Looking for a different style of play

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Like many people here, I was incredibly challenged by this game my first time through. Now, the game seems to have lost a lot of its fun and challenge, as I never need to reload anymore.

So, this comes to the question I'm posing. I'm looking to recreate some of this challenge and entertainment. So therefore, I'm looking for suggestions anyone may have to help me enhance my game.

Up until this point, I have played mages almost exclusively, as it seems to be a bit tougher when my main char is not a fighter. Also, I would like to have a full party with lots of character interactions, plus a romance in their (maybe Jaheira's? I've never done that one).

Thanks for any suggestions you can offer.

 

You could play a thief, or multiclass f/t. Use stealth and backstabbing. It changes the game experience completely.

 

Try this:

Party: Aerie, Haer D'halis, Yoshimo, Viconia, Keldorn
(you could keep Jaheira a short while to do the Harpers quests, then remove her for Viccy).

Add the following rules:
- mage spells can only be cast from scrolls / items.
- you cannot sell items to the shops, nor steal from the shops. Your gold comes from what *gold* you find. The only exception is selling then buying back charged items to recharge them.
- Only the scepter of resurrection can be used to bring a dead char from the dead.

Should provide you what you're asking for: a challenge, and party interraction (Although Viccy is my favourite, you should romance Aerie in that particular case).

 

I had the same problem. My advice is to download some game mods - that will maintain your interest for a bit longer.

S

 

1) download mods which make the game tougher.
2) set the difficulty setting higher.
3) take arie with you (low hp's)
4) Choose main character with non-godlike stats.

 

Thanks Arutha, one question though. Those rules you mentioned, I assume that would be an arbitrary thing, as there is no way I know of to actually force the game to do it. With the party you mentioned, Keldorn will attack Viccy, so who would you recommend after she kills him?

About the mods, I thought the same thing, and installed every one I found, except for the ridiculous ones (if you fight the improved Bhodi in Chapter Three, she's basically unbeatable). Improved Tactical Encounters has a bug in it, which sometimes causes enemies to have infinite hitpoints.

I've never tried playing as a thief, that would certainly be an interesting idea. Which race would you recommend?

 

You could pick Anomen and have him fail his challenge for even more interaction... Then pick Jan to have a real thief and for all his fun dialogues.

As for the rules, you don't need to force the game to implement them. Your game, your rules. You can imagine all sorts of rules, variants, to up the challenge.
Other examples:
For mages: play a specialist that can cast spells only from his school.
Good clerics: not allowed to harm enemies (except undead and demons).
Thieves: UAI and traps forbidden.
Questing: for each quest, pick any two chars from your party and those will be doing the quest while the others are in "stand-by" mode.

etc...

[ July 30, 2002, 17:38: Message edited by: Arutha ]

 

If you want a challenge - here you go:

1) Insane difficulty - solo game - no mage or fighter classes (subclasses) in the char
2) if you are not THAT bored - try the following: a party without one of the following: no mages, or no clerics, or no fighters. OR just fighters, just mages, just clerics.
3) try the following party: Haery, Jan, Aerie, Cernd, Viconia and make your protagonist a Thief (true class).Count your total hitpoints - too much to have fun - so add a rule: no raise dead or resurrection.

That should do it.

 

I just installed Weimer's package, along with David Gaider's Improved Fights. I also installed Improved Druid Stronghold (designed by me) and Improved WK (also designed by me). Any others that you could recommend?

I already play on insane difficulty and hate soloing. I hate traps, and that UAI is also pretty cheesy, so don't want either of those. If I'm not using traps, maybe I should make my protagonist a bounty hunter. I do kind of like that no raise dead rule. Maybe I should give that a shot. I never lost a person anyway in my last five times through.

Maybe instead of a thief, I should be a Beastmaster, Jester, or Wizard Slayer. You know, the poorer classes just to make it harder.

[ July 31, 2002, 16:52: Message edited by: Rastor ]

 

Lol, no offence m8, but wizard slayer isn't going to make it harder. You'd be surprised at the classes power.
Seems like no one has yet recommended you a thieving race. The best two races for thieves are elves and halflings, because they get a dexterity bonus which improves thieving skills (5% on all skills). Halflings have their skill starting points a tad bit higher, but get a penalty to strength, Elves get a penalty to con, but you won't notice any difference there, because only single class fighter kits have a benefit of over 16 con.

 

Well, if I do play as a thief, it will be an elf. They are my favorite race. Why pure thief over the bounty hunter? I don't use traps, and the BH gets a penalty to thieving skills.

 

Maybe you could try a swashbuckler, as he can't backstab, or a Shapeshifter or a Totemic Druid...I imagine either of those druid types would make the game a little harder.

 

Hm... Nothing like all the other formations, but I find putting the game challenge rating to Nightmare is a good idea for a challenge.

 

Just install the MOD that stops that from happening, along with the MOD that stops party members from leaving if your rep. gets too high/low. There are a lot of very good MODs out there, and I know of two that will be finished soon that are just going to ROCK!!! I suggest you download and try some of them...(i.e. the Kelsey or Solaufien MODs, or various NPC romances)

 

Kitrax, the Happy Group mod is bugged, which is the one you are speaking of. I also consider this a hack, not a mod, and it would make the game easier. Not having party members fight takes some of the fun out of the game. I have had the Solaufein mod for months, although it is also bugged.

 

Go here and you'll find a lot of mods to try.