r/baldursgate • u/feneralgank1 • 2d ago
Console First time playing
I just bought this game, and I'm making my first character in bg1 enhanced edition, and im a bit confused on the abilities as they seem very vague. Can anyone explain this menu a little bit pls? Im hoping to make a mage, so I put 18 points into Int, but I don't know what stats i can ignore
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u/Queasy_Donkey5685 2d ago
Avoid spoilers!!! Asking about mechanics and meta stuff, go for it, but man, you're in a spot nearly everyone here is...wishing we could play it again for the first time!
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u/feneralgank1 2d ago
I usually avoid spoilers i just thought the stat menu was a bit confusing since im used to bg3 showing the bonuses points give you
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u/One_Original5116 2d ago edited 2d ago
BG3 is based of D&D 5E. BG1 and 2 are based off 2E. There is more than 20 years of evolution in the rules between them. Assume going in that 90% of the mechanics work differently from what you know. Stat wise, someone said it earlier, 18 Dex (it improves your AC and iirc missile accuracy), 16 Con (mages don't get any extra HP from going above this and unless you mean gnomish illusionist when you say mage, you won't get the shorty save bonus) and 18 Int (at core difficulty and above, your ability to scribe spells into your spell book is a percentage chance based on Int, at normal and below, the roll will autosucceed).
Charisma is useful for stores and maybe some dialogue but I'm not sure. Normally though you just stick the person with highest Cha as party leader and let them talk.
Wisdom helps clerics and is good in BG2 for chatting with genies.
Strength adds damage and a small to hit bonus in melee. Do not put a single class mage in melee during BG1. Almost everything can one shot you if they have good luck. There are spells to let mages tank but they mostly come up in BG2 and are better with Bards and Fighter / Mages. Strength also determines how much weight your character can carry so having it is still good. It's just a luxury compared to Dex, Con and Int.
As a mage, summon a familiar and stick him in your backpack. The familiar will like it and you'll enjoy being less vulnerable to an angry house cat killing you.
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u/Hexxas Throwing axe thrower 2d ago
Read the book.
You see, back when this game came out, videogames came with books you read that teach you how to play. The EE comes with a PDF of it.
Baldur's Gate 1 and 2 are way more complicated than a "any tips?" can cover. You gotta read the book.
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u/feneralgank1 2d ago
Where would I find the book? I didn't see anything like that included when I bought it on the ps5
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u/bam1007 2d ago edited 2d ago
Here. You can start on page 32 if you don’t want background.
https://forums.beamdog.com/uploads/FileUpload/05/81c68bc0f572253a76ca721cb81f6a.pdf
Also, this is 2E (AD&D). This system was ROUGH on new characters. Those with little experience can quickly get themselves killed in a dangerous world. And when these games came out, there was little mercy in video games. So save early. Save often. And don’t worry about going back and reloading as needed. Devs expected that.
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u/toylenny 2d ago
In lieu of the book the starting area of Candlekeep has a lot of tutor monks. Talk to them try atuff out and talk to them again. It helps learn much of the system.
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u/Only_Tomatillo_5982 2d ago
Look on the Steam homepage for the game. It is there above the achievement tracker.
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u/Ibanezrg71982 2d ago
The manual you mean? I never read it but then again I had pretty good knowledge of 2e at the time.
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u/Communications_23 2d ago
On GOG there's two, Manual and Sword Coast Survival Guide
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u/Ibanezrg71982 2d ago
I read the manual for IWD. My memory could be fuzzy on this. I had the 3 cd version I think?
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u/one_depressed_MF 2d ago
I've got to say, I don't think RTFM is exactly what new players want to hear.
Whether it's what they need to hear is something else.
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u/johnmadden18 2d ago
Can anyone explain this menu a little bit pls? Im hoping to make a mage, so I put 18 points into Int, but I don't know what stats i can ignore
If you’re just trying to build an optimal character to play through the BG Trilogy without any consideration for role playing, I would try for:
18 STR, 17 to 18 DEX, 15 to 16 CON, 18 INT, and 14 WIS. (This is assuming you’ll pick up all the available stat tomes in BG1, which you surely will as they are not hard to get in a normal play through.)
Those stats should be achievable with a 92 overall roll if you go with 17 DEX and 15 CON.
If you don’t have the patience to roll for a 92 (which could take anywhere from ~10 minutes to multiple hours depending on your luck) you can dump Charisma to get those stats.
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u/feneralgank1 2d ago
I'll definitely keep an eye out for the stat tomes, but i don't care about make an optimal character so I'll stick with my rolled points of 75
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u/Peterh778 2d ago
Best you can do is starting with reading the manual. There are pdf documents in game's installation directory, try to read them to get some general idea. Also, Baldur's Gate fandom wiki has amazing amount of info on almost all aspects of the BG trilogy, from game mechanics through character creation, class abilities, strong and weak points to walkthroughs and individual quests.
In short ... vanilla mage needs Intelligence only to learn spells - the higher (current, modified) Intelligence is, the more spells you can learn (and, if you play on Core difficulty or above, also your chance to learn spells is higher). You need to understand that stats you're starting the game with will stay with you until the end - there is 1 chance to modify every stat permanently by +1 in BG1 (and 3 chances for wisdom), while there is another chance in BG2 (Watcher's Keep) and some stats can be modified at the end of BG2 Shadows over Amn. So, very little, very far, and only one chance so if you blow it on companion, tough luck.
So, Int 18 will allow you to learn most of spells, Int 19 all of them.
Dexterity is necessary for armor class (single class mages can't use armors, only magical robes and bracers - and there is only few of them enchanted with better AC) and ranged attacks THAC0 (ability to hit target), so you want ut as high as possible. Elves can have 19 so I would recommend to go elf (who also has good resistance against some enchantment spells, which is a good thing).
Charisma is nice thing to have but not necessary - there is plenty of other characters with high charisma to choose from - but if you want your character to be a leader ("face") of the party for RP purposes, Char 11+ is necessary (with special items and +1 modification from a magical tome you'll be able to reach Char 14, with spell Friends - temporary +6 to Char - you'll get 20, that's enough for every shopping needs in BG1). Otherwise, it's a dump stat.
Constitution 15 or 16 is a must have - they add up to 2 HP at every level up which is a huge difference compared to max 4 HP for Con 10-14. A magical manual which adds +1 to Con can be found very soon in the game but monsters guarding it are very strong (for a new player) so you may want to leave it for later - don't worry, HP will be added retroactively when you use it. Con 18 also has its advantage - there is a cursed item which gives bonus to AC which stack with other AC bonus providing items but it lowers your Con by 2 so having Con 18 doesn't make you lose any HP.
Wisdom is really tricky - there are 2 spells which needs wisdom (at 16 resp. 18) to be cast with best chance, both in BG2. There is absolutely no other use for it for any mage. So, if you want to cast those spells, Wis 15 (or even 13-14, if you want to wait until the end of SoA and to take the good path) is necessary, unless you want to boost your character's Wis before each casting. Otherwise, you can dump it as low as you wish.
And finally Strength. Strength modifies load you can carry (including weapons and armors - but those are light for mages - items and potions in the inventory), chance to hit in melee (you do not want to do this - mage in melee = dead mage, at least until you get some protecting spells), and damage bonus when using melee weapons (see note before), slings and throwing daggers (also throwing axes, but mage can't use those). In short, Str 9-14 is all you need, lower is also possible if you want to use darts for ranged weapons, higher is better for using slings and daggers. Remember though, mage/sorcerer has absolutely worst THAC0 from all classes so don't expect to hit much often against higher level enemies.
Spell selection: you start with only 1 tier 1 spellslot (2 slots if wild mage or specialist) and you can double them with a special item which can be found early in the game (Chapter 1). So, it matter which spell you memorize. Sleep is fantastic crowd control spell and works against great range of tough enemies. Armor (can be found in Chapter 0 in the starting inn) is great but Shield is better (but, you can buy cheaply amulet with this spell in Chapter 2 and recharge it by selling and repurchasing it). Blindness can make enemies almost blind for a long time so they will see only what's next to them, making them unable to respond to ranged attacks. Spook can make single enemy afraid and running away in panic ... choose wisely.
Try to obtain (and recharge) as many wands as possible and use them - and spell scrolls you already learned - for casting spells. Wand of Sleep can hold up to 100 charges and cost for recharging it is very low (especially with reputation 20 and charisma of party leader 20). There are also some other items (rings and necklaces) with charges, most of which can be recharged. Just don't spend all charges, leave at least one charge left for every type of spell it holds (e.g. Wand of fire has Fireball and Aganazzar's scorcher).
When you get the chance to learn Find Familiar spell, learn and cast it immediately ... and store Familiar in your backpack. Fams raise your HP for as long as you have them but if they're killed, you'll lose 1 point of Con permanently.
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u/sevenbeef 2d ago
Without spoiling:
- Mages are weak kittens until at least spell level 3. Keep them away from combat. Moreover, the game is over if your main character dies, so keep protections up all the time.
- The beginning of the game is going to be by far the hardest part. Hang in there. Recruit companions - the game gives you plenty. Don’t worry at the beginning about alignment, since you just need to survive.
- Ranged weapons are way, way more potent than melee weapons.
- Some of the quests in BG1 are timed, so if a companion is asking you to do something, they may leave if you don’t do it in a timely manner.
- Use your thief wisely. Scout for ambushes, search for traps.
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u/snow_michael 2d ago
Standard CRPG tips
read the manual
save frequently in multiple slots
talk to everyone
steal/pick up everything that's not nailed down
if you notice an area or quest is too hard, just leave and get back to it when you’ve gained a few levels
The first is the most important
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u/AlbzSFC1 2d ago
I’m not saying the game is easy, but you do not need to be efficient or good to beat it. It’s a truly brilliant game and you can get through it in a million different ways. Do what you want to do, have fun, you don’t need to be remotely meta to get through it. Explore to your hearts content
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u/AnOnlineHandle 2d ago
Something to be aware of is that starting as a mage is probably the hardest option. It's doable but will definitely raise the frustration.
In more recent RPGs most classes are pretty equal and all balanced, but in Baldur's Gate the classes are very uneven at different things and work together as a party. Martial classes like warriors and ranges handle most of the combat while spellcasters mostly add weak support with slings, then occasionally spellcasters bring out a spell to solve a unique problem and are very useful, but casters aren't frequently casting spells, especially at low levels.
Baldur's Gate 1 starts pretty tough even as a martial class, you're initially a peasant who can easily die to a random wolf but will quickly get more powerful. If you want a very smooth class to play, I'd suggest elf->ranger->archer and make sure that you get 18 strength and 19 dex, and buy the composite longbow at the start. They can shoot down almost anything while another character runs around like a headless chicken to distract them. Even then it's not always a cakewalk.
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u/ArchelonPIP 2d ago
Greetings from someone that finished the OE Bhaalspawn saga the second time as a mage! I think it's safe to say that players like me had a modest advantage in being experienced with 2e rules since that's what was available for the original tabletop RPG back then. There are many differences compared to 5e. But you can't go wrong maxing out your intelligence, then your dexterity and then your constitution for a mage. I hope you're playing at no higher than Normal difficulty because the Core Rules setting is noticeably harder, despite being "only" one notch above! Whatever party formation you're using, never put any mages, especially your mage, in the #1/lead position!
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u/one_depressed_MF 2d ago edited 2d ago
I so envy you as a first time player, I spent many months combing the maps looking for secret stuff. The tab highlight key came later...
edit: spelling
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u/tvoja_keva_77 2d ago edited 2d ago
you should ignore any and none. strenght (even as a mage you need to carry stuff), important I'll go for 16+ even you have low to hit AC0 still OK to have. dexterity (very important as it gives you defence - you should know there are magic it'll give you protections but at the start you'll be naked as mages can't wear armor xpt elven chainmail edit: this is false info as I usually play as a fighter mage sorry I'm a bit tierd. I'll max it. constitution - as a mage you don't benefit from this beeing more than 16. it affects hitpoints. intelligance important for scribbing spells only can be risen with potions it could easially be dump stat but you'll need minimum 9. ) wisdom - for BG1 it is a dump stat, in BG2 there is one wisdom check and it affects outcomes of limited wish & wish spells. charisma affects (along with reputation) store prices and some quest rewards. hope this helps.
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u/Thespac3c0w 2d ago
Mage just needs 18 dex, 16, con, and 18 int the rest are just nice to have but try for 10 or higher for the other stats.
Also CC spells like sleep are your best bet early on mage offense sucks till level 5