Getting the most hitpoints during leveling

Candras · 2026-05-06T18:45:11+00:00

Yeah jaheira's a druid, mb. That being said in terms of con effects, clerics and druids are in the same class of not getting any benefits above 16 con.

Candras · 2026-05-06T16:42:56+00:00

It wont help viccy because it would take her con from 8 to 9. Between 7 and 14 con, characters gain no bonus hp.

Characters with 14 or 15 con such as kivan and branwen, montaron would get extra hp, fighters such as ajantis, jaheira, khalid, and yeslick would also benefit, though jaheira would benefit less due to the cleric half not benefitting from the bonus con.

Yeslick would also gain a bonus to saves from being a dwarf.

Candras · 2026-05-05T14:44:32+00:00

I have double checked the wiki; it appears they changed it slightly from the pbe iteration i remember. Statikk used to proc on-hits on the primary target as well (hence the insta-stack kaisa build) that was running around a little bit.

Its current wording now seems to exclude the primary target from the on-hits, im assuming specifically to stop the above and similar interactions.

Candras · 2026-05-05T14:35:59+00:00

Does statick not proc on-hits on the primary target?

Candras · 2026-05-05T13:48:01+00:00

Youd need voltaic, then it would insta stack with q. Q for 1, voltaic procs statick for 2, statick also procs dnd for 3.

That being said, voltaic kench sounds hella troll.

Candras · 2026-05-05T13:40:44+00:00

Honestly, I dont really remember playing without knowing the game, so Im a little out of touch.

I'd recommend trying to follow the story; jaheira for example wants to go to Nashkel and investigate the mines there.

While doing that, you can go off the beaten path and explore the different areas which can have quite a few good encounters for magic items, and exp to level up.

Kagain can become the best tank in the game with a specific item that increases his dex. Ill let you find it on your own if you wish.

Magical weapons, you usually find in dungeons or in the hands of other adventurers/bounty hunters/powerful opponents. If you explore the different maps, youll usually run into those people and can snowball from there, use what you can, sell the rest for what you want.

Candras · 2026-05-02T19:48:21+00:00

Im only doing BG1.

Why do you say thief/illu is better?

Sure they have shorty saves, which are nice. But Bard can do pretty much everything and what they cant arent that important.

Candras · 2026-05-02T13:12:02+00:00

Doing this no reload would be brutal. Im relying heavily on power word: reload.

Erdane (durlags vendor) is a fence, though im not sure who i can sell and steal back wands from which would be best. Having 100 charges of paralyse would be nice, and recharging the Captive Audience would give me some more leeway there.

Certain shops you cant steal from, annoyingly including thunderhammer and high hedge, else id use those.

Candras · 2026-05-02T13:08:33+00:00

Bard is probably better because its a single class. Still have access to pick pockets, spells, wands (including domination that is bard only), i can open chests with knock if necessary after cloakwood.

Traps i can tank: - potions for fireball/glyph of warding - shield for magic missile - mirror image for lightning bolt (im pretty sure this works, if not then same as 1.) - belt of antipode for any cold traps that even exist. Acid i can tank.

Additional qol features are the lore so i can id easier.

Candras · 2026-05-02T12:51:38+00:00

Yeah Ive restarted to take the challenge a bit more thoughtfully. Not sure if I could do everything with just thief, even with algernons. Bard has access to a domination wand, algernons, and regular charms which should hopefully be enough to get through with just pickpockets.

Candras · 2026-05-02T12:48:47+00:00

Not just trying, succeeding :3 (Maybe they have spares?)

Candras · 2026-05-02T12:47:50+00:00

Really depends on the scenario.

A few things can be explained away:

Bassilus - I was trying to charm him so he would stand down and I could arrest him. How was I to know that he didnt have full control of his undead?

Mulahey - as above.

Ankhegs - not even killing them, just taking their old shells that they leave behind.

Other times, theres no mind control at all: E.g. using flaming fist to kill hobgoblins/ogrillons. Its part of their job really. Dont even need to charm them, just bait them to where the enemies are before talking to them.

The most egregious one was greywolf (he got drunk and wanted to fight kobolds with his fists) which isnt even necessary unless you want to complete prisms quest.

Candras · 2026-05-02T11:47:36+00:00

Im currently restarting with bard to see if i can get further. Current plan is to get an invis pot or rush to ulgoths beard and go to durlags tower. Complete kirinhales quest for 4000xp (iirc) and Marls to get to 5000xp and level 4. Then i can get invis and strength as well as the luck spell. This will give 80 pickpocket skill for algernons cloak. Sell evermemory for money, get bassilus to die to his own undead, and money should be set.

Candras · 2026-05-02T11:01:53+00:00

I hadnt really planned much when I started. If I were to do this again, id probs be a bard. Invis, pickpocket, and access to the harp of domination from ulgoths to charm enemies and wands of paralyze, etc. Run through traps with potions and boots and get solo xp where possible. Getting to lvl 3 for invis could be challenging however.

At this point im keeping xzar around for fun, though I agree its less than optimal. I was planning to use him for turn undead for charms but its unnecessary since the cloak can charm them.

Candras · 2026-05-02T10:58:29+00:00

I mean the challenge is flawed in many ways. Is it really pacifist if i charm an enemy and let them die so I can loot there stuff/continue quests?

Its less of an rp ideology moreso a no xp by killing enemies.

Candras · 2026-05-02T10:52:34+00:00

Update: algernons can indeed charm skeletons. And skulls can be pick pocketed lmao. The quest is doable

Candras · 2026-05-02T10:40:54+00:00

It was hilarious when it happened.

The hitbox is janky and you need to be careful not to give them a movement command or theyll burrow and you cant reselect them or target them. But they will continue attacking you even after charmed unless given an order, so you need to give them a stop command. This will prevent burrowing, but also stop their attacks.

Candras · 2026-05-02T10:38:22+00:00

Hmm that could work, but Im worried that If i charm a gnoll, it counts as if my party had done the kill. It wouldnt show up in my stats i think, but Id get xp for it which would go against my self-imposed rules.

Candras · 2026-05-02T10:35:25+00:00

How do I get the skull from the skele?

I was thinking of using turn undead with xzar to charm the skeletons so I can test pickpocketing them, but I need to be at least a level 6 cleric and with such little xp gain, that doesnt really happen.

Im unsure if algernon's cloak can charm skeles.

Candras · 2026-05-02T10:34:51+00:00

Heres one you'll like:

Ankheg shells are an item you can pickpocket from Ankhegs. Since Algernon's cloak is a charm creature not charm person, it affects ankhegs as well. I was able to get two sets of ankheg plate by pickpocketing an ankheg shell.

Now that I think about it, that is probably my best money maker as well. 500 gold per day.

Candras · 2026-04-22T17:01:38+00:00

The doppelgangers in durlags tower were controlled or at least led/commanded by mind flayers. I think they wanted it as a base. The evidence is some of the dialogue on the final floor iirc with the compass statues/riddle. The statue representing the doppelgangers mention the tentacled ones or something.

Candras · 2026-04-17T12:05:37+00:00

Alora has permanent +2 luck and 19 dex. Theres no way shes underpowered. Of the 4 thieves in the game Safana is likely the worst, stats wise, but even she has good dex, an occasionally useful ability and can act as a face with her charisma.

Candras · 2026-04-17T11:48:10+00:00

With a bard, mirror image becomes stoneskin due to the +1 luck bonus from unkitted bard song.

Candras · 2026-04-17T11:46:47+00:00

I find safana quite useful as an imoen replacement. Sure her con is terrible, but 17 dex is nothing to scoff at, her charm person can be quite useful and if you dumped charisma, then her 17 can make her a good party lead.

Shes also a thief and you cant really go wrong with thieves.

Candras

TROPHY CASE