1. SPS Accounts:
    Do you find yourself coming back time after time? Do you appreciate the ongoing hard work to keep this community focused and successful in its mission? Please consider supporting us by upgrading to an SPS Account. Besides the warm and fuzzy feeling that comes from supporting a good cause, you'll also get a significant number of ever-expanding perks and benefits on the site and the forums. Click here to find out more.
    Dismiss Notice
Dismiss Notice
You are currently viewing Boards o' Magick as a guest, but you can register an account here. Registration is fast, easy and free. Once registered you will have access to search the forums, create and respond to threads, PM other members, upload screenshots and access many other features unavailable to guests.

BoM cultivates a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. We have been aiming for quality over quantity with our forums from their inception, and believe that this distinction is truly tangible and valued by our members. We'd love to have you join us today!

(If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us. If you've forgotten your username or password, click here.)

Wish or not?

Discussion in 'BG2: Throne of Bhaal (Classic)' started by Maertyn, Nov 17, 2002.

  1. Maertyn

    Maertyn There's nothing I cannot embrace! Veteran

    Joined:
    Aug 28, 2001
    Messages:
    679
    Likes Received:
    2
    Remove all ads!
    [​IMG] I'm progressing into ToB now with my sorcerer and thought about 9th level spell picks:

    CHAIN CONTINGENCY
    TIME STOP
    SPELL STRIKE

    are set in stone for me.

    Leaving one slot open... WISH and SHAPECHANGE catched my eyes. His WIS score is 16, INT 17.

    And btw: What do you think of this tactic: Casting SHAPECHANGE then SIMULACRUM and change the simulacrum to a Greater Wolfwere? Is this worth it?

    [ November 18, 2002, 21:11: Message edited by: Taluntain ]
     
    Maertyn, Nov 17, 2002
    #1

  2. Dhirngulin Gems: 3/31
    Latest gem: Lynx Eye

    Joined:
    Nov 13, 2002
    Messages:
    56
    Likes Received:
    0
    Shapechange Absolutly:
    A very good strategy with shape shifting is to cast it before a battle and then when the battle commences cast time stop. Quickly shape change into a MIND FLAYER and since every attack hits and mind flayer has intellegence drain your enemies die after 2-4 hits. This strategy works wonders against Fire Giants who have quite a low intellegence.
     
    Dhirngulin, Nov 17, 2002
    #2
  3. Beren

    Beren Lovesick and Lonely Wanderer Staff Member Member of the Week Distinguished Member ★ SPS Account Holder Resourceful Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2002
    Messages:
    3,962
    Media:
    1,158
    Likes Received:
    251
    Gender:
    Male
    From my experience, Wish is not all that its cracked up to be. Far more often than not, when my protagonist had a wisdom of 19, I ended up having to choose between a very mildly beneficial effect and a disastrous effect.

    I was wondering, are Sorcerers allowed to choose from those special Quest spells for TOB? If you are, Comet is definitely a good choice.

    Imprisonment is actually really powerful when used correctly. Sure, it has a slow casting time and you have to get right up to the enemy. But ... if you make it part of a Time Stop sequence, it becomes THE best way to take out even really powerful foes, no saving throw, no magic resistance.

    Hope it helps.
     
    Beren, Nov 18, 2002
    #3
  4. Taza

    Taza Weird Modmaker Veteran

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2002
    Messages:
    1,447
    Likes Received:
    25
    Do NOT use wish.
    Shapechange is not so good, but it is way better than wish with wis of 16.
     
    Taza, Nov 18, 2002
    #4

  5. Spelladonna Gems: 14/31
    Latest gem: Chrysoberyl

    Joined:
    Jul 23, 2002
    Messages:
    610
    Likes Received:
    0
    I agree - don't waste a slot on Wish. Far too random and if you have low Wisdom, then you're just asking for trouble. For that matter if you have a mid to high Wisdom, you're not always guaranteed a decent choice.

    Shapechange is a good choice. Another good one, if you like to occasionally go hand-to-hand is Black Blade of Disaster. Creates a +5 sword, gives you the THAC0 of a fighter 1/2 your level, and make you a grand master (5*) in the weapon for the spell duration. Also the target must save vs death or be disintegrated. There is also a random chance (20%, I think) that scoring a hit will heal you 20hp and drain 4 levels on the target.
     
    Spelladonna, Nov 18, 2002
    #5
  6. Earl Grey

    Earl Grey Mmm... hot tea! Veteran

    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2000
    Messages:
    1,933
    Likes Received:
    1
    [​IMG] For my non-solo sorcerers I have this list for 9th level spells, but that's with both Wis and Int at 18 or more:
    Level 9:
    - Chain Contingency --- (18)
    - Wish --- (19)
    - Time Stop --- (20)
    - Shapechange --- (25)
     
    Earl Grey, Nov 18, 2002
    #6
  7. dmc

    dmc Speak softly and carry a big briefcase Staff Member Distinguished Member ★ SPS Account Holder Resourceful Adored Veteran New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!)

    Joined:
    Dec 13, 2001
    Messages:
    8,731
    Media:
    88
    Likes Received:
    379
    Gender:
    Male
    Don't bother getting wish, just hold onto the scrolls. What you do is put them in quickslots and cast simulacrum and/or project image when you want to use wish, no mess, no fuss, no lost scrolls. Also, you get the special 10th level spells, so you don't really need damaging ones from the 9th level list.

    Next, imprisonment has one major down-side, which is why I never use it -- the imprisoned enemy takes his stuff with him. I'm greedy.

    Also, you didn't indicate if you're soloing or not. It may make a difference as I would focus on different aspects of the game depending on my backup.

    As a final note, I find that improved alacrity can make time stop less important, as you can empty your spellbook in a hurry with no down time between spells, even if you've cast project image and/or simulacrum beforehand.

    All that being said (on a long-winded basis), to answer your original question, take shape change of the two.
     
    dmc, Nov 18, 2002
    #7

  8. Dhirngulin Gems: 3/31
    Latest gem: Lynx Eye

    Joined:
    Nov 13, 2002
    Messages:
    56
    Likes Received:
    0
    BTW: With imprisonment and freedom you can get infinite tears off Sarevok. :)
     
    Dhirngulin, Nov 18, 2002
    #8

  9. Enthasius Gems: 8/31
    Latest gem: Skydrop

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2001
    Messages:
    289
    Likes Received:
    0
    I HATE Wish, I find that its usefulness is nearly naught, and that its efectiveness is somewhat pathetic. Shapechange everytime.
     
    Enthasius, Nov 19, 2002
    #9
  10. Maertyn

    Maertyn There's nothing I cannot embrace! Veteran

    Joined:
    Aug 28, 2001
    Messages:
    679
    Likes Received:
    2
    [​IMG] Thank you very much! Especially thanks to dmc for the trick with project image!
     
    Maertyn, Nov 23, 2002
    #10
Sorcerer's Place is a project run entirely by fans and for fans. Maintaining Sorcerer's Place and a stable environment for all our hosted sites requires a substantial amount of our time and funds on a regular basis, so please consider supporting us to keep the site up & running smoothly. Thank you!

Sorcerers.net is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to products on amazon.com, amazon.ca and amazon.co.uk. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.