Trouble finding motivation to finish Baldur's Gate 1. Switch to BG2?

[Jinru]

Go into the config program. You can remap most of the keys but I'm not sure about the arrow keys.
I never had a problem with it. I just double clicked and thats where the screen centered. If I wanted to move guys all over the map, I would open up the map and tell them where to go.

Son of a... didn't realize the double click =/

Thanks lickens.

 

[Martimus]

Ohh definitely! Jan Jansen imo is the best character to keep for party banters. He has some amazing chats with Korgan, Viconia, Minsc and pretty much anyone else I am always laughing my ass off when he's around! Hell, I wish you could keep everybody to not miss a single conversation... that's not possible

I know that I modded NWN2 to do just that. (actually just a console command) With all the mods out, maybe one of them allows for larger party sizes?

 

[OCNewbie]

I've switched to BG2. I guess that's what I was interested in all along, though BG1 was fun for a while. I've just exited the prison/jail and am just beginning to look around Athkatla. I went with a monk.

 

[Dorkenstein]

I haven't heard back from the mod team that made the shapeshifting fix I am using about my question, so in the interest of not procrastinating a game any longer than necessary, I am going to have to forget about being a shapeshifter. I mean, if I can't talk as a werewolf, would dialogs just not trigger until I shift back to human?

 

[Qbah]

I haven't heard back from the mod team that made the shapeshifting fix I am using about my question, so in the interest of not procrastinating a game any longer than necessary, I am going to have to forget about being a shapeshifter. I mean, if I can't talk as a werewolf, would dialogs just not trigger until I shift back to human?

WeiDu mods are easy to uninstall and do not break anything. if that other shapeshifter fix was in WeiDu format, you can easily remove it and use Weimer's fixes. Or just ignore it and play another class Seriously, the game is fun regardless of the class you take, I'd say. Just think who would you like to be - A tough mofo wielding a huge 2h sword Whirlwinding stuff to pieces? A stealthy assassin backstabbing stuff left and right and skilled in using any weapon? A squishy caster that becomes a walking god summoning divas, dragon heads, stopping time or killing everyone instantly? A cursed druid who can channel his cruel fate and literally tear things to shreds?

I don't like priests

 

[Dorkenstein]

The thing is, I am using the Big World Project. All the mods are kinda connected, I think, since so much patching goes on behind the scenes. I don't really want to re-install the whole shebang just yet.

I know exactly what you mean about the possibilites being almost endless. My obsessive-compulsive disorder coupled with tons of choices is usually a good way to wear out my interest in a game

I usually play mindless melee guys because it's easier, but since I'd never been a shapeshifter (or druid) as a main character, I thought I'd give it a go. Can other party members do the talking? I seem to remember from my 2000 playthrough that they can't. So Shapeshifter would be tricky. I might go for a pure sorceror, I think there's only one more dedicated mage npc you can get in the campaign, but I would be terrible at it. Spell choices and all, you know.

 

[Qbah]

The thing is, I am using the Big World Project. All the mods are kinda connected, I think, since so much patching goes on behind the scenes. I don't really want to re-install the whole shebang just yet.

I know exactly what you mean about the possibilites being almost endless. My obsessive-compulsive disorder coupled with tons of choices is usually a good way to wear out my interest in a game

I usually play mindless melee guys because it's easier, but since I'd never been a shapeshifter (or druid) as a main character, I thought I'd give it a go. Can other party members do the talking? I seem to remember from my 2000 playthrough that they can't. So Shapeshifter would be tricky. I might go for a pure sorceror, I think there's only one more dedicated mage npc you can get in the campaign, but I would be terrible at it. Spell choices and all, you know.

Honestly, I don't know. I don't remember a vanilla shapeshifter, as I played it for a few hours years ago and it sucked. Post-Weimer fix he can talk while shapeshifted. But I think the other NPCs can talk too. When walking around civilized placed, I usually was in the back anyway, keeping watch over Viconia (best romance ever, in any game). Anyone getting too close to her was feeling the pain for a moment and quickly dying a second later

As for mages - Edwin is a monster. Seriously, he can remember so many spells, it's incredible. He is actually a better mage than your character. No other pure mage-class folks though, but one's enough Two is a slaughter in late game - double dragon heads, banshee wails, time stops, demon summons, Abi Dalzim's Horrid Wiltins (I did google that one ) - sick You got great tanks too - Korgan and Minsc. Keldorn is okay too (he touched my Viconia though - never saw me coming ). If anything, there aren't any good thieves in the game, so you may think about starting one. The dual-wielding kit does some sick sick dmg.

 

[Dorkenstein]

Can a "good" character keep Edwin the whole game? I don't remember.

 

[Qbah]

Can a "good" character keep Edwin the whole game? I don't remember.

There are "fixes" for that Also, you could keep your rep at 10 and he won't say a word. I think he would only leave at 18+ rep (out of 20). But only complain at 11-17.

 

[Dorkenstein]

What can you tell me about assassins and bounty hunters? Might roll a rogue.

 

[Qbah]

What can you tell me about assassins and bounty hunters? Might roll a rogue.

Bounty hunter looks weak. Though extra traps are always nice I used those a lot to one-shot tougher enemies (place a few in one spot and guide the enemy to it).

Assassin looks even weaker. That poison thing is crap, you get extra elemental damage from weapons and that's enough. It is nice against casters though early in the game.

If I were to roll a thief, I'd go a Fighter/Thief multiclass char. You will get both fighter and thief HLAs and a Carsomyr wielding fighter with whirlwind is unstoppable Also, that mage staff that grants invisibility when worn will be a life saver. And you will also get enough skill points to have a high hiding in shadow and trap detection / disarming. True Vision is also nice. All in one char. And there's plenty of EXP to gain enough levels with both classes. Also some elven-chain mails mid-game+ have good AC and will allow you to use thief skills while being hard to hit.

 

[Dorkenstein]

So I'm clear, I need to take two classes and not a "split" class, right? Like I start out as a fighter and then multi over to thief at some point. Or is it the other way around? Any build details you can give me, or even a link to some elsewhere would be awesome. I might start the char out in BG1 and go all the way through, though that might make it more complicated since I'm not sure how balanced/what kind of gear there is for a F/T in BG1. Thanks for the help.

 

[shortylickens]

So I'm clear, I need to take two classes and not a "split" class, right? Like I start out as a fighter and then multi over to thief at some point. Or is it the other way around? Any build details you can give me, or even a link to some elsewhere would be awesome. I might start the char out in BG1 and go all the way through, though that might make it more complicated since I'm not sure how balanced/what kind of gear there is for a F/T in BG1. Thanks for the help.

Little tip: In the AD&D 2nd edition system, a human can dual class, and demi-humans (elves, halflings, dwarves and such) can multi-class.

Dual class is where you pick one class and build it up to whatever level you want. You go into the Character Record screen and hit the button for Dual Class. You pick another class, and then your experience from that point on ONLY goes into that class. When your 2nd class is equal in level to your 1st, you unlock all your old abilities.

Multiclass is done when you create a new character. You pick which 2 (or even 3) classes you want, and throughout the game your experience goes into them equally. You will advance in levels slowly, but you will always have access to every ability you earn at each level. As long as BG2 is with the expansion, you can still hit a very high level and have the special High Level powers.

D&D 3rd edition (Neverwinter Nights 1 and 2) uses totally different rules for picking classes and leveling.

 

[shortylickens]

Bounty hunter looks weak. Though extra traps are always nice I used those a lot to one-shot tougher enemies (place a few in one spot and guide the enemy to it).

Assassin looks even weaker. That poison thing is crap, you get extra elemental damage from weapons and that's enough. It is nice against casters though early in the game.

If I were to roll a thief, I'd go a Fighter/Thief multiclass char. You will get both fighter and thief HLAs and a Carsomyr wielding fighter with whirlwind is unstoppable Also, that mage staff that grants invisibility when worn will be a life saver. And you will also get enough skill points to have a high hiding in shadow and trap detection / disarming. True Vision is also nice. All in one char. And there's plenty of EXP to gain enough levels with both classes. Also some elven-chain mails mid-game+ have good AC and will allow you to use thief skills while being hard to hit.

You must be cheating, cuz fighters cant use Carsomyr.
:sneaky:

 

[Qbah]

So I'm clear, I need to take two classes and not a "split" class, right? Like I start out as a fighter and then multi over to thief at some point. Or is it the other way around? Any build details you can give me, or even a link to some elsewhere would be awesome. I might start the char out in BG1 and go all the way through, though that might make it more complicated since I'm not sure how balanced/what kind of gear there is for a F/T in BG1. Thanks for the help.

Well, my example was a multi-class. You start both classes at the same time. A dual-class character starts one class and then switches to another one (can't progress in the first one ever again).

Starting as a fighter and then changing to thief -> dual-class
Starting as a fighter and thief together -> multi-class

A dual-class earns EXP in one class only (either the one pre- or post- going dual). A multi-class gets EXP the whole time for both (or three) classes equally, but it's split evenly (so gaining 1000 EXP gives 500 to fighter and 500 to thief). BG1 has proper gear for a multi-class. Especially if you manage to kill Drizzt

As for tips? Roll as many times as you need to get CON to 18, DEX to 16+, STR to 18/xx as high as you can (don't remember if multi got 18/xx or only 18). You can find special books in BG1 that grant +1 to stats permanently, so those 18s will turn to 19s The rest can be 10-ish. Since you're playing BWP, there's no EXP cap in BG1, hence you shouldn't worry at all (vanilla BG1 had 89k / 115k caps). Though your character will be insanely powerful at the end of BG1 (Sarevok won't stand a chance). There are plenty of guides, but really... There's not much to playing a class. Just think a bit (you won't be running in a robe as a fighter for example ). One detail - to use thief skills as a F/T, you can't wear anything better than studded leather armor (or elven chain mails). However, there's a nice +3 Studded Leather armor available in Beregost Can't remember the name. You got boots of stealth nearby too (for free!). Also, you can't backstab with bastard swords and two-handers, obviously. But you can use any weapon the fighter can use. Backstab is only available when using thief-available weapons and thief skills are usable only when in thief allowed armor. Hence why a F/T/M is so hard at the beginning - you can't wear any armor (or no spell casting), can't use heavy weapons (or no backstabbing) and with those defenses you die fast in first row Later when you get protection spells, good robes etc, it is great though.

The rest you'll find out as you play

 

[Qbah]

You must be cheating, cuz fighters cant use Carsomyr.
:sneaky:

A F/T has access to thief's HLA - "use any weapon". Carsomyr is "any weapon" so no, I don't cheat.

 

[Dorkenstein]

Okay, I rolled up an elven F/T multiclass.

Stats: 18/27, 19, 17, 13, 10, 10
Weapon Proficiencies: Two Handed Sword ++, Two Handed Weapon Style ++

Just started BG1, at Winthrop's inn. If there's something I need to change, now would be the time. Would being a human (or whatever race) fighter FIRST, then thief be a better choice? I don't have the math-crunching clairvoyance to know whether or not a multi-class character of elvish blood is going to cross the finish line stronger than a fighter and thief dual-class character of potentially stronger makeup.

I gotta get me some portrait addons, too.

 

[Qbah]

Okay, I rolled up an elven F/T multiclass.

Stats: 18/27, 19, 17, 13, 10, 10
Weapon Proficiencies: Two Handed Sword ++, Two Handed Weapon Style ++

Just started BG1, at Winthrop's inn. If there's something I need to change, now would be the time. Would being a human (or whatever race) fighter FIRST, then thief be a better choice? I don't have the math-crunching clairvoyance to know whether or not a multi-class character of elvish blood is going to cross the finish line stronger than a fighter and thief dual-class character of potentially stronger makeup.

I gotta get me some portrait addons, too.

A human can't be multi-class, as shortylickens mentioned. And by selecting two-handers, you won't be able to backstab (or not as easily and not as hard as no weapon proficiency in short/long swords). But that's what I would do too Two-handers are just too sexy

A dual class works differently. You start as a fighter for example and at level 5 you decide to go thief. Your fighter is blocked, all your fighter skills and rules are blocked and you become a lvl1 thief. Once you hit lvl5 with the thief, your fighter skills are unblocked again (and you can for example use more weapons), but you won't be able to gain levels with the fighter, only with the thief. So you get a boost to your thief (as you also got some basic fighter skills).

Sweet stats btw. The 18/27 is a bit low, but it's better than any other class anyway And will be a 19 after you find the special book. So now go and enjoy your game!

EDIT: Gah, misread. you're asking if a dual will be stronger than a multi. I'd say no. With virtually no EXP cap, a multi-class will rape duals, IMO So you have the stronger combo.

 

[Dorkenstein]

Cool! I'm about to go to sleep (damn early work weekends), but is it true that there's a strength tome in Candlekeep?

By the way, I'm practically drowning in nostalgia here. Even though I was a teenager when these games were released and not a little kid, as soon as I hear the theme music the emotions just start to flood with all sorts of flavors. Every time I tried to re-play and successfully finish the game with mods and failed, I still got enjoyment from the attempt. They positively do not make games like these ones anymore. Isometric is underrated! Thanks again Qbah.

 

[Qbah]

Cool! I'm about to go to sleep (damn early work weekends), but is it true that there's a strength tome in Candlekeep?

By the way, I'm practically drowning in nostalgia here. Even though I was a teenager when these games were released and not a little kid, as soon as I hear the theme music the emotions just start to flood with all sorts of flavors. Every time I tried to re-play and successfully finish the game with mods and failed, I still got enjoyment from the attempt. They positively do not make games like these ones anymore. Isometric is underrated! Thanks again Qbah.

I'm at work now And it's almost 4AM here and I'm bored

Yes, there's a tome of strength in Candlekeep. But don't worry about it for now, you can't get it now. Only way way later in the game.

And the nostalgia in this game is incredible. It's enough I hear its music and all the happy hours I spent with the game come back instantly. That goes double for BG2

Enjoy your game!

Btw. This music is etched into my memory forever :awe: This music goes with the best story ever to be seen in computer games. Made me a Bioware fanboy, basically I still won't play their MMO though

 

[Dorkenstein]

Okay, an update on my game anyway. I am at the friendly arm inn, just picked up khalid and jaheira. Jaheira has points in sling and staff, yet is equipped with a crossbow. I also realized that the mod called 'Full Plate and Packing Steel', is installed which makes armor brutally realistic. Splint gives you a 2 point dexterity penalty, for example. That's great since it's realistic but so far it's only hurting me.

I am finding the F/T multi character kind of conflicting. I want to put on heavy armor and use my 2h sword and just smash things up, but I don't know if I should. Leather armor is getting me solid beatings in battle.

Should I reinstall the whole setup and take out the armor mod, and then maybe add the weimer shapeshifter mod? It was a decent amount of work getting this all going, but maybe a reinstall is worth it.

If I should stick with my current installation, any shopping advice for the inn? Oh, also, I have the Hard Times mod installed for BGT which makes metal items much more expensive. I like a challenge but this one isn't sitting well with me. Any thoughts?

P.S. You had to mention the Romance theme from the sound track. Great song, lot's of memories there.