Faldorn, Coran and a low level party: SPOILER

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I'm going through for the second time and this time I naturally wanted a different party. Unfurtunately the only priest's early in the game is Jaheira and Branwen. And this time I don't wan't Jaheira. But my party is hurting without her healing spell's.
My plan is to race into the next chapter (I'm currently about to enter the bandit camp with a 4th level party) and get Coran and Faldorn as quickly as possible, explore the rest of the map and then return to cloakwood. But...will this work? I'll probably reach lvl. 5 at that point but is that enough to kill the wyverns? And will Faldorn leave if you do not get to the mines within some days?

 

It sounds like some 'great' decision making thus far. Faldorn won't leave for quite some time. However the major key to defeating the Wyverns is to have one character up front in the cave with a GREAT Armor Class while the other party members give 'Air Support'. Additionally I always use the wand of frost on them -supplemented by Magic Missles from time to time.

I dont' know if you picked up the wand of frost near the Nashekel mines or if you found one else where but they are a life-saver for these Wyverns (Ankhegs too).

Likewise I ditched Jaheria and Khalid every time I play the game. I opt for Imoen, Kivan, Minsc, Brawnen (until I get Yeslick) and Dyheria. Sometimes Minsc dies and I opt not to have him raised.

It just so happens that I recently installed BG 1 again to ramp up a character for importablity to BG2 & Throne of Bhaal. I'm in Durlags tower right now and soon will go to the final Iron Throne, CandleKeep,Final Fight scenario.


[This message has been edited by Draco Vlasavius (edited April 15, 2001).]

 

Draco, it's weird but I'm playing through for the first (complete) time and I've got that exact same party. I've read about Yeslick in an NPC guide and can't wait to reach him because Brawnen keeps complaining my reps too high.

I just got to Coran in Cloakwood, and I'm debating if I should take him for Kivan. Any thoughts?

He's got great DEX but Kivan has the STR and AC (plus I've got the bracers of Archery on him). Of course, I think if I keep Coran I'm putting some good armor on him even though it disables his thief skills, because I still have Imoen with the thieving points that I've set to my liking.

 

IMHO Coran was great. He is pretty much an archery grand master. He also has quite a way with women and has some great lines, "Luck be a Lady"
However I am biased because I don't have much experience with Kivan.

 

Can someone explain to me I hear it being said that someone is great at something. Lord Moeken said Coran is almost grand master at archery. How does that work. Isn't a characters skill determined by how many skill points he has. Why should Coran or Imoen(who is also supposed to be a great archer) with two skill point each in bow be better khalid with, say, four skill points in bow. I know thay accuracy stats affect archery skill but do the NPCs come with some inherent hidden skills?

I thought that Khalid with 3 points in bow wearing bracers of archery should be the better than Iomen or Kivan or Coran. According to the maunal he'll have better to-hit stat. Isn't that the only thing that matters?

 

You can indeed make Khalid a real good bow-fighter but then you should specialize him in Archery and maybe that's not good for Khalid is a great Bow-fighter (howerver there aren't very good bows in the game) but he's also a very good sword-fighter and you shuold also take advantage of that and not only use him for ranged-fighting. Imoen has a much lower AC as a thief, so you should put her at the end of the party to use range attacks with the great short bow of the eagle so she does damage without getting it from enemies. Use Khalid to attack with bow/crossbow till the enemy is close enough to finish him with his long sword.

 

headbanger, I understand what you are saying. Strategically, it makes sense to use khalid as a frontline fighter amd imoen at the back. But my question is this: Why is Imoen/Coran/Kivan considered a better archer that say Minsc or someone else. Is there a hidden attribute that makes them better or can I just look at their skills and dexterity stats to determine how good a character is going to be with a bow?

 

As far as I know DEX and weapon proficancies are all that matter in an archer, so two NPCs with 18 DEX and 2 points in bows should be equal with the same bow. However, other things may factor in, like a thief only uses a short bow, but fighters can use all. Also, some bows may have a STR requirement so an NPC with 13 STR may not be able to use a bow that someone with 17 STR can.

What makes Coran a great archer is he has 20 DEX, which can't be beat. However, his STR is a little lower at 14, so in my party I've opted to keep Kivan so he can double as a frontline fighter in a pinch and get some good wacks in with a sword.

 

Hmm, Khalid was all the front line I needed and Minsc kinda already had that archer and get a few wacks with a sword role. Coran was great as an archer because of his obvious god like dexterity and because, as a fighter thief, he could use the better long bows and take higher masteries in them if I'm remembering right (it's been a while). Plus equip him with mitheral chain and watch out. He is a vicious backstaber that can melee right after without worrying about getting killed. Or he could sneak in and fire off a few acid arrows with deadly results. Gotta love Coran. Oh and incidently, if ya want a healer, take Quayle. As a illusionist/cleric, he was all the healing I needed plus he is a great back up mage.