A couple of newbie questions about BG II
Winseer
"Zaghadka" <zagh...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:k1dbgt8eamfemf8sq...@4ax.com...
> TIA to all the veteran players who can help me on these questions.
>
> 1. How the hell do you get thieves to backstab? I hide in shadows, I
> attack, it says I've left the shadows and only does a regular attack.
> Do you need to be using a dagger? Does it only work on human targets?
> What's the deal? I've done this from *right behind the victim* and it
> still doesn't work.
Hide in shadows, use a shortsword, dagger, or staff to do the deed. Large
swords don't work.
You must hit with your first strike, as you start to leave shadows as soon
as you give the attack command.
Try pausing the game, turning off AI (bottom right hourglass thing) before
you have moved up behind. In fact, you don't actually have to be behind the
opponent to backstab - just a figure of speech. Anything in the game
attacking and landing a blow first time for invisible gets the triple
backstab bonus, which is a version of a critical "aimed" blow. (Normal
"critical" only does double damage) You need a decent +2 or better weapon if
you are going to get the first blow to land against some of the more nasty
guys out there.
> 2. Is there a way to get rid of the annoying Ranger attribute that you
> can't quick-weapon a bow and dual weapon styles. I realize that my
> shield hand is full, but hey, it seems like there should be a patch
> for that. Expecting a disappointing answer here.
>
Even as a fighter, you cannot carry a bow and shield at the same time. As a
general rule, if you are using ranged weapons, you won't need a shield
anyway, although in Coran's case, he will be used to backstab occasionally,
in which case he can temporarily take his bow off, put a shield and a +2
weapon on, and go invis to backstab.
> 3. I understand there's an experience cap lifting program. I would
> like to know about it, any good mirrors?
>
I have tried a few exp cap removers, but they don't seem to work on the
later versions of the game, one of which I obviously have, as I've tried 'em
all with no success!
> 4. Is there any way to make Nalia shut the hell up? :-) When she
> mentions that "how are we helping the needy?" crap I just want to
> smack her upside the head. This one is obviously not a serious
> question.
>
> 5. What the hell is up with the wolfwere in the ranger stronghold
> quest? My characters were attacking with +3 weapons and still
> couldn't get through its defenses. As I remember, even a Greater
> Wolfwere could be hit with a +3 weapon. (just a gripe, I figured out
> that you have to team up with her, so it's probably just to keep you
> from killing your ally.)
>
Drink some decent strength potions before going into combat. A couple of
THACO potions would also be useful here. Some weapons are +4 against
lycanthropes so it would be appropriate to use one of these with your main
fighter. Spells can also be cast upon the main fighter to avoid blows, and
get more in as well. The whole idea is that wearwolf island will stretch
your stategic spell combination abilities. It isn't desinged to be a
straight slogging match with a main character that merely has mucho hit
points.
> 6. Related to #5, it's obvious that the game may seriously screw with
> Core Rules on the part of your adversaries (thinking about the six
> hasted freaking umber hulks in the fighter stronghold quest, which
> makes the direct route impossible for early characters. I know the
> regular game. The only thing that saves your bacon with an UH is that
> they're SLOW). Does this mean that Core Rules protagonists will have
> an impossible time? Should I shift down the playing level to Normal?
> It seems that the monsters are souped up for no good reason.
>
> Thanks,
> I'm not sure here, but you may be refering to the "spawn bug" much talked
about on here. Go into README on your disk, and run the patch enclosed
therein.
> zag
Ykalon Dragon
<myprivate...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>Hide in shadows, use a shortsword, dagger, or staff to do the deed. Large
>swords don't work.
How many times must I go through this? You *CAN* backstab with a
longsword, in fact it is the *BEST* (along with katana) weapon to use
if you are after maximum damage. It works period, it's almost the only
weapon I backstab with.
>You must hit with your first strike, as you start to leave shadows as soon
>as you give the attack command.
>Try pausing the game, turning off AI (bottom right hourglass thing) before
>you have moved up behind. In fact, you don't actually have to be behind the
>opponent to backstab - just a figure of speech.
That worked in BG1 from TOSC onward you have to at least hit the
enemy's side to get a backstab. I.e stay out of his line of sight.
Anything in the game
>attacking and landing a blow first time for invisible gets the triple
>backstab bonus, which is a version of a critical "aimed" blow. (Normal
>"critical" only does double damage) You need a decent +2 or better weapon if
>you are going to get the first blow to land against some of the more nasty
>guys out there.
Only thieves and the stalker are supposed to get backstab multipliers
and they start at *2 (guess it would be *3 if you get a critical as
well).
>
>> 2. Is there a way to get rid of the annoying Ranger attribute that you
>> can't quick-weapon a bow and dual weapon styles. I realize that my
>> shield hand is full, but hey, it seems like there should be a patch
>> for that. Expecting a disappointing answer here.
>>
>Even as a fighter, you cannot carry a bow and shield at the same time. As a
>general rule, if you are using ranged weapons, you won't need a shield
>anyway, although in Coran's case, he will be used to backstab occasionally,
>in which case he can temporarily take his bow off, put a shield and a +2
>weapon on, and go invis to backstab.
Okay now I know where you got it wrong. He asked about BG2 not BG1
(the longsword still works for backstabs though) but you are mostly
right about this part. But a normal longsword doesn't hit faster than
a +2 one unless the description says so (i.e 3 speed ranking instead
of 4).
>
>> 3. I understand there's an experience cap lifting program. I would
>> like to know about it, any good mirrors?
>>
>I have tried a few exp cap removers, but they don't seem to work on the
>later versions of the game, one of which I obviously have, as I've tried 'em
>all with no success!
Download Hex Workshop a hexeditor. Load bgmain.exe with it, search for
"xpcap" and change it to "spcap". Cap gone....
>
>> 4. Is there any way to make Nalia shut the hell up? :-) When she
>> mentions that "how are we helping the needy?" crap I just want to
>> smack her upside the head. This one is obviously not a serious
>> question.
>>
>> 5. What the hell is up with the wolfwere in the ranger stronghold
>> quest? My characters were attacking with +3 weapons and still
>> couldn't get through its defenses. As I remember, even a Greater
>> Wolfwere could be hit with a +3 weapon. (just a gripe, I figured out
>> that you have to team up with her, so it's probably just to keep you
>> from killing your ally.)
>>
>Drink some decent strength potions before going into combat. A couple of
>THACO potions would also be useful here. Some weapons are +4 against
>lycanthropes so it would be appropriate to use one of these with your main
>fighter. Spells can also be cast upon the main fighter to avoid blows, and
>get more in as well. The whole idea is that wearwolf island will stretch
>your stategic spell combination abilities. It isn't desinged to be a
>straight slogging match with a main character that merely has mucho hit
>points.
BG2 not BG1!!!!!!! No werewolf island in BG2 and no Nalia in BG1.
>
>> 6. Related to #5, it's obvious that the game may seriously screw with
>> Core Rules on the part of your adversaries (thinking about the six
>> hasted freaking umber hulks in the fighter stronghold quest, which
>> makes the direct route impossible for early characters. I know the
>> regular game. The only thing that saves your bacon with an UH is that
>> they're SLOW). Does this mean that Core Rules protagonists will have
>> an impossible time? Should I shift down the playing level to Normal?
>> It seems that the monsters are souped up for no good reason.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> I'm not sure here, but you may be refering to the "spawn bug" much talked
>about on here. Go into README on your disk, and run the patch enclosed
>therein.
>
BG2 again........ They really are 6 and they are hasted. And no
strongholds in BG1 except for Gnoll stronghold but no umberhulks
there. Don't even think there are any umberhulks in BG1 at all.
Stryker
> >swords don't work.
>
>
> How many times must I go through this? You *CAN* backstab with a
> longsword, in fact it is the *BEST* (along with katana) weapon to use
> if you are after maximum damage. It works period, it's almost the only
> weapon I backstab with.
There are advantages in backstabbing with faster weapons: you get your hit
in first....
Therefore probably the best weapon to backstab with is Firetooth... it does
MORE damage than a longsword and is a dagger making it damn fast. And it
does fire damage. Cutthroat is a +4 shortsword and is also good.
> >You must hit with your first strike, as you start to leave shadows as
soon
> >as you give the attack command.
> >Try pausing the game, turning off AI (bottom right hourglass thing)
before
> >you have moved up behind. In fact, you don't actually have to be behind
the
> >opponent to backstab - just a figure of speech.
>
> That worked in BG1 from TOSC onward you have to at least hit the
> enemy's side to get a backstab. I.e stay out of his line of sight.
Actually, you CAN hit on the second strike in BG1 and TotSC, possibly BG2 as
well, there is about a six second delay before leaving shadows (1 round)
unless you actually hit.
> Anything in the game
> >attacking and landing a blow first time for invisible gets the triple
> >backstab bonus, which is a version of a critical "aimed" blow. (Normal
> >"critical" only does double damage) You need a decent +2 or better weapon
if
> >you are going to get the first blow to land against some of the more
nasty
> >guys out there.
>
> Only thieves and the stalker are supposed to get backstab multipliers
> and they start at *2 (guess it would be *3 if you get a critical as
> well).
*4 for a double damage backstab critical.
In 3E it would be *3 though... but that's irrelevant
> >> 6. Related to #5, it's obvious that the game may seriously screw with
> >> Core Rules on the part of your adversaries (thinking about the six
> >> hasted freaking umber hulks in the fighter stronghold quest, which
> >> makes the direct route impossible for early characters. I know the
> >> regular game. The only thing that saves your bacon with an UH is that
> >> they're SLOW). Does this mean that Core Rules protagonists will have
> >> an impossible time? Should I shift down the playing level to Normal?
> >> It seems that the monsters are souped up for no good reason.
> >>
BG2 follows the core rules damn well.... especially for a CRPG
>Don't even think there are any umberhulks in BG1 at all.
Probably not. :)
Ykalon Dragon
wrote:
>> >Hide in shadows, use a shortsword, dagger, or staff to do the deed. Large
>> >swords don't work.
>>
>>
>> How many times must I go through this? You *CAN* backstab with a
>> longsword, in fact it is the *BEST* (along with katana) weapon to use
>> if you are after maximum damage. It works period, it's almost the only
>> weapon I backstab with.
>
>There are advantages in backstabbing with faster weapons: you get your hit
>in first....
As long as you don't get discovered you will always get the first hit
even with the slowest weapons. Therefor max damage is the most
important factor, so short swords is out.
>Therefore probably the best weapon to backstab with is Firetooth... it does
>MORE damage than a longsword and is a dagger making it damn fast.
Daystar beats it in damage as do most katanas. And weapon speed isn't
really a factor when it comes to backstabbing.
Stryker
> even with the slowest weapons. Therefor max damage is the most
> important factor, so short swords is out.
You missed the point. A low speed factor will let you hit AS SOON AS YOU
ATTACK.... or near enough, so you can disrupt spellcasters better, and if
you miss can sometimes get in a second backstab attempt before leaving
shadows.
>weapon speed isn't really a factor when it comes to backstabbing.
Katanas are screwed, they suck and are damn weak. Daystar is a woss weapon
for goddie-goodies. And weapon speed IS a factor when it comes to
backstabbing.
--
Stryker <= as smart as Boo, sometimes
Ykalon Dragon
wrote:
>> As long as you don't get discovered you will always get the first hit
>> even with the slowest weapons. Therefor max damage is the most
>> important factor, so short swords is out.
>
>You missed the point. A low speed factor will let you hit AS SOON AS YOU
>ATTACK.... or near enough, so you can disrupt spellcasters better, and if
>you miss can sometimes get in a second backstab attempt before leaving
>shadows.
No need to disrupt spellcasters. When I go for backstabs i'm scouting
99% of the times. So I just get behind the mage and backstab him. The
plus side with good longsword is that a lot of the mages will die on
the first strike but will take 2 with short sword, and I only go for
one backstab per target, so in a way long sword *is* faster . I can
understand picking short sword for single classed thieves or
thief/mage but with a fighter/thief long sword or katana is the way to
go.
In my current game I don't have any backstabber (have decided to let
Jan be expert in lockpicking and disarming instead of being average on
everything).