Miscellaneous Info/FAQ
Just other questions regarding BG2 and ToB
I have a game glitch. Should I do anything before calling the company or posting on a board?
If your game is acting weird try clearing the game cache by emptying the contents of the folder "Install Path\Cache\Data" and restarting the game. Also try downloading the latest official patches from Bioware's Website.
There is no set "Best" of any of these things. Each class has their own unique talents. There may be items which are more powerful than other but there is no best of anything in the game.
With a Thief or Stalker, turn invisible by using Hide in Shadows, an invisibility potion or spell and walk behind the character you're backstabbing. Then attack. Certain enemies are immune to backstab. Also, in BG2, any melee weapon usable by a Thief can be used to backstab (Including a Club and Staff). Use Any Item in ToB does not allow you to backstab with any other weapon.
Rangers can't use their Hide In Shadows with anything more than Studded Leather on. So if you have on Plate Mail or so, the ability will be off. This is the same for a Fighter/Thief (No Pickpocket or Hide In Shadows) or Fighter/Mage (No spell casting) using metal/leather armor.
It depends on you. The outcome is the same although there is a slight difference in the XP you recieve. In the roleplaying sense, the Shadow Thieves are the lesser evil of the two choices. There is no other alternative to siding with these two groups.
The collector's edition of BG2 came with two extra merchants. The company has allowed these merchants to be downloaded. Joluv is in the Copper Coronet and Deidre is in the Adventurer's Mart. Both have some items which all classes can benefit from. The items are expensive but worth it. And no you cannot steal them (No steal button). If you install Throne of Bhaal these merchants will be added so don't bother with downloading them.
Mods are unofficial additions to the game. The offer things like new characters to join your party, new classes, monsters, areas and spells. The Darkest Day is one of the largest mods available. It offers all of this. Check here for more info/Mods.
The Jahiera romance is based on real time so if it's been a while since she's said anything then try pausing the game and leaving it for about an hour or so then unpause it. Go have a snack or something.
Get the original Mace of Disruption and the pure Illithium from the Sir Sarles quest (Don't give it to him) and take it to Cromwell in the Docks District (Don't get worried about giving the fake to Sir Sarles and reporting to the Temple of Helm)
Go to the Docks District and look at your map. He's towards the south-west part of the map. With the installation of ToB, every other item you need to be upgraded can be upgraded by Cespenar, found in your ummm...New stronghold (Trying not to spoil it for those who haven't played it yet).
If your main character is a Mage, Bard or Sorcerer, he/she can cast Find Familiar. A familiar is like a pet (Different animal depending on your character's alignment). They all have bonuses like pickpocketing and magic resistance and they boost your character's HP by half of their total HP. You can talk to it sometimes and your character will loose one point of Constitution if the familiar dies. Here's a chart detailing the different familiars: (Note sometimes you'll get different HP, AC, Magic Resistance and abilities depending on if you're in SoA or ToB)...The first set is SoA and the second set is ToB
Familiar Alignment AC HP Magic Resistance Bonuses (SoA) Bonuses (ToB) Rabbit True Neutral -4/1 16/48 0/65 50% Detect Traps
30% Stealth85% Detect Traps
60% Stealth
50% Detect Illusions
Constant HasteQuasit Chaotic Evil 2/-2 24/48 25/35 Horror once per day Horror once per day
Immune to fire, cold and electrical attacks
Regenerates 1 HP per second
3 attacks per round, 1d6 damage plus save vs. Death or -1 Dexterity for 6 roundsPseudo Dragon Lawful Good & Neutral Good -2/0 24/48 50/35 2 attacks per round at THACO: 13 for 1-3 damage. Save or be rendered unconscious for 120 seconds
Blur once per day2 attacks per round at THACO 8 for 1d6 damage. Save vs. death or be rendered unconscious for 120 seconds
Blur and Ghost Armor Blur Detect Illusions twice per dayImp Lawful Evil 2/-2 18/48 2535 Polymorph Self once per day Polymorph Self once per day
Attack does 1d6 damage with poison (save vs. death or die)
Regenerates 1 HP per secondFerret Lawful Neutral 0/-4 24/48 50/65 75% Pick Pockets
40% Stealth
20% Detect Traps95% Pick Pockets
60% Stealth
60% Find TrapsFairy Dragon Chaotic Good 4/0 24/48 32/45 Mirror Image once per day
Invisibility 10' Radius once per dayMirror Image once per day
Invisibility 10' Radius once per day
Improved Invisibility once per dayDust Memphit Neutral Evil 6/3 24/48 10/25 Glassdust twice per day
Glitter dust once per dayPrismatic Spray once per day
Stoneskin once per day
Immune to fire
60% damage resistance (except vs. crushing)Cat Chaotic Neutral 0/-4 24/48 50/65 99% Move Silently
99% Hide in shadows99% Move Silently & Hide In Shadows
60% Finding & Removing Traps
60% Detecting Illusions & Invisibility
You're not supposed to be able to beat him although there have been a few strategies. He's there because Aran Linvail is a necessary part of the story so he's not supposed to be attacked at this point. For you curious types...He's just wielding a regular short sword so don't work your arse off trying to figure out a way to beat him for his items.
The Twisted Rune is a quest which was supposed to be put into the game but was left out in. You can still fight the monsters there, however. There is a trapped door facing west at the south west part of the Bridge District. After disarming the trap, use a Rogue Stone (Just have it in your inventory) to enter the door. Quicksave before entering because it's a tough fight.
A very good editor can be found here. It's called Shadowkeeper. You can edit saved games many ways like changing race, stats, spells, importing items from the item browser and much more. This is a great tool for browsing items, spells and monsters also but I wouldn't recommend it for first time BG2ers...It would just spoil the game. I would recommend it for people who have beaten the game at least once or just want to mess around or browse through the items to see what's available in the game. (Side Note: There is also GateKeeper for BG1 and DaleKeeper for Icewind Dale)
I would explain it but there is nice, long explanation at Baldurdash.
Test of Wrath: You'll encounter the ghost of your brother Sarevok. He'll try to provoke you to fight him in your Slayer form. Resist him to get the good reward. To let your anger take you, will result in the evil reward. You'll get a +1 to your Wisdom and Charisma for doing it the good way and a +2 to Strength for doing it the evil way.
Test of Greed: You'll get the Blackrazor (a really powerful sword) from a demon. You can give it to the Djinni for the good reward (+2 to all Saving Throw) or use it to kill him for the evil reward (+15 HP).
Test of Selfishness: I hate this test. You have to either sacrifice a party member or some HP, a point of Dexterity and some experience! This sucks. The good path is to sacrifice something of yourself (+10% magic resistance), while the evil path will result in the permanent death of a character and you getting a +2 to your AC.
Test of Fear: This is the easiest test. Accepting the Cloak of Bravery will result in you getting the evil reward (+2 to Constitution). Instead, cast Resist Fear and decline the cloak. Go along the southern passage and click on the crystals to get the fourth Tear of Bhaal. You'll get the good reward (Immunity to +1 weapons and less).
Test of Pride: Keep questioning the demon and refuse to fight the monster ahead. If you answer correctly, there will be a non-hostile dragon (gold I think) and you'll get the last Tear and a bonus of 20% to your Fire, Cold and Lightning Resistance. If you fall victim to your pride, you'll have to fight a red dragon. You'll get some really spiffy items from it, as well as a bonus of 200,000 experience points
I'll try not to spoil you (By telling you what you have to do in order to get them) but just tell you the locations.
Imoen: Silly to mention but I want to put everyone here (She opens your cage)
Minsc: When you start the game, a few feet north
Jahiera: When you start the game, a few feet north
Yoshimo: In Irenicus' Dungeon
Aerie: The circus at Waukeen's Promenade
Korgan: Copper Coronet in the Slums District (Bottom left)
Anomen: Copper Coronet in the Slums District (Top right)
Nalia: Copper Coronet in the Slums District (Center)
Edwin: Mae'Var's Guildhall at the Docks District (Follow a quest)
Viconia: Government District (Bottom left)
Jan: Government District (Bottom right)
Keldorn: The sewers under the Temple District
Haer'Dalis: The sewers under the Temple District (Gotta follow a sub-quest)
Valygar: Umar Hills (Way up north)
Mazzy: Shade Dungeon at Temple Ruins
Cernd: Trademeet (Follow the story line to find exactly where)
Remember, some characters will leave because of your reputation or if you really get mad at them while booting them out so they may not be available.
Imoen: Ummm...Follow the main story line
Minsc: Copper Coronet in the Slums District (Middle north)
Jahiera: Harper Compound in the Docks District
Yoshimo: Copper Coronet in the Slums District (Near entrance)
Aerie: The circus at Waukeen's Promenade
Korgan: Copper Coronet in the Slums District (Bottom left)
Anomen: Copper Coronet in the Slums District (Top right)
Nalia: Copper Coronet in the Slums District (Center) or the D'Arnise Stronghold
Edwin: Copper Coronet in the Slums District (North west)
Viconia: Graveyard District (Bottom north west)
Jan: Jansen household at the Slums District
Keldorn: The Order Of The Radiant Heart at the Temple District
Haer'Dalis: The Five Flagoons playhouse at the Bridge District
Valygar: Umar Hills (Way up north)
Mazzy: Fentan household at Trademeet
Cernd: Druid Grove
You should install Throne Of Bhaal as soon as you can. It fixes many bugs in the game as well as improving AI and adding the Tab highligh feature. Installing ToB does not affect your saved game (You won't be transported to a different area for example).
When it asks you for a fifth CD, just insert the first CD. If this doesn't work, then go to Bioware's FAQ for more suggestions
