Quickie about expansion (possible spoilers enter at own risk)
Riderat
Member Posts: 136
Which location should I first visit- Durlags tower or warewolf island? I really want the most optimal way to get trough this and get some items on the way. I've done both of them couple of times, but now I'm wondering from 'meta' perspective which should I visit first from item/spell standpoint.
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Like I said, there's only a robe and staff that are any good and useful to the end of the game. And acquiring the robe entirely depends on your ethics.
Setting off to mainland as we speak
Very useful if you have a party that can't really use bastard swords or daggers.
Sorry for the caps, but it is an urgent advice.
IF you have a warrior who can use Bastard Swords effectively, then the island isn't difficult, definitely easier than the tower, so go to the island first.
IF you don't have a warrior who can use Bastard Swords effectively but you do have a warrior who is good with Longswords, then go to Durlag's Tower first in order to get the Burning Earth longsword (found near to the end of the tower). Nevertheless, you don't necessarily have to face the final battle inside the tower immediately after finding that sword - you could simply leave the tower as soon as you've got the sword, go to the island, and then come back to finish the tower later ... for some parties, this is the best way to do it.
IF you don't have a warrior good with either Bastard Swords or Longswords, but you do have a warrior who is good with Daggers, then you might as well go to the island first, although it'll be harder.
IF you don't have any warrior who can use Bastard Swords or Longswords or Daggers, then completing the island is going to be much tougher. Not impossible, but you're definitely creating a real challenge for yourself. In that case, it's probably best to leave the island until after the tower (and indeed until almost the end of the game), so that your party is as high-level as possible, to improve your chances of winning on the island without the benefit of special weapons.
It's specifically because of that particular battle on the island that, if you want to get through the game relatively easily and in a fairly natural sequence and without exploiting cheesy tactics (and without simply omitting the werewolf island altogether), then you must always include a warrior who has (or can be given) proficiency in Bastard Swords. I therefore find that, in planning party composition, the question "How and when will this party be able to tackle the island?" is frequently a vital consideration.
Warrior types get a "huge" -2 penalty to wield non-proficient weapons. Doesn't make that big a difference, if level and STR are both in high enough level.
My man Minsc (lvl 6) was more than able to hit the Big Bad Wolf in the shipwreck with the nearby bastard sword even without profiency points in b-swords. It's a bit more challenging, but by all means not a straight suicide to head to Werewolf Island without a bastard sword -proficient character.
Also, cheezed it a bit, as I climbed down the stairs to avoid confusion or accidental step on the traps, as I knew that there are couple of bad ones but didn't know where exactly. Nonetlehess the encounter was easier than I remembered.
Every time when someones speaks about the werewolf island I remember the guy who was soloing as a cleric and got stuck in there.
And by the way...
If you are going onto SOD, it's very, very useful, +4 undead.
I know there are people who can't face DT again, there's now a more compelling reason.
Did you forget The Worlds Edge, two handed sword +3? It's dropped by The Chess Board king in Durlag. If memory serves, Kaurog can be hit by +3 and over. If I'm right, this may be one reason to visit Durlag's first.
karoug specifically requires silver / iron
not sure about mendas. I always resort to use the gold sword on him aswell.
The weapons which will work are precisely and only the ones which I listed in my earlier spoiler.
Flame strike also works well, khalid and jaheira can rock him by themselves.