So I just installed Baldur's Gate II

For the beginning, i would also save before learning spells, because that has a chance to fail, which is pretty annoying if it happens on rare or expensive spells. As far as i remember, you can learn them by putting them in the inventory of your mage, and then right-click on them. If you use them, they are one-cast and then gone, without learning them. As said before, cleric/druid spells are different, because those lazy bastards learn them automatically on levelup by the gods, while a mage needs to work hard for his.

I don't know if you have already noticed the "magic" panel. There you can choose which spells to prepare for the next day with your caster. Those are then available when you rest. Resting has no negative effect, except that maybe monsters stumble onto you. There is no time limit or anything on the game.

Regarding the lag on spell effects, you are right, that should not happen on any remotely modern pc. Have you tried juggling around the options? It has been a time since i played BG, so maybe there is something in there that does not work properly on modern pcs.

Velr Switzerland. September 21 2011 21:22. Posts 5113

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You can only "fail" learning spells on higher difficulties (i think on "the hardest one" and "AD&D rules").

iba001 Australia. September 21 2011 21:42. Posts 148

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enjoy it, still my favourite all time game

leveller Sweden. September 21 2011 22:07. Posts 1814

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On September 21 2011 21:19 Simberto wrote:
For the beginning, i would also save before learning spells, because that has a chance to fail, which is pretty annoying if it happens on rare or expensive spells. As far as i remember, you can learn them by putting them in the inventory of your mage, and then right-click on them. If you use them, they are one-cast and then gone, without learning them. As said before, cleric/druid spells are different, because those lazy bastards learn them automatically on levelup by the gods, while a mage needs to work hard for his.

I don't know if you have already noticed the "magic" panel. There you can choose which spells to prepare for the next day with your caster. Those are then available when you rest. Resting has no negative effect, except that maybe monsters stumble onto you. There is no time limit or anything on the game.

Regarding the lag on spell effects, you are right, that should not happen on any remotely modern pc. Have you tried juggling around the options? It has been a time since i played BG, so maybe there is something in there that does not work properly on modern pcs.

When you've found how to add and learn spells, its also important to know (this can be frustrating for beginners) how to combat enemy spellcasters.
First you need to detect them with a spell that does so, such as true sight. They will turn invisible and be untargetable by spells.
Then you need to take down their Spell defences, with spells such as pierce magic.
Then you need to take down their physical defences, with the spell breach. Now you can hack away at them!

Fan of Morrow, White-Ra, Thorzain, MC, July, Tasteless and Psy.

Simberto Germany. September 21 2011 22:09. Posts 2624

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Also, better enemy caster usually have a spelltrap that resets their defenses 1-3 times during the fight, at which time you have to take away their defenses again.

hai2u September 22 2011 01:48. Posts 601

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you need to have a druid/cleric with a healing spell memorized for you to regain hp quickly when you sleep, which Jaheira will do fine, turn on "rest until healed". If BG is lagging then try turning off 3D acceleration in config, that usually fixes the problem.

Spitfire South Africa. September 22 2011 02:51. Posts 442

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Best...game...ever.

I'm sure I probably said that earlier in this thread, and will probably continue to do so every now and then so long as this thread exists.

Biff The Understudy France. September 22 2011 03:10. Posts 4017

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On September 22 2011 01:48 hai2u wrote:
you need to have a druid/cleric with a healing spell memorized for you to regain hp quickly when you sleep, which Jaheira will do fine, turn on "rest until healed". If BG is lagging then try turning off 3D acceleration in config, that usually fixes the problem.

You can also steal the ring of regeneration right at the beginning of the game.

Take Yoshimo, buy a master thief potion at the Adventurer Bazar (you already have one from Irenicus castle), then steal Ribald Barterman. He has a ring of regeneration. Save before doing so since if it fails you really are fucked.

I also recommend if you need healing, to get some Dryads. You get them from a level 4 druid spell. The thing is that you get two Dryads and they both have a spell of mass healing, which are much more efficient than regular healing spells since they cure all your group.

Beware of the dreams of others, because if you are caught in their dream, you are screwed. Dreams are terrifying will to power. ~Gilles Deleuze

Misanthrope United States. September 22 2011 04:12. Posts 885

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I fucking love that there is a poster in here named Biff the Understudy giving advice.

Resolve to perform what you ought. Perform without fail what you resolve. - Benjamin Franklin

Xedat Germany. September 22 2011 04:17. Posts 283

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So if I would start SoA for the first time now, the best class to begin with would be fighter or tief or a dual fighter/tief and then change to mage some point through?
Also is it important to get a balanced party or will you start out with a balanced party and learn what members are useful in what constellation throughout the game?

Immersion_ United Kingdom. September 22 2011 04:25. Posts 494

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On September 22 2011 04:17 Xedat wrote:
So if I would start SoA for the first time now, the best class to begin with would be fighter or tief or a dual fighter/tief and then change to mage some point through?
Also is it important to get a balanced party or will you start out with a balanced party and learn what members are useful in what constellation throughout the game?

For "Best" yeah, fighter or kensai or swashbuckler dualled to mage are pretty amazing. Honestly, the game offers fun challenge, especially if you don't over abuse, on insane difficulty, but not so much that you "need" character X, just try them all and go with the ones you like really, none of them are that bad (personally I think Aerie is terrible, power wise

, never kept her for ToB though). You need at least 1 fighter based guy, at least one cleric, and at least one mage (no thief is annoying but doable), beyond that enjoy!

Oh and also, YES to that comment about Biff the Understudy.

Last edit: 2011-09-22 04:32:11

Betelgeuse.957 Add for practice :)

histrionic United States. September 22 2011 04:44. Posts 34

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I just wanted to come into this thread to say BG2 fucking rocks. In my opinion you should keep it simple and worry about dual classing on a different play through.

edit: oh I also wanted to say you will probably want to figure out how the spell mechanics work. When I first tried playing BG2 I got frustrated because all the mages had buffs that I didn't know how to get passed because I didn't bother to look into the details of the spells so I was getting wrecked constantly.

Last edit: 2011-09-22 04:49:25

AntiGrav1ty Germany. September 22 2011 05:01. Posts 1854

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Dualclassing requires some experience and patience. The first few levels after switching class can be horrible for someone who doesn't know the quests and the mechanics of the game.

If you are new to BG2 you should go for half-elf and multiclass Fighter/thief out of the options you mentioned. Great utility and can fill multiple roles in your party.

As for party composition: For your first playthrough you should just try to have a balanced party and take along whomever you like. A tank, a thief,a druid/cleric and always at least one mage. All NPCs are good enough to be in your party. I have played the game with pretty much everyone at least once.

solstice-gaming.eu

ELA Denmark. September 22 2011 06:45. Posts 4567

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Wisdom... Is only possesed by the leeaarning

The first link of chain forged, the first speech censured, the first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied, chains us all irrevocably.

Immersion_ United Kingdom. September 22 2011 06:47. Posts 494

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On September 22 2011 06:45 ELA wrote:
Wisdom... Is only possesed by the leeaarning

Gonna stick my neck out and say it's Learn - ed

Betelgeuse.957 Add for practice :)

ELA Denmark. September 22 2011 07:19. Posts 4567

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On September 22 2011 06:47 Immersion_ wrote:

Show nested quote +

Gonna stick my neck out and say it's Learn - ed

You better be wrong man!

I've been going around saying that randomly for friggin 13 years

Fuck it, you are right - Damn you and your language!

Wisdom is only possessed by the learned.

Last edit: 2011-09-22 07:21:40

The first link of chain forged, the first speech censured, the first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied, chains us all irrevocably.

hai2u September 22 2011 07:49. Posts 601

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On September 22 2011 04:25 Immersion_ wrote:

Show nested quote +

Aerie becomes one of the most overpowered chars by the end of the game, if you can stand needy and emotional girls keke.

Bloog United States. September 22 2011 07:55. Posts 44

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BG II is so epic. If you're smart about avoiding spoilers, I would suggest reading a character creation guide. The most fun I had in BG II was using the badass (although very complex) character progression system taken from AD&D. Knowing what those points mean and thinking about the way you build your character can make the game even more enjoyable.

Pewt Canada. September 22 2011 08:16. Posts 200

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On September 22 2011 04:25 Immersion_ wrote:

Show nested quote +

Aerie is extremely strong; probably one of the best NPCs around. Be sure to use and abuse the Cleric side of her; give her a good weapon/good weapon(s) (dual wield Flail of the Ages/Crom Faeyr is always fun) and cast Draw Upon Holy Might/Stoneskin/Holy Power/Righteous Magic and you have a character which is better at fighting than a fighter and can still cast like a mage one or two levels lower than your average mage at that point in the game.

Oh, and Chain Contingency being able to include any cleric spell (including Quest level spells) is always nice.

Billy_ September 22 2011 16:05. Posts 461

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I'd not recommend you play a fighter/mage, or taking Haer Dalis if you're new to this game simply because their base abilities are really not very good compared to character who hardly need anything but a good weapon to be deadly such as Korgan and Minsc. Haer, and multiclass fighters are probably better fighters by mid game, but they need a lot of micromanagement and I find micro to be a really boring process for BGII and a lot of the time you could just have the fight over and done with in the time it takes for the generalist classes to power up.