Legacy of Bhaal tips?

[Volfogg]

So I started recently 1st LoB playthrough. I'm aware of it being more summon, buff and debuff focused. I even bothered to import sturdy shaman from BG:SoD for extra summons and easier start.
Do all party members need to have mage or priest levels for survivability in this mode?
Should I follow specific sidequest route to level at decent pace?
Do I need to level grind at some locations?

[D'amarr from Darshiva]

Have you made personal experience with a Shaman that would justify using a Shaman with LoB mode? Or perhaps you've read about it? I don't consider them worthwhile enough.

Since BG2 doesn't scale XP with difficulty, and if continueing with low-level characters from BG1/SOD, I strongly recommend single-class characters (such as a brute-force pure berserker melee specialist or an Archer as a ranged pro or even a Skald for the bonuses) as well as the cliche dual-class characters that change class to mage or cleric at level 9 or 13. It doesn't need to be all custom companions, various story companions are viable, too. Such as Jan Jansen and Anomen. And yes, cleric spells will be beneficial, so if not using Anomen (who is a dual-class Fighter7>Cleric), consider adding a custom Berserker9>Cleric companion). Similarly, some arcane spells will be extremely helpful, not limited to invisibility 10'radius (which is a pain to simulate with potions), improved haste or the classics greater malison and slow.

Custom companions imported from BG1EE/SOD don't get reset to game defaults like story companions. So, if you have given them attribute bonuses from tomes, those make it into BG2EE fine.

[MidnaFeetEnjoyer]

I know this is totally 4head but the best tip anyone can give you is *don't play legacy of bhaal*. It's a poorly designed difficulty that doesn't make the game more challenging and fun, but only tedious. If you want a harder game other than double damage, try out SCS.

[Volfogg]

Originally posted by D'amarr from Darshiva:

Have you made personal experience with a Shaman that would justify using a Shaman with LoB mode? Or perhaps you've read about it? I don't consider them worthwhile enough.

Since BG2 doesn't scale XP with difficulty, and if continueing with low-level characters from BG1/SOD, I strongly recommend single-class characters (such as a brute-force pure berserker melee specialist or an Archer as a ranged pro or even a Skald for the bonuses) as well as the cliche dual-class characters that change class to mage or cleric at level 9 or 13. It doesn't need to be all custom companions, various story companions are viable, too. Such as Jan Jansen and Anomen. And yes, cleric spells will be beneficial, so if not using Anomen (who is a dual-class Fighter7>Cleric), consider adding a custom Berserker9>Cleric companion). Similarly, some arcane spells will be extremely helpful, not limited to invisibility 10'radius (which is a pain to simulate with potions), improved haste or the classics greater malison and slow.

Custom companions imported from BG1EE/SOD don't get reset to game defaults like story companions. So, if you have given them attribute bonuses from tomes, those make it into BG2EE fine.

Well, I did already finish Icewind Dale on Heart of Fury difficulty once and it was pretty much about buff/debuff and summons. The only difference in Legacy of Bhaal basics seems to be lack of bonus experience. As for Shaman, I heard from few sources that ranged + cannon fodder summons is the easiest approach and among pure classes the better ones are Shaman, Sorcerer and Archer. I'm already planning to focus a bit on spamming nymphs and later bears before my Shamanic Dance upgrades to elemental spirits.

[LukanGamer]

sadly pretty much yes.
Got to throw 10+ buffs on so many the fights or get instant killed quite easily.
And if you don't want to be wacking for days debuffs on them annoying things letting you give them near instant kills at some times.

[Volfogg]

Well, I'm thinking rn about cheesing a little with Jan's pickpocket and fences like Jayes and Black Market Thief in Docks. This way I could get some extra funds early to get best gear from Ribald, Bernard, Deidre and Joluv.

[Zotliatlicor]

In LOB all xp is doubled. So there is a lot of early leveling to be done.

Most spells work differently, as do the save system. Undead will be held by Hold Undead, Chromatic Orb will insta kill or hold almost anything.

Cleric Hold Pperson, Greater Command , and any Mage Hold spells are your bread n butter.

Have your mages have Invisibility 10' radius at lvl 3. You will die if you do not get control of the battlefield.

I disagree with LOB beeing poor design. It is the only valid design within the core game.

On any other diffiulty your spells will last long enough to kill any encounter. So a web with 1 turn duration is enough. On LOB most combats will outlast all such spells so you need to recast a lof of buffs and debuffs mid combat.

Summons get the same bonuses that mobs get, so once you have some powerful summons you are set.

Your first item should be gunning for the Staff of Summoning.

[Volfogg]

Originally posted by Zotliatlicor:

In LOB all xp is doubled. So there is a lot of early leveling to be done.

Most spells work differently, as do the save system. Undead will be held by Hold Undead, Chromatic Orb will insta kill or hold almost anything.

Cleric Hold Pperson, Greater Command , and any Mage Hold spells are your bread n butter.

Have your mages have Invisibility 10' radius at lvl 3. You will die if you do not get control of the battlefield.

I disagree with LOB beeing poor design. It is the only valid design within the core game.

On any other diffiulty your spells will last long enough to kill any encounter. So a web with 1 turn duration is enough. On LOB most combats will outlast all such spells so you need to recast a lof of buffs and debuffs mid combat.

Summons get the same bonuses that mobs get, so once you have some powerful summons you are set.

Your first item should be gunning for the Staff of Summoning.

Yeah... I have Wand of Summon Monster for emergency situations, with Jan's pickpocket I can recharge it basically for free. I also made sure my Shaman has plenty summon options including nymphs (free Hold spells). Probably should ditch Minsc for Keldorn at this point, brute force won't be useful rn. Not sure if I should keep Jaheira or swap her for Anomen. Kinda unsure of quest order, but I might try Unseeing Eye with Shield of Balduran.

[Zotliatlicor]

Druid spells are still very potent. All the insect spells (lvl 3, 5, & 7) are superb, but they have very short duration. But enemies that cannot cast spells lets you own the battlefield. And Jaheira will reach (remember dbl XP) Fire elementals rather quick. Super duper useful.

I would have both a Cleric and a Druid. And that means that Cernd actually shines in LOB as he levels up very very fast for the early game. So Cernd OR Jaheira, Anomen OR Viconia.

It is all about getting your enemies into the dirt as fast as possible. So no-no to single hand weaponry. Even Edwin must have 2 daggers. Disabled enemies are auto hit, but still have tons of HP so you need to hack them to pieces as fast as you can.

If an enemy is not held or disabled and comes after you you run. In circles or anywhere as your casters do their stuff. Armour or Shield has no real effect. You should be able to take a hit or two, and Dwarven defenders Shine in LOB.

If you have a tank it must either be a mage / bard type that has tons of casts of stoneskin, mirror image & imunities OR a Con 19 Frontliner Fighter type.

Spells like immunity to normal weapons make the game easy. Tons of encounters are without magical weaponry. And for the few "boss" leaders in such groups, cast hold on them until it sticks.

LOB is very hard in a lot of ways, but by cleverly analyzing your (newfound) strengths, you will do fine. I beehive for the Compound early on to get the Stun Katana + 3. Amazing on LOB. Hard encounter but doable early on with Jan aboard.

The really hard parts are super undead and the dragons. I got crushed by golems a lot, they are silly tanky.

[wendigo211]

Originally posted by Zotliatlicor:

In LOB all xp is doubled. So there is a lot of early leveling to be done.

You have to edit the 'No Difficulty Based XP Bonus' and 'Nightmare Bonus XP' settings in the Baldur.lua file to get double XP. By default, it's the same XP as the other difficulty settings and you can't change those settings from the in game settings menu.

[Volfogg]

Any tips when and how to tackle heavily laden with undead areas? I want to do Umar Hills, but not sure if it's not too early. I have only Azuredge and Daystar as anti-undead means. Probably gonna run into undead and a dragon mentioned above. Planar Prison is another option atm.

[AlexMBrennan]

I even bothered to import sturdy shaman from BG:SoD

Does that actually work? Summoning random garbage cannon fodder that you cannot even control?

Are you really going to "play" a "character" whose "job" is standing around doing nothing (you literally cannot even move) while AI cannon fodder slowly wears down the enemy HP pool?

[Volfogg]

Originally posted by AlexMBrennan:

I even bothered to import sturdy shaman from BG:SoD

Does that actually work? Summoning random garbage cannon fodder that you cannot even control?

Are you really going to "play" a "character" whose "job" is standing around doing nothing (you literally cannot even move) while AI cannon fodder slowly wears down the enemy HP pool?

Sure, why not? I have sorcerer-like flexibility for druidic spellbook, some unique spells, spirits have mild debuffs on hit, though their THAC0 is kinda weak. Usually I just use them when it's not worth to deplete wands and spells, otherwise I have nymphs and fire elementals.

[wendigo211]

Originally posted by Volfogg:

Any tips when and how to tackle heavily laden with undead areas? I want to do Umar Hills, but not sure if it's not too early. I have only Azuredge and Daystar as anti-undead means. Probably gonna run into undead and a dragon mentioned above. Planar Prison is another option atm.

Scrolls of protection from undead help. You can cast them for free using Simulacrum.

If you're really struggling with dragons you can still kill them using a spell sequencer filled with lower resistance and a lesser spell sequencer filled with chromatic orbs. You'll have to save scum, but they will roll a one on their death save eventually. That might not work with the shadow dragon though. You can do the same with Feeblemind as well, once they fail their save, they aren't doing anything for about 1000 hours of real time.

[76561199122594037]

Hi I have problem from start game, I can't select a sword in quick select bar because immediately switches to a bow, it's bug ?

[anferFFmax]

Originally posted by Zireael:

Hi I have problem from start game, I can't select a sword in quick select bar because immediately switches to a bow, it's bug ?

Not at all. This is due to the preferences you have for that character. You simple have that toon set to "Prefer range weapons" this is an option. You need to unclick this.

1st. Go into "Customize" on the toons main interface.

2nd. Click on "script"

3rd. Unclick "Prefer Ranged Weapons"

While you are there, I recommend that you take your time to evaluate ALL of the options on that page since this would give the option to customize how your toons behaves, both in combat and normally. And do this for ALL of your party members. This is actually crucial for a LoB playthrough.