Please help with Baldur's Gate 2 early game.

[Mister K]

So, I am stuck. And by stuck I mean I get killed a lot and cannot progress.

Here is a thing:
I've transfered my character from BG1 to BG2, got out of Irenicus Dungeon, lost Imoen and now have to raise 20000 gold. My party consists of lvl 8 warrior/7 Cleric PC, Minsc, Aerie, Yoshimo and Jan. I got a Priest class quest and in order to complete it, I have to go through the sewers, where I get killed either by dwarf thugs or kobold mage (rakshasa, or something). I then decided to check on Haeir'd'alis quest, but it also involves getting into sewers. I checked guides and walkthroughs, but non of them tell me which one of quests is best for low level party.

Escapists, please help me out.

 

[Pirate Of PC Master race]

Only hint I can give is to ditch Yoshimo.

and I guess thieve's guild quest is on the easy side?

 

[BreakfastMan]

Talk to everyone to get as many quests as you can. The quests that force you to go into the sewers in the city are super hard (at least I remember them being really hard), but there are a ton of quests in the game that take you outside of the city, and most of those are much easier, imo.

 

[Aulleas123]

So, I am stuck. And by stuck I mean I get killed a lot and cannot progress.

Here is a thing:
I've transfered my character from BG1 to BG2, got out of Irenicus Dungeon, lost Imoen and now have to raise 20000 gold. My party consists of lvl 8 warrior/7 Cleric PC, Minsc, Aerie, Yoshimo and Jan. I got a Priest class quest and in order to complete it, I have to go through the sewers, where I get killed either by dwarf thugs or kobold mage (rakshasa, or something). I then decided to check on Haeir'd'alis quest, but it also involves getting into sewers. I checked guides and walkthroughs, but non of them tell me which one of quests is best for low level party.

Escapists, please help me out.

I would argue that you may want to hold off on going into those sewers until a bit later. Those goons are pretty powerful early game but they can be beaten pretty easily at higher levels. Plus, the priest quest is quite tough for a level 8 party, you'll have to deal with beholders, undead, and other very dangerous critters. Haer D'Alis's quest is fairly tough too with lots of magic users to ruin your day. I would advise starting with either the thieves' guild quest (which is quite easy and you could get Edwin if you'd like) or the quests outside of the city (such as the De'Arnise hold quest). These will get you some good XP early on as well as the money needed to get to the next part.

I would also say that you should NOT immediately go for the deal when you get enough money. Wait until you get your characters up to a higher level. Do as many quests as possible, level your guys up to level 11 at a minimum and higher if possible.

If you don't mind me asking, which quests have you done so far? I know you did the circus quest to get Aerie (who's a good support character), but have you done anything else in the city?

Only hint I can give is to ditch Yoshimo.

I don't necessarily agree. First of all, he can be pretty important part of the story, but I won't say anymore here on that. Second, he's not that bad of a thief, sure Jan is better but he's a good trap setter (great for killing dragons!) and he doesn't waste points for pickpocketing. However, if you want to get someone else (KELDORN!!!) then you can probably sacrifice Yoshimo.

 

[Mister K]

SNIP

Of course I don't mind you asking. After I wrote my first post, I decided "Screw it, I'll do what I was planning to do in any case" and re-recruited Jaheira to do her personal quest. I actually plan to finish all personal quests for all avaliable NPC's. And I've finished her quest about curse and plan on doing her Harper quests.

Also, considering my final party. I want to create a good aligned party with PC fighter/cleric, Minsc, Aerie, Imoen, Jan and someone else. Which character would you recommend. I mean, once I'll start ToB, I'll replace the number 6 with Sarevok (and turn him to the Light Side), but who should I pick prior to that?

SNIP

Nah, Yoshimo is fine. He isn't a bad rogue, he is charming and quite competent as an archer. Besides, I know what happens in the end with him, so I am not worried about it.
[/quote]

 

[DementedSheep]

Leave and come back when you are a higher level, I assume you have have other quests to do. It's been a while since I've played so I don't remember how fast you level in it.

Have you gone to the fort with Nalia? I usually do that early. It's not too hard and you get some good stuff out of it. The Haeir'dalis quests are not actually low level quests which sucks because you need them to get a party member and pick it up early. It's still doable, though if you having trouble in the first part you probably will find it very frustrating, but for love of god make a save before you attempt the second part because otherwise you can get stuck since after you follow there is no way out but to go through very powerful enemies including one who has fucking disintegrate (instant kill spell, target cannot be resurrected). I think you can still get Hear'dalis from the first part if you avoid triggering the second by not going back to what's her face. If you don't want him in your party I'd leave it.

 

[redrefugee]

Summon things. Skeletons, monsters anything. Use the summons as cannon fodder while your good characters use ranged attacks.

It's been a long time since I played it, but I remember having difficulty at the start as well. If you can get your hands on one of the summoning staffs then it helps a lot.

 

[Wary Wolf]

SNIP

Also, considering my final party. I want to create a good aligned party with PC fighter/cleric, Minsc, Aerie, Imoen, Jan and someone else. Which character would you recommend. I mean, once I'll start ToB, I'll replace the number 6 with Sarevok (and turn him to the Light Side), but who should I pick prior to that?

As suggested. Get Keldorn as your sixth (after playing it as you are currently, swapping out NPCs to see their stories). He's in the top left end of the sewers. You're best bet is to go clockwise around the edges if you're having problems with the Kobold / Tiger man. Inquisitors are hands down one of the best mage killers in the game... Well aside from cheap tactics with your thief . Kind of depends on how you play the game but Keldorn just works in any party despite his less than stellar stats.

Because he uses Two-Handed swords as well, you can transfer them all to Sarevok in TOB. Although you may find yourself switching out Minsc because of Mr Holy Avenger (how dare I suggest it!).

Still, Fighter dualled to Cleric is probably my favorite class combination, and will start to become a powerhouse very soon.

Oh, but if you're doing Aerie's romance, having Haeir'dalis adds to the intrigue a little bit. And you don't have to have him as a part of your party for that long to see it either.

 

[Aulleas123]

SNIP

Of course I don't mind you asking. After I wrote my first post, I decided "Screw it, I'll do what I was planning to do in any case" and re-recruited Jaheira to do her personal quest. I actually plan to finish all personal quests for all avaliable NPC's. And I've finished her quest about curse and plan on doing her Harper quests.

Also, considering my final party. I want to create a good aligned party with PC fighter/cleric, Minsc, Aerie, Imoen, Jan and someone else. Which character would you recommend. I mean, once I'll start ToB, I'll replace the number 6 with Sarevok (and turn him to the Light Side), but who should I pick prior to that?

SNIP

Nah, Yoshimo is fine. He isn't a bad rogue, he is charming and quite competent as an archer. Besides, I know what happens in the end with him, so I am not worried about it.

Yoshimo's story is awesome!

Get Keldorn for your number 6. First, you can't have too many guys running towards the front to protect the weaker members. Second, he is the perfect guy against wizards; look up Inquisitors and see what amazing stuff they can do, particularly against illusion magics. His story is pretty interesting too, it touches on his job and family and I actually find it to be very touching. Finally, he has awesome and hysterical interactions with Minsc!

For TOB, I'd personally replace Minsc for Sarevok but I know he's a fan favorite so you may want to ditch Keldorn instead. Sarevok is the best fighter in the game and he never leaves you even with 20 reputation.

 

[Mister K]

SNIP

You know what? I'll do just that. I'll complete all companion quests I can, release them from service, then I'll get Kelgorn and when I start ToB I'll send him home. He IS a family man, after all.

 

[KingsGambit_v1legacy]

I would agree with the above posts about trying those missions again later. There are many, many quests to be done and no hurry to complete any particular one right away. A few more levels under your belt won't go astray, and you may wish to consider your party composition. I think you could do with another dollop of armoured pwnage, in the form of Keldorn (if you're good) or Korgan (if you're not). Keldorn with plate armour and Carsomyr is amazing, but then so is Korgan with an axe (or two) and a ring of regen. Use Jan and Aeria as mages for nuking things and use her and your PC for buffing/heals as needed. Yoshimo, go pure thief and he's your detect traps/lockpicking guy.

 

[Doom972]

First of all: Don't board the ship until you've done everything you want to do in Amn, except for Watcher's Keep, which you should probably do during Throne of Bhaal.
If a quests seems too tough, look for a certain spell or item which might make things easier. If that's not possible, try doing an easier quest for the time being. If you're still stuck, I recommend checking out the guide at GameBanshee.

EDIT: I forgot to mention - USE HASTE. That spell makes battles much easier, and it allows you to kill spellcasters before they can do too much damage to your party. Remember that in BG, Haste is an area of effect spell, which means that you can buff your entire party with one spell.

 

[Xyebane]

You should start with Aerie in the circus, easy quest to do right out the gate. Do any random quests you can in the promenade as well. Go to the Inn that has the adventures on the 2nd floor near the north of the promenade and kill them to get back some of your gear from BG1.

Then go to the slums. Do the slavers quest. Now you should be set up half decent and it was pretty easy. You should have enough money to buy some more gear as well, you should get a fire sword (or axe). In the bar in the slums there are a few quests you can pick up, any of them should be good starts from this point but if you get a + fire weapon, the keep and then the druids (forget the towns name) are both good starters. Once you've done both of those you are basically set to walk through most any of the other main side quests.

For the sewers, I highly highly highly recommend spell turning (or better yet the cloak that gives you spell turning). It helps with the spell casters.

 

[KingsGambit_v1legacy]

Go to the Inn that has the adventures on the 2nd floor near the north of the promenade and kill them to get back some of your gear from BG1.

What's this!? Can you go into any more detail into this? I've never encountered this in my multiple playthrus over the years. The only BG1 gear I know of to get back is behind the painting at the start in Irenicus's dungeon...the pantaloons, Drizzt's equipment and a couple of other items that carry over.

 

[Xyebane]

3 - The Den of Seven Vales

On the second floor of the Den of Seven Vales, you can get yourself into a serious brawl. A band of adventurers will pick a fight with you as soon as you reach the top of the stairs. Once all of the adventurers are lying dead on the floor, loot their bodies for a War Hammer +1, a Short Sword +1, a Cursed Berserking Sword +3, a Ring of Invisibility, a Cloak of Non-Detection, and some Studded Leather +1.

http://www.gamebanshee.com/baldursgateii/walkthrough/waukeenspromenade.php

It's not based on your saved game, but has stuff most people will remember from BG1. It's not too hard if you LoS them.

 

[Wiggum Esquilax]

Then go to the slums. Do the slavers quest.

I'll add that in the completion of this quest, you'll receive advice of not only where to go, but also what path to take. Follow the advice, take the back entrance. It leads to one of the more interesting and powerful pieces of equipment in the game, if you have a sense of humor.


For my advice, I'll repeat what others have said, that leaving town can be easier than the sewers. On your way out, visit the inn at the town's edge. Have Yoshimo detect traps near the inn's back wall. I'll avoid spoilers by simply saying to next do what comes naturally.

Hehehehehe.

 

[Amalec]

I'll try to keep the spoilers down.

For early progression, try this order:

Circus Tent in Waukeen's Promenade

Graveyard (Stick with the one room crypts; use protection from undead scroll where necessary)

Copper Corner in the Slums
-> Slavers quest (talk them into letting you out back)
-> Help Nalia (she'll approach you)
-> Bandit Hunting (talk to Lord Firkraag) - just get this started now to turn in the acorns you got in Irencus' dungeon

Waukeen's Promenade, Den of the Seven Vales (check out the second floor)

Dock's District
-> Sea's Bounty Inn (detect traps to find a hidden room on the ground floor)
-> Thieves' Guild quests
-> Harper quest (speak to Xzar after you save a man during an ambush)

Trademeet quest (speak to trader in the gates district)
Umar Hills quest (speak to the lost boy in the government district)

First floor of Watcher's Keep (bring level drain protection)


After this point, you should be good to just explore and do anything that comes.

Tips, in no particular order:

Buy Protection from Undead scrolls. There are a lot of powerful undead, and these will completely stop them from attacking you. If other party members are around, some of the more powerful undead (liches, in particular) will kill your protected characters through AoE spells or summons. Best to protect everyone or send in a couple of protected members alone. Keep in mind that these plentiful but not infinite. If you're open to spoilers, you can use these to assassinate most of the game's liches right out of the gate.

Buy Protection from Magic scrolls. There are only a handful of these, but they'll make a party member completely immune to magic. You can also use them on an enemy caster to make them immune to magic - as well as incapable of casting spells and removing all of their spell protections. Basically instead death for the few powerful casters who aren't undead.

Use hide/invis to scout ahead. Starting a fight with spell protections up and a couple of fireballs in the air is a big advantage.

Stoneskin is incredibly powerful and lasts through a rest.

Pause obsessively

1 round = 6 seconds
1 turn = 10 rounds = 1 minute

Haste gives an extra attack per round.

You can cast spells and use a basic attack (including ranged attacks) in the same round.

Edwin is OP when you need a mage (he gets some bonus spell slots, iirc)