Solo in BGI

Remove all ads!

I've recently completed the entire series with one character and a party, and now I've decided to give it a go with a solo character, starting in Baldur's Gate I.

I realize this will probably be tough, but hey, that's a huge part of the fun of it.

Now, my first instinct is to go with versatility, a FMT. Problem there is the one weapon slot, and I want at least two (is there a way to fix that?).

So, I've decided on a Bard, to switch to a Blade in Baldur's Gate 2. I read the threads about Blades in the ToB forum, and the one about wands in the BG1 forum, and I think this could be a lot of fun. My question is this: What do you think is the best way to outfit a BG1 bard? Since I don't get weapon styles like in BG2, we really don't need to worry too much there. Also, is there any armor in this game that a Bard can wear and still cast spells in?

TIA

[ July 12, 2005, 08:02: Message edited by: krunchyfrogg ]

 

If you can kill Drizzt, his Chain Mail +4 will let you still cast spells, but otherwise, you'll have to stick with Bracers of Defense.

 

Actually, I tested out that Drizzt armor earlier, and it won't let you cast spells.

 

Nevermind, I was thinking of the Melodic Chain in BG2. Drizzt's Chain Mail lets you use theiving abilities, so you can equip it on a ranger or thief and still be able to use stealth and the rest. If you want your bard to cast spells in BG1, you'll have to stick with bracers.

 

if you're gonna solo, why pick a bard? bards can detect/disarm traps and the biggest plus, their song, won't be of any use to you. you'd be better off with a fighter/mage/thief, right?

 

Yes, but the F/M/T advances somewhat slowly, due to having to split the experience three ways. A bard can hit high levels very quickly.

 

FMT is way too easy and it takes ages to level up (besides you never get to the higher levels if you don't have the XP cap removed). Bard is more challenging and you have to make the most of your equipment to get through the hardest fights.
(If you have BGtutu installed and use kits bards become even better).

A long bow and the crossbow of speed are going to be your best friends provided you have the right arrows and bolts (even darts can help, especially darts of wounding with spellcasters... what is going to be tricky is when you'll have to face large fighters with low AC and plenty of damage: e.g. Taugosz in the bandits camp; and of course the final fight is going to be pretty tricky).

 

I think BG TUTU gives the same number of quickslots as BG2, as well as implementing weapon styles and the differant proficencies.

 

Looks like tutu is the way to go. I would never play a t/m of f/t/m in BGI because of only one weapon slot. That's terrible!

 

With BGtutu the bard gets even better: kits!
A solo blade in BG1 is way too powerful... and a Jester (or a Skald) will make life much easier for any party.

 

Arianyr:

Two reasons:

1)I think it might just be more fun, and it'll definitely be more of a challenge.
2)I hate the fact that a FMT gets only one weapon slot. I'd need at least two, like in BG2. I don't like the fact that I can't get to my inventory screen without the baddies getting a few knocks in on me first.

Felinoid:

That's just a minor bonus. I've noticed, when you're going solo, you advance really fast anyway.

I'm doing a lot of sidequests, but I haven't even entered the Nashkell Mines and I am already about halfway to the TotSC XP cap. I don't think I'll even attempt Durlag's Tower since I can't handle traps at all. For roleplaying purposes, I think I'll go in, hear about all the traps, and turn my singing butt around!

 

Yeah, going solo you get around 1,100,000 XP. That's enough for a 15th level bard, or a 9/10/11 level F/M/T. Of course, that's without the cap.

And you can do the upper levels of Durlag's Tower without worrying about traps too much. Just don't explore the dungeons.

 

And watch out for basilisk, if you're going to explore upper Durlags!

 

" I would never play a t/m of f/t/m in BGI because of only one weapon slot. That's terrible!"

eh....ist a f/m/t supposed to be able to put 2 slots in 1 weapon?

 

He's talking about the 'quick weapon' slots (you can only equip one weapon at a time). Find traps, thieving, stealth, and cast spell take up the other buttons, leaving room for only one quick weapon slot.

 

oh, THAT....that never bothered me so much; i just switched em with the inventory

 

@Fellinoid

The cape for TotSC is 161000. This is enough to get to level 10 bard...

For traps in BG, you can just take off your armor, cast mirror image and walk over them. Solo bard gets really boring, all you have to do is summon some monsters with the wand and everyone's a bitch. I rarely used the wand of stunning...

 

I always thought a good combo for soloing would be a dwarven fighter/thief. Hurry as fast as you can to get the book of +1 Constitution so you can regenerate most of your damage, and get to like backstabbing.

 

I never really thought of using a dwarven thief variant (T, F/T, M/T, C/T, F/M/T) because dwarves can only get 17 DEX and 16 CHA. If I'm going to do a thief variant, I usually go for elf or halfling because of the 19 DEX that they can get, not to mention the racial stealth bonuses (which dwarves don't get).

 

No, but Dwarves do get sizable trap/lock bonuses. Funnily enough, I started a solo Dwarf F/T just before going on holiday. Didn't get very far (FAI, IIRC), but he is quite capable. The -1 DEX is plenty compensated for by the uber-lockpicking skills, IMHO.