Ignore Durlag Tower ok?

[Dorok]

I was wondering if the EE version is balanced to integrate a Durlag Tower play. I find its replay value very low, linear and no real choices, unlike the whole BG1 or most of it.

[Gustuv Wynd]

it is scaled the same as the original ToSC expansion. Same XP cap. If you have 6 people in your party, I am not sure if you will be able to hit the XP cap without durlag's. Maybe...I know I have gone into Durlag's at the XP cap by doing most everything else first, but I only had 4 or 5 characters in my parties.

Heh, it is probably one of the better dungeons in the series so I always run though it. has some good loot in it too, though it is not absolutely needed to finish the main plot or other side quests. I usually do Durlag's and skip the werewolves.

[Dorok]

Obviously the better dungeon of BG1&2, but still heavily linear and few choices.

The question isn't about reaching max level I don't care, but having a descent play up to final when skipping it so missing multiple best items and a lot of XP.

In previous play close to be finished, but started a second in parallel, I reach level 7/8 after Durlag which was looking rather extreme.

I never played fully with original having ToSC always choose without ToSC, those new plays with EE will be the first.

[Sin]

Автор сообщения: Dorok

Obviously the better dungeon of BG1&2, but still heavily linear and few choices.

The question isn't about reaching max level I don't care, but having a descent play up to final when skipping it so missing multiple best items and a lot of XP.

In previous play close to be finished, but started a second in parallel, I reach level 7/8 after Durlag which was looking rather extreme.

I never played fully with original having ToSC always choose without ToSC, those new plays with EE will be the first.

the XP you gain in Durlags is the real draw of it since non of the items you find transfer to BG 2. If you don't like it you can skip it, though I want to add that my last unmodded playthrough had me transition to BG 2 at level 9 without siege of dragonspear, so something about the xp cap is fishy. BG 2 is intended to be started at level 7 (that's where your PC will end up if you create a new one), so you would end up weaker than youcould be, but remain within designe intentions.
Should your PC be a druid I would still recommend playing through durlags since druids kinda need every drop of XP they can get. Same for dual class aspirations on your end.
The towers lower floors takes about 2 hours once you know how it works so it isn't too bad.
3 if you count outside area and upper floors aswell.

[Messsucher]

Автор сообщения: Dorok

I was wondering if the EE version is balanced to integrate a Durlag Tower play. I find its replay value very low, linear and no real choices, unlike the whole BG1 or most of it.

How it is linear? Are you sure what the word "linear" means in RPGs?

[Dorok]

Автор сообщения: Sin

Автор сообщения: Dorok

Obviously the better dungeon of BG1&2, but still heavily linear and few choices.

The question isn't about reaching max level I don't care, but having a descent play up to final when skipping it so missing multiple best items and a lot of XP.

In previous play close to be finished, but started a second in parallel, I reach level 7/8 after Durlag which was looking rather extreme.

I never played fully with original having ToSC always choose without ToSC, those new plays with EE will be the first.

the XP you gain in Durlags is the real draw of it since non of the items you find transfer to BG 2. If you don't like it you can skip it, though I want to add that my last unmodded playthrough had me transition to BG 2 at level 9 without siege of dragonspear, so something about the xp cap is fishy. BG 2 is intended to be started at level 7 (that's where your PC will end up if you create a new one), so you would end up weaker than youcould be, but remain within designe intentions.
Should your PC be a druid I would still recommend playing through durlags since druids kinda need every drop of XP they can get. Same for dual class aspirations on your end.
The towers lower floors takes about 2 hours once you know how it works so it isn't too bad.
3 if you count outside area and upper floors aswell.

Well it's less about transition to BG2 than last parts of BG1 I don't want too difficult up to be dragged into too cheesy combats.

With ToSC I remind have read last parts has been made tougher so it matches addition of ToSC.

I never played BG1 with ToSC up to last parts, until now is/will be first times. For a play it should be fine, the MC is a bit screwed up but the party looks rather high level with only a some parts of BG town done. But for another I'd prefer skip Durlag Tower I played last week and play it again that soon don't appeal me.

[Dorok]

Автор сообщения: Messsucher

Автор сообщения: Dorok

I was wondering if the EE version is balanced to integrate a Durlag Tower play. I find its replay value very low, linear and no real choices, unlike the whole BG1 or most of it.

How it is linear? Are you sure what the word "linear" means in RPGs?

I wrote linear but I was meaning quite more linear than both:
- the whole BG1 before BG town.
- The whole BG town and stuff associated.

It is more linear on three perspectives:
- Much less choices on what you do or not, which isn't much about choices & consequences.
- Less choices with consequences even if it's not the strong point of BG1.
- Much more of its content (not all) requires linear progression.

So for your disguised insult, calm down and low down the tone.

[Sin]

Автор сообщения: Dorok

Автор сообщения: Sin

the XP you gain in Durlags is the real draw of it since non of the items you find transfer to BG 2. If you don't like it you can skip it, though I want to add that my last unmodded playthrough had me transition to BG 2 at level 9 without siege of dragonspear, so something about the xp cap is fishy. BG 2 is intended to be started at level 7 (that's where your PC will end up if you create a new one), so you would end up weaker than youcould be, but remain within designe intentions.
Should your PC be a druid I would still recommend playing through durlags since druids kinda need every drop of XP they can get. Same for dual class aspirations on your end.
The towers lower floors takes about 2 hours once you know how it works so it isn't too bad.
3 if you count outside area and upper floors aswell.

Well it's less about transition to BG2 than last parts of BG1 I don't want too difficult up to be dragged into too cheesy combats.

With ToSC I remind have read last parts has been made tougher so it matches addition of ToSC.

I never played BG1 with ToSC up to last parts, until now is/will be first times. For a play it should be fine, the MC is a bit screwed up but the party looks rather high level with only a some parts of BG town done. But for another I'd prefer skip Durlag Tower I played last week and play it again that soon don't appeal me.

I must admit that I never fought the final fight of bg 1 without web cloud skulltrap fireball spam. The boss group is a tad too strong for what I am usually playing (my main character is often level 1-4 at that point due to dual classing, meaning I am playing extremly handicaped) so I don't know if you could straight up manfight it at level 7 8 or 9 (9 might not be achievable based on character class)

[Dorok]

Автор сообщения: Sin

[
I must admit that I never fought the final fight of bg 1 without web cloud skulltrap fireball spam. The boss group is a tad too strong for what I am usually playing (my main character is often level 1-4 at that point due to dual classing, meaning I am playing extremly handicaped) so I don't know if you could straight up manfight it at level 7 8 or 9 (9 might not be achievable based on character class)

Woo so you dual all your BG1 MC?

I'm not yet here (final combat). Let say before palace after Candlekeep catacombs exit, but intend try see if I can investigate the Flaming Fist Headquarters.

So without playing at all Durlag Tower, MC with still less than 80K XP, no special items collecting, not even having the full plate +1 nor the str gauntlet or dex ring and some stuff I had quoted in previous play not yet finished, it looks quite playable with two borderline cases:
- The top floor combat in Iron Throne was a lot too much but I did it anyway using the two floors, otherwise no chance. That said when story progressed and I had forgot the details, i I wondered if that's been a good idea. In my previous play paused at this same point, but with whole Durlag done but second final, I'll not bother with it.
- Otherwise when exiting catacombs and in first parts of caverns, there's a combat I found hard, I didn't tried too much, instead with 2 mages, 2 fireball each, rest, the 4 fireball did mostly all the job. A bit lame but well. :-)

For what follow if I remind well:
- I think I always found very hard the palace fight, that is to do it and save a NPC even if it's not mandatory. Last time I played it it was many years ago, remembering is very vague.
- The final combat, but I never ever played the version with ToSC.

[Sin]

Автор сообщения: Dorok

Автор сообщения: Sin

[
I must admit that I never fought the final fight of bg 1 without web cloud skulltrap fireball spam. The boss group is a tad too strong for what I am usually playing (my main character is often level 1-4 at that point due to dual classing, meaning I am playing extremly handicaped) so I don't know if you could straight up manfight it at level 7 8 or 9 (9 might not be achievable based on character class)

Woo so you dual all your BG1 MC?

I'm not yet here (final combat). Let say before palace after Candlekeep catacombs exit, but intend try see if I can investigate the Flaming Fist Headquarters.

So without playing at all Durlag Tower, MC with still less than 80K XP, no special items collecting, not even having the full plate +1 nor the str gauntlet or dex ring and some stuff I had quoted in previous play not yet finished, it looks quite playable with two borderline cases:
- The top floor combat in Iron Throne was a lot too much but I did it anyway using the two floors, otherwise no chance. That said when story progressed and I had forgot the details, i I wondered if that's been a good idea. In my previous play paused at this same point, but with whole Durlag done but second final, I'll not bother with it.
- Otherwise when exiting catacombs and in first parts of caverns, there's a combat I found hard, I didn't tried too much, instead with 2 mages, 2 fireball each, rest, the 4 fireball did mostly all the job. A bit lame but well. :-)

For what follow if I remind well:
- I think I always found very hard the palace fight, that is to do it and save a NPC even if it's not mandatory. Last time I played it it was many years ago, remembering is very vague.
- The final combat, but I never ever played the version with ToSC.

sorry for the late reply:
I love playing thiefs and mages, if I am a mage of some type (or bard) I am already spell spamming so it is the same as if I were to dual class.

When I play a thief its usually a fighter -> thief which ends up beeing level 3-6 at the time of the encounter, but since it is ONLY a thief at that point the best it can do is hide and use consumables and maybe assist with special arrows / darts.

I plan on playing a druid at some point that one will likely not be dualed at all and I am looking forward to trying to manfight sarevok. (I predict a tragedy)

[khumak]

It's worth noting that one of the Tombs of Understanding (+1 permanent wisdom increase) is in Durlog's tower. Not necessarily important for all classes but to a cleric or druid I wouldn't want to give that up. You can potentially get a natural 21 wisdom if you get all 3 books, giving you 12 extra cleric/druid spells.

[hammerstar]

I'll admit, I don't mind doing Durlag, but is also something I frequently skip on replays.

Though it's over ten years since I last played this series, and I'm just now starting my first EE play, and half the reason I'm planning to do Durlag this time is the Sword Coast Strategems mod has a full rebalance pass for the dungeon, according to the readme, to make it both less frustrating but also more challenging, like the rest of the mod. I've used the mod before, on the old game versions, but never got around to doing Durlag with it, so I intend to this time.

Good difficulty mod if you've never tried it. Main components try to improve enemy AI without touching numbers and such, but it has a bunch of optional components that are more direct increases. You might be surprised how much more difficult the bandit camp is when all bandits and Iron Throne flunkies are boosted up to be level 5 fighters. But none of it is to the kind of extremes that the Tactics mod for BG2 does.

[Sin]

Автор сообщения: khumak

It's worth noting that one of the Tombs of Understanding (+1 permanent wisdom increase) is in Durlog's tower. Not necessarily important for all classes but to a cleric or druid I wouldn't want to give that up. You can potentially get a natural 21 wisdom if you get all 3 books, giving you 12 extra cleric/druid spells.

...I went there 3 times in the past 5 weeks on 3 different characters and each time just to kill the basilisks on the roof and to get the tome early. Completly forgot about mentioning it :D

That beeing said: you can get the tome without engaging much with the dungeon since it is upstairs, not in the basement levels. Good catch though.

[MidnaFeetEnjoyer]

nah it's great you're trippin

[Wicket W. Warrick]

IMHO it's up to player choice. You can manage the game also without playing it, you miss some XP, but you can get enough form other parts of the game, and some items, that are useful, but not necessary to master BG1. If you plan to play SoD, those items can be useful (also only for selling htem and got enough money to buy useful items at the beginning), so think about it. As already told, nothing prevent to play only a part of it, the tower is quite easy and fast.

[Dorok]

If this tower is easy and fast, what isn't trivial and ultra fast in the whole BG series? BG3? :-)

It's not a +1 WIS that will change a BG1 play, that would be more some items or a lack of XP.