New to BG. Throw obvious tips at me HARD!

[Schmeats]

I should start by noting that I realize there's probably 5 billion of these threads, but everyone generally likes to share on message boards and this one seems a little bit dead anyways.

I made a Halfling thief. I plan on making him a backstab/burglar/trapper.

I gave him a sling and a shortsword. He's proficient with shortsword and single weapon style.

Is this good for a first playthrough or should I make a meathead pure fighter? (I figured if I was the utility rogue then I could just surround myself with tougher and magically inclined people.)

I grasp most of the mechanics but the math is a little bit mysterious to me. Aside from setting my character with the best/most class appropriate equipment options, there won't be any math problems since the game calculates it all.

Poop some knowledge my way please. I'm sure you guys have some tips for beginners, even though we smell.

Edit: One I can think of right away is crowd control spells and nearly every party member except your dedicated tank having a ranged damage alternative are really helpful strategies!

[Marksthecylon]

Take your time, explore everywhere, Baldur's gate is a fairly low level game so going up even a single level will usually make a noticable difference to your character.

[New Moon On Monday]

A Halfling Thief, or a Fighter/Thief, is a fine choice. (Fighter/Thief improves combat abilities a bit which helps with backstabbing damage; a pure Thief is going to improve thieving skills a little faster). There aren't enough points per level to really do everything you want any time soon. If you want to backstab, focus on the stealth abilities first, then carry around a second thief in the party to focus on traps and locks.

Backstabbing is tricky, because as soon as you make that backstab, you are exposed for retaliation. Don't start the battle with a backstab; position yourself, then bring your party in to draw enemy attention. When you get the messages of enemis choosing their targets, then let loose with the backstab. You can't go back into stealth again after that first backstab (though for special occasions, you can use an invisibility potion and take another shot).

While you should explore everywhere, explore carefully. There is not always rhyme or reason to the difficultly level of different areas. When an area is too tough, leave and come back later.

Save frequently.

[Schmeats]

Sorry, just at work*

Good tips so far. This is the sort of stuff I need, so thanks. Taking my time and refusing to explore tough areas until I'm tough enough to deal with those areas will be my biggest struggle. I'm a bit Thorough/OCD with RPGs. As for a second thief, that's probably a good idea too.

Should I have picked longsword or is a shortsword totally fine for a halfling thief? I feel like video game rules would say backstabs blow with a sword instead of a proper dagger... Maybe I've played too much Elder Scrolls...

Also I didn't realize the forum sections were a drop-tab. Could an admin move this topic to the New Players for me? Sorry for the trouble.

[Valden21]

Relying solely on clerics, shamans, and druids for healing opens up your party to Murphy's Law, so always make that each person in your party has some alternate method of healing themselves. I learned this the hard way.

[Schmeats]

Would potions be alright for that, or do they become too useless/expensive to bother with midgame?

[New Moon On Monday]

Healing potions can be life-savers early in the game. The potion effect takes place instantly, so it's faster than waiting on your cleric to cast a spell.

Ideally you will find enough Healing potions as treasure that you'll not need to buy them. But if you run out, it may be worth buying a few to have on-hand.

Mid-game, Healing potions get less helpful during combat, because your enemies cause more damage in a turn than a Healing potion will cure in a turn. Instead, you may save them for after a tough battle, when you are out of healing spells, and want to top-off your characters' hit points before resting.

Elixirs of Health are rare as treasure, and it can be worthwhile buying a few to have on-hand in the early game. Save them for poisoning situations, because poisoning can be nasty.

Otherwise, I think it is wise to avoid buying disposable items as much as possible, until later in the game when you are set for money. (The other potions to consider for the early game may be Genius and Mind Focusing, both for the purpose of helping your mages copy spells to their spell books.) Oh, and buy containers when available, they are the best purchases you will make (e.g. gem bag, scroll case, potion bag).

There are a few occasions when you are doing something that is time-sensitive (typically related to a few NPC quests). Usually, there is no rush in terms of time. Rest as frequently as you need to replentish spells, like healing spells. Don't wait for your party to be severely wounded and out of healing spells; rest at full or nearly-full health when you can, in case your sleep is interrupted by wandering monsters.

Your earliest money expenditures are probably for full plate for your tanking melee fighter (if you don't find the free ankheg plate first), and perhaps a magic weapon or two when you get tired of your metal weapons breaking in battle (depending on what magic weapons you get as treasure early and with what weapons your party members are proficient). Also maybe you will look to buy a few spells if you have a mage in the party who needs a particular spell. After that, you're probably saving up for unique premium gear that some merchants sell.

It's been a long, long time since I played the original Baldur's Gate, and I am only partway through the Enhanced Edition. I don't remember if Potions of Extra-Healing ever become available in the late chapters of the game, or if they do not show up until Baldur's Gate II.

[New Moon On Monday]

Other big advice is to tap the Tab key frequently to treasure containers. There are a few worthwhile treasures just literally lying in the dirt in the wilderness, completely inobvious with nothing to call your attention to look for them, and you will only find them if you happen to highlight them with the Tab key.

(Then after you get into the habit of using the Tab key to highlight important objects, you will get lulled into ignoring things that are not highlighted. That's fine for the original areas the original Baldur's gate; then in some of the added areas, you can interact with objects that will not highlight. Use the Tab key frequently; but whenever you see anything that looks vaguely interesting, move your cursor over it to see if you can interact with it, even if it doesn't highlight. It will probably be a long time before this reveals anything, but eventually it will.)

Decide whether you want to have AI turned on or off for your companions. For the most part, the AI is pretty good and will save you from some micro-managing. I still don't like the AI for spell-casters so I keep it turned off. If you are doing some careful battle planning to make use of your theif's backstabbing, you may want to keep AI off for your companions so you can micro-manage them and keep them from doing something unpredictable to spoil your plans.

Examine your auto-pause options. Auto-pause for enemy sighted is a big deal that keeps your party from strolling unprepared into ambushes. Without auto-pause for trap detected, you'll trigger a lot of traps before you get a chance to disarm them. Since I micro-manage companions, I rely on auto-pause for target unavailable and weapon unusuable.

[Schmeats]

Sounds good. I"m on Android playing this game so my "tab" key is always left toggled on. I didn't know they omitted certain interactable objects so thanks for that tip; I'll keep an eye out for stuff like that.

I haven't messed with AI that much but I love to micromanage so that won't be an issue.

Forgot to mention autopause. I have that selected for a lot of stuff. Enemies dying or new enemy sighted helps you out sooooo much.

[Schmeats]

Double post incoming. Figured it'd be better than making a new topic.

I was going to start a multiplayer match. I never had anyone join but the whole setup process is atrocious with no explanation for anything. There's a lot of stuff which is common sense, but the things I'm having trouble with are:

EDIT: Worked through everything but this party issue. If your party is full, what happens when you have someone join your game with their character? Does it make you manage your party once in game and choose someone to kick to the curb?

[Julius Borisov]

If in the MP you have a full party, you first have to dismiss one of the existing party members and then in the MP lobby a player can create a new character, including importing a pre-generated character.

[Schmeats]

I figured so. Think I have a pretty good grasp of the MP mechanics now. Just needed a chance to play it a bit more I guess. Thanks for the help again!

:3