In Progress Let's Play: BGEE

[Drew]

As much as I enjoy reading all of the shit opinions and events on forums, I actually prefer to play games.
So, I'm going to play games and share my experiences with you, through screenshots and written text.

If I manage to stay active enough, I will plan on doing BG2EE, as well.

Now, about the playthrough.

Boring Shit

Disclaimer

I am aware that Baldur's Gate is neither an obscure gem nor a game with anything hugely unique. I also know that it is rather divisive, with some people loving the grand sense of adventure and others hating the writing or low level D&D combat. Overall, I enjoy Baldur's Gate, and as a first let's play for me, I thought that playing a game I had played before but not to death would be a good starting point.

I am playing Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition through Steam, and as such using whatever version of that is "up to date" as of this post (Feb. 26, 2014). This is going to be a vanilla playthrough, I'm not particularly interested in modding games. I am going to be using steam's screenshot feature to help track my progress. I am currently playing on my laptop, as my desktop's SSD through some read/write errors in my face, and as such in a few weeks I may take an extended break from this to play a few games that I have been unable to play on my laptop. Also, I may be slow updating in a few weeks as midterms catch up with me, but I am not anticipating on abandoning this unless I get a large amount of feedback telling me to right fuck off.

I have played through BGEE before, several times. However, I am not particularly skilled at "gaming" D&D, nor am I out to break any speed records with this Let's Play. I'm just going to try an enjoy the game, from a slightly more in character perspective than my previous playthroughs, with as little metagaming as I can restrict myself to.

Now, onto the player character.

I decided to play a thief with this playthrough, as I have played a fighter and a mage before.
I did use console commands to give myself the maximum amount of attribute points, but I believe I left them in a reasonably "mortal" state.

Hopefully that's believable enough, and without too many spelling and grammatical errors.
The only thing the character creation sheet is missing is one point in single weapon proficiency, and another point in Scimitar usage.



And so, onto our adventure.

 

[Ninjerk]

Does this use a later edition of D&D rules than 2e?

 

[Drew]

Does this use a later edition of D&D rules than 2e?

I believe that it is a modified version of 2AD&D for realtime gameplay with some extra kits thrown in.

 

[Ninjerk]

reasonably "mortal"... Dexterity 19

 

[Drew]

She is a demigod.

 

[tindrli]

does she like anal????

 

[Drew]

: I guess I should purchase some equipment, shouldn't I? I don't really know what I'll need, so I'll just grab the basics: A weapon and something sturdier to wear.

: You always were the big kidder, Winthrop. That gets funnier very nearly every time I hear it. Well, perhaps, not quite so often.

: Sure, what do you have?

: A ninjato and a vest of the studded leather would do me fine, I suppose.

: Hmm, Firebead Elvenhair certainly looks flustered. He always brought me stories that he had acquired from far off lands. Perhaps I should see what's bothering him.

: Just missing a scroll? Now that's not too bad. I certainly have time for that.

: Nearly running me over before I could even begin to look for you. Humph. I'm sure if it was actually that important Gorion would have told me why we needed to leave.

: What kind of evil could befall me here in the keep? I suppose once we leave, something could come up, but Gorion is rather powerful, and has many friends outside of here. Regardless, it is a nice gesture. I'll be on my way, now.

: I was just looking to say goodbye to Phlydia, but I suppose I can help her find her book. She is always absentminded. Just east of here, you say? Hmm... Perhaps someone saw it about and brought it into the Priest's Quarters.

: A man I have never seen before, roaming the priests quarters? Odd. Yes, I am the ward of Gorion. What can I do for you?

: What is the meaning of this? Being attacked in my own home? Maybe I do need to see Gorion, right away.

: Oh, Parda! There was a man in there, he smelled like the stables, and he... and he tried to kill me, it was horrible.

: I really need to hurry to Gorion. He should be told of this. Although, stopping for a second at the church to regain my composure isn't a bad idea.

: Of course, Imoen wants to talk. Gorion seems to be expecting me to talk to her, however. I guess I can trust her to not try to kill me, at least.

: I'm afraid I cannot chat today, little one. My foster father wishes me to prepare for a journey, but will not say to where.

: There is no way you can. Gorion would never allow it.

: That was... strange. I guess I might ask Gorion what she was talking about.

: Please, father, tell me where we will be going.

: Then, I guess I am as prepared as I will get. I'm ready to go now.

: Far into the night, we wandered eastwards, not bothering to rest, and moving at a surprising pace for an old man. I suppose he had his magic, but...

: D-d-... Dead? It... it can't be. This can't be. I... I must be dreaming. This must just be a horrible, terrible, dream. But it's only a dream. When I wake, it will all be over. Gorion will be... Gorion will be fine, and pestering me to get to my chores and not to go running into the country side. Yes, that's it. Just a dream. Just a dream. Just a dream.

: All just a dream. All just a dream. A very lifelike dream. I'm just stuck here, for a while, that's all. I'll wake up tomorrow. Just a dream, just a dream.

: This is all just a dream, right? Just a dream? How could this be real. Of course it's a dream. How would you leave? How would you have gotten out? How could you know where we were going? How could you have known? Gorion didn't even tell me. So it's just a dream.

: I... Oh, Imoen! This is not a dream at all, is it? What are we going to do? How are we going to live? What do we do?

: We should probably try to meet his friends at the Inn. He said if you ever got separated to go there, right? They'll know what to do.

: I guess that makes sense. But, I'd like to get his body. He doesn't deserve to be left out like that.





So, Imoen has joined the party.

A second thief with high intelligence. Will probably dual class her into a mage.

 

[Drew]

does she like anal????

I'd assume not. Unless there's a spell in the Realms for some magical anal lube. Then, maybe.

 

[Baron Dupek]

does she like anal????

why u need a permission???

Spoiler

Anyway - thanks for the stuff, really helpful when Mico is still imprisoned in his corporate skycrapper and can't make updates.

 

[Ninjerk]

does she like anal????

I'd assume not. Unless there's a spell in the Realms for some magical anal lube. Then, maybe.

A Grease spell covers a material surface with a slippery layer of a fatty, greasy nature. Any creature entering the area or caught in it when the spell is cast must save vs. spell or slip, skid, and fall. Those who successfully save can reach the nearest non-greased surface by the end of the round. Those who remain in the area are allowed a saving throw each round until they escape the area. The DM should adjust saving throws by circumstance; for example, a creature charging down an incline that is suddenly greased has little chance to avoid the effect, but its ability to exit the affected area is almost assured! The spell can also be used to create a greasy coating on an item--a rope, ladder rungs, weapon handle, etc. Material objects not in use are always affected by this spell, while creatures wielding or employing items receive a saving throw vs. spell to avoid the effect. If the initial saving throw is failed, the creature immediately drops the item. A saving throw must be made each round the creature attempts to use the greased item. The caster can end the effect with a single utterance; otherwise, it lasts for three rounds plus one round per level. The material component of the spell is a bit of pork rind or butter.

 

[Drew]

Doesn't sound all that appealing. I think Olive Oil might be more endearing.

 

[sea]

Nice to see someone doing the Enhanced Edition, with the new content included.

 

[Drew]

Nice to see someone doing the Enhanced Edition, with the new content included.

I've never actually played the non enhanced version, but I figured this would suffice when I picked it up.

 

[Abelian]

One suggestion: put all the screenshots in a spoiler tag, in order to make it easier to scroll through the page.
Anyway, good job so far and I'm looking forward to updates.

But, I'd like to get his body.

 

[MicoSelva]

Good luck with this, I'm hoping to see regular updates.

Spoiler

Already too late for that, I guess?

 

[Drew]

Not too late, real life caught up with me for a bit.

 

[Thor Kaufman]

Nice to see someone doing the Enhanced Edition, with the new content included.

Is there some kind of list available for BGEE and BG2EE on what's new?
Also quick jewgling says there are quite a few bugs

 

[GarfunkeL]

We have vanilla BG, solo BG, ironman BG's of various types, and BG's with a lot of added/mod content. So at least go for a weird/unusual party to spice things up a little.

 

[Abelian]

GarfunkeL, I took the liberty of copying your party suggestions from the "So, Baldur's Gate" thread:

Fun party groups to try out in BG1!

Shortie-party:

Alora, Yeslick, Quayle, Kagain, Montaron and Tiax. You can drop Tiax if you have Alora (for traps&locks) or vice versa. PC should probably be a gnome mage as otherwise your Arcane power is pretty low - but not an absolute requirement. Yeslick and Kagain will kill each other.

Arcane-party:

Xzar, Edwin, Xan, Quayle, Dynaheir. PC should probably be a mage-thief. Quayle can sort out the healing. This is a quite challenging run as only healing comes from Qayle and necromancy. Edwin and Dynaheir will kill each other.

Divine-party:

Ajantis, Yeslick, Branwen, Quayle, Tiax and Viconia. Tiax can handle traps, Ajantis&Yeslick will be the brawn along Branwen and Quayle has few arcane spells, so PC can be either another paladin, a cleric-mage or whatever.

Hippy Faggot-party:

Coran, Kivan, Xan, Viconia, Khalid and Jaheira. Coran has thievery, Viconia or Jaheira can do healing, Xan has arcane spells, so PC can be, again, pretty much anything. Kivan and Viconia will kill each other.

Sneaky Ninjas-party:

Imoen, Kivan, Safana, Alora, Montaron, Tiax. Probably best idea to drop Tiax and make PC a better cleric-thief. Point is that the entire party can sneak. Sneak through the game!

Ultimate Party of Ultimate Challenge:

Faldorn, Eldoth, Skie, Garrick, Tiax. All are fairly shitty in what they are supposed to be doing. PC should probably have shitty stats and be a third bard, just for laughs.

Obviously, mods that affect character classes might fuck these up. Mods that prevent party member from initiating combat with each other are a must. Unless you want to lose a party member in the middle of Durlag's Tower or something.

Note that if you are going to recruit Yeslick in the Cloakwood Mines, you need to bring him suitable equipment with you, as his "quest" to destroy the mines doesn't give you time to run around shopping before facing Davaeorn.

It's kinda a shame that the number of recruitable NPC's was dropped in BG2, meaning that such theme-parties are quite difficult, if not impossible, to run. There's 1 dwarf, 1 gnome and 1 halfling in BG2, for example.

PC as a fighter-cleric dwarf, Kagain, Montaron, Yeslick, the halfling thief-chick and Quayle. With BG1NPC-Project, it was hilarious. Though you need the tweak-thing that prevents party-members from fighting, as otherwise Yeslick and Kagain will kill each other.

Was surprising effective as well, had far fewer problems than I had with my "harem-party" (PC mage/cleric (should have been fighter instead), Imoen, Viconia, Dynaheir, that crazy Druid bitch, Safana), which had some serious problems in late-game thanks to SCS.

So PC, Viconia, Dynaheir, Faldorn, Safana and Shar-Teel. Faldorn and Shar-Teel and Viconia were melee/casters while Safana was ranged and PC and Dynaheir slinger/casters. Not too bad early-to-mid game but late game BG and all of TotSC were a pain, since SCS beefed up the encounters and my melee prowess was so shitty. Viconia and Shar-Teel have really crap CON, so not enough precious hitpoints.

 

[GarfunkeL]

I've played too much BG :D

 

[Thor Kaufman]

Make a shitty character and only use Algernon's cloak.

 

[Johannes]

Go and look for the new EE NPCs as soon as you can.

 

[Abelian]

Go and look for eliminate the new EE NPCs as soon as you can.

Fixed for

 

[Drew]

Go and look for the new EE NPCs as soon as you can.

I'm not planning on doing an evil playthrough here, so I won't be using Dorn.
Rashaad I'll interact with, but honestly monks are just boring at low levels.
I will be picking up Neera, though.

Also, I could simply record a video Let's Play, that would likely be easier and more enjoyable for me, if that's acceptable.

 

[Baron Dupek]

It's not.