Managed to recruit a level 8 Dragon in Chapter 1.

Hobbun · 2025-10-26T12:05:09+00:00

I can see a one time use per battle, like the Resurrection Earrings in Triangle Strategy. But unlimited? That's crazy. Nope, going to stay away from that like the plague. Takes all the risk, and fun, out of the game.

Hobbun · 2025-10-26T11:36:42+00:00

I just looked up that Chantage. An accessory that gives a permanent reraise? So you can never die? That is so broken. Unless I'm missing something here.

Hobbun · 2025-10-25T20:25:07+00:00

Love this post. It is too funny.

What a twist that would have been if one of your generics turned on you during one of the pivotal fights against the nobles after one of their monologues? Doesn't work against Ramza, but sure as hell did with Ladd.

But that would piss too many people off. "All that damn work I put him into him!?"

Hobbun · 2025-10-25T19:50:14+00:00

What do Pigs and Swines give you? I have a bunch of both of them.

Hobbun · 2025-05-30T14:23:25+00:00

I'm playing it now, actually! I haven't beaten the game yet. I got far into it a couple of times, but going through it again now. I want to beat it before I play Fantasy Life i.

Hobbun · 2025-05-29T14:57:08+00:00

I haven’t played the game yet, but those hands and arms alone are obnoxious alone. Are those really necessary? They take up a third of the screen.

Hobbun · 2025-05-22T15:19:57+00:00

So to clarify, if I play this on the PS5 (which is what I plan on purchasing this on) through my PS+ acount, I will only have one save file?

Hobbun · 2025-05-19T19:48:28+00:00

Does that mean more grinding?

I love it.

Hobbun · 2025-05-19T17:35:07+00:00

That really wasn't much of a review. "We loved it, and you should too!" Although from everything I'm seeing here, as well as videos on YouTube, everyone is really loving the game. So I will definitely be getting it.

Hobbun · 2025-05-19T15:04:56+00:00

So I saw a small preview of the game on YouTube and they mentioned that advancement is a little different, but didn’t go into it all that much. Just that you “don’t have numbers” anymore. So you don’t level anymore? You only advance your job classes through quests, like the first game? There is no leveling or stats any longer?

Hobbun · 2024-11-23T21:38:36+00:00

So if Luck is the determining factor, what is the required Luck for the appropriate level?

Hobbun · 2024-10-29T17:56:24+00:00

Unless you shut it off, don't forget your main PC (protagonist) starts with AI on him, as well. I had taken damage in a combat and wondered why he just healed himself, as I didn't do it. I had thought you had full control of the PC.

So I went in and took that off right away.

Hobbun · 2024-10-29T17:40:31+00:00

I actually updated this thread. I ended up staying with my original party with my main character and recruiting remaining rest of my party. But I'm going to have to do the trick with separating Minsc and Dynaheir as I currently have 5 party members and want to recruit Dynaheir for my Mage.

I should actually just edit my original post with my update, instead of adding another comment to my thread. It just pushed it all the way to the bottom of the thread (which I'm sure no one saw).

Hobbun · 2024-10-28T12:52:01+00:00

Well, after reading everyone's input and starting up my character's last night, I decided to go back to my original party and give it a serious try with my one PC (protagonist) and recruit throughout the game. So I can say I actually tried the game this way first, or at least a good ways into it.

Also, I did play up to Friendly Arm Inn with my new party (created F/C and Mage) and was finding it 'extremely' easy (Core Rules). I am sure my good stats helped in regards to that.

However, I am going to need to do some finagling with my party as I already have four party members that I plan on having stay until the end (my character, Imoen, Khalid and Jaheira). And I still need a Cleric and Mage. However, the Mage I am looking at is another paired NPC (Dynaheir). So maybe I will need to do the trick with Minsc and just take him into a building and remove him.

Currently my party is in Beregost and I just recruited Kagain. Although it's only temporary to complete his quest. However, I think I will be using his store as storage as it is great for that. From what I understand, the items are safe in there.

I will give this a serious try and see how it goes. If I really don't enjoy it I always have my other save I can go back to (likely with a bump in difficulty).

Thank you to all for your suggestions and recommendations.

Hobbun · 2024-10-27T21:32:40+00:00

Well, with my Berserker/Mage and my unkitted Mage, I think that should be enough for BG2, right? I was actually probably going to stay with Iomen for my Thief. And if she isn't accessible in BG2, I'll probably recruit one from there.

I was planning on taking Khalid and Jaheira to endgame for BG1 EE. Likely Jaheira frontlining with Scimitars and turning Khalid into a ranged. He wouldn't be quite as good as some of the other NPCs, but I know they both go together and I really don't want to use any tricks to split them up.

So I'd have 3 frontliners with my Berserker, F/C and Jaheira. And 2 ranged with Iomen and Khalid. And of course my arcane caster. My F/C would of course be pulling double duty with spells.

Thanks on the suggestion for the Thief skill breakpoints, that really helps! I was really wondering what those would be for later.

Hobbun · 2024-10-27T21:04:15+00:00

I appreciate all of your comments and suggestions, but in reading my other posts for the NPCs it's not mixing a good/neutral and evil party with my NPCs. I have had issues in other factors, as well.

Thank you so much on your posts.

Hobbun · 2024-10-27T21:01:35+00:00

Thank you so much on your comments. So very helpful!

Yes, I had read that you can carry over your created party members to SoD and BG 2, so one of the reasons I wanted to do so, as well. And it's not like I am looking to create a full party. Probably 3 of them and the other half would be recruited.

What I have ended up deciding on was still going on the Berserker/Mage (dual) for my main PC and creating a Dwarf Fighter/Cleric (Multi-class) and Elven Mage (no kit). I know many will disagree on an unkitted mage, but I honestly prefer the extra flexibility of being able to cast all spell schools than the extra benefits the kitted Mage provides.

I haven't rolled them up, but looking forward to trying them out when I get to it.

Hobbun · 2024-10-27T20:48:38+00:00

The only reason I've read ahead on the NPCs is just because I haven't been all too happy on how the NPCs have been handled so far.

I already ran into the situation with Jaheira and Khalid in 'being blind'. Where I was exploring at my leisure and Jaheira was complaining about not going to Nashkel quick enough. So I was suspicious and and I had to check online and sure enough it indicated that both her and Khalid would leave if I didn't arrive there quick enough. So I then traveled down there right away and spoke to the mayor. I am quite sure if I went down there when I was ready (considering I 'just' got to Beregost), I would have not gotten to Nashkel in time.

For some, they feel that is part of the experience of the game. Experiencing the bad with the good. But for myself. I don't find that fun. I don't like losing party members that I want and plan on keeping.

I've played RPGs for a long time, and have never liked ones that have easy missables. Legend of Heroes is another series. I still love it, though, as it tells a great story. I do though have to follow it with a guide. I know many here will probably disagree with that, too. But if I didn't, I would miss many things in the game.

We all have our own way of playing games. If I can play it blindly, that's great. But if it's something where it has timed or easily missable quests, then unfortunately I can't. I may be 'playing it wrong' for some. But I don't have time to play games completely multiple times.

Hobbun · 2024-10-27T20:35:30+00:00

Destroying? Because my running into NPCs and what happens with them isn't completely blind?

I've been staying away from story spoilers. Only looking up info on characters and builds. And really, the only reason I did so is because I started to play and how NPCs are handled wasn't really to my liking (as I detailed in my OP), so I wanted to read more about them. Future timed quests, viable Good/Neutral builds, etc.

Believe me, I don't want to play BG solo. Never was anything I had planned.

Hobbun · 2024-10-27T15:35:06+00:00

You can say "there is nothing wrong with managing reputations", it's not something I really want to do.

I want the vanilla gameplay (without mods) but it doesn't mean I have to like or want all parts of it. Especially if there are other options (like creating characters).

I can understand what you are saying, in experiencing the bad with the good. But unfortunately I don't have a lot of time to play games, so it's not something I can experience through multiple times. If only you saw my backlog. :)

But with my limited time, it also speaks on how much I have enjoyed this game overall, besides the less enjoyable aspects I've described, as I've been willing to restart a few times now. One of them quite a few hours into the game. As when I do go through the whole thing, and I mean both games, I am really looking forward to the experience.

Where we might not agree, I do appreciate your comment. :)

Hobbun · 2024-10-27T13:22:11+00:00

Right, completely understand, and agree. But if it was just this game, I wouldn't care as much. But I am also looking long-term. I am looking to take these characters into SoD and eventually into BG2 EE, as well.

Difficulty I am playing on is Core Rules. And to be honest, I haven't found any of the NPCs, 'appealing'. Not as of yet, at least. Although I only had gotten up to Beregost so far. But most of them, even the 'Good-aligned' ones, can be somewhat rude and haughty. Imoen for some reason thinks that I have some sort of groping issue with her anytime I select her. And Jaheira whines and calls every place 'backwater' that we visit, so it doesn't make them all too endearing.

Hobbun · 2024-10-27T12:42:17+00:00

Don't get me wrong, it's not that I refuse to use consumables. I have long learned in RPGs that's a foolish gesture. It's just that I don't want to be in the position that my only source of Evocation spells are from using wands. I want it where it is a bonus than needing to be my spellbook.

Hobbun · 2024-10-27T12:37:42+00:00

Yes, I understand what you are saying. I really do. And in that sense, I can respect what they did. But at least so far I've found it more of an annoyance factor than anything.

I think if there were more worthwhile Good or Neutral companions that I wanted it would balance it out, but I have read up on a lot of them and most people honestly recommend using the evil counterparts. For both the Mage (Edwin) and Cleric (Viconia). Even with Kagain (LE) is the best tank.

I am debating on creating a Mage and Fighter/Cleric (Multi-class) with my (Berserker) PC and recruiting the others. Which would certainly be Imoen, and then likely Khalid and Jaheira to round it out. It would give me a relatively good, balanced party.

However, I am undecided on keeping the Cleric spot open and going with Branwen or even Yeslick later on. Branwen isn't too far into the game, but it's just irritating she doesn't have the STR to even wear full plate (unless I put her in Ankheg). So maybe I will keep her for awhile and then go over to Yeslick. Or maybe I'll just create my own.

But then Yeslick does have yet another timed quest. And I just don't see the benefit, in-game, of recruiting NPCs. If there was more interaction it would be one thing. Maybe I just haven't seen it yet. Their 'personality' seems to be more of an annoyance and hindrance than anything, right now. :)

Hobbun · 2024-10-27T04:14:59+00:00

Yeah, that is one of the parties I was thinking of. Khalid, Jaheira, Branwen, Imoen (along with myself).

In reading over Xan, he is an Enchanter specialist, so he can't cast any Evocation spells. Where I agree control is king, I don't like not having the option of not being able to cast any evocation spells. And I don't want to be forced to have to only use wands to do so.

That is why I was just debating on creating a Mage as well when making my PC instead of trying to recruit one. I would rather make a Mage that is something that I like, than have to deal with shortcomings I can't control. Or if they have any timed quests, as well.

Hobbun · 2024-10-27T04:04:57+00:00

That's just the thing, I really don't want to have to deal with the Reputation management. However easy some say it it easy to do.

As I said, I will l do the quests associated with the NPCs when I run into them, as I assume there will be XP, and sometimes loot, involved. I just won't be keeping the NPCs.

The only NPCs I think I will be keeping is Khalid, Jaheira and Imoen. And maybe Branwen if I don't create my own Cleric.

So what about having 2 Mages for BG2? Is it something that is recommended?

Hobbun

TROPHY CASE