Amazing Grace: A fair chance for the classic trilogy

[JustKneller]

I've had to put my solo Cleric/Thief run on hiatus. As far as I know, I'm soft locked at Duchal Palace until I can figure out a new strategy. But, this has me thinking more about the game in general and my prior 0/5 review. If I'm being fair, I could have been a little more fair about it. I will spare everyone the analysis of my analysis and just hit the main points. Gaming fatigue is real. An RPG doesn't have to be AD&D to be decent, obviously. It may not be the most reasonable expectation here, despite BG using that system as a base. Also, I suspect the first game was created hoping for a sequel, but not expecting it. I don't understand the choices they made with the A-story. SoA doesn't continue what the first game started. However, this move is actually classic D&D style, if I'm being honest. In classic, the world doesn't revolve around your character. There are other people with other agendas and you can easily be a pawn in their schemes.

And so, I've found a little grace on this matter. I think part of it comes from a homebrew project of mine to rebuild basic/expert D&D from the ground up, holistically. The end result is definitely different from the original. Frankly, I think it might piss off a lot of purists. But, it works really well (in my opinion).

I don't like how the last run ended and my mind is more open now. I'm doing another run with two significant adjustments to my attitude. One, Baldur's Gate is not an AD&D campaign. It's a cRPG in its own right and not beholden to any legacy. Two, no meta, sorta. Specifically, I'm checking my knowledge of Forgotten Realms and all the retconning at the door. This is the developers adaptation of the source material and they had to improvise corrections as best they could as the project unfolded. Whatever is going on here, for better or for worse, is the world as Gorion's Ward is experiencing it. I'll be doing my best to experience the story through the eyes of my chosen character. The only meta I'll be doing are things that will help make later story and gameplay elements work better. For example, I'll take Imoen and dual her in the first game to avoid a continuity error.

I had a nice chat with chatgpt about the story arc and what character/party would bring the most to it. I was kinda surprised by the results. It actually suggested a build/party somewhat similar to my "For all the marbles" run. The surprising part was that chatgpt is usually (annoyingly) quite sycophantic and pandering. This time, I tried telling it that I had just played a couple paladins and wanted to try something different this time around. Normally, chatgpt would be all, "I totally understand! Let's explore other ideas!" This time it was in the neighborhood of, "No, really, shut the fuck up and play a paladin. Just trust me on this one." It does suggest going a somewhat different way about things, filling out the party differently in the second game, and even adding in a (shudder) romance. It also suggested a different play log style that might actually be interesting. So, what the hell. Let's do it.

So, who in the holy hell is our lucky holy roller?

Adelbert and Imoen were not just the best of friends but also the heroes of many imaginary adventures in Candlekeep. Most others would have just called these exploits mischief. Adelbert's wayward gallantry adjusted to a straighter course the day he met Priam Agrivar. This was his first meeting with an epic hero from the books he had read. Adelbert recited the paladin's history as if the knight did not know an evil extraplanar creature deprived him of the use of his arms, yet he still eventually defeated the beast and restored his natural physique. Adelbert informed Priam that he and his best friend were planning to be legends as well and asked for advice on how to be as powerful and heroic as the knight himself. Priam then put down the little red book he was reading and gave Adelbert the words he would carry for the rest of his days. Priam said, “Heroes are just as frail as anyone else. But, being a hero is about recognizing your flaws and still choosing to do the right thing. Even when you fail or fall, a hero is someone who picks themselves up and puts themselves back on track, one day at a time.” At the time, Adelbert had no idea what a comfort these words would someday be.

§

I got lucky with the attribute roll. Granted, the paladin has one of the highest minimum rolls (I think the ranger might beat it), but I don't have the patience in my old age to sit there and click reroll for more than about 15 seconds. Had I needed to, I would have tanked strength and relied on some gauntlets or a belt .

I doubled down on axes because Reevor and Arkanis are two of the few people with pips in anything but blunt weapons and they have five pips between them. These two have taken the most interest in his martial training and they have taught Adelbert what they know. I also pipped blunt (staves). Kind of a waste, but a roleplay move since it's the most common weapon there. The final pip is in large swords. Adelbert's patron is Torm (favored weapon, great sword), one of the big three deities of the Order. The gatewarden has a pip in large swords, so I'll headcanon Adelbert picked up some pointers from him.

I should mention that everyone will use specific weapons based on their proficiencies, not the categories, in anticipation of the second game. So, my large sword pip only applies to great swords and I won't use other large swords. Jaheira has blunt weapons, but will only use staves. And so on...

So, away we go...

 

[BelgarathMTH]

It should be an interesting run. Sounds like you're wanting to do some heavy-duty roleplaying.

I'm curious, what was the chatbot's reasoning to tell you that a paladin as the protagonist fits BG's story the best?

 

[JustKneller]

Spoiler: deja vu

7 Mirtul 1368
Most Honored Dear Father,

Through kind providence, I survived the ambush that separated us, though my path was cursed either way. I could have mustered courage, stayed and battled, but defied your command. Or, as what did happen, I heeded your direction and fled. I will have to wonder for the rest of my days if disobedience would have saved your life. The next morning, I had discovered Imoen had stolen away from the keep to follow in our shadows. Or, more accurately, she discovered me on the Way of the Lion as I was getting my bearings. We found your body and I built a cairn to keep the wolves away. I also found a letter on your person that mentioned your friends at the Friendly Arm Inn.

Spoiler: you're not on the list

The next order of business was to deliver Imoen back to Candlekeep. I have no idea what nefarious forces have taken interest in me, but I surely did not want Imoen to be wrapped up in this business. Unfortunately, admittance back into Candlekeep was barred, even for us. I left our old home dejected, but with the hope that the Friendly Arm Inn will provide some kind of sanctuary for Imoen and direction for myself.

Spoiler: see you at the crossroads

I was met with a most unusual man on the way to the inn. Once I reached the Coast Way crossroad, I was struck with a realization and found I was at another crossroad. If I had seen the letter referencing your allies and the inn, then it is quite likely our enemy did as well. Were I to head north, I could be leading Imoen and I into a trap. We could head south and disappear into Beregost instead, though we would then have no bearing for a just course. After careful consideration, I regret to inform you, father, that it was here my obedience to your direction had ended. Imoen now was my charge as I had been yours. I could not risk her life, especially with her being an innocent in this affair. As such, we took the Coast Way south to Beregost.

On our course, I made the proposition to Imoen that we find her a position at one of Beregost's inns. She would not hear of it and insisted she stay by my side. This certainly complicated things.

Spoiler: friends in all places

I knew your acquaintance, the venerable Firebead Elvenhair, had his home in Beregost and he was our first stop. I aided him as he asked and he aided us in return. He had influence with the Jovial Juggler and we were able to secure a private room at a reasonable rate. He also colluded with us to establish new identities, that of the intrepid adventurers Delby and Moe, and spread word about town of his esteem for us.

Spoiler: welcome to my crib

He also assisted us in securing lodgings. Firebead had some influence at one of the local inns, the Jovial Juggler. He was able to broker a deal with the innkeep for us to have extended private accommodations at a reduced rate. It was a luxury I found to be embarrassing, but two of the other inns in town looked to be the type to attract unsavory clientele and we already had an incident with the locals at the other remaining inn.

We have found some work with the locals, and I have also taken it upon myself to patrol the surrounding area as a service to the community. Our coffers and income are meager, but we could remain fixtures in this town for quite some time. However, this is not where our journey will end. It is merely the beginning and we just need to discover our next step.

I know this correspondence will never reach your hands, but I hope that in writing it, my message will reach you wherever you are.

May the Almighty Torm have you in his keeping. Your obedient son,

Adelbert

§

I feel like this is the only legit, story-centered way to manage Imoen's dual and run with the canon party. But, I think it also helps the story because it gives one a reason to clear all the outdoor areas before starting the main quest (for which there is no natural break).

I didn't stay at Borland's this time. I do that almost every run where I go with just Imoen for a while to work out her classes, just because its free and easy. This time around, our heroes will be more engaged in the community this time around.

Feldepost's has a battle axe I want to pick up and the smithy has full plate mail (though I may opt for him making the ankheg armor instead). I'm tempted by the wand of sleep at High Hedge, but I think our paladin will have moral qualms about dispatching sleeping enemies.

I'm curious, what was the chatbot's reasoning to tell you that a paladin as the protagonist fits BG's story the best?

My prompt was basically asking what character works with the story/premise, the course of gameplay (e.g. negotiating Imoen's dual class for the sake of continuity) and also complements the (canon) party in both conceptual and functional role. So, it's the PC, Imoen, Jah, Khalid, Minsc, and Dynaheir for BG1 and PC, Jah, Minsc, Yoshimo>Imoen, wild card, wild card for BG2. I think Nalia and Sarevok were my wild cards last canon run. There are two things this party doesn't have, a leveling thief and a leveling cleric. Not that I need these things, but if I am looking for versatility, these two options can fill things out. As for the party breakdown, I have room for one more person on the front line (if you make Khalid an archer in the first game, which is really what he is best at).

The paladin didn't completely blow away all the competition, but it hedged out a lot of options by a fair margin. The strongest options were to play a leveling thief, a leveling cleric, or a paladin. The ranger and druid were disqualified for redundancy (Jah and Minsc). A bard isn't bad, but they are support generalists which is a little odd when the PC is the center of the story. A mage was considered weak for the party since it would be overkill in the first game and there is plenty of coverage in the second game (Imoen, Nalia, Jan), especially since I use mages as minimally as controllers instead of blasters. It also would have been a nightmare to run the first game with just Imoen and a mage until Imoen worked out her levels. A fighter isn't bad. It's just vanilla and doesn't really bring anything to the table.

There is some good content for a thief in this game between the guilds in Baldur's Gate and Athkatla, but it would have gone against the grain of running with a good party. Story-wise, tolerating the shady side business of a guild wouldn't sit right, especially with Minsc. The cleric was stronger than that. Maybe you start out with Oghma (vanilla) in the first game and then turn to Lathander (kit) by the second game hoping for some kind of renewal to purge the Bhaalspawn out of you. Or, starting out as a fighter, who then turns to the gods in the second game for the same reason isn't bad at all. By the end of the conversation, the chatbot and I were squaring this off against the paladin.

But the Paladin came out a little stronger. It (especially the Cavalier) has better contrast with being a Bhaalspawn. It can not just support the front line better, but makes for the best party leader. It holds up better than other martial classes in the early game, especially when it is just Imoen and the PC traveling alone together. It provides the best story reason to side quest in the second game to level up. When your options are the evil thieves or the more evil vampires, a paladin is mostly likely to want to seek out any other avenue before turning to them as a last resort. And then there are the wild cards. I obviously need to take Jan since he is the only leveling thief option. But that works. I can take pity on him and recruit him legally by bailing him out of jail. Finally, there is the leveling cleric: Aerie, Viconia or Anomen. Anomen is terrible (personality-wise) and it is pretty easy to knock out his side quest and send him packing. Aerie's side quest (not the romance) is over by the time you can permanently recruit her. Viconia is the strongest cleric. She levels faster than Aerie, and has both she and Anomen beat on divine spellcasting. Her MR is definitely helpful and she can buff up to help the front line when it is needed. She also has the strongest story add through not just a drow-paladin romance (even though I am not a huge fan of the romances), but in doing so, it's a slow burn that results in a character transformation through the alignment change.

I mean, I wouldn't take any of this as gospel, obviously. It's just a chatbot, not the sharpest tool in the shed, and it's just where the algorithm landed after of series of questions like, 'how does A complement the party function and synergy compared to B' or, 'between X class and Y class, what adds more motivation and depth to such-and-such part of the plot and why?'