Solo Blade: A Report

Report Content

• Soloing - the Introduction
• The Blade Kit explained
• Used Baldur’s Gate II Setup

1. Part 1: Irenicus’ Dungeon
2. Part 2: The Circus Tent & Slums Slaves
3. Part 3: A Tanner & More Slaves
4. Part 4: The Astral Prison
5. Part 5: Daystar & Mae’Var
6. Part 6: Some Beholders & a Lich
7. Part 7: Druid Grove & Guarded Compound
8. Part 8: Planar Sphere & Kangaxx!
9. Part 9: The Shadow Temple

Introduction

With a small group of Forgotten Realms fans at Shrimprefuge, we decided to take on the Baldur’s Gate world using only one character (hence solo). For most of us, this will be the first solo run so I figured we (and other readers) could use a report writeup as the characters progress through the game.

Before picking the class bard and kit blade, I did some basic research on how to play and which strategy should work - and which won’t. The most resourceful report was definatly andijvieschotel’s one from the BioWare forums. Thanks to him, I managed to get through some very otherwise tough portions of the game, especially in the beginning. Let’s get on with it, shall we.

The Blade Kit

For those who are not very familiar with Bards in Baldur’s Gate, here is the official kit description.

The blade is an expert fighter and adventurer, whose bardic acting abilities make him appear more intimidating and fearsome. His fighting style is flashy and entertaining, but is also quite deadly.

Advantages

May use Offensive Spin and Defensive Spin abilities once per day per 4 levels. Offensive Spin lasts 24 seconds, granting the blade +2 to hit, +2 to damage, and an extra attack. As well, all of his attacks do maximum damage for the duration. Defensive Spin lasts 24 seconds, roots him to the spot, but gives -1 AC per level of experience. This armor class bonus does not go over -10.

May place three slots into two-weapon fighting style.

Disadvantages

Only has one-half normal Lore value.
Only has one-half Pick Pockets percentage;
Bard Song does not become better with levels.

Used Setup

1. Baldur’s Gate II + Throne of Bhaal + Official Patches
2. Baldurdash fixpack and text fixpack
3. Ease of Use components:
   1. Bottomless bag of holding
   2. True Grand mastery (not used as a blade… Hmmpf)
   3. Imoen ToB dialog fix
   4. Bonus merchants
   5. Cloak of mirroring graphic off
4. Rogue Rebalancing mod
5. Tactics mod - most components except boss improvements (auch)
6. Item Upgrade mod

NEW - download the savegame! (Weidu mod log added for clarification purposes)

Part 1: Irenicus’ Dungeon

Level One

After a few decent rolls, I managed to create a character with enough STR, DEX, CON and INT points to cast a decent amounth of spells and be protected with enough AC. Too bad a minimum of 15 CHA is required. She’s a half-elf since we can only choose between Human and Half-elf (with a minor infrasion bonus, nothing special), Neutral Good. Here is the statistic screen without leveling:

Level 7 start stats.	First level up defeating goblins and such

Right. Let’s face the most difficult part of the game right now: the first dungeon. Since you’re soloing, you should even watch out for a mob of stupid goblins as your THAC0 will be around 18 at level 7 and you won’t hit most stuff unless you activate Offensive Spin. Learn this skill and learn it well since this is your best friend. I tested it out against the first mephit and it went down quickly - I inflicted about 16 damage when hitting. The ogre mage defeated me a couple of times. A lot of teeth grinding will be required here: you don’t have access to any spells before resting and there are only 2 spins available at level 7 (one more at 8). Wow! Forget about dual wielding right now, pick a shield and katana and move. (I’ve put 3 points into dual wielding, one in short bows and one in katanas)

As soon as the first mob of goblins is dead, I head for the golem chamber and after that go for the short bow. Watch out for traps and locks: bashing at 18 STR isn’t nearly enough (use Draw upon Holy Might). Anyway, after luring a couple of mephits to me and 20 minutes of missing and hitting the beast, I finally have access to another interesting weapon: the quarterstaff +1 in the big box, which will be used to defeath the otyguth later. Rest time: Skull Trap and Mirror Image are the most important spell picks.

Armed with the shortbow, I manage to lure most second and third goblin mobs in pieces to the main hallway, where I snipe them one by one (after a lot of running and hiding). I now have access to the library but after trying to enter it with some buff spells I end up reloading very fast. Damn those mephits. However, casting invisibility and standing behind the strongest one (who casts Hold Person or whatever), activating Offensive Spin and whacking away works for the most part. Until you get overwhelmed. Plan B: run like crazy, cast Melfs Minute Meteors halfway and hurl the stones at the beasts.

Otyguth killed with a quarterstaff.	Duergar down with Skull trap

The duergar to the North of the library are easily defeated if you cast Skull Trap in the center of the room (near the mage who starts casting illusions on himself). If you time it well enough, most enemies will get caught and destroyed. Those who run can be dealt with using the short bow. Watch out for the leader though. I flet, activated my second spin and killed him. To the south of the library is an Otyguth, but it’s too dangerous to approach him from that side. So I backtracked to the crystal area and took the small east hallway filled with more goblins (snipe them one by one). Equip the quarterstaff (extended reach), cast Flame Arrow from a scroll I found (badly wounded) and whack away. Sadly some mephit spoiled the fun and killed me. Third try was a success.

The cambion holds a bastard sword +1 which can be sold in the Promenade for a decent amounth of gold, but I don’t have much inventory space left. Anyway, disarm his shield, activate DEfensive spin (no offensive left, AC -9 is nice! Although I had major trouble hitting him too) and watch. 30 minutes and 2 health potions later I could finally loot his corpse. Made it to the dryads, got the acorns and gathered more health potions to disarm Irenicus’ traps. I had to reload a couple of times as the fireball instantly killed me twice - argh. Helmet of Balduran will be handy for the HLA Use Any Item - amulet of metaspell influence equipped. Cleared the (too many) goblin mob with a Fireball scroll (pfew).

Whoops, I forgot the lesser clay golem guards! Luckily, the last defensive spin + a speed oil quickly kills them (with the needed health potions, again…). I decided to go back to the air portal and help the Djinni - not before resting. Cast invisibility, silently walk past the first two mephits, grab the air elemental scroll and summon him. He cleared the rest of the portal for me - luckily without getting killed. Another junk item to sell for +/- 1.000 gold.

Clay golem guards.	Air portal: summon does work for me.

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Level Two

After meeting Yoshimo, I decided I could make use of his trap skills, especially with the enourmous amounth of those lying around in the area. Whatever - I kept him to act as a meat shield and decoy. Too bad I can’t rip his katana, hehe. Rest time. The mephit portals in the next room proved to be impossible to defeat without the powerful ranged spell minute meteors - again. I entered the area with Yoshimo and everybody immediately attacked him. Sneaked further and stood to the North next to the door while throwing my meteors at the portals. They went down very quickly, oof. The blurry mephit did give me enough trouble, I luckily never went out of healing potions. Armed with my short bow and Yoshimo as a shield and decoy, the assassin in the tube room was easy to defeat.

I still couldn’t even hit the lowly assassins in the hallway, this proved to be very frustrating… A good thing my arrows sometimes hit - only for lowly 3-4 damage. Offensive spin time. Whack, dead, horray. Good, next area is the trap area. I disarmed them all (Yoshimo + portal keys) and grabbed the Ring of Protection +1 to find out I can’t use it… (Wearing mail of the dead +2 on and off - first casting buffs + meteors, then wearing it. You can’t re-equip armor during combat, sadly.) I helped the fake prisoner and placed Yoshimo in the doorway. Two magic missiles killed him outright. Whoo, this place can be completely ripped empty: scrolls and a lot of potions. I was level 10 by that time (just before going to level 2 of the dungeon).

To get the anti-crushing-belt I had to kill another group of duergars. Good thing I didn’t use invisibility yet. First killed the goblins with help of Yoshimo and my bow. Then cast Mirror Image, invisibility, stood behind the mage, activated offensive spin (I had three now) and killed him in one hit. Yoshimo entered the fight, but not before I slaughtered the other ones without getting too much damage. Too bad the spin doesn’t last very long. Onwards, to the exit! (On the way killing more assassins using scrolls & defensive spin). Bye bye for now, Yoshimo, thanks for unlocking all chests!

Mephit portal + meteors = win.	Copper guards: huh 4 extra mages? Ouch!