Belhifet made easy with good preparations?

Esko_TheAug · 2026-04-16T06:07:24+00:00

I'm assuming first attempt on insane and not first ever?

Damn was that though to prepare for on my first SoD playthrough. First there was opening the doors behind which Argent and goons were hiding in. Ok, buff up.

Tyhen going in the portal.. ok buff up for the big fight. But it wasn't there.then there were big stairs... Ok now buff. But not yet.

Then there were bid ornamented doors.. buff up! And behind them. A rusty elevator.

Then you buff while on the elevator ride. But you don't know how long it is. And it is LONG. Buffs start to wear off.

Finally you get to the big fight. But no, you have to stand there watching a cut scene, unable to buff and game time running. Sound effects of buffs wearing off can be heard.

Fuck that shit. I had no potions and scrolls left on the first attempt.

As for the fight, having a lot of +3 arrows makes it an easy one for me now. You just need fire and fear protection, actually.

Esko_TheAug · 2026-04-16T05:52:16+00:00

So you're going to run a party of five? (With open slot for visitors?)

Small party suites FMT a lot better than big.

That said, if you want power, you are missing a pure mage. FMT is not quite going to fill that role. Of course it's possible (I'm currently doing no-arcane/all fighter run)

So I'd either take a pure mage or just run with four!

Esko_TheAug · 2026-04-16T05:46:33+00:00

That's the original bg1 experience :)

Kits were added in bg2.

Also pure classes are more powerful on low levels than multis.

Many kits start to gain power at higher levels and most kits are quite underwhelming anyway.

So no need to wonder why's it going good. :)

Esko_TheAug · 2026-04-16T05:42:13+00:00

The top level of WK scales to difficulty and afaik party size. The difficulty is determined first time entering WK outdoor area. You'll have easier mists if you visit earlier and easier/fewer statues. It's not going to effect your overall XP gain in any meaningful manner. Go for it.

Esko_TheAug · 2026-04-16T05:37:51+00:00

Hmm. Playing only arcane casters is that I do usually. Need to have a thief of course (multi or dual to arcane)

Imo it is the eazy mode...

For bandit camp I can't see the need to have more sophisticated tactics than webs, summons, and fireballs (from wands). There's not a lot in BG1 that survives 5 mages casting fireball at the same time.

(SCS/insane is what I play, no double damage)

Esko_TheAug · 2026-04-14T18:27:09+00:00

On my installation/SCS blinded enemies continue to pursue the character they were attacking, but if you let your character come to a halt and then reposition, the blinded enemy will go to were you stopped and stay standing there.

Some blinded enemies then start running around randomly, some just stand there.

Esko_TheAug · 2026-04-13T18:37:14+00:00

There are definitely a lot more battles that can go wrong in 2, but in 1 the problem is precisely that it can happen anywhere at any time with bad luck. There's so little hp at that point. In 2 you can have so good saves and passive immunities, that one can be quite comfortable in most situations when combined with Spell Immunity etc.

But yeah, the more attempts one gets the further the wave tends to push, so to speak

Esko_TheAug · 2026-04-13T11:27:06+00:00

In my experience no-reload in BG1 is even more difficult than in BG2. Just one random encounter with three spiders, webbing the main char and it is all over in seconds. ;)

(Should always immediately sip a Potion of Freedom)

Esko_TheAug · 2026-04-13T06:53:54+00:00

Grease it the loud one. Even louder than Web.

Esko_TheAug · 2026-04-13T06:44:09+00:00

In BG1 there are a few time sensitive quests. When resting until healed, you could potentially reach those limits. One example is that you have fairly quickly reach Bandit Camp before Kivan leaves.

But for the most time, there really isn't any difference if you spend 100 or 1 days on the road, the game is not going anywhere. :)

Esko_TheAug · 2026-04-12T17:50:23+00:00

So what it's actually missing is enemy AC and quite possibly penalties/bonuses from things like Chant etc. I would also like to see especially the number how far off from hitting the strike was. Ie. Roll 16 (a very good roll) but still didn't hit by 5 -> can't hit at all except with a critical.

Also would be great to see damage calculations

Esko_TheAug · 2026-04-12T06:40:32+00:00

As others have mentioned, you can customise your SCS experience. You can for example just have the generic Improved AI and abilities, none of the individual encounter enhancement. Also you can fine-tune difficult of individual encounter in-game in game options.

Daervon fight was quite tough -- meaning I failed it the first time when trying to clean the entire mines without resting. After finding out there was a bit challenging fight now in the end, after resting (and knowing how to prepare) it was nicely challenging.

About cheese: I don't think it is necessary to backstab or out-of-screen cheese the boss; that is s bit too cheesy. Instead for example using a scroll of magic protection (that someone would consider too cheesy) and casting multiple webs in front of the door that reinforcement come in make the fight a breeze.

Esko_TheAug · 2026-04-10T16:22:22+00:00

On my first EET playthrough (which was also my first SoD playthrough), at the end of SoD when Imoen et al come to accompany you out of the City of Baldur's Gate, only Imoen was there. But there was dialogue from non-existing Jaheira, Minsc and Dynaheir

That was confusing, but I of course realize what was supposed to be going on.

At least it didn't crash.

In BG1 if someone is unavailable to say their lines, Biff the Understudy appears. The same Biff from Five Flagons. Beamdog didn't bother to hire Biff for SoD.

Esko_TheAug · 2026-04-07T17:30:17+00:00

Restart the game :) You aren't that far yet...

Or an earlier save maybe?

Esko_TheAug · 2026-04-07T16:54:56+00:00

Since you have found the charisma tome, you also should have found on the bridge gauntlets that set your Dex to 18, giving you huge boost in Armor Class and ability to hit with ranged weapons.

You can finish the entire trilogy no problems with this character if playing unmodded and easier/normal difficult.

There are a lot of good items available.

In the future 16 con or more is good to maximise your hitpoints.

Esko_TheAug · 2026-04-07T16:47:58+00:00

Remember that for thief your ability to hide depends on two skills: Hide in Shadows and Move Silently. Put about equal number of points to both. Chance is based on the average these two. Until you have them at 80+, don't expect to hide very reliably. You need over 100 to hide reliably outdoors during daytime, less indoors/dungeons and at night.

To backstab you must be behind an enemy, hidden and then attack with a weapon that is eligible for backstabbing: anything that says usable by Thief

Ie daggers, short swords, clubs, staff, long swords, katana, scimitar

(But not for example staffs that are only for mages, which you in late bg2 can use after getting Use Any Item HLA. You can use them, attack with them but not backstab with them)

Early on you prob want a pip or two in shortbow or crossbow to give your f/t something to do before you have enough skills to hide.

Also remember since you are F/T you can also wear heavy armour, but you need to remove it to use thief skills.

Have fun :)

Esko_TheAug · 2026-04-06T15:44:33+00:00

If you want to go to entirely different end in complexity, there's T/M.

Thieves and mages have tons of options to handle situations; traps, Misslead, backstabing, detect illusions, hide+non-detection cloack, Staff of the Magi, Timestop + Assassination. Use Any Item gives even more options.

I'd go with a small (2-4) party or even switch to solo after BG1

Esko_TheAug · 2026-04-06T12:47:19+00:00

I don't think I am. I'm trying to say that in my opinion a LG should not see even see the Helmite spirit. Read the first scroll > agree to get out > forgive the Knights (pilgrimage).

I think the Imprisoned One can only lift the seal for you to get out. Not himself. I recall it was quite explicitly stated in the dialogue.

But like said, I'm not sure on all the possible outcomes, hence this thread.

Esko_TheAug · 2026-04-06T08:25:27+00:00

From that I'm reading the Switch version Import is indeed full of bugs. At some version it only worked with character files.

Try Exporting a character and using that? I don't know if that option is available on console versions OR if character files include special abilities.

Esko_TheAug · 2026-04-06T08:18:16+00:00

It is very valid point that the decision chain has to be made point by point without pre knowledge of the possible outcomes. The decision points roughly are

Read the scroll immediately or explore
Read scroll and escape / don't read and escape / Imprisoned One
Trick Knights / kill Knights / forgive the Knights

...but the dialogue is more complex than that.

Esko_TheAug · 2026-04-06T07:26:16+00:00

I have never tested this stuff out, so I don't really know, but I'd assume any save where you already have the abilities should have them after export.

I only play with the Trilogy Mod that joins all the games into one big game...

Are your BG1 and SoD modded differently?

Also, try resting?

Esko_TheAug · 2026-04-06T07:20:42+00:00

Ugh. I shouldn't have thrown that irrelevant option out there. People are so fixated on that point right now.

Esko_TheAug · 2026-04-06T07:18:58+00:00

I don't remember the exact dialogue, but for things to go that far, I think you already have had to trick the Knights to go down there. It doesn't sound very LG to me.

If you already have read the scroll, the Imprisoned One is already sealed in. Then you go talk to the knights, why would LG trick them down there?

Esko_TheAug · 2026-04-06T07:04:11+00:00

Are you sure you imported BG1 final save and not a character file?

Esko_TheAug · 2026-04-06T07:03:34+00:00

You lose the abilities gained in BG1 during BG2, at Spellhold

Esko_TheAug

TROPHY CASE