The side quests are really interesting. I especially love the quest in the pudrid bog (I won't say more to not spoil anything). The companions are interesting. I like the Shadowheart romance a lot. There are a lot of interesting side characters, I especially love Alfira the bard, Karlach, a Tiefling paladin (she will become a companion), auntie Ethel, Abdirak, the priest of Loviatar, Halsin, the druid and Mol, the leader of a children gang. There are more really great characters, but those are my favorites.
Ahem...did you forget someone?
Not really - I don't like him that much.
“They can keep their heaven. When I die, I’d sooner go to Middle Earth.” ― George R.R. Martin
"We are all stories in the end. Just make it a good one." ― Doctor Who
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I tried this game (even though I've always hated turn based combat and know almost nothing about DnD and even less about Baldur's Gate unless we're talking the xbox version) and I was liking the story and the characters. But......the combat. I'm so bad. Gale always dies immediately. The whole party ends up dead. All our attacks miss. My rolls always fail. Not fun
Maybe I'll try it again later on. Unless someone can tell me what the heck I'm doing wrong that we're dead all the time? I'm still at the beginning of the game!
I tried this game (even though I've always hated turn based combat and know almost nothing about DnD and even less about Baldur's Gate unless we're talking the xbox version) and I was liking the story and the characters. But......the combat. I'm so bad. Gale always dies immediately. The whole party ends up dead. All our attacks miss. My rolls always fail. Not fun
Maybe I'll try it again later on. Unless someone can tell me what the heck I'm doing wrong that we're dead all the time? I'm still at the beginning of the game!
You gotta be careful about position, have Gale a little bit further away. If you can find higher ground it's the best for caster and archer.
Also Gale when he dies leave a toxic cloud around him so don't have other companion too close to him.
I tried this game (even though I've always hated turn based combat and know almost nothing about DnD and even less about Baldur's Gate unless we're talking the xbox version) and I was liking the story and the characters. But......the combat. I'm so bad. Gale always dies immediately. The whole party ends up dead. All our attacks miss. My rolls always fail. Not fun
Maybe I'll try it again later on. Unless someone can tell me what the heck I'm doing wrong that we're dead all the time? I'm still at the beginning of the game!
You gotta be careful about position, have Gale a little bit further away. If you can find higher ground it's the best for caster and archer.
Also Gale when he dies leave a toxic cloud around him so don't have other companion too close to him.
Have a couple of potion on each characters.
But mostly higher grounds.
Battle Always initiate battle first whenever possible and watch the separation distance of the party members. The best position for Gale is of course, not at the front. If battle is started by the mobs, once you begin to take turns, distance between party members is important as mobs like to throw aoe attacks. Far away enough not to get any splashes and yet near enough to help if anyone goes down.
Position / Environment Elevation really helps in shooting arrows and casting spells. If you intend to take down mobs at places with ladders, use the ladder advantage. Force the mobs to climb the ladder to you and you'll have the entire party clobbering them down one by one. Grease and acid splashes are your friend. Throw grease or acid on the ground, then throw fire if more than one mob is standing on the affected area. If you can push them off to die / suffer heavy dmg from falling, do so. Spells that push mobs also help greatly. I once had Gale wind push three goblins into the pit.
Objects You can cheese fights using objects like crates. This works if you're intend to go hostile on friendly NPCs who're not so goody as they look. This was what I did with one group. They were not together. One was on a patrol path, another was standing outside. Two were inside the building. I blocked up the exits of the building so the two couldn't get out, making sure to block windows as well and then shoot at them from the upper level. They couldn't climb up because I blocked the ladder as well.
I took out the pather with a push that flung her down to the river bank. She died. The one standing outside had no chance because I put two party members on him.
Objects that can help in fights can be picked up; wine barrels, the purple barrels and acid bulbs (I forgot what they're called) on the Mind Flayer ship, fire flasks, water barrels. The wine and purple barrels will break and burn when fire is cast on them. Pick them up whenever you see them, keep one on one or two companions with str or empty inventory and send the rest to camp.
The acid bulbs do not aggravate mobs if they're not aware of the party. I don't know if this has changed but I've thrown acid bulbs on the ground where the bosses were standing / patrolling and waited for them to die as I wasn't incline to fight.
If you wish to place a wine barrel near some mobs but not activate battle, use magic hand to push the barrel into position. The mobs ignore barrels jumping towards them. Using such tactics will of course be time consuming and test your patience.
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Enemies tend to target the lowest AC party member in range. That's going to be Gale or anyone with low dex in light armor (aka Astarion). To help mitigate that a bit you can cast mage armor on Gale. It last until the next long rest (or death). Shadowheart also has Shield of Faith that work somewhat similar for her.
Don't be afraid to "hide" if required. Using walls, rocks, elevation or even fog cloud or better darkness once you get level 2 spells. Note that fog cloud/darkness requires you to move out to attack, but enemies will have harder time to target you when you are inside of those spells. They provide cover anywhere.
You can, during conversation, switch with the other party members (head icon). If things looks to be going south, that allow you to position everyone but the speaker before the fight start. You might have to unlink the portraits thought (drag away so they don't touch anymore).
In term of mechanics.
You always have the same amount of action/steps per round (1 action, 1 bonus action and walking distance = yellow bar), so don't be afraid to spend it all.
Some enemies have attack of opportunities (white sword circle shows if you are engaged on mouse over), use jump to move away from enemies in that case.
Give a ranged weapon to everyone, softening enemies via ranged attacks helps a lot instead of rushing to them in melee.
Advantage/disadvantage affect combat rolls a lots. Easy way to remember: elevation grant advantage on enemies lower while they have disadvantage to hit you (work on the other way too, you get disadvantage when trying to hit sometime elevated).
A lots of food heals better than potions and the early spells. Especially meat and only take a bonus action to use. You can open your inventory in combat and use things directly in it (even send stuff to other party members if they aren't to far away).
With a Cleric don't use Sacred flame unless the enemy is knocked down. It's a dex save and 90% of the enemies in the early part have high dex. Guiding Bolt is great, but you don't have many level 1 spell slot to spam it.
The magical items that belongs to the Absolute cult members require a brand of the Absolute to use, otherwise they negatively impact you. Example, the armband found on the goblin leader at the grove gate attack, they cast bane on you (which affect your rolls and it's bad) unless you get the brand.
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Thanks for all the replies. I got through all the battles (with dead Gale) until I entered the ruins. I couldn't get higher ground in there and they aggro as soon as the door opens so that takes away all my advantages. I honestly didn't know I could position the party cause everyone runs to whatever character I'm controlling. I guess I'll have to see if there is a way to make them stay where I put them. I was using the walls and making them come out to us, but then they immediately killed Gale (sigh). I'm still at the beginning there and haven't rescued the orc looking chick yet so I have Shadowheart, Gale, Astarion and me (ranger).
I've never gotten magic hand to work for me so I'm probably doing it wrong. Maybe in a day or 2 I'll feel like trying it again. It just makes me sad that the combat is so frustrating when the characters and story were pulling me in.
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Thanks for all the replies. I got through all the battles (with dead Gale) until I entered the ruins. I couldn't get higher ground in there and they aggro as soon as the door opens so that takes away all my advantages. I honestly didn't know I could position the party cause everyone runs to whatever character I'm controlling. I guess I'll have to see if there is a way to make them stay where I put them. I was using the walls and making them come out to us, but then they immediately killed Gale (sigh). I'm still at the beginning there and haven't rescued the orc looking chick yet so I have Shadowheart, Gale, Astarion and me (ranger).
I've never gotten magic hand to work for me so I'm probably doing it wrong. Maybe in a day or 2 I'll feel like trying it again. It just makes me sad that the combat is so frustrating when the characters and story were pulling me in.
The ruined chapel right off the boat is just outch. The inside is pretty much a level 3-4 encounter and your party is at level 2. I just go north and reach the Grove before doing it after faceplanting like you are doing in my first PT.
Anyway for the ruined chapel. Make sure you rested before going in (sleep button on the minimap for short rest, camp button for long rest). Short rest will heal you and some classes with regain resources (but not Wizard or Clerics).
There is an oil barrel inside the ruins in the room where all the bandits (but one) are. Have Gale cast fire bolt at it and retreat into the first room you entered from. Shadowheart will be your tank unless you made a Ranger Knight build or have Lae'zel's. Tip: Lae'zel armor is the best heavy armor in the early access, your tank should be wearing it. Shadowheart gets mirror image at level 3, it's a great defensive spell. Make sure Gale has mage armor and Shadowheart Shield of Faith up too.
There are two annoying bandits in the group: a fighter with lots of HP/AC and a small ranger (halfling I think) who use poison arrows all the time. There is also a mage with low HP that can be annoying, but should be easy to take out early. The rest don't have much HP, but can be annoying with ranged/melee attacks. The oil barrel should soften the mage and the other punks leaving mostly the fighter and super deadly ranger.
At level 2, on your Ranger you should have taken one of these three spells: Hail of Thorns, Ensnaring Strike or Hunter's Mark.
About Astarion. He start with padded armor, so give him leather. Also, make him dual wield two daggers and give him a short bow. Dual wielding secondary attack is a bonus action, you can toggle it being automatic, but beware that bonus action are useful to drink/eat healing items too. Sneak attacks also have to be used (either melee or ranged) as an action, they don't happen automatically.
Thanks for all the replies. I got through all the battles (with dead Gale) until I entered the ruins. I couldn't get higher ground in there and they aggro as soon as the door opens so that takes away all my advantages. I honestly didn't know I could position the party cause everyone runs to whatever character I'm controlling. I guess I'll have to see if there is a way to make them stay where I put them. I was using the walls and making them come out to us, but then they immediately killed Gale (sigh). I'm still at the beginning there and haven't rescued the orc looking chick yet so I have Shadowheart, Gale, Astarion and me (ranger).
I've never gotten magic hand to work for me so I'm probably doing it wrong. Maybe in a day or 2 I'll feel like trying it again. It just makes me sad that the combat is so frustrating when the characters and story were pulling me in.
There is generally a Hold Position command. If you know you're going to be stepping into a fight soon and intend to position your party members, unchain them (by dragging party portraits away from one another. I don't know if they have improved the unchaining; right click on portrait and click on command to chain / unchain). Move each member and press the key that tells them to hold position. I don't know which key it is so you'll have to look it up.
There's only one mob when you first enter the ruins itself so he shouldn't be a problem. The ones who're trouble are those in the inner room. azarhal's tips are very useful. I usually use magic hand to open the door to prevent the mobs from initiating combat. I positioned Lae'zel or Shadowheart near the door but not in the mobs' LOS. Once the door opened, I dumped a wine barrel at the doorway. It sort of blocks the mobs so they're left with range attacks, their tank would have to break the barrel to get to us and he generally did it. When he does, he always burns because one of the party members will throw fire, then the meleer will step in and mash him.
My usual tactic is; cast / shoot then get out of their LOS / behind cover. This force the mobs to move to positions that disadvantage them.
At present, there's no way to change difficulty. There're a few options. There're some mods that buff party members, I think. Or wait for the game to fully launch and for modders to come up with the god mode. Or wait for the game to fully launch and dial difficulty to story mode / easy.
Home/B5BM/B5 SIL Faith manages-Delenn "Throw it and you're bedroom shoes!" - Honor Harrington to Nimitz Dester'edre shena Tale'sedrin
Thanks for all the replies. I got through all the battles (with dead Gale) until I entered the ruins. I couldn't get higher ground in there and they aggro as soon as the door opens so that takes away all my advantages. I honestly didn't know I could position the party cause everyone runs to whatever character I'm controlling. I guess I'll have to see if there is a way to make them stay where I put them. I was using the walls and making them come out to us, but then they immediately killed Gale (sigh). I'm still at the beginning there and haven't rescued the orc looking chick yet so I have Shadowheart, Gale, Astarion and me (ranger).
I've never gotten magic hand to work for me so I'm probably doing it wrong. Maybe in a day or 2 I'll feel like trying it again. It just makes me sad that the combat is so frustrating when the characters and story were pulling me in.
You could try using Gale's death as a strategic advantage as he deals necrotic damage when he fully dies. I remember in my last playthrough Gale would always be the first to die especially at the start because the AI seems to always go for the weakest and lightest armoured character first. If a character dies it doesn't necessarily mean the battle is completely over. I gotta say I've never really used mage hand either. xD
If you have Laezel she is a very effective damage dealer while Shadowheart can be used to do a bit of ranged damage and heal at the same time (I highly recommend healing word as it can be used as a bonus action. Guiding bolt is also really good). I think staying in the darkness/shadows also affects hit chance so try to keep your characters in the darkness until it's their turn to fight.
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I was able to finish the ruins. I went very slowly and used some of the tips mentioned here and it did help. I still have a lot to learn though. I'm not fan of this kind of combat but I'm working on it Ty all very much for the help
I also finished the goblin battle outside the druid town so that's where I left off and will probably try that later tonight
I was able to finish the ruins. I went very slowly and used some of the tips mentioned here and it did help. I still have a lot to learn though. I'm not fan of this kind of combat but I'm working on it Ty all very much for the help
I also finished the goblin battle outside the druid town so that's where I left off and will probably try that later tonight
Yay I'm glad to hear you managed to get through it in the end! Once you get a feel for the different spells and the terrain it does get easier to strategise if you decide to go back again. I know some people have already done it all solo too.... I honestly had so much trouble with some of those early fights when I first started playing the game, I think Larian were saying around 70% of people died at the first battle with the intellect devourers, me included. xD
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I was able to finish the ruins. I went very slowly and used some of the tips mentioned here and it did help. I still have a lot to learn though. I'm not fan of this kind of combat but I'm working on it Ty all very much for the help
I also finished the goblin battle outside the druid town so that's where I left off and will probably try that later tonight
Yay I'm glad to hear you managed to get through it in the end! Once you get a feel for the different spells and the terrain it does get easier to strategise if you decide to go back again. I know some people have already done it all solo too.... I honestly had so much trouble with some of those early fights when I first started playing the game, I think Larian were saying around 70% of people died at the first battle with the intellect devourers, me included. xD
The solo PTs are based on exploiting acquired knowledge from a previous PT, exploiting gameplay features and avoiding combat in certain cases. Like all solo PT of party based games.
I know people who solo Dragon Age Origins on the hardest difficulty too and the Pillars of Eternity games have an achievement for it (solo on hardest difficulty with ironman on to be precise).
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I have to reinstall the game, because my hotbar is totally broken and I can't use spells. I had some minor mods installed for a while and some of the files might still have been there, so I thought it easier to just deinstall, erase everything still there manually and then reinstall.
“They can keep their heaven. When I die, I’d sooner go to Middle Earth.” ― George R.R. Martin
"We are all stories in the end. Just make it a good one." ― Doctor Who
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So I had never made a male Wood Elf before, I suppose, because I had never noticed 5 of them are really angry looking and the only one who looks kinda happy also looks kinda... dimwitted.