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Completed Let's solo Baldur's Gate 2 on Insane (feat. The Codex)
- Thread starter MicoSelva
- Start date
Baron Dupek
Arcane
Vote for illithids. Because why fight with one jerk when you can meet more. Or whatever...
The Green Amulet that you can find in the beholder tunnels in the Underdark. I think Lilarcor will also protect you from it. They can still INT drain you though.
I definitely want to see the Codex meet the Ilithids.
Erebus
Arcane
- Joined
- Jul 12, 2008
- Messages
- 4,850
Their INT drain works even against Skeleton Warriors.
I seem to remember you can acquire some sort of permanent mental shield in Watcher's Keep (during the card game), but I don't know if it works against mind blast.
It does. 
Last time on Let's Insane Solo Baldur's Gate 2:
One of the images you never get tired of looking at.
------
Update #31: In The Shadows, part I - Shady Deal
The endless search for fortune and glory leads our hero to the Temple District in Athkatla.
Do I have a say in this? I should have a say in this.
You don't.
Guardian Telwyn starts explaining what is expected of us. If you care about the details, check the spoiler tag.
Our next stop is Government District.
Uhm... why?
We need to employ the services of a certain artist for the temple.
'k
Entering the Jysstev estate we are greeted by a friendly butler. More plot under the spoiler tag.
Time to head to Waukeen's Promenade then, to get illithium (I wonder if it has anything to do with illithids).
Jerlia does not seem happy to see our hero.
What else is new.
More dialogue ahead. The tl;dr version is we have to go somewhere else. Yes, it's that kind of quest.
Our next destination is the Copper Coronet in the Slums.
Unger Hilldark supposedly has access to the illithium we need. Check the spoiler tag to know why exactly he does not. It seems that a longer trip is in order.
The Codex is in his prime, so no danger is too dangerous for him.
He is a capable fighter, a master thief and a gifted mage.
More than resistant to hostile magic and skilled in using many a tool of war.
Firkraag took the throne as our fattest kill, replacing puzzle boss Kangaxx.
Temple Ruins were available for us to explore for some time now, but we had no real reason to go there until now.
During the travel, we are waylaid by our favourite group of cloned bandits.
They are barely worth mentioning at this point.
Kind of dark in here. I must have crossed the border with Mordor at some point.
Someone named Lellyn dies the moment we enter the map.
Who is, or rather was, she?
No idea either.
If anyone is curious about Lellyn's identity, she dropped her journal. The contents are hidden under the spoiler tag.
But we're not here to read journals, but to kill Shade Wolves!
Finally, some action!
We promptly do just that.
We also kill this Shadow.
Each successful hit by a Shadow temporarily drains our hero's strength. It is not a problem when fighting a single one, but can become one if they are in groups.
Obviously, there are a lot of Shadows here.
As long as they can be killed with a forceful appliance of a stick to the head, I don't care if they are shadows, rainbows or clouds.
Shade Wolves. They are shadows too... but shaped as wolves!
Are these the only two types of enemies, I am going to meet here?
Yes.
Obviously, I spoke to soon.
If this thing starts regenerating, I am leaving.
Nothing like that happens, though.
Finally, we reach some kind of architecture.
Obviously it's crawling with Shadows.
They are almost appearing faster than I can kill them.
Almost.
Hey, check out this light. It's almost as dim as you.
Obviously, there are more Shadows here.
And a lot of them too.
Some challenge at last!
Scratch that last sentence.
After killing YET ANOTHER SHADOW...
...we finally check out the light.
There is also this pane nearby.
I think that did something.
Every shadow that gets close to the crystal is instantly fragged. The bad thing is we don't get XP for that.
Moving on to encounter yet another shadow.
And another one...
...and a Shade Wolf...
...and another Shade Wolf...
Wow, this is probably the most boring update ever! And I don't mean just in this LP!
At some point we find a cave.
Is it called Cave of Shadows or some shit like this?
I don't think it is called anything.
Fine, let's give it some benefit of doubt and check it out.
Inside there is... nothing.
Except some minor loot.
And I mean minor.
I think we used to drink that in college.
That explains a lot.
Finally being done with the area, we greet the entrance to the temple with joy and relief.
At first glance, it's not much of an improvement.
Yeah, case closed, I think.
Let's just find this illithium guy and be done with it, shall we?
Oh, joy, shade wolves.
Oh fuck! Oh fuck! Look, skeleton warriors!
I see them, don't piss yourself with joy.
They are actually able to hurt me! A proper challenge! Glorious!
We even had to use one healing potion. Truly hardcore.
Cleaning up some leftovers.
Ok, what the fuck is that?
I will have one hell of a time explaining myself if I am caught with this in my inventory.
Fuck, you can't throw a bone without hitting a shadow in here.
What master? What consort? Is the dwarf guy we are looking for actually a dwarf gal?
Just ignore him.
And by 'ignore' I obviously mean 'kill'.
Yeah, I got that.
Done.
And done.
The jailor dropped something.
Yeah, I get it, it's SHADOW EVERYTHING in here.
There was this one time when the key did not drop (or maybe I lost it?) and poor Mazzy was left in her cell for eternity (or at least until ToB).
I really like Mazzy, she's an awesome archer and her paladin-wannabe abilities don't hurt either. Great addition to any good-aligned party.
Check the whole conversation if you want.
I'm not much into midgets, so good luck on the road.
There's some paper lying here.
Half of an incomprehensible journal. Always wanted one of these.
Amaunator... Amaunator. I've heard this name before, I think?
Yeah, he was that god from that temple under the sewers.
Oh, yeah, now I remember.
You do?
Yes, of course... It was when... With that thing with the... The quest about... ...Alright, FINE. I have no idea what you're talking about. Can we move on now?
The ritual can be figured out pretty easily without any aids, but we are going to do it the proper way.
The 'proper' way being the long way, of course?
Yup.
---
Next time: More shadows!
Nooooooo!
Next quest selection details:
One of the images you never get tired of looking at.
------
Update #31: In The Shadows, part I - Shady Deal
The endless search for fortune and glory leads our hero to the Temple District in Athkatla.
You don't.
Guardian Telwyn starts explaining what is expected of us. If you care about the details, check the spoiler tag.
Our next stop is Government District.
We need to employ the services of a certain artist for the temple.
Entering the Jysstev estate we are greeted by a friendly butler. More plot under the spoiler tag.
Time to head to Waukeen's Promenade then, to get illithium (I wonder if it has anything to do with illithids).
Jerlia does not seem happy to see our hero.
More dialogue ahead. The tl;dr version is we have to go somewhere else. Yes, it's that kind of quest.
Our next destination is the Copper Coronet in the Slums.
Unger Hilldark supposedly has access to the illithium we need. Check the spoiler tag to know why exactly he does not. It seems that a longer trip is in order.
The Codex is in his prime, so no danger is too dangerous for him.
He is a capable fighter, a master thief and a gifted mage.
More than resistant to hostile magic and skilled in using many a tool of war.
Firkraag took the throne as our fattest kill, replacing puzzle boss Kangaxx.
Temple Ruins were available for us to explore for some time now, but we had no real reason to go there until now.
During the travel, we are waylaid by our favourite group of cloned bandits.
They are barely worth mentioning at this point.
Someone named Lellyn dies the moment we enter the map.
No idea either.
If anyone is curious about Lellyn's identity, she dropped her journal. The contents are hidden under the spoiler tag.
But we're not here to read journals, but to kill Shade Wolves!
We promptly do just that.
We also kill this Shadow.
Each successful hit by a Shadow temporarily drains our hero's strength. It is not a problem when fighting a single one, but can become one if they are in groups.
Obviously, there are a lot of Shadows here.
Shade Wolves. They are shadows too... but shaped as wolves!
Yes.
Obviously, I spoke to soon.
Nothing like that happens, though.
Finally, we reach some kind of architecture.
Obviously it's crawling with Shadows.
Obviously, there are more Shadows here.
And a lot of them too.
After killing YET ANOTHER SHADOW...
...we finally check out the light.
There is also this pane nearby.
Every shadow that gets close to the crystal is instantly fragged. The bad thing is we don't get XP for that.
Moving on to encounter yet another shadow.
And another one...
...and a Shade Wolf...
...and another Shade Wolf...
At some point we find a cave.
I don't think it is called anything.
Inside there is... nothing.
Except some minor loot.
And I mean minor.
I think we used to drink that in college.
Finally being done with the area, we greet the entrance to the temple with joy and relief.
I see them, don't piss yourself with joy.
We even had to use one healing potion. Truly hardcore.
Cleaning up some leftovers.
Just ignore him.
And by 'ignore' I obviously mean 'kill'.
There was this one time when the key did not drop (or maybe I lost it?) and poor Mazzy was left in her cell for eternity (or at least until ToB).
I really like Mazzy, she's an awesome archer and her paladin-wannabe abilities don't hurt either. Great addition to any good-aligned party.
Check the whole conversation if you want.
Yeah, he was that god from that temple under the sewers.
You do?
The ritual can be figured out pretty easily without any aids, but we are going to do it the proper way.
Yup.
---
Next time: More shadows!
First votes are in! The roll will be made after update #32.
1. Haer'Dalis and Astral Prison [Erebus]
2. Haer'Dalis and Astral Prison [Krivol]
3. Haer'Dalis and Astral Prison [Insane Psychic]
4. Haer'Dalis and Astral Prison [Rake]
5. Illithids in Athkatla [Shadenuat]
6. Haer'Dalis and Astral Prison [T(D?)-Bag]
7. Illithids in Athkatla [MotherMachinae]
8. Illithids in Athkatla [Storyfag]
1. Haer'Dalis and Astral Prison [Erebus]
2. Haer'Dalis and Astral Prison [Krivol]
3. Haer'Dalis and Astral Prison [Insane Psychic]
4. Haer'Dalis and Astral Prison [Rake]
5. Illithids in Athkatla [Shadenuat]
6. Haer'Dalis and Astral Prison [T(D?)-Bag]
7. Illithids in Athkatla [MotherMachinae]
8. Illithids in Athkatla [Storyfag]
Last edited:
Stygian Lurker
Liturgist
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2011
- Messages
- 577
I vote for Haer'Dalis and Astral Prison as next quest
I'm feeling spiteful. Can I vote for Watcher's Keep? 
Of course. Anything we can access is eligible, but take into consideration I am treating each level as a separate quest, so you will be voting for Watcher's Keep Level 1.
Baron Dupek
Arcane
Watcher's Keep is tempting but I keep my vote to Illithids in Athkatla.
That is some admirable consistency, but You don't have to repeat Your vote if it is already listed.
Last edited:
Just for the sake of being a special little snowflake, I vote for korgan's quest.
Ya'll gonna be mad when I win the roll
Ya'll gonna be mad when I win the roll
It wasn't in the original game, it's part of the Unfinished Business mod.
Desmodus Rotundus
Augur
I guessed it was a mod thing since there is one non accessible storage on that shadow temple above ground map in vanilla game and hints in the dungeon say, that it's supposed to have illithium in it. Good for people playing for first time, that would have no clue that they probably should keep it for upgrading mace of disruption, since that temple quest can be concluded with the fake illithium.
I'll throw in a vote for the Keep.
I'll throw in a vote for the Keep.
Last edited:
Last time on Let's Insane Solo Baldur's Gate 2:
And I can't promise that it will be better in this update (but it will).
------
Update #32: In The Shadows, part II - Level-scaling Bullshit
We start on a very familiar note.
I don't think I can take this much longer.
Sure, seems like a great idea.
Shadows incoming!
No shit. I thought they were just very dark bunnies.
Suddenly we are in deep sh-...-adows.
You are so funny it hurts behind my eyes.
The shadows keep coming and coming...
In the end, The Codex emerges victorious, as is usual.
Although drained to the point of not being able to move with normal speed, due to strength loss and encumbrance.
Nice, hopefully I can sell it for loads and loads of cash.
Like you need any more money.
Who said anything about needing it?
Move along, nothing to see here.
There sure is a lot of paper in this dungeon.
It's probably more like parchment.
What's the difference?
It is made of dead animals instead of dead trees.
'Morn' ritual? That Morn?
I think they just mean 'morning'.
Disappointing.
Oh, look, it's a Shade Wolf!
Arghglfblbhnmsmftk.
Oh fuck, man, I really hope you are that dwarf I am looking for.
He is.
Check the conversation if You want.
That does not mean we are finished here, though. Having gotten this far we might as well explore the rest of the temple, so let's do that.
Why do you hate me so much?
Our Sun Gem allowed us to pass through the first of these walls (it was done offscreen, sorry). But it does not seem to work on this one - maybe because I put it into a container (wolfskin bag)?
We try the side route instead and are imemdiately ambushed.
One monster is hardly an ambush.
How about three?
Let me think...
Nope, still not an ambush.
There is a lava carpet here, that hurts to walk on.
I expected to instantly be charred into organic ash, so a few points of damage is no big deal.
A skeleton warrior awaits us on the other side.
I'll take anything that's not a shadow.
Will you take a lich and two greater mummies?
Fuck yeah!
Finally a proper fight.
The lich casts Time Stop... and does nothing while it lasts. Great AI there.
All this blood loss has reminded me that greater mummies were not exactly pushovers when I met them before.
That is some scary level scaling there.
Death Count: 176
Loading.
Let's do some kiting, shall we?
We invite one skeleton warrior first.
Mwahahahaha, bonedust!
We are starting to experience inventory space problem.
The Codex is greeted by an explosion of magic. Luckily, it does nothing except looking pretty.
We lure away the other skeleton warrior.
Which is quickly taken care of.
Only the hard part left.
Mommy! There are monsters behind the door!
Fuck.
Mommy! For some reason I thought it would be great idea to run into the room with the monsters!
Mommy! The monsters took my arms! How am I going to eat now!?
I think I prefered the shadows.
Death Count: 177
Load.
I want you to edit out everything I said after being hit with that spell.
Ok, consider it done.
You'll do it?
Sure, no problem.
...
Good.
Guess what spell we have prepared just in case.
The screenshot above is missing one greater mummy lured out of the death room, through the lava carpet.
A-HA!
We lure out the other mummy, while ignoring the shenanigans of the lich.
Go back to the Halloween party you escaped from!
Time for the main course. We are off to a good start when Sunfire cast by the lich only affects the enemy.
You should know that The Codex is immune to banshee's wailing.
After the lich reveals itself (Mislead made it invisible), our hero starts hitting it with his stick.
That anti-magic belt was a good investment.
Fuck you! Seriously, FUCK YOU!
And he summoned an efreeti. Fucking great.
For some reason these efreeti always manage to inflict more damage than the liches themselves.
Stop going invisible on me, or I will start cheesing my staff to do the same!
Liches see the invisible.
Fuck!
I've had enough! Meet my own efreeti, bitches!
The lich keeps induling in degenerate gameplay and casting instadeath spells. Luckily our hero is all but immune to them.
Now that's more like it!
And stay the fuck underground!
Despite his master being dead (well, *more* dead), the efreeti keeps giving us trouble.
I swear, if he does that again, I am going to punch a baby panda.
'Efreeti does 3 damage to Efreeti.' Well, that's descriptive.
Here, let me prepare a little surprise for when he comes back.
I think your efreeti just got unsummoned.
Fucking discount magical items.
No, no, no, no NOONONONONO! FUUUUUCK!
Somehow this feels more satisfying than killing Firkraag.
Yes. Well, almost.
I'm guessing that if I touch it, a giant boulder will start rolling after me.
More paper. Parchment. Whatever.
Some local propaganda.
Another ritual.
That's actually pretty cool, but they don't specify if it is a baby or an adult wyvern.
I have no idea either.
*ding*
That should be highlighted in red.
Never hurts to have another wand, except we are really out of inventory space by this point.
I knew carrying a child's corpse will get me into trouble.
Check the history lesson below.
I don't think I care about anything they've just said.
We got this thing.
And this one.
Shadow Dragon? You haven't mentioned any dragons before.
I haven't? Well, there is one here.
Color me interested, then. Which way do we go?
Oh, you've got to be kidding me.
This lich does not seem any more intelligent than the first one and also wastes his time stop for nose-picking.
That's a fuckload of undead. Hopefully this choke point here will give me some needed advatage.
So far so good.
Should have renewed that Stoneskin after all.
Death Count: 178
Load game.
That was a disappointing conclusion to that combat.
We use the skeleton warrior as an ad-hoc roadblock to pound the greater mummy from outside its range.
Works pretty well.
Mwahahahaha, bonedust!
Somehow the 'bone dust' is blood-colored, but whatever.
Come on, you won't get me this time!
Fuck, it's getting me! It's getting me!
Don't panic. One more hit and it's down.
YES!
And you too.
Let's kill it fast, before it gets ideas and summons an efreeti.
'k
Ah, burns!
Let's just withdraw a bit. Before the lich catches up, its immunity should wear off.
What do you know, it actually worked.
LGRDA UBOIS NLIAQ DPUNE IVBUI SAMAM YXGFA. I don't get it.
We need to use the 'name of the master'.
But Master did not have a name, or rather 'Master' *was* his name.
Not *that* master.
There is another?
You know what, let's just finish up for today and figure it out next time.
---
Next time: The not-so-epic finale of this quest, and the other quest.
Sounds exciting, except not.
Next quest selection details:
And I can't promise that it will be better in this update (but it will).
------
Update #32: In The Shadows, part II - Level-scaling Bullshit
We start on a very familiar note.
Shadows incoming!
Suddenly we are in deep sh-...-adows.
The shadows keep coming and coming...
In the end, The Codex emerges victorious, as is usual.
Although drained to the point of not being able to move with normal speed, due to strength loss and encumbrance.
Like you need any more money.
Move along, nothing to see here.
It's probably more like parchment.
It is made of dead animals instead of dead trees.
I think they just mean 'morning'.
Oh, look, it's a Shade Wolf!
He is.
Check the conversation if You want.
That does not mean we are finished here, though. Having gotten this far we might as well explore the rest of the temple, so let's do that.
Our Sun Gem allowed us to pass through the first of these walls (it was done offscreen, sorry). But it does not seem to work on this one - maybe because I put it into a container (wolfskin bag)?
We try the side route instead and are imemdiately ambushed.
How about three?
There is a lava carpet here, that hurts to walk on.
A skeleton warrior awaits us on the other side.
Will you take a lich and two greater mummies?
The lich casts Time Stop... and does nothing while it lasts. Great AI there.
That is some scary level scaling there.
Death Count: 176
Loading.
We invite one skeleton warrior first.
We are starting to experience inventory space problem.
The Codex is greeted by an explosion of magic. Luckily, it does nothing except looking pretty.
We lure away the other skeleton warrior.
Which is quickly taken care of.
Only the hard part left.
Fuck.
I think I prefered the shadows.
Death Count: 177
Load.
Ok, consider it done.
Sure, no problem.
Guess what spell we have prepared just in case.
The screenshot above is missing one greater mummy lured out of the death room, through the lava carpet.
We lure out the other mummy, while ignoring the shenanigans of the lich.
Time for the main course. We are off to a good start when Sunfire cast by the lich only affects the enemy.
After the lich reveals itself (Mislead made it invisible), our hero starts hitting it with his stick.
For some reason these efreeti always manage to inflict more damage than the liches themselves.
Liches see the invisible.
The lich keeps induling in degenerate gameplay and casting instadeath spells. Luckily our hero is all but immune to them.
Despite his master being dead (well, *more* dead), the efreeti keeps giving us trouble.
'Efreeti does 3 damage to Efreeti.' Well, that's descriptive.
I think your efreeti just got unsummoned.
Somehow this feels more satisfying than killing Firkraag.
Some local propaganda.
Another ritual.
I have no idea either.
*ding*
That should be highlighted in red.
Never hurts to have another wand, except we are really out of inventory space by this point.
Check the history lesson below.
We got this thing.
And this one.
I haven't? Well, there is one here.
This lich does not seem any more intelligent than the first one and also wastes his time stop for nose-picking.
Should have renewed that Stoneskin after all.
Death Count: 178
Load game.
We use the skeleton warrior as an ad-hoc roadblock to pound the greater mummy from outside its range.
Works pretty well.
Somehow the 'bone dust' is blood-colored, but whatever.
Don't panic. One more hit and it's down.
Let's just withdraw a bit. Before the lich catches up, its immunity should wear off.
We need to use the 'name of the master'.
Not *that* master.
You know what, let's just finish up for today and figure it out next time.
---
Next time: The not-so-epic finale of this quest, and the other quest.
We got an amazing number of 14 votes (that's like almost 15). Let's see who's the lucky one this time.
1. Haer'Dalis and Astral Prison [Erebus]
2. Haer'Dalis and Astral Prison [Krivol]
3. Haer'Dalis and Astral Prison [Insane Psychic]
4. Haer'Dalis and Astral Prison [Rake]
5. Illithids in Athkatla [Shadenuat]
6. Haer'Dalis and Astral Prison [T(D?)-Bag]
7. Illithids in Athkatla [MotherMachinae]
8. Illithids in Athkatla [Storyfag]
9. Haer'Dalis and Astral Prison [Stygian Lurker]
10. Watcher's Keep, level 1 [Azira]
11. Watcher's Keep, level 1 [Bilgefar]
12. Korgan's Quest [garren]
13. Watcher's Keep, level 1 [Desmodus Rotundus]
14. Haer'Dalis and Astral Prison [ALchymist]
EDIT: Haer'Dalis will finally be rescued, it seems. Very well.
1. Haer'Dalis and Astral Prison [Erebus]
2. Haer'Dalis and Astral Prison [Krivol]
3. Haer'Dalis and Astral Prison [Insane Psychic]
4. Haer'Dalis and Astral Prison [Rake]
5. Illithids in Athkatla [Shadenuat]
6. Haer'Dalis and Astral Prison [T(D?)-Bag]
7. Illithids in Athkatla [MotherMachinae]
8. Illithids in Athkatla [Storyfag]
9. Haer'Dalis and Astral Prison [Stygian Lurker]
10. Watcher's Keep, level 1 [Azira]
11. Watcher's Keep, level 1 [Bilgefar]
12. Korgan's Quest [garren]
13. Watcher's Keep, level 1 [Desmodus Rotundus]
14. Haer'Dalis and Astral Prison [ALchymist]
EDIT: Haer'Dalis will finally be rescued, it seems. Very well.
Last edited:
Erebus
Arcane
- Joined
- Jul 12, 2008
- Messages
- 4,850
Liches ? Wow ! I don't think the undeads I met there were ever worse than bone golems.
Fear spells seem to be one of the weak points of our hero ! It's quite annoying how "fleeing" in BG2 actually just means running around at random (almost always greatly increasing the likelihood that the PC will get killed).
Fear spells seem to be one of the weak points of our hero ! It's quite annoying how "fleeing" in BG2 actually just means running around at random (almost always greatly increasing the likelihood that the PC will get killed).
Edward_R_Murrow
Arcane
They're the highest-tier spawn for the undead table of scaled encounters. SCS2 has an option to bump up what is spawned for the player, beyond what their actual level would predict and most options exclude the undead table solely for the liches, which are mostly unbeatable by lower-level parties given the enormous AI modifications liches greatly benefit from. Even the heavily nerfed lich in Edwin's quest becomes incredibly difficult.
Does the Codex have anything to protect from level drain? The shadow dragon breath weapon is pretty nasty to multi-class characters (though not as much as dual-classed ones).
Yeah, The Codex has the shadow thieves' amulet. It was pretty much a necessity after the first vampire encounter.
Desmodus Rotundus
Augur
I definitely have seen liches in that themple, since I had to level up a bit last time I tried to kill the shadow dragon. I think fixpack beefed him up or something and I do not like to cheese fights.
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