My notes: Thalantyr (High Hedge) sells the Robe of the Magi for good and neutral characters (expensive). Davaeron (at the bottom of the Cloakwood mine) is using the one for evil. He isn't willing to part with it, but it is free with his defeat. Kagian is evil, but he has something very valuable, a high enough constitution (20) to regenerate. If you need a magic weapon early, +1 throwing axes (I think 5 of them) can be bought for 75 gold. Split them up between party members. Remember to set each time to melee or the axe will be thrown and lost. Swashbucklers can invest 2 ranks in thief weapons for +1 to hit/+2 damage, but no extra attack. The weapons stop breaking after defeating Mulahey in the Nashkel mines. I'm surprised that you didn't touch on dual classing. In BG I, it isn't a big deal, but it is much more valuable in the sequel.
Khalid and Kivan should both use composite bows. Kivan has 3 levels of specialization in bows, wich should impossible for him because he is not a fighter to go past 2 levels, but he has it. And it gives him +3 thac0. With the +1 Elf bonus and 19 Dexterity he is a beast bower. Almost never misses a shot. Also Khalid is pure fighter so he can also go all the way to specialization level 3 with bows and has good Dexterity too. If you have both this companions as archers in your party, you easily interrupt magic casting of every spellcaster you fight against in the game.
As someone with no actual Dnd experience and video game wise, I only played 5e ruleset games, this game was very hard for me. I did beat the first game (on easy) and now working my way through the second right now, and even on easy, it's getting to where I definitely feel I needed some tips.
The beauty of such games for me - is unknown, unexpected world and my unique and not ideal journey. If your goal is to build uber party - then you can ofc google all "needed" stuff you need about game and its objects beforehand and "prepare" but be aware that after passing this line the game interest likely will drop dramatically.
Hi Pal, thanks for this vid, this was the only tips-video for BG1 that made sense to me. I played like 5 minutes of it back in 1998 when I was a kid but stopped because it was so confusing and jumped back into Diablo 1-simplicity. Now, as a grown man who has played every single Bioware-game except that one I remembered I had the original version from GOG and not the ridiculous enhanced version. Been playing it for a while both day and night, you can just feel that old gaming magic and sense of humor you don't get anymore. And I would still be in Candlekeep or dead on a road somewhere without your help, so thanks. Especially liked the parts about finding magical weapons and only doing side-quests after unlocking the big city which NONE of the other guides mention. Although in BG2 it's kinda the reverse, right? Do the side-stuff before chapter 4 or something? Could you do a tips-video for BG2? That is my next project.
Hey thanks! I would like to do a BG2 video, but work has me so exhausted I haven't done much of anything in months, sadly. But yeah, I think although it makes you a bit over-powered, doing all the side quests you can before you move on to the last couple chapters is best. Think of it like "Grinding". A good way to control your difficulty level outside of the menu setting.
You are one of the most interesting and trustworthy youtubers out there, so I would be REALLY grateful if you could write that BG2-tips-video on your to-do-list. I think I will start the game in about a month (beat Saverok last night with a ton of summons and arrows), but if you are committed to doing it I could wait longer. I mean, your BG-videos are in their own league.
I played BG2 since it came out, it was challenging but not really hard. I started playing BG1 a few months ago and it was hard, the first time! I think because I went into it with a BG2 mind frame. They definitely are similar games, but the differences are enough to really mess up a first time player. Now I consider it just one big game, not 3 smaller games. By the way, Jon is a wimp next to Sarevok. Dear brother handed me my ass a lot, Jon only once. Mallisan destroys them both though.
So far to me what makes this game difficult is simply learning how everything works, and then managing the immense amount of choices to make. I can't tell yet how the equipment and tasks I assign to my party are working, or how combat is actually working once auto-pause is released (I will be moving my settings to pause after each round next time I play). For example, I have the whole party selected and tasks assigned when combat starts, then I'm not sure if I'm supposed to continue to click on enemies while characters are swarming around them, or if the game is selecting when an archer shoots and then a melee attack happens when I click on an enemy, or if I just let it go until the whole combat is finished. Super early in game, though. Only to Beregost finding Neera, so I have a lot to learn yet.
i gone trough like 70-80% of the map and had all characters around lvl 6 and had hard times to kill final boss Serevok, my first playtrough and i considering the final boss hard.. rest of the game is mostly about save load, i will propably rearange the party and finish the map and side quests thanks for video
Please please please … don’t use These tips until you play start to finish the the trilogy 1 time on normal … you on,y get to do this one time ever …. You’ll thank me later
I tried the enhanced edition a few years ago and lost my main character to the first fight... twice. I don't know how. It's especially vexing because I was able to get much farther than that as an idiot 5-year-old kid when it first came out.
Literally same. I want to play and enjoy it so bad but I've got my main guy in armor with a sword and the archer girl and I'm just continuing to die to the first wolf that finds me.
@@wolfbrother9025 there are assassins in Candlekeep where you don't have any party members. But in this instance I think I was talking about the one in the Friendly Arm Inn, and I did have a full party then but he still managed to focus down the main character before I could do anything.
@@flibbernodgets7018 I know about the 2 assassins at the begining and that guy outside Friendly arms is something else. If he doesn't just focus down the MC he sends 3/4 of the party running around with fear. He's kinda annoying honestly
Character has: Strength: 24 Dexterity: 20 Intelligence: 19 Armor Class: -7 This game is easy! I get it that it is possible with the tomes and I have somewhat abused them myself, but was it easy when you had the normal stats?
Pretty much, yes. All you have to do is cast haste and fireball and on normal difficulty, it is a cakewalk. Like most 90s CRPGs, it's about just specc'ing yourself when you don't need to and having fun breaking the game. You can easily beat Sarevok by luring him out and ganking him with level 4 guys all hasted and defensive buffed too, but it's fun to be overpowered.
or just do what i did and start with an assasin from lvl 1 and have 1 slot in your team dead untill bg2 since you don't really get thief skill points with an assasin and their value shines only in bg2
1:15 THIS. Needs to be said to any modern gamer who whines how BG3, or Andromeda or every single Dragon Age is ruined forever. Not that BG1 isn't a real RPG, but that people have complained about the new game being wrong since very first Baldur's Gate. 5e detractors praise 3.5 but third edition was hated by people who played 2nd, and for the most ridiculous statement, I found old comments that said that AD&D2 is wrong and it was better when Elf and Dwarf were classes not races.
I am wanting to olay an elf archer. I can't decide between longbows and short bows/crossbows. I know the former is better in BG1 and the latter is better in BG2. What do you think?
BG3 will be turn based. Is this a bad direction? Or a good change? Or doesn't matter? A confusing part of this vid says 3 main tanks.n Then 3 main damage dealers. What? I use Ajantis as main tank. Branwen as off-tank healer. Kivan as backup tank if necessary. Otherwise, he stays on bow. Xan caster. Imoen thief/ranged/casting. PC is Shadowdancer.
You changed your name. Funnily enough I have trouble getting into any crpg that's not turn based. Probably because i was a console gamer before i became a pc gamer.
Yeah I go by this everywhere else now so I figured it made more sense. As for the turn-based thing, yeah, I prefer it myself too. I've been glad that most games have a TB option now. When I'd complain about the lack of TB games 20 years ago I was laughed off forums and told it was boring and nobody wanted any. My how things have changed.
The tomes? Yeah, what's even worse is a lot of folks just spawn a bunch of them into the game and boost everything. They're broken enough just having the few that are in there naturally.
It's awesome that you're into the Baldurs Gate games. I also want to say sorry that you were dragged through the mud in the journalism bizz because of clown world woke people. I'm also glad the mainstream is waking up to it as well!
To be fair, I made it much worse by the immature way I responded to my detractors. Years away from it and some therapy taught me that. I do like the folks who did it better, such as Quartering, Synthetic man, and Doomcock. Thanks to them the tide has turned in the last two years and wokeness is on the decline in "geek" hobbies. When even hard-core sjws rejected that new Velma show, you know the pendulum is swinging the other way. I have a zoomer co-worker who actually shares all my views on RPGs and I've noticed a lot of young folks don't like modern-day styles either. Change is slow, but it can't be stopped.
you are someone with years of experience playing the tabletop game and other D&D games so obviously its not hard for you...i can say, as someone who is well above average at most games, that if you dont look stuff up constantly that your first playthrough of BG1 is quite challenging if you are unfamiliar with D&D. especially on any difficulty above normal. Not a whole lot of what is going on "under the hood" is explained in game, probably due to the game being released with a 200+ page manual...seemed weird that you kept harping on the game being "not hard". i mean, certainly its disingenuous to pretend like you just cant understand why someone would find the game challenging? it came off as the worlds saddest flex...also, this video could have been half the length if you were using a script. i would suggest it.
Its difficult in the sense that theres alot to take in. In todays world People arnt used to this kind of game anymore. I just started playing it because i have the switch and i agree that its not like some hard game, im not dying ar9und evry corner but i have no idea whats going on half of the time. It seems like itll take me a bit to filly grasp everyrhing. Ive never played dnd before so idk maybe hes callinng it hard from that perspective because yea as a brand new player theres alot going on its not like youre jumping into forttnite lol
Arguably the greatest team based rpg ever made.
My notes:
Thalantyr (High Hedge) sells the Robe of the Magi for good and neutral characters (expensive). Davaeron (at the bottom of the Cloakwood mine) is using the one for evil. He isn't willing to part with it, but it is free with his defeat.
Kagian is evil, but he has something very valuable, a high enough constitution (20) to regenerate.
If you need a magic weapon early, +1 throwing axes (I think 5 of them) can be bought for 75 gold. Split them up between party members. Remember to set each time to melee or the axe will be thrown and lost.
Swashbucklers can invest 2 ranks in thief weapons for +1 to hit/+2 damage, but no extra attack.
The weapons stop breaking after defeating Mulahey in the Nashkel mines.
I'm surprised that you didn't touch on dual classing. In BG I, it isn't a big deal, but it is much more valuable in the sequel.
Khalid and Kivan should both use composite bows. Kivan has 3 levels of specialization in bows, wich should impossible for him because he is not a fighter to go past 2 levels, but he has it. And it gives him +3 thac0. With the +1 Elf bonus and 19 Dexterity he is a beast bower. Almost never misses a shot. Also Khalid is pure fighter so he can also go all the way to specialization level 3 with bows and has good Dexterity too. If you have both this companions as archers in your party, you easily interrupt magic casting of every spellcaster you fight against in the game.
As someone with no actual Dnd experience and video game wise, I only played 5e ruleset games, this game was very hard for me. I did beat the first game (on easy) and now working my way through the second right now, and even on easy, it's getting to where I definitely feel I needed some tips.
This is the most helpful video I could find for a beginner with no experience like me, thanks so much! Would love to see more Baldur’s Gate content.
That means a lot to me, to see that. Thank you! I hope you play them all and get addicted to BG3 like the rest of us :)
exact thoughts after POE. The game starts hard but ends being really easy, apart from the white march DLC
The beauty of such games for me - is unknown, unexpected world and my unique and not ideal journey. If your goal is to build uber party - then you can ofc google all "needed" stuff you need about game and its objects beforehand and "prepare" but be aware that after passing this line the game interest likely will drop dramatically.
Hi Pal, thanks for this vid, this was the only tips-video for BG1 that made sense to me. I played like 5 minutes of it back in 1998 when I was a kid but stopped because it was so confusing and jumped back into Diablo 1-simplicity. Now, as a grown man who has played every single Bioware-game except that one I remembered I had the original version from GOG and not the ridiculous enhanced version. Been playing it for a while both day and night, you can just feel that old gaming magic and sense of humor you don't get anymore. And I would still be in Candlekeep or dead on a road somewhere without your help, so thanks. Especially liked the parts about finding magical weapons and only doing side-quests after unlocking the big city which NONE of the other guides mention. Although in BG2 it's kinda the reverse, right? Do the side-stuff before chapter 4 or something?
Could you do a tips-video for BG2? That is my next project.
Hey thanks! I would like to do a BG2 video, but work has me so exhausted I haven't done much of anything in months, sadly. But yeah, I think although it makes you a bit over-powered, doing all the side quests you can before you move on to the last couple chapters is best. Think of it like "Grinding". A good way to control your difficulty level outside of the menu setting.
You are one of the most interesting and trustworthy youtubers out there, so I would be REALLY grateful if you could write that BG2-tips-video on your to-do-list. I think I will start the game in about a month (beat Saverok last night with a ton of summons and arrows), but if you are committed to doing it I could wait longer. I mean, your BG-videos are in their own league.
@@simonstrane The BG2 tips video is out now if you haven’t seen it. Just noticed it was uploaded a month ago.
I played BG2 since it came out, it was challenging but not really hard. I started playing BG1 a few months ago and it was hard, the first time! I think because I went into it with a BG2 mind frame. They definitely are similar games, but the differences are enough to really mess up a first time player. Now I consider it just one big game, not 3 smaller games. By the way, Jon is a wimp next to Sarevok. Dear brother handed me my ass a lot, Jon only once. Mallisan destroys them both though.
SKIP
3:33 is when he starts talking about the title of the video.
So far to me what makes this game difficult is simply learning how everything works, and then managing the immense amount of choices to make. I can't tell yet how the equipment and tasks I assign to my party are working, or how combat is actually working once auto-pause is released (I will be moving my settings to pause after each round next time I play). For example, I have the whole party selected and tasks assigned when combat starts, then I'm not sure if I'm supposed to continue to click on enemies while characters are swarming around them, or if the game is selecting when an archer shoots and then a melee attack happens when I click on an enemy, or if I just let it go until the whole combat is finished. Super early in game, though. Only to Beregost finding Neera, so I have a lot to learn yet.
i gone trough like 70-80% of the map and had all characters around lvl 6 and had hard times to kill final boss Serevok, my first playtrough and i considering the final boss hard.. rest of the game is mostly about save load, i will propably rearange the party and finish the map and side quests thanks for video
Have you tried scs insane ?
Please please please … don’t use These tips until you play start to finish the the trilogy 1 time on normal … you on,y get to do this one time ever …. You’ll thank me later
Yeah i agree. This video is terrible for an actual beginner.
I tried the enhanced edition a few years ago and lost my main character to the first fight... twice. I don't know how. It's especially vexing because I was able to get much farther than that as an idiot 5-year-old kid when it first came out.
Literally same. I want to play and enjoy it so bad but I've got my main guy in armor with a sword and the archer girl and I'm just continuing to die to the first wolf that finds me.
How are u running into anything before finding Xan and the Halfling?
@@wolfbrother9025 there are assassins in Candlekeep where you don't have any party members. But in this instance I think I was talking about the one in the Friendly Arm Inn, and I did have a full party then but he still managed to focus down the main character before I could do anything.
@@flibbernodgets7018 I know about the 2 assassins at the begining and that guy outside Friendly arms is something else. If he doesn't just focus down the MC he sends 3/4 of the party running around with fear. He's kinda annoying honestly
Very helpful for a beginner .Thank you.
Character has:
Strength: 24
Dexterity: 20
Intelligence: 19
Armor Class: -7
This game is easy!
I get it that it is possible with the tomes and I have somewhat abused them myself, but was it easy when you had the normal stats?
Pretty much, yes. All you have to do is cast haste and fireball and on normal difficulty, it is a cakewalk. Like most 90s CRPGs, it's about just specc'ing yourself when you don't need to and having fun breaking the game. You can easily beat Sarevok by luring him out and ganking him with level 4 guys all hasted and defensive buffed too, but it's fun to be overpowered.
or just do what i did and start with an assasin from lvl 1 and have 1 slot in your team dead untill bg2 since you don't really get thief skill points with an assasin and their value shines only in bg2
1:15 THIS. Needs to be said to any modern gamer who whines how BG3, or Andromeda or every single Dragon Age is ruined forever. Not that BG1 isn't a real RPG, but that people have complained about the new game being wrong since very first Baldur's Gate. 5e detractors praise 3.5 but third edition was hated by people who played 2nd, and for the most ridiculous statement, I found old comments that said that AD&D2 is wrong and it was better when Elf and Dwarf were classes not races.
I am wanting to olay an elf archer. I can't decide between longbows and short bows/crossbows. I know the former is better in BG1 and the latter is better in BG2. What do you think?
How did you get a flaming Longsword in bg1?
Are kits a bit overpowered for Bg1?
Big time. They make for a good power fantasy though if you just want to rip through the game and seem like a bad ass.
BG3 will be turn based. Is this a bad direction? Or a good change? Or doesn't matter?
A confusing part of this vid says 3 main tanks.n Then 3 main damage dealers. What? I use Ajantis as main tank. Branwen as off-tank healer. Kivan as backup tank if necessary. Otherwise, he stays on bow. Xan caster. Imoen thief/ranged/casting. PC is Shadowdancer.
It’s good. While I like real-time with pause, turn based allows a lot more creativity with tackling issues
@@tripleaarcade No it does not. There's more with real time.
@@seeess925 ok
People saying BG1&2 are hard should play The Temple of Elemental Evil 😆
You changed your name. Funnily enough I have trouble getting into any crpg that's not turn based. Probably because i was a console gamer before i became a pc gamer.
Yeah I go by this everywhere else now so I figured it made more sense. As for the turn-based thing, yeah, I prefer it myself too. I've been glad that most games have a TB option now. When I'd complain about the lack of TB games 20 years ago I was laughed off forums and told it was boring and nobody wanted any. My how things have changed.
Do you even tome bro!?
The tomes? Yeah, what's even worse is a lot of folks just spawn a bunch of them into the game and boost everything. They're broken enough just having the few that are in there naturally.
It's awesome that you're into the Baldurs Gate games. I also want to say sorry that you were dragged through the mud in the journalism bizz because of clown world woke people. I'm also glad the mainstream is waking up to it as well!
To be fair, I made it much worse by the immature way I responded to my detractors. Years away from it and some therapy taught me that. I do like the folks who did it better, such as Quartering, Synthetic man, and Doomcock. Thanks to them the tide has turned in the last two years and wokeness is on the decline in "geek" hobbies. When even hard-core sjws rejected that new Velma show, you know the pendulum is swinging the other way. I have a zoomer co-worker who actually shares all my views on RPGs and I've noticed a lot of young folks don't like modern-day styles either. Change is slow, but it can't be stopped.
Wait, what happened? Genuinely curious.
you are someone with years of experience playing the tabletop game and other D&D games so obviously its not hard for you...i can say, as someone who is well above average at most games, that if you dont look stuff up constantly that your first playthrough of BG1 is quite challenging if you are unfamiliar with D&D. especially on any difficulty above normal. Not a whole lot of what is going on "under the hood" is explained in game, probably due to the game being released with a 200+ page manual...seemed weird that you kept harping on the game being "not hard". i mean, certainly its disingenuous to pretend like you just cant understand why someone would find the game challenging? it came off as the worlds saddest flex...also, this video could have been half the length if you were using a script. i would suggest it.
Its difficult in the sense that theres alot to take in. In todays world People arnt used to this kind of game anymore. I just started playing it because i have the switch and i agree that its not like some hard game, im not dying ar9und evry corner but i have no idea whats going on half of the time. It seems like itll take me a bit to filly grasp everyrhing. Ive never played dnd before so idk maybe hes callinng it hard from that perspective because yea as a brand new player theres alot going on its not like youre jumping into forttnite lol