How is the Underdark?

[rieitdd]

Hello there

Ive played BG a few months ago, stopped due to the UD being almost entirely empty and really unfriendly to arcane casters

been wanting to give it another try(now that aranists got a boost to damage and are not forced to being gishes I think)

so, I would like to ask a few questions

1st the spell damage increase worked in making sorcerers/wizards bearable? or should I go with a favoured soul?(I like those too ^^)

2nd how is the RP in UD? is it lively again? or still almost dead?(still decidinh between Drow or Deep Imaskari)

Thanks for the help ^^

[Gruk]

depends ... if you know someone that would start say a dureguar fighter with you then its brutal and not that hard, specially now with all the new areas.

but low lvl spell caster is low lvl spell caster , the first 15 levels can be a pain and nears ultimate challenge if you solo. The only difference with surface is that theres a lot more low levels all the time in the low lvl areas on the surface , easier to find a team.

So it depends if you're a hardcore gamer and have a buddy or if you all alone. Note of interest i've seen a lot of level 1-10 rolling in Ud latly, maybe finding a partner or two wont be so hard.

but if you're solo and want a casual experience and easy mode exploration while getting the flavor of UD , i strongly recomand a fighting base clase with decent saves & UMD if you can manage it. Never played a FS it might work to, but you wont get much offence casting opportunities : theres a lot of heavy SR down in UD , even epic arcane may often need assay + spell breach + mord to get some spells through specially at compound for the Monk & Pit fiend. ( CR 21-25 )

As for the RP i dont know , i have no base of comparaison ... its fine i guess , i find the 7th Circle has a decent number of great RP'ers but there's many others to like Lothist who can sping a cool RP scene and some non guilds to... you're more likely to get a UD vendui then a Surface hello i think. Tough we tend to overlook low levels often because they just as often quit after a week so hang in there if nobody seems to care about you at first ahaha.


Good luck , and see you out there.

[mdchrist]

It can be challenging and the dark appearance does give you a sense of lonliness down there, especially as Gruk was saying for a low level mage, its a nightmare without someone to help you out, most will be willing since your buffs makes it easier for them to break through the goblins and such. Alot of fun at the higher ends though =) especially since drow wizards are favor'd more overall in Sshamath. The Rp it can be quite enriching and sometimes it maybe a bit low (at the lower levels as new players and such) so its a hit and miss for now, but you'll definetly meet some interesting characters running about =).

[mar3usmc]

*scratches head* I just don't see how everyone thinks playing a solo wizard is difficult. Perhaps a sorcerer, but a wizard???? Oh, fyi, summon creature now lasts 1 min per level so soloing is MUCH easier.

Scrolls, wands, and potions are your friends.

[Broham2]

I don’t know that a wizard is ‘difficult’ per se.. I think it is more ‘tedious’. Lol.

At the lower levels my approach has always been (and this is surface side too – I don’t think soloing a wizard is fun at low levels on either side) to use a wand for offense, a summon for a meat shield, and my spells for defense when they start to be worth a dang. A crossbow is always handy too, and with Drow dex bonuses I would think you could be a decent shot at 1st level (and have a tad bit better AC).

That first level in the UD is the beast. 6000xp can feel like an eternity.

As far as RP goes I have seen some glimpses of great RP so far and with the RCR tool in the nexus now I think we’ll probably see some new faces in the UD sooner than later (though they wouldn’t be very low level probably).

[mar3usmc]

I don’t know that a wizard is ‘difficult’ per se.. I think it is more ‘tedious’. Lol.

At the lower levels my approach has always been (and this is surface side too – I don’t think soloing a wizard is fun at low levels on either side) to use a wand for offense, a summon for a meat shield, and my spells for defense when they start to be worth a dang. A crossbow is always handy too, and with Drow dex bonuses I would think you could be a decent shot at 1st level (and have a tad bit better AC).

All very true,

That first level in the UD is the beast. 6000xp can feel like an eternity.

That is what an extra monitor and comedy central is for, duuuh.

[Aelcar]

I don’t know that a wizard is ‘difficult’ per se.. I think it is more ‘tedious’. Lol.

At the lower levels my approach has always been (and this is surface side too – I don’t think soloing a wizard is fun at low levels on either side) to use a wand for offense, a summon for a meat shield, and my spells for defense when they start to be worth a dang. A crossbow is always handy too, and with Drow dex bonuses I would think you could be a decent shot at 1st level (and have a tad bit better AC).

That first level in the UD is the beast. 6000xp can feel like an eternity.

As far as RP goes I have seen some glimpses of great RP so far and with the RCR tool in the nexus now I think we’ll probably see some new faces in the UD sooner than later (though they wouldn’t be very low level probably).

Ye, indeed. I started two days ago with my Drow Wizard, and first level was a bit slow. But after that, going up is smoother: you start to be decently useful (lvl 2 spells are hard to breach for enemies, ie: false life, ghostly visage, mirror images...), and whenever you have some money, a good summon creature IV+ lasts a long time and perform miracles for your XP. You just oversee the slaughter from behind... The RP is fine, and players understand your situation and are HUGELY helpful: in particular, Lolthites and 7th Circle (my future pick) are present, active and give you lots of play and freedom to develop your toon the way you wish. If you see my Wizard online (Valshar), maybe we can join! Two arcanists is better than one

See you in game!

[Styxwash]

Scorching ray, single scrolls are the wizards best friend. 12-14gp for a single ranged touch attack of 4d6 dmg isn't to bad. Also theres the curse scroll which lowers enemy AC by 2 with no save, also a cheap one. Couple with defensive spells and light heal pots, you can run pretty cheap in the low levels and make progress alone.

[dean1986]

I don’t know that a wizard is ‘difficult’ per se.. I think it is more ‘tedious’. Lol.

At the lower levels my approach has always been (and this is surface side too – I don’t think soloing a wizard is fun at low levels on either side) to use a wand for offense, a summon for a meat shield, and my spells for defense when they start to be worth a dang. A crossbow is always handy too, and with Drow dex bonuses I would think you could be a decent shot at 1st level (and have a tad bit better AC).

That first level in the UD is the beast. 6000xp can feel like an eternity.

As far as RP goes I have seen some glimpses of great RP so far and with the RCR tool in the nexus now I think we’ll probably see some new faces in the UD sooner than later (though they wouldn’t be very low level probably).

Ye, indeed. I started two days ago with my Drow Wizard, and first level was a bit slow. But after that, going up is smoother: you start to be decently useful (lvl 2 spells are hard to breach for enemies, ie: false life, ghostly visage, mirror images...), and whenever you have some money, a good summon creature IV+ lasts a long time and perform miracles for your XP. You just oversee the slaughter from behind... The RP is fine, and players understand your situation and are HUGELY helpful: in particular, Lolthites and 7th Circle (my future pick) are present, active and give you lots of play and freedom to develop your toon the way you wish. If you see my Wizard online (Valshar), maybe we can join! Two arcanists is better than one

See you in game!

Personally I think summon creature spells are just ridiculous in terms of RP. I mean what evil Drow would summon a faithful bear, badger, boar or wolf. Even the elementals I find tricky to RP. A spider, yes, a skeleton yes... an animal? Perhaps it's just me but I don't think it's realistic at all.

I find the UD is almost dead always and it seems very difficult to survive there. I lost interest approaching Lv 20 as the enemies are either to hard or the UD is that dry you can't find anyone to group up. 2k exp loss on death can be days of work and no way to prevent it as there is so few to group with. The RP i found fun but what's RP when you can't find anyone to RP with?

[Broham2]

Personally I think summon creature spells are just ridiculous in terms of RP. I mean what evil Drow would summon a faithful bear, badger, boar or wolf. Even the elementals I find tricky to RP. A spider, yes, a skeleton yes... an animal? Perhaps it's just me but I don't think it's realistic at all.

Summoning a thrice-cursed surface beast to do your bidding, commanding it into the fray sure that it will die before your power to keep it bound to your will expires.. that, to me, isnt a very good thing to do.

Its not like this thing is an animal companion. Its a summon. An arcanely-subdued slave to your will.. and your will is for it to be your meatshield.

Its no different than the Hun'ett (I think it was a Hun'ett) that used the figurine of wonderous power to control Gueynevweorulafadkaksdh (that damned cat) before Drizz't 'rescued' it.

[Aelcar]

As correctly stated by Broham2, the creature isnt faithful. It is a puppet, and it will die by the hands of the enemy just to buy you a minute for a drink. Moreover, they are dire animals: they are monsters. There is a slight but perceivable difference between a bear and a DIRE bear. As in: dog/ werewolf, you know... At higher levels, surely everyone is happy to summon a greater undead, the best ally available.
To conclude, I will say that in 3 evenings I passed from 200 XP total to "on my way" to lvl 6,
meeting people of all levels (also epic, because I dont believe someone can have 400 or 640 HP if they are not epic...no?), super helpful, nice and willing to RP.

I think you have just been unlucky. Maybe you could give it another try

[Kenshin]

While it is too much to say that the Underdark is dead, it is rarely abuzz with activity.

It might be a bit of an exaggeration to say that it takes days to get back 2000 experience points (assuming that one is willing to grind the lost XP back) but it also seems a bit overstated to say that one can get a Drow character near level 6 in three evenings. Well, I suppose that depends on the definition of evening one uses, at 5 or 6 hours per session it may be possible though it would require a massive grind fest.

[Rasael]

The best tactic to get an easy start of just have fun is to go play with other people instead of grinding solo. At low levels a joint trip to the goblins with someone higher will net you a lot of XP (like 70 or 80). Likewise if you go to the Horrors, Basilisks or Illithid at around level 7 or 8.

You'll not pull your weight much unless you're a heavy hitter but the company is fun. Wizards tend to be nice to have as support later on (after level 8 or 9) but before that they are very, very vulnerable and quick to run out of spells.

It's the same with low level people on the surface going to the Cloakwood with higher level parties.

[Aelcar]

While it is too much to say that the Underdark is dead, it is rarely abuzz with activity.

It might be a bit of an exaggeration that it takes days to get back 2000 experience points (assuming that one is willing to grind the lost XP back) but it also seems a bit overstated to say that one can get a Drow character near level 6 in three evenings. Well, I suppose that depends on the definition of evening one uses, at 5 or 6 hours per session it may be possible though it would require a massive grind fest.

Ground first 3000 XP and 600 of quests 1st evening (3 hours). Got helped to get to lvl 3+ (almost 4) in the other evening, teaming together and whatnot. Ground 2000+ XP till 4, then 2+ hours with another friend to lvl 5+. No, I wasnt kidding. I started on sunday evening, just watched the area. Then I can play only evenings, cause I work till 18.00.

Try use Dire Bears, then bring the empiric findings

[Aelcar]

The best tactic to get an easy start of just have fun is to go play with other people instead of grinding solo. At low levels a joint trip to the goblins with someone higher will net you a lot of XP (like 70 or 80). Likewise if you go to the Horrors, Basilisks or Illithid at around level 7 or 8.

You'll not pull your weight much unless you're a heavy hitter but the company is fun. Wizards tend to be nice to have as support later on (after level 8 or 9) but before that they are very, very vulnerable and quick to run out of spells.

It's the same with low level people on the surface going to the Cloakwood with higher level parties.

This, +1.
Giving small buffs like cat's grace, bull's strength and others, and staying out of trouble while RPing with stronger friends that do the killings is fast, fun and constructive storywise. You get to know the area, the factions and new friends.