +2, but you might want it instead say the cut throat sword (which is +4) if you need the hold immunity, etc.
That's all true - but that's why it would be a challenge .
I don't need it more challenging. I have yet to get ONE Trilogy run with EE - how about I get some successes 1st before I start making it harder?
Yup. Even a single game is difficult to beat no-reload, much less all three or four BG games in a row. The Baldur's Gate saga is crammed with instant death scenarios where the solutions are obscure and resources are well-hidden. Modern games aren't nearly as punishing or as complex--even the highly similar isometric game Pillars of Eternity is immensely forgiving by comparison. Difficulty is always relative, but it's worth pointing out that the BG games become intensely challenging the moment you remove the player's ability to reload. They're really not designed to be played without reloads.
All of these runs are essentially 40-hour chess matches where a single mistake can end the run.
@semiticgod said...
All of these runs are essentially 40-hour chess matches where a single mistake can end the run.
Well, I think Corerage IV was only about 5-6 hours (being solo really speeds it up) through BG 1 but I get your point. Once, I did all of SoA in two days, talk about doing nothing bug BG...
Incidentally, Corerage IV got a free level when starting in Irenicus' dungeon - this put his weapons skills as following: Two Handed Sword: ***** and Two handed weapon skill **. That combined with his 19 STR, and he is mowing down the enemies pretty quickly, not that there are many strong enemies in the dungeon...Imoen and Corerage IV are just about to meet and send away Yoshimo...
I must say it's a relief to hear you guys talking about how difficult these runs are. Sometimes I feel like a bit of a loser, either for some of the dumb, 'I should no better' mistakes I make, or for never having completed a run yet (and, if I'm honest, not knowing if I ever will).
@OrlonKronsteen It might seem that us veterans have it pat or something, but let me tell you - there is no substitute for experience. @Grond0 for example, probably did 100 wild mage solo runs before he had a trilogy succes. But you know what he did in the 99 runs prior to the success? He would discover a flaw in his approach to various encounters/situations, and refine his strategy. It took myself at least two dozen failures before I got a no-reload success in BG 1, never mind the entire trilogy. There are many ways to die in BG, so to no-reload you either have to mitigate the threats or skip the threats.
The other thing, is you should never let your character be vulnerable to something that might be game ending. Example: enemy has fireballs in their arsenal? Main character better have fire resistance. Enemy likes to use confusion spell (BG 1)? Main character should activate greenstone amulet so he isn't vulnerable, etc.
Every single one us, including us veterans, have had many, many failures. You can get a success too @OrlonKronsteen - just keep at it. If you lose an encounter, try to learn/discover (ask us if you need to) why you failed, and figure out a way to lessen or completely mitigate the risk for next time. You'll never learn how to walk if you are afraid to fall.
These are great points, @Corey_Russell. Thanks for the advice and the encouragement. I'm not sure I'll ever be able to keep my characters fully free from danger (as you'll see from my installment), as it's just not my temperament. But I am trying to mitigate risks with fire protection, chaotic commands, etc. - and when I do fight an enemy I probably shouldn't, I at least try to put myself in a situation where I can run away if the battle goes south.
Azriel: Undead Hunter
Now, having just admitted to my propensity for taking unnecessary risks, here's a fight I probably should avoid at level 1: Arghain. He's pretty tough and almost immune to sleep. He'll drop from a command spell, but at level 1 you only have one of those. His three goons are susceptible to sleep but if they make their saves they can be a PITA. This is usually a fight I do early, though, as my charnames usually use two-handers. In this case, I'm not using two-handers but old habits die hard, and the fight does present a decent chunk of experience for level 1. Plus, I can kite (a debatably cheesy strategy) to stay alive and run off-map if it turns into a debacle.
This time it was a piece of cake.
Now I'm off to the Nashkel mines map. My paladin is using longswords for a change, so Varscona will come in handy.
Here we see how easily a no-reload run can end. Trying to rest on the mines map, and ambushed by kobolds. Luckily my mage wasn't killed.
Now it's time for Greywolf. Again, probably not in accordance with conventional wisdom at level 1. But, I wan't that sword AND the experience. I tend to take more risks early in the game when dying doesn't hurt so much. I see it like this: I can either wander around the wilderness fighting hobgoblins and kobolds for an eternity until I finally level up, or I can take a chance with Greywolf and the like and get a couple levels under my belt quickly. I'm also pretty good at kiting and avoiding risk that way. But look at that: I was slow with the mouse today and he got a shot in on me. "Run away!"
My other trick with Greywolf is to blast him with the wand of frost. The trick is hitting him enough to really soften him up, but not completely freezing him and losing Varscona (which will happen if gore is turned on). In this case my sorcerer hit him with the wand twice while he was chasing charname. I then managed to get him chasing my sorcerer so that my paladin was able to take him down with her crossbow. First level-up for my paladin!
Next I talk to poor Prism, who's death yields another 1000 xp. The rest of the party levels-up.
As a paladin, I leave the emeralds affixed to Prism's sculpture and admire his creation. In more practical terms, I now have Varscona and a slight cushion in hit points from the level-up. Where to next?
@OrlonKronsteen said...
...I can kite (a debatably cheesy strategy) to[/spoiler] stay alive ...
I would hardly call it cheesy. For many solo characters, it literally is the only thing they can do for a great many powerful melee enemies. Sarevok is a good example. Only the most powerful, well equipped, properly buffed warriors can go toe-to-toe with Sarevok and live to tell the tale, like Corerage IV. Any other character would have to kite him - to go toe-to-toe with him is suicide. And in your case, any low level character or characters would want to stay at range with any powerful melees, as to risk melee invites chunking.
These are great points, @Corey_Russell. Thanks for the advice and the encouragement. I'm not sure I'll ever be able to keep my characters fully free from danger (as you'll see from my installment), as it's just not my temperament.
But that temperament is great for no-reload . In the unlikely event that you've read my posts closely you may have noted how often I talk about playing risk-free - and how often I fail to actually do so. Playing safe is certainly possible with most characters, but it's pretty rare that I keep that up for too long. Sometimes that's because I can't be bothered and sometimes it's the result of mistakes, but often it's because taking risks makes the game more interesting. If you do a lot of no-reload runs you get a continuing tension over time between the desire to log a long-term achievement (such as a completed run) and the desire to push your luck more and more until it eventually fails - and if you have fun in the process of doing that then that's great .
@Grond0 is definitely right about one thing - the point of no-reload is to make BG more fun. For example, in normal play you can just reload if Melicamp doesn't survive - but when playing no-load, his failure all the more the tragedy, but if he beats the odds and lives, it's all the more sweeter. Like-wise, in normal play, if a party member or love interest gets chunked (Viconia looking at you with your low CON), you just reload. But in no-reload, you have to adapt. This makes the game much more interesting and appealing, as well as lends itself to story form since the outcomes can't be changed.
Next I decide to explore the lower, western maps. I rarely travel these anymore, for some reason. Creature of habit, I guess. Crap: first area transition I get ambushed by a wolf. I run off screen rather than taking chances.
After crossing the bottom of the xvart village map, I end up on the map with the ogre berserkers and hobgoblins who guard that bridge. Completely forgot about those guys. I'm running for sure.
It goes to hell: my sorcerer is taken by a hobgoblin archer. I manage to scoop up her belongings and run off map. I make it to Nashkel, where I take her to the temple for resurrection.
That's my first party death this game. To be honest, I was hoping to find Larry, Darryl and Darryl on the western maps - not those ogres. Shit sandwiches! Oh well, at least my run is still going.
Now it's time for more risk. I simply need xp points so I head up north to battle some Ankhegs. I take a circuitous route, avoiding the main highway and watching the game clock to avoid the 10 bandit waylay. See, @Grond0 , every now and then I actually do read your posts.
I have Ankheg plate, RoP+1, belt of piercing, and a large shield. Add to that, the paladin prot. from evil ability. I feel I can risk this map at level two. I breeze across the map. Sleep spells are working like a charm.
Next I head to Ulgoth's beard to get the Greenstone Amulet.
Then, back down to the Ankheg map, where I clear out the caves. This kill gets me to level 3. I pick my first blunt weapon pip: flails.
This kill levels the rest of my team.
I take Nathan's body to the farmer. My reputation is already 18. My next goal is to get enough money for the Wand of the Heavens. Once I have that, I can get to Mutamin's Garden for more fast leveling. Then I'll have room to breathe and do some other quests without being one hit away from death. I don't like to start on the main plot too soon because Nimbul is an insane PITA with SCS. Once again, I miss Tiax's ghast really badly. Next install I'll be trying @semiticgod's Korax NPC mod, so I can have a ghast with a good party too. No - don't ask me to justify this RP-wise. Ghouls are people, too. Or they were...
As an aside, I'm using two thieves, which I rarely do. Imoen just hit 100 in open locks, which is great so early. After that I'm going to get her to 100 in setting traps. My half orc c/t is at 75 find traps. After 100pts I'm going to get her to 100 pts in detect illusions. Hopefully this will help me deal with more troublesome mages later.
@OrlonKronsteen said...
I was hoping to find Larry, Darryl and Darryl on the western maps
Those guys are just south of Nashkel. They are to the right of Sendai. Note Sendai's group is extremely deadly to a low level group (yes I have lost some runs here). You don't actually have to fight her however, you can use a non-confrontational dialogue option. She has AC 5 leather however, which is 2nd best leather you can get in Chapter 3, and since you say you have a party with thieves...
@Corey_Russell - wow, I'd forgotten they were on that map. Yes, I save that area for later, once I have web and mirror image for my mage (and a wand of fire, to boot). Usually I just get the leather armour +2 and the gauntlets of archery and move on to the next map on my way to the Knoll Stronghold. Been so long since I went to the southern area of that map. Mind you, how much of a priority should meeting Larry, Darryl and Darryl be in a no-reload run?
Starting again, Bash went to collect his sword. Algernon died, followed by the Beregost sirines (level 3/3). He survived a bandit ambush on the way to find Drizzt and saw him knocked unconscious (having to retreat just the once this time until the gnoll broke its weapon). At that point though I realized I hadn't yet gone back to kill Imoen and had no oil of speed. I thought that could be a problem, but couldn't be bothered to go through the whole sequence of combat again, so attacked anyway - and got lucky with a good initiative roll, taking Bash to level 4/4.
Dushai became his final innocent victim (free action is even more important for this challenge than usual as there are numerous travel ambushes in the game where you can potentially get held). Pushing reputation back up included fighting through the ankheg area, where Bash got to level 5/5. Bash successfully charmed Charleston Nib before going hostile, but he was unable to keep away from the diggers and hence lost out on reputation there. A bit later there was an even worse reputation foul-up when Bash tried to save Hulrik's cow. Typically that encounter is made easy by using sleep - as sleeping enemies don't trigger berserk. However, one of the xvarts saved against 3 sleeps and attacked Bash - sending him berserk just within sight range of the cow. Killing that didn't trigger any reputation loss, but Hulrik had stupidly lingered to see what would happen to his prize possession ...
Donating at the temple restored reputation before Bash journeyed through the Cloud Peaks - no mistakes with Caldo & Krumm this time. The wolf pack at the Beregost Temple provided an XP boost, meaning that returning Kylee's dagger in the Nashkel Mine was enough for fighter level 6. The large numbers of kobolds there were a potential danger, but that could partly be addressed through the use of sleep - you can still put armor back on after casting that if you do it before the projectile arrives. Bash had to retreat to rest regularly, but was never taken below about 50% HPs going through the mine - that was helped by the kobold chieftain running away while Bash was working through the shaman's mirrors. Mulahey believed Bash's story, but was charmed anyway and, after wasting his potentially dangerous domination spell, was cut down.
Up to this point Bash still only knew the spells he started with, but with the SCS ambushes looming I decided he should learn invisibility. At High Hedge he used the potion of absorption from Mulahey's hoard to kill the golems with minimal risk and bought some spells. He also bought some potions of genius at the FAI temple and used those to ensure all spells were learnt.
After identifying all the equipment held in storage, Bash returned to Nashkel where Nimbul was webbed and charmed before being taken away from bystanders for disposal. In Beregost he webbed and cut down Silke, fortunately with no wandering innocents arriving in the time it took to get through her stoneskin and mirrors.
Melicamp failed to survive his transformation before I bumped into the first SCS ambush. As so often I'd worked hard to be in the position where I could start that with the advantage of being invisible - but not actually cast the spell . Bash tried using Algernon's cloak, but lost control before he could activate that and only just managed to finish off Drakar before dying himself.
I'll have one more go and see if I can shift the balance of risk back far enough to make better progress ...
So Corerage IV and Imoen got out of Irenicus' dungeon no problem - but Immy got captured by some robed figures, so Corerage IV will have to figure a way to rescue her.
Here is my initial equipment if any intrested:
But first some initial tasks:
* Circus was cleared
* Hendak was freed. Beastmaster and pets are much easier if you use a "divide and conquer" strategy.
* Lilacor obtained. Key being enrage whenever battling shamans this worked well.
* Moored ship cleared out. RoAC improved invisibility was great against the mages and really the only enemy here who did a good showing was Captain Haegan, who forced Corerage IV to use a heal potion.
* Many ambushes weathered no problem
Watcher's Keep
I must've let @Grond0 's words affect me (about taking risks when strictly speaking not necessary), because I tripped the FoD trap to get the ammo belt, but did NOT have automatic save (my save vs. spell was 0 but needed -1 for automatic). Hmm, little reckless but it worked....luckily no vampiric wraiths. Would like to get the Crimson Dart, but I believe I need 25 STR - will have to come back for it later.
I then worked on Maavar's task. I of course got the necklace from the Weathermistress of Talos when she was sleeping. These tasks are all easy, except of course Rayic Gethras. I had used fire resistance potions for the Mephits, and DUHM and Arbane haste was enough for Stone Golems - time for the main event!
I did a video of my battle with Rayic Gethras - still need to work out my sound balance, I'll get there...
The battle vs. Maevar's guild was pretty simple, with the belt of piercing and full plate, they did not hit very often - while of course Corerage IV was hitting often and hard. For Maevar himself, enrage and haste (I had picked up a haste potion as loot upstairs - might as well use their own stuff against them) was more than sufficient. Reporting to Bloodscalp got Corerage IV to level IV.
Next up Umar Hills - need to do soon before we get crazy spawns like liches. Umar Hills itself was pretty simple - will brave the old temple next sessions.
Comments
As I mentioned before, am in the mood for solo play, so rolled up an oldie but goodie - some of you from the BioWare forum might recognize his name. Corerage always uses the cursed sword in BG 1, and then various two-hand swords in BG 2/ToB. Duchal palace he will use Arghain's sword, but intends to use the cursed sword for the rest of the encounters. I got the cursed berserking sword (Brage's sword) as soon as I can, although not before I obtained full plate and the helm of defense. Here he is:
Corerage IV
Two-handed Sword: ****
Two handed weapon style: **
I managed to not slay any civilians yet, partly as I remembered from last time the more tricky parts:
1) For Tarnesh ran as far up the stairs as possible - this meant only Tarnesh died and no civilians
2) For Nimbul, I realized I would kill 1/2 the town if I approached from south or charged from north. I waited at the north end of town while Nimbul slaughtered Rasaad and a bunch of useless Amnian guards. Once it looked like there were no more guards, approached from behind the Nashkel Inn, and then turned a corner in front of the store, enraged and destroyed Nimbul. Thus these dead guards in the screenie is Nimbul's handi-work, not Corerage IV.
3) Basilisk area cleared without much trouble. A new strategy was to use protection form acid to minimize damage from the melf's from both Mutamutin and Kirian. The battle with Kirian went very well.
Killing Kirian's group was vital, as the golden girdle is vital to have a chance of going toe-to-to with Sarevok.
4) Since Corerage IV was rapidly approaching the experience cap, he went ahead and joined the bandit camp. A magic blocking potion and targeting Venkt 1st was more enough for victory in Tazok's Tent. One problem! Corerage aggroed Ender Sai! Will he suffer rep loss here? But no! He's smart for a berserker and tripped the trap on the chest so the trap killed Ender Sai instead of Corerage IV! Close call...
5) Kaldo and Krumm pulled away from Dryad so she wouldn't get killed. This worked.
6) CON tome obtained. Potion of clarity was enough for sirines and then potion of freedom insured that Corerage IV wouldn't get held from the trap.
Corerage IV will venture into the Cloakwood next session - Father, I am one step closer to avenging you.
[Corey_Russell note: Nashkel Mines was fun - kobold body parts exploding and going every where. Had to reload once after beating Mulahey as the sword wouldn't let me get control, but I couldn't see any enemies. This was clearly a bug.]
In which things quickly go south for the coalition, who did not bring any silver weapons
Croll wandered around Baldur's Gate, finishing preparations for his march north with the coalition. Citizens eyed him uneasily.
Miraculously, he found Viconia waiting outside the Ducal Palace with a duergar on the morning of departure. She didn't seem to remember anything about her time as a werewolf, and rejoined Croll without complaint. The two of them marched together out of the city. Although her skin had a strange brown tint... she looked very much unlike her usual self.
Corwin called a halt to the march and soldiers set up camp. But the night was only just beginning.
Croll threw down his pack; but quickly noticed that Viconia had fallen to her knees. Her skin was writhing and she was making hideous choking sounds. She clawed at her face, her mind slipping away. Her body shimmered and disappeared, leaving only a slavering beast in her place.
Viconia, Greater Werewere, began to destroy the coalition camp from the inside.
Soldiers fought valiantly, but none had weapons that could harm the beast. Several mages were able to get past its defenses, but not its massive regeneration. Croll attempted to stab Viconia with a silver dagger, but even while hasted, he could barely scratch the beast.
Distasteful as he found the drooling ranger, Croll turned to Minsc for help. He tossed over the Sword of Balduran and a few potions, hoping that Minsc could turn the tide.
The tide turned, all right. Minsc and Dynaheir succumbed to the infection. Soon there were three Greater Wereweres tearing tents and soldiers to pieces.
In the midst of the fray, Croll persuaded the quartermaster to step aside and look through his wares for anything that might help. Croll bought everything he could afford, figuring that the camp was likely to fall, and this might be his last chance to buy potions or scrolls.
Croll ran away into the forest, leaving Corwin, Duncan and the others to fight the hopeless battle on their own. But Minsc-beast and Dynaheir-beast decided to chase him.
Croll put on his boots of speed to stay ahead of the pack. He managed to accomplish a few quests, such as finding Takos' lost artifacts. (He persuaded the halfling to give him a dart in reward, then killed the little guy as he was on his way to reunite with his wife. Even while fleeing werewolves, Croll is still among the most heartless and cruel half-orcs in Faerun).
Croll bought a stone golem from an evil mage. Then he decided to destroy her artwork (and ensure that the missing refugees would never be found).
Meanwhile, the battle in the camp raged on. Casualties included Edwin, Mizhena, Soralis, and most of the Flaming Fist contingent. Only Corwin seemed able to stand her ground.
The only place Croll could find to rest somewhat safely was an old mine filled with dwarves and loads of undead. At the bottom of the shaft, he encountered a Lich... who he bargained with in exchange for support in a future battle. The dwarven priests at the top of the mine were surprised when Croll turned on them. Their surprise was short-lived.
Croll parlayed with Caelar at a destroyed bridge. He was mean, rude and disrespectful. After the conversation, he and several Fists killed the crusader force still trapped on the south side of the river.
Croll returned to camp to find the quartermaster dead. Somehow Corwin was still standing against three greater wereweres. "You all right, Croll?" she asked, even as a werewolf clawed at her face.
Croll decided that enough was enough. The crew, what was left of them anyway, fled into the forest toward Boarskyr Bridge.
(Amazingly, it appears that I haven't yet broken the game...)
Part 17: Throne of Bhaal
I don't really bother attempting to clear the field, or maintaining any buffs. Frisky Bits just pokes at the mage statues with the Staff of the Magi to remove their buffs while we putter around and wait for the other Sendai statues to join the fight. If you can call it a fight.
Instead, I bust out the Wand of Wonder and fire it over and over until I land the 12% chance of a no-save, MR-bypassing, level 0 petrification effect on both dragons.
Then the green dragon arrives, and while he pesters us with an insect spell, he's only one dragon, and his poisonous breath weapon is useless against us thanks to the Ring of Gaxx and its 100% poison resistance. This means we can just smack him with the Soul Reaver until he can't touch us.
I use clones with the Shield of Balduran and Firetooth +3 to very slowly cut down the Tyrant Golems in Abazigal's lair, with Farsight scrolls to guide the process. It's slow, but it works.
Now we have to deal with Abazigal. Remember Abazigal's Maze spells?
I didn't.
So as much as possible, Corerage IV would try to skip fights and get to the Cloakwood Mines. Sometimes he could run away, sometimes not. He would always enrage on Wyverns, since they are extremely dangerous (and have ended some of my solo runs before). With protection from magic, Drassus and pals was simple. In fact making it to Davaeorn's level was quite simple. What was NOT simple is what you see in this screenshot...
So he has to go ALL the way back to Candlekeep and recruit Imoen who is LEVEL ONE!!! Imoen had no equipment to speak of (a bow and non-magical arrows that was it). I tried to keep her out of fighting, but she gained lot of levels on the way to Davaoern's. YES, she can detect Davaoern's door (yay!). Imoen then stays out of the way while Corerage IV buffs and charges Davaeorn - success!
Corerage IV was grateful for Imoen's help, and escorted her to the FAI, where he politely said good-bye to her.
As for the city of Baldur's Gate, the only things of interest is the INT tome and the DEX tome. We went ahead and killed the Ogre Mage and his pet crawlers (why not).
Ok time for Iron Throne! Corerage IV went invisible to 4th floor, buffed a little bit, then charged! You can see the video below which shows the battle, which is a sample of how battles usually go for Corerage IV.
https://youtu.be/Y8q5SHNGtYM
Will try Candlekeep next session.
Rad. Thanks for posting!
Corerage IV made it through Candlekeep without anything of note happening. He was well protected vs. the traps and Prat's gang and spiders and finally mirror eyes potion was enough for both basilisks.
It was necessary to unequip the cursed sword for Slythe and Duchal Palace. With STR 25 and haste, and also luring Belt (who was badly hurt) away from Sarevok, these were no problem Even with Arghain's sword, Slythe was still of no match.
I then equipped the cursed sword and made it my way through the maze, protected by a protection from magic scroll. I went around the Undercity party - I noticed my save vs. death was 2, so gulped an invulnerability potion in case a ghast got a lucky hit.
So I finally get to Sarevok and realize something important - I have NO WAY to dispel Sarevok's haste! Just as bad, I have NO WAY to pull him! I will have to charge him with all his buddies helping him! I think I setup a good weapon/armor config and good buffs. So to make sure Sarevok was targeted 1st, approached invisible - I have auto-pause on enemy sighted, which allowed me to target Sarevok before the cursed sword took over. Result? See video below! (click the link to see video, if you don't want to see video click spoiler)
Corerage IV's battle vs. Sarevok
Yes I know but it's not at all practical in BG 2. Magic is more dangerous and requires different approaches depending on the situation. The other thing is vampire ambushes, if the cursed sword took over, could conceivablably wipe out a lot of civilians, then enforcers would arrive who could easily kill Corerage IV. I only used cursed sword in BG 1 because I knew he could succeed. He has zero hope of success with it in BG 2. The other thing the cursed sword is very powerful in BG 1, not so much in BG 2 plenty of +3 weapons in BG 2 and more powerful ones even.
EDIT: The other point is there are plenty of enemies that require a specific kind of weapon to kill (Sand golem/clay golems blunt weapons, trolls fire/acid). Having a weapon equipped that doesn't let you select other weapons would only get you killed if you ran into such enemies. And there are plenty of such enemies.
EDIT2: Also, in my opinion, immunities are far more important than damage in BG 2. For example, I have Minsc using Lilacor for a long time, because a charmed or confused Minsc is bad for the party (which has happened a number of times). It's more important in the long run to make him immune to such effects, even bypassing using a +4 sword so he can retain his immunities. Like-wise, the Arbane is only +2, but you might want it instead say the cut throat sword (which is +4) if you need the hold immunity, etc.
That's all true - but that's why it would be a challenge
Previous run:
I had been thinking anyway it was about time for another attempt at this and seeing Corey get through BG1 decided I should try and follow and spent a bit of time today on that. Bash has had several different incarnations, but in this one he's a fighter/illusionist. That provides him with a wide variety of potential tactics, but he's restricted by being forbidden from acquiring XP for killing anything except by use of the cursed berserking sword. That range of tactics would potentially allow him to make progress in the same way in BG2, although I'm not certain if it's possible to get past the mephit portals in Jon's dungeon without getting their XP. To make things a bit more challenging, Bash is operating in an SCS installation.
His first task was to avoid any killing on the way to find Brage and bring him back to Nashkel. After grabbing the ankheg armor he returned to Beregost and Algernon became his first victim. That allowed him to pull sirines out of Beregost temple and wear them down against enemies before finishing them off. That's not entirely straight forward as it's necessary both to keep Bash out of sight of enemies and keep the sirines on the move so they don't use invisibility. However, everything went well - taking Bash up to level 3/3.
Blindness was used to annoy Imoen - allowing her to be killed without joining the party. I had a plan for her oil of speed and went next to the Lake area. Bash's cat familiar was let out of the bag to spot gnolls there with the aim of getting them to attack Drizzt. However, 2 were seen at once and the cat pulled them back to where Bash was waiting - expecting those to be killed so it could go and find another. Regrettably Bash lost control the instant he saw a gnoll - at which point the cat was the closest thing to him. With a different familiar that would have been OK, but the cat is slightly slower than most familiars and couldn't get away from Bash. Unlike with LoB losing double the bonus HPs did not mean an instant death, but the loss of a constitution point was a pain in more ways than one.
After healing up, a replacement familiar was used to activate a gnoll to attack. That did over 70 damage without breaking its weapon, so Bash left the area to reset Drizzt's HPs. Trying again the same thing happened and Bash again had to retreat to save Drizzt. Would it be 3rd time lucky? Well, in a word, no. I would normally have given up before now, but having lost so much already in the attempt I wanted to get something out of it, so tried for a 4th time - and failed once more. Although in v2.5 the gnolls' weapons are far more robust than they used to be, I've got plenty of experience to show they are not in fact unbreakable and tried for a 5th time, but once more failed. A 6th was no better, but finally, on the 7th attempt - after inflicting over 500 damage on Drizzt - a halberd couldn't stand the strain. Once Drizzt was unconscious Bash took an oil of speed and attacked - successfully targeting Drizzt before he lost control. That gave him another level for each class before mowing down the gnolls.
Dushai was the final target to finish trashing his reputation before he started a programme of quests to restore that. I was lucky during those with Charleston Nib - I had intended to try and charm him with Algernon's Cloak, but lost control too quickly to do that, but fortunately also regained control immediately after killing the last digger. A number of tasks were then done without trouble, including clearing the ankheg nest to get up to level 5/5. However, there was a nasty moment when an ogre mage sprang an ambush while Bash was travelling through the Cloud Peaks. With only 44 HPs Bash was very vulnerable to damaging spells and I decided to risk a scorcher on the ogre mage. Luck was with me once more as the two lots of damage didn't kill it, but did induce morale failure to allow Bash to get a killing blow in.
I guess I was still distracted thinking about how the odds had panned out in that fight though and made a fatal mistake immediately afterwards. For Caldo and Krumm I wanted to protect the nymph and could have done that by charming them both and moving them away. However, I just charmed Krumm and sent him to kill Caldo out of Bash's sight - but Bash is not allowed to cause any deaths except by using his sword
I'll have another go at that and see if I can keep my familiar alive next time ...
I don't need it more challenging. I have yet to get ONE Trilogy run with EE - how about I get some successes 1st before I start making it harder?
All of these runs are essentially 40-hour chess matches where a single mistake can end the run.
Well, I think Corerage IV was only about 5-6 hours (being solo really speeds it up) through BG 1 but I get your point. Once, I did all of SoA in two days, talk about doing nothing bug BG...
Incidentally, Corerage IV got a free level when starting in Irenicus' dungeon - this put his weapons skills as following: Two Handed Sword: ***** and Two handed weapon skill **. That combined with his 19 STR, and he is mowing down the enemies pretty quickly, not that there are many strong enemies in the dungeon...Imoen and Corerage IV are just about to meet and send away Yoshimo...
The other thing, is you should never let your character be vulnerable to something that might be game ending. Example: enemy has fireballs in their arsenal? Main character better have fire resistance. Enemy likes to use confusion spell (BG 1)? Main character should activate greenstone amulet so he isn't vulnerable, etc.
Every single one us, including us veterans, have had many, many failures. You can get a success too @OrlonKronsteen - just keep at it. If you lose an encounter, try to learn/discover (ask us if you need to) why you failed, and figure out a way to lessen or completely mitigate the risk for next time. You'll never learn how to walk if you are afraid to fall.
Azriel: Undead Hunter
Now, having just admitted to my propensity for taking unnecessary risks, here's a fight I probably should avoid at level 1: Arghain. He's pretty tough and almost immune to sleep. He'll drop from a command spell, but at level 1 you only have one of those. His three goons are susceptible to sleep but if they make their saves they can be a PITA. This is usually a fight I do early, though, as my charnames usually use two-handers. In this case, I'm not using two-handers but old habits die hard, and the fight does present a decent chunk of experience for level 1. Plus, I can kite (a debatably cheesy strategy) to stay alive and run off-map if it turns into a debacle.
Now I'm off to the Nashkel mines map. My paladin is using longswords for a change, so Varscona will come in handy.
Here we see how easily a no-reload run can end. Trying to rest on the mines map, and ambushed by kobolds. Luckily my mage wasn't killed.
Now it's time for Greywolf. Again, probably not in accordance with conventional wisdom at level 1. But, I wan't that sword AND the experience. I tend to take more risks early in the game when dying doesn't hurt so much. I see it like this: I can either wander around the wilderness fighting hobgoblins and kobolds for an eternity until I finally level up, or I can take a chance with Greywolf and the like and get a couple levels under my belt quickly. I'm also pretty good at kiting and avoiding risk that way. But look at that: I was slow with the mouse today and he got a shot in on me. "Run away!"
My other trick with Greywolf is to blast him with the wand of frost. The trick is hitting him enough to really soften him up, but not completely freezing him and losing Varscona (which will happen if gore is turned on). In this case my sorcerer hit him with the wand twice while he was chasing charname. I then managed to get him chasing my sorcerer so that my paladin was able to take him down with her crossbow. First level-up for my paladin!
Next I talk to poor Prism, who's death yields another 1000 xp. The rest of the party levels-up.
As a paladin, I leave the emeralds affixed to Prism's sculpture and admire his creation. In more practical terms, I now have Varscona and a slight cushion in hit points from the level-up. Where to next?
I would hardly call it cheesy. For many solo characters, it literally is the only thing they can do for a great many powerful melee enemies. Sarevok is a good example. Only the most powerful, well equipped, properly buffed warriors can go toe-to-toe with Sarevok and live to tell the tale, like Corerage IV. Any other character would have to kite him - to go toe-to-toe with him is suicide. And in your case, any low level character or characters would want to stay at range with any powerful melees, as to risk melee invites chunking.
But that temperament is great for no-reload
Next I decide to explore the lower, western maps. I rarely travel these anymore, for some reason. Creature of habit, I guess. Crap: first area transition I get ambushed by a wolf. I run off screen rather than taking chances.
After crossing the bottom of the xvart village map, I end up on the map with the ogre berserkers and hobgoblins who guard that bridge. Completely forgot about those guys. I'm running for sure.
It goes to hell: my sorcerer is taken by a hobgoblin archer. I manage to scoop up her belongings and run off map. I make it to Nashkel, where I take her to the temple for resurrection.
Now it's time for more risk. I simply need xp points so I head up north to battle some Ankhegs. I take a circuitous route, avoiding the main highway and watching the game clock to avoid the 10 bandit waylay. See, @Grond0 , every now and then I actually do read your posts.
I have Ankheg plate, RoP+1, belt of piercing, and a large shield. Add to that, the paladin prot. from evil ability. I feel I can risk this map at level two. I breeze across the map. Sleep spells are working like a charm.
Next I head to Ulgoth's beard to get the Greenstone Amulet.
Then, back down to the Ankheg map, where I clear out the caves. This kill gets me to level 3. I pick my first blunt weapon pip: flails.
I take Nathan's body to the farmer. My reputation is already 18. My next goal is to get enough money for the Wand of the Heavens. Once I have that, I can get to Mutamin's Garden for more fast leveling. Then I'll have room to breathe and do some other quests without being one hit away from death. I don't like to start on the main plot too soon because Nimbul is an insane PITA with SCS. Once again, I miss Tiax's ghast really badly. Next install I'll be trying @semiticgod's Korax NPC mod, so I can have a ghast with a good party too. No - don't ask me to justify this RP-wise. Ghouls are people, too. Or they were...
As an aside, I'm using two thieves, which I rarely do. Imoen just hit 100 in open locks, which is great so early. After that I'm going to get her to 100 in setting traps. My half orc c/t is at 75 find traps. After 100pts I'm going to get her to 100 pts in detect illusions. Hopefully this will help me deal with more troublesome mages later.
Those guys are just south of Nashkel. They are to the right of Sendai. Note Sendai's group is extremely deadly to a low level group (yes I have lost some runs here). You don't actually have to fight her however, you can use a non-confrontational dialogue option. She has AC 5 leather however, which is 2nd best leather you can get in Chapter 3, and since you say you have a party with thieves...
You are playing a game, aren't you? Games are about fun. So if meeting Larry, Darryl and Darryl is fun by all means meet them!
Previous run:
Starting again, Bash went to collect his sword. Algernon died, followed by the Beregost sirines (level 3/3). He survived a bandit ambush on the way to find Drizzt and saw him knocked unconscious (having to retreat just the once this time until the gnoll broke its weapon). At that point though I realized I hadn't yet gone back to kill Imoen and had no oil of speed. I thought that could be a problem, but couldn't be bothered to go through the whole sequence of combat again, so attacked anyway - and got lucky with a good initiative roll, taking Bash to level 4/4.
Dushai became his final innocent victim (free action is even more important for this challenge than usual as there are numerous travel ambushes in the game where you can potentially get held). Pushing reputation back up included fighting through the ankheg area, where Bash got to level 5/5. Bash successfully charmed Charleston Nib before going hostile, but he was unable to keep away from the diggers and hence lost out on reputation there. A bit later there was an even worse reputation foul-up when Bash tried to save Hulrik's cow. Typically that encounter is made easy by using sleep - as sleeping enemies don't trigger berserk. However, one of the xvarts saved against 3 sleeps and attacked Bash - sending him berserk just within sight range of the cow. Killing that didn't trigger any reputation loss, but Hulrik had stupidly lingered to see what would happen to his prize possession ...
Donating at the temple restored reputation before Bash journeyed through the Cloud Peaks - no mistakes with Caldo & Krumm this time. The wolf pack at the Beregost Temple provided an XP boost, meaning that returning Kylee's dagger in the Nashkel Mine was enough for fighter level 6. The large numbers of kobolds there were a potential danger, but that could partly be addressed through the use of sleep - you can still put armor back on after casting that if you do it before the projectile arrives. Bash had to retreat to rest regularly, but was never taken below about 50% HPs going through the mine - that was helped by the kobold chieftain running away while Bash was working through the shaman's mirrors. Mulahey believed Bash's story, but was charmed anyway and, after wasting his potentially dangerous domination spell, was cut down.
Up to this point Bash still only knew the spells he started with, but with the SCS ambushes looming I decided he should learn invisibility. At High Hedge he used the potion of absorption from Mulahey's hoard to kill the golems with minimal risk and bought some spells. He also bought some potions of genius at the FAI temple and used those to ensure all spells were learnt.
After identifying all the equipment held in storage, Bash returned to Nashkel where Nimbul was webbed and charmed before being taken away from bystanders for disposal. In Beregost he webbed and cut down Silke, fortunately with no wandering innocents arriving in the time it took to get through her stoneskin and mirrors.
Melicamp failed to survive his transformation before I bumped into the first SCS ambush. As so often I'd worked hard to be in the position where I could start that with the advantage of being invisible - but not actually cast the spell
I'll have one more go and see if I can shift the balance of risk back far enough to make better progress ...
So Corerage IV and Imoen got out of Irenicus' dungeon no problem - but Immy got captured by some robed figures, so Corerage IV will have to figure a way to rescue her.
Here is my initial equipment if any intrested:
But first some initial tasks:
* Circus was cleared
* Hendak was freed. Beastmaster and pets are much easier if you use a "divide and conquer" strategy.
* Lilacor obtained. Key being enrage whenever battling shamans this worked well.
* Moored ship cleared out. RoAC improved invisibility was great against the mages and really the only enemy here who did a good showing was Captain Haegan, who forced Corerage IV to use a heal potion.
* Many ambushes weathered no problem
Watcher's Keep
I must've let @Grond0 's words affect me (about taking risks when strictly speaking not necessary), because I tripped the FoD trap to get the ammo belt, but did NOT have automatic save (my save vs. spell was 0 but needed -1 for automatic). Hmm, little reckless but it worked....luckily no vampiric wraiths. Would like to get the Crimson Dart, but I believe I need 25 STR - will have to come back for it later.
I then worked on Maavar's task. I of course got the necklace from the Weathermistress of Talos when she was sleeping. These tasks are all easy, except of course Rayic Gethras. I had used fire resistance potions for the Mephits, and DUHM and Arbane haste was enough for Stone Golems - time for the main event!
I did a video of my battle with Rayic Gethras - still need to work out my sound balance, I'll get there...
Corerage IV battle with Rayic Gethras (video)
The battle vs. Maevar's guild was pretty simple, with the belt of piercing and full plate, they did not hit very often - while of course Corerage IV was hitting often and hard. For Maevar himself, enrage and haste (I had picked up a haste potion as loot upstairs - might as well use their own stuff against them) was more than sufficient. Reporting to Bloodscalp got Corerage IV to level IV.
Next up Umar Hills - need to do soon before we get crazy spawns like liches. Umar Hills itself was pretty simple - will brave the old temple next sessions.