Completed Let's solo Baldur's Gate 2 on Insane (feat. The Codex)

[MicoSelva]

Current plan is to finish with Wasteland 2 in January and resume BG2 in February. Sorry for the delay, bros.

Cool, my brother was trying to solo BG II like you, but got stuck on the dragon bhaalspawn....on normal. I'm curious to how you will pull this off.

Yeah, I'm curious about that too, because I've tried before and failed (on normal, with a stronger character.
We'll see.

 

[Aeschylus]

Current plan is to finish with Wasteland 2 in January and resume BG2 in February. Sorry for the delay, bros.

Cool, my brother was trying to solo BG II like you, but got stuck on the dragon bhaalspawn....on normal. I'm curious to how you will pull this off.

Yeah, I'm curious about that too, because I've tried before and failed (on normal, with a stronger character.
We'll see.

It's not impossible, but if you have Ascension installed you might have to resort to cheese tactics, such as chugging wisdom potions and casting Wish, hoping you get the super-nothing-resists-it Time Stop+ Improved Alacrity one.

 

[MicoSelva]

We came here seeking a challenge, and challenge we received.

It did hurt a lot, but I've won in the end.

I'm sure it will be better on the next level.

Any by better you mean...

More death, obviously.

Obviously.

------

Update #39: Theme Park

Spoiler

Character sheet summary:

Spoiler

We're veeeery close to another dual level up.

The Codex has reached Heroic reputation and is starting to learn to detect illusions. Things are definitely looking up.

Our hero's saving throw against breath weapons is especially impressive.

No changes are expected here unless we manage to improve main attributes at some point.

25% magic / 50% magic damage resistance. Not bad at all. Immunity to poison is nothing to sneeze at either.

Firkraag is still the king of the hill corpse pile.

Yes, I do agree to go deeper into this dungeon. Glad you asked!

Hey, I may be suicidal at times, but I'm no fanatic of Helm.

Like I said.

So butthurt. Let's try that again.

You mean these wizards have created this cage specifically for you? Can I call you Prosper?

Sure, I'll make a deal with you, Prosper Demon. It's not like you will betray me or anything...

Typical.

A few thoughts, if anyone cares:

Spoiler

This is my least favourite level of Watcher's Keep (least favourite to replay, I liked it the first time). It is too schematic and the premise is simply ludicrous. Really, four mages hating each others' guts decided to live in one place? Why exactly would they do that? The level is also too long and annoying to play through, with puzzly damage immune enemies blocking your progress until you switch the lever X or open door Y.

That being said, let's see how The Codex deals with all this. I don't think I have actually soloed Watcher's Keep before, so I'm kind of curious how it will go.

Let's randomly start with this door here.

Walking fish!

That's a lot of fish.

HOLY FU-

Oh, no.

That's a promising start.

Death Count: 195

Loading.

I can't believe that actualyl happened. Let me try again.

Here, fishy-fishy.

CHOKE ON THIS!

And choke they did, although not all of them.

Easily fixed.

Take some infinite arrows to the face, bitch!

And you too.

There's always a bigger fish...

And we're done.

Good. I was almost out of fish jokes anyway.

Thankfully.

I smell something fishy.

Please, stop, I can't take any more.

This is another one of these lairs, where the owner probably killed himself by simply walking around.

Standard content of a mage's bookshelf: books, some gold and highly magical slingshot bullets. You never know when you will have a sudden urge to fling a pebble at something immune to normal weapons, while searching for a book. Gotta be prepared.

This paper, I mean parchment, looks unique enough to be worth picking up.

Wait, this is the AIR library? How exactly are fish-people air-themed?

I don't even want to know.

The mages here apparently loved each other.

Yes, one could wonder why they decided to live together.

Aha! A clue!

Oh yeah, that makes sense.

I guess I'm not going through here just yet.

What an inviting scent...

Ok, not here either.

Let's see what's behind this door then.

I immediately regret my curiosity.

Using fire against fire creatures = brilliant idea, is it not?

I like how one of the trolls made a save vs. wands in addition to being immune. Talk about adding insult to injury.

This looks bad... Everyone, DIE NOW!

Ha, what do you know. It worked!

I love this spell.

Oh yeah, baby. Looks who's rocking!

We have unlocked our first level 8 spell slot. Good times ahead.

Ooh, a kitty!

Die, feline swine!

He... Uhm, She...? Ok, it is immune.

Death fog? Do I look like Monster IV to you, fleabag?

Have fun chasing hellmice!

Ah, so every one of these mages was a paranoid lunatic?

It seems to be the theme here, yes.

Wow, an actual conversation!

Click spoiler tag for the infodump.

Spoiler

A trapped ashtray. That's innovative.

More parchment, woot.

Right.

We also found this anti-mage wand.

Could be useful.

Ok, let's see this.

Not sure if useful.

Six more of the ultra-good healing potions. Always a nice find.

Hey, this door actually opens!

So... There's nothing here.

Still can't open this... I'm leaving.

Whoa there!

Oh, great, and here I thought I would want to enter this room.

Not that it matters, apparently.

Time to check another library.

This monster is much more air-themed than the fish-people.

Ok, this was easy.

I spoke too soon.

I don't want to hear a word about running away, got it?

Got it.

Thanks for coming by!

Time to deal with the most awesomely named monster ever.

Crimson Death shrugs off +1 arrows.

As expected!

I just love when they come one by one!

Poison mist? Only leftovers remain, it seems.

Down you go.

Ah, no, there's actually one more of these. Bring it on, CD!

Alright! This keep my blood flowing!

That monster managed to hit You, so some of Your blood is actually flowing out of Your body at the moment.

It will heal in a minute.

Not surprising at this point.

Ah, more of the great insight into the matters of this level. And also, a horn?

This place really isn't solo-friendly. How are we supposed to fit all these items into one inventory!

Cool.

Of course it does have a use, right?

Crafting.

Ah, also cool.

*sigh*

Ooh, shiny!

Hey, a wand casting spells you never want me to prepare.

Now you know why.

Oh, great, I can't wait to read the contents of this one.

Uhm, sure.

Cool.

Will You stop that?

Chill out.

Not cool.

Argh!

Nothing left to do but check the last library.

Have you heard abut the legendary mace The Flyswatter?

Can't say I did. Why bring it up now?

I just randomly remembered it.

It seems that Codex Pest Control Services need reopening.

Pop! goes the weasel. I mean, last fireball.

Good. We're getting these wands faster than we can use them up.

I say, the number of spiders still alive is disappointingly high.

You're not scared of spiders, are you?

No of course no-OW!

Eat horn of blasting, arachnids!

One of the powers of this really cool item is its ability to knock enemies back.

I'll squash them before they know what hit them.

Good idea.

Ok, done. That was surprisingly exciting.

Yeah, yeah...

Yeah...

OH! A KEY! EUREKA!

Finally, some progress.

No comment.

Can't wait to read this.

Wait, you can control the fans in that air lab? How have I missed that?

Uhm...

Let me guess...

Yup.

Ha! I've got the key this time!

Voila.

Let's kick some ass!

Wait, is this thing spawning them?

Seems so.

It slimed me!

Whew, that was waaaaay to close.

Die already!

Nope.

These things just won't die!

I don't have a screenshot of The Codex killing this particular slime, so just take my word for it.

We try to strike the central slime basin with a lightning, because that is supposed to disable it, but we can't actually target the basin - every lightning bolt just cruises past, striking some nearest slime instead.

In the meantime the number of slimes keeps increasing.

The situation is quickly getting out of hand.

Our attempts at crowd control are futile.

AAH!

Also, note that standing in this place is harmful to your health.

---

Next time: We'll crack the riddle of the indestructible slime basin and encounter even more indestructible things to kill.

Next quest selection details:

Spoiler

Voting time!

1. Watcher's Keep, level 3 [Azira]
2. Illithids in Athkatla [Darth Roxor]
3. Illithids in Athkatla Korgan's Quest and General Screwing Around the Graveyard [MotherMachinae - changed vote]
4. Korgan's Quest and General Screwing Around the Graveyard [Aeschylus]
5. Shadow Thieves' Guild [ALchymist]
6. Shadow Thieves' Guild [Erebus]
7. Korgan's Quest and General Screwing Around the Graveyard [Rake]
8. Korgan's Quest and General Screwing Around the Graveyard [t]
9. Korgan's Quest and General Screwing Around the Graveyard [Abelian]
10. Korgan's Quest and General Screwing Around the Graveyard [Insane Psychic]
11. Korgan's Quest and General Screwing Around the Graveyard [T(D?)-Bag]
12. Watcher's Keep, level 3 [Desmodus Rotundus]
13. Illithids in Athkatla [Storyfag]
14. Watcher's Keep, level 3 [Bilgefar]
15. Illithids in Athkatla [Sodafish]
16. Korgan's Quest and General Screwing Around the Graveyard [Stygian Lurker]

EDIT: And the result is: 7 Korgan's Quest and General Screwing Around the Graveyard. So be it.

 

[Baron Dupek]

Wow, you're fast. I thouth the update will be few weeks later or so...

Thanks for it

 

[Desmodus Rotundus]

Hurray, it's alive.

Also a small typo

Any by better you mean...

More death, obviously.

guess it's supposed to be "and by better"

 

[grosstraktor]

woohoo! keep 'em coming. hope no shitty posh modern joke of a game distracts you again.

 

[Sodafish]

We're back

 

[Abelian]

You mean these wizards have created this cage specifically for you? Can I call you Prosper?

Yet another very entertaining read. Carry on, good sir.

 

[Storyfag]

Yep, give us MOAR.

 

[Nicebrain]

 

[Ulminati]

Current plan is to finish with Wasteland 2 in January and resume BG2 in February. Sorry for the delay, bros.

Cool, my brother was trying to solo BG II like you, but got stuck on the dragon bhaalspawn....on normal. I'm curious to how you will pull this off.

Yeah, I'm curious about that too, because I've tried before and failed (on normal, with a stronger character.
We'll see.

Trap cheese? I recall that had somethign to do with how I beat him. But it's been many years since I played TOB so I may be completely clueless here.

 

[Coyote]

Yeah, I'm curious about that too, because I've tried before and failed (on normal, with a stronger character.
We'll see.

There was someone on the NWN-era Bioware forums who soloed ToB + Ascension with (nearly?) every single kit in the game on insane, up to and including a skald, wizard slayer, and shapeshifter,* so it's definitely doable, although I think she also used a lot more cheese than you do and presumably didn't have any rules about no run-throughs and such. Once you get UAI it'll open up your options a lot, and high-level spells give you a lot to work with even if you don't use them in cheesy ways.

(Just be glad that you don't have Oversight installed. Improved Sendai is a bitch to fight on insane and makes Ascension Abazigal look like a gibberling from what I remember.)

* Incidentally, she had some surprising - but reasonable at a second glance - views on which kits/classes were the most fit for soloing through both games:

Spoiler

Bards in general were apparently among the easiest single-class characters - and blades in particular topped the list - due to their ability to use wands, scrolls, and all weapon types except composite longbows, as well as getting UAI and leveling via the rogue experience table. (That last part is often overlooked since a solo character will easily reach the cap, but it means that, for example, a bard will reach most of its spell levels at a comparable or faster rate to a multiclass mage and have more HP early on.) Even bard song is more useful than it would initially appear: the enhanced bard song HLA (which stacks with itself) + simalcrum + project image + mislead will turn anyone into a juggernaut. OTOH, single-class mages/sorcerers were among the hardest because regardless of how powerful they become in BG2 they're a pain to get through BG1 on their own, and there's a lot less stuff in BG1 that can help even out the odds for weak classes.

 

[ALchymist]

Current plan is to finish with Wasteland 2 in January and resume BG2 in February. Sorry for the delay, bros.

Cool, my brother was trying to solo BG II like you, but got stuck on the dragon bhaalspawn....on normal. I'm curious to how you will pull this off.

Yeah, I'm curious about that too, because I've tried before and failed (on normal, with a stronger character.
We'll see.

Trap cheese? I recall that had somethign to do with how I beat him. But it's been many years since I played TOB so I may be completely clueless here.

Having just completed a single player FMT Insane run through
(guess what gave me the inspiration for that! )
I can certainly confirm that trap cheese makes life easier. Only the three traps to soften him up though - I have my standards.

 

[Aeschylus]

The ultimate cheese is Wish scrolls and wisdom potions in quick slots combined with projected image/simulacrum. You can basically unload your entire spellbook in one round from each image/simulacrum if you get the good Wish options.

 

[Sodafish]

Project image/simulacrum is broken in so many ways. Another lulzy one is summoning infinite Devas.

 

[ALchymist]

The ultimate cheese is Wish scrolls and wisdom potions in quick slots combined with projected image/simulacrum. You can basically unload your entire spellbook in one round from each image/simulacrum if you get the good Wish options.

And if you combine that with spell trap, optionally sequencers too, then your main character can regain all spells by having the projected image cast spells at the character. Rinse and repeat.

Of course, if you're talking projected images then three in a chain contingency triggered on helplessness, followed by casting another one yourself is pretty impressive.

Makes the game far too easy. Proud to say I finally soloed Amelyssan without even getting a Wish refresh of spells (but I was uncapped). Not going to try Ascension like that though.

 

[Rake]

MOAR

 

[MicoSelva]

I probably won't be able to update this or next week (barring an influx of unexpected free time). Expect more from 3rd of March onwards.

 

[Rake]

 

[MicoSelva]

Let's see if we can manage to dig ourselves out of this shit slime hole.

Well, there was only one other thing I could do here at the moment.

------

Update #40: The Tricky Part

Spoiler

This.

It seems to have done... well, something, at least.

Get up and fight, dammit!

I believe my life is coming to an abrupt end.

Or maybe not.

Come on! Let's see how tough you are without your friends to aid you!

Tough enough.

Death Count: 196

Load game.

Now it's personal.

Equipment hoarding. Is there any problem it CAN'T solve?

Hold still for a second...

Did that hurt? I HOPE IT DID!

Ah! Fuck!

Die already!

It's not actually an elemental, you know. You should have used the other staff.

I have you to know stuff like this.

FFFUUUU-!

Watch out for these crawling lightnings, they might kill you.

A warning before it hit would more appreciated.

Come on.... Come on...

AND DIE!

What the fuck did I say about crawling lightnings?

Death Count: 197

Reloading.

That was too embarrassing to comment on.

Let's try approaching this from the other side. Literally.

Shit, shit, shit!

Alright!

This stick is awesome!

Time to take care of the poison lab.

We can finally disable the slime-spawning bathtub by shooting a lighting at it (don't ask).

But The Codex bombs himself in the process, and also is bitten by a giant snake.

I don't want to finish like an extra from Anaconda.

The slime monsters seem a bit shy about leaving their lab, which is very exploitable.

You obviously can't see that in the screenshots, but this giant snake is moving extremely fast.

Fuck off!

And you too!

It's like shooting a giant snake in a corridor.

Yeah, the snake decided to run back and forth, but not actually attack so it was an easy picking.

Moping up the slimes. Note the poisonous vapours in the room.

To clear them out, we need to set the fan in the air lab to high setting.

And not die trying.

Preferably.

Looks like it worked.

Still a few monsters to kill here.

Absolutely no problem.

I don't even know what happened here.

Death Count: 198

Load.

I am tired of this level. Can we go someplace nice instead?

We'll go to Athkatla's graveyard later. For now, endure.

Hey hey, what do we have here?

Ooooh. Cool!

And what is this?

Meh, a key. I was hoping for something nice.

Closing the door to the slime lab, mostly for the sake of presentation.

Time to chill out a bit.

Why did the mist go away? Hey, mist, I'm still here!

Shit, it brought daddy.

MELTDOWN!

What the fuck?

Indeed! The ice golem is completely immune to damage, unless we do some scripted bullshit we taint it with vapours from the poison lab.

That's not fair.

We try to lure out the smaller creatures, with mixed results, as they keep running back to the ice lab.

And it turns out ice mists are immune to damage too.

We open the door to the poison lab, which blows the evil poisonous fog into the ice lab.

That's more like it!

They are still immune to +1 arrows, though.

Let's try to even out the odds a bit.

Not sure if it worked, to be honest. It probably did.

Come on, let me kill you already.

Die, die, DIE!

The golem still hits like freight train.

There are no freight trains in this world, so I have the right to have no idea what you're talking about.

These mists are seriously annoying.

Come on, I dare you!

Arrrgh!

Shit, fuck, fuck, fuck!

Aha, another hit!

It's pretty pathetic that we actually are happy about such stuff.

Bringing out +2 arrows allows us to finally kill one of the mists.

We try to use the same approach on the second one, while avoiding the golem at the same time.

Steady. Shoot when you see the white of its eyes.

It has no eyes.

AHA!

Taking on the golem requires some preparation.

Damn, there's another mist in here.

Yeah, I thought we were missing one.

Stoneskin does not protect from cone of cold.

Yeah, I've noticed.

And the mist.

Ice golem dropped a couple of items (yeah, we really can't carry any more at this point).

Ok, another one of these.

I don't think you need to be any more horny than you are.

Oh, you're killing me... But no problem, one day I will repay that.

Some flavour text.

Oh shit...

The giant cannot be hurt until all the fire elementals have been killed.

I have a bad feeling about this.

+1 arrows don't work here at all.

The staff works a tad better, but...

It burnssss usssss, burnssss...

Brute force approach has failed us once again.

Death Count: 199

Loading game.

Let me guess, we have to do some gimmicky shit to actually be able to win here.

Yep.

The trick is to lure out the elementals from their lab.

And bring them into the ice lab, where they die instantly.

Come on... Come on...

This is so easy it feels like cheating.

Do you mind?

Hell no, but I would prefer to kill them manually. It's more satisfying that way.

Well, you have an opportunity to do that with the giant.

Which is the one enemy I would prefer to autokill.

Our hero shoots the giant with some arrows while he approaches.

I don't think he's noticed.

Holy fucking shit, my spine!

Quick, stones-shiiiiiit!

A tragic demise.

Death Count: 200 <- Hey, kids, it's 200 already!

Load, load, load.

I have a grudge against that giant now.

Let's do this the right way, i.e. the one I don't die.

There.

Disappointingly easy in the end.

If that's the giant's helmet, I don't think it will fit.

This is not Arcanum, you can use any equipment. Soon, quite literally, ANY.

Yeah, yeah.

Wait, did I just kill The Rock?

Hopefully.

He's the greatest wrestler-turned-actor since Hulk Hogan!

...How do I even comment on that?

Well, I guess it is loot.

Victory through preparation (buffing montage under spoiler):

Spoiler

Betrayal! ITotallyDidNotSeeThatComing. DemonsAreUsuallySoTrustworthyAfterAll.

This demon is all but immune to physical attacks.

But each of its forms has an elemental weakness. The red winged one is susceptible to ice damage.

FUCK! HePacksQuiteAPunch!

Well, it is a boss fight after all.

We're freshly out of stoneskins, so mirror image will have to suffice.

Ice arrows don't work as well as expected.

Ok, it switched forms. use lightning now.

IThinkImOutOfThese.

Alright, it transformed again. Now use... I don't really remember this form's weakness is.

FuckThatIWillJustWhackItOnTheHead.

DieYouSonova!

I remember now, it's poison that it's weak against now. Use poison!

RightButIOnlyHaveTheseArrowsHere.

ItsNotWorkingVeryWell.

Damn.

DieDieDieDieDieDieDie!

I'm suddenly a bit out of breath.

Don't give up! You can make it.

Ouch.

Quick, use the ring of Gaxx!

Good idea.

NowIFuckYouUpLikeTheresNoTomorrow!

YouAreSoGoingDown!

Insert sad music here.

Death Count: 201

Loading.

Close, but no cigar.

Let's try that again.

Hopefully we can avoid direct confrontation at the start.

We actually use up all 40 ice arrows while the demon is busy fighting Mordenkainen's sword. Also, the creature seems to be wearing a helmet (?).

YesYesYes!

The move from a very close melee fight to completely anti-climactic 'don't get close and spike it with arrows to easily win' is a bit jarring, but we'll take what we can get.

Let's examine the demon droppings, I mean drops.

TheKeyofQuestAdvancement.

TheCircletOfCraftingPromises.

TheDaggerOfImNotActuallyADagger.

Area completed!

---

Next time: The Codex will screw around the graveyard a bit and ally himself with a certain dwarf to gain even more riches and XP (in before ruined LP).

Next quest selection details:

Spoiler

We're open for votes again. List of available quest can be found on the first page of the thread. The roll will be made after next update.

 

[Darth Roxor]

So this is the famous Watcher's Keep?

This shit is BORAN

 

[Azira]

Next level is more FUN. So. WK level IV.

Errr, I mean level III of course.

 

[MicoSelva]

Next level is more FUN. So. WK level IV.

Next WK level is the third, not fourth one.

 

[Azira]

Next level is more FUN. So. WK level IV.

Next WK level is the third, not fourth one.

Yeah, just realised that and were checking back to edit my vote.

 

[Baron Dupek]

Congratulation for 200th kaput sequences.
I... we hope that your brave hero meet with less but much more spectacular ending phases.

My vote go for next level of tower (but that's after graveyard, of course).