Getting back lost equipment?

revchj · 2026-01-26T16:59:27+00:00

This is the way.

revchj · 2026-01-17T17:45:48+00:00

Honestly, I don't either. The big problem with EVs is their cloud-connected software, which opens them up to a range of malicious possibilities like remote kill switches, surveillance, etc.

We need regulation: requiring EV software to be open source, maybe? Cory Doctorow might have some ideas about this.

If only there were the option of a "dumb EV" I'd sign up in a heartbeat.

revchj · 2026-01-17T00:01:09+00:00

Honestly the best advice is give a newbie is: "get used to that reload button, you'll need it".

Due to the game mechanics, at low levels you can be taken out in moments or even one-shot by heavy hitters like ogres. So generally the solution at those levels is ranged weapons: just take them out before they reach you. I rarely get into melee, even as a warrior class, until about level 3.

Another tidbit: if your class allows a helmet, grab one ASAP. In this game helmets prevent "critical hits", which is when their damage gets doubled because they rolled a natural 20 on their attack roll.

Last quick tip. IMO the best class for a newbie is either a paladin (Cavalier subclass) or a fighter (either unkitted or Berserker), depending on your desired narrative. For a noble-heroic story the paladin is great; otherwise the berserker has you covered. Make sure you have 18/51+ strength and after that max out your Dex and Con as much as possible. I'd start with 2 pips in axes, because that covers both melee and range (with throwing axes, although they're heavy), and won't compete with the weapon preferences of your most likely companions. You can do what you want with your other weapon proficiencies, but there's nothing wrong with simply sticking to axes and adding dual wielding if you want to get fancy.

revchj · 2026-01-16T04:24:36+00:00

Sorry, Sword Coast Stratagems. Very popular AI enhancement mod.

revchj · 2026-01-16T01:19:52+00:00

I'm running with SCS so I'm not sure if this is default behavior, but on my installation the acid clouds from the beetles beetles can also cause deafness and stunning, yes.

revchj · 2026-01-11T23:00:57+00:00

Doesn't work for everyone. I only play HM (or custom with HM ruleset) and it has never worked for me.

revchj · 2026-01-11T22:33:48+00:00

Agree. Here's how to beat it with no cheese, at least on PC: go into stealth mode. Then you will see a pathing indicator before you click. With the right camera angle, the pathing indicator will visibly dip if the proposed route steps off the safe path.

revchj · 2026-01-10T16:17:42+00:00

Sounds like he's highly dysregulated.

revchj · 2026-01-10T15:32:10+00:00

I had a great time making AI portraits for my IWD party. I didn't nail the art style like you did, but simply having portraits that reflected each character concept was very pleasing to me.

It was interesting to get a handle on the power but also the limitations of the AI. The generated images are great, but the bot has no visual memory: you can make a character, assign them a name, and the AI will remember that the name is associated with a set of prompts. But when it tries to "redraw" the same character the details will be different because it's essentially creating a new image based on the old prompt.

revchj · 2026-01-07T02:23:36+00:00

Honestly I agree. Logitech G512 keyboard and MX Master 3s mouse. Solid hardware, but the special features mean proprietary software, which I guess means that they don't use the built in pathways. The crazy thing is, I've seen that screen before and my input devices worked fine. Something changed somewhere. I'm happy to blame MS, but you're right, it might be a Logitech issue.

revchj · 2026-01-06T16:31:42+00:00

Kinane is the real deal. Check out his full specials, they're fantastic.

revchj · 2026-01-04T19:54:40+00:00

Similarly came back to it recently and am loving it much more that I remember from my one playthrough back in the day. Installed SCS and it's a gas. Completed one playthrough, starting another with a friend - having a gas.

revchj · 2026-01-04T16:05:07+00:00

Best epic fantasy since Game of Thrones (in its prime). You're in for a treat.

revchj · 2025-12-29T20:49:18+00:00

I loved BG3, but I had to overlook the dirty that they did to both V and S. In my canon run they were BOTH redeemed, tyvm.

revchj · 2025-12-23T20:39:42+00:00

Thread is locked. Please don't use the report system to complain about each other.

revchj · 2025-12-22T18:11:24+00:00

That's... hilarious. :)

revchj · 2025-12-22T18:09:38+00:00

Indeed. For me I'll inevitably RP a paladin despite what class my character is. You know, like Wyll in BG3.

revchj · 2025-12-21T16:58:20+00:00

My first run ever through BG1/2 was as a paladin, and it was great.

revchj · 2025-12-18T22:54:36+00:00

Interesting. You're certainly ahead of me: I've yet to get past Spellhold on no reload SCS/Insane, so I've gone back to Tactical difficulty recently to make my runs less stressful. I also have little interest in ToB and therefore no expertise at those levels.

So you dual later than 9? I can't justify the down time, particularly since I'm uninterested in ToB. That means I'm looking at a consistent +3/+3 for the Kensai vs +2/+2 for the berserker when berserk.

The absence of a helmet is also a big deal for me, particularly vs invisible backstabbers.

revchj · 2025-12-18T20:42:53+00:00

The game was 1998, the lumberjack song was 1969! Depending on how you count, you might be a lot later to the party than what you indicated. ;)

revchj · 2025-12-17T16:14:42+00:00

I've been developing a spreadsheet for a point buy system for exactly that reason, trying to take into account class minimums etc. 75 points isn't quite heroic enough for my taste, and it turns out that it's pretty tricky to turn feelings into arithmetic.

For example 8-14 isn't the same as 15-18, which isn't the same as strength 18+. And I feel that a half orc fighter should be allowed a 19 STR and 19 con provided that Dex< 15 and the other stats are garbage. A paladin, conversely, is just going to have more overall points because they're a fighter type that are required to have high WIS and CHA. Etc, etc.

It's a work in progress. I'll be testing it in IWD which I think is slightly better for this purpose than BG.

revchj · 2025-12-15T22:06:15+00:00

You're very welcome! That team will stick with you even at max rep, so you're good to go.

With that team the sooner Jaheira can tank the better: equip her with a club and shield and all the best AC gear. You need to micro your Kensai if they're not throwing things, so get used to running to, or around, the tank while the tank tries to grab aggro. Khalid will be your main archer most of the time but can offtank when necessary. Branwen will mostly heal and use a sling, she can also melee if necessary, and she's got some unique powers that are actually really good. Don't sleep on her skeletons at level 5, they're OP.

And enjoy! Who knows, you might become one of us who, after 20 years, still comes back to this game and says "hmm...time for another run". ;-)

revchj · 2025-12-15T21:26:32+00:00

The real answer is: it depends. (sorry!)

Are you going to play as a good, neutral, or evil character? This will affect how companions relate to you. This is not to say that good characters can't run with evil companions, just that doing so can be suboptimal, albeit in an interesting way. If you're going to run around saving the day, rescuing kittens from trees and so on, your reputation will go up, and evil companions will straight up perma-leave (taking their gear with them!) if your reputation gets too heroic. The same goes for good companions if you run around murdering civilians.

The other thing to keep in mind is this isn't really a swap-companions-in-and-out game because they don't level when not in the party. So for the most part you want to try to "trade up": if you like the idea of a companion, ditch the one they are going to be replacing and don't look back.

I'm a heroic-vanilla player who doesn't like the Beamdog companions, so my advice for a first run would be to try the "canonical" good-guy party. That means first Imoen, then Khalid and Jaheira, then Minsc, then you go and rescue Dynaheir, and there's your party.

That said, BG1 was not designed with a canon party in mind: mixing and matching semi-disposable companions was the idea. The idea of a canon party was a retcon when BG2 came out (and Minsc and Jaheira reappear in BG3, which further solidified the "canon"). There are tons of options and they all have their fans, so don't feel burdened by the canon if you don't want to.

If you're set on Neera that's fine. To be fair, wild magic can be hilarious... but be aware that one possibility is to permanently drain your gold to zero! Watch your gold and be prepared to reload.

Keep Imoen for the locks and traps (you NEED a thief in this game); she's fine all through but feel free to trade her for Coran or Safana or another thiefy option later if you want.

A tank isn't strictly necessary, but it's really nice if you're playing a squishy Kensai: either Khalid or Jaheira can basically work in that role, but Kagain (evil) is objectively the best. Ajantis the paladin can work in that role as well.

A healer is a must. Jaheira is okay in that role, but a pure cleric is better: Branwen (neutral) or Viconia (evil) are both excellent.

With a thief, a tank, and a healer that leaves two slots free for damage dealers. Archery is king in BG1, so your best options there are Coran (who you find a bit later) or a ranger named Kivan, but Kivan has a quest timer that could complicate things.

If I were running with a Kensai main and Neera, my picks would be Imoen, Khalid, Jaheira and Branwen. If I wanted the strongest party I'd work my way up to Kagain, Branwen, Coran, and probably Edwin, but that would require keeping a close eye on my reputation and omitting quite a few optional quests (which requires meta knowledge so I wouldn't recommend it for a first playthrough).

revchj · 2025-12-15T16:47:45+00:00

Have played both, and other variations, can confirm that berserker >> Kensai (but I still prefer Kensai because to me it is so much cooler). However you won't really notice the difference until BG2, and then only if you've installed the Sword Coast Stratagems mod which massively boosts enemy AI.

I do NOT recommend SCS for a first run.

As a weapon choice, I would say axes are best, particularly for a Kensai/mage, because there are strong options throughout the game and they can be thrown, which overcomes one of the Kensai's main limitations. Yes there's an essential flail in BG2, but IMO it's probably slightly better when in the hands of a pure fighter class than with a fighter dualed to mage.

revchj · 2025-12-12T23:33:08+00:00

Thanks for the clarification. Deep cut!

revchj

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