Junior Adventurer's Guild - February: Baldur's Gate

[DagothGeas5]

"A little worse for wear"

► Show Spoiler

For anyone that doesn't know, I am playing a "perma-death" game where I reload only if my own character is killed. Branwen and Kivan are two of my most favourite companions
This little cultist village has always been nothing but trouble for me.

[DagothGeas5]

I had to beat the game twice as I had issues with the boss fight (my character would die as the ending was "loading", so to speak), but at least Yeslick survived in my last attempt

I don't have much to say for this one as I played it in the past, but it truly is not the game I completed all these years ago and, especially after what I was told or read here, the more I played, the more I came to miss the Baldur's Gate I played. This one feels strangely polished, if it makes sense, and though I really like Baeloth, the differences in the "Enhanced Edition" are truly just too much. I also really dislike how it immediately boots you into the Dragonspear thing. Just the start feels already like a bastardization of Baldur's Gate, and after such a wonderful story, however changed, that left me with a very sour taste.

I think I spent more time fiddling in the Options to try and restore the game I knew more than I spent time having fun mixing things as I did when I first played, but, much like other games that are remakes or similar, it helps they give me so many issues because I can see them as a different game and care little for it.

► Show Spoiler

First run with the auto-death afterwards

Second run that I will also use for Baldur's Gate II's save import

In the spirit of the Adventurer's Guild, I tried a class I never played (shadowdancer I think it was called) for my character, which was quite strange as he didn't do much besides serving greatly in Durlag's Tower (and I ended up using Khalid and Baeloth as my "mains" more).

However strange this EE is, it was fun to revisit the story, so thanky you @Oyster Sauce for hosting this as always
As the date for the vote nears, I also would like to ask you @Tweed what game would you like and I will vote and nominate that one for you, as my offering of peace to the Kobolds after mass murdering them from Nashkel to Baldur's Gate

[Roderick]

Reedem badge sars

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[rusty_shackleford]

► Show Spoiler

For anyone that doesn't know, I am playing a "perma-death" game where I reload only if my own character is killed. Branwen and Kivan are two of my most favourite companions

Playing RPGs like this makes them much more memorable for me. The lows can be real low, but it makes the highs much higher.

[Tweed]

I had to beat the game twice as I had issues with the boss fight (my character would die as the ending was "loading", so to speak), but at least Yeslick survived in my last attempt

I don't have much to say for this one as I played it in the past, but it truly is not the game I completed all these years ago and, especially after what I was told or read here, the more I played, the more I came to miss the Baldur's Gate I played. This one feels strangely polished, if it makes sense, and though I really like Baeloth, the differences in the "Enhanced Edition" are truly just too much. I also really dislike how it immediately boots you into the Dragonspear thing. Just the start feels already like a bastardization of Baldur's Gate, and after such a wonderful story, however changed, that left me with a very sour taste.

I think I spent more time fiddling in the Options to try and restore the game I knew more than I spent time having fun mixing things as I did when I first played, but, much like other games that are remakes or similar, it helps they give me so many issues because I can see them as a different game and care little for it.

► Show Spoiler

First run with the auto-death afterwards

Second run that I will also use for Baldur's Gate II's save import

In the spirit of the Adventurer's Guild, I tried a class I never played (shadowdancer I think it was called) for my character, which was quite strange as he didn't do much besides serving greatly in Durlag's Tower (and I ended up using Khalid and Baeloth as my "mains" more).

However strange this EE is, it was fun to revisit the story, so thanky you @Oyster Sauce for hosting this as always
As the date for the vote nears, I also would like to ask you @Tweed what game would you like and I will vote and nominate that one for you, as my offering of peace to the Kobolds after mass murdering them from Nashkel to Baldur's Gate

Underrail, pls thx.

[DagothGeas5]

I had to beat the game twice as I had issues with the boss fight (my character would die as the ending was "loading", so to speak), but at least Yeslick survived in my last attempt

I don't have much to say for this one as I played it in the past, but it truly is not the game I completed all these years ago and, especially after what I was told or read here, the more I played, the more I came to miss the Baldur's Gate I played. This one feels strangely polished, if it makes sense, and though I really like Baeloth, the differences in the "Enhanced Edition" are truly just too much. I also really dislike how it immediately boots you into the Dragonspear thing. Just the start feels already like a bastardization of Baldur's Gate, and after such a wonderful story, however changed, that left me with a very sour taste.

I think I spent more time fiddling in the Options to try and restore the game I knew more than I spent time having fun mixing things as I did when I first played, but, much like other games that are remakes or similar, it helps they give me so many issues because I can see them as a different game and care little for it.

► Show Spoiler

First run with the auto-death afterwards

Second run that I will also use for Baldur's Gate II's save import

In the spirit of the Adventurer's Guild, I tried a class I never played (shadowdancer I think it was called) for my character, which was quite strange as he didn't do much besides serving greatly in Durlag's Tower (and I ended up using Khalid and Baeloth as my "mains" more).

However strange this EE is, it was fun to revisit the story, so thanky you @Oyster Sauce for hosting this as always
As the date for the vote nears, I also would like to ask you @Tweed what game would you like and I will vote and nominate that one for you, as my offering of peace to the Kobolds after mass murdering them from Nashkel to Baldur's Gate

Underrail, pls thx.

Will do!

[J1M]

I don't think I get to nominate anything this month, but throwing this out there in case someone else would want to but was unaware an official sequel to Neverwinter Nights just dropped:

[Tangerine]

Nominating Arcanum again.

[Acrux]

I negative nominate Underrail. Anyone voting for my pick provides a -1 count to Underrail.

[1998]

ATOM RPG

[Fitz]

Looks like I won't be able to finish BG during February. Life has just been too grand lately and I don't have that much time to spare for BG1.

The game sure is immersive and the sound design and voice acting are very top notch. I wouldn't say that's enough to compensate for the graphics but it does help. The game sure is pretty when it wants to, but the character models need something extra. It's also easy to tell that there was a lot of care put into the writing.

What I don't get is why there isn't any combat log and what were they thinking with the looting/inventory system. Maybe you guys can suggest some mods for this? I'm thinking of starting a new playthrough but this one will surely be a very slow cook for me.

[1998]

Looks like I won't be able to finish BG during February. Life has just been too grand lately and I don't have that much time to spare for BG1.

The game sure is immersive and the sound design and voice acting are very top notch. I wouldn't say that's enough to compensate for the graphics but it does help. The game sure is pretty when it wants to, but the character models need something extra. It's also easy to tell that there was a lot of care put into the writing.

What I don't get is why there isn't any combat log and what were they thinking with the looting/inventory system. Maybe you guys can suggest some mods for this? I'm thinking of starting a new playthrough but this one will surely be a very slow cook for me.

You play vanilla? Looting is one of the very few improvements EE actually introduced.

[Fitz]

Nah, I played EE. But no matter. I've decided to go down the rabbit hole.

[Roderick]

Nah, I played EE. But no matter. I've decided to go down the rabbit hole.

The clicking the red diamond opens up quick loot hud.

[Acrux]

If you aren't picking up every single piece of crap loot in the game by directly clicking on each and every enemy's corpse then, by God, you aren't really playing an RPG.

[rusty_shackleford]

IE games have really bad item management in general, of course the ""enhanced"" editions wouldn't bother fixing an actual issue with the game

[1998]

IE games have really bad item management in general, of course the ""enhanced"" editions wouldn't bother fixing an actual issue with the game

The quick loot function is one of the few things EE actually introduced themselves, and not stole from other mods. And it's a real improvement.

[1998]

@Oyster Sauce No vote this month? You are just selecting ATOM RPG in a non democratic way?

[Oyster Sauce]

@Oyster Sauce No vote this month? You are just selecting ATOM RPG in a non democratic way?

I forgot it was February

Get those noms in

[Oyster Sauce]

@Acrux -
@cdx -
@Roderick -
1998 - ATOM
Tangerine - Arcanum
Dagoth - Underrail

[DagothGeas5]

Wanted to nomitate it more officially, but yes, Underrail for our Kobold fren

[SpellSword]

Our party is mostly at level 6 approaching 7 and we're still foraging around in Chapter 2. So far we've visted (And cleared out) every area on the travel map except for Baldur's Gate itself and the mines.

► Travelogue...

Oh no...

We weren't fast enough.png

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I'm enjoying the random encounters immensely.

Many strange encounters.png

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Our priest cast detect evil and when the results came up positive we jokingly attacked. The resulting life or death battle was pretty close.

Unexpected boss fight!.png

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My eyes glazed over a bit, but in the end we managed to read em all.

Tomes and Tomes.png

(I'm hoping some of these aren't just flavor text...)

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Walking around during a storm and *BLAM* paladin suddenly critical.

Randomly getting hit by lightning.png

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Come on don't just leave him there, at least give him a proper burial!

At least give him a proper burial.png

(Why can't we resurrect him at the temple?)

[DagothGeas5]

Our party is mostly at level 6 approaching 7 and we're still foraging around in Chapter 2. So far we've visted (And cleared out) every area on the travel map except for Baldur's Gate itself and the mines.

► Travelogue...

Oh no...

---

I'm enjoying the random encounters immensely.

---

Our priest cast detect evil and when the results came up positive we jokingly attacked. The resulting life or death battle was pretty close.

---

My eyes glazed over a bit, but in the end we managed to read em all.

(I'm hoping some of these aren't just flavor text...)

---

Walking around during a storm and *BLAM* paladin suddenly critical.

---

Come on don't just leave him there, at least give him a proper burial!

(Why can't we resurrect him at the temple?)

For why he can't be resurrected, it could be a couple of things.
It could be he suffered damage so great that he cannot be resurrected (I am a bit rusty on this, but I think it equals to a mortal blow that also totals for your whole hit points, that is perma-death. It can happen to your party members too so be mindful of that!).
Another reason it could be too much time has passed since his death (I think in D&D it is 3 days and then the resurrection requires something more powerful to bring the deceased back, and only if the soul agrees to return, otherwise there are forceful methods but I can't recall which ones. Necromancy is always an option ( ) though I am unsure if it also pulls the soul back. It won't work in-game though.)
And another reason it could be the armored figure that dealt him the mortal blow. There are a type of weapon in D&D that are something called "vorpal blade". I think they can sever the soul from the body along with the head on a critical hit, but I do not recall the details. I know a race called the Gith have them aplenty, but that too might be me mixing memories.

[Statesman]

I don't think I get to nominate anything this month, but throwing this out there in case someone else would want to but was unaware an official sequel to Neverwinter Nights just dropped:

Have you tried it out? Apparently they have other campaigns on the works.

[J1M]

I don't think I get to nominate anything this month, but throwing this out there in case someone else would want to but was unaware an official sequel to Neverwinter Nights just dropped:

Have you tried it out? Apparently they have other campaigns on the works.

I made an arcane archer and completed the first quest. The plot hook was fairly good. I intend to play more of it.

[J1M]

I don't think I get to nominate anything this month, but throwing this out there in case someone else would want to but was unaware an official sequel to Neverwinter Nights just dropped:

Have you tried it out? Apparently they have other campaigns on the works.

I made an arcane archer and completed the first quest. The plot hook was fairly good. I intend to play more of it.

I have soured on this. It may turn out okay, but the author seems to have intended you to play as a sorcerer?

The game features a lot of very strong enemies, including ice trolls that require fire or acid to kill them, so martial characters need to acquire fire arrows and switch to them for killing blows.

You also start at level 10 with no equipment and after visiting what appears to be the entire world map I have yet to gain a level due to monsters providing an extremely small amount of XP, nor have I located a drop or a shop with a +2 weapon.

The most aggravating problem has to be the first companion though. Personality wise it is fine to have a grizzled barbarian/cleric who had a vision about helping you. But in reality what this means is you have a barbarian that can't rage who runs into the fray and starts casting a spell, resulting in death by opportunity attacks. I don't understand how an oversight like this was possible.

It is true that I went exploring in the snow instead of following the main quest, but given how many zones I've cleared, including what will obviously end up as main plot objectives, it makes no sense that I haven't gained a level yet and I don't have access to at least +2 gear. Maybe there is copious experience for talking to people in the next town, but if adventuring is so discouraged those zones should just have been blocked off.

Now if you were a caster the equipment curve doesn't really affect you. And it's nice you can just rest 8 hours in a blizzard to recover your spell slots. There's no timer to worry about.

[Ryzer]

Replaying this game with a fighter/ Cleric dwarf (Very powerful and underrated class), oh god I forgot how comfy this game is. Everything about it, the music, the interface, the dialogues, this game has a soul.


Fun fact: if you kill the wizard in the left like I did with ease thanks to the command spell, you can almost gain a level and 500 gold pieces + a magic robe as early as the tutorial area.

[Ryzer]

Now that I realize it, Cleric/ fighter dwarf is so busted. My char has 20 constitution, so he can regen, 18 dexterity which means below max available AC + Ankheg armor, 19 strength + draw upon holy might (= 22 strength and probably more),
21 wisdom meaning more cleric spells + cleric ring for even more spells. It is a stupidly op character even more so than wizard because on top of that he has dwarf racial bonus.

[SpellSword]

Made it to chapter 3.

Unfortunately we've reached the EXP level cap, which has made combat a little less thrilling.

So far Durlag's Tower has been the real highlight of the game, pretty great quest. Looking forward to seeing what other dungeons await once we can get into the much talked about city of Baldur's Gate.

[Eyestabber]

Found an old save and whacked Sarevok again:

BGMain2_bjVwk9KiwS.png

► Show Spoiler

https://f.rpghq.org/cIlvLIUYjSvz.mp4?n=Sarevok Kill.mp4

There's even video evidence, so badge me @Oyster Sauce .