The Candlekeep Annex: RPed Baldur’s Gate No and Low Reload Adventures

[Alesia_BH]

Alena, Halfling Priest of Lathander, Canon Party Run: Highlights for Our Heroes

There's a major Street Fighter tournament happening today: EVO 2024, in Las Vegas. I'll be watching it all day. It's on in the background now. Since playing BG NR style while distracted is a bad idea, Alena and her crew won't be making progress this afternoon. Instead I'll be sharing a retrospective- fitting since we've by now finished all the Chapter 2/3 quests.

Without further adieux, here they are: Highlights for Our Heroes. We'll proceed in party order.

Aerie the Tank of Doom

Aerie has grown into her role as the Tank of Doom earlier than expected. She's our bulwark against all threats. She's done some of her best work taking the lead in mage fights alongside our primary mage killer, Nalia.

Aerie the diplomat. Some may think she's an odd choice for party leader. Not at all. The role suits her fine.

Spoiler

Aerie's audition as the Tank of Doom, in the Umar Hills. All systems go

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Aerie the thief, sparing us an encounter with a yuan ti mage

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Aerie, bullying Conster alongside her arcane sister, Nalia.

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Partnered with Nalia once again, forming a defensive wall, sealing Kaol and the Gang into a kill zone.

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Aerie, leading the way against Bodhi, shielding the party from harm.

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Jaheira the Unsung

Despite catching shade from Aerie on occasion, Jaheira has been responsible for some of the party's greatest achievements. Reviewing the screenshots, it's clear that she does her best work working as a team with Aerie and Nalia. Expect to see more of that going forward.

Jaheira, dominating the beast master encounter, on the strength of her summons and charms.

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Jaheira, alone, executing a stealth assassination of Rayic Gethras, using Harm and the Victor.

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Devastating Torgal and his crew with potions of firebreath, working as a team with Aerie and Nalia.

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Leading the way against the Unseeing Eye, activating the Rift Device and landing the finishing blow.

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Taking one for the team, sparing us a confrontation with Tolgerias.

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Executing the bounty hunter mage with Harm->Belm, following a coordinated Abjuration assault from Aerie and Nalia

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Wielding nature's fury against the Warden

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Alena the Morning Light

Aerie may be our tank, but Alena is the defensive backbone of our party. Calm, cool and collected, she can always be counted on to stay on her feet and save the day. She holds back in most encounters, but she rises to the fore in the party's most dire situations.

Saving the day with a Resist Fear, when the party was caught off guard by Suna Seni.

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Swooping in to rescue the petrified Minsc

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Soloing Tazok and Chief DiggDagg, proving she can get it done in melee if given the chance.

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Crushing Lassal's first ambush with Repulse Undead and False Dawn

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On web sweep duty in the Planar Prison, partnered with Minsc

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Minsc the Undefeated

Is Minsc a ranger or an undead hunter? Who cares? Certainly not Minsc. Just put some steel in his hands and he's in his happy place. Call him what you will. Minsc is our party XP leader, by a large margin- that despite still growing into his strength. Ages, the Defender and AoF are in his future, a future drawing ever nearer.

Taking the mantle as the party's undead hunter, this time under pro undead.

Spoiler

On undead duty once again, protected by Harmony and the AoP

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Aerie may be the Tank of Doom, but she's still Minsc's witch. He'll defend her to the death.

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Nalia the Wise

Nalia may seem to be the lesser half of our arcane dynamic duo. Not at all. With her L6s, expanded book, and devastating if rarely used darts, Nalia is our primary mage killer and arcane damage dealer. Fittingly, she came into her own in the Planar Sphere.

Fearlessly confronting Torgal in defense of her natal home.

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Finishing Kayardi with her secret weapon: her darts.

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Taking point against the intimidating Lavok.

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In her element: commanding the fog, stripping protections and blasting away.

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Companions, all. Heroes, all. Friends, all. A team coalescing, but a team incomplete. Not to worry, Imoen: We're coming for you. Soon.

Best,

A.

 

[WiseGrimwald]

Journal of Mel Moonflower

Taking on the Cloakwood Mines was so much easier this time. No need to sleep or go back to the surface once!

We used summoned skeletons far better with the result that the mages did very little damage.

We have not yet flooded the mines. We need to lower our reputation, not raise it!

We defeated a party of assassins at the bridge leading to Baldur's Gate.

I am now engaged to be married to Gavin.


I have a LOT of equipment that needs to be identified.

When our reputation is low enough we will recruit Dorn and kill his arch-enemy.

Edit

Meanwhile we have discovered that one of the groups attacking us is called the Section and that their HQ is in Beregost. We have the key.

We currently have so many quests to do that knowing which to do first is difficult: The Ice Island; Durlag's Tower; The Section; Baldur's Gate; and others.

There is also the Drizzt Saga but that definitely comes last!

 

[Alesia_BH]

Alena, Halfling Priest of Lathander, Canon Party Run: Decisions, Decisions

With the trip to Spellhold looming, Alena and her team faced a difficult decision.

As we all know, it is physically impossible for more than six people to travel together in Faerun. Nalia, the newcomer, has proven her worth, time and time again, but her skills overlap with those of Alena's soon to be rescued childhood friend, Imoen. To complicate matters, Haer'Dalis, our new found companion, has intrigued us all, especially Aerie and Alena. Aerie's interest is personal. Alena's is profession.

In communion with Lathander, Alena has seen the paths before her. The vision is hazy, but she can see an image of an unknown giant succumbing to Haer'Dalis's Chaos Blade.

It's hard to imagine the party without Nalia. It's hard to imagine a future without Haer'Dalis. What to do?

Aerie was especially conflicted. She has bonded with both of the newcomers: one her partner in combat, the other a charming companion. With the discussion at an impasse, Aerie pulled Alena aside. What if we kept both of the newcomers? What if we released someone else instead? Say, Jaheira.

Spoiler

It was agreed. All that remained was to break the news.

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Panicked, I sent an urgent message through Special Agent Boo. Stop it, you two! This is a canon party run. Besides, Enuhal will never forgive me. And so the debate rages on.

Who will stay? Who will go? We'll just have to wait and see.

Spoiler

Best,

A.

 

[WiseGrimwald]

Journal of Mel Moonflower

We have done most of the quests in the Gate.

So far only one problem. Gavin was confused by Marik and killed a bystander.

-4 Reputation.

We did the remaining reputation increasing quests in the Gate, but it is still only 18.

I deliberately didn't quite complete a number of quests. The Cloakwood mines weren't flooded for example.

However I think that I should be able to pick up more reputation without going out of my way. We will therefore investigate the Iron Throne and carry on from there, perhaps dropping off Thorin and joining up with Jet Laya for a while.

 

[Alesia_BH]

I deliberately didn't quite complete a number of quests. The Cloakwood mines weren't flooded for example.

You can do that? I had no idea. On reflection it makes sense mechanically. You get the next chapter notice when Davaeorn dies, not when you flood the mines

 

[WiseGrimwald]

You can do that? I had no idea. On reflection it makes sense mechanically. You get the next chapter notice when Davaeorn dies, not when you flood the mines

You can indeed do that. However I decided that my character wouldn't have re-recruited Dorn after discovering what he was like.

So after being sent to Candlekeep we spoke to Jet Laya and killed her banshee sister before being sent to deal with a baby dragon in Nashkel: a much more powerful one than the one in Cloakwood. I thought that we were well buffed: summoned skeletons, chant and the like, but forgot "remove fear." In my last game my character was immune to fear: not this time. It put the result in the balance. The skeletons who weren't panicked saved the day. As you can see, I replaced Thorin with Jet Laya, then her with a Cavalier and Safana with another thief.

I know from playing this in Tutu that after this battle, they don't say anything, so I will drop them when I exit and pick up Safana again.

In the past the cavalier had far more experience than the rest of the party, but this time he has slightly less so keeping him isn't high on the agenda.

Competing the quest would have boosted reputation by 2, but as it was 19, it only raised it by 1 to 20.

Strange when I dropped the thief he didn't say farewell but just disappeared! I now have another quest in Nashkel.

At least three of us survived the battle where failure occurred in the last game. The ranger with his pet were killed and was subsequently buggy.

IT wasn't raised at the temple. We cleared the castle but couldn't find the baby.

Subsequently we went to fight "The Dark One." I was killed by "Instadeath!"

Perhaps I should recruit Drizzt for that battle!

I couldn't see that I had done anything wrong.

Of course I could have just bi-passed that quest.

Perhaps protection from the undead/magic might have worked. I had the scrolls.

 

[Borco]

@Alesia_BH The degree of your party's composture and control of the battlefield in the Planar Prison, especially against the Warden, is commendable!

 

[Alesia_BH]

Thanks, Borco!

Honestly, I feel like a hack with this squad, lol. Still, we had our moments in the Planar Prison. It was kind of cool that we were able to style on the Warden for the sake of the story.

I’m still unequivocally learning as I go with this team. I’m much more comfortable with my arcane quartet setups. When I use them I feel like I know how to play this game. With Alena’s crew it’s touch and go.

Anyhoo, glad you’re enjoying the run! Evidently I’m doing some things right, lol. Looking forward to more Orrin!

PS: It might be fun to do another arcane quartet run. It’s been a long time since Alicia. It should feel fresh again by now.

 

[WiseGrimwald]

I am back to a male character this time so as to have different choices with regard to romances. I saw an NPC in my last game that I have never romanced and feel that she would be good for role-playing: not quite so good for power play as both are paladins. I quite liked the Gavin romance but probably won't keep him in my party for long this time.

Journal of Brad the Brave

I ran for my life in a northerly direction after Gorion's death, not stopping until I came across Tenya, a girl who was clearly in need of protection.

She turned out to be a fairly powerful cleric, but in life power isn't everything as history proves all too often.

Together we defeated a nearby ankheg.

We then cleared the area to the south of ankhegs before heading to Beregost.

There, we sold the shells, bought a sling +1, a Bastard Sword +1 a Composite Bow +1 and ammunition. We killed karlat and went south where we killed ogrillon and a flaming fist mercenary. That gave me some decent armour and at Nashkel Tenya got some ankheg armour for herself.

In the mine area we killed an assassin and Greywolf before going to the Carnival to rest.

 

[Borco]

Thanks, Borco!

Honestly, I feel like a hack with this squad, lol. Still, we had our moments in the Planar Prison. It was kind of cool that we were able to style on the Warden for the sake of the story.

I’m still unequivocally learning as I go with this team. I’m much more comfortable with my arcane quartet setups. When I use them I feel like I know how to play this game. With Alena’s crew it’s touch and go.

Anyhoo, glad you’re enjoying the run! Evidently I’m doing some things right, lol. Looking forward to more Orrin!

PS: It might be fun to do another arcane quartet run. It’s been a long time since Alicia. It should feel fresh again by now.

It's encouraging to hear that in spite of your track record and accomplishments you're still learning. Overall, I think that these forums (including its predecessors) are indeed a practical example of the Kaizen philosophy of continuous improvement .

Anyway, I'm starting to see the end of my spectating days on the horizon and I hope to start posting soon.

 

[Alesia_BH]

It's encouraging to hear that in spite of your track record and accomplishments you're still learning.

The moment you think you have more to teach than to learn you become a fool. That applies to everyone everywhere. No exceptions. I may get things wrong, but I try not to be a fool

My awkwardness in this run is a function of my personal history as a player. The first time I played I had zero D&D experience and zero RPG experience. Before BG, the only PC game I’d played was Civilization, and there was virtually no carry over.

In my early runs I used canon parties, but I was awful back then. Reloads and permanent deaths were common occurrences.

I didn’t really learn to play until my early bounty hunter runs. Those were RPed runs with my bounty hunter never really having a party in the traditional sense. Instead she’d build teams for particular missions. Sometimes they were two person teams. Sometimes six. Sometimes anything in between. The battle plans were highly tilted towards Alesia’s skill set, and those of her friends, Imoen, Viconia and to a lesser extent Aerie. Other characters we “hired” on occasion, but for very specific reasons. Sometimes she’d cynically use them and or trick them into suicide missions for her benefit.

In the context of those runs, I became skilled with casters, mostly because of Imoen. From there I moved on to Alanis and her Teleport Field based arcane quartet strategy. That approach proved devastatingly effective, trivializing the adventure. With the question of how to run a party “solved” for my purposes, and that solution removing any challenge from the game, I moved on to soloing. The only party I’ve played seriously since then was Alicia’s arcane quartet, an Alanis party redux. I haven’t run a mixed party since those early days when I had no idea what I was doing.

And so, despite my experience with the game, everything I’m doing here is new to me. I haven’t handled that challenge well, imo, at least not yet. I’ve been crutching on my experience, rather than exploring and building new game plans. Since my experiences are with solo characters or in the alternative all arcane parties, our plans have often involved sending one character off on a solo mission or in the alternative sending Nalia and Aerie up ahead to fight an arcane battle. There haven’t been many fights when we’ve used everyone together in a cohesive game plan. The only example I can think of is the opening battle in the Planar Prison. The only reason that happened was because the battlefield logistics made my standard approaches unworkable, forcing me to come up with something new.

My hope is that the Planar Prison and my side experiments with Alastria will kick start experimentation and a new approach. We’ll see. As of now I’d give myself a C- on this run. That’s been ok, since SoA isn’t hard with a party, but a C- minus isn’t going to cut it in the endgame. We need to get better or we’re going to die.

In retrospect, I wish I had done things differently. A third edition of the arcane quartet approach would have been a good way to get back into partying. After that, I should have done a canon party run with reloads, to be followed up by a canon party no reload attempt. Re-learning party play, while simultaneously leading a mixed party for the first time and trying to keep everyone alive, and also putting on a good show, has been a bit much. I haven’t met the challenge, at least not yet.

We’ll see how the rest of the run goes. Hopefully I’ll get better. Until then, I guess I can take comfort in knowing that you’re enjoying the run

 

[WiseGrimwald]

Journal of Brad the Brave

We killed more ankheg, recruited Xzar and Montaron who did a lot of pickpocketting before they left at Ulgoth's Beard where we bought a green amulet for Tenya,

Sirene then joined us. She has just become level 6.

(My memory was faulty. I thought she was a Cavalier and therefore chose Inquisitor for the protagonist. If I had remembered that she was an Inquisitor the protagonist would have been a Cavalier. Just realised it was Isra who was a Cavalier. It seems that the Isra mod wasn't installed. Looking at my installation it seems to me that Sirene's kit should have been Martyr.)

In view of the above mistake and the fact that Skeezer Lumpkin is way behind the other NPCs when he joined, I think restarting is the best option.

@Alesia_BH I think that games when you are struggling are much more fun. Because I don't know my installation well, I am finding my current runs most enjoyable. When I knew what to expect I was getting bored.

 

[Talamir]

The moment you think you have more to teach than to learn you become a fool. That applies to everyone everywhere. No exceptions. I may get things wrong, but I try not to be a fool

My awkwardness in this run is a function of my personal history as a player. The first time I played I had zero D&D experience and zero RPG experience. Before BG, the only PC game I’d played was Civilization, and there was virtually no carry over.

In my early runs I used canon parties, but I was awful back then. Reloads and permanent deaths were common occurrences.

I didn’t really learn to play until my early bounty hunter runs. Those were RPed runs with my bounty hunter never really having a party in the traditional sense. Instead she’d build teams for particular missions. Sometimes they were two person teams. Sometimes six. Sometimes anything in between. The battle plans were highly tilted towards Alesia’s skill set, and those of her friends, Imoen, Viconia and to a lesser extent Aerie. Other characters we “hired” on occasion, but for very specific reasons. Sometimes she’d cynically use them and or trick them into suicide missions for her benefit.

In the context of those runs, I became skilled with casters, mostly because of Imoen. From there I moved on to Alanis and her Teleport Field based arcane quartet strategy. That approach proved devastatingly effective, trivializing the adventure. With the question of how to run a party “solved” for my purposes, and that solution removing any challenge from the game, I moved on to soloing. The only party I’ve played seriously since then was Alicia’s arcane quartet, an Alanis party redux. I haven’t run a mixed party since those early days when I had no idea what I was doing.

And so, despite my experience with the game, everything I’m doing here is new to me. I haven’t handled that challenge well, imo, at least not yet. I’ve been crutching on my experience, rather than exploring and building new game plans. Since my experiences are with solo characters or in the alternative all arcane parties, our plans have often involved sending one character off on a solo mission or in the alternative sending Nalia and Aerie up ahead to fight an arcane battle. There haven’t been many fights when we’ve used everyone together in a cohesive game plan. The only example I can think of is the opening battle in the Planar Prison. The only reason that happened was because the battlefield logistics made my standard approaches unworkable, forcing me to come up with something new.

My hope is that the Planar Prison and my side experiments with Alastria will kick start experimentation and a new approach. We’ll see. As of now I’d give myself a C- on this run. That’s been ok, since SoA isn’t hard with a party, but a C- minus isn’t going to cut it in the endgame. We need to get better or we’re going to die.

In retrospect, I wish I had done things differently. A third edition of the arcane quartet approach would have been a good way to get back into partying. After that, I should have done a canon party run with reloads, to be followed up by a canon party no reload attempt. Re-learning party play, while simultaneously leading a mixed party for the first time and trying to keep everyone alive, while also putting on a good show, has been a bit much. I haven’t met the challenge, at least not yet.

We’ll see how the rest of the run goes. Hopefully I’ll get better. Until then, I guess I can take comfort in knowing that you’re enjoying the run

This is why I enjoy your posts so much; you frequently provide an entertaining and relatable narrative (whether in the game itself or otherwise) while providing useful insight - even hearing about your thinking/learning process growing from a noob is insightful and entertaining.

Your highlight of how effective Teleport Field controlled battles as a strategy is making me consider a run someday with an Arcane Archer kit (the multiclass F/M version) from this mod: https://artisans-corner.com/the-artisans-kitpack/ I'm anticipating it could be a devastatingly effective tactic with such a character.

 

[Alesia_BH]

@Alesia_BH I think that games when you are struggling are much more fun.

Agreed! It’s good to ride the struggle bus every once and again. I effectively bought myself a ticket by rolling Alastria. I’m looking forward to that run.

As for this run, the struggle is real, but it’s possible I’m being a bit hard on myself. It has been rough in comparison to Alicia’s run, but we’re getting the job done, so far at least.

Anyhoo, glad you’re enjoying your setup! It’s kind of amazing how little it takes to make this game feel fresh again. It’s unique in that way

 

[Alesia_BH]

This is why I enjoy your posts so much; you frequently provide an entertaining and relatable narrative

Glad to hear it! It’s always a pleasure to share with the BG community. Thanks for being a part of it!

Your highlight of how effective Teleport Field controlled battles as a strategy is making me consider a run someday with an Arcane Archer kit (the multiclass F/M version) from this mod: https://artisans-corner.com/the-artisans-kitpack/ I'm anticipating it could be a devastatingly effective tactic with such a character.

Sounds interesting, for sure! I don’t run mod added kits, for the reasons I mention in the other thread, but some of the Artisan Kitpack builds look super-cool. I’ll take a peak at the Arcane Archer when I get the chance, just to see what you’re up to, lol.

(Talking about Teleport Field has reminded me of one of Alastria v1’s go to moves: the devastating and hilarious Telly-Jelly. I’m looking forward to trotting that out again, lol)

 

[Alesia_BH]

Alena, Halfling Priest of Lathander, Canon Party Run: Decisions, Decisions, Part 2

You can say you saw it coming. You can say it but we won't believe you. In the end, Alena decided to release both of the newcomers. Nalia was released because Imoen needs space to reclaim her role in the party. As for Haer'Dalis, he was proving to be a distraction for Aerie. We can't have that.

Spoiler

Speaking of things you didn't see coming, check out that screen shot again. Notice anything different? I'll wait...

The party order has changed. Jaheira is our new leader. How about that?

Mind you, this is a strictly administrative move. Now that Aerie is wearing both the Ring of Sune and the Ring of Acuity, equipping the Ring of Human Influence messes up her spell book. To spare myself the inconvenience, I moved Jaheira to the top. It doesn't really mean anything. Don't tell Jaheira that, though. She thinks it means everything. She thinks she's Queen Bee now.

Aerie thinks Jaheira is Queen B too, just with the B meaning something different.

The problem isn't the party order change. Aerie doesn't care about that. She gets it. The issue is that Jaheira cast the deciding vote against Haer'Dalis. Aerie didn't like that, and she thinks it's personal. She may be right.

Now that Jaheira is party leader, she's bolder, more confident, more willing to speak her mind. And so when Aerie was experimenting with Polymorph Self, just before leaving the Flagons, Jaheira didn't hesitate to share her take:

"You should stay that way. It suits you."

Spoiler

Ouch. This isn’t over is it?

Alena will need to step in and make the peace if this continues, but for now, she thinks it best to give the two a chance to work it out themselves. And who knows: Maybe a bit of rivalry is just the thing they need to reach their potential? Once again, we'll just have to wait and see.

Best,

A.

 

[Talamir]

Aerie thinks Jaheira is Queen B too, just with the B meaning something different.

The problem isn't the party order change. Aerie doesn't care about that. She gets it. The issue is that Jaheira cast the deciding vote against Haer'Dalis. Aerie didn't like that, and she thinks it's personal. She may be right.

Now that Jaheira is party leader, she's bolder, more confident, more willing to speak her mind. And so when Aerie was experimenting with Polymorph Self, just before leaving the Flagons, Jaheira didn't hesitate to share her take:

"You should stay that way. It suits you."

This is oh so zesty, worth being written into a sitcom episode. I love it!

 

[Alesia_BH]

This is oh so zesty, worth being written into a sitcom episode. I love it!

It’s a good thing Aerie has fire resistance because that was a burn

 

[WiseGrimwald]

I've decided that my next run will be a chaotic good ranger called CúChoinneach.

He isn't the famous character but because he always played that character in his childhood games, that became his nick-name. His starting stats are actually higher than those that his idol had, so perhaps his exploits will be even greater. He doesn't have a shadow wolf as a companion however.

 

[Alesia_BH]

CúChoinneach is a healthy boy. Those are some fierce stats, lol