Yet another Let's Play: Baldur's Gate

[DarknessLord]

Let's Play: The Baldur's Gate Trilogy
"You are amusing, in a 'what the hell is wrong with you' kind of way."
http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10000.png

Alright, I kinda have been wanting to do a Let's Play of my own ever since discovering the concept, and I've finally gotten around to doing it, I've decided to go for the old classic, the Baldur's Gate trilogy (which, for those of you who don't know, is the first game, the second game, and the second game's expansion pack, but not the expansion pack for the first game mind you =\). Yes, there maybe some LPs for this game already existing, but I'm doing this to have fun, and share my take on this, dated, yet still fun game, so I hope you all can enjoy it anyway. I'm going to be using unmodded original versions of the games, so no Tutu, for the first game. Also, there's that old challenge hanging about of taking a single character from the start of the first game, all the way up to the end of throne of Bhaal, without reloading, I'm not foolhardy enough to say I can do it, but in that spirit I shall be keeping track of the number of reloads that are NOT loading for when I start the game up, or reloading for the sole purpose (IE I'm not in an life-threatening or really inconvenient situation that will be fixed by re-loading) of getting a screen shot for you guys, just for added fun. I've wasted enough time, Let's Play.

Chapter 1: Who the Hell Do You Think I Am?
http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10001.png
Ah, the title screen, I like the random doll and Black Isle book there, subtle hint to buy the strategy guide maybe?

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10002.png
Now for character creation, first thing we have to pick is our gender, kind of weird that it is always first for character creation screens when it matters least to game play.
Anyways, I decided to play a male, because when I get to the squeal I'll have a cannon romance option.

To rephrase that, there is NO female romance option in Baldur's Gate 2 (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/DisContinuity).

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10003.png
Right after gender I was promoted to pick a portrait for my character, unfortunately, all of them that are any good are either used, or very similar ones that are used by NPC party members. I have my character decided on, and am using a custom portrait, which I'm gonna black out until I'm done.
Race is human, Duel Classing rocks!

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10004.png
Considering this is mostly low level play, and I lose when the hero dies, the fighter's High HP seems nice, plus fits the concept perfectly.

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10005.png
One thing I'd like to point out is, there are only a VERY small amount of events that change your alignment in these games, I can be as evil as I want, so long as I don't do those certain things, I'm staying good.
Also, I'm sure that people are going to try to argue that I'm totally wrong about this character's alignment anyways.

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10006.png
The nice thing about stat generation in this game is that it's done randomly, and you can exchange stats at a 1 to 1 basis, oh, and you can store a roll to see if you get one better, but if you don't just recall it, and you have it again.
You also get infinite re-rolls.

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10007.png
I stopped counting at 50 re-rolls, and I took a LOT more after that.
I think everything but int is in-character, although I'm not quite sure.

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Swords!

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10009.png
Have you figured out who this is yet?

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10010.png
See title.
And yes, considering the placement of the secondary color, it should be white, that will be fixed next update.

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10011.png
Now I get assaulted by a wall of text.
To summarize: I'm a 20 year old (even if I was an elf) orphan who was raised in Library City, Forgotten Realms, By some bad-ass sage who is totally not going to die as soon as I leave the city gates. Now he's all like “Oh, you better get ready to go, because we have to leave.”
Of course, before I do that, I'm going to have to do most of the sidequests in this town.

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10012.png
Well, the game drops me outside the shop, with 90 gold. It's hard to tell in this picture, but it's raining. That's a good sign for the start of my journey right?

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10013.png
Considering how hard it is to get back into this place (as we discover in the late-game) this clearly is the only way he can make money.

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10014.png
Look how he backs down in the face of my shear manlyness though!

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10015.png
I end up buying a helmet, some armor and a huge sword, best I can get until I find some drills. Those three items run me 89 gold. Clearly only the very rich are allowed to fight.

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Am I the only one who thinks this armor makes it look like I have man-boobs, and a cod piece?

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10017.png
Like any RPG hero, I have to do random errands that people are more then capable of doing themselves. Only unlike them I'll get exp for it.

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10018.png
On my way to find that book, my very slow walk speed lets me notice a house that I can go into.
Clearly I must go in there and take their stuff!

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Inside some dude comes in and attacks me, but first he gives me a dialogue option to make it look like I could talk him out of it.

All the other options fail too.

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10020.png
It's over in one hit.
I guess this assassin who was good enough to get into this impossible to get into town, wasn't good enough to take a hit, or come at me with anything better then a dagger.
http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10021.png
Even though there was a perfectly good warhammer in this box

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10022.png
Ooh! This table has gold on it! I'll claim it in the name of the Dai-Gurren Brigade!

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10023.png
After I loot that building, some dude comes and talks to me.
I'd like to point out that the only other option in that was to practicly break down crying. Who the hell do you think I am?
But really Kamina, couldn't you think of a better lie, if it was a cat, you'd be dead.

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10024.png
This dude won't give me his quest until I solve that other quest.
But, really, who thinks hay is a good place to keep a book? It's gonna be like finding a needle in a--
http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10025.png
Oh, there we go!

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10026.png
She gives me a gem in exchange for a book.
The game's journal even comments on how weird that is.
We'll sell it later.

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10027.png
What I'm not showing you is how freaking long it takes me to walk about two or three screens between these two people.
Anyway, this guy wants to get an antidote to cure his cow's disease. Unless the cow is poisoned or antidotes work differently on cows in the Realms, I think he wants a potion of remove disease. But he won't reward me for that, and they don't exist in this game, so I'll abide his inane request.
Also, they apparently cure hangovers.

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10028.png
This dude thinks I need to know how to attack someone, he must have missed my fight with the minion assassin.
He also has the power to break the forth wall and talk about game mechanics.
I picked that up from him.

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Apparently he also finds it funny to have his friend fire arrows at me for no reason.

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10030.png
I get no reward for this, same with the group combat thing, let's skip that.

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Now this guy is awesome, his voice clip when you talk to him is his best Scottish Drawven Accent saying “By Merlin's Hammer”
He also wants be to fight some rats, because I'm a level 1 adventurer, and that's what we do.

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10032.png
I'd like to point out that there are two cats in here with the mice.
They are no help at all.
They are easily taken care of anyway. Now to loot the place!

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10033.png
This will be really funny when someone comes back and tries to remember where they put their ring in all these barrels.
Unfortunately this is all I can find.

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10034.png
Yay fantasy stereotype man!
Also, my journal sums up this entire situation better then I ever could.
http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10035.png
Blasted Commie Cats.

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After loads more of slow walking, I meet this guy.
I can tell he's important because he has a name.

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10037.png
Now see, this guy clearly had way too much to drink last night if he forgot his own sword the next morning.
He also seems to believe in the whole “Antidotes cure sick cows” myth.
I think they are just snake-oil.

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10038.png
Now the gatewarden thinks I need training in group combat. I'm the leader of the Dai-Gurren Brigade, Lord Kamina!

Plus it's really boring.

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10039.png
Who ever keeps an unlocked treasure chest full of gold outside where anyone can see deserves to get it taken.

I wonder what's inside? The house?
http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10040.png
Oh, another dude who wants me dead.
And you think I don't look so dangerous? WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK I AM?

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10041.png
That fight lasted quite a few rounds, we each only got one hit in, I took one HP from his hit, and he dies when I hit him.

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10042.png
There was nothing to loot but the assassin's dagger in there.
Again I am forced to pick between two very wussy options.

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10043.png
Woah, people in this building AREN'T trying to kill me, that dude has a name, I better go talk to him.

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He wants me to go shopping for him...

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10045.png
Amazingly the chest I need is the one off by itself, is unlocked, and only has the items I need for my quests in it.

The other chests are locked, and even if I had the skill to open them, I'd get flooded by guards.

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10046.png
A long walk back to the Inn.

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10047.png
That gem I got? Worth 7 gold, remember I got 5 gold for killing the rats. Digging books out of hay pays better then being an exterminator on the Sword Coast.

Anyway I bought the crossbow bolts, now it's time to collect those rewards. (ugh, so much slow walking.)

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10048.png
He gives me a dagger. He must not have noticed that giant 2-handed sword I have been carrying around all day. It's not like I have 2 more from assassins already.

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10049.png
20 gold for getting a sword, 5 gold for killing things...
Do I really want to become an adventurer?

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10050.png
Okay, this dude gave me nothing but a bit of info on the plot, despite walking all the way across town for him. Jerk.

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These monks sing when you click on them.
I'm not making this up. (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/IAmNotMakingThisUp)

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10052.png
“Hey ya, it's me Imoen.”
I would like to point out that my dialogue choices are three flavors of jerkass.

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10053.png
Sure you can come, more party members are always nice!

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10054.png
Stand up to him, what kind of man are you?

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10055.png
Alright, let's get out of this place, about time it burned to the ground.

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10056.png
This is audio only, “I'm gonna die, go to the Friendly Arm Inn, get some more party members.”
He then casts a healing spell just in case your character only has one hp left, so they'll survive the next cut scene. All the rest of his spells are arcane. :/

“Oh, hey Kamina, here are the people who are going to kill me.”
http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10057.png
http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10058.png
He then proceeds to kill every lacky with a single spell each, inculcating a multiple missile magic missile. He runs out of sells after only casing 8, and gets pwned.
I'm so confused about his power level.
Also as to why it's suddenly night.
I take that one damage and then am forced to run away, despite it being out of character for me.

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10059.png
I instead am attacked only by another wall of text.
“It's going to be daytime again, your mentor just got killed, but they were after you. Go to the Friendly Arm Inn.”

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10060.png
“Hey ya, it's me Imoen”
Sweet, join my party, call me “Bro”.

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10061.png
She had two gold on her.

And hey, I'm out of my home town, and it's still intact. I feel ripped off.

Reload count: 0, but only unlucky mages with low con scores die in Candlekeep.

This update was a little longer then what I plan on normally doing, (61 images, 62 if you count the one at the top) , just to get out of tutorial area and into the meat of the game. I have the next one or two updates planed, just so I can get a party and start doing stuff, but I'm open to suggestions.

I'll try to hammer out a schedule but fight now it's as I get them done.

[Fri]

It's amazing beyond believe. I can't think anything witty to say now, so I'll save it for later.

...kamina... *Snicker*

[Dairun Cates]

I'd think you'd want to switch the dex and int scores on Kamina. He's pretty dodgey, but dear lord he's not very smart. It's just charisma and the devil's luck for him.

[Philistine]

I don't know or care what a "kamina" is, but I'm guessing the high INT is for dual-classing to Mage later on. At least, the OP stated that the reason he chose Human was for later dual-classing, and with those stats, he can't go into Thief, Cleric, or Druid.

Apart from that, I look forward to reading this over the next 5 or 6 years - Epic LP Is Epic. :smallbiggrin:

[Pronounceable]

Reload count: 0, but only unlucky mages with low con scores die in Candlekeep.

Fun BG facts No 1: If you play on insane with a minimum con wizard, you'll die in the cutscene.

[Nerd-o-rama]

This is the best thing since some guy played Princess Maker 3 as Gendo Ikari. I'll be watching developments.

And while an 18 Int is out of character, I support the obvious Kensai/Mage dual class coming in BG2. One, because that's the only class broken enough to properly emulate Kamina. Two, because that's by far the best way to spend the whole game as a fighter with no shirt on.

[Archonic Energy]

Fun BG facts No 1: If you play on insane with a minimum con wizard, you'll die in the cutscene.
:smalleek:
is that true?

LOL...
LOL some more.

[Tengu_temp]

Heh, from the moment the custom portrait got mentioned I knew it's going to be Kamina.

Amusing read. I'm looking forward to part 2.

[Fri]

Baldur gate is my favourite rpg. for some reason I prefer it rather than baldurs gate 2. Maybe it's because 6th level is my sweet spot, or since it got humble beginning (I always prefer to play character from low level).

Heh. Commie cats. This bring back memories. Now I want to replay it myself...

[Bouregard]

I was never in the mood to play it from start to end. Usually my interest stops around the mines in the south. So gogo play it for me. Good job !

[Istari]

This is awsome

[DarknessLord]

This took too long for me to do. As in, this should have been finished sooner, not that I feel like I'm wasting my time or anything like that.


Alright, To respond to all your comments, Yeah, the current plan is Kensai > Mage for game two, as I plan to use shadowkeeper to mod Kamina up to game two snuff (I mean, no kit? no Fighting style ranks? Come ON!) as well as to insure my items aren't lost in the transition (this has happened to me before, and it's not just them getting taken). Although, this is down the road, so I may change my mind.
As for the high Dex comment, Kamina ONLY seems to be dodgy when he is faced with things that would seriously kill or injure him if he had gotten hit (Viral's knife for instance) however, his main source of survivability comes from his ability to take hits and get back up, and if you look at those times where he is dodging, and it's ONLY really where “This HAS to be lethal if it hits” it's very similar to the divine handwavium concept of HP. Or at least, that's my thoughts on it, you're welcome to you opinion on th matter.

As for the dieing during the cut scene, Hmm, lesse d4 HD 6 con is minus 2, enemies do double damage on intense, Oh yeah, you're screwed.

Yeah, Kamina may have been obvious from the title of the chapter, but I'm glad you all like it!
And I believe it was Princess Maker 2, not 3, it was still freaking epic.

And that 5-7 years is only going to take longer if I don't get to it.

Chapter 2: You Must Gather Your Party Before Venturing Forth

First thing's first.
http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10062.png
Colors are fixed, but now I'm wearing armor, so it doesn't really matter as much. :/

Anyway,
http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10061.png
Alright, so, this is where I ran to after that battle, seems that logical thing to do now is to loot their corps-- I mean investigate that note Imoen mentioned.

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10063.png
Okay, now the areas I've been in show up on the map, with the other areas are still covered in the fog of war. This clearly means that after I ran from that battle I teleported.

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10064.png
Let's guess what weapon Gorion had. Go on, Guess.

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10065.png
If you guessed a non-magical dagger, what a surprise you're right!
He had some gold on him too. He'd want me to have it.

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10066.png
At least his murderer was smart enough to take a step up to morning stars. Let's take a look at that note.

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG100665.png
“Dear Gorion,
I hope you forgive me for being extremely vague in my letter, but I can assume you know exactly what I am talking about so I'm not going to say anything that will let those in your care know anything about the plot. Oops, I said those, didn't I? Oh well, here's some information the PC already knows.
-E
PS don't prepare all your spells this morning, it will make things more fun.”

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10067.png
After looting the corpses I return to the railroad tra-- Err road, and meet this dude.
Maybe he'll give me stuff.

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10068.png
It's what I get from picking the “nice” option.

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10069.png
Ha! Now these these guys promise something up front! Not like they have ulterior motives or anything.

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10070.png
Damnit!

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10071.png
Now all these cutscenes have been saying I need to go to the friendly Arm Inn, isn't it convenient that I have that option?

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10072.png
Oh and hey, they go for it, who'da thunk it?
Anyway, Xzar is a necromancer, who presently only has damaging spells, and Montaron is a fighter/thief.

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10073.png
This dude has work to do, although he seems to be running in a rather random path.

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10074.png
And I reach the edge of the area, didn't even get attacked in this area. How boring.

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10075.png
The map, it will let you quick travel to places you've been, but you have to go through the wilderness to get there.

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10076.png
Next some old dude comes up to a band of armed people and asks us if we're crazy. That response was totally justified.

…

Wait a minute! Did he just call me demented? And of course I can't case after him to attack. I could have taken him. Not like he's some epic level FR canonical big-shot or something.

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10077.png
I get randomly attacked, by a thing hiding under a tree.

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10078.png
One hit and it's out.

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10079.png
Who the hell do those monsters think I am, let's go find their nest!

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We find an overturned wagon, somehow we suspect bandits. I think it might be the purple text.

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10089.png
Hmmm another wagon train. Clearly all my Oregon trail games have taken place on the sword coast.

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10090.png
Ha! that one looks like a worthy opponent!

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10091.png
Wow! A monster that can actually take a hit!

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10092.png
Heh, just because you got Monty doesn't mean you can defeat me! Who the hell do you think I--
http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10093.png
Crap.

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10094.png
And this is where I start back off again, thank you auto-save.

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10095.png
Stupid old man talks to me again. Still can't kill him.
This time I stick to the road, I'm going to need help to take that Ogre down.

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10096.png
I meet this dude, he warns me about the monsters.

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10097.png
Yeah, not like some of those monsters killed me before.

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10098.png
Upon reaching the inn, I'm treated to this movie whose cut scene graphics are sub-par compared to game-play graphics today. It's kinda hockey.

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10099.png
So, I arrive, apparently while have to wander around THAT particular patch of wilderness, I'm able to travel 8 hours through more wilderness and only risk getting attacked once. Go figure.

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10100.png
And this dialogue pops up totally randomly, maybe in response to the lone xvart I killed, oh, 8 hours ago?

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10101.png
Imoen, don't claim to be me.

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10102.png
Short summery of the fight, this dude casts fear, then mirror image, then blasts us with offensive spells. He acutally survives long enough to kill Imoen (I think it was because he thought she was me)

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10103.png
On his corpse is this lovely bounty notice, by reading it I am clearly bound by the “don't tell the guards” clause, I never get the option to ask a guard, “Some under world goon put a bounty on me for no freaking reason, a little help?”
Then again the guards in this world only exist to punish ME if I screw up, so there you go.

Now, we need to find a temple for Imoen to get raised, this might take a while, it's not like there's one right next to where we were figh--
http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10104.png
Well, that's convenient.

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10105.png
Hmm, only a 100 gold? Good thing I did all those side quests. and looted all those corpses

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10106.png
At one HP Imoen needs some rest. I should buy her some armor while I'm here as well.

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10107.png
Ahh, the pathfinding in this game. Really, it isn't terrible, it's pretty bad, for the time I'd say it's alright, what is really bad about it is that each party member does pathfinding on it's own, and will see other party members as obstacles to move around, and try to take a different route.

This is all fine, until you get attacked, or one of them screws up, goes completely the wrong way, and you are trying to get into a party required area. The latter happened here, and the game doesn't think I hear the “You must gather your party before venturing forth the first time, and REPEATS it over and over.

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10108.png
Some dude's is coming up to talk to me... And not kill me.
I think this guy just exists to name drop the titular city, and subtly hint I'm not supposed to go there yet.

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10109.png
I buy Imoen some armor, and a nice manly sword, so she has a melee weapon.

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10110.png
Baldur's gate, is a nice subversion of a stay at an inn fully heals you. It took me 4 stays.

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10111.png
There we go... I think she'd look better in blue though, XD thoughts?

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10112.png
Oh hey, we all know what this name means!

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10113.png
Meet Khalid and Jaheia, he's a fighter, she's a Druid/fighter, any guesses at who kicks more butt?

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10114.png
And they're like, my god-parents, or something, also, they want to go to Nashkel, hey, that's where my other companions want to go!

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10115.png
And hey look! It was an option! It's almost like I have a path laid out before me that I'm supposed to fallow.

More importantly then that....
http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10116.png
It's go time!

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10119.png
Monty died again, but I didn't so it's okay. I'm not sure if I plan on raising him or not, if I boot him when he's dead, I can keep his buddy. And now my post battle habit.

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10120.png
I'd like to point out that this guy had two belts.

Xzar: These belts appear to be magical.
Imoen: Yup yup, I bet we can get these identified in town.
Kamina: Hey hey hey! Who the hell do you think I am? We can get these belts identified the Dai-Gurren Brigade way!
Khalid: I-I-I-I'm not sure that's a good--
At this point I put one of the belts on.

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG10121.png
Kamina: What the Hell?
http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr16/bglpgiantitp/BG101215.png
Imoen: Why did his armor change?

Reload count: 1, stupid transsexual Ogre.

Also, major shout out to littlestranger of DeviantArt (http://littlestranger.deviantart.com/), whose page I shamelessly stole the basis of my girl Kamina portrait for. (http://littlestranger.deviantart.com/art/daily-doodle-girl-kamina-74844706)

[Nerd-o-rama]

Awesome to the max. That ogre and its bizarre gender identity problems never get old.

Yeah, the current plan is Kensai > Mage for game two, as I plan to use shadowkeeper to mod Kamina up to game two snuff (I mean, no kit? no Fighting style ranks? Come ON!) as well as to insure my items aren't lost in the transition (this has happened to me before, and it's not just them getting taken). Although, this is down the road, so I may change my mind.Actually, you get to pick a kit and redo weapon proficiencies when you import a character, no Shadowkeeper needed. I can't speak for the items, though, since I never had a loss problem.

And Blue with Red trim for Imoen? Unorthodox, but I like it.

[DarknessLord]

Eh, it's been so long since I beat BG w/o tutu that I don't remember the import stuff, if I don't need SK, I won't use it.
Tutu (or at least the version I had) DID have an item loss problem, so we'll see when we get there.

[Nerd-o-rama]

Oh yeah, I started up a TuTu playthrough a while back, but got distracted before I finished the first game. It's a very neat concept...seems to spawn an assload more random encounters than I remember, though.

[DarknessLord]

I think that's actually a feature, I recall that being in the FAQ, but I'm not sure right now.

Anyway, hopefully this next one will be done sooner then 6 days.

[Morty]

"You Must Gather Your Party Before Venturing Forth". I came to hate that phrase after playing through both BGs.
Anyway, good stuff, even though I've no fricking idea who is this guy in the portrait.

[SolkaTruesilver]

And now, my mind is wandering over the transexual ogre. Do you think Rich made his own in honor of Baldur's Gate's?

[Nerd-o-rama]

Anyway, good stuff, even though I've no fricking idea who is this guy in the portrait.Who the hell do you think he--

Oh, you have no idea? Well damn.

SolkaTruesilver: I am positive that was an intentional homage on Rich's part.

[Tengu_temp]

And now, my mind is wandering over the transexual ogre. Do you think Rich made his own in honor of Baldur's Gate's?

Nah, I'm sure Rich never played Baldur's Gate.

[Moonshadow]

Just so you know, the dwarf at the start actually says "By Moradin's Hammer!"

Not Merlins >_>;

[DarknessLord]

I think that's actually a feature, I recall that being in the FAQ, but I'm not sure right now.

Anyway, hopefully this next one will be done sooner then 6 days.

More like 6 months.:smallsigh:
Now I'm sorry about that, I wish I had a good reason, but I don't remember so chances are I didn't. I'm just gonna give it to you straight. Something happened that prevented me from meeting that self set deadline, and not a legitimate getting sick or something like that, it happened. I was embarrassed about it and reacted by not dealing with it. It's a problem of mine and I know it's unhealthy but it's something I try to work on.
Anyways, I still wanna do this, and I'm going to add a qualifier:
I'm going to get distracted, and it's going to be by stupid things, this is a fun hobby, but it's honestly not high on my priorities. But I do not find this length of unwarned break acceptable and this is the kind of thing that this is going to avoid, by allowing myself to focus on other things for a week or two, if it happens it won't turn into months like this time did.
Now, all that set aside, let's blow the dust out of the cartridge, and let's play. (Apologetic emo chapter names real names in parenthesis)


Chapter 3: We Better Not Ever Have to Wait This Long Between Chapters Again (or: Man, I feel Like a Woman!)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10122.png
Imoen: That belt suits you Kamina! Or, I guess, it'd be Kamia now wouldn't it?
Kamina: Where's the nearest city?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10123.png
Jaheia: That'd be Bregost.
Kamina: Alright, We're going to a temple, now, to Bregost!
Khalid: B-b-but there's no temple in--
Kamina: Move out everyone!

Seriously, that was a roleplay choice, it had nothing to do with how long it's been since I've ever been in a situation where I'd need to find a temple in Bregost and didn't just walk to the arm.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10124.png
Another brief cut scene cause I entered the city, now, where's that temple...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10125.png
Not only does another guy come up just to talk and not want my head on a plate but he offers directions. People weren't treating me this nicely before I had boobs...

Also, since Bregost has no temple, the option to ask for one doesn't exist, of course who'd possibly be dumb enough to need a temple by Brego....

Shut up.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10126.png
Since I had no option to ask for a temple or deny his help, I figure I might as well ask about weapons.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10127.png
In town, Imoen grabbed some new threads!

I like these colors on her!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10128.png
Ah-ha! A name, that means...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10129.png
...She doesn't give a crap about me, Who the hell do you think I am lady?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10130.png
Yeah, let's see you deal with...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10131.png
Oh come on!
Ah well, add another one to the count.
I then go on to explore OTHER buildings!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10132.png
Always good to see a boy doing some honest work, any chance you know where a temple is?

Honestly some of the random NPC dialogue like this is pretty great, some of it's generic fare, but there are some nice things like this.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10133.png
You know, I could just let that one slide, even say it's close enough to be in character, but I'm tired, I've had no luck finding an inn, and I'm already sick of being a woman!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10134.png
Say it with me: “Who the hell do you think I am?”

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10135.png
You know what, at first, I really did unequip my sword and told my party to step back for an epic fist fight...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10136.png

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10137.png
I rolled poorly...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10138.png
I didn't die, because he was using unarmed attacked. but my party had to come in and save my arrogant butt.

Look at the HP remaining for Immy and Kamia, and keep in mind that Marl goes down in one solid hit.

To reiterate: I almost lost. In the fight with Marl.

Yeah...

You know, I kind of like the flavor of that, a level 1 adventurer just happens to be a guy with a sword, or maybe a few spells, but really isn't any better then old Marl in the bar when it comes to getting down and dirty. Makes the good old “You all meet in a tavern” make a lot of sense. 3.5 had this a little, NPC classes were pretty weak, and 4e throws this out the window by having you start out as heroic.

Time to go rest for a few days to heal up from my fist fight!

Reload Count: 2

Chapter 4: Don't Think Giving Us Two At Once Is Impressive, Cause Where You End These Is Rather Arbitrary (or: The State of Feminism on the Sword Coast)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10139.png
Apparently I'm taking to long getting to the plot. I'm kinda torn on this aspect of the game, on one hand yeah it's great that the NPCs have enough personality to start getting annoyed when you agreed to do something and take to long, but it's pretty annoying when I just wanna do my own thing and have a chance of not dying cause I'm all by myself.

HTTP://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10140.png
I like her, she's too drunk to notice I'm a woman.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10141.png
Okay, I'm starting to question the fact that NPCs have names are really important or not...

I guess it's still more fun then talking to “Drunk Man”

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10142.png
Checking upstairs I have discovered a man who apparently rented out the hallway.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10143.png
Wait, why do we need a third inn in this town. And no temple?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10144.png
Alright, let's go find some more named people, at least their drunk dialogue should be fun!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10145.png
Ohh! This guy has a real quest!
I'll keep that in mind for when I head out that way!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10146.png
And another one, you think they could have split these guys to two different inns so it be easier to find sidequests or something.
Way things stand this one has a monopoly on them.

Alright, I think it's time for some payback!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10147.png
Come to think of it, why is this person attacking me, I'm clearly a woman so it can't be the bounty

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10148.png
Oh great, is that a bounty note? Let me see that again...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG101485.png
Hmm, this note was written gender neutrally, so I guess that makes sense, though it seems kinda weird that everyone's able to identify me when the author of the note didn't even know my gender...

I must run around telling people who the hell I am, or something, but what kind of silly character concept would...Oh, right.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10149.png
Moving on, this dude's armor was better then mine, so yay for dying slightly less now!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10150.png
Also, Jaheia got killed in that fight, and I've explored enough to figure out that there is no temple here, so let's head back to the Arm.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10151.png
Now, see apparently I only need to cross that certain piece of wilderness once and once I do that I can travel for 12 hours unbothered.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10152.png
Crap armed man walking in my direct-- oh, wait, his name's guard, nevermind.

Alright so I raised Jaheia, hopefully the remove curse won't be too expensive...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10153.png
OH screw that!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10154.png
I think that line from Jaheia is gonna be the new motto for this LP. ^.^

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10155.png
Right right, that plot I'm ignoring, I got it...

I wonder how long PCs in a tabletop game would put up with this from their NPC companions. I think if the DM was just going to FORCE them to play his plot he would have done so, but he's being pretty passive aggressive about them not doing it.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10156.png
Right, and I spoke to you first.

Because, clearly you can't be talking to me, as I'm a woman.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10157.png
Belt FETISH?

I really want this thing off me. NOW.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10158.png
95 GP and a book? I should have just kept the magic item.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10159.png
Yeah, I really should have kept the magic item.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10160.png
No. How dare YOU!
I'm an RPG Heroine I go into unlocked rooms, take anything that doesn't qualify as stealing, and I talk to the people inside, and they. Are. Okay. With. it. DEAL.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10161.png
Oh, I get it. See, because I'm a woman I have to be the maid or something! I have to do your laundry because I'm clearly not an adventurer! Never mind that I'm armed to the teeth covered in blood and filth from combat and with 4 other people that look like we all met in a tavern! Nope, not me I'm just a woman, so I clearly am just a servant girl. THIS INJUSTICE WILL NOT STAND! I will cast off the chains of oppression and not let anyone look down upon me! So damn you to the hells and take your joke item with you!
Even if I can craft it into something awesome in ToB.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10162.png
Sweet, another quest!
Of course a woman isn't so biased as to ignore my weapons and armor and mistake me for a maid.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10163.png
Alright, I got those antidotes equipped, ready to move out.

Reload count: 2

Now a few questions:
-Where next, do we go on one of the quests mentioned, or *gasp* the plot, or head to Nashkel just to meet a certain Ranger and his hamster animal companion?
-Talking to every (named) NPC, do it, don't do it, or do it off screen and only capture the interesting ones?
-Party conversations, should I keep them for only out in the wilderness when there's not much else to talk to/about, or just do them more/less in general?
-Other thoughts in general?

[Philistine]

That line of Jaheira's was always one of my favorites, as well.

It's been a while for me, but was't there a temple outside of Beregost to the east?

To your questions:
- Of course you should do the Beregost quests - you should do everything!
- I vote for "capture the interesting ones."
- I'm not sure what you mean by the next question - as far as I ever knew, the intra-party banters are on a randomized timer. So you don't have any control over when they come up.
- Delighted to see this rearing its ugly head again.

[SurlySeraph]

-Go find Minsc. Go find Minsc! GO FIND MINSC! GO FIND MINSC GOFINDMINSCGOFINDMINSCGOFINDMINSC!!!
-Do it off screen and only capture the interesting ones
-Do most of the party conversations, focus on the interesting ones.
Spears are kinda like drills, but you can save that until BGII. Also, this is an awesome Let's Play and you are awesome for doing it. And I really think you should take the Pantaloons so you can get the Big Metal Unit later - since it's the closest thing to a mech in Baldur's gate, it would be a slight out-of-character moment now in exchange for getting something VERY character-appropriate later.

[DarknessLord]

@Philistine
XD yep there is, not a simple NPC mentions it and it doesn't show up on my map unless I go east, it was mainly "Let's explore Bregost!" and then when I really needed a temple I remembered that there were a few people I needed to talk to at the arm, good excuse to go back...

Heh, "Do everything" doesn't sound like a bad plan, this is more along the lines of "what next, even though I'll do the rest later"

Well, Out in the Wilderness I sometimes add in some non-cannon interparty dialogue (Like How “Kamia” decided to go to Bregost in the first place) I was wondering if it's annoying and I should stop it. For now I think I'll keep them to a minimum perhaps only to advance the metaplot.

@SurlySeraph
Find Minsc, got it, he doesn't give me a half bad quest to do while I'm at it.

As for spears, that's not a half bad idea, in fact, in my 4e campaign
I actually had Drills as a custom weapon that counted as the spear weapon group for when it mattered. (This subsequently made Eladrins much more badass), however I was also thinking of going Katana as he actually uses one outside of his mech in Gurren-Lagann. I have a while to consider it.

Now I unlike a lot of people, do not have a boat-load of saves for my BG games, I have my save file, and then my quick and auto save files, so as much as I have considered simply reloading and taking the golden pantaloons I don't have the save file anymore to do it. ^.^;

However, if anyone knows if they can be pick pocketed, I'm not above training Immy for that (considering her skill points won't transfer over to the next game anyways).

Chapter 5: Minsc and Boo stand ready.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10164.png
Greatly offended and pantaloonless I head back to Bregost to help out that nice old gnome lady.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10165.png
The house, of course, is on the other side of town, bravely like the dashing and daring woman I am I charge blindly in.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10166.png
And you thought there would be a game over screen shot here didn't you?

Well, not quite, Kamina got struck and poisoned by a spider forcing me to withdraw and drink and antidote before I could even take a screen of them. Somehow, though, in that confusion, one of my party members managed to kill one, which was just enough to level Jaheia up.

She got like 10 more hit points and another first level spell slot.

I figured if one went down that fast the rest wouldn't be that hard, especially now I got someone who can take a hit.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10167.png
Amazingly, the one we killed's body has already disappeared spooooky....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10168.png
They actually go down really easy, it was that lucky hit that forced me to withdraw

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10169.png
Anyways, I get the body I need to bring back being an inventory item but it's pretty funny that I can remove the body item and the body is still there.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10170.png
I bet she'll want that gem and that 7 gold as well. I better take it just to be safe.

I make the 12 hour hike back to the arm.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10171.png
While I'm not sure if this is due to engine limitations or lazy programming, she only takes one item at a time...

Still, at 120 GP for a pair of boots, I'm not complaining.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10172.png
Heh, yeah, I meant to grab the largest body, it's not like that's the only one that dropped. ^.^;

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10173.png
And 100 gold for that one, not bad.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10174.png
Now, here's the other lazy part about this dialogue, even after giving her all three items, she doesn't remember that I gave her the other two. Ah well, she pays well, so I'll put up with it.

Now do you want that gem back?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10175.png
I guess not...

I head back to Bregost and stay in the inn, and...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10176.png
FINE! We'll freaking head to Nashkel!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10177.png
Now I head to one of those particular patches of wilderness.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10178.png
This place is actually right next to Bregost so it takes no traveling time...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10179.png
Ogrillon? What the hell is an Ogrillon?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10180.png
Freaking deadly is what they are.

Well, a quick Google search tells me that it's a half-orc/half-ogre still, what the hell.
A quick reload from the autosave and I realize that part of the problem is that Imoen is out of arrows.
I also sell all my useless gems and weapons that no one is going to use.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10181.png
One gold short. One. Gold. Short.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10182.png
Since I knew where those guys were now, it was pretty easy to cast entangle on the first one, and then just fill him up with arrows.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10183.png
Then the 2nd one notices me.

Weird thing about my is that everyone seems to roll low damage against him. He still goes down, but it takes about as many hits as it does for my frontliners, weird.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10184.png
One is carrying a scroll, if this is a bounty notice....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10185.png
I don't remember if this is a quest or just something flavorful they put in. Ether way, it sucks to be the halfling.

Imoen: Looks like the poor sod bit it.
Kamina: Alright people, back to the Arm.
Jaheia: I believe it would be more prudent to head to the temple east of Bregost.
Kamina: Hey hey hey! What the hell is with you not mentioning that before?
Jaheia: Someone seemed determined to find that information from the locals, and we lacked the funds to fix your self-inflicted condition in any case. Plus I seem to recall being dead when we legitimately needed one.

See? There's an in-character reason why we backtracked to the arm temple. Heh heh heh!.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10186.png
I totally remembered this was there.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10187.png
A short walk and this cool priest is ready to not only heal us, but give us a quest to boot. What a nice guy.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10188.png
So... tempting...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10189.png
I end up doing the right thing... And finding out more information on that quest!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10190.png
...
... I AM ON MY WAY! AND I'M NOT LAZY I'M DOING QUESTS! WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK I AM?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10191.png
Little way down the road this guy comes up to us and accuses us of being bandits.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10192.png
Honestly that's pretty lame reasoning, I can't believe he actually bought...

...

Wait, did I just, talk my way out of a fight?
You can do that?
Amazing!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10193.png
Then I get attacked by a hobgoblin, which kinda look like vikings in this game.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10194.png
He has two friends, two go down, third runs away, I chase, goes down. They are not that tough.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10195.png
The first two died so close together that their inventory stacked, pretty cool feature.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10196.png
This place has TWO pieces of wilderness that I have to pass through, fancy.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10197.png
This leads to a fork in the road where one path leads into solid rock...

Okay...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10198.png
By staying OFF the road I avoid like three ambushes, I'll come back and deal with them later.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10199.png
Nashkel has it's own movie that plays when I'm entering, it shows a little girl running off to play by herself...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10200.png
And then the kobolds show up.

Poor kid.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10201.png
Entering Naskel also triggers chapter 2.
To Paraphrase: “Gorion wouldn't want you to go on pointless side quests, you should check out those mines to find out more about yourself. Sure there's no reasonable way that an iron shortage would be connected to some dude from Candlekeep, but you're arrogant enough to believe there is.”

Also, what the hell was chapter one? All I have to do to trigger it is show up here, everything else I did was my choice and not required by the plot so, chapter 1 consists of... walking?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10202.png
The movie took place during the day, but it was night when I arrived. Huh.
And some dialogue options I like! Not bad!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10203.png
We're the Dai-gurren brigade! We go beyond the impossible and kick reason to the curb! You have no chance!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10204.png
Anyways, she's a caster, but she has more hp then my party combined. ¬.¬

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10205.png
She's still not very tough.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10206.png
Who the hell do you think I am? No, really.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10207.png
Oh, alright then.
I agree to help, just so my NPC party members won't whine about it.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10208.png
The reputation point is more valuable then the gold.
I wonder how awkward these dialogue choices would be if I WAS named Greywolf.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10209.png
...Yep better make sure the captain doesn't find out, but I'm gonna spread the word so you get a reputation point for it. Makes...sense?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10210.png
Verily, 'tis a quest most worthy of man who dost holdth the title of RPG Hero!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10211.png
I think we'll get along just fine.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10212.png
When I kick a dead person out of my party I apparently just drop their body on the ground. That's kinda funny.

Reload count: 3

Next time: Braving the Gnoll Stronghold, getting attacked by bears, and adding to that reload count! I took WAY too many screens for one chapter so I just gotta type the cometary up. Still I always welcome suggestions on what to to afterwards!

[SurlySeraph]

Katanas are a good idea too.
And, though I'm not 100% sure, I'm pretty sure they can be pickpocketed. Me, when I try to pickpocket something I really want I just do it with a low level and revert to saved every time I fail, but you're probably a better person than that. :smallwink:

[DarknessLord]

Nah, I'm just keeping track of my reloads, so a higher skill in it benefits me in that department. XD, Not that I think that value is going to be even smei-low by the time I'm done.... ^.^;

Chapter 6: You Have Been Waylaid by Enemies

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10213.png
Before heading out I check in on this guy to see what quests I can do later, doesn't sound too bad.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10214.png
And the shop keeper gives me another good offer when I go to stalk up on supplies.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10215.png
As much as I would like to go to the carnival, I mean, it's the freaking carnival! There's dames to be rescued, and that is what I must do!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10216.png
Oh-ho! My first random encounter. This surly won't get old!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10217.png
And alright it appears to be an Orge.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10218.png
I manage to take it down, but not without a casualty.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10219.png
And then and orge mage appears out of nowhere (like I'm fairly certain it was inviable and just not doing anything the whole fight) and kills Xzar... Yeah.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10220.png
However, it gave enough exp to level up Imoen.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10221.png
You know, the smart thing to do would be to invest in find traps....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10222.png
I think stealth and pickpocket are clearly more important.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10223.png
Moving on to the loot, I think I found another Orge with a weird fetish, I don't think I'll be putting any of those necklaces on anytime soon....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10224.png
Might as well go revive my fallen...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10225.png
I like how they remind you of that AFTER you've activated the berserker state, they actually inform you when you first turn it on, but still.

They are also mixing up what tense they are using to describe it too.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10226.png
Yeah, this guy, for some reason I seemed to recall getting something for putting up with him long enough, I was apparently wrong about that.

Here's how much he said before I figured it out.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10227.png
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10228.png
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10229.png
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10230.png
Yeah... He seemed mentally disabled, or something, so I couldn't really just get pissed and kill him...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10231.png
Not a bad idea Jaheia.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10232.png
This dude is pretty cool, his brief sound clips he has a pretty cool voice too.

He also gives me another sidequest, which is always nice.

I head back to the inn to heal up after raising my dead...
When I rest...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10233.png
Now these dreams are based on alignment and grant me some cool powers, this one is supposed to be a metaphor for like corruption or something, I donno, but it's kinda pulled off poorly making it look like a good thing that you decide to take a harder path, just because it's harder. Yeah pushing your limits is nice and all, but implying inherent evilness in not doing so just for it's own sake? It's not like the easy path had me trampling babies or something, oh well, it gives me a cure light wounds ability once per day, which has a very short casting time, so there we go.

Alright, let's try heading out to that Gnoll stronghold again.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10234.png
Another random encounter, alright.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10235.png
Since I knew about where they would be I was able to nab them with an entangle. Pretty easy after that.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10236.png
I actually made it to the area, and a good ways across the map!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10237.png
Then I get attacked by some wolfs (wolves? Whatever...) which is too bad cause I like wol-- those things...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10238.png
Khalid got injured but it's alright, and Xzar died again. I actually make it to the end of the area!

Ugh, stupid mage with only melee weapon proficiencies, I'm gonna have to consider if he is even worth raising.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10239.png
And there's another area I have to pass through to get there... Greaat...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10240.png
Oh yay!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10241.png
Crap! A BEAR!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10242.png
WITH MAGE BACKUP!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10243.png
Honestly it was a freaking BEAR with support from a caster, against a level 1~2 party.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10244.png
Thank you autosaves, let's try moving again.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10245.png
And I made it! Yay!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10246.png
I get attacked by some gibberlings and their dogs.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10247.png
Yeah, not that big a deal.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10248.png
Now this dude wants me to fight another bear, this one probably won't have backup.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10249.png
Minsc got too far into the negatives with a single attack and got permanently killed off, something I've heard is lovingly called “chunked” due to the fact that the person explodes in a chunk of body parts. Now I really should just keep playing and just see Minsc in the sequel, but I'm as much of a Minsc fan as you guys are, so let's just add one to the reload count. I actually killed the bear after that too.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10250.png
This time instead of gibberlings I get attacked by hobgoblins.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10251.png
Gosh Khalid is the worst frontliner ever.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10252.png
Better go raise him anyways.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10253.png
A lack of enemy attacks and 100 gold later, our fighter is back on his feet.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10254.png
Great....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10255.png
Stupid bears, at least this one didn't chunk him.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10256.png
I try to raise money by selling those necklaces I found lying on the Orge Mage, and they were worth some major loot.

…

How do shops in these poor towns have this much gold?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10257.png
Who cares? I got enough!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10258.png
Minsc: The temples here change women to men? Minsc is confused about which god supports this, but Boo says not to think about it.
Imoen: Uhhh.... That's not quite wha--
Minsc: Never fear brave leader, despite the meddling of the gods Minsc will always know that you have the heart of a true woman warrior!
Imoen: I'm sure Kamina appreciates that, right “sis”?
Kamina: Gah! Dai-Gurren Brigade, MOVE OUT!

I then encounter an orge that I forgot to take screenshots of, I kill it pretty easily.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10259.png
But it's enough to level Kamina up!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10260.png
Yay, enough HP to take a hit is always good!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10261.png
Alright, maybe I'll actually be able to reach the gnoll stronghold this time.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10262.png
The dude askes me for help with the bear again, and I figure I'll take revenge for Minsc (sorta), by using entangle and filling it with arrows, unfortunately, Imoen is out and so I settle for wasting her wand of magic missiles.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10263.png
Then when that runs out I just come in and beat on it.

Ugh, this kinda feels more like animal abuse then a fight now...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10264.png
He insults us, and gives me a pair of boots, then goes about his way, whatever.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10265.png
Nope, I can wait. I've learned my lesson.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10266.png
Finally we manage to make it ther--
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10267.png
Aw come on!

Ah, at least these are gnolls.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10268.png
I like being level 2! ^.^

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10269.png
Alright, NOW onto the Gnoll Stronghold.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10270.png
Hey, it even has it's own cutscene!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10271.png
It then drops me off right in front of a bridge.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10272.png
Which of course is guarded by Orges or Giants or something, rather then, you, know, Gnolls.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10273.png
But no one makes me pay a toll! Who the hell do they think I am?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10274.png
And they actually go down really easily.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10275.png
Among the other one's loot I find some magical gauntlets, pretty cool.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10276.png
Oh! this one isn't just a Gnoll, it's a Gnoll Elite

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10277.png
Honestly, they are not that strong.

I take on a few more groups of one or two, nothing even worth capturing, honestly, this place is one that REALLY benefits from Tutu's increased spawning rates, as it makes them come at you in swarms, which are actually kinda tough.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10278.png
There are some Xvarts here too, for... some reason.

They are harder then the Gnolls, if for no other reason then there are four of them.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10279.png
Now, here's the big question, Is this guy red because he's the chieftain or is he the chieftain because he is red?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10280.png
He at least managed to get a good hit in before he went down.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10281.png
And these three guys were standing right behind their chieftain and didn't feel the need to come help him.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10282.png
Alright, I have successfully rescued Dynaheir, who not only has a better spell then Xzar, but has a proficiency with a sling.
I'm making the swap.

And that Exp she gives me is enough for Khalid to level up!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10283.png
More HP is good! ^.^

I scribe the scroll I took from Xzar in Dynaheir's spell book anyways!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10284.png
The Darkness stands no chance against me now! ^.^

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10285.png
On the way back I get waylaid by a non-hostile bear.

I let it be, bears are pretty cool when they are not trying to rip your face off.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10286.png
Alright, I didn't take very many images of all the gnolls I fought but to give you an idea, the Halberds they all dropped sell for 2 gold each.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10287.png
32 gold, so I killed like 16 of them, and since the short swords sell for 2 GP also....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10288.png
So I sold 11 short swords, although I don't think ALL of them came from the gnoll's allies.

Now to identify those items!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10289.png
Eh, these are alright, a bit situational, but I'm not using my feet slots anyways.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10290.png
Alright, it sets Dex to be 18 (rather then boosting it), good compromise to the whole “Is Kamina dodgy?” thing

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10291.png
So I equip those two items, (and the dex gives me a MUCH better AC) and I notice my sword broke at some point, so I buy a new one.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10292.png
I figure I have nothing better to do at the moment, so I go looking for those half ogres that one dude asked me to kill, they should be northwest from where I am, or something.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10293.png
This dude comes up to talk to me about some place called Neverwinter and mentions something about nights, I wonder what's up with that?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10294.png
Next area.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10295.png
I run into these guys, who manage to all save against entangle except for the ranged weapon user, and everyone in my party except Kamina get affected by a fear spell (that was kinda awesomely fitting), but...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Shadowone/LP%20BG/BG10296.png
Didn't help that I forgot to EQUIP my new sword.

Reload count: 6

Aw well, for now I'm averaging one a chapter. ^.^;

[AgentPaper]

Apparently keeping your items from BG1 to BG2 is rather easy. You just have to pause the game right away, drop it all, then pick up back up once you're done being tortured. From the gamefaqs guide:

When importing a character from BG, or even re-importing a character from BG2
to go through again, you can retain your character's equipment in the
beginning of the game (I imagine this would work in multiplayer as well as
single player, but I've only tried it in single player). First, give your
character all the great stuff you want to start with and then Export him to a
character file, then start BG2 and start a single player game, importing your
freshly exported character with all his goodies as your new character. Then
when you finish your character creation it begins loading the first area, as
soon as the loading screen completes but before it actually starts the game,
hit the Spacebar once, now when the game starts you should be on a black
screen and paused.

If the game isn't paused, you'll have to start over after the whole in-game
sequence is over, but if the game is paused you should have your sidebars up
and everything (if it's a completely black screen you'll need to hit H to
reveal the hidden sidebars), and you can go into your character's inventory.

Immediately put all of your character's stuff on the ground, then exit his
inventory and unpause the game, that first cry you give is where you lose
everything that is on your character. Now, after the sequence is over and
you're finished talking with Imoen (when you first have control over
yourself), go back into your inventory and you'll see that all of your stuff
is on the ground right where you left it, actually sitting on the floor of
your cage. Take your advanced equipment and go forth to kick evil butt!
(hey, if Minsc can hide Boo...)

Editor's Note: Another way to do this would be to start a new Multiplayer
Game with a new character. As soon as the game starts, then
delete this character and import your old one.