Current Events > ITT: I play Baldur's Gate 3 (ongoing spoilers)

(+) Yeah! (+)

Shotgunnova posted...

If the merchant that dies is the "friendly" duergar who gives you the geology quiz, he doesn't have anything too good, honestly. The other one had a blue-quality greatsword and some other goodies, but nothing I really needed.

It's the guy in the tent in the same room as the digging op.

Hmm, I don't remember him having a bow, just a greatsword and some other 1H stuff. But, it's also possible I stole something, got overencumbered, then sent it to camp. If it's a crossbow, I've been shipping it back to base, mostly 'cause I can't use heavy crossbows properly.

Also, as a Rogue I recommend you beeline to Moonrise.

Nothing you do in the Act 2 area will cut you off until later in the quest line, and one merchant in there has a ring that'll never ever ever leave your finger.

As much as I've explored the Underdark, I haven't actually gone into the mountain pass topside, so I dunno the layout. Making a beeline might be a smidge difficult. Of course, the elevator at the duergar camp probably puts me further in than if I'd went right past the inn and done the Lae'zel/creche encounter at the bridge. (This does make me want to try if you can snipe some of the gith helpers near there, but with Lae'zel running over and the dragon there, that may not be the smartest idea...)

Anyway, I look forward to the ring, especially if I can use my five-fingered discount.

The mountain pass is a second way to the Act 2 spot, not the Act 2 spot.

But you also absolutely want to go there, I'd just recommend getting the ring first.

You'll be able to move from the next place freely back and forth to Act 1 locations, so a quick trip to Moonrise, grab the ring, fast travel to the Mountain Pass waystone, go meet the racist lizards.

Might gun for the mountain pass and snoop around a bit later.

In unrelated news, I made another random character, this time a gith barbarian who sucks at all the book-smart skills and is good at the club-smashing stuff. But, damn, giths are skinny as hell. How's this malnourished stringbean supposed to strike fear into the hearts of my enemies?

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DrizztLink posted...

The mountain pass is a second way to the Act 2 spot, not the Act 2 spot.

But you also absolutely want to go there, I'd just recommend getting the ring first.

You'll be able to move from the next place freely back and forth to Act 1 locations, so a quick trip to Moonrise, grab the ring, fast travel to the Mountain Pass waystone, go meet the racist lizards.

Tell us what the ring's name is, man! I wanna be on the lookout for it too when I get there with my drow rogue (less psychotic than TC's, more chaotic good Seldarine lol)

Shotgunnova posted...

In unrelated news, I made another random character, this time a gith barbarian who sucks at all the book-smart skills and is good at the club-smashing stuff. But, damn, giths are skinny as hell. How's this malnourished stringbean supposed to strike fear into the hearts of my enemies?

I'm trying to hold-off making any more new characters until I finish my Paladin run otherwise I never will.

That said, I think I'm close to the end of the game now. Just a few more missions to do before I deal with Ghortash.

Ivynn posted...

Tell us what the ring's name is, man!

I wasn't sure how much detail I should go into by TC's preference.

Risky Ring, sold by the Drow merchant. It gives you permanent disadvantage on Saving throws in exchange for permanent advantage on attacks. Ergo, suddenly your Rogue is able to Sneak Attack ANYONE at any time.

Noice

Is there any way to see a non-playable character's attitude ratings towards your own characters? Might be able to surmise it with merchants, I guess, but it's be nice to look that up at leisure.

Shotgunnova posted...

Is there any way to see a non-playable character's attitude ratings towards your own characters? Might be able to surmise it with merchants, I guess, but it's be nice to look that up at leisure.

Initiate trade if possible, it should be in the upper corner (I think).

Otherwise no way I know offhand.

Damn, that sucks. You'd think a stat-heavy game like this would've accounted for it.

On a lark, I loaded up my bard playthrough and remembered I banjaxed her level-up so that she didn't have assassin bonuses. I think she could get something like that, but whatever it was she could've gotten, I didn't get it and her bow damage is crappy. (Honestly, OHKOs haven't been that important in this run, other than maybe the cliff enemy during the Flind fight. Even that's probably doable in some other way, if I'd bother exhausting all options.) Might have to hit up Withers to see what can be done about that.

Was gonna ask about knocking out Minthara with a bow, thinking that the lightning charges were superseding the togglable nonlethal setting. But, it turns out that nonlethal bow things don't work unless the enemy is already temporarily hostile to you, which sucks. Guess I'll have to save her for last after I assassinate the other vermin around here.

Didn't notice this the first time, but isn't this the answer to the Underdark temple's entrance puzzle? The one where you rotate Selune's moons or whatever. I only remember the "darkness at the bottom" part, but it's gotta be pretty close.

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Also, saved this caged goblin for the first time. Probably gonna see him again, and I wouldn't doubt if he was an enemy still. He should thank my lockpicking fingers for not letting him ride the elevator to hell, though. I definitely bungled that the first time. Honestly, the gobbo made a good rough-draft attempt for the witch's final battle, haha.

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Alright, first time playing Steam Deck in about 48 hours. If I can go to the mountain pass and back without messing anything up, maybe I'll snoop around and break open some NPCs' mortal shells for the XP inside. When I used the elevator last time, I did check if I could go back down, but there's a certain shallowness to that attempt, so maybe I'll keep a spare save, just in case.

I want to say there are two merchants in the area.

Also it's most likely in your best interest to tell Lae'Zel to wait her turn.

You'll know what I mean.

Shotgunnova posted...

How's this malnourished stringbean supposed to strike fear into the hearts of my enemies?

Well, the Gith are largely psychotic xenophobes, they're the type who scare you simply by having no regard for their own well being.

Something creche-related, no doubt.
Just wandered into the Shadow-Cursed Lands and'll explore a bit.

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I did switch to torches. Probably would've figured that out anyway, since the Harpers I saw all had them out. To thank them, I drew them into a raven battle and we all had an XP bruncheon. I somehow got this trophy, even though none of my dudes attacked five times in a turn...

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Well, the Gith are largely psychotic xenophobes, they're the type who scare you simply by having no regard for their own well being.

He needs to take a shower, hit the weights, and get a clue.

Only thing I can think of is it read you hitting five birds at once as making five attacks.

Also put Spirit Guardians in your spell book for this area.

DrizztLink posted...

Only thing I can think of is it read you hitting five birds at once as making five attacks.

Also put Spirit Guardians in your spell book for this area.

Radiant, not necrotic. I'm sure TC could easily intuit what the right choice was but even so, may as well point it out.

I mean even beyond that, it's the spell of choice above higher level radiant options.

But if I'm talking mechanics and whatnot too much I apologize and can back off.

I do have Spirit Guardians on Shadow, but haven't used it yet. It did seem pretty useful, but with stealth killing leading the way, it hasn't really come up yet. Maybe I'll use it for extra damage in the Grym fight.

Progress is okay, but not ideal. I have to have torchbearers tag along on my sniping trips, then hope they get away from the undead's wandering vision cones. I did do the "ambush" near some chest where a bunch of exploding needle creepers jump out of the bulrushes. I assassinated one from afar, then lured the 50-health boi away, then killed him while the others rushed into a bottleneck. Had to use a sword tornado scroll for good measure, but it all worked out.

Also, I did get to the Last Light Inn. I see some interesting items that'll fall off the quartermaster's truck, and I found some kind of rare mail up above the tiefling smith's shop. I repaired Karlach's engine, too, but they don't include a lot of douchey dialogue options for these parts. On the bright side, the bard (???) girl from the grove showed up.

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The FAQer in me wanted to know what would happen if I had a Sussur Bloom in my inventory when Jaheira entangled me, but I guess it instantly wilts when removed from the chest while above ground. (I thought I was underground the whole time, but maybe that's just the camera angles and darkness everywhere playing tricks on a mind.) So, now you know!

Did some stuff at the inn and some winged jackass kidnapped Isobel and then I had to fight a million Harpers on the way out. Don't really have time to do that right now, though, so maybe I'll just thin the herd later on (before they're all zombified) and make sure to get important equipment from the merchant.

Pretty sure I didn't even talk to her in the grove, so I dunno why she was acting all buddy-buddy with me.

I do regret not getting up to this point on my bard, though. Seems like that catatonic guy can be awakened with a song (or so the hint goes) and some of these dialogue checks would be a smidge easier with 'er. Might take the overland route with her first, then drop into the Underdark to clean up.

Not my playthrough topic, but might as well annonuce it here that I have beaten Baldur's Gate 3!

Now that I've got one completed run under my belt, I'm free to make a dozen character builds and never finish any of their runs! Yay!

I'd like to do a Durge run next but since Patch 7 is gonna add a lot to it, it's probably better to wait.

Oh yeah, I forgot there was a new patch coming. I had originally planned to blaze through to beat it, but I keep getting sidetracked by this damn Tropico game, lmao. I'd check out what's going on with the (presumptive) patch notes and changes, but I don't want to spoil myself on anything.

Okay, time to thin the herd. Already got one of these guys, but this patrolling dwarf ate a crit and fully healed, so not sure what's up with that. Kinda like that goblin dude who was hanging out with Minthara -- what a little bastard to kill if you need multiple long-distance shots.

Also got some new armor for (by process of elimination) Lae'zel. Made an extra save first in case the smith dude used all my infernal metal just to make some flawed version.

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Ivynn posted...

Now that I've got one completed run under my belt, I'm free to make a dozen character builds and never finish any of their runs! Yay!

damn, I've been making extra characters & not finishing any pf them since release. I finally got to Act 2 on my main a few days ago. ;_;

I might try entering the mountain pass through the normal route instead of trekking through this dank-ass shadow world, just for a change. Not before I did this convo, though:

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https://youtu.be/C6BYzLIqKB8?t=7

She carried 500 coins for me, at least. Luckily she and her pallie were already injured or sneak attacks may not have worked as well. She didn't even turn around when the dwarf bought the farm (but would aggro if you just walked into range), so that was helpful.

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Are you multiclassing your drow rogue? I hear going pure Rogue is not a good idea.

I'm a pure rogue right now, but any class abilities/passives that can increase my bow damage, sneak-attack damage, stealth check success rate, etc. I might dabble in. I haven't really done any respeccing on my characters so far, other than my bard, who banjaxed a level-up and took something besides the Sharpshooter passives.

For what it's worth, multiclassing is extremely powerful but only if you know how to use it. Don't feel compelled to multiclass just because it's the meta thing to do.

Pure characters from level 1 to 12 are perfectly serviceable in the main game.

Most people only put enough levels in Rogue to unlock the subclass or the first feat, because there's not really much that the class offers after that point. Notably, pure Rogues don't get an extra attack.

UnholyMudcrab posted...

Most people only put enough levels in Rogue to unlock the subclass or the first feat, because there's not really much that the class offers after that point. Notably, pure Rogues don't get an extra attack.

I put 5 levels into my Drow Rogue before I started multiclassing her into Ranger (going for Gloomstalker). I've been wondering if 5 levels was too much? I wanted to get the first feat, but that's at level 4 and I can't quite remember what level 5 offered me lol

Ivynn posted...

I put 5 levels into my Drow Rogue before I started multiclassing her into Ranger (going for Gloomstalker). I've been wondering if 5 levels was too much? I wanted to get the first feat, but that's at level 4 and I can't quite remember what level 5 offered me lol

Rogue 5 gets you the Uncanny Dodge passive and an extra d6 of sneak attack damage, which isn't bad, but the opportunity cost for things you give up from other classes can be pretty high.

For example, a typical endgame build for this kind of multiclass might look something like Gloomstalker 5, Thief 3, Fighter 4. If you take your Rogue all the way to 5, then you lose out on the extra attack from Gloomstalker 5, which the extra sneak attack d6 definitely does not make up for.

Hmm, one of my previous characters (dragon archer?) was a Gloomstalker, but I forget what advantages it gave. Something sneaky and stealthy, I think. They didn't get to LV4-5 yet, though, so maybe the best advantages didn't manifest. But yeah, I don't need to play some pure-blooded rogue for the hell of it -- it's more fun to mix and match with other classes and see what works.

UnholyMudcrab posted...

Rogue 5 gets you the Uncanny Dodge passive and an extra d6 of sneak attack damage, which isn't bad, but the opportunity cost for things you give up from other classes can be pretty high.

For example, a typical endgame build for this kind of multiclass might look something like Gloomstalker 5, Thief 3, Fighter 4. If you take your Rogue all the way to 5, then you lose out on the extra attack from Gloomstalker 5, which the extra sneak attack d6 definitely does not make up for.

So I should respec? I just didn't want to wait for that level 4 feat, but I'm level 7 now, so that shouldn't matter right?

I respec'd. At Thief 3, Gloomstalker 4 now. I think this is better.

Ivynn posted...

I respec'd. At Thief 3, Gloomstalker 4 now. I think this is better.

Yeah Gloomstalker Thief is BG3'd quintessential busted build.

Sure there is other stuff that theoretically does more damage, or has more control, but a GS with Sharpshooter and two hand crossbows clears every other early game build in damage

I've noticed that this Ability Drain debuff isn't wearing off after ten turns. I wonder if it's just cosmetic or something.

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Easiest LV6 character to kill ever?

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Gettin' kinda anxious!

Whoa, you get fully healed when moving between acts? I just went back (via teleport) to Waukeen's Rest and everyone was topped up. Didn't check if it restored spell slots, but either way...niiice.

As I was going to do some random stuff, I left the shadowland inn and got caught up in some ambush on a spider dude. Wound up kicking his ass without too much difficulty, although he got in three attacks and constantly cast Sanctuary -- little bastard. Still, we had the numbers advantage and I got his lantern in the end. Thankfully, its effect works from the inventory, so no more sniping difficulties. Not sure if this messes anything up with Isobel, but I'll eventually go back and check.

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The lantern is fueled by a pixie being constantly tortured by magic. I turned the proverbial thumbscrews just to see what would happen, but it wound up being in character, so I left it in, haha. I'm not gonna take guff from someone smaller than my lockpicks.

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Some of these damn plants were in a clearing and I sniped 'em all. Had to reload a bit when the exploders blew up the nearby ladder, though. There was a primitive basketball hoop nearby as well. Reminds my drow of when he was power forward for the Menzo Backstabbers. Underdark champs 1,004 years running!

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Dunno what I'm gonna do about this kid and his wraiths. Maybe I'll humor him and drink a "see invisible things" potions to cheat, which still counts as an in-character action. Should see if I have some back at camp, which is where I always send the potions I don't immediately need.

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I started a third character, even tho I haven't finished my rogue lol. I just wanted to see how sorceror played. I was gonna be evil too but I couldn't bring myself to be mean for no reason, especially since the consequences seemed to be missing out on quests rather than alternate quests. Did go back to my rogue today tho.

Really wanna try Durge already, but Patch 7 still ain't out yet boo

Hmm, not sure I started a sorcerer character. I think I just have a wizard. Should try Warlock sometime, too, since I like Wyll's Eldritch Blast and those weird upgrades it gets.

Warlock does best when mixed with something else CHA-based. Waradin gets short rest Smite, for example.

Sorc is almost always my favorite caster, so I'm biased as shit. If you do it do the albino lizard for Durge, just for funsies.

DrizztLink posted...

Warlock does best when mixed with something else CHA-based. Waradin gets short rest Smite, for example.

I actually want to disagree with this. Warlock IS an incredible dip class, especially with two levels giving all sorts of goodies like Devil's Sight and Repelling Blast, etc. But it is absolutely fantastic as a solo class. I'm currently level 7 pact of the Tome and I'm just as competent a spell caster as the other ones. Sure there's a dash more Eldritch Blast than other cantrips but the Warlock spell list is filled with all kinds of goodies.

Warlock is probably my 3rd favorite class behind Bard and Druid. Ive yet to do a pure Warlock (the one time I tried on an Origin Laezel Honor mode run, I ended up switching to a 6/6 Vengeance Paladin/Lore Bard in act 3 to make better use of a certain broken ring), but 2, 3, and 5 levels of it to be excellent break points for multiclassing.

2 gives you Invocations, namely Devils Sight (Makes you immune to the blind effect from the Fog and Darkness spell) and Appealing Blast (gives a good damage boost to Eldritch Blast), though theres other goodies to that Im sure could be useful in certain scenarios.

3 is mainly for getting Pact of Blade to combo with a martial class just so you can use Charisma as an attacking stat on weapon attacks.

5 is when it gets its best features imo (although 1 doesnt work in Honor Mode). They get one of the best spells in the game in Hunger of Hadar (basically Darkness that slows and damages anyone that starts or ends their turn in it), in which theyre the only class that has access to it other than Bards through their Magical Secrets class feature. And on Tactician mode and below, the extra attack that Blade Warlocks get at 5 stacks with the extra attacks that other martial classes get (which is the only one that does so), so you can get 3 attacks per turn for something like a Paladin (this doesnt work in Honor Mode though).

Next playthrough I do, Im considering going back to try to use a Pure Warlock Laezel (for the medium armor profiency) for the whole game.