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Baldur's Gate 2 - Shadows of Amn and Throne of Bhaal
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o======================================================================o
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| Baldur's Gate 2: Shadows of Amn & Throne of Bhaal |
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o======================================================================o
"Beating Baldur's Gate 2 in 1036 Easy Steps!"
Version 1.05
Written by: Nathan Garvin
Edited by: Lee Kadel
Email: Theendbringer (at) Hotmail (dot) com.
If you're going to email me about this guide, make sure you put
"BALDURS GATE 2" in the title, or I'll probably end up deleting it as
junk.
Guide Information
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This FAQ was made in Notepad, and is best viewed in a simple text
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Legal
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
I have no affiliation with Bioware, Black Isle, Interplay, Atari, or any
other parties involved with this game. This is a not-for-profit fan-made
guide. If you wish to post, mirror, or quote this guide, feel free to do
so. Credit would make me happy, an email would make me feel good. Let
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Table of Contents
o======================================================================o
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>GAMEPLAY INFORMATION<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
I. Introduction {INT001}
1. Using this FAQ {INT002}
2. Continuity {INT003}
3. Items {INT004}
4. Rewards {INT005}
5. Traps {INT006}
6. Active Pause {INT007}
7. Scaling Enemies {INT008}
8. Mods {INT009}
9. Patching {INT010}
II. 2nd Edition Dungeon and Dragons
Mechanics (Character Creation) {DND000}
1. Composition {DND001}
2. Gender {DND002}
3. Race {DND003}
3.1 Class Restrictions by Race{DND004}
3.2 Human {DND005}
3.3 Elf {DND006}
3.4 Half-Elf {DND007}
3.5 Gnome {DND008}
3.6 Halfling {DND009}
3.7 Dwarf {DND010}
3.8 Half-Orc {DND011}
4. Class {DND012}
4.1 Dual-Classing {DND013}
4.2 Multi-Classing {DND014}
4.3 Dual-and-Multi-Classing in{DND015}
Baldur's Gate 2
4.4 Class Kits {DND016}
4.5 Barbarian {DND017}
4.5 Bard {DND018}
4.6 Blade {DND019}
4.7 Jester {DND020}
4.8 Skald {DND021}
4.9 Cleric {DND022}
4.10 Priest of Talos {DND023}
4.11 Priest of Helm {DND024}
4.12 Priest of Lathander {DND025}
4.13 Cleric/Ranger {DND026}
4.14 Druid {DND027}
4.15 Totemic Druid {DND028}
4.16 Shapeshifter {DND029}
4.17 Avenger {DND030}
4.18 Fighter {DND031}
4.19 Berserker {DND032}
4.20 Wizard Slayer {DND033}
4.21 Kensai {DND034}
4.22 Fighter/Cleric {DND035}
4.23 Fighter/Druid {DND036}
4.24 Fighter/Mage {DND037}
4.25 Fighter/Mage/Cleric {DND038}
4.26 Fighter/Mage/Thief {DND039}
4.27 Fighter/Thief {DND040}
4.28 Mage {DND041}
4.29 Mage/Cleric {DND042}
4.30 Mage/Thief {DND043}
4.31 Monk {DND044}
4.32 Paladin {DND045}
4.33 Cavalier {DND046}
4.34 Inquisitor {DND047}
4.35 Undead Hunter {DND048}
4.37 Ranger {DND049}
4.38 Archer {DND050}
4.39 Stalker {DND051}
4.40 Beast Master {DND052}
4.41 Sorcerer {DND053}
4.42 Thief {DND054}
4.43 Assassin {DND055}
4.44 Bounty Hunter {DND056}
4.45 Swashbuckler {DND057}
4.46 Thief/Cleric {DND058}
4.47 Wild Mage {DND059}
4.48 Wild Surge Table {DND060}
5. Alignment {DND061}
5.1 Reputation Effects {DND062}
6. Abilities {DND063}
6.1 Strength {DND064}
6.2 Dexterity {DND065}
6.3 Constitution {DND066}
6.4 Intelligence {DND067}
6.5 Wisdom {DND068}
6.6 Charisma {DND069}
6.7 Improving Your Abilities {DND070}
6.8 Suggested Abilities by {DND071}
Class
7. Skills {DND072}
7.1 Weapon Proficiencies by {DND073}
Class/Level
7.2 Weapon Proficiency Perks {DND074}
by Rank
7.3 Fighting Style Perks {DND075}
by Rank
7.4 Proficiency Selection by {DND076}
Class
8. Thieving Skills {DND077}
8.1 Pick Pockets {DND078)
8.2 Open Locks {DND079}
8.3 Find/Remove Traps {DND080}
8.4 Move Silently {DND081}
8.5 Hide in Shadows {DND082}
8.6 Detect Illusion {DND083}
8.7 Set Traps {DND084}
9. Hit points {DND085}
10. THAC0 and Armor Class {DND086}
10.1 THAC0 by Class/Level {DND087}
10.2 Armor Class Modifiers by {DND088}
Weapon Type
11. Saving Throws {DND089}
12. Starting Spell Selection {DND090}
12.1 1st-Level Spells {DND091}
12.2 2nd-Level Spells {DND092}
12.3 3rd-Level Spells {DND093}
12.4 4th-Level Spells {DND094}
13. Lore {DND095}
13.1 Lore by Class/Level {DND096}
14. Experience Point (EXP Cap) {DND097}
15. Throne of Bhaal {DND098}
15.1 Epic Feats by Class {DND099}
15.2 Warrior Feats {DND100}
15.3 Wizard Feats {DND101}
15.4 Priest Feats {DND102}
15.5 Rogue Feats {DND103}
16. My Protagonists {DND104}
16.1 The Fighter/Mage {DND105}
16.2 The Fighter/Mage/Thief {DND106}
16.3 Importing your Character {DND107}
from Baldur's Gate 1
III. Characters {CHR000}
1. Character Starting Stats {CHR001}
2. Aerie {CHR002}
3. Anomen {CHR003}
4. Cernd {CHR004}
5. Edwin {CHR005}
6. Haer'Dalis {CHR006}
7. Imoen {CHR007}
8. Jaheira {CHR008}
9. Jan {CHR009}
10. Keldorn {CHR010}
11. Korgan {CHR011}
12. Mazzy {CHR012}
13. Minsc {CHR013}
14. Nalia {CHR014}
15. ??????? {CHR015}
16. Valygar {CHR016}
17. Viconia {CHR017}
18. Yoshimo {CHR018}
19. Table of Character {CHR019}
Attributes
20. Chart of Characters by Role {CHR020}
21. Suggested Parties by Role {CHR021}
22. Good Party versus Evil Party{CHR022}
23. Character Builds and Weapon {CHR023}
Loads
IV. Spell Tactics {SPT001}
1. Healing Spells {SPT002}
2. 1st Level Cleric Spells {SPT003}
3. 2nd Level Cleric Spells {SPT004}
4. 3rd Level Cleric Spells {SPT005}
5. 4th Level Cleric Spells {SPT006}
6. 5th Level Cleric Spells {SPT007}
7. 6th Level Cleric Spells {SPT008}
8. 7th Level Cleric Spells {SPT009}
9. 1st Level Druid Spells {SPT010}
10. 2nd Level Druid Spells {SPT011}
11. 3rd Level Druid Spells {SPT012}
12. 4th Level Druid Spells {SPT013}
13. 5th Level Druid Spells {SPT014}
14. 6th Level Druid Spells {SPT015}
15. 7th Level Druid Spells {SPT016}
16. 1st Level Arcane Spells {SPT017}
17. 2nd Level Arcane Spells {SPT018}
18. 3rd Level Arcane Spells {SPT019}
19. 4th Level Arcane Spells {SPT020}
20. 5th Level Arcane Spells {SPT021}
21. 6th Level Arcane Spells {SPT022}
22. 7th Level Arcane Spells {SPT023}
23. 8th Level Arcane Spells {SPT024}
24. 9th Level Arcane Spells {SPT025}
25. Spell Buff Order {SPT026}
26. Buff Combo: Spell Buff to {SPT027}
the Max!
27. Buff Combo: Dragons and {SPT028}
Demons
28. Buff Combo: Illithids {SPT029}
29. Buff Combo: Liches, {SPT030}
Beholders, and other pesky
Mages
30. Buff Combo: The Throne of {SPT031}
Bhaal General Buff
V. General Tips {TIP000}
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>MAIN WALKTHROUGH<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
VI. Chapter 1
1. Sequence #1 {WLK001}
Escape from Irenicus'
Dungeon
(33 Steps)
VII. Chapter 2
1. Sequence #1 {WLK002}
Five Finger Discounts
(10 Steps)
2. Sequence #2 {WLK003}
Random Encounters in
Athkatla
(10 Steps)
3. Sequence #3 {WLK004}
Recruiting Korgan,
Viconia, and Jan
(9 Steps)
4. Sequence #4 {WLK005}
Jammin' with Jan
(Jan's Family Quest)
(8 Steps)
5. Sequence #5 {WLK006}
Mae'Var's Guildhall
Quests
(Recruiting Edwin)
(24 Steps)
6. Sequence #6 {WLK007}
Thieves' Guild Quests
(Optional)
(5 Steps)
7. Sequence #7 {WLK008}
The Book of Kaza and the
Nether Scroll (Securing
Korgan and Edwin)
(30 Steps)
8. Sequence #8 {WLK009}
Unseeing Eye Quest
(Recruiting Anomen and
Keldorn, Securing
Keldorn)
(32 Steps)
9. Sequence #9 {WLK010}
Family and Honor
(Keldorn and Anomen's
Family Quests)
(14 Steps)
10. Sequence #10 {WLK011}
Cleric Temple Quests
(Optional)
(6 Steps)
11. Sequence #11 {WLK012}
Astral Prison Quest
(Recruiting and Securing
Haer'Dalis)
(22 Steps)
13. Sequence #12 {WLK013}
Bard's Playhouse Quests
(Optional)
(9 Steps)
12. Sequence #13 {WLK014}
Obtaining Celestial Fury
(2 Steps)
14. Sequence #14 {WLK015}
Circus Tent Quest
(Recruiting and
Securing Aerie)
(8 Steps)
15. Sequence #15 {WLK016}
Planar Sphere Quest
(Recruiting and Securing
Valygar)
(27 Steps)
16. Sequence #16
Mage Stronghold Quests {WLK017}
(Optional)
(13 Steps)
17. Sequence #17 {WLK018}
de'Arnise Keep
(Recruiting and Securing
Nalia)
(17 Steps)
18. Sequence #18 {WLK019}
Fighter Stronghold
Quests (Optional) and
Nalia's Quest
(15 Steps)
19. Sequence #19 {WLK020}
The Skinner Murders
(20 Steps)
20. Sequence #20 {WLK021}
Umar Hills (Part I)
(Recruiting and Securing
Mazzy, Mazzy's Family
Quest)
(21 Steps)
21. Sequence #21 {WLK022}
Trademeet (Recruiting
and Securing Cernd,
Cernd's Family Quest)
(37 Steps)
22. Sequence #22 {WLK023}
Druid Grove Quests
(Optional)
(5 Steps)
VIII. Chapter 3
1. Sequence #1 {WLK024}
Siding with Bodhi
(17 Steps)
2. Sequence #2 {WLK025}
Siding with Gaelan Bayle
(26 Steps)
[End of Chapter 3 Stats]
IX. Chapter 4
1. Sequence #1 {WLK026}
Brynnlaw
(11 Steps)
2. Sequence #2 {WLK027}
Spellhold Dungeon
(38 Steps)
3. Sequence #4 {WLK028}
To the Underdark
(19 Steps)
X. Chapter 5
1. Sequence #1 {WLK029}
Exploring the Underdark
(22 Steps)
2. Sequence #2 {WLK030}
The Illithid City
(18 Steps)
3. Sequence #3 {WLK031}
Beholder Den
(7 Steps)
4. Sequence #4 {WLK032}
Ust Natha
(44 Steps)
5. Sequence #5 {WLK033}
Escaping the Underdark
(7 Steps)
[End of Chapter 5 Stats]
XI. Chapter 6
1. Sequence #1 {WLK034}
Settling into Surface
Life/Romancing Jaheira
(Baron Ployer's Curse)
(The Harper Hold Quests)
(28 Steps)
2. Sequence #2 {WLK035}
Kangaxx the Demilich
and The Twisted Rune
(8 Steps)
3. Sequence #3 {WLK036}
Slavers in the Slums
(Copper Coronet Quest)
(Slaver Stockade Quest)
(22 Steps)
4. Sequence #4 {WLK037}
Clerical Competition
(Sir Sarles' Quest)
(Dawn Ring Quest)
(Fallen Paladins Quest)
(23 Steps)
5. Sequence #5 {WLK038}
Umar Hills (Part II)
(14 Steps)
6. Sequence #6 {WLK039}
Ranger Stronghold Quests
(13 Steps)
7. Sequence #7 {WLK040}
Firkraag
(37 Steps)
8. Sequence #8 {WLK041}
Paladin Stronghold
Quests
(9 Steps)
9. Sequence #9 {WLK042}
Illithid's Under
Athkatla (Obtaining
Crom Faeyr)
(5 Steps)
10. Sequence #10 {WLK043}
Limited Wish Quests
(14 Steps)
11. Sequence #11 {WLK044}
Exploring Outside of
Athkatla (North Forest,
Small Teeth Pass,
Forest of Tethir)
(12 Steps)
12. Sequence #12 {WLK045}
Showdown with Bodhi
(13 Steps)
XII. Chapter 7
1. Sequence #1 {WLK046}
Suldanessellar
(20 Steps)
2. Sequence #2 {WLK047}
Hell
(18 Steps)
[End of Chapter 7 Stats]
XIII. Chapter 8 (THRONE OF BHAAL)
1. Sequence #1 {WLK048)
The Prophecy Begins
(8 Steps)
2. Sequence #2 {WLK049}
Saradush
(25 Steps)
3. Sequence #3 {WLK050}
Gromnir Il-Khan
(20 Steps)
4. Sequence #4 {WLK051}
Watcher's Keep, First
Level
(15 Steps)
5. Sequence #5 {WLK052}
Watcher's Keep, Second
Level
(13 Steps)
6. Sequence #6 {WLK053}
Watcher's Keep, Third
Level
(18 Steps)
7. Sequence #7 {WLK054}
Watcher's Keep, Fourth
Level
(17 Steps)
8. Sequence #8 {WLK055}
Watcher's Keep, Fifth
Level
(15 Steps)
9. Sequence #9 {WLK056}
Yaga-Shura
(21 Steps)
XIV. Chapter 9
1. Sequence #1 {WLK057}
Amkethran
(13 Steps)
2. Sequence #2 {WLK058}
Sendai
(18 Steps)
3. Sequence #3 {WLK059}
Abazigal
(16 Steps)
4. Sequence #4 {WLK060}
Balthazar
(7 Steps)
XV. Chapter 10
1. Sequence #1 {WLK061}
Throne of Bhaal
(7 Steps)
[End of Chapter 10 Stats]
Total Walkthrough: 1036 Steps
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>MISCELLANEOUS<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
XVI. Items {ITM000}
1. Finding Recorded Items in {ITM001}
the Walkthrough
2. Item List {ITM002}
3. Item Description {ITM003}
4. Book of Infinite Spells {ITM004}
5. Deck of Many Things {ITM005}
6. Wand of Wonder {ITM006}
7. Crafted Items {ITM007}
XVII. List of Mage Spells {SPL000}
1. 1st-Level Mage Spells {SPL001}
2. 2nd-Level Mage Spells {SPL002}
3. 3rd-Level Mage Spells {SPL003}
4. 4th-Level Mage Spells {SPL004}
5. 5th-Level Mage Spells {SPL005}
6. 6th-Level Mage Spells {SPL006}
7. 7th-Level Mage Spells {SPL007}
8. 8th-Level Mage Spells {SPL008}
9. 9th-Level Mage Spells {SPL009}
XIII. Experience List {EXP000}
XIX. Updates/Thanks {UPD000}
*Note: When searching for items in the FAQ, be sure to include the
{} brackets. When I reference other parts of the FAQ outside of the
index, I put them in [] brackets, so as to make general searches using
the index more efficient. For example, when I tell you in the Characters
section of the FAQ to look at the Walkthrough to find more information
on an Character quest, I'll refer to that section as [WLK###], when it
should be understood to search for {WLK###}. This is an organizational
scheme used to prevent you from having to scroll through several
referential brackets in order to find what you're looking for, as I
reference other parts of the FAQ much more frequently in this guide
than I do in other FAQs I have written.
o======================================================================o
| |
| Introduction {INT001} |
| |
o======================================================================o
With the FAQ up for the first game there was little to do but start on
the second. If you're following through, welcome to the sequel, if
you're new to my FAQ... well, still. Welcome to the sequel! This guide
will help you make your way through Baldur's Gate 2 in 1036 steps of
varying length, complexity, and importance! Holy crap! This is a huge
game! Err... anyways, we are now deep in our adventure through the
Baldur's Gate games, which combined make one of the greatest RPG
experiences in the world of gaming, as far as I'm concerned. Such high
adoration and respect for this game are what inspired me write a FAQ in
the first place... and after writing several other FAQs I realized that
I could, indeed, manage to write a FAQ for a game of this magnitude.
Baldur's Gate 2 is everything the first game was and so much more. It's
higher level, higher stakes, and much more immersive. That also means
that we don't just have to deal with all the spells, levels, and classes
of the first game, but all the new ones as well. The first game was a
pretty hefty RPG in itself, but the sequel is another monster entirely.
I will do my best to get you through the game in one piece, but this is
a huge game, with many different ways of doing things. I will be playing
through with a Fighter/Mage (good party) and a Fighter/Mage/Thief (evil
party) I imported from the first game, recording items, monsters,
characters, traps, encounters... pretty much everything as I go along,
as well as giving general advice and strategies. This should at least
give you a heads up on what to look for in each area, and if you follow
my lead you should be able to make your way to the end of the game...
and collect some really cool loot along the way.
Using this FAQ {INT002}
o======================================================================o
Below I will list some of my quirks, organizational methods, and various
other tidbits that will help you navigate this guide. For starters,
during the main FAQ I'll break up the various chapters and
organizational components of the guide with a large heading:
o======================================================================o
| |
| Large Heading |
| |
o======================================================================o
During the FAQ, I'll break up different areas with a thick line:
Thick line
o======================================================================o
Multiple parts of a mission in the same area will be broken up with a
thin line. This breaks up the missions into a series of steps, and
limits how much unbroken text you'll have to read at once. Nobody likes
wordiness:
Thin line
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Of course, I reserve the right to break my own rules during the FAQ...
mostly due to being scatter-brained and working on the FAQ in shifts
over the course of time. Life and all. So cut me some slack. Besides,
this organizational scheme is mostly for consistency and ease-of-use.
I'll sometimes substitute the thick area transition line for a thin
line. I usually do this when entering and leaving the same areas
multiple times in a short time frame, or when we briefly enter-or pass
through-an area, but do not explore it in detail at that time. Or if I
consider the area somehow minor or insignificant.
Sequence of Events
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Unlike some of my other guides, this FAQ does hold your hand through the
game. As I go through areas I will list what I do sequentially. To help
streamline the guide and make your life easier, I've included a list of
steps at the beginning of each section, so you can see in what order I
am about to do things. Each different Sequence of Events is separated by
a large heading, while each step is divided by a thick line (if we
travel to a different area) or a thin line (if we don't.)
Continuity {INT003}
o======================================================================o
If you're playing a character imported from Baldur's Gate 1 (highly
recommended) there will be a few differences... Namely, you can't take
advantage of some of the new classes in Baldur's Gate 2. As there was no
Monk class in Baldur's Gate 1, it goes without saying that there's no
way you can import a Monk into the sequel. So, I'm assuming we'll be
playing one of the core classes from the first game. If you're a single
classed character you CAN change your 'kit', which will be described in
detail below. Other changes abound. There are more Thief skills in
Baldur's Gate 2 than in Baldur's Gate 1, some of the spells have
changed, and some of the charaters have different attributes. The class
changes are the only serious changes, and if you imported... well,
chances are they're not going to affect you. Dual-classing and multi-
classing is still a superior option to single-classing, so if you
followed sound advice in the original game and are playing a
Fighter/Mage, Fighter/Thief, or Fighter/Mage/Thief, or some dual-class
character, you won't miss these new classes.
Items {INT004}
o======================================================================o
I'll list items found in containers-bookshelves, chests, environmental
bodies, etc.-in the ***ITEMS*** category, I'll also list the (x=, x=)
coordinates the container is found at. The container could be quite
large, but I try to find areas in the 100s or at least the 10s if
possible. For example, I wont give you (x=1996, y=217) when I could give
the coordinates (x=2000, y=200). I'm not going to be as thorough in this
FAQ as I am in others-there's no reason for me to go around telling you
every crate that has a handful of gold in it-but I will typically be
more thorough in dungeons and what-not. If it's important, I'll record
it; if not, I'll ignore it. Largely this means you'll be free (and
expected) to go about towns looting as your heart desires. Just be
careful about stealing... the watch doesn't like it. If you open a lock
with your Thief skills you'll get 400, 950, or 1550 experience per
lock, which is the only real incentive to use a Thief rather than to use
a Knock spell.
Note that much of the loot you'll find throughout the game is random.
Gold coin values will almost certainly be different from game to game,
but it's also possible that you'll find different gems or jewelry in
some containers (for example, in Irenicus' Dungeon I found a Tchazar Gem
on one playthrough, and a Laeral's Tear Necklace on another-a huge value
difference.) Don't be surprised if what you find is somewhat different
from what is listed-there's a bit of randomness involved. The major
items should be the same (you'll always find the Pommel Gem to the
Equalizer in the same area, for example), so don't sweat the small
stuff. The biggest problem the randomness causes is when I tell you one
scroll will drop and you get another, but still, many of the better
scrolls are static loot, dropped from enemies, or bought from stores,
so you shouldn't find (or miss) anything game-breaking.
Rewards {INT005}
o======================================================================o
When you complete a quest, or otherwise gain some story award, I will
list it in the ***REWARDS*** section in the appropriate step in the FAQ.
I won't go out of my way to label the start and end of quests, as some
quests have long stretches of game in between their assignment and
completion. I will tell you to go activate the quest (even if you don't
need to activate it to complete it), but I typically include the reward
upon the quest's conclusion, occasionally requiring you to go back to
the assigner on your own.
Traps {INT006}
o======================================================================o
I list the location of traps in a section similar to the items section,
except it's wisely called ***TRAPS***. I didn't bother recording what
sort of trap it was, I intended to disarm traps I come across, and
frankly, it's just too much of a bother determining the sort of trap.
If you think you can figure out how to use traps to cause collateral
damage, that's fine with me, I'll point as many out to you as I found.
Note that in Baldur's Gate 2 you get experience for disarming traps,
either 1750, 2750, or 3250 experience per trap.
Active Pause {INT007}
o======================================================================o
You can pause the game any time by pressing the 'space bar'; Unlike in
Baldur's Gate 1, the game will remain paused while you're in the
inventory screen. You'll use this option often to reorganize during
battles, select new targets... you know, make tactical decisions. It's
not just helpful, it's vital. If you plan to play any other old school
Black Isle games, like Planescape or Icewind Dale, they'll also use the
same system.
Scaling Enemies {INT008}
o======================================================================o
I'll tell you what enemies I faced on the way through the game, but
keep in mind that as you progress in levels, some encounters might scale
in difficulty-either by adding more enemies, stronger versions of the
enemies that normally appear in the area, or both. If you want to be
absolutely sure that you'll fight what I fought when I fought it, do
the quests exactly in the same order I do them. It shouldn't make a huge
difference, as most 'random' or variable encounters aren't terribly
difficult. Sure, having to fight a Lich instead of a group of normal
undead, some Beholders where there were formerly Gauth, or Adamantine
Golems when you would have fought Stone Golems at lower levels kinda
sucks, but at higher levels, you'll ideally have better gear and
characters more suited for the challenges ahead. Just be aware that your
encounters might not exactly match mine, but the set battles with unique
characters should remain static.
Mods {INT009}
o======================================================================o
I didn't mention it in the first game because I didn't use any... but
there are many useful mods for Baldur's Gate 2. Firstly I'd like to
mention the Jaheira romance. Let's just say it's... complicated, it
takes place over a long period of time, and it is very easy to screw up.
If you want to romance Jaheira, it would be a good idea to get a mod
that fixes the romance. Frankly the Banter Pack Mod is a great addition
to any game if for nothing else than the fact that it speeds up banters,
allowing you to experience them more frequently. This takes a large bit
of the problems out of Jaheira's romance by itself, ensuring your don't
skip or miss any required banters. Another great addition is the BG2
Tweak Pack. It hosts a whole slew of game changes, most of which are
purely beneficial and either make the game more playable without
altering the intended gameplay or game balance. Anything from changing
the colors of spells cast to changing the color palette of NPCs, to
making your avatar change whether you're wearing robes or armor. It
fixes some romance bugs, dialogue bugs, adds the nearly-essential bonus
merchants Joluv and Diedre, and sets many things to the core PnP rules
(like weapon grandmastery). Nerfing that just seems... wrong, but that,
and the Hit Point loss many allies will suffer are just some evils we'll
have to deal with in the name of game balance conservation. Besides
cosmetic mods I'll list various interesting mods below, and mark the
ones I used with an *:
Collectors Edition You should get this by installing the latest
Merchants* patch, but you can also get it from several mods
out there (including the BG2 Tweak Pack.) It'll
add a merchant named Deidre to the Adventurer's
Mart who will sell you various items, many of
which are from Planescape: Torment. These items
had been regarded with a bit of suspicion before
by conservative gamers, especially such things
as the Shield of Balduran and the Robe of Vecna.
As far as I'm concerned by putting it in the
official patch Bioware is essentially saying
that these are not over-powered and unintended
items. They are now safely in the realm of VITAL
and LEGIT items. They said before that they were
roughly the equivalent of other high-powered
loot in the game, but you show me something else
like the Robe of Vecna.
PnP Grandmastery Since Baldur's Gate and Icewind Dale used the
by-the-book grandmastery rules, I'm rather
predisposed to implementing this cheat as well,
game balance be damned. One of the few tangible
bonuses a Fighter had was to be able to
grandmaster. Alas...
Maximum PC Hit Points This one is a bit tricky. On one hand, having
BG2-only PCs with maximum Hit Points is lame.
On the other hand, some characters that I played
through BG1 with (Jaheira, Minsc, Imoen,
Viconia, Edwin) HAD maximum Hit Points by the
end of the game. You can either look at it as
maintaining the Hit Points you imported with,
or as cheating. Too bad there's not an option to
give this to BG1 characters only, eh?
Bottomless Bags of Cheating? Yeah, sure. But one of the reasons
Holding most people play these games isn't for the
thrill of inventory management. Still, it does
limit the amount of crap you carry around, so
for the sake of objectivity, I won't use this
mod for the FAQ walkthrough.
Unlimited Ammo Stacks For the same reason I didn't use the Bottomless
Bags of Holding mod, I won't use this. In a
playthrough where I wasn't recording a FAQ, I'd
use it, if for no better reason that to keep
the containers where I stash my loot from
filling up with ammunition (like Kagain's shop
in Baldur's Gate 1 did), but I can clearly see
how being able to carry around 1000 Arrows +2
would benefit me in the early-going... of
course, I could just steal them, stash them
somewhere, and head back to my stash when I
needed them to pretty much the same effect.
Unlimited Jewelry and See above.
Gem Stacks
Unlimited Potion Stacks See above.
Unlimited Scroll Stacks See above.
Happy Patch If you want to have a party of any composition,
this is for you. I did NOT personally use it
myself, but if you wanted, say, Viconia, Edwin,
Korgan, and Keldorn in your party, this is a
way to do it.
Romance Cheats* Face it, some of you don't want to play the game
(Banter Pack) multiple times just to see all the romances.
(Jaheira Romance Mod) If you want to experience them all without
having to make a new character, this is the way
to go. My own use of romance mods was to ensure
that I would, in fact, experience the romances
completely so I could record them for this FAQ.
It also might have had the unintended
consequence of allowing me to experience the
romances-at least in part-in an untimely manner.
The important thing is, the romance events will
be listed in chronological order in the FAQ,
you might just experience them during a
different part of the guide than where I listed
it. This will also be true if you did more or
fewer quests than I did, or otherwise took more
or less time. To compensate for this admittedly
haphazard approach to romances, I will talk
(in brief) about the flow of the romance in the
character's description. That way you'll at
least know vaguely what to do, and be somewhat
clued-in to the chain of events.
Multiple Strongholds* I use the Ease of Use version of this mod,
which allows a character of any class to
acquire as many different strongholds as they
wish. The reason I use this is quite simple-
I love this game, but not enough to play
through with a Paladin, Ranger, Druid, Fighter,
Mage, Cleric, and Thief. This just allowed me
to see (and record) all of these quests for
this guide. I suggest this for anybody playing
this game, who wants to see as much as
possible during their playthrough. Most of
these quests are pretty lame, but some should
not be missed. If you're worried about what
benefits a character will have from doing all
these quests... well, you'll get some extra
experience from the quests, and a few magical
items that aren't all that useful, so don't
fret if you don't install this, it won't
change the game much, it'll just give you a
few more things to do.
Allow Arcane Does not change the type(s) of armor a spell-
Spellcasting in caster can wear (Fighter/Mage, etc), however
Heavy Armor this mod will allow that character to cast
spells while wearing armor, with a penalty to
casting success; the heavier the armor, the
greater the penalty. Penalties apply to armor
and shield use, and is cumulative.
Allow Stealth and See above.
Thieving Abilities in
Heavy Armor
Wear Multiple Removes the restriction on wearing/using more
Protection Items than one magical protection item at a time.
Identify All Items Eliminates the need to identify magical items,
except for those unique items that require
identification as part of a quest or story
progression.
Easy Spell Learning Removes the chance for failure when learning
(scribing) new spells. There are two variations
of this mod - the first grants 100% success at
spell scribing, the second also removes the
cap on the number of spells that can be scribed.
Xoo=========================================ooX
||/If you want a great site for FAQs, mods, \||
||cheats, voices, portraits, and anything ||
||else relating to Baldur's Gate 2, go visit:||
|| ||
|| http://www.sorcerers.net ||
|| ||
||It comes highly recommended by this humble ||
||writer. You're likely to find something ||
||there to make your gaming experience more ||
||\ enjoyable. I know I sure did. /||
Xoo=========================================ooX
Xoo=========================================ooX
||/ Editor's Note \||
|| ||
|| I also use ||
|| ||
|| http://www.gibberlings3.net ||
|| ||
|| This site is dedicated to the Infinity ||
|| Engine gaming series, and contains many ||
|| mod-packs, tweak-packs, and fix-packs for ||
|| Baldur's Gate, Icewind Dale, and other ||
||\ games written on the Infinity Engine. /||
Xoo=========================================ooX
Note from Lee: as with all things, use mods with caution. While they are
fully tested before posting, some of the mods WILL introduce bugs into
the game, or at least change the gameplay enough so that things will not
always happen as expected. And, as our author suggested, some of these
mods do amount to cheating.
Patching {INT010}
o======================================================================o
Also be sure to install the latest version of the official Shadows of
Amn or Throne of Bhaal patch. Do this before you mod, and whether or not
you actually mod. There's an "appears busy" bug you'll get a lot on
later versions of Windows where NPCs-particularly outdoor merchants-will
not initiate dialogue with you. This can be really frustrating when you
are, say, trying to get scrolls from Galoomp the Bookkeeper or buying
loot from Diedre. Speaking of which, with the official patch you'll get
access to the aforementioned merchant. Huzzah!
o======================================================================o
| |
| 2nd Edition Dungeons and Dragons Mechanics |
| (Character Creation) {DND001} |
o======================================================================o
Below are some suggestions for character creation in Baldur's Gate 2,
Along with a number of tables, charts, and rules used by the game.
Either blindly follow my lead or read up on the section below and make
your own choices. I'll give opinions and brute facts, but I won't be
rating anything. Feel free to make your own-informed-decisions.
Note: In the class-description sections, all spell-charts are taken
right from the Baldur's Gate 2 Throne of Bhaal manual.
Composition {DND002}
o======================================================================o
Unlike in Icewind Dale, you only create one character-the protagonist.
This means your character will need some help on their journey through
Baldur's Gate I & II. In any D&D game you need a Cleric, Fighter, Mage,
and a Thief, the four 'base' classes. No matter what character you make,
you NEED one representative of each of those four base classes in your
party. A party without a front line, spell buffs, healing, and trap
finding is a party that is probably losing.
Gender {DND003}
o======================================================================o
Gender is pretty irrelevant, the only time I can think of where it comes
into play is during romances. If you're male you can't romance Anomen
(even though I wonder about him sometimes...) and if you're female you
can't romance Aerie, and so on. If you want romances, and you don't want
to use a mod to remove limitations, I'd suggest not playing a Dwarf,
Gnome, Halfling, or Half-Orc. No promises any of the in-game PCs will
go for that kind of fling.
Aerie (Female) Lawful Good, Elf
Anomen (Male) Lawful Neutral, Human
Jaheira (Female) Neutral, Half-Elf
Viconia (Female) Neutral Evil, Elf (will not romance Elves!)
Race {DND004}
o======================================================================o
Only Humans can dual class. Only Elves and Half-Elves can multi-class
into a Fighter/Mage. Elves can only begin play with a maximum
Constitution of 17, which will make them slightly harder to get off the
ground. Still, I make my Fighter/Mage (good) protagonist an Elf, and
my Fighter/Mage/Thief (evil) protagonist a Half-Elf. Some races are
restricted in what classes they can choose. Only Humans can be every
class, but they cannot multi-class. Only Humans can dual-class, but they
cannot dual-class into something that cannot be multi-classed.
Class Restrictions by Race {DND005}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
|Human
| |Elf
| | |Half-Elf
| | | |Gnome*
| | | | |Halfling
| | | | | |Dwarf
| | | | | | |Half-Orc
o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o
Barbarian | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bard | x | | x | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cleric | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cleric/Mage | d | | x | x | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cleric/Ranger | d | | x | | | | x |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cleric/Thief | d | | | x | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Druid | x | | x | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fighter | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fighter/Cleric | d | | x | x | | x | x |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fighter/Druid | d | | x | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fighter/Mage | d | x | x | x | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fighter/Mage/Cleric | | | x | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fighter/Mage/Thief | | x | x | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fighter/Thief | d | x | x | x | x | x | x |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mage | x | x | x | x | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mage/Thief | d | x | x | x | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Monk | x | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Paladin | x | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ranger | x | x | x | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sorcerer | x | x | x | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Thief | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o
* = Instead of a Mage, they are always an Illusionist.
x = Race/Class combo is allowed.
d = Can dual class, not multi-class.
Human {DND006}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Humans are the vanilla race of the fantasy genre. I'll bet most of my
readers are Human (the rest are whatever race Anne Coulter belongs to-
the reptillians), which begs the question... why play it? Doesn't it
just inject a bit of mundanity into a fantasy setting? And why would you
do that? Whatever, the only thing special about Humans is that they can
(and should) dual-class. Oh, and they can be every class in the game.
So if you're really hard up for a Monk, Paladin, or some types of
specialist Mage... well... this is your only option.
Elf {DND007}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Everybody hates Elves these days. Probably because of Orlando Bloom.
Anyways, Elves are a staple of the fantasy genre. Without giving
anything away, playing an Elf adds a bit of... tension... with the
antagonist of this game... At least, it does in my mind, which is what
matters. Elves have some solid multi-class options, and are decent
characters all around. The Dexterity bonus is nice... but it's not
nearly as helpful as the Constitution bonus is harmful. Still,
considering all the stat boosts you'll find in the game, it's not a
big deal.
Elves have the following traits:
--> 90% resistance against charm and sleep magics.
--> Infravision.
--> +1 THAC0 bonus with bows and long swords.
--> +1 Dexterity, -1 Constitution.
Half-Elf {DND008}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
The bastard off-spring created by Humans and Elves... nobody seems to
care that an Elf boning a Human is just kind of... weird. I mean, how
much older is the Elf, on average? It would make for great a fantasy
Maury show... They've got a few bonuses that Humans don't have-stuff
you won't really miss-but they trade the ability to dual-class for the
most extensive multi-class options in the game. They're a great choice
for any protagonist.
Half-Elves have the following traits:
--> 30% resistance against charm and sleep magics.
--> Infravision.
Gnome {DND009}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Gnomes are retarded and everybody should hate them. They're nothing but
incompetent Dwarves without any of the cool Dwarfiness. Gnomes have
one advantage over Dwarves-they can become Mages. But... since they
default to Illusionists, it's not so great of a bonus.
Gnomes have the following traits:
--> +2 bonus to Saving Throws vs. Rod/Staff/Wand and vs. Spell.
--> Additional Saving Throw bonuses based on Constitution.
--> Infravision.
--> +1 Intelligence, -1 Wisdom.
Halfling {DND010}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
If you wanted my opinion on Halfings... well... look at my opinion
about Gnomes. It's not a short person thing, I'm not too tall myself,
but... their class options suck and their racial traits just aren't
very good. Honestly, I've always hated Halflings. They seem like a
waste of a race, and in my gaming sessions, I've never been able to find
a use for them. What are they, always? Wandering thieves and pranksters.
Almost without variation. Who always plays them? The annoying kid who
just wanted to be a pain in the ass and slow things down.
Halflings have the following traits:
--> +2 bonus to Saving Throws vs. Paralyzation/Poison/Death, vs.
Rod/Staff/Wand, and vs. Spell.
--> Additional Saving Throw bonuses based on Constitution.
--> +1 THAC0 bonus with slings.
--> +1 Dexterity, -1 Strength, -1 Wisdom.
Dwarf {DND011}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Now Dwarves are where it's at. Who doesn't love Dwarves? They're always
awesome. Nothing's better than a heavily-armed, ill-tempered, hairy,
drunk demi-human. Fortunately for you, the game does a decent job in
supplying you Dwarves to tag along with-leave the Dwarfing to your
allies and pick stronger multi-or-dual-class options, instead.
Dwarves have the following traits:
--> +2 bonus to Saving Throws vs. Paralyzation/Poison/Death, vs.
Rod/Staff/Wand, and vs. Spell.
--> Additional Saving Throw bonuses based on Constituion.
--> Infravision.
--> +1 Constitution, -1 Dexterity, -2 Charisma.
Half-Orc {DND012}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Not much to say about this class-they have the same appeal as Dwarves
in my book. Fugly warriors that almost always seem to fall into a well-
trod stereotype. In this, they excel, and if you plan to make any
single-class warrior type, go with a Half-Orc. You won't miss that
Intelligence.
Half-Orcs have the following traits:
--> +1 Strength, +1 Constitution, -2 Intelligence.
Class {DND013}
o======================================================================o
Since you can recruit a character that pretty much covers whatever you
may lack, you have the freedom to create a character that plays how you
want. Versatility and power are my goals in character creation, and that
pretty much cries out for dual-or-multi classing. Also, if the
developers were so kind as to provide you with a recruitable ally with
their own unique voice, portrait, history, and statistics, why bother
making a similar character? Since dual-or-multi class characters are
invariably stronger in Baldur's Gate 2, they are what I suggest. You
simply get stronger, more versatile characters if you dual-or-multi-
class.
A Fighter/Mage is arguably the strongest class in the game by the end of
Baldur's Gate 2. Magic in Baldur's Gate is incredibly important and
deep, and controlling a protagonist who cannot cast spells seems
rather.. blasphemous. And if you can destroy any foe in melee combat as
well, all the better. Alternatively there's the Fighter/Mage/Thief, who
isn't as much of a Fighter or Mage, but you don't have to rely upon a
recruitable Thief to do your trapfinding. There's also the
Fighter/Cleric, but the spell buffs a Mage can cast are more powerful,
and a Mage wont be limited to blunt weapons like a Cleric. If you're at
all interested in making a Fighter/Cleric, try a Ranger/Cleric instead.
Pretty much the same thing in terms of weapon selection, and Hit Points,
but they'll also get Druidic spells, in addition to their Clerical
spells. This means Insect Plague, Elemental Summoning, and Iron Skins...
it's something to get excited about, trust me, I've never played as a
Fighter/Mage/Cleric, but... it certainly sounds interesting. In the end
I feel a Fighter/Mage is a great protagonist, a great play, and
certainly a good choice to write a guide around. For the evil party
play-through (Version 1.02 of the original Baldur's Gate 1 guide) I
created a Fighter/Mage/Thief so I could use many of the strategies with
which I am familiar, but also because of how desperately the evil party
needs a Thief in Baldur's Gate 2. My girlfriend's choice was much the
same, except she used a Fighter as her protagonist and created a
Fighter/Mage/Thief sidekick in the sequel to overcome the crippling
Thief-shortage. It might be cheap, but it's better than dragging around
Haer'Dalis.
Dual-Classing {DND014}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
To dual-class you must be a Human, and you must be at least 2nd level in
the class you started out as to dual-class. You must have a 15 in the
prime requisites of your current class, and 17 in the prime requisites
of the class you want to change to. The prime requisities for each of
the four base classes are as follows:
Cleric: Wisdom
Druid: Wisdom, Charisma
Fighter: Strength
Mage: Intelligence
Ranger: Strength, Dexterity, Wisdom
Thief: Dexterity
Once you dual-class the experience of your previous class will be capped
at the minimum required to meet the last level you attained, and it will
go inactive. You can no longer gain levels in this class, or use any of
the class abilities. The only thing you keep from that class are the Hit
Points, you temporarily lose weapon and armor proficiencies, skills,
spells, THAC0, and even saves.
You now begin advancing as your second class, following all its rules.
You pick new proficiencies, and spells or thief abilities, if
applicable. For example, if you were a Fighter and dual-classed into a
Mage, you would be bound by the weapon and armor restrictions of the
Mage. You'd have the saves, THAC0, proficiencies, and spells of a 1st
level Mage, but you'd have your Fighter Hit Points. Once your level in
your new class exceeds your level in your old class, your old class
becomes active again. You cannot gain experience in your old class, but
you gain back any previously attained abilties, weapon and armor
proficiencies, skills, spells, THAC0, and saves, if they are better than
what you have now. Keep in mind that proficiencies are not cumulative.
For example, take the following case. Start out with a level one Fighter
and you'll get four weapon proficiencies to spend-you can spend up to
two points (become Specialized) in any one weapon class or fighting
style. Let's say the proficienies were allocated as follows:
Long Sword ++
Two-Weapon Style ++
At level two, the character dual-classes to a Thief. They temporarily
lose those proficiencies, but being a brand-spanking almost new Thief,
they get two points to distrubte. Let's say it goes as follows:
Katana +
Short Sword +
Once the newly dualed Thief becomes level three, they'll get their
Fighter stats back... at least until their Thief THAC0 and Saving Throws
surpass whatever their Fighter level gave. Their proficiencies now look
like this:
Katana +
Long Sword ++
Short Sword +
Two-Weapon Style ++
So, when dual-classing, do NOT overlap proficiencies. Any overlap
results in wasted points.
A good tactic is to start out as a Thief and gain their Find Traps
skill, get it as high as you need, and then dual-class into something
more useful, like a Fighter or Mage. This gets you the essential Thief
skill without having to waste an entire character on a class that,
frankly, isn't great on its own. Another option is to make a Fighter,
get up to a high level and attain its high Hit Points, THAC0, and maybe
even Grand Mastery, then dual-class into something else to retain those
excellent combat stats to make a more 'hardy' version of that class.
The experience gained by the first class does count towards your total
experience, and hence towards the experience cap. If you dual-class a
character, be sure to dual class early enough so you have enough
experience left to exceed your previous classes' level with your new
class. If you never exceed your first class with your second, it will
never become active, making the whole process a waste and stunting your
character. This is obviously more of a preparatory tactic for the
sequel, as you will not gain enough experience to get the most out of
dual-classing for some combos in the first game. If you want to make a
dual-class Fighter or an Assassin/Fighter, you'll have to play through
this game as a single-classed character. For characters like Imoen,
dual class away, but for your main character I do not suggest
dual-classing until the sequel.
Multi-Classing {DND015}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Mutli-classing is a bit simpler than dual-classing. Most races besides
Human can multi-class into something, but Half-Elves are by far the
most versatile multi-classers. Whereas dual-classing means dropping one
class in favor of another, only to gain the benefits of the previous
class back after you exceed its level with the second class, multi-
classing means pursuing both classes simultaneously. You get the better
choice of THAC0 and saves between the classes, meaning a Fighter/Mage
would use their better Fighter THAC0 instead of their worse Mage THAC0
or some composite. Hit points, however, are a composite, essentially
halving the dice rolls of both classes and giving them to you. If a
Fighter/Thief levels up in both classes, they get a maximum of eight
Hit Points (10 + 6 = 16/2 = 8.) Note, however, that if you are a Fighter
multi-class, you get the highest benefit of your Constitution, meaning
a Fighter/Cleric with a Constitution score of 18 would get a +4 bonus to
their Hit Points per composite level, instead of only +2 as a single-
classed character would. Triple-class characters work the same way,
except their Hit Points per class/level is split three ways. For
example a Fighter/Mage/Thief only receives six Hit Points per composite
level (10 + 6 + 4 = 20/3 = 6.67~, always rounded down = 6).
Experience is split evenly between the two (or three) classes, which can
level up independently. This results in a slower rate of leveling than
a single-classed character. Multi-classed characters typically make up
for it with versatility, being able to effectively combine multiple
class abilities to maximum effect. After all, a Thief who can hide in
shadows and backstab with a Fighter's THAC0 and higher weapon
proficiencies is better than just a Thief, and a Fighter who can use
Mage spells to spell buff themselves with Mirror Image, Haste,
Stoneskin, and Improved Invisibility will be MUCH more effective than
just a Fighter. Multi-classed characters must abide by the restrictions
of BOTH classes. A Fighter/Mage could wear Fighter armor, but not cast
spells while so doing. A Fighter/Cleric could not use Swords or Bows.
A Thief/Cleric could sneak, but not in heavy armor, and so on. But on
the plus side, a high level multi-classed character will be able to pick
epic feats from both trees. A Fighter/Thief could spend all their epic
feats on Whirlwind and Greater Whirlwind, for example, if they so
wished, instead of having to pick between the two (i.e. Thief feats on
Thief levels, Fighter feats on Fighter levels.) This gives them
another massive benefit over dual-classed characters.
Dual-and-Multi-Classing in Baldur's Gate 2 {DND016}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
There is one significant advantage to multi-classing over dual-classing
in Baldur's Gate 2, namely in the selection of Epic Level Feats. Upon
reaching a certain experience threshold (and every level thereafter)
you'll get to pick a feat, many of which are phenomonally strong. If
you dual-class, you'll never again level up with your dormant class,
meaning you'll never get these feats. A dual-class Fighter/Thief might
have all the perks of a Fighter, and unimpeded progresion in thieving
skills as well, but they will never get the Epic Fighter feats. A
multi-classed Fighter/Thief will, however. Of course another thing to
keep in mind with multi-classing is that you will not get as many of
these feats for each class as a single-classed or dual-classed
character will. It's a fair balancing act I think, and a good
addition to a game that ultimately penalizes single-classed characters
too harshly. Consider yourself duly warned-if your 'uber' Fighter/Thief
turns out to be a sissy late in the sequel because you can't get
Greater Whirlwind Attack(s)... it's on you.
Class Kits {DND017}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
In Baldur's Gate 2 most single-classes have 'kits' which are basically
variants of the normal class. These include everything from shape
shifting Druids, combat-focused Bards, Paladins skilled at thwarting
Mages, sword saint Fighters, and Rangers who are truly dedicated
archers. For the most part the kit functions like the normal class, with
a few advantages and disadvantages thrown in. Note that you cannot
multi-class with a kit, but you can start out with a kit or
specialization and then dual class into a class without a kit or
specialization.
o==========================o
|Barbarian | {DND018}
o==========================o
Hit points per Level: "d12" (really d10)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
A Barbarian certainly looks like a viable choice for any warrior
starting anew in Baldur's Gate 2. They aren't defensive warriors, as
they can't use the heaviest armor in the game, and one of their key
abilities actually lowers their Armor Class, so don't rely on them to
'hold the line', although the extra Hit Points gained from raging will
certainly help, despite the fact that their supposed d12 to their Hit
Points seems to be... well, bogus. Their rage ability raises their
Strength and Constitution by 4 points, which is HUGE, but since it lasts
only five rounds... well... you'll need to burn through a lot of them just
to finish a fight, while a normal Fighter could do just fine with
potions of giant Strength. All things considered, it might be better to
just get a Fighter with Grandmastery. They keep those combat bonuses all
the time, and can wear heavier armor. Unless you're really into role-
playing a baba, I can't really recommend them over a Fighter, even
though they move faster and get up to 20% resistance to slashing,
piercing, crushing, and missile damage. Of course, if you're patient
and you get your hands on some sweet White Dragon Scale armor, those
Armor Class woes will become a thing of the past...
Barbarian
Level EXP HP
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
1 n/a 1d10
2 2,000 2d10
3 4,000 3d10
4 8,000 4d10
5 16,000 5d10
6 32,000 6d10
7 64,000 7d10
8 125,000 8d10
9 250,000 9d10
10 500,000 9d10+3
11 750,000 9d10+6
12 1,000,000 9d10+9
13 1,250,000 9d10+12
14 1,500,000 9d10+15
15 1,750,000 9d10+18
16 2,000,000 9d10+21
17 2,250,000 9d10+24
18 2,500,000 9d10+27
19* 2,750,000 9d10+30
40 8,000,000 9d10+93
Advantages:
- They move at 2 points faster than the usual character.
- Barbarians are immune to backstab.
- Can rage once per day every 4 levels (starts at 1st level with one
use). Rage gives them +4 to Constitution and Strength for 5 rounds.
Gives a 2 points Armor Class penalty and +2 to saves vs magic (for 5
rounds). Rage also gives immunity to all charm, hold, fear, maze, and
confusion and level drain spells.
- At 11th level the barbarian gains 10% resistance to slashing,
piercing, crushing, and missile damage He gains an additional 5% at
levels 15 and 19.
- The barbarian rolls d12 for Hit Points instead of a Fighter's d10.
(supposedly)
Note: I created a fresh Barbarian in Shadows of Amn. They started at
level 7 with a Constitution of 10 and 80 Hit Points-obviously more than
the Fighter's 1d10 could have achieved. However, when I leveled them up,
they received a maximum of 10 Hit Points for their level. At this point
I'm more than satisfied to blame the often-screwy Hit Point calculations
made by this game upon character creation for the over-abundant early
Hit Points, and say definitively that Barbarians do indeed receive
merely a d10 for Hit Points per level. The Constitution was immaterial,
when I made another Barbarian with 18 Constitution, they just ended up
with 108 Hit Points (80 + 4 per level, 7 levels). Looking at the 2DA
files pretty much puts this question to rest-there are several files
that determine Hit Point rolls-HPWIZ, HPWAR, HPROG, HPPRS, and HPMONK.
Notable absent are any extended Hit Point tables for the Barbarian-they
just don't exist. The d12 the Barbarian is supposed to receive is just
a myth.
Disadvantages:
- A barbarian cannot wear full plate, plate mail.
- A barbarian cannot specialize past normal specialization
o==========================o
|Bard | {DND019}
o==========================o
Hit points per Level: d6
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Bards were a good class in Baldur's Gate 1, mixing light armor with
a decent spell selection that went all the way up to 4th level spells,
providing extra spell power in a pinch. However, they'll reach their
spellcasting zenith in Baldur's Gate, and while 4th level spells might
have stacked up well against 5th level Mage spells in Baldur's Gate 1,
a Bard with 6th level spells will be unimpressive against 9th level Mage
spells in Baldur's Gate 2. They're segregated more than ever into a
support roll, able to cast buffs like Haste and and a few defensive
spells to keep them handy, but they'll never contribute to a fight as
much as a Fighter, Cleric, or Mage will. The game does say they are
jacks-of-all-trades, masters of none, and they mean it... but by now
specialization is paying big dividends to single-classed characters, and
multi-and-dual-classed characters are excelling in two or more fields.
Simply put, a Fighter/Thief and Fighter/Mage... or especially a
Fighter/Mage/Thief just leave the Bard far behind. You can grab the
Enhanced Bard Song feat when you get access to epic feats and make the
Bard that much more effective at what they do best: supporting the
party. While it's an impressive ability, it's poor compensation when you
look at a Fighter/Mage who can Time Stop and use Greater Whirlwinds.
Bard
Level EXP HP Spells Pick Pockets
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
1 n/a 1d6 25%
2 1,250 2d6 1 30%
3 2,500 3d6 2 35%
4 5,000 4d6 2/1 40%
5 10,000 5d6 3/1 45%
6 20,000 6d6 3/2 50%
7 40,000 7d6 3/2/1 55%
8 70,000 8d6 3/3/1 60%
9 110,000 9d6 3/3/2 65%
10 160,000 9d6+2 3/3/2/1 70%
11 220,000 9d6+4 3/3/3/1 75%
12 440,000 9d6+6 3/3/3/2 80%
13 660,000 9d6+8 3/3/3/2/1 95%
14 880,000 9d6+10 3/3/3/3/1 100%
15 1,100,000 9d6+12 4/3/3/3/2 100%
16 1,320,000 9d6+14 4/3/3/3/2/1 100%
17 1,540,000 9d6+16 4/4/3/3/3/1 100%
18 1,760,000 9d6+18 4/4/4/3/3/2 100%
19 1,980,000 9d6+20 4/4/4/4/3/2 100%
20 2,200,000 9d6+22 4/4/4/4/4/3 100%
21 2,420,000 9d6+24 5/4/4/4/4/3 100%
22 2,640,000 9d6+26 5/5/4/4/4/3 100%
23* 2,860,000 9d6+28 5/5/5/4/4/4 100%
40 8,000,000 9d6+62 5/5/5/5/5/5
(max at level 38)(max at level 14)
Blade {DND019}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
A Blade might seem like a good idea on paper, as it gets Offensive Spin
and Defensive Spin, but think about it. Offensive Spin doesn't stack
with Haste, so it's really only giving you a +1 bonus to attack and +2
damage, which will not make a you a competitive front-liner, even if the
max damage is nice. Defensive Spin might not go past -10, but for a Bard
that's still a pretty hefty benefit. Your Bard song sucks anyways, and
you can just grab Enhanced Bard Song to break even with the best a
normal Bard has to offer. Pick Pockets can be raised with potions, and
won't be a huge issue, and Lore is pretty useless anyways. Keep in mind
that these benefits are largely going to be redundant by the time you
reach Throne of Bhaal, your -10 Armor Class isn't going to protect you
much, and Offensive Spin will not compete with Whirlwinds. A Bard is
better off casting defensive spells and using Enhanced Bard Song, making
this kit rather useless.
Advantages:
- May use 'Offensive Spin' and 'Defensive Spin' abilities once per day
per 4 levels.
- Offensive Spin: lasts 24 seconds, granting the Blade +1 to hit, +2 to
damage, and an extra attack. As well, all of his attacks do maximum
damage for the duration. Offensive spin cannot be used in conjunction
with haste or improved haste.
- Defensive Spin: lasts 24 seconds, roots him to the spot but gives -1
AC per level of experience. The Armor Class bonus does not go over -10.
- May place 3 slots into two weapon fighting style.
Disadvantages:
- Only has one-half normal Lore value.
- Only have one-half Pick Pockets percentage.
- Bard Song does not become better over time.
Jester {DND020}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
So instead of having an ability to help their allies, they get a
somewhat unlimited access to a very weak version of a 4th level spell?
Wouldn't a normal Bard be better off casting a Confusion when it
mattered at a -2 Save, rather than casting a bunch of +4 Save versions?
And it's every opponent within 30 feet, meaning this only affects
enemies fairly close to the Bard. Generally you want to keep vulnerable
characters OUT of combat range.
Advantages:
- Jester's song does not help allies. Instead, it affects every opponent
within 30 feet, and they must save vs. magic at +4 once per round or be
confused. (Note: According to the latest patch the Jester's bardsong
ability gains the slow and stun effects.)
Disadvantages:
- None.
Skald {DND021}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Now if you want a melee handy Bard, this is the way to go. +1 to hit and
damage all the time beats a Blade's offering. And what about their Bard
song? That looks a lot like... wait... it IS Enhanced Bard Song! They
already get it! Pick Pockets is useless anyways, so don't worry about
having a low value there. You can always use potions when you need to.
Advantages:
- +1 to hit and +1 to damage with all weapons.
- The skald's song is different from the typical bard song and varies
with level:
1st: gives allies +2 to hit, +2 to damage and -2 to AC.
15th: gives allies +4 to hit, +4 to damage, -4 to AC, and immunity to
fear.
20th: gives allies +4 to hit, +4 to damage, -4 to AC, and immunity to
Fear, Stun, and Confusion.
Disadvantages:
- Pick pockets ability one-quarter normal.
o==========================o
|Cleric | {DND022}
o==========================o
Hit points per Level: d8
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Clerics are essential to any party, being good buffers and healers, and
while generally not as good at dealing damage, ripping through spell
defenses, and debuffing as a Mage, there are instances in which they
shine. They get great spells against undead, namely Sunray, which is
your best chance of taking down Liches. They also get good offensive
spells such as Greater Command, Holy Smite, and Finger of Death, not
to mention their defensive spells like Death Ward, Chaotic Commands,
Defensive Harmony, Protection from Evil 10' Radius, and Dispel Magic.
And yes, they get healing Spells such as Heal and Restoration, both of
which are indispensable. They can also typically hold a battle line,
being able to equip shields and plate armor, even if they can't hold
up quite as well as Fighters. When you hit epic levels you can get some
really awesome abilities, such as the defensive Globe of Blades, Aura of
Flaming Death, and Summon Deva abilities, which further improves their
defensive capabilities. Frankly, however, it's a poor choice for a main
character. Firstly, it seems silly for the child of a dead god to be
worshiping another deity, especially with so much potential... but
really, Anomen already beat us to the punch, being a dual-classed
Fighter/Cleric. And no main character can equal Viconia's natural
resistance to magic. Don't worry, the game already has plenty of great
recruitable Clerics. Clerics also get the ability to turn undead, but
it's not too great of an ability. Big things won't be affected, and
little things can just be smote. Unlike most classes there is no reason
to not pick a Cleric kit... they're all beneficial with no downside.
When a Cleric hits 25th level they gain a holy symbol from their deity,
which gives them +1 to Strength, 5% magic resistance, and allows them to
memorize another 6th and 7th level spell. For Clerics with high
Strength, this can put them over the top, letting them go around without
having to worry about Girdles of Giant Strength and the like
(read: Anomen).
Cleric
Level EXP HP Spells
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
1 n/a 1d8 1
2 1,500 2d8 2
3 3,000 3d8 2/1
4 6,000 4d8 3/2
5 13,000 5d8 3/3/1
6 27,500 6d8 3/3/2
7 55,000 7d8 3/3/2/1
8 110,000 8d8 3/3/3/2/1
9 225,000 9d8 4/4/3/2/1
10 450,000 9d8+2 4/4/3/3/2
11 675,000 9d8+4 5/4/4/3/2/1
12 900,000 9d8+6 6/5/5/3/2/2
13 1,125,000 9d8+8 6/6/6/4/2/2
14 1,350,000 9d8+10 6/6/6/5/3/2/1
15 1,575,000 9d8+12 6/6/6/6/4/2/1
16 1,800,000 9d8+14 7/7/7/6/4/2/1
17 2,025,000 9d8+16 8/8/8/8/5/3/2
18 2,250,000 9d8+18 9/9/8/8/6/4/2
19 2,475,000 9d8+20 9/9/8/8/6/4/2
20 2,700,000 9d8+22 9/9/9/8/7/5/2
21* 2,925,000 9d8+24 9/9/9/9/8/6/2
25 3,825,000 9d8+32 9/9/9/9/9/7/3 <-- Holy Symbol Obtained
40 8,000,000 9d8+62 9/9/9/9/9/8/7
(max at level 38)
Holy Symbol: When a character reaches 25th level as a Cleric, they
will receive a unique 'ring'. This Holy Symbol differs in name based
upon alignment, evil characters will have a Holy Symbol of Talos, good
characters will receive a Holy Symbol of Lathander, and neutral
characters obtain a Holy Symbol of Helm. Regardless of which one they
get, they're all alignment-conditional Cleric-only items with the same
properties. If you're a multi-classed character you won't reach this
total until you max your experience, but single-classed Clerics should
obtain this Holy Symbol early in Throne of Bhaal. Each one gives a
+1 bonus to Strength, 5% Magic Resistance, and a bonus 6th and 7th
level spell slot.
Priest of Talos {DND023}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Lightning Bolt isn't a great spell, but Storm Shield provide some
interesting bonuses to your resistances, at least. Once per day per ten
levels of the caster means... once or twice, in Shadows of Amn.. but at
least it lasts a long time.
Advantages:
- May cast 'Lightning bolt' once per day per 5 levels of the caster
(starts at 1st level with one use.)
- May cast 'Storm Shield' once per day per 10 levels of the caster
(starts at 1st level with one use), as detailed below.
STORM SHIELD: This spell lasts 6 seconds per level of the caster. It
protects the caster from lightning, fire, cold, and normal missiles.
Disadvantages:
- None
Priest of Helm {DND024}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
The Priest of Helm may be the best variant, especially for evil parties.
Having some extra True Sight spells cannot be underestimated. Seeking
Sword is a little lame, but it does give you a +4 weapon, allowing you
to hit things like Kangaxx the Demilich and many demons. Its damage
doesn't stand up, but it does give you three attacks per round, even
though it takes away your ability to cast spells for its duration, which
blows.
Advantages:
- May cast 'True Sight' once per day per 5 levels (starts at 1st level
with one use).
- May cast 'Seeking Sword' once per day per 10 levels (starts at 1st
level with one use), as detailed below.
SEEKING SWORD: This spell creates a sword in the players hand (that
cannot be dropped or unequipped). The sword is +4 for purposes of
determining what it can hit (but this bonus does not apply to damage),
and it deals out 2-8 damage to any target it hits. The weapon sets the
number of attacks of the Cleric to 3. It lasts for 1 round per level of
the caster. When equipped the wielder cannot cast further spells.
Disadvantages:
- None.
Priest of Lathander {DND025}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Another good Cleric kit, if you really don't like undead, this is worth
a glance. Hold Undead is decent at stopping some undead, but it probably
won't work terribly often. The Boon of Lathander, however, is a very
nice ability, making the Cleric more potent for its fairly lengthy
duration. There are few enough good ways to make yourself immune to
level drain in Shadows of Amn... unless you're a Mage of some sort, or
better yet, a multi-or-dual-classed Mage who can take on undead while
protected. Having this kit and the Boon of Lathander ability will give
you a character fully capable of taking the fight to Vampires, Wraiths,
and various Mists without flinching.
Advantages:
- May cast 'Hold Undead' once per day for every 5 levels of the caster
(starts at 1st level with one use).
- May cast 'Boon of Lathander' for every 10 levels of the caster, as
detailed below (starts at 1st level with one use).
BOON OF LATHANDER: This spell lasts for 6 seconds per level of the
caster. It gives the caster +1 to hit, +1 to damage, +1 on all saving
throws and gives the caster 1 extra attack per round. It also protects
the recipient from level drain.
Disadvantages:
- None.
o==========================o
|Cleric/Ranger | {DND026}
o==========================o
Alright, full disclosure: I was completely wrong about the
Cleric/Ranger multi-class, and everything that I'm going to say below
has been revised based on better research. All of this information is
due to the e-mail I got from Rick Taylor, who tipped me off to the
merits of this class combo. Now that I got that shameful admission out
of the way, the Cleric/Ranger is very similar to the Fighter/Cleric.
You'll essentially get a stronger, healthier, more melee-competent
Cleric with a slower spell selection. But the Ranger/Cleric has one
huge bonus over its Fighter/Cleric counterpart: they'll get the full
selection of Drudic spells each level as well as all the Cleric spells.
Granted, there's a lot of overlap, but you'll have all the combat perks
and spells of a Fighter/Cleric, with the addition of spells like Insect
Plague and Iron Skins... the latter of which is a huge contribution to
the character's defenses, being essentially the Cleric version of
Stoneskin. You'll get more spells than a Fighter/Cleric, you'll get
much better fighting abilities (better Hit Points, THAC0, and feats)
than a Cleric, and as compared to a Druid you'll have faster spell
progression AND better fighting abilities. Not to mention you can also
sneak (if you wear light armor) and you will start out specialized in
the Two Weapon Style, if you're interested in taking full advantage of
your awesome melee prowess by wielding, say, Flail of Ages and Crom
Faeyr. This is the best class to pick if you want to combine fighting
prowess and divine spells... which is to say, if you want divine spells
at all, you'll be doing yourself a huge favor by playing a
Cleric/Ranger.
o==========================o
|Druid | {DND027}
o==========================o
Hit points per Level: d8
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Druids, well... let me be frank. Druids suck. They gain their own set of
divine spells, but most of them are wholly inferior to the Cleric's
spell selection. In addition they're not able to wear heavy armor or use
most weapons... even the Cleric's own limited martial selection will be
welcome after seeing the Druid, unless you just like Clubs and Quarter
Staffs. They can use Scimitars, but with their crappy Armor Class, that
is just asking for trouble. They get some buggy shapeshifting abilities
that let you transform into monsters that aren't very strong in a sad
attempt to counter their lack of martial prowess. Is that going to make
up for it when a Cleric can use things like Crom Faeyr and Flail of the
Ages, along with enchanted shields and armor which bring their Armor
Class down to Fighter-esque levels? No, it's not. A Druid can, however,
wear unconventional armors, such as Ankheg Plate Mail, Red Dragon Scale,
and Shadow Dragon Scale, since these are not made out of metal.
Unfortunately this only brings them to the doorstep of combat-
effectiveness, as they still cannot use a shield like Clerics can. The
only reasonable counter to this is to load them up with defensive
equipment to bring their Armor Class up to snuff, or better yet, to
make them specialize in Spears, of which several useful specimens
exist in both Shadows of Amn and Throne of Bhaal, although in my mind,
Spears are decidedly weaker than Halberds over the course of both the
main game and the expansion. And of course the fact that they won't
get Whirlwind makes them patently inferior to any warrior, but at
least they can-eventually-become useful enough in combat not to scoff
at... even though a Shielded Cleric with Flail of the Ages or Crom Faeyr
well out-classes an unshielded Druid, even with Ixil's Nail. On the
other hand, a Druid is a pretty good class to dual-or-multi class with,
as a Fighter's martial selection will do wonders to ease the Druid's
Armor Class woes. Unfortunately, Jaheira already exists, so why bother?
At least they get immunity to poison and 10% resistance to cold, fire,
electricity and acid (up to 30% at level 24), which somewhat offsets
their defensive deficiencies. I feel compelled to point out the Druid's
erratic experience spikes, and the massive boost to their spells they
get if they do manage to climb those hurdles and reach levels 13, 14,
and 15. Sometimes I think all classes should be like that, every level
takes twice as much as the previous level, but each time you level up
you get dramatically stronger. What's the difference between an 14th
and 15th level Thief? Not much. What's the difference between a 14th
and 15th level Druid? Well. Look for yourself.
Druid
Level EXP HP Spells
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
1 n/a 1d8 1
2 2,000 2d8 2
3 4,000 3d8 2/1
4 7,500 4d8 3/2
5 12,500 5d8 3/3/1
6 20,000 6d8 3/3/2
7 35,000 7d8 3/3/2/1
8 60,000 8d8 3/3/3/2
9 90,000 9d8 4/4/3/2/1
10 125,000 9d8+2 4/4/3/3/2
11 200,000 9d8+4 5/4/4/3/2/1
12 300,000 9d8+6 6/5/5/3/2/2
13 750,000 9d8+8 6/6/6/4/2/2
14* 1,500,000 9d8+10 6/6/6/5/3/2/1
15 3,000,000 9d8+12 6/6/6/6/6/6/6
31 8,000,000 9d8+44 9/9/9/9/9/7/7
(max at level 25)
Totemic Druid {DND028}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
You can summon weak monsters, but you can't shapeshift into weak
monsters. Huzzah.
Advantages:
- May summon a special 'spirit' animal once per day per 5 levels of
experience. Spirit animal is randomly selected from 'Spirit Bear',
'Spirit Wolf', 'Spirit Lion' and 'Spirit Snake'.
Disadvantages:
- Cannot shapeshift.
Shapeshifter {DND029}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
You can become a Werewolf, and eventually a Greater Werewolf, which is
unfortunately nerfed. Still the Greater Werewolf can't hurt things that
require +3 weapons to harm... unless you have the BG2 Tweaks installed
to fix the Greater Werewolf, in which case you get a much heftier
version of the ability. As it stands, however, it's just a matter of
choosing between a weak transformation that causes you to lose what
little armor you can wear.
Advantages:
- May shapeshift into the form of a Werewolf once per day for every 2
levels (starts at 1st level with one use).
Stats: Strength 19, Dexterity 16, Constitution 15, Armor Class -1,
Magic Resistance 20%
- At 13th level gains the ability to change into a Greater Werewolf
once per day.
Stats: Strength 21, Dexterity 20, Constitution 25, Armor Class -10,
Resistance to all Elements 50%, Magic Resistance 40%
Disadvantages:
- No other shapeshifting abilities due to the effort required
maintaining balance in his primary forms.
- Cannot wear ANY armor.
Note: If you want to make the Shapeshifter work, you should install the
Baldur's Gate II Tweak Pack to fix the Werewolf and Greater Werewolf
transformations. Below is a table taken directly from their readme
detailing what you were supposed to receive (and presumably what values
the Tweak Pack restores the transformations to) and what you actually
received.
o===============================o===============================o
| Werewolf | Greater Werewolf |
o===============o===============o===============o===============o
| You Were | You Actually | You Were | You Actually |
| Supposed to | Received... | Supposed to | Received... |
| Receive... | | Receive... | |
o===============o===============o===============o===============o
| Base Magic | Magic | | |
| Resistance | Resistance | THAC0 of 6 | Nothing |
| of 20% | Locked at 20% | | |
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
| Immunity to | Nothing |Saves 1/1/1/2/1| Nothing |
|Normal Weapons | | | |
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
| Paw does 1d12 | Paw does 1d6 |Base Elemental | Elemental |
|Slashing Damage|Piercing Damage| Resistance of | Resistance |
o===============o===============o 50% | locked at 50% |
|---------------|---------------|
| Base Magic | Magic |
| Resistance | Resistance |
| of 40% | locked at 40% |
|---------------|---------------|
| Immunity to | Nothing |
| Normal Weapons| |
|---------------|---------------|
| Paw is +3 | Paw is +2 |
| Weapon | Weapon |
|---------------|---------------|
| Paw does 2d8 | Paw does 1d6 |
|Slashing Damage|Slashing Damage|
|---------------|---------------|
|Regeneration of| |
| 3 Hit Points | Nothing |
| per second | |
o===============o===============o
Avenger {DND030}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Well, I'll admit that Improved Invisibility, Chaos, and Chain Lightning
are all good additions, but the shapechanges are worthless. And losing
the Strength and Constitution? The Constitution isn't bad for a single-
classed Druid as they can't exceed a +2 bonus at 16 anyways, but the
Strength? That hurts. It's not a like a Druid was going to be very
strong anyways, so the loss of one point of to hit and damage isn't
very severe, and nothing a Giant Strength item can't fix, and losing
access to Studded Leather Armor is, well, annoying, but there's not a
huge difference between one sucky suit of armor and the next anyways.
It's rather hard to critique this subclass at all, given the whole
feeling of 'who cares' when talking about the Druid in general... Still,
while the 4th, 5th, and 6th level all spells are decent, Improved
Invisibility can be duplicated by a Ring of Air Control, Chaos will
have to compete with Insect Plague, and Chain Lightning is a mediocore
damage-dealer. At the end of the day, you're probably better off being
able to wear better armor than being able to cast Improved Invisibility,
which is easily duplicated and will be quickly dispelled later in the
game, and there are plenty of Mages to cast Chaos-but only Druids can
cast Insect Plague, so why not stick to what they're good at? This class
is essentially a dubious defensive trade-off in return for a spell you
won't need to memorize and an okay damage-dealer. It has its good
points, sure, and is clearly the least-offensive Druid kit... but at the
end of the day you're still stuck with playing a Druid.
- May shapechange into normal forms, as well as those of Sword Spider,
Baby Wyvern, and Fire Salamander.
- 6 Mage spells are added to his repertoire, all the way up to 6th
level. These are listed below:
1st: Chromatic Orb
2nd: Web
3rd: Lightning Bolt
4th: Improved Invisibility
5th: Chaos
6th: Chain Lightning
Disadvantages:
- May not wear better than Leather Armor.
- On character creation he receives a -2 penalty to Strength and
Constitution.
o==========================o
|Fighter | {DND031}
o==========================o
Hit points per Level: d10
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
The best perk of a Fighter is that they can gain Grand Master in a
weapon. This allows them to do the most damage, wear the best armor,
and generally outclass every other character in melee combat. The
Barbarian might have rage, but the perks of picking a Fighter don't
last merely 5 rounds. The Fighter is also the safe, if dull choice, as
there's not much strategy involved in playing one. You pick a weapon,
you put as many points as you can in it, and you hold the line. That
said, this is a great dual-or-multi class option, and Fighters only get
stronger with Throne of Bhaal, which gives them access to Greater
Whirlwind, the feat that makes them better at what they do best: hitting
things. If you have the default rules of Baldur's Gate 2, their bonuses
from Grand Mastery are a pathetic +1 bonus to attack and +1 bonus to
damage over Specialization, and a slight bonus to their weapons' speed
factor. If you use a mod to get the tables back to the PnP values, a
Fighter becomes worth playing again.
Fighter
Level EXP HP
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
1 n/a 1d10
2 2,000 2d10
3 4,000 3d10
4 8,000 4d10
5 16,000 5d10
6 32,000 6d10
7 64,000 7d10
8 125,000 8d10
9 250,000 9d10
10 500,000 9d10+3
11 750,000 9d10+6
12 1,000,000 9d10+9
13 1,250,000 9d10+12
14 1,500,000 9d10+15
15 1,750,000 9d10+18
16 2,000,000 9d10+21
17 2,250,000 9d10+24
18 2,500,000 9d10+27
19* 2,750,000 9d10+30
40 8,000,000 9d10+93
Berserker {DND032}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
If you want to be like your pal Minsc, this is the way to go. Berserk is
a decent ability that gives you a bonus to hit and damage, but imposes
an Armor Class penalty. 60 Seconds is a fairly long time, and since you
get many of them, you'll be able to keep yourself juiced up. I think
every Fighter should have a ranged option, however, and not being able
to specialize in ranged weapons... well, you could always use a Throwing
Axe or something similar. It's a decent kit, although even with Korgan
I hardly ever use the abilities it provides. Note that you gain 15
'temporary' Hit Points when you use enrage. Temporary is not the same as
free. If you lose any of these Hit Points, you'll suffer when you come
out of enrage, this just allows you to weather a little more damage
before you die.
Advantages:
- May use 'enrage' ability once per day per 4 levels. The enraged state
lasts for 60 seconds.
- While enraged: +2 to hit, +2 to damage, -2 AC.
- While enraged: immune to charm, hold, and fear, maze, imprisonment,
stun, and sleep.
- While enraged: gains 15 Hit Points. These Hit Points are temporary,
and are taken away at the end of his berserk spree, possibly killing the
berserker.
Disadvantage:
- Becomes winded after berserking. While he's winded he receives a -2 to
hit, -2 to damage, and a +2 penalty to Armor Class.
- Cannot specialize in ranged weapons.
Wizard Slayer {DND033}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
The Wizard Slayer is good against spell casters, but weak against
everything else. Their lack of the ability to use any magical equipment
save weapons and armor might actually make them more vulnerable to Mages
than a straight Fighter! And they do mean ANY magical items except
armor. Fortunately this allows them to wear Helmets and use Shields, but
no Cloaks, Rings, Bracers, Girdles or Necklaces.
Advantages:
- For each successful hit on an opponent, 10% cumulative spell failure
penalty is applied.
- 1% magic resistance per level. (In TOB the Wizard Slayer gets a +5%
resistance at every even level at and after 20th level, this maxes out
at 84%.)
Disadvantages:
- May not use any magic items except for weapons and armor.
Kensai {DND034}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Again, I prefer all my characters to have a ranged option, and this
class takes some of the better options away from my characters. Granted
a Two Weapon Style Fighter will probably not use a ranged weapon very
much, but there are more severe problems than that. A -2 bonus to Armor
Class does not counter the lack of wearing any armor at all, and the
fact that you can't wear gauntlets or bracers means you can't even shore
up your defenses with Bracers of Armor. Sure, there are plenty of items
that increase your Armor Class marginally, but the Kensai is going to
be chewed up in combat nonetheless. Its bonuses are good, but in my mind
I just don't think a maximum of +6 to hit and damage and five rounds of
the 'kai' ability make up for the total lack of armor. Note that this
means ALL armor, even armor which isn't encumbering enough to block
spells such as Bladesinger Chain. There is one exception though... the
Big Metal Unit, which will bestow upon the character a phenomenal armor
class, if you can make it to the end of Throne of Bhaal, anyways. By
then you're pretty much done with the game though.
Advantages:
- Bonus +1 to hit and +1 damage for every 3 levels.
- Bonus -2 to AC.
- Bonus -1 to speed factor for every 4 levels.
- May use 'kai' ability one time per day for every 4 levels (starts at
1st level with one use): this ability lasts ten seconds and makes all
attacks do maximum damage
Disadvantages:
- May not use missile weapons.
- May not wear armor.
- May not wear gauntlets or bracers.
o==========================o
|Fighter/Cleric | {DND035}
o==========================o
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
An interesting combination with slightly higher fighting skills than
the Cleric and some defensive buffs to supplement the Fighter. Frankly,
however, a Cleric doesn't have as good of a defensive spell selection as
a Mage, and by itself a Cleric is already a pretty stout Fighter. Sure
it helps to add more attacks and damage, but it's just not quite as
potent as the Fighter/Mage. For one, you don't get Time Stop. But at
least neither of your classes are hurt by wearing heavy armor, so you
don't need the spell buffs quite so much. A very good thing about this
combination is they will get both the Fighter and Cleric feats. Having
a strong melee Fighter who can go up in combat with an Aura of Flaming
Death, a Globe of Blades, and then use Greater Whirlwind Attacks is a
thing of beauty. Especially if they can retreat from combat and use Heal
on themselves before jumping right back into the fray. They can't
decimate enemies quite as well as a Fighter/Mage, but they can certainly
make an impact. Unfortunately you'll be regulated to a few types of
weapon because of the Cleric. You can either go with Flail of the Ages
or Crom Faeyr and use the Sword and Shield Style, or go with both using
the Two Weapon Style and really lay waste to enemies. Note that with
this combo you will still get enough experience to get your holy symbol
at level 25. Nice.
o==========================o
|Fighter/Druid | {DND036}
o==========================o
This combination works almost exactly like the Fighter/Cleric, except
that you will of course have Druid spells instead of Clerical ones, and
you will have the Druid weapon selection, which includes Scimitars, but
doesn't allow War Hammer, Maces, and Flails. The game provides you with
a perfectly fine recruitable Fighter/Druid in Jaheira, so I don't know
why you'd ever need to make your own. Note that as a Fighter/Druid
you'll still get enough experience to get the really good Druid levels,
making this combo in every way preferable to a single-classed Druid.
o==========================o
|Fighter/Mage | {DND037}
o==========================o
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
My favorite class, and possibly the strongest in the game. You can't
wear armor and cast spells, but that's hardly an issue in this game,
where you have many ways to improve your Armor Class without having to
wear armor. Bracers of Defense are one, obvious way, but in this game
you will also get your hands on Elven Chain Mail, which allows you to
cast spells while wearing it. With the better weapons and combat styles
of Baldur's Gate 2 I drop any and all pretenses of being an archer and
go for the Two Weapon Style. Thanks to my Fighter levels, I can afford
to do this, and the amazing defensive spells a Mage has keeps me safer
than a single-classed Fighter, armor be damned. The best thing of all is
that a Fighter/Mage can access both Fighter and Mage feats, allowing
them to pull off Time Stops and Greater Whirlwinds in unison. This is a
versatile character who can debuff and cast offensive spells at enemies,
or go toe-to-toe with most anything in melee combat once fully spell
buffed. It almost makes you feel sorry for the single-classed Mages and
Fighters you'll slaughter. Almost.
o==========================o
|Fighter/Mage/Cleric | {DND038}
o==========================o
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
An interesting option, this class combines the power of two strong
spell casters with the solid backing of the Fighter class. Keep in mind
that your progression will be horribly slow with a triple class
character, meaning you'll always be one or two spell levels below a
single-classed character. This class actually has a slightly better hit
point range than the Fighter/Mage, but worse weapon selection and the
same lack of armor. I feel this class might be a bit too much, honestly.
Not as in over-powered, but you're only one character, with one action
a round just like everybody else. Even having such variety there's only
so much you can actually DO in a given span of time. It's probably best
to do fewer things better. I mean, are you ever going to actually get
out a significant number of Cleric and Mage spells, and then still have
a battle left to fight? It's a good concept, but this class might just
be trying to do too much at once. As for weapons and tactics, you're
probably better off trying to do what the Fighter/Mage does, but with
Cleric-allowed weapons. Note that with this build you will not get 9th
level spells, negating the whole Time Stop tactic that the Fighter/Mage
can employ. Also, you won't get access to any of the Mage feats, like
Comet and the bonus 6th, 7th, and 8th level spell slots.
o==========================o
|Fighter/Mage/Thief | {DND039}
o==========================o
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This class suffers from many of the problems the Fighter/Mage/Cleric
suffers from, but to a lesser degree. Firstly, most Thief skills are
only useful out of combat, or as telling first strikes. It's not another
host of spells you're trying to cast in a finite window of time, meaning
the Thief actually enhances the Fighter and the Mage. Also, the Thief is
capable of using a much greater selection of weapons than the Cleric,
allowing you to diversify your weapons and tactics much more. A
Fighter/Mage/Thief in essence works like a combination of the
Fighter/Mage and Fighter/Thief. Go in with Two Weapon Style, attempt to
score backstabs, and use defensive spells to compensate for your lack of
armor. A Fighter/Mage/Thief will not get 9th level Mage spells. Also,
a Fighter/Mage/Thief will not gain any of the Mage feats. No Comet,
no extra 6th, 7th, and 8th level spells slots. For the evil party,
making your protagonist a Fighter/Mage/Thief is the best solution to the
distinct lack of recruitable Thieves in the game. You'll be able to pull
off many of the Fighter/Mage tricks (uber spell-buffing in order to
become nearly invulnerable to enemy spell casters) and handle all the
thieving requirements your party will need. You won't be able to pull
off the devastating Greater Whirlwind/Timestop combo, but being able
to spell-buff and perform Greater Whirlwind attacks is still quite
respectable.
o==========================o
|Fighter/Thief | {DND040}
o==========================o
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
As you may have learned in Baldur's Gate 1, the Fighter/Thief was a
potent combo, easily matching a Ranger's skill with weapons while
having the same quirks. Some important differences remain, a
Fighter/Thief can disable traps and backstab, while a Ranger cannot.
This makes a Fighter/Thief in my eyes every bit more powerful than a
Ranger. Sure, the Ranger will have higher Hit Points and some minor
Druid spells, but a Fighter/Thief can access both the the Fighter and
the Thief feats. Things only get better for the Fighter/Thief in
Baldur's Gate 2 as their backstab reaches a mighty x5 and a deeper melee
system allows them to abuse it to its fullest advantage. Going for a
Fighter/Thief with the Two Weapon Style is a very fun thing to do in
this game.
o==========================o
|Mage | {DND041}
o==========================o
Hit points per Level: d4
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Firstly I just want to say that there is no reason to make a single
classed Mage protagonist. Edwin out-guns you. Period. If you must make a
Mage, make a Fighter/Mage or Fighter/Mage/Thief, which increases your
options immensely. Other than that, if you make a Mage, make a Conjurer.
They get an extra spell per day per spell level and lose a handful of
spells that aren't even all that good. The best ones I can think of are
Identify-which can be replicated with items that have unlimited uses,
and True Sight, which is more of a significant loss. Still, if you
have Jaheira and Anomen/Viconia in your group you have two other casters
who can provide that spell, not to mention the possibility of Keldorn,
and the Book of Infinite Spells. If you must make a Mage, start out as
something else first. A Fighter can get to level 8 and dual-class into
a Mage without wasting a single experience level of the Mage, giving you
a high hit point Mage who can use Bows, Swords, or whatever your little
heart desires. A Thief can get to level 9 before dual-classing into a
Mage, again without using a single level. This negates the need for a
Thief at all, as you can build a Mage who can Find/Remove Traps on his
own, as well as having a few more Hit Points and the ability to use Short
Bows. It is MUCH better to dual-class into a Mage than to go straight
Mage. Note that if you dual-class into a Mage you cannot legitimately
dual-class into a Conjurer, or any other type of Specialist. This
perplexes me to no end, as it was entirely possible to do this in
Baldur's Gate 1. If you want to do this, you'll have to cheat with a
save game editor like Shadow Keeper. Oh, and don't bother playing a
Wild Mage. All their spells have a chance to do something bonkers, and
a Mage will be casting a lot of spells through the game. Why shoot
yourself in the foot?
Specialist School Opposition School
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Abjurer Abjuration Alteration
Transmuter Alteration Abjuration, Necromancy
Conjurer Conjuration/Summoning Divination
Diviner Divination Conjuration/Summoning
Enchanter Enchantment/Charm Invocation
Illusionist Illusion Necromancy
Invoker Invocation Enchantment/Charm,
Conjuration/Summoning
Necromancer Necromancy Illusion
Wild Mage Wild Magic N/A
Mage
Level EXP HP Spells
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
1 n/a 1d4 1
2 2,500 2d4 2
3 5,000 3d4 2/1
4 10,000 4d4 3/2
5 20,000 5d4 4/2/1
6 40,000 6d4 4/2/2
7 60,000 7d4 4/3/2/1
8 90,000 8d4 4/3/3/2
9 135,000 9d4 4/3/3/2/1
10 250,000 9d4+1 4/4/3/2/2
11 375,000 9d4+2 4/4/4/3/3
12 750,000 9d4+3 4/4/4/4/4/1
13 1,125,000 9d4+4 5/5/5/4/4/2
14 1,500,000 9d4+5 5/5/5/4/4/2/1
15 1,875,000 9d4+6 5/5/5/5/5/2/1
16 2,250,000 9d4+7 5/5/5/5/5/3/2/1
17* 2,625,000 9d4+8 5/5/5/5/5/3/3/2
31 7,875,000 9d4+22 5/5/5/5/5/5/5/5/4
(max at level 34)
o==========================o
|Mage/Cleric | {DND042}
o==========================o
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Not only do you have an ally who fits this role, I'm not entirely
convinced it's a role worth fitting. It's a good thing to have a
character who can pump out Horrid Wiltings, Time Stops, Hastes, Finger
of Death, and other great Mage spells and then to be able to heal up the
party after the fight is over... that's nice. But I remain doubtful
whether the two spell types rolled into one character is terribly
practical in combat-again, they might have more spell selection, but
they still can only cast one spell at a time. Having four characters who
can cast one type of magic well is going to work out better than having
two who can cast both poorly. Despite being a Cleric, being hampered by
a lack of armor, as slower progression, and worse Hit Points will all
but eliminate them from a combat role. On the other hand, adding some
powerful defensive Mage spells to mingle with the epic level Cleric
spells is a devastating combination. Your THAC0 will be lower than a
Fighter, and your AC will suffer from lack of armor. If you're willing
to invest Bladesinger Chain to this character and deal with the poor
weapon selection and slow proficiency progression, you may at least be
able to stand up in combat... but why pick two spell casting classes if
that's what you want to do?
o==========================o
|Mage/Thief | {DND043}
o==========================o
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
I find it hard to imagine any case in which a Mage/Thief would be
particularly useful, especially compared to a Fighter/Mage or
Fighter/Thief. Being able to use Bows is fine and all, but Mages should
have something better to do in most combats than shoot things. And you
never need to hide if you have Invisibility. Imoen has it right, this is
best done as a dual-class option for the sake of versatility. There's
nothing wrong with getting a Mage with some Thief abilities, especially
since you get get plenty of ranks into Find Traps while sacrificing no
potential Mage levels. You can get to 9th level as a Thief (110,000
experience) and dual-class into a Mage and reach the maximum level of
31 (7,875,000 experience) for maximum effect. Frankly, if you're even
going to bother making a Mage as your main character, I'd suggest doing
this. At least then you can dispense with having a Thief altogether. And
you'd have extra Hit Points and THAC0 to boot. You lose nothing and gain
a great deal.
o==========================o
|Monk | {DND044}
o==========================o
Hit points per Level: d8
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Ah, the Monk. There's nothing that frees a player from thought quite as
much as this class. They're easy to roll up and they can only be Humans,
which is easily the white-bread choice of the game. They don't require a
big investment of equipment, and there are no choices to make as to how
they progress. A Monk needs no gear, they simply go around pummeling
everything with their fists, and at this they excel. The one problem is
the fact that they can never control the upgrades to their unarmed
attacks. They gain damage, speed, and magical enhancement bonuses as
they level, but this is typically well behind the weapons the rest of
the party will have access to. For example, you can't even hit anything
that requires a +4 or better weapon to hit until level 25. That's a HUGE
handicap, although you can learn to use Thief weapons, but you'll never
be better at fighting with them than a single-classed Thief, and that's
not what you played a Monk for, is it? If you can handle not being able
to attack creatures that require magical weapons to hit, the Monk is
actually a very solid choice of character. They're fast, they're strong,
and they just get better as they level up. At level 20 they'll have a
base Armor Class of -1. With a good Dexterity score, some Bracers of
Armor, and a protection item, this could potentially take their Armor
Class very low. Add that to the fact that they get +1 to all saves,
+2 to saves versus spells, and up to 78% magic resistance and you have
a very good defensive character. On top of this they gain extra bonuses
against missiles, up to a presumed +6 to Armor Class at level 18. They
can't be hasted, however, but with their speed and high number of
attacks they'll be hitting more often than most anybody else anyways.
Oh, yeah, and a Monk gains access to warrior feats, meaning they get
Whirlwind Attack. This is a good thing. Last and not least, Monks can
sneak. Sure, they can Detect Traps, but they can't do anything about
them, which makes me wonder... why bother spending points in it?
Monk
Level EXP HP
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
1 n/a 1d8
2 1,500 2d8
3 3,000 3d8
4 6,000 4d8
5 13,000 5d8
6 27,500 6d8
7 55,000 7d8
8 110,000 8d8
9 225,000 9d8
10 450,000 9d8+2
11 675,000 9d8+4
12 900,000 9d8+6
13 1,125,000 9d8+8
14 1,350,000 9d8+10
15 1,575,000 9d8+12
16 1,800,000 9d8+14
17 2,025,000 9d8+16
18 2,250,000 9d8+18
19 2,475,000 9d8+20
20 2,700,000 9d8+22
21* 2,925,000 9d8+24
40 8,000,000 9d8+62
Advantages:
- The monk can make 1 unarmed attack per round; he gains 1/2 an
additional attack every 3 levels. (Max four attacks.)
- As the monk increases in levels, the damage his fists inflicts does
as well:
Level 1-2: 1-6
Level 3-5: 1-8
Level 6-8: 1-10
Level 9-11: 1-12
Level 12-14: 1-12
Level 15-17: 1-20
Level 18+: 1-20
- A monk's natural Armor Class gets better as he goes up in levels. His
Armor Class starts off 9, and then it decreases by one 1 for every 2
levels. (AC -1 at level 20, after which the rate slows, giving a
further bonus at 21st, 24th, 27th, 30th, 35th, and 40th levels.)
- Stunning blow, once per day for every 4 levels. All attacks in the
next 6 seconds force the victim to save or be stunned: NOTE: this
special ability automatically modifies a Monk's normal attack, no
targeting needs to be done.
- Monks have the Deflect Missiles ability. This gives them a -1 to their
AC vs missiles for every three levels.
- The monk gains a +2 to save vs spells
- A monk starts off moving at +2 move, then +1 move every five levels.
- 5th level: Immunity to all diseases, and cannot be Slowed or Hasted.
- 7th level: Lay on Hands to heal 2 Hit Points per level.
- 8th level: -1 to speed factor.
- 9th level: +1 to all saves. Immune to charm. The monk's fist is
considered a +1 weapon (+2 at 12th, +3 at 15th). (In TOB this improves
to +4 at 25th level.)
- 11th level: Immune to poison.
- 12th level: Another -1 to speed factor. Fists are considered +2
weapons.
- 13th level: Quivering palm spell once per day. This spell gives them
one hand attack. If they hit an opponent, the opponent must save or die.
NOTE: this special ability automatically modifies a Monk's normal
attack, no targeting needs to be done.
- 14th level: The monk gains 3% magic resistance per level (ie 42 at
14th level.) (In TOB this maxes out at 78% at 26th level.)
- 15th level: Fists are considered +3 weapons.
- 20th level: Immune to non-magical weapons.
Disadvantages:
- The monk cannot wear armor.
- A monk can only use weapons available to the Thief class (except 2
handed.)
o==========================o
|Paladin | {DND045}
o==========================o
Hit points per Level: d10
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Paladins are holy warriors, and as such they gain a slew of abilities
to help them combat evil. They aren't as combat savvy as Fighters, only
being able to buy two ranks in any weapon proficiency, and they cannot
multi or dual class. In exchange you'll get the ability to lay on hands
(heal a character 2 Hit Points per level), detect evil (useful for
telling which NPCs are bad or not and detecting enemies on the map
before you even scout), protection from evil, and they can turn undead
as if they were a Cleric two levels lower than their paladin level.
Paladin's make great party leaders due to their high minimum Charisma
(17). In Baldur's Gate 2 you might as well get proficiency points in
Two Handed Swords, because the best sword in the game is such a weapon,
and it's only for Paladins. Frankly though, since Keldorn is on the
scene there's really no reason to make your own Paladin.
Paladin
Level EXP HP Spells
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
1 n/a 1d10
2 2,250 2d10
3 4,500 3d10
4 9,000 4d10
5 18,000 5d10
6 36,000 6d10
7 75,000 7d10
8 150,000 8d10
9 300,000 9d10 1
10 600,000 9d10+3 2
11 900,000 9d10+6 2/1
12 1,200,000 9d10+9 2/2
13 1,500,000 9d10+12 2/2/1
14 1,800,000 9d10+15 3/2/1
15 2,100,000 9d10+18 3/2/1/1
16 2,400,000 9d10+21 3/3/2/1
17* 2,700,000 9d10+24 3/3/3/1
34 7,800,000 9d10+75 3/3/3/3
(max at level 20)
Cavalier {DND046}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This is a pretty nice kit, even given the lack of missile weapons.
Having immunity to fear, charm, and poison are all very nice abilities,
and getting +3 bonus to hit versus Demons and Dragons is great too. You
might not come across Dragons much, but Demons are fairly common, and
you're going to want every bonus you can get against them. Having
Remove Fear once per day per level essentially means that at any time
this character can get your party back in line, which is almost as good
as having a party that's immune to fear as well! It certainly means that
your Clerics and Mages don't have to focus so much on keeping fear
effects subdued. A very nice kit indeed.
Advantages:
- Bonus +3 to hit and +3 to damage against all demonic and draconic
creatures.
- May cast 'remove fear' 1 time per day per level.
- Immune to fear and morale failure.
- Immune to charm.
- Immune to poison.
- 20% resistance to fire.
- 20% resistance to acid.
Disadvantages:
- May not use missile weapons.
Inquisitor {DND047}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This is probably the best kit in the game, and certainly the best of the
Paladin kits, even though the other two aren't bad. Being able to cast
Dispel Magic at TWICE your Paladin level means Inquisitors will rip
through spell defenses, and will be able to do it often. True Sight is a
fairly high level debuff, and a very good one. No more can creatures get
away with Improved Invisibility, Shadow Door, Mirror Image, or anything
of the sort, and they will try. This frees up spell casters to prepare
other spells. The disadvantages might seem bad, but you can get plenty
of healing elsewhere without Lay on Hands, and the turn undead and
Paladin priest spells are both weak anyways. Would you trade a handful
of low level Priest spells for two very powerful, very useful, mid level
spells? I would. This is the class Keldorn is, and it's one of the
reasons he's so good.
Advantages:
- May use 'Dispel Magic' ability once per day per 4 levels (starts at
1st level with one use): ability is used at speed factor 1 and acts at
twice his actual level.
- May cast 'True Sight' once per day per 4 levels (starts at 1st level
with one use).
- Immune to Hold and Charm spells.
Disadvantages:
- May not use 'lay on hands' ability.
- May not cast priest spells.
- May not turn undead.
Undead Hunter {DND048}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Being immune to level drain is nice, but there are spells that do the
same... granted, there are spells that do the same things that the other
kits do... but +3 to attack and damage versus undead can't compete with
the massive debuffs that the Inquisitor has, nor the slew of resistances
that the Cavalier has. And what's the strongest undead anyways? A Lich.
+3 to attack and damage isn't going to help you kill a Lich as much as
disabling it's defensive spells will. Frankly, the Inquisitor is a
better Undead Hunter than the Undead Hunter when it comes to big game
hunting! The Undead Hunter will, however, excel against Vampires.
Advantages:
- +3 to hit and +3 to damage vs. undead.
- Immune to hold.
- Immune to level drain.
Disadvantages:
- May not use 'lay on hands' ability.
o==========================o
|Ranger | {DND049}
o==========================o
Hit points per Level: d10
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Rangers are defenders of the wilderness, hunters, scouts, and
outdoorsmen. They can only get two ranks in a weapon proficiency, but
in compensation they can use stealth, charm animals, and eventually
cast druid spells. The stealth ability can only be used in light armor,
Leather, Studded Leather, or Hide, but it makes them invaluable for
scouting ahead of the party. Being strong enough to fight their way out
of trouble helps too. The charm animal ability sucks, but once in a
while if you want to play with it and charm a bear or something... eh...
they'll still turn hostile on you when it's over, so why bother? The
druid spells are a long time in coming, but it's somewhat nice to be
able to cast Cure Light Wounds or Entangle, although the level cap in
Baldur's Gate doesn't really allow this feature to pan out.
Ranger
Level EXP HP Spells Stealth
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
1 n/a 1d10 15%
2 2,250 2d10 20%
3 4,500 3d10 27%
4 9,000 4d10 33%
5 18,000 5d10 40%
6 36,000 6d10 47%
7 75,000 7d10 55%
8 150,000 8d10 1 62%
9 300,000 9d10 2 70%
10 600,000 9d10+3 2/1 78%
11 900,000 9d10+6 2/2 86%
12 1,200,000 9d10+9 2/2/1 94%
13 1,500,000 9d10+12 3/2/1 99%
14 1,800,000 9d10+15 3/2/2 99%
15 2,100,000 9d10+18 3/3/2 99%
16 2,400,000 9d10+21 3/3/3 99%
17* 2,700,000 9d10+24 3/3/3 99%
34 7,800,000 9d10+75 3/3/3 99%
(max at level 16)(max at level 13)
Archer {DND050}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Now this is a kit. Take something and do it VERY well. The bonuses to
hit and damage with arrows eventually increase to +6 at level 18, and
by the end of Throne of Bhaal it's up to +9, which is a HUGE bonus to
your rolls. Somebody who is specialized in bows to that extent isn't
going to want to use metal armor anyways, and besides, you're a Ranger,
you want to be able to sneak. The lack of proficiency with melee
weapons hurts though, as that costs us half an attack if we ever need to
get into melee. Keep in mind one tiny little problem. There are no +4
Arrows, so you'll never be able to hit anything that requires a +4 or
better weapon to hit with your bow. Also, +3 Arrows aren't unlimited.
The best unlimited ammo you get are +2 Arrows, and by Throne of Bhaal
many things won't be bothered by those. In big fights against powerful
enemies, your Archer isn't going to be able to contribute, at least not
against the main event. Balors, Greater Wolfweres, Greater Mummies, Pit
Fiends, and some Vampires will all be out of your league. Note, however,
that this class improves all missile weapons, so you could use a Sling
or throwing weapon instead. The only problem there is for a thrown
weapon, you will only be able to become proficient, and you will not
attack particularly fast with it. It's a shame there aren't better
arrows out there, as this class was clearly designed for a bow. It's
also a shame you can't pick what your called shot does. In higher end
encounters, taking down an enemies' Strength or THAC0 is much better
than two more points of damage
Advantages:
- +1 to hit, and +1 to damage with any missile weapon for every three
levels of experience. (In TOB this slows down to +1 every five levels
after level 18.)
- Every 4 levels he gains the ability to make a called shot once per
day. When he activates this ability, any shot made within the next 10
seconds is augmented in the following manner (according to the level of
the archer):
4th level: -1 to THAC0 of the target.
8th level: -1 to save vs magic of target.
12th level: -1 to Strength of target.
16th level: +2 bonus to damage
Disadvantages:
- An archer can only become proficient in Melee weapons; he may never
specialize.
- An archer cannot wear any metal armor.
Stalker {DND051}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
The 'may not wear armor greater than studded leather' disadvantage isn't
too bad, as that's the highest grade of armor I tend to throw on a
Ranger anyways, so let's look at the advantages. 20% to Stealth is nice,
but there's always a chance of failure, and with 34 levels, any Ranger
is going to be good at stealth. The backstab modifier is very nice, as
it allows a Ranger to play like a Thief, although... and correct me if
I'm wrong, a x1 multiplier does... nothing... so you really need to get to
9th level before backstabbing has any effect at all. Haste is a good
spell for any character to have, and Minor Spell Deflection might come
in handy. It wont save the Ranger from Imprisonment or Horrid Wilting,
but it will stop Disintegrate and Finger of Death, and a whole host of
other annoying low level spells (like Charm, Chaos, and Hold Person).
This kit might just be better than the normal Ranger for a change.
Advantage:
- +20% to stealth ability.
- May backstab for a lesser amount than the Thief class (level 1-8: x1,
level 9-16: x2, level 17+ x3).
- Has access to three Mage spells at 12th level. They are Haste,
Protection from Normal Missiles and Minor Spell Deflection.
Disadvantages:
- May not wear armor greater than studded leather.
Beast Master {DND052}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
And again with the suck. Who wants to play a Ranger that is more like a
Druid? Druids suck, and Animal Summoning sucks. Don't even give this kit
a glance, it's not worth your attention.
Advantages:
- +15% to stealth ability.
- Enhanced spell ability with regard to the following spells:
May cast the 4th level Druid spell Animal Summoning 1 at 8th level.
May cast Animal Summoning 2 at 10th level.
May cast Animal Summoning 3 at 12th level.
Disadvantages:
- Cannot use metal weapons (such as swords, halberds, hammers, or
morning stars.)
o==========================o
|Sorcerer | {DND053}
o==========================o
Hit points per Level: d6
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
If you're familiar with 3rd Edition Sorcerers, you'll be familiar with
Baldur's Gate 2's Sorcerer, they're just alike. That said, I never liked
Sorcerers. They function like Mages, except they can only know a handful
of spells, from which they can cast any of their known spells without
having to memorize them, although they are still limited to a maximum
number of spells per day. Ultimately a Sorcerer can know only several
spells of each spell level, and for many spell levels that's fine.
Chances are you won't find too many more 9th level spells, at least
not ones you'll use often. On the other hand this takes down their
tactical flexibility a great deal. You either know the spell, or you
don't, there's no learning it from a scroll or preparing it for a big
fight when needed. They do get one more spell per day per spell level
than a normal Mage, but what do they have that Edwin doesn't have? He
gets two spells per day per spell level over a normal Mage AND has
tactical flexibility. On the other hand, when you get right down to it,
there are only a handful of spells each level that get used frequently,
and not having to choose the exact number of each to prepare can be
helpful.
Sorcerer
Level EXP HP Spells (Known) Spells (Cast)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
1 n/a 1d4 2 3
2 2,500 2d4 2 4
3 5,000 3d4 3 5
4 10,000 4d4 3/1 6/3
5 20,000 5d4 4/2 6/4
6 40,000 6d4 4/2/1 6/5/3
7 60,000 7d4 5/3/2 6/6/4
8 90,000 8d4 5/3/2/1 6/6/5/3
9 135,000 9d4 5/4/3/2 6/6/6/4
10 250,000 9d4+1 5/4/3/2/1 6/6/6/5/3
11 375,000 9d4+2 5/5/4/3/2 6/6/6/6/4
12 750,000 9d4+3 5/5/4/3/2/1 6/6/6/6/5/3
13 1,125,000 9d4+4 5/5/4/4/3/2 6/6/6/6/6/4
14 1,500,000 9d4+5 5/5/4/4/3/2/1 6/6/6/6/6/5/3
15 1,875,000 9d4+6 5/5/4/4/4/3/2 6/6/6/6/6/6/4
16 2,250,000 9d4+7 5/5/4/4/4/3/2/1 6/6/6/6/6/6/5/3
17* 2,625,000 9d4+8 5/5/4/4/4/3/3/2 6/6/6/6/6/6/6/4
31 7,875,000 9d4+22 5/5/5/5/5/5/5/4/4 6/6/6/6/6/6/6/6/6
(max at level 20)
o==========================o
|Thief | {DND054}
o==========================o
Hit points per Level: d6
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
The Thief isn't as combat savvy as the Cleric, and they don't have
spells. What's the draw then? Their thieving abilities. These allow them
to pick pockets, find and disarm traps, open locked objects, and hide
from enemies. Of these skills, one is essential, so some character or
another with thieving abilities is required in any party. As for combat,
they can only wear the lightest armors, but they do have access to a
variety of weapons. Most importantly, as they gain levels they get the
ability to 'backstab'. If they are hidden and attack an enemy they
multiply the damage they deal by their backstab modifier. They are a
waste of a class on their own, but it is a great dual or multi class
option, as it gives any class the ability to be more lethal by
backstabbing... and if you make your own, you don't have to drag around
a character to do the thieving for you. A Fighter/Thief is a potent
combination, and so is a Fighter/Mage/Thief. For more information on
Thief abilities, see [DND046].
Thief
Level EXP HP Backstab Multiplier
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
1 n/a 1d6 x2
2 1,250 2d6 x2
3 2,500 3d6 x2
4 5,000 4d6 x2
5 10,000 5d6 x3
6 20,000 6d6 x3
7 40,000 7d6 x3
8 70,000 8d6 x3
9 110,000 9d6 x4
10 160,000 9d6+2 x4
11 220,000 9d6+4 x4
12 440,000 9d6+6 x4
13 660,000 9d6+8 x5
14 880,000 9d6+10 x5
15 1,100,000 9d6+12 x5
16 1,320,000 9d6+14 x5
17 1,540,000 9d6+16 x5
19 1,760,000 9d6+18 x5
20 1,980,000 9d6+20 x5
21 2,200,000 9d6+22 x5
22 2,420,000 9d6+24 x5
23 2,640,000 9d6+26 x5
24* 2,860,000 9d6+28 x5
40 8,000,000 9d6+62 x5
(max at level 13)
Assassin {DND055}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
You'll be slower with your Thief skills progression, but that seems a
worthy trade for the x7 backstab multiplier! +1 to hit and damage is
nice too, but it's totally out-shadowed by the backstab. This is a great
class to dual-class into a Fighter with. Get your Thief skills in place
and enjoy your bonus THAC0, damage, and backstab multiplier. There is
nothing preventing you from poisoning your weapon before you backstab,
either, although the poison is by itself fairly weak, any little bit
helps, especially with such a resounding first strike. The only problem
is you need to make it fairly far as a Thief to get that juicy x7
multiplier. Thankfully, however, the Thief is the lowest class to raise.
Getting to level 13 will only take 660,000 experience, leaving enough
left over for you to reach level 37 as a Fighter, which is more than
enough. It'll be a long time hitting level 14 to get your Thief skills
back... probably not a thing a new player wants to attempt. But
worthwhile if you pull it off.
Advantages:
- May coat his weapon in poison once per day per 4 levels. The next hit
with that weapon will inject the poison into the target, dealing out 1
damage per second for 24 seconds (3 damage for the first 6 seconds). A
saving throw vs. poison limits damage to 12 total.
- Bonus +1 to hit and +1 damage
- Backstab reaches x7 instead of x5.
Disadvantages:
- Only 15% per level to distribute on abilities.
Bounty Hunter {DND056}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Traps suck, at least until you get some of the epic feats. A trap that
slows, holds, casts Otiluke's Resilient Sphere, and mazes an enemy is
a novelty, not a strategy, especially since there's no save penalty.
Here's a better idea. Use the actual spells instead. There are no save
penalties, and when you hit a high level you Maze a target? Most things
are going to resist it, and powerful enemies tend to be smart enough
that this will not even last long. Not to mention by level 21 all
Thieves have access to the much better epic feats and their traps. This
isn't a worthy kit.
Advantages:
- +15% to trap setting.
- He can lay special traps (other than the ones that all thieves
receive). The traps are more powerful than the typical Thief trap, and
the effect varies according to level. The effects are listed below:
1st: the trap deals out damage and slows the target (if save is failed).
11th: the trap holds the target if a save is failed.
16th: the trap erects an Otiluke's Resilient Sphere around the target
(if a save is failed).
21st: the trap mazes the target.
Disadvantages:
- gets only 20% to distribute between Thief abilities each level.
Swashbuckler {DND057}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This is at least a legitimate attempt to make a character who is not a
Fighter actually able to fight. The bonus to Armor Class and attack and
damage are both pretty good, and almost overcome the handicap a Thief
suffers against a Fighter in armor and THAC0. The ability to specialize
is very welcome, especially in the Two Weapon Style. The only down sides
are the fact that the Thief loses the backstab ability, and for all its
trying, a Fighter it is not. Namely they're still losing sorely in the
Hit Point department. This makes me wonder one thing. Why not make a
Fighter/Thief instead of a Swashbuckler? You'll have the better THAC0 of
a Fighter, better Hit Points than a Thief, the ability to specialize in
weapons, including all the Fighter weapons, and you get to keep your
backstab. It's a nice offer, but frankly multi-classing still wins.
Advantages:
- Bonus +1 to AC.
- He gains another +1 bonus to his Armor Class ever 5 levels.
- He gains +1 to hit and damage every 5 levels.
- He can specialize in any melee weapon that a Thief can use.
- May place 3 slots into the proficiency 'two weapon fighting style.'
Disadvantages:
- No backstab multiplier.
o==========================o
|Thief/Cleric | {DND058}
o==========================o
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Well, might as well mention it eh? The Thief/Cleric is an odd, and at
odds with itself character. You won't be wearing any heavy armor if you
want to keep your Thief skills, but you can certainly wear light armor
with no problem. Of course, you're stuck with the Cleric's selection of
weapons, but you'll be able to use all the Thief skills, including
backstab. Honestly the Mage spells seem a better fit for a Thief, which
is more of a stay back out of the way kinda class, as opposed to the
Cleric, which is often a decently armored character who can stand up in
combat. This might be an interesting dual-class, provided you don't care
that your Cleric won't be as tough as if you had dual-classed with a
Fighter.
o==========================o
|Wild Mage | {DND059}
o==========================o
Hit points per Level: d4
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
You take a normal specialist Mage, remove their prohibited school, and
add massive randonmess to everything they do, and you've got the Wild
Mage. I know that when I cast spells, I always find myself wistfully
wishing that I had a chance to change my gender or cast a Fireball on
myself. Seriously though, the odds of having Wild Magic doing something
beneficial actually isn't that low. Having it do the RIGHT beneficial
thing to the right target, however, is rather uncommon. You're
essentially trading the known penalty of a prohibited spell school for
the random 5% chance to... well... check out the table below [DND060].
Suffice to say, I don't find randomness helpful when it comes to my
Mages. We already have to deal with targeting, Magic Resistance, Saving
Throws, and the possibility of getting interrupted by damage. Magic is
busy enough already. On top of that, every spell they DO successfully
cast without triggering a Magic Surge also fluctuates by up to five
levels (plus or minus) the caster's level. At level one, this doesn't
matter much-you really only stand to gain, but as you level up, this
adds serious uncertainty to the duration and damage of many spells. All
in all, what does a Wild Mage have over a Conjurer? Identify, True
Sight, and massive randomness to everything they do, that's what.
Wild Mage
Level EXP HP Spells
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
1 n/a 1d4 1
2 2,500 2d4 2
3 5,000 3d4 2/1
4 10,000 4d4 3/2
5 20,000 5d4 4/2/1
6 40,000 6d4 4/2/2
7 60,000 7d4 4/3/2/1
8 90,000 8d4 4/3/3/2
9 135,000 9d4 4/3/3/2/1
Wild Surge Table {DND060}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This table was taken straight from the Throne of Bhaal manual.
o====o=================================================================o
|Roll| Wild Surge Effect |
o====o=================================================================o
| 1 | Repulsion field centred on the caster |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2 | Wild colour changes upon the caster |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 3 | Squirrels appear around caster |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 4 | The caster becomes itchy |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 5 | The caster glows |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 6 | A fireball centres on the caster |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 7 | The caster’s sex is changed |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 8 | The caster’s colour changes |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 9 | Every one in the area changes direction |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 10 | Explosion centred on caster |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 11 | Entangle spell centred on caster |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 12 | Slow spell centred on target |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 13 | Target polymorphed into a wolf |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 14 | Caster held |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 15 | Caster hasted |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 16 | Caster changed into a squirrel |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 17 | Gold on the caster is destroyed |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 18 | Target weakened |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 19 | Sunfire spell centred on caster |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 20 | Movement rate lowered on target |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 21 | Fireball centred on caster |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 22 | Caster held as per the spell Hold Person |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 23 | Fear spell centred on target |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 24 | Roll twice more. Both effects apply |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 25 | Entire area explored |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 26 | Globe of invulnerability centred on target |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 27 | Silence 15 foot radius centred on caster |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 28 | Caster dizzy |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 29 | Target invisible |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 30 | Pretty sparkles! No other effect |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 31 | Caster is spell’s target |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 32 | Caster becomes invisible |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 33 | Colour spray from caster |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 34 | Birds appear around the caster |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 35 | Fireball centred on caster. No damage done |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 36 | Gems created on caster |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 37 | Combat music starts |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 38 | Goodberries created on caster |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 39 | Fireball flies toward target |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 40 | Charges drained on area effect around target |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 41 | Random treasure created on caster |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 42 | Caster is combat ready (+2 THACO +2 Damage) |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 43 | Teleport field spell centred on caster |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 44 | Teleport field spell centred on target |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 45 | Area effect hiccups centred on target |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 46 | All doors in area of effect open. If there are no doors, then |
| | roll twice and use both effects |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 47 | Caster polymorphs into wolf |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 48 | Change target randomly |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 49 | Caster recuperates as if he rested |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 50 | Monsters summoned by target |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 51 | Start snowing if outside, otherwise roll twice more |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 52 | Loud noise. Target must save or be stunned |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 53 | Target’s hit points doubled |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 54 | Summon demon to attack target |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 55 | Spell fired but with squealing noise |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 56 | Spell goes off but duration is halved |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 57 | Strange visual effect, but the spell fizzles |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 58 | Projectile speed halved |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 59 | All weapons in the area glow |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 60 | No saving throw is allowed against the spell |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 61 | Target is held as per the Hold Person spell |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 62 | Detect magic spell centred on target |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 63 | Roll 4 more times. All effects happen |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 64 | Slow spell centred on target |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 65 | Instead of the chosen spell, a different spell of the same level|
| | goes off |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 66 | Lightning bolt spell cast at target |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 67 | Target strengthened |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 68 | Heal centred on the target |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 69 | Entangle target |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 70 | Caster weakened |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 71 | Fireball spell centred on target |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 72 | Flesh to stone on target |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 73 | Spell fired. Caster also recuperated as if rested |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 74 | Heal spell centred on caster |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 75 | Target dizzy |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 76 | Sunfire centred on target (caster unaffected) |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 77 | Target held |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 78 | Target blinded |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 79 | Target charmed |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 80 | Gems created on target |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 81 | Target’s movement rate reduced |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 82 | Random treasure created on target |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 83 | Target polymorphed into squirrel |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 84 | Silence 15 foot radius centred on target |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 85 | Target’s sex changed |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 86 | Fake explosion (no damage) centred on target |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 87 | Stinking cloud centred on target |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 88 | Cow falls from sky on the target |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 89 | Target dizzy |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 90 | Spell has 60 foot radius at target (change projectile) |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 91 | Target itchy |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 92 | Casters hit points doubled |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 93 | Target held |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 94 | Target hastened |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 95 | Destroy all gold on target |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 96 | Spell casts at double effectiveness |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 97 | Spell cast, -4 to target’s saving throw |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 98 | Target’s colour changed |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 99 | Spell cast at double level |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
|100 | Spell casts normally |
o====o=================================================================o
Alignment {DND061}
o======================================================================o
The alignment of your protagonist only matters so much in the first
game. In the sequel the allies you choose will react to your alignment
more, so you should try to choose party members who have an alignment
similar to yours. Where alignment really matters is between your NPCs.
Evil characters will react poorly to good characters, and vise-verse,
and in some instances violence may erupt between two allies. This is
less of a problem in the first game than in the sequel, but spare
yourself the aggravation and choose party members of like alignment.
If your protagonist is good-aligned, choose good or neutral characters.
If your protagonist is evil-aligned, choose evil or neutral characters.
If your protagonist is neutral, pick either good, or evil, but not
both.
Another reason for having some continuity of alignment within your
party is your reputation. Good characters will be happy with a high
reputation and unhappy with a low reputation, while evil characters
will be happy with a low reputation and unhappy with a high reputation.
At a neutral reputation, nobody is happy. If your reputation gets too
high (19+), your evil characters will disband. If your reputation gets
too low (2-) your good characters will disband. Since a high reputation
will earn you discounts at shops, it's always a good idea to keep your
alignment in the teens, at least. Discounts are good, and you can't
really afford to be pure 'evil' anyways, as a reputation of 1 will earn
you some pretty serious harassment by groups of Cowled Wizards and
Knights of the Heart. That's right, even evil characters will want to
keep their reputation reasonable... fairly high, even, for the purpose
of purchasing items. Speaking of reputation and alignment, your starting
reputation varies depending upon your protagonist's alignment, as
follows:
o===============o===============o
| Alignment | Starting |
| | Reputation |
o===============o===============o
| Lawful Good | 12 |
|---------------|---------------|
| Neutral Good | 11 |
|---------------|---------------|
| Chaotic Good | 11 |
|---------------|---------------|
|Lawful Neutral | 10 |
|---------------|---------------|
| True Neutral | 10 |
|---------------|---------------|
|Chaotic Neutral| 10 |
|---------------|---------------|
| Lawful Evil | 9 |
|---------------|---------------|
| Neutral Evil | 9 |
|---------------|---------------|
| Chaotic Evil | 8 |
o===============o===============o
Reputation Effects {DND062}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
These are derived from the manual... save that the manual misprints the
required donation at reputation values of 13 and 14 as 200 gold and
500 gold. They should be 1200 gold and 1500 gold, respectively.
o======================================================================o
|Reputation|Item Cost|Donation Required| Additional Effects |
o==========o=========o=================o===============================o
| 20 | -50% | -- |+4 Reaction Adjustment |
| 19 | -40% | -- |+3 Reaction Adjustment |
| 18 | -30% | -- |+3 Reaction Adjustment |
| 17 | -20% | 5000 |+2 Reaction Adjustment |
| 16 | -10% | 2500 |+2 Reaction Adjustment |
| 15 | -10% | 2000 |+1 Reaction Adjustment |
| 14 | base | 1500 |+1 Reaction Adjustment |
| 13 | base | 1200 |N/A |
| 12 | base | 900 |N/A |
| 11 | base | 700 |N/A |
| 10 | base | 500 |N/A |
| 9 | +10% | 400 |N/A |
| 8 | +20% | 300 |N/A |
| 7 | +20% | 200 |-1 Reaction Adjustment |
| 6 | +30% | 400 |-2 Reaction Adjustment |
| 5 | +40% | 500 |-3 Reaction Adjustment |
| 4 | +50% | 1000 |-4 Reaction Adjustment |
| 3 | +100% | 1000 |-5 Reaction Adjustment* |
| 2 |will not | 1200 |-6 Reaction Adjustment* |
| 1 | sell | 1500 |-7 Reaction Adjustment* |
o======================================================================o
*Indicates that at this reputation you may get attacked by Cowled
Wizards and Knights of the Heart. This is not a good thing, and you
should try to ensure that your reputation stays above this mark.
Item Cost: The rate of increase or decrease of the cost of items in a
store. It's funny, you'd think a thieves guild or dark elves would
reward a low reputation, or simply not know about your reputation at
all. Either way, the principle is simple, the higher your reputation,
the cheaper things will be.
Donation Required: Just like in Baldur's Gate 1, the lower or higher
your reputation the more it costs to increase your reputation. The costs
are a bit steeper in the sequel, however. Again, you'd think donating to
a 'bad' temple like the temple of Talos would lower your reputation...
Abilities {DND063}
o======================================================================o
Your abilities define what your character is good at. I prefer to call
them attributes, so if I mess up and refer to them as attributes later,
well, I'm talking about abilities. You have six abilities, and you can
re-roll them until you get what you want... or close to it. Take
advantage of it, get comfortable, and get rolling. Before that, let me
explain them a bit, so you know what to shoot for.
Strength {DND064}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Strength is important for many reasons-obvious reasons. The stronger
you are, the more likely you are to deal effective blows, and the more
damage you deal in combat. To hit and damage bonuses are good things,
and higher carry weight can reduce annoying trips back to town. Also,
your Strength limits what arms and armor you can equip. For that
reason any and all characters who wish to compete in melee should
strive for an 18 Strength. Period. Mages can afford to use this as a
dump-stat, but even Thieves and Bards are going to want to have enough
Strength to wear some armor, wield swords and bows, and whatnot.
Warrior types (Barbarians, Fighters, Paladins, Rangers, single, multi,
or dual-classed) will automatically get exceptional Strength if they
start out with a Strength score of 18. This is a randomly generated
percentile from 1-100, commonly known as exceptional Strength. While
it becomes moot when you get the Manual of Gainful Exercise (thus
bypassing exceptional Strength altogether an boosting your Strength by
a point-ideally from 18 to 19), for single-classed warriors starting
out with a high exceptional Strength should be something to shoot for.
I mean, a Fighter only needs three attributes at 18, which is easy
enough to do. For multi-classed Warrior, however, don't sweat the
exceptional Strength percentile. It's more important to get 18's in
your Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, and whatever other attribute
your class would be aided by (Intelligence for Fighter/Mages, Wisdom for
Fighter/Clerics, etc.).
o========o=====o======o======o=====o
| Score |THAC0|Damage|Weight|Bash%|
o========o=====o======o======o=====o
| 3 | -3 | -1 | 5 | 3 |
| 4 | -2 | -1 | 15 | 4 |
| 5 | -2 | -1 | 15 | 4 |
| 6 | -1 | 0 | 30 | 6 |
| 7 | -1 | 0 | 30 | 6 |
| 8 | 0 | 0 | 50 | 8 |
| 9 | 0 | 0 | 50 | 8 |
| 10 | 0 | 0 | 70 | 10 |
| 11 | 0 | 0 | 70 | 10 |
| 12 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 12 |
| 13 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 12 |
| 14 | 0 | 0 | 120 | 14 |
| 15 | 0 | 0 | 120 | 14 |
| 16 | 0 | +1 | 150 | 16 |
| 17 | +1 | +1 | 170 | 18 |
| 18 | +1 | +2 | 200 | 20 |
|18/01-50| +1 | +3 | 220 | 25 |
|18/51-75| +2 | +3 | 250 | 30 |
|18/76-90| +2 | +4 | 280 | 35 |
|18/91-99| +2 | +5 | 320 | 40 |
| 18/00 | +3 | +6 | 400 | 45 |
| 19 | +3 | +7 | 500 | 50 |
| 20 | +3 | +8 | 600 | 55 |
| 21 | +4 | +9 | 700 | 60 |
| 22 | +4 | +10 | 800 | 65 |
| 23 | +5 | +11 | 1000 | 70 |
| 24 | +6 | +12 | 1200 | 75 |
| 25 | +7 | +14 | 1600 | 80 |
o========o=====o======o======o=====o
Dexterity {DND065}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This affects your Armor Class and your THAC0 adjustment for missile
weapons. EVERY character should get an 18 Dexterity for the wonderful
-4 Armor Class modifier. Period. Anybody else find it odd that the
highest bonus a PC can legitimately have (18, -4) is only two points of
Armor Class shy of the Armor Class bonus gained by the fastest critters
in 2nd Edition (25, -6)? Ah, 2nd Edition was funny...
o=======o=======o=======o
| Score |Missile| Armor |
| |Adjust.| Class |
o=======o=======o=======o
| 0 | -20 | +5 |
| 1 | -6 | +5 |
| 2 | -4 | +5 |
| 3 | -3 | +4 |
| 4 | -2 | +3 |
| 5 | -1 | +2 |
| 6 | 0 | +1 |
| 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | 0 | -1 |
| 16 | +1 | -2 |
| 17 | +2 | -3 |
| 18 | +2 | -4 |
| 19 | +3 | -4 |
| 20 | +3 | -4 |
| 21 | +4 | -5 |
| 22 | +4 | -5 |
| 23 | +4 | -5 |
| 24 | +5 | -6 |
| 25 | +5 | -6 |
o=======o=======o=======o
Note: Your Dexterity will also affect your Thief abilities... if you
have any, of course. See [DND046] for more information.
Constitution {DND066}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This attribute gives you Hit Points. Hit points are good. At 16, you
gain a +2 bonus to Hit Points gained per level, which for non-warriors
is the highest bonus possible. The number to the right lists the bonus
for warriors (Fighters, Paladins, Rangers, and their kits), which is +4
at 18. All warriors should have an 18 Constitutuion, but non-warriors
only really need a 15. Once they get the Manual of Gainful exercise,
they'll raise to 16, and be good to go.
o=======o===============o=======o
| Score |Hit Points per |Regen. |
| | Level | Rate |
o=======o===============o=======o
| 1 | -3 | 0 |
| 2 | -2 | 0 |
| 3 | -2 | 0 |
| 4 | -1 | 0 |
| 5 | -1 | 0 |
| 6 | -1 | 0 |
| 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | +1 | 0 |
| 16 | +2 | 0 |
| 17 | +2/+3 | 0 |
| 18 | +2/+4 | 0 |
| 19 | +2/+5 | 0 |
| 20 | +2/+5 | 60 |
| 21 | +2/+6 | 50 |
| 22 | +2/+6 | 40 |
| 23 | +2/+6 | 30 |
| 24 | +2/+7 | 20 |
| 25 | +2/+7 | 10 |
o=======o===============o=======o
Note: In the Regeneration Rate column, what the hell do those numbers
mean? Well, they're a measure of the time it takes to regenerate a lost
Hit Point... but not REAL time, no, that would be too simple-it's the
number of game-time seconds it takes to regenerate a lost Hit Point.
So for a Constitution score of 20, it takes 60 seconds-one minute-of
game-time to recover one Hit Point. One minute of game-time is 2.5
seconds of real time, so our rate of time-lapse difference is
60/2.5 = 24:1. This makes sense, doesn't it? It means that one hour
spent playing in real-time is one day of game-time. So divide all those
numbers by 24, and that's how many seconds it takes to recover a lost
Hit Point.
Intelligence {DND067}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
If you're a Mage, get an 18, if not, it's a dump stat. By 'dump stat',
I mean lower it to 10 or so to put the excess points in other attributes
you actually need. 'Max Spell Level' refers to the highest level of
spell you'll be able to cast if you're a Mage. Note that if you're a
triple class Mage, you only need a 15 Intelligence as you'll never be
able to memorize 9th level spells anyways (the tome will raise your
intelligence high enough to cast 8th level spells.) 'Max Spells per
Spell Level' is the maximum number of different spells you can have in
your spell book per level. This will never be a deciding factor as you
can simply drink a potion to temporarily allow you to scribe more spells
than your spells per level allowance. In fact, you can just use potions
in a timely manner to scribe all the spells you wish, allowing you to
have as low of an Intelligence as you please regardless of your natural
'Max Spell Levle or 'Max Spells per Spell Level'. Still, it's just more
convenient to have the natural Intelligence instead of having to rely on
potions all the time and scribing spells all at once. If you fail at
scribing a scroll, simply reload until you succeed. Lore is your ability
to identify magical items. You'll legitimately never get high enough to
identify everything, so you'll always need the Identify spell, making
lore a non-issue.
o=======o=======o=======o===============o=======o
| | Learn | Max |Max Spells per | |
| Score | Spell | Spell | Spell Level | Lore |
| |Chance | Level | | |
o=======o=======o=======o===============o=======o
| 0 | 0% | - | - | -20 |
| 1 | 0% | - | - | -20 |
| 2 | 0% | - | - | -20 |
| 3 | 0% | - | - | -20 |
| 4 | 0% | - | - | -20 |
| 5 | 0% | - | - | -20 |
| 6 | 0% | - | - | -20 |
| 7 | 0% | - | - | -10 |
| 8 | 0% | - | - | -10 |
| 9 | 0% | 4th | 6 | -10 |
| 10 | 35% | 5th | 7 | 0 |
| 11 | 40% | 5th | 7 | 0 |
| 12 | 45% | 6th | 7 | 0 |
| 13 | 50% | 6th | 9 | 0 |
| 14 | 55% | 7th | 9 | 0 |
| 15 | 60% | 7th | 11 | +3 |
| 16 | 65% | 8th | 11 | +5 |
| 17 | 75% | 8th | 14 | +7 |
| 18 | 85% | 9th | 18 | +10 |
| 19 | 95% | 9th | All | +12 |
| 20 | 96% | 9th | All | +15 |
| 21 | 97% | 9th | All | +20 |
| 22 | 98% | 9th | All | +25 |
| 23 | 99% | 9th | All | +30 |
| 24 | 100% | 9th | All | +35 |
| 25 | 100% | 9th | All | +40 |
o=======o=======o=======o===============o=======o
Wisdom {DND068}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
If you're a Cleric or a Druid, you want an 18. If you're a Mage, you
might want at least a 14 to use the Wish spell effectively in Baldur's
Gate 2. Otherwise, it's a dump stat. For Clerics and Druids you don't
have a spell level maximum for a low Wisdom in 2nd Wdition, but higher
Wisdom nets you bonus spells. Definitely a draw for single class
characters, but if you simply cannot spread your points out enough to
get a great Wisdom, it's not that big of a deal. And keep in mind, there
are three tomes in the game that add a 1 point bonus to this stat. The
bonus spells are listed by level, at 17 you'd get 2 first level spells,
2 second level spells, and 1 third level spell.
o=======o===============o=======o
| Score | Bonus Spells | Lore |
o=======o===============o=======o
| 3 |- | -20 |
| 4 |- | -20 |
| 5 |- | -20 |
| 6 |- | -20 |
| 7 |- | -10 |
| 8 |- | -10 |
| 9 |0 | -10 |
| 10 |0 | 0 |
| 11 |0 | 0 |
| 12 |0 | 0 |
| 13 |1 | 0 |
| 14 |2 | 0 |
| 15 |2/1 | +3 |
| 16 |2/2 | +5 |
| 17 |2/2/1 | +7 |
| 18 |2/2/1/1 | +10 |
| 19 |3/2/1/2 | +12 |
| 20 |3/3/1/3 | +15 |
| 21 |3/3/2/3/1 | +20 |
| 22 |3/3/2/4/2 | +25 |
| 23 |3/3/2/4/4 | +30 |
| 24 |3/3/2/4/4/2 | +35 |
| 25 |3/3/2/4/4/3/1 | +40 |
o=======o===============o=======o
Charisma {DND069}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Charisma affects NPC reactions to you and determines shop
prices. Rarely you'll get a better reward for having a higher Charisma.
It's a dump stat for everybody except Bards, who should get an 18 in it,
and Paladins, who don't really have much of a choice when it comes to
Charisma. To get the best discounts, make sure to have your character
with the highest Charisma as party leader when interacting with the
shopkeeper.
o========o========o
| Score |Reaction|
o========o========o
| 3 | -5 |
| 4 | -4 |
| 5 | -3 |
| 6 | -2 |
| 7 | -1 |
| 8 | 0 |
| 9 | 0 |
| 10 | 0 |
| 11 | 0 |
| 12 | 0 |
| 13 | +1 |
| 14 | +2 |
| 15 | +3 |
| 16 | +4 |
| 17 | +4 |
| 18 | +5 |
| 19 | +8 |
| 20 | +9 |
| 21 | +10 |
| 22 | +11 |
| 23 | +12 |
| 24 | +13 |
| 25 | +14 |
o========o========o
Increasing Your Abilities {DND070}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
In Baldur's Gate 1 there were lovely little books that increased an
attribute by one when read... no such luck for Baldur's Gate 2, but
even though you won't be reading your way to superiority, there are
some ways to improve your attributes in Baldur's Gate 2, which I will
list below. Most of them are kind of questy, so if you're skittish about
***SPOILERS*** you might want to stop reading. Oh, and this list only
includes permanent attribute increases, and, in a few instances,
potentially unavoidable losses.
--> After being captured by Irenicus in Spellhold, during the
Candlekeep dream sequence immediately after losing your soul,
you'll have to talk to a Demon at the entrance to the
Candlekeep Library. This Demon will require an attribute
sacrifice. It's a quest in the main story, and there is no way
to avoid this loss, so just pick the least harmful loss you can.
Attribute LOSS: [Dexterity -1] or
[Constitution -1] or
[Intelligence -1] or
[Wisdom -1]
--> After defeating Irenicus in Suldanesselar you will arrive in
Hell, where you must complete several tests. If you pick the
evil path during the Test of Fear, you will gain Constitution.
Attribute GAIN: [Constitution +2]
--> After defeating Irenicus in Suldanesselar you will arrive in
Hell, where you must complete several tests. If you pick the
good path during the Test of Selfishness, you will lose
Dexterity.
(Note: There is an exploit to avoid the Dexterity loss here.)
Attribute LOSS: [Dexterity -1]
--> After defeating Irenicus in Suldanesselar you will arrive in
Hell, where you must complete several tests. If you pick the
evil path during the Test of Wrath, you will gain Strength, or,
if you pick the good path during the Test of Wrath you will gain
Wisdom and Charisma.
Attribute GAIN: [Strength +2] or
[Wisdom +1] and [Charisma +1]
--> With the Deck of Many Things, if you draw the 'Star' card, that
character will gain on attribute point, depending upon their
class.
(Note: For multi-classed combos, the Fighter class is
considered secondary to every other class. A Fighter/Thief will
gain Dexterity, a Fighter/Mage will gain Intelligence, and a
Fighter/Cleric will gain Wisdom.)
Attribute GAIN: [Strength +1] (Warriors) or
[Desterity +1] (Bard/Thief) or
[Intelligence +1] (Mage) or
[Wisdom +1] (Cleric/Druid)
--> In Watcher's Keep you will find the Machine of Lum the Mad.
If you input the following code: Circle, Blue, Long, you will
gain Intelligence.
Attribute GAIN: [Intelligence +1]
--> In Watcher's Keep you will find the Machine of Lum the Mad.
If you input the following code: Circle, Red, Long, you will
gain Constitution.
Attribute GAIN: [Constitution +1]
--> In Watcher's Keep you will find the Machine of Lum the Mad.
If you input the following code: Circle, Square, Triangle, you
will gain Wisdom.
Attribute GAIN: [Wisdom +1]
--> In Watcher's Keep you will find the Machine of Lum the Mad.
If you input the following code: Square, Blue, Short you will
gain Dexterity.
Attribute GAIN: [Dexterity +1]
--> In Watcher's Keep you will find the Machine of Lum the Mad.
If you input the following code: Square, Short, Medium, you will
gain Strength.
Attribute GAIN: [Strength +1]
Suggested Abilities by Class {DND071}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Below are the starting abilities I would suggest rolling for each class
at a minimum, ignoring racial modifiers and class modifiers. All classes
include their kits-an Inquisitor needs the same abilities as a Paladin,
a Skald needs the same abilities as a Bard, etc. This list is not set
in stone-especially for dual-class combos. An Assassin/Fighter, for
example, need not worry about warrior-esque Constitution (17+) if they
plan to gain more than ten levels as an Assassin, early dual-classing
Mages need not worry about high Intelligence, etc. Note that it is
possible-but extremely time-consuming-to surpass even some of the
tougher suggestions here-I've rolled up a Fighter/Mage with the
suggested stats below plus four points to spare before. Three 18's is
easily attainable if you roll a bit, four 18's is difficult-but possible
if you're willing to spend... an hour or so. Anything more, and... good
luck. I know, I know, who wants to spend all day rolling up a character?
But if you plan to play both Baldur's Gate games with one character,
that's a lot of time in itself... might as well make sure you've got a
character who's up to snuff before you start, I say.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
Barbarian 18(91+) 18 18 10~ 10~ 10~
Bard 10~ 18 15 13~ 10~ 18
Cleric 18 18 15 10~ 18 10~
Cleric/Mage 18 18 15 18 18 10~
Cleric/Ranger 18(xx) 18 18 10~ 18~ 10~
Cleric/Thief 18 18 15 10~ 18 10~
Druid 18 18 15 10~ 18 15~
Fighter 18(91+) 18 18 10~ 10~ 10~
Fighter/Cleric 18(xx) 18 18 10~ 18 10~
Fighter/Druid 18(xx) 18 18 10~ 18 15~
Fighter/Mage 18(xx) 18 18 18 10~ 10~
Fighter/Mage/Cleric 18(xx) 18 18 18 10~ 10~
Fighter/Mage/Thief 18(xx) 18 18 18 10~ 10~
Fighter/Thief 18(91+) 18 18 10~ 10~ 10~
Mage 10~ 18 15 18 10~ 10~
Mage/Thief 10~ 18 15 18 10~ 10~
Monk 18 18 15 10~ 10~ 10~
Paladin 18(91+) 18 18 10~ 13~ 17~
Ranger 18(91+) 18 18 10~ 14~ 10~
Sorcerer 10~ 18 15 18 10~ 10~
Thief 10~ 18 15 10~ 10~ 10~
Wild Mage 10~ 18 16 18 10~ 10~
Skills {DND072}
o======================================================================o
You have a selection of skills... or rather, weapon proficiencies to
choose from, which has been greatly expanded from the first game. By
expanded I of course mean separated, so you simply need more points now
to achieve the same thing. For example, Large Swords has been broken up
into Two Handed Sword, Long Swords, Scimitars, and Bastard Swords. I'll
list some suggestions by class for what weapons you might want to look
out for, and hence, what kinds of proficiencies you want to buy.
Weapon Proficiencies by Class/Level {DND073}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
LEVEL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Warrior 4 - 1 - - 1 - - 1 - - 1 ...+1/3 levels
Wizard 1 - - - - 1 - - - - - 1 ...+1/6 levels
Priest 2 - - 1 - - - 1 - - - 1 ...+1/4 levels
Rogue 2 - - 1 - - - 1 - - - 1 ...+1/4 levels
--> Priest includes Druids and Monks.
--> Rogue includes Bards.
--> Warrior includes Barbarians, Paladins and Rangers.
--> Wizard includes Sorcerers.
--> Single or dual classed Fighters can spend five ranks in a
proficiency.
--> Multi classed Fighters and rangers can spend two ranks in a
proficiency.
--> Everybody else can only spend one point in a proficiency, unless
specifically noted otherwise in their class description.
Weapon Proficiency Perks by Rank {DND074}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
These are the bonuses you gain by become specialized in a weapon type,
taken straight from the Baldur's Gate 2 manual. According to the manual
moving from Master (3) to High Master (4) improves the weapons' speed
factor (which determines your initiative rank in combat) making you
attack earlier in a round, not more often.
o===============o=======o=======o=======o===============o
| Level | Ranks |To Hit |Damage | Attacks/Round |
o===============o=======o=======o=======o===============o
| Proficient | 1 | +0 | +0 | 1 |
|---------------|-------|-------|-------|---------------|
| Specialized | 2 | +1 | +2 | 3/2 |
|---------------|-------|-------|-------|---------------|
| Master | 3 | +2 | +2 | 3/2 |
|---------------|-------|-------|-------|---------------|
| High Master | 4 | +2 | +2 | 3/2 |
|---------------|-------|-------|-------|---------------|
| Grand Master | 5 | +2 | +3 | 3/2 |
o===============o=======o=======o=======o===============o
--> Bards, Clerics, Druids, Mages, and Thieves can only reach the
rank of Proficient.
--> Paladins, Rangers, and multi-classed Fighters can only reach the
rank of Specialized.
--> The bonus attacks per round only applies to melee weapons.
--> Non-warriors (Barbarians, Fighters, Paladins, Rangers, multi,
single, or dual-classed) do not gain bonus attacks per round,
according to the game text. Of course... outside of the afore-
mentioned warriors, only the Swashbuckler (Thief kit) can
become Specialized in a weapon class, so it's mostly a moot
point, anyways.
This is the table used for PnP, and in the original Baldur's Gate and
Icewind Dale. These are the REAL rules, and it might be worth using a
mod to change to this table if you can. See how much more rewarding
Grand Mastery is? It's what makes being a Fighter work.
o===============o=======o=======o=======o===============o
| Level | Ranks |To Hit |Damage | Attacks/Round |
o===============o=======o=======o=======o===============o
| Proficient | 1 | +0 | +0 | 1 |
|---------------|-------|-------|-------|---------------|
| Specialized | 2 | +1 | +2 | 3/2 |
|---------------|-------|-------|-------|---------------|
| Master | 3 | +3 | +3 | 3/2 |
|---------------|-------|-------|-------|---------------|
| High Master | 4 | +3 | +4 | 3/2 |
|---------------|-------|-------|-------|---------------|
| Grand Master | 5 | +3 | +5 | 2 |
o===============o=======o=======o=======o===============o
--> Bards, Clerics, Druids, Mages, and Thieves can only reach the
rank of Proficient.
--> Paladins, Rangers, and multi-classed Fighters can only reach the
rank of Specialized.
--> The bonus attacks per round only applies to melee weapons.
This is, of course, entirely bogus if you're a Fighter. Instead of the
+2 THAC0, +3 damage, and 1/2 attack per round you're supposed to get
for Grand Mastery (as compared to Specialization), you instead only get
+1 THAC0, +1 damage, and a lower speed factor. Feel cheated yet? Take
into consideration that Rangers and Paladins will also get access to
Whirlwind, and you've got a very good reason to never play a single-
classed Fighter. Even if you un-nerf Grand Mastery, Whirlwind does
negate the difference between your number of attacks... but still, at
least the Fighter will have a little more THAC0 and Damage.
Fighting Style Perks by Rank {DND075}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Of course, there's more to proficiencies than just the weapon classes-
there's also fighting styles! They don't give stock bonuses like
weapon class proficiencies, and they aren't weapon specific-instead,
they potentially affect bonuses derived from fighting with a variety
of weapons. Here it doesn't matter what you use, so much as how you use
it. All fighting styles have two ranks, save Two-Weapon Style, which has
three ranks. In the case of the latter, you're not gaining bonuses so
much as you're eliminating penalties-being able to fight with two
weapons simultaneously is enough of a benefit.
Two-Handed: This fighting style allows the character to use a two-handed
----------- weapon and receive special bonuses.
Proficient (1 rank): The wielder gets a +1 bonus to damage rolls, a -2
bonus to Speed Factor, and the ability to score critical hits on a
roll of 19 or 20 (instead of just 20) when using a two-handed weapon.
Specialized (2 ranks): The wielder gets a further -2 bonus to Speed
Factor.
Sword and Shield: Anyone can pick up a shield and get its basic
----------------- protection bonuses, but by spending slots on this
fighting style, an adventurer can maximize the
benefits received.
Proficient (1 rank): The wielder gets a -2 bonus to AC against missile
weapons.
Specialized (2 ranks): The wielder gets a -4 bonus to AC against
missile weapons.
Single-Weapon: This fighting style is for characters who do not wish to
-------------- use a shield but want some bonuses when using a one-
handed weapon.
Proficient (1 rank): The wielder gets a -1 bonus to AC and inflicts
critical damage on an attack roll of 19 or 20.
Specailized (2 ranks): The wielder gets a -2 bonus to AC and inflicts
critical damage on an attack roll of 19 or 20.
Two-Weapon: This fighting style allows the character to use two weapons
----------- at the same time with fewer penalties. A character wielding
two weapons without a slot in this fighter style would incur
a -4 penalty to attack rolls with the main weapon and a -8
penalty with the off-hand weapon.
Proficient (1 rank): The wielder's penalties are reduced to -2 with
the main weapon an -6 with the off-hand weapon.
Specialized (2 ranks): The wielder's penalties are reduced to 0 with
the main weapon and -4 with the off-hand weapon.
Master (3 ranks): The wielder's penalties are reduced to 0 with the
main weapon and -2 with the off-hand weapon.
Proficiency Selection by Class {DND076}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Below you'll find listed the different weapon types in Baldur's Gate 2,
and the classes who can use them. Remember that in the case of
multi-and-dual-classed characters, weapon proficiencies are
additive-you get the best selections of all your classes... unless
you're a Cleric or a Druid, then it's restrictive. A Fighter/Mage gets
all the proficiency options of a Fighter. A Fighter/Druid is restricted
to using Druid-allowed weapons.
|Barbarian
| |Bard
| | |Cleric
| | | |Druid
| | | | |Fighter
| | | | | |Mage
| | | | | | |Monk
| | | | | | | |Paladin
| | | | | | | | |Ranger
| | | | | | | | | |Sorcerer
| | | | | | | | | | |Thief
| | | | | | | | | | | |
o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o
Bastard Sword | x | x | | | x | | | x | x | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Long Sword | x | x | | | x | | x | x | x | | x |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Short Sword | x | x | | | x | | x | x | x | | x |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Axe | x | x | | | x | | | x | x | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Two-Handed Sword | x | x | | | x | | | x | x | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Katana | x | x | | | x | | x | x | x | | x |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Scimitar, etc. | x | x | | x | x | | x | x | x | | x |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dagger | x | x | | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
War Hammer | x | x | x | | x | | | x | x | | x |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Club | x | x | x | x | x | | x | x | x | | x |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Spear | x | x | | x | x | | | x | x | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Halberd | x | x | | | x | | | x | x | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Flail | x | x | x | | x | | | x | x | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mace | x | x | x | | x | | | x | x | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Quarterstaff | x | x | x | x | x | x | | x | x | x | x |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Crossbow | x | x | | | x | | | x | x | | x |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Longbow | x | x | | | x | | | x | x | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Shortbow | x | x | | | x | | | x | x | | x |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dart | x | x | | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sling | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Two-Handed Weapon Style | x | x | x | x | x | x | | x | x | x | x |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sword and Shield Style | x | x | x | x | x | x | | x | x | x | x |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Single-Weapon Style | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Two-Weapon Style | x | x | x | x | x | x | | x | x | x | x |
o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o
--> The Blade (Bard kit) may can Master (three ranks) in the Two-
Weapon fighting style.
--> The Kensai (Fighte kit) cannot allocate any ranks into missile
weapons of any kind-crossbow, longbow, shortbow, dart, or sling,
nor can they put any ranks into the Sword and Shield fighting
style.
--> The Berserker (Figher kit) can only become Proficient (one rank)
in missile weapons-crossbow, longbow, shortbow, dart, or sling.
--> The Cavalier (Paladin kit) cannot allocate any ranks into
missile weapons of any kind-crossbow, longbow, shortbow, dart,
or sling.
--> The Ranger (and Ranger kits) can Master (three ranks) in the
Two-Weapon fighting style, and automatically start out
Specialized (two ranks) in the Two-Weapon fighting style.
--> The Archer (Ranger kit) cannot rise above the level of
Proficient (one rank) in any melee weapon class.
--> The Beast Master (Ranger kit) cannot allocate any ranks into
any metal weapons. They can only allocate ranks into the
following weapon classes: club, quarterstaff, crossbow, longbow,
shortbow, dart, sling, and the fighting styles.
--> The Swashbuckler (Thief kit) can Specialize in all the weapon
classes a Thief can allocate ranks into, and they can attain
Mastery (three ranks) in the Two-Weapon fighting style.
Thieving Skills {DND077}
o======================================================================o
In case you're wondering where to allocate your Thief skill points, I'll
cover that here. In general though, you'll want to shoot for Find/Remove
Traps. Once you have 100% Find Traps, you can move onto other things.
Find/Remove Traps is the only thing that thieves can do that a spell
cannot. Note that 100% isn't going to be quite enough to disarm every
trap in the game, but it should suffice for most of them. The maximum
value of all thieving skills is 250 plus-or-minus racial and
Dexterity values.
|Pick Pockets
| |Open Locks
| | |Find Traps
| | | |Move Silently
| | | | |Hide in Shadows
| | | | | |Detect Illusion
o=============o | | | | | |Set Traps
| Race | | | | | | | |
o=============o=====o=====o=====o=====o=====o=====o=====o
Human | +15 | +10 | +5 | +10 | +5 | 0 | 0 |
<-------------|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
Dwarf | +15 | +20 | +20 | +10 | +5 | +5 | +10 |
<-------------|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
Elf | +20 | +5 | +5 | +25 | +15 | 0 | 0 |
<-------------|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
Gnome | +15 | +15 | +15 | +15 | +10 | +10 | +5 |
<-------------|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
Half-Elf | +25 | +10 | +5 | +10 | +10 | 0 | 0 |
<-------------|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
Halfling | +20 | +15 | +10 | +20 | +20 | 0 | 0 |
<-------------|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
Half-Orc | +15 | +10 | +5 | +10 | +5 | 0 | 0 |
<-------------o=====o=====o=====o=====o=====o=====o=====o
|Pick Pockets
| |Open Locks
| | |Find Traps
| | | |Move Silently
| | | | |Hide in Shadows
| | | | | |Detect Illusion
| | | | | | |Set Traps
| | | | | | | |
o=========o=====o=====o=====o=====o=====o=====o=====o
9 | -15 | -10 | -10 | -20 | -10 | - | -10 |
<---------|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
10 | -10 | -5 | -10 | -15 | -5 | - | -10 |
<---------|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
11 | -5 | - | -5 | -10 | - | - | -5 |
<---------|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
12 | - | - | - | -5 | - | - | - |
<---------|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
13-15 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
<---------|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
16 | - | +5 | - | - | - | - | - |
<---------|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
17 | +5 | +10 | - | +5 | +5 | - | - |
<---------|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
18 | +10 | +15 | +5 | +10 | +10 | - | +5 |
<---------|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
19 | +15 | +20 | +10 | +15 | +15 | - | +10 |
<---------|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
20 | +20 | +25 | +15 | +18 | +18 | - | +15 |
<---------|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
21 | +25 | +30 | +20 | +20 | +20 | - | +20 |
<---------|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
22 | +30 | +35 | +25 | +23 | +23 | - | +25 |
<---------|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
23 | +35 | +40 | +30 | +25 | +25 | - | +30 |
<---------|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
24 | +40 | +45 | +35 | +40 | +30 | - | +35 |
<---------|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
25 | +45 | +50 | +40 | +35 | +35 | - | +40 |
<---------o=====o=====o=====o=====o=====o=====o=====o
Pick Pockets {DND078}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
There aren't too many items you'll want to pick pocket in this game, and
you can pretty much steal anything with a low score provided you're
willing to reload a lot. Of course, you can always pop potions for when
you really need to steal something. Still, Find Traps is essential and
Stealth helps with combat, so Pick Pockets should take a back seat to
those two.
Open Locks {DND079}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
You can use Open Locks to... well... open locks. Of course, once you get
the knock spell you won't need this anymore. Sure, it's nice to have
a Thief who can pick locks without having to use up 2nd-level spell
slots, but it's not essential. You can ignore this skill unless you are
just overflowing with points to spend.
Find/Remove Traps {DND080}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This is the essential Thief skill. Clerics can find traps with a spell,
but they can't disarm them. To safely eliminate traps, you need a Thief
with this skill, and traps can be a problem in this game. In fact, this
skill is really the reason you need a Thief in your party at all. No
matter who you have, get their Find Traps to 100% before you do anything
else.
Move Silently {DND081}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
One of the two skills that used to comprised 'Stealth'. I guess they
(correctly) realized that they didn't have enough Thief skills to put
points into for an expanded level cap. If you want to sneak successfully
you're going to need equal ranks in both skills. I will still refer to
it by the terms 'sneaking', 'stealth, and 'hiding'.
Hide in Shadows {DND082}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
The other of the two skills that used to comprised 'Stealth'. I guess
they (correctly) realized that they didn't have enough Thief skills to
put points into for an expanded level cap. If you want to sneak
successfully you're going to need equal ranks in both skills. I will
still refer to it by the terms 'sneaking', 'stealth, and 'hiding'.
Detect Illusion {DND083}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
You can use this ability to dispel illusions as if you were using
True Sight. To activate it, just detect traps and if your score is
high enough those bad illusions will vanish. Of course, we have many
characters who can use True Sight, and while you're busy detecting
illusions, you can't attack.
Set Traps {DND084}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This ability allows you to... wait for it... set traps. Traps are static
and can't be set during combat, which vastly limits their effectiveness.
I assume this score makes you more likely to succeed at setting your
traps, but honestly, I don't care enough to play around with it.
Hit points {DND085}
o======================================================================o
These are important- if you run out of Hit Points, you die.
Multi-classing averages your Hit Points/level across your classes. A
Fighter/Mage multi would gain 7 Hit Points a level (10+4)/2 - 5 Fighter,
2 Mage. A multi-classed character will still get bonus Hit Points for
having a Fighter class (up to 4), but a dual-class character can start
out 9 levels of Fighter, get all 9d10+36 Hit Points, and dual class into
something else. This is in every way favorable. In Baldur's Gate 2 you
can choose to take maximum Hit Points per level, which removes the pain
in the ass reloading from the first game. The downside? Well... you're
mostly done with random Hit Point rolls.
THAC0 and Armor Class {DND086}
o======================================================================o
THAC0 is an acronym for 'To Hit Armor Class 0'. This is the roll on a
d20 (a 20 sided dice) that you'd need to hit somebody with an Armor
Class of 0. Statistically, each point is a 5% chance to hit Armor
Class 0, and a roll of 20 is ALWAYS a hit, and a roll of 1 is ALWAYS a
miss, regardless of your THAC0/their Armor Class. Fighters get a lower
THAC0 quicker (hence a better chance to hit) than other classes, and
Mages have the worst THAC0 progression. A lower THAC0 and lower Armor
Class are better-which seems counter intuitive, but that's 2nd Edition
for you. (Nostalgia for a moment here.) Having a negative Armor Class
essentially raises the enemies' THAC0. For instance, if my Paladin has a
base THAC0 of 5 (-2 with all her proficiencies, Strength, the bonus on
the weapon, etc), and my Ranger/Cleric has an Armor Class of -13, my
Paladin would need an 11 on a d20 to hit her (-2 +13 = 11). That's a
55% chance to miss-a 45% chance to hit. So, for a general rule, lower
THAC0 and lower Armor Class are good. Unless the enemy has them. Then
it's not so good.
THAC0 by Class/Level* {DND087}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
*This is taken straight from the 2nd Edition Dungeons and Dragon's
Players Handbook.
LEVEL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Warrior 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Wizard 20 20 20 19 19 19 18 18 18 17 17 17 16 16 16 15 15 15 14 14
Priest 20 20 20 18 18 18 16 16 16 14 14 14 12 12 12 10 10 10 8 8
Rogue 20 20 19 19 18 18 17 17 16 16 15 15 14 14 13 13 12 12 11 11
+Priest includes Monks and Druids.
--> Priest includes Druids.
--> Rogue includes Bards.
--> Warrior includes Barbarians, Monks, Paladins and Rangers.
--> Wizard includes Sorcerers.
Multi-class characters use the best THAC0 progression of either of
their classes-Fighter/Mages use the Fighter's THAC0 progression, and
the Cleric/Thief use the Thief's THAC0 progression.
Dual-class characters use the THAC0 of their active class if they
haven't regained their bonuses from the previous (inactive class). If
they have, they use whichever gives them the best THAC0.
Armor Class Modifiers by Weapon Type {DND088}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Different armor types are strong against different attack types. It
might seem like information overload, but keep it in mind when picking
between various types of armor. A suit of Leather Armor +3 versus a
suit of Studded Leather Armor +2 might both give the same armor class,
but because of the modifiers the Studded Leather is by far the better
choice. It comes up. Oh, and remember, in 2nd Edition AD&D, a negative
number reduces your Armor Class, hence making your more difficult to
hit, and a positive number increases your Armor Class, which is a bad
thing.
o===============o===============o===============o===============o
| Armor | Slashing | Piercing | Bludgeoning |
o===============o===============o===============o===============o
| Leather Armor | 0 | +2 | 0 |
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
|Studded Leather| -2 | -1 | 0 |
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
| Chain Mail | -2 | 0 | +2 |
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
| Splint Mail | 0 | -1 | -2 |
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
| Plate Mail | -3 | 0 | 0 |
|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
| Full Plate | -4 | -3 | 0 |
o===============o===============o===============o===============o
Saving Throws {DND089}
o======================================================================o
There are some things that speed and armor just can't protect against.
This typically means magic, in some form or another, and really, a
Fireball doesn't care about your Plate Mail Armor. An enchantment can't
be blocked by a shield, and being fleet of foot won't stop a Lich from
using vile necromancy to rip the soul from your body. Nope, for that,
we resort to Saving Throws, needlessly sorted into five categories that
aren't always as self-explanatory as they seem to be. When your
character is forced to making a saving throw check against something,
they 'roll' a d20 and must exceed their Saving Throw. So like Armor
Class, the lower the better.
Paralysis/Poison/Death
|Rod/Staff/Wand
| |Petrification/Polymorph
| | |Breath Weapon
| | | |Spells
Warrior o=======o=======o=======o=======o=======o
Level 1-2 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 17 |
Level 3-4 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 16 |
Level 5-6 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
Level 7-8 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
Level 9-10 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 11 |
Level 11-12 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 10 |
Level 13-14 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 8 |
Level 15-16 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 7 |
Level 17+ | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 6 |
Wizard |-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
Level 1-5 | 14 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 12 |
Level 6-10 | 13 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 10 |
Level 11-15 | 11 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 8 |
Level 16-20 | 10 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 6 |
Level 21+ | 8 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 4 |
Priest |-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
Level 1-3 | 10 | 14 | 13 | 16 | 15 |
Level 4-6 | 9 | 13 | 12 | 15 | 14 |
Level 7-9 | 7 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 12 |
Level 10-12 | 6 | 10 | 9 | 12 | 11 |
Level 13-15 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 10 |
Level 16-18 | 4 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 9 |
Level 19+ | 2 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 7 |
Rogue |-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
Level 1-4 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 16 | 15 |
Level 5-8 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 15 | 13 |
Level 9-12 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 14 | 11 |
Level 13-16 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 13 | 9 |
Level 17-20 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 12 | 7 |
Level 21 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 5 |
Monk |-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
Level 1-3 | 10 | 14 | 13 | 16 | 13 |
Level 4-6 | 9 | 13 | 12 | 15 | 12 |
Level 7-8 | 7 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 10 |
Level 9 | 6 | 10 | 9 | 12 | 9 |
Level 11-12 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 8 |
Level 13-15 | 4 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 7 |
Level 16-18 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 6 |
Level 19+ | 1 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 4 |
o=======o=======o=======o=======o=======o
--> Priest includes Druids.
--> Rogue includes Bards.
--> Warrior includes Barbarians, Paladins, and Rangers.
Note: Multi-classed characters take the lowest Saving Throws offered by
any of their classes. For example, a high level Fighter/Mage uses the
better Fighter Saving Throws versus Paralysis/Poison/Death, and the
better Mage Saving Throws versus Rod/Staff/Wand.
Starting Spell Selection {DND090}
o======================================================================o
If you're playing a Bard, Mage, or Sorcerer, you'll get to choose what
spells your character has in their spellbook... essentially what spells
your character knows and can choose to prepare and, eventually, cast.
You'll have to do this again even if you already made your character and
imported from Baldur's Gate 1. Yeah, you lose all your spells, but you
can freely pick a number of different spells of each level... provided
they're not prohibited by your class (specialist Mage, for example).
The number of spells you'll get by level are as follows:
o===o===o===o===o
|1st|2nd|3rd|4th|
o===o===o===o===o
Bard | 6 | 5 | 4 | - |
|---|---|---|---|
Mage | 7 | 6 | 5 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
Sorcerer | 5 | 3 | 2 | - |
|---|---|---|---|
Specialist Mage | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 |
|---|---|---|---|
Wild Mage* | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 |
o===o===o===o===o
*Wild Mages must pick the class-specific spells Nahal's Reckless
Dweomer (1st-Level) and Chaos Shield (2nd-Level).
1st Level Spells {DND091}
o----------------------------------------------------------------------o
Spell Priority Description
Blindness (5th) It'll out-last combat and
severely impair one creature in
melee, which is good at low
levels for bringing down tough
customers.
Burning Hands (3rd) You can use it to kill trolls,
if need be.
Charm Person (7th) Make one enemy your friend for
a while. Not a good idea on NPCs
you want to keep alive, but in
a pinch it takes from the bad
guys and adds to you.
Chromatic Orb (4th) At 7th level and above (which
nearly every spell caster
starts out at or above) it deals
some damage and has a small
chance to take an enemy out.
Identify (1st) Lets you know what magical items
do.
Magic Missile (2nd) Guaranteed 10-25 damage at 9th
level, great for whittling down
enemies and disrupting spells.
Sleep (6th) Not really a great spell
anymore, as most critters who
are actually dangerous are too
strong to be affected by Sleep.
Still, a few foes in the
early-going might be hindered
by it... and you really can't
expect too much from 1st-Level
spells.
2nd Level Spells (Bard 5, Mage 6, Sorcerer 3) {DND092}
o----------------------------------------------------------------------o
Blur (3rd) Makes all attacks take a -3
penalty and gives you a +1 bonus
to your saves. A basic defensive
spell you'll use a lot,
especially if you're a dual or
multi class Mage.
Knock (2nd) Opens locked things and allows
thieves to focus on other
skills. Absolutely essential.
Melf's Acid Arrow (5th) It can put trolls down for good
and deals continuous damage that
can disrupt spellcasters.
Mirror Image (1st) Not as strong as in Baldur's
Gate, you can now be hit instead
of an image. but it still gives
enemies a much greater chance to
hit an image
Resist Fear (6th) It never hurts to have another
character who can dispel fear.
Stinking Cloud (4th) Capable of incapacitating groups
of enemies and setting them up
for missile attacks. It won't
win every fight like it did in
the first game, but it'll come
in handy once in a while.
3rd Level Spells (Bard 4, Mage 5, Sorcerer 2) {DND093}
o----------------------------------------------------------------------o
Dispel Magic (1st) Has a chance to dispel all spell
effects on a creature, useful
defensively or offensively.
Tear down an enemies' buffs or
remove debuffs from your party.
You really need this spell.
Fireball (4th) Good for crowd control, and for
blazing lots of trolls at once.
Most enemies will survive this,
so it's not the problem-solver
like it was in the first game,
but it's good for softening
baddies up until you get Chain
Lightning and Horrid Wilting.
Haste (2nd) You get double the attacks and
movement speed, essentially
doubling your offensive power.
It leaves you fatigued
afterwards, but it has enough
duration to last most major
fights. This spell is one of the
essential spell-buffs for this
game.
Slow (3rd) Enemies save at a -4 penalty or
they are reduced to half their
attacks and movement speed, and
suffer a -4 penalty on their
attacks and Armor Class. This
is a death sentence for a melee
character, and used on a group
of strong Fighters can have as
detrimental an effect as Haste
has a beneficial effect.
Spell Thrust (5th) Dispels all low-leveled spell
protections on a character.
4th Level Spells (Mage 5) {DND094}
o----------------------------------------------------------------------o
Confusion (4th) Enemies save at -2 or become
confused. Confused creatures
might still attack you, but
Mages won't cast spells and
they are just as likely to
attack each other or wander
about aimlessly. This spell wins
fights.
Greater Malison (3rd) Makes all enemies save at -4 for
2 rounds/level. This should be
used at the beginning of every
big fight, making Confusion,
Chaos, Insect Plague, Finger of
Death, and Vorpal effects all
much more likely to succeed. An
indispensable offensive debuff.
Improved Invisibility (1st) Enemies cannot target you with
spells, and they take a -4
penalty to attack rolls. You
also get a +4 bonus to your
saves. One of the best defensive
spells in the game.
Minor Sequencer (5th) Allows you to instantly cast any
two first and/or second level
spells. String along two Magic
Missiles to quickly deal 20-50
damage, or better yet, a Blur
and Mirror Image to bring your
defenses up in a pinch.
Stoneskin (2nd) One of the reasons you need
Dispel Magic, this gives you
(and enemies who can cast it)
A number of 'skins' equal to
one every two levels. Each skin
essentially negates a melee or
ranged attack. Stacked with
Greater Invisibility, Blur, and
Mirror Image and you can see how
characters with defensive spells
become hard to kill.
Lore {DND095}
o======================================================================o
Lore is a minor statistic that rates your ability to identify unknown
magical items. Bards have the best lore, but the identify spell is the
great equalizer. So long as you get a high enough lore on a character
to identify minor items that you receive a lot of (such as ammunition)
you're fine. Lore is even more redundant in Baldur's Gate 2, as 1st
level Mage spells slink further back into obscurity. You even get
glasses that let you identify things a number of times per day near the
beginning of the game!
Lore by Class/Level {DND096}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Everybody Else 1 Lore/Level
Mage 3 Lore/Level
Thief 3 Lore/Level
Bard 10 Lore/Level
Experience Points (EXP Cap) {DND097}
o======================================================================o
You kill things, you complete quests, you earn Experience Points. You
gain Experience Points, you Level up, you gain Levels, you get stronger,
you can kill more stuff. Fun. In Shadows of Amn you have a maximum
experience cap of 2,950,000, which is pretty damn high. In Throne of
Bhaal they just say screw it and let you go wild, up to 8,000,000
experience points. This gives you nearly unrestricted level achievement
in this game... even I had to grind to hit the maximum, which is a
welcome change from the first game. Below is a list of the maximum
levels that can be achieved by the various classes with the two stated
experience caps. Note that once Throne of Bhaal is installed the
experience cap is moved to 8,000,000. Like in Tales of the Sword Coast
you do not actually have to reach the expansion to benefit from the
expanded experience cap.
o==========o==========o
|Shadows of|Throne of |
| Amn | Bhaal |
o==========o==========o
Barbarian | 19 | 40 |
|----------|----------|
Bard | 23 | 40 |
|----------|----------|
Cleric | 21 | 40 |
|----------|----------|
Cleric/Mage | 14/13 | 25/20 |
|----------|----------|
Cleric/Ranger | 14/12 | 25/21 |
|----------|----------|
Cleric/Thief | 14/16 | 25/28 |
|----------|----------|
Druid | 14 | 31 |
|----------|----------|
Fighter | 19 | 40 |
|----------|----------|
Fighter/Cleric | 13/14 | 24/25 |
|----------|----------|
Fighter/Druid | 13/13 | 24/21 |
|----------|----------|
Fighter/Mage | 13/13 | 24/20 |
|----------|----------|
Fighter/Mage/Cleric | 11/12/12 | 18/17/19 |
|----------|----------|
Fighter/Mage/Thief | 11/12/14 | 18/17/22 |
|----------|----------|
Fighter/Thief | 13/16 | 24/28 |
|----------|----------|
Mage | 17 | 31 |
|----------|----------|
Mage/Thief | 13/16 | 20/28 |
|----------|----------|
Monk | 21 | 40 |
|----------|----------|
Paladin | 17 | 40 |
|----------|----------|
Ranger | 17 | 40 |
|----------|----------|
Sorcerer | 17 | 31 |
|----------|----------|
Thief | 24 | 40 |
o==========o==========o
Throne of Bhaal {DND098}
o======================================================================o
Throne of Bhaal doesn't only add new dungeons and raise the experience
cap, it fundamentally changes the way the rest of the game plays by
adding 'High-Level Class Abilities'. This was a meager attempt by the
staff at BioWare to enhance the product and tie it more with 3rd Edition
without actually converting. I will use the term 'Epic Feats', since
they are gained near epic level for single-classed characters, and many
emulated 3rd Edition feats. Also, they've added many changes to
characters who reach above 20th level, which are noted in the class
entries. Note that in the expansion you cannot wear Red Dragon Scale
Armor with magical protection items (like Rings of Protection +2). You
also get the ability to erase spells from your spell book.
Epic Feats by Class {DND099}
o======================================================================o
When you reach around 3,000,000 experience, whether you're single, dual,
or multi-classed, you'll start earning 'High Level Abilities'. For most
single-classed characters, this is around 20th-level, which marks a
plateau known more commonly as 'Epic level'. Since many of these
abilities emulate 3rd Edition Feats (Baldur's Gate 2 came out near the
same time as 3rd Edition Dungeons and Dragons, but a 3rd Edition video
game wouldn't come until Neverwinter Nights) I prefer to call them
Epic Feats. Different classes-groups have their own selection of Epic
Feats to choose from-Warriors (including Rangers, Paladins, Barbarians,
Monks and of course, Fighters), Wizards (Mages-Specialist, normal, and
Wild-and Sorcerers), Priests (Druids and Clerics) and Rogues (Bards and
Thieves), including all relevant kits. All the Epic Feats in the game
are actually described below in the next section, organized by class.
Warrior (Fighters, Rangers, Paladins, Barbarians, Monks)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Critical Strike (requires Power Attack)
Deathblow
Greater Deathblow (requires Deathblow)
Greater Whirlwind Attack (requires Whirlwind Attack)
Hardiness
Power Attack
Resist Magic
Smite (requires Power Attack and Critical Strike)
Summon Deva (Paladins)
Summon Fallen Deva (Blackguards)
Track [Ranger only]
War Cry
Whirlwind Attack
Wizard (Mages, Sorcerers, Specialist Mages, Wild Mages)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Comet
Dragon's Breath
Energy Blades
Extra Level 6 Spell
Extra Level 7 Spell
Extra Level 8 Spell
Improved Alacrity
Summon Dark Planetar (evil Mages)
Summon Planetar (good, neutral Mages)
Priest (Clerics, Druids)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Aura of Flaming Death
Elemental Summoning
Elemental Transformation (fire) [Druid only]
Elemental Transformation (earth) [Druid only]
Energy Blades
Globe of Blades
Greater Elemental Summoning (requires Elemental Summoning) [Druid Only]
Implosion
Mass Raise Dead
Storm of Vengeance
Summon Fallen Deva [evil and neutral Priests]
Summon Deva [good and neutral Priests]
Rogue (Bards, Theives)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Alchemy
Assassination
Avoid Death
Enhanced Bard Song [Bard only]
Evasion
Greater Evasion (requires Evasion)
Magic Flute [Bard only]
Scribe Scrolls (requires Use Any Item)
Set Spike Trap
Set Exploding Trap
Set Time Trap
Use Any Item
Warrior Feats {DND105}
o======================================================================o
Critical Strike
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Special Requirements: You must know the Power Attack. You can only
choose this ability once.
A high-level warrior's intimate knowledge of vital spots on opponents
allows him to, once per day, concentrate all of the attacks in one round
to strike a vital area every time. With this ability, every attack roll
made in the next round is a natural 20, a critical hit.
Huh. And here I thought that a warrior was ALWAYS concentrating his
attacks on vital areas? I guess most of the time they're just screwing
around trying to score flesh wounds. The best thing about it is that
it ensures you hit every time in the next round. The criticals are nice,
but sadly, many things are immune to critical hits.
Deathblow
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
The Deathblow ability allows the warrior to blow through the defenses of
any lesser creature. For the next 2 rounds, any creature of 8th level or
lower is instantly killed when struck by the warrior.
I just have one question here... By Throne of Bhaal, what, exactly, is
below 8th level? Almost nothing. And if it is you can kill it just fine
without using a feat. This is useless.
Greater Deathblow
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Special Requirements: You must know the Deathblow ability.
Like Deathblow, this ability allows the warrior to vanquish lesser foes
with a single blow. When struck with a Greater Deathblow, any creature
of 12th level or lower is instantly killed. The ability lasts for 2
rounds.
12th level is a little better than 8th, but still too low to make a
huge difference, even if it lasts twice as long.
Greater Whirlwind Attack
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Special Requirements: You must know the Whirlwind Attack ability.
A more powerful version of the Whirlwind Attack, Greater Whirlwind
Attack gives the Fighter the same bonuses without penalties. Their
number of attacks per round are set to 10 for one round.
If you hit things with melee weapons, you need this feat. You need it
many times over. Period. Ten attacks a round? It almost makes up for
them nerfing grandmastery. In fact, it makes me wonder what the big deal
was with grandmastery if they were going to throw this monster in? It's
awesome enough for a Fighter, but think of what it can do for a
Fighter/Mage who is using Time Stop? Absolutely magnificent. It's the
combo of winners.
Hardiness
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Calling upon hidden reserves of Strength during times of danger, a
warrior can use the Hardiness ability to gain 40% resistance to all
forms of physical damage The ability lasts for 1 round for every 2
levels of the warrior.
Well, if you don't have any other way to defend yourself, here you go.
It's great for single-classed Barbarians, Fighters, and Monks, none of
which can cast spells. When you hit level 40 it'll last some 20 rounds,
which is phenomenal. This means you only need to get it once, as it'll
last you pretty much an entire fight. If you're a Fighter/Mage,
Fighter/Cleric, Ranger/Cleric, Fighter/Druid, Fighter/Mage/Thief, or
otherwise have some means of putting up defenses, you really don't need
to waste a pick.
Power Attack
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
A Power Attack allows the warrior to strike blows so forceful that they
stun an opponent for 2 rounds if it fails its save vs. death at a -4
penalty. The ability lasts for 2 rounds.
I suppose if you followed it up with a Whirlwind Attack... no really,
you can't Coup'de'Grace in Baldur's Gate 2, so stunning is useless. It
can delay an enemy, but wouldn't you rather use another Greater
Whirlwind instead? Why stun when you can kill?
Resist Magic
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This ability allows the warrior to temporarily tap a great inner
Strength and fight off the effects of malevolent magic. For 4 rounds the
warrior's magic resistance is set to 50 %. This is not cumulative with
other forms of magic resistance so if the warrior already has 50 % magic
resistance or greater, the ability is useless.
The ability is useless. They got that right. Four rounds? That's
pathetic.
Smite
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Special Requirements: You must know the Power Attack and Critical Strike
Abilities.
With the Smite ability, the warrior gains the ability to strike a mighty
blow, knocking an opponent back for a considerable distance and stunning
the opponent for 1 round. All attacks made in the first round are
critical hits. The ability lasts for 2 rounds. Large creatures such as a
dragons or giants will not be knocked back or stunned.
This ability isn't terrible. At least it's always going to stun
applicable creatures, and if they're near a wall or boxed in, you can
attack in unison with other characters, potentially knocking a dangerous
foe back long enough for other Fighters to get ready to Whirlwind
Attack. I still have to balk at wasting a total of three feats to get
this, however. I'd rather just hit them with more Whirlwind Attacks.
They can't do any damage to me if they're dead.
Summon Deva/Fallen Deva (Conjuration/Summoning)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Level: Quest
Casting Time: 5
Range: 40 yards
Area of Effect: Special
Duration: 4 rounds + 1 round/level
Saving Throw: None
This spell opens a celestial gate and calls forth an angelic Deva to
fight at the caster's side until the spell expires or the Deva's
earthly avatar is slain.
This spell opens an abyssal gate and calls forth a demonic Deva to fight
at the caster's side until the spell expires or the Deva's earthly
avatar is slain.
For Paladins and Blackguards, this is a no-brainer. Instead of being
added to their list of Clerical spells as a 7th-levell spell (which
they couldn't cast anyways) they get this as a special ability, usable
a number of times per day equal to the number of times they selected
the feat. Why would you not want to give a warrior the ability to
summon such a potent ally, and thus spare your Clerics from having to
bother? It's just a great move for Dorn/Keldorn.
Tracking (Ranger only)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
With an intimate knowledge of his surroundings and the creatures that
live within them, a Ranger can use the Tracking ability to give himself
a general idea of what creatures are in an area and which direction they
are. Red arrows at the edge of the screen will point in the general
direction of the creatures in the area.
Or you could just follow my guide. :)
War Cry
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
With a War Cry, the warrior emits a powerful and frightening yell that
will leave all opponents in a 30' radius stunned with fear if they don't
make their save vs. spell.
Or... a Mage could cast Chaos, which takes enemies out of the fight and
saves at a -4. Then the Fighter can go use the Greater Whirlwind he
saved by not wasting his time with this feat. Everybody wins.
Whirlwind Attack
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This ability allows the warrior to unleash a flurry of super-fast blows.
The ability sets one's number of attacks per round to 10 but one's THAC0
and damage suffer a -4 penalty. The whirlwind attack lasts for one
round.
Get it as a pre-requisite for Greater Whirlwind, and then ignore it. If
it weren't for Greater Whirlwind, this would be the go-to feat, even
with its penalties.
Wizard Feats {DND106}
o======================================================================o
Comet (Any School)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Level: 10
Casting Time: 9
Range: 90 yards
Area of Effect: 30' radius
Duration: Instantaneous S
Saving Throw: None
A more powerful and specialized version of Meteor Swarm, a huge meteor
or comet strikes the earth damaging all enemies in its path and sending
out a powerful shockwave that knocks away all foes in the area of
effect. Those knocked down must save vs. paralyzation or be stunned for
1D4 rounds. The comet itself does 10D10 damage This spell will not
harm party members.
10d10 is a nice chunk of damage, and it has a good radius, and it
can stun and knock enemies down as well? This opens them up for further
abuse, or at least gets them off of you for a while, allowing you to
make a telling first strike followed by opportunistic warriors or
further spell abuse. Any Mage worth their spell-books should get this.
The best part is, however, it won't cause any collateral damage! It's
an upgrade over Horrid Wilting to be sure. What it might lack in damage
it makes up for in stunning and in not allowing the enemy to save for
half against what damage it does do.
Dragon's Breath (Any School)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Level: 10
Casting Time: 3
Range: Visual range of caster
Area of Effect: 30-foot radius
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Special
This spell causes a disembodied head of red dragon to appear and
breathe fire with the Strength of an adult red dragon. In addition to
the enormous 20D10 fireball, the force of the dragon's breath knocks an
opponent off their feet and away from the caster. The victim can save
vs. breath to take half damage and not be blown backwards. This spell
will not harm party members.
Well... one glaring problem is it's lack of a save penalty, meaning that
more likely than not they'll be taking half damage, or 10d10, instead of
20d10. Also, there's no chance to stun, so why not just pick Comet
instead?
Energy Blades (Any School)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Level: 10
Casting Time: 3
Range: Special
Area of Effect: Special
Duration: 4 turns
Saving Throw: None
An energy blade is a discus made of pure energy. The disc gives +10 to
THAC0, and when thrown does 1D4+5 missile damage as well as 1D10
additional electrical damage This spell creates 1 energy disc per level
of the caster and sets the caster's attacks to 9 as long as the discs
are held.
This spell allows you to do 1d4+5 plus 1d10 electrical damage per blade
to one creature, or 7-19 damage per Energy Blade. Since you can fire off
nine blades in one round... That's 63-171 damage if you hit with each
attack, which you may just do thanks to the THAC0 bonus. Of course, you
are wasting time throwing things when you COULD be casting more spells,
but during a Time Stop sequence this will allow you to do some serious
damage to one creature. Of course, using a Spell Sequencer with three
Flame Arrows deals 60d6 damage (60-360 damage) with a minimum on a save
of 36d6 damage (36-216 damage) Or even look at the humble Magic Missile
with the same spell, which would do a happy 30-75 damage. The point?
It's not worth a feat. You'll have to get it anyways, but as a Mage,
I'd never bother wasting a 9th-level spell slot on it.
Extra Level (6, 7, 8) Spell
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Choosing this ability allows the wizard to cast one additional Level 6,
7, or 8 spell.
There are three of these feats, one for 6th-level spells, one for 7th,
and one for 8th. They're no-brainers why would you not want another
Death Spell, Pierce Magic, or Horrid Wilting? 7th-level spells aren't
stellar... but since you need it to get an extra 8th-level spell. Oh,
also, most Mages won't have much choice but to get these, anyways.
Limited number of feats and all.
Improved Alacrity (Any School)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Level: 10
Casting Time: 2
Range: Unlimited
Area of Effect: Special
Duration: 2 Rounds
Saving Throw: Special
Improved Alacrity essentially erases the pause between casting spells.
When cast, the Mage can begin casting a new spell the instant his is
finished casting his current spell. The effect lasts for 2 rounds.
Or you could just cast Time Stop. Longer effect, same results, and you
don't waste a feat. Or if you used the two together...
Summon Planetar/Dark Planetar (Any School)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Level: 10
Casting Time: 5
Range: 40 yards
Area of Effect: Special
Duration: 4 rounds + 1 round/level
Saving Throw: None
This spell opens a abyssal gate and calls forth a fallen Planetar to
fight at the caster's side until the spell expires or the Planetar's
avatar is slain.
This spell opens a celestial gate and calls forth a Planetar to fight at
the caster's side until the spell expires or the Planetar's avatar is
slain.
A nice spell indeed, but frankly it doesn't equal a Time Stop, and it
can be done just as well by a Cleric or Paladin summoning a Deva.
Priest Feats {DND107}
o======================================================================o
Elemental Summoning
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Level: Quest
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 10 yards
Area of Effect: Special
Duration: 10 rounds
Saving Throw: None
Drawing power from the environment, this spell summons 2 16HD elementals
randomly chosen from earth, air or fire. The elementals stay for 10
rounds and will obey the caster as long as they remain summoned. There
is a 10% chance that a randomly chosen Elemental Prince will be summoned
instead.
The Elemental Princes rule over other elementals in their respective
planes. The Elemental Prince of Air is Chan. The Elemental Prince of
Earth is Sunnis. The Elemental Prince of Fire is Zaaman Rul.
Ten rounds for two 16HD elementals? Not worth it. But it is a pre-
requisite for another, better spell.
Elemental Transformation (Earth), (Fire)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Level: Quest
Casting Time: 4
Range: 0
Area of Effect: Caster
Duration: 5 turns
Saving Throw: None
Harnessing the power of the earth, this powerful shapechange ability
allows the druid to become a 24HD earth elemental of immense Strength.
The elemental form has an AC of -5, a THAC0 of 2 and does 2D10 crushing
damage with its attacks. When the druid returns to human form, he is
also healed 3D10 damage
Harnessing the power of fire, this powerful shapechange ability allows
the druid to become a 24HD fire elemental of immense Strength. The
elemental form has an AC of -5, a THAC0 of 2 and does 1D10 normal and
1D10 fire damage with its attacks. When the druid returns to human form,
he is also healed 3D10 damage
A THAC0 of 2 is pretty good... unless you consider the fact that every
Fighter will surpass it with ease, especially when you include their
magical weapon bonuses, which you won't have. Also a -5 Armor Class is
not very good. If you're a single-classed Druid, you're beyond help
already, and this isn't going to change things.
Energy Blades (Any School)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Level: 10
Casting Time: 3
Range: Special
Area of Effect: Special
Duration: 4 turns
Saving Throw: None
An energy blade is a discus made of pure energy. The disc gives +10 to
THAC0, and when thrown does 1D4+5 missile damage as well as 1D10
additional electrical damage This spell creates 1 energy disc per level
of the caster and sets the caster's attacks to 9 as long as the discs
are held.
This spell allows you to do 1d4+5 plus 1d10 damage per blade to one
creature. This allows you to do a range of 7-19 damage per Energy Blade,
and fire off up to nine blades in one round... That's 63-171 damage if
you hit with each attack, which you may just do thanks to the THAC0
bonus. For a Mage, this spell is kind of a boner-it takes up a 9th-level
spell slot which could be used for Time Stop or Comet. For a Cleric,
with their better THAC0 and less potent 7th-level spells, it might be
worth casting once in a while... especially for Viconia, who isn't much
use in melee, anyways.
Globe of Blades (Evocation)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Level: Quest
Casting Time: 9
Sphere: Guardian/Creation
Area of Effect: Special
Range: 0
Saving Throw: Special
Duration: 1 turn
The priest employs this spell to set up a globe of razor-sharp blades.
These whirl and flash around the caster, creating an impenetrable
barrier. Any creature attempting to pass through the blade barrier
suffers 10D10 points of damage Creatures within the area of the
barrier when it is invoked are entitled to a saving throw vs.
spell at -2. If this is successful, the blades are avoided and no
damage is suffered. The barrier remains for ten rounds.
It's better than Blade Barrier, but it can't help but make me wish the
save was for half instead of none... Still, that gripe aside it's worth
grabbing. Just keep your companions out of the meat grinder. In
conjunction with Aura of Flaming Death it really makes it painful for
enemies to attack your Clerics. As well it should be.
Greater Elemental Summoning (Druid only)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Level: Quest
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: 10 yards
Area of Effect: Special
Duration: 10 rounds
Saving Throw: None
Druids, having a more powerful link to the elements, can cast a stronger
version of Elemental Summoning. This spell can summon the Elemental
Princes themselves, randomly chosen from earth, air or fire. The
Elemental Princes stay for 10 rounds and will obey the caster as long as
they remain summoned.
Summoning the freakin' Elemental Princes themselves? That seems a bit
much, but if you can get it... You won't find better tanks in the entire
game, even if it's just for a turn. It's worth it.
Implosion (Evocation)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Level: Quest
Casting Time: 9
Range: Visual range of caster
Area of Effect: 1 creature
Duration: 2 Rounds
Saving Throw: Special
This spell creates a rift in the earth beneath the target which implodes
and closes in upon itself, crushing and burning the target and holding
it for 1 round. The spell does 10D10 fire damage and 10D10 blunt damage
The victim can save vs. spell for half damage
That's... not quite what the Implosion spell is meant to do, but okay.
It's like the Dragon's Breath spell, but it only affects one creature.
In other words, it's full of suck.
Mass Raise Dead (Necromancy)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Level: Quest
Casting Time: 2
Sphere: Necromantic
Area of Effect: Up to 5 party members
Range: Sight of the caster Saving Throw: Special
Duration: Permanent
A more powerful version of Raise Dead, this spell brings up to 5 party
members back to life and heals 3D10+1 per level of the caster points of
damage They can regain the rest of their Hit Points by natural healing
or curative magic. This spell restores life to dwarves, gnomes,
half-elves, halflings, elves, half-orcs and humans.
What are your characters doing dead in the first place? Try harder. This
spell sucks. If only you could have been given a straight Mass Heal type
spell instead.
Storm of Vengeance
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Level: Quest
Casting Time: 8
Range: 90 Yards
Area of Effect: 30 foot radius
Duration: 3 rounds
Saving Throw: Special
Casting this spell causes the earth to shake and the heavens to boil
with blood and energy. All enemies of the caster are stuck down by
acidic rain, earthquakes and lightning.
All enemies of 6th level or lower are slain instantly. The survivors are
struck by acidic poisonous rain and lightning. The storm lasts for 3
rounds. Each round, the victims suffer 1D6 electrical damage, 1D6 fire
damage and 1D6 acid damage They are also poisoned in the first round.
3d6 damage per round for three rounds? 9d6 damage? What a waste. If you
can't think of something better to pick, you need to be smacked about
the face and neck.
Summon Deva/Fallen Deva (Conjuration/Summoning)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Level: Quest
Casting Time: 5
Range: 40 yards
Area of Effect: Special
Duration: 4 rounds + 1 round/level
Saving Throw: None
This spell opens a celestial gate and calls forth an angelic Deva to
fight at the caster's side until the spell expires or the Deva's
earthly avatar is slain.
This spell opens an abyssal gate and calls forth a demonic Deva to fight
at the caster's side until the spell expires or the Deva's earthly
avatar is slain.
There's less competition for high-end Cleric and Druid spells as
opposed to the high-level Mage spells that Summon Planetar will take up,
so I'd suggest getting a Deva instead if at all possible. After all,
wouldn't you rather give up a Sunray, Greater Restoration, or Finger
of Death rather than a Time Stop?
Rogue Feats {DND108}
o======================================================================o
Alchemy
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
With Intelligence innate to the class, an experienced rogue has seen
enough potions in his or her adventuring career to simulate the creation
of one. With the Alchemy skill, the rogue can create one of eight types
of potions, once per day.
The potions a rogue can create are randomly chosen from the following
list:
1) Potion of Master Thievery
2) Potion of Perception
3) Potion of Extra Healing
4) Potion of Superior Healing
5) Potion of Regeneration
6) Antidote
7) Oil of Speed
8) Potion of Frost Giant Strength, only useable by thieves or bards
One, it's random, although I guess you could just wait around and stock
up. Still, these are all items you can buy from stores, and many of the
potions can be replicated with spells, or aren't very useful by the time
you get unlimited access to them anyways. The only interesting one, the
potion of Frost Giant Strength, can be permanently gained with girdles
on your main Fighters, and since it's only usable by thieves and bards,
it really only is useful on multi-class thieves.
Assassination
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Using every clever trick an experienced Thief has learned in countless
battles, this ability allows every strike in the next round to act as a
backstab, using the Thief's existing backstab modifier to determine
damage
This is more like it. Every attack counts as a backstab? Obviously the
more Fighter you have backing this up, the better, and with Haste it
becomes truly devastating. This is a must-have for thieves. Bards... I'm
not sure what backstab modifier it's using, exactly. Keep in mind that
many big bad things in this game are, sadly, immune to backstabs.
Avoid Death
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
With a superhuman effort, a high-level rogue can avoid almost certain
death. The effect lasts for 5 rounds and during this time the rogue
gains a +5 bonus to save vs. death, his Hit Points are increased by 20
and the rogue becomes immune to death magic for the duration of the
ability.
Eh. I suppose. It only lasts for five rounds, so you really have to know
that those death effects are coming, and even then, why not just pop on
a Death Ward spell? It really would protect against, what? Poison?
Negative Energy? If it lasted longer, it would be useful, but its
duration makes it iffy.
Enhanced Bard Song (Bard only)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This is a powerful aid to both the bard and to his allies. The song
gives the bard himself a 10 point bonus to his AC and 10 % magic
resistance bonus due to the power of the song. The song also gives his
allies +4 to hit, +4 to damage, +4 to AC, immunity to Fear, Stun and
Confusion, +5 % magic resistance and immunity to normal weapons. This
ability replaces the current Bard Song.
A Bard in Baldur's Gate 2 is essentially a support character. And if
this isn't a superior support ability, I don't know what is. +4 to hit,
damage, and Armor Class is a VERY good thing. I can't imagine any reason
for any Bard to skip on this.
Evasion
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
A rogue's natural sense of preservation becomes heightened with the use
of the Evasion ability. Evasion gives a +4 bonus to AC and +2 to all
saving throws. The effect lasts for 3 rounds.
The best thing to say about it is that it's a requirement for Greater
Evasion. Other than that, it's about the equivalent of Improved
Invisibility, but with much worse duration and no protection against
magic.
Greater Evasion
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Special Requirements: You must know the Evasion ability.
A more powerful version of Evasion, this ability gives +6 to AC and +3
to all saving throws. In addition, Greater Evasion allows the rogue to
move so quickly that his movement rate is increased by 2 and normal
missiles have no chance of striking him. Greater Evasion lasts for 5
rounds.
A little better, I guess. Better than Improved Invisibility in power,
but weaker still in duration and magic defense. It at least makes you
faster, and makes you immune to normal missiles. It'll help a Thief out
defensively, but if you've got spells as well, you probably won't need
it.
Magic Flute (Bard only)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This ability creates a magic flute made of pure magical energy. When
played, the flute can be used to cast the following spells:
Resist Fear (Party) - 1 charge
Globe of Invulnerability - 1 charge
Delayed Blast Fireball - 3 charges
The spell-like abilities on the Flute are used in the same way that a
wand's powers are used. The Flute lasts for 1 day.
What ass. Really? Resist fear is a low-level spell, Globe of
Invulnerability isn't going to protect you from anything in Throne of
Bhaal, and... well, Delayed Blast Fireballs are kinda nice, but it's not
worth sacrificing a feat over. Getting the bonus spell slots for a Mage
is one thing... it allows you to prepare any extra spell of that level,
and is a prerequisite for the 10th level spells, but this? Pass.
Scribe Scrolls
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Special Requirements: You must know the Use Any Item ability
This ability allows a rogue to create low and mid-level spell scrolls.
The scrolls that the rogue can create are randomly chosen from the
following list:
1) Magic Missile
2) Haste
3) Fireball
4) Dispel Magic
5) Dire Charm
6) Invisibility
7) Cone of Cold
8) Monster Summoning II
9) Monster Summoning III
By Throne of Bhaal what use are half of these spells? Magic Missile,
Dire Charm, Monster Summoning II and III are parlor tricks. Maybe back
in Durlag's Tower this would have been handy, but not now. It doesn't do
anything a Cleric, Druid, or Mage can't do better and more readily.
Set Exploding Trap
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This ability allows the rogue to set a powerful trap that unleashes a
fireball which causes 10d6 damage (save vs. spells for half damage) and
will knock its victims off their feet.
I generally think traps are pretty useless. Are traps really going to
help you against Beholders, Dragons, and Liches? I doubt it. 10d6
damage? That's a fireball, a 3rd level spell. Don't waste your feat.
Set Spike Trap
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This ability allows the rogue to set a powerful spring-loaded spike trap
that does 20D6 damage to the unsuspecting creature that sets it off.
Now this is a little better. 20d6 is hefty damage, and dealing that will
actually bother a powerful creature. If you want to do hit and run
tactics, this is an option.
Set Time Trap
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This ability allows the rogue to set a magical trap that casts a weaker
version of the high level Time Stop spell. For 10 seconds, the flow of
time slows for all but the rogue. Often, a rogue will use this trap to
get behind an opponent for a free attack.
This is also an interesting ability. 10 seconds is just over one combat
round, during which time a Thief can hide in shadows, like the
description says, or if they're multi-classed they may... say... pop out
a Whirlwind Attack? Just a thought.
Use Any Item
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Rogues take pride in their ability to adapt and make clever use of
whatever is at hand. This ability is an extension of that basic skill.
Once learned, the effect is permanent. The ability allows the rogue to
use any item, even items that are typically restricted to one class.
This allows the rogue to use everything from wands and scrolls to mighty
weapons that none but a Fighter could otherwise use. This ability is a
prerequisite to the Scribe Scroll ability.
Well... you never know what is going to be class restricted, but if you
are a Fighter/Thief, you can already use those mighty weapons, and if
you're a Thief/Mage, you can already use those wands, right? Not always.
There are a few instances where this comes in handy, and Haer'Dalis
should always get it. For a Fighter/Thief or Fighter/Mage/Thief
protagonist, this is also a must-get. It'll allow you to use such gear
as Montolio's Cloak or Wondrous Gloves.
My Protagonists {DND104}
o======================================================================o
I've played this game quite a few times, and have had many protagonists
over the years... but for these guides I've focused on the strongest,
most power-gamey characters out there, characters who are individually
powerful, unique, and fit well into various party setups. I first
started built this guide around a Fighter/Mage protagonist leading a
good party, but later added information for you evil folks out there.
The evil party was, by necessity, led by a Fighter/Mage/Thief
protagonist.
The Fighter/Mage {DND105}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Fighter/Mage
Elf, Male
True Neutral
(base) (imported)
Strength: 18/66 19
Dexterity: 19 20
Constitution: 17 18
Intelligence: 18 19
Wisdom: 13 16
Charisma: 10 11
Overview:
---------
At the end of this game, the Fighter/Mage is arguably the strongest
character there is. I don't argue it, but I'm sure somebody might. As
far as I'm concerned, it's as strong of a protagonist as you can get.
Since this is your protagonist-the only character whose creation you get
to determine-you might as well make sure they've got the best possible
attributes. The ideal is to start out maxed in Strength, Dexterity,
Constitution, and Intelligence... which I've done. This character is
further boosted by tomes obtained in the first game, and if you're
following through with me, yours will be, too. It gives us an extra
advantage that surely befits our protagonist's paternity, and starting
out with a 19 Strength really helps this character shine. The Dexterity
and Constitution give him the ability to survive better, since he will
not, for most of the game, have much in the way of armor. Intelligence
is more of a matter of simplicity, as with a 19 Intelligence our
Fighter/Mage will not be restricted by a maximum number of spell per
level, and only rarely by failure when scribing scrolls... the latter of
which can be negated just by shifting the difficulty down to normal or
by save/loading.
What does this character do, you ask? A Fighter/Mage is what it sounds
like, a hybrid of fighting power and magic. Seems cliche, and these
hybrid characters never work anymore... but go back to the turn of the
millenium, when 2nd Edition Dungeons and Dragons ruled the land... or
was so recently subverted that it was still fresh in one's mind, at
least. The Fighter/Mage really does get the best of both worlds, and
these are two domains made stupidly strong in Baldur's Gate 2. Weapons
have never been meaner, and melee attacks soundly leave missile attacks
in the dust in Baldur's Gate 2, generally having more potent effects
and requiring no specialized magical ammo to harm creatures. Also,
freed from the confines of Baldur's Gate 1's level cap, our warriors are
free to rack up multiple attacks per round and drop their THAC0s to
stupidly low numbers. Nothing kills quite so quickly or dependably as a
high-Strength melee character with a good weapon in this game. But
that's just one side of the coin. The other, of course, is magic. On
its own, a warrior would be largely incapable of bypassing the defenses
of many creatures in this game, or surviving their onslaughts. Stoneskin
has a way of nerfing a warrior's potency, and an Illithid-who kills by
draining Intelligence instead of chisling away Hit Points are just
threats a warrior isn't built to handle. The Fighter/Mage, however, is
equipped to handle anything. Depending on the foe, they can buff
themselves with the appropriate magics to make themselves resistant
(or out right immune) to attack in ways a warrior can only dream of-
armor be damned. Thus protected, they've got a better chance of cutting
or smashing their way through any opposition, where a single-classed
Mage or Fighter could not. To say that their magic is purely defensive
and in service to their melee, however, is not accurate. Certainly
spells like Stoneskin protects and thus protected, allows the
Fighter/Mage to endure and destroy, and spells like Haste only increase
their death-dealing, but without spells like Dispel Magic and Breach,
they, like any single-classed warrior, would be unable to harm certain
foes at all. When necessary, however, they can just outright play the
Mage card. Lobbing out a Chaos or Slow will hinder enemies more than
anything any warrior could hope to do in a single round, and while it's
true that most of the death-dealing will be done with the Fighter/Mage's
weapons, it's the magic that allows them the security (and deprives the
enemy of any) to do so. The ultimate expression of the Fighter/Mage
synthesis is realized late in the game (as a multi-class character, no
levels are redundant for the Fighter/Mage, who is always improving in
significant ways long after single-classed warriors have stopped gaining
anything but Hit Points) with the Time Stop/Greater Whirlwind combo.
A single-classed Mage with Time Stop and Horrid Wilting is a brutal
thing, as is a single-classed warrior with Greater Whirlwind. But
together, you get an attack of such breath-taking potency that even
late-game bosses have no choice but to topple over and die in front of
it. And of course, the Fighter/Mage can always just mimic the tactics of
either of their component classes, as well, when it suits them. The
Fighter/Mage is the most defensively and offensively powerful character
out there.
How to Use the Fighter/Mage Effectively:
----------------------------------------
To start out the game, he picks the spells he'll need to get him started
listed in [DND091]. For his proficiencies, he'll get three ranks in
Two Weapon Style to reduce two weapon penalties by as much as possible.
He'll also get two ranks into Katanas (since Celestial Fury is one of
the best and most easily obtainable one-handed weapons in Shadows of
Amn) and one rank into Flails (since we'll obtain Flail of Ages
soon enough to make this a priority.) I could give the Flail of Ages
to Anomen, but honestly, I prefer him with Crom Faeyr, and this way my
protagonist has a blunt weapon. Later on in the game he'll get another
point into Flails, and start working on Axes. This will allow him to
ditch Celestial Fury sometime in Throne of Bhaal so he can equip the
Axe of the Unyielding. The entire Fighter/Mage potency thing I drooled
over above depends on two things-having the best weapons, and the
right spells. I intend to make sure it happens.
The Fighter/Mage/Thief {DND106}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Fighter/Mage/Thief
Half-Elf, Female
Neutral Evil
(base) (imported)
Strength: 18/73 19
Dexterity: 18 19
Constitution: 18 19
Intelligence: 18 19
Wisdom: 10 13
Charisma: 10 11
Overview:
---------
The Fighter/Mage/Thief is a compromise-but not a bad one. The evil
party needs a Thief, so my typical Fighter/Mage combination puts on a
Thief hat. Simple as. Instead, however, of making a poor copy of my
Fighter/Mage and adding in some Thief, we should look at this class as
an opportunity, rather than as a burden. True, it's the Fighter in the
name that does the killing, and the Mage that allows it to happen, just
like with the Fighter/Mage, but the Thief's offerings are capable of
boosting the former. The idea here is simple-the best offensive benefit
added by a Thief is the backstabbing, so the Fighter/Mage/Thief should,
at every opportunity, strive to backstab. It's not easy to achieve in
Baldur's Gate 2, however, a game where nearly every Mage will gleefully
expose you with True Sight and some foes are just outright immune to
backstabs. Also, since my Fighter/Mage/Thief acts as the party tank and
specialized troubleshooter, it's difficult to work in a backstab when
you're drawing the attention... something going invisible would work
against, even if you could do so without being detected.
This does eventually come to fruition, however, when my evil protagonist
obtains the Dagger of the Star +5, which has a 15% chance to turn the
user invisible every time they hit a foe. A bit of micromanagement, or
simply keeping them behind foes to start with, and you can rely on the
massive x5 backstab bonus damage to occur. A single such hit with a
high-Strength evil protagonist will likely seriously wound or even
outright kill most foes in the game. Additional tactical flexibility is
made possible with the 'Use Any Item' ability. Again, taking the glass-
half-full approach, since the Fighter/Mage/Thief is denied access to
Mage epic feats, getting Thief and Fighter, instead. This ability allows
the Fighter/Mage/Thief to wear items they would otherwise be prohibited
from using, allowing them to gear up in ways impossible to the
Fighter/Mage. I'm not going to lie and claim this makes the
Fighter/Mage/Thief equal to the Fighter/Mage. It doesn't. Spell
selection and the ungodly Time Stop/Greater Whirlwind combo will always
be points in favor of the Fighter/Mage, but the Fighter/Mage/Thief is
potent in its own right, and in its own way.
How to Use the Fighter/Mage/Thief Effectively:
----------------------------------------------
My Fighter/Mage/Thief will likewise pick what spells are best suited
towards a combat-active Mage's survival, then follows the Fighter/Mage
by getting two ranks into Katanas and three ranks into the Two Weapon
Style. She'll spend her last proficiency into Long Swords, instead of
Flails, however, as Viconia will be using the Flail of Ages for the
evil party (she just has no business having 25 Strength with one attack
per round.) Korgan will dual-wield the Axe of the Unyielding and Crom
Faeyr, meaning Axes are out in the long run. Instead, my evil
protagonist puts another point into Long Swords and uses the Equalizer
as her off-hand weapon of choice throughout Shadows of Amn. Afterwards,
she focuses her energy on Daggers in anticipation of the mighty Dagger
of the Stars, which will turn her into a back-stabbing monster, and
switches out the Equalizer for Angurvadal when it becomes useful to do
so. As a Thief, she gets her Find Traps up to 100 so she can detect and
disarm pretty much any trap in the game. She also gets her Open Locks
up to 100 to negate the need for any Knock spells. Lastly, she starts
to partition her remaining points between Hide in Shadows and Move
Silently until they are both 100, in preparation for future
backstabbing. In the meantime, a lower score and Boots of Stealth will
do just fine. As for Pick Pockets... Haer'Dalis works just fine for that
purpose... it's certainly better than wasting my protagonist's points
on it.
Importing Your Character from Baldur's Gate 1 {DND107}
o======================================================================o
It's quite simple to import from Baldur's Gate 1. Just go to the
directory in which your Baldur's Gate 1/2 games are saved. It should be
something like C:\Program Files\Black Isle\Baldur's Gate. Find your
Save folder in Baldur's Gate 1 and copy the desired save game (ideally
the Final Save) and move it into the Save folder of your Baldur's Gate 2
game. You can also export your character from within Baldur's Gate 1 and
move the character file over from the Characters folder in Baldur's
Gate 1 to the Characters file in Baldur's Gate 2. When in character
creation in Baldur's Gate 2 just click the 'Import' button and pick the
selected save/character.
Note that sometimes Baldur's Gate 2 is... kinda weird with the import
process. Me and my fiance have both had characters import into the game
with Hit Point values MUCH higher than they should normally be. She was
playing a Fighter/Mage/Thief who imported into Baldur's Gate 2 with over
100 Hit Points. I also had a Fighter/Mage whose Hit Points actually
doubled when I imported from 77 to 154. This is one time where Shadow
Keeper came in handy for the side of good. As tempting as it is to play
a character with 77 extra Hit Points, I set it back down to the normal
value so I could sleep at night. My Fighter/Mage/Thief also had a
similar problem, but on a much smaller scale-she had 74 Hit Points when
she should have had 69, a five-point error. If you don't have the
desired portrait and sounds from the first game you'll need to move
those from the Baldur's Gate 1 folder to the Baldur's Gate 2 folder.
Note that Icewind Dale sound files will NOT work in Baldur's Gate. If,
however, you have both Icewind Dale 1 & 2 you can get a sound converter
from Sorcerers.net to get you on your way.
o======================================================================o
| |
| Characters {CHR000} |
| |
o======================================================================o
You'll notice that there are new friends and old to be recruited in
Baldur's Gate, but most of them, with the exception of Mazzy and ???????
can be found fairly early on in the game. You'll also notice that there
are fewer characters in Baldur's Gate 2. What they lack in numbers they
make up for in personality, an immeasurably favorable exchange. As there
are less characters there are less choices, but there are also fewer
dead-weight characters in this game. Even the characters from the first
game have typically been buffed up a bit.. and why not? Your main
character certainly gained some attribute points over the course of the
first game, right?
Most characters have quests associated with recruiting and/or securing
them, but many also have some quests that need to be completed when
they are traveling with you. They are mentioned in brief in each
character's description, mostly to point them out and let you know
where to find them in the Walkthrough, since their inclusion can be
somewhat... whimsical... at times. It made sense to me when I was
writing, honest.
***SPOILERS***
While I've avoided them as much as possible in the character
descriptions, note that the "Romance" sections of the various character
descriptions are rife with spoilers. If you don't want to suffer the
indignity of spoilers, don't read the 'romancing' section under the
applicable characters.
Character Starting Stats {CHR001}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
The starting attributes of recruitable characters can vary wildly
depending upon when you recruit them. Like in Baldur's Gate 1, they
will gain experience to scale to your level when you reruit them... to
an extent, anyways. The computer is never as smart about Hit Point rolls
or proficiency allocation as you will be, however, so try to get to
these characters early before the computer nerfs them too much.
Aerie {CHR002}
o======================================================================o
Female, Elf, Cleric/Mage, Lawful Good
Str 10, Dex 17, Con 9, Int 16, Wis 16, Cha 14
Starting Proficiencies:
Club +
Mace +
Quarter Staff +
Sling +
Overview:
---------
Enter Aerie, both a divine and arcane spell caster as well as a possible
romantic interest for male protagonists. For reasons I've discussed
before, I don't really find her very useful. I'm tempted to say that
with some patience she could pay off, eventually, but I'm restrained
from such optimism with the following question: who would you replace
Aerie with in the good party? This depends, of course, on what role you
want her to play, either filling in for a Cleric, or a Mage. If you try
to fit her in as a Cleric (in place of Anomen), you're significantly
weakening the fighting ability of your party. Since Aerie has to play
by Mage rules (no heavy armor), she's not much for melee combat... and
I'm sure not taking defensive gear from my Fighter/Mage to accomodate
her. Her Dexterity means that, technically, she could be moderately
well-protected in combat, but her Constitution and Strength just ruin
her. She would, at best, be a much, much more vulnerable version of
Viconia (lighter armor, no Magic Resistance, lower Dexterity), but
honestly, Viconia is only in combat in the first place because of her
defensive performance, and even then, only with a Strength-boosting
item devoted to the cause. As a multi-class character Aerie will
develop too slowly to really serve as a stand-alone Cleric, much less
one that will need the THAC0 and Hit Points to handle melee combat. If
you want to her to replace Imoen, the problem is even more acute-then
you need a Thief for the party, on top of the fact that a multi-class
Mage is not sufficient for the party caster. It would be near the end
of the game before she got any 9th-level spells, and while I'll suffer
this downside for a Fighter/Mage, who can contribute mightily in melee,
I will not suffer it in what is supposed to be our dedicated party
Mage. Even Imoen is on the cusp of too slow for the position. Failing
that, we can insert her instead of Minsc, where she can contribute
mostly with buffs (since her low level will inhibit both her spell
selection and potency.) In place of Minsc's bow... eh... it's a wash,
really, but if you're at all attracted to dropping Minsc for ???????
at any point, dragging out Aerie is pointless. She certainly can't
compare with ???????'s melee prowess.
Recruiting Aerie:
-----------------
You can find Aerie in the bewitched circus tent in Waukeen's Promenade
(AR0604). You'll need to go in and free her to recruit her, and defeat
Kalah and finish the Circus Tent quest to keep her-which really isn't
too much more of a requirement. This quest is located in the walkthrough
at [WLk015].
How to Use Aerie Effectively:
-----------------------------
Aerie comes ready to go with Slings, which is fine. It' how she'll be
able to contribute to fights without casting spells. Of course, since
she's a mutli-class Cleric/Mage, if she's not casting a spell at any
given moment, she's not being used optimally. Her best use for most of
Shadows of Amn is as a buffer and healer... the equivilent in the evil
party is Haer'Dalis, save that unlike Haer'Dalis, her caster level will
be too low to bother with some spells. This does not, however, prevent
her from using True Sight, Breach, Haste, Slow, or Chaos... when she
eventually gets them. Her spell progression will be on par with the
Fighter/Mage's, and hence the easiest fit is to replace Minsc with her,
and use her as a poor man's Viconia. Give her a suitable melee weapon
(Flail of the Ages seems profoundly wasted on her), and supplement her
poor Armor Class with Stoneskin and Blur. She can always inherit the
Bracers of Defense A.C. 3 after you obtain Bladesinger Chain, which...
well, is something. Midway through Throne of Bhaal should could actually
get quite potent, once she can contribute with Horrid wilting, Sunray,
and Spell Triggers, and she will eventually get Time Stop if you were
careful to obtain all the scrolls you can find. For most of the game,
however, she is a buffer/debuffer and a healer, a secondary spell-caster
through and through.
Romancing Aerie:
----------------
It might just be me, but I find Aerie to be incredibly annoying. If you
romance her, you'll have to put up with her constant whining-typically
about her wings, but other subjects arouse her sense of self-pity, too.
If there's one word to describe Aerie's romance, it's whine. She'll do
so consistently, and it's your job to treat her like glass. Handle her
with kid gloves, try and be optimistic, and when that fails, tell her to
be strong. That said, her romance is actually pretty easy. Her responses
(and your required counter-responses) don't have the same ambiguity
as Viconia's romance, nor does it have the lengthy inter-related quests
of Jaheira's romance. Just avoid being dismissive, and otherwise be
as sympathetic as possible and you'll be fine. After a while Aerie
will want to sleep with you, and afterwards she decides she's moving
too fast. Don't pick dialogue option #1, as she'll leave your party to
go 'figure herself out' or 'experience the world' or some other
inconvenient crap. Beg her to stay and she will.
Anomen {CHR003}
o======================================================================o
Male, Human, Fighter/Cleric, Lawful Neutral
Str 18/52, Dex 10, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 13
Starting Proficiencies:
War Hammer +
Mace ++
Sling ++
Sword and Shield Style +
Overview:
---------
Anomen has several perks which makes him the best combat Cleric in the
game. First, he's a dual-classed Fighter, and while his dumbass didn't
stay a Fighter long enough (and didn't spend her proficiency points
wisely enough) to get the most out of it, he will have multiple
attacks per round and the ability to Specialize in weaponry. He's also
got a passable Constitution and a high Strength score, meaning you can
wait quite a while before handing him any Strength-boosting items.
Of course, at 25th-level he'll automatically get a Holy Symbol which
boosts his Strength, so really, you never need to concern yourself with
Strength. His Dexterity, however, is poor for a warrior, and while he
might benefit from the Gloves of Dexterity, Korgan or Keldorn will
benefit more-both of them are worth neglecting a shield with, and hence,
Anomen will just have to make do with heavy armor and a shield. He can
technically fit into either party, provided you take his story quests
down the right (or wrong) route, but honestly, a good party playthrough
with Anomen is all I can stand. The thought of dragging him around with
me through every playthrough is enough to make me want to poke my eyes
out and chop off my hands. Not that he's a bad Cleric, he's not, he
just has a bit of a personality disfunction, and he wears on me... not
enough, however, that I avoided dragging him around with my evil party
for a while. You know, so I could explore his romance and record it for
the guide (and so my evil protagonist could get her fuck on.) Although
I tout Anomen's melee prowess, he is, first and foremost, a Cleric. A
good one, too. He's not any worse for the position than Viconia, save
a few inconsequential extra spells due to Wisdom and somewhat slower
progression due to his Fighter levels, but nothing that will be an
issue down the road.
How to Use Anomen Effectively:
------------------------------
Anomen is pretty simple-get him some heavy armor and put a blunt weapon
in his hands. Fortunately for us, he knew he'd be dual-classing into a
Cleric some day, and hence, he avoided putting any ranks into edged
weapons. Huzzah. He really excels with either a Flail or a War Hammer,
however. Yeah, either the Flail of the Ages or Crom Faeyr, what else
would I be talking about? Either one would work for him, but I prefer
to give him Crom Faeyr and let my protagonist abuse the best two
one-handed weapons in the game. He also could potentially dual-wield,
but since this would critically deprive him of Armor Class (and take
half of forever for him to accumulate enough proficiencies to bother
with it), I don't suggest it.
Recruiting Anomen:
------------------
Anomen can be found in the Copper Coronet (AR0406) at (x=1530, y=1660).
In Anomen you'll find all the naive charm of Ajantis. Really, who sits
around in a sleazy bar in the slums asking people if they are courageous
and good? In any event, assure him that you are both and he'll offer to
join your quest. He seeks to prove his worth so he can join the Most
Noble Order of the Radiant Heart, and with what this game has in store
for him, he'll get the chance to prove such many times over.
Romancing Anomen:
-----------------
Anomen is an obnoxious, petulant, arrogant, boastful, would-be knight,
and he spares you none of his personality faults if you romance him.
His romance sequence is only less annoying than Aerie's, and frankly,
not all that interesting. You'll have to put up with plenty of his war
stories, moral quandaries, and temper tantrums. Simply listen to him,
and tell him how awesome he is, and you're fine. The only interesting
part of the romance comes with his family nonesense, and there are two
ways to succeed. The first is to convince him not to take vengeance
on Saerk. This leads to him being disowned by his father, and obtaining
the knighthood he has worked so hard for. After the romance matures,
he'll eventually get a letter from the Magistrate of Athkatla-the lady
in the Government District we spoke to earlier about the murder
investigation-Bylanna Lanulin. The letter informs Anomen that Saerk was
indeed found to have been connected with the murder of his sister, and
afterwards his father, Cor, died trying to murder Saerk in revenge.
Anomen now feels compelled to kill Saerk himself and avenge his family,
and will leave the party to do so. Follow him to the Estate of Saerk
Farrahd in the Bridge District. Within, he'll be ready to make good on
his goals. Convince him to spare Saerk to avoid becoming like his
father, and promise that you will be by his side to help him overcome
his all-too-apparent inner demons. The other route involves convincing
Anomen to take vengeance, fail to enter the Order, and turn Chaotic
Neutral... obviously not an option if you're traveling with Keldorn.
After all that, Anomen will eventually get a letter from his father,
exposing that the killers were not affiliated with Saerk, his revenge
was-while profitable to Cor himself-misguided. As a parting slap in the
face, Cor disowns Anomen to protect his business. This compels Anomen to
leave the party and go to his father's house to 'atone' with him. To
continue the romance-and Anomen's life-you need to convince him that
killing his father would be bad, and that he can look forward to
spending the rest of his broken life with you.
Anomen's Quest:
---------------
After traveling with Anomen for a while, you'll have to deal with
Anomen's family quest. It's best if you prompt Anomen to stay virtuous
and ignore his father's request for revenge. It won't help his family
life, but it will allow him to join the Most Noble Order of the
Radiant Heart. If he fails at this, his often antagonistic relationship
with Keldorn will turn downright divisive. If you want both in your
party, you have to prevent Anomen from taking justice into his own
hands, however unsatisfactory the results. You'll find this quest
described in full in [WLK010]. If Anomen stays on the right track and
joins the High Hall of the Radiant Heart his alignment will change to
Lawful Good and his Wisdom will increase from 12 to 16.
Cernd {CHR004}
o======================================================================o
Male, Human, Shapeshifter, True Neutral
Str 13, Dex 9, Con 13, Int 12, Wis 18, Cha 15
Starting Proficiencies:
Scimitar +
Dagger +
Quarter Staff +
Sling +
Overview:
---------
I'm not even going to try to be partial here. Cernd sucks. His stats
suck, and his class sucks. Sure, he can shapeshift into a Werewolf, and
eventually a Greater Werewolf. Unless you've got a fix installed,
however, it's horribly nerfed, and even if you unnerf it, I still doubt
its potency compared to, say, a well-armed Jaheira. His spells are
fairly effective, but he's not going to cut it as your party's Cleric
(no Druid really can.) As a Werewolf he's serviceable so long as you're
committed to giving him nearly every Armor Class boosting item you get.
He can't wear armor, and a -2 Armor Class just doesn't cut it. Also keep
in mind he can't cast any Druid spells once he's committed to
shapeshifting. So what I want to ask is this; why take Cernd over
Jaheira? Jaheira can wear armor, which gives her a vastly improved Armor
Class without having to give her preferential treatment. A suit of Full
Plate Mail +1 and a Large Shield +2 is great early-game defense for her,
and it requires no real special investment of unique gear. Her THAC0
will be lower (or at least comparable) to Cernd's in werewolf form, and
she doesn't have to shapeshift to get these combat stats. Best of all,
she can cast spells while being combat-able. She won't get quite as many
Druid spells as Cernd, but her ability to obtain Greater Whirlwind
Attacks makes her far and away a better combatant by the end of the
game. There's just absolutely no good reason that I can think of to pick
Cernd over Jaheira. At least he doesn't need stat-boosting items. You
might think he would, but since he's only combat-savvy as a werewolf, he
can just augment his stats by transforming. Eventually Cernd will be able
to get the Elemental Transformation ability, and really, to contribute in
a fight he'll need it. Still, with a THAC0 of 2 and -5 Armor Class,
he'll still be eclipsed by all his party members and-more importantly-
his enemies. By the time Jaheira was ready to get her first high-level
ability, she had a THAC0 of 1 and a -8 Armor Class-without transforming
into anything. Not to mention she had more Hit Points than Cernd could
have hoped to attain, and she could still cast spells while maintaining
her good combat stats. On top of that, she can grab Whirlwind Attack and
further widen the gap between herself and Cernd.
How to Use Cernd Effectively:
-----------------------------
Anything that can boost his Armor Class-Rings of Protection, the Cloak
of the Sewers, he's going to need it. He can't wear armor, and even if
he could, he can't bring it with him when he shapechanges, which is
where all his offense lies. Given his attributes, it's something he will
have to rely on pretty much all the time. In all honesty, though, he's
probably better off used as a casting Druid. His shapeshifting abilities
just aren't good enough to bother putting him in melee combat. Yeah,
his defenses get fairly good, but he'll never have the THAC0 to compete
with the game's best... or even mediocre, for that matter. As a caster,
he does alright... not that Druid spells are so good that the deserve
a dedicated caster. Melee is, and always will be, his core issue. I
refuse to waste a spot on my roster for a non-fighting Druid, and
shapechanged or not, Cernd just can't make a good show for himself in
combat. Even if you toss him a Strength-boosting item, White Dragon
Scale, and the Staff of the Ram +6, he won't be up to snuff. On the
other hand, as a Greater Werewolf, his Armor Class is decent, but his
melee prowess still leaves much to be desired. The sheer fact that he
can't hit creatures requiring a +3 weapon or better while shapeshifted
makes it a useless transformation in Throne of Bhaal, really.
Recruiting Cernd:
-----------------
Cernd finds himself in a precarious position in Trademeet (AR2000),
where a group of hostile Druids have been attacking. Cernd, trying to
defuse the situation, becomes a scapegoat. On your word (and promise to
set things straight) Cernd will be released into your custody. Cernd's
primary interest is resolving the strife between Trademeet and the
nearby Druids, which is covered in [WLK022].
Cernd's Quest:
--------------
When you return to Athkatla with Cernd in your party (after dealing with
the Druids of Trademeet) he'll have to deal with the ghosts of the life
he left behind-namely the wife and child he abandoned. The only way you
can mess this up (besides simply not doing it) is to abandon him when
he confronts the antagonist of this quest. This quest is covered in
full in the Walkthrough [WLK022].
Edwin {CHR005}
o======================================================================o
Male, Human, Conjurer, Lawful Evil
Str 10, Dex 10, Con 16, Int 18, Wis 10, Cha 10
Starting Proficiencies:
Dagger +
Quarter Staff +
Overview:
---------
Edwin is a little stronger and wiser than in the first game, but he's
still the same glass-cannon he ever was. He is in no way a melee
character, and his Dexterity ensures he'll never do well in ranged
combat either. He is, however, the best Mage in the game, and unlike
Clerics or Druids, I don't expect, nor do I require melee competence
form my Mages. Edwin is a Conjurer, the best specialist Mage there is,
and he gets several bonus spells per level. He is, quite simply, a
better Mage than anything you, or I, or anybody could roll up.
How to Use Edwin Effectively:
-----------------------------
Have him learn to use Darts and he's all set. Really, being a Mage makes
it pretty easy when it comes to proficiencies. The only downside to
Edwin is that he can't use Divination spells. As far as applicable uses
goes, this means he can't cast Detect Invisibility or True Sight. Still,
with Viconia and/or Jaheira in tow, they can handle our True Sight
needs. Still, he comes with a well-stocked spellbook, and what little
he lacks can be bolstered by some potion-assisted stealing sprees. He
really just is the best Mage in the game, from the moment you start
exploring the Docks District until the end of the game.
Recruiting Edwin:
-----------------
You can find him in the Docks District of Athkatla, in Mae'Var's
Guildhall (AR0304) at (x=850, y=350). To recruit him you need to do a
bit of work, however. Accept Renal Bloodscalp's mission to investigate
Mae'Var and do some work for both Mae'Var and Edwin, who will both give
you two missions. After the second Mae'Var mission he'll offer to help
you take Mae'Var down, allowing you to recruit him.
Edwin's Quest:
--------------
Even after taking down Mae'Var, Edwin's not in it for the game yet,
however, as you'll need to track down the Nether Scroll before he'll
stay for good. Fortunately this is near the same area (AR8002) you need
to explore to find the Book of Kaza that Korgan wants. Once obtained...
well, Edwin will begin translating the damn thing, of course, which
leads to more trouble. Don't rat him out (but don't refrain from
teasing him), and if you help him overcome a fellow Red Wizard named
Degardan, he'll be yours for the rest of the game. This quest is fully
covered in [WLK008].
Haer'Dalis {CHR006}
o======================================================================o
Human, Tiefling, Blade, Chaotic Neutral
Str 17, Dex 17, Con 9, Int 15, Wis 13, Cha 16
Starting Proficiencies:
Short Sword ++
Dagger +
Dart +
Two Weapon Style ++
Overview:
---------
Haer'Dalis is a poor compromise of a character that might just end up in
an evil party due to a simple lack of options. He's got a high enough
Strength to start out, but to do anything meaningful in combat, he's
going to need a Strength-boosting item. His Dexterity is passable, but
his class and Constitution both conspire-by depriving him of good armor
and Hit Points-to keep him off the front lines. At the end of the day he
might as well be viewed as a poor substitute for a Fighter/Mage, with
less potential Armor Class, Hit Points, THAC0, spell selection, and epic
level feats. Which is to say that he'll fit into that role about as well
as an elephant fits into a size-0 bikini. Add to this the fact that he
has about the most useless starting proficiencies of any recruitable
character, and we've got a serious... ah... 'fixer upper'. Although he
only gets up to 6th-level spells, this is good enough to get him some
essentials-Blur, Mirror Image, Dispel Magic, Haste, Stoneskin,
Fireshield, Breach, Chaos, Pierce Magic, and True Sight. This will help
make up for the fact that my Fighter/Mage/Thief protagonist doesn't
advance very quickly, and Edwin simply can't cast True Sight. By Throne
of Bhaal, however, Viconia has enough True Sight to make up for Edwin,
and my protagonist is now a high enough level that we can safely discard
Haer'Dalis for ???????, which what I intend to do.
How to Use Haer'Dalis Effectively:
----------------------------------
My suggestion is you get him out of melee combat as soon as you get him.
He's going to have to level a bit, but once he does, give him a Crossbow
and keep him back as an archer/support Mage. Of course, while he might
not be able to contribute in combat himself, he always has his
bard-song, which at least allows him to do something. When he levels up,
have him become proficient in Two-Handed Swords first, and Halberds
later. In many fights later in the game, having an extra hand in combat
will be more useful than having a bard-song, even with the Enhanced Bard
Song feat. To this end, having a powerful weapon with reach will allow
him to deal damage without putting himself too much at risk... and did
I mention he'll make a great support Mage throughout Shadows of Amn?
His high level means he'll be a better buffer than pretty much anybody
else, so if you need a Haste or Dispel Magic, he's the one to go to.
Recruiting Haer'Dalis:
----------------------
To get Haer'Dalis you'll have to rescue him from the Mage Mekrath, who
has a lair in the sewers (AR0705). You can either kill Mekrath, or help
him get a mirror back from a wayward imp. Once Haer'Dalis is reunited
with his misfit troupe back at the Five Flagons Inn (AR5010) they'll
attempt to planeshift away from their pursuers. Wouldn't you know it,
the bad guys show up and take them hostage. This forces you to complete
the Astral Prison quest, after which Haer'Dalis is yours for good.
Imoen {CHR007}
o======================================================================o
Female, Human, Mage/Thief, Neutral Good
Str 9 (10), Dex 18 (19), Con 16, Int 17, Wis 11, Cha 16
Starting Proficiencies:
Dagger +
Quarter Staff +
Short Bow +
Dart +
Overview:
---------
Imoen makes it back for Baldur's Gate 2, and like in the first game
she's the first recruitable character you'll meet. She's a bit of a
chore to hang onto, however, as she'll need to be rescued shortly after
you escape, forcing parties who want her back to have to jump deep into
the story sooner than they might otherwise wish. I sure know I like to
fool around a lot before doing any major story stuff... just look at my
guide for Baldur's Gate 1. It took me forever to get to the Nashkel
Mines! Anyhow, Imoen has apparently made the same career move that we
made in the first game, and has become a Thief/Mage dual-class. This
allows her to fill both the Thief and Mage role for a good party,
although with less potency than Edwin by far. She starts out with the
ability to use Short Bows, which is good for us, but her Find Traps is
only 85%... not quite high enough for every trap in the game. It's
passable, and certainly better than dragging a Thief along, but if your
protagonist is a Thief (single, multi, or dual-classed) you might not be
too impressed with Imoen. Although she pales in comparison to Edwin,
Imoen allows me to play a Fighter/Mage, so as far as I'm concerned, she
is absolutely indispensible for the good party.
How to Use Imoen Effectively:
-----------------------------
Imoen, unlike most Mages, can actually contribute to combat effectively
with Short Bows. Sadly, she will be absent for a large chunk of Shadows
of Amn, forcing you to drag along an understudy like Nalia or Yoshimo.
Once she's back, however, load her up with a Short Bow and she's good
to go. Once you get back to Athkatla you'll be able to assemble the
Short Bow of Gesen, which is a potent little item that will allow Imoen
to excel at a range throughout the rest of the game. As I said earlier,
her Find Traps score is only passable. Equipping a Ring of Danger Sense
on her (perhaps only when necessary) resolves that issue, however. Of
course, Imoen's not really a Thief, is she? She's a Mage. At that role,
she... well, she's better than Jan or Aerie. She pales in comparison to
Edwin, but who doesn't? Her progression will be slower (due to the fact
that she tends to miss out on half the experience in Shadows of Amn),
and she gets fewer spells per level than her red-robed counterpart. She
will never have the tactical versatility of Edwin, and it'll become
apparent when the evil party is smiting Umber Hulks with impunity thanks
to Edwin's Death Spells, and Imoen is... well, really wishing she had
more Death Spells, I imagine. You can save yourself some trouble by
storing spell scrolls you find early in the game, so that when reunited,
Imoen will be able to fill up her spellbook. This will go a long way
towards catching her up to speed. If you're very enterprising, drop
everybody else out of your party (save your romantic partner, to be
safe) and have Imoen scribe (and with Throne of Bhaal installed, erase
and rescribe multiple copies) spells, which will net a fair bit of
experience.
Recruiting Imoen:
-----------------
Imoen joins you at the beginning of the game, springing you from your
cage in Irenicus' Dungeon. After escaping from Irenicus' Dungeon,
however, she'll be... well, the subject of the main story for a few
chapters. You'll have to raise money and take a leisure cruise by boat
to get her back, and that's just the beginning...
***SPOILERS***
In Throne of Bhaal, Imoen will start developing Bhaalspawn abilities
like we did during Baldur's Gate 1. Whatever Irenicus did to her, it
apparently unlocked her innate Bhaalspawn powers. She'll develop her
powers two at a time, and inform you via banters about her changes.
First she'll develop the Cause Serious Wounds and Cure Serious Wounds
abilities. Next she'll gain the Neutralize Poison and Draw Upon Holy
Might abilities, and she'll get a one-point boost to her Strength and
Dexterity. Each time she gains new abilities, the party will gain 1000
experience.
Jaheira {CHR008}
o======================================================================o
Female, Half-elf, Fighter/Druid, True Neutral
Str 15, Dex 17, Con 17, Int 10, Wis 14, Cha 15
Starting Proficiencies:
Scimitar +
Club ++
Quarter Staff +
Sling +
Sword and Shield Style +
Overview:
---------
Another ally from the first game, and certainly one of the more
interesting females in gaming... at least as far as I'm concerned. She's
been given a considerable Dexterity boost in the sequel, taking her from
almost getting a bonus, to a +3 Armor Class bonus. This is a wonderful
change, and makes her a much more defensible character. Unlike a single
classed Druid she can use Plate Armor and Shields, which makes her in a
different league altogether. She's comparable to a Cleric, but without
actual access to Cleric spells and with better combat abilities. She
does, however, gain access to Druid spells, although her progression
will be painfully slow. Once she gets access to 5th level spells she can
start throwing out Insect Plagues, which is THE winning spell for most
of Shadows of Amn, it'll do for you what Stinking Cloud did in Baldur's
Gate 1. And unlike a single-classed Druid, when she's not casting Insect
Plague she can contribute to the fight. She's not strong enough to get
bonuses in combat, and this paired with her slower Fighter progression
means she's in dire need of a Strength-boosting item. Fortunately, one
can be provided rather early in the game, after which point Jaheira
really has no downsides. She'll not only be one of your best warriors,
but a good healer... not to mention being the only servicable Druid in
the game.
How to Use Jaheira Effectively:
-------------------------------
Get her a Strength-boosting item-like the Girdle of Hill Giant Strength-
from the Adventurer's Mart as soon as you have the scratch. It'll bump
her up from a mediocre warrior to a great one in short order. Of course,
her proficiencies also need some work. There are a few good Scimitars
in Shadows of Amn, but Daggers are really the power weapons for her, so
work on getting her Specialized in Daggers. Once you get toys such as
Boneblade +4 or Fire Tooth +3, she'll be all set, and one of the few
character adept at both ranged and melee combat, to boot. In Throne
of Bhaal you'll find an absolutely fantastic Scimitar, so as soon as
you're Specialized in Daggers, get her another rank in Scimitars.
Jaheira might require the investment of a choice item or two, but
not any moreso than Keldorn. In the evil party, however, it's not really
possible to favor Jaheira over Viconia, whose Strength concerns are
severe enough to prevent her from being armed and armored appropriately.
Jaheira will have to wait a good while to bring her Strength up to
snuff... but hey, it'll happen some day.
Recruiting Jaheira:
-------------------
Jaheira can be found in Irenicus' dungeon (AR0602), in a cell
(x=3850, y=2650) in the same room you start out in.
Romancing Jaheira:
------------------
Jaheira is the most difficult romance to complete-it requires you to
make progress through most of the main story, some outdoor rest, the
purchase of a locket, and two separate quests dealing with Baron
Ployer's Curse and the Harpers. In the middle of all this you'll have to
avoid kicking her out of the party and hope everything falls in place at
the right time. Downloading a fix for this romance is highly
recommended, and if that's not an option, leave the game paused. The
game timer will continue to run, which determines when 'party' events
like banter and romance updates take place. The conversations aren't too
tricky, just be nice to her and don't guilt her about Khalid too much.
After a while you'll need to rest outside, during which you'll be
attacked by bandits. Don't be a sissy-defend Jaheira. You'll take some
damage, and Jaheira will be protectively angry afterwards, but it's the
right move to make. Later, in the Docks District you'll be able to buy
a 'Keepsake Locket' from a merchant named Jahaboam for 20 gold. Not
surprisingly, getting your girlfriend something nice is a good idea.
Then there are two quests that need to be tackled, the first of which
is Baron Ployer's Curse. In the Sea's Bounty in the Dock's District
you'll run afoul of Baron Ployer, who will use his last remaining
resources to inflict Jaheira with a rotting disease. Chase him down
and deal with him to save Jaheira from the curse. The second quest is
longer and more complicated, and the romance will stall after a certain
point until you complete it. While wandering around in Athkatla you'll
get a chance to rescue a man named Renfeld. Bring him to the Harper Hold
in the Docks District and leave him in the care of Rylock, who stands
near the door leading to the Harper Hold. Later, Xzar will ask you to
find a way into the Harper Hold and rescue Montaron. To convince Rylock
to let you in you'll need to do another quest for him-kill the monsters
being bred in 'Prebek's Home'. Afterwards you can gain entrance,
recover Montaron from the Harper Hold, and bring him back to Xzar.
After Xzar gets what he deserves, Jaheira will be summoned away from
the party for a while. Rest up, and when Jaheira returns your presence
will be requested at the Harper Hold. Join her, and deal with Galvarey
and his Harper buddies. After this Jaheira's romance should start up
again as normal, and she'll be naturally conflicted over what happened
in the Harper Hold. After a few more banters you'll be bothered again
by a Harper named Reviane next time you rest in the wilderness. If you
have a reputation of 16 or higher, you can avoid a fight, but otherwise
you'll have to put Reviane and her Harper buddies down as well.
Afterwards Jaheira will openly struggle with betraying her kin, and the
alternative of betraying you. Trust issues arise, and a small argument
will ensue. As long as you're nice and try and argue for the sake of
your trust as mildly as possible, you'll be fine. Later on, her mentor
Dermin will show up and confront her. A fight won't ensue this time,
but if you are negative it could well result in Jaheira leaving the
party. Either way, the least she does is renounce her Harper status.
Jaheira continues to doubt herself, and more especially you. She'll
even begin asking you some fairly stupid questions-you need to call her
out on it, but avoid being too harsh. Eventually Dermin will show up
again and tell Jaheira that she's been declared an enemy of the Harpers,
and that we can expected relentless assaults unless she turns herself
in for good old Harper justice. Next time you rest, she does just that,
and a man named Terminsel will show up and procure a letter he found
from Jaheira. Head over to the Harper Hold and kill a few Mercenaries.
You'll find Jaheira on the second level, where she has determined that
the absence of the Spectral Harpists indicates that she was in the
right. Accept her back into your party and leave-destroying another
batch of petty Mercenaries along the way. You've pretty much got
everything secure with Jaheira by now, there are a few more banters
where the relationship will deepen, but most of the drama and quest
nonsense is now over. Eventually Dermin will show up a third and final
time, and Jaheira will expose him for the serpent he is. A fight ensues,
and afterward Jaheira will spend some banters being angry at Dermin.
Cheer her up, and eventually the romance will proceed to its only
logical conclusion. Finally, Terminsel will show up again and ask
Jaheira if what she did was right. Her response depends on your party
reputation at the moment-a 16+ and she'll defend her actions, if it's
lower than 16 she'll hesitate. Either way, for completing this string
of quests and romancing Jaheira your protagonist will gain a whopping
100000 experience points. If Jaheira didn't hesitate she'll also gain
a Harper Pin. Both are pretty nice rewards, and further benefits to
completing Jaheira's romance.
Jaheira's Quest:
----------------
Jaheira has two quests associated with her. First is Baron Ployer's
Curse, which is pretty simple; find and kill Baron Ployer before time
runs out and Jaheira succumbs to his curse. The second is a lot more
complex, and involves the Harpers located in the Docks District of
Athkatla. These quests are listed in great detail in the ***ROMANCING
JAHEIRA*** section, so I won't belabor the point by mentioning them
again here. You'll find both of them in [WLK034].
Jan {CHR009}
o======================================================================o
Male, Gnome, Illusionist/Thief, Chaotic Neutral
Str 9, Dex 17, Con 15, Int 16, Wis 14, Cha 10
Starting Proficiencies:
Short Sword +
Dagger +
Quarter Staff +
Cross Bow +
Overview:
---------
Jan is, at best, a sub-par Mage who will never be able to cast
Necromantic spells such as Finger of Death or Horrid Wilting, and his
Intelligence doesn't do him any favors either. He is a potential
substitute for Imoen, and for an evil party, his blend of thieving and
magic might be the only option for an otherwise Thief-less party.
Frankly, however, I prefer Imoen to him in every way. She'll become a
much better Mage (since she's a dual-classed Thief, and not
multi-classed like Jan) and she's got better Dexterity, Constitution,
and Intelligence. Heck, when playing a protagonist who has levels of
Thief I'd even prefer Aerie, who is less annoying and more versatile.
He's not a terrible character, really, but I'm rather adverse to having
a multi-class Mage as my primary party Mage. He could, in the evil
party, substitute for Haer'Dalis (with the same goal of getting
replaced by ???????), but this hardly gives us the ability to dispense
with the Fighter/Mage/Thief in the long run, and really, I have to
wonder how much difference there would be, gameplay wise. At the end of
the day, if it comes to hearing Jan talk about turnips, or hearing
Haer'Dalis call me raven, I'd rather take the fruity Bard.
How to Use Jan Effectively:
---------------------------
If you do play with Jan... well, he works much like Imoen. Get him Short
Bows and ignore his silly crossbow nonsense when he gets a proficiency
point to spend. Just keep in mind he is the weakest recruitable Mage the
game offers.
Recruiting Jan:
---------------
Jan can be found in the Government District of Athkatla (AR1000) at
(x=2730, y=1750). Trax, a representative of the Amnian Revenue and Tax
Board will show up and try to nab Jan for selling illegal merchandise.
You can either lie and cover for Jan and get some experience, or you can
sell Jan out for 100 gold. If you want him in your party you'll either
have to lie for him (not a hard thing to do, considering the experience
involved) or pay his 800 gold piece bail and suffer a net loss of 700
gold... but so annoying is Jan that the Prison Keeper will spot you 200
gold to get rid of him.
Jan's Quest:
------------
After traveling with Jan for a while we'll be bothered by one of his
numerous relatives, Beeloo, who will tell Jan that a former love of his
is now staying at the Jansen family home. Go meet with this Lissa, and
you'll discover that her abusive husband has apparently injured their
daughter severely, and we need to get help. Jan stays behind and
refers us to his Uncle Gerhardt, who tells us to look for the 'Hidden'.
To find the 'Hidden' we need to go to the Government District, talk to
Lady Jysstev, then head into the sewers under the Copper Coronet. The
Hidden will promise to help us if we kill a pair of its pursuers. So
head to the Sea's Bounty, talk to The Thumb, then travel to the Five
Flagons Inn and kill a pair of Githyanki. Return to the Hidden to learn
that the girl has been healed, then return to the Jansen home to
witness an unhappy turn of events.
Keldorn {CHR010}
o======================================================================o
Male, Human, Paladin (Inquisitor), Lawful Good
Str 17, Dex 9, Con 17, Int 12, Wis 16, Cha 18
Starting Proficiencies:
Long Sword ++
Two Handed Sword ++
Cross Bow ++
Overview:
---------
Somewhat weaker, but healthier, than Anomen, Keldorn has one glaring
weakness. His Dexterity is ass, and since he's built for Two Handed
Swords he won't be using a shield. Simply put, he absolutely requires
the Gauntlets of Dexterity. His Strength is decent, but not stellar like
Anomen, Korgan, or Minsc, so he'll need some Strength-boosting item,
eventually. This is, admittedly a lot of equipment for a single
character, so why bother with him? Several reasons. First, his high
Charisma makes him a natural party leader, although on the flip side,
his Paladinhood makes him unusually liable to interrupt when you're
trying to be naughty. Then again, as an Inquisitor he has the innate
ability to cast Dispel Magic and True Sight, essential debuffs that make
him very capable of taking on enemy Mages. Having these abilities will
make all Mage fights for your party much easier, as he can easily dispel
the buffs Mages rely on the defend themselves when conventional spell
casters may struggle, and he'll certainly have access to True Sight much
sooner than any Cleric or Mage you'll recruit. And of course, he gets
Carsomyr +5, a Holy Avenger, that can only be used by Paladins. Short
of making your protagonist a Paladin, there's no other way to utilize
this awesome weapon. Well, I mean, you could make your own Inquisitor,
but why? The game already gives you one! With the admittedly hefty
investment of the Gauntlets of Dexterity and a Girdle of Giant Strength,
you'll get a great party leader who can debuff at a whim and see
through defensive illusions, is very magic resistant, and can support
the party with Cross Bow fire when needed. The fact that he can select
Summon Deva as an Epic Feat also makes him more versatile, as it saves
you from wasting a Cleric's 7th-level spell slot on the ability.
Keldorn truly is win, and if you're shooting for a good party, you won't
find a better Mage-killing party leader.
How to Use Keldorn Effectively:
-------------------------------
Keep on rolling with the Two-Handed Swords, he has no reason to switch.
Crossbows are also golden, and really, Keldorn comes well-prepared with
good weapon proficiencies from the start. You might, however, want to
get him some ranks in Halberds, as there aren't many great Two-Handed
Swords in the early game, and you'll need a +3 weapon sooner than you
think. Once done, get him ranks in Two-Weapon Style to enhance his
primary weapon, and you're good to go. He really does need the Gauntlets
of Dexterity, though, if you want him to survive in melee combat.
Recruiting Keldorn:
-------------------
When you visit the Temple District of Athkatla, you'll be witness to a
theological debate of sorts. One shifty, lying, fantasy-peddling
bullshit dealer will do a better job at convincing the sheep that his
brand of nonsense is better than another, and the losing side will ask
you to investigate this 'cult'. Not getting into the atom-thin
difference between a cult and a religion here... you'll find Keldorn in
the sewers under this district (AR0701), sent to investigate the cult
before you. He'll join willingly enough, but he'll only stick around
for good if you see this cult off.
Keldorn's Quest:
----------------
When you arrive at the Government District with Keldorn in your party
he'll express his desire to go see his family. Indulge him, and you'll
find that all is not well at home, and you'll have to go around and
try and deal with his wife's infidelity. Keldorn will struggle with his
need to avenge his honor, and his love for his wife. Direct him on the
course that will make him the most content-reconciliation with his wife.
Don't, however, be so helpful as to free him from service so he can see
to his family affairs, he'll do just as well promising that this will
be his last expedition. For more information on this quest, see
section [WLK010] of the Walkthrough.
Korgan {CHR011}
o======================================================================o
Male, Dwarf, Fighter (Berserker), Chaotic Evil
Str 18/77, Dex 15, Con 19, Int 12, Wis 9, Cha 7
Starting Proficiencies:
Axe +++++
War Hammer +
Overview:
---------
Ah Korgan... I guess instead of throwing Kagain into Baldur's Gate 2,
they decided to replace the whiny evil greed-Dwarf with a psychotic
evil murder-Dwarf. Korgan is not a nice guy, and if you provoke him in
banters he'll even turn hostile on you! Still, he's the best Fighter in
Shadows of Amn, as well a Dwarf should be, and if you can keep from
provoking him and complete his quest in the timely manner he'll be an
invaluable asset. He's strong enough, but not so strong that he couldn't
do with a good boost to his Strength, and he really needs the Gauntlets
of Dexterity to bring his Armor Class up. His Strength score will allow
you to ignore him in favor of other characters, and his Hit Points are
typically high thanks to being a Dwarf with phenomenal Constitution.
How to Use Korgan Effectively:
------------------------------
He starts out with Grand Mastery in Axes. This isn't as great as Grand
Mastery is supposed to be, but it's still a very good thing to have. The
selection of Axes is slim until Throne of Bhaal, at which point one of
the best weapons in the game-the Axe of the Unyielding-is obtained.
Spend his proficiency points in War Hammers until he Grand Masters in
those as well, allowing him to use Crom Faeyr. This takes care of any
Strength issues he may have had. Then have him learn the Two Weapon
Style. When you obtain the Axe of the Unyielding have him dual-wield it
with Crom Faeyr as an off-hand weapon to have a vorpal weapon with a
Strength of 25. There is simply no stronger combo in the game. He's one
of the simpler-seeming characters, but the weapons in the game dictates
a fairly radical shift in fighting style. Anything less than a total
offensive juggernaut is a waste of Korgan's potential, however, and it
is fun to see him shift from a modest (and well-defended) axe-and-shield
character to the Axe of the Unyielding/Crom Faeyr offensive phenom.
Recruiting Korgan:
------------------
You'll find Korgan in the Copper Coronet (AR0406) at (x=950, y=1870),
making him fairly easy to reach and recruit. Agree to help him track
down the Book of Kaza and he'll join up with you. If you delay, he will
of course go find others more interested in helping him out. It's not a
terribly hard quest, and it doesn't venture out of Athkatla. Best of all
it's in the same area Edwin's quest takes you, so you can handle both
jobs in one journey.
Mazzy {CHR012}
o======================================================================o
Female, Halfling, Fighter, Lawful Good
Str 15, Dex 18, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 13, Cha 14
Starting Proficiencies:
Short Sword: +++
Short Bow ++++
Overview:
---------
First let me start out by saying that Mazzy is a perfectly fine
character. Her Strength sucks, but since most Fighters need 18(xx) or
more to be optimal, she's only a girdle of giant Strength away from
being potent. Her Dexterity is outstanding, and her Constitution is
very good as well. There are only three things that suck about Mazzy.
First, she's proficient in Short Swords and Short Bows. Short Bows are
what Thieves use to contribute to battles, not the weapon of a full-
fledged Fighter, and Short Swords... well, they tend to suck too. So
you're going to have to completely take her proficiencies in another
direction to make her strong. Sure, she's an investment, but who's not,
you say? The second problem is the fact that she's hidden in the Fallen
Temple of Amaunator in the Temple Ruins area (AR1401), which requires
you to trek all the way out to the Umar Hills and partially complete a
lengthy quest there. Certainly not ideal. But you have to do the same
with Valygar, you say? Sure, but Valygar's quest doesn't require you to
deal with a DRAGON. The last and most damning thing I have against Mazzy
is... well, the other good-or-neutral aligned characters you can
recruit. Mazzy might, with the investment of some levels (and new
proficiencies) and a girdle of giant Strength be a good Fighter, but is
she better than Keldorn with his Inquisitor kit, Anomen and his
dual-classed Cleric spells, or Jaheira and her... well, her Insect
Plague? No, she isn't. She might outcompete Minsc and Valygar
(especially if you're playing with a good or neutral Thief-protagonist),
but I never bring her along. I have considered using her as a 'good'
Korgan, but the amount of proficiencies it would take for her to be able
to use Axe of the Unyielding and Crom Faeyr as well as learn the Two
Weapon Style are just prohibitive, although you could start her out on
War Hammers early. By the time you actually obtain Crom Faeyr she'll
likely be at least specialized in their use, and Anomen can just use the
Flail of the Ages.
How to Use Mazzy Effectively:
-----------------------------
Good question... one I've pondered a bit, myself. You really have two
options-make a poor man's attempt at Korgan, either weapon and shield
or two-weapon style. The latter is... probably just a pipe dream, as it
would require... oh... thirteen extra proficiencies to pull off. There
just aren't enough levels in the game for it, and it seems like a bit of
a waste to strap a shield on a character with such a good Armor Class,
though. The compromise? Have her use a superior mainhand weapon (Axe of
the Unyielding or Flail of the Ages) in her mainhand, and the Short
Sword of Mask in her offhand... or perhaps take the Short Sword of
Mask as a mainhand weapon (have her use a shield throughout Shadows of
Amn) while building up War Hammers and Two-Weapon Style, then switch to
a Short Sword of Mask/Crom Faeyr combo. It's not the ideal setup, but
it works. Still... it just makes me wish I was using a different
character.
Mazzy's Quest:
--------------
Mazzy has a rather traditional and uninspired quest that'll pop up after
a few days of traveling with her. Her sister, Pala, has been poisoned,
and you need to return to Trademeet to hunt down the poisoner-and
perhaps an antidote. For more information about this quest, refer to
[WLK021].
Minsc {CHR013}
o======================================================================o
Male, Human, Ranger, Neutral Good
Str 18/93, Dex 16, Con 16, Int 8, Wis 6, Cha 9
Starting Proficiencies:
Two Handed Sword ++
Mace ++
Long Bow ++
Two Weapon Style ++
Overview:
---------
Our favorite miniature giant space hamster friend, and his Ranger
sidekick Minsc! The fact that in Mass Effect 2 you can buy a Space
Hamster that, if interacted with responds with the same uncanny
Intelligence and sophistication as Boo merely goes to show how endearing
these characters are to have transcended time and space. That aside,
Minsc has improved a bit from the first game, as he now has a better
Dexterity and Constitution, making him a much sturdier character. He has
also, for some reason, become proficient in the Two Weapon Style, which
is a complete and utter waste for him. He's not protected enough for
protracted front-line action, so the thought of giving him a weapon
without reach is just silly. He's more of a secondary warrior, striking
with reach or ranged weapons, as needed. Anything that doesn't require
+3 weapons can be shot down with bows, and anything that requires a +3
or better weapon... well, just switch to an appropriately-enchanted
melee weapon and let Minsc at 'em. Of course, you could just ignore the
Ranger stealth outright, strap Minsc in heavy armor, and treat him like
a front-liner, but the good party has a busy enough front-line already,
so I'm fine with having him contribute at a range. The fact that he
doesn't need the Gauntlets of Dexterity or any Strength-enhancing gear
makes him a good fit into the good party. He can still Berserk in this
game, raising his Strength to 20 and his Dexterity to 18, just make sure
you have the Hit Points for the endeavor, as he takes 15 damage when it
ends from his 'improved' Hit Point total. This should last long enough
to make a difference in most fights, but it should be viewed as wholly
inferior to, say, gulping a Potion of Giant Strength. The only real
questions about Minsc are, do you prefer Valygar (I don't) and will
you bench him in favor of ??????? in Throne of Bhaal?
How to Use Minsc Effectively:
-----------------------------
Get him points in the Two-Handed Weapon style and let him learn how to
use Halberds so he can equip one of the best weapons in the game. He'll
find plenty of Two-Handed Swords to keep him occupied in the mean
time... usually hand-me-downs from Keldorn, but very good ones,
nonetheless. He's also a decent archer, although ranged combat
rightfully takes a backseat to melee combat in this game. Keep him from
being the focus of enemy attacks and he'll serve you well as a
not-quite-front-line Fighter.
Recruiting Minsc:
-----------------
Minsc can be found in Irenicus' dungeon (AR0602) in a cell
(x=4000, y=2750) in the same room you start out in.
Nalia {CHR014}
o======================================================================o
Female, Human, Mage/Thief, Chaotic Good
Str 14, Dex 18, Con 16, Int 17, Wis 9, Cha 13
Starting Proficiencies:
Short Sword +
Dagger +
Quarter Staff +
Short Bow +
Overview:
---------
Nalia is bafflingly identical to Imoen, making me wonder if the only
reason she's included is to tide you over until you get Imoen back. She
has only four levels of Thief, and because of it she'll never be as good
as Imoen in combat or with Thief skills, but she does at least come with
a barely passable Find Traps skill. Anything I said about Imoen applies
for Nalia, really... But since you can recruit Imoen, why would you ever
care to recruit Nalia? Imoen is infinitely more connected to the main
story than Nalia, and while you have to do quests to get both of them,
Imoen's is mandatory. If Nalia were at least a romance option, then
there might be a purpose for her, but instead she's just a clone of
Imoen. Or if she was Neutral or Evil instead of a bleeding heart noble,
she could at least fit into Evil parties, but again, no such luck.
How to Use Nalia Effectively:
-----------------------------
She'll use a Short Bow, and will serve a dual role as the party's
Thief/Mage. Just... get her a Short Bow, and eventually the Gesen
Bow... The only perk she has over Imoen is the fact that she will not
go on a main-story inspired hiatus which prevents her from gaining a
great deal of experience, and you need not save up spell scrolls for
her... just, scribe at will. Of course, her Find Traps score is hardly
sufficient, even with the Ring of Danger Sense, so she can barely even
serve in the capacity of a Thief.
Recruiting Nalia:
-----------------
Nalia, like so many other characters, hangs out in the Copper Coronet
(AR0406). You don't even need to find her-she'll find you and
desperately try to induce you into helping her liberate her captured
family castle. Agree and do so, and she'll stick around for the rest
of the game. This quest is covered in [WLK018].
Nalia's Quest:
--------------
Nalia's quest begins after you rescue the de'Arnise Keep-although it
won't begin within the de'Arnise Keep. After wandering around with her
for a bit, a messenger will show up and tell her of some problems
arising with a funeral. Accompany her there and meet some of the more
unsavory nobles which presumably caused her to disparage her fellow
aristocracy. A little later, the trouble-maker from the funeral, Isaea
Roenall will show up and have Nalia arrested. Afterwards a man named
Khellor Ahmson will show up and point you in the direction of some
evidence that may incriminate Isaea. The rest of the quest involves
following obvious leads and talking to various characters in your
quest to find dirt on Isaea. When you do, head to the Council of Six
building and present the evidence to Corgeig Axehand and Nalia will be
returned to you. The full details of this quest can be found in
[WLK019].
??????? {CHR015}
o======================================================================o
Male, Human, Fighter (Deathbringer), Chaotic Evil
Str 18/00, Dex 17, Con 18, Int 17, Wis 10, Cha 15
Starting Proficiencies:
Two Handed Sword +++++
Halberd +
Cross Bow +
Two Handed Weapon Style ++
Overview:
---------
??????? is the best Fighter in the game. Look at those stats! He
doesn't need any Strength-boosting items, no Gauntlets of Dexterity,
nothing but a Two-Handed Sword and something to kill! That said, you
don't get him until Throne of Bhaal starts, which is too bad, because
he would have been great through Shadows of Amn. Note that you can
change his alignment over the course of the game by generally being
trusting, kind, and good to him, showing him a superior example, and all
that good stuff. Just keep that in mind if you're a good party, and want
his alignment to become more fitting. If you're playing an evil party...
well, just keep being the bastard you've always been, and have fun.
How to Use ??????? Effectively:
-------------------------------
??????? starts out with Grandmastery in Two-Handed Swords, so give him
something suitable to use and build up his proficiency in Halberds.
Once he gets the Ravager, switch him over and keep on killing. It's as
easy of an equipment setup as there is.
Recruiting ???????:
-------------------
After entering your Pocket Plane for the first time (a mandatory step
near the beginning of Throne of Bhaal) ??????? will appear and offer
to help you out... for part of your soul. An insubstantial part, as it
turns out, just enough to give ??????? what he wants without
inconveniencing (or threatening) you. Win-win, right? ??????? sure seems
to think so, and offers to join up. He can see the way the wind is
blowing, and is more than content to take some of the table-scraps from
your epic climb to power. Smart, smart man...
***Changing ???????'s Alignment***
Thanks to Infinity Explorer, I've been able to look into the data files
and see how all this works. That said, it's probably a good idea to
explain in more detail how to change ???????'s alignment. Over the
course of Throne of Bhaal, your new ally will chat with you, as all
companions in Baldur's Gate 2 do. If you say good things, show trust,
and express good morality, your behavior will rub off on ???????. Have
at least two positive alignment global variables while conducting the
third banter, and you can get ???????'s alignment to change to Chaotic
Good. Note that it's possible to be... less encouraging, and effect
???????'s alignment negatively, but this part of the guide is about
changing ???????'s alignment to fit into the good party, I'll ignore all
but the optimum responses. Also, I've kept the name of this character
replaced by question marks, but I've included some lines of dialogue in
full, below. The more astute of you may be able to figure out who this
character is by reading the following... so if you're an idiot, read on
with no fear. If you're smart, beware of spoilers. Or, just wait until
the beginning of Throne of Bhaal to bother with this at all.
o=========o
|Banter #1|
o=========o
??????? says: "So. I yet remain at your side. I am surprised. But from
your constant wary glances, it seems that you do not
trust my presence, yet."
If you made ??????? take an oath in the Pocket Plane before joining you,
pick any option regarding the oath. When you get a chance to make
another response, pick "No, not really. You paid for what you did".
Afterwards, either say that "No. You're not the same man, are you?" or
"Perhaps. But I already took my revenge. Now you get the benefit of the
doubt." Either will improve ???????'s alignment.
If you didn't make him take an oath, you'll get three different
dialogue options, all inconsequential. After he says "It eats away at
me, then, as to why you would agree to take me with you and not force
some form of compliance from me through an oath. I told you that oaths
had real power in our father's realm." you'll get another chance to
respond. Don't pick the response "I take you with me because you may be
of use. But I don't need an oath of servitude." Afterwards say either
"You paid for what you did. You're a new man, free to make new mistakes,
if you wish." or "You might. But everyone gets a second chance, ???????.
Even you."
o=========o
|Banter #2|
o=========o
??????? says: "It appears the seeds that our sire sowed long ago are
about to come to fruition. For good or ill, the issue
will be finally resolved very soon."
Pick whatever dialogue option you wish-if you made him take the oath
before joining you, he'll mention the oath, otherwise he'll say the
more neutral term, 'usefulness'. Afterwards he'll ask what you intend
for him after it's all over.
You can pick one of three responses-and really, it doesn't matter what
you pick, but to make life easier on myself, if you pick "So? What about
it?" You'll get one of four choices to pick later. Pick "You'll be free
to go, as you wish.", then pick "Your destiny is your own to forge,
???????. Make the same mistakes, if you must." to improve ???????'s
alignment by one. In response to this he'll ask "And do you believe
that I have another choice?" Pick either "Another choice than being
evil? Always." or "It all depends on whether or not you want to end up
in the same place, ???????." to improve ???????'s alignment again.
o=========o
|Banter #3|
o=========o
??????? says: "The end draws closer. We both know this to be true.
Listen to a proposition, then, that I have given much
thought to as of late."
Pick any option other than "I'm not interested in what you have to say."
and ??????? will comment on your alignment before rambling on, finally
getting to the point by suggesting that you take over as the new Lord
of Murder, claim your birthright... and allow ??????? to stand by your
side. He's canny enough to realize that if you can't wield godly power
yourself, you might as well bask in its favor. Pick option "I have
other plans, ???????. Forget it." and a whopping eight dialogue options
will pop up. Pick any option other than "It doesn't matter what happens
to me, ???????... you won't be involved, regardless." or "It's none of
your business, ???????." to get six more dialogue options. Don't pick
"There are better things than power, don't be a fool." or "I'm not
going to discuss this with you, as they don't go anywhere, and don't
pick "It don't know. But it doesn't have to be used for self-serving,
evil purposes."
That leaves us with "You can't take an empire with you when you die.
You should know that.", "There is much good that can be done with that
power. That is more important.", and "With that power comes great
responsibility." All three of these options will improve ???????'s
alignment by one. He'll respond by saying "After... after all you've
been through? With the taint in your soul, you still believe this?"
Respond "I do." If you have at least two positive alignment increases at
this time, ??????? will say "I believe your words may have merit,
. My own methods did not end well... and I have no desire to
return to the Abyss when I perish next." At this time, ???????'s
alignment will change to Chaotic Good and he'll say "Perhaps it is time
to rethink my views. I shall have to think on your words most
carefully."
o=========o
|Banter #4|
o=========o
If you had at least one point towards changing ???????'s alignment for
the better and followed my advice during banter #3, you should get the
following for banter #4.
??????? says: "I... have been considering your words. I have changed
my outlook, and think perhaps it may be a good thing.
I feel I must thank you."
You have three options-but they all result in the same responses from
???????... this is just a "hey, I'm a good guy now!" banter.
Valygar {CHR016}
o======================================================================o
Male, Human, Ranger (Stalker), Neutral Good
Str 17, Dex 18, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 14, Cha 10
Starting Proficiencies:
Katana ++
Dagger +
Spear ++
Long Bow ++
Two Weapon Style ++
Overview:
---------
Notice that his physical stats are identical to Yoshimo's... anyways,
Valgyar is a good Ranger, so you won't be using him in any legit evil
party. Also he's got the Stalker kit, which makes him good at back-
stabbing and gives him the ability to cast Haste, which is always handy.
There are few downsides with him, in fact, so few that he's a very
considerable substitute for Minsc if you're willing to invest an item
of Giant Strength in him. He comes built for two-weapon fighting, and
despite his need to stay in lighter armor, his Dexterity makes this
a real possibility. Nothing really bad to say about Valygar, really,
save his location kind of sucks... and he'll be waiting for gear for
a long time. Waiting for Katanas to open up, waiting for items of
Giant Strength... he needs a lot of gear set aside for other characters,
but he'll eventually get all he needs-and more-in Throne of Bhaal. I'm
also indisposed towards picking him over Minsc, who is, after all, an
old friend from Baldur's Gate 1.
How to Use Valygar Effectively:
-------------------------------
See that 18 Dexterity? See those proficiencies? They give you good
incentive to actually follow through on the Two-Weapon Style
dual-Katanas thing. The only problem is, of course, that I've co-opted
Katanas for my protagonist, so what to do? Well, he's already got a
rank in Daggers. Get Specialized in Daggers, and Master in Two Weapon
Style. This will allow him to use whatever Daggers Jaheira isn't using
(she certainly doesn't need BOTH Boneblade +4 and Fire Tooth +3, if
Valygar is needy.) All in all, it's a great set-up. He'll have to use
second-rate Katanas for most of the game, but he'll survive well
enough-there are plenty of +2 Katanas that my protagonist will not have
any use for, like Malakar +2, Dak'kon's Zerth Blade, or hell, even his
own Corthala Family Blade. In Throne of Bhaal, my protagonist will hand
off Celestial Fury, which is a good upgrade for Valygar, and in the
long run he can aspire to dual-wielding the Dagger of The Star +5 and
Hindo's Doom +4. Give him the White Dragon Scale and he'll have a -6
Armor Class with nothing else equipped, and once Jaheira hands down her
Girdle of Hill Giant Strength, he'll be doing pretty well. He's not as
potent with the whole backstabbing thing as our Fighter/Mage/Thief
protagonist will be, and he's probably not even as lethal in melee as
Minsc or ??????? with the Ravager +6, but that doesn't mean he's a
waste of a character. If you prefer having another front-line melee
warrior with a backstab dynamic over Minsc's more traditional range and
reach approach, Valygar does that quite well.
Recruiting Valygar:
-------------------
You can find him in the Umar Hills area (AR1100) in his house marked on
the map as 'Valygar's Cabin' (AR1101). To keep him, you're going to
need to take him back to Athkatla and deal with the Planar Sphere in
the Slums District [WLK016].
Viconia {CHR017}
o======================================================================o
Female, Elf, Cleric, Neutral Evil
Str 10, Dex 19, Con 8, Int 16, Wis 18, Cha 14
Starting Proficiencies:
War Hammer +
Mace +
Sling +
Overview:
---------
Our old Dark Elven gal-pal has become a bit wisersince the first game...
not wise enough to avoid nearly getting burnt to crisp by bigots, but
still... This will give her a few more low-leveled spells, but
otherwise not much has changed. She still has her great Dexterity
and her Magic Resistance keeping her safe, but in Baldur's Gate 2 Magic
Resistance is purely beneficial... no more will you resist healing and
spell buffs from your own party members. If anything, this makes Viconia
even more potent this time around. She does have two glaring weaknesses
however, and you should be able to spot them just by looking over her
attributes. Her Strength wasn't an issue in the last game, mostly
because there was no Strength requirement on gear. Now, however, she
won't be able to equip many suits of armor until you get her Strength
up, making a girdle of Giant Strength practically mandatory. Also her
low Hit Points offset her Dexterity and Magic Resistance a bit, but they
shouldn't be so low as to cause a problem, all things considered. As
far as melee combat goes, she will never be in the same league as
Jaheira or Anomen, but with her Magic Resistance and Armor Class she can
at least compete. Get her good armor, a good shield, and some Strength
and she's a great defensive character. She's also a romantic option this
time aroud, provided you can put up with her provocative stories, mood
swings, and general hatred of the fact that she's falling for you.
How to Use Viconia Effectively:
-------------------------------
When you have a point to spend, get her a proficiency point in Flails so
she can use the Flail of the Ages. A better weapon for her you will not
find, as Crom Faeyr is a bit of a waste on her. Her high Charisma, good
defensive qualities, and ability to equip the Sensate Amulet all combine
to make her a decent party leader.
Recruiting Viconia:
-------------------
Good old Viconia can be found in the Government District of Athkatla
(AR1000) at (x=1820, y=1080). Once again, she's gotten herself in
trouble. In the first game you had to save her from a Flaming Fist
Mercenary, but in this game she's gotten captured by an angry mob. It
makes me wonder why she left your company after the first game... In any
event to recruit Viconia you'll have to save her. If you screw around
too long she'll be burned alive and you'll have lost access to the best
evil Cleric in the game. Click on the logs next to her twice to set her
free. You'll have to fight three Fanatics-none of which are very strong-
for letting her go. Afterwards she'll ask to join up. If you take her
along you'll lose two points of reputation, just like in the first game,
but this is a minor penalty for such a good Cleric.
Romancing Viconia:
------------------
Viconia can be a little tricky to romance. Not in the same way as
Jaheira, mind you, where the game is just buggy and the conditions to
keep the romance alive can be fairly draconian. Viconia's romance is
pretty abusive at times, and you must walk a fine line to weather
Viconia's aggressive 'courting'. Sometimes you'll need to be fairly
mean to her, but overly-passive or excessively aggressive responses can
ruin the relationship. Endure her manic hot-and-cold attitudes, and her
cruel tongue, and you'll be fine. Be ambitious, and refuse to dismiss
her or your relationship and eventually she'll come to see things your
way. Remember, her pessimistic nature wants to find fault in you. It's
a safety mechanism, but don't tell her to piss off (no matter how much
you'll want to). After a while you'll get the choice to have half-
hearted tired sex with her, or just comfort her while she sleeps. Show
her that you don't need sex to show affection and you'll be doing fine.
A while later she'll start talking about how she feels her former life
catching up to her. It's not an exaggeration-a Handmaiden of Lolth and
a Yochlol will show up to 'reclaim' Viconia, who spends the duration of
the fight unconscious. After the encounter she becomes more and more
paranoid about Lolth, until she attempts to leave. Beg her to stay, and
when she seems set on ending the relationship, ask her to stay in the
party. Telling her that you need her help against Irenicus is the way to
go.
Yoshimo {CHR018}
o======================================================================o
Male, Human, Thief (Bounty Hunter), True Neutral
Str 17, Dex 18, Con 16, Int 13, Wis 10, Cha 14
Starting Proficiencies:
Katana +
Dagger +
Short Bow +
Single Weapon Style +
Overview:
---------
Well, he's a Thief, and the lamest of the Thief Kits at that. He's got
good stats otherwise though, and his Find Traps skill starts out at 100,
which is all you'll ever really need. His Pick Pockets is only 25
however, so to do some early game stealing you'll need to invest some
Potions of Master Thievery into him. Really, he'll have to chug them by
the half dozen to do any stealing. He's also promising because you can
dual-class him into a Fighter and make him significantly more useful.
Alas, I wouldn't put too much stake in him, as he will not accompany to
the end of the game. Take him with you until you get Imoen back, but the
evil party is left bereft of a Thief still.
How to Use Yoshimo Effectively:
-------------------------------
I wonder if there's really any point to this section? Yoshimo is...
well, I better keep up appearances, eh? As a single-classed Thief,
Yoshimo sucks. Fortunately, he's got a 17 Strength, and hence, is
capable of dual-classing into a Fighter, which is a far, far superior
build than continuing as a Thief. Given Yoshimo's short-term status,
however, you might not want to bother. You'll need him as a Thief, and
you probably won't get enough experience to make the dual-class option
pay off. Equip him with Short Bows and let him shoot at foes, disarm
traps, and generally act as a marginal character until you get Imoen
back.
Recruiting Yoshimo:
-------------------
After making your way to the second level of Irenicus' Dungeon (AR0603),
you'll run across Yoshimo, who is only too eager to join up with your
party and get the hell out of there.
***SPOILERS***
You have been warned, if you don't want spoilers don't read ahead.
Yoshimo is a promising Thief, at least if you dual-class him into a
Fighter. But he suffers from one crippling, inextricable, problem. He is
going to betray you if you take him to Spellhold, as Irenicus has geased
him. Without getting into it too deeply, one of two things happens to
Yoshimo. He attacks you at Spellhold and you're forced to kill him, or
if you leave him behind, he'll die upon sight of the party once they
return from Spellhold. I have heard of one way to get around this. You
MUST leave him behind in Athkatla instead of taking him to Spellhold.
When you come back you must talk to him BEFORE he can die and have him
rejoin your party. Then when he dies (and he will) you can simply raise
him. He has no more banters, and nobody will interact with him, but you
CAN keep Yoshimo with this exploit. Since it's clearly outside what the
creators of the game intended, I write him off as a dead man after
Spellhold, but if you're an evil party who is in desperate need of a
Thief, this is a way to keep Yoshimo. If you keep him alive you'll get a
character with great fighting stats and crappy proficiencies. Whether
you have a good or evil party, I'd suggest dual-classing him into a
Fighter and getting him as many ranks into Halberds and the Two Handed
Style as possible, allowing him to use the Ravager Halberd you'll
eventually get. In a good party he'd replace Minsc, and in the evil
party he'd fill a hole that otherwise needs to be plugged with a
protagonist Thief or player-created side-kick. He's certainly more
useful than Jan. In any event, if you bring Yoshimo along with you to
Spellhold, at least you'll get a ton of experience for it-eventually.
Table of Character Attributes {CHR019}
o======================================================================o
For reference purposes, here's a list of the attributes of the
characters you may recruit in the game. It should help you compare their
strengths and weaknesses of the, and plan for item distribution
accordingly. I also threw in some useless 'averages', just because it
interested me, and by deduction, every other sentient being in the
universe.
o=======o=======o=======o=======o=======o=======o======o
| Str | Dex | Con | Int | Wis | Cha | Total|
o=======o=======o=======o=======o=======o=======o======o
Aerie | 10 | 17 | 9 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 82 |
|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|------|
Anomen | 18/52 | 10 | 16 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 79 |
|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|------|
Cernd | 13 | 9 | 13 | 12 | 18 | 15 | 80 |
|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|------|
Edwin | 10 | 10 | 16 | 18 | 10 | 10 | 74 |
|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|------|
Haer'Dalis | 17 | 17 | 9 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 87 |
|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|------|
Imoen | 9 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 11 | 16 | 87 |
|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|------|
Jaheira | 15 | 17 | 17 | 10 | 14 | 15 | 88 |
|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|------|
Jan | 9 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 10 | 81 |
|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|------|
Keldorn | 17 | 9 | 17 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 89 |
|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|------|
Korgan | 18/77 | 15 | 19 | 12 | 9 | 7 | 80 |
|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|------|
Mazzy | 15 | 18 | 16 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 86 |
|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|------|
Minsc | 18/93 | 16 | 16 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 73 |
|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|------|
Nalia | 14 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 9 | 13 | 87 |
|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|------|
??????? | 18/00 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 10 | 15 | 95 |
|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|------|
Valygar | 17 | 18 | 16 | 10 | 14 | 10 | 85 |
|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|------|
Viconia | 10 | 19 | 8 | 16 | 18 | 14 | 85 |
|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|------|
Yoshimo | 17 | 18 | 16 | 13 | 10 | 14 | 88 |
|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|------|
"Average" PC | 14.41 | 15.47 | 14.88 | 13.47 | 12.53 | 13.12 | 83.88|
o======================================================o
Note: The average result of a 3d6 dice roll is 10.5 (3.5 per d6).
Bioware is using some loaded dice to come up with a lot of those
attributes. Then again, if these were 'average' characters, they
wouldn't be worthy traveling companions, right? It's also obvious that
many of these characters are blatant archetypes, but we all love
archetypes. Still, we don't get some of the randomness that we saw in
some of the Baldur's Gate 1 characters... or in real Dungeons and
Dragons. The great thing about anomalies, however, is the possibility
to dual-class, and in Baldur's Gate 2 major character-building is
largely-and rightfully-over.
It also amuses me that the stats that Bioware found the least
useful-Wisdom and Charisma-are the stats that I found the least
useful in my days as Dungeon Master. (If I bothered to average
out stats for Baldur's Gate 2 characters, you can bet I have
spreadsheets of old campaigns and characters of my own). Many
characters that are fun to play aren't nice (everybody likes to
play a jackass, from time to time) and/or they aren't wise. Crazy
characters... or more politely, dangerously uninhibited characters...
are often more fun to play than characters who are responsible,
cautious, and deliberate. I think these are universal traits that
most long-time players will discover if they bother to average out
their PC and NPC attributes.
I must also point out that the characters in Baldur's Gate 2 are
decidedly superior to the Baldur's Gate 1 characters, being close in
two of the six attributes, and a point on average superior in Strength,
Constitution, Wisdom, and Charisma, and having an average total of
83.88 compared to 79.84 in the last game. The main reason for this is
the fact that there are much fewer 'junk' characters in this game-higher
stakes require stronger allies. Only three of the potential allies in
this game have a total attribute spread of less than 80 points, while
eight of the twenty-five recruitable characters in Baldur's Gate 1 had
less than 80 points. It also doesn't hurt that many of the Baldur's
Gate 1 characters who made it into the sequel have higher attributes in
the sequel.
Out of 25 characters in the first game, three had exceptional Strength.
Only one of them made it into the sequel. In the sequel four out of
seventeen characters have exceptional Strength.
Out of seventeen characters, only four do not receive a bonus to Armor
Class from their Dexterity. Of the thirteen characters who have a bonus
to their Armor Class, six of them have a +4 bonus to Armor Class.
No character in the game has a higher-than-useful Constitution (a Mage
with 17 or 18 Constitution, for example.) No characters receive a
penalty to their Hit Points from Constitution. Only three Characters do
not receive a bonus to their Hit Points from Constitution. Seven of the
seventeen characters in the game have a Constitution score of 16.
Seven of twenty-five characters had a Charisma score of less than ten
in the first game. Only two have a Charisma of less than ten in this
game. We're a prettier bunch, all around.
Chart of Characters by Role {CHR020}
o======================================================================o
Below is a list of all the recruitable characters in the game and the
different roles they fill. This will list what roles-both in combat and
out-each character is best suited for. In addition, below this chart I
will explain the roles more in-depth, and include why some characters
meet certain qualifications whereas others do not.
Fighter
|Cleric
| |Mage
| | |Thief
| | | |Leader
| | | | |Gauntlets of Dexterity
| | | | | |Needs Giant Strength
| | | | | | |Good
| | | | | | | |Neutral
| | | | | | | | |Evil
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o
Aerie | | X | X | | | | | X | | |
o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o
Anomen | X | X | | | | X | | | X | |
o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o
Cernd | | X | | | | | | | X | |
o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o
Edwin | | | X | | | | | | | X |
o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o
Haer'Dalis | | | | | | | X | | X | |
o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o
Imoen | | | X | X | | | | X | | |
o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o
Jaheira | X | X | | | X | | X | | X | |
o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o
Jan | | | X | X | | | | | X | |
o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o
Keldorn | X | | | | X | X | X | X | | |
o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o
Korgan | X | | | | | X | | | | X |
o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o
Mazzy | X | | | | X | | X | X | | |
o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o
Minsc | X | | | | | | | X | | |
o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o
Nalia | | | X | X | | | | X | | |
o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o
??????? | X | | | | X | | | | | X |
o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o
Valygar | X | | | | | | X | X | | |
o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o
Viconia | X | X | | | X | | X | | | X |
o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o
Yoshimo | | | | X | | | | | X | |
o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o===o
Fighter: Characters who can meet foes in melee combat with regular
success. These characters typically have decent Hit Points, a good
THAC0, and multiple attacks per round. Heavy armor for an exceptionally
low Armor Class is also a must. A Cleric is typically better at fitting
into this category than a Ranger or Thief, since they do not work as
well with heavy armor... and the main point of a Fighter is to tank.
A character who is a multi-class Cleric may not meet the criteria to be
a Fighter (such as Aerie) because she cannot wear heavy armor and get
into combat, and her lower Hit Points and THAC0 progression make her in
every way a less appealing combatant than, say, Viconia, who might not
be ideal, but is otherwise comparably superior. Although Cernd and
Haer'Dalis are weak in armor like Minsc and Valygar, the latter two have
better options with their proficiencies (such as specialization) a lower
THAC0, and better Hit Points. Most importantly, they will both get
Greater Whirlwind, where Cernd and Haer'Dalis do not, making them much
better at fitting into a Fighter role, despite their lack of heavy
armor.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Cleric: In order to meet this classification, a character must not only
be able to heal, but be able to cure poisons, diseases, restore drained
levels, and cast higher level Clerical spells. A Druid fits into this
category just fine in Baldur's Gate 2 thanks to the expanded variety of
healing spells. Clerics in Baldur's Gate 2 are pretty simple, if they
have the class, they work. In this regards, a Cleric is almost like a
Thief, it's almost useless on its own (and a poor choice for a main
character). You should pick what Cleric you want to use not because you
need one, but because of what other things in addition to Clerical
power the Cleric brings to the table.
Anomen has the benefits of a dual-classed Fighters THAC0 and Hit Points.
Jaheira is a multi-classed Fighter/Druid who can specialize in weapons
and learn Greater Whirlwind. Viconia has magic resistance and a great
Dexterity, making her a superior defensive character. Aerie, in
addition to her Clerical abilities can cast Mage spells, although she
suffers in weapon and armor selection.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Mage: The requirements for a Mage are much steeper in Baldur's Gate 2, a
Bard no longer cuts it... and a triple-class character might not either.
Ideally a Mage should be able to cast Finger of Death, Horrid Wilting,
Spell Trigger, Time Stop, and Comet. If they can't cast those, they
need not apply.
Edwin is the best pure Mage in the game. In fact, he's the only single
classed Mage in the game! Imoen/Nalia will satisfy your need for a
Thief, as well as provide the second most potent selection of Mage
spells in the game. Aerie is multi-classed, which will slow her down,
and overall she's not as good of a Mage as either Edwin or Imoen/Nalia,
but since she's not a specialist she does place ahead of Jan, who cannot
cast Necromantic spells.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Thief: A Thief only needs to be able to find and disarm traps.
Everything else can be done another way. Thus, Bards and Rangers do not
qualify as Thieves, even though they can use some Thief skills.
A Thief is in all honesty a waste of a class. With dual-or-multi-
classing it's a valuable asset to be able to hide and backstab, but not
on its own. You'll notice that very few characters can actually fit this
role, the best of which is Yoshimo. Since he's not in it for the long
haul, we are left with Jan or Imoen. Imoen's prowess as the second best
Mage in the game makes her a shoo-in for a good party, but evil parties
are left with Jan. He's serviceable, and with a bow is a decent
addition, probably better than Haer'Dalis, in any event.
The best thing an evil party can do, however, is to either have a main
character who is at least in part a Thief (Fighter/Thief,
Fighter/Mage/Thief, etc), or was dual-classed from a Thief at one point.
If that's too much for you, you can always make two custom-characters
and play both of them in place of the poor-quality Thief PCs you can
recruit. This is exactly what my fiance did, playing with a single-
classed Fighter as her Protagonist while including a side-kick
Fighter/Mage/Thief of her own making. She even played through them both
in Baldur's Gate 1 and imported them both into Baldur's Gate 2. She had
a great time with Korgan, Viconia, Jaheira, and Edwin.
To do this simply create a multi-player game and create (or import) two
characters of your own choosing. Start the game up normally, save it,
and quit. Then go into your system folder (C:/Program Files/Black Isle/
Baldur's Gate 2 for example) and find the folder called 'MPSave.'
Inside should be your saved game, which you can simply move over to the
normal Save folder to have it function just like a normal campaign.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Leader: Technically anybody can be a leader, but to be a good leader,
you need to have a high Charisma, and you need to be durable enough to
survive in the front. This narrows our selection down a bit, but with
the Sensate Amulet and the Armor of Balduran, even a modest Charisma of,
say, 14 can get up to snuff. This role isn't a huge deal, as you can
simply switch out a character with low Charisma for one with higher
Charisma when you need to do some shopping. Of course, the Ring of
Human Influence makes this role available to anybody able to endure the
punishment of being in front-provided they've a ring slot to spare.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Gauntlets of Dexterity: This character needs the Gauntlets of Dexterity
to excel. These are typically Fighters with a low Dexterity (and hence,
a poor Armor Class). Ideally almost every character could use these, but
this category is for otherwise decent characters who become much
stronger by equipping the gauntlets. This is not a category for
characters who do not fit into a fighting role, or characters who will
still perform poorly in combat with them. It's also not for characters
who really don't need these gauntlets to excel. If it's not lowering
their Armor Class by three or four points, they probably don't need it.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Giant Strength: These characters need a boost to their Strength to be at
peak efficiency, pretty much regulating this to Fighter-role characters.
Since there are multiple such items in the game, including Gauntlets of
Ogre Power, a Girdle of Hill Giant Strength, a Girdle of Stone Giant
Strength, a Girdle of Frost Giant Strength, a Girdle of Fire Giant
Strength, Crom Faeyr, Angurvadal, and the Runehammer, to name a few,
you have lots of opportunities to address this problem. Your goal should
always be to match the best benefits with the best warriors. Obviously
a character with two attacks a round will make better use of a higher
Strength than a character with one. Practically, however, most of these
items come later in Shadows of Amn or in Throne of Bhaal, so this guide
is more to give you an idea of who to equip the Girdle of Hill Giant
Strength and Gauntlets of Ogre Power on, rather than clue you in to who
will eventually need a Strength-boosting item.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Good: Characters of Good alignment. These characters can travel with
Neutral characters, but might fight with characters of Evil alignment
(especially Keldorn).
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Neutral: Characters of Neutral alignment. Note neutrality is secondary
to Good and Evil. Chaotic and Lawful characters do not cause problems.
A Neutral character can travel with either Good or Evil characters,
although not without some friction.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Evil: Characters of Evil alignment. These characters can travel with
Neutral characters. but might provoke Good characters. This doesn't mean
all Evil characters will get along peachy, but it does mean that they
won't defect.
Suggested Parties by Role {CHR021}
o======================================================================o
These are my suggestions for characters, based on their Strengths. The
order of the character DOES indicate how well I feel they'll fit their
role (i.e.: Keldorn is a better party leader than Viconia because he's
named first.) Although keep in mind this doesn't really rate their
overall usefulness (Korgan's brute Strength over Keldorn's Dispel Magic,
True Sight, and Holy Avenger) it just rates how well they fill a role.
Overall it's nothing to get your panties in a twist over. Somebody had
to come first, and with how few characters there are and with the
variety of pros and cons they have it's mostly a matter of opinion.
Also, you'll obviously have to exclude a party member to make room for
your main character, although whom you exclude will pretty much be
resolved by what class your protagonist is.
Leader (1): Keldorn, Viconia, Jaheira, ???????, Mazzy
Fighter (2): Korgan, Keldorn, ???????, Jaheira, Minsc, Valygar,
Mazzy, Anomen, Viconia
Cleric (1): Viconia, Anomen, Aerie, Cernd
Mage (1): Edwin, Imoen, Nalia, Aerie, Jan
Thief (1): Jan, Imoen, Nalia
Example Evil Party
Leader: Viconia
Fighter: Korgan
Fighter: Yoshimo/Haer'Dalis/???????
Cleric: Jaheira
Mage: Edwin
Thief: Yoshimo
Viconia takes the leader spot pretty much by default, as she's one of
the few Evil characters in the game with a good Armor Class and
Charisma. Korgan is probably the best Fighter in the game, although
Haer'Dalis is more or less a space-filler. Sure, he's got access to some
low-end Mage spells, but he's not a good enough Mage or Fighter to
really get excited over. To that end, dual-classing Yoshimo into a
Fighter/Thief is a good enough fix. Sure, using Yoshimo has its own
problems, but since you can complete most of the quests in the main game
before running off to Spellhold, you won't really be hurting for very
long. Once you get to Throne of Bhaal you can recruit ??????? and
finally have a second Fighter worthy of the title. Jaheira's versatility
and neutral alignment makes her a natural second Cleric (and good
Fighter, in a pinch) that's really indispensable for any party. Edwin is
by and far the best Mage the game has to offer, leaving only the
Thief... Naturally, if you keep Yoshimo you have nothing to worry about.
Unfortunately, he can be... fickle... and sans Yoshimo the only good
option the Evil party has is for a Thief-classed protagonist, since
Imoen and Nalia are both Good-aligned.
Example Good Party
Leader: Keldorn
Fighter: Jaheira
Fighter: Minsc/???????
Cleric: Anomen
Mage: Imoen/Nalia
Thief: Imoen/Nalia
Keldorn is a great party leader, as his Paladin class ensures he's got a
good Charisma. Also he's relatively well-off in the Armor Class
department, although he needs the Gauntlets of Dexterity to bring him up
to snuff, especially considering he won't be carrying a shield. His
ability to Dispel Magic and use True Sight makes him phenomenal for
destroying enemy Mages, and he's an overall great character. Jaheira can
specialize in weapons, wear heavy armor, and use a shield. With her
improved attributes she also has a good amount of Hit Points and Armor
Class, making her a good Fighter. She might not be as great as Keldorn
and Anomen, but her compliment of Druidic spells puts her well above any
competition she might have. Minsc is a secondary Fighter, and can be
substituted for Valygar, who serves much the same role. There are some
issues with Valygar that make me pick Minsc over him, however. He's a
good bit off the beaten path, whereas you get Minsc right in the first
dungeon. Oh, his lower Strength makes him more of a liability, too, and
the fact that he's built to fight with two katanas means he won't be
staying out of melee like Minsc (not to mention the competition he'll
provoke for other katana-users.) ??????? makes a good replacement for
Minsc, if you don't mind doing a little roleplaying to change ???????'s
alignment, and if you won't miss the stealth too much. Anomen is pretty
much the mandatory Good Cleric... there just isn't another one in the
game besides Jaheira, and it's always best to have two characters who
can heal. That's not to say he's baggage, mind you. His high Strength
and starting proficiencies means he'll be as deadly as... well, as most
Fighters, even if he won't have access to Whirlwind Attack. Stick Crom
Faeyr on him, or his holy symbol, and you've got a pretty damn strong
'Cleric'. Lastly, we have Imoen/Nalia, who are practically identical.
Again, the lack of a dedicated Thief makes one of them mandatory, as
well the fact that there's no Good Mage in the game. They fill dual-
roles, both of which the Good party desperately needs filled. And no,
I don't consider Jan a viable replacement. If you don't need a Thief...
well, I'd suggest you still stick with Imoen/Nalia, but even Aerie is a
better choice than Jan.
Only the Best Party:
Leader: Keldorn
Fighter: Korgan/???????
Fighter: Jaheira
Cleric: Anomen/Viconia
Mage: Edwin/Imoen/Nalia
Thief: (Main Character)
Unlike in the original Baldur's Gate you'll have to cheat to make a
party like this. Keldorn is simply awesome for his ability to debuff and
Korgan is the best straight Fighter in the game. He's probably better
than ???????, although his attributes are somewhat inferior. ??????? is
made for two-handed weapons, and uses the Ravager to good effect. You
will, however need to consider that Korgan can readily use the Axe of
the Unyielding and Crom Faeyr. In order to answer this potency ???????
must be given a valuable Girdle of Giant Strength, but on the other hand
??????? doesn't require the Gauntlets of Dexterity, which Korgan and
Keldorn both need. In the end, it's a toss-up. Jaheira's versatility
makes her a great addition even to this epic party, and best of all she
has no gear conflictions with anybody. Anomen gets the nod over Viconia
because of his much greater prowess in melee, although if you give
Korgan Crom Faeyr Anomen will have to use the Rune Hammer or the Flail
of the Ages, which in conjunction with the holy symbol he gets at 25th
level is enough to raise his Strength to a respectable 19. If you keep
??????? Anomen is then free to use Crom Faeyr, but ultimately the fact
that you don't get ??????? until Throne of Bhaal makes Korgan a much
more attractive choice. Nobody can argue that Edwin is the best Mage in
the game, but you can only use him if your protagonist is a Thief.
Ideally enough levels of Thief (perhaps with the Assassin Kit to get up
to x7 backstab) to get 100 ranks in Find/Remove Traps. Then if you dual-
class into a Fighter you'll be a truly awesome character. A
Fighter/Thief and Fighter/Mage/Thief are also valid and potent multi-
class options for a protagonist in the epic build. If you don't care to
have the best recruitable Mage in the game, bring along Imoen/Nalia.
It's a matter of opinion whether a Fighter/Mage with Imoen/Nalia is a
better combination than a Fighter/Thief with Edwin. Since you're already
cheating to get keep this party combination together, disable the level
cap and play a Fighter/Mage/Thief with Edwin to have the best of both
worlds. Sure, it will be a long time before you can pull off the Time
Stop/Greater Whirlwind trick, but it's worth it.
Good Party versus Evil Party {CHR022}
o======================================================================o
Now, hopefully I've stated enough about your potential allies and their
relevence in a party to help you build up an idea of what to expect
from each party member-and in combining all the characters in the game,
what to then expect from your party as a whole. However, in case it
wasn't clear enough, I've made this section to cover the differences
between the parties so you'll know exactly what's going on. Note that
much of this information is found throughout the Walkthrough itself,
and in the character and party descriptions above. This is merely a
condensed and direct comparison of the strengths, weaknesses, and
resulting tactics covered above.
Party Composition
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This shouldn't be so very complex. In my mind, the game decides who
you will travel with as soon as you pick your alignment-with a few
exceptions. First, let me reiterate. You get five party members plus
your protagonist, which is well shy of the total number of characters in
the game. However, since good and evil don't mix, you can only pick so
many to take with you. If you grab Keldorn, you're not travelling with
Korgan, Edwin, or Viconia, and so on. Throw in some useless allies like
Cernd and Jan, and consider that Nalia is just a cheap copy of Imoen,
and you've thinned the ranks. Then there are the dubious characters-
Haer'Dalis, Mazzy, and Aerie, who are hard to fit into a party for
various reasons-mostly because, although they're decent, they're just
over-matched. Yoshimo is a long-term bust (don't plan a party around
him) and that leaves us with only one real choice... do we bring along
Minsc or Valygar in the good party? Much, much later on in the game,
??????? joins up, at which point you must decide... ditch whatever extra
characters you're dragging along in the evil party (likely Haer'Dalis),
or in the good party ditch Minsc/Valygar, or tell ??????? to take a
walk.
The Protagonist
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Ideally a protagonist is simply the strongest character on the screen
at any given time-a Fighter/Mage is really the way to go, in my
opinion. Being able to hold the front-line is good, but being able to
lend Mage support while you're at it is even better, and the
Time Stop/Greater Whirlwind tactic just isn't fair... In a good way!
As far as gear is concerned, a Fighter/Mage can soak up the attacks
of enemy spellcasters (read: Liches) without getting scratched once
the Cloak of Mirroring is obtained. Ilithids are another foe that is
best handled almost exclusively by a Fighter/Mage. With good combat
stats, a decent Armor Class, and protective spells like Mirror Image
and Blur, there really is no better character for weathering psionics
and surviving Intelligence drain. Last but not least, our protagonist
Fighter/Mage can handle Vampires once the Amulet of Power is obtained.
This isn't quite as exclusive as the Illithid tactic, since other
classes (Clerics) can pick up the slack. Still, a Fighter/Mage is more
lethal in combat (better weapon selection and Greater Whirlwind Attack)
and has better defensive spells-all in all, it's the best anti-vampire
character you'll be able to easily build. That's three very dangerous
foes that can be completely negated by our protagonist. Of course,
they're not capable of handling everything-sometimes a Fighter is needed
for brute work, or a Mage is needed to caster higher-level spells (or
numerous low-level spells) that the Fighter/Mage just can't access-yet.
When you slap the Helm of Vhailor on a Fighter/Mage, all those perks
are doubled.
Of course, there is one tiny fly in the ointment if you plan to play an
evil character. The recruitable Thieves in Baldur's Gate 2 are
laughable. Imoen barely cuts it for the good party, but as far as I'm
concerned the evil party is just out of luck. And no, I do not consider
Jan a serious option. How then, do we obtain those awesome perks of
being a Fighter/Mage and still introduce a decent Thief into the party?
Easy, make a Fighter/Mage/Thief instead. Is it as good as a
Fighter/Mage? No, your spell progression will be even more stunted, as
will your Hit Points and THAC0 progression, and you'll never get 9th-
level Mage spells (without cheating). On the other hand, all the tactics
otherwise fit seamlessly (save Time Stop/Greater Whirlwind, obviously),
and the Fighter/Mage/Thief gains a few very important benefits. First,
being able to create your own Thief is much better than borrowing an
recruitable Thief. Imoen can't upgrade her Thief skills any-but you
can. No stupid kits (Yoshimo) and no annoying turnip-Gnomes (Jan).
Second-and best of all-is the backstabbing. Adding x5 damage to an
already potent Bhaalspawn almost ludicriously strong. Of course, many
enemies will be immune (no cheap-shots on that dragon!) but for most
enemies... it'll make you forget that you're playing what I view as the
weaker of two alternatives.
Jaheira
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Jaheira is not an optional character in my mind. Not in Baldur's Gate,
or in Baldur's Gate 2. Since she's become even stronger in the sequel,
this is a no-brainer. Every party should have Jaheira. She can assist
the Clerics in healing and buffing, her Hit Points are some of the best
you'll find on a recruitable character, she has the THAC0 and armor to
compete in melee, and she's neutral-every party can have her (albeit,
with some friction.) Her Druid levels allow you to gain the benefits of
a Druid, without actually having to suffer the crappiness of an actual
Druid. And Insect Plague just wins... well... much of Shadows of Amn,
really. It's the go-to spell of the early-to-mid game. When Jaheira
levels up, her tactics change, but if anything she gets even stronger.
When she starts getting high level abilities, she'll be able to compete
with the best Fighters in the game with her Greater Whirlwind Attacks,
and if she learns Summon Elemental Prince she can call upon one of the
strongest summoning spells in the game. Finally, a high Armor Class and
Iron Skins makes her the closest thing to a Fighter/Mage the game offers
in terms of brute survivability.
Fighters
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
As far as I'm concerned, this is a real easy choice. Keldorn can gain
access to a very powerful exclusive weapon and whatever he lacks in
attributes, he makes up for with True Sight and super-powered Dispel
Magic. An easy choice for the good party. Korgan is the best pure
Fighter in the game. Enough said, and an easy choice for the evil
party.
Clerics
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Here you have some options-watch as I whittle them down. Cernd doesn't
count for much as a Cleric. Not that Druids can't compete... wait...
they really can't. Well, that's settled. That leaves us with Aerie,
Anomen, and Viconia, and when push comes to shove, Aerie clearly loses
the contest. Viconia and especially Anomen are decent Clerics, although
Viconia is the fastest-progessing Cleric thanks to her single-classed
status. Still, this is a matter of a marginal bit of experience, in
exchange for which Anomen has much higher Hit Points, lower THAC0, and
all the other perks of dual-classing as a Fighter. What they both can
do that Aerie cannot is participate in melee combat from the moment
you recruit them. Sure, Anomen's Dexterity sucks, and Viconia has
Hit Point and Strength issues, but a Girdle of Hill Giant Strength
fixes Viconia's problem, and Anomen can just strap on a shield. Aerie,
however, has to mind her Mage limitations, and offers no easy solution.
Aerie's slow progression kills whatever usefulness she might have had-
she's not a good candidate as either the party Mage or the party Cleric.
On the other hand, Viconia's Armor Class and magic resistance make her
a potent defensive character, and Anomen's Hit Points and Strength
make him a sturdy front-liner. Anomen for the good party, Viconia for
the evil party.
Mages
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
We have a variety of Mages to choose from, but let me expel two right
off the bat. Aerie's slow progression makes her less-than-ideal as
either the party Mage or Cleric. In particular, Edwin, Imoen, and
Nalia all out-progress her. Jan suffers from the same problem... and on
top of that, he's a specialist Mage whose class prohibits him from ever
casting any of a variety of potent Necromancy spells. No thanks. Now
that we're done with that, we have the aforementioned three. Edwin is
the evil party Mage pretty much by default. He'll cast more spells per
day than any Mage you can make, and this allows us to ignore his lack of
Identify and True Sight. On that note, since Edwin just has so much
more spell-power than the good-party candidates, the evil party will
make much more use of spell-assaults, especially in the early-going.
Having two-extra spell-slots per level and unimpeded progression as a
Mage just allows Edwin to throw out a Slow or Chaos spell just about any
time he wishes-not to mention other late-game greats like Horrid
Wilting, Comet, and debuffs like Breach and Pierce Magic. Our good-
party candidates on the other hand includes a pair of dual-classed
Thieves... practically clones, in fact. This makes me think Nalia only
exists to supply you with an Imoen while the real Imoen is out of
reach. So that being the case, why not just go with Imoen? She's a
bit stunted when compared to Edwin, and you'll really notice how many
more spells per day Edwin gets. Even with a Fighter/Mage on the good
party versus a Fighter/Mage/Thief on the evil party, Edwin tips the
spell-power balance towards the evil side. And of course, Imoen has
better Thief abilities, making her absolutely necessary for a good
party.
True Sight
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
One main tactic in the game for breaching enemy defenses and keeping
them honest is to use True Sight. You'll do this quite early in the
game, and it'll be necessary until the end credits roll. How you do it,
however, depends on who you've brought along. In this regards, the good
party has a huge advantage in Keldorn. His Inquisitor kit allows him to
use True Sight very early in the game, and quite often. He's really all
you need to bust enemy illusions. Of course, Jaheira will also be able
to pitch in, as will our Clerics, Anomen/Viconia. All that's left are
our Mages, and here Edwin shows one of his few-yet conspicuous-
shortcomings. Edwin can never learn Divination spells, and for the
most part, who cares? Sadly, one of the few spells (and certainly the
most harmful for Baldur's Gate 2) prohibited is True Sight. That means
the standard evil party will have no Keldorn, and their Mage-despite
his staggering number of spell-slots, can never memorize True Sight.
This leaves True Sight entirely up to Viconia and Jaheira. It's a
limitation, to be sure, but one that can be overcome.
Thieving
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Already touched upon in the Protagonist section is the issue of Thief
skills. The good party has Imoen, who is just good enough. The best
answer for the evil party is to have a Thief protagonist.
The Sixth Wheel
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
The sixth wheel is that extra character that sort of solidifies an area
already bolstered by other party members better suited to the role. For
the good party you can add one of two Rangers-Minsc or Valygar. Minsc is
my favorite choice, as... well, he doesn't need any Strength-boosting
gear, he's hilarious, and he was in the first game. Both have some bad
points, namely their absurd proficiencies. Both at least have Long Bows,
but they both also have two ranks wasted on Two Weapon Style. Neither
really has the Armor Class to pull it off, although Minsc's Two Handed
Sword specialization makes him more attractive, compared to Valygar's
Spear. My only guess is that, since Baldur's Gate 2 found itself
pressured by the release of 3rd Edition Dungeon and Dragons, the
developers decided to give both their Rangers Two Weapon Style. While
it's a feature of the class in 3rd Edition, in Baldur's Gate 2, it's
just a waste of points. Both can pull off stealth for scouting purposes,
both are decent warriors who will ideally contribute at a range, and
when proficiencies allow-with reach weapons that keep them out of direct
melee. Valygar can backstab (albeit poorly) and has a better Dexterity.
Misnc has better armor selection, and better Strength.
The evil party has a more difficult time of things. After Edwin,
Jaheira, Korgan, and Viconia, the well is really running dry. Jan and
Cernd both suck, and pretty much everybody else is good-aligned. That
leaves... Haer'Dalis, who sucks, but there just may be no good
alternative other than to drag him along. Play him like the Rangers,
above. Mind his poor Armor Class, lower Hit Points, and only allow him
to participate via spells, missiles, or weapons with reach.
For either party, once you reach Throne of Bhaal you can recruit
???????, who is a great improvement over Haer'Dalis... and more of a
direct front-line fighter than Minsc or Valygar could ever hope to be.
By now that Stealth nonesense isn't fooling anybody anyways, and brute
force might just be more useful than what Valygar and Minsc have to
offer.
Character Builds and Weapon Loadouts {CHR023}
o======================================================================o
This is a section where I'll discuss some high-level tactics which will
become available for us once we start accumulating loot and levels.
Ideally, this is a section where I'll discuss various weapon load-outs
for various PCs. For most of the game, you'll use what you find, and
honestly your equipment will be more or less cobbled together
haphazardly in the early-going through mid-game. The gear you'll equip
will be determined by opportunity and starting proficiencies, and this
is obviously not an ideal way to make it through the game. However, as
we play through the game, you'll be developing your characters to
obtain the proficiencies they'll need to equip some of the best weapons
in the game. To that end, this section will describe these weapons and
their various combinations in some detail. If you don't want to know
what awesome weapons we'll be finding in this game, don't read any
more. And as an aside, this isn't an elitist gear rant, putting the
right gear on the right character is indeed a great deal of the
strategy this game requires, but building a character to suit the gear
is more foreknowledge, and not quick-thinking or adaptive practice.
Spell-buffing and micro-management are much more important tools for
surviving the few challenging encounters in this game... and of course,
knowing what you're facing, and what will hurt what you're facing, and
sheer luck. In large part, using good gear is a matter of common sense.
Anybody with two brain-cells to rub together will realize that Crom
Faeyr is an awesome off-hand weapon for the Strength-boost alone, and
that Celestial Fury is an over-powered weapon for how easily it can be
obtained. These are-in all honesty-fairly obvious builds, but it doesn't
take a keen intellect to realize that vorpal weapons are meant to be
used in the main-hand, followed by debilitating weapons (like Flail
of the Ages), and defensive or boosting items (like Hindo's Doom, Crom
Faeyr, and Angurvadal) make great off-hand weapons.
Best of the Best Two-Fisted Fighter
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Flail of the Ages + Axe of the Unyielding or
Flail of the Ages/Axe of the Unyielding + Hindo's Doom/Angurvadal
Suggested Characters: Korgan, Mazzy, Protagonist
Flail of the Ages is clearly the best one-handed non-edged weapon in
the game. At its best it deals 10 elemental damage per hit, gives its
user Free Action, +5% magic resistance, and has a 33% chance to Slow
without a save. On the other hand, you have Axe of the Unyielding,
which has a 10% chance to kill outright with no save, +1 Armor Class,
+1 Constitution, and a regeneration rate of three Hit Points per round.
Both offer considerable defensive bonuses-which can be obtained just as
well on the off-hand, so what we have is an offensive comparison. In
this case, it seems that the Flail of the Ages' 10 damage per hit and
33% chance to Slow an enemy out-competes even the vorpal property of
Axe of the Unyielding. For big fights, it's not like you can't just
switch over to the Axe of the Unyielding as a main-hand weapon after
the enemy has been Slowed. You can even combine the two as primary
weapons, and just use Angurvadal as your constant off-hand weapon for
the Strength and negative plane protection, or Hindo's Doom for the
magic resistance and Death Ward.
Crom Faeyr Cleric
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Crom Faeyr
Suggested Characters: Anomen
Crom Faeyr is obviously a great weapon, for no better reason than the
fact that it boosts your Strength to a ludicrous 25. Of course, it
serves this role just fine as an off-hand weapon, but for lack of
options it'll work as a primary weapon as well. Especially if you
want to keep a shield and have other uses for the Flail of the Ages.
Sure, it doesn't provide any useful offensive or defensive bonuses
(by Throne of Bhaal, Trolls, Ogres, and Ettins will be the least of your
problems), but the sheer damage boost gained from having a 25 Strength
is more than most weapons give.
Flail of the Ages Cleric
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Flail of the Ages
Suggested Characters: Anomen, Viconia
A better solution for equipping your Cleric is to use Flail of the Ages
and a shield. For Anomen, when he hits level 25 he'll get a Holy
Symbol which will boost his Strength from 18 to 19, with all the
awesome benefits that apply. Viconia will need some help-ideally the
Girdle of Hill Giant Strength, and with her Holy Symbol she'll go from
19 to 20 Strength.
Holy Avenger
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Carsomyr
Suggested Characters: Keldorn
Another simple weapon build. You see Carsomyr? If you had anybody who
could wield it, why would you not equip it? 50% magic resistance?
That's all the spell defense anybody could ever need, and the fact that
it casts Dispel Magic on targets means you can rip through enemy spell
casters. It's certainly one of the better reasons to drag Keldorn along,
and it makes creating your own Paladin a somewhat interesting
proposition.
Perfect Swordsman
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Angurvadal + Hindo's Doom (Spectral Brand + Hindo's Doom/Angurvadal)
Suggested Characters: Protagonist, Valygar
This build is especially useful if you're playing with Korgan and
Viconia, with the implications that you won't have access to Crom Faeyr,
the Axe of the Unyielding, or Flail of the Ages. The Perfect Swordsman
begins with points into Katanas, Long Swords, and Two Weapon Style.
They'll get Celestial Fury early on, and Namarra, Dak'kon's Zerth
Blade, and Malakar make decent early-to-mid game off-hand weapons. When
you reach the end of Shadows of Amn you'll add Daystar to your arsenal
(great against Undead) and the Equalizer, although Celestial Fury
remains the weapon to beat in Shadows of Amn. By the time you get to
Throne of Bhaal, however, Celestial Fury is losing its edge, and
replacements abound. Unfortunately, nothing really steps up to takes
its place, as there really aren't any great debilitating swords
(no vorpal one-handed swords, and nothing that forces a save at a
negative penalty.) In this case, I give Angurvadal the nod over other
weapons, like Hindo's Doom, simply because of the fire damage... Hindo's
Doom works just as well as an off-hand weapon. If you don't mind
depriving Jaheira of a great weapon, grab some proficiency points in
Scimitars. You can then use Belm through much of Shadows of Amn, and
when you reach Throne of Bhaal switch to the Spectral Brand as a main
hand weapon, which more or less removes the need for Angurvadal. If
you're using this build for your protagonist (with the implication
that you imported with a 19 Strength) you might as well just use Hindo's
Doom as your offhand weapon for the Magic Resistance. It's just an
idea, whether Angurvadal's 1d4 +1 fire damage and 22 Strength is better
than Spectral Brand's 1d6 cold damage.. well, the two seem close enough
that one or the other doesn't make a huge difference.
Ravager
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Ravager
Suggested Characters: Haer'Dalis, Minsc, ???????, Valygar
The Ravager Halberd is easily one of the best weapons in the game... in
fact, it may be THE best two-handed weapon in the game. Of course, I
prefer Axe of the Unyielding in straight comparison (both are vorpal,
but the Axe of the Unyielding also boosts Armor Class, gives
regeneration, and increases your Constitution.) Still, for a two-handed
weapon wielding character, you really can't get any better, unless
you're a Paladin, and even then it's debatable. It is preferable to
Psion's Blade and Gram, which is why most two-handed warriors shun Two
Handed Swords for Halberds near the end of Shadows of Amn. The Silver
Sword will see them through Shadows of Amn and a bit of Throne of Bhaal,
but this is the weapon to shoot for. A +6 Halberd with a 10% chance to
kill with no save? That's a no-brainer, and it's great for dedicated
two-handed weapon users like ???????, as well as weaker characters who
should distance themselves from the front-lines, but who shouldn't
avoid combat entirely.
Spearman/Staffman
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Ixil's Spike/Staff of the Ram
Suggested Characters: Cernd, Protagonist
This is more of a compromise for a Druid than anything else. They can't
use shields, and they just aren't strong enough or well-defended enough
in melee combat to do well without some distance. Since they can't use
Halberds, this is the next best option. The Staff of the Ram can stun
and knockback, and deals 12 crushing damage and 1d4 piercing damage
while Ixil's Spike can immobilize an enemy for three rounds, while doing
1d6 +5 damage each round. The Staff of the Ram seems the superior
offensive weapon, even though Ixil's Spike provides Free Action, and for
most of Shadows of Amn Spears are superior to Quarter Staffs... although
on the other hand, you can buy the Staff of Rynn +4 from the
Adventurer's Mart at the beginning of the game...
The Bludgeoner
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Flail of the Ages + Crom Faeyr
Suggested Characters: Anomen, Protagonist
This is an idea I've toyed around with, but I've never actually put into
action. In my mind, a Fighter/Cleric or Cleric/Ranger protagonist would
make a great candidate for this, but honestly, Anomen would work just as
well (although Viconia might not have the proficiencies to see this
through, and she's certainly not nearly a good enough Fighter for it.)
This build combines the awesome power of Crom Faeyr with the disabling
properties of the Flail of the Ages, which never loses its potency
throughout the game, indeed, it only gets stronger. This almost begs
for a multi-class Fighter/Cleric, who can take advantage of the extra
proficiencies, use Greater Whirlwind, and scrape together some defensive
items to make up for their lack of a shield. On top of this, a
Cleric/Ranger can add Iron Skins to their defenses, making them almost
comparable to a Fighter/Mage defensively. Eh... at least against
physical attacks, anyways.
Ultimate Assassin
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Dagger of the Star + Angurvadal/Hindo's Doom
Suggested Characters: Protagonist, Valygar
There's only one real purpose to this build-to take advantage of the
Dagger of the Star's ability to bestow invisibility on its wielder In
the hands of a Thief (preferably a Fighter/Thief protagonist) it becomes
an awesome weapon of mass destruction, as backstabs will flow liberally.
The off-hand weapon in this case is merely a boosting or defensive item,
Angurvadal will boost your Strength, while Hindo's Doom will boost your
magic resistance, as the situation demands. In most situations,
Angurvadal will be the best choice, as the Strength boost will
exponentially increase the damage done by the backstab.. although if
you're using this build on a protagonist, they may not NEED the
Strength boost so much... especially if they're evil (secrets implied).
Vorpal Juggernaut
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Axe of the Unyielding + Crom Faeyr
Suggested Characters: Korgan, Mazzy
One of the more obvious builds in the game, unless you're planning for
it early, it can be difficult to get the proficiencies for this build
to work in a timely manner. Korgan is by and far the easiest character
to fit into this build, as he's a Fighter (and hence will get lots of
proficiencies) and already starts out with Grand Mastery in Axes. Since
he already starts out Proficient in War Hammers, it almost feels like
the game is nudging us in the direction of this build. Gauntlets of
Dexterity will in large part cover his Armor Class woes, and Crom
Faeyr will give him all the Strength he needs. Axe of the Unyielding
further adds to his Armor Class, gives him regeneration, and best of
all gives him a vorpal weapon to attack with. Mazzy can fit into this
role as well, but she requires a lot more work. Get her one point into
War Hammers in Shadows of Amn and try and boost her Two Weapon Style.
When you get Crom Faeyr.. you should probably just keep it as an off-
hand weapon, and have her use a Short Sword in her main hand. By
Throne of Bhaal, look to get her proficient with Axes, and then
continue to build up both Axes and War Hammers (favoring the former, as
it is, of course, her main weapon) and switch off to the upgraded Axe
of the Unyielding as soon as possible. It'll take her longer, but she
will get there, and she doesn't need the Gauntlets of Dexterity like
Korgan does.
o======================================================================o
| |
| Spell Tactics {SPT001} |
| |
o======================================================================o
This section was added by request, since I had provided detailed
information on how to equip and build your characters, a similar section
was requested to discuss how to build up your spellbooks. I think that
what was desired were suggestions on what (and how many) spells to
memorize, so with that in mind, let me mention a few things about this
section. First, let it be known that most (if not all) of this
information can be found-sometimes in greater detail and always in
more pertinent form-in the Walkthrough. When you encounter enemies that
require certain spell tactics to defeat, they are laid out in detail
when you fight them. For example, when you deal with Illithids, you'll
know to have Chaotic Commands at the ready. This, in my mind, pretty
much covers everything you'll need to know, when you need to know it.
This section, then, is to provided detailed, general information about
the spells themselves so that all the information scattered throughout
the Walkthrough can be consulted here. Note, however, that I won't
bother suggesting how many spells to memorize, since this is really
subjective to the enemies at hand, and the caster in question.
Obviously Edwin will have luxuries that Imoen doesn't, and when fighting
a dragon they'll want a different spell-loadout than they will when
fighting a Lich.
Healing Spells {SPT002}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
I tend to have a subtractive, rather than additive view towards the
inclusion of healing spells in my spell-books. Healing spells are good,
nobody doubts that, but how many should you get? In my mind, it
varies by spell-level. Cure Serious Wounds is clearly better than
Cure Light Wounds, but the competition for 1st-level Cleric spells is
much less intense than for 4th-level spells. So, how do I determine what
to get? I get all the spells I want besides healing spells, then fill
up left-over slots with healing. Therefore, most of my 1st-level
Clerical spells tend to be Cure Light Wounds (with a token Remove Fear
on every caster, just in case) while on the other hand, I have almost
no Cure Serious Wounds, as I'd rather have Defensive Harmony, Protection
from Evil 10' Radius, and so on. The only healing spell unworthy of this
second-class status is Heal, which is the ultimate healing spell, and
really, one of the best things about a Cleric or a Druid. Too bad you
can't get that spell in this game, eh?
1st Level Cleric Spells {SPT003}
o======================================================================o
***TOP SPELLS***
Armor of Faith: Blocks 5% of damage per five levels.
---
Cure Light Wounds: Heals 8 Hit Points.
---
Remove Fear: cures and prevents fear effects for one turn.
*Armor of Faith
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
A simple defensive spell that will remain in your list of memorized
spells throughout both games... simply because good defensive Clerical
spells are so rare. This spell absorbs 5% of all damage the caster
would otherwise sustain from physical and magical attacks, and protects
against another 5% for every five levels of the Cleric. Which means...
up to 10% in this game. That doesn't sound like much-and it isn't-but
losing one point in ten of damage isn't horrible, and it has a decent
duration, too. By the time you hit Throne of Bhaal and your Clerics are
pushing 20th level, it'll be seriously reducing damage.
Bless
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Bless gives all allies within a 30-foot radius a +1 bonus to attack
rolls and a +1 bonus to saves versus fear. I'll be honest, I rarely use
it, but it's not that bad of a spell. Your THAC0 won't be low enough to
ignore a +1 bonus... but its six-round duration is just lame. You have
better buffs to use.
Command
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
You can attempt to make an enemy 'die' (go to sleep) for one round.
Anything under six Hit Dice (about 48 Hit Points) gets no save against
the effect, but anything with six Hit Dice or more are entitled to a
Saving Throw vs. Spells. This spell was useful in the first game, but
by now, pretty much everything you fight will have over six Hit Dice...
and besides, you have Greater Command, so why bother with this
under-powered spell?
*Cure Light Wounds
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
The essential healing spell, you'll probably want to keep several
instances of this spell ready at all times.
Detect Evil
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
It's.. not a great spell, and I wouldn't keep one prepared, but Ajantis
can use it as a special ability. It's got quite a range, and nearby
enemies will be detected as evil in your dialogue box. Want to know if
some Black Talons are currently lurking in Larswood, or want to know if
those humble-looking fishermen are up to no good? Give this spell a go.
Doom
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This curse bestows a -2 penalty to saves and attack rolls upon a single
enemy. This is actually a decent spell to cast on tougher enemies, as
that -2 save penalty can end up paying off in a big way if the critter
then falls victim to some spell or weapon effect. Of course, Greater
Malison affects multiple creatures and bestows a -4 penalty to their
saves, making it a far superior cast.
Magic Stone
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
You enchant a small pebble, which flies out and hits a foe for... 1d4
damage. It counts a magical (+1) weapon, but otherwise gets no bonuses
to damage. Compare this to, say, Magic Missile and marvel at how much
this spell sucks.
Protection from Evil
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
A handy little personal buff that gives the target +2 bonus to Saves and
Armor Class... of course, when you've got Protection from Evil 10'
Radius, why would you ever bother with this?
*Remove Fear
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Enemy Mages love using Horror. This spell prevents such magics from
working, and will counter it if you're affected by fear. Always keep
one prepared on each Cleric.
Sanctuary
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Gives the priest temporary immunity to prosecution by foes, during
which time he can heal/buff themselves (but they cannot affect other
creatures without ending the spell). I don't see the point. If you're
getting hurt, retreat and cast a healing spell. Why waste two rounds
doing what can be done in one?
Shillelagh
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Creates a +1 cudgel that deals 2d4 damage. You won't spend much of the
game with a permanent weapon worse than this, so why bother?
2nd Level Cleric Spells {SPT004}
o======================================================================o
***TOP SPELLS***
Draw Upon Holy Might: Boosts Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution.
---
Hold Person: Paralyzes one living, humanoid foe.
---
Resist Fire and Cold: 50% Resistance to Fire and Cold.
---
Silence 15' Radius: Shuts up spell-casters.
---
Slow Poison: Cures poison.
Aid
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Bestows the effects of Bless and heals 1-8 Hit Points. Since it only
effects one creature, I don't bother with it.
Barkskin
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Grants a target an Armor Class of six, which improves (decreases) by
one for ever four levels of the caster... This can effectively give you
an Armor Class that's comparable to Full Plate Mail at higher levels,
but by then, you've certainly found better, permanent, armor.
Chant
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
It affects a 30-foot radius, and gives your allies a one-point bonus to
attack rolls, damage rolls, and saves, and imposes a one-point penalty
to the same onto your enemies. A decent spell, even though it takes a
full round to cast... I'm almost never using my Clerics to buff in
combat, and the first-strikes are handled almost exclusively by my
Mages... and with a five-round duration, I tend to ignore the spell in
favor of Defensive Harmony and Protection from Evil 10' Radius.
*Draw Upon Holy Might
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This is actually a decent spell for some Clerics... alright, it's
useful for Anomen (and possibly a protagonist with good attributes).
At first it won't give much of a bonus, but boosting Anomen's Strength
up to 19 is worthwhile up until he gets his hands on a permanent
Strength-boosting item. Once you're late in Shadows of Amn or Throne of
Bhaal, this spell will start adding serious points to Strength,
Dexterity, and Constitution (up to a +6 bonus at 18th level). This can
be a serious boost to a Cleric's combat prowess, and should not be
ignored.
Find Traps
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Detects traps in a very close range. This spell doesn't disarm them,
however, so it's rather pointless.
Flame Blade
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This spell allows the caster to create a flaming blade, which the caster
is considered Proficient with. It deals 1d4 slashing damage, plus 1d2+4
fire damage. Despite being a magical blade of flame it does NOT count
as a magical weapon for determining what it can hit-makes sense to me.
*Hold Person
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Another spell that should be good, that I just don't use. It affects
everybody within a 7.5-foot radius, but most often you'll be using this
on one character. It only affect man-sized humanoids, but fortunately,
they're common. No save penalty, and it only lasts 10 rounds... which is
long enough to kill them and then some, to be fair. Still, almost
anything I would use this on, I could just nail with Chaos or Greater
Command, instead.
Know Alignment
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Like Detect Evil, except it detects... everything. Evil things glow red,
neutral things glow blue, and friendly things glow green... like those
little circles under your feet!
*Resist Fire and Cold
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
You won't fear the elements too often, but when dealing with fire or
cold happy foes, this spell can cut their damage in half. I wouldn't
keep it ready all the time, but it'll come in handy once in a while.
*Silence 15' Radius
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Enemy Mage or Cleric getting you down? Not if they can't cast spells-
which is exactly what this little beauty does. It boasts a 15-foot
radius, a duration of two rounds per level, and forces the save to be
made at -5... which means it works often. It saw more use in the first
game, but now, uber-powerful Mages (like Liches) will probably have
Magic Resistance to avoid it. Failing that, almost every Mage with any
real power will have Vocalize, which counters this spell handily. This
makes it decidedly inferior to other Mage-bashing tactics, like Insect
Plague, which is nearly fool-proof... but it doesn't hurt to cast at
a group of casters. Cleric have little way to counter it, and forcing
a Mage to waste time casting Vocalize gives you another round to hit
them with another spell.
*Slow Poison
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Slow Poison is being humble. This spell eradicates the effects of most
poisons in the game. Keep at least one handy on each Cleric all the
time.
Spiritual Hammer
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Conjures a magical hammer, which may be used as an implement of
righteous smiting. It counts as a +1 weapon from 1st-6th level, as a
+2 weapon from 7th-12th level, and a +3 weapon at 13th level and
beyond. You'll find more powerful weapons than this spell conjures. You
should never need to use it.
3rd Level Cleric Spells {SPT005}
o======================================================================o
***TOP SPELLS***
Cure Disease: Cures disease, blindness, and feeblemind.
---
Cure Medium Wounds: Heals 14 Hit Points.
---
Dispel Magic: Remove buffs/debuffs in an area.
---
Holy Smite: Deals 1d4 damage/level to evil creatures.
---
Protection from Fire: Grants 80% Resistance to Fire.
---
Remove Paralysis: Curse paralysis/hold effects.
Animate Dead
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Ah... Animate Dead... this was a great spell in Baldur's Gate 1, but its
hour has passed. Skeleton Warriors are nothing special anymore, and
the Stinking Cloud/Animate Dead tactic has been surpassed by superior
spells. You'll find better minions who are stronger and can take more
abuse, so remove this spell from your spellbooks and move on.
*Cure Disease
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Diseases suck. They function like Poison, but take much longer to deal
their damage, and tend to last much, much longer. Unless you're injured,
you rest, or travel across the world map, your chances of dying due to
disease are pretty low... But having to run back to a temple to get a
character cured is no good solution, and Mummies aren't uncommon in
this game. It's a good idea to always have one of these prepared.
*Cure Medium Wounds
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This spell restores 14 Hit Points.
*Dispel Magic
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Bad guys cast spells too-buffing themselves, or debuffing you. Just as
a Chaos spell can win a fight for you, if it's cast on you, it can also
result in casualties if the enemy gets one on you... unless you're wise
enough to keep a Dispel Magic handy. This spell is just wonderful, and
everybody who can cast it should always have one prepared.
Glyph of Warding
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Creates a static 'trap' that explodes when an enemy comes close, dealing
1d4 damage/level to foes within range. This spell is party friendly, so
it should be used-not defensively, as the description suggests, but
offensively, like Fireball. Still, the Cleric has better 3rd-level
spells to cast, and the Mage has far, far superior damage-dealers.
*Holy Smite (Good characters Only)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
One of the rare alignment-specific spells in Baldur's Gate, Holy Blight
deals 1d4 damage per level of the caster to all evil foes in a 20-ft.
radius. A fair number of enemies are actually neutral, which limits this
spell's effectiveness, but there are plenty of evil foes to bring holy
doom down upon. This spell is party-friendly... provided you're not
traveling around with evil folks.
Invisibility Purge
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Like the Arcane spell 'Detect Invisibility' this spell will allow you
to detect-and therefore thwart-sneaking enemies. You're better off
springing for True Sight.
Miscast Magic
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
You'll see the enemy cast this spell a few times, but I never bother
with it. If the enemy fails at a Save vs. Spells (save at -2), they'll
suffer an 80% spell casting failure rate. Of course, Silence 15' Radius
can affect multiple foes, imposes a -5 save, and makes spell casting
100% impossible for affected creatures... and Insect Plague is superior
to Silence. This puts Miscast Magic pretty low on my list of anti-Mage
spells.
*Protection from Fire
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Like the Resist Fire/Cold, but it protects you from 80% of fire
damage. Excellent in a few areas.
Remove Curse
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
You should NEVER need to cast this spell. It's grand purpose? Getting
icky cursed items out of your hands. This guide tells you what items
you're getting, and you should never equip unidentified items in the
first place.
*Remove Paralysis
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Paralysis isn't a terribly uncommon affliction in Baldur's Gate 2, and
while it's not the main tactic the enemy will be using on you anymore,
it's still common enough that it's worth having one of these spells
prepared at all times.
Rigid Thinking
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Another spell you'll more often see when it's cast on you than when you
actually waste the time to cast it-it affects one critter and inflicts
confusion. It lasts one turn, and can be negated by a simple Save vs.
Spells. Compare this to the 4th-level Arcane spell Confusion, and you'll
see what a butt-nutter this pansy version is.
Strength of One
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Gives the entire party a Strength score of 18/75, and lasts for a turn.
It might seem nifty at first, but once you get the Gauntlets of Ogre
Power, or any of the other Strength-boosting items in the game, this
spell will actually hinder you in combat. For natural heavy-hitters like
Minsc or Korgan, this spell is a meagre bonus from the outset.
Unholy Blight
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Like Holy Blight, but with different alignment effects. This spell
deals 1d4 damage per level of the caster to all good foes in the area
of effect (20-ft. radius). The spell deals half damage on a successful
save, but on a failed save, it also imposes a -2 penalty 'to all their
rolls' for four rounds. This spell is massively less useful than Holy
Blight, since most foes you'll fight are either neutral or evil...
Meaning few enemies will be affected by this spell at all.
Zone of Sweet Air
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Dispels spells like Stinking Cloud or Cloudkill. Honestly, I tend to
be the Cloudkill/Stinking Cloud caster, the computer rarely uses such
spells... and if they do, I'm more than happy to cast Animate Dead and
let the computer trip over their own spells. I have never bothered with
this spell.
4th Level Cleric Spells {SPT006}
o======================================================================o
***TOP SPELLS***
Death Ward: Makes character immune to death magic.
---
Neutralize Poison: Cures poison, diease, blindness, deafness, and heals.
---
Protection from Evil 10' Radius: Long-lasting party buff.
Animal Summoning I
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Low-level summoning spell suck in Baldur's Gate 2, where the quality of
the foes you'll be facing demands higher-quality minions. Think it
doesn't suck? You'll summon one or two of the following creatures when
you cast this spell-a Dire Wolf, or a War Dog. Yeah. Pass on it.
Cause Serious Wounds
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Touch a bad-guy, and deal 17 damage to them. Seriously? There are many
better ways to deal 17 damage to a creature-ONE creature.
Cloak of Fear
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This spell creates as three-foot radius fear effect centered on the
caster. I'm always dubious about spells that require the proximity of
the caster... but this spell has no effective radius (if your Cleric is
surrounded, maybe, but good luck getting the spell off) and imposes no
save penalty. Even worse, it only causes fear for four rounds. How is
this spell in any way comparable to the 2nd-level Arcane spell, Horror?
Cure Serious Wounds
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
A more potent version of Cure Light Wounds, it must compete with many
great 4th-level Cleric spells. At the end of the day, healing is just
not strong enough in this game to save you during a fight, the way the
'Heal' spell will. 17 Hit Points is just a band-aid, not a life-saver in
the heat of battle.
*Death Ward
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Death Ward is a wonderful, indispensible, must-have spell for every
Cleric in Baldur's Gate 2. You will have lots od death-spells thrown
your way. Liches and Beholds are especially fond of throwing effects at
you like Disintegrate and Finger of Death. Want to ensure that a certain
character won't get offed by a certain enemy? This is the way to counter
such death-effects.
Defensive Harmony
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This spell gives you a +2 bonus to Armor Class for ten rounds-the
perfect last preparation before a big fight. +2 Armor Class is the same
as 10% miss chance, and it affects the whole party. Kind of the opposite
of Death Ward, I use it frequently in the first game, but almost never
in Baldur's Gate 2. Armor Class can get quite low naturally in Baldur's
Gate 2, but by Throne of Bhaal, we're contending with foes who have
THAC0s of -10... which renders most Armor Class considerations moot.
It might be worth a cast once in a while in Shadows of Amn, but...
really, the duration just sucks so much I don't ever bother with it.
Farsight
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
You could this spell... or you could simply sneak around with a Thief,
Ranger, or invisible character. You'll see more, and it wastes-at best-
a 2nd-level Arcane spell.
Free Action
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This spell comes in handy any time you encounter Carrion Crawlers,
Ghouls, Ghasts, Greater Ghouls, or butthole Clerics who like to cast
Hold Person. Of course, it's just as easy to strap on a Ring of Free
Action and save yourself the 4th-level spell slot.
Holy Power
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
A weak attempt at Tenser's, save it allows the caster to keep their
spell casting powers. This spell is a mix of good and mediocrity. First,
one Hit Point per level will not a Fighter make. Second, while it grants
a massive bonus to combat prowess, it does not increase the Cleric's
attacks per round... again, 18/00 Strength and a good to hit does not a
Fighter make. On the other hand, it's still a welcome boost for those
melee-heavy fights where another competent warrior could tip the
balance... cast on a 7th-level Viconia, it raised her Hit Points from
52 to 59, dropped her THAC0 from a wretched 15 to a respectable 10,
and increased her damage range from 3-8 to 9-14. It duration means it
won't be worth casting all the time (like Protection from Evil 10'
Radius will be), but for big fights, it's worth considering. Hybrid
characters like a Fighter/Cleric will arguably make better use of it-
they already have the THAC0, but the Strength bonus helps, especially
with their superior attacks per round. Ultimately, this spell is decent
at times in the first game, but in Baldur's Gate 2, it'll be utterly
eclipsed by Draw Upon Holy Might.
Lesser Restoration
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This spell will remove energy drain on the target, but will fatigue the
caster outright. Energy drain is quite common in this game, but you
don't usually need to keep this spell prepared, and my tactic for
dealing with energy draining foes tends to be... well, preventing any
energy drain in the first place. But, nothing is perfect, and you might
well find yourself in need of this spell. Still, it's not like disease
or poison, where somebody will die if it's not cured quickly, so you can
always just prepare it after you need it, cast it, and replace it with
something else when everybody is good to go.
Mental Domination
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Like the Arcane spell Domination... but Clericy. It allows you to take
control of a critter and command it. I never bother with these spells,
as there's always a better debuff to cast.
Negative Plane Protection
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This spell seems like it might be useful, save for a few sad facts.
First, it only affects one person. Second, it lasts for only five
rounds... which is absurd. If you need such protection, you're better
off casting the 7th-Level Mage spell Limited Wish, which will do the
same thing for the whole party.
*Neutralize Poison
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Don't let the name fool you-this spell provides a suite of curative
effects. It cures poison, sure, but is also cures diseases, blindness,
deafness, and heals 10 Hit Points. Until you get access to the Heal
spell, it's the best panacea you've got, and it won't hurt to keep one
handy... as it cures a variety of afflictions.
Poison
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Deals variable damage, but the target receives a Saving Throw vs. Poison
at no penalty to negate all effects, as follows:
o===============o===============o
|Caster's Level | Poison Damage |
o===============o===============o
| 7th-9th | 2d8 + 2/round |
|---------------|---------------|
| 10th-12th | 3d8 + 3/round |
|---------------|---------------|
| 13th-14th | 4d8 + 4/round |
|---------------|---------------|
| 15th-16th | 6d8 + 5/round |
|---------------|---------------|
| 17th+ | 8d8 + 6/round |
o===============o===============o
As you can see, its damage scales as you level, but it scales just slow
enough to be too weak to bother casting at every level. Really, 68-108
damage sounds like a lot, but since you need to reach 17th-Level to get
that damage, and it takes ten rounds for this spell to deal it... well,
it sounds less impressive, doesn't it?
*Protection from Evil 10' Radius
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
One of the best all-purpose buffs in the game, it always deserves a
4th-level spell slot. Enemies suffer a -2 penalty to attack rolls, and
your saves against spells and attacks made by such creatures receive
a +2 bonus. At a turn per level, this spell will last long enough for
any encounter... or perhaps several encounters.
Protection From Lightning
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Makes the recpient entirely immune to lightning. It's handy in a few
instances where a Lightning Bolt trap can be used to cause collateral
damage, or where a hostile Mage is likely to fling such magic at you,
but otherwise it's forgettable.
5th Level Cleric Spells {SPT007}
o======================================================================o
***TOP SPELLS***
Chaotic Commands: Makes target immune to mind-affecting effects.
---
Flame Strike: 1d8 damage per level to target.
---
Greater Command: Puts to sleep all creatures in a 20-foot radius.
---
True Sight: Dispels illusion. Party-friendly.
Animal Summoning II
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Just like Animal Summoning I, but with slightly stronger summons.
Still, it's competing against True Sight, Chaotic Commands, and Greater
Command. Far, far superior spells. You can summon either a Black Bear, a
Brown Bear, a Cave Bear, or a Jaguar. Wee.
Cause Critical Wounds
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Deal 27 damage to a creature with a successful touch attack... or there
is Flame Strike, which deals 1d8 damage per level.
Champion's Strength
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Another Clerical spell that boost the fighting abilities of a character.
This time, you cna choose the recepient, and the spell actually has a
passable duration of three rounds per level. When cast, it improves the
target's THAC0 by one point per three levels (up to a maximum of +6 at
18th level) and increases (or decreases) the target's Strength to 18/00.
The downside? Your Cleric can't cast spells while this spell's in
effect. Losing your Cleric's spell-casting abilities is NOT worth the
benefits this spell's bestows... not to mention the fact that, for much
of the game your warriors will have Strength scores in excess of 18/00.
*Chaotic Commands
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Oh, Chaotic Commands, how I love you... this little spell makes the
target immune to... pretty much every mental effect out their. Hold,
Charm, Domination, Suggestion, Psionics, Confusion, all of it. Many
enemies use these attacks and spells, and so, this spell will come in
handy often. Best of all, it has a duration of one turn per level.
Always keep one handy.
Cure Critical Wounds
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Heals for 27 Hit Points.
*Flame Strike
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Target a critter and make 'em toasty, that's what this spell does. I
wouldn't compare it with any of the better Mage damage-dealers, but for
a Cleric... well, they just don't have much else like it. It deals 1d8
damage per level, allowing a save for half damage. If you've got some
free 5th-level spell slots, it might be worthwhile to give your Cleric
the extra firepower.
*Greater Command
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Like Command, except it doesn't have a Hit Dice limit and affects all
creatures in a 20-foot radius, it's a great mind-affecting spell, but it
does have one problem-it is not party friendly. Aim with caution... and
if you can, use in conjunction with spells like Greater Malison.
Magic Resistance
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Gives the caster 2% Magic Resistance per level, up to a maximum of 40%
at 20th level. Note that it does not RAISE your current Magic Resistance
to this amount, it SETS it to this amount, potentially even lowering it,
if it's higher (Viconia, for instance, has a base 50% Magic Resistance).
It might prove useful, but I don't consider it an essential buff. There
are, after all, better ways to shield the party from magic...
Mass Cure
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Heals all allies within a 30-foot radius of the caster for 1d8+1 damage
per caster level. Honestly... the healing just isn't enough to bother
with. If you have scrapes and bruises, use a Ring of Regeneration. If
you need serious healing... well, use Heal.
Raise Dead
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Revives a dead character... albeit, with one Hit Point. I have a better
idea-don't die.
Repulse Undead
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Knocks undead back when they get too close... really, this is as much
of a hassle for you in combat as it is for your foe, as it'll disrupt
your attack formation and force you to go chasing enemies. If you think
it might be a way to counter energy draining foes, know now that it's
not. It acts in 'pulses', which often doesn't occur frequently enough to
outright prevent attacks... and of course, it does nothing to Liches, or
other undead that are just dandy with the idea of pelting you with
spells or other ranged attacks.
Righteous Magic
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Yet ANOTHER I-wanna-be-a-warrior spell, this one gives one Hit Point
per level of the Cleric (up to a maximum of 20) and increases the
Cleric's Strength by one point per three levels (again, up to a maximum
of six points). It also makes all their attacks do maximum damage. It
has a healthy duration of one round per level, but there are still
issues... it doesn't address the Cleric's poor number of attacks per
round, and honestly, how much better is it than Draw Upon Holy Might?
Slay Living
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Touch a living creature and make 'em dead. After casting, the Cleric has
three round (18 seconds) to touch a creature, at which time they must
Save vs. Spell or die... taking 2d6+9 damage on a successful save.
Honestly, I'm not a fan of the touching thing, and no save penalty
suck. I'd stick to Finger of Death.
*True Sight
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
An essential debuff, True Sight is the bane of all illusions, which
enemy Mages will use constantly. A party without True Sight is a party
that's ill-prepared to deal with many of the stronger creatures in the
game. Have one prepared at all times on every character able to cast
it.
6th Level Cleric Spells {SPT008}
o======================================================================o
***TOP SPELLS***
Bolt of Glory: Deals variable damage based on target type. No save.
---
Heal: Fully heals target and cures a variety of status effects.
Aerial Servant
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Conjures an Aerial Servant for the caster to control. As we should
remember from Baldur's Gate 1, Aerial Servants aren't terrible strong,
and really not worth a 6th-Level spell.
Animal Summoning III
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
The highest-level of all the Animal Summoning spells, it still sucks.
It'll have to compete against Heal, which is not really a good spell to
compete against. You can summon a Lion, a Winter Wolf, a Cave Bear, or
a Polar Bear.
Blade Barrier
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Creates a wall of 'circling, razor-sharp blades' that 'create an
unpenetrable barrier'... except not, for the last part. Anything
(friend or foe) attempting to pass through the barrier (like, to make
a melee attack) suffers 8d8 points of damage. It's just not enough
damage, really, and the fact that your Cleric-who you might need to
heal poeple-might hurt your own party members... it really makes me
think it's not worth the bother.
*Bolt of Glory
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Against a few, select, enemies, this spell is very useful. It only
affects one creature, but there's no save, and the damage is pretty
good. Against normal creatures or elementals it's not worth casting,
but against undead it'll deal 8d6 damage, and against demons it really
shines, dealing 10d6 damage. No save, no missing. Before you have wide
access to highly enchanted weapons, this can be a life-saver, and when
you just need a sure way to deal some damage, this is a great option.
Still, I wouldn't keep it prepared unless I knew for certain that I
would have to fight such creatures.
Conjure Animals
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
...essentially Animal Summoning IV. In fact, in Infinity Explorer, the
Animal Summoning spells are listed as 'ANISUM01', 'ANISUM02', etc.
This literally is 'ANISUM04', whereas Animal Summoning III is
'ANISUM03'... so, yeah, it's Animal Summoning IV. It allows you to
summon a Polar Bear or two. Really, really not worth the 6th-Level
spell slot.
False Dawn
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Essentially an area-of-effect spell that only harms undead. 6d6 damage,
no save, and it confuses undead the following round. 6d6 just isn't
a whole lot of damage, even if the fact that this spell is party-
friendly helps. Another downside, although I rarely complain about it,
is that its casting time is horrible for the type of spell it is. It
doesn't matter anyways, the real reason you should ignore this spell
is Sunray, which is just far superior.
Harm
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
The opposite of Heal, it reduces a target's Hit Points to one. It does,
of course, require a touch attack to work, which makes me less inclined
to bother with it. But, in case you're enthralled with the damage
potential, I'll work some math to show you why you shouldn't bother with
this spell. First, and obviously, it takes a round to cast the spell.
Then you must make an attack with it to to work-that's two rounds to
do what Finger of Death attempts to do in one. Second, you must actually
hit a target unarmed for the spell to work. For most Clerics, it'll
be easier to overcome an enemy's Save vs. Spells with Finger of Death
than it will be to overcome their Armor Class with Harm.
*Heal
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This is the best healing spell in the game, and it really makes all
other healing spells obsolete. It fully cures any one creature
regardless of how much damage they've sustained and cures all diseases,
and a variety of other effects. Most of your 6th level Cleric/Druid
spell slots should be occupied by Heal spells.
Physical Mirror
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Creates a barrier that reflects missile attacks back at the attacker...
while allowing you to make ranged attacks freely. Ranged attacks aren't
nearly as threatening in Baldur's Gate 2 as they were in the original
Baldur's Gate, so I really can't recommend taking this extra defensive
measure. Besides, it only lasts nine rounds... which is probably enough
to see out a fight, but seriously, ranged attacks are rarely a source
of serious danger by the time you get 6th-Level spells.
Sol's Searing Orb
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
The caster chucks a glowing orb of fiery not-niceness, which deals 6d6
damage and blinds the target for 1d6 rounds... if it hits. That's right,
it's another damage-dealer that requires a to-hit roll. Worse still,
the target can save for half damage (a successful save also negates the
blindness). That being the case, why would you ever use this stupid
spell? Harm deals much more damage, and gives no save. Flame Strike
deals more damage, is a ranged attack, and doesn't require an attack
roll. Oh, the spell deals more damage to undead and blinds them longer.
This spell still sucks.
Wondrous Recall
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Allows you to recall two spent spells of 5th-Level or lower... which,
if used to recover important 4th-or-5th-level spells seems like it might
be useful, right? Sure, save one problem. It picks the spells you
recover randomly. So... unless you feel particularly lucky, this spell
is of minimal tactical value.
7th Level Cleric Spells {SPT009}
o======================================================================o
***TOP SPELLS***
Aura of Flaming Death: Protects and deals fire damage to attackers.
---
Finger of Death: Enemy must save at -2 or die.
---
Greater Restoration: Cures status effects and fully heals target.
---
Summon Deva/Summon Fallen Deva: Summons a Deva to fight at your side.
---
Sunray: Undead in area take damage and must save or die.
*Aura of Flaming Death
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
An improved version of Fireshield, this spell grants a four-point bonus
to Armor Class, 90% resistance to fire damage, and deals 2d10+2 points
of damage to attackers. You should always keep one ready for big fights.
Confusion
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
We all know about Confusion-as a 4th-Level Mage spell, it's pretty
awesome... or it was, in the first game... or something. As a 7th-Level
Cleric spell, however, it's a bit of a waste.
Earthquake
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This spell might sound promising, just looking it over. It releases
three tremors of varying potency. The first deals 6d6 damage to all
creatures in a wide area (not party-friendly) and if they fail to save
at -6 they are knocked down for four rounds. The second does 3d6 damage
(save at -2), and the final deals 2d6 (normal save). So, three saves for
a total of 11d6 damage and a chance to knock down. The real damning
thing about this spell, save the fact that enemies get so many saves to
reduce damage, is the fact that it's not not party-friendly. I've never
had it deal spectacular damage, and worse still, there's a chance that
you'll provoke an Earth Elemental. At the end of the day, there are just
better 7th-Level spells to cast.
Elemental Summoning
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Summons a pair of 16 Hit Dice elementals (of a random type) to fight
for you, with a 10% chance to summon an Elemental Prince. This spell is
a decent summoning spell, but it pales in comparison to Greater
Elemental Summoning. Alas for Clerics, only Druids get it.
*Finger of Death
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This spell instantly snuffs out the victim's life force. It's a killer,
and I love it. It imposes a -2 penalty on the victim's save, which
makes it a compotent killer, if not a spectacular one, but if you help
them along with Greater Malison, you actually stand a chance at
snuffing out baddies. Even if it fails, they still take 2d8+1 damage,
which isn't much, but it's better than nothing. I always have one
ready. After all, if you do not play, you cannot win.
Firestorm
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Deals 2d8+1/level damage to everything in the 20-foot radius area of
effect, and lasts for four rounds. It... has a rare use, perhaps, but
unless you can keep foes in the area, it's of little value. Also, the
fact that it's not party-friendly doesn't help.
Gate
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Gate is a summoning spell with serious liabilities. Unless you have a
Protection of Evil spell cast on your caster (and anybody else you don't
want the Pit Fiend to attack) the Pit Fiend will view them as fair game.
On one hand, you should be used to using Protection From Evil 10' Radius
frequently... but on the other hand, having a summon who will turn on
you if a Dispel Magic is tossed around doesn't strike me as a good
idea. Besides, there are plenty of other, superior summoning spells out
there. Ones not coated in liability sauce.
Globe of Blades
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This spell deals 10d10 points of damage to creatures (friendly or not)
adjacent to the caster, and lasts a turn. In combination with Aura of
Flaming Death it can make attacking the caster very, very painful. Just
beware of friendly fire.
*Greater Restoration
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This spell cures all level drain, corrects pretty much every status
effect, and full heals any character it's cast upon. It'll tire the
caster, but sometimes it's worth casting to bring severely damage
allies back from the brink.
Holy Word
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Smites all creatures of evil alignment in the spell's 30-foot radius
area of effect, depending upon the target's level:
o===============o===============================o
|Target's Level | Effect |
o===============o===============================o
| > 4 | Death |
|---------------|-------------------------------|
| 4 - 7 | Stunned for one turn |
|---------------|-------------------------------|
| 8 - 11 | Slowed for 1 turn with 75% |
| | spell failure |
|---------------|-------------------------------|
| < 12 | Deafness for 1 turn with 50% |
| | spell failure |
o===============o===============================o
As you can see, the spell's effects wane as the targets get stronger.
If your idea of a good time is to smite Goblins, then this is the
spell for you. If you want to smite strong foes, you'll need to look
elsewhere.
Implosion
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Deals 10d10 fire and 10d10 bludgeoning damage to a single target over
the course of two rounds. Save for half. It's great damage... even if
it only affects one creatures and, with no save penalty you're probably
only going to deal 10d10 damage. This of course, makes me wonder how
much better this spell is than Flame Strike... probably not worth a
7th-Level spell slot.
Mass Raise Dead
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Remember what I said about Raise Dead? Yeah, that plus extra. Don't suck
and you won't need this spell.
Regeneration
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
So... it gives the recepient regeneration of three Hit Points per second
over the course of one round per two levels. Wouldn't a Heal spell do
more, and more quickly? Rhetorical question. It would.
Resurrection
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Like Raise Dead, except it fully heals the taget thus revived. Again,
don't suck and you won't die.
Shield of the Archons
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Creates a shield that protects the caster from a number of spells equal
to half the caster's level... potentially blocking quite a few spells at
higher levels. Of course, it's not proof against area-of-effect spells,
so it's like conjuring a low-quality, temporary Cloak of Mirroring. It
might prove to be a useful defensive measure for some people, but I've
never bothered with it.
Storm of Vengeance
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Instantly kills foes of 8th-Level or lower... which will not be worthy
foes by the time you get this spell. Against foes of higher quality, it
will deal 1d6 acid, 1d6 electrical, and 1d6 fire damage each round for
three rounds. A non-party-friendly spells that takes three rounds to
deal 9d6 damage? Yeah, it sucks. Oh, it has a chance to poison on the
first round. I don't care.
*Summon Deva/Summon Fallen Deva
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Summons a Deva-a potent angel (or fallen angel) to fight for the caster.
Strong ally, good duration, no liabilities... yep, it's a great
summoning spell for the Cleric, alright. The Deva is hardy and strong,
and has a number of useful spells it can cast. Good stuff.
*Sunray
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
The ultimate anti-undead spell, it deals 1d6 points of damage per
caster level to undead within a 20-foot radius, and the undead must
save vs. spells or be destroyed. It's a great way to blast away
Liches... or any other undead creature in general. It's party friendly,
too. Once you get it, use it to cheap-shot any troublesome undead you
encounter. It also affects non-undead, but it's not worth wasting it
on such foes.
Symbol: Death
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Inscribes a magical symbol that, when approached, causes all creatures
in the area to Save vs. Death or die. Unfortunately it doesn't work on
any foes with 60 Hit Points or more, so... yeah. I wipe my ass with this
spell.
Symbol: Fear
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Another Symbol spell, when something enters the area of effect it
triggers, attempting to cause fear (save at -4). It, like all Symbol
spells are plagued by the fact that they're not party-friendly... but,
the range is decent, the save penalty good, and if you prepare with
Remove Fear, it might not be a terrible spell to cast.
Symbol: Stun
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Everything within a 30-foot radius must save at -4 or be stunned for
two rounds, +1 round/3 levels of the caster. Keep in mind that the spell
is not party friendly.
Unholy Word
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Unholy word acts exactly like Holy Word, but it only affects good
creatures. This spell is useless for the same reason that Unholy Blight
is useless-there just aren't many good foes in the game. Oh, and the
fact that even if there were good creatures worth smiting, this spell
would probably just tickle them, anyways.
o===============o===============================o
|Target's Level | Effect |
o===============o===============================o
| > 4 | Death |
|---------------|-------------------------------|
| 4 - 7 | Stunned for one turn |
|---------------|-------------------------------|
| 8 - 11 | Slowed for 1 turn with 75% |
| | spell failure |
|---------------|-------------------------------|
| < 12 | Deafness for 1 turn with 50% |
| | spell failure |
o===============o===============================o
1st Level Druid Spells {SPT010}
o======================================================================o
***TOP SPELLS***
Armor of Faith: Blocks 5% of damage per five levels.
---
Cure Light Wounds: Heals 8 Hit Points.
*Armor of Faith
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
A simple defensive spell that will remain in your list of memorized
spells throughout both games... simply because good defensive Clerical
spells are so rare. This spell absorbs 5% of all damage the caster
would otherwise sustain from physical and magical attacks, and protects
against another 5% for every five levels of the Cleric. Which means...
up to 10% in this game. That doesn't sound like much-and it isn't-but
losing one point in ten of damage isn't horrible, and it has a decent
duration, too. By the time you hit Throne of Bhaal and your Clerics are
pushing 20th level, it'll be seriously reducing damage.
Bless
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Bless gives all allies within a 30-foot radius a +1 bonus to attack
rolls and a +1 bonus to saves versus fear. I'll be honest, I rarely use
it, but it's not that bad of a spell. Your THAC0 won't be low enough to
ignore a +1 bonus... but its six-round duration is just lame. You have
better buffs to use.
*Cure Light Wounds
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
The essential healing spell, you'll probably want to keep several
instances of this spell ready at all times.
Detect Evil
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
It's... not a great spell, and I wouldn't keep one prepared, but Ajantis
can use it as a special ability. It's got quite a range, and nearby
enemies will be detected as evil in your dialogue box. Want to know if
some Black Talons are currently lurking in Larswood, or want to know if
those humble-looking fishermen are up to no good? Give this spell a go.
Doom
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This curse bestows a -2 penalty to saves and attack rolls upon a single
enemy. This is actually a decent spell to cast on tougher enemies, as
that -2 save penalty can end up paying off in a big way if the critter
then falls victim to some spell or weapon effect. Of course, Greater
Malison affects multiple creatures and bestows a -4 penalty to their
saves, making it a far superior cast.
Entangle
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Like Stinking Cloud and Web, this spell is no longer terribly useful.
We have better spells to debilitate our foes with.
Shillelagh
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Creates a +1 cudgel that deals 2d4 damage. You won't spend much of the
game with a permanent weapon worse than this, so why bother?
2nd Level Druid Spells {SPT011}
o======================================================================o
***TOP SPELLS***
Resist Fire and Cold: 50% Resistance to Fire and Cold.
---
Slow Poison: Cures poison.
Barkskin
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Grants a target an Armor Class of six, which improves (decreases) by
one for ever four levels of the caster... This can effectively give you
an Armor Class that's comparable to Full Plate Mail at higher levels,
but by then, you've certainly found better, permanent, armor.
Charm Person or Mammal
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Like the Arcane spell, Charm Person, save it also can affect a few
quadrapeds, as well. It's utterly negatable by a single save at no
penalty, so I wouldn't bother with it.
Find Traps
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Detects traps in a very close range. This spell doesn't disarm them,
however, so it's rather pointless.
Flame Blade
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This spell allows the caster to create a flaming blade, which the caster
is considered Proficient with. It deals 1d4 slashing damage, plus 1d2+4
fire damage. Despite being a magical blade of flame it does NOT count
as a magical weapon for determining what it can hit-makes sense to me.
Good Berry
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Creates five magical berries that each heal for one Hit Point. They
last forever, so it's like creating a weak healing potion to use...
just as long as you don't expect them to be worth anything in combat.
They take time to use in combat, and since they can only be consumed
one at a time... yeah, one Hit Point of healing per round will not win
you any fights. If for some reason you cannot rest, you could
conceivably give thirty of the weightless things to each party member...
but I can't think of a single instance where this is necessary. So,
no combat uses, takes forever to actually use them all, and there's no
point in time where you'd need to do it. Useless spell.
Know Alignment
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Like Detect Evil, except it detects.. everything. Evil things glow red,
neutral things glow blue, and friendly things glow green.. like those
little circles under your feet!
*Resist Fire and Cold
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
You won't fear the elements too often, but when dealing with fire or
cold happy foes, this spell can cut their damage in half. I wouldn't
keep it ready all the time, but it'll come in handy once in a while.
*Slow Poison
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Slow Poison is being humble. This spell eradicates the effects of most
poisons in the game. Keep at least one handy on each Cleric all the
time.
3rd Level Druid Spells {SPT012}
o======================================================================o
***TOP SPELLS***
Cure Medium Wounds: Heals 14 Hit Points.
---
Dispel Magic: Remove buffs/debuffs in an area.
---
Protection from Fire: Grants 80% Resistance to Fire.
Call Lightning
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This spell calls down lightning to randomly strike foes. Once per turn
you'll summon one bolt per four levels of the caster, each dealing
2d8 damage +1d8 per level of the caster. It sounds awesome enough-an
8th-level caster can call down two bolts a turn, each dealing 10d8
damage. Still, you can only target the first bolts, and what fight
lasts longer than a turn? None, really. Ultimately, I just find this
spell too damn random to bother with.
*Cure Disease
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Diseases suck. They function like Poison, but take much longer to deal
their damage, and tend to last much, much longer. Unless you're injured,
you rest, or travel across the world map, your chances of dying due to
disease are pretty low... But having to run back to a temple to get a
character cured is no good solution, and Mummies aren't uncommon in
this game. It's a good idea to always have one of these prepared.
*Cure Medium Wounds
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This spell restores 14 Hit Points.
*Dispel Magic
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Bad guys cast spells too-buffing themselves, or debuffing you. Just as
a Chaos spell can win a fight for you, if it's cast on you, it can also
result in casualties if the enemy gets one on you... unless you're wise
enough to keep a Dispel Magic handy. This spell is just wonderful, and
everybody who can cast it should always have one prepared.
Hold Animal
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Another hold spell-it only affects 'normal and giant-sized' animals,
pointedly exempting Wyverns and Ankhegs, for no good reason. That
leaves... what? Cave Bears? Who cares? This spell just doesn't have
enough potential targets to make it worthwhile, nor are the foes it
affects worth keeping it prepared.
Invisibility Purge
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Like the Arcane spell 'Detect Invisibility' this spell will allow you
to detect-and therefore thwart-sneaking enemies. You're better off
springing for True Sight.
Miscast Magic
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
You'll see the enemy cast this spell a few times, but I never bother
with it. If the enemy fails at a Save vs. Spells (save at -2), they'll
suffer an 80% spell casting failure rate. Of course, Silence 15' Radius
can affect multiple foes, imposes a -5 save, and makes spell casting
100% impossible for affected creatures... and Insect Plague is superior
to Silence. This puts Miscast Magic pretty low on my list of anti-Mage
spells.
*Protection from Fire
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Like the Resist Fire/Cold, but it protects you from 80% of fire
damage. Excellent in a few areas.
Rigid Thinking
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Another spell you'll more often see when it's cast on you than when you
actually waste the time to cast it-it affects one critter and inflicts
confusion. It lasts one turn, and can be negated by a simple Save vs.
Spells. Compare this to the 4th-level Arcane spell Confusion, and you'll
see what a butt-nutter this pansy version is.
Strength of One
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Gives the entire party a Strength score of 18/75, and lasts for a turn.
It might seem nifty at first, but once you get the Gauntlets of Ogre
Power, or any of the other Strength-boosting items in the game, this
spell will actually hinder you in combat. For natural heavy-hitters like
Minsc or Korgan, this spell is a meagre bonus from the outset.
Summon Insects
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
A very, very weak version of the absolutely devastating 5th-level Druid
spell, Insect Plague. A single target must Save vs. Breath Weapons
(at a -2 peanlty) or take one damage per two seconds of duration... why
such a weird number? I don't know-it deals three damage per round, for
seven rounds. More importantly, the target suffers a -2 penalty to THAC0
and Armor Class, and has a 50% spell-casting failure. Ultimately, I'd
rather use Animate Dead and/or Silence 15' Radius to deal with enemy
spells, and a Slow spell retards melee combat far more effectively.
Zone of Sweet Air
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Negates the effects of Stinking Cloud and Cloudkill... two spells that
are quite uncommon, and really not a severe threat anymore.
4th Level Druid Spells {SPT013}
o======================================================================o
***TOP SPELLS***
Death Ward: Makes character immune to death magic.
---
Neutralize Poison: Cures poison, diease, blindness, deafness, and heals.
Animal Summoning
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Low-level summoning spell suck in Baldur's Gate 2, where the quality of
the foes you'll be facing demands higher-quality minions. Think it
doesn't suck? You'll summon one or two of the following creatures when
you cast this spell-a Dire Wolf, or a War Dog. Yeah. Pass on it.
Call Woodland Beings
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This spell might have been useful in the first game, but in Baldur's
Gate 2, it'll take more than the promise of a Confusion spell to make
me waste a spell slot on it.
Cause Serious Wounds
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Touch a bad-guy, and deal 17 damage to them. Seriously? There are many
better ways to deal 17 damage to a creature-ONE creature.
Cloak of Fear
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This spell creates as three-foot radius fear effect centered on the
caster. I'm always dubious about spells that require the proximity of
the caster... but this spell has no effective radius (if your Druid is
surrounded, maybe, but good luck getting the spell off) and imposes no
save penalty. Even worse, it only causes fear for four rounds. How is
this spell in any way comparable to the 2nd-level Arcane spell, Horror?
Cure Serious Wounds
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
A more potent version of Cure Light Wounds, it must compete with many
great 4th-level Druid spells. At the end of the day, healing is just
not strong enough in this game to save you during a fight, the way the
'Heal' spell will in the sequel. 17 Hit Points is just a band-aid to a
late-game warrior, not a life-saver in the heat of battle.
*Death Ward
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Death Ward is a wonderful, indispensible, must-have spell for every
Cleric in Baldur's Gate 2. You will have lots od death-spells thrown
your way. Liches and Beholds are especially fond of throwing effects at
you like Disintegrate and Finger of Death. Want to ensure that a certain
character won't get offed by a certain enemy? This is the way to counter
such death-effects.
Defensive Harmony
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This spell gives you a +2 bonus to Armor Class for ten rounds-the
perfect last preparation before a big fight. +2 Armor Class is the same
as 10% miss chance, and it affects the whole party. Kind of the opposite
of Death Ward, I use it frequently in the first game, but almost never
in Baldur's Gate 2. Armor Class can get quite low naturally in Baldur's
Gate 2, but by Throne of Bhaal, we're contending with foes who have
THAC0s of -10... which renders most Armor Class considerations moot.
It might be worth a cast once in a while in Shadows of Amn, but...
really, the duration just sucks so much I don't ever bother with it.
Farsight
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
You could this spell... or you could simply sneak around with a Thief,
Ranger, or invisible character. You'll see more, and it wastes-at best-
a 2nd-level Arcane spell.
Negative Plane Protection
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This spell seems like it might be useful, save for a few sad facts.
First, it only affects one person. Second, it lasts for only five
rounds... which is absurd. If you need such protection, you're better
off casting the 7th-Level Mage spell Limited Wish, which will do the
same thing for the whole party.
*Neutralize Poison
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Don't let the name fool you-this spell provides a suite of curative
effects. It cures poison, sure, but is also cures diseases, blindness,
deafness, and heals 10 Hit Points. Until you get access to the Heal
spell, it's the best panacea you've got, and it won't hurt to keep one
handy... as it cures a variety of afflictions.
Poison
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Deals variable damage, but the target receives a Saving Throw vs. Poison
at no penalty to negate all effects, as follows:
o===============o===============o
|Caster's Level | Poison Damage |
o===============o===============o
| 7th-9th | 2d8 + 2/round |
|---------------|---------------|
| 10th-12th | 3d8 + 3/round |
|---------------|---------------|
| 13th-14th | 4d8 + 4/round |
|---------------|---------------|
| 15th-16th | 6d8 + 5/round |
|---------------|---------------|
| 17th+ | 8d8 + 6/round |
o===============o===============o
The damage it deals is... passable, but I find little merit with spells
that have no save penalties. Also, that juicy damage that might be
enticing you isn't going to happen in this game. You'll have to weigh
it's merits on 2d8 + 2/round damage... or 22-36 damage over one turn,
to one creature, that's negated by a single save. Doesn't sound so epic
when you do the math, does it?
Protection From Lightning
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Makes the recpient entirely immune to lightning. It's handy in a few
instances where a Lightning Bolt trap can be used to cause collateral
damage, or where a hostile Mage is likely to fling such magic at you,
but otherwise it's forgetable.
5th Level Druid Spells {SPT014}
o======================================================================o
***TOP SPELLS***
Chaotic Commands: Makes target immune to mind-affecting effects.
---
Insect Plague: Deals damage, prevents spell casting, causes panic.
---
Iron Skins: Creates a number of skins that prevent physical damage.
---
True Sight: Dispels illusion. Party-friendly.
Animal Summoning II
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Just like Animal Summoning I, but with slightly stronger summons.
Still, it's competing against True Sight, Chaotic Commands, and Greater
Command. Far, far superior spells. You can summon either a Black Bear, a
Brown Bear, a Cave Bear, or a Jaguar. Wee.
Cause Critical Wounds
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Deal 27 damage to a creature with a successful touch attack...
Seriously? This spell is nowhere near competition for awesome 5th-level
Druid spells like Chaotic Commands, Insect Plague, Iron Skins, or True
Sight.
*Chaotic Commands
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Oh, Chaotic Commands, how I love you... this little spell makes the
target immune to... pretty much every mental effect out their. Hold,
Charm, Domination, Suggestion, Psionics, Confusion, all of it. Many
enemies use these attacks and spells, and so, this spell will come in
handy often. Best of all, it has a duration of one turn per level.
Always keep one handy.
Cure Critical Wounds
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Heals for 27 Hit Points.
*Insect Plague
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
One of the best reasons to include Jaheira is Insect Plague, and this
spell really just dominates Shadows of Amn. You target a single victim,
and after affecting them the plague will 'jump' to nearby enemies until
six are affected. The damage is a worthy consideration, as it deals one
point of damage every two seconds for the duration of the spell, but
the real reason to use it is that it prevents spell-casters who are
affected from casting spells. It only lasts six rounds, but this gives
you plenty of time to hit enemy Mages with Breach and take them down
with your fighters. It also has a chance to make enemies run around in
a panic, which can further break up groups of enemies. It's not
exaggeration to say that in Shadows of Amn, whenever a spell-caster
rears their ugly magic at you, Insect Plague can effectively handicap
them. Always keep one ready.
*Iron Skins
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
An indispensible defensive spell for the Druid, it's essentially the
Druidy version of Stoneskin. Since Stoneskin is one of the best
defensive spells in the game... well, this is a very good spell to
have. If only there was a multi-classed Druid somewhere who could take
this defensive spell into combat... perhaps a Fighter/Druid? That would
be grand...
Magic Resistance
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Gives the caster 2% Magic Resistance per level, up to a maximum of 40%
at 20th level. Note that it does not RAISE your current Magic Resistance
to this amount, it SETS it to this amount, potentially even lowering it,
if it's higher (Viconia, for instance, has a base 50% Magic Resistance).
It might prove useful, but I don't consider it an essential buff. There
are, after all, better ways to shield the party from magic...
Mass Cure
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Heals all allies within a 30-foot radius of the caster for 1d8+1 damage
per caster level. Honestly... the healing just isn't enough to bother
with. If you have scrapes and bruises, use a Ring of Regeneration. If
you need serious healing... well, use Heal.
Pixie Dust
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Makes all allies in a 30-foot radius invisible, as per the Invisibility
spell. Invisibility sucks compared to its superior counterpart, the
aptly-named Improved Invisibility. Also... well, this is Baldur's
Gate 2. Just watch how fast enemy casters sniff you out and cast True
Sight.
Raise Dead
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Revives a dead character... albeit, with one Hit Point. I have a better
idea-don't die.
*True Sight
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
An essential debuff, True Sight is the bane of all illusions, which
enemy Mages will use constantly. A party without True Sight is a party
that's ill-prepared to deal with many of the stronger creatures in the
game. Have one prepared at all times on every character able to cast
it.
6th Level Druid Spells {SPT015}
o======================================================================o
***TOP SPELLS***
Conjure Fire Elemental: Summons a 12, 16, or 24 Hit Dice Elemental.
---
Heal: Fully heals target and cures a variety of status effects.
Animal Summoning III
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
The highest-level of all the Animal Summoning spells, it still sucks.
It'll have to compete against Heal, which is not really a good spell to
compete against. You can summon a Lion, a Winter Wolf, a Cave Bear, or
a Polar Bear.
Conjure Animals
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
...essentially Animal Summoning IV. In fact, in Infinity Explorer, the
Animal Summoning spells are listed as 'ANISUM01', 'ANISUM02', etc.
This literally is 'ANISUM04', whereas Animal Summoning III is
'ANISUM03'... so, yeah, it's Animal Summoning IV. It allows you to
summon a Polar Bear or two. Really, really not worth the 6th-Level
spell slot.
*Conjure Fire Elemental
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Druids gain access to this spell at 6th-Level, and it is in every way
superior to the Mage version. There's simply no chance that your
elemental is going to break from your control and run amok. Using the
5th-Level Mage spell might be necessary simply due to the fact that you
will get it earlier, but once you can pull this off, use it instead.
As for what it does... it summons a 12, 16, or 24 Hit Dice Elemental
to do your bidding. The big draw of an Elemental is that it's immune to
weapons that don't have an enhancement bonus of +2 or better.
Fire Seeds
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Creates four 'fire seeds', which will appear in the caster's inventory,
which can then be thrown at targets, dealing 2d8 damage per hit, and
allowing a save for half. Do I really need to go on ranting about why
this spell sucks? Yes, I do. 2d8 damage is sucky damage. No save
penalty sucks. The fact that you have to throw and hit targets sucks,
and you probably won't even be able to get all four out in a single
round sucks. Jaheira using the Fire Tooth +3 Dagger will do far
superior damage without wasting any spell slots.
Harm
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
The opposite of Heal, it reduces a target's Hit Points to one. It does,
of course, require a touch attack to work, which makes me less inclined
to bother with it. But, in case you're enthralled with the damage
potential, I'll work some math to show you why you shouldn't bother with
this spell. First, and obviously, it takes a round to cast the spell.
Then you must make an attack with it to to work-that's two rounds to
do what Finger of Death attempts to do in one. Second, you must actually
hit a target unarmed for the spell to work. For most Clerics, it'll
be easier to overcome an enemy's Save vs. Spells with Finger of Death
than it will be to overcome their Armor Class with Harm.
*Heal
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This is the best healing spell in the game, and it really makes all
other healing spells obsolete. It fully cures any one creature regardless
of how much damage they've sustained and cures all diseases, and a
variety of other effects. Most of your 6th level Cleric/Druid spell
slots should be occupied by Heal spells.
Physical Mirror
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Creates a barrier that reflects missile attacks back at the attacker...
while allowing you to make ranged attacks freely. Ranged attacks aren't
nearly as threatening in Baldur's Gate 2 as they were in the original
Baldur's Gate, so I really can't recommend taking this extra defensive
measure. Besides, it only lasts nine rounds... which is probably enough
to see out a fight, but seriously, ranged attacks are rarely a source
of serious danger by the time you get 6th-Level spells.
Wondrous Recall
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Allows you to recall two spent spells of 5th-Level or lower... which,
if used to recover important 4th-or-5th-level spells seems like it might
be useful, right? Sure, save one problem. It picks the spells you
recover randomly. So... unless you feel particularly lucky, this spell
is of minimal tactical value.
7th Level Druid Spells {SPT016}
o======================================================================o
***TOP SPELLS***
Aura of Flaming Death: Protects and deals fire damage to attackers.
---
Greater Elemental Summoning: Summons an Elemental Prince for one turn.
*Aura of Flaming Death
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
An improved version of Fireshield, this spell grants a four-point bonus
to Armor Class, 90% resistance to fire damage, and deals 2d10+2 points
of damage to attackers. You should always keep one ready for big fights.
Druids should think of this spell even more fondly than Clerics, since
they can combine it with Iron Skins for extra-potent defense.
Confusion
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
We all know about Confusion-as a 4th-Level Mage spell, it's pretty
awesome... or it was, in the first game... or something. As a 7th-Level
Cleric spell, however, it's a bit of a waste.
Conjure Earth Elemental
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Summons a 12, 16, or 24 Hit Dice Earth Elemental to fight for the Druid.
Something like this was fine last level, but there are far, far
superior things for a Druid to cast at 7th-level... like, why not
summon an Elemental Prince, instead?
Creeping Doom
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This spell is like Insect Plague on crack, but with two important
weaknesses... first, the 5th-level spell is a 5th-level spell, not a
7th-level spell. Second, it deals double the damage. Score! But it only
lasts half the time. Since the major benefit of Insect Plague was that
it interrupted spell-casters, wouldn't you, you know, want that effect
to last longer?
Elemental Summoning
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Summons a pair of 16 Hit Dice elementals (of a random type) to fight
for you, with a 10% chance to summon an Elemental Prince. This spell is
a decent summoning spell, but it pales in comparison to Greater
Elemental Summoning.
Fire Storm
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Deals 2d8+1/level damage to everything in the 20-foot radius area of
effect, and lasts for four rounds. It... has a rare use, perhaps, but
unless you can keep foes in the area, it's of little value. Also, the
fact that it's not party-friendly doesn't help.
Globe of Blades
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This spell deals 10d10 points of damage to creatures (friendly or not)
adjacent to the caster, and lasts a turn. In combination with Aura of
Flaming Death it can make attacking the caster very, very painful. Just
beware of friendly fire.
Earthquake
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This spell might sound promising, just looking it over. It releases
three tremors of varying potency. The first deals 6d6 damage to all
creatures in a wide area (not party-friendly) and if they fail to save
at -6 they are knocked down for four rounds. The second does 3d6 damage
(save at -2), and the final deals 2d6 (normal save). So, three saves for
a total of 11d6 damage and a chance to knock down. The real damning
thing about this spell, save the fact that enemies get so many saves to
reduce damage, is the fact that it's not not party-friendly. I've never
had it deal spectacular damage, and worse still, there's a chance that
you'll provoke an Earth Elemental. At the end of the day, there are just
better 7th-Level spells to cast.
*Greater Elemental Summoning
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Possibly the best summoning spell in the game, it summons an Elemental
Prince. A great ally, indeed. It only lasts a turn, so only use it in
the most pressing of fights.
Nature's Beauty
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Transforms the Druid into the ideal of beauty. Onlookers must Save vs.
Spell (at a +3 bonus) or die. If they pass the save, they are merely
blinded. It's party friendly, but you know... I really just don't think
blinding foes is worth a 7th-Level spell slot.
Regeneration
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
So... it gives the recepient regeneration of three Hit Points per second
over the course of one round per two levels. Wouldn't a Heal spell do
more, and more quickly? Rhetorical question. It would.
Shield of the Archons
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Creates a shield that protects the caster from a number of spells equal
to half the caster's level... potentially blocking quite a few spells at
higher levels. Of course, it's not proof against area-of-effect spells,
so it's like conjuring a low-quality, temporary Cloak of Mirroring. It
might prove to be a useful defensive measure for some people, but I've
never bothered with it.
1st Level Arcane Spells {SPT017}
o======================================================================o
***TOP SPELLS***
Identify: Identifies magical items.
---
Magic Missile: Up to five bolts that unerringly deal 2-5 damage each.
Armor
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
A simple cast that drops your Armor Class to six (as if you were wearing
Scale Mail) and lasts for nine hours. Of course, when you realise you
can buy Bracers of Defense A.C. 3 right at the beginning of the game...
yeah, this spell's got nothing.
*Blindness
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Like most low-level debuffs, this spell has seen the end of its
usefulness... this spell attempts to blind one enemy. If they fail to
save (at no penalty) they'll take a -4 penalty to attack rolls and to
their Armor Class. You're far better off with Slow.
Burning Hands
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
A simple offensive spell that deals 1d3+2 damage damage per caster
level, up to a maximum of 1d3+20. Unfortunately, it doesn't have much
range and isn't party friendly, so it can't be safely cast from behind
more sturdy characters. It might come in handy once in a while against
Trolls... but you can always just buy Arrows of Fire. instead.
Charm Person
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This spell attempts to charm-or befriend-a neutral or hostile foes
(man-sized humanoids only), but whatever usefulness it might have once
had has been severely reduced in Baldur's Gate 2. Simply put, any debuff
without a save penalty is rarely worth casting.
Chill Touch
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
A horrible, horrible damage-dealer, for two reasons-first, the caster
has to touch the foes in order to deal the damage. Second, this requires
the caster to actually 'make a successful melee attack'. Two things
Mages are not built for-being where enemies can hit them, and trying to
hit foes in melee. On top of that, the 1d8 damage and no save penalty
side effect of a -2 THAC0 penalty is nothing special.
Chromatic Orb
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Chromatic Orb is a handy little spell that deals damage and afflicts
an enemy with status effects. At fourth level the spell can blind, at
fifth it can stun for three rounds, and at seventh level it will
paralyze for 20 rounds. Of course, by that time you'll have better
disabling spells, and if you want to deal damage, the 10-25 damage
Magic Missile causes will probably be more reliable than a chance to
stun.
Color Spray
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
We should consider this spell like a debuff version of Burning Hands...
you emit a party unfriendly effect in an arc in front of you. Instead of
damage, however, it'll knock foes out (unless they save at no penalty,
or they have more than four Hit Dice) for five rounds. A few obvious
problems... Okay, one, really big problem. Nothing worth killing has
fewer than four Hit Dice.
Find Familiar
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Ah... a very odd spell, indeed. We all know what Familiars are, they're
wizardry lore by now, so onto the spell. First, it can be cast only by
the Protagonist (that's the guy or gal you made at the beginning of this
mess) and you can only have one Familiar at a time. The spell lasts...
indefinately, up until your Familiar dies, which is something you want
to avoid at all costs... but we'll get to that later. In essence, it's
a permanent summoning spell that creates a critter you completely
control. The type of creature is determined by your alignment, and they
vary widely in capabilities (and I dare say, quality.) Most have 24
Hit Points, but the Dust Mephit (Neutral Evil) version has merely 18.
Armor Class ranges from -4 to 6, and Magic Resistance is likewise
variable from 10% to 75%. If this sounds like a sturdy little critter,
you're suffering from a severe case of the newbies. Some have spells
they can use, others have Thief abilities, while another has special
melee attacks... but they are all short-term benefits and long-term
liabilities. The benefits are simple-you get a 7th-wheel who does
whatever you tell it to do. Also, you get 1/2 of the Familiar's Hit
Points as a bonus to your Mage's Hit Points. For example, when my True
Neutral Fighter/Mage tested this spell out for this guide, he went from
72 to 84 Hit Points. Huzzah. Now for the crippling downside. When (not
if) your Familiar dies, you'll suffer damage equal to half the Hit
Points your Mage got out of the deal... not too bad, right? That's six
damage, if you're math-tarded, in my example. Oh, and you also lose a
point of Constitution permanently. In Baldur's Gate 2, where Dragon
breath, death magic, and titanic spell battles ensue, this little
critter is nothing but a walking Constitution handicap waiting to
happen.
There is one redeeming quality to this spell, however. If you summon
your Familiar and export your character, then reimport said character
into a new game, you'll lose the Familiar, but keep the bonus Hit
Points... in theory, it's possible to repeat this process as many times
as you please. Of course, it's also possible to replay the game
multiple times with one protagonist to boost all your attributes up
to 25... but this guide is for legit, single-playthrough characters.
Still, whatever you consider fun, right?
Friends
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This spell can be useful when shopping, as it raises your Charisma by
six points temporarily-long enough to lower prices. Keep in mind that
this spell doesn't seem to have an effect if your Charisma is over 20.
Grease
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Much like Web and Stinking Cloud-superior 2nd-level spells-this is an
area-of-effect spell that hampers anything caught in the area... albeit,
after a Saving Throw to attempt to negate the effects. Those who fail
are forced to move quite slowly for the rest of the round, and must save
every round to avoid the movement impediment. This spell was hardly
a consideration in the first game, but in the sequel, it's far beyond
obsolete.
*Identify
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
You'll always some of these spells prepared, as they... identify magical
items. Sure, having a high Lore skill can do the same, but most strong
magical items require a higher Lore score than you'll probably have...
and it's not worth playing a Bard just to identify crap. Combat use?
None. But it'll save you 100 gold that you would have wasted identifying
items at merchants. Considering how many magical items abound in the
game, this is a necessary money-saver.
Infravision
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Cast this spell, and the creature affected gains infravision, which in
this game makes creatures glow orange. Of course, if you have anybody
with infravision naturally, you can simply turn on the 'Group
Infravision' option and use it at will. It's not terribly useful
anyways, either naturally or as a spell, and at 10 turns, this spell's
duration isn't terribly enviable.
Larloch's Minor Drain
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
A mediocre damage-dealing spell, this spell deals a measely four points
of damage and heals the caster for the same amount. On the plus side,
it's got range and doesn't allow a save, so I find it superior to
Burning Hands or Chill Touch, at least. Heck, it's even comparable to
Magic Missile... up until Magic Missile starts getting additional
missiles. Since every Mage in this game will have multiple-missile
Magic Missiles... yeah, this spell is useless in Baldur's Gate 2.
*Magic Missile
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
The essential damage-dealing spell you'll use through most of the
game... it deals 1d4+1 points of damage, and while that sounds paltry-
and it is-it gains an additional missile at 3rd, 5th, 7th, and finally
9th level. On top of that it has a casting time of one, it always hits,
and allows no save. At 9th level, that's 10-25 damage per casting... not
bad for a 1st-level spell. Honestly, I rarely use this spell, but it
does come in handy during a few fights... chaining multiple copies of
this spell via sequencers, Spell Trigger, etc., can be quite potent.
Nahal's Reckless Dweomer
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
A Wild Mage-only spell, this spell gambles on the Mage's wild surge
ability, which this spell intentionally triggers after you select
another spell. The Wild Mage attempts to shape the energy into the
desired form... in other words, into the spell you tried to cast. The
odds of you casting the desired spell, however, are very slim-on the
normal table you have a 1% chance of casting a spell normally during a
wild surge. Of course, since you're not screwing up, you're
intentionally channeling wild magic, you add your level to the roll on
the wild surge chart... which means, presumably, you've got a chance to
cast the desired spell equal to 1% plus your level. Even near the end of
Baldur's Gate 2, you'll be lucky to get this spell to work when you need
it, much less to use it regularly. My suggestion? Don't bother with it.
Protection from Evil
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
A low-level buff that protects the recepient...against evil! Attacks
against the protected character are made at a -2 penalty, while saves
made by the protected character are made at a +2 bonus. You're better
off just letting a Cleric do this for the entire party with Protection
From Evil 10' Radius.
Protection from Petrification
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Petrification attacks aren't an issue in Baldur's Gate 2... in fact,
I can't remember a single Basilisk in the entire game... you don't need
this spell.
Reflected Image
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
A poor man's Mirror Image, it give you one image that mimmics the
caster. Foes attacking the caster have a 50% chance to hit the image,
and a 50% chance to hit the caster... if the image is struck, it
vanishes. Sounds useful, but considering that Mirror Image does the
same thing-but with two-to-eight images, you're better off just
waiting.
Shield
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Like Armor, this spell drops your Armor Class. Unlike Shield, Armor,
however, this spell drops your Armor Class to four against melee
attacks, and two against missile attacks... that's a six or eight
point bonus. It also renders you immune to Magic Missiles! Score.
Unfortunately, it-like Armor-doesn't stack with whatever mundane armor
you may be wearing, and you'll have better permanent armor shortly into
the game.
Shocking Grasp
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Another crappy 1st-level damage-dealer, it deals 1d8+1 point of damage
per level and the opponent has to be touched for the spell's damage to
be done. You miss, you wasted the spell. Me? I'd rather take the sure
damage of Magic Missile any day.
Sleep
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Sleep is one of the best low-level Mage spells in the game. It'll force
all critters within a 15-foot radius to save at -3 or fall asleep for
five rounds per level.. an insane amount of time, and more than enough
time to kill any and all affected critters. Against high-level enemies
(those with 4+3 Hit Dice or more) it's useless... which means despite
all its merits in the first game, it's useless now.
Spook
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This spell causes one creature to Save versus Spells are run away scared
for the duration of the spell. The target suffers a -1 save penalty
against the effect for every two levels of the caster, up to -6 at 12th
level... which is actually pretty decent. What's not decent, however, is
the aforementioned duration, a mere three rounds. You have far better
debuffs to cast.
2nd Level Arcane Spells {SPT018}
o======================================================================o
***TOP SPELLS***
Blur: Gives caster bonus to Armor Class and Saving Throws.
---
Knock: Open locked containers/doors.
---
Mirror Image: Creates 2-8 illusory images which confound attackers.
---
Resist Fear: Removes fear effects in area.
Agannazar's Scorcher
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This spell creates a 15 foot long jet of flames that deals 3-18 damage
to everything in its path. Technically, it's possible to hit several
foes in one cast, but this requires some good luck as to where the foes
place themselves. Frankly, there are many, many other 2nd-level spells
worth casting long before your need to settle for a mediocre damager
like Agannazar's Scorcher... for instance...
Blur
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
...Blur. One of the best defensive spells a Mage has to offer, this
spell forces enemies to suffer a -3 penalty to attack rolls, and gives
the Mage a +1 bonus to Saving Throws. At four rounds +2 rounds per
level, it should last an entire encounter once you hit higher levels.
Granted, for most of the first game it won't really be worth casting,
but once your Armor Class and level improves, it'll be a spell you'll
lean on heavily before any large encounter. It might seem over-shadowed
by spells like Improved Invisibility, but actually the game's AI
actually favors Blur. Why, you ask? If you're invisible, you will
provoke a True Sight from many enemy spell-casters... which of course,
dispels all your illusions. This is almost guaranteed in Throne of
Bhaal, to the point where Improved Invisiblity actually compromises
your defenses. Spells like Blur and Mirror Image, however, will not
provoke such a response.
Chaos Shield
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This spell is a booster for Nahal's Reckless Dweomer, boosting your roll
on your magic surge table by 15. This turns your pathetic odds to...
well, still pathetic, but somewhat plausible. Still, a booster spell for
another spell that I don't consider worth the trouble, what do you think
my suggestion is?
Deafness
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This spell affects one creature and it attempts to deafen the foe, which
gives them a 50% chance of spell failure. Honestly, however, I'd rather
just let my Clerics cast Silence 15' Radius, which imposes a -5 save
penalty, is an area-of-effect spell, and outright prevents affected
creatures from casting... which makes Silence 15' Radius superior in
every category, really. Even better still is Insect Plague, so you can
safely ignore this spell.
Detect Evil
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
It's... not a great spell, and I wouldn't keep one prepared, it might
prove interesting from time to time. If you follow my guide, however,
you will know who to attack and who to leave alone, alignment be damned.
Detect Invisibility
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Why would you ever use this half-measure when you could cast True
Sight?
Ghoul Touch
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
A thoroughly bad debuff, this spell attempts to paralyze a foe... as if
you were a Ghoul, see? Unfortunately, you need to touch an enemy for the
spell to work and it imposes no save penalty whatsoever.
Glitterdust
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Gold! Glitterdust creates a cloud of adhesive, glowing, golden particles
that cover foes in the area of effect if they fail a save with a -4
penalty. Affected creatures are blinded (-4 penalty to attack rolls,
Saving Throws, and Armor Class) and invisible creatures are revealed.
More good news? It's party-friendly! Unfortunately it only lasts four
rounds, and we need not ever consider 2nd-level spells when we've got
access to far superior debuffs like Slow and Chaos.
Horror
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Horror was one of the most overly-abused trump cards the computer
employed in the first game... now it's more of a property than a spell
most foes will employ (ignoring Symbol: Fear, which is a superior
spell.) As for you, and this spell... it's day is done. You have better,
higher-level spells you can cast if you want to break up enemy groups.
Invisibility
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
An interesting spell... it makes the caster... well, invisible, of
course. It might seem somewhat useful, strategically, as your Mage
would be better able to get into position while invisible, no? Sure,
but remember that in Baldur's Gate 2 the computer has access to True
Sight, and many spell-casters will employ it to expose invisible or
sneaking characters. That being the case, it's probably not going to
prove interesting very often.
*Knock
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Another essential Mage spell that has absolutely no use in combat. You
need to unlock something? Use Knock. If you're blessed with a Thief of
any quality, you can skip on this spell, but considering the diminished
status of 2nd-level spells in Baldur's Gate 2, you really don't have
anything better to fill your spellbook up with.
Know Alignment
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Want to know somebody's alignment? Cast this spell. Simple as. Of
course, why do you care anyways? If they're not evil, you don't need to
worry, and if you follow my guide, you'll know what to do without having
to pry into everybody's alignment.
Luck
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This spell absolutely reeks with suckness. It gives a '5% bonus' to any
and all actions... whatever the hell that means. I have to assume,
however, that on a d20 system... 5% equals a +1 bonus. See? I can do
math. The real suck, however, is that it's a low-powered buff that only
affects one person, and lasts all of three rounds. It's hard to imagine
a more underwhelming buff.
Melf's Acid Arrow
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
It might have been an average damage-dealer in the first game, but now,
it just takes too long to do too little damage. Honestly, I prefer Magic
Missile, and I'd rather save my 2nd level spells slots for defense
(Mirror Image, Blur) or utility (Knock).
*Mirror Image
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
You conjure 2-8 images which mimic the caster and confuse enemies.
Attacks made against the caster have a chance of hitting the caster, or
a chance of hitting one of the images... presumably proportional to the
number of images you have. On it's own, it's a pretty good defensive
spell. Combined with Blur and Stoneskin, it makes a Mage nearly
invulnerable to melee attacks.
Power Word: Sleep
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Introducing the Power Word spells-they allow no save, affect one
creature, and deal various forms of badness. The only defense against
them is being above their Hit Point threshold. In this case, the
threshold is twenty Hit Points. Everything with fewer Hit Points than
this is put to sleep-period. Undead, of course, are not affected... and
honestly, most foes in the game will be too powerful for this.
Ray of Enfeeblement
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Cast this bad ray at a creature and they must make a Saving Throw vs.
Spells (at no penalty) or have their Strength reduced to five for one
round per level. No penalty, one target? No thanks.
*Resist Fear
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
If an enemy gets off a Symbol: Fear spell, or you succumb to a dragon's
or demon's fear aura, it can easily end in a reload. If you have one of
these spells prepared, however, you have nothing to fear... or at least,
you need not fear fear. A great protective spell, I tend to just make my
Clerics prepare Remove Fear, as 2nd level Mage spell slots are more
precious, and 1st-level Cleric spells are much less so.
Stinking Cloud
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Stinking Cloud creates nauseating clouds in a 15-yard radius that forces
enemies to save or be rendered helpless for 1d2 rounds. Lasting one
turn, this spell might not keep enemies down as long as Sleep, but it
has no Hit Dice limit. It used to be one of the best early debuffs in
the first Baldur's Gate, but it's far less useful in Baldur's Gate 2
as compared to higher-level spells.
Strength
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This crappy spell sets the Strength score of the target up to 18/50...
or rather, sets it to 18/50, potentially lowering their Strength if it's
higher. For some characters with mediocre Strength-Jaheira and Keldorn,
come to mind-this spell might prove to be a useful buff, but it's really
unnecessary for most fights, and where it'll prove useful, Potions of
Giant Strength abound, and later on, you'll find many items that
improve your Strength while worn.
Vocalize
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Allows the caster to cast spells without making use of its verbal
component... or in other words, you can cast spells silently. The
practical implications of this spell? It allows you to cast spells
while silenced. It only lasts a turn, however, and very few enemies
cast Silence. I have never found a use for this spell.
Web
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Web funcitons alot like Stinking Cloud-at least in its overall effect.
Creatures in the area-of-effect who fail their Saving Throw are
helpless. Good stuff. It's got a five yard per level radius (up to a
30 foot radius), lasts two turns per level, and imposes a -2 save
penalty. It can't, however, compare to higher level spells which we'll
have in abundance.
3rd Level Arcane Spells {SPT019}
o======================================================================o
***TOP SPELLS***
Dispel Magic: Removes buff/debuffs from all creatures in area.
---
Haste: Doubles movement speed, gives an extra attack per round.
---
Slow: Slows targets, massive penalties to attack rolls and Armor Class.
Clairvoyance
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This spell removes the fog-of-war in any outdoor area, but it does not
show creatures, and it does not allow you to 'see' what's in the area,
exactly. Again, it just removes the fog-of-war... you know, all that
black crap that's everywhere in a new area? Instead of casting this
spell, why not just walk around? Seriously I can't think of a single
time where this spell is useful.
Detect Illusion
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Detect Illusion dispells illusion spells of 3rd level or lower in a
20-foot radius... which means Invisibility, Mirror Image, Blur... the
weakest, but also fairly common illusion spells. Of course, many foes
also use Shadow Door, Mislead, Improved Invisibility, etc., which this
spell does nothing against. Just think instead of this, you could
prepared a shiney new Dispel Magic, which works on almost all spells.
Even better, you could go for True Sight, the REAL illusion-buster in
Baldur's Gate 2.
Dire Charm
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Just like Charm Person, but with no save bonus for targets. There are
far more useful 3rd-level spells to prepare.
*Dispel Magic
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Any time you fight spellcasters, they'll attempt to buff themselves and
hit you with debilitating spells. Dispel Magic should therefore be
memorized at least once by every spellcaster in the game, as it gives
you a chance to take down a protected Mage, or free your characters
from the effects of another spell. Dispel Magic is your magical safety
net, and every caster should have one prepared at all times.
Fireball
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Fireball has its uses, as might be expected from an iconic Mage spell.
The first time I played this game, I was much less refined in my
tactics, and was overjoyed by this brute force option. Still...
experience has taught me that buffs like Haste and debilitative spells
like Chaos are much better spells. That being the case, I rarely bother
using this spell.
Flame Arrow
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
A single-target damage-dealer that's far easier to control, and hence,
more useful than Fireball in some circumstances. It deals 4d6 fire
damage and 1d6 piercing damage, but the target can save for half the
fire damage. Like Magic Missile, you obtain another missile-for this
spell, once every 5th level-so that's two bolts at 10th level, three at
15th, four at 20th, and so on... This spell is like a beefier Magic
Missile, and it has the same usefulness. On its own, it's fairly weak,
but if you chain a few of them together with Spell Trigger, it can
become monstrously strong... It gets a place of honor in one fight
late in the game, but otherwise, it's ignorable.
Ghost Armor
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Yeah, you knew there'd be more of these spells, didn't you? Like the
old 1st-level Armor spell, I consider these spells useless for
single-class Mages. They should be kept out of combat anyways, but for
multi-or-dual-class Mages? Well, let's be honest... you can get better
permanent armor than these spells provide. Ignore Armor, and ignore
Ghost Armor.
*Haste
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Haste is the best buff in the game, hands down. In every somewhat
difficult encounter, you should employ Haste. It just doubles your
offensive power. Literally, it gives an extra attack per round and
doubles you movement speed. Good stuff, indeed. Keep one ready on every
character who can cast it.
Hold Person
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Just like the 2nd-level Cleric spell, this spell attempts to 'hold', or
paralyze a target, and also affects nearby targets in a 7.5-foot radius.
It only affect man-sized humanoids, but fortunately, they're common. No
save penalty, and it only lasts 10 rounds... which is long enough to
kill them and then some, to be fair. Still, almost anything I would use
this on, I could just use Chaos on instead. Bigger radius, save
penalty... Yeah, you don't need this spell.
Hold Undead
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Just like Hold Person, but for undead, which are normally immune to
these types of spells. It affects all enemies in a 10-foot radius, which
is a decent radius, but it imposes no save penalty. There are better
ways to deal with undead.
Invisibility 10' Radius
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Like Invisibility, but for everybody in an area! It's just as likely to
be dispelled with True Sight, and there's only one time in the entire
game where I suggest its use.
Lightning Bolt
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This is an interesting damage-dealing alternative for enclosed spaces,
where you can try and bounce it off walls to deal outrageous damage.
Multiple hits will dispatch most enemies. It's a gimmick, however, and
I rarely ever use it, as I'm just not good at aiming it, and generally
find it unreliable.
Melf's Minute Meteors
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This spell creates one globe per level of the caster, which can then be
thrown by said caster (with a +5 bonus to hit). Each 'meteor' that hits
deals 1d4+3 points of damage, plus three fire damage, and the caster can
hurl five such 'meteors' per round. Quick, somebody explain to me how,
exactly, this spell is superior to Magic Missile? More damage? Sure, a
bit, but it's a 3rd-level spell-I'm not using up a 3rd-level spell slot
for 7-10 damage instead of 2-5 per missile. Also, you have to actually
hit the target with all five missiles-attack rolls and all that, which
is something a Mage can't exactly count on, can they? I'll stick to
Magic Missile, myself.
Minor Spell Deflection
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This spell absorbs a number of spells directed at the caster, up to four
spell levels worth... unless it's an area-of-effect spell, or a
stationary spell effect like Cloudkill or Web. Considering that many
spells you'll encounter in this game are area-of-effect spells... you
might as well just ignore this spell...
Monster Summoning I
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
If you think summoning one or two weak monsters will help you out,
you're in for a rough time... just ignore this useless spell.
Non-Detection
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This spell makes you immune to scrying attempts, spells like
Clairvoyance, Invisibility Purge, etc. You know how many foes will
use these spells? None. You will never need this spell.
Protection From Cold
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Protection From Cold does just that-reduces the cold damage that comes
your way by 50%. You'll face cold attacks very rarely, so preparing a
3rd-level spell to do so is just a waste. Just use the 2nd-level Cleric
spell 'Resist Fire and Cold' instead.
Protection From Fire
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Like Protection From Cold-it protects you against 50% of fire damage
that comes at you. Fire damage is more common than cold, but still,
I suggest the Cleric spell 'Resist Fire and Cold' instead.
Protection From Normal Missiles
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Makes a target invulnerable to normal (non-magical) missiles for five
turns. This spell is pretty useless in this game. Any foe shooting
mundane missiles at you probably isn't much of a threat, and any foe
with magical missiles will ignore it.
Remove Magic
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Hailed as the 'combat version' of Dispel Magic, it functions exactly
the same way... save that it only removes buffs/debuffs on foes. This
might sound handy, and it is-if you have the extra 3rd-level spell
slots. On the other hand, it won't save you if you have debuffs
affecting your party, so it's got much less utility overall than Dispel
Magic, if you have any aim. I'll be honest, I've never found a need
for this spell. General party-buffs amongst your foes are rare, and
there are better spells for taking down more potent, individual buffs.
Skull Trap
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Create a... skull trap that explodes when enemies get too close to it,
dealing 1d6 points of damage per level to all critters in a 20-foot
radius. Honestly, I prefer Fireball. I can aim it, and decide what gets
hit, when. No need to lure foes into a trap with the hope that it'll
affect a good number of them.
*Slow
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This spell affects all enemies in a 30-foot radius, and any melee
character affected might as well be dead. It forces them to move and
attack at half the normal rate, and imposes a -4 penalty to attack rolls
and Armor Class. Enemies save against this effect at a -4 penalty.
When faced with a group of sturdy melee enemies, there's little better
to cast.
Spell Thrust
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Removes a number of spell defenses, including Minor Spell Deflection,
Minor Globe of Invulnerability, Spell Immunity and Minor Spell Turning.
Spell Immunity can be particularly troublesome, since it can prevent
more sophisticated take-down tactics and debuffs, but it's a rare cast
by enemies in this game, and the other spells are much less fearsome.
Vampiric Touch
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Deals 1d6 damage per every two caster levels (up to 6d6 damage), and
heals the caster for that amount. Unfortunately, it's a touch spell
(see the word 'touch' in the name?) so its utility for a single-classed
Mage is dubious, at best.
4th Level Arcane Spells {SPT020}
o======================================================================o
***TOP SPELLS***
Confusion: Foes in area are confused unless they save at -2.
---
Greater Malison: Reduces saves by 2, softening up foes.
---
Improved Invisibility: Recepient can't be targeted by spells.
---
Minor Sequencer: Chain two spells of 2nd-level or lower.
---
Stoneskin: Negates physical attacks entirely.
*Confusion
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Confusion is a great debilitating spell, but inferior to Chaos, which
outshines it in every way. Still, it forces all enemies in a 30-foot
radius to save at -2 or wander around, go berserk, or simply stand
there. Simply put, it breaks up all effective resistance and wins
fights.
Contagion
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
A fourth-level debilitator with no save penalty? How well do you think
this spell is going to do? Ah well, let's get it over with... this spell
attempts to cause 'major disease and weakness' in a creature. The target
suffers a -2 penalty to Strength, Dexterity, and Charisma, and they
are slowed. One target. No save penalty. Compare this spell to, say,
Slow. Wouldn't you be better served by slowing a group of foes at a -4
save penalty? You would. Ignore this spell.
Emotion, Hopelessness
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Like Confusion, but with no save, and enemies 'sleep' (lie down and
remain helpless) for the duration of the spell. If it weren't for the
lack of a save penalty, it would be a great spell.
Enchanted Weapon
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Creates a +3 weapon that can be used by anybody-either a Mace, Axe,
Long Sword, or Short sword. Or... you could just get a permanent weapon.
Farsight
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Allows you to see an unexplored section of map, much like Clairvoyance.
Something else that reveals unexplored sections of map? Exploring it.
Save the spell-slot, just sneak around with a Thief or Ranger.
Fireshield (Blue)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
An aggressive form of defense, this spell surrounds the caster with a
shield of 'ice flame'. Yeah, makes sense to me. The caster gains 50%
Cold Resistance and foes that strike in melee suffer 1d8+2 points of
damage per hit. It's decent damage, but a single-classed Mage really
can't accept the damage trade-off. A Fighter/Mage might be able to
handle the abuse, however, but where it really shines is combined with
Stoneskin, where you take no damage, and the enemy suffers for removing
each skin.
Fireshield (Red)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Same thing as Fireshield (Blue), save that Fireshield (Red) is... well,
actually a FIREshield. It grants 50% resistance to fire damage and deals
1d8+2 fire damage each time an enemy strikes you in melee.
*Greater Malison
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Hit enemies with this before casting other spells that allow saves and
you'll stand a greater chance of affecting your enemies. If it's used
to soften up foes before hitting them with Chaos, Insect Plague, Finger
or Death, or a Vorpal weapon, it becomes downright unfair.
Ice Storm
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
A direct-damage dealing area of effect spell that allows no save. Sound
good? Here we go-it only deals 2d8 damage per round (lasting four
rounds) and is not party friendly. So... why cast something with less
damage potential than an 9th-level Mage's Fireball?
*Improved Invisibility
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Another great defensive spell, it imposes a -4 penalty to the attack
rolls of enemies, and gives the caster a +4 bonus to saving throws. Best
of all, you can't be targeted with spells until the invisibility is
dispelled. It does, however, have one Achilles heel-the spell True
Sight, which will be employed against you if you've got an invisible
character. By Throne of Bhaal, this counter is so widespread that this
spell is all but useless... in the mean time, however, abuse it.
Minor Globe of Invulnerability
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This spell makes you immune to 1st-3rd level spells... alas, since most
dangerous spells are now higher-level affairs, this is no longer the
defensive spell it used to be. Most foes will refrain from casting
such weak spells until they're out of superior spells... and if you
can't kill a Mage slinging Melf's Acid Arrows at you... well, you
deserve to lose.
*Minor Sequencer
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This spell can be quite useful, as it allows the caster to chain two
spells of 2nd-level or lower together in one quick cast. Want to pelt a
foe with two Magic Missile spells in one round? Or instantly bring up a
Mirror Image and Blur? This is the way to do it. Best of all, you can
cast this spell, prepare the Sequencer, remove this spell, and the
spells you are chaining together, as well. The only limitation is that
you must have the spells you want to sequencer memorized at the time
you cast the sequencer. The only real limitation this spell has? Well,
you don't get it until awfully late in the game...
Monster Summoning II
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Like the 3rd level spell, but it'll summon a few more Hit Dice of
monsters... still not enough to make it useful, however.
Otilukes's Resilient Sphere
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
I'll admit, I like the idea of this spell. Taking a foe out of a fight
long enough to deal with its buddies makes me feel all strategyful, and
stuff. But it's just not a good spell. Otiluke's Resilient Sphere
captures a single foe in a 'globe of shimmering force', which prevents
the trapped critter from affecting the outside world, and vice versa.
Still, it's a single creature, the spell has no save penalty, and it
only lasts a turn... granted, probably enough time to resolve any
fight... but... Slow, Confusion, or Chaos would all be superior casts.
Polymorph Other
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Turns another foe into a Squirrel... still, it imposes no save
penalty and only affects a single target. It's more of a humorous
spell, than a serious tactical solution to any fight.
Polymorph Self
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Allows the caster to assume the form of another creature, which you can
select from a short list of the following (as per the spell's in-game
description):
Gnoll: wields a magical +1 halberd (+1 fire damage and strikes as an
enchanted weapon +3)
Mustard Jelly: capable of slowing opponents (if they fail a Saving
Throw when hit)
Ogre: capable of causing massive damage with its fists
Spider: causes poison when it hits an opponent.
You can also assume the form of a Brown Bear, Black Bear, or Wolf... but
these shapeshifts suck. Just ask any Druid. So, let's look at these in
depth, shall we?
First, you can change to any of these creatures at will-and back again-
for the entire duration of the spell, a passable one turn, plus three
rounds per level, so you can change your form as events necessitate.
Your statistics and attributes are affected by each form, which is not
mentioned by the spell, but which I will show below. Also, you cannot
cast spells while polymorphed-something to keep in mind, to be sure.
Your natural Armor Class may change, as well-magical protections will
still be counted, but armor will not. You can equip and unequip
clothing, jewelry, and armor at will, but not weapons.
Flind
Armor Class (Base): 2
Strength: 17
Dexterity: 17
Constitution 12
Mustard Jelly
Armor Class (Base): 4
Strength: 14
Dexterity: 9
Constitution 9
Cold Resistance: 50
Electrical Resistance: 100
Magic Resistance: 125
Magic Cold Resistance: 50
Slashing Resistance: 30
Crushing Resistance: 30
Piercing Resistance: 100
Missile Resistance: 85
Ogre
Armor Class (Base): 5
Strength: 18/00
Dexterity: 9
Constitution 18
Spider
Armor Class (Base): 1
Strength: 16
Dexterity: 16
Constitution 9
So... there everything is, all pink and naked. Honestly, I don't see
the point in turning a Mage into a melee creature, especially one that's
likely to be rather weak compared to your mainstay warriors...
If anything, however, the Mustard Jelly is interesting for its
resistances, if nothing else. I never make use of this spell, but if
you feel like giving it a go... eh... it's your Mage's funeral.
Remove Curse
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
You pick up a shiny new ring and stupidly put it on your finger not
knowing what it is, and boom! Wertle-wertle-woo for you. Honestly,
that's really the only way to get cursed in this game, save for perhaps
short-term spells like Doom, and who cares about that anyways? You can
always go to a church to have curses removed, but this is cheaper. You
probably will never need to use this spell.
Secret Word
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Dispels one spell protection of 8th-level or lower, including Minor
Spell Turning, Minor Globe of Invulnerability, Spell Immunity, Spell
Deflection, Spell Turning, and Spell Shield. It's... an option if you
don't want to use Spell Thrust, but there are far too many good
4th-level spells to bother with this.
Spider Spawn
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Allows you to summon one (80%) or two (20%) spiders of types that vary
by level. At 8th-level or lower, you summon wussy Giant Spiders, at
9th-11th levels you'll summon Phase Spiders, and at 12th-level and
higher you'll summon Sword spiders. None of these creatures really have
the muscle you'll want in a summoned creature.
Spirit Armor
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
The strongest of the armor spells, this particular version creates an
intangible suit of armor that grants an Armor Class of one. It doesn't
stack with other armor, but it will stack with Dexterity bonuses,
magical protections, and shields. When the spell ends, it'll deal 2d4
points of damage to the caster. It's actually potentially very nice
armor, but honestly, it'll only drop the Armor Class of a well-equipped
Fighter/Mage by a few points.
*Stoneskin
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
The ultimate physical defensive spell, Stoneskin makes the caster
outright immune to physical damage. It'll absorb a number of attacks
equal to the number of 'skins' or layers it has. The caster has one
skin per two levels, which means a high-level Mage could ignore over
a dozen melee attacks. These skins last until absorbing (and negating)
attacks, or until its whopping 12-hour duration ends. On its own, it's
wonderful physical defense. Mixed with a good Armor Class, and other
defensive spells like Blur and Mirror Image, and it'll make the Mage
nearly invulnerable to melee damage. It's the best thing a Fighter/Mage
can cast in most fights, and really, you should keep one prepared at
all times... which essentially means it's my 4th-level spell of choice
for my Fighter/Mage. It's less useful on single-classed Mages, since
their Armor Class is inferior and they don't tend to be exposed to
physical assaults often, but it's still useful for them, as well.
Teleport Field
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Randomly teleports all foes in the area of effect to... another spot in
the area of effect. I really can't think of a great use for this spell,
as the radius is actually rather small (it sure doesn't look like a
30-foot radius on screen, to me). I suppose indoors you could get lucky
and teleport a foe into another room, hence costing them... I don't
know, a round to walk back and continue attacking? Or perhaps you'll
teleport a vulnerable spell-caster closer to your hungry warriors.
Ultimately, it's just too random for me to bother with. Yes, random in
a way that Saving Throws are not. Shut up. At least with spells like
Horror, Slow, Confusion, or Chaos, I know that there's a good chance
at least one foe will be affected in a way that helps my cause.
Wizard Eye
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Creates an invisible sensory organ that... essentially allows him to
spy around and explore the level. Like all other Mage-spy spells, why
not just explore? Why waste a 4th-level spell slot to do what a hidden
Ranger or Thief can do?
5th Level Arcane Spells {SPT021}
o======================================================================o
***TOP SPELLS***
Breach: Dispels all combat protections on a target.
---
Chaos: Foes in area are confused unless they save at -4.
---
Lower Resistance: Lowers targets Magic Resistance by 10% + 1%/level.
---
Spell Immunity: Makes caster immune to spells from one school.
Animate Dead
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Just like the 3rd-Level Cleric spell of the same name, this spell
allows you to summon undead to fight for you. In Baldur's Gate 2, with
the level range you'll be dealing with, it pretty much means you'll be
summoning a Skeleton Warrior. A fairly beefy foe... in Baldur's Gate 1,
it's no longer much in the way of a threat to... much of anything,
really. The game has changed and victory now favors new tactics.
*Breach
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Dispels all 'specific and combat protections on a target creature',
including Shield, Protection Circle, Resist Fear, Protection From
Fire/Cold, Fireshield, Protection From Acid, Protection From
Electricity, Protection From Magic Energy, Protection from The Elements,
Protection From Energy, Protection From Normal Missiles, Protection From
Normal Weapons, Protection From Magic Weapons, Stoneskin, Armor, Ghost
Armor, Spirit Armor, Absolute Immunity, Mantle, and Improved Mantle.
No save, no check, no magic resistance, it's just gone. That's alot of
spells, and you new gamers out there might not know the signifigance of
this spell... but that's what I'm here for, right? Almost every Mage in
Baldur's Gate 2 will, in combat, throw up a Stoneskin and/or Protection
from Magic Weapons. Since your warriors are probably the characters most
likely to chop down these Mages, these spells can effectively retard
their ability to harm the Mage, which in turn will allow said Mage to
make your life miserable by casting spells. This spell should be used
any time a Mage brings up one of those two spells, and really, it's just
essential to Mage take-down tactics in this game. Every Mage who can
cast it should have at least one prepared at any time, and potentially
a few more, if expecting Mage-heavy opposition. It is worth noting that
the only effective way to counter Breach is with Spell Immunity that
protects against Abjuration. Don't worry, however. You will almost
always be on the casting end of this spell.
*Chaos
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This spell is one of the go-to debilitator for Baldur's Gate 2...
Forcing a save at -4 is just not fair. Otherwise it works just like
Confusion. Get used to hearing about this spell, as I'll be comparing
5th-level spells to it at every turn.
Cloudkill
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
The only effective use of this spell that I can think of is in
conjunction with Animate Dead and Stinking Cloud. Your Skeleton Warriors
can simply distract enemies and cause them to take damage while they
remain within the Cloudkill. Still, at 1d10 damage per round, it's not a
great way to destroy enemies... not when you can just hit them with
Chaos, instead.
Cone of Cold
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Creates a... cone of cold, dealing 1d4+1 damage per level to all
creatures in the area. Not party friendly, but what do you expect?
Creatures inside the area can save for half. It's not a bad damage
dealer, really, but it's not exceptional, either.
Conjure Lesser Air Elemental
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Conjures an 8 Hit Dice Air Elemental to do the caster's whim until the
spell expires. Note that there are two problems with this spell. First,
an 8 Hit Dice Elemental is not the strongest of summoning spells in
the game, and will quickly become obsolete. Second, immediately after
casting the spell the caster becomes locked in a 'psychic contest' with
the elemental for three rounds, during which he attempts to establish
control. Three rounds of inactivity from your Mage is a terrible price
to pay for any spell, and on top of that there's a 15% chance your Mage
will not come out on top... that being the case, your summoned elemental
will... well, attack you. And isn't that kind of the opposite of what
you were going for? Ultimately, I really can't suggest such a spell when
Clerics and Druids get superior, less tempermental elemental summoning
spells. It still might be worth casting a few situtation early in the
game, as all elementals have one unique defensive property worth
considering... they are immune to mundane and +1 weapons. So... when
there are a bunch of foes who don't have the requisitie equipment to
play, these spells are essentially cheap ways to take them out. It's
a tactic that quickly stops bearing fruit, however, but since it's one
Edwin can potentially employ from the second you recruit him...
Conjure Lesser Earth Elemental
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Conjures an 8 Hit Dice Earth Elemental to do the caster's whim until the
spell expires. Note that this spell has the same liabilities as Conjure
Lesser Air Elemental.
Conjure Lesser Fire Elemental
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Conjures an 8 Hit Dice Fire Elemental to do the caster's whim until the
spell expires. Note that this spell has the same liabilities as Conjure
Lesser Air Elemental.
Domination
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Control a creature's actions while affected by this spell. It's
essentially the same as any Charm spell, but it imposes a -2 penalty to
their Saving Throws. Oh, and it only lasts eight rounds. Again, I'd
rather disable an entire group of foes with Chaos (at a -4 save!) than
control one.
Feeblemind
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Cast this spell for stupid-making. It's like watching to Fox News! The
target saves at a -2 penalty and lasts indefinately-unless dispelled.
This spell lowers the target's Intelligence to three. On most foes, it's
nothing serious, but if you hit a Mage with it... well, they won't be
casting anything, will they? Still, I'd rather... you guessed it, just
use Chaos. A foe affected by Chaos is not going to cast anything, the
save penalty is -4, and it affects a group.
Hold Monster
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Like Hold Person, but it affects pretty much any critter. It imposes a
-2 save penalty and affects any foes within a very small 7.5-foot area
of the target... which is, for all intents and purposes, adjacent. Chaos
is still superior.
*Lower Resistance
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
A fair spell that should see its way into your spellbook from time to
time... at least until you have access to Pierce Magic, but I digress...
Lower Resistance does exactly what its name implies-it lowers the Magic
Resistance of a foe by 10% + 1% per caster level. Even a mid-level
casting of this spell will knock off about 25% Magic Resistance, and
if you chain two of them and a Breach into a Spell Trigger... yeah, it's
worth using to soften up some of the bigger foes in the game.
Minor Spell Turning
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
I typically stay away from spell turning spells simply because... well,
I just don't find them all that useful, really. If you need real defense
against spells-the best defense is a good offense. Take them down
quickly with Breach and sharp, pointy things. Failing that, the next
best defense is an impenetrable defense, which this spell simply is not.
Rely on Spell Immunity and the Cloak of Mirroring and laugh as your
foes exhaust themselves trying to harm you-to no avail. This spell
doesn't contribute to either strategy, so I ignore it.
Monster Summoning III
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Like the lower spells, but with stronger monsters. Still, not strong
enough to bother summoning. A single conjured elemental will certainly
be strong enough to finish off anything this spell summons.
Oracle
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Dispels all illusion/phantasm spells of 5th-level or lower in the area,
including Reflected Image, Invisibility, Mirror Image, Non-Detection,
Improved Invisibility, and Shadow Door. Party Friendly. It also has a
huge radius, and considering that the only spell this really leaves out
is Mislead... it seems like a good spell. And it is, but 5th-level
spells are absurdly good throughout the entire game-you're always going
to want Breach, and probably a few copies of it. 6th-level spells are
significantly less impressive, and one of them is True Sight, a superior
anti-illusion spell that has much less competition. Alas, Oracle, you
tried well, but just didn't make the cut.
Phantom Blade
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Creates a... yeah, a phantom blade that acts a +3 weapon, which the
caster is automatically proficient with. It deals +10 damage to undead,
but is otherwise not noteworthy. A possibility for a Fighter/Mage, but
a single-classed Mage is wasting their time... and since you can get
your hands on permanent +3 weapons fairly early into the game, even
a combat-focused Mage can ignore this spell.
Protection From Acid
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Confers complete invulnerability to acid. Fair enough, but you'll only
encounter acid-using foes a few times in the game, and only once or
twice are they potent enough to even consider this spell.
Protection From Electricity
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Confers complete invulernability to electricity. Again, you will seldom
encounter electric damage, and... you know, I can only think of a
single enemy that uses electricity potently or exclusively enough for
this spell to be worth casting... and even then, it's near the end of
Throne of Bhaal, where you will doubtlessly have superior, more
all-encompassing elemental protection, like Protection From the
Elements.
Shadow Door
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This spell is essentially a 5th-level version of Improved Invisibility,
save with a longer duration. 4th-and-5th-level spells are highly
contested, but a Mage will certainly find it easier to spare a 4th-level
spell slot for Improved Invisibility than they will a 5th-level spell
slot for Shadow Door.
*Spell Immunity
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This is the best spell-defense in the game. Enemies tend to use a
handful of tried-and-true spells to destroy your party, and it can
be pretty frustrating if you don't know how to protect against them.
Unwary players might fall victim to various Symbol spells when they
inadvertantly stumble upon their first Lich (speaking from painful
experience here.) But fear not, for this is the solution. When you
cast this spell you'll be prompted to choose what school to protect
against. The best ones are Abjuration (Breach, Imprisonment) Conjuration
(Symbol spells, Power Words), Necromancy (Horrid Wilting, Wail of the
Banshee, Finger of Death), and Transmutation (Flesh to Stone). If you
cast multiple instance of this spell, you can make yourself immune to
multiple spellschools. A character wearing the Cloak of Mirroring, with
three or four instances of Spell Immunity-Abjuration Conjuration,
Necromancy, and Transmutation-is virtually immune to anything an enemy
Mage can throw at them. Just sit back, wait for them to deplete their
arsenals, and then destroy them.
Spell Shield
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This spell will protect you from one attempt to debuff your spell
protections, protecting against spells like Breach, Lower Resistance,
Pierce Magic, and Spell Thrust. If an enemy uses it, give them the
old try, try again treatment. It's rare that an enemy will use Breach
or other spell-strippers on you, however, so you probably won't need
this spell... and Spell Immunity (Abjuration) offers superior protection
against all these spells.
Sunfire
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Like a Fireball centered around the caster, it deals 1d6 damage per
level (up to a maximum of 15d6 damage). A protected Mage might make use
of this spell, or perhaps a Fighter/Mage, but honestly, I'd rather just
use a Fireball. Puts the Mage-and his allies-at much less risk.
6th Level Arcane Spells {SPT022}
o======================================================================o
***TOP SPELLS***
Death Spell: Kills weaker monsters and summons, no save.
---
Pierce Magic: Dispels spell protections, lowers Magic Resistance.
---
True Sight: Dispels all enemy illusions in wide area for one turn.
Carrion Summons
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Life just wouldn't be complete if we didn't start things out with a
crappy summoning spell, right? This spell summons one or two buffed-up
(but still weak) Carrion Crawlers to fight for you. Pass.
Chain Lightning
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
At 1d6 points of damage per two levels, it can get up to a hefty bit of
damage, but note that it won't be until 20th level that it matches
humble Fireball, and almost all enemies struck will only take half
damage from being hit by an arc, instead of the main blast-and many
will save against that to halve the damage yet again. Still, no
friendly fire, which means you can use it at will. Keep in mind,
however, that Horrid Wilting is vastly superior once you get access to
8th level spells, and breaking up a group of foes with Chaos is
probably better than dealing a bit of damage with Chain Lightning.
Still, until Pierce Magic becomes necessary you might as well fill up
your 6th level spell slots with something.
Conjure Air Elemental
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Didn't we just do this spell? Blah. It's the same as the 5th-level
'lesser' version of the spell, but you've got a 60% chance of conjuring
a 12 Hit Dice elemental, a 35% chance of conjuring a 16 Hit Dice
elemental, and a 5% chance of conjuring a 24 Hit Dice elemental. Still,
three rounds wasted in a staring contest after summoning, and a 15%
chance it'll go berserk. There's also a good chance that, by the time
you can cast 6th-level spells, the novelty of immunity to +1 weapons
has worn off.
Conjure Earth Elemental
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Same as the previous spell, but with Earth Elementals. Wee...
Conjure Fire Elemental
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Yeah, yeah, we get it...
Contingency
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
I personally don't use Contingency often, as I'd rather control when
my buffs kick in, and honestly, the 'responses' we can pick for the
Contingency's trigger aren't very great. Enemies use it frequently,
however, and it can be useful to pop on a Stoneskin, Mirror Image,
and Blur on when the caster is threatened. It allows you to prepare up
to 18 spell levels of spells, using no more than three spells, of up to
6th level. All the spells must target the caster, so this is purely a
defensive measure.
Death Fog
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Conjures up an acidic fog, dealing eight points of acid damage per
round. It also has the added bonus of killing any and all summoned
creatures in the area, regardless of power or resistances. Score. Still,
cloud spells tend to suck, since it's never easy to get foes to hang
around in them... and I'm not fond of delayed gratification when it
comes to damage.
*Death Spell
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Although it only affects creatures with 8 Hit Dice or less (by the book
rules, a Hit Dice for a monster is set at 1d8 Hit Points per die, or
up to 64 Hit Points) this actually manages to be a great early-to-mid
game spell. It won't kill many of the more dangerous foes we'll have to
fight, as the high quality adventurers (like the ones in the sewers
under Athkatla, and those in the slaver compound in the Temple District)
are simply higher than 8th level, it doesn't affect undead, and it's
probably wasted on grunts, guards, and other low-quality foes. But then,
what use does it have? First, it's an excellent way to dispatch
dangerous foes like Illithids, Trolls, and Umber Hulks, which are quite
strong and dangerous to engage in melee. Second, it dispatches summoned
creatures instantly, which can be useful against summon-happy Mages. If
you're playing a good party, you probably won't have access to it
terribly early, but Edwin can get it early, and often, and abusing it
is a great idea. As you get deeper into Shadows of Amn, however, it
becomes less useful as foes routinely become too powerful to be affected
by it.
Disintegrate
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
You can instantly knock off a creature with this spell, and at first
it seems pretty great... but it's not. First, whatever gear the target
has can often be lost with it. Do you want to risk losing gear over this
spell? Second, it has no save penalty, so chances are it's not going to
be terribly effective. Don't waste your time, or worse, gear. Just wait
until you get access to 7th level's Finger of Death.
Flesh to Stone
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Yeah, it might be novel to be on the afflicting end of petrification for
a change, but this isn't a great spell. First, no save penalty. Second,
gear is petrified with it... meaning you'll have to cure the
petrification if you want the petrified creature's gear. That being the
case, against many foes it's less of a death spell, and more of an
over-glorified Otiluke's Resilient Sphere.
Globe of Invulnerability
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Like the 4th-level spell Minor Globe of Invulnerability, but less minor.
Tihs spell grants immunity to 1st-4th level spells. Honestly, many enemy
spell-casters you encounter throughout Shadows of Amn fall into two
categories-mediocre casters easily slain by Breach and physical attacks,
or overwhelmingly strong casters (like high-level Mages and Liches) who
probably will never bother with anything less than a 5th-level spell
until the fight is mostly decided. In either case, this spell isn't
useful. Sorry, kids. Baldur's Gate 2 is just a higher spell league. And
think, really, what 4th-level and lower spells are you really afraid of?
The best spells in those levels tend to be buffs, which are not what you
want to stop.
Improved Haste
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Unlike Improved Invisibility, the 'Improved' part of this spell is
deceptive. As far as a personal buff goes, it actually does double the
attacks of the affected character each round. When you're getting four
attacks per round, doubling that can be... brutal. Unfortunately, it
doesn't affect the whole party like Haste does, making it a less
effective buff. Still, if a Fighter/Mage were to work it into a Spell
Trigger... it could be part of a great buffing sequence. As usual, Edwin
makes this spell handy by sheer abundance of spell-slots. He can
prepare enough to boost choice fighters before any significant battle...
for most fights, however, Haste is more than enough.
Invisibile Stalker
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Yay... you get to summon another Baldur's Gate 1 critter for fight for
you. Too bad this is Baldur's Gate 2, and creatures from the first game
are a little less than fodder now.
Mislead
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Like Shadow Door, it gives you Improved Invisibility, but unlike the
former, it creates a little clone of you to fool enemies. I don't see
the point. True Sight still fixes matters.
*Pierce Magic
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Remember when I said later enemies would have spell defenses as well as
magic resistance? Here is your answer to them. Pierce Magic lowers an
enemy's magic resistance by 1% per caster level and removes one of a
various group of spell defenses, like Spell Deflection, Spell Turning,
and Spell Immunity. Use it on dragons, and critters with too many
defenses before starting with Breach and other spell assaults. Later on
in the game, replace Lower Resistance with this spell.
Power Word: Silence
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
I would call this spell a poop-master, or something similar... but it's
actually a decent spell. Using it silences a character-no save, no Hit
Point threshold, and it lasts seven rounds... not an eternity, but still
longer than most fights tend to last. The downsides? It does allow Magic
Resistance, so you're probably not going to get it to work on a Lich.
Also, by looking at the spell lists of foes on Infinity Explorer, one
thing becomes abundantly clear-the developers anticipated the use of
silence effects to shut down Mages, and hence, nearly every Mage of
substance in the entire game has Vocalize prepared, ready to counter
this spell. The upside is the fact that they only tend to have one, so
if you could keep applying pressure-perhaps hit them with this spell,
then when they countered with Vocalize, hit them with Dispel Magic and
cast this spell again... but you're better off following other Mage
busting tactics. It's a good spell, and you might find it useful on
Clerics or the odd Mage who isn't protected, but most of the time you'll
want to use it, the computer will have a counter.
Protection from Magic Energy
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This spell makes a Mage immune to non-elemental, magical damage, such
as the damage dealt by Magic Missile and Horrid Wilting. Yeah, we'll be
using it against the latter of the two. 6th-level spells are fairly
easy to give up, and this spell lasts a whopping turn per level, so
nobody should be terribly unhappy using up one 6th-level spell slot on
this. That said, it's mostly useful in Throne of Bhaal, when we might
encounter strong spell-casters who can cast Horrid Wilting, and either
the fight takes place where full party attendance is mandatory, or they
have strong enough allies that leading with a single character otherwise
protected by the Cloak of Mirroring is ill-advised. In most encounters
where you might need this spell, it's the third best option for dealing
with such attacks, the others being, of course 1) Killing the enemy
spell-caster before they can cast Horrid Wilting, 2) Leading with a
character wearing the Cloak of Mirroring, and hence immune to Horrid
Wilting. It's best used as a fairly complete magical-damage defense in
conjunction with the 7th-level 'Protection from the Elements'. Edwin
can, of course, skip both those spells and just prepare the 8th-level
'Protection from Energy', as he will likely have more 8th-level spell
slots than he needs. Still, this is an infrequent cast, at the very
best.
Protection from Magical Weapons
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Chances are you'll see the enemy use this more than you will. It makes
you immune to magical weapons for four rounds. A short time, but later
on almost all enemies will use magical weapons. Used by an enemy-
particularly an enemy who is naturally immune to weapons of low
enchantment, it makes them all but immune to physical attacks. Breach
still takes care of the problem, however. All in all, I'd rather just
use Stoneskin.
Spell Deflection
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Another spell-defense I find wanting. Again, like Minor Spell Turning,
I find this spell rather low-down on my ways to deal with enemy magic,
the two leading options being, of course to 1) overwhelm the Mage
quickly, or 2) lead with a character well and truly protected against
magic... which calls for Spell Immunity, not Spell Deflection.
Stone to Flesh
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
A remedy for Flesh to Stone or other forms of petrification... I never
use Flesh to Stone offensively, and if a character is petrified, I tend
to reload, so I have no use for this spell.
Summon Nishruu
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Summons a magical creature that feeds on magical energy, this minion is
interesting because of its properties... first, it is proof against
magic-actually healed by it, rather. On the other hand, it's not a
warrior, and stands no chance in melee combat. Its usage, then, is
obvious-it's an anti-Mage summon. Brought to bear on an enemy Mage,
it'll quite literally suck up their memorized spells. If it seems too
good to be true, a real Mage-slayer... well, that's because it is.
Despite being immune to magic damage, it is NOT immune to spells, and
a simple Death Spell will see it off. It's a spell most potent enemy
Mages have. Still, there are a few instances where this spell comes in
handy. Just note that the Nishruu sucks up charges from magical items
that targets may be carrying.
Tenser's Transformation
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
The ultimate god-maker in Icewind Dale, it can still be a powerful
spell in Baldur's Gate, but with one signficant difference. Spell-play
in Icewind Dale was rather stunted, compared to the rich strategic
options in Baldur's Gate 2. Icewind Dale was literally a spell-buffers
paradise, there was little in the way of counters, no sophisticated
spell-casters that required specialized take-down tactics, and nary a
single spell sequencer to keep things interesting. In that situation,
it was fine to buff up and then go nuts with Tenser's. Tenser's, in a
nutshell, tries to make a warrior out of a Mage. It is largely
unsuccessful for the same reason that the plethora of Cleric spells that
attempt the same are-it doesn't increase your attacks per round. That's
the reason why Viconia is never to be considered a true warrior, despite
her absurd Armor Class and Flail of the Ages, while Anomen, lazy,
clumsy, stupid Anomen can be.
...but of course, we have a solution, don't we? A Fighter/Mage already
has the attacks, the THAC0, the specialization, and 3/4 the Hit Points
of a true Fighter. Take what Tenser's does for a Mage-doubles the Hit
Points and boosts the Armor Class-and give that to a Fighter/Mage, and
we're talking about a whole different level of power-play here. My
late-game Fighter/Mage, when he applied Tenser's, went from 132 Hit
Points to 264, and from a -9 Armor Class to -13-the spell's maximum of
-10 be damned, apparently. This, of course, made him a juggernaut that
not even Korgan would compare to. Of course, it disables their Mage
spells while cast, so the Icewind Dale rules would have to apply-buff
first, then Tenser's. But in Baldur's Gate 2, I find myself requiring
my Fighter/Mage to keep the Mage part of his class. One Stoneskin might
not last him, especially since he becomes a late-game tank, and you
never know when you'll need a True Sight or Breach. Lastly... when it
comes down to it, Time Stop/Greater Whirlwing is a better tactic than
buffing and Tenser's... although I wouldn't say my Fighter/Mage/Thief
wouldn't find the latter tactic useful, especially since she's incapable
of the former... It's an interesting spell, to be sure, but not so
grand as to be worth negating the spell arsenal of a late-game Mage.
*True Sight
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This spell instantly removes all hostile illusions within a large
radius of the caster. This removes Blur, Mirror Image, Shadow Door,
Mislead, and, of course, Improved Invisibility. It's absolutely
essential for defeating Mages, who will constantly cloak themselves and
wreck havoc upon your party-safely immune to spell reprisals until you
tackle their invisibility. Remember, you can't target enemies with
spells until you take down their invisibility, and even if you can see
them to attack them, you can't use Breach to take down their Fireshield,
Protection from Magical Weapons, and Stoneskin. You need True Sight like
you need Dispel Magic-every spell caster needs at least one, all the
time. Better safe than sorry.
Wyvern Call
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Summons a Wyvern to fight for you... Wyverns are, of course, prequel
monsters, and hence, not up to snuff.
7th Level Arcane Spells {SPT023}
o======================================================================o
***TOP SPELLS***
Finger of Death: Kills foe unless they save at -2.
---
Limited Wish: Summon a Dao to grant a variety of wishes.
---
Spell Sequencer: Chain three spells of 4th level or lower.
Cacofiend
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Summons a powerful demon to go on a rampage... anybody, even your own
party, not protected by Protection from Evil will be at risk. It's a
lesser version of the Gate spell, and shares the same liability-if
a Dispel Magic drops your Protection from Evil, your cuddle little
Cacofiend will become... well, less cuddly and more summocidal. I'd
rather indulge in more reliable summons, myself.
Control Undead
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Essentially charms several undead with no save allowed... if the undead
are undead three Hit Dice. What freakin' undead in this game will have
less than three Hit Dice, you ask? None. Otherwise, it allows a save at
no penalty. This spell is poop.
Delayed Blast Fireball
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Delayed Blast Fireball can function as a magical trap of sorts... but
I prefer to just use it like Fireball and drop it right on foes. In that
role, its 15d6 damage easily surpasses Fireball's 10d6... but Horrid
Wilting is just around the corner, guys... if you're having trouble
filling up 7th-level spell slots, it might be worth a go, but I'd just
rather pack up some Fingers of Death, instead.
*Finger of Death
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Speak of the devil! This spell instantly snuffs out the victim's life
force. It's a killer, and I love it. It imposes a -2 penalty on the
victim's save, which makes it a compotent killer, if not a spectacular
one, but if you help them along with Greater Malison, you actually stand
a chance at snuffing out baddies. Even if it fails, they still take
2d8+1 damage, which isn't much, but it's better than nothing. I always
have one ready. After all, if you do not play, you cannot win.
Khelben's Warding Whip
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This debuffer lasts for three rounds and dispels one spell protection
up to 8th-level each round. The affected spells include Minor Spell
Turning, Minor globe of Invulnerability, Spell Immunity, Globe of
Invulnerability, Minor Spell Deflection, Spell Turning, Spell
Deflection, Spell Shield, and Spell Invulnerability. Spell
Invulnerability? What the shit is that? Oh right... it doesn't exist.
Ooops, Bioware. Frankly, in any situtation where I might want to cast
this, I find Pierce Magic more useful, instead. Who wants to wait three
rounds? And if a foe has a specific buff that bothers me, I'll
specifically counter it... and lower their Magic Resistance, too.
*Limited Wish
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This spell has many uses, but mostly I use it to protect my entire party
from level drain. There are a few cases when it will be absolutely vital
to protect yourself in this manner, but it's nothing you need to keep a
constant slot tied up for. Also, a number of interesting effects can be
obtained by making 'one time only wishes', which are covered in the
walkthrough at [WLK043].
Mantle
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Protects the caster from all weapons with an enchantment bonus of less
than +3... but it only lasts for four rounds. You know, Stoneskin
protects against all weapons, and lasts eight hours. Why not just use
that, instead? If it wears down, cast another. Easy.
Mass Invisibility
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Essentially a very potent party-wide spell-buff, with Edwin's sheer
amount of memorization capacity, the regular use of this spell becomes
a real option. It will give the benefits of Improved Invisibility to
everybody within a 30-foot radius, namely a four point bonus to Armor
Class and a four point bonus to Saving Throws. Huge, huge bonuses. The
only problem? By Throne of Bhaal, enemies regularly expect-and can
counter-your Illusion spells. And since a single True Sight can waste
this spell-buff, it's not something I use often.
Mordenkainen's Sword
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Mordenkainen's Sword is a fairly useful spell that happens to find
itself fortunately placed in our books as a 7th-level spell. I don't
find it to be a game-breaking spell on its own, but since you really
only need so many 'Finger of Death' spells, it tends to find itself
prepared. With it, you summon a floating magical sword, which counts as
a +4 weapon and deals 5-20 damage. The enhancement bonus is pretty nice,
but the damage and duration (one round per level) aren't anything to get
worked up over, but the fact that it's nearly impossible to damage is.
It can be 'slain' by death effects, but it's nearly impossible to hit,
and immune to physical and elemental damage. This makes it an ideal
distraction, and you could certainly summon weaker things to draw the
attention of enemies. Just don't rely on it to deal too much damage,
it's THAC0 isn't very good.
Power Word: Stun
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Stuns a creature for a variable duration depending upon their current
Hit Points, as follows:
o===============o===============o
| Hit Points | Duration |
o===============o===============o
| > 29 | 4d4 rounds |
|---------------|---------------|
| 30 - 59 | 2d4 rounds |
|---------------|---------------|
| 60 - 89 | 1d4 rounds |
|---------------|---------------|
| 90+ | unaffected |
o===============o===============o
No save is otherwise allowed. The best way to use this spell is to
blast a foe with some dependable damage-dealer (a sequencered series
of Magic Missiles, or Horrid Wilting, for example) then follow up with
this spell. And that's exactly what the computer will try to do, quite
often, actually. Ultimately, it's a spell that the computer gets more
use out of. Liches with contingencies and natural immunities and
resistances can afford such tactics, while being immune to them, in
turn. Our party will get better mileage out of other tactics.
Prismatic Spray
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Creats a long cone of prismatic light that has varying effects on all
caught within it, depending upon the color they were struck with. All
creatures with less than 8 Hit Dice (64 Hit Points) are blinded for 2-8
rounds regardless of whatever else happens:
o=======o=======================================o
| Color | Effects |
o=======o=======================================o
| Red | 20 damage (save for half) |
|-------|---------------------------------------|
|Orange | 40 damage (save for half) |
|-------|---------------------------------------|
|Yellow | 80 damage (save for half) |
|-------|---------------------------------------|
| Green | Save vs. Poison or die, 20 damage on |
| | successful save |
|-------|---------------------------------------|
| Blue |Save vs. Petrification or be turned to |
| | stone |
|-------|---------------------------------------|
|Indigo | Save vs. Wand or go insane |
o=======o=======================================o
As you can see, the effects are highly variable, and the spell is not
party friendly, but if you're careful, it might be worth a gamble
against a group of foes. My experience with the spell, however, has
just been underwhelming. It's simply too random to be of much use in
most fights.
Project Image
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Makes an illusory copy of the casting wizards, which can cast the same
spells and has the same Hit Points as the casting Mage... but it makes
the Mage immobile during the spell, so don't think you're getting to
double your fun from this spell. Also note the word 'illusory'. It's a
word that means 'True Sight will counter it', and so it shall be.
Protection from the Elements
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
A rare cast for me, but it has a very, very, important function. When
you have vulnerable characters with low Hit Points (like, say, Mages,
for example) and angry critters that cast mean spells or use breath
weapons, this spell is the answer. It confers 75% immunity to all
elemental attacks. 75% won't stop the hurt entirely, but it will prevent
devastating loss of Hit Points. The 8th-level spell 'Protection from
Energy' covers magical damage (like Horrid Wilting) too, but a 7th-level
spell-slot is easier to give up than an 8th-level spell slot... unless
your name is Edwin. Used in combination with the 6th-level spell
'Protection from Magic Energy' the two provide better protection than
the 8th-level 'Protection from Energy', and in all honesty, it's easier
to give up a 6th-and-7th-level spell than it is to give up an 8th-level
spell.
Ruby Ray of Reversal
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Dispels one spell protection of any level, favoring the highest level
one if there are numerous. This includes the following spells: Minor
Spell Turning, Minor Globe of Invulnerability, Spell Immunity, Globe of
Invulnerability, Minor Spell Deflection, Spell Turning, Spell Shield,
Spell Deflection, and Spell Trap. Really? Did we need this AND Khelben's
Warding Whip in the same level? I've got the same response to this one,
too; use Pierce Magic, instead.
*Spell Sequencer
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Like Minor Sequencer, but it can queue up three spells of 4th level or
lower. This allows you to chain up three Flame Arrows to really hurt
something. Another good option for our Fighter/Mage is to chain
Improved Invisibility, Stoneskin, and Mirror Image. You can also chain
up a 'super slow', a Greater Malison and two Slow spells, when it just
needs to work. Still, we're not quite at the heavy tactical stage.
That, like all things good, must wait until level eight.
Spell Turning
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
ANOTHER one of these? Okay, to be fair, it's not a Spell Deflection-
it's Spell TURNING... which in this case does the same thing, except
negated spells are turned back on their caster. Save of course, area of
effect spells. Again, I don't find a use for it. Many of the more
dangerous casters (Liches) are likely to be immune to their own spells,
and it doesn't do one of the two better options for fighting Mages,
which, in case you forgot, are 1) kill them quickly, or 2) render a
character lastingly immune to their spells.
Sphere of Chaos
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Magical effects run rampant in a spherical area for one turn. Every
round a foe is in the sphere they must save (at no penalty) or suffer
one of the following effects: polymorphed into a squirrel, confusion,
burst into flames, paralysis, disintegration, healed for 20 Hit Points,
randomly teleported a short distance, rendered unconscious, or Hasted.
Considering that one of the effects can cause the loss of equipment
(disintegration), one is useless (teleportation) and two are actually
beneficial to the enemy (healing and Haste), why would you ever cast
this?
Summon Djinni
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Summons a Djinn to fight for you. They have a selection of a few
offensive 1st-3rd level Mage spells, but nothing to get excited about,
and are sub-par melee combatants. All in all, you're better off
summoning an Efreeti instead. They're somewhat more hardy and have the
same spells.
Summon Efreeti
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Like the previous spell, but the Efreeti has a few more Hit Points and
the same spell selection. Still, it's not a very powerful summon.
Summon Hakeashar
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
A more potent version of Summon Nishruu, the Hakeashar has more Hit
Points (92 versus 72) better THAC0, and immunity to non-magical weapons.
If you have the option, and the need, summon a Hakeashar instead, but
it still won't survive a Death Spell...
8th Level Arcane Spells {SPT024}
o======================================================================o
***TOP SPELLS***
Abi-Dalzim's Horrid Wilting: High-damage, party friendly, area effect.
---
Spell Trigger: Simultaneous cast up to three spells, 6th level or less.
*Abi-Dalzim's Horrid Wilting
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This is one of the best damage-dealing spells of the game, made even
more useful for the fact that unlike Comet, it doesn't use up a precious
9th level spell slot, or a high level ability. Let's discuss, shall we?
It deals a whopping 1d8 damage per caster level, far outpacing the next
nearest damaging spell out there. It imposes a -2 penalty on the saves
of an enemy trying to mitigate the damage, further improving the odds
of it hurting extra. Lastly, it's party friendly. What more could you
ask for? Learn it, memorize it, use it, love it. It really shines
against various high-level Mages in Throne of Bhaal, who usually don't
have the spell defenses or Hit Points to survive too many of these.
Bigby's Clenched Fist
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Summons a giant fist which will hinder and harm the target for several
rounds. First round it deals 3d6 damage with no save and holds the
target. Second round the foe can save at -2 to escape, or suffers 4d6
damage. Third round the target gets another save at no penalty, or
suffers 6d6 damage. The problems with this spell are simple to see-
first, it allows Magic Resistance, so if you think you're going to
confound any Liches, think again. Second, the saves aren't too
difficult, and once a save is made, the spell ends. Third, the damage
isn't great. I don't see why anybody wouldn't just use a Finger of
Death, instead. Kills if they fail a save at -2, and deals 2d8+1 damage
as a consolation prize if they survive.
Improved Mantle
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Yeah... Improved means it protects against +3 weapon (but not +4 or
higher), not that it lasts longer. It doesn't. Four rounds is all you
get, and I still have the same remark-Stoneskin doesn't care if it's a
+3 or a +4 weapon, it just works. It lasts longer. Use Stoneskin,
instead.
Incendiary Cloud
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Deals 1d4 points of damage per level of the caster per round to all
foes in the area for its one-turn duration. That damage is actually not
bad, and it can really add up if you can keep a foe in the area for a
while (perhaps with a summoned Fire Elemental, or a character protected
by Protection From Fire? This spell has merit, so I won't call it mean
names, but I won't get it an '*', either. It's no Horrid Wilting, and
it should lose out to Horrid Wilting every time.
Maze
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
You'll see this spell in action, oh yes... it's a favorite of enemy
Mages. Why? Well, it offers no save, and... well, it just works. The
affected creature is 'mazed' taken to an extra-dimensional maze for a
variable number of rounds depending on their Intelligence (presumably,
the dumber you are the more time it takes you to solve the Maze and
escape):
o===============o===============o
| Intelligence | Duration |
o===============o===============o
| > 3 | 2d4 turns |
|---------------|---------------|
| 3 - 5 | 1d4 turns |
|---------------|---------------|
| 6 - 8 | 5d4 rounds |
|---------------|---------------|
| 9 - 11 | 4d4 rounds |
|---------------|---------------|
| 12 - 14 | 3d4 rounds |
|---------------|---------------|
| 15 - 17 | 2d4 rounds |
|---------------|---------------|
| 18+ | 1d4 rounds |
o===============o===============o
Cast on a dumbass like Anomen, this spell could last quite a while-
probably longer than a late-game fight will take to win-or lose. So,
it's stritly a way to pick on warriors too dumb to escape, essentially
removing them from the battlefield so you can deal with greater threats.
Still, there are superior ways to do this, and at the cost of an
8th-level spell slot... it's an awful lot to ask me to pass up on a
Spell Trigger or Horrid Wilting. I'm convinced the spell has strategic
merit, even though it'll work less often for you than the computer
(most of them have Magic Resistance, and most of your party will not,
you see), but I'm not convinced it ranks as one of the best 8th-level
spells.
Pierce Shield
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Like Pierce Magic, but marginally better. Still, not enough better that
I'd waste an 8th level spell slot on it. It's got a few more spells it
can dispel, and reduces the enemy's magic resistance by another +10%.
On the other hand, Pierce Magic can be used with a Spell Trigger, so
why would you ever use Pierce Shield?
Power Word: Blind
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Stun is 7th-level and blind is 8th? Oookay... Power Word Blind allows
no save and affects all creatures within a 10-foot radius of the target
foe, inflicting blindness upon them all... unless they have Magic
Resistance (which they will). It could prove useful against some
tougher melee foes, like Fire Giants... but I have to question how much
better it is for this than Slow or Chaos. Sure, they both allow saves...
but at a crippling penalty. And they don't take up an 8th-level
spell slot... Besides, a Fire Giant with a base THAC0 of 0 will be
hardly affected by a few point penalty to their THAC0, but Slow or
Chaos? Slow will reduce their number of attacks, and Chaos might prevent
them from attacking altogether. All in all, I'd say this spell just
doesn't bring enough to the table. Especially not with a six-round
duration.
Protection from Energy
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
A rare cast for me, but it has a very, very, important function. When
you have vulnerable characters with low Hit Points (like, say, Mages,
for example) and angry critters that cast mean spells or use breath
weapons, this spell is the answer. It confers 75% immunity to all
energy attacks-which in this case means elements or magic damage (like
Horrid Wilting). 75% won't stop the hurt entirely, but it will prevent
devastating loss of Hit Points. In practice, Edwin can use this spell
whenever he's at risk, but other Mages need to be more stingy-typically
resorting to the 7th-Level 'Protection from the Elements' to deal with
elemental damage, or the 6th-level 'Protection from Magic Energy'. It's
not as complete of a defense, but the instances where we might get hit
by both a Horrid Wilting and potent elemental attacks are rare. In
theory, every Mage could qualify for that sort of dual-threat, but such
Mages are rare until Throne of Bhaal, they typically start throwing out
Horrid Wilting long before they bother to cast elemental spells (all of
which are invariably lower-level attacks). Point of the matter is, if
they're casting elemental spells, they're doing so because they've
exhausted their initial spell barrages-and most Mages don't tend to last
more than a few rounds against me. Not boasting, I make it a point to
kill Mages first. It's a little thing we call 'strategy'.
Simulacrum
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
A powerful spell that I tend to under-rate for one... or perhaps two
reasons... First, Vhailor's Helm allows you to create a Simulacrum once
per day, free of charge. It's a wonderful thing to be able to conjure up
a copy of an uber powerful Fighter/Mage, complete with his own buffs,
Greater Whirlwinds, and premium gear... but of course, if we have
Vhailor's Helm we've got no reason to waste an 8th-level spell slot,
too. As for our Mages, then, who might actually end up wanting to
prepare one... this spell has mixed results, really. As far as the
spell's description is concerned, it's supposed to create a Simulacrum
at 60% the caster's level. Take a level 28 Edwin, and cut him down to
60%... you get about a 16th-level Edwin. Fair enough, but it's not the
same league of potency by a long-shot. Your Simulacrum will be able to
cast a few Breaches, a Finger of Death or two, which can be pretty
useful, but not game-breaking. Imoen, on the other hand... well, I sense
a bug. Her Simulacrum comes packed with up to 9th-level spells, which
makes it very worthwhile for her to cast this spell. Why is her
Simulacrum so much stronger than anybody else's? I suspect it might be
because of her dual-classed status. Take my level 26 Imoen, who at 60%
should produce a Simulacrum of 15th level (rounded down)... or roughly
on par with Edwin's. This is not, in fact, what we see. But if we add
Imoen's seven dormant Thief levels into the equation, we get her
acting as a 33rd-level Mage for the purposes of this spell, 60% of which
is 19th-level (rounded down)-enough to cast 9th-level spells. I haven't
done an exhaustive trial on this idea, but it seems to fit. In any
event, Simulacrum's usefulness is highly variable. On a well-equipped
phenom like my Fighter/Mage, it's invaluable... as an item-accessed
spell. On your Mages, it might be worthwhile if you're very, very
high-leveled, and your name is Imoen.
*Spell Trigger
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This spell is where you really get to play with your multi-spell
tactics. It allows you to chain up to three spells, of sixth level or
less. Three Chain Lightnings is a pretty awesome combo, but my
favorite is my one-shot defense breaker. Typically consisting of two
Pierce Magic spells and a Breach, or a Pierce Magic, Breach, and Greater
Malison. Start out fights with powerful, well-protected enemies with
this combo to leave them open to both physical and magical attacks.
You'll learn to love it, and during Throne of Bhaal you should strive to
always have one ready to go.
Summon Fiend
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This spell is just like Gate or Cacodemon, and has the same problem-
the summoned demon is too unpredictable, and with a single Dispel Magic
becomes a liability instead of an ally.
Symbol: Death
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Inscribes a magical symbol that, when approached, causes all creatures
in the area to Save vs. Death or die. Unfortunately it doesn't work on
any foes with 60 Hit Points or more, so... yeah. I wipe my ass with this
spell.
Symbol: Fear
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Another Symbol spell, when something enters the area of effect it
triggers, attempting to cause fear (save at -4). It, like all Symbol
spells are plagued by the fact that they're not party-friendly... but,
the range is decent, the save penalty good, and if you prepare with
Remove Fear, it might not be a terrible spell to cast... it just fails
for taking up an 8th-level spell slot.
Symbol: Stun
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Everything within a 30-foot radius must save at -4 or be stunned for
two rounds, +1 round/3 levels of the caster. Keep in mind that the spell
is not party friendly.
9th Level Arcane Spells {SPT025}
o======================================================================o
***TOP SPELLS***
Comet: 1d10 damage, party-friendly, chance to stun and knock down foes.
---
Time Stop: Gives caster three free rounds to act.
Absolute Immunity
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Might as well be called 'Ultimate Mantle', it protects against even +5
weapons... and it's a rare foe indeed who can penetrate that. Of course,
you know god-damn well what I'm going to say, don't you? Four round
duration, and we've been stopping weapons of all enhancement bonuses
since we first got Stoneskin. Stoneskin is king, and won't eat up a
9th-level spell slot.
Bigby's Crushing Hand
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Oh Bigby's how you suck, let me count the ways... first, it has a
maximum damage of 9d10 damage to ONE foe, spread over the course of
three rounds. The spell gives them three chances to save, just like
Bigby's Clenched Fist, and if they manage, it negates all future
damage. First save is at -4, second is at -2, third is at no penalty.
Why in the hell would ever cast this when you could cast Comet?
Black Blade of Disaster
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
The only thing disasterous about this spell is that it happens to be a
9th-level spell. It counts as a +5 weapon, which you are a Grand Master
at wielding. It deals 2d12 damage per hit and every time it hits the
creature must save (at a generous +4) or be disintegrated... which is,
if anything, a liability in my eyes. Also, it has a 10% chance to drain
four levels from the target and heal the wielder (you!) for 20 Hit
Points. Sounds decent, but when you think of all the damage you could
do with a single Comet or all the mischief you can cause during a Time
Stop, and this spell seems pretty patry, indeed.
Chain Contigency
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Releases three spells under preset conditions, all of which must be
8th-level or lower. Seems pretty awesome, but since it triggers
reactionarily, instead of voluntarily, the spells must all be defensive,
and the best defensive spells are 5th-level or lower. So... you really
don't need the power of this spell. Also, it's a 9th-level spell. You
need to be packing a whole lot of badass to make it into my list of
prepared 9th-level spells. Speaking of badass...
*Comet
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
...10d10 damage marginally out-does Fireball, but this spell has three
great advantages that makes it the best damage-dealer in the game.
First, it offers no save against the damage. Second, it doesn't hurt
party members. Third, it has a chance to stun enemies for 1d4 rounds
and knock them down. It's great for dealing a good chunk of damage to
a lot of enemies, and breaking them up a bit so your fighters can get
some breathing room. While Horrid Wilting is potentially more damaging,
Comet's ability to change the course of a fight in a single cast make it
a better cast on a spell-for-spell basis.
Dragon's Breath
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Another 9th-level damage dealer, this spell has the allure of dealing
a possible 20d10 damage to all foes in a 30-foot radius and knocking
them back. Of course, there is no save penalty for this spell, and a
save negates the knock-back. All in all, I'd rather use Comet, as in
all likelyhood they're going to do the same damage, and I'd prefer a
chance to Stun and knock down for 1d4 rounds, instead ofjust knocking
a foe away from me.
Energy Blades
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Creates a number of energy blades which can be thrown at foes. Yes,
thrown. Still, this spell has the good sense to gives a +10 bonus to
THAC0 and each one deals 1d4+5 damage, as well as 1d10 additional
electrical damage. The Mage gets one disc per level to throw, and can
throw nine per round. Still, the fact that you must hit foes to do any
damage makes this spell of dubious worth in my eyes. Ultimately,
assuming no misses, the potential damage of this spell per round is
9d4+5 (36-81) plus 9d10 (9-90), or 45-171, which sounds fine and all...
but when you think of how much damage Comet could do if employed against
a group of enemies, plus the stun and knock-down... You know, I really
have to wonder if this spell is any better than a high-level Flame
Arrow. Think about it, at level 20 you'd get four arrows, each doing
5d6 damage. Thats 20-120 damage with no attack roll. Even if the foes
saves, they're still going to take 12-72 damage, barring any fire
resistance (which isn't a valid criticism, considering that much of
Energy Blade's damage is from equally-resistable electrical damage).
And you could link three Flame Arrows with a Spell Trigger! Why waste
a 9th-level spell slot doing what a 3rd-level spell can do almost as
well?
Energy Drain
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Take two levels from the enemy and laugh. No save allowed, and chances
are, the computer will not have a Cleric handy. Still, two level isn't
much, and a single casting of this spell won't seriously diminish any
foe, much less win fights like Comet or Time Stop can.
Freedom
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Counters Imprisonment or Maze. I tend to reload if a character is
Imprisoned, and Maze wears off. You never really have a reason to cast
this spell.
Gate
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Gate is a summoning spell with serious liabilities. Unless you have a
Protection of Evil spell cast on the caster (and anybody else you don't
want the Pit Fiend to attack) the Pit Fiend will view them as fair game.
On one hand, you should be used to using Protection From Evil 10' Radius
frequently... but on the other hand, having a summon who will turn on
you if a Dispel Magic is tossed around doesn't strike me as a good
idea. Besides, there are plenty of other, superior summoning spells out
there. Ones not coated in liability sauce.
Imprisonment
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This spell sucks for the same reason Flesh to Stone sucks. It removes an
enemy from the fight, sure, but it also takes out their gear, too. If
you are confident that the foe has no equipment of value on them, by
all means, Imprison away, there's no saving throw, so it will probably
work... I mean, except for the fact that quite a few foes have Magic
Resistance. If you want to retrieve an Imrisoned creature later, you'll
have to go through the trouble of casting a Freedom spell, and I just
can't be bothered...
Improved Alacrity
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Allows a Mage to cast spells more quickly. Normally, a Mage can only
cast one spell per round. With this spell, the Mage is presumably only
limited by casting time... which means you'll get variable mileage out
of this spell depending upon your chosen spells. Of course, the effect
only lasts two rounds... honestly, I'd stick to Time Stop. That gives
you three rounds to do whatever you wish... under normal speed rules,
of course.
Meteor Swarm
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Despite the awesome-sounding name, this spell leaves a bit to be
desired in a damage-dealer. Everything-friend or foes-in a 30-foot
radius will take 4-40 damage if they are hit by one of the meteors.
Ultimately, this spell is capable of quite a bit of damage, but it's
also highly variable. Ultimately a factor of randomness I don't find
fitting for a 9th-level spell... not when Comet is guaranteed to do
twice as much damage to all foes in an area and not harm any of your
party members.
Power word: Kill
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Kills one creature... unless their current Hit Points are higher than
60. Since this means pretty much every creature worth casting this on,
you can safely ignore it.
Shapechange
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Like Polymorph Self, the caster can change freely into-and out of-a
variety of creatures. Namely, a Mind Flayer, Iron Golem, Greater
Wolfwere, Earth Elemental, Fire Elemental, or Giant Troll. By the time
you can do this, however, there is no real attraction to it. All the
Shapechange options are likely to be more vulnerable than your Mage was
(except perhaps the Iron Golem). In any event, you didn't make a Mage
so you could pummel things, did you? No, so stick to blasting things
with spells, buffing, and debuffing. It's what you're good at.
Spell Trap
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
I'll admit, Spell Trap is quite the hefty spell defense, absorbing up
to 30 spell levels... it could take a while for a mage to penetrate it.
On the other hand, it will be all but impossible for a Mage to ever
penetrate three or four Spell Immunities, and that's where the problem
lies. My Fighter/Mage will never have many 9th-level spell slots, and
I'd rather save the few I have for Time Stop, rather than waste them
on Spell Trap when I can just use a few 5th-level spell slots.
Spellstrike
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Dispels a number of spell protections including: Minor Spell Turning,
Minor Globe of Invulnerability, Spell Immunity, Globe of
Invulnerability, Minor Spell Deflection, Spell Turning, Spell Shield,
Spell Deflection, Spell Invulnerability, and Spell Trap. You know,
doesn't Pierce Magic do almost the same thing? Yeah, it doesn't take
down ALL of them, but the odds of a Mage having more than one or two
up at a time is uncommon, and this spell doesn't do anything to their
Magic Resistance. Again, I say stick to humble old 5th-level Pierce
Magic.
Summon Planetar/Summon Dark Planetar
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Summon a badass celestial minion to help you. These critters come loaded
with spells, both Druidic (like Insect Plague), Clerical (Heal, Cure
Disease, Globe of Blades) and Mage (Chaos, Haste). They also come
with a Silver Sword (not the Vorpal weapon we got from the Gith, just a
2d10+3 weapon) and the attacks, THAC0, Armor Class, Hit Points, and
Strength to make an impression in melee. It's the strongest thing a
Mage can summon... shame, then, that I feel it's not worth a 9th-level
spell slot. I say leave the summoning to the Clerics and the Druids.
Let the Mages stick to Time Stop and Comet.
*Time Stop
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This is probably the best spell in the game. When cast, you get three
rounds to do whatever you wish. If you cast spells, those spells will
all take effect when the Time Stop ends-not during it. If you want to
sequence spells, you'll need to be a little sneaky. If you cast one
spell closer to an enemy than another spell, the closer spell will
reach first, allowing you to thus chain spells that just need to work-
like Pierce Magic or Breach. Three favorite tactics of mine-and they
aren't complex, but they are effective-are as follows. First, just
using three Horrid Wiltings can obliterate enemy opposition, especially
low Hit Point enemy Mages, who can do little but die under the
onslaught. Second, use a Spell Trigger to blast an enemy with a
combination of spells that destroys their defenses, then use a Spell
Sequencer and Minor Sequencer to hit them with various damage-dealing
spells, like Flame Arrow, or Magic Missiles. Don't underestimate the
damage that five Magic Missiles can do on a single unlucky enemy... no
creature in the game can ignore 50-125 damage. Third, I just cast Time
Stop and have my Fighter/Mage use up three Greater Whirlwind attacks-
30 attacks-on a wretched victim.
Wail of the Banshee
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Honestly, I can't remember ever using this spell, or having it used
against me. Perhaps it's the lack of a save penalty? Maybe by the time
I get it, in Throne of Bhaal or damn near it, I'm not worried about
killing off groups of weak enemies, and have better tools to do it with?
Why waste a 9th-level spell slot on it?
Wish
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Wish... ah, Wish is a very peculiar spell, indeed. See, you are
attempting to bend cosmic forces to your whim, and apparently this
can't be done without some wretched Djinni (in place of the typical
asshole Dungeon Master) trying to distort your intentions while still
honoring your words. Deliberate misinterpretation, in other words.
The effectiveness of this spell depends solely on the caster's Wisdom
score, which will determine what effects you are able to choose from
after haggling with the Djinni. Without going into too much detail,
a good number of the options the spell presents are unfavorable, either
because they harm the party exclusively, or they harm both the party and
enemies, or they help both the party and enemies. Having a high Wisdom
gets your more favorable responses, but it doesn't remove any negative
ones. So... what you get after 'negotiating' are five options, randomly
chosen from the list of options appropriate for your Wisdom. Some are
quite good, like casting Breach on all foes in the area, or Improved
Haste on all allies, or casting a double-length Time Stop and Improved
Alacrity on the caster, Restoration on the party, or restoring the
party as if they had rested a full night, restored spells and all. You
also get the bad ones, of course, but you can chose any of the five
options you get. Odds are you won't get a terrible option on any
casting of the spell, but it's not guaranteed you'll get something good,
either. Ultimately, it's just far too random to bother using Wish. If
it comes through, it can really help the party, but most likely its
results will be mediocre. At the end of the day, I really can't justify
gambling with Wish when a guaranteed Time Stop can be prepared instead.
Spell Buff Order {SPT026}
o======================================================================o
Now you know what spells to have, and why to have them, but apparently
this isn't enough for some people. Some people know who they are, but
I tolerate them because they're usually right when it comes to these
things. Anyhow, in this section we'll discuss what spells to use-when,
and in what order you should cast your buffs. What kind of lazy ass FAQ-
writer wouldn't put this information in the walkthrough, you know, when
you fight creatures that require buffing? Beats me, I made sure to put
it in the walkthrough, but here you'll find a stable, easy-to-find
location that discusses spell-buffing in more detail. I see the appeal,
I follow FAQs myself (on games I can't bother to learn everything about
myself or play twice-JRPGs, for example) and it's a pain in the ass to
have to scroll through a walkthrough to find the author's off-hand
comments on how to do something that should really be mentioned in its
own context.
Also note that many of these buff combos either require-or are vastly
improved by having-a multi-class Mage of some sort. In case you didn't
get it earlier, I have pushed the Fighter/Mage = Godly angle throughout
the guide. While it might not have been obvious in Baldur's Gate 1, it
will become quite obvious in Baldur's Gate 2. Your Fighter/Mage is your
combat tactician, the versatile crux upon which most-if not all-
sophisticated take-down strategies turn. A Fighter/Mage/Thief works
nearly as well, and Thief/Mages, Cleric/Mages, and Fighter/Cleric/Mages
are also passable. Any character who can fight and spell-buff with Mage
spells (many of which are exclusive to the caster). Sure, there are
other ways to win fights, but the buff combos using a Fighter/Mage or
Fighter/Mage/Thief are arguably the easiest way to go through the game.
Buff Combo: Spell Buff to the Max! {SPT027}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Requires: 1) Two divine spell casters (Cleric/Druid)
2) Two arcane spell casters (Bard/Mage)
3) Summoning Items
4) Buffing items
You'll see this phrase used a few times throughout the guide-the phrase
came before the section, honest. This is the general spell-buffing you
will use in most major fights. It's name is rather deceptive, since all
other specific buff combos actually include using MORE spells, not less.
However, since this is the big, general buff combo, it'll bear the most
explanation.
Round #1: Iron Skins/Stoneskin
(These are the longest-lasting buffs in the game, so they should
ALWAYS go first.)
Round #2: Blur/Protection from Evil 10' Radius
(Again, two general buffs that last a long time. At 1 turn/level,
Protection from Evil 10' Radius is more of a level-lasting buff
than a fight-per-fight buff. Cast it when you start an area, and
it should stick the whole time. Blur is more modest at
4 + 2 rounds/level, but it's a great Armor Class and Saving
Throw booster.)
Round #3: Armor of Faith/Mirror Image
(Now for more personal spell-buffs. Armor of Faith and Mirror
Image are both decent personal buffs with durations of
3 +1 rounds/level.)
Round #4: Summons
(Use items, especially Vhailor's Helmet and whatever other
trinkets you have, like the Black Spider Figurine, the Silver
Horn of Valhalla, and the Efreeti Bottle. Later on in the game,
the last three items are not worth the trouble. Summon an
Elemental Prince if you have them, and have Keldorn summon a
Deva, or have Viconia summon a Fallen Deva.)
Round #5: Aura of Flaming Death/Dual Golem Manual/Haste/Item Buffs
(Now we're on some serious time constaints-many of our summons
will only last a turn, or ten rounds. My protagonist-who always
wields the Golem Manual and Vhailor's Helm, now uses the former,
and so does the Simulacrum we summoned last round. Your
dedicated Mage (Edwin or Imoen) should cast the Haste
immediately after the Golems appear, and the Divine spell-
casters bring up Auras of Flaming Death. If you have the Short
Sword Ilbratha and/or Rings of Air Control, now is the time to
use them.)
Round #6: Final Buffing/Attack!
(Buffing is pretty much over-it's time to start combat. If your
Simulacrum is a Fighter/Mage or Fighter/Mage/Thief like mine,
it might be a good idea to see what spells they have and pop
out a Blur or Stoneskin, although I'm not nearly as concerned
about their survival as any of my party members.)
Buff Combo: Dragons and Demons {SPT028}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Requires: 1) Two divine spell casters (Cleric/Druid)
2) Two arcane spell casters (Bard/Mage)
3) Summoning Items
4) Buffing items
Dragons and Demons require a little extra work. The former employ
devasting breath weapons that can outright kill weaker party members.
They absolutely need protection. Against stupid fire-breathing Dragons
we can buff the whole party with cheap, long-lasting elemental spells,
but against other Dragons, it just takes too much time-putting up a
half-dozen 7th-level 'Protection from the Elements'... well, not really,
but I'm lazy, so I rarely tend to do it. It's just easier to cast a
Heal spell in the middle of combat. Right before combat, cast 'Remove
Fear' on your party and their summons. Dragon fear can end fights before
they begin. Some Demons also use fear, as well.
Round #1: Iron Skins/Stoneskin
Round #2: Blur/Protection from Evil 10' Radius
Round #3: Armor of Faith/Mirror Image
Round #4: Elemental Buffing
(Dragons tend to use breath weapons, which are not your friend.
To counter that, we need to defend ourselves from them. Against
fire, you have an easy time, the 3rd-level spell 'Protection
from Fire', or, at higher levels, 'Aura of Flaming Death'. The
best all-purpose Mage buff is the 7th-level 'Protection from the
Elements'. Sure, there's the 8th-level 'Protection from Energy',
but 8th-level spells are precious, and it doesn't add and real
protection against what we need it for. In higher-level fights,
I tend to just have my Mages buff themselves with 'Protection
from Energy', since they're the most vulnerable (and perhaps
it's worthwhile to take an extra round out to protect Jaheira/
Viconia, who are more vulnerable.)
Round #5: Summons
Round #6: Aura of Flaming Death/Dual Golem Manual/Haste/Item Buffs
Round #7: Final Buffing/Attack!
(Again, have your Simulacrum buff themselves however they can,
but there's a special buff necessary before combating Dragons
and many demons-the humble 1st-leve 'Remove Fear'. Make sure it
gets all your summons, too. They're absolutely useless if they
are running around in fear-same with your party members.)
Buff Combo: Illithids {SPT029}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Requires: 1) Fighter/Mage or Fighter/Mage/Thief who can cast 5th-level
Mage spells (9th-level Mage).
2) Divine Spell caster (Cleric/Druid) who can cast 5th-level
Cleric/Druid spells (8th-level Cleric/9th-level Druid)
Illithids are an odd sort of creature that requires different, less
generalized spell-buffing. First, I tend to keep most of my party back
in reserve, safely using missile weapons. The only character who engages
the Illithids in melee combat is my protagonist. Why? Illithids drain
Intelligence every time they hit, at least several points at a time.
Even my 19+ Intelligence Fighter/Mage can't weather a half dozen hits,
and box-of-rocks Intelligence warriors like Keldorn, Anomen, and Korgan
will only survive three or so. My entire strategy therefore becomes
about making one character as hard to hit as possible-the only character
that can do this well is a Mage combo. Blur, Greater Invisibility,
Mirror Image, and Fighter-esque armor will make Illithids survivable...
as long as you protect yourself against their psionics, and have a
staunch offensive effort to keep combat short.
Round #1: Blur/Chaotic Commands
(Chaotic Commands is absolutely essential for any character
wishing to engage a Mind Flayer in melee. Fortunately, every
divine spell-caster can use it, and it lasts one turn per level,
so you'll probably only need to use it once. Of course, we all
know about Blur and its Armor Class bonuses, as well as its
duration.)
Round #2: Mirror Image
(Take a breather this round and have your protagonist buff
himself (or herself) with wonderful, wonderful Mirror Image.
Illusion is the name of the game with this buff combo.)
Round #3: Greater Invisibility/Haste
(Have your protagonist cast 'Greater Invisibility' on themselves,
or use a Ring of Air Control. It'll lower their Armor Class, but
note that the point is NOT to avoid becoming a target. Also,
catch your entire party in Haste. A good offensive is the best
defense, and all that. Seriously though. Dead Illithids aren't
eating any brains.)
Round #4: Combat/Death Spell/Ranged Support
(Scout out Illithid groups with your invisible Fighter/Mage, and
use Death Spell to start out fights. Illithids usually come with
Umber Hulks, and Death Spell will smite them unerringly. Once
your Protagonist has safely engaged (oxymoron alert!) and
absorbed the inevitable psionic assault Illithids begin fights
with, having your Hasted party come up and shoot at anything
attacking your baitagonist. If your protagonist is taking too
many hits, withdraw and lure the Illithids around by running.
Hopefully you'll be able to recover some Intelligence or shoot
the Illithids down.)
Alternatives: This strategy still floats if you don't have a multi-class
Mage, but it'll take a specific set-up. First, take a strong
Fighter (Keldorn or Korgan, for example) and cast Chaotic
Commands on them. Make them use Ilbratha (for Mirror Image) and
a Ring of Air Control (Greater Invisibility). It's the best you
can do, just be very, very attentive to their Intelligence.
Buff Combo: Liches, Beholders, and other pesky Mages {SPT030}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Requires: 1) Multi-class Mage who can cast 5th-level Mage spells,
ideally a Fighter/Mage or Fighter/Mage/Thief. 10th-or-11th-
level Mage is preferable.
2) Divine Spell caster (Cleric/Druid) who can cast 5th-level
Cleric/Druid spells (8th-level Cleric/9th-level Druid).
Note that a Cleric can cast all the required buffs, but
a Druid cannot.
3) The Cloak of Mirroring
The first time I played this game, nothing gave me more trouble than
Mages-especially Liches. It's a symptom of not knowing what quests to
do, what areas to explore, when, and what spells to use-all things that
this guide helps with! Of course, there are several good ways to take
down Mages-Insect Plague, the awesome 5th-level Druid spell, is one of
the easiest and simplest. Backstabbing Mages with a party Thief is also
possible (if not terribly easy, due to the prevelence of True Sight-any
Mage worth taking down this way is also usually capable of countering
it. This buff combo isn't just for any Mages, though, but very, very
strong, well-prepared Mages we'll typically face. This buff combo is
great for taking down Liches and other uber-Mages, but you know the
saying, the high tide raises all boats... err... perhaps the wrong
saying, but the point is, if you can use it to kill Liches, you can use
it to kill anything the is dependent upon spells. This buff combo
REQUIRES a multi-class Mage, a melee competent one is a plus, but not
necessary. It's also greatly simplified if you have the Cloak of
Mirroring-not a direct requirement-if you have a higher-level Mage
and/or are willing to rely on some luck-but it's a definate plus.
Round #1: Stoneskin
(Stoneskin? For Mage take-downs? Sure. First, it lasts forever,
so it doesn't really complicate things. Also, many spell
casters are not squeamish about summoning things, so it pays to
have some melee defense.)
Round #2: Chaotic Commands/Protection from Evil 10' Radius
(You should have two divine spell casters in your party, and
hence, these two buffs can go at once. Jaheira can cast Chaotic
Commands, which should be pretty self-explanatory-it'll stop
nasty spells like Charm, Confusion, and Maze. Anomen/Viconia can
cast Protection from Evil 10' Radius, which has a very special
purpose; Liches are prone to using Gate to summon in a Pit
Fiend. With Protection from Evil 10' Radius on, the Pit Fiend
won't attack you. In fact, it'll often turn on its summoner!)
Round #3: Death Ward/Remove Fear/Spell Immunity #1
(Death Ward seems like an obvious cast, too, as it'll stop evil
death spells. It's preferable to Spell Immunity: Necromancy
because it also stops Disintigrate (which is an Alteration, not
Necromancy.) Remove Fear is another obvious cast, as you
wouldn't want to be immune to so many deadly spells, but fall
victim to Horror, or something stupid like that. Finally, your
first Spell Immunity, the backbone of this strategy. Cast
Spell Immunity: Conjuration, which will block all Power Word and
Symbol spells. Liches use these quite often.)
Round #4: Spell Immunity #2
(Now for your final buff, and arguably the most important-
Spell Immunity: Abjuration. This will block spells like Breach,
Dispel Magic, and Spell Thrust which otherwise might conspire to
strip your spell defenses. Also, another important funciton of
this spell is to protect you from Imprisonment spells, a game-
ender that Liches love.)
Round #5: Mage Bane
(You're as invulnerable to magic as you can hope to be, and with
the Cloak of Mirroring, your pretty much ARE immune to magic. No
direct damage-dealing spell can harm you through the Cloak of
Mirroring. You're also immune to death spells, dispelling,
Imprisonment, Symbol and Power Word spells. One of the few
things that can bother you are summons-if the enemy summons an
Efreeti (which isn't uncommon), but of course, most of the
Efreeti's attacks won't work on you, either. Now the strategy
is simple-absorb everything the Mage has to throw at you, and
when their spell-arsenal is depleted, smite them. Or you can be
more pro-active. A competent Fighter/Mage or Fighter/Mage/Thief
can use Breach and True Sight to keep the Mage vulnerable and
cut them down while they waste magic on you.)
Buff Combo: The Throne of Bhaal General Buff {SPT031}
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
This one is simpler than many of the other buffs-it's general buffing
for Throne of Bhaal, buffs you'll want to keep on for most fights. It's
like the spell buff to the max!, minus the max!
Round #1: Stoneskin/Iron Skins
(You have no reason not to have these spells on all the time.
It's the best defense against melee attacks in the entire game.
It doesn't hurt that if you pair it with a good Armor Class, it
only makes you more invulnerable.)
Round #2: Blur/Protection from Evil 10' Radius
(More long-lasting buffs that will protect you.)
Round #3: Haste
(The best spell-buff in the game. Haste makes all fights easier.)
o======================================================================o
| |
| General Tips {TIP000} |
| |
o======================================================================o
Save often. There is a lot of trial and error in this game. If you walk
into an encounter you weren't ready for, there's a good chance you can
lose characters. And of course, there is always just bad luck.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
To find objects on the map that can be searched or interacted with hold
down the 'Tab' key. This will reveal doors, containers, your party's
Hit Points, and other useful information. Sure beats waving the mouse
cursor around madly, hoping to find a hidden bit of loot, ala Baldur's
Gate 1.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Lead with pretty. Take your character with the highest Charisma and make
them party leader. That way they will use their reaction adjustment to
influence people they talk to, getting you better reactions, rewards,
and prices. Paladins make great natural party leaders, as they are both
strong and have a high Charisma. Evil parties will have to improvise.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Lead with steel. Of course, pretty isn't the only consideration to make.
Your front line characters will be under fire more often than any other
characters. Put your most well protected allies up front, taking into
consideration Armor Class and Hit Points.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
The Ring of Human Influence helps the 'lead with pretty, lead with
steel' rules above. Wearing it increases the wearer's Charisma to 18,
all but negating Charisma as a noteworthy attribute in any sense. Put
this ring (and a few other Charisma-boosting items) on a well-defended,
high Hit Point party leader, and you're all set.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Spread the wealth. Don't load up good gear all on one character, even
though it might be tempting to spoil your main character.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Diversify. This makes spreading the wealth easier. If everybody is
clamoring for long swords, you'll never have enough to go around. This
shouldn't be too hard, as most recruitable characters come tailor-made
to use specific weapons. You think Anomen was meant for anything other
than War Hammers, and Maces, or that Korgan really wants to fight with
something other than a Battle Axe?
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Travel with like-minded characters, or rather, characters of the same
(or similar) alignments. In Baldur's Gate 1 this was less of a problem,
but in Baldur's Gate 2 characters of different alignments could end up
fighting. Notoriously Viconia and Keldorn will not last together in a
party, and Aerie and Korgan cause problems as well.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Manipulate your reputation. Good parties will want to have a high
reputation just to keep folks happy, but evil parties will want the
discounts high reputations bring. Just don't go over 17 or you'll face
desertion. Go to temples to raise your reputation before major shopping
sprees. If it gets too high, go kill a peasant in a house.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Manipulate your Charisma. If it was a good enough tactic in Planescape:
Torment, it's good enough in Baldur's Gate 2. Equip the 'Ring of Human
Influence' on a Mage and make them your party leader. Then have them
cast the spell 'Friends' and equip whatever other Charisma-boosting
gear you have (like the 'Nymph Cloak'). You'll get a nice discount while
on your shopping spree with 25 Charisma.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Stealing might be bad for your soul, but it's good for your wallet.
Steal early and steal often, there's no 'karma' meter in this game and
you only lose reputation if you get caught. By stealing you can get
yourself early access to moderately useful gear and much more useful
single-use items like scrolls, potions, and ammunition. It'll make
completing the early quests that much easier, allowing you to raise
legitimate gold you'll need to buy things from Diedre and Ribald. A
minimum Pick Pockets skill of 140% is suggested. Use Potions of Master
Thievery to this end, they last three hours, raise your skill by 40%
each, and are a much better alternative to spending points on the Pick
Pockets skill. It's not like those potions or that skill is useful for
anything else anyways.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Scout ahead. If you can find danger before it finds you, you can prepare
for it and get the drop on it. Difficult encounters can turn into snore
fests if you make a resounding first strike.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
First strikes win fights. Mark enemy locations with a character who has
stealth, then at the edge of the fog of war-just before you can see the
enemy-target the area with an area of effect spell. Web, Stinking Cloud,
Entangle, and Silence 15' Radius, Confusion, Horrid Wilting, whatever.
It'll make the encounter much easier if you start with a decisive
magical strike.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Haste is probably the most powerful spell buff in the game. You act
faster in combat, gain an extra attack per round, and your movement
speed is doubled. It is, essentially, a way to vastly increase your
offensive power for a short amount of time. Use it before every major
fight.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Spell-buff before big fights. Any fight that sucks will suck less if you
cast Protection from Evil 10' Radius, Defensive Harmony, and Haste.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Insect Plague is THE spell to use for Shadows of Amn. The least it will
do is deal one damage every two seconds to enemies caught inside of it
and make spell casting impossible for them, with a save to see if they
run in fear as well. This destroys enemy spell casters, even whole
parties of adventurers, and it really makes having a Druid a good thing.
It only affects six enemies, but most fights don't involve many more
than that, and it only lasts six rounds, but that's longer than most
fights take. Use it and take down the spell casters and other
vulnerable enemies, then you can deal with the survivors with ease. Oh,
and being invisible doesn't protect enemies from it. Score.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Hang on to +3 weapons! It doesn't matter what KIND of weapon it is,
only that it's of +3 or better enhancement. Many creatures are immune
to +2 or less weapons... well not many, but when one comes around it's
typically strong enough to cause problems, problems that might be more
than one character can handle. Any +3 weapon you can equip for, say, a
Balor will be one more character that can hurt it, regardless of whether
they are proficient or not. Being unproficient with a weapon that can
damage an enemy is infinitely better than being specialized with a
weapon that can't.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Summoning spells have been changed for Baldur's Gate 2. No longer will
you conjure up a horde of weak minions when you cast Summon Monster,
instead now only one or two will appear. This is just as well, as a
horde of War Dogs would die with one Death Spell, Fireball, or Dispel
Magic, all things your enemies can throw about with abandon. Now the
focus is on powerful singular summons.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Conjuring Elementals is a good tactic to use early in the game, as you
will summon up a relatively potent ally who is immune to anything less
than a +2 weapon... which most foes early in Shadows of Amn are not
equipped to handle.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Summon Nishruu and Summon Hakeashar are also great choices for the Mage,
especially against other Mages, as these creatures are both immune to
magic. A timely summon Nishruu can make a Mage powerless as it sucks out
their memorized spells one by one, so long as the Mage doesn't have any
buddies able to harm it physically. Just be careful not to use this
spell against enemies that have magical gear on them, as the Nishruu/
Hakeashar will feast on magical items once it's done absorbing enemy
spells.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Depending on what class you are, you'll get offered a variety of guilds
or strongholds throughout the game. These are Mae'Vars Guildhall
(Thieves), the de'Arnise Keep (Fighters), the Planar Sphere (Mages),
Cleric's Temple (Clerics), Five Flagons Playhouse (Bards), and the
Druid Grove (Druids). Normally you'll get offered one, but a multi-
classed character can potentially get two.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Spell Immunity can, in conjunction with other spells, make a character
nearly impervious to magical attack. While there are just too many
different Spell Schools out there to protect against all of them, you
can at least block the spells that the enemy tends to use most often.
Using Spell Immunity: Conjuration blocks all Symbol and Power Word
spells, Necromancy will protect against Finger of Death, Wail of the
Banshee, and Horrid Wilting, Alteration will negate Flesh to Stone and
Disintegrate, and Abjuration prevents the enemy from using Imprisonment.
Combined with Chaotic Commands, Death Ward, and similar spells, you can
really make it hard for enemy spell-casters to harm you. The best part
is, although you have to cast the spell once per school, multiple
castings stack.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Dispel Magic is a low level spell that is vital to your survival.
It's not party friendly, but removing Confusion from some party members
is more important than keeping their Haste. It can also debuff enemies,
taking away defensive protections and offensive aids alike. It's
effectiveness increases or decreases depending on whether your level is
higher or lower than an enemies', but every spell-caster should always
keep one prepared. Multi-classed characters will likely have much less
luck with Dispel Magic than singled-classed characters, and Clerics
can expect to be a higher level than Mages with equal experience, but
since there's always a chance of success, it's worth using. Many
enemies will be around or below your experience level, but the odd Lich
and high level Mage might not be impressed with your Dispel Magic.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Keldorn's Inquisitor kit gives him the ability to Dispel Magic at twice
his actual level. Even at mid-levels, his Dispel Magic is more than a
match for the buffs and debuffs of most enemies!
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Two common enemy defenses: Stoneskin and Protection from Magical
Weapons, can be overcome with Breach. This is preferable to Dispel Magic
because you won't remove your own spell-buffs and there's no chance of
failure... and as a 5th-level spell, it really only competes with Chaos.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Enemy Mages will commonly use spells like Mislead, Shadow Door, and
Improved Invisibility to buy themselves time and protection. Use True
Sight to instantly dispel these effects in an area. It's party-friendly,
and it'll also remove defensive illusions like Mirror Image.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
More powerful Mages later on in the game will put up more effective
spell-defenses, like Spell Immunity Abjuration and Spell Deflection,
which blocks Breach, as well as using Stoneskin, Protection from
Magical Weapons, and Mantle. Use Pierce Magic before you use Breach,
either in tandem with another Mage, via a Spell Trigger, Time Stop, or
through a Wand of Spell Striking. Or failing that, on subsequent rounds.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Early in the game, strong enemy Mages can be a huge problem, when you
lack the stopping power to kill them quickly, the spell arsenals to take
down their defenses, the saves to resist their spells, or the Hit Points
to weather them. An effective tactic for when you know such a fight is
approaching is to scout the area and find the Mage in question, and then
summon as many creatures as possible (typically through the use of
infinitely rechargable summoning items) near the Mage. Keep your own
party out of sight and let your summons soak up the early offensive...
After all, if an enemy Wizard uses his Horrid Wilting on your summons,
they can't use it on your party.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
If you're not using an infinite bag of holding mod, you'll need to find
somewhere to stash your loot. Strongholds are an ideal location-you
tend to earn money there, and it's hard to forget such things. Just be
sure not to stash anything in your strongholds until AFTER you have
obtained them. Many get 'repopulated' after the quests involving them,
and this includes the containers within. Mae'Var's Guildhall, the
de'Arnise Keep, and the Planar Sphere are all good choices.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Cluttered up with Mage spell scrolls? Have Throne of Bhaal installed?
No problem. You can erase known spells from your spell-book and rescribe
them. It gets useless extra copies of spells out of your inventory, and
it earns you experience. Just don't forget that other Mages that you
might want to recruit later will need those spells... so get your party
Mage(s), learn them all the spells they can, and then go ahead and
rescribe your scrolls for extra experience.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
Stealth is not fool-proof. Enemy Mages will cast True Sight if they
suspect a sneaking foe nearby. Also, some enemies aren't fooled by
stealth due to extremely acute senses-Fell Cats and Fire Trolls will
'smell' you out, and Hive Mothers... well, they're a big ball of
eyeballs. Kinda hard to hide from that.
o======================================================================o
| Chapter 1 |
o======================================================================o
| |
| Escape from Irenicus' Dungeon |
| |
o======================================================================o
Sequence of Events: {WLK001}
1) You Should Survive the Process
2) Minsc
3) Jaheira
4) Gearing Up
5) The Mephit Machine
6) Aataqah's Game
7) Goblins
8) Stasis Room
9) Sewer Golem Room
10) Relieving Rielev
11) Tales Dead Tell
12) The Sewage Chamber
13) The Master's Room
14) The Dryads Three Make a Plea
15) The Master's Wife's Room
16) The Library
17) Ilyich
18) Cambion Containment
19) The Genie's Request
20) Retrieving the Flask
21) The Sword of Chaos
22) Yoshimo
23) Mephit Spawning Room
24) Escaped Clone
25) To the Wand Room
26) The Wand Room
27) The Vampire's Display
28) The Smithy
29) Freeing Frennedan
30) Attacked by Assassins
Dungeon, Part 1 (AR0602)
o======================================================================o
1) You'll be approached by some Mage who will proceed to perform
'experiments' upon you. Not very nice ones either, judging from the
death speeches your character makes and from all the fire. A Golem will
eventually arrive, drawing the man's attention and leading him away to
deal with 'intruders'. Imoen will show up and spring you from your cage,
joining your party immediately afterwards. She'll tell you about some
weapons to the northwest before the game auto-saves and the camera pans
to the northeast to reveal two captured people.
Imoen doesn't start out too great in the way of spells. Have her
memorize some Magic Missiles and maybe a Chromatic Orb. It won't take
much more than brute force to get out of here. As for 2nd level spells,
get a Mirror Image, a Melf's Acid Arrow, and a Stinking Cloud. We won't
fight many large groups of enemies, and even when we do we don't have an
unlimited supply of ammunition to use on them, so Stinking Cloud isn't
too important just yet. Melf's is best against trolls and spell casters,
which won't be a problem for a while yet, but at least it contributes to
the fight. For 3rd level spells get Haste. It might be fun to Fireball
some baddies, but really, Haste is going to help you out more in a
fight. As for 4th level spells, we won't be letting Imoen get hit, so
don't bother with Fire Shield, and if we do let her get hit, Stoneskin
would be better anyways. Improved Invisibility can go on anyone, so keep
it handy to spell-buff your front line Fighter. You don't want to let
Imoen scribe any scrolls you find, as... it'll be a while before she can
put them to good use. Save them up for your main character, Edwin, or
failing that, for Imoen to use at a later date.
Note: If Imoen suffers mortal damage (if she's reduced to zero Hit
Points) she'll panic, disband, and flee the dungeon. Of course, since
you can't raise dead characters at this point in the game, anybody who
sustains fatal damage is out of the game for the rest of this dungeon,
but it's still something to be wary of. At least if Imoen starts
spazzing out, you'll know why.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
2) Go over to the man at (x=4000, y=2750) to find your old friend Minsc.
The captivity really hasn't made him any saner... or more insane, for
that matter. Some things are beyond torture. You will eventually provoke
his wrath to the point where he breaks his 'permanently welded cell'. He
then accuses you of provoking him to unleash his berserker might. Uh,
yeah! Sure. Regardless of your intentions he thinks you're one clever
fellow and offers to join you. By all means take him along, you could
certainly use his Hit Points and Strength to get out of here. You can
always ditch him later if you're so inclined. Minsc is, if anything,
even more hilarious in the sequel. It's just another perk of bringing
him along.
***REWARD***
(For 'encouraging' Minsc to escape from his cell)
EXP 3000
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
3) Over at (x=3850, y=2650) you'll find another cage with another former
traveling companion, the Harper agent Jaheira. She's just as hot-headed
and mouthy as ever, and will give you a run down of your story. The game
assumes, of course, that you actually traveled with her in the prequel.
It's possible to blow her off and leave her behind, but you might just
want her healing power for this dungeon, even if you don't plan to keep
her. Note that if you turn on her and leave her behind she will say some
rather disparaging things about you 'turning'. It is all too similar to
the way others of her ilk will look at you later... but now I'm
foreshadowing. To get her free go up to the room to the northwest and
search the table at (x=3050, y=2800). You'll find, along with many
weapons, a Jail Cell Key. Take the key and open the door.
***ITEMS***
(x=3050, y=2800) Long Sword, Short Sword, Quarter Staff, Mace,
Battle Axe, Spear, Halberd, Jail Cell Key,
War Hammer, Two Handed Sword, Katana
***REWARD***
(For freeing Jaheira from her cage)
EXP 3000
Have Jaheira get plenty of Cure Light Wounds. You can get Entangle, but
it by now has long since run its course as a useful spell. Armor of
Faith is a decent defensive spell that will cause Jaheira to ignore
10% of the damage she takes at her present level, and lasts long enough
to be considered as a good defensive buff. Bless can also provide a
temporary buff to your entire party's attack rolls, but I'd prefer Armor
of Faith. 2nd level is very slim pickings, as Barkskin does not stack
with armor. You'd be better off just wearing the Splint Mail. You
should, however, always carry a Slow Poison on you, just in case. For
3rd level spells, get a Dispel Magic-every spell caster who can cast
this spell should have one prepared-and a Cure Medium Wounds. Finally
come 4th level spells, of which you have the very nice Death Ward,
which has no applicable use just yet. For now either grab Defensive
Harmony, which is a good spell buff, or Cure Serious Wounds for extra
healing power.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
4) Go back into the room where you found the Jail Cell Key. As
previously noted you can find weapons on the table at (x=3050, y=2800).
Equip your main character with whatever they're good at. Minsc gets the
Two Handed Sword, Jaheira suffers with a Quarter Staff for now. I set
Jaheira up as my front-liner, as she's got the Dexterity and the ability
to wear the heavier armor I need to succeed. Loot the chest for some
armor. I give Jaheira the Splint Mail, and I have Minsc don the Chain
Mail. For now getting through the place is more of a priority than
taking advantage of his ability to Sneak. Besides, he can always take it
off to scout ahead. Finally, the painting at (x=3130, y=2700) has stuff
behind it, but be sure to search for traps. This is your introduction to
traps in this game, and this one isn't very powerful or hard to disarm.
It is, however, a warning. It's the second room in the game, and there's
a trap. Oh yes, kiddies, there will be traps in this game, enough to
ruin your day if you don't bring about a Thief. The Dagger +1... eh...
well, it can go on Imoen, but it's really just a waste. If you stick it
on Jaheira you'll raise her THAC0 by one, but then she can use the Small
Shield to bring her Armor Class down. And of course, if you imported
your main character with the Golden Pantaloons in their inventory, you
will find those in here as well. You can talk to the Golem in this room
but it has little to say. The tunnel to the north leads to a door
(x=2420, y=2180) we can't open yet. There's also an annoying Smoke
Mephit down there, which isn't particularly dangerous, but it can blind
you temporarily.
***ITEMS***
(x=3000, y=2750) Helmet, Leather Armor, Studded Leather Armor,
Small Shield, Buckler, Splint Mail, Chain Mail,
Buckler
(x=3130, y=2700) Dagger +1, Potion of Healing x3, Golden Pantaloons
***TRAPS***
(x=3130, y=2700)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
5) Head to the southwest. I'd suggest sneaking in with Minsc or Imoen,
as there is a machine in the middle of the room that creates Lightning
Mephits which shoot... well, lightning at you. Click on the machine's
controls at (x=2850, y=3050) twice to turn the machine off and stop it
from spawning more Mephits.
***REWARD***
(For disabling the Lightning Mephit spawning machine)
EXP 2000
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
6) Continue up to the northwest to find a genie named Aataqah, who
initiates dialogue with you. If you blow him off he'll leave, if you
humor him he'll ask you to answer a hypothetical question. If you say
you'll push the button he'll summon an Ogre Mage for you to fight. If
you say you won't he'll summon four fearful Gibberlings. I prefer the
Ogre Mage path, as it at least gets you some experience... and you don't
have to chase down a bunch of stupid Gibberlings. He'll tell you to seek
out Rielev after you kill his monsters.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
7) If you go north you'll find a tunnel leading to the east, with a
Goblin guarding it. The passage ends in a locked door (x=2150, y=1900)
we can't open. Typical. So head west instead to find some Goblins. Most
of them will carry Battle Axes, but a few will sit back and fire arrows
at you, leaving behind Composite Long Bows when they die. How is a
Goblin firing a Composite Long Bow? Who knows. It's as good an excuse as
any to get yourself some Bows and Arrows though. I put a bow on Minsc
so he has a ranged option. Continue heading up the passage until you
come to two doors, one to the northeast (x=900, y=2200) and one to the
southwest (x=600, y=2400).
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
8) In the southwestern room you'll find a number of containment vats,
inside of which are various creatures both living and dead. There's
nothing you can do with them just yet, but there are two Mephits you can
actively make more dead. Once they're done loot the room. The Short Bow
goes to Imoen so she can participate effectively in combat, and the
Quarter Staff +1 goes to Jaheira.
***ITEMS***
(x=670, y=2700) Arrows x5, Short Bow, 1 gold
(x=820, y=3050) Bullets x5
(x=1050, y=3000) Quarter Staff +1
***TRAPS***
(x=1050, y=3000)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
9) Through the northeastern door you'll find a Radiant Mephit which
needs to be put down. You'll also find a Sewage Golem (x=1070, y=2050)
you can't interact with yet. You can, however, loot the room. Jaheira
will be much better off with the Medium Shield and the Scimitar. My
protagonist scribes Flame Arrow immediately, but I save the Scroll of
Dispel Magic for later.
***ITEMS***
(x=1050, y=2100) War Hammer, Medium Shield, Scimitar, Long Sword +1
(x=900, y=2000) Arrows x4
(x=900, y=1950) Potion of Healing, Scroll of Flame Arrow
(x=1200, y=2100) Scimitar, Potion of Extra Healing x3, Spear,
Scroll of Dispel Magic
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
10) Now head up to the northwest, then follow the tunnel to the north-
east. You'll pass a door (x=520, y=2000) with two Lesser Clay Golems
inside. Again, you can't bother them now, but they will become hostile
towards you later in the level if you let them live, so it's a good idea
to just bump them off now... Unlike the other Clay Golems you'll fight
later on, these ones can be hurt by non-magical and non-blunt weapons.
Head northeast some more. You'll come under attack by some Goblins at
the first intersection to the northwest. Kill them, and then continue
northeast through a door (x=1020, y=1750). Inside you'll find another
vat, inside of which is a... creature... called Rielev (x=1170, y=1500).
Talk to him to find out a bit about Rielev and his master. He'll mention
the master being 'cast out' and 'one of us no longer'. He'll also
mention something being taken. Offer to release him from his torment
and he'll tell you to take some power crystals, with which you can talk
to other experiments and possibly find out how to escape.
***ITEMS***
(x=1250, y=1600) Activation Stone
(x=1280, y=1400) Potion of Extra Healing x2, Sling, Bullet x8, Halberd,
War Hammer
***REWARD***
(For relieving Rielev from his torment)
EXP 1000
ITEM Energy Cells
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
11) Head back to the room with the stasis vats and talk to the various
beings, the 'Tortured Ones' (x=400, y=2500), (x=450, y=2900),
(x=750, y=2700), (x=1200, y=3100), to learn that-if nothing else, your
captor can inspire some pretty fanatical devotion. If you go back to the
Sewer Golem room you can activate it with that Activation Stone you
found and get it to open the door to the sewage chamber, which causes it
to merrily run off and open the doors at (x=2420, y=2150),
(x=2220, y=1700), and (x=2150, y=1900).
***REWARD***
(For activating the Sewage Golem)
EXP 3000
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
12) Head through any of the aforementioned doors to reach the Sewage
Chamber, the simplest way is to go through the door north of where you
met Aataqah. In the Sewage Chamber you'll find an Otyugh, something I
honestly expected to find in the sewers in Baldur's Gate 1, but was
nonetheless thrilled to find in the sequel. It can't fit through
the doors, so if you have a Thief main character you can sneak, run in,
backstab it, and run back out for an easy time. It's not too rough in
any event. When it dies grab the Wand of Frost Key and loot the room.
Minsc enjoys having a Helmet of Infravision again. Go through the door
to the northeast (x=2800, y=1700).
***ITEMS***
(x=2700, y=1720) Oil of Speed, Splint Mail, Potion of Healing x2
(x=2750, y=1800) Potion of Healing x2, Light Crossbow, Bolt x10,
Scroll of Vocalize
(x=2900, y=1870) Potion of Healing x3, Helmet of Infravision,
Scroll of Clairvoyance
***TRAPS***
(x=2750, y=1800)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
13) Head northeast through another door (x=3500, y=1250), killing some
Goblins as you go. You'll find an oddly lavish room - a welcome, if
ominous change from the dungeons behind you. The game will even warn you
of the traps ahead, so get to disarming and looting. The Air Elemental
Statue will get us into another area. It's good to have our Helm of
Balduran back, too. This time it goes on Jaheira, as my main character
will soon find a better helmet to see him through the game. My main
character does, however, retain the Amulet of Metaspell Influence. In
the room to the northwest you'll find some Goblins and two lootable
containers. There's also a portal (x=3000, y=550) we need to find a key
for.
***ITEMS***
(x=3550, y=900) Scroll of Chromatic Orb, Helm of Balduran
(x=3600, y=880) Wand of Lightning Key, Scroll of Burning Hands
(x=3780, y=900) Air Elemental Statue
(x=3930, y=970) Amulet of Metaspell Influence
(x=320, y=820) Scroll of Fireball
(x=3340, y=800) Bullets x20, Scroll of Armor
***TRAPS***
(x=3700, y=1000)
(x=3550, y=900)
(x=3930, y=970)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
14) Venture southeast to find three Dryads, Elyme, Ulene, and Cania,
who will beg you to help them escape by taking their acorns to the Fairy
Queen. They'll also give you the name of your tormentor, Irenicus.
Their acorns are held by a mean creature named Ilyich, the clan chief
of the master's duergar slaves. They'll also promise to tell you how to
escape if you free them. All in good time. First head past them to the
south.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
15) You'll find a very nice circular room that is covered with traps.
When you set foot in the room an alarm will sound, summoning the two
Lesser Clay Golems from before, who will-eventually-make their way to
you and attack for entering the 'chambers of the the master's wife'...
unless, of course, you killed them earlier. The Portal Key opens the
portal in the room north of the room where we found the Helm of
Balduran. My main character enjoys the Bracers of Defense, as would any
Mage hurting for Armor Class. And be sure to grab the Pommel Jewel of
the Equalizer! You're going to want that weapon. Now that we're done
here head back to the Sewage Chamber and go northwest through the door
at (x=2220, y=1700).
***ITEMS***
(x=3100, y=2300) Portal Key
(x=3060, y=2220) Potion of Extra Healing, Bracers of Defense A.C. 8,
Pommel Jewel of the Equalizer
(x=3160, y=2460) Scroll of Dire Charm
(x=3000, y=2370) Potion of Master Thievery, Scroll of Summon Monster I
***TRAPS***
(x=3400, y=2300)
(x=3400, y=2350)
(x=3300, y=2250)
(x=3140, y=2300)
(x=3100, y=2300)
(x=3060, y=2220)
(x=3160, y=2460)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
16) You'll find a room with... more Goblins, and a Dust Mephit. There
are also lots of bookshelves to loot, which I will note ignoring all the
useless books on the shelves.
***ITEMS***
(x=950, y=750) Agna Mani Necklace
(x=850, y=850) Potion of Healing x5, Scroll of Larloch's Minor Drain
(x=1100, y=800) Scroll of Know Alignment
(x=1500, y=800) Oil of Speed
(x=1650, y=950) Potion of Extra Healing
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
17) Go northwest and follow the passage around to get to a large room
with Duergar milling about. Further in you'll find Ilyich, who will not
spare much dialogue before attacking. He's got some crossbowmen and a
Mage with him. Either use a Haste and set upon them, shooting the Mage
down to size, or use a Stinking Cloud. Either way, a simple spell should
see you through this fight with ease. Most of the duergar don't have
anything interesting on them, but Ilyich will drop a suit of Leather
Armor, a Medium Shield, Bullets x40, Acorns, Mail of the Dead +2, Battle
Axe, Sling, and 87 gold. Jaheira slaps on the Mail of the Dead +2.
During the looting you should find enough weapons and armor to pretty
much equip everybody the way you want. Especially be sure to strap those
Helmets on, you don't want to suffer from critical hits. You could give
Jaheira that Club, but I want to pretend she doesn't even have any
proficiency points in Clubs at all.
***ITEMS***
(x=1240, y=400) Throwing Axe x5, Potion of Extra Healing x2
(x=1530, y=250) Chain Mail, Helmet, Medium Shield, Battle Axe,
Two Handed Sword, Scroll of Grease
(x=1780, y=400) Throwing Dagger x20, Dart x30
(x=1850, y=500) War Hammer, Leather Armor, Helmet, Small Shield,
Quarter Staff, Flail, Sling, Bullet x40, Scimitar
(x=1900, y=600) Bastard Sword, Long Sword, Short Sword, Arrows x6,
Short Bow, Potion of Extra Healing x2, Club, Flail,
Morning Star
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
18) Head down a tunnel to the northeast and go past a door at
(x=1960, y=260). Disarm the trap in the tunnel southeast and continue
on until you find a room with an odd machine in it and a Cambion
(x=2600, y=1040), who is inside some sort of magical barrier. If you
activate the machine (x=2350, y=1000) you can take down the Cambion's
barrier, allowing him to attack you... and allowing you to attack him.
Before you do so encircle the Cambion and caste some defensive spell
buffs and Haste. He shouldn't be too much of a problem, but why not
start out prepared? When it's dead loot the Cambion for a suit of Chain
Mail, a Bastard Sword +1, and 146 gold. Now go back up the hallway
and through the door at (x=1960, y=260), which we can access thanks to
our possession of the Air Elemental Statue.
***TRAPS***
(x=2300, y=500)
The Elemental Plane of Air (AR0601)
o======================================================================o
19) Travel northwest and you'll meet a pack of Mephits. I always found
this encounter annoying... but it might be just because I find Mephits
annoying in general. To the west are two more Mephits and a container
for you to loot. Northwest of the entrance ramp you'll find a large
circular area with more Mephits. Spell buffing is suggested, Haste in
particular. Go up another ramp to the west to find the proverbial genie
bottle at (x=300, y=550). Activate it to get Irenicus' Genie to show up.
He will offer to give you an item that used to belong to you if you free
him from his bonds, which you can do by finding the real flask the Genie
is bound to, a twin of the one here. He'll mention one of the possible
locations as one of Irenicus' Dryad concubines. See where this is going?
Time to head back to the Dryads.
***ITEMS***
(x=200, y=1220) Scroll of Conjure Air Elemental
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
20) Bring the Dryads their acorns and they'll tell you that you must
travel up to the next level of the complex using portals... perhaps the
one we found north of Irenicus' room? (That or the one east of the
prisons, it doesn't really matter.) Talk to them again and ask for the
Genie's flask and they'll simply give it to you. Now head back to the
door leading to the genie.
***REWARD***
(For talking to the Dryads after recovering their acorns from Ilyich)
EXP 9500
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
21) Now return to the Genie and give him his flask for a hefty
experience reward and the Sword of Chaos-Sarevok's sword from Baldur's
Gate 1... or what's left of it, anyways. Even though most of it's power
died with Sarevok, it's still a Two Handed Sword +2, and perfect for
Minsc. Now head back to the main level of the dungeon and go through a
portal, either the one at (x=3000, y=550) or (x=3900, y=2400).
***REWARD***
(For freeing the Genie)
EXP 15000
ITEM Sword of Chaos +2
Dungeon, Part 2 (AR0603)
o======================================================================o
22) When you appear you'll instantly be approached by Yoshimo, who asks
to join your party. Regardless of your end goals as far as party
composition is concerned, I suggest you take him along. It'll... open up
options when you get out of this dungeon, and if you don't have a Thief
as a main character, you'll need him for a while. He'll tell you about
some room with portals to the east that continuously spawn enemies, and
beyond that is a room with mounted wands.
***ITEMS***
(x=320, y=2880) Scroll of Hold Person
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
23) Go through the door to the northeast at (x=880, y=2800) to find a
room with Mephits and Mephit Portals. Our favorite! Ignore the Mephits
and concentrate on the portals, which will simply spew out more Mephits
as you kill them. The Scroll of Protection from Normal Weapons is
interesting, as from time to time you'll fight monsters that can't harm
you, lacking in magical weapons and all. It's not an indispensable
spell, and soon loses its potency, but it is a defensive option for when
we get 5th level spells. As you head to the east Jaheira will make a
most unfortunate discovery. Unfortunate for her. Now that Khalid is out
of the picture, the Jaheira romance opens up. Of course, you must be
careful not to say anything disparaging about her dead husband at this
crucial first step. Go through the door to the north at (x=1120, y=2350)
and continue up a tunnel to the northwest.
***ITEMS***
(x=900, y=2650) Gold Ring, 4 gold
(x=800, y=2650) Tchazar Gem, Cursed Scroll of Weakness
(x=1050, y=2530) Potion of Extra Healing, Arrow of Detonation,
Wand of Cloudkill Key
(x=1350, y=2580) 2 gold, 8 gold, Bolt +1 x3
(x=1400, y=2500) Wand of Summoning Key,
Scroll of Protection from Normal Weapons
(x=1250, y=2350) Wand of Fire Key, Bastard Sword, Arrow x5
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
24) You'll come to another room with stasis vats, where you'll find an
Assassin and an Escaped Clone fighting. The clone will typically win
this fight and, after a short dialogue, will go hostile on you too,
apparently being another one of Irenicus' concubines. She'll cast some
spells, but she's not too much of a problem. Kill her and take her Wand
of Missiles Key.
***ITEMS***
(x=750, y=2170) Pearl Necklace, Arrows x7
(x=180, y=2150) Scroll of Fireball, 1 Gold
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
25) Go back to the Mephit Spawning Room and through another door at
(x=1300, y=2220). You'll find another Assassin fighting a losing battle
against Mephits, and northwest of that another group of Goblins. Who
are these assassins that are so incompetent they can't even kill a
Mephit, and how are they troubling Irenicus so? It is a question for
somebody wiser than I. Go through the door at (x=550, y=1400) and cross
a bridge, disarming the trap as you go.
***TRAPS***
(x=720, y=1300)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
26) You'll come into a room with a colorful mosaic floor, which an
Assassin will try to cross to get at a Duergar with a crossbow. You'll
see what happens, and why this is not a good idea. Strike the Duergar
down with missile weapons and spells. This is the wand trap room, and
it's beyond time we used those wand keys. Don't bother trying to disarm
the traps in the middle of the room, as you'll just get hurt, instead
play with the pillars to the north to deactivate the traps across the
floor. You'll get a wand for each trap you disarm, as noted below, but
these wands only have one charge each and aren't good for much besides
selling. Search the statue at the far eastern end of the room to get
ahold of a Ring of Protection +1. I put this on my main character...
it's going to be some time before they get themselves some armor. Now
go through a door to the northwest (x=1320, y=600).
***ITEMS***
(x=2000, y=350)
***TRAPS*** Deactivated At Receive
(x=1200, y=920) (x=950, y=900) Wand of Missiles
(x=1300, y=820) (x=1180, y=700) Wand of Frost
(x=1400, y=750) (x=1290, y=650) Wand of Fire
(x=1500, y=650) (x=1420, y=550) Wand of Monster Summoning I
(x=1700, y=620) (x=1520, y=500) Wand of Lightning
(x=1900, y=600) (x=1630, y=400) Wand of Cloudkill
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
27) You'll arrive on the scene just in time to see a Vampire named
Ulvaryl go to town on some more Assassins, this time declaring
themselves as Shadow Thieves. She'll then turn into mist and disappear.
Great, Irenicus has Vampires on his side. Who wants to bet those will
become a pain in the ass sooner or later? If you are very quick and a
little lucky you can attack Ulvaryl while she's focusing on the Shadow
Thieves. If you kill her you'll get a nice bit of experience
(8000 experience total), and you might as well try. She won't attack the
party and only leaves if she kills all the Shadow Thieves. She's also
not immune to non-magical weapons as she should be. Anyways, once that's
done with there are three tunnels in the wand room leading south to
explore. The western one gets you out of here in short order, but go
down the eastern passages for some loot, starting with the eastern-most
passage, then the middle passage, and finally the western passage.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
28) Go down the tunnel until you come to a smithy with Goblins inside.
To the east you'll find some Duergar. Focus your missile fire on the
Mage and wipe the Duergar out. In this room you'll find some things
worth looting. The Girdle of Bluntness is a nice little toy, and it'll
go good on any character who needs to go toe to toe with Giants,
Golems, and any other enemy that deals bludgeoning damage. I prefer to
put it on Anomen, Viconia, or Korgan, as they typically wield blunt
weapons which are effective against Clay Golems. Still, it'll go just
as well on Jaheira for now. When you're done, go down the middle tunnel.
***ITEMS***
(x=3500, y=850) Dagger, Potion of Extra Healing x2,
Scroll of Charm Person, 100 gold
(x=3600, y=680) Mace, Potion of Healing x3, Chain Mail,
Girdle of Bluntness
(x=3600, y=700) Arrows x40, Bolt x20, Splint Mail
(x=3380, y=630) Heavy Crossbow, Bolts x20, Bolts +1 x7, Short Bow,
Arrows x40
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
29) Go into a room to the south and somebody named Frennedan will ask
you to release him from his glass prison. If you decline him he'll turn
into a little boy and ask you. Something obviously isn't right with our
friend Frennedan. Unfortunately there's loot back there we want, so you
should open the door to his cell anyways. He'll follow you around for a
while if you let him, but he'll turn into a Doppleganger and attack you
given time. If you refuse to let him accompany you out he'll attack
sooner rather than later. Once that's done let's head out of this
dungeon once and for all.
***ITEMS***
(x=2220, y=1350) Key to Frennedan's Room, Potion of Healing x5,
Scroll of Knock
(x=2250, y=1400) Scroll of Protection from Electricity,
Potion of Firebreath
(x=2500, y=1200) Elixir of Health x4, Scroll of Invisibility
(x=2820, y=1420) Scroll of Color Spray, 101 gold
(x=2850, y=1450) Bolt +1 x4, Scroll of Blindness
(x=2850, y=1500) Arrows +1 x4
(x=2800, y=1540) Curse Scroll of Foolishness, Oil of Speed,
Scroll of Blur
(x=2700, y=1600) Bullets +1 x5, Potion of Extra Healing x2
***TRAPS***
(x=2220, y=1350)
(x=2500, y=1200)
(x=2800, y=1540)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
30) You'll come across a trio of Assassins, who will not listen to
whatever you say and attack. The one who initiates dialogue will cast
some spells to boost two others who are hidden when the battle starts.
When they're dead continue southeast through the room and down some
stairs into a sewer. Now would be a good time to take everything off
Imoen you want to keep. Head northeast past all the dead Shadow Thieves
until you find an area transition at (x=3400, y=1300).
***REWARD***
(For escaping from Irenicus' Dungeon)
EXP 34500 (each character)
o======================================================================o
| Chapter 2 |
o======================================================================o
| |
| Five Finger Discounts |
| |
o======================================================================o
Sequence of Events: {WLK002}
1) Imoen and Irenicus Incarcerated
2) Gooooooooal!
3) Lady Beth
4) Gaelan Bayle's Offer
5) Gaelan Bayle and An Introduction to Larceny
6) Shorekeep Stealing
7) Cohrvale and Bregg
8) Robbing Galoomp the Bookkeeper
9) Armor Courtesy of Arnolinus
10) Robbing Lady Yuth
11) Diedre's Selection
12) Ripping Off Ribald's Ring of Regeneration
13) To the Copper Coronet
14) A Note on Random Encounters
1) Now Chapter 2 has begun... You'll be treated to a cutscene announcing
your arrival on the scene of the battle between the Shadow Thieves and
Irenicus. Irenicus promptly smites a group of impudent Shadow Thieves
and a group of Mages when they appear. Eventually, however, more will
gate in and Irenicus concedes to be taken by them... so long as they
take Imoen as well, who cast spells at Irenicus during the fighting.
You'd think that these Mages would be happy to receive any aid they
could against Irenicus, but they probably just wanted to subdue him,
whatever the cost. So it seems that although interrupted, Irenicus has
managed to have Imoen taken from you. If you want her in your party,
you'll have to go and get her back. Jaheira insightfully points out that
Irenicus most likely wants to be pursued, and indeed going after Imoen
is the way to advance the main story. Chapter 2 is, however, dedicated
towards assembling your party, much as the beginning of Baldur's
Gate 1 was. Who you want in your party will directly determine what
quests need to be done and how long it'll take you to get to Imoen. Of
course, if you don't want Imoen in your party then there's no rush to go
get her. Still, there are things to do before we even rush off after
party members... Before we even explore the Promenade we now stand in,
in fact! In the mean time be sure not to cast any Mage spells out in the
city. You can cast any Priest or Druid spells you wish, and you can cast
anything if you're indoors, but as we've seen the Cowled Wizards do not
take kindly to arcane magic being practiced without a license.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
2) We now have an immediate goal: to raise enough money to effect the
release of Imoen.. or get assistance in reaching Irenicus, the two goals
seem to be one and the same. First though, we need to assemble our
parties. Most party members come with quests that need to be resolved
before they'll remain in the party, and most of these quests involve
killing things and crawling through dungeons... you know, the kind of
activities that generally end in us earning money. We can kill two birds
with one stone! The first party members we should look for are Anomen
and Keldorn for good parties, and Korgan, Edwin, and Viconia for evil
parties. Viconia needs only to be found before she'll join, but the
other four all have quests that need to be done... but nothing so
extreme that we can't handle it. Other characters like Nalia, Valygar,
Cernd, Haer'Dalis, and Mazzy require quests that are either difficult or
far-off, and should be recruited only after the previously mentioned
characters are recruited... if you even want them at all. Before we head
off to the Copper Coronet however, let's go get some loot, spells and
experience.
Waukeen's Promenade (AR0700)
o======================================================================o
3) Over at (x=3080, y=1080) you'll find Lady Beth, who will help you
get your bearings if you talk to her. She'll tell you about some guild
war, apparently between Irenicus (or someone tied to Irenicus) and the
Shadow Thieves, name the wizards that took Imoen away as the Cowled
Wizards, and mention that you might be able to find out how to get a
license to practice magic in the city if you visit the Government
District. She'll also name your location as Athkatla, the capital city
of Amn.
Slums District (AR0400)
o======================================================================o
4) Head southwest to exit the Promenade by clicking anywhere on the
edge of the map. Travel to the Slums District, as it's the only place
you have access to as of yet. As soon as you arrive you'll be met by a
rogue named Gaelan Bayle, who will tease you with information as to
Imoen's location. He'll escort you back to his house and promise you aid
in rescuing Imoen and finding the Mage Irenicus... for a price of 20,000
gold. He'll then direct you to his nephew Brus, who will lead you to the
Copper Coronet, where you should be able to find work; work which will
allow you to raise the money you need to pay for the assistance offered
by Gaelen's friends.
Note that with the beginning of Chapter 2 you'll start getting dreams
involving Imoen and Irenicus when you rest. They are part of the story
and there's no wrong way to go about them, just try to appreciate the
lessons Irenicus is trying to teach you. Or not.
Gaelan Bayle's House (AR0311)/(AR0312)
o======================================================================o
5) Stealing is the name of the game. Okay, not really, it's Baldur's
Gate 2, but in the sequel you can score yourself a lot of cash by simply
stealing. In the first game you could steal... what? Some Large
Shields +1, a Ring of Free Action, and a few spell scrolls? In this game
you can get a lot more mileage out of stealing, but with one important
note: You need a VERY high Pick Pockets score to pull it off. Poor,
stupid Yoshimo has only a 25%, which is not going to get us anything.
Head up the stairs at (x=150, y=350). Upstairs you'll find Arledrian
(x=530, y=360), who will sell you various things. Namely he sells
Potions of Master Thievery. Sell off all the crap from Irenicus'
Dungeon with any value-like gems, jewels, cursed scrolls, armor, and
bows... and those stupid one-charge wands. This gets me a total of 3500
gold, which I immediately use to buy all the Potions of Master Thievery
he has (three). Now if you have your own Thief character, you might not
need as many (this is one of the areas where my evil Fighter/Mage/Thief
protagonist shines), but Yoshimo chugs all three (and the one we found
in Irenicus' dungeon) to bring his Pick Pockets up to 185%. Now we're in
business. You need at least 100% to steal... anything, really, in this
game, and about 140% to expect to succeed once in a while. At 180%+ you
can steal with relative impunity, although you'll still get caught from
time to time, so save often.
Keep in mind when stealing you wont be able to sell fenced goods to
honest merchants, so don't steal EVERYTHING hoping to sell it back and
make a profit. Besides, the fact that you always have a chance to get
caught makes stealing minor items more of a pain in the ass than it's
worth. If you DO want to steal for unlimited cash flow-rejoice! Not all
merchants are honest! A variety of fences exist, including the fence at
the Shadow Thief guild, Gorch, in Mae'Var's Guildhall, and Roger the
Fence, in the Sewers under the Temple District, just to name a few off
the top of my head. There are a few specific items that are worth
stealing and reselling (due to their high sell price), which we'll get
to later. For now, steal things that you will not want to sell back...
Potions and ammo you will use, Scrolls you will scribe, and items you
will equip. If you don't have the unlimited ammo stacks mod activated,
it's still worthwhile to steal a good bit of ammo, you'll just have to
store them in a container of some sort until you need them. Arrows and
Bullets +2 are good for hitting magical beasties and Arrows of Acid are
great against Trolls... they will save you lots of trouble if you get
them. I also steal the Scimitar +1 for Jaheira to use, a Composite Long
Bow +1 for Minsc, a Short Bow +1 for Yoshimo, a pair of Katanas +1 for
my main character, the Glasses of Identification, and the Gem Bag. The
Glasses of Identification will make preparing Identify spells optional,
as you can just use these to identify your loot, albeit three times per
day.
I wouldn't consider it a requirement to steal so much for this game...
but it sure does make life easier in the short run. If you weren't
supposed to steal and this was akin to cheating I have the following
questions to ask: 1) Why would you have a Pick Pockets skill in the
first place if you weren't supposed to use it? 2) Why would you be able
to steal from Vendors? 3) Why would you be able to use multiple Potions
of Master Thievery to boost your Pick Pockets skill so high?
If you plan on stealing-and this guide will assume that you did-you will
need to steal only what you plan to equip or scribe immediately, or you
will need to find a place to store your excess loot (like Arrows +2,
Bolts +2, Bullets +2, extra scrolls, potions, etc). The Copper Coronet
makes a fine place to do so, as well as all the strongholds you can
acquire. Just make sure you don't store loot in a future stronghold
before you actually control it. Some areas (particularly thinking of
Mae'Var's Guildhall here) restock their containers once after you gain
control of them.
o===========o
|Mage Spells|
o===========o
3rd-Non-Detection
---
4th-Improved Invisibility
When you're done stealing from Arledrian's shop you can steal from him
personally to receive a Potion of Invisibility, a Potion of Extra
Healing, and 29 gold. If you've got an exceptionally high Pick Pocket
skill (over 120 will make the process easier) you can steal from Gaelan
Bayle to receive two Potions of Invisibility, two Potions of Extra
Healing, Bolts x20, and Bolts +1 x10. Also be sure to loot before you
leave. When all that is done leave the building. We've important things
to do before Yoshimo's Potions of Master Thievery wear off.
***ITEMS***
(AR0311)
(x=350, y=200) Chain Mail, Battle Axe
(x=670, y=250) Silver Necklace
(AR0312)
(x=300, y=250) Wand of Magic Missiles, Pearl Necklace, Moonstone Gem,
110 gold
(x=400, y=150) Aquamarine Gem, Throwing Dagger x10, Dart +1 x10,
History of Amn
(x=500, y=250) Water Opal, Tchazar Gem, Horn Coral Gem
***TRAPS*** (AR0312)
(x=300, y=250)
(x=400, y=150)
(x=500, y=250)
Slums District (AR0400)
o======================================================================o
6) When you exit you'll be approached by Brus, who will tell you about
a quest and offer to take you to the edge of the district, or to the
nearest tavern (Copper Coronet). Decline and walk down to the south
until you find a female storekeep (x=3500, y=1980) who will be our
second target. Steal a Sling +2 and a suit of Full Plate Mail for
Jaheira and a suit of Studded Leather Armor +2 for Yoshimo. Also note
that along the way you can loot the wall at precisely (x=3345, y=1660)
and obtain a Scroll of Protection from Magic Energy.
***ITEMS***
(x=3345, y=1660) Scroll of Protection from Magic Energy
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
7) Continue southwest to find two ruffians named Cohrvale and Bregg.
They're somewhat sturdy, but not sturdy enough to cause you trouble.
Bregg leaves behind a suit of Studded Leather Armor, a Short Sword, and
10 gold. Cohrvale will drop a suit of Chain Mail Armor, a Helmet, a
Medium Shield, a Battle Axe, and 41 gold. Wee. At least they give good
experience. Head to an area transition and go back to the Promenade.
Waukeen's Promenade (AR0700)
o======================================================================o
8) When you get to the Promenade hit 'M' to bring up your map and look
for the marker labeled 'Spell Store'. It's time to do some more... ah...
shopping. Yeah... You'll find Galoomp the Bookkeeper at (x=3330, y=300),
who will sell a variety of scrolls. Of course, I have no intention of
actually buying any of them. Steal as many as you wish, but keep in mind
the more you steal the better off Imoen's and Edwin's spell arsenals
will be. Once you've stolen your heart's content (for me this was
everything) there's another tactic to employ. If you have ToB installed
you can erase spells from your spell book and rescribe them... earning
yourself a good bit of experience. The primary goal isn't to
significantly level up your party-there are better ways to do that-but
to get Jaheira to 9th level as a Druid. To better your chances of
accomplishing this kick out any characters you can besides her and your
main character so the experience is only split two ways. On my game she
needed about 11,000 experience... after dividing that between her
classes and the rest of the party it meant earning about 110,000
experience from spells, which seems like a lot until you think about
the fact that you can earn 5000 from a single scroll. In any event,
you should consider picking up the following spells: Blur, Chaos,
Cloudkill, Confusion, Dispel Magic, Flame Arrow, Fireball, Friends,
Greater Malison, Haste, Improved Invisibility, Knock, Magic Missile,
Mirror Image, Slow. A full list of Galoomp's spells can be found
below:
o===========o
|Mage Spells| Galoomp the Bookeeper
o===========o---------------------------------------------------------->
1st-Armor
1st-Blindness
1st-Burning Hands
1st-Charm Person
1st-Chill Touch
1st-Chromatic Orb
1st-Color Spray
1st-Detect Evil
1st-Friends
1st-Grease
1st-Identify
1st-Infravision
1st-Larloch's Minor Drain
1st-Magic Missile
1st-Protection from Evil
1st-Protection from Petrification
1st-Shield
1st-Shocking Grasp
1st-Sleep
---
2nd-Agannazar's Scorcher
2nd-Blur
2nd-Detect Invisibility
2nd-Ghoul Touch
2nd-Horror
2nd-Invisibility
2nd-Knock
2nd-Know Alignment
2nd-Luck
2nd-Melf's Acid Arrow
2nd-Mirror Image
2nd-Resist Fear
2nd-Stinking Cloud
2nd-Strength
2nd-Vocalize
2nd-Web
---
3rd-Clairvoyance
3rd-Dire Charm
3rd-Dispel Magic
3rd-Fireball
3rd-Flame Arrow
3rd-Ghost Armor
3rd-Haste
3rd-Hold Person
3rd-Lightning Bolt
3rd-Melf's Minute Meteors
3rd-Monster Summoning I
3rd-Non-Detection
3rd-Protection From Normal Missiles
3rd-Remove Curse
3rd-Slow
3rd-Skull Trap
3rd-Vampiric Touch
---
4th-Confusion
4th-Emotion
4th-Greater Malison
4th-Improved Invisibility
4th-Minor Globe of Invulnerability
4th-Monster Summoning II
4th-Otiluke's Resilient Sphere
4th-Polymorph Other
4th-Polymorph Self
4th-Spirit Armor
4th-Wizard Eye
---
5th-Animate Dead
5th-Chaos
5th-Cloudkill
5th-Cone of Cold
5th-Domination
5th-Enchanted Weapon
5th-Feeblemind
5th-Hold Monster
5th-Monster Summoning III
5th-Shadow Door
You should ideally have many of these if you are a Mage yourself, but
keep in mind you've got allies to think about. And the experience always
helps. What good are spell scrolls going to do on an NPC merchant
anyways? Hell, you might as well make the most of your Potions of
Master Thievery Speaking of which, another merchant named Hes
(x=330, y=320) is just to the west, but he doesn't have must of anything
worth stealing. You could nip some Plate Mail from him, but that's
really not necessary. Especially not with so many other fine merchants
around to steal from. There's a Weaponsmith marked on your map on the
other end of the Promenade, but all he sells of interest are Arrows +2
and Bullets +2.
Armorer/Fletcher (AR0706)
o======================================================================o
9) Head over to the shop marked Armorer/Fletcher on your map
(x=1770, y=1200). Inside you'll find Arnolinus (x=420 y=350) the
armorer, and Perter (x=620, y=230) the Fletcher. Perter only has
Arrows +2, but Arnolinus has two suits of Full Plate Mail, a Large
Shield +2, a Medium Shield +2, and a Small Shield +2 which will all go a
long way to making our party more formidable. When you've taken what you
want from him, head over to the Adventurer's Mart (x=2200, y=1600),
which has much richer pickings.
Adventurer's Mart (AR0702)
o======================================================================o
10) Lots of interesting things to see, I know, but first head to the
back of the store to find Lady Yuth (x=180, y=410). She sells more
scrolls which you should certainly steal. I know this is a bit of a long
and tedious process, but it is immeasurably helpful to get access to as
many spells as possible. She'll also tell you to see somebody named
Corneil of the Cowled Wizards in the Government District if you want to
acquire a license to use magic. She's got a few spells that Galoomp
didn't have, that would be well worth your while to obtain, namely
Lower Resistance and Stoneskin.
o===========o
|Mage Spells| Lady Yuth
o===========o---------------------------------------------------------->
1st-Armor
1st-Blindness
1st-Burning Hands
1st-Chill Touch
1st-Color Spray
1st-Detect Evil
1st-Friends
1st-Grease
1st-Identify
1st-Infravision
1st-Larloch's Minor Drain
1st-Protection from Evil
1st-Shocking Grasp
---
2nd-Agannazar's Scorcher
2nd-Blur
2nd-Deafness
2nd-Detect Invisibility
2nd-Ghoul Touch
2nd-Glitterdust
2nd-Horror
2nd-Invisibility
2nd-Knock
2nd-Know Alignment
2nd-Luck
2nd-Melf's Acid Arrow
2nd-Mirror Image
2nd-Ray of Enfeeblement
2nd-Resist Fear
2nd-Stinking Cloud
2nd-Strength
2nd-Vocalize
2nd-Web
---
3rd-Clairvoyance
3rd-Dispel Magic
3rd-Fireball
3rd-Flame Arrow
3rd-Ghost Armor
3rd-Haste
3rd-Hold Person
3rd-Melf's Minute Meteors
3rd-Monster Summoning I
3rd-Protection From Normal Missiles
3rd-Remove Curse
3rd-Slow
3rd-Skull Trap
3rd-Vampiric Touch
---
4th-Confusion
4th-Emotion
4th-Farsight
4th-Improved Invisibility
4th-Minor Globe of Invulnerability
4th-Stoneskin
---
5th-Lower Resistance
5th-Protection From Normal Weapons
5th-Sunfire
---
7th-Limited Wish
---
8th-Symbol, Death
8th-Symbol, Stun
When you're done perusing her spells explore the rest of the
Adventurer's Mart. We should have all the spells we need for now... or
at least all the spells we can get our hands on for free.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
11) At (x=500, y=460) you'll find Diedre; a bonus merchant you can get
from various sources that shipped with the Collector's Edition of the
game. There's really no excuse not to have her, as even the latest patch
will put her in the game. She sells a variety of wonderful items we can
only dream of for the moment, described below:
Dak'kon's Zerth Blade
---------------------
This is a +2 Katana that was expressly designed to be used by a
Fighter/Mage... after all, that's what Dak'kon was in Planescape:
Torment. It bestows a +1 bonus to Armor Class and gives an additional
1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th level spell. It's not as good as Dak'kons blade
eventually could get, but it's still a nice off-hand weapon for any
Fighter/Mage, even if it does become obsolete fairly quickly. Unless
you've found yourself an over-abundance of money, I wouldn't bother with
it, although it does serve as a decent off-hand weapon until you get the
Equalizer.
Sensate Amulet
--------------
An amulet that gives you permanent protection from evil, +5 Hit Points,
and +2 Charisma. This really works well on Viconia, who has a pretty
good Charisma and thus can serve as a party leader. If anything the hit
points and protection from evil will do any Cleric good.
Vhailor's Helm
--------------
One of the best items Diedre sells and possibly the best helmet in the
entire game. It gives you a one-point Armor Class bonus and allows you
to cast simulacrum once per day. Simulacrum creates a duplicate of the
character casting the spell, who is at about half the creator's
level. Be that as it may they still have access to all of the
creator's items, including the Cloak of Mirroring, weapons, and armor-
even summoning items! That's right, you can create a simulacrum via
Vhailor's Helm, then use the simulacrum itself to summon an ally. The
Efreeti Bottle and Golem Book come readily to mind. This is a good item
to put on any character, as duplicating a high level Fighter with
plenty of Greater Whirlwinds and a vorpal weapon or a high level Cleric
and their Auras of Flaming Death has obvious benefits. It really gets
out of hand when it's on a multi-classed character, however. Duplicating
a Fighter/Cleric capable of popping out Auras of Flaming Death and
Greater Whirlwinds is an obvious improvement over the scenarios
mentioned above, as is getting two Fighter/Thieves. If each of the
Fighter/Thieves are wielding the Dagger of the Star they can both
unleash backstabbing destruction on your foes. It really gets fun with
the Fighter/Mage, where you'll get two characters who can spell-buff
themselves to nigh-invulnerability and then go after enemies with
Greater Whirlwind attacks. The tactics might be somewhat blunt and
repetitive, but it's also brutally effective.
Plate of Balduran
-----------------
It's armor with an Armor Class of -1, it gives +4 Hit Points, and +1 to
Charisma. Need I say more? Keldorn would love this. Granted, its -1
Armor Class doesn't make it much better than Full Plate Mail +1 (which
we'll find/steal in abundance, don't you doubt), especially for the
price... But if you have tons of money just burning through your pockets
later on, it might be something to consider. Also keep in mind that this
item sells for quite a bundle-in fact, it's one of the highest-selling
items in the main game. You have to buy it, of course, to be able to
steal/sell it to a fence, but once you do, you'll be able to easily
steal/sell grind for unlimited cash.
Mercykiller Ring
----------------
A ring that improves your Set Snares, Hide in Shadows, and Move Silently
abilities by 20%. Not essential, but still nice.
Robe of Vecna
-------------
Possibly the best item sold by Diedre, it lowers casting speed by 4,
making most spells cast instantaneously. It cannot be over-stated how
much it helps to be able to get off a spell before the enemy can,
particularly a debuff or defensive spell. Oftentimes the tempo (and
outcome) of a battle is set by who gets the first spell off. It makes
casting every spell that much more effective. It also has an Armor Class
of 5 and 10% magic resistance, giving it some practical defensive
implications as well. For Edwin and Imoen, there is no better robe in
the game.
Shield of Balduran
------------------
It imparts a penalty to Strength, but for, say, Jaheira, that's a minor
concern, since it won't lower her combat effectiveness any. With an
Armor Class bonus of four it's a pretty solid shield on its own, but it
really shines because it reflects Beholder rays, turning one of the most
fearsome monsters in the game into push-overs. It'll come in very handy
for the Unseeing Eye quest, and should probably be the first item we
get.
As you can see these items run between 10,000 and 40,000 gold, making
them well out of our price-range for now. You can't even steal them,
either! Oh well. It's something to work towards, at least.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
12) At (x=600, y=700) you'll find Ribald Barterman, owner of the
Adventurer's Mart. It's interesting that he allows so many other
merchants to ply their trade in his establishment... in any case, he's
got some good items on him, like a reasonably priced Sling +2, a Short
Bow +2, several interesting suits of armor that could go well on any
light-armor wearing character, the Fortress Shield +3, the Reflection
Shield +1, Bracers of Defense A.C. 3, Potions of Master Thievery,
Scrolls of Breach, a Girdle of Hill Giant Strength, the Ring of Air
Control, and plenty of magical ammunition. Depending on who you get in
your party, some or all of those items should interest you, but
specifically every party should plan on getting the two shields, the
Girdle of Hill Giant Strength, and the Ring of Air Control. There are
also various blunt weapons that would go well on Anomen or Viconia, but
we have much more important things to buy by far. When you're done
gawking at all the things you can't afford, pick pocket Ribald to obtain
a Ring of Regeneration. I don't usually invest this item into any one
character, especially not at this point in the game when there are so
few rings to go around. Give it to whomever is hurt to get some passive
healing. It'll cut down on healing spells expended and rest times
required. Even though its rate of healing is so slow that it won't turn
a battle in your favor, it will make exploration that much simpler.
o===========o
|Mage Spells| Ribald Barterman
o===========o---------------------------------------------------------->
2nd-Vocalize
---
3rd-Melf's Minute Meteors
3rd-Non-Detection
---
4th-Enchanted Weapon
4th-Secret Word
---
5th-Breach
Fortress Shield +3
------------------
With a +7 bonus versus missile weapons and an Armor Class bonus of four
this is a far superior version of the Large Shield +1, +4 vs Missiles
from the first game. It's a superior shield, and we'll use it a long
time... at least until we reach Throne of Bhaal. A defensive item that
you can get this early that'll keep that long is a good investment
indeed.
Reflection Shield +1
--------------------
While not as powerful as the Fortress Shield +3, it'll come in very
handy once in a while.
Girdle of Hill Giant Strength
-----------------------------
Another item that will last us a long time, through the entirety of
Shadows of Amn at least. No matter who you include in your party, there
is always somebody who will benefit from having a higher Strength.
Keldorn, Jaheira, and Viconia are all especially in need of this item.
Ring of Air Control
-------------------
While seeming somewhat lack-luster, there is no underestimating the
defensive implications of an item that allows you to cast Improved
Invisibility once per day. Put it on a Thief main character to allow
them to get out of trouble or to get another backstab ready. Or put it
on an character with a poor Armor Class to give them a boost for big
combats. It'll become obsolete later in Shadows of Amn, and especially
in Throne of Bhaal, as there will almost always be an enemy ready to
tear down illusions with True Sight.
Scroll of Breach
----------------
Just look at all the defenses that this spell takes down. It is your
primary debuffing spell against... well, most anything. You can always
use a Dispel Magic to do much of the same, but this is a more definite
means of leaving an enemy open to attack, without risking your own spell
buffs.
Bracers of Defense A.C. 3
-------------------------
Equal to a suit of Plate Mail, these bracers are good for every class
that is normally deprived armor, especially Monks and Mages. If you are
a Fighter/Mage, however, it becomes especially vital. Mages are well
defended by keeping their distance, but you're going to want to get into
combat-and survive. These allow you to do so admirably, and will be your
armor for most of the game.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
13) We still have one more thieving target ahead before these potions
wear off, but before we get to him, it's time to start forming our
party. There are still a few other merchants around that have various
things to steal, but we should have obtained all we really need. Most of
the random merchants hanging around will sell-at best-a few +1 weapons
and some +2 ammunition. Granted the latter can be nice, but it's not
essential at this point. Just remain open to future stealing sprees,
but don't waste the Potions of Master Thievery, they're not (to my
knowledge) easy to come by until you complete the Mage's Stronghold.
Since non-Mages can't even obtain this quest it really means you should
try and get the most out of your Potions of Master Thievery. To that
end, let's not dawdle and waste the potions we already have in effect.
Our next goal is the Copper Coronet, in the Slums. So travel to the
Slums District (AR0400) and enter the Copper Coronet at
(x=2490, y=2270)... but before we get there, there's something I
should mention...
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
14) As veterans of Baldur's Gate 1 will remember, going from area to
area was always a little risky, but in Athkatla there's a guild war
going on between the Shadow Thieves and another upstart guild that just
happens to have plenty of Vampires to throw around. In the next few
event sequences I will make a note of various random encounters that
can be had-either by just setting foot outside at the wrong hour
(usually night) or while traveling between districts. Mind you that
depending on your nocturnal activities it might take a long time to see
all these, if you ever do. They're not very important, I just feel it's
better to record them than not. If you don't care to read them and just
want to get on with it (I can't help but think about Monty Python's
'Holy Grail' when I read that...) skip to [WLK004]-which is where I'll
cover the Copper Coronet and our future party-building plans. Just
don't whine to me later when you get snarfed by a Vampire and don't
know why.
o======================================================================o
| |
| Random Encounters in Athkatla |
| |
o======================================================================o
Sequence of Events: {WLK003}
1) Arbane's Sword
2) Helping Harpers
3) Xzar's Quest
4) Hareishan's Warning
5) Salia and the Shadow Thieves
6) Parisa's Persuasion
7) Tanova's Inquiry
8) Sansuki's Salvation
9) Slaver Smite
10) Delon's Plea
Enroute in Athkatla I (AR0045)
o======================================================================o
1) Every time you travel between areas in Athkatla you run the chance
of encountering Slavers (among other things). In this particular
encounter one is named Suna Seni and another is named Eldarin.
Immediately focus your fire on the female wizard, and then focus on Suna
Seni when she goes down. They can be rough on a new party, but brute
force and attacking the spellcasters first should be more than enough to
win. Loot the Slaver Mage for a Scroll of Minor Globe of
Invulnerability, a Scroll of Vampiric Touch, a Scroll of Domination, a
Scroll of Shocking Grasp, a Scroll of Magic Missile, and a Scroll of
Flame Arrow. Loot the Slaver Cleric for a Necklace, a Potion of Frost
Giant Strength, a Potion of Stone Giant Strength, and a Mace +1. Suna
Seni has a suit of Leather Armor, a Scroll of Charm Person, and Arbane's
Sword +2. The Slaver with the bow has a Silver Necklace, Arrows +1 x20,
a Composite Long Bow, and 65 gold. Finally Eldarin drops a Bloodstone
Amulet, a suit of Plate Mail +1, Arrows +1 x40, a Composite Long Bow,
and 623 gold.
Arbane's Sword is a fair little short sword that offers immunity to hold
person and allows a character to use haste for two rounds once per day.
It's not spectacular, but you might as well hold onto it, seeing as how
having any +2 weapons will be a good thing for a while.
Enroute in Athkatla II (AR0045)
o======================================================================o
2) It seems like a good time to mention another random encounter you
might run into while traveling between districts... You know, since
we're on this topic. A group of three Thugs and a Mage will be found
near a wounded man. They decide to kill the witnesses (you) and a fight
ensues. They are woefully out-classed, and when they die the injured man
(Renfeld) asks for your help. Agree to take him to his friends' house
in the Docks District. Don't waste much time getting there.. just long
enough to loot the bodies. The Mage will drop a Scroll of Strength, a
Scroll of Chill Touch, a Scroll of Power Word Sleep, a Scroll of Haste,
a Scroll of Ghost Armor, a Scroll of Ghoul Touch, and a Scroll of
Summon Monster I. One of the Thugs will leave behind a Bluestone
Necklace, a Potion of Genius, a Potion of Defense, and two Daggers +1.
Another will drop three Potions of Extra Healing and 85 gold, and the
last Thug will leave behind an Oil of Speed, a Potion of Insight, and
67 gold.
Docks District (AR0300)
o======================================================================o
3) Go to the Galvery Estate in the southwestern corner of the area and
talk to Rylock (x=1450, y=2950). Give Renfeld to Rylock for some coins
and experience. When you head back up north you'll be approached by your
old friend Xzar, who names the people you just dealt with as Harpers,
and asks for your assistance in going inside and retrieving Montaron.
Agree to do it or not, either way, it's something we'll be postponing
for a long, long time.
***REWARD***
(For Bringing Renfeld to Rylock)
EXP 14550
Gold 125
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
4) A vampire named Hareishan will destroy a trio of Shadow Thieves.
Wait, wasn't there a Mage in the Cloakwood Mines named Hareishan? I'm
sure it's just a coincidence. She'll tell you to bugger off, mentioning
that until you choose your side the Mistress doesn't want you to come to
harm. Sure. Loot the dead Shadow Thieves for a suit of Leather Armor, a
Black Opal, a Water Opal, a Scroll of Contingency, a Note, a Short
Sword, and 173 gold. Another will have a suit of Leather Armor, a Sphene
Gem, a Bloodstone Amulet, a Scroll of Spell Thrust, a Dagger, a Scroll
of Stoneskin, and a Short Sword. The last one will leave behind a suit
of Leather Armor, a Pearl Necklace, a Dagger, a Short Sword, and 94
gold. Not a bad bit of loot considering we didn't lift a finger.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
5) If you go out at night you might just see a vampire named Salia
talking to two Shadow Thieves, obviously trying to lure them into the
new guild. Unfortunately they notice you and attack while Salia slips
away. When they die loot them. One has a suit of Leather Armor, a Gold
Necklace, a Sphene Gem, a Scroll of Disintegrate, a Note, a Short Sword,
and 68 gold. The other has a suit of Chain Mail, a Pearl, a Garnet, a
Scroll of Find Familiar, a Scroll of Minor Spell Turning, and a Bastard
Sword.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
6) You'll find a Vampire named Parisa trying to convince a Shadow Thief
to come join the new guild. When they refuse, she uses Dire Charm to
settle matters, and then threatens you before running off. You can kill
the charmed Shadow Thief for some experience if you wish.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
7) At night you may be questioned by a vampire named Tanova. At any
early point in the game, you'd be well served by saying you do NOT work
with the Shadow Thieves, as other responses will provoke Tanova into
attacking. Vampires are bad enough, but Tanova requires +3 weapons to
hit, and for a low-level party, that's just too much to overcome.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
8) A Shadow Thief named Sansuki will approach and ask for help, but
before anything useful can be communicated the source of his woes will
arrive. A Vampire named Del and two subordinate Vampires will show up
and warn you to stay uninvolved. Again, it's best if you simply let the
Vampires have Sansuki, as your odds against a handful of Vampires
aren't very good. Sorry Sansuki. If you do bother to help him out, all
he will do is thank you, and walk away. Really not worth the hassle.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
9) In the Slums of Athkatla you might come across a Slave being
escorted by a pair of Slaver Guards outside the Copper Coronet. The
slave will beg for aid and if you kill his guards you'll get a little
experience reward. Inside the Copper Coronet, you can talk to the
proprietor of the establishment named Lehtinan (x=400, y=1220) and ask
him about the obvious slave escort from his tavern. He'll play stupid,
and Anomen suggests we smite him right away. Somebody certainly doesn't
believe in a trial-by-jury. Lawful Neutral my ass. What's extra funny
is that later on Anomen will suggest that we should leave a slave in his
cage... so Anomen believes we should kill slave-masters, but keep unruly
slaves enslaved. Does this guy have two brain cells to rub together?
Anyways, we'll deal with this slavery issue much, much, much later...
well, not so much later if we're an evil party, but otherwise, my muches
stand.
***REWARD***
(For freeing the slave)
EXP 5500
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
10) This isn't a guild-related meeting, but if you have Minsc in your
party after enough time has passed, you'll be approached by a little boy
named Delon. He'll tell you-well, Minsc, rather-about the troubles of
his village Imnesvale in the Umar Hills. He'll mark the area on your map
and tell you to go to Imnesvale and talk to Minister Lloyd. This starts
the Umar Hills quest, which is a very rewarding -yet far too difficult
for us now-quest. Needless to say, I'll be putting it off for a while.
o======================================================================o
| |
| Recruiting Korgan, Jan, and Viconia |
| |
o======================================================================o
Sequence of Events: {WLK004}
1) Amalas' Challenge
2) Nalia in Need
3) Korgan's Quest
4) Joluv's Wares
5) Buying from Bernard
6) Guild War Worries
7) Viconia at Stake
8) Jan Jansen's Gibberish
9) Good ol' Garrick
Now that we're at the Copper Coronet it feels like a good time to
talk about what our immediate and future goals are. We know we need to
raise 20,000 gold to get Imoen back and to strike at Irenicus, and while
we're raising the money we might as well recruit the allies we'll need
to succeed. This is where the 'good' and 'evil' parties make a serious
departure, as who you recruit affects what quests you need to do to keep
them. For example, if you don't want Keldorn there's really no reason
to go do the Unseeing Eye quest yet, and if you don't care to recruit
Valygar you have no reason to enter the Planar Sphere. That said, no
matter who you wish to recruit you should recruit them before going
after Imoen and Irenicus. For the purposes of providing you-the reader-
with this information I will complete most of the character-related
quests before heading off after Imoen. This will comprise about half of
the quests that can be performed in and around Athkatla, and if you're
in a rush to get Imoen back, this is not a great path to take. If you
want to follow in the direct footsteps of this FAQ and recruit all the
PCs in the game (whether you intend to use them or not), then by all
means, follow me in the order in which I plan to progress. A more
practical way of playing the game is to just recruit the characters you
wish to take with you and head off after Imoen. After all, the more
quests you do before you run off after Imoen, the less you'll have left
to do when you return with her. Of course, an evil party who doesn't
care to keep Imoen long-term (why would they? They have Edwin!) can do
as much as they please. You only really need to rush if you want Imoen,
and even then, if you care how far behind she gets in experience. Decide
who you want in your party and make those characters a priority. Below
is a list of the characters and their related quests which will take up
the next part of the FAQ:
o=======o=======================================o======================o
|WLK### | Objectives | Suggested For... |
o=======o=======================================o======================o
|WLK004 | Recruit Korgan, Viconia, and Jan | Evil Parties |
|-------|---------------------------------------|----------------------|
|WLK005 | Jan's Quest. | Stupid People |
|-------|---------------------------------------|----------------------|
|WLK006 | Mae'Var's Guildhall (Recruit Edwin), | Evil Parties, |
| | Obtain the Thieves' Guild. | Thief Protagonists |
|-------|---------------------------------------|----------------------|
|WLK007 | Thieves' Guild Quests | Thief Protagonists |
|-------|---------------------------------------|----------------------|
|WLK008 | The Book of Kaza (Secure Korgan) | Evil Parties |
| | The Nether Scroll (Secure Edwin), | |
| | Obtain the Pale Green Ioun Stone | |
|-------|---------------------------------------|----------------------|
|WLK009 | Recruit Anomen, The Unseeing Eye | Good Parties, |
| | (Recruit and Secure Keldorn), | Slow People, |
| | Obtain the Gauntlets of Dexterity, | Cleric Protagonists, |
| | Kill the Bandits in the Sewers, | Ambitious Parties |
| | Obtain the Cloak of the Sewers | |
| | Obtain Saving Grace +3, | |
| | Obtain the Cleric's Stronghold | |
|-------|---------------------------------------|----------------------|
|WLK010 | Keldorn and Anomen family quests. | Good Parties with |
| | | Keldorn and Anomen, |
| | | People who like quest|
| | | experience. |
|-------|---------------------------------------|----------------------|
|WLK011 | Cleric's Stronghold Quests | Cleric Protagonists |
|-------|---------------------------------------|----------------------|
|WLK012 | Astral Prison (Recruit and Secure | Impatient People, |
| | Haer'Dalis), Obtain the Boots of | People Who Like |
| | Speed, Obtain the Wave Shaft, | Halberds, Bards |
| | Obtain the Bardic Playhouse | |
|-------|---------------------------------------|----------------------|
|WLK013 | Bardic Playhouse Quests | Bard Protagonists |
|-------|---------------------------------------|----------------------|
|WLK014 | Obtain Celestial Fury | People Who Like |
| | | Katanas |
|-------|---------------------------------------|----------------------|
|WLK015 | The Circus Tent (Recruit and Secure | Good Parties, |
| | Aerie), Obtain the Ring of Human | Ugly People |
| | Influence | |
|-------|---------------------------------------|----------------------|
|WLK016 | The Planar Sphere (Recruit and | Good Parties, |
| | Secure Valygar), Obtain the Gauntlets | Weak People, |
| | of Ogre Power, Obtain the Ring of | Mage Protagonists |
| | Acuity, Obtain the Ring of Danger | |
| | Sense, Obtain the Mage Stronghold | |
|-------|---------------------------------------|----------------------|
|WLK017 | Mage Stronghold Quests | Mage Protagonists |
|-------|---------------------------------------|----------------------|
|WLK018 | The de'Arnise Keep (Recruit and | Good Parties, |
| | Secure Nalia), Obtain the Flail of the| Fighter Protagonists,|
| | Ages, Obtain the Ring of Earth | People Who Like |
| | Control, Obtain the Battle Axe +3, | Flails, People Who |
| | Frostreaver | Like Axes |
|-------|---------------------------------------|----------------------|
|WLK019 | Fighter Stronghold Quests, | Fighter Protagonists,|
| | Nalia Quests | People Who Like |
| | | Clones |
|-------|---------------------------------------|----------------------|
|WLK020 | The Skinner Murders, Obtain the Boots | Completionists |
| | of Avoidance | |
|-------|---------------------------------------|----------------------|
|WLK021 | The Umar Hills, Part I (Recruit and | Good Parties |
| | Secure Mazzy) | |
|-------|---------------------------------------|----------------------|
|WLK022 | Trademeet (Recruit and Secure Cernd) | Druid Protagonists, |
| | Obtain the Druid Grove, Obtain the | People Who Don't Mind|
| | Cloak of Displacement, Obtain the Belt| Stealing |
| | of Inertial Barrier, Obtain | |
| | Tansheron's Bow +3, Obtain the Dwarven| |
| | Thrower +3, Obtain Belm +2 | |
|-------|---------------------------------------|----------------------|
|WLK023 | Druid Grove Quests | Druid Protagonists |
|-------|---------------------------------------|----------------------|
|WLK043*| Limited Wish Quests, obtain the | Enterprising Evil |
| | Boomerang Dagger +2, Obtain a second | Parties with an |
| | pair of Glasses of Idenfication, | Edwin who can Cast |
| | Obtain a suit of Full Plate Mail +2 | 7th Level Spells. |
|-------|---------------------------------------|----------------------|
|WLK051*| Watcher's Keep (Level 1 only) | Greedy parties who |
| | Obtain Quiver of Plenty, Case of | want to score some |
| | Plenty, Ammo Belt, Crimson Dart +3, | Throne of Bhaal loot |
| | Golem Manual | early. |
o=======o=======================================o======================o
*These two quests occur much later in the walkthrough, as they are not
completed until much later in the guide. First, we're simply not strong
enough to make it through more than the first level of Watcher's Keep
until near the end of Shadows of Amn... but I postpone it until we're
established in Throne of Bhaal, when it's easiest to explore in both
terms of party experience and story progression. Also, although I
strongly advocate at least partial exploration of the first level of
Watcher's Keep as our last endeavor before heading off to pursue
Irenicus and rescue Imoen I decided not to break up Watcher's Keep into
seperate parts in the Walkthrough for simple continuity... as opposed to
Umar Hills, which I broke up in order to lump all our recruiting quests
into the pre-Chapter 4 portion of the guide. A good party should head to
Watcher's Keep to obtain a few choice items while completing as few
quests as possible, whereas an evil party can-and is benefited by-
exploring the entire first level. This leads to the Limited Wish quest,
which is ignored entirely by the good party on the grounds that they
will simply not have enough experience to cast that spell before going
after Imoen, and the Limited Wish quests cannot otherwise be completed
again until Chapter 6, hence its chronological placement in the guide
until the good party can complete it.
To make life simpler, again, you can just follow the guide sequentially-
no matter what alignment your party will be. There's no reason an evil
party can't just leave Keldorn behind and do the Unseeing Eye quest, and
there's no reason a good party can't play with Korgan/Edwin long enough
to get their specific quests (the Book of Kaza and the Nether Scroll,
respectively) out of the way. If you want to just follow the guide-it's
okay. Imoen ends up fine. If, however, you really, really don't want to
do anything extraneous in this game, here's a short suggestion of what
each party should do at the minimum:
--GOOD-- --EVIL--
[WLK009] [WLk004]
[WLK010] [WLK006]
[WLK014] [WLK008]
[WLK012]
[WLK014]
Go recruit what characters you wish in whatever order you wish, after
which we'll have more than enough money to pick our poison and go after
Imoen. If you recruit characters you do not wish to keep, disband them
and send them back to the Copper Coronet when possible. I wouldn't
suggest doing this in two circumstances. Firstly, don't disband a
character you haven't secured. For example, don't send Korgan off before
completing the Book of Kaza quest, and don't send Valygar away before
completing the Planar Sphere. Also don't disband characters you want to
romance, as this will likely kill the romance. If you want to play with
good characters or otherwise don't care to recruit and secure Korgan and
Edwin skip to [WLK009]. For now, however, let's explore the Copper
Coronet and deal with-or at least acknowledge-all the minor events
within.
Copper Coronet (AR0406)
o======================================================================o
1) At (x=1100, y=1880) you'll find Amalas. If you talk to him he'll try
to provoke you into a fight. If you fight him, you'll get to go one on
one with Amalas, who shouldn't be too tough as long as you have some
levels of Fighter. Jaheira won't approve of your antics, however. If you
decline and have Minsc in your party Minsc is riled to attack Amalas.
Overall it's more profitable to duel Amalas.
***REWARD***
(For beating Amalas in a duel)
EXP 9500
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
2) You'll find a woman named Nalia in the tavern... or rather she'll
find you. As soon as you're in sight she'll come initiate dialogue,
hopelessly aristocratic and asking for help. Her quest takes you out of
Athkatla and is somewhat difficult, but to keep her happy you'll have to
do it. If it wasn't for this and the fact that she is practically a
clone of Imoen I'd consider taking her along. We'll deal with her and
her quest later. Much later.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
3) Over at (x=950, y=1870) you'll find Korgan. Talk to him if you want
the best evil Fighter in the game on your side. Agree to help him find
the Book of Kaza and he'll join with you. We won't delay too long,
however, as we don't want Korgan to grow impatient and leave. We'll
get to his quest shortly.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
4) At (x=1350, y=1750) you'll find Joluv... at least, you will if you've
got the latest patch and hence the bonus merchants. Deidre sold
Planescape: Torment inspired items, and Joluv sells Icewind Dale
inspired items. Overall, I don't find his gear nearly as useful as
Deidre's. Joluv mostly sells an assortment of +2 and +3 weapons that
will come in handy in the mid-game (Chapters 2-5), but will be
outclassed by the items we'll find later. Since that's the case, it's
probably a good idea to ignore his loot and save yourself the 20,000~
or so gold each item will cost. The sole exception is the Sling of
Everard +5, which is a pretty damn nice sling that has a +5 THAC0 bonus
and +2 damage bonus, and it doesn't require bullets, greatly improving
your inventory situation. You'll find a Sling later which is pretty
nice, and returning Hammers, Axes, and Daggers all exist, but there is
some merit to the Sling of Everard +5. It's worthy of consideration if
you ever find yourself too rich... if such a thing exists. Also there's
the Scarlet Ninja-To +3, which is more of a tease than anything else.
Its stats are comparable to (and superior than) Belm +2, a nice Scimitar
we'll find later... but since it can can only be used by Monks, it'll
just have to remain with Joluv.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
5) There are plenty of things to do in the Copper Coronet still, but all
of these quests can wait until later. You can go buy (steal) some things
from the bartender Bernard. He'll sell better things later in the game,
but until then we can at least nab a Sword of Flame +1, which will help
with Nalia's quest a good bit. Note that Bernard is ridiculously hard to
steal from, often requiring a Pick Pockets of 180+ to succeed. Now that
we're done in here for now let's head over to the Government District.
o===========o
|Mage Spells| Bernard
o===========o---------------------------------------------------------->
1st-Armor
1st-Charm Person
1st-Color Spray
1st-Blindness
1st-Burning Hands
1st-Chill Touch
1st-Chromatic Orb
1st-Detect Evil
1st-Grease
1st-Larloch's Minor Drain
---
2nd-Agannazar's Scorcher
2nd-Blur
2nd-Ghoul Touch
2nd-Strength
2nd-Vocalize
2nd-Web
---
3rd-Dire Charm
3rd-Ghost Armor
3rd-Ghost Touch
3rd-Protection from Normal Missiles
3rd-Skull Trap
3rd-Slow
3rd-Vampiric Touch
Note: If you want to be a little ahead of the curve, you can complete
the Copper Coronet Quest now (see [WLK036] for complete coverage). The
main reason to do this is to get Bernard to sell you better loot,
including the Sling of Seeking +2, and the Battle Axe +3, Stonefire,
among other things. And yes, all of these can be stolen, so you don't
even need money if you've got some Potions of Master Thievery. This is
by no means necessary... but that loot Bernard has for sale/steal will
benefit you a lot more now than it will later. When playing with an
evil party, I typically tackle the Copper Coronet after securing Edwin
and Korgan (after [WLK008]). With a good party, I feel no real hurry to
grab the Battle Axe +3, Stonefire, and hence I don't bother with this
quest until its sequential location in the walkthrough.
Government District (AR1000)
o======================================================================o
6) If you arrive in the Government District at night you'll find some
Amnish Soldiers in the northern central part of the district. They'll
question you about your identity and mention a guild war going on in
the streets between the Shadow Thieves and a new guild... presumably a
continuation of the fight that allowed your egress from Irenicus'
Dungeon.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
7) Head southwest to find a mob of citizens around a familiar dark
elf. Viconia (x=1820, y=1080) has landed herself in trouble again, and
is standing on the wrong end of an angry mob. More specifically the side
that's standing on a pile of logs and is about to be burned alive.. And
this isn't a spectator sport. Screw around too long and the mob will
burn her alive. Click next to her to free her, Which will provoke the
mob and force you to waste three Fanatics, who are push-overs anyways.
One Fanatic has a suit of Plate Mail Armor, and another has two Potions
of Extra Healing. It might not be much, but they should leave behind
enough to improve some of the armor you're wearing, and give Viconia
some rudimentary equipment.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
8) From here travel southeast to find a Gnome named Jan Jansen
(x=2730, y=1750). He'll describe himself as a part-time adventurer/part
time turnip salesman. Right. Don't blow him off and he'll try to sell
you a 'Flasher Master Bruiser Mate'. Shortly thereafter a man named Trax
will show up to apprehend Jan for the illegal sale of illegal items in
an illegal manner. Whatever you do, do NOT goad Trax into summoning the
guard down on you.. it's a fight we don't need to fight, especially not
with the reputation loss involved. If you cover for Jan you'll get some
experience. If you turn him in you'll get 100 gold from Trax. Of course,
to bail out Jan later you'll need to pay 800 gold, so it's a net loss to
do this. Get Jan on your side and do what you will with him. If you
keep him in your party you'll eventually have to deal with a quest
that pops up. This is common with recruitable characters, and I'll make
a habit of including the quests that accompany the various PCs in the
same sequence of events in which the character is recruited, even though
in all likelihood they will occur much later. Of all the PC quests,
Jan's is perhaps the most disruptive for this Walkthrough, undoubtedly
due to the fact that he is recruited so early in the game as it'll take
you to many areas that I don't intend to cover for a long time. I
suppose I could have restructured the FAQ to make Jan a better fit.. but
overall I find it best to leave the PC quests in the section where they
are recruited for organizations' sake. This really only negatively
effects Jan, as most characters have the good sense to have less
troublesome quests, and at the end of the day.. it's Jan. I can't be
bothered to make things more convenient for a character I never play and
whose worth I seriously doubt. The rest of this sequence will cover
Jan's story quest-most sane people will never bother with this, and if
you're one of them, skip to [WLK006] if you want to set about recruiting
Edwin.
***REWARD***
(For covering for Jan and prevent him from being sent to jail by Trax)
EXP 8500
***REWARD***
(For recruiting Jan into the party)
EXP 11500
Note from Lee: you can accept Jan into the party, drop pretty much
anyone to do it, get the experience, then re-accept the dropped person
back into the party and drop Jan for free experience without actually
having to put up with Jan and his crap.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
9) This is just an aside, but over in the southeastern corner of the
map you can find a lady knight named Lady Irlana (x=3000, y=3600), who
is being wooed by Garrick-presumably our Garrick from Baldur's Gate 1.
Of course, he seems to have lost his edge and is being fed flattering
lines by one Cyrando. It's a debacle, of course, but an amusing one,
nonetheless.
o======================================================================o
| |
| Jammin' With Jan |
| |
o======================================================================o
Sequence of Events: {WLK005}
1) Jan's Lost Love
2) The Daughter's Sickness of the Mind
3) Uncle Gerhardt's Help
4) Finding the Hidden
5) The Hidden
6) Thumb's Up
7) Hunting the Hunters
8) The Mother's Sickness of the Mind
1) Now, if you travel with Jan for a while you'll get a visit from a
relative of his named Beeloo Jansen, who tells Jan that he recently
escaped from prison and that some lady named 'Lissa' is staying at the
Jansen family home. After Beeloo leaves, Jan will elaborate-Lissa is
his childhood friend and former love interest that never panned out.
She married another Gnome named Vaelag, a far more serious and
successful criminal than Jan. Agree to help him out and follow him
back to his house in the Slums District (AR0400) (x=3550, y=1350).
The Jansen Home (AR0401)/(AR0402)/(AR0403)
o======================================================================o
2) Jan will provide a bad example for his cousin's twins and talk to
his mother, who fills him in a bit on the Lissa situation. She
apparently brought her daughter with her, and she has a problem, of
course. Her daughter has taken ill, but instead of a physical ailment
she apparently has some kind of mental impairment, possibly due to her
father's prevailing abuse. Jan will tell us to talk to Uncle Gerhardt
in the basement, while he leaves the party to stay by Lissa's side.
***ITEMS***
(AR0401)
(x=320, y=220) 1 gold
(x=250, y=200) Elixir of Health
(x=720, y=320) Potion of Freedom
(AR0402)
(x=480, y=220) 3 gold
(x=440, y=220) 1 gold
(x=400, y=210) 1 gold
(x=200, y=400) 1 gold
(AR0403)
(x=700, y=390) Short Sword, History of Durpar and Var, 5 gold
(x=270, y=250) Scroll of Identify
(x=150, y=250) Potion of Extra Healing
(x=200, y=370) tainted Antidote
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
3) Head downstairs and talk to Uncle Gerhardt (x=650, y=350). Wade
through his circular dialogue and he'll tell you that you need to seek
out something called 'The Hidden'. A lady named Jysstev can point you
in the right direction, her estate can be found in the Government
District of Athkatla. Seems like we're not done with the Government
District right now after all.
***REWARD***
(For talking to Uncle Gerhardt)
EXP 3300
Jysstev Estate (AR1006)
o======================================================================o
4) Return to the Government District and enter the Jysstev Estate
(x=2900, y=2900). You'll find Lady Jysstev wandering around within.
Talk to her and ask her about 'The Hidden' and she'll arrange a meeting
with you and tell you to go to the sewers under the Copper Coronet.
Now, with a good-aligned protagonist, I don't bother with the Copper
Coronet and its quests yet, and I certainly don't have a reason to
drag Jan along with me long enough to start this quest. On the other
hand, as an evil party I deal with the Copper Coronet early to get
some better loot. For more information on dealing with the Copper
Coronet (in part, or in its entirety) see [WLK036].
***REWARD***
(For getting Lady Jysstev to arrange a meeting with the 'Hidden One')
EXP 8900
Sewers (AR0404)
o======================================================================o
5) Head to the Copper Coronet in the Slums District and talk to
Lehtinan to gain access to his back rooms. Once you've obtained this
access you can safely head to the back of the Copper Coronet. There's
a secret door at (x=2150, y=900) that leads to the sewers
(x=2070, y=670) in question. Again, if you decided to take Jan along
with you-and hence this quest became obligatory and led you into
these sewers-refer to [WLK036] for everything you might encounter along
the way. You'll find Hidden at (x=1070, y=2230), who will agree to heal
Lissa's daughter if you deal with two 'creatures of evil intent' that
are chasing him. To uncover them we'll need to go talk to the
proprietor of the Sea's Bounty in the Docks District (AR0300).
Sea's Bounty (AR0313)
o======================================================================o
6) By the time Jan's quest occurs we'll hopefully have already explored
the Docks District-at least crudely (as covered in the next Sequence
of Events). So, without elaborating further head over to the Sea's
Bounty (x=2100, y=2100). Be sure to leave Jaheira outside to avoid
starting another time-sensitive quest, Baron Ployer's Curse. Inside
the Sea's Bounty you'll find The Thumb, the proprietor we're looking
for. Talk to him and pick dialogue option #2 to get him to tell you
that the folks you're looking for are in the Five Flagon's Inn in the
Bridge District, in a room on the second floor.
Five Flagons Inn, Second Level (AR5011)
o======================================================================o
7) So, head over to the Bridge District (AR0500) and into the Five
Flagons Inn (x=3200, y=2000). Go up the stairs at (x=600, y=300) to find
two Githyanki, which can be rather strong for a very low-leveled,
under-staffed party. Return to the Hidden and he'll tell you that the
girl is healed before revealing itself to be an Illithid. It'll leave
without incident, and we'll be free to return to the Jansen home.
***REWARD***
(For performing the task of the Hidden)
EXP 17500
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
8) Once home, you'll find all is not well. Being the useless bitch that
she is, Lissa will thank Jan for helping her daughter before telling us
that Vaelag is downstairs. When Jan goes to investigate the turn of
events, follow. Vaelag demands Lissa's return, makes some threats, and
Lissa only bothers to thank Jan briefly before leaving with Vaelag. Jan
will attempt to procure from us a promise of aid in the future, if he
discovers that Vaelag has continued to be abusive. Dude, let the bitch
go.
***REWARD***
(For saving Lissa's daughter)
EXP 15500
o======================================================================o
| |
| Mae'Var's Guildhall Quests |
| (Recruiting Edwin) |
o======================================================================o
Sequence of Events: {WLK006}
1) Independent Practice
2) Submit to Cyric!
3) Thieve's Guild Fence
4) Infinite Money Exploit
5) Meeting Mister Bloodscalp
6) Robbing Gorth
7) Mae'Var's First Assignment
8) Temple Thieving
9) Referred to the Red Wizard
10) Thieving Tests
11) Edwin's First Task
12) Mephit Murdering
13) Golem Grinding
14) Rayic Gethras
15) Edwin's Second Task
16) Marcus' Documents
17) Mae'Var's Last Task
18) Embarl's Loyalty
19) Edwin's Evidence
20) Reporting to Renal
21) Purging Mae'Var's Guildhall
22) Making Mae'Var Meet His Maker
23) Renal's Reward
24) Valen's Offer
Docks District (AR0300)
o======================================================================o
1) When you arrive in the Docks District you'll get a confession from
Yoshimo. He'll tell you that he got caught practicing his trade in the
city by the Shadow Thieves, and was supposed to report to Renal
Bloodscalp. He hints that there might a reward involved for completing
the independent mission he was supposed to get started on. We might as
well, right?
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
2) Head to the southwest and go down some stairs. You'll be approached
by a Mad Cleric who will demand that you embrace Cyric. If you decline
he'll attack you. When he dies he'll drop an Onyx Ring, a Jasper Gem, a
Quarter Staff, and 20 gold.
Shadow Thief Guildhall (AR0305)/(AR0306)
o======================================================================o
3) Over at (x=1350, y=980) you'll find a Shadow Thief, who will welcome
you inside being as you're a friend of Gaelan and all. Righty-o. Head
inside the door at (x=1330, y=900). At (x=950, y=790) you'll find a
Black Market Thief. You can sell stolen goods to her, which is an
invaluable service. You can buy (steal) a variety of scrolls from her if
you wish, including Fireshield (Blue), which is a great defensive spell,
especially for a Fighter/Mage. After all, a Mage who doesn't get
attacked in combat isn't likely to put the shield to full effect. Head
up the stairs at (x=200, y=350).
o===========o
|Mage Spells| Black Market Thief
o===========o---------------------------------------------------------->
1st-Blindness
1st-Detect Invisibility
1st-Friends
1st-Identify
1st-Infravision
1st-Protection from Petrification
---
2nd-Horror
2nd-Invisibility
2nd-Knock
2nd-Know Alignment
---
3rd-Clairvoyance
3rd-Dispel Magic
3rd-Fireball
3rd-Flame Arrow
3rd-Haste
---
4th-Confusion
4th-Fireshield (Blue)
4th-Improved Invisibility
4th-Minor Globe of Invulnerability
4th-Monster Summoning II
---
5th-Ice Storm
***ITEMS***
(x=850, y=800) Potion of Healing x2, Potion of Invisibility,
Potion of Master Thievery
(x=900, y=750) 1 gold
(x=950, y=700) Dagger, Long Sword
(x=1100, y=700) 3 gold
(x=750, y=620) Tchazar Gem, 234 gold
(x=900, y=570) Moonstone Gem, 39 gold
(x=1150, y=630) Waterstar Gem, Zircon Gem, 26 gold, Dagger
(x=350, y=470) Dagger, Bastard Sword
(x=200, y=400) Iol Gem
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
4) Note that you can sell stolen goods to the Black Market Thief, and
you can also steal from her. Can you see the cyclic flow of money at
work here? Sell her anything valuable you want, steal it back, sell it
again, repeat until satisfied. This works best with a very expensive
item, as you'll always have a chance to get caught, and stealing
multiple cheaper items will get frustrating. On the other hand,
sell/stealing the Plate of Balduran will see you with enough money to
buy anything you want in short order. Because you can buy/sell/steal
from her in an infinite loop, I prefer to sell her all the items I
accumulate in the game. This is practical, in case you sell anything you
later want or need, as you can just steal it back. It sure beats having
to rebuy loot from Ribald. And, of course, it also helps to favor one
merchant since you'll always remember who you sold your stuff to. Keep
in mind, however, that as you sell more items to one merchant, the less
they'll pay for that item in the future. There's a rather generous cut-
off point, but if you want to maximize your profits, sell in bulk. On
that note, this level of the Thieves' guild has plenty of containers
within which you can store your accumulated loot. No wonder I pick this
spot as my mercantile headquarters, eh? And just one more note, although
I preach the merits of infinite money, on these walkthroughs I did not
practice them. I could pretend the reason had something to do with
gaming purity, but as you've noticed if you've been reading along, I'm
quite content to use my theiving skills to rob merchants blind. No,
the reason is much more practical. Good loot equals stronger characters,
and stronger characters influence what quests we can do, and when. For
the sheer sake of organization, not using any infinite money tricks
allows the economy of the game to influence (to some degree) what order
we do quests. Do the Thieves' Guild quests first, get some money, buy
the Shield of Balduran, do the Unseeing Eye Quest, get some more money,
and so forth.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
5) You'll find Renal Bloodscalp at (x=820, y=530). Yoshimo and Renal
will trade barbs for a bit before Renal decides that he is more
interested in you than Yoshimo. Long story short Renal wants you to
investigate a guild leader he suspects of treachery by the name of
Mae'Var. If you're a Thief he'll also offer you to take up the guild in
Mae'Var's place if you find something and are forced to... remove
Mae'Var. Agree and leave via the exit at (x=100, y=600) to get directly
outside. Head to Mae'Var's Guild (x=3050, y=2500).
***ITEMS***
(x=300, y=500) 1 gold
(x=350, y=650) Garnet Gem, Diamond
(x=400, y=480) Potion of Extra Healing x5, Potion of Fire Resistance x2
(x=800, y=770) Pearl x3, 350 gold
(x=970, y=650) Jasper Gem, 39 gold
(x=1190, y=725) Light Crossbow, Bolt x60, Bolt +1 x2
(x=400, y=270) Dagger, Studded Leather Armor, Lynx Eye Gem,
De'Tranion's Balor Ale
(x=470, y=250) Potion of Extra Healing x5, Potion of Agility
(x=600, y=250) 3 gold
(x=750, y=330) Iol Gem, 217 gold
***TRAPS***
(x=970, y=650)
(x=470, y=250)
Mae'Var's Guildhall (AR0321)/(AR0322)/(AR0323)/(AR0324)
o======================================================================o
6) Over at (x=430, y=580) you'll find Gorch, who will try to peddle you
some wares. Tell him you're here to see Mae'Var and he'll give you the
go-ahead to go into the guild in the back. Gorch is the latest in a long
line of merchants we need to rob, and if you weren't messing around your
Potions of Master Thievery should still be in effect. In particular grab
some Maces +2 (enough for each Fighter to wield one regardless of
proficiency), and some Bullets +2. We'll be needing some +2 weapons
sooner rather than later. Also grab a Sling +2 and a Short Bow +2. You
know, since stealing is cheaper than buying them from Ribald. Also,
since it's 'free', steal the Leather Armor +3 if you still need some
light armor for somebody. Also nab the Ring of Protection +1, the Nymph
Cloak, the Bracers of Defense A.C. 6, Potions of Master Thievery (to
keep our stock up!), and the Rogue Stone. We'll out-grow this gear, but
we can always sell it back to the Black Market Thief in Renal's Guild.
Even if you're not really into stealing, you should rob Gorch. As a
friendly warning, he's not long for this world, and anything you don't
steal from him will go to waste.
o===========o
|Mage Spells| Gorch
o===========o---------------------------------------------------------->
2nd-Knock
Yoshimo happily accepts the Short Bow +2 and I give the Sling +2 to
Viconia, who is less potent in melee combat than Jaheira. The Nymph
Cloak goes to your preferred party leader. I give Korgan the Ring of
Protection, as his Armor Class is horrible right now. Also, the Bracers
of Defense A.C. 6 are an improvement for my main character. Head down
the stairs at (x=400, y=400).
***ITEMS***
(x=350, y=420) 190 gold
(x=500, y=500) Tainted Oil of Speed, 8 gold
(x=600, y=600) Scroll of Strength
(x=600, y=200) Sunstone Gem
(x=700, y=150) Quarter Staff, 12 gold
(x=650, y=500) Scroll of Minor Globe of Invulnerability
Note: Do not sell the Rogue Stone you just stole. It's pretty, sure,
but it'll give us access to an area from which we can obtain the
most powerful staff in the game-a real treat for your Mages. It will be
a while yet, and you'll find several other Rogue Stones while you
travel, but as a respectable FAQ-writer it seems important to warn you
now, rather than have you send me unhappy E-mails because you can't
get an item that really should not be missed.
Note from Lee:
Gorch is a dumbass - I stole/sold/restole/resold the Bracers AC6, the
Rogue Stone, and as many Maces +2 as I could hold over and over and over
and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over
and ended up with over 200k in gold - well more than enough to pick up
some extremely nice items from Dierdre. Of course having this much cash
triggers Valen and Brus earlier than "normal", but it doesn't really
affect the storyline (provided I don't visit the graveyard at night).
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
7) You'll find Mae'Var at (x=970, y=300). If you thought Renal was
ambiguously hostile, you'll find that Mae'Var is much less ambiguous.
He'll give you a job to go steal a religious item from a church, either
the temple of Lathander or the temple of Talos depending on your
alignment. Head off to the Temple District.
***ITEMS***
(x=400, y=650) Skydrop Gem
(x=400, y=850) 5 gold
(x=500, y=800) 16 gold
(x=630, y=700) Turquoise Gem
(x=630, y=680) 1 gold
(x=1000, y=400) Dagger, Small Shield, 5 gold
(x=740, y=240) Dagger, 4 gold
Temple District (AR0900)/(AR0902)/(AR0904)
o======================================================================o
8) Enter either the Temple of Lathander (AR0902) (x=2850, y=1500) or the
Temple of Talos (AR0904) (x=1900, y=2200). Either way you'll need to
wait until night for the temples to clear out. When you have either the
Statuette of Lathander or the Necklace of Talos head back to Mae'Var.
***ITEMS***
(AR0902)
(x=1250, y=1500) 99 gold
(x=1400, y=1450) Sunstone Gem, Statuette of Lathander
(x=1350, y=1450) Sunstone Gem
(x=1400, y=1450) Lynx Eye Gem
(x=1800, y=950) Potion of Extra Healing x2
(x=750, y=600) Potion of Extra Healing x2
(x=470, y=850) Jade Ring, 23 gold
(x=320, y=750) Scroll of Protection from Poison
(AR0904)
(x=1500, y=360) Potion of Extra Healing x2, Antidote
(x=1650, y=400) Potion of Extra Healing x5, Wand of the Heavens,
210 gold
(x=700, y=1000) Potion of Insight, Necklace of Talos
(x=500, y=300) Scroll of Protection from Cold,
Potion of Storm Giant Strength
(x=400, y=250) Bloodstone Gem, Potion of Insulation
(x=250, y=250) Bloodstone Amulet, Antidote x2, 6 gold
Mae'Var's Guildhall (AR0321)/(AR0322)/(AR0323)/(AR0324)
o======================================================================o
9) Mae'Var will brush aside your act of skulduggery and you'll get a
nice experience reward. He then decides he's too busy for you and refers
you to his right hand man, a 'bloody good spellcaster' named Edwin. Oh
boy. Head back upstairs and take the stairs to the second level (AR0323)
at (x=1100, y=400).
***REWARD***
(For returning to Mae'Var with your stolen artifact)
EXP 29500
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
10) Upstairs you'll find a room to the east that has a bunch of locked
doors and safes designed to test your Thief skills. If you still have
Potions of Master Thievery active you should definitely pick these
locks. Altogether they give a good bit of experience and loot. The ones
on the north wall are trapped as well, further boosting the experience
you'll get. when you're done looting head up the stairs at
(x=1000, y=500) to reach (AR0324).
***ITEMS***
(x=300, y=490) Antidote, Pearl Necklace
(x=400, y=460) 22 gold
(x=600, y=200) History of the Drow, 1 gold
(x=600, y=790) Skydrop Gem, Zircon Gem
(x=500, y=600) 10 gold
(x=550, y=600) 20 gold
(x=600, y=550) 30 gold
(x=630, y=500) 40 gold
(x=650, y=500) 50 gold
(x=700, y=450) 60 gold
(x=770, y=400) 70 gold
(x=900, y=500) 2 gold
(x=900, y=300) 80 gold
(x=950, y=300) 90 gold
(x=1000, y=250) Potion of Master Thievery x3, Waterstar Gem,
Ziose Gem, 300 gold
(x=1050, y=250) Emerald, 100 gold
(x=1050, y=300) Potion of Perception
(x=1110, y=330) Rogue Stone
(x=1170, y=300) Lynx Eye Gem, Fire Agate Gem
(x=1200, y=350) Short Sword +2, Buckler +1, Studded Leather Armor +1
***TRAPS***
(x=1050, y=250)
(x=1050, y=300)
(x=1110, y=330)
(x=1170, y=300)
(x=1200, y=350)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
11) Edwin is over at (x=850, y=350), and he's as haughty as ever. He
wants you to kill a Cowled Wizard by the name of Rayic Gethras. Seeing
as how we're not getting along with the Cowled Wizards, knocking off one
of their members is a welcome job. Leave Mae'Var's Guildhall and enter
Rayic Gethras' house (AR0315) to the west (x=1500, y=2220).
***ITEMS***
(x=1050, y=420) Bastard Sword +1, 35 gold
(x=1020, y=250) Dagger, 19 gold
(x=820, y=260) Fire Agate Gem, 63 gold
(x=500, y=370) Bastard Sword, 13 gold
(x=670, y=750) Potion of Healing x2
(x=370, y=550) Gold Ring
(x=330, y=500) Spear +1
Rayic Gethras' House (AR0315)/(AR0316)/(AR0317)
o======================================================================o
12) Inside you'll find two Fire Mephits, two Magma Mephits, and two Ice
Mephits. These require no special tactics to bring down. Loot the room
and make sure you're rested and prepared before you head up the stairs
at (x=150, y=350). Haste and Protection from Evil 10' Radius is probably
a good idea, as is Defensive Harmony. Equip whatever +2 weapons you
have. For me this means those Maces +2 I stole, and Bullets +2 and
Arrows +2 where available. Resting in this house was where I encountered
my first dream, by the way.
***ITEMS***
(x=500, y=250) History of the Red Ravens,
Scroll of Protection from Magical Energy
(x=440, y=150) Scroll of Clairvoyance, Cursed Scroll of Weakness
***TRAPS***
(x=440, y=150)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
13) Upstairs you'll find much more worthy foes than Mephits. Two Stone
Golems-which are fairly rough at this stage in the game-await you. They
aren't push-overs in melee, they have the ability to slow party members,
and they can only be hurt by +2 weapons. With all the gear we've been
stealing, however, they fall readily enough, especially with us being
spell-buffed. Before I loot this level I head upstairs while my spell
buffs hold (x=400, y=700).
***ITEMS***
(x=400, y=270) 115 gold
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
14) Rayic Gethras isn't much for talking, and he goes hostile after just
a bit of chatter. By now Jaheira has hit 9th level as a Druid, and has
an Insect Plague prepared just for this fight, she casts it as soon as
she can. As soon as combat starts Rayic will let loose with a Spell
Trigger, protecting himself with Protection from Magical Weapons and
Protection from Normal Missiles. He'll also get a Globe of
Invulnerability and a Stoneskin up. He is, safe to say, one rough
customer at our level. However, if Jaheira gets her Insect Plague off
he will be unable to cast spells for a few precious rounds... long
enough for my party to whittle through his Stoneskin and for his
Protection from Magical Weapons to wear off. His first move is to cast
Symbol, Fear, which will pretty much be game over if he doesn't get hit
with an Insect Plague, or even if he does, if he affects your whole
party. One way around this is to just head up with the main character
and Jaheira. My main character attacks and Jaheira stays back and casts
her spell. If he gets his Symbol, Fear off, the rest of the party can
then jump in when Insect Plague has rendered him helpless and beat him
down. When he dies Rayic Gethras will leave behind Bracers of Defense
A.C. 7, a Scroll of Charm Person, a Quarter Staff +2, and 40 gold. Rob
his house and leave.
***ITEMS***
(x=250, y=500) Scroll of Mislead, 1 gold
(x=550, y=400) Wand of Fire, 220 gold
***TRAPS***
(x=250, y=500)
(x=550, y=400)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
15) Head back to Mae'Var's Guildhall and talk to Edwin. Next he'll ask
you to get some documents from a merchant named Marcus at the Sea's
Bounty. Head back outside and enter the Sea's Bounty (AR0313)
(x=2100, y=2100). Whatever you do, do not bring Jaheira in with you. It
starts a quest we really have no need to complete just yet.
***REWARD***
(For reporting in to Edwin after killing Rayic Gethras)
EXP 20000
Sea's Bounty (AR0313)/(AR0314)
o======================================================================o
16) You'll find Marcus at (x=530, y=430), and there are many ways to
deal with him. If you're fast and strong enough you can simply snap his
neck without raising a fuss. You can pay him 250 gold.. or negotiate it
down to 200 for the documents. Or you can threaten him for them. Of
course you can always try to pick his pockets, but with Yoshimo that
means he's going to have to use some Potions of Master Thievery to
succeed. Report back to Edwin and he'll inform you that you have one
last task to complete, this time from Mae'Var.
***REWARD***
(For bringing Marcus' documents to Edwin)
EXP 10000
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
17) Go downstairs and pay Mae'Var a visit. He'll give you one last
mission; head back to the Sea's Bounty and kill a traitor named Embarl,
bringing back his dagger as proof. This time enter the door at
(x=2250, y=2050) to reach the upper level of the Sea's Bounty.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
18) You'll find Embarl at (x=580, y=320). You again have multiple
choices. First you can just kill him and grab his Leather Armor, Potion
of Invisibility, Elixir of Health, Embarl's Dagger, and 36 gold. Or you
could just let Embarl go in exchange for his dagger. Either way take the
dagger back to Mae'Var and you'll get rewarded, albeit dismissively.
He'll tell you to go see if Edwin has any use for you.
***REWARD***
(For bringing Embarl's Dagger to Mae'Var)
EXP 18750
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
19) Edwin guesses that you're not here as an obedient recruit for
Mae'Var and offers to help you find the hard evidence that Renal wants.
He will offer his magical services to you now, along with the key to the
strongbox in Mae'Var's suite. If you're playing an evil party you should
happily accept Edwin into your party. For all Edwin's potency, he does
have some rather glaring omissions from his spellbook. Have him scribe
Blur, Knock, Invisibility, Stinking Cloud, Dispel Magic, Slow, Improved
Invisibility, Stoneskin, Greater Malison, and Confusion to bring him up
to speed. Head downstairs and open the cabinet at (x=500, y=300) to find
Mae'var's Letter and Boots of Stealth. Yoshimo puts the boots on by
default. With the evidence in hand head off to tell Renal.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
20) Renal will be delighted to see you, even more-so when you give him
evidence of Mae'Var's treachery. You'll get a hefty experience reward,
and one last mission from Renal Bloodscalp; go kill Mae'Var. With
pleasure.
***REWARD***
(For bringing Renal proof of Mae'Var's treachery)
EXP 48250
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
21) I suggest spell-buffing before returning to Mae'Var's Guildhall, as
all the Shadow Thieves within are now hostile. They are fond of getting
backstabs, and will use Potions of Invisibility and Oils of Speed to
buff themselves in Combat. I've had Zyntris deal 82 damage with a single
attack before, which is well more than ridiculous. Needless to say, keep
unprotected characters safe... perhaps even outside. It only takes one
bad backstab to ruin your day. One tactic you can use to blunt the
offensive of the Thieves is as follows: head inside with one protected
character. In this case I used my protagonist spell-buffed with
Stoneskin, Blur, and Mirror Image. The Thieves directed their lethal
backstabs at them to no avail, then I brought in the rest of my fighters
to take them down, leaving my weaker characters (like Edwin) outside.
Head up the levels clearing out Shadow Thieves as you go. It's possible
to repeat the process above on the next floor, as well.
Note from Lee:
I recommend going up the exterior stairs and entering on the third floor
(x=3425, y=2150), then working your way down. There are no attackers on
the third floor at all, and you enter the second floor in a
strategically superior position. Plus you don't have the problem of new
attackers coming at you from both the floors above and the floors below.
If you have at least two characters equipped with ranged weapons, you
won't even need spells (or buffs) to clear the second floor. By standing
at the foot of the stairs, if you do happen to get into trouble, you're
poised to go back up and regroup (or ambush and take out attackers one
at a time if they follow). Same with moving down from the second to the
first floor, and again down to the lower level. I got thru this without
spell buffing at all, although I did take some damage in the final fight
with Mae'Var.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
22) Once the upper levels are clear head down into the cellar to
confront Mae'Var. Mae'Var has some Assassins with him and a Priest of
Cyric, but for all that, this is a very easy fight. You have two options
to win this fight hassle free. Use Edwin to conjure a Lesser Fire
Elemental, which will be immune to their weapons. Then just let the
elemental kill them all on its own. Or you can use Jaheira's Insect
Plague to eliminate their spell casting and send many of them fleeing.
Or do both to ensure a complete rout. Loot Mae'Var for Shadow Armor
(great for Yoshimo!), Arrows x40, a Scroll of Oracle, a Pearl, a Sphene
Gem, a Water Opal, a Horn Coral Gem, a Short Sword, a Composite Long
Bow, and 769 gold. In one of the cells you'll find a prisoner named
Kamuzu (x=600, y=500). Do what you will with him, but if you're nice, he
might just come back and lend you a hand one day... When you're done go
report to Renal.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
23) You'll get your reward all right. Each character will receive
45500 experience and the party gets a huge sum of gold... so much so
that you should be close to what Gaelan requires (if so, see Step #22,
next). If you're a Thief you'll also be given ownership of Mae'Var's
Guildhall. You can play with your guild if you wish, but time is of
the essence. Before we deal with it we should secure Korgan and Edwin's
loyalty [WLK008]. Since, however, you may or may not be recruiting the
individuals in question, it's my organizational method to include the
guild/stronghold quests immediately after completing the quest where you
obtain said guild/stronghold. Skip about as you please.
***REWARD***
(For reporting to Renal after killing Mae'Var)
EXP 45500 (each character)
Gold 10500
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
24) The following encounter will occur now that we have so much money-
15,000+ to be precise, and after the reward we just received, it's very
likely you'll have this amount. When you leave the building a woman
named Valen will show up and talk to you. She's got a better offer for
you, or so she says, and asks you to meet her Mistress in the Graveyard
after sundown. Brus will show up shortly thereafter and tell you that
Gaelan wants to sweeten the deal before you meet your new contact. Looks
like both sides are very keen on what we're doing. You might see other
altercations between the two guilds traveling around at night like the
encounter you had with Hareishan, and another later encounter you might
have with another vampire named Salia. If you pay Gaelan a visit he'll
tell you that the bosses have changed their minds and decided that
15,000 gold is enough for their aid. How curious. Anyways, both sides
want our money-and our allegience, but I'm not yet ready to make any
such decisons. There are two ways to avoid seeing Valen's mistress, who
waits for us in the Graveyard district-our next destination. First,
spend some of that money we got until we're under 15000 gold, or second,
just go to the Graveyard during the day. Simple enough. Resting up for
our run into the Graveyard triggers my second Irenicus dream.
o======================================================================o
| |
| Thieves' Guild Quests |
| |
o======================================================================o
Sequence of Events: {WLK007}
1) Introduction to the Guild Hall
2) Rattell the Fence
3) Jariel the Taskmaster
4) Ama's Revenge
5) Whodunit?
Your Guildhall (AR0321)/(AR0322)/(AR0323)/(AR0324)
o======================================================================o
1) If you are playing a Thief (single, multi, or dual-classed), or if
you have the Multiple Strongholds mod installed, you will be offered
Mae'Var's Guildhall following his timely demise. It's a good way to make
money, and it offers you a few more things to do, but nothing too
extravagant. This section of the FAQ will cover this guildhall, to be
pursued when you have the time and inclination.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
2) First things first. You'll find a man named Rattell (x=430, y=570)
standing where Gorch was, who is willing to fence goods for you. He
doesn't have the selection Gorch does, but he does have some interesting
scrolls you can pick up. Or at least Invisibility 10' Radius, which will
come in handy once in a while.
o===========o
|Mage Spells| Rattell the Fence
o===========o---------------------------------------------------------->
1st-Magic Missile
1st-Protection From Evil
1st-Shield
1st-Shocking Grasp
1st-Sleep
---
2nd-Luck
2nd-Melf's Acid Arrow
2nd-Mirror Image
2nd-Resist Fear
2nd-Stinking Cloud
---
3rd-Invisibility, 10' Radius
3rd-Hold Person
3rd-Lightning Bolt
3rd-Monster Summoning I
3rd-Non-Detection
3rd-Protection From Normal Missiles
---
4th-Stoneskin
---
5th-Animate Dead
5th-Cloudkill
5th-Cone of Cold
5th-Monster Summoning III
5th-Shadow Door
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
3) The thing to do in the Thieves' Guild is to talk to Jariel
(x=720, y=320), who will give you the run-down of how this works. You
have a stable of thieves and you can direct them to do a variety of jobs
with varying degrees of risk. The riskier the job the more money it
makes, but the more likely they'll get put in prison. If a Thief gets
put in jail you'll have to bail them out, which costs you money. See the
gamble involved herein? All of these success and fail rates are handled
with dice rolls under the hood and you'll get news of their successes
roughly every week. Pick settings you like and if they aren't bringing
you a profit change them as needed. You must pay your dues to Renal,
however, so keep in mind depending on the prowess of your thieves and
Renal's humor you might actually lose money. This typically only happens
if a few of your thieves get caught and you don't bail them out,
reducing the operatives you have on the field and thus the potential
income they might bring. Going with low-risk jobs typically gets you
more than enough to pay Renal and keep some pocket change, as well.
When you need to pay Renal a Thief named Joster (x=700, y=290) will show
up, at which point you really need to pay him off.
Note: Unlike most events in this game that seem random but aren't, this
one actually is. After you change the variables of each Thief's mission,
a simple random number is rolled and checked against the difficulty of
the mission. It's a simple 100-scale percentile roll, and oddly enough,
it's checked immediately after you give your orders-not when they come
back. Anyways, the more difficult the mission, the less likely they are
to succeed... which typically involves you paying a bribe to get that
Thief back in action. If you play it safe and pick the lowest difficulty
options every time you'll make the least money... but you'll be
guaranteed success. Performing low-risk missions, I typically made a
steady income of 1600 gold per five days. Joster will ask for 300, 500,
or 900 gold every time dues are due. This will earn me anywhere from
700-1300 gold per week, so it's not a bad bit of business. If you fail
to pay Renal's representative in time, you'll lose your guild. For some
reason this didn't stop me from collecting money from my thieves' jobs,
it just meant I couldn't do any more quests... and it also meant that
I didn't have to pay Renal anymore. Anyways, if you lose your guild,
you can go pay Renal 4000 gold to get it back.
That's just the basics, though, for those of you who don't want to
delve too deeply into things. For those that do, here's the full
details. Each Thief has a number of variables you can set-a 'safe'
option and a 'risky' option. Risky options return more money, but
incur a higher rate of potential incarceration. With no risky options,
their rate of success is 90%. With one risky option, the rate of
success is 80%, with two, it's 65%, and finally with three it drops down
to 50%. If one of your rogues is caught during their mission, they
obviously won't generate any profit, and to have them handy later,
you'll actually have to pay up. Depending on their potential profits
as the risk goes up, and the cost of bailing them out, some rogues
will make you much more money, over a long-term period, with riskier
tasks. To factor their long-term profitability based on risk, I
simple simulated ten 'runs' with each rogue and added up the money
they'd make each time at a certain risk-factor (risk 0 is no risky
choices, risk 1 is one risky choice, and so on). From this total I
subtracted an amount based on how likely they were to be incarcerated-
for example, after ten runs at 'Risk 3' Hanz could potentially make
you 9000 gold... but with a 50% incarceration rate, that drops to
about 4500 gold for a ten-run span. With a 100 gold bribe per capture,
that drops us to 4000 gold total-or an average of 400 gold per run at
the highest risk. This value is noted in the 'Average' row on the
table below.
o=======o=======o=======o=======o=======o=======o
| Rogue |Risk 0 |Risk 1 |Risk 2 |Risk 3 | Bribe |
| | 10% | 20% | 35% | 50% | |
o=======o=======o=======o=======o=======o=======o
|Hanz | 200 | 400 | 600 | 900 | 100 |
|Average| 170 | 300 | 355 | 400 |-------|
|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
|Goshan | 200 | 300 | 500 | 750 | 200 |
|Average| 160 | 200 | 255 | 275 |-------|
|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
|Kretor | 250 | 500 | 750 | 1000 | 50 |
|Average| 220 | 390 | 470 | 475 |-------|
|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
|Morsa | 100 | 250 | 500 | 750 | 250 |
|Average| 65 | 175 | 237.5| 250 |-------|
|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
|Varia | 150 | 300 | 500 | 800 | 300 |
|Average| 105 | 180 | 220 | 250 |-------|
|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
|Total | 900 | 1750 | 2850 | 4200 |-------|
|Average| 720 | 1245 | 1537.5| 1650 |-------|
o=======o=======o=======o=======o=======o=======o
As you can see from the chart above, not all rogues are made the same.
Different jobs, different crimes, different penalties. Kretor is the
king when it comes to profit, while Varia and Morsa kinda suck. A trend
that is univeral, however, is that there is a huge leap in profit if
you pick one risky element for each rogue. In the long run, you earn
more money as risk increases, but I tend to neglect to do this simply
because it's extra clicky work getting them all out of prison. Still,
at risk factor one (not to be confused with warp factor one) you'll
make nearly twice as much as with no risk. The rate of return falls off
sharply thereafter-with risk factor two you'll make about 20% more than
with risk factor one, and with maximum risk, the return is only
marginally better (less than 10%).
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
4) You will also find Lathan (x=600, y=270), who will tell you when
problems arise that require your personal attention. You'll be told that
there is nothing at this time that requires your attention, only to
have somebody named Ama show up and ask you to serve as a decoy contact
for a politician who is causing the guild trouble. If you freed Kamuzu
from Mae'Var's Prison he'll show up and warn you about Ama, saying she
was... close... to Mae'Var, and she is not to be trusted. Good to know.
Let's deal with this little problem then, shall we? When you arrive at
Waukeen's Promenade you'll find Ama, who will implore you to wait.
Eventually a man named Sir Greshal will arrive and Ama will spring her
ambush. A number of Muggers will pop out and fight in a similar fashion
as the Shadow Thieves. Still, one Insect Plague should win this fight
in short order. When Sir Greshal dies he'll leave behind a suit of
Splint Mail, a Small Shield, a Bloodstone Gem, a Mace +1, and 21 gold.
On Ama you'll find a suit of Studded Leather Armor, Potions of
Invisibility x2, a Potion of Extra Healing, a Horn coral Gem, Poisoned
Throwing Daggers x20, a Dagger, and 340 gold.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
5) Go back to Lathan, who will apologize for his lapse in security. If
you kick him out you will-as he warns-not be able to complete the rest
of the guild quests. I grudgingly keep him aboard. You will be told that
Kretor has been paying his dues to you out of his own pocket, as one of
the pickpockets underneath him has been skimming the profits. Apparently
they know who it is, but aren't coming forward with the information as
they don't trust you yet. You'll have several options to deal with the
situation. Let Kretor deal with it himself. Kill them all. Randomly
kill one of them. Or dock all of their pay. If you dock all their pay
the guilty one will turn up dead, and everything is resolved. That's it
for the SHadow Thief guild... you can still collect your money and
assign missions, but the quests are over. Seems kind of underdeveloped,
doesn't it? Especially compared to some of the other guilds... oh well.
o======================================================================o
| |
| The Book of Kaza and the Nether Scroll |
| (Securing Korgan and Edwin) |
o======================================================================o
Sequence of Events: {WLK008}
1) Edwin's Ambition
2) Adoptor-Seeking Arenthis
3) Tomb (AR0811)
4) Wellyn's Rest
5) Tomb (AR0810)
6) Uncle Lester's Revenge
7) Tomb (AR0812)
8) Stein and Company
9) Tomb (AR0813)
10) Tomb (AR0807)
11) Buried Alive
12) Sethle's Confession
13) Tomb (AR0805)
14) Tomb (AR0806)
15) The Lower Tombs
16) Spider Central
17) Pai'Na's Den
18) Finishing the Lower Tombs
19) I Hate Level Drain, I
20) To the Split
21) Sarcophagi Skeleton
21) Nevaziah
22) Sniped by Shagbag!
23) To Pimlico's Estate
24) Shagbag Strikes Again
25) Korgan's Revenge
26) Edwin's Translation
27) Edwin's Transformation
28) Edwin's Tracker
Graveyard District (AR0800)
o======================================================================o
1) When you arrive Edwin will mention the Nether Scroll-which Edwin is
sure lies in the lower tombs in Athkatla. This is the first area in the
game we'll explore in a traditional fashion... you know, going around,
exploring all the places, collecting quests, and otherwise doing
adventure-y type things, in contrast to briefly running through like we
have been doing.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
2) Over at (x=2350, y=1880) you will find Arenthis, a priest of
Lathander and his charge Risa (x=2370, y=1930). He'll ask you to find a
caretaker for Risa. Fortunately, just such a thing exists right here in
the Graveyard District. Over at (x=920, y=820) you'll find Kamir, a
Paladin mourning the loss of his adopted son, Stefan, who was killed by
bandits in Kamir's absence. If only there were SOME way he could, I
don't know, get another orphan? After all, if at first you don't
succeed, try, try again. Suggest Risa to Kamir and you'll get an
experience reward. Wait a while for Kamir to get over to Arenthis and
Risa and you'll get a bit more experience.
***REWARD***
(For finding a adoptive parent for Risa)
EXP 12250 + 3000
Tomb (AR0811)
o======================================================================o
3) Go in the tomb near Arenthis and Risa at (x=2400, y=1850) and loot
the Sarcophagus at (x=450, y=400). The Staff of Curing is a staff which
is poor in combat but it can in a pinch cure disease, poison and heal
for 3-18 +3 Hit Points.
***ITEMS***
(x=450, y=400) Lynx Eye Gem, Staff of Curing
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
4) Leave and head northwest to find some Halfling 'Mourners' at about
(x=1620, y=1730). They are Wellyn's parents, whose ghost will be here at
night. There are ways to get this quest now without having to advance
the story (namely by being too poor to pay for the help of Valen's
mistress), and I'll mention the quest here just to complete the
Graveyard District. At night you'll find Wellyn wandering around his
grave-or rather, he'll find you and initiate dialogue. He'll tell you
that he was killed by a Thief, and he needs his bear, Littleman, so he
can rest. The Thief is one 'Llynis', who spends most his time at the
Copper Coronet. To reach Llynis you'll have to get access to the back
rooms, which you can achieve by talking to Lehtinan (x=400, y=1220) and
selecting dialogue options #1, #2, #2, and #1 (among other options).
Llynis is at (x=660, y=550), and you can talk him into giving you the
bear... but why not just kill the bastard? Regardless of how you do it,
get Littleman back and give it to Wellyn. If you wait until day and talk
to Wellyn's parents you'll get some more experience for your trouble,
but no reputation increase... the kind of reward you think such a good
deed would warrant... ah well.
***REWARD***
(For giving Wellyn his bear, Littleman, so he can rest in peace)
EXP 15500
***REWARD***
(For talking to Wellyn's parents)
EXP 5000
Tomb (AR0810)
o======================================================================o
5) Anyways, now that the Halflings are gone, continue into the tomb at
(x=1450, y=1850). Inside are two Skeleton Warriors... nothing as
terrible as the ones in Baldur's Gate 1, however. They won't hit you
much, and aren't immune to non-magical weapons. They do, however, still
have Two Handed Swords +1, which will sell well.
***ITEMS***
(x=450, y=400) 29 gold
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
6) Exit the tomb and head northwest to find a scared peasant named
Nevin, who begs you to help put down his dead uncle Lester. Uncle
Lester will show up and the two will argue. Note that the voice of Uncle
Lester is the same actor who does Harold, from the Fallout series. Uncle
Lester will then attack Nevin, and you can jump in to save him, if you
wish.
***REWARD***
(For saving Nevin from Uncle Lester)
EXP 6500
Tomb (AR0812)
o======================================================================o
7) Ignore the tombs at (x=900, y=1650) and (x=650, y=1800) as they are
ways to get to where we're going, and it should not be explored before
we're done with the rest of the graveyard. Instead go into a tomb at
(x=1350, y=1200). Korgan grabs the Battle Axe +2.
***ITEMS***
(x=400, y=350) Battle Axe +2
(x=350, y=300) Bloodstone Amulet, 1 gold
***TRAPS***
(x=400, y=350)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
8) Near the middle of the level, at night, you can find Stein
(x=1720, y=1050) near the Crypt at (x=1670, y=1000). Talk to him, and
pick option #2 to question his activities. If you threaten to put him
down, he'll summon two of his buddies. They're weak, and really don't
drop anything of value.
Tomb (AR0813)
o======================================================================o
9) Go up some stairs and into another tomb (x=1670, y=1000) to find two
Shadow Fiends and a Mummy. Everybody has magical weapons by now, so
this isn't a hard fight, just watch out for the Mummy's ability to
disease you and the Shadow Fiend's paralysis. Both of which can be
cleared up easily enough with Clerical spells, but in the middle of a
fight it can be annoying.
***ITEMS***
(x=400, y=350) Gold Ring, Skydrop Gem
Tomb (AR0807)
o======================================================================o
10) At (x=2250, y=1100) you'll find another tomb, this one has two
nobles standing outside of it by the name of Arthur (x=2240, y=1200) and
Maggie (x=2150, y=1150) who will reminisce over their deceased butler
Jeeves. Go inside, loot, and leave.
***ITEMS***
(x=400, y=350) 34 gold
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
11) Go up some stairs to the northwest and you'll get the following
message:
"Nearby you see an open grave. A chill runs up your spine as you hear a
sound emit from it. You shake your head and continue walking. The sound
is clearer now. You are not imagining it. Muffled cries for help are
coming from the grave."
Click at (x=1000, y=670) to help the poor soul. The man in the grave,
Tirdir, will talk to you, thanking you for rescuing him. He'll tell you
that some men held him hostage and buried him alive when they received
the ransom money they asked for. He'll tell you one of the men wore a
bright red shirt, and give you a piece of it to help in your search and
he'll tell you that the Gravekeeper spoke to this red-garbed man. Edwin
will complain about doing something as useless as helping a peasant
out... Wait... Red clothes? Nah, couldn't be.. Anyways, if you want to
finish this quest now, you'll need to skip over to [WLK021],
Steps 10-12.
***REWARD***
(Rescue Tirdir from his grave)
EXP 6500
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
12) Speaking of a Gravekeeper... Over at (x=1550, y=400) you'll find
Sethle the gravekeeper. Talk to him and threaten him a bit and he'll
eventually capitulate and spill the beans, telling you that the man in
red you're looking for can be found in the Bridge District.
Tomb (AR0805)
o======================================================================o
13) Go in the tomb near Sethle at (x=1450, y=400). Inside you'll find
two Mummies and a Skeleton Warrior. Give the Mummies priority, because
again, they can cause disease. Pummel them, loot, and leave.
***ITEMS***
(x=450, y=400) Silver Necklace, Scroll of Identify, 6 gold
Tomb (AR0806)
o======================================================================o
14) Head over to the tomb at (x=750, y=850) where you'll find the Crypt
King. He's got a lot of Hit Points and can dish out some serious damage
He's immune to non-magical weapons but thankfully he's got a fairly low
Armor Class. It wouldn't be a bad idea to Haste up and use some Clerical
spell-buffs before taking him on, as at this point he'll likely do some
damage to your characters. He's not hard in the grand scheme of things,
but when the best of my characters is boasting a -4 Armor Class he can
do a lot of damage. When he dies he'll leave behind a Helmet, a Garnet,
and Namarra +2. Namarra is a Long Sword +2 that can cast Silence 15'
Radius three times per day. Not only is a +2 weapon an improvement over
my Fighter/Mages' Katana +1, but it also serves a useful purpose in
being able to foil enemy spell casters. It's not a great weapon by
itself, but its ability to cast Silence 15' Radius means it might be a
good idea to keep it on hand long after it's melee usefulness has been
eclipsed by more powerful weapons.
***ITEMS***
(x=400, y=350) 9 gold
(x=350, y=300) Ziose Gem, Scroll of Summon Efreet
Lower Tombs (AR0801)
o======================================================================o
15) Now it's time to get down to the Lower Tombs. I prefer taking the
entrance marked on your map at (x=2600, y=850). You'll have to be
careful down here, as there are a fair number of traps. In the cavernous
chamber immediately to the west are a variety spiders and Ettercaps. You
should view Ettercaps as much more severe threats at this point. Swords
Spiders can't really do much more than harass you, but Ettercaps can
poison you, which is much more annoying. Work your way around to the
south and Korgan will tell you that you're close to the tombs he's
interested in. These tombs can be found by taking the area exit at
(x=2700, y=3300), but we should finish off (AR0801) before we head to
(AR0802).
***TRAPS***
(x=3550, y=1900)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
16) North from the exit to (AR0802) you'll find another exit. When you
approach a Sword Spider, Phase Spider, and Wraith Spider will show up.
Kill them and spell-buff before before you head to the ominous web-dome
to the north (x=2400, y=1400).
Pai'Na's Den (AR0804)
o======================================================================o
17) Once you arrive you'll be bothered by a Dark Elf named Pai'Na in a
place reminiscent of where you fought Centeol in the first game. She'll
summon a host of weak little spiders to help her, which a Fireball will
kill admirably. I hit her with Namarra's Silence 15' Radius ability and
chop her down. Insect Plague also works well, and it's just as good at
killing her Spiders as it is for stopping her spells. Have some Slow
Poison spells ready, as her Spiders do some outright stupid poison
damage. When Pai'Na dies she'll leave behind a Black Spider Figurine and
a Quarterstaff. The spider summoned by the figurine isn't terribly
strong, but having anything that can distract enemies is good. Loot her
web for some more toys, namely the Pale Green Ioun Stone. It won't
protect you from critical hits and it doesn't give you an Armor Class
bonus, but it's still a nice item to put in your helmet slot. Put it on
a character that struggles with Hit Points and THAC0, but otherwise has
a good Armor Class. Also, since it does not protect you from critical
hits it should go on a more... secondary Fighter. Viconia stands out as
the best choice for this item, but Jaheira is a good choice as well. In
the latter instance she can pass off the Helm of Balduran to a stronger
Fighter. The Scroll of Spell Immunity is also rather useful in certain
situations. For example, if you know an enemy is going to try something
sneaky like cast an Imprisonment spell you can use this spell to become
immune to Abjuration spells, or if you know an enemy is going to hit you
with death spells you can become immune to Necromancy. You can even
prepare multiple instances of the spell to become immune to multiple
schools of magic... In fact, this spell is the back-bone of my anti-
Lich strategy, and is perhaps the best defensive spell against magic in
the entire game. Paired with the Cloak of Mirroring, you can-for all
intents and purposes-become immune to enemy spells... or at least all
the ones that matter.
***ITEMS***
(x=600, y=380) Pale Green Ioun Stone, Scroll of Spider Spawn,
Scroll of Spell Immunity
Note from Lee: in my case, the Pale Green Ioun Stone goes on Edwin. My
party is very well protected, due to having steal/sold over 300k worth
of items to Gorch in Mae'Var's Guildhall and then purchasing all of the
best weapons and armor available at this point in the game. Since Edwin
cannot wear a helmet, and I don't want to lose the critical hit safety
on the rest of the party, it's the best choice.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
18) Head back out to (AR0801) and continue west to find some more
spiders, traps, and loot. You'll also find entrances to the outside, and
to the north you'll find a door you can't open yet. As for the scroll of
Horrid Wilting we'll find; Horrid Wilting is one of the best direct
damage-dealing spells in the game for several reasons. Firstly, it
simply out-powers spells like Fireball (10d6 versus 20d8). Secondly it's
not fire damage, so fewer creatures are immune to its effects. And
lastly, and most importantly, it won't affect party members. Since you
can throw it into combat with impunity it'll become one of your most
effective weapons... just as soon as you can cast 8th level spells. Save
it for Imoen or Edwin to scribe later. You definitely don't want to have
a character learn it who you won't play with, and being a multi-classed
Mage, my main character isn't going to be able to cast it for a long,
long time. When you're done looting head over to (AR0802).
***ITEMS***
(x=1100, y=3000) Scroll of Ray of Enfeeblement,
Scroll of Minor Spell Deflection, Wooden Stake,
Arrows x80, Throwing Axes x30, Bolts x80
(x=900, y=3570) Scroll of Abi Dalzim's Horrid Wilting, Gold Ring,
Scroll of Color Spray, Scroll of Protection from Fire
(x=420, y=3350) Bluestone Necklace
***TRAPS***
(x=1100, y=3000)
(x=1150, y=3150)
(x=900, y=3570)
(x=750, y=3700)
Southern Dungeons (AR0802)
o======================================================================o
19) This room sucks. Ahead of you is a mosaic of a person's bust, on top
of which are several traps. If you go forward too far you'll provoke an
attack by assorted undead, the worst of which are Wights, which can
cause level drain. I must say that I HATE level drain, it's just a pain
in the ass to cure, and it annoys me nearly as much as losing one of my
characters. The best defense against it at this point in the game is
ranged attacks and spells, as we do not yet have gear that grants us
immunity-and Negative Plane Protection just has a laughably short
duration. Failing that, rely on spell buffs like Blur and Mirror Image,
but keep in mind that while Stoneskin might negate damage, it won't
negate the level drain. I summon a Lesser Fire Elemental right on the
mosaic's forehead, and summon Kitthix via the Black Spider Figurine near
the statue to the south, each one will intercept a Wight while my party
takes them out with Magic Missiles and missile fire. After the Wights
die it's just a matter of clearing up the rest of the undead. There is
also a Vampyre in the far corner which, while not as strong as a normal
Vampire can still level drain, and three freaking levels a hit at that!
So long as you don't go too far forward you shouldn't draw it into your
fight while the Wights are still alive. Either take it out with your
Fire Elemental or prepare for it with some spells, this is what we'll
call our 'vampire Strategy.' Have a Cleric cast Chaotic Commands
(a 5th level spell) and Negative Plane Protection (4th level) on a
Fighter. I typically choose my main character, who can spell buff with
additional magics. Then I engage with my main character while the rest
of my party lets loose with magical ammunition. Note, this is also my
strategy for dealing with Illithids, and once I obtain the Amulet of
Power I can dispense with Negative Plane Protection when fighting level-
draining foes. The Fire Elemental trick works fine here, but keep in
mind that it will probably be drained down to nothing on its own.
Use it to draw the Vampyre in, but then send your party in to kill the
Vampyre. My evil party summons Kitthix via the Black Spider Figurine,
and my protagonist and Edwin shoot the Vampyre down with Magic Missiles,
since my party is admittably weaker in traditional missile power than it
should be.
***ITEMS***
(x=960, y=260) Pearl Necklace, Scroll of Protection from Electricity,
Bullets +1 x40, Darts +1 x40, 100 gold
***TRAPS***
(x=820, y=490)
(x=870, y=450)
(x=900, y=530)
(x=1050, y=650)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
20) Opposite where the Vampyre came from you'll find a secret door
(x=900, y=800). Head through it to find some Mummies. Further down the
hallway you'll find Shadows, a Shadow Fiend, and Wraiths. Thankfully,
no Wights. Continue on until you come to a fork, one path leading east
and another leading south.
***ITEMS***
(x=530, y=1300) Silver Necklace, Fire Agate Gem, Onyx Ring,
Arrows +1 x40, 70 gold.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
21) To the east you'll find a trap in front of the sarcophagus at
(x=820, y=1320). Disarm the trap and activate the sarcophagus to open
it. A Skeleton Warrior will appear, which can then be lured back to the
open area where you fought the Wraiths and easily dispatched. Search it
for a Battle Axe +2 and the Spear +1, Halycon.
***TRAPS***
(x=820, y=1400)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
22) Continue further down the eastern tunnel to find a group of Mummies
and Ghasts. Fireball and Holy Smite work well to hinder them before
engaging, just don't catch party members in them. You'll eventually find
a Lich named Nevaziah if Edwin is in your party. Edwin demands the
Nether Scroll, Nevaziah declines, and a battle ensues. Nevaziah,
although a Lich of sorts, isn't nearly as dangerous as a true Lich. Get
on top of him with your Fighters, Edwin for his part interrupts him as
often as possible with Magic Missiles. A True Sight spell will keep most
of his mischief at bay, or at least prevent him from getting respite via
Shadow Door and protection with Mirror Image. When he falls Edwin will
claim his Nether Scroll. He's not quite done with the Nether Scroll just
yet, but it'll take him time to read and interprate it. Now Edwin is
satisfied, go back to where the path split and head south.
***ITEMS***
(x=2070, y=1250) Dagger +1
(x=2100, y=1200) Silver Ring, Moonbar Gem, Wand of Fear,
Scroll of Reflected Image, Bolts +1 x40
***REWARD***
(For claiming the Nether Scroll)
EXP 11750
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
23) Disarm the slew of traps on your way south until you come to an
open room where a Mummy, declaring itself to be a student of Nevaziah,
will attack the party for defiling the tomb and stealing the Book of
Kaza. Unfortunately it seems Korgan's old buddies have beat us here, and
Korgan is beside himself with rage. Search the tomb and leave. Korgan
wants to go to Pimlico's and try to head off Shagbag and his crew.
Onward, to the Temple District.
***ITEMS***
(x=1230, y=2130) Throwing Axe x10, Composite Long Bow, Arrows +1 x8
(x=870, y=2370) Potion of Defense, 110 gold
***TRAPS***
(x=300, y=1600)
(x=450, y=1800)
(x=700, y=2060)
Temple District (AR0900)
o======================================================================o
24) Pimlico's Estate is northeast of the Temple of Lathander
(x=4200, y=1000). Go through the temple in order to avoid triggering the
start of the Unseeing Eye quest... Not that it's really all that
important, I just don't want to cover it now. Enter the Temple of
Lathander (AR0902) at (x=2880, y=1500), and exit via the door at
(x=1800, y=1500).
Pimlico's Estate (AR0905)
o======================================================================o
25) Pimlico is indeed dead when you arrive, although why Korgan's crew
would kill their boss is a mystery (although people who would travel
around with Korgan can't be very nice folk.) He suggests finding them at
the Copper Coronet, where they are off celebrating. Loot Pimlico's
Estate for some meager treasure and head off to the Slums District.
***ITEMS***
(x=550, y=250) History of Tethyr, 2 gold
(x=750, y=110) Oil of Speed, 20 gold
(x=450, y=420) Tchazar Gem, 7 gold
(x=350, y=470) Potion of Extra Healing x2, Dart of Wounding x1
(x=220, y=550) Greenstone Ring, 134 gold
***TRAPS***
(x=220, y=550)
***REWARD***
(For discovering Pimlico's fate)
EXP 8750
Slums District (AR0400)
o======================================================================o
26) Go to the Copper Coronet and head up the stairs to the roof to find
Shagbag (x=2020, y=1730) and company. Korgan and him will exchange
pleasantries, after which cheeky hostility verily doth ensue. I hit
them with two Silence 15' Radius (one from Namarra and one from Viconia)
to ensure that their Cleric doesn't cause any trouble. I also summon
Kitthix next to him, which will hopefully distract a few of them.
Jaheira gets off an Insect Plague and the fight is well in hand. I loot
Shagbag for a suit of Chain Mail, a Helmet, a Medium Shield, the Book of
Kaza, a Short Sword, and 250 gold. Scrooloose has a suit of Chain Mail,
a Helmet, a Medium Shield, a Short Sword, and 200 gold. The Cleric has
a Quarter Staff and 49 gold, while the two Goons each have a suit of
Chain Mail, a Helmet, a Medium Shield, a Short Sword, and 100 gold.
Korgan is now yours to keep for as long as you want him. He will ask the
party to go see to some business he is interested in with some fellow
named Madeen in the Government District, but unless you flat-out deny
him he'll stick around... even if you let time pass. Frankly at this
point in the game I could care less about Madeen, and less about
Korgan's image. Oh, and the Book of Kaza is simply something you can
sell.
***REWARD***
(For locating Shagbag and his posse)
EXP 5000
I now head over to a merchant and sell my accumulated wealth, bringing
me over 30,000 gold. I can now buy most anything I want, but considering
what's coming up next... it's time to get the Shield of Balduran from
Diedre in the Adventurer's Mart. I also get the Bracers of Defense
A.C. 3 more or less because it's the only other item I can afford. I put
the Shield of Balduran on Jaheira, as her Strength is a useless 15, and
she won't lose a thing by dropping down to 14. The Bracers go to my main
character, of course. This brings his Armor Class down to an acceptable
-2. If you're playing an evil party and you don't care to drop Korgan,
Viconia, and/or Edwin off, by all means skip down to the Slave Lords
quest. Otherwise, head over to the Copper Coronet.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
27) Before I drop anybody off it's time to let Edwin get done with his
Nether Scroll business. Go and rest for a few days, at which point Edwin
will exclaim that he has translated the Nether Scroll. He will get a
good chunk of experience before letting you continue on. Note that in
between resting be sure to check on your Thieves' Guild lest you lose
it. Pursuing the Thieves' Guild quests is an alternative to just
frittering away time resting.
Note from Lee:
It's best not to be in the Copper Coronet for Edwina's second encounter
with Degardan. When I hit this encounter while in the bar, the entire
place turned hostile and I literally had to kill everyone (including
Bernard, after which I couldn't buy/sell shit there). I just go on with
the next quest (Unseeing Eye) and deal with Edwina's problems when they
come up.
***REWARD***
(For Edwin translating the Nether Scroll)
EXP 50000 (Edwin only)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
28) Rest another day and Edwin will discover a spell of transformation
in the Nether Scroll, which he thinks is akin to the transformation of a
Mage into a Lich. He of course, being an ambitious Red Wizard of Thay,
has no qualms about becoming an undead monster if it means gaining
eternal life and the powers of a Lich. Unfortunately Edwin's spell
doesn't go quite to plan, and you end up with... Edwina.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
29) This next step takes some time, so sit back, rest up, and have fun
watching your comrades taunt Edwin. To my knowledge Yoshimo is the first
and only character to actually refer to Edwin as 'Edwina'. Eventually a
Mage by the name of Degardan will show up and inquire about Edwin, who
is apparently not in good standing back home. The surprises never end...
Don't sell Edwin out or he'll turn hostile and there's no getting him
back. Wait some more and Degardan will show up again, spotting Edwina
for who she is. He'll dispel Edwin's unfortunate change of state,
after which a fight ensues. Degardan is fairly rough, but if you have
Breach and True Sight ready you'll be much better off. Degardan starts
out with a Spell Trigger unleashing a Stoneskin and Protection from
Magical Weapons. Again, you best friend is Insect Plague, along with
True Sight to keep him honest. When Degardan dies he'll leave behind two
Potions of Extra Healing, a Wand of Monster Summoning, a Scroll of Death
Spell, a Small Shield +1, a Quarter Staff +2, and 73 gold. Now we're
done with Edwin and Korgan for good.
If you're following the guide to the letter it's time to switch off to
the good party members and recruit Anomen and Keldorn and complete the
Unseeing Eye quest. If you want to keep the party the way it is now or
otherwise don't care to get Anomen and Keldorn either tackle the
Unseeing Eye quest without them or skip ahead to the Astral Prison
Quests [WLK012]. For an evil party, it's a great time to deal with the
Copper Coronet quests we ignored earlier [WLK036]. With a good party,
my destination is also the Copper Coronet-but to recruit Anomen, not to
do any sort of questing therein. This involves leaving two of the
following behind: Edwin, Korgan, or Viconia. The safe choices are Edwin
and Korgan, as they won't mess up any romances you might have... but
Edwin's spells will sorely be missed. In any event, if you're an evil
party following along this need not be a permanent thing. The party
should remain peaceful long enough to finish the Unseeing Eye quest,
regardless of your composition.
o======================================================================o
| |
| The Unseeing Eye Quest |
| (Recruiting Anomen and Keldorn, Securing Keldorn) |
o======================================================================o
Sequence of Events: {WLK009}
1) Anomen
2) The Wages of Faith is Stupidity
3) Oisig's Request
4) Soliciting Sir Sarles
5) Priestly Paternity
6) Ahh... Kobolds
7) Cloak of the Sewers
8) Roger the Fence
9) Roger's Troll Problem
10) Oozes, Slimes, and Jellies
11) Keldorn
12) Axing the Hatchetman
13) The Old Tunnels
14) The Gas Room
15) Gaal's Request
16) Looting the Cult
17) Sassar's Request
18) I Hate Level Drain, II
19) The Lower Reaches
20) Yuan-Ti Tunnel
21) The Guardian's Riddles
22) Guathicide and an Old Friend
23) The Diseased Ones
24) Empathetic Manifestation
25) Tad's Secret Tunnel
26) Ghoul Town
27) Gauntlets of Dexterity
28) Looting the Pit of the Faithless
29) The Blind Priests
30) End of the Unseeing Eye
31) Destroying the Rift Device
32) Collapse of the Cult
The Copper Coronet (AR0406)
o======================================================================o
1) Anomen is at (x=1530, y=1660) and will ask you some really stupid
questions when you talk to him... kinda reminds us of Ajantis in his
naivete. Instead of "Halt! Be ye friend or foe?" We have this dork
asking if we're brave and if we're on the side of good. Get him to join
and give him some better armor, a shield, and one of the Maces +2 we
stole a while back. It also might be a good idea to shift the Helm of
Balduran to him, considering that his Dexterity is putrid. Now that we
have Anomen, let's head over to the Temple District once more.
Temple District (AR0900)
o======================================================================o
2) Head southeast of the Temple of Lathander to find a man named Gaal
(x=3250, y=1820) preaching to a group of below-average intellects who
think invisible critters will make life better for them if they do
unnatural and harmful things to themselves that otherwise make no sense
and if anybody else asked them to undergo such hardships for a reward
that may not be forth-coming they'd tell them to go... *ahem*...
anyways, he'll try and convince people to join his cult. Dawn Master
Kreel argues against Gaal with mixed success. One con-man doesn't like
another huckster cutting in on his business it seems. After the
conversation is over Gaal lures the foolish away and High Watcher
Oisig will come to the party, saying he wishes to hire you as
mercenaries in the service of Helm. The everseeing eye versus the
unseeing eye? Now that's fun religion there. Eh, I'll bite. Head into
the temple at (x=2050, y=1000).
Note: If you're evil, Stormherald Nallabir will give you the quest,
demanding that you serve as a vassal of Talos' wrath. If you're good
High Mornmaster Arval will be the quest-giver.
Temple of Helm (AR0901)
o======================================================================o
3) Go inside the Temple of Helm to find High Watcher Oisig again
(x=700, y=570). He'll ask you to put an end to this cult, as blindness
is offensive to his vigilant god. He'll also tell you that they hide in
the sewers somewhere, and that a warrior named Keldorn is looking into
things as well, and you should seek his aid. He's certainly right on
that last statement. Sir Donalus (x=880, y=460) sells a variety of armor
and shields, all of which are fairly nice. You can't steal them, and
they're nothing you shouldn't already have stolen from Arnolinus, so
don't bother.
***ITEMS***
(x=350, y=200) Helmet, Chain Mail, 2 gold
(x=400, y=110) 1 gold
(x=1220, y=770) 1 gold
(x=1350, y=820) 1 gold
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
4) Over at (x=700, y=700) you will find Guardian Telwyn, who will ask
you to do a job. He wants you to recruit an artist by the name of Sir
Sarles to create a work of art which will bring glory to Helm. Of
course, it can't be too expensive, and Sarles is refusing to work in
anything other than pure illithium, a very valuable substance. Sir
Sarles can be found in the Government District at the Jysstev estate.
It's just another little quest to do when we get around to it. Note
that you can steal the Helm of Glory from Guardian Telwyn, if you're not
a fan of delayed gratification. And really, why kid ourselves? Nobody is
a fan of delayed gratification. It's a great choice for the party
leader, with its Armor Class bonus and Charisma bonus.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
5) Head over to the sewers at (x=2550, y=2620). You'll find a prophet
near the sewer who will spout nonsense about his non-god. You'll also
see a woman named Miranda accost a priest of Talos named Talon Nirkhas
until the 'daughter', Lanie, spills the beans. Oops. If you talk to her
she'll accuse you as well. You can pay her 100 gold if you wish, but
there's no real point to this encounter.
Sewers (AR0701)
o======================================================================o
6) Head southwest to where the path splits and deal with a Green Slime.
There are tunnels leading northwest, south, and southwest. Now is a
good time to get back into the practice of scouting ahead, so as to not
run into dangerous encounters unprepared. To the northwest is a fight
with a group of adventurers we don't want to have just yet, so spell-
buff and head southwest. Be wary as you adventure around for groups of
Kobolds. Like in Baldur's Gate 1 these little reptiles seem drawn to
sewers, and while not dangerous on their own they can whittle down
health and be annoying. The exception is with Kobold Shamans. For some
reason my party is inclined to fail their saves against Hold Person
spells, even though by my level the odds should favor me...
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
7) Ahead you'll find a group of Kobolds, including Kobold Commandos.
More importantly you'll find a Raksasha standing in a depression, who
has fair Hit Points, a good Armor Class, spell resistance, and immunity
to non-magical weapons. For all that, however, he's really just a tank
who'll cause trouble only if the spell-casting Kobolds nearby-the
Witch Doctor and Shaman-get spells off. If you start the fight out with
a Fireball and exterminate whatever Kobolds are left this allows you to
focus on the Raksasha without fear of spells like Hold Person. Keep in
mind that the enemies here have few answers to a creature who is immune
to non-magical weapons, like say, a Fire Elemental? When the Raksasha
dies it'll drop a Long Sword and the Cloak of the Sewers. This is one of
those items that gives you a bonus to Armor Class regardless of whatever
other magical protections you have on... needless to say, it's something
you'll probably wear through the rest of the game. Give it to a front
liner with a lower Armor Class, like Korgan or Anomen (or Keldorn, when
we get him!), or a secondary Fighter who can't wear heavy armor. One of
the Kobolds will also drop a Short Sword +1.
***ITEMS***
(x=1230, y=1450) Scroll of Conjure Earth Elemental, 3 Gold,
Dart of Wounding x20, Arros +2 x20, Bolts +2 x20,
Bullets +2 x20
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
8) From the center of the level (where the Raksasha was) head south to
find Roger the Fence (x=1690, y=2300) who will sell you stuff... and of
course, he'll buy things, too, including stolen merchandise. He'll also
tell you about a Sea Troll wandering about the sewers, and will pay you
500 gold to get rid of it. You can also buy (steal) a variety of potions
from him, including a host of Potions of Giant Strength, Potions of
Master Thievery, and potions of Magic Shielding and Magic Blocking.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
9) Go northwest until you find a Otyugh, which isn't too tough despite
the fact it can disease and slow you. Nearby you'll also find Roger's
Sea Troll. Beat it up and use a spell like Burning Hands, Melf's Acid
Arrow, Aganazzar's Scorcher, Fireball, Flame Arrow, or something similar
to deal the last blow when it falls after reaching the 'Near Death'
status. If you stole a Sword of Flame you could use that, or some of
those Arrows of Fire you got from the Kobold Commandos. Return to Roger
to claim your reward.
***REWARD***
(For killing Roger's Sea Troll)
EXP 9500
Gold 500
Note from Lee:
In 6 times playing thru this game, I've only once found an Otyugh here.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
10) Head north from where you fought the Otyugh to find a chamber with
an Ooze Mephit, Green Slimes, and an Ochre Jelly. All you really have to
worry about here is the Stinking Cloud the Mephit will unleash at the
beginning of the fight.
Note from Lee:
As above, I only found these foes here once.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
11) Continue north to find Keldorn, who promptly slays a Zombie and then
addresses the party. Since the only reason we're here this early in the
game is to recruit Keldorn, you might as well bring him along. If you
are an evil party and don't care to recruit Keldorn, then by all means
ignore him. I can't imagine why any good party wouldn't want a warrior
of Keldorn's caliber on their side, however. He comes pretty well
equipped with a Two Handed Sword +2 that deals 5 points of magic damage
to an attacker every time Keldorn is hit and a special suit of Full
Plate Armor +1 with Free Action. Note that when taking damage his sword
emulates a Fireshield: Blue, which stupidly counts as casting a spell
and can get you in trouble with the Cowled Wizards. Just something to
keep in mind when you get to the surface. Anyways, with or without
Keldorn work your way around to the east. It's time to confront the
enemies northwest of where we entered. Ignore the secret door at
(x=1100, y=500), as it leads us to where Haer'Dalis is kept. If you want
him as part of your party, go to [WLK012]. As for me, I prefer to
complete the Unseeing Eye quest and lock-in Keldorn, first.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
12) Scout ahead to find a group of adventurers consisting of the
following folks: Rengaard, Gallchobhair, Gaius, Tarnor the Hatchetman,
Draug Fea and Zorl. They're a pretty diverse bunch, equal to any
adventuring party you could cobble together early in the game, with
plenty of fighting power and spells. What's worse is at this point in
the game they're likely higher leveled and better equipped: Rengaard is
a Fighter/Cleric (level 12/11), Gallcobhair is an 11th-level Fighter,
Gaius is a 14th-level Abjurer (specialist Mage), Tarnor the Hatchetman
is a 13th-level Fighter, Draug Fea is a 12th-level Fighter, and Zorl
is a 12-level Cleric. My evil party had about 450,000 experience per
character at this time, ranging from about 8th-11th level. Clearly,
in a direct confrontation I'm out-matched...
...So we'll just have to out-smart them. Head up to the group with one
character to trigger Tarnor the Hatchetman to demand you pay 1000 gold
to pass. Decline his generous offer and quickly run back to your party.
If a few of the enemies followed you, spell buff and try to take them
out piecemeal. More likely they'll bunch up to spell-buff, which suits
me just fine.
Creep forward with a hidden character to map their location. Watch out
for Gaius, as he's easily the most dangerous character there. Not only
can he cast high level spells, but he'll use True Sight if he even
suspects an invisible or hidden character nearby. Once they are marked
spell buff your party and cast as many Chaos spells at the edge of their
group as you can (without bringing them into sight). Slow and Greater
Command are also worthy spells, in the absence of Chaos.
After the first round of spells is off, I summon Kitthix with the Black
Spider Figurine (any summon will work, however) and lead with some
fodder. The whole point of this is to get the enemy to focus on the
summon-right behind it will be Jaheira and my other spell casters. Once
Jaheira spots an enemy-any enemy-she'll cast Insect Plague on her
target, while my Mages hit the enemy with another round of debilitative
spells. If Jaheira were to get hit by Tarnor or Gallchobhair's ranged
attacks, it would disrupt her Insect Plague, and probably result in a
reload. A little summoned bait goes a long way in this fight by making
that unlikely to occur.
The Insect Plague will, of course, prevent the enemy from casting spells
and possibly cause them to panic. With a little luck you can debilitate
the dwarves with Chaos and Slow, then focus on killing their spell
casters. First I target Gaius, and when he falls, I work my way through
the rest of the spell-casters (Zorl and Rengaard). All the while, Edwin
keeps the baddies pacified with Chaos and Slow spells, rendering them
completely unable to respond in any meaningful way. When they die
they'll leave behind the following loot:
Draug Fea: Plate Mail +1, Helmet of Charm Protection, Small Shield +2,
Wyvern's Tail +2, Gold Necklace and 192 gold.
Gaius: Scroll of Warding Whip and 34 gold.
Gallchobhair: Full Plate Mail, Arrows x40, Silver Necklace x2, Jade
Ring, Composite Longbow and a Long Sword.
Rengaard: Plate Mail, Laeral's Tear Necklace and a War Hammer.
Tarnor the Hatchetman: Full Plate Mail +1, Small Shield +2, Elixir of
Health, Gold Necklace, Hangard's Axe +2 and 119 gold.
Zorl: Plate Mail, Large Shield, Skydrop Gem, Mace and 19 gold.
Now that's a haul! The Full Plate Mail +1 can go on just about
anybody... except Keldorn, who has better already. I put the Helmet of
Charm Protection on Jaheira and if you kept Korgan, Hangard's Axe is a
great ranged weapon. Most of the other items I can't find a use for, but
they will at least get us a good hunk of gold. Anyhow, head over to the
exit to the Old Tunnels (x=100, y=400).
Note from Lee:
I split up my party into three groups for this encounter, each
consisting of a fighter-type and a spell caster; send one around and
approach from the west, another around and approach from the east, and
the third straight up the middle from the south - this will prevent
their area spells from affecting more than two characters at a time.
It may take a try or two before you can get them all situated as close
as possible without starting the encounter, but once you do, spell buff
to the max and save. I normally initiate the encounter from the middle,
but it really depends on where your strongest fighter is. At any rate,
start the encounter and cast disabling spells from the sides
(Chaos, etc) while casting a Fireball or similar high impact spell from
the center. While this is going on, use your ranged weapons to start
dealing out damage, even if it's minor. Once that round of spells is
complete, repeat the process with a Breach or two to take down their
defenses, and have Jaheira throw out an Insect Plague. After that, swap
out ranged for melee weapons and let them come to you; they will have to
split up, and they are much easier to defeat in smaller groups than all
at once.
Old Tunnels/Upper Reaches (AR0202)
o======================================================================o
13) To the southwest is an Otyugh and a locked door (x=2770, y=500)
which we can't open yet. So head down a tunnel to the southeast and
kill a few Shadows. You'll come to a room with some alcoves, and
southwest of this room is a chasm bridged by makeshift bridges with
more Shadows inside. Disarm the trap and some Ettercaps will appear.
Note from Lee:
To the southwest, I normally encounter either a Carrion Crawler or an
Otyugh at about (x=2760,y=650). After killing it, continue south to the
window at the end of the passage to cause the two Shadows to come around
and meet you in the hallway. This is a good time to use the hallway
combat strategy - while they are moving thru the dungeon to get to you,
you have plenty of time to arrange the party to put the three strongest
fighters in front. They can usually take out both enemies by themselves,
but a spell or two can't hurt. Either way, kill them both before heading
back north and then east to continue this step in the Ettercap room.
I use the doorway strategy here - get my strongest fighters in the
doorway with ranged weapons backing them up, then run across, disable
the trap, and run back to safety before the Ettercaps can catch my
thief - the Ettercaps are easy for 2-3 fighters who only have to fight
1-2 at a time. Have a couple Antidotes ready for after the fight.
***TRAPS***
(x=3300, y=920)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
14) Continue southwest until you find a door (x=3100, y=1750) that
leads to a room with a valve in the middle (x=2950, y=1920). Only take
your Thief inside. As soon as you approach the center two Vampiric Mists
will show up and a Cloudkill spell will trigger. Go pick the door out
and lead the Vampiric Mists to the rest of your party where they can be
smote in detail. These critters are pains in the ass, as they can drain
levels from you. To make matters worse, while they'll start out fights
in a fairly straight-forward manner, once they take a bit of damage,
they'll go invisible and try and seek out the weakest, least-defended
member of your party (for me this is typically Imoen/Edwin). They'll
even try to do this if said party member is on the other side of the
level, or even in another sub-area! What assholes. At this point in the
game your best bet is to have them attack a character protected by
Blur, Mirror Image, and Improved Invisibility, and hopefully they'll go
down without managing to drain any levels. Shooting at them with
enchanted missiles and popping out a few Magic Missile spells before
they reach the party is also a good idea.
Note from Lee:
If you have a spare Potion of Mastery Thievery handy, I recommend
drinking it before sending your thief in. Once, I got stuck in here and
Yoshimo couldn't pick the lock to get back out (useless idiot).
Equipping a Restoration Scroll or two isn't a bad idea either, just in
case.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
15) Continue southwest into a room where you'll find Gaal and a couple
of his guards (x=2500, y=2170) from whom you'll learn that the Unseeing
Eye is a Beholder. For the record, for all of you folks out there who
don't know much about AD&D, a Beholder is a floating orb of a monster
with numerous eye stalks that cast spells and a large central eye that
negates magic. Some Beholders will intentionally blind their largest eye
so they can learn to cast spells. Some even become Liches of a sort,
which is just a mix of two types of bad. Such a thing might be strong,
but it certainly is no god... Still, it's bad news. Ask to do a service
for the Unseeing Eye and Gaal will tell you to go seek an artifact that
the Unseeing Eye cannot locate himself. He'll give you a key to open a
door back the way you came and tell you the artifact you're looking for
is a part of a rod.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
16) Behind the door Gaal is near you'll find a huge pit surrounded by
some rather organic looking walls. To the north you can see a cultist
fail his ocular deprivation initiation. You'll also find Tad
(x=1520, y=2020) over by the pit where the faithless are thrown. Other
than that there's some looting to be done. When you've taken all there
is to take, head back to the hallway leading to the sewers and travel
southwest to find a door at (x=2770, y=500).
Note from Lee:
I usually just send in Yoshimo to loot the area - his PoMT should still
be active from the previous encounter. After all, what's the point of
dragging the entire party thru here if you really don't need to?
***ITEMS***
(x=2050, y=2200) Ziose Gem, Bullets +1 x40, Darts +1 x40
(x=1800, y=2350) Scroll of Protection from Normal Missiles,
Scroll of Slow, 980 gold
(x=1170, y=1670) Scroll of Animate Dead, Scroll of Cone of Cold,
130 gold
(x=1300, y=1350) Arrows of Ice x40, Bolts of Biting x40, 73 gold
(x=1520, y=1200) Scroll of Cloudkill
(x=1700, y=1140) Arrows of Piercing x20, 57 gold
(x=2050, y=1100) Moonstone Gem, Darts of Wounding x30, 109 gold
(x=2200, y=1120) Scroll of Non-Detection, Andar Gem, Skydrop Gem,
24 gold
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
17) Go through the door, down a trapped tunnel, and into another room to
find a man named Sassar (x=2000, y=520). He and his fellows were former
worshipers of the Unseeing Eye, but they left once they learned the
depth of the Beholder's evil. He'll also tell you that the Beholder came
here for the sole purpose of acquiring the artifact you've been sent to
retrieve, with which it could wreak terrible destruction. If you were to
retrieve the half of the rod the Beholder wants, however, you could use
it to slay the Unseeing Eye. Once you find the missing half of the rod
Sassar will tell you where the Unseeing Eye keeps its half, leaving our
primary objective unchanged as of yet. Sassar will warn you not to
tamper with the sarcophagus in the middle of the room (x=1700, y=500),
and it's sound advice. We've no need to tangle with a Lich yet. To the
northeast you'll find two more former cultists who have little to say
and two chests you can loot.
***ITEMS***
(x=2320, y=270) Bolts +2 x40, 26 gold
(x=2100, y=220) Scroll of Lower Resistance, 1 gold
***TRAPS***
(x=2450, y=550)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
18) Head southwest to find a trapped tunnel with some Shadows and
Wraiths lurking around. Yeah, more damned undead that can level drain.
Just lead with your best Armor Class and try not to engage them all at
once... if for no other reason than to prevent having to cast a
Restoration. Go past a secret door (x=900, y=1100) that we can't open
yet to find some stairs (x=100, y=1400). Into the breach, and all that
rot.
***TRAPS***
(x=1200, y=1100)
Lower Reaches (AR0204)
o======================================================================o
19) Walk forward a ways to trigger an ambush by some Huge Spiders, which
are sword-fodder by now. Keep heading north until you find a statue
that 'appears to be screaming'. Disarm the trap to trigger a Wandering
Horror and two Sword Spiders to pop up. The Wandering Horror can stun
opponents and cause fear, as well as cast Death Fog, and really, the
enemy strategy in this encounter is just a simple tactic that was
common-place in the first game. The Wandering Horror disables a party-
member (or several), and the Sword Spiders quickly pick off helpless
victims. It can still work, although with a stronger Baldur's Gate 2
party it's much less likely to succeed. If you click on the statue
around the lootable portion you'll get some pop-up text telling you that
'The mouth of this statue seems to be screaming', which will respawn
this encounter. You can trigger this encounter a total of five times, if
you want to grind for extra experience. Considering that the Wandering
Horror gives 5000 EXP and the Sword Spiders each give you 2000 EXP, you
can get 9000 EXP per encounter... or a total of 45000 EXP if you keep
respawning it. It's a nice hunk of experience, especially early in the
game. Once they're dead loot the statue for some scrolls and gems before
heading to the east.
***ITEMS***
(x=1280, y=2500) Scroll of Vampiric Touch, Scroll of Hold Undead,
Scroll of Enchanted Weapon,
Scroll of Tenser's Transformation, Star Diopside Gem,
Shandon Gem, Aquamarine Gem, Garnet Gem
***TRAPS***
(x=1280, y=2500)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
20) Continue down a passage to the southeast to find some Mutated
Gibberlings, followed by a group of Yuan-Ti later on. Yuan-Ti aren't
tough on their own, but they tend to come in groups including a Yuan-Ti
Mage. Of these you only need to worry about the Mage, as it'll typically
start out battles with a Stoneskin, and likes to pop on another
Stoneskin when its Hit Points fall to 50%. It will also cast Chaos,
which as we know from experience can win a fight by itself. They also
employ Shadow Door if they are in trouble. This fight gives Keldorn a
lot of opportunity to show his worth, as he can cast an awesomely
powerful Dispel Magic (to counter the Chaos) and True Sight to negate
Shadow Door. There's not a lot the Yuan-Ti Mage can do that Keldorn
can't simply counter.
***TRAPS***
(x=3100, y=2670)
Note from Lee:
I have run into Ghasts and Mummies here instead of the Yuan-Ti on a
couple of occasions.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
21) Head eastward onto a structure, taking care to disarm the trapped
first step. Activate the... uh... roof? (x=3300, y=2300) and you'll be
forced to answer some riddles by a Guardian.
"The bridge has fallen and ends in death. Call forth the name to
summon the path. What is the bridge?"
Answer: Life is my answer.
"You are not alone on the bridge. Call forth the name to summon the
path. It travels with you, and through it you travel, and yet it does
leave you behind. Who is with you?"
Answer: Time is my answer.
"The Bridge is not stable, and the end changes place. Call for the name
to summon the path. Choose the most difficult step on the bridge."
Answer: The current one, for it alone is my choice.
Once you answer the last riddle the bridge will mend itself and you'll
be able to move onward. You'll also get some juicy quest experience.
***REWARD***
(For answering the guardian's riddles)
EXP 42250
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
22) Go across the bridge with only the character bearing the Shield of
Balduran. At this level you should be facing some Gauths, who are like
Beholders but much weaker. They have the power to cast Lightning Bolts,
Cause Serious Wounds, Slow, and Paralyze, all of which will be reflected
back at them by the Shield of Balduran. You need only stand there and
let them kill themselves. Thank them for playing and loot the coffer on
the wall of the bridge structure to find your old friend, the War
Hammer +2 'Ashideena'. How it got from Basillus, to you, to all the way
down here, and back to you is probably quite a story. Regardless of the
unlikelihood of this reunion, Viconia takes back her old weapon, even if
just for a little while. You'll find some Shadows and Shadow Fiends
along the path to the north, as well as a trap over a bridge spanning
some water.
***ITEMS***
(x=3720, y=2470) War Hammer +2 'Ashideena', Scroll of Identify
***TRAPS***
(x=3400, y=1500)
Note: If you're doing things out of order, you may run into more trouble
here than is mentioned. Enemies level up with you, and while the
standard low-level encounter is a Gauth or two, if you're a higher level
you may run afoul of several Beholders, as well as Gauth. Still, with
the Shield of Balduran there's nothing they can do to you, but it's
something to be wary of.
Note from Lee:
I end up having the Shadows and Shodow Fiends rush me almost every time
before I ever get done with the Gauths. For this reason, I leave the
rest of the party way behind (west of the raised platform) and draw them
back to me, then kill them.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
23) Around this city over the water you'll find its inhabitants, morose
'diseased ones'. They speak of duty, and immortality, and of hating that
which sustains them. The most important one is at (x=2430, y=930) who
will pretty bluntly tell you everything. They were put here to guard
something - what, why, and by whom they cannot remember, but they have
apparently been too successful and guarded it for too long. So much so
that they no longer care to guard their charge and hate the one who put
them here and gave them the curse of immortality. Enter the temple
behind him (x=2300, y=800).
Ancient Temple (AR0203)
o======================================================================o
24) Inside you'll find an Empathetic Manifestation (x=600, y=500), a
demon created by the hate of the diseased ones outside. Since it's a
creature born of malice and hate, it cannot be harmed in the
conventional sense, as it only feeds off of such aggression. Instead,
kill it by casting all the healing spells you can muster and an Avatar
will appear. It will tell you that it is the remains of a god reduced in
power, set to guard a device that is not as dangerous as it once had
been. Over time the 'diseased ones', the followers of this god grew to
hate their duty and their god, eventually the loss of faith caused this
god to fade, and the demon to form, which simply compounded problems.
Now to the part where this ties with our quest: The Avatar will tell you
that those who sent you to seek this device intend to kill you, and that
the Avatar would prefer to gain both pieces of the artifact so he can
destroy it. Your job is to instill faith in his servants by telling them
they are to be released, go steal the other half of the rod from the
Unseeing Eye and use it to kill it, then bring the rod back to the faded
god in order to destroy it. When you leave the chatty diseased one will
question you about the device. He seems unimpressed, whatever you say.
Head back up to sewers.
***ITEMS***
(x=270, y=170) Scroll of Skull Trap, Scroll of Cure Serious Wounds x2,
Moonbar Gem, Black Opal
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
25) As you approach Sassar will tell you how to retrieve the second half
of the rod, telling you to go speak to a friend in the cult and say
'the eye is blind'. You will then be shown how to get to the Beholder's
lair without being slain by its minions. Note that if you do give the
rod to Gaal he WILL turn on you. You'll then have to fight the cultists
and the Unseeing Eye itself. While this is a fight that can be won, it's
easier and more rewarding to go speak to Tad instead. Talk to him and
say the password and he'll show you the secret passage to reach the cave
at the back of the Beholder's lair. Exit the area at (x=1450, y=2100).
Be ready, as you won't be coming back this way once you go down.
***REWARD***
(For giving Gaal the artifact)
EXP 75000
Ghoul Town (AR0201)
o======================================================================o
26) Ignore the ominous dead bodies when you arrive and head northwest
to find a group of Ghasts and Mummies, two creatures that shouldn't be
too troublesome. Kill the Ghasts first. A Mummy's disease can harm you,
but getting paralyzed can be deadly in a close encounter like this.
Ahead of you will be a Zombie, who will run off to tell the 'mayor'
about your presence. More Ghasts and Mummies will be on the bridge to
the northeast. I suggest you lure them to more open ground rather than
fight them in the natural bottleneck of the bridges, where a paralyzed
character will quickly be overwhelmed. Once they're dead head into the
cavern at (x=900, y=1100).
***ITEMS***
(x=1350, y=1610) 1 gold
Undead City (AR0206)
o======================================================================o
27 Across a bridge you'll encounter two Zombies and a Ghoul Lord. Lead
with Keldorn, as he can't be paralyzed while he's in his basic armor.
Over to the northeast you'll find Theshal, the 'mayor' of this undead
city. He'll beg you to leave, as the smell of food drives them crazy. It
doesn't matter what you ask him, the conversation will end with Theshal
going berserk and attacking. Other than Theshal and the previously
mentioned undead are Shadow Fiends, Skeleton Warriors, as well as more
Ghoul Lords, Ghasts, and Mummies. So long as you don't lure them all to
you at once, you should be fine. when Theshal dies he'll drop Skin of
the Ghoul +4, which is excellent armor for Minsc, Yoshimo, or hell, even
Viconia what with her low Strength and all. And best of all, it's free!
Take that, Adventurer's Mart. Also loot the pile of bones over at
(x=600, y=460) to find, among other things, the Gauntlets of Dexterity.
Slap these on Keldorn or Korgan and they'll do wonders for their armor
class. With an Armor Class of 0 Keldorn was taking a beating, but now
that he's at -4 he's in much better shape to hold up the front line.
Korgan was doing a little better, seeing as his Dexterity isn't quite as
bad and he uses a shield. Overall this little area did wonders for our
Armor Class. Leave this area and continue across some more bridges to
the northeast. You'll encounter one last group of Ghasts and Mummies
before you find the entrance to the Pit of the Faithless
(x=2200, y=700).
***ITEMS***
(x=600, y=460) Gauntlets of Dexterity, Scroll of Dire Charm, 6 gold
(x=1350, y=620) Scroll of Friends, Arrows of Fire x30,
Bolts of Lightning x30
The Pit of the Faithless (AR0205)
o======================================================================o
28) With the Shield of Balduran this level is extremely easy. Scout
forward with a hidden character to mark the locations of the enemies and
send Jaheira ahead by herself (or whoever has the Shield). Between her
martial prowess and the Shield of Balduran she should have no trouble
killing all the beasties on her own. Be sure to grab Dragon Bane +3, if
for no other reason than the fact that it's a +3 weapon. Do NOT loot the
Unseeing Eye's stash (x=3000, y=1500) until you're ready to face the
critter (see Step #30). It will show up when you steal its half of the
Rift Device... and we have another encounter to deal with, first.
***ITEMS***
(x=300, y=1000) Conjure Lesser Fire Elemental, Aquamarine Gem,
Bolts +1 x40
(x=2000, y=300) Scroll of Protection from Acid, Zircon Gem, Iol Gem,
Dragon's Bane +3, Arrows +1 x40
(x=1800, y=330) Long Sword +1, Dart +1 x40
(x=2350, y=1110) Gold Ring, Throwing Axe x40, Throwing Dagger x40
(x=1300, y=2300) Scroll of Secret Word, Bloodstone Gem, Andar Gem,
326 gold
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
29) Near (x=1720, y=1320) you'll find a group of Blind Priests. Needless
to say that no matter how strong your Shield of Balduran bearer is, they
don't want to be facing six Clerics. We'll use the same tactic against
them we used on the adventurers in the sewer. Spell buff, then hit them
will disabling magic, especially focusing on anti-magic spells such as
Silence 15' Radius, although you can never go wrong with a Chaos spell.
When they come after you, have Jaheira do her thing. An Insect Plague
spell can just about win this fight on its own. After three Silence 15'
Radiuses, a Slow, and an Insect Plague they go down without even
scratching my party. How can blind people cast spells anyways? I
wouldn't call this out normally... but don't we use Improved
Invisibility (and similar spells) because it makes casters unable to
target us with spells? You know... because they can't see us? Oh well...
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
30) When you're done looting and killing head over to the Unseeing
Eye's stash (x=3000, y=1500) and search the pulsating organ to find
the 'Rift Device Part', the second half of the artifact you're looking
for. The two pieces will fuse together and you'll be prompted to equip
it into a quick item slot immediately. I put it on Jaheira and go back
down the tunnel. You'll find the Unseeing Eye, who will start the fight
by spell-buffing itself with defensive magic. With the Shield of
Balduran this isn't too tough of a fight, but with the Rift Device
Jaheira is able to simply blast it once, bringing it to 'Near Death'
status. The rest of the party moves up and quickly subdues the Beholder,
which drops an Amulet of 5% Magic Resistance. Throw it on a character
with crappy saves versus spells. It's a nice enough amulet for now, but
it'll get eclipsed soon enough by better things. Exit the level at
(x=1800, y=2100).
***ITEMS***
(x=3000, y=1500) Rift Device Part, 227 gold
***REWARD***
(For reassembling the Rift Device)
EXP 26250
Item Rift Device
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
31) You'll surface back in the sewers just southwest of Sassar, head
back down the stairs and travel back to the faded god's temple. Talk to
the diseased one outside and tell him that you're here to destroy the
device. He won't believe his trials are nearly over, and will decide he
must see this for himself. The diseased ones will gather into the
temple, where you can convince them to call out the name of their faded
god. He'll appear and destroy the device, and the diseased ones will
finally have their rest. You'll be rewarded with some experience and the
Saving Grace +3, an excellent shield for Korgan or Anomen. The Unseeing
Eye quest nears its completion... all that is left is to deal with Gaal
and whatever followers remain loyal to their dead 'god'.
***REWARD***
(For returning the Rift Device to Amaunator's Avatar)
EXP 47250
Item Saving Grace +3
Note from Lee:
This is when I get the Yuan-Ti party, heading up the path to the east
on the way back to the temple.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
32) You'll find Gaal trying to keep his cult together. Largely failing
in this he decides to take his frustrations out on you. Gaal himself can
be problematic, but he fortunately decides to focus on offensive spells
rather than disabling ones. Any defenses he can pop up are easy prey to
Keldorn's Dispel Magic and True Sight. The real difficulties in this
fight are due to his Elite Guards, who are plate-armored Fighters, and
due to the location, which forces you to go from the gas chamber into a
bottleneck. Still, spells like Chaos, Haste, Slow, and Insect Plague
really do a lot of good here, the latter of which can win the fight in
one casting. The Elite Guards will all drop suits of Plate Mail and
plenty of Bolts. The Elite Guard Captain has a Heavy Crossbow of
Accuracy and Bracers of Defense A.C. 7 in addition to his normal gear.
Gaal will drop a Girdle of Fortitude, a Silver Necklace, and a Quarter
Staff. The Girdle of Fortitude would have gone great on Shar-Teel, but
as she's not in this game, Viconia will benefit from it almost as well.
I don't know why it couldn't be a constant effect.. it doesn't affect
game balance compared to, say, Gauntlets of Dexterity or Girdles of
Giant Strength. Still, it can be used to bring a character's Hit Points
up to snuff for eight hours, which is plenty of time. Keldorn accepts
the Heavy Crossbow of Accuracy, as he's really the only one in any
position to use it. Head back up to the surface and return to the
Temple of Helm. Tell High Watcher Oisig about your triumph and claim
your reward. If you are a Cleric you'll also be offered a position as
one of Helm's priests... Of course, I believe your alignment also affects
what temple will accept you. If you're Good you end up in the Temple of
Lathander, if you're Evil you end up in the Temple of Talos, and if
you're Neutral you'll get accepted into the Temple of Helm. I'll admit
I'm not certain if completing the Unseeing Eye quest is enough to get
accepted into the Temple of Talos or Lathander, you may also have to
complete the quest involving Sir Sarles. If you want to play around with
your new Cleric Guild, I'll include that section next. If not, or if
you're not a Cleric, sell off loot and let's get ready to recruit
Haer'Dalis. In any event Keldorn is yours. Keldorn will have some
family issues that pop up when you head to the Government District, and
Anomen will likewise have to deal with family troubles when enough
time passes. We'll discuss those matters to finish up the next
Sequence of Events [WLK010], even if they occur later. If you don't
have Anomen or Keldorn, feel free to skip to [WLK011] for the Cleric
Stronghold quests, or [WLK012] for the Astral Prison Quest.
***REWARD***
(For destroying the Cult of the Unseeing Eye)
EXP 45740 (each character)
Gold 8000
o======================================================================o
| |
| Honor and Family |
| (Keldorn and Anomen's Family Quests) |
o======================================================================o
Sequence of Events: {WLK010}
1) Keldorn the Cuckold
2) Rekindling the Love
3) Anomen's Family Trouble
4) Sins of the Father
5) Storming Saerk's Estate
6) Anomen's Revenge
7) Light of His Father's Eye
8) Anomen the Unworthy
9) Atonement for Two
10) Breaking the Chain
11) Bureaucracy is the Price we Pay for Impartiality...
12) Anomen the Knight
13) Maria's Murderer Unmasked
14) Anomen's Inner Demons
Firecam Estate (AR1003)
o======================================================================o
1) Head over to the Government District, where we can pick up the
quest. First, however, if you have a party including Keldorn, you'll
have to deal with him. Once you arrive he'll talk about his family
living near here. Agree to go with him and head over to the house at
(x=1550, y=1950). It's blatantly marked on your map as the Firecam
Estate... you can't miss it. Keldorn will even tell you when he's near
it. Once inside, Keldorn will have a chat with a maid before bringing
out his wife and kids. Once Lady Maria starts talking, things start
going downhill. Apparently Keldorn is a bit of a workaholic, and it
hasn't been good for his marriage. His wife will tell him that she's
been seeing a man by the name of Sir William of Thorpe. Keldorn will
send his wife away and speak to you. Don't pick the option goading him
to consult the courts, instead advise confronting William. If Keldorn
goes to the courts, he'll tell you to meet him at the Radiant Heart
building in the Temple District in three hours. His wife will be
imprisoned and William will be hanged. But what's the fun in that?
Instead, head over to Waukeen's Promenade.
***ITEMS***
(x=920, y=360) Bullet +1 x2
(x=850, y=450) 20 Gold
(x=350, y=350) Pearl Necklace, Gold x35
Mithrest Inn (AR0704)
o======================================================================o
2) Head over to (x=3020, y=420) to find the Mithrest Inn. Sir William
is at (x=350, y=450). When you get close he and Keldorn will talk. Pick
option #1 or #3 and head back to the Firecam estate and talk to Lady
Maria. She'll talk with Keldorn and the two will apparently make up. At
this point you really can't mess this up. You'll get an experience
reward for whatever option you pick and-if you let Keldorn go, he'll be
back at his house after a while, ready to be recruited.
***REWARD***
(For allowing Keldorn to return to his wife and family)
EXP 15500
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
3) And since we're dealing with one party member's family problems, I'll
include Anomen's here too... for organizational purposes, see? After
traveling with Anomen for a while you'll be approached by a man named
Terl, who will tell Anomen that his sister was murdered and he is
requested home by his father. So, off we go to the Government District
of Athkatla, where we'll find the Delryn Estate at (x=4300, y=2200).
Delryn Estate (AR1001)
o======================================================================o
4) Go talk to Cor Delryn at (x=600, y=240) with Anomen (he won't talk to
other characters), and listen with bemusement as Cor and Anomen work
together to air the Delryn family's dirty laundry. Of course Anomen's
dad is an abusive drunk, you saw that coming. Everything about Anomen
just screams inadequacy and daddy issues... which is probably why he
reacts so poorly to Keldorn's tendency to portray himself as a father
figure for the rest of the party. Anyways, the drunkard blames some
Calimshite named Saerk, who is obviously the traditional Delryn family
nemesis. At least, of this generation. Cor blames Anomen for the death
of Moira, after all, even though he proclaims himself the man of the
house, the blame should fall on Anomen for not being omniscient and
preventing Moira's murder. If only Anomen hadn't driven his mother to
an early grave and caused his father to drink away all the family's
prestige and wealth! How dare he go out and try and join the Most Noble
Order of the Radiant Heart! The shame... To further cinch his spot as
father of the year, Cor demands that Anomen seek out and kill Saerk and
his son as retribution. Stepping outside the law is surely going to
impress the Order, but at least Anomen has the sense to speak with you
about it. If Keldorn is around he'll argue that the law must be upheld,
while pretty much everybody else will advocate a more direct and sure
solution. For Anomen to coexist with Keldorn, you need to keep him on
the straight and narrow, unless the Paladin's chastising finally gets
under Anomen's skin. Anomen's already feisty enough, allowing him to
fail his knighthood will make Keldorn unbearable and result in a broken
good party... which we don't need. Still, for the sake of being a
completionist, I'll include both paths, starting with the vengeful route
(Steps #5-#9). The suggested good paths are described in Steps #10-#12.
If you romanced Anomen and took the good path, the story continues in
Steps #13-#14.
***ITEMS***
(x=450, y=400) 1 gold
(x=350, y=450) Skydrop Gem
(x=220, y=550) Flamedance Ring
Estate of Saerk Farrahd (AR0505)
o======================================================================o
5) Advocate Anomen to take revenge by picking options #1 or #3 and
continue to convince him that his vows to the Order are less important
than his family. He'll tell his father that he's going to kill Saerk,
and Cor will conveniently procure a key which will gain us entry into
the Estate of Saerk Farrahd, which can be found in the Bridge District
at (x=2050, y=1850). Inside you'll have to fight you way through some
Guards, who aren't much of a threat to anybody. Go through secret doors
at (x=1000, y=1300) and (x=770, y=1200) to score some loot, and head to
the northeast to penetrate deeper into the estate.
***ITEMS***
(x=1200, y=1380) 7 gold
(x=1250, y=1400) Greenstone Ring, 1 gold
(x=570, y=1170) 2 gold
(x=450, y=1250) Sunstone Gem
(x=220, y=1150) 6 gold
(x=370, y=1050) History of the Dragon Coast, 7 gold
(x=350, y=950) 4 gold
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
6) When you head to the northeast a cutscene will occur where Anomen
confronts the Farrahd family, including Saerk, his son Yusef, and his
startled daughter Surayah. While Saerk won't admit to killing Moira, he
certainly doesn't present himself favorably at all, and he's downright
delighted that Anomen-the son of his enemy-has barged into his house
and presented himself to be killed with justifiable self-defense. His
son is no better, and the two practically drool over the opportunity to
kill Anomen and hence grind their heel further into the defeated Cor.
Anomen, however, jumps the gun and kills Surayah in revenge for Moira.
Keldorn is aghast and you lose two points of reputation, and of course,
a fight ensues between your party and the surviving Farrahds. Saerk
casts spells, and Guards are summoned from either side to present
missile fire upon the party, but this fight can be entirely won by a
simple Insect Plague. After being defeated, Yusef will teleport away,
and you can easily mop up the rest of the Guards. Saerk Farrahd will
leave behind a suit of Full Plate Mail, Bullets +1 x10, two Potions of
Extra Healing, a Potion of Fire Giant Strength, a Scroll of Tenser's
Transformation, a Morning Star +1, a Sling +1, and 455 gold. Surayah
will also leave behind some trinkets, and one of the guards dropped me
a Bastard Sword +1 and a suit of Plate Mail Armor. The rest of the
Guards will, of course, drop some Arrows and low-quality loot. Before
we go, we might as well loot the other half of the house. It's not like
some burglary is going to really be bothersome after Anomen's slaying.
***ITEMS***
(x=2400, y=750) History of Tethyr, History of Waterdeep,
Potion of Invisibility, Potion of Master Thievery x2
(x=1800, y=720) Elixir of Health x3, Antidote x4
(x=1540, y=400) 1 gold
(x=1330, y=330) 4 gold
(x=1700, y=400) Tiger Cowrie Shell Necklace
(x=1670, y=570) Star Sapphire, Ruby Ring, 1250 gold
(x=1800, y=500) Composite Long Bow, Long Bow, Short Bow, Arrows x40
(x=1850, y=450) War Hammer, Bastard Sword, Two Handed Sword, Flail +1
***TRAPS***
(x=1670, y=570)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
7) After smiting Saerk and dealing a grievous blow to the Farrahd family
for which Yusef has rightfully promised revenge, return to the Delryn
Estate and report to Cor. Cor is proud of Anomen, for a change, for
doing what Cor wasn't man enough to do himself and ending his rivalry
with Saerk. The little fish always thrives in the absence of
competition, eh?
***REWARD***
(For killing Saerk Farrahd and avenging Moira)
EXP 10500
High Hall of the Radiant Heart (AR0903)
o======================================================================o
8) After some time passes a Paladin named Sir Ryan Trawl will show up
and greet Anomen. The time has come for him to return to the High Hall
and be judged in Helm's light for his deeds and Strength of arms. If
only it were just the latter, eh? Head over to the Temple District and
enter the High Hall of the Radiant Heart (x=3300, y=3350) and watch a
cutscene describing Anomen's judgment by the Order. It's... pretty
harsh, but Anomen's actions only acknowledge the fact that he had no
business being here. Anomen leaves in disgrace and you get a small
experience reward. Outside Anomen will complain bitterly at his
treatment, and even entertain the idea of returning to the High Hall to
seek vengeance against those who judged him unworthy. How very knightly
of him. If you encourage him to further wrong-doing, he'll leave the
party and attack, blaming you for leading him down this path. Pick
options #1, #2, and #1 to calm the broken shell of a man that was
Anomen down, and convince him to continue with you. Keldorn will have
two more banters if they're kept in the same party before Anomen
decides to take his frustrations with the Order out on Keldorn. To
denote his new change in outlook, Anomen's alignment shifts to Chaotic
Neutral.
***REWARD***
(For watching Anomen's expulsion from the Order)
EXP 5000
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
9) During the next few banters Anomen will struggle with his rejection
and eventually come to the conclusion that he is now free of the Order-
free to indulge his vices. If your protagonist is female and you have
been romancing Anomen, you will become his drug of choice. All is not
well, however. Eventually, a messenger will come and give Anomen a note
from his father, stating that two workers actually killed his sister.
Cor continues to be a rat-bastard by thanking Anomen for killing Saerk
and family, as it has been a great boon to business, but having a wanton
murderer in the family might be bad for business. After being disowned,
Anomen will leave the party, ominously saying that he's going to atone
for himself, and his father. Head back to the Government District to
find Anomen ready to confront-and kill-his father. Either let him
continue with his murder-suicide, or talk him down. Afterwards, if he's
still alive, he'll rejoin the party.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
10) On the other hand, if you are a good friend and convince Anomen to
go down the path of good (options 2, 2, 2), he'll listen to reason and
decide not to be petty and vengeful like his father wishes. After all,
if she was really murdered, wouldn't somebody have investigated? He'll
go inform his father of his decision, who will of course be angry. Angry
enough, even to disown Anomen. Anomen bears it in stride, and suggests
we go to the Council of Six building and talk with one Bylanna Ianulin,
the magistrate who can get something done about this. While we're
dealing with this, let's go see what Madeen and his master wants, and
get our magic license see [WLK016], below, Steps 1-3. In this case, the
good party's activities mesh well with our next goal of finding Valygar,
but since you don't necessarily have to be good to be traveling around
with Anomen (and hence, doing Anomen's family quest) we'll keep the
two discreetly separate.
***REWARD***
(For guiding Anomen to uphold his vows to the Order)
EXP 10500
Council of Six Building (AR1002)
o======================================================================o
11) Make your way over to the Council of Six building (x=3150, y=900),
inside of which you'll find Bylanna (x=530, y=600). The bureaucratic
process is predictably frustrating, as there is no real evidence to
link Saerk to the murders. Anomen swallows his pride and comforts
himself with petty thoughts of post-life divine retribution for Saerk
and decides to put all this mess behind him.
***REWARD***
(For attempting to go through the proper legal channels)
EXP 7500
High Hall of the Radiant Heart (AR0903)
o======================================================================o
12) Again, some time will pass and eventually Sir Ryan Trawl will come
fetch Anomen to have his worth judged by the Prelate of the Order of
the Most Radiant Heart. So head on over there. Since Anomen wasn't in
the business of slaughtering innocent girls with this approach, he's
accepted into the Order. Really though, one has to think how near a
miss this was-a bit of bad advice from a traveling companion and he'd
have been expelled... But I guess that's life, right? Talk to Sir Ryan
Trawl, who allows Anomen to continue traveling with you. Everybody
wins, it seems. Anomen's alignment shifts to Lawful Good, his Wisdom
increases from 12 to 16, and whatever friction was between him and
Keldorn now fades. Apparently Keldorn doesn't rankle Anomen so much now
that they're brothers in arms of the Order-instead of the shining
example of all Anomen aspires to be-or failed to be, if you did this
the bad way. Oh, and Anomen becomes 'Sir Anomen'. What a douche. Now
most players can continue on with life and happily ignore Anomen, but
if you are romancing him, the story has a few twists left, which I will
detail in the following steps. Again, the following will only occur if
you are romancing Anomen and he was knighted by the Order-meaning no
vengeance.
***REWARD***
(For watching Anomen's knighthood)
EXP 10000
EXP 50000 (Anomen)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
13) After some time passes, and your romance with Anomen becomes more...
intimate... in nature, Anomen will be approached by Terl, the bearer of
Anomen-related news in this game. Terl will pass on a note from
Bylanna Ianulin, which Anomen will read aloud for our benefit.
Apparently Saerk WAS responsible for hiring those who murdered Anomen's
sister, and when Anomen's father found out he attempted-and failed-to
take justice into his own hands. Now without any family whatsoever,
Anomen decides his vows to the Order mean little, and paranoid that
Saerk's wealth will prevent him from being brought to justice, feels
compelled to rectify his earlier inaction by taking vengeance on Saerk.
He will, of course, attempt to blame you for advising him to leave
justice to the law, but with some apologizing he'll forgive you, and
leave the party to be decidedly un-knightly.
Estate of Saerk Farrahd (AR0505)
o======================================================================o
14) So, head over to the Estate of Saerk Farrahd, in the Bridge District
at (x=2050, y=1850). Inside, Anomen is apparently on steroids, as he
will have dispatched all the guards in the place single-handedly, and
at the moment is already confronting Saerk. After some dialogue, Anomen
will notice you and question your intent. Tell him that you're here to
stop him, then tell him either option #1 or #3. This will prompt him to
doubt his current course of action, and contemplate his inner demons.
Next pick option #1, or #2 to reassure him that you'll be by his side.
Anomen will concede to do the right thing, then moralize Saerk, who will
of course suddenly discover that he has a conscience. It's so
predictable, it hurts, I know. You might as well loot the place before
you go... especially all the Guards Anomen killed along the way. Good
thing for Anomen the Order doesn't care that he murdered a dozen
nameless Guards, so long as he left Saerk unmolested.
o======================================================================o
| |
| Cleric Temple Quests |
| |
o======================================================================o
Sequence of Events: {WLK011}
1) A Note on Petitioners
2) Glinden the Cuckold
3) Ti'Vael the Dueler
4) Rania the Faithless
5) Cotirso the Malcontent
6) Peace of the Gods
Note from Lee:
I was given the Sir Sarles and Dawn Ring quests here (WLK037), before
any of the Temple Quests started. While I didn't have some of the
magical items needed to follow the guide exactly (most notably the
Amulet of Power), I was more than powerful enough to complete these
quests without sustaining any real damage (thanks again to having
stole/sold stuff to Gorch and buying all the awesome weaponry). I also
do the Copper Coronet quests here (WLK036) to get Bernard to sell better
stuff. There's a lot of time to kill waiting for the Temple quests, and
this is a great way to use the time.
1) No matter what temple you end up in, most of the quests run the same
way. You've got to see petitioners and help them resolve their problems.
Just like in real life, people can't help but go to ostentatious
buildings dedicated to invisible beings to talk to folks who claim to
hear these invisible beings in order to find guidance and advice. Unlike
in real life, however, these gods grant spells and manifest themselves,
so they might actually have some clout. Your job is to answer the
petitioners that come to you in a way that best represents your deity
Of these quests, the priest of Talos has it easiest. You always advise
folks to kill or destroy. Priests of Talos will also be bothered by
Inspector Ardis, as a legal response to the less-than-lawful responses
you give to your petitioners. Dealing with him-and double-crossing the
folks who came to you for advice-is definately the greedy, evil,
chaotic, Talosy thing to do, and it nets you extra cash. Just head over
to the government district after each petitioner carries out your advice
to tell him about the crimes you advocated. If you're a priest of Helm,
look for such giveaways as the words 'duty'. Priests of Lathander need
to be on the lookout for the nicest path, promoting forgiveness,
renewal, and reconciliation. You'll get your 'results' in every few
days. You'll know you made the right choice if you get an experience
reward for your answer, so save/loading is a fine way to get through
this.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
2) Your first petitioner will be a merchant named Glinden, whose wife is
cheating on him. As a neutral character I tell him to remind his wife of
their vows. As an evil character I tell him to kill his wife and her
lover, and as a good character I tell him to forgive his wife and let
her come to her senses. In a few days return to the temple and you'll
be updated on the results, and rewarded for a correct response.
***REWARD***
(For telling your petitioner to follow the will of your god)
EXP 20000
Gold 200 (Talos only)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
3) Next you'll be visited by a Dwarf named Ti'Vael, who killed a man in
a duel when he could have spared him. As a neutral character I tell him
to turn himself in and let the courts decide. As an evil character I
tell him to kill the witnesses, and when he returns, I kill him myself
and turn him in for the reward. As a good character I suggest he pay
restitution to the family for their loss.
***REWARD***
(For telling your petitioner to follow the will of your god)
EXP 20000
Gold 500 (Talos only)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
4) A woman named Rania will approach and admit she's losing faith in
the church, and needs some reassurance. As a neutral character I
helpfully remind her of her duty to the church, and as an evil character
I simply attack her. As a good character I tell her that it's fine for
her to take her time to think about it. Imagine that... by Bioware's
standards, a Cleric telling somebody that doubt is fine is considered
good, and killing a heretic is evil. Think about it, religious folks.
Where does your religion stand?
***REWARD***
(For dealing with the heretic appropriately)
EXP 20000
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
5) A man named Cotirso will approach, angry about your position and
determined to win it from you with a duel. If you're good turn down the
duel, if you're evil kill him. Neutral characters should deflect the
duel until Byron can come, then duel Cotirso once formally challenged.
***REWARD***
(For dealing with the upstart appropriately)
EXP 20000
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
6) Now you've a task to perform that has nothing to do with hearing
whiny petitioners. The Talosites plan to attack the priests of
Lathander. It's obvious what you must do if you're aligned with either
of those two factions, but if you're neutral you must defend the priests
of Lathander from the Talonites without allowing them to destroy each
other. Once you've killed who needs to be killed you'll get a larger
experience reward, and your temple quests are completed.
***REWARD***
(For settling the score)
EXP 35000
Gold 1000
o======================================================================o
| |
| The Astral Prison Quest |
| (Recruiting and Securing Haer'Dalis) |
o======================================================================o
Sequence of Events: {WLK012}
1) Enroute in Athkatla III
2) Bridge District Blues
3) Five Flagons
4) The Playhouse
5) Raelis'Shai's Request
6) Durlag's... err... Mekrath's Tower!
7) Mekrath's Mission
8) Bad Imp! No Mirror!
9) Rescuing Haer'Dalis
10) Astral Abduction
11) The Astral Prison
12) Talking to Tagget
13) Astral Prison Chamber (AR0520)
14) Astral Prison Chamber (AR0521)
15) Thrashing Thralls
16) Astral Prison Chamber (AR0517)
17) The Master's Pet
18) The Master of Thralls
19) Astral Prison Chamber (AR0518)
20) Astral Prison Chamber (AR0519)
21) The Warden
22) Rescuing the Sigil Troupe
Now we have access to Keldorn, Korgan, and Edwin, the 'core' allies who
have quests that must be resolved before you can keep them. The other
PCs I generally view as optional or less-than-ideal in some way. For
most players, this should satisfy your need for party-making, as Anomen
is a better Cleric than Aerie, Edwin is a better Mage, and Korgan and
Keldorn make up the best recruitable warriors for the evil and good
parties, respectively. Of course, if you need to fill another party
space, or you'd prefer Valygar over Minsc, or you don't really care to
go rescue Imoen, there are still plenty of things to do and characters
to recruit. Haer'Dalis is the next I'd recruit, as this will also give
us the peace of mind of completing another part of the sewers. I sell
off all my accumulated wealth and with the money raised from the
Unseeing Eye quest I buy Vhailor's Helm from Diedre. This allows me to
pop out a second character once a day, a summon that will only get
stronger as I do. If you don't care to buy this item, get another useful
item... you can't go wrong with a Girdle of Hill Giant Strength. This
will allow Jaheira to really take off as a Fighter, and will allow
Viconia to wear heavier armor and shields. When you've purchased what
you want, head over to the Bridge District (AR0500). If you want Keldorn
and Anomen in your party, keep them around. Just like with Korgan and
Edwin there are still mini-quests to do with them first. If anything it
gives us incentive to delay going after Imoen until those are done.
Enroute in Athkatla III (AR0046)
o======================================================================o
1) On my way to the Bridge District I was attack by Slaves and several
Orogs. one Slaver had some Arrows +1 and a Short Sword +1, but other
wise there's not much reason to go looking for this encounter.
Bridge District (AR0500)
o======================================================================o
2) When you arrive you'll be bothered by Lieutenant Aegisfield, who
will tell you that there is a murderer about preying on paupers.
Skinning them alive in fact. He'll warn you not go looking for trouble,
but will mention two witnesses, Old Rampah and Rose, which makes it just
that much harder to stay out of trouble. It's a quest that... you
guessed it, we can delay for later.
Five Flagons Inn, Main Floor (AR5009)
o======================================================================o
3) Head southwest until you find a door at (x=3190, y=2000), which
leads to the Five Flagons. Inside you can find numerous patrons-most of
which don't have anything interesting to say. Samuel Thunderburp
(x=350, y=410) will chat about the affairs of the day-the war between
the thieves guilds, the murderer on the bridge district, and about the
Cowled Wizards' prison. Head down the stairs at (x=100, y=700).
Five Flagons Inn, Basement (AR5010)
o======================================================================o
4) Once downstairs you'll be bothered by a Receptionist, who will tell
you the next show is about to start. Donate five gold for a ticket-or
not-and head in to witness the Sigil Troupe's... er... lacking
performance. Biff the Understudy bungles his lines (and really, how
could somebody named Biff be expected to do anything right?) to the
derision of the patrons. Raelis Shai will show up an apologize, and ask
for any who know of those who are skilled in sword and adventure to ask
such individuals to come speak to her. Swords? Adventure? Hey! That's
us!
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
5) You can find Raelis Shai at (x=1320, y=250), near the rest of the
actors. She'll tell you that their usual 'Rodrigo' the tiefling named
Haer'Dalis, has been kidnapped by a Amnish wizard. Mekrath, by name,
he can be reached through the sewers-the very same sewers we were just
exploring while pursuing the Unseeing Eye quest. The best reward they
can offer-besides encouraging you to pillage Mekrath's lair-is 300 gold,
600 if you bring back Haer'Dalis' gem. Head back to the Temple District
and head back into the sewers.
***ITEMS***
(x=250, y=1100) 101 gold
(x=1450, y=170) 34 gold
(x=1650, y=320) 34 gold, Scroll of Protection from Energy
(x=1770, y=715) Bloodstone Gem, Flamedance Ring
(x=1730, y=830) Scroll of Ghost Armor, Scroll of Confusion,
Scroll of Stoneskin
Mekrath's Lair (AR0705)
o======================================================================o
6) You'll pass a secret door at (x=1100, y=500) that leads to a Secret
Entrance (x=1200, y=150). Upstairs you'll find.. Durlag's Tower! Not
really, but it sure looks like it, right? There are a bunch of Mephits
to smite and in a room to the east you'll find a Salamander, an Ice
Salamander, and a Yuan-Ti Mage. Of these three, you only need to worry
about the Mage.
Note from Lee:
Lure the Salamanders out one at a time and deal with them in the main
(half-circle) room. The Yuan-ti Mage will only follow you out as far as
the first small room off the main room, but a Dispel Magic or two, along
with a Greater Malison into that room will weaken him nicely. After he's
sufficiently de-buffed, send in your Hasted fighters to... well... kill
him.
***ITEMS***
(x=600, y=550) Scroll of Contingency
(x=600, y=450) Scroll of Spell Deflection
(x=1200, y=700) Chyrsoberyl Gem, Necklace of Form Stability, Gold Ring
(x=1300, y=700) Silver Necklace, Gold Necklace, 89 gold
(x=1450, y=550) Oil of Speed, Scroll of Carrion Summons, 400 gold
(x=1400, y=140) Portal Gem, Harp of Discord, Laeral's Tear Necklace
(x=600, y=800) Scroll of Ghoul Touch, 63 gold
(x=500, y=770) Potion of Invulnerability, Potion of Stone Form,
Potion of Genius, Scroll of Aganazzar's Scorcher
(x=220, y=280) 17 gold
(x=150, y=250) Potion of Mind Focusing, Potion of Genius,
Wand of Cloudkill, Rod of Resurrection
***TRAPS***
(x=1200, y=700)
(x=1300, y=700)
(x=1450, y=550)
(x=1250, y=200)
(x=1400, y=140)
(x=500, y=770)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
7) Up at (x=950, y=160) you'll find Haer'Dalis, who doesn't have much
to say just yet. Mekrath is over at (x=200, y=350), and he's none too
friendly. Pick options #1, #2, #2, and #1 to opt to go on a mission to
recover a magic mirror from a wayward imp in exchange for Haer'Dalis.
Why turn down a quest, right? If you decide you don't want to be
peaceful, Mekrath is easy to provoke. He'll start up with Stoneskin and
Protection from Normal Weapons-which is pretty useless. Then he'll cast
an Animate Dead followed by more protections, such as Mislead. He can
cast some pretty powerful spells, including Finger of Death and Maze.
Haste up your party and hit him with a Dispel Magic and get on top of
him early to prevent him from causing you trouble. Use True Sight if you
have it when he uses Mislead and Shadow Door. To this end, Keldorn makes
this fight laughable, as his high-level Dispel Magic and True Sight are
just too much for Mekrath. Given the nature of the narrow hallway, it's
probably best to lead with a hasted melee character or two, and just
make the rest of the party stand band and use ranged-preferably magical
-weapons. When he falls, Mekrath will leave behind two Potions of Extra
Healing, a Gold Necklace, a Mage Robe of Fire Resistance, a Quarter
Staff +1, and 25 gold.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
8) Head back down to the sewers and head east then south to find the Imp
(x=2520, y=2140), who thankfully isn't very talkative or friendly. It'll
come with a Lesser Earth Elemental-which can only be hit by magical
weapons. Kill it, and the Imp-which can cast a few minor spells, and
grab 'Mekrath's Mirror' when it dies. Return it to Mekrath for some
juicy experience.
***REWARD***
(For returning Mekrath's Mirror)
EXP 18750
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
9) Once Mekrath is gone, or once he has his mirror back and teleports
away Haer'Dalis will be freed and will speak with you. Accept him into
your party if you wish, or turn him away. Either way, your goal now is
to collect Haer'Dalis' gem from the alter at (x=1400, y=140), which is
just as simple as going over and grabbing it. It's a wonder he couldn't
do it himself, eh? Good thing though, as there's some loot worth keeping
(and selling) along with it. Once you're done head back to the Bridge
District.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
10) Find your favorite group of ill-bred thespians again in the Five
Flagons. You can extract an extra 1200 gold from Raelis Shai if you hold
out on her, but going for more will provoke a fight. If you just hand
it over, you'll get the gold you previously agreed upon, as well as
700 gold and some experience. Haer'Dalis will explain what the Portal
Gem is while Raelis Shai messes with the gem, eventually spilling that
they're planning to move to another plane. During this process of
finding a new stage, you'll be asked to fend off some unwelcome visitors
that will come through the portals they're summoning up. Agree to help
them and fight off two Quasits, a Lesser Fire Elemental, and a Shadow
Fiend. Eventually a Bounty Hunter will show up and whisk your chums
away. Looks like you're going to have to go through that ominous planar
portal (x=900, y=450) and save them. Note that if you do not help them
fend off the extra-planar invaders, you will not see what became of
them, and there will be no portal for you to enter through. It might be
a good idea to spell-buff before going through the portal.
***REWARD***
(For returning the Portal Gem to the Sigil Troupe)
Gold 300 + 700 or 1200
EXP 21250
Astral Prison (AR0516)
o======================================================================o
11) When you make it through the portal, a person named Aawill will
be yelling at a thrall named Tagget. Once you are noticed, Aawill will
turn his attention onto you, and a fight ensues thereafter. Send a
strong Fighter to occupy Aawill and his bounty hunters, while the rest
of your party focuses their attention on the Yuan-ti behind the party,
who is easily the most dangerous single opponent there. Take his spell
defenses down as he raises him and kill him quickly. The rest are just
melee Fighters, and no serious threat to you.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
12) Tagget will talk to you after the fight, telling you that the only
way out of here is by killing a creature known as the Warden. Of course,
it's not that simple, as the warden has a number of Thralls kept as
slaves. Heading east and killing the Master of Thralls will free the
thralls and make besting the Warden much easier. Loot the bodies-the
powerful Yuan-ti to the west will drop a Cloak of the Shield, Bracers of
Defense A.C. 8, a Scroll of Death Spell, a Scroll of Chain Lightning,
Quarter Staff, 25 gold. The other Yuan-ti will drop a suit of Chain
Mail Armor and a Wand of the Heavens. One of the humanoid Bounty Hunters
will drop Studded Leather Armor, a Small Shield +1, Pixie Prick +3, and
Boots of Speed. The other two humanoid Bounty Hunters each have a suit
of Leather Armor +1, some Arrows of Fire and Arrows of Ice, a Long Bow,
and a Long Sword. Finally Aawill leaves behind Melodic Chain +3, two
Potions of Extra Healing, a Scroll of Tenser's Transformation, a Scroll
of Flesh to Stone, and a Two-Handed Sword +1. Wow. First things first,
the spell scrolls should be given to Edwin or saved for Imoen. The Boots
of speed should go on a front-line Fighter-either Keldorn or Korgan.
Since my Fighter/Mage is arguably the strongest character in the party
when spell buffed and good at countering nearly every threat, they go to
him in my game. I keep the Pixie Prick +3 on hand, since I'm short of
+3 weapons, and the Melodic Chain +3.. well, if you're going to keep
Haer'Dalis, having a suit of armor for him is a good start. He'll be
wearing this for a long time, indeed.
Astral Prison Chamber (AR0520)
o======================================================================o
13) To the north are two pulsating flesh nodes that will transport
characters to a chamber if they're caught by the opening diaphragm.
Yeah. I'd suggest you go ahead and explore these when you find them just
to get them out of the way, but the ones to the north (x=1550, y=1450)
and (x=1500, y=1300) are close enough to the Warden that you could
provoke some unwanted attention by exploring them. In the first one
you'll find two Prison Captains and four Minotaurs, which are little
more than an experience bank by now. One Prison Captain will drop a
Two-Handed Sword +1 and Bracers of Defense A.C. 8, and the other will
drop a Long Sword +1.
Astral Prison Chamber (AR0521)
o======================================================================o
14) In the second chamber (x=1500, y=1300) you'll find three Prison
Captains, a Stone Golem, and a Clay Golem. Two of the Prison Captains
will immediately start out with spell-buffs, and you need to get on them
quick with an Insect Plague to make this go smoothly.. well, as smoothly
as it can go. As we know from experience Clay Golems and Stone Golems
require special attention that makes this precarious fight even more
bothersome. Also consider that provoking the Warden is almost a
certainty by going up here, which is something I can do without. When
they die the Prison Captains will drop the following loot; a Ring of
Protection +1, a Mace +1, a Long Sword +1, and a Wand of Fire. Nice, but
not worth the trouble. Oh, and if you exit this chamber, and I'm sure
you'll want to do eventually, you'll appear next to the Warden. The bad
part is, once you kill the Warden you can't go visit these chambers
anymore.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
15) So instead, let's head over to the east where you'll find a Thrall
Leader who will talk only long enough to let you know you're in for a
fight. Focus on the spell-caster in the back, as she's the only one who
can cause you any real trouble, then kill the other two. They'll all
drop Thrall Collars and the Thrall Leader will drop a Medium Shield +1.
Ignore the 'brazier' (x=2500, y=1900) in the center of the room for now
and continue east until you find a opening fleshy-valve in the center of
the hallway east.
***ITEMS***
(x=2300, y=1800) Arrows of Biting x40, Arrows x160, Bolts x120,
Bullets x120, Darts x80, 1 gold
Astral Prison Chamber (AR0517)
o======================================================================o
16) You can avoid these chambers by running across the fleshy part at
the right time, but chances are somebody will get caught, and it's just
better to take care of them-besides, we like experience and loot, don't
we? I spell buff my Fighter/Mage and send him in alone-include a Chaotic
Commands in addition to his normal buffs. Inside are some Githyanki,
including one Gish, three Warriors, and a Knight. They'll all start out
by hitting you with psionics, followed by going invisible before
unleashing a second round of psionics. Getting knocked unconscious by
the psionic attacks would not be a good thing, hence the Chaotic
Commands. Once the two rounds of psionics is done, send in the rest of
the party. The Knight and Warriors drop Plate Mail Armor and Two-Handed
Swords (and possibly a Potion of Extra Healing), while the Gish will
leave behind.. a bunch of Darts.
***ITEMS***
(x=300, y=400) Bullets x80, Bolt x80, Arrows x80, Darts x80,
Throwing Daggers x40
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
17) Leave the chamber and continue east, where you'll find a Yuan-ti
Mage, a Salamander, and an Ice Salamander. To the north there are two
more troublesome Thralls and a Wyvern who will likely bother you while
you attempt to kill the snake-bodied bastards. It's a good time as any
to use an Insect Plague and hopefully neutralize one group or the other,
just don't let either have the freedom to cast spells. Once they're
dead loot the Female Thrall for a suit of Chain Mail Armor, Gauntlets
of Weapon Skill, a Ring of Protection +1, a Medium Shield, Kundane +2,
and a Thrall Collar. The Thrall will leave behind Bracers of Defense
A.C. 8, a Wand of Lightning, a Potion of Extra Healing, and a Thrall
Collar. Who do the Gauntlets go to? Well, Korgan/Keldorn has the
Gauntlets of Dexterity, and Jaheira/Viconia has a Girdle of Hill Giant
Strength, so just give them to the Fighter with highest (worst) THAC0
until there's better to be had.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
18) Now we turn northwest for a change, where the Master of Thralls
will threaten us before summoning some Air Elementals. Be spell buffed
and keep in mind that you need +2 or better weapons to hit the Air
Elementals. As for the Master of Thralls, just be wary of his ability
to paralyze you and his 'death gaze'. He didn't really cause me any
trouble. When he dies, pick up the Staff of Air +2 and the Mastery Orb
that he leaves behind.
***ITEMS***
(x=3000, y=950) Moonstone Gem, Dart of Stunning x40
Astral Prison Chamber (AR0518)
o======================================================================o
19) The Warden lies to the west-behind several more pulsating flesh-nod
chambers. The first (x=2250, y=1100) contains four Wolfweres and a
Greater Wolfwere. I'd suggest focusing on the Greater Wolfwere first-
he's not anywhere near as strong as the Loup Garou of Baldur's Gate 1,
but he's still the toughest enemy in this area.
Astral Prison Chamber (AR0519)
o======================================================================o
20) The next chamber (x=1940, y=1020) contains three Efreeti, who can
be pretty damn annoying. Another situation where my Fighter/Mage handles
it himself-this time with the added benefit of a Protection from Fire
spell. With that little number, there's just not much they can do,
even though their Flame Arrow spells will strip you of Mirror Images
rather quickly. Once dead, they might go into a Gaseous Form, during
which time they're immune to damage.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
21) Now to deal with the Warden. Go down to the 'brazier' near the
Githyanki chamber (x=2500, y=1900) and activate it to destroy the Orb.
If you just rush in and take on the Warden, his pack consists of three
Thralls, three Warden Thralls, a Salamander, an Ice Salamander, a
Yuan-ti Mage, and of course, the Warden himself. Destroy the Mastery
Orb, the Thralls will turn on the Warden, and making this fight much
easier. Of course, if you have to fight all six of the Thralls, you've
got some serious spell power to worry about. First thing to do is hit
them all with a Dispel Magic, as the Warden and most of the Mages will
put up defenses to make themselves annoying. Immediately afterwards,
have Jaheira hit them with an Insect Plague. If the Thralls are already
neutralized, it should only take one-targeting in the Yuan-ti Mage-to
make this fight a cinch. If the Thralls are still hostile, it merely
takes two to (hopefully) neutralize their magic. Have everybody run in
and focus on the Warden, and use Keldorn to keep him honest-that and
Breach-which will be your best friend for tearing down his spell buffs
without dispelling the Insect Plague. The Warden likes to start out with
Symbol, Stun, and he can also cast Horrid Wilting. After that, him and
a few of his Thralls are fond of Finger of Death, which can make a
reload mandatory by itself. It's highly recommended you destroy the
Mastery Orb, although I'll be honest, the most challenging thing about
this fight are the stupid flesh chambers. After they're dead Tagget will
come and tell you the obvious. The Warden Thralls have Long Swords +1,
and one of the Thralls (the Cleric) has a Warhammer +1. The Warden has
three Star Sapphires, two Emeralds, the Wave Shaft (like the Equalizer,
part of an artifact weapon), Adjatha the Drinker +2 (a worthy compliment
for Namarra +2), the Planar Prison Cell Key, and 2577 gold.
***REWARD***
(For destroying the Mastery Orb)
EXP 24750
***REWARD***
(For defeating the Warden and freeing the Thralls)
EXP 5000
***ITEMS***
(x=1250, y=1150) Bolts of Lightning x40, Bullet +1 x40,
Throwing Dagger x30, Throwing Axe x40, 1 gold
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
22) Head over to the northwest, where Raelis Shai will thank you for
saving them-and you'll get a hefty experience reward. Haer'Dalis will
elect to stay behind and explore the Prime, and if you're a Bard
Raelis'Shai will offer you the deed to the playhouse. Either way, you'll
appear back in the playhouse below the Five Flagons, where Haer'Dalis
will offer to join you for good. The next section will cover the
playhouse, if it interests you. I'll admit, I didn't spend as much time
learning all the results as I should have.
If you don't want to (or can't) do the Bard's quest, there's still
plenty to do. We still can recruit Cernd, Mazzy, Nalia, and Valygar.
Valygar and Mazzy require us to tread to the Umar Hills, Cernd requires
us to tread all the way to Trademeet, and Nalia necessitates a visit to
the De'Arnise Keep. Of course, if you want to keep your rural virginity
intact for this game, we can still recruit one more character within
city limits-Aerie [WLK015]. Before any of that, however, let's go off
and grab one wonderful weapon that's now well within our ability to
obtain-the katana Celestial Fury [WLK014].
***REWARD***
(For freeing the Sigil Troupe from the Astral Prison)
EXP 44000 (each character, including Haer'Dalis)
o======================================================================o
| |
| Bardic Playhouse Quests |
| |
o======================================================================o
Sequence of Events: {WLK013}
1) New Ownership
2) The Lead Actress
3) More Actress Drama
4) Zaren's Improvisation
5) More Improvisation
6) The Turmish Curse
7) The Missing Score
8) Bothered by Barbarians
9) The Show Must Go On.. Or Not.
Note from Lee:
I try not to leave the city confines until all the various stronghold
quests are complete, so I do the last part of [WLK037] here (the Fallen
Paladin quest). It takes damn near forever for these stupid actors and
directors to get this play going.
Five Flagons Inn, Basement (AR5010)
o======================================================================o
1) Samuel Thunderburp will show up and discuss the running of the
playhouse with you, after which he'll send in Higgold, who will tell
you that it'll take a week to get some actors, and six weeks for
rehearsals, after which the playhouse will start making a profit. Keep
in mind that this quest takes place over a long length of game-time.
Every so often you'll get bothered by a runner who will tell you that
something has come up and you're needed at the playhouse. Do other
things between each event, or just rest repeatedly to pass the time.
Once some time has passed a boy named Meck will bother you, telling you
that Higgold has the actors. Keep in mind that your decisions do affect
the quality of the play-a higher-quality play will net you a greater
reward at the end of the quest. Essentially, all your decisions either
have no effect on play-quality, a small effect (+1 or -1 to the global
variable 'playquality') or a significant effect (+2 or -2 to
'playquality').
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
2) Return to Higgold and he'll give you the first task right off-picking
a lead actress. There's also some mention of a curse on the play you're
performing. Choose either Iltheia (a pompous but experienced elf) or
Jenna (a naive and less experienced human actress.) Pick whomever you
wish and then comes the hard part-funding the play. You can pay as
little as 1000 gold, or as much as 10,000. The better the funds, the
better the advertisement, props, and costumes, and generally the better
reviews you'll get and the more money you'll receive later.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
3) After a while you'll get another visit from Meck calling you to visit
the playhouse and deal with another crisis.
If you made Iltheia the lead:
Iltheia is complaining about her lack of recognition-basically, the
pompous twat wants more money. Jenna just wants to see something done.
You can pay Iltheia more (100 gold does nothing for the play's
quality, 500 increases the play's quality, and refusing to pay her
more decreases the play's quality), threaten to kick her out of the
play (which decreases the play's quality), give the job to Jenna,
instead (decreases the quality of the play) or tell the women to solve
the problem themselves (which significantly decreases the quality of
the play).
If you made Jenna the lead:
Iltheia is upstaging Jenna, and wants a bigger role. You can capitulate
and let Iltheia have the lead (which increases the quality of the
play), tell Iltheia to stop screwing around and just play her role as
it was meant to be (which also increases wthe quality of the play),
expand Ilthea's role (decreases the quality of the play), or tell
them to fix it themselves (which significantly decreases the quality
of the play).
***REWARD***
(For letting Iltheia expand her role)
EXP 6750
***REWARD***
(For threatening to fire Iltheia)
EXP 6750
***REWARD***
(For putting Iltheia/Jenna into the leading role)
EXP 6750
***REWARD***
(For promising to pay Iltheia more)
EXP 11500
***REWARD***
(For regulating Iltheia to her role)
EXP 15750
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
4) A few days later you'll be summoned again. This time Zeran thinks
he's too good to follow the script. Damn actors and their disobedience!
Zeran will defend himself, saying he can make the play better. Either
let him change the script (significantly improves the quality of the
play), tell Higgold the rest of the actors will have to keep up with
improvisation (slightly improves the quality of the play), or tell
Zeran to cut it out (decreases the quality of the play).
***REWARD***
(Allow Zaren to improvise)
EXP 11500
***REWARD***
(Allow Zaren to change the script)
EXP 15750
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
5) Let some more time pass and Higgold will again send for you. This
time ALL the actors are 'in a state'. Apparently they all have ideas on
things to change with the script, and something needs to be done one way
or another. If you tell them to trust in Zaren, and your Charisma is
less than 17, you will decrease the quality of the play, If you tell
them to trust in Zaren and your Charisma is 17 or greater, the quality
of the play will increase. Same goes if you tell them there will be
no changes-your Charisma determines the outcome. If you bribe them with
500 gold, you'll increase the quality of the play. If you rewrite
the play yourself with a Charisma of less than 16, the quality of the
play will decrease. If you rewrite the play with a Charisma of 16 or 17,
the quality of the play will remain the same. If your Charisma is 18 or
higher, you will increase the quality of the play by rewriting it
yourself. Finally, if you threaten to fire everybody, the quality of
the play will take a HUGE hit.
***REWARD***
(Pay the actors 500 gold to stop whining)
EXP 11500
***REWARD***
(Don't allow the changes, with a Charisma score of 17+)
EXP 11500
***REWARD***
(Allow the changes, with a Charisma score of 17+)
EXP 11500
***REWARD***
(Rewrite the play yourself)
EXP 11500
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
6) Meck will bug you again after a while, and this time it sounds like
something serious is taking place. Head back to Higgold and he'll tell
you about some 'hauntings' and other strange events going on. He'll
bring in Shvanana, a priest who'll promise to stave off the 'curse' for
a mere 1000 gold. You can pay the 1000 gold for your actors' peace of
mind (increases play quality), try and get the price lowered to 500
(if you have a Charisma score of 17 or higher, but this will not
increase play quality), realize that you've got Clerics too (will not
increase play quality), and just get them to do it, or you can tell
Shvanana to shove off (which will significantly reduce the play's
quality). Finally, if you legitimately do not have 1000 gold, you can
tell Higgold you cannot afford Shavanna-if your Charisma is 18 or
higher, you'll increase play-quality by doing this, if it's less than
18, you'll significantly reduce the play's quality this way.
***REWARD***
(Have less than 1000 gold, and a Charisma score of 18 or higher)
EXP 11500
***REWARD***
(Pay Shavanana)
EXP 11500
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
7) Again time will pass, and again you'll be summoned-this time
something is wrong with the music. Again, you have options. You can get
Balmitance to do it for 500 gold (which greatly improves the quality of
the play), you can get Marcus to improve the music and get him to
rewrite the score (which significantly decreases the quality of the
play), or you can get Marcus to play and rewrite the score yourself.
This last approach will save you some money, but your Intelligence
will determine the outcome. If your Intelligence is less than 14, you
will significantly reduce the quality of the play. If your Intelligence
is 14 or 15, you will slightly reduce the quality of the play. If your
Intelligence is 16 or 17, the quality of the play won't be harmed at
all. If your Intelligence is 18, the quality of the play will slightly
improve. If your Intelligence is above 18, the quality of the play
will significantly improve.
***REWARD***
(Hire the harpist Balmitance)
EXP 15500
***REWARD***
(Rewrite the score yourself, with an Intelligence of 16 or 17)
EXP 6500
***REWARD***
(Rewrite the score yourself, with an Intelligence of 18)
EXP 11500
***REWARD***
(Rewrite the score yourself, with an Intelligence of 19+)
EXP 15500
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
8) More time passes and Meck returns, this time claiming 'barbarians'
have taken over the playhouse. This time you'll find Higgold outside of
the playhouse (so resting in the Five Flagons won't work to advance this
next plot point.) Head inside to confront the Turmish who are refusing
to let the play take place. A fight ensues, but it's nothing
spectacular. Kill them, and loot them for the following goodies: The
Turmish Leader will leave behind Studded Leather Armor +2, a Two-Handed
Sword +1, a Helmet, and 37 gold. The Turmish Thief drops a Short
Sword +2, and Leather Armor +1, and a Light Crossbow, and a Scroll of
Identify. The two Turmish Thugs will each cough up a suit of Studded
Leather Armor, a Helmet, some Arrows, a Short Bow, a Bastard Sword, and
some minor wealth. Finally the Turmish Sorceress leaves behind a Quarter
Staff, Bracers of Defense A.C. 7, and 40 gold.
***REWARD***
(For removing the Turmish barbarians)
EXP 15500
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
9) Wait for a day, then return to the playhouse at Meck's request to
go see the dress rehearsal. Watch the monster you've created, then go
waste another week doing.. whatever. What are the odds that things won't
go smoothly, do you think? After a while Meck will return, and Higgold
tells you that some councilman is there, and that Zaren is too ill to
perform-you'll have to fill his shoes. If you cancel, your playhouse is
as good as wasted (Samuel Thunderburp will pay you 5000 gold to
compensate you for the playhouse). I'll assume you'll play the part,
however, as it's much more lucrative for you to do so.
Best dialogue responses
Scene #1 (with Karenina): #2, #1, #1
Scene #2 (with Karenina): #1, #2
Scene #3 (with Marcus): #1, #2, #1, #2
Scene #4 (Monologue): #1
First, you'll get an experience reward depending upon your performance
in the play:
***REWARD***
(For refusing to perform)
Gold 5000
---OR---
***REWARD***
(For putting on a poor performance of the Turmish play)
EXP 19500
---OR---
***REWARD***
(For putting on a good performance of the Turmish play)
EXP 35500
---OR---
***REWARD***
(For putting on a great performance of the Turmish play)
EXP 49500
ITEM Azlaer's Harp
Then you'll get another reward depending upon the quality of the
play, itself. This depends upon the choices you made throughout the
quest.
(These are all the choices that seemed 'bad' to me.)
Leading Actress: Iltheia
Funding: Nothing
Jenna vs. Iltheia Nothing
Improvisation: Don't allow any changes
Script Change: Call their bluff on walking out
Curse: Nothing
Music: Marcus performs and rewrites score
(These are all the choices that seemed 'good' to me. When all else
failed, I simply followed the experience point rewards. After all,
getting more experience for a course of action has to mean something
good, right?)
Leading Actress: Jenna
Funding: 10,000 gold
Jenna vs. Iltheia Force Iltheia to stick to her role
Improvisation: Allowed Zaren to change the script
Script Change: Rewrite the script myself (w/high Charisma)
Curse: Hire Shvanana for 1000 gold
Music: Rewrite the score myself (w/high Intelligence)
***REWARD***
(For establishing an average playhouse)
EXP 19500
Gold 1000
---OR---
***REWARD***
(For establishing a good playhouse)
EXP 29500
---OR---
***REWARD***
(For establishing a great playhouse)
EXP 50000
Finally, after completing the play, you'll get crowd feedback-one
moron peasant always likes it, and the other three following the first
will have varied reactions. For all that, however, this can only
really end two ways. Either the play goes on, or it doesn't. Typically
the play only flops if you had a very poor play quality, or if your
protagonist refused to act at all on opening night. If that's the
case, you'll get 5000 gold as consolation from Samuel Thunderburp. If
the play goes on, no matter the quality, Higgold will offer to buy the
playhouse off of you for 10,000 gold. If you accept, you'll get a lump
sum and get to go on with your merry life. If you refuse, you'll get
weekly proceeds from the playhouse, like the De'Arnise Keep.
o======================================================================o
| |
| Obtaining Celestial Fury |
| |
o======================================================================o
Sequence of Events: {WLK014}
1) Glabrezu and Friends
2) Obtaining Celestial Fury
Guarded Compound (AR0906)
o======================================================================o
1) Go to the Temple District and head over to the 'Guarded Compound' to
the east (x=4200, y=2100). Spell-buff before you head in, and make sure
you have some +2 weapons at the ready. Inside you'll be welcomed by Sion
and Ketta, who will discuss how they will endeavor in the future to
better ward the door. Either pick a fight or pretend you came here by
accident, either way they'll teleport away. If you go northeast towards
the stairs some enemies will gate in, including an Efreeti, two
Ettercaps, an Ogre Berserker, an a Nishruu on one side, and a Glabrezu
on the other. The Glabrezu and Efreeti are the two somewhat worrisome
enemies, and the two sides will happily attack the other. The Glabrezu's
victory is a foregone conclusion, since none of the other enemies have
the +2 weapons needed to harm the Glabrezu. Trigger their appearance
then retreat, allowing the Efreeti to cast its Fireball and Flame Strike
on the Glabrezu before hitting it with a Dispel Magic or Breach and
stepping in to put them down. If you're in good condition, continue
upstairs. If you're injured or your spellbuffs have worn off, retreat
and recover before continuing to the upper level (x=1000, y=500).
***ITEMS***
(x=550, y=950) Acid Arrows x4
(x=450, y=1000) Bloodstone Gem, 15 gold
(x=400, y=1050) Morning Star +2, 38 gold
(x=300, y=1100) Moonstone Gem
(x=200, y=1150) Iol Gem, 8 gold
(x=150, y=1200) Bloodstone Ring
(x=750, y=1250) Scroll of Mislead
(x=730, y=1250) Andar Gem
(x=670, y=1300) 1 gold
(x=620, y=1500) Silver Necklace
(x=1650, y=620) 15 gold
(x=1650, y=200) 38 gold
***TRAPS***
(x=400, y=1050)
Guarded Compound, Upstairs (AR0907)
o======================================================================o
2) Upstairs you'll find a rough party consisting of Sion (14th-level
Abjurer), Stalman (16th-level Cleric), Koshi (16th-level Kensai), an
Orog named Olaf Rassmusen (17th-level Fighter), a Minotaur named Maferan
(17th-level Fighter) and Ketta (19th-level Thief). Like the bandits
we fought in the sewers under the Temple District a while back, they've
got a well-balanced party, they'll start out with some spell buffs
(particularly Stalman), and they will use potions to beef themselves up
before combat. Ketta begins hidden, and will use Potions of Invisibility
to hide with the sole goal of hitting you with as many backstabs as she
can. In a break with tradition, however, the most dangerous foe here
is Koshi-due only to the fact that he's weilding Celestial Fury-the
prize we're after. It has the ability to stun foes every strike, and
with such potent warriors at his side, a stunned party member can find
themselves in trouble quickly... which isn't to say that Sion and
Stalman aren't as dangerous as spell casters tend to be, they've just
got an extraordinary warrior with one of the best weapons in Shadows of
Amn to measure up to. On top of that you've got traps near the stairs
that will keep you from advancing. Once again, I find myself facing
superior opposition-only a massive spell assault will win the day at
my level. I'm nearing 650,000 experience with my evil party, which
hasn't translated to much in the way of levels, but my gear as improved
considerably since fighting the bandits in the sewers.
Turn off your party AI if it's on, as this fight requires some micro-
management. I send Keldorn up by the pillar and hit them all with a
pre-emptive Dispel Magic just to frustrate their early efforts. My Mages
begin tossing out Chaos spells to hopefully debilitate a few of the
warriors, while Anomen/Viconia cast True Sight, to thwart Ketta. The
fight-winner, however, will be Insect Plague, and Jaheira immediately
sets herself to casting said spell, with Stalman as the target. My
warriors wait in place, mindful of the traps at their feet. After the
first round of spells go off, my Thief (either Yoshimo, for the good
party, or my evil protagonist) search for and disarm the traps nearby,
while Edwin casts another Chaos. Once done, I focus on taking out Sion
first, then Stalman, while continuing to use my Mages to throw out Slow
and Chaos spells to neutralize the enemy warriors. If Sion and Stalman
go down without much of a fuss, there's a very good chance you'll win
this fight. After the spell-casters, focus on whatever warriors remain
able to fight back (those not panicked by the Insect Plague or confused
by Chaos), favoring Ketta and Koshi if at all possible. When they fall,
loot them to reap the following rewards:
Ketta: Leather Armor +3, Short Sword +2, Potion of Invisibility and
140 gold.
Koshi: Celestial Fury, Katana +1, Potion of Extra Healing x2, Oil of
Speed, Helmet and 120 gold.
Meferan: Full Plate Mail +1, Helmet of Defense, Large Shield +2,
Battle Axe +2 and Potion of Extra Healing x3.
Olaf Rassmusen: Full Plate Mail +1, Helmet of Charm Protection,
Two-Handed Sword +2 and Potion of Extra Healing x3.
Sion: Adventurer's Robe and 75 gold.
Stalman: Plate Mail +1, Mace +2 and 20 gold.
For the second time in the game we've disposed of a rival group and
gained-in one battle-loot comparable to what we found in the entire
first game. With the two suits of Full Plate Mail +1, everybody in your
party wanting for good magical heavy armor should be satisfied, and the
Large Shield +2 is sure to help a bunch, not to mention the two magical
helmets. For all that, however, the real prize is Celestial Fury, a
+3 Katana with a chance to stun enemies and a chance to deal 20 extra
lightning damage A katana-wielding character is now set for a long,
long time. Jaheira (in the good party) or Viconia (in the evil party)
wears the Helmet of Defense. They both have decent Armor Class, but the
bonus to their saving throws is a welcome boost for characters that I
rely on to reverse debuffs on my other party members. Of course, the
resistances don't hurt, either. In any case, I prefer the protection
from critical hits and other bonuses given by the Helmet of Defense to
the Hit Points and THAC0 bonus given by the Pale Green Ioun Stone, which
goes to Haer'Dalis, Edwin, or some other character who can't wear a
helmet and needs some protection. Don't be afraid to rob the place now
that you've overcome its owners.
***ITEMS***
(x=1330, y=350) Bullet +1 x8
(x=1530, y=400) 56 gold
(x=1700, y=400) 9 gold
(x=1670, y=570) Wand of Fear, Arrows of Fire x4, 666 gold
(x=1800, y=500) Potion of Insight, Spear +3
(x=1850, y=450) Spear +3
(x=2350, y=700) History of the North, History of the North, 4 gold
(x=2400, y=750) History of the Vast, History of the Unicorn Run,
History of the North, Skydrop Gem
(x=1250, y=1400) Sling +2, Bullets +2 x10
(x=1200, y=1370) Last March of the Giant, History of the Moonsea
(x=570, y=1170) Wand of Paralyzation, Arrows +1 x9,
Arrows of Piercing x8
(x=450, y=1250) Asp's Nest x7, Bolt +2 x10, Bolt of Lightning x20
(x=220, y=1150) Wand of Frost, Dart of Wounding x10
(x=370, y=1050) Scroll of Shocking Grasp, 2 gold
***TRAPS***
(x=1100, y=540)
(x=1000, y=590)
(x=680, y=800)
(x=600, y=890)
(x=1850, y=450)
(x=570, y=1170)
(x=450, y=1250)
(x=220, y=1150)
o======================================================================o
| |
| The Circus Tent Quest |
| (Recruiting Aerie) |
o======================================================================o
Sequence of Events: {WLK015}
1) There's Something Foul Afoot...
2) Genie Riddles
3) Into the Circus Tent
4) Aerie the Ogre
5) Aerie the Elf
6) Werewolves and Shadows
7) Kalah's Chamber
8) Back to Reality
Waukeen's Promenade (AR0700)
o======================================================================o
1) Head over to Waukeen's Promenade and make your way to the Circus Tent
area in the center of the map. At (x=2800, y=1550) you'll find a young
boy named Giran, who will complain that his mother went inside the tent
and never came out. What kind of mother leaves her son behind to go see
a circus act? Talk to the guard by the entrance to the circus tent
(x=2970, y=1570) and he'll tell you that something bad happened in the
tent-and he'll suggest evil magic is involved. Nobody has come out save
one of the animal trainers, and nobody sent in after the disturbance
has returned. Ask for permission to enter and he'll move out of the way
sure enough. Over at (x=2700, y=1920) you'll find Fearghus, whom-as the
first half of his name suggests-is terrified of what happened in the
circus tent. His story seems to confirm some bad magic as the cause, and
some 'special performance' as a possible catalyst. Head into the tent at
(x=2950, y=1500).
Circus Tent, Exterior (AR0600)
o======================================================================o
2) As soon as you enter a Genie will bother you with some riddles.
Haven't we done this before? Anyways, answer the riddles so that you
can cross the bridge and see some 'Kalah' creature, which apparently you
need/want to do. Or so the Genie assumes.
"A princess is as old as the prince will be when the princess is twice
as old as the prince was when the princess' age was half the sum of
their present age. Which of the following, then, could be true?"
Answer: The prince is 30 and the princess is 40.
If you answer the first riddle correctly you'll get a decent experience
reward. If not, the nice Genie will give you a second, less math-
intensive riddle.
"The poorest have it, the richest need it, but if either was to eat it
they would certainly perish. Tell me what it is!"
Answer: Nothing.
If you bomb both tries the Genie will turn hostile and attack,
immediately starting out with Stoneskin and various other defensive
spells. Offensively, he's fond of turning a character to stone before
attacking in melee. Still, it's more rewarding (and safer) to just
answer the Genie's riddle.
***REWARD***
(For answering the Genie's riddle)
EXP 19500 (first riddle) or 14500 (second riddle)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
3) You can now cross the bridge and enter a large domed structure
(x=1300, y=1500). If you head around the sides of the building you'll
find some Shadows and Werewolves. You won't get any experience for
killing the latter, and when they die you'll get some 'illusion
dispelled' text, and they'll turn back into people. All things
considered, it might not be worth it to kill them.
Circus Tent (AR0604)
o======================================================================o
4) When you arrive on this level you'll be approached by an Ogre named
Aerie. Being the super-sleuth that you all are, I'm sure by now you
realize Aerie isn't really an Ogre. She claims to be a member of a race
of winged elves who works at the circus with her uncle, Quayle. It
couldn't possibly be... nah... anyways, she tells you that somehow Kalah
has created this place, affecting everybody with illusions-deadly
illusions. She'll ask you to free her, which involves getting a sword
that's a key from some commoners who aren't common. Over at
(x=250, y=500) you can find a 'spider', who turns out to be Hannah,
Giran's mother. She'll give you a bit of information for talking to her.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
5) Up at (x=750, y=280) you'll find a pair of 'Peasants' who'll attack
you. As you strike them they'll turn into 'Orcs'. Kill them and take
'The Ogre's Sword' off of one of them. Take the 'sword' back to Aerie
and give it to her (refusing to give it to her provokes her into
attacking.) Give her the key and free her, however, and you'll get a
reward, as well as a new party member, if you're so inclined. Aerie's
one of the worst Mages in the game-certainly below Edwin, Imoen, and
Nalia, and she won't get along with Korgan. Anyways, continue on past a
'Pleasure Slave' who has little interesting to say, and enter the next
area at (x=1050, y=400).
***REWARD***
(For restoring Aerie to her true form)
EXP 18500
Circus Tent, Tower (AR0605)
o======================================================================o
6) This level is fairly uninteresting, being populated by some Shadows
and Werewolves. There are two vases to loot, but frankly, it might be
best to head up to the next level and leave the illusions at peace. As
you ascend the stairs a Genie will bother you and simply annoy you by
asking if you wish to proceed.
***ITEMS***
(x=930, y=400) Scroll of Protection from Petrification,
Scroll of Dispel Magic
(x=830, y=350) Scroll of Web
Circus Tent, Kalah's Chambers (AR0606)
o======================================================================o
7) At the top of the tower you'll find Kalah, who starts out the
conversation fairly threateningly. Quayle (the Ooze in the corner) will
talk to you and tell you not to acknowledge the illusions by attacking
them, or they'll become quite real to you. Simple enough, Haste up and
rush Kalah, who dies extraordinarily quickly (I swear, 47 Hit Points
of damage was all he could take, which was just two hits from my main
character.) After Kalah dies you'll be whisked away to the inside of a
rather normal-looking circus tent.
Circus Tent (AR0607)
o======================================================================o
8) Kalah, now forced back into his real form of a rather pathetic Gnome
illusionist, tosses out a few insults and whines a bit before dying.
Aerie and Quayle talk a bit before Quayle decides Aerie needs to
experience life outside of the circus. Take Aerie with you-or not
(she'll remain here for you if you decline)-and loot Kalah's corpse for
a Girdle of Piercing (great for characters like Korgan or Keldorn who
come under missile fire a lot and don't have a shield to protect them),
a Ring of Human Influence (makes any character fit to lead the party,
pretty-wise), 20 Bullets, a Garnet, a Flail, a Scroll of Identify, a
Scroll of Infravision, a Scroll of Magic Missile, a Scroll of Stinking
Cloud, a Scroll of Stoneskin, a Sling, and 724 gold. Talk to Hannah
(x=100, y=300) and she'll thank you and you'll get a downright meager
experience reward. Go outside and talk to Giran and you'll get the rest
of the reward... which still isn't very much. Ah well, at least now we
have Aerie at our disposal. For me, I take this literally and leave her
behind. Anyways, now it's time to leave Athkatla in search of new party
members. At this time I set my eyes on recruiting Valygar, which also
includes taking care of the Planar Sphere... and marginally exploring
the Umar Hills dungeons to dig out Mazzy. This means heading over to
the Government District, and after all this adventuring we'll probably
have to deal with Keldorn's family crisis. If so, consult [WLK010].
***REWARD***
(For rescuing Giran's mother from the circus tent)
EXP 500 + 2500
o======================================================================o
| |
| The Planar Sphere Quest |
| (Recruiting and Securing Valygar) |
o======================================================================o
Sequence of Events: {WLK016}
1) Madeen's Message
2) Magic License
3) Tolgerias' Request
4) Valygar's House
5) Another Call for Heroes
6) A Note on Over-World Travel
7) Trouble in Umar Hills
8) Finding the Fugitive
9) Valygar's Cabin
10) Into the Sphere
11) The Golem's Arm
12) Solamnic Knights
13) Sahuagin Room
14) Cannibalistic Halflings
15) Golem Room
16) Furnace Room
17) Finishing the Golem
18) Subduing Lavok
19) Garden Room
20) Lizard Man Room
21) The Lower Planes
22) The Rune Room
23) Tolgerias' Reckoning
24) Fire Room
25) Ice Room
26) Engine Room
27) Returning Home
Government District (AR1000)
o======================================================================o
1) Now head over to the Government District, where stupid cuckold
Paladins will no longer bother us with their marital problems.
Over by the Council of Six building you'll find Madeen, who will tell
you that he's a representative of one of the leaders of the Cowled
Wizards. Sounds like just the guy we need to talk to about this Imoen
thing! Agree to meet with his master, a wizard named Tolgerias, and head
inside the aforementioned Council of Six building (x=3150, y=900).
Council of Six Building (AR1002)
o======================================================================o
2) There are lots of people here to talk to, although only two have
anything worth listening to. Just follow the robes-you have Corneil at
(x=580, y=800) who you can talk to about that whole bothersome magic
license business. If you pay a ghastly 5000 gold, you'll be able to
sling spells about within city limits. This isn't a license to kill, of
course, but by now we have the money for it (or at least, you should).
No more worrying about the Cowled Wizards when we cast Haste, and no
more relying solely on Insect Plague to win fights!... well, not really.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
3) As for our quest at hand, we can find Tolgerias at (x=770, y=770).
He'll promise you magical trinkets, money, and information about Imoen
in return for your agreement to help him with some matters. Accept and
he'll tell you that a man named Valygar Corthala has slain some Cowled
Wizards, and Tolgerias needs you to track him down. First things first,
let's rule out his presence in Athkatla before we go running off to the
Umar Hills. Head to the docks district and enter the house at
(x=2450, y=1150), constructively called 'Valygar's Home' on your map.
Outside of the house at (x=1270, y=1130)
Valygar's House (AR0325)/(AR0326)
o======================================================================o
4) In Valygar's house, at (x=500, y=280) you'll find Hervo. Tell him
you're a friend of Valygar's and ask about what happened with the Cowled
Wizards. He'll let slip a comment about the Umar Hills, and about
Valygar being a formerly gifted scout of sorcerous ancestry. In case you
somehow haven't gathered what's up, loot around the house and upstairs
to find a Corthala Tax Notice, which clearly mentions a cabin in the
Umar Hills. Yeah, yeah, we get it. Off we go!
***ITEMS*** (AR0325)
(x=400, y=300) Zios Gem Studded Necklace, 8 gold
(x=550, y=150) Potion of Insight, 10 gold
(x=300, y=270) 12 gold
***ITEMS*** (AR0326)
(x=400, y=150) Bloodstone Ring, History of Dambrath
(x=300, y=250) Bloodstone Gem, Dagger, Corthala Tax Notice, 23 gold
City Gates (AR0020)
o======================================================================o
5) Head over to the City Gates (AR0020) where you'll find a man named
Flydian (x=480, y=680). He'll ask you if you can come to Trademeet and
meet with one Lord Logan Coprith to discuss resolving that town's
problems. Since it has to do with recruiting Cernd we'll pick up the
location of Trademeet now and agree to help him. Continue on to the
gate, where you'll see a corrupt Soldier get bribed by a ne'er-do-well.
Oh well, such is life. Exit the city at (x=1100, y=300).
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
6) Now, a note on the overworld map. Just like in Baldur's Gate 1, you
can get ambushed on your way between areas. To my knowledge, none of
these encounters are anywhere near as threatening as in Baldur's Gate 1.
By now, you're just beyond the ken of simple bandits. Areas are further
apart and more significant now-no more trawling through half-empty
forests for a handful of simple encounters. I know, I miss it too. You
also don't need to search the corner of every area to make sure you find
every place-most of the game areas you'll get through quests and talking
to NPCs, not random discovery. Right now we should have three areas on
the map for our perusal: Umar Hills, Trademeet, and Watcher's Keep. The
latter we won't discuss for a good long time, but if you wish to scope
it out early nobody will blame you-as long as you go there to shop, and
don't seriously think you're ready to clear it out. I will admit, I did
head over there to grab the Potion Case sold by Sister Garlena. Hauling
my potions around with me was just becoming a chore.
Umar Hills (AR1100)
o======================================================================o
7) When you arrive you'll find Minister Lloyd trying to calm down a
group of irate and scared townsfolk. You'll hear mention of everything
from Ogres, to Wolves, and the witch Umar herself. Over at
(x=4380, y=3200) Nelleck, who will talk a bit about the murders, and
over to the west are three merchants-Elence Fielding (x=3580, y=2880),
Beherant Diir (x=3450, y=2900), and Min Mining (x=3450, y=2990) who have
more to say on the matter, and a little worth buying (or stealing).
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
8) As fascinating as all this Umar witch business and people turned
inside out nonsense is, it's not what we're here for yet. Head up,
over, and around the Umar Inn to the east, cross a steam, then cross
another one to the north. Dispose of the local wildlife and head up some
natural stone steps. You'll be intercepted by a trio of Rangers, who
seek to prevent you from finding Valygar. Tell them you mean no harm or
kill them. They give good experience for only a little bit of trouble,
although they don't really drop anything fantastic.
Valygar's Cabin (AR1101)
o======================================================================o
9) Head up into Valygar's Cabin (x=1400, y=550) and search the back room
to find the elusive Valygar himself. He'll tell you that the Cowled
Wizards lied to you, that they wanted him to get inside a giant Planar
Sphere that appeared in Athkatla some time ago. Apparently the sphere is
owned by his ancestor Lavok, who parasitically inhabits the bodies of
his relatives to keep himself alive. The Cowled Wizards want to get
inside the sphere, and apparently Valygar's body is the key. When he
refused to help them (and really, who wouldn't?) they attacked him.
Naturally he's been on the run ever since. In traditional form for this
guide, let's discuss the less-than-ideal options for dealing with this
situation. First, you can kill Valygar and take his body back to
Tolgerias. So long as you don't try and hold out for more money, he will
more or less live up to his bargain. Of course, there are consequences
to this action that make it less than ideal. First, if Keldorn is in
your party he'll abandon you for attacking Valygar (this can be solved
by simply not having Keldorn in your party at the time). More
importantly you'll never get access to the Planar Sphere if you give
away Valygar's body, which means you'll never get some great items...
like the Gauntlets of Ogre Power, and hence, Crom Faeyr. You can also
kill Valygar and take his body into the Planar Sphere yourself, which
works just fine. Of course, we came here to recruit Valygar, so I'll
assume you'll take him along... or at least you'll find your way into
the Planar Sphere, with Valygar alive or not.
***ITEMS***
(x=130, y=370) Scroll of Infravision
(x=250, y=140) Rainbow Obsidian Necklace, Arrows +1 x10, Arrows x40
(x=350, y=100) Katana, Composite Long Bow, Spear +1
***REWARD***
(Convince Valygar to join you)
EXP 9500
***REWARD***
(For giving Valygar's body to Tolgerias)
EXP 11250
Reputation -1
Gold 500
Item Ring of the Ram
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
10) With Valygar (or pieces of him) in tow, head back to the Slums
District of Athkatla (AR0400). Head to the northern part of the level,
and when you get near the sphere Valygar will speak a bit. Go through
the doorway at (x=670, y=700) to reach the exterior of the sphere and
enter it at (x=200, y=600).
The Planar Sphere (AR0411)
o======================================================================o
11) Through the locked door at (x=3100, y=2500) you'll find a room with
a Steam Mephit and a scrying pool. Interesting, but not very useful. Go
through the doors to the west to find a circular room with a Clay Golem
inside. Clay Golems tend to haste themselves before engaging, they hit
hard, and require magical blunt weapons to harm. If you stole some
Maces +2 from Gorch back at Mae'Var's Guild Hall you should be fine,
just be sure to equip your Fighters with them before provoking the
Golem. Once you've got the Planar Key, activate the northwestern door
to initiate planar travel and gain access to the rest of the sphere.
Now the only way out is to clear the Planar Sphere.
***ITEMS***
(x=2300, y=2750) Coal, Scroll of Conjure Lesser Air Elemental,
Scroll of Minor Spell Turning, Bullets +2 x40
(x=2250, y=2750) Scroll of Polymorph Other, Bolts +2 x40
(x=2150, y=2800) Golem Arm, Planar Key, Scroll of Breach, Arrows x120
Bolt x120, Bullet x120, Dart x120
(x=2150, y=2850) Scroll of Haste, Emerald, Arrows +2 x40
***REWARD***
(For activating the Planar Sphere)
EXP 17500
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
12) Head through the doors to the northwest where you'll find three
Solamnic Knights led by one Reyna, who will initiate dialogue with you.
Yay, crossover from Dragonlance. Who cares. They'll tell you about some
'cannibalistic Halflings' ahead that apparently caused the Solamnic
Knights some trouble. Talk to the other two knights-Ancan will talk of
'fish that walk as men' to the north and Onvo will mention a 'damaged
Golem' past the 'bone room.'
***ITEMS***
(x=2400, y=2200) Scroll of Warding Whip, Golden Necklace,
Throwing Axe x40
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
13) In the room to the north you'll find two Sahuagin, two Sahuagin
Priestesses, two Sahuagin Baronial Guards, and a Sahuagin Baron. It's
another fight that Insect Plague wins with ease. Even without Insect
Plague, they're just not much of a challenge, despite their Clerical
debuffs and poisoned bolts. Aside from Paralytic Bolts and Bolts of
Biting, the Baron will drop of a Cloak of Protection +1.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
14) Head through the door to the southwest, where you'll find some of
the Halflings that the Solamnic Knights mentioned. The Halfling Warriors
aren't much of a threat, and each carry a Morning Star, a suit of Chain
Mail Armor, and a Helmet. Ahead you'll find four more Halfling Warriors
standing in front of a land bridge-behind them is another, more powerful
runt named Togan. When you come into view, Togan will retreat, and
beyond the bridge will join up with Kayardi, Entu, and Mogadish. This
can be a rough fight, as you probably won't be able to stop Mogadish
from getting off a Symbol, Stun. The best advice I can give? Lead with a
summon and hope Mogadish targets it with the Symbol, Stun. Have Keldorn
hit the enemies with a Dispel Magic to take down their spell buffs (if
you have him) and use Jaheira to cast Insect Plague. Mages should cast
Chaos and Clerics should try out Greater Command. The more enemies you
can incapacitate the better your chances of survival. You can also
absorb the Symbol, Stun with a Spell Immunity (Conjuration), and a
capable Mage can actually weather the entire group of cannibal Halflings
well enough (with the aid of Stoneskin, Improved Invisibility, and
Blur) to provide the rest of your group with enough cover to get out
the spell assault I've listed above. If you don't have Keldorn use Edwin
to debuff the enemies with Breach after a round or two of Chaos spells.
Once Mogadish and Kayardi are vulnerable go after them, as they're the
real threats. After they're dead, loot them for the following goodies:
Togan: Chain Mail, Helmet, Arrows x40, Flail and Ripper +2.
Entu: Chain Mail, Gauntlets of Ogre Power, Coal and a Mace.
Mogadish: Chain Mail and a Club.
Ripper +2 will go great on Minsc (or any archer capable of using
Composite Long Bows), as it's easily the best bow we've found yet. The
Gauntlets of Ogre Power are the real prize, however. Put them on the
next weakest front-line Fighter, typically Keldorn or Viconia,
depending on party composition.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
15) Go through the door at (x=400, y=1550) to find a pair of Sword
Spiders and a pair of Ettercaps. There's more to do in this room, but
since you don't have the poor Golem's head, you'll have to continue
exploring.
***ITEMS***
(x=500, y=1450) Golem Building Book, Coal, Emerald, Dart of Wounding x40
***TRAPS***
(x=880, y=1300)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
16) Through the northern door you'll find another group of Halflings,
including a pair of Halfling Warriors, a Mage named Taibela and another
spellcaster named Necre. This fight isn't nearly as hard as the last
Halfling fight, as Necre and Taibela are not nearly as well protected.
Keldorn tears down their spell effects, and the rest of my party simply
destroys them. Necre will leave behind the Stiletto of Demarchess +2,
for what it's worth. In this room you'll find three furnaces
(x=500, y=500), (x=700, y=700), and (x=300, y=700). Put a piece of coal
into each one-a Fire Elemental will show up after you light each one up.
***TRAPS***
(x=800, y=650)
(x=1120, y=550)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
17) Go east to find a gear room occupied by a pair of Stone Golems. Kill
them and grab the Golem Head-we can now return to the Golem room and fix
the Golem (x=300, y=1300). Once the Golem is free it'll declare that
there is an intruder and head to the east. Follow it, where it'll open a
previously locked door (Irenicus' Dungeon much?). Continue following it
east through a rune room and into a room occupied by an Elder Orb. After
the Elder Orb makes a defiant-but-futile-statement, it'll attack the
Golem. Try your best to get the last hit on the Elder Orb for a juicy
experience reward, which is fairly risk-free considering the Elder Orb
won't focus on you with the Golem around. Head through the door at
(x=3000, y=600) to reach the 'Navigator's Room'. Time to pay Valygar's
ancestor a visit.
***ITEMS***
(x=1620, y=500) Golem Head, Coal, Tchazar Gem x10,
Arrows of Piercing x40
(x=2440, y=580) Scroll of Spell Thrust, Diamond x2, Moonbar Gem x3,
Scroll of Breach, Throwing Daggers x40
***REWARD***
(For repairing the Golem)
EXP 23500
Navigator's Room (AR0410)
o======================================================================o
18) Before heading through the door ahead of you, spell buff-at the very
least cast Haste. Lavok is pretty unhappy that you caused the Planar
Sphere to move and ruined his 'escape.' If Valygar is with you he'll
have some words with Lavok, who will mention something about your
intrusion causing the sphere to leap back to his own dimension.
Afterwards a fight ensues. Just get on Lavok early and hit him with a
Breach and Insect Plague to tear down his spell defenses and render him
helpless, then pummel him into submission. After Lavok loses, he'll
mention that some being had possessed him, and asks one boon of you-or
Valygar-that he be allowed to see the sky one last time. In return he'll
tell you how to return home. To get back, you just need to go get
yourself the heart of a powerful demon. Might be pretty hard trapped in
this sphere, but fortunately the sphere warped back to some lower plane
when you entered. You might have stopped Lavok, but you're not out of
the woods yet! Or sphere, rather.
Garden (AR0419)
o======================================================================o
19) First go through the door to the west and exit the area
(x=100, y=550) to find a garden area, occupied by two Spore Colonies and
the Myconids they'll summon.
***ITEMS***
(x=900, y=450) Quarter Staff +1, Sling +2, Bullet +1 x40,
Potion of Extra Healing x10, 150 gold
Lizard Man Room (AR420)
o======================================================================o
20) Head back to the Navigator's Room and go north, exiting the map at
(x=500, y=50) to find a triangular room occupied by four Lizard Men.
Not very epic, but we might as well grab the loot, right?
***ITEMS***
(x=500, y=250) Battle Axe +2, Protector of the Second +2, Ninja-To +1,
Dart +1 x60, Bolt of Lightning x40, 350 gold
Lower Plane (AR0414)
o======================================================================o
21) Okay, enough picking on pansy enemies and grabbing easy loot. Head
back to where you entered the Planar Sphere and head outside
(x=3400, y=3100) to reach... well, no place good. This level is
populated by Fire Mephits, Imps, Maurezhi, Quasits, Salamanders, and
the odd powerful Tanar'ri. The latter are the only real threats,
especially the unique Lea'liyl. Spell-buff to the max before engaging
them, send summons first to provide extra targets, and hope their
'death gaze' doesn't paralyze anybody... Yeah, that's right, they're
like Aec'Letec from the first game, except their Death Gaze doesn't turn
you into a Ghoul and perma-kill characters. Keeping Remove Paralysis
handy comes highly recommended. Lea'liyl is at (x=1920, y=1340), another
Tanar'ri is at (x=1100, y=2050) and the last is at (x=2150, y=1750). The
last is probably the easiest to deal with, as it won't summon
reinforcements, but if you're brave you can test all three, as they each
give good experience. Besides their 'death gaze' they're fond of using
Vampiric Touch and Silence 15' Radius, and when all else fails, they're
fairly strong melee combatants, at least at this point in the game. Kill
one, kill two, or kill them all, but get a sweet, sweet Demon Heart and
head back into the Planar Sphere.
Note from Lee:
Didn't even have to spell buff much here. Double-hasted the party and
rushed the Tanar'ri - they went down pretty easily, and mopping up their
"reinforcements" was a breeze. I had a plethora of Healing Potions, so
getting back to full strength after each was easy. Once they were all
dead, I rested back inside the sphere.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
22) Now return to the rune room. To activate the runes, touch the
northern one first (x=1500, y=1120), then the southern one
(x=1300, y=1500), then the eastern one (x=1600, y=1370), and finally the
western one (x=1200, y=1220). The door south will open, allowing you to
head to the lower level (x=1700, y=1800).
The Planar Sphere, Lower Level (AR0412)
o======================================================================o
23) Go through the door to the northeast to find Tolgerias and a
companion Cowled Wizard. You know the whole 'screwing them over' thing
that you're doing? Yeah, they're not fans. Naturally, a fight ensues,
and it would be wise of us to be careful, being rather low-leveled and
all. Their strategy is as follows. Besides the requisite spell-buffing
they'll do (Stoneskin to start, True Sight if you try to be sneaky, and
other defensive buffs like Mirror Image if the fight draws out) their
main goal is for Tolgerias to hit you with a Horrid Wilting (nearly
fatal to any character at this level) followed by Power Word: Kill,
which will almost certainly kill any one character who survived the
Horrid Wilting due to the damage they just sustained. Afterwards,
Tolgerias will cast several Power Word: Stun spells, while his Mage
buddy summons critters to take advantage of any characters who might be
stunned. Tolgerias's stunning will, of course, be more effective by the
virtue of the damage done by his Horrid Wilting. It's a simple scheme,
but it can be brutal. An easy way to blunt their offense? Mark their
locations with an invisible or sneaking character, then summon
something near them (making good use of replenishable summon items like
the Black Spider Figurine.) Tolgerias will then be obligated to use his
Horrid Wilting on your summon. Afterwards, Haste up, and rush Tolgerias.
Use Jaheira to cast Insect Plague, and use a Mage to try and take down
his defenses with Breach. If you manage to hit them with Insect Plague
at this point, the fight is probably over, and his subordinate Mage is
much less capable of causing party-destroying mischief. Once they're
dead, loot Tolgerias for a Ring of the Ram, an Angel Skin Ring, and a
Quarterstaff. Not very epic loot for such a potent opponent, eh? Ah
well.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
24) To the northeast you'll find a 'fire room'. That's right, it's the
elemental part of the planar sphere. Inside is a Greater Fire Elemental,
an Efreeti, two Salamanders, two Fire Mephits, a Magma Mephit, and a
Smoke Mephit. I suggest luring them out if possible-why risk traps and
the bottleneck of a doorway if you don't have to?
***ITEMS***
(x=1900, y=930) Scroll of Globe of Invulnerability,
Scroll of Spirit Armor,
Large Shield +1, +4 vs. Missiles, Staff of Fire +2,
Arrows of Fire x40
***TRAPS***
(x=1650, y=940)
(x=2100, y=870)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
25) Through the door to the north-or rather, the large chunk of ice
that serves as a door-you'll find three Ice Salamanders, three Ice
Mephits, and a Troll. Remember to use fire or acid to finish the Troll
off once you've put it down. Again, luring some of them out is probably
going to make your life a little easier.
***ITEMS***
(x=700, y=550) Scroll of Otiluke's Resilient Sphere, Helmet of Defense
***TRAPS***
(x=700, y=760)
(x=550, y=500)
Engine Room (AR0413)
o======================================================================o
26) Now to get to the Engine Room. You can reach the Engine Room via a
door north of the fire room (x=1700, y=300), or north of the ice room
(x=1100, y=50). In the engine room you'll encounter two groups of
Golems-one that appears along the northern end of the western walkway,
and one that appears near the engine in the center of the area. Both
groups consist of a Clay Golem and a pair of Stone Golems. Use the
narrow walkways to ensure you're only attacked by one Golem at once if
possible, and be sure to get all the magical blunt weapons you can on
the Clay Golem. Another Clay Golem guards the treasure stash along
the eastern walkway. Grab the Ring of Danger Sense (which will bring
Imoen and Nalia up to snuff when it comes to detecting traps) and the
largest cash payout we've had yet in this game. Dump your hard-won Demon
Heart in the power core (x=800, y=800) to get a nice experience reward
for your effort.
Note: If you're a higher level, you'll encounter an Iron Golem along
with the three lesser Golems. Yikes. Fortunately the Iron Golem is
just too big to move around much, and will likely block off the lesser
Golems that accompany it. You'll need +3 weapons to hurt an Iron Golem,
but by now you should have a few of the following: Celestial Fury,
Dragon's Bane, Stonefire, Pixie Prick, and/or Blade of Roses... which
doesn't make taking down an Iron Golem easy, but since it can't move
around, hit and run tactics will suffice. This is another event where
my protagonist excels-against a foe that can casually pummel my party
members for 40+ damage a hit, Stoneskin, Improved Invisibility, Blur,
and Mirror Image go a long way.
***ITEMS***
(x=1200, y=350) Ring of Danger Sense, Bloodstone Amulet, Black Opal x3,
Ziose Gem x2, King's Tears, 6666 gold
***TRAPS***
(x=1200, y=350)
***REWARD***
(For powering up the Planar Sphere)
EXP 45500
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
27) Return to Lavok and either choose to let him die here, or take him
with you outside. It is MUCH more rewarding to take him outside, but
either way he'll give you the Planar Sphere when you're done (so long
as you're a Mage and haven't taken another stronghold yet.) Valygar
will talk with you once Lavok dies and ask to remain with you. He's now
yours for the rest of the game. Loot Lavok and grab his Ring of Acuity
before heading off on our next quest.
***REWARD***
(For letting Lavok die on his home plane)
EXP 45500 (each character)
Next up is to recruit and secure Nalia, which will also nab us the
Fighter's Stronghold. Before that, however, I'll cover the Mage
Stronghold quests (messing around with your new Planar Sphere.) Also,
since I've accumulated 34,000 gold over the last several quests, it's
time to go spend some of it. Since the end of my time here in Athkatla
is approaching, I buy what I really need before chasing off after
Irenicus-including Bracers of Defense A.C. 3, the Fortress Shield +3,
and the Ring of Air Control. Sure, I'd like to get my hands on the Robe
of Vecna, the Sensate Amulet, and the Reflection Shield, but I have the
cheaper defensive items, and that'll do for now.
o======================================================================o
| |
| Mage's Stronghold Quest |
| |
o======================================================================o
Sequence of Events: {WLK017}
1) Working With the Enemy
2) Slaying the Solamnic Knights
3) Sanctuary for the Solamnic Knights
4) Sending the Solamnic Knights Home
5) The First Task
6) The Second Task
7) The Third Task
8) Graduation
9) Assault of Argrim's Anti-Magic Fanatics
10) A Bad Day for Hanj...
11) Gossip
12) Imprisoning Argrim
13) Potion Payout
Planar Sphere (AR0411)
o======================================================================o
1) Return to the Planar Sphere, where Reyna of the Solamnic Knights will
ask you to return her and her companions home. After she leaves, a
Cowled Wizard named Teos shows up, ready to offer you a deal. Because of
your seizure of the Planar Sphere (and subsequent smiting of Tolgerias)
the Cowled Wizards have decided to take you seriously. They'll allow you
to operate the sphere, and in return you do some mercenary work in
situations in which they cannot act. He will offer to look into Imoen
for you, but by now you should realize that this is always a dead end.
And of course, you might be working for the Cowled Wizards, but it won't
change how the cowled Wizards treat you in the city (you'll still get in
trouble if you cast spells in the city without a license, for example.)
If you ask him about the Solamnic Knights, he'll tell you to just kill
them and be done with it-or failing that, go ask Ribald at the
Adventurer's Mart or the knights or the Most Noble Order of the Radiant
Heart.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
2) Well, first things first, we can just kill the Solamnic Knights. They
give 2000 experience each and drop mundane gear, so it's not much of a
solution. For a REAL reward, look into either going with the Most Noble
Order of the Radiant Heart or Ribald instead.
High Hall of the Radiant Heart (AR0903)
o======================================================================o
3) Head over to the Temple District and go to the southeastern corner
to find the 'High Hall of the Radiant Heart' (x=3300, y=3400). Find
Prelate Wessalen (x=350, y=590) and talk to him about it. He'll offer to
allow them to stay here-not exactly what they wanted, but a bunch of
stupid paladins should be happy enough hanging around with a bunch of
other stupid paladins, right? Go back to the Planar Sphere and tell
Reyna that she can shack up with the Radiant Heart, and she'll resolve
herself to make the best of it. It's a start-45000 experience beats
6000 any day, but we can do better... if you have some money.
***REWARD***
(For getting the Solamnic Knights to join the Radiant Heart)
EXP 45000
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
4) Travel to the Adventurer's Mart and talk to Ribald. He'll say he
knows a wizard who can help get the Solamnic Knights back-for a fee.
9000 gold, in fact. Yes, that's a lot of gold, but this crazy FAQ
writer must have something in mind if I think this is the best way to
resolve the quest. Just have some faith. Or better yet, keep reading
and you'll have knowledge, which is infinitely better than faith. You'll
be told that this Mage whose services you just procured will be at your
Planar Sphere in a day. So head on over to the Planar Sphere and rest
for a while-chances are you'll be bothered by Teos before your Mage will
show up, but that's fine (see Step #5). After a while, Khollynnus Paac
will show up and offer to take them away. Before they go, you'll be
given a Golden Girdle as a gift, as well as an experience reward. 9000
gold sound a little steep for a Golden Girdle? Maybe, but these things
don't grow on trees, and gold is only as useful as what you buy with it.
It's better to ante up the gold now than wish you had a girdle later on,
when you've got plenty of money and nothing to spend it on. It'll
happen.
***REWARD***
EXP 45000
Item Golden Girdle
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
5) About a day after claiming the Planar Sphere and speaking with Teos
the first time, he'll show up again and promptly unload three
apprentices on you-Morul, Larz, and Nara. You know they're disposable
because of their short names. Right Teos? After the introductions are
over you'll be whisked away to the Golem room, where the apprentices
will discuss what their first task-the enchantment of a magical item-
should be. You have the following options:
Dagger of [Character Name] (250 gold)
The Wand of the Apprenti (1000 gold)
Ring of Protection +1 (2000 gold)
Now, this is pretty much going to be the model for all your apprentice
missions-they'll ask you what they should create, and you'll pay them
to make the item. Some items are more difficult than the others and you
can always follow the cost to determine the difficulty. There's a brute
percentage chance whether each object will be successfully created by
your apprentices (so save before you assign and reload if you don't get
anything out of it!) However, magic is dangerous business-there's a
chance that one or more of your apprentices will die trying to make
these items. And by 'chance' I mean pre-determined outcome. The goal of
this exercise is to get all your apprentices out of their training
alive-at least, you'll get the best experience reward at the end if all
three are still breathing. That said, it's also an opportunity to get
yourself some loot, so we'll need to balance our greed for equipment
with our greed for experience points. Also, keep in mind that if you
lose an apprentice in an earlier step, you'll have no chance of getting
any of the better gear later... and of course, you'll forfeit the
experience at the end. Trying to make the Ring of Protection will
always get Larz killed, so go for something else instead. None of the
items are very powerful, so there's not much point in paying a lot of
money for one or getting anybody killed over it. I suggest going for the
Dagger this time around, as it's the least expensive item.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
6) After completing the first item, they'll next move on to scrolls.
These are your options:
Scroll of Mislead (250 gold)
Scroll of Horrid Wilting (1000 gold)
Scroll of Meteor Swarm (2500 gold)
The Scroll of Mislead and the Scroll of Horrid Wilting are both doable,
and the latter is one nice spell, indeed. Going for the Scroll of Meteor
Swarm will always result in Nara's demise... although it IS possible to
actually get it. Still, it's not a great spell, so go for a lesser
scroll, instead.
Note from Lee:
While waiting for these stuipd apprentices to complete their work, I go
off and do the Skinner Murders [WLK020] here.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
7) The final test is a serious enchantment, your apprentices want to
tackle one of the following options:
Robe of the Apprenti (250 gold)
Ring of Wizardry (3000 gold)
Staff of Power (10000 gold)
There's no way to get everybody out of this alive, unless you tell them
not to even try. If you're willing to get Larz killed (or Nara, if Larz
is already dead, or Morul, if both are already dead) you can score the
Robe of the Apprenti, which gives you an Armor Class of 3... but it's
nothing that Bracers of Defense can't do, and it's certainly not better
than the Robe of Vecna. Going for the Ring of Wizardry will get at
least both Nara and Larz killed, but again, there's a chance you'll
actually get a Ring of Wizardry out of this (which gives a bonus 5th,
6th, and 7th level spell). The Staff of Power, however, is a pipe-dream.
This one is actually kind of tricky... 50000 experience is pretty nice,
but then again, so is a Ring of Wizardry. If you've got a Mage-heavy
party, it might be worthwhile to go for it. Still, there are plenty of
good rings out there, so it's not like there's any real chance of
somebody's finger getting cold. We'll find another one of these rings,
and it's debatable whether this ring is better than the ring of Acuity
(a bonus 5th-level spell is a good thing, but so are bonus 3rd and 4th
level spells... 6th and 7th... not so much). Then again, 50000
experience is child's play come Throne of Bhaal.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
8) About a day and a half after the completion of the last task (add on
the normal four days wait if you told them to skip the last craft) Teos
will show up. If you've got any apprentices left they'll have a rather
silly graduation ceremony, and you'll get a reward if all three are
still alive. By now you've gotten a crappy wand or a crappy dagger, and
a Scroll of Mislead or Horrid Wilting. At a cost of 500-2000 gold, it's
not a bad trade just for the items (especially if you scored yourself a
Scroll of Horrid Wilting!) but the experience really makes this worth-
while.
***REWARD***
(For successfully mentoring all three apprentices)
EXP 50000
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
9) About two days after the graduation ceremony you'll be approached by
a Sergeant Natula, who will tell you that Teos needs to see you in the
Planar Sphere immediately. After returning Teos will gate in and ask
you why the hell you asked for him. Uh... Sergeant Natula and a group of
buddies will show up and attack, while Teos bravely flees. None of them
are spell-casters, which means they're all but helpless once you start
dishing out spell-buffs, and as usual a single Insect Plague or Chaos
spell will have this fight well under way. Sergeant Natula will drop a
suit of Full Plate Mail Armor and Alnarow will drop some Potions of
Invisibility, but the rest of what you'll get is junk. At least they're
worth a good bit of experience. After the fighting is over Teos will
return and sheepishly explain his departure. He'll also say that one
Lord Ketlaar Argrim is a fanatic opposed to magic, and will conveniently
have a rune of imprisonment on hand that will trap Argrim for eternity.
How nice. Question him about it and he'll admit that Argrim was
'encouraged' to find you. Time to pay Argrim a visit at the Crooked
Crane.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
10) When I enter the City Gate District this time, I find a merchant
being hassled by a ne'er do well named Hanj. If you encourage Hanj to
kill the merchant, he'll wuss out and leave, if you let the merchant be
bullied, Hanj will have a good day. If you help the merchant and run
Hanj off he'll offer you a discount. You can only buy from the merchant
if you help him out, and after you're done shopping he'll leave. He
sells Arrows +2, Bullets +2, Potions of Hill Giant Strength, and a
variety of interesting scrolls, including Minor Spell Deflection,
Breach, Lower Resistance, Conjure Lesser Fire Elemental, Chain
Lightning, Disintegrate, Contingency, and Spell Deflection. If you have
a Pick Pockets skill of 180~ or so, you can steal from him pretty much
at whim. I am only too happy to rob him of thousands of gold (and
experience points) worth of wares. A bad day for Hanj is not a bad day
for me.
o============o
|Mage Scrolls| Merchant
o============o--------------------------------------------------------->
1st-Find Familiar
---
2nd-Power Word, Sleep
2nd-Ray of Enfeeblement
---
3rd-Minor Spell Deflection
3rd-Protection From Fire
---
5th-Breach
5th-Conjure Lesser Fire Elemental
5th-Lower Resistance
5th-Protection From Normal Weapons
5th-Oracle
---
6th-Chain Lightning
6th-Contingency
6th-Disintegrate
6th-Spell Deflection
Crooked Crane, Downstairs (AR0021)
o======================================================================o
11) Enter the Crooked Crane at (x=220, y=450). Do NOT enter the secret
door you may or may not discover at (x=500, y=150), as a messy death is
all that awaits you there. Once you enter some dink named Rilmi will
babble about Aulava and Tiiro are breaking up. It's really something I
don't care to deal with right now. Head upstairs at (x=100, y=500)
Crooked Crane, Upstairs (AR0022)
o======================================================================o
12) Once you get upstairs you'll see the drama of Aulava and Tiiro play
out. *Sigh* I guess we have no choice. Tell them what you think and
they'll stay together-or not. In the next room you'll find Lord Ketlaar
Argrim (x=300, y=450). He'll claim to recognize you for the magical
abominations that you are. It doesn't matter what you say, a fight
ensues. Equip the 'Rune of Imprisonment' into your quick-item slot, and
use it on Argrim. Your character will get close to him and take their
sweet ass time casting the spell. Once the deed is done and Argrim is
imprisoned, mop up his guards and head back to the Planar Sphere. Report
to Teos and you'll get your reward. Teos will also tell you one
pertinent word regarding Imoen: Spellhold.
***REWARD***
(For killing Argrim)
EXP 7500
***REWARD***
(For imprisoning Argrim)
EXP 7500
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
13) If you successfully imprisoned Argrim, Morul will return and ask if
he can stay in the Planar Sphere. In return he'll brew you potions every
week. It's not quite as nice as cash, but it's something. He'll make
batches of five potions, which he'll randomly give you when they're
ready. The batches are random, but the potions within are not. Here's a
list of the various batches I've encountered:
Potion of Genius
Potion of Invulnerability
Potion of Frost Giant Strength
Potion of Regeneration
Potion of Stone Form
Potion of Master Thievery
Potion of Perception
Tainted Potion of Invulnerability
Potion of Insight
Potion of Extra Healing
Elixir of Health
Potion of Fire Resistance
Oil of Speed
Potion of Genius
Potion of Genius
Potion of Defense
Potion of Cold Resistance
Potion of Agility
Potion of Firebreath
Empty Potion Bottle
o======================================================================o
| |
| de'Arnise Keep |
| (Recruiting and Securing Nalia) |
o======================================================================o
Sequence of Events: {WLK018}
1) Nalia's Plea
2) The Palisade
3) Being a Servant Sucks
4) Deliberating with Daleson
5) Flail Head (Cold)
6) Clearing the Level
7) Lowering the Drawbridge
8) Splitting Trolls
9) Flail Head (Acid)
10) Lady Delcia Caan
11) The Golem Chamber
12) Dog Stew
13) The Flail of the Ages
14) Dog Food and Ultimate Weapons-Check
15) Umber Hulk Melee
16) Feeding Time
17) TorGar the Troll
Copper Coronet (AR0406)
o======================================================================o
1) Now it's time to recruit and secure Nalia-the Imoen clone. Head back
to the Copper Coronet and hear her out this time. She'll complain that
her home is under attack, and these ungrateful common folk won't do
anything to help. And after all she's done for the poor, too! You'd
think that they'd be more grateful that she was giving back her father's
tax money-tax money generated by noble land-owners preying on their
serfs-but still! You can take her with you to the keep, or send her on
ahead and meet up with her there. I almost always send her ahead and
complete the quest without her in my party, but for this playthrough
I'll make an exception and take her along. In my 'good' party she takes
the place of Yoshimo, and with the Ring of Danger Sense, she'll serve
well enough in his place for now. Before you exit the city, you may
wish to get Nalia some fire-based spells if you take her along. She
comes with Burning Hands, Melf's Acid Arrow, and Flame Arrow, but
getting her Fireball might not be a bad idea either. Also if you have
some money lying around, you might consider heading over to Watcher's
Keep. The Firetooth +4 Crossbow is expensive, but it is incomparably
effective at clearing the de'Arnise Keep. Also note that Bernard in the
Copper Coronet sells all the Arrows of Fire and Arrows of Acid you'll
ever need (400 or so of each.) Although at 20-25 gold pieces per arrow
(750-1000~ per 40) it might be easier on your finances to steal them.
de'Arnise Keep, Exterior (AR1300)
o======================================================================o
2) When you arrive, Nalia will notice a palisade to the west and assume
the worst. The crucified corpses in front of the keep don't help ease
her mind either, I'm sure. Now she'll tell you what scourge has befallen
the keep: Trolls and 'snake creatures' have attacked. Head over to the
west to find the palisade, since there's no way we're getting in the
front gates. You'll find Captain Arat at (x=670, y=3330), who will tell
you about what happened here in full detail. He confirms the Trolls,
Yuan-ti, and 'tunneling beasts', and tell you that the secret side
entrance is the only way in. He'll also mention that if you get the
drawbridge down he'll lead his men to the attack, which will hopefully
distract some of the enemy. Then he'll give you 20 Arrows of Fire and
send you off on your way. Head northeast to find a secret door at
(x=1300, y=2700).
de'Arnise Keep, Servants Quarters (AR1302)
o======================================================================o
3) Upon entering the keep Nalia will tell you to find Daleson, then
lower the drawbridge. Sure. Continue through some rooms until you find a
secret door at (x=600, y=1400). In the next room you'll find a Troll
abusing a servant, who is promptly mulched when you enter. Oh well,
can't save everybody, right? Kill the Troll and once it is 'dead' it'll
fall down and be 'Near Death'. During this time use fire or acid to
kill it-either a Arrow of Fire, Arrow of Acid, Burning Hands, Melf's
Acid Arrow, Agannazer's Scorcher, Fireball, Flame Strike, and so forth.
I know we've met a Troll or two before by now, but this place is
crawling with them, so knowing how to deal with them is essential.
***ITEMS***
(x=530, y=1550) Potion of Extra Healing x5,
Scroll of Agannazar's Scorcher, Bullet x120, Dart x80,
1 gold
(x=350, y=1550) Potion of Defense, Arrows +2 x20, Heavy Crossbow,
Bolt +2 x20, Bolt of Lightning x20, Light Crossbow +1
(x=850, y=1250) Scroll of Protection from Normal Weapons, Bullet +2 x4,
Throwing Axe x20, Throwing Dagger x60
(x=800, y=1380) Scroll of Identify, Bolt of Lightning x6, Bolt +2 x10,
Bolt x40, Bullet x40, Bullet +1 x10, Dart +1 x20
(x=950, y=1450) Scroll of Simulacrum, Bullet x10, Bullet +2 x2,
Dart +1 x9
(x=1000, y=1400) Bloodstone Gem, 12 gold
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
4) Go through the secret door at (x=700, y=1200) to find Daleson. Well,
that was easy. Watch as Nalia desperately tries to act chummy with the
commoner, then defends her aunt's noble status in a turn. Ahh...
Hypocrisy... They'll mention some flail that Nalia's father never got
reassembled, and talk about the 'cellar', where Lord de'Arnise was
apparently taken.
***ITEMS***
(x=700, y=1140) Composite Long Bow, Long Bow, Long Bow +1, Arrows x120,
Arrows of Acid x12, Arrows of Fire x10, Bolt x120,
Bolt +1 x20, Throwing Axe x40
(x=500, y=1000) Spear, Quarter Staff, Quarter Staff +1, Spear +1,
Halberd, Arrows of Fire x40, Bolts of Biting x40,
Bullet +2 x40, Dart of Wounding x40
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
5) We still have no need to barge into the middle of the level. Go
through two secret doors, one at (x=400, y=950), and the other at
(x=370, y=720). You're now in a forge room, which will come in handy
later. Loot the chest and continue through yet another pair of secret
doors at(x=650, y=400) and (x=720, y=350) to reach a room with some
animal statues inside. Loot one of the lions (x=950, y=200) for a
Flail Head (Cold), as well as a Ring of Earth Control. I put the latter
on Keldorn, since it can be worn with magical armor and Keldorn doesn't
have a shield to boost his Armor Class. As for the Flail Head? Keep it
handy. It's not worth forging yet, but it will be shortly.
***ITEMS***
(x=550, y=400) Scroll of Find Familiar, 37 gold
(x=950, y=200) Ring of Earth Control, Flail Head (Cold), 810 gold
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
6) Now this might seem rather unceremonious, but backtrack and clear out
the entire level... Yeah, I'm being lazy, but this level isn't that
interesting anyways. In the middle of the level you can expect to find
several Trolls, whom can be bottle-necked quite nicely by simply not
going down to them. Make sure to grab the Star Sapphire from the latrine
and head out into the courtyard via one of the two entrances
(x=2000, y=1200)/(x=1600, y=1300).
Note from Lee:
I do this with just my main character, Keldorn, and Yoshimo - I have all
the melee power I need with my character and Keldorn, and Yoshimo brings
up the rear with Arrows of Fire to finish off the Trolls after melee
(and to disable the trap at (x=1420, y=1370)). The rest of the party
stays safely back in Daleson's Room. Moving clockwise from the door at
(x=625, y=1025) I can clear the level cleanly, then reassemble the party
to move on with Step 7.
***ITEMS***
(x=1420, y=1370) Dagger +2, 450 gold
(x=1790, y=680) Dart of Stunning, 1 gold
(x=1765, y=505) Star Sapphire
(x=1320, y=420) Silver Necklace, 1 gold
(x=1250, y=370) Silver Ring
(x=1170, y=320) Arrows x40
(x=1250, y=240) Bolts x40
(x=1420, y=250) Bullets x30
(x=1520, y=520) Scroll of Protection from Normal Weapons,
Scroll of Breach
***TRAPS***
(x=1420, y=1370)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
7) Once outside kill Rover, Rex, Spot, and Sparky and collect their
delicious Dog Meat. Daleson said that to feed the burrowing creatures in
the cellar he made some dog meat stew, requiring... exactly four dogs.
Convenient, that. There's also an Otyugh around and some trolls as you
make your way up the walls. The wheel that operates the drawbridge is at
(x=2850, y=1850). Activate it to lower the drawbridge and get some
reinforcements-and better yet, some experience. Head back down to the
ground level of the courtyard and kill some Yuan-ti and Trolls that
have appeared to do battle with some de'Arnise Guards-guards armed with
Arrows of Fire, I might add. Go back up the stairs and head through the
door at (x=2450, y=1200) to get to the roof, where you can find more
foes to slay. Up here you'll find a door (x=1770, y=1200) leading to the
upper level of the de'Arise Keep.
***REWARD***
(For lowering the drawbridge)
EXP 29750
de'Arnise Keep, Upper Level (AR1303)
o======================================================================o
8) You'll appear in a room surrounding a Yuan-ti Mage, who also has some
Trolls nearby. If you jump on the Yuan-ti, this fight'll be over in a
pinch. Nalia will tell you to find her aunt's room, as there is a
secret passage (surprise...) to the 'cellar' there. One of the Trolls
here will split into two mini-trolls as you fight it, which is silly.
Grab the Keep Key from the bookshelf (x=1600, y=1380) before exploring
the rest of this level.
***ITEMS***
(x=1600, y=1380) Scroll of Conjure Lesser Earth Elemental, Keep Key,
Bolt +1 x20
(x=1700, y=1550) Scroll of Minor Spell Turning
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
9) Go through a door to the north-east and circle up and around counter-
clockwise. Head into the room beyond the door at (x=1550, y=650),
wherein Nalia will speak and mention the curious lack of bodies lying
around. In this room you'll find a secret door to the south at
(x=1500, y=800) which will lead to another secret door (x=1370, y=1400).
Go through a trapped and locked door (x=1250, y=1350) to find Glaicus.
Nalia claims he's been charmed, and sure enough, if you hit him with
a Dispel Magic he'll come to his senses. He'll implore you to kill the
leader of the Trolls-a brute named TorGal-before mentioning that Lord
de'Arnise was trying to reassemble a magical flail that 'had powers of
flame and acid and the like'... Probably the same device Daleson was
talking about. Lastly, Glaicus will give you the Flail Head (Acid)
before mentioning a secret forge on the lower level. Glaicus then makes
a sorry excuse and runs off. Wuss! Somebody should re-charm him so that
he does his job! Anyways, if you're the more violent type you can
always just kill Glaicus. He's fairly strong, but a Slow spell really
takes the bite out of him. Once he dies, loot him for a suit of Full
Plate Mail, two Potions of Extra Healing, a Flail Head (Acid), a
Two-Handed Sword, and 20 gold.
***ITEMS***
(x=1990, y=1090) 16 gold
(x=2100, y=770) Silver Necklace, Fire Agate Ring, Arrow x80, Bolt x80,
Throwing Axe x50, Throwing Dagger x40
(x=1670, y=770) Dart x60, Bullet x80
(x=1200, y=520) Wand of Frost
(x=1200, y=1370) Scroll of Spell Thrust, Arrows of Acid x20,
Bolt of Lightning x20, 57 gold
(x=1200, y=1400) Andar Gem, Bullet +2 x40, Dart of Stunning x20
***TRAPS***
(x=1200, y=520)
(x=1250, y=1350)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
10) Backtrack to the hallways around the perimeter of the level and
continue counter-clockwise. You can go up some stairs (x=1200, y=300)
to the roof and kill some more Yuan-ti if you wish, but there's no
point to it besides the experience in it. Continue through a room with
a fountain and enter a room (x=570, y=1200) containing Lady Delcia Caan
(you'll need the 'Keep Key' we found in Step #8 to gain entry to her
room). She's worse than the Trolls, but you'll suffer a large reputation
hit if you kill her, so just endure her uselessness. There's a room to
the south (x=1300, y=1700) you can loot, but to continue on you'll need
to search Lady Delcia Caan's room.
***ITEMS***
(x=1400, y=1500) Scroll of Detect Illusion, Sunstone Gem,
Arrows of Piercing x20
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
11) In Lady Delcia Caan's room you'll find a secret door at
(x=850, y=1050). Go through another secret door at (x=900, y=850) to
find a room lined with Golems. At my modest level (about 960,000
experience per character) there were two Flesh Golems, two Stone Golems,
one Clay Golem, and one Iron Golem. This is much more than I wish to be
facing at this time, so we'll have to be... sneaky.
For the sake of convenience, let's list the Golems by their location,
numbering them by where they stand. #1 is the Golem (whatever type it
may be) closest to the secret door, and #6 is the Golem closest to the
statues. The Golems activate (and attack) when you mess with the statues
are the far end of the room-namely, certain Golems get touchy when you
molest certain loot. If you grab Frostreaver +3, Golems #6 and #4 will
attack. If you fondle the Kneecapper +1, Golems #1 and #2 will become
irate. If you 'borrow' the Elven Court Bow +3, Golems #3 and #5 will
attempt to kindly convince you to desist. Since #3 is the Iron Golem,
this is the group to watch out for. Finally, if you just want to have a
closer look at that Flail Head (Fire)... well, the Golems don't give a
crap about the most potent artifact they guard. Lazy Golems! It should
be pretty obvious how we can handle this encounter simply-take one
magical item at a time (saving that bow for last) to provoke the
Golems, and dispatch them piecemeal. Or... you could just manually
attack a Golem without bothering with its loot first. The attacked
Golem will fight back, of course, but you can simply slaughter them one
at a time this way.
In any event, the big threat here is the Iron Golem. I suggest killing
off its buddies, then provoking it. Once done, run back out the door
where the Iron Golem can't reach you. Sure it's not very brave, but
that's not the point here. The Iron Golem requires +3 weapons to hit,
and thankfully I've kept the Dragon Bane +3 Halberd. Keldorn equips it,
then attacks the Iron Golem, which simply cannot reach him to retaliate.
It'll take half of forever to kill it, but it'll die eventually. Failing
that, Celestial Fury and Stonefire +3, can be used to harm it-you'll
just have to withdraw injured characters to heal them.
Now, for the loot we've just acquired... The bow is great for Minsc, the
War Hammer should be kept on hand just for occasions when a highly
enchanted weapon is needed (by the way, Trolls count as giants, so slap
it on Anomen for now), and the Frostreaver +3 will do wonders for
Korgan. It was a generous room, indeed. There is another secret door at
(x=1100, y=850) and stairs down at (x=1250, y=900), but before you go
there are a few things you may want to do. Head back to the Servant's
Quarters by heading back down the stairs at (x=2200, y=900) to complete
a few tasks that'll make your life easier.
***ITEMS***
(x=350, y=500) Warhammer +1, +4 vs. Giantkin, Flail Head (Fire)
(x=450, y=450) Elven Court Bow +3
(x=570, y=370) Battle Axe +3, Frostreaver
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
12) Back in the Servants Quarters (AR1302), activate the kitchen
(x=2050, y=700) four times to scrape all the Dog Meat into a cauldron
and make a stew. The game gives away the fact that the burrowing
beasties below are Umber Hulks, but at least now you have something to
distract them.. and some experience.
***REWARD***
(For making Dog Meat stew)
EXP 11500
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
13) Now head over to the forge (x=400, y=500) and activate it. You
should have all three Flail Heads in your inventory and ready to go.
Once activated you'll get an experience reward, and the best flail in
the game. It's a +3 weapon that deals an extra point of acid, cold, and
fire damage, and it has a chance to slow creatures when striking. The
only downside is I don't really have a character who has the
Flail/Morningstar proficiency right now. Still, it's a great weapon for
Viconia or Anomen, when they become proficient. Anyways, at least we
have it, and once we can use it well-watch out, game!
***REWARD***
(For reconstructing the Flail of the Ages)
EXP 22350
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
14) Dog-food and ultimate weapons-check, now it's time to return to the
upper level (AR1303). Head up the stairs at (x=2300, y=900) to get
there, then head back to where we slaughtered the Golems. Go through a
secret door at (x=1100, y=850), then down the stairs at (x=1250, y=900).
de'Arnise Keep, 'Cellar' (AR1301)
o======================================================================o
15) Loot this room, then head southeast and kill the Trolls in the
next.. not-torture chamber. Before going through the next door, I spell
buff my protagonist to the fullest, but I include Chaotic Commands to
his normal defenses. Beyond the door you'll find several Umber Hulks,
who typically like to start out combat with confusion gazes. This can
really break up an attack, and having my main character with Celestial
Fury, Korgan or Keldorn out of the fight (or worse, attacking my own
party!) can really make things go bad fast. A fully spell-buffed
Fighter/Mage, however, just waltzes in and endures their attacks. After
the first round of gaze attacks, the rest of my party walks in and puts
the beasts down. A lower-leveled party (like one trying to score loot
early or trying to secure Nalia) might want to try and lure them out one
at a time.
***ITEMS***
(x=880, y=250) Shield Amulet, Scroll of Identify, Arrows x80,
Arrows of Fire x10, Bolts x80, Bullets x80,
Throwing Daggers x30, Darts x100
(x=1080, y=150) Arrows x80, Bolts x80, 12 gold
(x=980, y=500) Dart of Wounding x20, Arrows of Fire x40,
Arrows of Acid x40, 1 gold
(x=1150, y=550) 6 gold
***TRAPS***
(x=880, y=250)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
16) Head to the southwest and enter a cell that has been clearly
tunneled into. If you search the tunnel you'll find some 'dog bones'.
This is the game going *hint-hint*. Put the dog stew we brewed earlier
here (x=650, y=1100) and you'll get some experience. It doesn't really
matter that we already killed the Umber Hulks, extra experience is
always good. You can search the rest of the cells if you want, but
there's nothing in there. All the good stuff is in the Umber Hulk room.
***ITEMS***
(x=1750, y=720) Scroll of Infravision, Orc Leather +3
(x=1900, y=750) Bolt of Biting x40, Bolt +2 x40, 9 gold
(x=2070, y=900) Bullet +2 x40, Bullet +1 x40, 1 gold
(x=1900, y=1000) Scroll of Mordenkainen's Sword, Throwing Axe x40,
Dart +1 x60
***REWARD***
(For luring the Umber Hulks)
EXP 18750
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
17) Before you head through the door to the northeast, spell buff to
the max. I know, two straight battles in which I told you all to spell
buff, I must be mad. Once you're ready go through with just one
character (for me this was my Fighter/Mage, who is my one-man problem
solver/tank.) At (x=2500, y=440) you'll find TorGal, the top Troll.
He'll spill some interesting information before attacking, not all of
which will make much sense. He'll come with friends, which can present
a bit of a problem at higher levels, but at my current, modest, level
he had only a pair of Giant Trolls with him. I ran back to the Umber
Hulk room and when the first Troll crossed the threshold I met them,
bottle-necking them at the door. After they're dead, search the room
they were in to find Nalia's dad, who is rather dead. After you make
your way out of the keep you'll get a rather hefty quest reward, in
both experience and gold. This gives my Viconia just enough experience
to hit level 12, and hence, get a proficiency point to spend into
Flails. Better late than never, right?
***ITEMS***
(x=2600, y=350) Scroll of Feeblemind, Bloodstone Gem x5,
Bloodstone Amulet, Moonbar Gem, Water Opal, 2126 gold
***REWARD***
(For clearing the de'Arnise Keep)
EXP 45500 (each character)
Gold 10650
If you're a Fighter, Nalia will pester you about her problems, saying
that she's betrothed to a snooty noble named Isaea Roenall. Now that her
father is dead she's set to marry this noble and fall into a life of
quiet servitude. Of course, she has a scheme-take control of the
de'Arnise Keep and she'll be safe from the unwanted marriage. Sounds
like a win-win, you get control of a fortress, and she doesn't have to
marry an arrogant lordling. The missions pertaining to the de'Arnise
Keep will be discussed in the next Sequence of Events. It will also
include the Nalia-specific quests, since I traveled around with her for
a little while. It seems like a good enough place to include them, and
as far as this FAQ is concerned, I won't bother separating the two.
(Even though the two are indeed separate. Just keep Nalia around while
you do the Fighter's Guild quests to replicate the section below.)
o======================================================================o
| |
| Fighter's Stronghold Quests |
| |
o======================================================================o
Sequence of Events: {WLK019}
1) The Regent of de'Arnise
2) Bandit Problems and Pushy Merchants
3) Philosophical Ponderings
4) Temple of Tempus
5) Lord de'Arnise's Funeral
6) Isaea Roenal's Power Play
7) Lord Roenal's Power Play
8) Barg Blathering
9) Dirth's Dirge
10) The Roenal Estate
11) Initiating Isaea's Investigation
12) Her Lord's Blessing
13) An Easy Mark
14) Financing the Flood
15) Winning the War
De'Arnise Keep (AR1302)
o======================================================================o
1) After accepting to lead the keep you'll be taken to see the Major
Domo. He'll talk to you about day to day functions of the keep, taxes,
and other terribly interesting things. You'll be told that you'll be
making about 500 gold pieces a week, and that every couple of weeks you
should check in. And of course, you'll be summoned when big things need
your attention. One bit of good news, however, is the fact that Lady
Delcia Caan will not be staying. Anyways, check back every time you get
the message 'gold has been placed in your keep'. Chances are you'll have
some task you can perform. Like most strongholds, you can trigger most
quests by simply resting in your keep, but some require you to be
outside. I'll try and let you know, but if you just go around and
adventure like normal and just check back every time you make money,
you'll be fine.
You can also talk to the Major Domo about quickly raising taxes at the
expense of the commoners. This will net you an instant 1000 gold each
time you do it, but it'll piss of the peasantry, and as time goes on
your own staff will begin resigning. Spoiled serfs, this is why you
don't treat them well, they get all indignant and free-willed for later
tyrants! Thanks Lord de'Arnise. Extort money like this nine times, and
your peasants will revolt and you'll lose the de'Arnise Keep-
permanently. Also Nalia isn't too proud of how you ran things, and will
leave your party, too. So let's try and balance our greed in the short
term with our greed in the long term, hmm? Talk to the Major Domo and
select option #4 "Tell me how things fare." and he'll tell you the
general disposition of the peasants, which typically increases the more
benevolent things you do, and drops the more cruel things you do.
Following the experience rewards is usually the best option, but there
are some things you can do that'll make the peasants love or hate you
more regardless (typically involving you spending money to help
somebody for no reward.)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
2) After about a week the Major Domo will tell you that a merchant
named Tolmas Bendelia is demanding to see you. Apparently his caravan
was waylaid by bandits when passing through the region and he is none
too happy about it. First, actually choose to see him. Doing nothing is
almost always the worst solution. He'll storm in and as a merchant he
naturally wants restitution. If you don't please him he threatens to
never travel through these lands again and to foreclose on every farm
he holds a debt for. To protect against more bandit threats, the Major
Domo says you'll have to hire mercenaries-you've lost too many guards to
the Trolls to clear out the bandits with your own men. It'll cost you
either 500 gold, or 250 for more.. delayed results. As for the merchant
your options seem numerous, but boil down to a few simple things.
Either compensate the merchant for his caravan fully (1000 gold),
partially (500 gold), or not at all. Or you can buy your farmer's debt
off of him (1000 gold). Lastly, you can have him executed for being such
an ingrate. The real experience-earner is the mercenaries, where you
have the option to pay 500 gold for adequate forces (the best option)
250 gold, or nothing. You get bonus experience for having the merchant
executed.
***REWARD***
(For hiring adequate mercenaries)
EXP 15000
***REWARD***
(For having the merchant executed and hiring adequate mercenaries)
EXP 15500
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
3) In time talk to the Major Domo and he'll tell you that Captain
Cernick wishes to see you. He'll tell you that a guard named Lastin has
been caught red-handed stealing from the manor, and Cernick is unsure of
how to deal with him. He's an ineffectual pansy who wants to make you
make all the hard decisions. The Major Domo warns you that people who
oppose your rule are watching, so be a careful judge. Yeah, yeah..
If you ask Cernick about the precedence he'll mention that in the past
one of the servants was stealing tax money-and was executed. Let Lastin
have his say and he'll give you the sob story about his wife getting
sick and him needing medicine to heal her. Medicine he could not ever
afford on his salary. Ah, how many times have I heard this in my
philosophy classes? Stealing is wrong, but stealing to save a life might
be less wrong? Bad Bioware, for throwing elementary philosophical
prime examples at us. If you execute Lastin you'll get no reward, so
it's probably not the right thing to do, right? You can also fire
Lastin, pardon him, or pay for his wife's medicine. Let thy experience
reward be thy guide. Paying for his wife's medicine doesn't get you
anything extra, but it is good for your soul. Eh... but since that
probably doesn't exist, do what you wish.
***REWARD***
(For firing Lastin)
EXP 11500
***REWARD***
(For pardoning Lastin)
EXP 15500
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
4) After more time passes the Major Domo will inform you that a burly
man who claims to be a priest of Tempus wishes to speak with you. Enter
Bolumir, priest of Tempus, who wishes to set himself up here in the
de'Arnise keep. Keldorn will vouch for him, but Anomen seems to feel
differently, and the Major Domo will recall that he was ejected from his
last parish. Your choices here are relatively simple. If you deny him
rudely you'll get nothing, if you deny him.. less rudely, you'll get an
experience reward, and if you allow him to set up kip here you'll get
the best reward. If you want to go see him later, he'll be up in what
used to be the Golem room. You can buy a few things off of him, potions,
priest scrolls, a Helmet of Charm Protection, and Boots of Grounding, if
you still have a need for some boots.
***REWARD***
(For dismissing Bolumir somewhat less rudely)
EXP 11500
***REWARD***
(For allowing Bolumir to set up a temple)
EXP 15500
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
5) Now, if you have Nalia in your party a Messenger will come find her
and give her a message. She's not specific, but it has to do with her
father's funeral. Well, we can't in good conscience leave her to her own
devices or delay this most important of matters. After all, we're just
chasing after a friend who's in grave peril, and for all we know Nalia's
father's grave is in peril! Oh yeah, you just read that. Head over to
the Graveyard district and the Messenger will meet you again, and
whisk you away to a tomb, where he says "they are waiting for you
upstairs." Kay. Head up into the tomb (x=1620, y=750). Upstairs you'll
find a collection of nobles, talk to them all, and have Nalia nearby.
Eventually Isaea will start talking to Nalia and as you can expect, it
doesn't end very well. Afterwards Nalia will fume for a bit before
resolving to leave.
Note that this will not happen in the de'Arnise Keep, so go wander
around Athkatla until the Messenger shows up.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
6) Shortly thereafter I was met by Isaea Roenal on my way back to the
de'Arnise Keep, who presumes to have Nalia imprisoned for.. well, lack
of judgement, really. He'll use his station as a noble and as a member
of the military to get this to pass. Nalia will be taken away, and we'll
need to recover her-if for no other reason than because of Isaea's
smugness! Afterwards a man named Khellor Ahmson will show up, and
conveniently provide you with a lead. He'll direct you to go to a man
named Barg at the docks. He'll also tell you to check Isaea's personal
records, which are in his home in the Government District, and to bring
anything you find to Corgeig Axehand-Isaea's commander.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
7) Of course, now that Nalia has been removed from my party I'll
immediately get bothered by a Messenger telling me that Lord Roenal is
waiting for me at the de'Arnise Keep. Wonderful. When I get there he's
about as nice as you'd expect-he demands I give over the estate or else.
If you refuse to see Lord Roenal, or if you refuse to give up the keep
you're in for a fight with him. Well, while we wait for him to get his
'army' here, let's go get Nalia back.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
8) Head down to the Dock District and talk to Barg (x=2380, y=2500).
Ignore his reference to the Canterbury Tales and he'll readily spill
information about Isaea supporting piracy and slavery, and mention a
man named Dirth over at the Sea's Bounty. You know, with how easily it
is to find dirt on Isaea, the rest of the city must be actively looking
the other way.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
9) Head down the stairs to the Sea's Bounty (x=2100, y=2150) again,
leaving Jaheira behind so she doesn't come into contact with Baron
Ployer-yet. Talk to Officer Dirth and (x=350, y=620). He's not quite
the same level of moron that Barg was, and will fight you if you throw
out the name Isaea. Kill him and loot him for Isaea's Slavery Document.
Note that this letter mentions the slavers we killed in the Temple
District earlier.
Roenal Estate (AR1009)
o======================================================================o
10) Now go to the Government District and enter the Roenal Estate,
(x=2800, y=150). The house is blissfully empty. Go grab Isaea's
Financial Statements (x=450, y=400) and leave.
***ITEMS***
(x=220, y=550) 38 gold
(x=350, y=470) Black Opal
(x=450, y=400) Isaea's Financial Statements
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
11) Head over to the Council of Six building (x=3200, y=950) and talk
to Corgeig Axehand (x=520, y=730). Show him the evidence you've
collected-the gem smuggling, the piracy, and the slaving. Individually
they are apparently unworthy of investigation, but all together, they
add up to a big problem for Isaea. You'll be told that you'll find out
what the score is in a day. Thankfully the game auto-skips ahead. Isaea
is indignant about the inquiry, but the good guys seem to have won, this
time.
***REWARD***
(For exposing Isaea Roenal)
EXP 7000 (each character)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
12) Now it's time to return to the de'Arnise Keep and deal with the
elder Roenal. I'll put this whole family in hell yet! But first.. we
have to deal with a problem with a maid named Chanelle. Two men want to
marry her, and as the new lord of the estate you need to give one of
them your blessing. Have them brought in and Chanelle will tell you
what's up. Jessup, a ranger from the local area has been courting
Chanelle for a while, but Malvolio-a land owner from Roenal lands-has
decided he wants her. Malvolio isn't the one Chanelle loves, but he will
pay you 500 gold for her hand. Jessup, on the other hand is rather
broke, and there's the issue of the dowry that Lord de'Arnise promised
to pay that now, of course, is on you. Here we go again with this
status issue again. The experience rewards say be benevolent, and the
fact that I'm not quite a fan of Roenal folks right now really pushes me
in that direction out of spite. Giving them the dowry on top of it
doesn't net you more experience, but it does make the peasants more
happy. After this act of benevolence, the peasants are overjoyed with me
as their leader. Bring it on, Roenal.
***REWARD***
(Give Chanelle to Malvolio and refuse the gift of 500 gold)
EXP 11500
***REWARD***
(Let Chanelle marry Jessup)
EXP 15500
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
13) Next up, a well-dressed couple will ask for an audience with you.
You should know to be wary when they talk and they're identified as
'Moneylender'. They're here to collect a debt of 2000 gold owed to them
by the late de'Arnise. Like the last extortionist, they threaten to call
in debts in the area if you refuse to pay. They profess knowledge of
what happened to the last guy who tried this, and yet they somehow won't
see their own fates mirrored until you order their execution. Once you
do, their facade cracks and they reveal themselves as crooks. An easy
mark, indeed. After they're escorted away, the matter of the very real
debts your people have arises. You can leave them to their fate, pay up
partially (500 gold) or pay up the full debt to protect your people
(1000 gold).
***REWARD***
(For paying off half of the debt your people owe)
EXP 11500
***REWARD***
(For paying off the full debt your people owe)
EXP 15500
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
14) The next thing the Major Domo has to report is damage done to a road
by a flood. *sigh* This sounds expensive. What's the point of owning a
keep if you have to spend all the money you make on it! Peasants will
show up and whine, threaten, and give sob stories. After it's over, the
Major Domo will tell you it'll cost 5,000 gold to rebuild. If you don't
plan to pay, at least pick the second option to pay a portion. It'll
get you some experience, and then you can just opt out. On the other
hand, if you choose to do a partial rebuild, do NOT then choose to pay
the whole thing. You'll get an additional 8500 experience... but it's
still less than the full 15500 you would have had if you just chose to
fully rebuild from the start. You can rebuild in increments of 1000,
up to 5,000 gold (the full cost of the rebuild.)
***REWARD***
(For partially rebuilding)
EXP 4500
***REWARD***
(For partially rebuilding and giving 2,000 gold)
EXP 2500
***REWARD***
(For partially rebuilding and giving 3,000 gold)
EXP 4500
***REWARD***
(For partially rebuilding and giving 4,000 gold)
EXP 6500
***REWARD***
(For partially rebuilding and giving 5,000 gold)
EXP 8500
***REWARD***
(For fully rebuilding, at an expense of 5,000 gold)
EXP 15500
Next it's the dikes, which will cost 2,000 gold to rebuild. This one is
more cut and dry, either pay the 2,000 gold, or pay nothing.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
15) Finally it's time for the fight with Roenal. Major Domo is panicked,
and apparently we're out numbered and out matched. Follow Captain
Cernick outside-his bright idea is that we kill Roenal quickly so his
army loses spirit and dissolves. Of course he'd suggest something that
didn't involve him doing the work. Head out past the bridge and find
Roenal, who will threaten you before attacking. He's horribly out-
matched, a simple Haste spell and brute force is far too much for him
to handle. He does have a Mage who might cause you a bit of trouble,
but it's just a matter of tearing down his defenses with a True Sight
and Breach. After Roenal dies the battle ends, so you might want to
save him for last in order to get the max experience from his minions.
Once he's dead you'll be whisked back into the keep and praised for
being the awesome fellow that you are. You'll get an experience reward,
and the keep is yours forever more... or until you over-tax it and the
peasants revolt. Head back outside and loot the vanquished. Many of the
troops will have Arrows of Fire, and Roenal's stronger guards will leave
behind Arrows of Fire and Arrows of Ice, as well as Chain Mail +1.
Roenal's Mage will leave behind Bracers of Defense A.C. 8 and a Wand of
Lightning, while Roenal himself drops a suit of Full Plate Mail +1, a
Bastard Sword +1, and 50 gold.
***REWARD***
(For defeating Lord Roenal and holding onto the de'Arnise Keep)
EXP 50000
Anyways, we've secured all the somewhat prominent PCs in the game, and
this leaves us only with Cernd and Mazzy. Since we've already partially
explored Umar Hills, we'll go after Mazzy first. Before any of that,
however, head over to the Bridge District, where we still have some
unfinished business that will tie into the Umar Hills quest.
o======================================================================o
| |
| Skinner Murders |
| |
o======================================================================o
Sequence of Events: {WLK020}
1) The Skinner Murders
2) Mugging at Midnight
3) Rampah's Hide
4) Rose's Odor
5) Bel Dalemark
6) Faraji's Witch
7) Missus Cragmoon
8) Robbing the Robber
9) Silver Horn of Valhalla
10) The Balthis Estate
11) Ankheg Shell House
12) Warehouse
13) Battle Over Bubbles
14) The Man in Red
15) Routing the Ransomers
16) A Good Deed.. or Silver Pantaloons
17) The Murderer Exposed
18) A Skinny Shirt
19) Riverside Escape
20) Collecting the Reward
Before we begin, let me just say that this is going to be a slightly
unorthodox part of the FAQ. By now you should be used to not completing
every quest as we encounter it chronologically, but this is even more
extreme. This section covers much of the ancillary exploration in and
around Umar Hills, but at this point I have no real intention of
completing this quest at all. This part of the FAQ is merely for
recruiting Mazzy, after which I'm more than happy to abandon the Umar
Hills quest. I will not resume and complete the Umar Hills quest until
after recovering Imoen.
Bridge District (AR0500)
o======================================================================o
1) That our Umar Hills explorations starts in the Bridge District of
Athkatla might seem odd, and really it's only marginally related. Doing
this quest now saves us the bother of back-tracking later, and it even
affects some events in Trademeet, so it's worth the bother. If you
remember, Lieutenant Aegisfield recommended we talk to Old Rampah and
Rose, and that's what we should do now.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
2) Along the way I was assaulted by Muggers, this is a random encounter
which I'll note here mostly because... well, this is when and where it
happened. It's really only notable because one of the Muggers initiated
dialogue with me and demanded I hand over my money. He then had the
nerve to only give me 20 experience when he died.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
3) Rampah is at (x=2630, y=1200). He will try to get you to buy
something he found, asking for 100 gold. Say you don't have that much
and he'll accept half-40 gold-in return for which you'll get an 'Exotic
Hide'. He'll also refer you to the 'seller that buys'.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
4) Now head over to Rose (x=2950, y=1970), near the Five Flagons. Money
talks, as usual. If you're nice to her (option #1) she'll ask for 20
gold, if you're rude (option #2) she'll ask for 40. Pay her and she'll
tell you that she distinctly smelled Guril berries when she happened
upon the murder. If you bring her some more, she claims she'll be able
to identify the smell.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
5) Since Rose and Rampah both suggested it, you might as well talk to
Bel Dalemark (x=2650, y=2050). If you ask about the slayings he'll talk
about the flayings being precise, not like the work of some beast. Show
him the 'Exotic Hide' you bought from Rampah and he'll identify it as
elephant hide. Who would have such a thing, you ask? A tanner. He'll
mention one Rejiek. Ask about Guril berries and he'll mention three
things with a similar odor-Guril berries, 'the bark of the oak', and
solik berries. Of the three, the bark is used to make tannin, which is
used for curing skins. Your merchant will give you a sample of each free
of charge and again suggest talking to Rejiek.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
6) Return to Rose and get her to smell what the merchant gave you.
She'll identify the smell as tannin. Now we could report the information
to Aegisfield, but let's talk to Faraji (x=1400, y=2800) first. Give him
some coins and ask about the murders and he'll mention that he found the
body of 'old Bilver', and he'll implicate a mean old witch named Missus
Cragmoon.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
7) Head over to (x=320, y=2670) and talk to the mean cookie-hoarding
witch. She'll admit to being a witch, but otherwise seems pretty
benevolent. What's the point of all this? Nothing much, but once you're
done talking to her talk to her again and she'll sell you some potions.
Namely Potions of Frost Giant Strength, Potions of Stone Giant Strength,
and Potions of Master Thievery. They're pretty easy to steal, if you
don't want to spend any gold. I was fairly successful with a Pick
Pockets score of only 115%. Note that if you tell Aegisfield that Missus
Cragmoon is a witch she'll promptly disappear. Those Cowled Wizards are
nothing if not quick, eh? Later on you'll be attacked by a group of
Adventurers led by one Strachan Fireblade whom has a note from Missus
Cragmoon on him. They're pushovers and they have no exceptional gear.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
8) If it's night time you'll find a cutpurse at (x=660, y=2500) who
actually sells a variety of good stuff. Namely Arrows +2, Bolts +2,
Potions of Master Thievery, and a variety of scrolls, the notable ones
are listed below. Despite being a Thief himself, it's very easy to steal
from him. Wait until night if possible and time it so you can steal from
both Missus Cragmoon and the cutpurse in order to conserve Potions of
Master Thievery. I don't know if it was just a random bug or not, but he
did not turn hostile when he caught me stealing. What a nice guy!
o===========o
|Mage Spells| Cutpurse
o===========o---------------------------------------------------------->
3rd-Detect Illusion
3rd-Hold Undead
3rd-Protection from Cold
3rd-Spell Thrust
---
4th-Enchanted Weapon
4th-Fireshield (Red)
4th-Minor Sequence
4th-Spider Spawn
4th-Teleport Field
---
5th-Spell Immunity
---
6th-Death Fog
6th-Improved Haste
6th-Protection From Magic Weapons
6th-Power Word, Silence
Now, for some entirely unrelated exploration. As you may have noticed,
there are some houses in the north half of this district that we might
as well explore (or at least discuss) since we're canvassing the area.
Wealthy Home (AR0527)/(AR0528)
o======================================================================o
9) Over at the house at (x=3000, y=770), you can find a fair amount of
loot (and traps) hidden around. It's probably the most wealthy house in
this district that we'll explore for no good reason. The best item you
can find is, of course, the Silver Horn of Valhalla, which is really a
poor summoning item, but it's still nice to have it.
Note: You can upgrade the Silver Horn of Valhalla by visiting the
'Storekeep' (x=1880, y=2070) in Waukeen's Promenade (AR0700). For the
first upgrade you'll need the Silver Horn of Valhalla (of course) a
Diamond and 2000 gold. Pick dialogue options #2, #2, and #1 and in
return you'll get the Bronze Horn of Valhalla, which summons a
7th-level Berserker instead of the Silver Horn's 5th-level Berserker.
To upgrade it again you'll need the Bronze Horn of Valhalaa, a Beljuril
Gem (very rare) and 5000 gold. This second-and final-upgrade will create
the Iron Horn of Valhalla, which summons a 9th-level Berserker. I played
through this game about a dozen times now, and never knew this item
could be upgraded until I saw the other two horns in Infinity Explorer.
A simple Google search later, and I found myself educated by a poster
named 'Keylow' on www.ironworksforum.com. Credit where credit is due.
***ITEMS***
(AR0527)
(x=500, y=250) 87 gold
(x=430, y=170) Wand of Magic Missiles
(x=600, y=200) Agni Mani Necklace
(AR0528)
(x=200, y=320) Moonbar Gem, Fire Agate Gem
(x=300, y=270) Potion of Insulation, Potion of Hill Giant Strength
(x=400, y=350) 4 gold
(x=500, y=250) Silver Horn of Valhalla
(x=450, y=150) 8 gold
(x=630, y=230) Bolt +2 x2, Onyx Ring
***TRAPS***
(AR0527)
(x=350, y=350)
(x=430, y=170)
(AR0528)
(x=300, y=270)
(x=500, y=250)
Balthis Estate (AR0506)
o======================================================================o
10) In the Balthis Estate (x=4300, y=950), you'll be bothered by Pip, a
diminuative butler, a host of Amnish Bodyguards, and the typically
unfriendly Acton Balthis. There's a bit of minor loot in here, but
nothing worth fighting guards over.
Ankheg Shell House (AR0531)
o======================================================================o
11) Over at (x=3730, y=1400) you'll find an apparently quaint home with
some nasty traps in it. The best item in here is an Ankheg Shell, from
which you can make Ankheg Plate Mail. Frankly, however, your fighters
should all have Full Plate Mail or Full Plate Mail +1. It's just not
worth the cost to have it made. Remember to loot at night if you want to
avoid witnesses, guards being called, and all that fun.
***ITEMS***
(x=630, y=200) Ankheg Shell
(x=570, y=200) Turquoise Gem x2, Andar Gem
(x=400, y=200) Healing Potion x3
(x=250, y=300) 1 gold
***TRAPS***
(x=630, y=200)
Warehouse (AR0530)
o======================================================================o
12) Sick of looting unguarded houses? Me too. So enter the building at
(x=4000, y=1500), within which you'll find a group of hostiles. There's
Pitre, the priest, Dracandros, a Mage, Falahar, a Fighter, and
Valeria... she throws darts, and wears heavy armor... so she's a
Fighter, too, just not a very good one. By now, we all know what we're
going to do. Edwin/protagonist hits them with Chaos, and Jaheira targets
Dracandros with Insect Plague. Then I eliminate Dracandros and Pitre,
before dispatching the fighters at my leisure. Pitre will leave behind a
suit of Plate Mail, a Large Shield, a Mace, a Scroll of Identify, and
30 gold. Falahar forfeits a suit of Chain Mail, a Helmet, a Halberd, and
a Scroll of Identify. Dracandros drop some Bracers of Defense A.C. 7 and
43 gold, while Valeria volits a suit of Plate Mail, some Darts, a
Bastard Sword, and 34 gold. To say they were poorly equipped is an
understatement... but at least they gave good experience. And now you
can loot the building... which is quite profitable.
***ITEMS***
(x=350, y=550) Medium Shield, Mace, Two Handed Sword
(x=620, y=200) Star Sapphire, Black Opal, Laeral's Tear Necklace,
460 gold
(x=570, y=170) Scroll of Spirit Armor, Scroll of Lightning Bolt,
Scroll of Protection from Electricity, Scroll of Breach
(x=220, y=250) 1 gold
***TRAPS***
(x=620, y=200)
(x=570, y=170)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
13) As another (yes, another) aside, over at (x=1300, y=2190) you'll
find a lady of the night named Bubbles, who has two lovers by the names
of Carbos and Shank. Surely you must remember your very first victims in
the first game? I'm sure they just have the same names. Anyways, they
argue over their lady, then resolve to fight each other over her.
Eventually one will win, and a disinterested Bubbles will wander off.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
14) And since we're here, let's knock off one more quest. Over at
(x=1680, y=3520) you'll find a man named Am-Si, who is dressed in a
very, very red outfit. Question him about his tendency to bury people
alive and eventually he'll run off into the house at (x=1420, y=3600).
Leave most of your party outside the house, then send one character in.
House, Downstairs (AR0507)
o======================================================================o
15) Am-Si will talk to a Dwarf named Camitis before they notice you.
Once they do, however, Catimis kills Am-Si and makes a break for it,
along with his buddy Reti. They will, of course, run into the rest of
your party. Attack them and kill them and grab Retis' Boots of
Avoidance. You might remember these from Baldur's Gate 1, they're an
incomparable defensive item for use against missiles. You might as well
stick them on whatever character you'll use to draw missile fire, either
Keldorn or Korgan. They'll probably hand these off to less well-
protected characters later on. Search the house after you're done
killing its inhabitant. Once done, head upstairs at (x=200, y=400).
***ITEMS***
(x=300, y=280) Turquoise Gem, 3 gold
(x=550, y=150) 1 gold
House, Upstairs (AR0508)
o======================================================================o
16) Up here you'll find Lady Elgea, who demands to be freed. If you want
to be a nice guy you can let her go for some experience. Note if Keldorn
is in your party you have no choice but to free her. Trying to do
otherwise will prompt Keldorn to overrule you-and will get you a lesser
experience reward. Of course, you can always just leave him downstairs
and do as you please. If you're evil, or interested in obtaining the
Big Metal Unit at some point, you'll be better served by ransoming her.
Loot the cabinet at (x=400, y=200) and grab the 'Ransom Note'. Read it
to discover the location of the exchange, which is in front of
everybody's favorite Copper Coronet at nightfall. You'll find Welther
at (x=2030, y=2670), who will cough up the Silver Pantaloons in return
for the location of Lady Elgea. You'll lose two points of reputation for
doing this, but that can be cured with a little donation or two.
***REWARD***
(For freeing Lady Elgea)
EXP 16750
***REWARD***
(For freeing Lady Elgea.. eventually)
EXP 8500
***ITEMS***
(x=400, y=200) Ransom Note
(x=400, y=340) 157 gold
(x=300, y=420) Short Sword
Tanner's Shop, Upstairs (AR0501)
o======================================================================o
17) Anyways, it's time to get back to the Skinner Murders. Report your
findings to Aegisfield and he'll run off to go check out the tanner.
Jaheira wisely suggests that since the tanner is our top suspect for a
series of grisly murders we should probably go with Aegisfield. Head
over the building marked 'Tanner Shop' on your map (x=2700, y=2600).
Once inside our friendly neighborhood tanner will tell us that he's
closed, and will play innocent about the murders. Press him a bit and
he confesses before running down the stairs (x=300, y=360). Follow him.
***REWARD***
(For discovering the identity of the Skinner Murderer)
EXP 23250
***ITEMS***
(x=550, y=150) Andar Gem, 19 gold
(x=660, y=120) Shandon Gem, Potion of Regeneration
Tanner's Stop, Downstairs (AR0502)
o======================================================================o
18) Once downstairs your companions may comment on the corpse-strewn
room. Disarm the traps in the room and search around to find the
Inspector's Body, and the 'Tanner's Letter'. The latter object directs
you to a contact in the Umar Hills. See? I told you there was a
connection. Search one of the beds (x=400, y=300) and you'll find a..
shirt made of human flesh. Wonderful. Once you have all three objects
go down the stairs at (x=550, y=400).
***ITEMS***
(x=700, y=400) Inspector's Body
(x=200, y=400) Potion of Fire Resistance, Moonbar Gem, Black Opal,
130 gold
(x=400, y=200) Scroll of Protection from Electricity, Tanner's Letter
***TRAPS***
(x=500, y=650)
(x=500, y=420)
(x=600, y=430)
(x=200, y=400)
(x=400, y=200)
Tanner's Shop, Riverside Room (AR0503)
o======================================================================o
19) When you reach the next level you'll find that it connects directly
to the river, apparently to facilitate quick escapes by boat. More
threateningly you'll find a trio of Ghasts and a Mage named Vellin Dahn.
A fight soon ensues, and a pair of 'Rune Assassins' and a Bone Golem
will show up, while Vellin Dahn disappears. The Rune Assassins can be
pests, as they are fond of going invisible to score cheap backstabs.
Once they're dead, loot around to obtain the Gesen Bow Shaft. Nice.
We're just about done with this quest, but there's just one more thing
that needs to be done. Time to get rid of Aegisfield's body.
***ITEMS***
(x=500, y=400) Gesen Bow Shaft, Hide Armor
(x=670, y=450) Scroll of Improved Invisibility,
Scroll of Monster Summoning II, Tchazar Gem
(x=700, y=250) 6 gold
***TRAPS***
(x=500, y=400)
(x=670, y=450)
Council of Six Building (AR1002)
o======================================================================o
20) Head over to the Government District and enter the Council of Six
building. Inside, find Chief Inspector Brega (x=1120, y=500) who will
take Aegisfield's body off of you. More importantly, he'll reward you
for solving the crime. Well, that was fun and all, but now it's time to
pursue our contact to the Umar Hills. And do a few other things and grab
Mazzy while we're there.
***REWARD***
(For solving the Skinner Murder crimes)
EXP 45000
Reputation +1
Gold 500
o======================================================================o
| |
| Umar Hills (Part I) |
| (Recruiting Mazzy) |
o======================================================================o
Sequence of Events: {WLK021}
1) His Name Was Darcin Cole
2) The Bla... err... Umar Witch Project
3) Minister Lloyd
4) Daar-Daar-Daar!
5) Jermien's Task
6) Idle Hands in Imnesvale
7) Tales Farmers Tell
8) Things Farmers Hide... In Chickens
9) Making Peace with Madulf
10) Umar Cave
11) Addled Mines in Imnesvale
12) A Golem Gone Awry
13) Marcella's Cabin
14) Anath's Vengeance
15) Wolf Den
16) Anath's Demise
17) Grave Robbing is Bad
18) Mazzy
19) Pala Poisoned
20) A Word with Wallace
21) The Predictable Ending
Umar Hills (AR1100)
o======================================================================o
1) Now if you remember, people have been disappearing... after being
found turned inside out, of course. Some people think it's the wolves,
some people think it's an Ogre and his band, and other think it's Umar
herself. I think you should talk to Fael (x=3500, y=2860) and buy a
copy of 'History of the Zhentarim'. After purchasing it he'll talk to
you and ask you to call him by the name he used before (as pertaining
to the riddle on the Tanner's Letter.) Select the following option:
"Darcin Cole was your name."
And he'll continue to chat with you. He'll say that he'll add the
finishing touches to the human skin (presumably making it into a potent
suit of armor) once you do one simple task. You merely need to retrieve
the blood of a Silver Dragon. Simple, right? Obviously this is an evil
act, but it'll be a while before we have the opportunity to get this
blood, so you need not worry about it at the present. Also, buy some
ale from Min Mining and three Bastard Swords from Elence Fielding. We
MIGHT just need them shortly.
Umar Inn (AR1105)
o======================================================================o
2) Head into the Umar Inn (x=3750, y=2650), which you'll discover is
somewhat crowded, at least at night. This Umar witch nonsense isn't
bad for everyone's business, it seems. Talk to Vincenzo the Innkeep
(x=600, y=600), who has a bit of a story to tell about the Umar witch...
by now we should realize that this is a spoof of some cheesy low-budget
witch film. Fortunately Willet the Stableboy keeps us down to earth.
***ITEMS***
(x=750, y=250) Wand of Fear, 24 gold
(x=620, y=420) 448 gold
(x=160, y=550) Umar Witch Project Journal x10, Antidote x2,
Potion of Extra Healing x2
***TRAPS***
(x=750, y=250)
Minister Lloyd's House (AR1104)
o======================================================================o
3) When you're done messing around at the Inn head outside and into the
house at (x=4970, y=2550) and talk to Minister Lloyd (x=680, y=400).
He'll tell you less stories and more fact, and mention that their
Ranger, Merella, has vanished recently, leaving them all but
defenseless. He'll reiterate everybody's fears, restating the culprits
and mentioning that he hired the 'famous knight' Mazzy Fentan to look
for the source of the problem.
***ITEMS***
(x=910, y=410) 3 gold
(x=170, y=400) 7 gold
(x=250, y=500) 7 gold
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
4) Head outside and find Daar (x=4300, y=2050), who is in love with a
local girl named Colette. Unfortunately Colette's dad is a powerful
wizard named Jermien, and like all good dads, he doesn't want anybody
messing with his daughter. He's not interested in trying to kill the
guy, so it looks like Daar is at an impasse. Head into the house at
(x=4440, y=2050).
Jermien's House (AR1103)
o======================================================================o
5) Jermien will question you when you enter the house, and although he's
gruff he's not outright hostile. Well, except for the whole magic
missile comment. Ask him about his Golem and he'll brighten up and
cheerfully tell you about it. At length he'll ask you if you can find
the blood of some mimic for him, which you might as well accept. You can
talk to Colette to get her side of the story, but she doesn't have much
to say right now. Don't loot the place, as Jermien will go hostile if
you touch his valuables.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
6) Leave the house and go north, where you'll be accosted by a trio of
over-eager village boys named Dirbert, Valsben, and Neler. They want
you to buy them some Bastard Swords and ale-the start of all great
adventures. Don't be a prude and agree to buy them their contraband.
You'll get 200 gold for the task, which is more than enough. Hey, look
at that! Somehow you just happened to know ahead of time to buy these
items! You must be omniscient or something. For aiding in the
delinquency of the minors you'll get some experience. Huzzah.
***REWARD***
(For aiding idle hands in Imnesvale)
EXP 2000
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
7) To the west you'll find Jeb (x=3770, y=1550), who'll tell you a tale
for 30 gold (although you can argue him down to 20 gold). After paying
he'll tell you that Hendrick's daughter used to be an adventurer, and
that after an encounter with some adventurer's he saw Hendrick trying to
'stuff somethin' down the gullet of one of them chickens he keeps out
back.' South of Jeb you'll find Groos the Herder, Atta, Dale the Herder,
Margie, and Kaatje, all of whom have an opinion about the killings. Of
them, Kaatje actually has the most interesting story-since it's backed
up by an eyewitness account of something wicked at Marella's cabin. The
eyewitness account of a kid, but still...
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
8) To the west you'll find Erlin Hendrick (x=3220, y=1900) and his wife
Enna Hendrick (x=3150, y=1800). Talk to the former, where you'll have
several options. First, you can just strong-arm the Hendrick into giving
up what he hid in the chicken. Second you can buy the chickens off of
him for 10, 50, or 100 gold, depending on how generous you feel. Either
way you'll score a Beljuril gem, which is worth far more than the gold
you spent on it.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
9) Travel past Jeb to the north over a stream until you find Madulf at
(x=3300, y=720). You can talk to him and provoke a fight, but if you
don't explicitly go out of your way to do so, he'll ask you to bring
terms to the villagers. Madulf wants to stay nearby and perhaps protect
the village against Orcs in the mountains, and trade once every moon.
Well, somehow I don't think these guys are the killers, especially since
they're losing members to whatever stalks out in the forests. Return to
Minister Lloyd and tell him about the deal and he'll agree to go and
talk to Madulf. Since it's obviously not the Ogre that's killing people,
Minster Lloyd tells you to investigate Marella's cabin. All in good
time. Rest, then talk to Minster Lloyd again and he'll have magically
gone and met with Madulf, and will thank you for setting up the
negotiations. Return to Madulf and he'll tell you about a struggle he
saw near Meralla's cabin. More importantly, he'll give you the Shield
of the Lost +2, which is a fair enough shield for this point in the
game. Even more-so considering how little work we had to do to get it.
***REWARD***
(For setting up friendly relations between Madulf and Imnesvale)
EXP 27500
Item Shield of the Lost +2 (from Madulf)
Umar Cave (AR1106)
o======================================================================o
10) West of Madulf you'll find Umar Cave (x=1600, y=1300), wherein
you'll find a perfectly unguarded and totally not suspicious treasure
chest (x=950, y=1050) just lying there for the looting. Don't mind the
corpses lying around it. Send one character forward and try and loot
the chest, whereupon everybody within range (which should be only the
one character) will be subject to the 'chests' mimic glue, which
holds characters regardless of free action. Kill the mimic and loot
it for its juicy Mimic's Blood. Further north into the cave are two
Umber Hulks waiting to be slaughtered-as in D'Arnise Keep, use Chaotic
Commands on a strong fighter to absorb their initial Confusion attack,
then go in and kill them.
***ITEMS***
(x=950, y=1050) Mimic's Blood, Diamond, Bullets +1 x40, Darts +1 x40
(x=900, y=300) Greenstone Ring, Flamedance Ring, Short Sword +1,
War Hammer, Bolts +1 x40, Arrows +1 x40,
Throwing Dagger x40, Throwing Axe x40, 42 gold
Note from Lee:
I often had multiple characters 'held' upon opening the chest. The Mimic
is no big deal to kill, just don't be surprised if you only have 1-2
characters to fight it.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
11) This is more of an aside, but if you return to Umar Cave later, when
there are no quests involved with it, you'll find the three kids you
bought ale for earlier (Dirbert, Valsben, and Neler). They've apparently
encountered a 'Dragon', and in their inebriated state, they have even
less sense in their heads than usual. They'll flee, and if you explore
you'll discover a Mutated Gibberling lurking in the cave... not quite a
Dragon.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
12) Return to Jermien's house and give him his precious Mimic's Blood.
An overjoyed Jermien will give you a sword for your trouble and merrily
set off to complete and activate his Golem, so as to ensure his
daughter remains unmolested. Unfortunately the Golem goes crazy and
attack Jermien. Step in and save him, and afterwards Jermien decides
that he might not be quite as knowledgeable as he previously thought.
This prompts him not to stand in the way of Daar and Colette anymore,
and after they take off, he will too. This grants you yet another
experience reward and the ability to loot Jermien's house free from
fear of reprisal. The sword you were given, Ilbratha, isn't very good
in combat, but the fact that it you can use it to throw on a Mirror
Image means it's worth putting in one of your Fighter's quick-weapon
slots. Before big fights they can use this baby to boost their
defenses, then switch back to a more potent weapon. Minsc, Keldorn,
Valygar, and Korgan are all good choices for this defensive item.
***REWARD***
(For giving Jermien the Mimic's Blood)
EXP 19250
Item Ilbratha +1
***REWARD***
(For saving Jermien from his Golem)
EXP 21250
***ITEMS***
(x=150, y=200) Potion of Fire Resistance, Potion of Clarity,
Potion of Genius
(x=550, y=250) Scroll of Power Word Sleep, Scroll of Contingency,
Scroll of Protection from Normal Weapons
(x=500, y=330) Silver Ring, Scroll of Identify
(x=600, y=400) 3 gold
Marella's Cabin (AR1102)
o======================================================================o
13) Now that we've done everything in Imnesvale we can possibly do, it's
time to stop delaying and head over to Marella's cabin (x=600, y=2800).
Make sure to grab Marcella's Journal off the table and then grab 'A Note
from Mazzy Fentan' off the floor in the bedroom. The journal will point
to some shadowy wolf-like creatures and intrusive voices. Spooky. Mazzy
seems to believe it's the wolves too, and both have drawn maps to help
you find this wolf den. Ignore the messy corpse on the bed and leave the
house, exit via the edge of the map and travel to the 'Temple Ruins'
area to the north.
***REWARD***
(For obtaining Marella's Journal)
EXP 22500
***ITEMS***
(x=950, y=370) 1 gold
(x=550, y=600) Marella's Journal
(x=450, y=550) 1 gold
(x=500, y=450) 1 gold, Bolts of Lightning x20
(x=460, y=375) A Note from Mazzy Fentan
(x=500, y=200) 1 gold, Acid Arrows x20
Temple Ruins (AR1404)
o======================================================================o
14) In this level, you'll periodically come across Shadows, Shade
Wolves, and Greater Shade Wolves. By now we can certainly knock off any
mundane explanation for the murders, although the 'wolves' do seem to
be involved, but by now I don't think we can safely call them 'wolves'
anymore. You'll find a cave at (x=600, y=600), outside of which a
werewolf named Anath will proclaim that you won't steal her vengeance.
Okay. Head inside the cave to find out what this is about.
Wolf Cave (AR1403)
o======================================================================o
15) Anath stands at (x=700, y=470), and considering all the corpses
lying around, she looks awfully guilty. You can pick a fight here, but
since she's not a Shadow or some other form of undead, you should
probably give her the benefit of the doubt. Also she can't be hurt by...
pretty much any weapon you can get your hands on in Shadows of Amn, so
unless you have a boatload of Magic Missiles, you might not want to
tangle with her. Anath blames one 'Shade Lord' for the unnatural and
unholy darkness in this area, as well as for the belligerence of her
pack. She also states that the temple to the east has been perverted,
what was once a temple to Amaunator, a god of the sun, is now the
sanctuary for this Shade Lord. We remember Amaunator, right? We helped
him out during the Unseeing Eye quest! She'll admit to killing a man to
gain Strength enough to fight the Shade Lord, so she's no saint herself,
but since she's the enemy of our enemy, I let her go try and get her
vengeance. She'll tell you to meet her by the temple when you're ready.
Loot the pool and leave.
***ITEMS***
(x=900, y=400) Silver Ring, Gold Necklace, Onyx Ring
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
16) Head to the northeast to find the temple, which is just crawling
with shadows. Anath will be there and will tell you that it's a trap,
and will suggest using a mirror (x=4150, y=300) to beat back the undead.
After telling you this helpful information, she'll continue to be
helpful by dropping dead, which saves us the trouble of having to kill
her. Manipulate the mirror until the area near the crystal lights up.
Every wretched Shadow that moves into the light will be destroyed, and
if you move your party into the light the Shadows will gladly chase you
to their doom... I guess they're not very... bright? Ah-hah. I kill
myself... Now that you've secured the entrance to the temple, rest up
and head down the stairs (x=4500, y=200) when you're ready.
Fallen Temple of Amaunator (AR1401)
o======================================================================o
17) Continue down a tunnel and go through a door at (x=1850, y=950) to
find a room full of Shade Wolves and Skeleton Warriors. Massacre them
and continue through another doorway to the northwest. We could grab
Amauna's Bones (x=1850, y=950), but since I have no intention of
completing this quest right now I prefer to leave them alone. They're
less likely to get lost if they stay where they are, and they won't
clutter up my inventory.
***ITEMS***
(x=1850, y=950) Amauna's Bones, Arrows x80, Bolts x80, Darts x40,
Throwing Axes x40
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
18) Through the doorway awaits more Shadows and a Shadow Jailor, who
will proclaim that you will not steal his master's consort. Whatever.
Kill it and loot its body for a 'Shadow Prison Key' with which you
can prove him wrong. Go through the door at (x=1450, y=550) to find
Mazzy (x=1500, y=510). You can gallantly rescue her, or try to leave
her behind (although Keldorn will object to the latter if he's with
you.) It's her goal to defeat the Shade Lord, and if you ask she'll
tell you... well... pretty much everything there is to know about the
situation. Apparently you'll need to pass Amaunator's tests to collect
'Sun Gems' which will open the doors in this temple. This will allow you
to reach the bowels of the temple and reach the corrupted altar of
Amaunator, now more ominously dubbed the 'Shadow Altar'. You also need
three parts parts of a key that opens a door leading the the 'horror'
the Shadow Lord commands-a Shadow Dragon. According to Mazzy, the
Shadow Lord inhabits the body of Meralla and planned to use Mazzy as
his next vessel when the former faltered. In a nutshell you need to
find Sun Gems and parts of a key, sneak past a Shadow Dragon, and
smash a Shadow Altar and kill the Shade Lord. See why we're not doing
this quest now? It's possible that after doing all the quests we've
done that we might indeed be powerful enough to kill the Shadow Dragon,
but it's something I prefer to wait for. Anyways, you can recruit
Mazzy now if you wish, or send her off to her family home in Trademeet
if you don't want her in your party. Either way, we're off to Trademeet
as well. If you carry Mazzy around with you for a while you'll
eventually get a quest involving her, which I'll cover below... you
know, since this part of the Walkthrough is dedicated to recruiting
Mazzy, might as well keep her quest here, too.
***ITEMS***
(x=1360, y=380) Bolts x40, Bullets x80, 1 Gold,
Tombelthan's journal (2nd half)
Note from Lee:
I never - I repeat, never - take Mazzy along. She is arguably the most
useless character in the game, and her family quests are worthless. I
do, however, complete the rest of the temple quest (WLK038) as well as
the Ranger Stronghold quests (WLK039) here. My party is powerful enough
to tackle the Shadow Dragon (thanks to having stole/sold my way to all
the best weapons, etc), although it is far more difficult now than it
would be later. Not recommended for first-time players-you really have
to know how to micro-manage a major battle to think about attempting
this...
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
19) After a bit of traveling (this quest seems to trigger more through
game-time, rather than real-time, which determines banters) Danno
Fairfoot will show up and tell Mazzy that he accidentally poisoned her
sister, Pala, with a love potion he bought from some huckster in
Trademeet. Apparently we're going to Trademeet regardless of what we
wish to do next! Still, full disclosure here, I expect few enough
people to actually play with Mazzy that I have no real discomfort
including her family trouble in Trademeet here, while having the
official exploration of Trademeet just below this. Ignore the goofiness
engulfing Trademeet for now (or better yet, mix this Sequence of Events
with the next) and head over to the Fentan Home (x=2750, y=1000).
Fentan Home (AR2002)
o======================================================================o
20) When you arrive, Vara Fentan, Mazzy's mother, will tell you that
Pala has been poisoned by the old Gnome peddler, Wallace, although why
remains a mystery. You'll find Wallace in Trademeet at (x=2000, y=2820),
and he'll show some surprise at Pala's poisoning. He explains that he
has a new supplier, a priest at the temple of Waukeen named Barl. Mazzy
accepts him at his word, and you gain a bit of experience for merely
finding him.
***REWARD***
(For chatting with Wallace)
EXP 6750
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
21) Now it's time to pay a visit to the Temple of Waukeen
(x=850, y=2000), within which you'll find Overgold Renwellyn
(x=550, y=350). Be cordial and he'll agree to disregard Barl's right to
privacy if it helps discover whether he is evil or not. A quick
investigation of Barl's room will turn up some 'suspicious
paraphernalia' including an alchemy set and a symbol of Talona, the
'Mistress of Poison'. Can't really get much more cut and dry than this,
can it? Barl shows up, and his demeanor is laughably confrontational.
In what is surely some of the more lackluster dialogue in this game,
Barl blusters and admits to the misdeed before attacking. He'll summon
some Poison Mists to help him, but they're nothing that can't just be
chopped down. After he dies, Mazzy hopes for a magical cure for her
sister, and lo', we discover a vial on his body, after which we'll be
whisked back to the Fentan Home. The cure, of course, seems to be
working, and Mazzy will leave your party for a while to stay by her
sister's side. Wait a day and return and all will be well. Why would a
Priest of Talona, 'Mistress of Poison' bother carrying around an
antidote? It's his religious obligation to inflict pain and suffering
upon people, and if anybody uses the 'blackmail' excuse, I'll hit them
with a stick. Nobody attempting to murder somebody with poison would
carry an antidote. This whole quest is just short-sighted and silly,
and does nothing for my disdain of Mazzy, or of Halflings in general.
Stupid Halflings!
***REWARD***
(For exposing and killing Barl)
EXP 25000
o======================================================================o
| |
| Trademeet |
| (Recruiting and Securing Cernd) |
o======================================================================o
Sequence of Events: {WLK022}
1) Assaulted by Animals
2) Genie Monopoly
3) Efreeti Bottle
4) Khan Zahraa's Fugitive
5) Rahee and Salahee and the Family of Rom
6) Tall Tales in the Pleasure Tent
7) Exploding Bhaalspawn, Vyatri's Pub
8) Annoying Neeber
9) Itona's Information
10) The High Merchant's Request
11) Cernd
12) Pauden
13) The Troll Mound
14) Trolls and Shadow Druids
15) Kyland Lind and More Shadow Druids
16) Ogre's Tower
17) Adratha's Cabin
18) Dalok and Even More Shadow Druids
19) Showdown with Faldorn
20) The High Merchant's Reward
21) Khan Zahraa's Reward
22) The Terror of Tiris of Trademeet
23) The Caravan Merchant
24) Treasures of Trademeet
25) The Smithy
26) The Heroes of Trademeet!
27) Family Feud
28) The Tale of Tiris of Trademeet
29) Skin Dancing
30) Picking Sides
31) Trademeet Tomb
32) Delivering the Mantle
33) Cernd's Child
34) Home Sweet Home
35) In Cernd's Absence..
36) Reckoning with Deril
37) Extra Exploration
Trademeet (AR2000)
o======================================================================o
1) When you arrive at Trademeet you'll immediately find yourself in the
middle of a battle between wild animals and the townsfolk of Trademeet.
Kill everything that's hostile and after the carnage has ended the
Militia Captain will speak with you, telling you that you should leave.
Offer to help with the animal attacks and you'll be referred to the High
Merchant, Lord Logan Coprith.
Caravan Merchant's Tent (AR2015)
o======================================================================o
2) Of course, there's a lot to see and do here in Trademeet, so let's
start out by exploring the southern end of the map from east to west.
Start by entering the tent at (x=3680, y=3100) and talking to the
Caravan Merchant (x=400, y=370), who will inform you they have nothing
to sell do to the interference of some genies.
***ITEMS***
(x=300, y=300) 1 Gold
(x=450, y=300) Sunstone Gem
Note from Lee:
The second item is apparently random; I've gotten a Scroll of Identify
here before.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
3) Genies, he says? Just north of his tent you'll find one such creature
named Taquee (x=3420, y=2950) from whom you can steal an Efreeti Bottle.
The Efreeti Bottle is a moderately powerful summoning item-certainly
more potent than the Silver Horn of Valhalla and the Black Spider
Figurine. The Efreeti will only last a turn, and isn't tremendously
sturdy or potent in melee, but it can cast a selection of spells,
including Flame Strike, Magic Missile, Agannazar's Scorcher, Melf's Acid
Arrow, Stinking Cloud, Flame Arrow, Ghost Armor, and Lightning Bolt.
The Dao Djinni Tent (AR2014)
o======================================================================o
4) Head inside the tent (x=3500, y=2900) and talk to Khan Zahraa
(x=420, y=320). You know he's special because he's got legs. He'll say
they've come here from Calimshan hunting a Rakshasa by the name of
Ihtafeer. Since they're proven inept thus far at finding the Rakshasa,
they've decided to blockade all the trade into Trademeet by buying all
incoming goods (using spells to 'convince' the sellers, if necessary)
then jacking up the prices to effectively strangle the good folk of
Trademeet. They hope the people will get sick of it and find their
Rakshasa for them-which under normal circumstances might just work, but
with the animal attacks... it's a bad combination for Trademeet. Offer
to bring him Ihtafeer's head and thus resolve this problem. You can
also purchase some items from the genie. His goods are expensive, but
not mind-bogglingly so, if you need some +2 ammunition, Potions of
Master Thievery, or something of the sort. You cannot steal from him.
If you wanted to resolve this quest the brutish way, you could always
just kill them-but what's the fun in that?
o===========o
|Mage Spells| Khan Zahraa
o===========o---------------------------------------------------------->
3rd-Non-Detection
---
4th-Improved Invisibility
Rahee and Salahee's Tent (AR2016)
o======================================================================o
5) Over at (x=2600, y=3250) you'll find Raafee's tent, within which
reside Raafee (x=350, y=320) and his wife Salahee (x=520, y=320). They
just complain about the genies. Over to the west you'll find the family
of Rom, consisting of Kveroslava (x=1050, y=3030), Mastav
(x=950, y=3030), Jidek (x=850, y=3050), and Rinin (x=750, y=3030). The
first will tell you your fortunes for 10 gold-something that we know by
now is rough on the fortune teller. Talk to Jidek a couple of times to
involve yourself in some family troubles. Jidek has been struck by
wanderlust, and thinks Athkatla is some wondrous metropolis where the
streets are littered with gold. Either indulge his fantasies, crush
them, play the middle ground, or refuse to get involved. If you tell him
it's not a bad place he'll set off for Athkatla immediately. Pick any
other option and he'll just go for a walk. Oh, and along the way, you'll
find some crates you can loot. Thanks to Lee for that.
***ITEMS***
(x=1470, y=3040) Helmet x7 (lots of variety!), 1 gold
(x=1390, y=3080) Potion of Extra Healing, 3 gold
The Pleasure Tent (AR2017)
o======================================================================o
6) In the tent at (x=320, y=3000) you'll find Wilfred the Red
(x=420, y=280) who claims to have slain a dragon. The Mistress of this
brothel-tent and the last remaining working girl both seem to have
serious doubts about this claim, however. Be a ball-buster and
challenge him to duel and he'll confess the truth. To keep you quiet
he'll pay you off.
***REWARD***
(For getting Wilfred the Red to confess)
EXP 1000
Gold 1000
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
6) After our unexpected and entirely undeserved payday, head into the
western side of Trademeet and talk to the Merchant at (x=1680, y=2820).
He has nothing to sell, but he'll tell you more about the animal
attacks, saying that a druid has been arrested and is being kept in
the High Merchant's manor. He'll also tell you about the genies, and
tell you to talk to Guildmistress Busya about the situation.
***ITEMS***
(x=970, y=2600) Fire Opal Ring
Note from Lee:
This merchant is only here during the day - not at night.
Vyatri's Pub (AR2010)
o======================================================================o
7) Head into Vyatri's Pub (x=2200, y=2350), where you'll find Viekang,
who identifies you as a child of Bhaal. Before anything else can be
forthcoming, however, there's an explosion and Viekang is gone. Okay.
Talk to Vyatri (x=770, y=400) to find out some info about the animal
attacks and the genies-but by now it's nothing you don't already know.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
8) Now head up to the town center, near the fountain, where you'll be
accosted by Neeber (x=2430, y=1230). Neeber... Noober...? Naw, it can't
be.. Endure his annoying line of questioning and he'll eventually give
you some 'rocks' that other people threw at him.
***REWARD***
(For enduring Neeber's moronic questions)
EXP 1000 (each character)
Item Bullets +2 x5
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
9) Head out the northeastern gate of town (dispatching some animals
along the way) to find a Thief named Itona (x=3750, y=70). She'll offer
to tell you the location of the Rakshasa, free of charge. Why? Simple,
the Shadow Thieves can't steal from the genies who hold all the wealth
in Trademeet, and to get their hands back into other people's pockets,
the businesses need to be freed of their Djinni monopoly. She'll name an
old woman, Adratha, as your Rakshasa.
Mayor's House (AR2007)
o======================================================================o
10) We've explored Trademeet enough for now. There are still people to
talk to and places to visit, but they're not very interesting at the
moment. Enter the Mayor's House (x=1300, y=2300) and talk to
Guildmistress Busya (x=700, y=500). She alludes to Trademeets problems
without really telling you anything. She will, however, tell you to
talk to her about the Djinni problem after the animal attacks are
halted. Since she seems like the rewardy type, we should probably delay
the rakshasa hunt and focus on the animals. Now go find High Merchant
Logan Coprith (x=1220, y=420). He gets right to the point and asks you
to escort the druid he has in custody to the grove of the local-and now
hostile-druids. That or investigate them yourself, which I greatly
prefer. Head down the stairs at (x=550, y=350).
***ITEMS***
(x=850, y=450) 16 gold
(x=910, y=170) Potion of Extra Healing x2, 1 gold
(x=1010, y=240) 31 gold
(x=1300, y=450) History of Dambrath, History of Luiren,
History of Halruaa, Potion of Invisibility
Mayor's House, Dungeon (AR2009)
o======================================================================o
11) The only thing to do here is talk to Cernd (x=330, y=300) who is
being held 'captive' more for his own safety than anything else. He will
tell you that he was sent from the north to investigate why this grove
has cut ties with the hierarchy. He suspects a change in leadership as
the cause. Take him with you-or not. If you don't have a Druid in your
party you might just want to. Frankly, however, Jaheira is far and away
a better character, so she'll serve in his stead. It's time to leave
troubled Trademeet behind and travel to the Druid Grove.
Note: If your alignment is evil you'll be approached by a Halfling
named 'Lord Khellon Menold', who will offer you a more permanent
solution to the Druid problem. Although his reasons seem more personal
than practical, he wants you to 'exorcize' the spirit of the Druid
Grove, hence eliminating it once and for all. To do this you need to
poison the 'holy font' in the grove with 'sulfurous poison'.
***ITEMS***
(x=350, y=420) 6 gold
Note from Lee:
The amount of gold here seems to be somewhat random - I only got 3
Druid Grove Area (AR1900)
o======================================================================o
12) Fair warning, there are Trolls lurking about. Be sure to have some
way to deal with them. To the northwest you'll find Pauden, who's
really trying to be nice-but firm. Mention Cernd and he'll tell you that
this grove has been usurped by a Shadow Druid named Faldorn. Yep. The
same Faldorn from Baldur's Gate 1. Well, it looks like we've found the
source of our Druid problem.
If you provoke Pauden some Druids (led by Dalok) will overhear and
attack. These Druids will normally be encountered later in the level.
Troll Mound (AR1904)
o======================================================================o
13) Head to the far southwestern corner of the map, killing Spiders
and Trolls as you go. Near the Troll Mound I encountered a new sort of
Troll-the Spirit Troll (if you were higher level during the de'Arnise
Keep, you'd have fought them there.) Spirit Trolls require magical
weapons to hit (like Spectral Trolls) and begin battle with an Improved
Invisibility effect on them. They also drain Strength every time they
hit-like a Shadow. The effect is temporary, but annoying. Anyways,
spell-buff and enter the Troll Mound (x=900, y=2500), where you'll find
Trolls, of course. Kill all the Trolls and loot one pile of skulls for
some gold and the Spear of the Unicorn +2, and another for Bracers of
Archery and more gold. I don't have much use for the Spear of the
Unicorn +2, but characters who contribute primarily with ranged attacks
(like Minsc, Imoen, Nalia, Yoshimo, etc.) will be well-served by these.
***ITEMS***
(x=930, y=700) Spear of the Unicorn +2, 46 gold
(x=600, y=880) Bracers of Archery, 421 gold
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
14) Leave the skull that is the Troll-Mound and head north, then east.
You'll happen across a group of adventurers fighting Trolls. You can sit
back and watch, or help the adventurers. After the Trolls are down,
they'll turn on you, being in league with Faldorn as they are and all.
The Fighters have some Arrows +1 and Arrows of Fire, and the Druid has
Leather Armor +1, but it's nothing to get worked up over.
Note from Lee:
On one play-thru the Trolls actually won this fight, killing the good
guys and leaving a single Troll for me to dispose of.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
15) Over at (x=2850, y=1530) you'll find a group of Druids led by one
Kyland Lind, who is decidedly opposed to your presence here. Since they
are capable of presenting a lot of spell power against me, I decide to
treat them as if they are threats. An Insect Plague, two Silence 15'
Radii, and two Chaos spells make them considerably less threatening.
They don't drop anything, but it's good experience, nonetheless.
Ogre's Tower (AR1905)
o======================================================================o
15) Continue eastward over some rocks and across a bridge. As soon as
the bridge ends go south. It looks impassable, but you can go there.
Continue on until you find the large door leading to the Ogre's Tower
(x=4800, y=1200). Inside search the hay (x=380, y=200) for Belm +2, a
+2 Scimitar that grants an extra attack per round. Perfect for Jaheira,
who finally finds an excuse to drop that Staff Mace she had been using.
5 attacks/2 rounds is much better than 3 attacks/2 rounds, after all.
***ITEMS***
(x=380, y=200) Silver Ring, Belm +2
Note from Lee:
I got a Scroll of Grease, instead of the ring.
Adratha's Cottage (AR1902)
o======================================================================o
16) Head back up to the bridge and continue northeast to find Adratha's
'Cottage'. One hell of a cottage. Maybe it's just the towers throwing me
off? Spell-buff and enter the cottage (x=4400, y=900), inside of which
you'll find 'Adratha' (x=480, y=530), who is, in reality, . Talk to
Adratha/Ihtafeer and she'll 'smell' the Djinni on you, which naturally
provokes her into attacking. She'll be joined by Saadat and Jalaal. Just
focus on Ihtafeer. She can take a lot of punishment, but she can't
really deal retaliate against my spell-buffed party. Jalaal and Saadat
will amuse themselves with petty magics, and when Ihtafeer dies... well,
their experience rewards really does measure their relative level of
threat. Saadat will drop a Cleric's Staff +3 and a Long sword, Jalaal
will leave behind a Long Sword, and Ihtafeer drops a Periapt of Proof
Against Poison, a Long Sword, and Ihtafeer's Head. You'll need the
latter to prove you've done the Djinni's dirty work.
***ITEMS***
(x=620, y=200) Jade Ring, Arrows of Fire x40, Acid Arrows x40,
Bolts of Biting x40, Bolts of Lightning x40
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
17) Head north over another bridge, which terminates in a bunch of
mushrooms. Nobody should be surprised that several Spore Colonies lie
nearby, ready to spawn Myconids. Continue to the west where you'll
find Cernd waiting (x=2420, y=600), provided that you didn't bring him
with you. Talk to him and tell him you discovered that a Shadow Druid
named Faldorn now runs things here. He'll tell you that only a Druid
can face Faldorn, as it's unlikely she'll leave the grove, within which
she is nearly invulnerable. She is honor-bound, however, to accept the
challenge of another legitimate Druid. You can either take Cernd or
Jaheira with you for the purpose. Note that this will be an unarmed
fight, one which Cernd is actually probably more capable of handling
than Jaheira (what with his werewolf shapeshift and all.) Still,
Jaheira is more than capable. Make sure you have some Druid or another
in your party and continue to the west.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
18) You'll come across another group of Druids led by Dalok
(x=1100, y=670). This is your last obstacle before encountering
Faldorn. A few spells will soften them up, but I required no special
strategies to defeat them. Dalok will drop a Flame Tongue, 3 gold, and
a Club +2, Gnasher, which is an interesting weapon Jaheira could use,
but I'd just as well keep Belm +2. Why a Druid was carrying around a
sword he can't use is beyond me. Before I enter the Druid Grove
(x=850, y=250) I have Jaheira prepare an Iron Skins, and a Conjure Fire
Elemental.
Druid Grove (AR1901)
o======================================================================o
19) Explore the grove until you find Faldorn (x=330, y=580). She has
little of interest to say, so challenge her for the grove. After which
your applicable character will be stripped of all their items and placed
into a rather small pit with Faldorn. Jaheira casts Iron Skins and then
conjures herself a Fire Elemental before shapeshifting into a Brown
Bear. You could also cast an Insect Plague, but Faldorn isn't very keen
on using spells. Whittle away Faldorn's 90 or so Hit Points and victory
is yours. Cernd will then talk and say that a Druid named Verthan will
serve as the head of this grove until the time comes when a new Great
Druid can be chosen. If you're a Druid yourself, command of the grove
will be offered to you. If you accept (and why wouldn't you?) you'll
receive a Staff of Thunder and Lightning. Master Verthan will tell you
to rest in the grove when you're ready to 'accept the joyous burden
the Spirit offers'. Oh yeah, and he tells you to pick up whatever crap
you dropped before the fight with Faldorn. We'll get to the Druid Grove
quests in a bit, but first it's time to wrap things up in Trademeet.
If you accepted the poison earlier, you need to activate the 'holy font'
at (x=1100, y=300). This will provoke Cernd, Jaheira and Keldorn to
leave your party and attack, as well as all the Druids in the grove. I
can only imagine what Aerie, Mazzy, and Minsc will do in response to
this, but the point remains-don't do this with good party members
present! If you wanted to see what could unite Druids and Shadow
Druids... well, this is it.
Note from Lee:
Battle trick... Strip Jaheira/Cernd/Main Character (depending on who
will fight Faldorn) of all their gear and give it to another character
before issuing the challenge. Once you appear in the battle pit, move
your Druid as close to the edge of the pit as possible, and the carrying
character as close as possible to your Druid. Pause, and you should be
able to re-equip the Druid with everything except armor (can't change
armor in battle), but you'll have all your weapons, magic items, and
other gear for the fight. Not that you really need it - Faldorn is a
pussy - but hey... why not?
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
20) Exit the Druid Grove and head west to exit the area and return to
Trademeet. Waste little time in returning to the Mayor's House, where
Logan Coprith is waiting to reward you. He'll then tell you about
Trademeet's other problem-the Djinni-which unbeknownst to him you've
already resolved. He'll tell you about the Djinni and refer you to
Guildmistress Busya, who is now presumably in a better mood to deal
with you. Indeed, she'll tell you to convince them to leave, or destroy
them if that fails. She'll offer gold and a magical item for your help.
***REWARD***
(For eliminating the Shadow Druid menace)
EXP 18000 (each character)
Gold 2000
If, on the other hand, you poisoned the grove you'll lose a point of
reputation. Babies. To get any reward you need to travel to Vyatri's
Pub and talk to Lord Khellon Menold, who waits outside (x=2080, y=2320).
Your reward from this greedy halfling is significantly less than it
would have been from the High Merchant.
***REWARD***
(For poisoning the Druid Grove)
Gold 1000
Item Shield of Harmony +2
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
21) Head over to the Djinni tent and talk to Khan Zahraa. In return for
Ihtafeer's head he'll give you a Scimitar +2" 'Rashad's Talon', as well
as an experience reward. Didn't we find this thing on top of Durlag's
Tower? How'd it get all the way down here, and in the hands of a Djinni,
no less? If you haven't stolen the Efreeti Bottle from Taquee outside,
it's too late to do so after returning the head to Khan Zahraa. Also be
sure to have purchased everything you want from the Khan before you
complete this quest.
***REWARD***
(For delivering Ihtafeer's head to Khan Zahraa)
EXP 10000
Item Scimitar +2, Rashad's Talon
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
22) Upon leaving the tent you'll be bothered by a lady named Jenia, who
will tell you that her son Tiris is too frightened to leave their home.
This certainly doesn't seem like something worth bothering adventurers
of our caliber over, but we might as well go check it out.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
23) Before we return to Mistress Busya, I'll discuss the shops in
Trademeet that have now reopened. First we have access to the Caravan
Merchant in the tent south of the Djinni Tent (AR2015). He sells gear
that is identical to the stuff the Cutpurse in the Bridge District of
Athkatla sold-namely a Staff Spear, Potions of Master Thievery, and
some useful spell scrolls. All of this can be had at a five-finger
discount, of course.
Note from Lee:
If you do nothing else, steal the Wand of Fire from him. These are
arguably the best wand-type item in the game, and I pick them up at
every opportunity.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
24) Next is the merchant we gained so much information from earlier
(x=1680, y=2820). His wares are honestly quite nice:
Club +3, Blackblood
-------------------
A possible upgrade for Jaheira, it's enchantment bonus makes it
considerable, and the +3 acid damage is a bonus. In most fights, I
prefer Belm +2, but it's worth carrying around.
Dwarven Thrower +3
------------------
This would be a good weapon for Anomen-if he were a dwarf. As it stands,
it's a consideration for Korgan, although he already has Hangard's
Axe +2. As Korgan becomes more proficient with Hammers, however, you'll
appreciate having a +3 ranged weapon. Especially against giants.
Ras +2
------
A +2 Long Sword isn't very special by now, but the cool thing about
Ras is that it can fight on its own for four rounds. Treat it as a
summoned monster rather than a melee weapon.
Tansheron's Bow +3
------------------
One of the better weapons this merchant sells, it's a +3 Short Bow
that doesn't require ammo. It'll serve you well as you chase after
Irenicus, and really it's the best Short Bow you're going to find
until you create the Gesen Bow.
Cloak of Displacement
---------------------
You should remember this from the first game, it gives a +4 Armor
Class bonus against missile weapons, and a +2 bonus to saves versus
death, breath, and wands. Stacked with a shield (like the Shield +1,
+4 versus Missiles of the Fortress Shield) the Boots of Avoidance,
and the Girdle of Piercing, this can make a character almost
invulnerable to ranged attacks. On the other hand, it can also spread
out the bonuses to other characters. In particular, I tend to put it
on Viconia or Anomen, depending which one of them I bring along. The
fact that it also boost their saves is just an added reason to put it
on a Cleric.
Belt of Inertial Barrier
------------------------
This belt gives a +5 bonus to saves vs. breath weapons, 25% resistance
to missile damage, and 50% resistance to magic damage Not magical
fire or magical ice, but magic like Magic Missiles and Horrid
Wilting. Wizards, with their low Hit Points make natural benefactors
of these bonuses, since they're most likely to be maligned by
missiles, magic, and breath weapons, rather than melee attacks.
Stealing all the loot from him was a breeze with a Pick Pockets of
175%. It's a small investment in potions for literally tens of
thousands of gold worth of loot. Steal from him liberally, and you'll
put yourself ahead for the next few chapters.
The Smithy (AR2001)
o======================================================================o
25) You can't really expect the rest of the merchants in the city to
top the last one. Wallace (x=2000, y=2820) and the Peddler
(x=2520, y=2000) sell a few potions, and mundane gear, but nothing
exceptional. Head to the Smithy (x=1950, y=800) if you want to buy
some +2 ammunition and some useful spell scrolls (listed below). He
also has a Robe of the Good Archmagi, but it's expensive, and inferior
to the Robe of Vecna. Unfortunately you can't rob him, either.
o============o
|Mage Scrolls| Blacksmith
o============o--------------------------------------------------------->
3rd-Detect Illusion
3rd-Hold Undead
3rd-Protection From Cold
3rd-Spell Thurst
---
4th-Enchanted Weapon
4th-Fireshield (Red)
---
5th-Breach
5th-Conjure Lesser Fire Elemental
5th-Lower Resistance
5th-Protection From Normal Weapons
5th-Oracle
---
6th-Mislead
6th-Pierce Magic
6th-Protection From Magic Energy
6th-True Sight
***ITEMS***
(x=500, y=400) 1 gold
(x=600, y=150) Scroll of Protection from Cold
(x=800, y=280) Tchazar Gem, Black Opal
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
26) Return to Guildmistress Busya for another well-deserved reward,
mostly in the shape of loot. The Shield of Harmony can replace any
Large Shield +2 you may yet be carrying, it's resistances are nice, but
it's bonus to Armor Class is only moderate, and soon to be eclipsed.
The gold reward is nice, too, being half the money you needed to raise
in order to find Imoen. Return to the High Merchant and he'll declare
you the Heroes of Trademeet! The reward is... less practical, but still,
how many other people have statues of themselves hanging out by a
fountain? Not you, that's for sure.
***REWARD***
(For peacefully convincing the Djinni to leave)
Gold 7500
Item Shield of Harmony
Item Rogue Stone
Item Diamond
Item Jade Ring
Item Pearl
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
27) The High Merchant will give a little speech and you'll get the
real reward for saving Trademeet. Of course, an adventurer's work is
never done. Before the ceremony ends you'll be bothered by Lady Lilith
Lurraxol and Lord Skarmaen Alibakkar, two nobles who claim to be
descendents of the founders of Trademeet. They're diametrically opposed,
it seems, and they both want you to meet them at their mansions. You'll
now get a suitable reward for becoming the Heroes of Trademeet. Before
we involve ourselves in this new quest, let's go check on Tiris, first.
***REWARD***
(For becoming the Heroes of Trademeet)
EXP 25250 (each character)
Gold 10750
Reputation +1
Tiris' Home (AR2006)
o======================================================================o
28) You can find Tiris' home at (x=1300, y=900), where Tiris himself
cowers (x=270, y=170). He'll tell about how he was ambushed by a
skinless man while out with his love Raissa, whom he bravely left
behind when he fled. He'll ask you to try and rescue Raissa, and will
mention the name of the skinless man's accomplice-one Rejiek. It
appears our skinner made his way here from Athkatla. See the connection
between the Bridge District and Trademeet? There's reason to my
madness, sometimes.
***ITEMS***
(x=330, y=170) Dagger, 2 gold
(x=170, y=150) Fire Agate Gem, Silver Ring, Short Sword, Leather Armor
(x=580, y=120) Dagger, Sling, History of Amn, 7 gold
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
29) Head over to the southwestern gate, where this ambush apparently
occurred. You'll meet a man outside the gate named Darsidian Moor, who
claims to be hunting a Skin Dancer. He believes the Skin Dancer lairs
north of the eastern gate. Head over to where the large mosaic of
Waukeen is to find Darsidian Moor, who claims to have rescued Raissa
and to have knocked the Skin Dancer's accomplice unconscious. They'll
both beg you to kill the unconscious Rejiek Hidesman. This sure seems
fishy, eh? Talk to Rejiek to discover that this is actually Raissa, and
the other two are your villains. Rejiek grows impatient and decides to
attack. Take them down, they're not very strong, and talk to Raissa.
Raissa will rise and occupy her own skin again. That's right, you read
that. Poor Raissa has been cursed to become a Skin Dancer herself, that
is, unless she gets a Restoration spell cast on her. You can either
cast it yourself or use a scroll to cast it. The latter can be
purchased from the Temple of Waukeen, or purchased/stolen from the
Caravan Merchant (AR2015). At this point in the game I prefer to steal
a Scroll of Restoration and cast it on her. It's much more rewarding
than killing her. Return back to Tiris' house and talk to his parents
to complete the quest.
***REWARD***
(For saving Raissa from her affliction)
EXP 30000
Reputation +1
Note from Lee:
For some reason, I didn't get the Reputation bonus the last time I went
thru this step. Not that I raelly needed it - my Reputation is 19 at
this point anyway.
Alibakkar Estate (AR2011)/Lurraxol Estate (AR2012)
o======================================================================o
30) We now have only one quest left to do, which involves paying a visit
to one of Trademeet's supposed first families. Whichever one you choose
to side with matters not a bit. To show how arbitrary this choice is,
I picked to work for the Lurraxols because their name is cooler. And
because I'd rather please the ladies. Anyhow, they both want you to
recover an item from the tombs in Trademeet called the 'Mantle of
Waukeen, which they think will prove their legitimacy as the first
family of Trademeet. Of course the tombs are haunted, which is why
they're bothering to hire you. Both will offer 1000 gold, and both will
give you the 'Trademeet Tomb Key' to facilitate your infiltration.
***ITEMS*** (AR2011)
(x=400, y=360) Pearl Necklace, 35 gold
(x=850, y=450) 20 gold
(x=920, y=370) Bullets +1 x2
Trademeet Crypt (AR2013)
o======================================================================o
31) Head over to the Trademeet Crypt (x=3200, y=500). After you open the
doors the High Merchant will show up and offer you another deal. To
preserve the peace in Trademeet he wants you to give him the Mantle of
Waukeen, as bloodshed seems inevitable if you give it to either of the
noble families. It's the common video game moral dilemma-money versus
doing a good deed. Regardless of what you do, you need the Mantle,
first. Head inside the tomb and kill the Skeletons and Skeleton
Warriors within, one of which will drop the Mantle of Waukeen.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
32) Now, if you return it to one of the noble families, the other will
show up and attack. Looks like the High Merchant was right about the
bloodshed thing. You'll be caught in the middle of the fight and will
have to fend off both sides, which inevitably means you need to kill
both the nobles. After they're dead the High Merchant will come in and
comment on the sorry state of affairs. The big draw of killing the
nobles is that Lord Alibakkar will drop a suit of Elven Chain. By now
it's only so useful (and unnecessary if you plan to side with Bodhi
later), but it's still something. You also get more gold and comparable
experience (6000 from just the two nobles). If you give it to the
High Merchant, you'll get an experience reward, a quarter of the gold
the nobles will pay, and a reputation increase (which, depending on
where your reputation is, can equal or exceed the monetary value the
nobles offer. Best of all, we're now done with Trademeet. If you're a
Druid, the next section will cover the Druid Grove quests, if not, or
if you don't care to do these quests now, skip to [WLK024] if you want
to side with Bodhi, or [WLK025] if you want to side with Gaelan Bayle
and the Shadow Thieves. In the rest of this section I'll cover Cernd's
quest, for those who are interested.
***REWARD***
(For giving the Mantle of Waukeen to the Alibakkars/the Lurraxols)
Gold 1000
***REWARD***
(For giving the Mantle of Waukeen to the High Merchant)
EXP 8000
Gold 250
Reputation +1
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
33) You'll find Cernd wherever you left him, or hanging out near the
Druid Grove (AR1900) (x=2440, y=600). Accept him back into your party
and head back to Waukeen's Promenade, where you'll be bothered by a man
named Igarol. Apparently he was Cernd's neighbor before Cernd left to
become a Druid. What, you think people are born Druids? Of course not!
Becoming a Druid typically involves some family or social strife (like
Jaheira) or a few blows to the head (like Cernd). Igarol is decidedly
unfriendly, and accuses Cernd of abandoning his responsibilities-namely
his pregnant wife. Cernd decides he has to go speak to his wife-Galia-
and see what Igarol is hinting at.
Cernd's Former Home (AR0708)
o======================================================================o
34) Head over to Cernd's Former Home (x=1900, y=2850) to find the
squatter Catis. He's rather abrasive, but he does at least tell you
where you can find out where Cernd's wife is, he'll refer you to
Fennecia, Cernd's old serving girl. Thanks, guv. I'll send it to me
kids. I knows where mine are. Ouch. Burn. Outside Cernd will give
another one of his stupid nature parables. Whatever, you can find
Fennecia's house at (x=1800, y=900).
***ITEMS***
(x=250, y=300) History of the Western Heartlands
(x=450, y=200) Composite Long Bow, Arrows x40
(x=570, y=200) Fire Agate Gem
(x=620, y=220) Dagger, 19 gold
(x=650, y=200) History of Amn, 1 gold
Fennecia's Home (AR0710)
o======================================================================o
35) Inside, Cernd will get more of the same from Fennecia-she'll accuse
him of running out on his wife (like becoming a Druid is a legitimate
excuse!) and tell him to leave. He will, however, discover from
Fennecia that Galia is dead. Since she won't speak while Cernd is
around send him outside and talk to her with another character. She'll
reveal that Galia found comfort with a noble named Deril, who apparently
treated her poorly. A few months ago Galia turns up dead, and Fennecia
suggest that Deril is responsible.
***ITEMS***
(x=600, y=200) Bluestone Necklace
Deril Estate (AR1004)
o======================================================================o
36) Now it's time to go pay this Deril a visit. Head over to the
Government District and enter the Deril Estate (x=3500, y=2650). Inside
you'll be accosted by a Golem named Glut, whom Cernd will handle in a
decidedly aggressive manner. At length Glut runs off to inform Deril of
his 'guests'. A Fireball in the distance should give you the distinct
impression that Deril really doesn't want to be bothered. He'll show up
and wonder who is foolish enough to interrupt his party. After Deril and
Cernd are done talking you'll get some options. Pick options #1 or #4
and you can end up fighting Deril, who is a powerful Mage... although
probably not powerful enough to survive a Breach and a good rush. Pick
option #2 and Deril will hand over Cernd's son. Pick option #3 and
Cernd will fight Deril on his own-and lose. Told you Cernd sucks. Both
Deril and his Lich-friend Lagole Gon will give you 26000 experience,
although left to his own devices Lagole Gon will just ignore you and
hand over the baby after Deril is slain. Still, if you're feeling
frisky you can attempt to take on the Lich, but at this point in the
game I wouldn't recommend it. When Deril dies he'll drop a Jade Ring,
a Quarterstaff, and 30 gold. Lagole Gon drops nothing. Hardly inspiring
loot. After you have Cernd's child he'll depart for the Druid Grove, and
you'll get some quest experience-although Cernd gets the lionshare.
Return to the Druid Grove and Cernd will rejoin your party, if you wish
to have him.
***REWARD***
(For reclaiming Cernd's child)
EXP 50000 (Cernd)
EXP 20000
It's time to go find Imoen and Irenicus, and I'll warn you now, this is
not going to be a short trip in any sense of the word. You have two
options: side with the Vampires terrorizing the Shadow Thieves, or side
with the Shadow Thieves. You cannot do both, so make your choice and
stick to it. I prefer to side with the Shadow Thieves, personally, as
I prefer to keep that guild fence around.. also, the Shadow Thieves will
provide aid to you later in the game if you get cozy with them now,
whereas the Vampires.. will be somewhat less cordial. I will cover the
Vampire route first [WLK024], and the Shadow Thieves immediately
aftewards [WLK025]-but both begin again in Brynnlaw [WLK026]. Also note
that after you cough up the 15,000 gold, chapter three starts. Farewell,
chapter two, it was... well, long.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
37) Now for some extra exploration. Depending on your appetite for
good loot we shouldn't have access to yet you can explore the first
level of Watcher's Keep. Compared to the rest of Watcher's Keep, the
first level is pretty easy (my evil party was able to clear it with
little trouble with only 600,000 experience per character.) Now, the
good party might want to abstain a bit, considering that Imoen is still
out of reach. Any experience we obtain here now is experience that
Imoen will not have. Still, even for the good party it'll be an immense
help if you at least grab Firetooth +4 for Keldorn, and the Quiver of
Plenty. Best of all, it doesn't require that you make much progress
through the area.
On the other hand, evil parties should head to Watcher's Keep and
complete the first level in its entirity to score a hefty extra bit of
loot and experience, including the Golem Manual-a device that allows
you to summon a Flesh Golem once per day, the Quiver of Plenty and
Case of Plenty-which produces infinite Arrows +1 and Bolts +1
(respectively), and the Crimson Dart +3-a returning dart that will
serve as Edwin's primary method of non-magical offense throughout the
rest of the game. The Crimson Dart +3 is Edwin's best means of
contributing to fights when he's not bothering to cast spells-and will
remain so for the rest of the game. The Golem Manual, however, isn't
really ground-breaking at this point in the game, but it's still nice
to have another summon to call upon... and of course, you can always
buy Firetooth +4 for Haer'Dalis, if you have enough money.
Either way, if you wish to explore the first level of Watcher's Keep
now check out the Watcher's Keep walkthrough section [WLK051].
If you're more experienced, and your Edwin can cast 7th level spells,
you might also consider completing the Limited Wish quests now. With
the good party, there's no way my Fighter/Mage protagonist has hit
14th level as a Mage (which would require 3,000,000 experience points).
But at this point in the game, it's possible that the evil party may
have done so-if they completed every quest in the walkthrough to this
point. For reference, my evil party playthrough Edwin had 1,520,000
experience... just barely enough to hit 14th level. The rewards for
doing these quests now? Fairly paltry. It does provide a chance that the
Boomerang Dagger +2 might be useful for a while, and having a suit of
Full Plate Mail +2 is a tiny advantage for a short amount of time.
o======================================================================o
| |
| Druid Grove Quests |
| |
o======================================================================o
Sequence of Events: {WLK023}
1) The Root of the Problem
2) Neutralizing Nilthiri
3) The Founder's Progeny
4) Driving Out Chaos
5) Great Druid
Druid Grove (AR1901)
o======================================================================o
1) To start these quests off return to the Druid Grove and rest there.
When you wake up, a 'Spirit of the Grove' will show up and speak to you.
Accept to become the leader of the grove, restore balance, and all that
good crap and it'll tell you that a new leader of the Troll Mound has
arisen, one Nilthiri the Shamaness, and she needs to be taken out.
You'll be given the club 'The Root of the Problem', heh, and sent off to
go find Nilthiri, who is east of the Troll Mound.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
2) You'll find the Troll Nilthiri at (x=2320, y=2640), who will threaten
you a bit before attacking. She's somewhat stronger than normal Trolls,
but not so strong that you should lose sleep over it. Kill her and her
Troll consorts and return to the Druid Grove. Or just wait, either way
the Spirit of the Grove will find you and reward you for restoring
balance.
***REWARD***
(For putting down Nilthiri)
EXP 18500 (each character)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
3) Return to the Druid Grove and rest for a while. After, oh, let's say
a week or so, the Spirit of the Grove will show up to give you your
second quest. It'll punish you for taking on these quests by telling you
a long story about Marek-the founder of the grove. Long story short,
one of Marek's ancestors-and inheritors of his 'spirit'-is in Trademeet,
and it's only a matter of time before the vague forces of chaos pounce
and kill this kid.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
4) As your journal states, you should travel to Trademeet and search
around outside of town. You'll find him standing out in the open at
(x=2950, y=3330). Talk to the boy and convince him to cast out the
spirits that haunt him so you may do battle with them. After some
prompting, he'll do so, and you'll get to fight 'Chaos'. It can cast a
few Druid spells, but it wasn't strong enough to overcome my Hasted
party. After it dies the Spirit of the Grove will talk to you again,
thanking you for driving out Chaos and promising not to bother you again
until you're ready to challenge for ascension within the Grove (when
you're a 14th level Druid.) Since this requires 1,500,000 experience,
it's not something I'm really even remotely prepared to pursue just
yet.
***REWARD***
(For driving Chaos out of Loren)
EXP 20500 (each character)
Item Golden Lion Figurine
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
5) After quite a while I return with more than enough experience to
challenge for the position of Great Druid. For the sake of continuity
it's included here, but most likely this won't occur until Chapter 6.
Talk to Master Verthan and announce you're challenging for the title of
Great Druid, after which you'll be teleported into the combat pit where
you killed Faldorn. Here you'll get to do battle with a Druid who'll
start out with Barkskin, Ironskin, and other defenses before summoning
some animals and casting offensive spells (including Insect Plague, one
of the few times in the game where we may be subject to our own trump
card). After he falls you'll be proclaimed Great Druid, and you'll get a
hefty gold reward, as well as some experience, a Cleric's Staff +3, and
a Ring of Protection +2.
***REWARD***
(For gaining the title of Great Druid)
EXP 20000
Item Cleric's Staff +3
Item Ring of Protection +2
Gold 10000
o======================================================================o
| Chapter 3 |
o======================================================================o
| |
| Siding with Bodhi |
| |
o======================================================================o
Sequence of Events: {WLK024}
1) Deal With the Devil
2) Mugging Mook
3) Bodhi's Lair
4) The 'Unseemly' Task
5) The 'Heroic' Task
6) Bodhi's Last Task
7) Coo! A Key
8) Breaking into the Basement
9) Freeing Tizzak
10) The Bridge Room
11) The Mock City Room
12) Pressing the Button
13) Haz's Key
14) Aran Linvail's Sanctum
15) Slaying the Shadow Master
16) Sailing to Spellhold
17) Saemon's Escort
Graveyard District (AR0800)
o======================================================================o
1) Head over to the Graveyard District at night to find Bodhi. Or
rather, she'll find you. She'll start out by making light threats and
slandering the Shadow Thieves-the typical business of somebody who can't
be trusted. 15,000 gold and some tasks that involve 'killing and
terrorizing' and you'll have Imoen and Irenicus, she promises. If you
don't accept her offer she'll depart with a threat, if you do side with
her she'll tell you to go find and 'confiscate' a shipment of supplies
coming in. Bodhi will tell you that the Shadow Thieves already know of
your treachery, and that you might as well just regard them as enemies.
That was quick, eh? After talking to Bohdi chapter three officially
begins.
***REWARD***
(For siding with Bodhi)
EXP 36750 (each character)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
2) Head to the Docks District and go find Mook at (x=1700, y=3630).
She'll call for the help of someone named Arkanis, who will show up to
try and backstab you. It's not a very challenging fight, due to their
lack of spell power and all. Some of the Shadow Thieves will throw
Poisoned Throwing Daggers at you, but they also carry Antidotes to make
up for it. Kill Mook and loot her body to obtain the 'Smuggled
Shipment'. Arkanis Gath will leave behind a Short Sword +2, and the
Rifthome Axe +3, which is a clear upgrade over Hangard's Axe +2. Why
would such an insignificant Thief have such a weapon? Who knows.
Lower Tombs (AR0801)
o======================================================================o
3) Now it's time to return to Bodhi. Go back to the Graveyard District
and enter the tomb at (x=600, y=1000). There are several people to talk
to, but most of them are just nutters, and not really worth the time.
Walking around slightly will dispel any illusions about who you're
dealing with. Let's just say only a certain kind of critter loves tombs
and blood so much-but this is no surprise, of course. You'll find Bodhi
at (x=1400, y=830), who will take the package off your hands. You'll
get a decent experience reward and another quest, or rather, two
different quests-a heroic task, or an unseemly task, as the game puts
it. It's somewhat misleading-the heroic task forces you to kill more
people than the unseemly task, but I suppose it's the 'who' involved and
not the 'how many'. Be sure to search the blood pool at (x=400, y=700)
to claim a Mace of Disruption +1. It won't do us much good right now,
since we're siding WITH the undead, but it could have its uses later...
***REWARD***
(For returning the Shadow Thief package to Bodhi)
EXP 28500 (each character)
Vulova Estate (AR1007)
o======================================================================o
4) If you pick the 'unseemly task' she'll tell you to murder Senior
Armagaran, who has ties to the Shadow Thief guild. She also wants you to
leave a cloak and dagger in the fountain of the house to implicate the
Shadow Thieves. Kinda cliche, but what the hell. Head to the Government
District and enter the Vulova Estate (x=2400, y=120). The man you're
looking for, Senior Armagaran Vulova, is at (x=600, y=600), and he's
guarded by a brute named Laen Torg and a Vulova Wizard. You can kill
him, or allow him to flee. Either way, he'll sic his guards on you. Do
what you will, but leave the Shadow Thief Dagger and Shadow Thief Cloak
in the fountain (x=900, y=500). Note that if you wuss out you get no
experience for this quest.
***REWARD***
(For murdering Senior Armagaran Vulova)
EXP 28500 (each character)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
5) The heroic task requires you to go save a Thief by the name of
Palern Flynn. Apparently he betrayed the Shadow Thieves and Bodhi wants
him rescued before he comes to harm. Head over to the Docks District and
go to the Shadow Thief Guildhall (x=1000, y=2000), killing whatever
Shadow Thieves you find along the way. Inside you'll be attacked by a
mob of Shadow Thieves, but it's a straight out melee at first. There is
a Shadow Thief Mage lurking around, but they were fairly ineffective at
causing me harm. The Shadow Thief Mage will drop a Mage Robe of Fire
Resistance and some Darts +1, while the rest of the goons will leave
behind fairly mundane gear. Over at (x=550, y=250) you'll find Palern
Flynn. Talk to him and free him and head back to Bodhi.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
6) No matter what quest you do, when you return to Bodhi she'll dismiss
it. It was more a test of your capabilities and disposition than any
sort of task that really needed doing, apparently. You'll get some quest
experience and your next task: this time she wants you to kill the
Shadow Master, Aran Linvail. Of course, it's not as easy as just walking
in and killing him, you'll need to get a key to reach the basement of
the guildhall. She suggests paying your old associate Gaelan a visit.
Also there's a missing associate of hers named Tizzak who might know how
to access Aran's sanctum.
***REWARD***
(For rescuing Palern Flynn)
EXP 28500 (each character)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
7) So let's pay Gaelan Bayle a visit. Return to the Slums District and
enter his house (x=3150, y=1200). He's understandably not happy to see
you, and actually seems genuinely upset by your betrayal. Kill him and
loot his body for some goodies, including a suit of Leather Armor +3,
a Cloak of Protection +1, Bolts of Biting x10, Bolts +1 x10, Bolts x20,
two Potions of Extra Healing, the Shadow Thief Cellar Key, a Short
Sword +2, a Light Crossbow +2, and 142 gold. You might as well go up
stairs and kill Arledrian, who'll drop Arrows +1 x10, a Potion of Extra
Healing, and a Short Sword +1, and 7 gold, along with other mundane
loot.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
8) Return to the Dock District and enter the Shadow Thief guild, this
time to reach the ground floor. Kill whatever Shadow Thieves you find
and go to the northeast, where you'll find a secret door at
(x=1400, y=350) which leads to the Shadow Thief Basement.
Shadow Thief Guild, Basement (AR0329)
o======================================================================o
9) The room you enter into will have several Shadow Thieves within,
two with bows, three with melee weapons. None are a threat. Go to the
door at (x=1350, y=2200) to find Tizzak, who will ask you to kill the
torturer, who apparently has the keys to the door. Head to the south-
east to find Booter, who will attack you. He's not too rough, kill him
and grab his Two-Handed Sword +2 and his Shadow Thief Prison Key. Talk
to Tizzak, who will tell you that Aran's sanctum is behind two magic
doors that cannot be picked or bashed. You'll need to press a button to
get past one, and find a key for the other. The button is behind a
trapped corridor to the northeast, and a wizard named Haz might have
the key.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
10) Go through the doorway at (x=1100, y=1600) to reach a hallway that
splits northeast/southwest. The south room is occupied by a trio of
Shadow Thieves, including a somewhat powerful wizard. Kill them and
loot the Mage for some gems and gold. To the northeast is a room made
up of wooden bridges. When you get close an armored man named Dedral
will tell his troops to disable the guillotines so he can get through.
Fun. There are enough archers and traps around here to be a chore, what
with the poor party navigation and all. I prefer to take a Thief to
search for traps while a heavily armed characters-Korgan or Keldorn, for
instance, goes with them. They answer ranged attacks with ranged
attacks, and at this Korgan especially excels, what with his new axe and
all. Avoid the first landing to the northeast, as it has a Cloudkill
trap on it that just won't be detected. Go northeast instead. You'll
come across some archers on high ground and a Priest of Mask, which
shouldn't trouble you too much.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
11) Continue on until you reach a room set up like a mock city. There
are traps right in the middle of the area, so be sure to disarm them
before exploring. When you walk into the room, Dedral and a group of his
lackeys will show up and attack. Dedral's the only dangerous one, but
he doesn't really have good enough support to make the most of it. Loot
Dedral for a suit of Full Plate Mail, a Ring of Lock Picks, and a Scroll
of Summon Djinni. His subordinates only carried mundane gear.
***TRAPS***
(x=2300, y=1250)
(x=2200, y=1420)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
12) Now you have two ways to go, through a door to the southeast, or up
some stairs to the northeast. Up to the north you'll find a pair of
traps in a hallway before a room clearly designed to test, ah,
Dexterity. Run over the first two rotating spike columns and stop on the
landing beyond long enough to disarm a trap. Continue onto the third
column and press the button (x=3550, y=300) to open one of the magic
doors. Well, that wasn't so bad. Head back to the mock city room and go
southeast.
***TRAPS***
(x=2700, y=920)
(x=2900, y=820)
(x=3300, y=500)
***REWARD***
(For opening one of the magic doors to Aran Linvail's sanctum)
EXP 17500
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
13) Go down a long hallway, disarming a Lightning Bolt trap as you go.
Go through a circular room and through a doorway to the northeast into
another hallway where you'll find a Fireball trap waiting for you.
Disarm it and continue down another hallway to the west. You'll run into
another Priest of Mask and some Shadow Thieves. Kill them and continue
on to Haz (x=3820, y=1170), who isn't nearly as threatening as he thinks
he is. Kill him and take his Key to Aran's Lair.
***TRAPS***
(x=2600, y=1750)
(x=3750, y=1700)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
14) Now head back to the room in which we entered and go through a
secret door at (x=1600, y=1800). Follow the tunnel to the southeast,
killing the stupid Orcs you find waiting for you. Really, Orcs?
Disable the Flame Strike trap in the tunnel and continue on until you
run afoul of some Shadows and an Air Elemental. You'll eventually come
to a circular room with a bridge spanning it. Spell buff and open the
final door between you and Aran Linvail at (x=4400, y=1950).
***TRAPS***
(x=2350, y=2250)
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
15) Aran Linvail and his squad aren't slouches. Many of them are spell
casters and you're forced to go through a bottleneck (doorway) to
reach them. Send in your strongest Fighters only, and have Mages and
Clerics cast spells like True Sight to cancel out the illusions they'll
bring up, and Chaos to hopefully take a few out of the fight. Jaheira
hitting them with an Insect Plague is, like in all big fights, pretty
important. You can also expect them to summon a Nabassu, so be ready
for it. If you're lucky with your debuffs, you should make it out
intact, but spell battles are touchy. Once they're dead, loot them.
Most of them carry crap, but Aran Linvail will leave behind a suit of
Elven Chain Mail +1, an Amulet of Power Bolts of Biting x10,
Bolts +1 x20, Bolts x20, a Potion of Invisibility, three Potions of
Extra Healing, a Wand of Fear, a Ring of Protection +2, a Short
Sword +2, a Light Crossbow +2, and 142 gold. The Elven Chain is pretty
cool, especially for a Thief or Mage multi-or-dual classed character,
but it's not better than the Bracers of Defense A.C. 3 we bought
earlier, and certainly not with Aran's Ring of Protection +2 equipped.
The Amulet of Power is one of the items you don't have to worry about
too much, as you'd get this by working with the Shadow Thieves. It's
really a great item for a Fighter/Mage, as it offers Magic Resistance
(every little bit helps), Vocalize (essentially immunity to Silence),
it decreases the casting speed by 1, and it makes the wearer immune to
level drain. The last perk will come in handy when Vampires become a
problem. It'll allow my protagonist to buff up and meet them in combat
without having to worry about losing levels. Good stuff all around.
***ITEMS***
(x=4500, y=1920) Katana +2, Ring of Djinni Summoning
(x=4750, y=1850) Silver Necklace, 29 gold
<---------------------------------------------------------------------->
16) Return to Bodhi. You'll get a pretty hefty quest reward, and Bodhi
will say that the destruction of the Shadow Thieves was more of a test
for you than a political goal for herself. Bodhi will now talk of
Irenicus, saying that he is her brother, and that Irenicus wasn't trying
to torture you and Imoen, he was trying to unlock your potential as a
child of Bhaal. She wants you to recover Irenicus so that he may be of
use to her, and will tell you that he's being help in the 'Residence for
the Magically Deviant'-aka Spellh |
