Level cap a disappointment

[SweetNJoshSauce]

I found the level cap in this game pretty disappointing. I played a pretty thorough campaign with 3 characters and did most, but not all of the side quests. When it was time to head back to Candlekeep I went after the TotSC content. I made it halfway through Durlags tower before I hit it. Never even touched the island quests from the expansion. I get why there's a cap but I think it should've been a bit higher.

[fauxpas]

Use the mod that removes the cap if you don't like it.

[fauxpas]

Just make sure you don't grind yourself into the HLA range or you can break things.

[SweetNJoshSauce]

" HLA range"
What is this?

[AlexMBrennan]

High Level Abilities are special abilities that are unlocked when you hit 3 million XP in BG2 (i.e. when you should be starting Throne of Bhaal). Since that is well beyond the BG1EE level cap you will run into trouble when you try to pick spells that are not included in the game.

[SweetNJoshSauce]

That's true. I'm just not sure why they didn't increase the level cap so you could've hit say, 10, for example. A completionist could probably hit the cap even before the ToTSC stuff.

[fauxpas]

Originally posted by SweetNJoshSauce:

That's true. I'm just not sure why they didn't increase the level cap so you could've hit say, 10, for example. A completionist could probably hit the cap even before the ToTSC stuff.

Not quite (without grinding), but there is enough XP in order to hit the cap with a full party of six, while swapping out different NPCs.

[fauxpas]

However, like I said just use the mod that removes the level cap and avoid grinding silliness if it bothers you.

Just be aware that it does throw the balance off for the beginning of BG(2) if you do so.

[SweetNJoshSauce]

Good deal, thanks

[AlexMBrennan]

I'm just not sure why they didn't increase the level cap so you could've hit say, 10, for example.

Does one or two extra levels really matter? E.g. if you are a mage then lvl 9 (unlocking level 5 spells) is a way bigger deal than lvl 10 (some extra spells).

In general, because the opposition in BG1 is static and by and large complete pushovers - there are only about a dozen fights that you can't win by casting web and riddling the enemies with arrows (on core at least) so making it even easier is inadvisable.

BG2 tries to get around this due to the more open nature by having levelled enemies (e.g. rank and file skeletons will eventually be replaced by lichs if you are high enough level) but even that is not good enough (if you do Watcher's Keep in Shadows of Amn then the rest of the storyline combat becomes a boxticking exercise because all enemies will explode if you look at them).

[SweetNJoshSauce]

i would say, it does matter, but I see your point. It's just pointless to play through the rest of the content. I already know I wont keep the gold or items in BG2, so the experience is the only thing I could expect to carry over.

[kaiyl_kariashi]

Not higher cap, the amount of xp from quests needs to be slashed by about 75%, and no means of farming enemy spawns. I.e. you should have to do every slab of content the game offers (not counting rest-farming) to hit the cap (or maybe only 10% extra xp worth of side quests above what the cap requires to give you a little more flexibility).

unfortunately, BG went as monty haul on xp as it did with everything else. (the monster xps are fine but they use them way too much for what are supposed to be exceptionally rare creatures).


Hell even in BG2, the xp cap they included is compeletely unnessecary (the original SoA cap would've been overkill even for the rest of ToB).


I mean keep in mind...in 2nd edition, the whole saga would only be a 1-15-ish level campaign (assuming you did absolutely every side quest). Just sticking to plot relevent stuff you could finish around 10-ish).

Punching out Demogorgon or beating a Demi-God is just the sort of stuff you expect a party of 10-12's to be able to handle. they have the strength, they have the resources, they can get the tools, it ultimately comes down to how they use them.


And this is largely compounded by how strong they make you, so not only are you easily overleveled, you're already MUCH stronger than you generally should be, which just makes all the levels feel empty unless you get something that goes from making 1 enemy explode to making a whole town explode. (only a handful of classes/abilities are actually weaker they're supposed to be, most are ridiculously overpowered).

[red255]

Siege of dragonspear knocks the level cap up to 500,000 which is rather high. the cap is there to preserve challenge both in this realm and the next.

[red255]

you have no imagination. I'm sure with a level uncapper someone would solo anklegs for 5 hours then complain about the grinding.

[fauxpas]

Originally posted by red255:

you have no imagination. I'm sure with a level uncapper someone would solo anklegs for 5 hours then complain about the grinding.

There was someone who used the uncapper to break the game so yes, they would.

[red255]

anyways, ran the tales of the sword coast.

I think its designed so you do the werewolf bit first, its just the durlag's tower seems more pressing.

the werewolf isn't very difficult aside from the ones needing to be killed with silver weapons.

reward wise its mostly just money and a somewhat significant chunk of XP.

If you recruit any of the NPC followers like Yeslick, Quail, Tiax or any of the ones that require access to baldurs gate at 32,000 XP they won't be capped out after both durlag's tower and the mysterious island. in a six man party at least.

so it serves to get people up to speed to do durlag's tower and the mysterious island and you'll be where you should be,