My new laptop also has this NVIDIA graphics card that is known to cause trouble with these Infinity Engine games. I was seeing black boxes around all magical effects and animations...unplayable. I eventually found a fix for this, but between that headache, the Tiax bug not resolving itself, and the amount of time I had taken off...I couldn't keep up with the same game. The options for me were to come back fresh with a new character, or not come back at all. For a month or two, I didn't come back at all...but BG has a way of inevitably pulling you back, I guess.
This time around, I'm playing with EasyTutu. I think this will be a better choice. Make the eventual BG2 import more seamless, and play the entire saga with the same core rules. I didn't choose a kit this time around, but for later plays it will be interesting to have a kit on the Sword Coast.
I decided to NOT play a berserker>druid this time around. I'll put that at the back of the queue and come back to it a some point in the future. Instead, my PC is Idaen, a Chaotic Good Half-Elf Cleric/Ranger. Now listen: I don't use Shadowkeeper, any console cheats, etc. I only rolled for about 5 minutes and got something serious (89). So here are his stats:
17 STR
17 DEX
18 CON
10 INT
18 WIS
9 CHA
I envision this character splitting time between tanking and casting priest spells. For that reason, I gave him a + in sword plus shield proficiency, in addition to ++ in flails, + in maces, + in warhammers, and the ++ in two weapon style. I may be a little mixed up here...if that's too many proficiency points, I made a mistake.
So what did I learn my first playthrough? First of all, I learned that NPC perma-death feels like a shot to the gut. I need to avoid this at all costs. Since I only reload when the PC dies, a sadly-unseen lightning bolt trap could be disaster for an entire campaign. In the early stages of that last playthrough, I would boot some characters out when they were dead and grayed, never to be able to see them again. That will NOT happen this playthrough. Sure, I spent a lot on resurrections, but I didn't realize (I don't know why) that I would start running out of NPCs. Also, I need to get deeper into this mindset to prepare for BG2, as NPC deaths are even less friendly in Amn.
So, what has happened? I started my day in Candlekeep, going through the motions at this point since I've done this so many times. I turned down the practice battle and got called a brat. No, really, guy...I know how to run a team in combat. No, I'm not the best, I'll admit...but I've done it before in previous lives and there's nothing you're gonna teach me.
Gorion gets served, I meet up with Imoen...like last time, I decided to stay away from the roads, but still want to get to the Friendly Arm Inn. I first try to go north, then east...but apparently Cloakwood is blocked off until later in the game. Alright, looks like I'm going to loop around south...retreat into the wilderness for a few days just in case they're still looking for me to kill. I figure Khalid and Jaheira will be waiting at least a week, and this detour shouldn't take that long. Unlike last time, I bump into Xzar and Montaron. I let them join the group...more people, more protection...sure I'll go to Nashkel with them, but lets get to the FAI first.
The detour turns out to be deadly. High Hedge is no place for a few level ones. Skeletons throw darts at Montaron and kill him. I had to run the hell out of there, especially as gibberlings and gnolls join in. Whoa, whoa, way too early for this type of BS. I even ran past a stranger who looked like he had something to say (it was Kivan), but there was no time to talk. I'll return here another day when I don't have to be constantly running for my life.
Slipped through Beregost, and actually spent a night at the Jovial Juggler. From a roleplay perspective, I didn't want to do this. People raise their eyes at strangers, and I know I'm currently being hunted down by someone. Once we rested, I got the hell out of Beregost and headed to the Temple to get Montaron resurrected for 100gp. Nice.
Then I head north to Larswood. Xzar died at some point...that's what 4hp will do. I wanted to make my way west to the FAI, but that route was blocked for some reason. I tried going even farther north in Larswood, but bandits started attacking me, so I zoned west...immediately I get attacked by an ogre and a gang of gibberlings. Somehow I manage to kill the ogre with Imoen's wand, and the run-in-circles strategy. Got some nice belts, too.
Make my way to the Friendly Arm Inn. Tarnesh ends up being no problem...wasn't even able to get his mirror image off...Khalid and Jaheira join the party, and I use another 100gp to res Xzar. Wow, full party.
So I'm about at 6 days and 4 hours. The detour to Friendly Arm Inn just isn't for 3 level one characters. I realize that now, but it didn't end with anything going immensely wrong. I'm going to head directly down the Nashkel now. I'm still making the decision to stay off the roads for now, so I'll travel south a little, east of that path. We'll camp out and gain experience.
Here's my NEW party, now:
Idaen, lvl 1 cleric/lvl 1 ranger
Khalid, lvl 1 fighter (dual-wielding bastard swords...man, I'm liking EasyTutu)
Montaron, lvl 1 fighter/lvl 1 thief
Jaheira, lvl 1 fighter/lvl 1 druid
Imoen, lvl 1 thief
Xzar, lvl 1 necromancer
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