Ideas to freshen up gameplay?

[Kel'Thuzad]

I've played BG2 so much that I basically find myself on "auto-pilot" when I do a new playthrough.

I can't change the fact that I know where all the traps are and things like that, but I also find I'm always using the same spells and whatnot.. because I know which ones are good. I tend to 'cheese' a lot of the encounters, for example sending in summoned monsters - or going invisible and throwing a Couldkill in a room full of Umber Hulks and slamming the door shut
I usually even cheese the Irenicus fight by running away and letting him use all his big spells on my summoned monsters before I "actually" engage him.

One idea I have is to maybe try a run where I force myself to use all the spells I dont normally use - but I'm unsure how effective they'll be (since I normally use most of the good damage-dealing spells).

I've already done several evil aligned parties.

I'm taking other suggestions people might have.. maybe a solo or two man playthrough?
Or some self-imposed "challenge mode" restrictions (no summoned monsters, no Robes of Vecna, no full plate..?)

[Damn_Monkey]

You can do self imposed rules to help add some difficulty.

For example, I don't redistribute stat points when I create a character. Did I get a roll of 18/00 Str for that Fighter? cool! but the Con is only 10. Or, "Oh look! I rolled a 94 on my Half Orc Beserker! Who has 18 Wisdom, Cha, and Int. Ya won't keep that one."

What kind of mods do you run? Stratagims is a good one for increasing the difficulty a bit. Lets the bad guys fight back smarter and with bigger guns. Makes it pretty even actually, since they should have been able to cast those spells in the first place.

Also, try using a non OP class as your PC Hero. And pick party members based on some RolePlay head cannon you've made up. Will make it more enjoyable. At least it does for me.

[Leeux]

If you never played with SCS installed, installing it it's a good way to freshen up gameplay IMO.

With SCS installed BG1 and specially BG2 are a different games, since the AI improves a lot and it changes a lot of encounters and buff many opponents to have reasonable high levels w.r.t. your party, and a lot of the cheese that normally work, it's fixed by SCS.

I'd recommend to check its readme for more information on what changes are made, but do not read the spoilers section if you want to be surprised by the new encounters... even if it means you'll probably die for some attempts until you crack it :)

I do not recommend to go blind into it, though... unless you *really* like challenges and/or know the game's spell system and internal mechanics like the back of your hand!

EDIT: Also, the Ascension mod is a must IMHO, for the Throne of Bhaal part... and it couples perfectly with SCS. It makes the encounters in ToB even more epic than in the vanilla game and changes some things story wise that also make sense.

Another thing, have you ever tried some of the "Big Mods"? I.e. I mean, mods that add new areas, stories and stuff to do in the game?

[Kel'Thuzad]

Originally posted by Leeux:

If you never played with SCS installed, installing it it's a good way to freshen up gameplay IMO.

With SCS installed BG1 and specially BG2 are a different games, since the AI improves a lot and it changes a lot of encounters and buff many opponents to have reasonable high levels w.r.t. your party, and a lot of the cheese that normally work, it's fixed by SCS.

I'd recommend to check its readme for more information on what changes are made, but do not read the spoilers section if you want to be surprised by the new encounters... even if it means you'll probably die for some attempts until you crack it :)

I do not recommend to go blind into it, though... unless you *really* like challenges and/or know the game's spell system and internal mechanics like the back of your hand!

EDIT: Also, the Ascension mod is a must IMHO, for the Throne of Bhaal part... and it couples perfectly with SCS. It makes the encounters in ToB even more epic than in the vanilla game and changes some things story wise that also make sense.

Another thing, have you ever tried some of the "Big Mods"? I.e. I mean, mods that add new areas, stories and stuff to do in the game?

I think the only "mod" I've ever used is Shadowkeeper, to raise the level cap and fix some of the NPC companions terrible stats.
I'm actually playing an off-steam version of the game (from GOG.com), and I'm guessing some of those mods are tied to the steam workshop and steam version of the game?
I'm also possibly going to do this playthrough on the Nintendo Switch when its released on that platform.

I think I might just impose some restrictions like melee characters only wearing Mail.
I still want my PC to be a Wizard, but I might take a subclass that locks out Evocation(?), since that will shut down the usual spamming of MM, Fireball, Horrid Wilting, etc

I had a lot of fun recently after learning about the Wizard Eye + Simulacrum combo - but it still felt overpowered and cheesy, since the Simulacrum was using the same overpowered spells and tactics.

[greennus]

Artificial restrictions and strict roleplay but most importantly mods since you have never played with any of them.

Some mods that should give you a new BG2+ToB experience: Ascension (ToB), The Wheels of Prophecy (ToB), Sword Coast Stratagems (aka SCS), Spell Revisions (perhaps you end up using different spells with it?), Item Revisions and throw in a couple quest mods plus a tweak pack such as The Tweaks Anthology. Item Randomiser for switching up the place of good items.

https://gibberlings3.github.io/Documentation/readmes/readme-ascension.html
https://gibberlings3.github.io/Documentation/readmes/readme-wheels.html
https://gibberlings3.github.io/Documentation/readmes/readme-stratagems.html
https://gibberlings3.github.io/Documentation/readmes/readme-cdtweaks.html
https://gibberlings3.github.io/Documentation/readmes/readme-randomiser.html

https://forums.beamdog.com/discussion/75951/mod-impressions-bg2-ee-quest-mods/p1
https://forums.beamdog.com/discussion/34882/list-bg2-ee-mod-list-additions/p1

Shows you how a mod is installed and Steam or GOG platform is irrelevant. What matters is do you have vanilla or EE version of BG2. Jump to 5min 53s.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOQpbYsKlos&t=5m53s

P.S. Didn't check if Item Randomiser, Spell and Item Revisions mods are available for EE but all the others are available for both versions.

[Mork]

Party of 4 .. Fighter,cleric,wizard and rogue. No multi or duel class

Edit: no half-orc and no stealing merchants

[Kel'Thuzad]

Originally posted by greennus:

Artificial restrictions and strict roleplay but most importantly mods since you have never played with any of them.

Some mods that should give you a new BG2+ToB experience: Ascension (ToB), The Wheels of Prophecy (ToB), Sword Coast Stratagems (aka SCS), Spell Revisions (perhaps you end up using different spells with it?), Item Revisions and throw in a couple quest mods plus a tweak pack such as The Tweaks Anthology. Item Randomiser for switching up the place of good items.

https://gibberlings3.github.io/Documentation/readmes/readme-ascension.html
https://gibberlings3.github.io/Documentation/readmes/readme-wheels.html
https://gibberlings3.github.io/Documentation/readmes/readme-stratagems.html
https://gibberlings3.github.io/Documentation/readmes/readme-cdtweaks.html
https://gibberlings3.github.io/Documentation/readmes/readme-randomiser.html

https://forums.beamdog.com/discussion/75951/mod-impressions-bg2-ee-quest-mods/p1
https://forums.beamdog.com/discussion/34882/list-bg2-ee-mod-list-additions/p1

Shows you how a mod is installed and Steam or GOG platform is irrelevant. What matters is do you have vanilla or EE version of BG2. Jump to 5min 53s.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOQpbYsKlos&t=5m53s

P.S. Didn't check if Item Randomiser, Spell and Item Revisions mods are available for EE but all the others are available for both versions.

Playing Vanilla, not EE. Thanks for the info

[Purodiusa]

Lot of good suggestions. I am in the same boat, played through it so many times it's a breeze. I once played through with only two characters, Mage/Thief and Mage/Cleric. Solo is pretty rough, but I found duo was a decent challenge without being overwhelming.

[Kel'Thuzad]

Originally posted by BOKU:

Lot of good suggestions. I am in the same boat, played through it so many times it's a breeze. I once played through with only two characters, Mage/Thief and Mage/Cleric. Solo is pretty rough, but I found duo was a decent challenge without being overwhelming.

Yeah I might try a 2-4 man run. I could also just try the harder difficulties, as long as I save often enough to not get set back too far by perma-deaths. I also hate failing to copy spells into my book, and getting bad hit dice rolls.

Maybe an evil Wizard PC, with Korgan tanking and Jaheira/Viconia as healers/support.
In addition to my other my other limitations like chainmail armour and not spamming the most powerful spells.

[necaradan666]

In that case try adding Tweaks Anthology to your game as well as SCS/Ascension to increase tactical difficulty while also retaining various ease of use features.