Vorgen Mar 5, 2006

Party Membership is a Democracy, The Weave is Not.



A fledgling vampire? How about a dragon, or some half-kobold druids? Perhaps a spontaneous sex change? Anything that can happen, will happen the results will be beyond entertaining. A fledgling vampire? How about a dragon, or some half-kobold druids? Perhaps a spontaneous sex change? Anything that can happen, will happen the results will beentertaining.









2 Mirtul, 1369



Gorion... Gorion is... I saw him... but it can't be. It could be some trick, some illusion, it could have been Shadow Door. It could have been Phantasm. There are... there's a perfectly ...



I don't know how it became light again. I must have lost track of time. I don't know where I am. I don't know where I ran. What do I do now? I don't... I can't...









How could you have known? Gorion did not even tell me.



I... accidentally... read a letter on his desk the other day. Can't remember exactly what it said, but he might still have... it might be on his... his body. Anyway, I'm not gonna let you wander around out here all alone. Never let a friend down, no sir! Stick with you until you say otherwise, I will!



Gameplay note: Imoen has joined the party! She brings along 2 gold. Lets take a look at her.







She's got great DEX and very high INT, which was the reason a lot of people in the original BG dual-classed her to Mage. This was so common that her stock character in BGII was a dual-classed thief/mage. You can still do it with her in this modded game, but she's got a custom class all her own as well, the Charming Rogue. This custom class is also what explains her permanent Mind Shield enchantment. It is part of the Neverending Journey mod (warning, ugly web site) which also includes our future adventures in Icewind Dale.







Better defense, offense, and movement plus some innate enchanting and illusion spells scaled by level. I guess they're doing a smoother transition to Imoen becoming a mage. You can't have too much ranged combat, so Imoen seems like a solid companion. Lets take a look at her skills.







Wow, she comes with 4 spells right away. There are not formal info pages for innate abilities so that adds a bit of mystery sometimes and saves me screenshot time, but let me explain these abilities in brief. Set Snare is a normal thief ability that you use with the skill, but Imoen's skill is 5 right now so it'll never successfully work, and will probably damage her if she tries to use it. I've never been one for traps in this game but perhaps we can focus on that, if the consensus is to train a thief's trap skill up. Charm Person is the second skill, and basically turns an enemy to your side in combat. Also you can try to use it on neutrals but I think they turn hostile after it wears off. We might have to confirm that. Magic Missile is exactly the same as my spell. Friends causes the caster to gain 6 points of Charisma temporarily. That will kick Imoen's CHA up to 22, which will be helpful to get a discount when shopping. I don't know of any other use for it. Finally, Reflected Image is the level 1 version of Mirror Image in that it creates one duplicate of the caster which has a 50% chance of being attacked instead of the caster. When the image is attacked it shatters. Note that it shatters when attacked, not when successfully hit, like Mirror Image images. So it's weaker in two aspects.



That's Imoen. As always, I leave it up to the audience on what we do with companions. So, what do you guys think? Keep or kick?



His body. She said it, so she must have seen it. Dare I go there? What should I do? What can I do? What do we even have?



Gameplay note (again): Here is Syishtar's inventory screen.







On the top left is the Quiver in which you can see his 180 arrows:







Underneath that, in the Quick Items slot, you can also see his two equipped weapons, the quarterstaff and short bow:











There is no one who can't use a short bow. The text isn't really cut off. In the Quick Items slot he has the spare scroll of Armor, a spell we covered last update, and the healing potions that he picked up in Candlekeep.







It restores more than my or Imoen's current total amount of hit points. That's reassuring. For equipment, Syishtar is not wearing anything except the Silver Necklace he picked up in the Candlekeep Inn.







He's keeping this around to use it in conjunction with the Show Friendship bribery ability later on. Down at the bottom, you can see his backpack. He's got Haiass's stuff on the left, and the strange stone that Gorion gave him before he left Candlekeep. The stone's icon is currently blue because it is unidentified. The modder was attentive enough to include a custom unidentified description, though, so its still interesting to take a look at.







You can see that the Identify button on the left-hand side is lit up, which means we can identify it if we want. That's because in Syishtar's inventory on the right-hand side, just under the Fire Agate Gem, is Firebead's Identify scroll that I totally, completely forgot to give him before we left Candlekeep. Since its impossible to get back into Candlekeep and since I wouldn't give loot to an NPC even if I could, I use it. It identifies the stone:







Grammar nazis might be getting itchy at this point, which is understandable. For completeness, lets take a look at the gem.







Now lets take stock of what Imoen brought to this picnic.







The girl managed to bring her own arrows and short bow - not bad. Also she picked up 3 healing potions, just like me. That white potion in her backpack is an Oil of Speed:







At low levels using this turns anybody into a dervish of destruction. And when you get the spells Haste and Group Haste later on, the gibs really start flying. We'll keep that around for when we need to turn someone into a pincushion. She also brought a wand!







It shoots out 1 magic missile at a time. Magic missiles always strike their target, so they can be useful in a pinch. I think Syishtar will appropriate that from her. After all, she's the one who gets bonuses to ranged combat from her class. Syishtar needs it more. And after equipping it in his quickslot I realize that its not an infinite wand of Magic Missile, which I was expecting, but instead only has 10 charges. I'm pretty sure that's different too.



I don't know what to do. I don't know where to go. We only have some arrows and healing potions and scant supplies. Gorion told me we would be safe if we found friends. Friends... I have Imoen. I have... Haiass! Where's Haiass?



I reach into my pack to blow on the whistle, but before I can do anything, Imoen speaks up.









I still can't believe that Gorion is dead.



*sadly* Me too.



Is that why you don't talk much lately? All quiet and stuff...



Yes, and I have a lot more on my mind.



I'd hate to see this eat away at ya. We'll get him, ya know. That guy, whoever he was, who killed your dad. We'll find out who he is, and pay him back good!



And don't even think of ditching me, either. I know what I'm doing, and I'm in this as much as you. I liked Gorion, and you're my best friend.



I'm your best friend too, whether you know it or not. You can count on me, and don't you forget it!



What brings this on, Imoen? I don't think I've ever seen you act this way!



I'm just mad, that's all... mad, sad and a little worried, I guess. I'll get over it. Heh. I was trying to make you feel better, and now I'm all worked up.



Come on, let's go find an evil dragon's lair or something to loot. Um, on second thought, a hobgoblin cave is more your speed. Or maybe a xvart village? Hmmm. I'll have to think about this one...



I laugh a little, then reach in and blow the whistle. Nothing happens. Haiass appears to be nowhere near. I had hoped he would show up eventually. With nothing else to do, but feeling a little better, I start walking down the path in front of me.







Gameplay note: Here is the area map. Gorion was murdered just to the north, and a small path leads east-west. We go east. Not ten seconds later we hit a dude and a conversation.







Heya, I'm Imoen, and that's my friend Syishtar. We just got out of Candlekeep, and are startin' out on a grand adventure, avenging that great mage and all... uhm, Syishtar, why are ya standing with your mouth shut as a clam when the tide is out? Ya know more than I 'bout that fightin' thing, anyway. So go tell 'bout it! That's what adventurers do! Famous ones, anyway. Or how would they ever get into bards' songs?



Could you help me? My foster father and I were attacked last eve, and now I'm not sure where to go.



The carnage to the north must be the aftermath of your little skirmish then. I am most assuredly sorry about your predicament, though there be little I can do for you. I've nothing of serviceable vaue to impart, except common sense and a few directions. A ways east of here you should find a crossroads. North of there is the Friendly Arm Inn, and south is the town of Beregost. Both can offer shelter, though rates at the Friendly Arm are likely better. It is a friendlier atmosphere for the young adventurer as well. Staying close to the roads will make your journey safer, but that will depend on where you are heading as well. I cannot accompany you, though there were a pair of travelers not far up the road. They might offer assistance, but I would be wary of the cost. I didn't like the look of them, myself.



Can you do nothing else? I could use any help.



I have little to give besides advice and good will. Make friends where you can, as traveling alone is almost certain death. You will want to surround yourself with like-minded companions, lest you risk making enemies in your own party. Aside from this little tidbit of wisdom, I'd say you're on your own. Luck be with you.



Ya hear him? 'Like-minded companions'! That'd be me! Yer doin' alright, despite bein' thicker than Candlekeep's walls! Imoen the Magnificient is gonna make an adventurer out of ya yet!



Fare thee well, as they say.



To you as well.



You know, that guy's right. Like-minded companions, fellow travelers on the road, friends and compatriots. Friendly Arm to the north, Beregost to the south. I think I can manage to make some kind of plan ... wait, Gorion mentioned the Friendly Arm last night. He said there were two friends of his there. Jarid and Khaliea? Karin and Jajila? I'll have to look around when I get there.



I need friends, but I also need to find out what happened last night. Maybe I can get those other travelers on the road to help me find Gorion's body.



Gameplay note: We continue on the path, now angling northeast. Soon enough we find Xzar and Montaron, two very famous and old-school BG original NPCs.







I go talk to the taller guy then.









Aye Xzar, looks to have been roughed up quite well.



Indeed. I can offer you healing potions, if you wish, as a token of good will.



Psst, Syishtar, the mage speaks like he's layin' honey on bread, but I dunno... I don't like his eyes a single bit!



I d be grateful for any assistance.



Nothing to fear from these simple potions, and I'll not even hold you in debt, though your conscience knows otherwise.



Just like all good people.



Perhaps as payment you would go with us to Nashkel. It is a troubled area and we mean to investigate some disturbing rumors surrounding the local mine. Some acquaintances are very concerned about the iron shortage. Specifically, where to lay blame in the matter. You would be useful, though I'll not hold you to it. We are to meet the mayor of the town, a man named Berrun Ghastkill, I believe.



Your conscience be your guide.



I would join with you, but I must meet someone first. Perhaps you will go with me?



We've precious little time, but it's best to travel accompanied.



I don't like the looks of these two jokers, Syishtar. Nope. I don't. Not at all.



Let's get to the Friendly Arm Inn soon, huh? I'd like to have some people I can trust traveling with us.



Aye, we'll go wit ye. Ye owe us fer our time though.



Gameplay note: Xzar and Montaron have joined the party! Lets take a look at their Records.







Xzar is a Necromancer of average intelligence for a mage. He is unchanged from original BG. As a necromancer he needs a wisdom of 16. I don't know why, with a WIS of 16 and an INT of 17, he's such a raving lunatic, but what you gonna do?







I guess because there are already so many specialist mages, no modder has bothered to do much with custom wizard classes. No Illusion spells means no Mirror Images, or invisibility, or maybe Phantasm? There are tons of new spells in the game that I'm not yet aware of so I'm sure he's missing out on other things. In return he gets extra spell slots per level, like me as a wild mage. He has 2 slots at level 1, a 100% advantage over a non-specialist mage. Strangely enough he only knows 2 spells.











Honestly, both of those spells suck. Chill Touch needs a melee hit to be effective, and Larloch's Minor Drain does a whole 2 hit points of damage every two levels, maxing out at 10 points at 9th level. The greatest indication that Xzar is insane is not his character portrait, it's his awful spellbook.







He also comes with two scroll copies of his spells (which I take and copy into my spellbook anyway because I'm a spell packrat) and a dagger.







Imoen interrupts all this game talk with another conversation as soon as I unpause.









It has been interesting, to say the least. Not quite what I had in mind either, but it's not like I have a choice.



That's 'we' remember? And yeah, 'spose we don't have much choice at that. Still, we can do a lot of good, I think.



Wonder if they'll make a tale of our adventures? Just think, one day folks will be in the common room of some inn, maybe even the Candlekeep Inn, and ask a bard to tell 'em a tale of 'Imoen the Quick and her trusty side-kick, Syishtar!'



'Side-kick'...!?



Oh, okay. We'll be partners, I 'spose. What ya think? 'Imoen the Quick' sounds good to you? Quick with the blade and wit! All the best heroes and heroines have handles. Hmmm, maybe 'Imoen the Terrible'? Nah, too dark. 'Imoen the Bold'? 'Imoen the Sly'? 'Imoen the Magnificent'? Hey that sounds pretty good!



Um, how about 'Imoen the...?



Shush you! I'm thinking! Where was I? I still kinda like 'Imoen the Quick'. Wonder if it's taken already...?



Gameplay note: With that out of her system, we take a look at Montaron the halfing Thug. This is the first instance of a Big Picture modded character class you'll see, and I've changed him myself. He was a multiclass fighter/thief just like in the original but I want to show off all the awesome custom classes in this mod.







He's got acceptable stats, and a whopping 18 hit points, which serioiusly outshines my 6, Imoen's 8, and Xzar's 4. He's a better meat shield than Haiass even. But he's a trained bastard.







That's where all the extra hit points come from - a class feature. A thug sounds like a fighterish thief, which is pretty close to what he was already, but with some extra flavor quirks that I appreciate matching up closer to his personality. He comes carrying a healing potion and some oil of speed...







... and dual-wielding two short swords. He is also, of all crazy things, WEARING ARMOR, something that we have not yet seen.







This definitively qualifies him as the Tank of the Hour.



Since we now have a half-decent party here, its time to explore the map. We set off patrolling, in that weird rectangular search pattern that I always seem to end up using in baldur's gate 1 outdoor maps (its the most efficient way!)



Over on the west side, near cliffs that overlooked the ocean, we find Chase.







Hey, ya know what? Syishtar over 'ere was just locked out of his home-town without a penny, and some monsters killed his father. If anyone here should be jumping cliffs, it's him! And d'ya see him jumpin'? So what's yer problem?



She has a point, I thought. And I didn't like this guy's petulence.



By all means, jump if you must. More air for the rest of us.



HOW could you be so CALLOUS? I am so obviously in PAIN here! Have you no care for MY needs? No, of course not. No one does. Not mumsey, not daddums, not Jeeves; I bet they'd be glad I was gone. In fact, I'd probably be doing them a favor! That's it, I'll stay alive just to spite them! I'll be the most miserable, selfish, upstart of a child! Actually, this won't be much of a change, but now I'm justified! Life is good.



Ya could of at least tried to talk him out of it, Syishtar, even if he was just lookin' for attention.



Eh? Never mind. I've a score to settle with a callous world.



Gameplay note: This was in the original game, if I remember correctly, but Imoen's interjections weren't. All of her new interjections and conversations so far have come from a mod. NPCs are going to be talking to each other a lot more than usual. If you guys get tired of that, we can always grab people off the street, or possibly just tell our companions to shut the hell up. Let me know how you feel!



We walk around, looking for Gorion's corpse, but we find wild dogs instead!







Imoen and I pull out our bows and shoot at the closest ones, while Montaron AND XZAR close in for melee. I tell Xzar to hang the hell back and try casting a spell, so he goes with his Drain. Then he casts his other Drain. Then he just stands there and looks on as we shoot arrows and Montaron flails about wildly with his short swords. There is a lot of whiffing, but eventually Imoen gets the kill on the last dog. VICTORY! The dogs have nothing on them. I'm not sure how intimidating Montaron can really be when he's having so much trouble killing a pack of dogs with 2 short swords.







Xzar is totally out of spells and any other abilities to use if another fight comes up, so I reluctantly give him the Wand of Missiles. Hopefully he doesn't use it in melee...



We continue to explore, and find a cow. I decide to try to pet the cow. I'm not quite sure how to feel about what happens next.







After that, we see what we have been looking for, and I had been dreading. We see Gorion's corpse, stretched on the ground like a... some dead animal. Surrounding him is the equipment and money of his fallen enemies. We silently and quickly clean up the area, and then wonder what to do next. There is Gorion's dagger and a scroll of Identify. There are two morningstars, wielded by the big monsters that had died first.







We also find a scroll case and two notes.







Gameplay note: There are a lot more containers in the Big World Project, of many different colors, in order to make your sorting life easier. Unfortunately having a lot of filled containers tends to cause the game to start lagging. I'm not sure how much I can comfortably carry in containers, so we'll just have to see.







Dun dun DUNNNNN! E is obviously Elminster, the only DnD guy whose name starts with an E. You know, Elminster's involvement/non-involvement in this whole plot never made sense to me. Why does he want to be neutral, anyway? As far as I know, everything that's going on, the whole plot, is a direct threat to the balance of the region, as we shall soon see. And as one of the leaders of the Harpers who are all about balance and secrecy, he should be countering the effect of the... uh... problems, as directly as possible. But it's like the Harpers dropped the ball on this completely. In fact, the men on the spot turned out be Zhentarim agents (sorry Xzar and Montaron for blowing your cover so early!), and they have already recruited me into their party. The nearest Harper agents are in the Friendly Arm inn to the north, just chilling, waiting for me to show up and get in touch with them. Why didn't they meet Gorion outside of Candlekeep? With a couple of level 1 mooks around, Gorion could have held off Armored Figure long enough for his Acid Arrow to do him in. I blame Gorion's death on Khalid and Jaheira, just so you know. Jaheira was probably too busy tying Khalid up and whipping him in the basement of the Friendly Arm to go out and actually be Harpers.



Anyway, the second note is NOT standard plot material from a 15-year-old game.







Another wild mage, near here? Wow, I'm sure he can help us! The magic speaks through us all, and it must be conspiring to bring us together. I may have lost one mentor, but the magic could bring me another, one skilled in the true ways of the Weave. We have to go find this guy, after we have finished exploring this area, of course.



Imoen walks up while I'm reading the notes, still standing over Gorion's body.









Yes. He died saving me from some... thing.



Don'tcha even know what attacked you? Whatever it was, looks like it was vicious.



I was scared out of my wits! What do you expect?



Really? I'm glad I wasn't right there. I've seen you get surprised and jump before, but never ever afraid. I-I don't even want to think 'bout what could scare you.



We keep walking. We find Binkos.







Another caravan raided?! Wow, that's no good! Remember those Flamin' Fists passin' by Candlekeep last week? They said there was at least two missing! I think we should keep our eyes peeled, or we'll be killed by bandits for nothin'!



Excitin' though... Caravans, bandits, road... like an adventure from a book!



Just keep your heads down and your weapons handy.



All the more reason to find that wild mage I'm thinking. I'm sure he will be able to keep us safe from the bandits.



A little later Imoen spots some more wild dogs.







Montaron gets hit, but we take them down. We continue exploring the area, hoping for some insight or sign of what is to come. Later we see a black bear, which seems peaceful enough. I have heard of rangers and their animal companions, and a bear would definitely help us, so I walk over to it and try to make conciliatory sounds. It doesn't go over well.







Imoen opens up on it with the bow and Xzar with the wand. I run away as the bear starts to attack... Xzar. He turns and runs, screaming. The bear switches to me, to Imoen, to Xzar, never seeming able to make up its mind about which target it wants. Each time we are targeted we naturally start running. For some reason Montaron isn't participating in the fight, but nobody seems to care. While running after me, the bear passes by Imoen, and gives her a swipe. She looks almost dead and runs away to try to get enough room to down a healing potion. Thankfully the bear switches targets again and she is able to drink her way back to health. The killing blow is Xzar with the wand. Maybe he's not totally useless after all.







Shaken and sobered, we gather our breath and continue patrolling, a little more cautiously than before. I am making a mental note, right now, to not approach bears in the future. He looked so peaceful though...



Gameplay note: The bear was in fact neutral until I tried to befriend it. Silly me.



We encounter a beautiful cliff view of the sea. Xzar says we should paint it. I tell him he is welcome to without us. He mumbles something about me wanting him to get mauled by bears.







Suddenly Montaron shouts MONSTERS! I am already worried. When he shouts ARCHERS I get even more worried. I try to look for somewhere to shoot.



Gameplay note: Some sadistic modder has hidden a pack of hobgoblin and goblin archers in the northwest corner of the map. I'm pretty sure if we're going to survive this we'll have to do a running skirmish through most of the map. Here we go....







Montaron says he isn't taking any chances and pops his oil of speed. Imoen actually runs up to one of the hobgoblins and tries to cast some sort of spell [Charm Person] but is interrupted by an arrow from another monster. Montaron charges in and the archers seem to fall back in front of him. Xzar hasn't done anything yet when an arrow slams into him, looking serious. I shoot wildly, not quite sure which target to hit first. Imoen throws Xzar a healing potion, and he drinks it. Then Xzar starts running at the nearest hobgoblin, and I have to tell him to get back again. He stops and casts Magic Missile with his wand... and Imoen casts one too! The combined missiles take out the first hobgoblin. I am a little shocked at this unexplained magical display but I'll save it. Instead I cast a little magic of my own...







I was trying to cast Grease. Instead, four gems appear in my inventory.







I am confused, so I go back to shooting arrows. A few seconds later, a badly-injured Montaron tries to retreat from the battle and is shot in the back. He falls.







Xzar says, "Montaron... I... I never loved you!" with a cackle. The monsters keep pouring out of the trees. Imoen pops her oil of speed while I retreat. Xzar looks like he is going to get another wand shot off but the hobgoblins get too close and he and Imoen are forced to retreat too. I turn and try to cast another Grease spell, but at the last second I change my mind and throw Azragan's Channeling at the nearest monster. There is some kind of noise, and two huge glowing balls appear, one on me and one on my target. Whatever it is, it looks like it hurt.







Gameplay note: 13 damage from a level 1 spell? SWEET!



The hobgoblins just keep coming, so Imoen and I just kept retreating one by one, like the Candlekeep guard captain taught us. I fire and she retreats, then she fires and I retreat. That way we are able to constantly pelt the monsters with arrows. Xzar tries to run into melee a few more times and I contemplate just not telling him it is a bad idea next time. He shoots once more with the wand and it breaks. I tell him to run into the trees, AWAY from the monsters. Then I turn around and see two of Imoen, rather than one. We are going to need to have a talk, she and I. We keep firing and running, firing and running, and two more go down. The remaining two get smart, though. One comes after me and the other after Imoen. This is getting dicey.







We are running in circles. I try to get the hobgoblin chasing Imoen to chase me, and Imoen does the same with mine. Eventually they both attack me, which lets Imoen stand still and pelt them with arrows continuously. One of them panics and starts to run. We let it go.







The one who doesn't go, dies. We stop to catch our breath, the first time we've had the opportunity the whole fight. We look at the monster's corpse. He has masterwork arrows, which I gave to Imoen, and a longbow, which I keep for myself. I also take a gem and a longsword off him. Imoen puts on his leather armor. Then we go to hunt the rest.



Gameplay note: I gotta stop here, guys. This is a freakin huge update what with all the exposition and item examining. I just wanted to get some combat in before I called it. What do you think, should we raise Montaron? It would cost about 100 gold, since he's level 1. Also want your opinions on Imoen and Xzar.

Vorgen fucked around with this message at 02:25 on Sep 24, 2012