Spell strategies for BG2
Eric
what spells to use. I've heard mention made of "buffing up" before
battle with various spells, something I almost never did in BG1. What
spells should I memorize and cast before combat (in general, not for
specific battles.) Should I always cast these spells, or just before
tough battles? How do I balance these spells against the offensive
ones?
Speaking of battles, another problem I'm having is taking damage in
relatively minor conflicts. Korgan in particular seems to be taking a
lot of damage - 60 points in a battle against a lone spectral troll.
This is particularly aggravating because I'm at a stage of the game
where I can't rest or save. Do I just possess inferior armor (plain
plate mail for the tanks)?
Thanks for any advice,
Eric
(remove "invalid" to e-mail me directly)
Todd Rogers
>
> I've just started the game, and I'm having some trouble figuring out
> what spells to use. I've heard mention made of "buffing up" before
> battle with various spells, something I almost never did in BG1. What
> spells should I memorize and cast before combat (in general, not for
> specific battles.) Should I always cast these spells, or just before
> tough battles? How do I balance these spells against the offensive
> ones?
Personally I usually don't buff up very often either. Because of that,
I tend to be wary of sacrificing offensive spells for defensive ones.
However, there are some I like.
1) Stone Skin: I usually use my mages as archers, and so they usually
don't get hit unless bad guys come up from behind. This spell lasts a
very long time (all day) as long as the character is not hit. So I can
use it once and have protection for my mages until I can react to an
attack on my rear. This is the protection spell I use most often.
2) Mirror Image: Similar to stone skin in affect, but a much shorter
duration. I only use it when I'm expecting a difficult battle.
3) Blur: Basically it makes you harder to hit. Lasts a little longer
than mirror image, but still I usually only use it in difficult areas.
4) Resist fear: Useful when attacking large, scary monsters (like
dragons).
These last three spells are level 2. IMO, the level 2 offensive spells
aren't the greatest, so I'm willing to sacrifice them. The level 4
offensive spells aren't the best either, so I usually go for those
defensive ones too. I usually don't use the high level defensive spells
because they either affect only the caster (e.g., protection from
magical weapons) or they have a very short duration (e.g, improved
mantle). As I said I usually keep my mages in the back, so they don't
get attacked very often, and the quick fading spells are best cast
during combat.
As for Cleric/Druid spells
1) Armor of Faith: Not as good for low level people, later on though it
become a great defensive spell (especially for front line fighters).
Once the 8 hit points healed by Cure Light Wounds seems like squat,
replace most of those memorization slots with this spell.
2) Bless: Honestly it doesn't do a lot and it's a short lived spell,
but one character can cast it on the whole group. I'll use it before
tough combats.
3) Remove Fear: Similar to Resist Fear above
Level two offensive spells are nothing to write home about, so I usually
stick to the defensive ones.
4) Chant: Similar to Bless though with slightly different effects
5) Barkskin: Good for lowering the armor class. Once you get a really
nice set of armor though it's not really needed.
6) Draw Upon Holy Might: Very short lived spell, but it can make a big
difference in the first couple swings in a battle.
7) Iron Skins: The druid equivalent to Stone Skin
I usually don't use the other Cleric/Druid defensive spells because they
either, are too short lived, aren't particularly effective, or take away
from the offensive/healing spells I want to have.
And remember the old saying, "The best defense is a good offense." If
you can take out an enemy quickly you're more likely to survive. A
couple spells will help here too
1) Magic Missile: A must for disrupting lower level spell casters
(usually a waste of time against the higher level, magic resistant types
though)
2) Breach: Whenever your weapons are ineffective use this spell and all
will be well for you soon.
3) Khelben's Warding Whip: When the enemy is magic resistant too, cast
this one and then breach and all will be well.
4) Entangle: Good when your swamped.
Those spells plus a little practice and your own personal favorite
spells ought to get you through most of the tough battles.
> Speaking of battles, another problem I'm having is taking damage in
> relatively minor conflicts. Korgan in particular seems to be taking a
> lot of damage - 60 points in a battle against a lone spectral troll.
> This is particularly aggravating because I'm at a stage of the game
> where I can't rest or save. Do I just possess inferior armor (plain
> plate mail for the tanks)?
Plain plate is the worst I'd give to a tank. Try to get better ASAP.
Also have your thief pick pocket the owner of the Adventurer's Mart
(save first in case you fail). He has an item that will help if one of
your characters keeps getting hurt.
--
- Todd Rogers
"I've been asked what I mean by word of honor. I will tell you. Place
me behind prison walls - walls of stone ever so high, ever so thick,
reaching ever so far into the ground - there is a possibility that in
some way or another I may escape; but stand me on the floor and draw a
chalk line around me and have me give my word of honor never to cross
it. Can I get out of the circle? No. Never! I'd die first!"
-Karl G. Maeser, Founder of Brigham Young University
Mark Blunden
news:3b50a20e.64200618@news...
> I've just started the game, and I'm having some trouble figuring out
> what spells to use. I've heard mention made of "buffing up" before
> battle with various spells, something I almost never did in BG1. What
> spells should I memorize and cast before combat (in general, not for
> specific battles.) Should I always cast these spells, or just before
> tough battles? How do I balance these spells against the offensive
> ones?
Most 'buffing-up' spells are Priest spells. For just before general combat,
use one or more of Bless, Chant, Remove Fear and Defensive Harmony on your
entire party. Protection from Evil 10' Radius is also good, but it lasts
long enough that it's worth using as soon as you enter a dangerous area such
as a dungeon.
Draw Upon Holy Might is also good for any Cleric or Paladin who can use it
(I forget whether druids get it), similarly Holy Power.
For mages, the primary whole-party spell is Haste, which is very powerful.
There's also Resist Fear, which replicates the Cleric spell Remove Fear.
Strength is also a good spell if one or more of your warriors lacks
exceptional strength, and it lasts quite a while. Tenser's Transformation is
a good option if you need your mage to help out in combat, and Stoneskin
provides mages with excellent physical protection.
> Speaking of battles, another problem I'm having is taking damage in
> relatively minor conflicts. Korgan in particular seems to be taking a
> lot of damage - 60 points in a battle against a lone spectral troll.
> This is particularly aggravating because I'm at a stage of the game
> where I can't rest or save. Do I just possess inferior armor (plain
> plate mail for the tanks)?
Hard to say. It's your armour class that's important, and that also depends
on dexterity and other factors - make sure the lowest-AC fighter is to the
front. Don't worry, you'll get decent armour as you progress.
--
Mark.
mar...@bigfoot.com
* Fool me seven times, shame on you. Fool me eight or more times, shame on
me.
CCF
> I've just started the game, and I'm having some trouble figuring out
> what spells to use. I've heard mention made of "buffing up" before
> battle with various spells, something I almost never did in BG1. What
> spells should I memorize and cast before combat (in general, not for
> specific battles.) Should I always cast these spells, or just before
> tough battles? How do I balance these spells against the offensive
> ones?
Offensive spells become less and less useful over time. Eventually SoA
gets the game to be hard by having you face nothing but magic resistant
foes. You'll tell when you start to each that point becuase you'll see a
lot of Magic Resistance messages. Even at the beginning I like to have a
lot of disabling spells- confusion, horror etc. Since Killing something
is tough but disabling it is comparatively easy. If you are fighting 6
baddies and you can whack three of them out of their skulls with
conufsion, you got an immesen advantage. Greater Malaison rocks and
generally goes in right before confusion. Summoning spells are my other
favorite- let something else die for your goals. Summoned creates are
great spells sucks. The aI will throw oout all its top spells trying to
whack your Ogre Beserker rather than dumping them on you whic is nice.
Early on get spells as you like- I don't buff up a lot either. A few good
ones- improved invisiblity helps in fights. Chaotic Commands and Remove
Fear both help keep you alive in the face of the conufsion/fear spesll
that will ruin your day.
By later on, start to memorize a lot more of these type things: spell
thrust, secret word, dispell magic, breehc since any mage you meet with
throw up a host of defenses off of a contingency. I don't owrry about
lower resistance yet. If you are in stage of them game where a lot of bad
guys are resistant 2-3 of these spells won't save you. When you find
something big enough and alone enough to warrant using these on- fall
back and memorize (hint: dragons are a prime example of this types of
things).
> Speaking of battles, another problem I'm having is taking damage in
> relatively minor conflicts. Korgan in particular seems to be taking a
> lot of damage - 60 points in a battle against a lone spectral troll.
> This is particularly aggravating because I'm at a stage of the game
> where I can't rest or save. Do I just possess inferior armor (plain
> plate mail for the tanks)?
>
Plain plate is a bit weak. Trolls also seem to dial in on my guys and do
gobs of damage even with slighly better (+1) armor. The biggest thing to
realize is that the Shadow Thieves price will drop and finding that 15k
isn't a challenge at all so don't be afraid to dump a lot of cash at
Adventure Mart into primo magic items. That was by biggest mistake my
first run through- cash isn't a problem.
Gebhard Blucher
> I've just started the game, and I'm having some trouble figuring out
> what spells to use.
Go here for a pretty good list of spells with individual strategies,
etc.:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bwscript/files/DOCUMENTS/
Click on the 'BG2 Spell Reference' link.
GB