Baldur's Gate : The Sword Coast Chronicles : NWN2 Persistent World

So I'm playing my build, it's a cleric/thaum/dreadmaster build and it's not even level 10 yet. I'm enjoying it kinda, but I'm a little soured by the fact that I have to be so dang careful with my spells. Half the spells I have prepared, I don't use because they are "evil" spells and I don't really cherish the idea of being smited so early on. I can't really justify any use of my divine spells other than healing spells and a few other non related buffs like bless and such.

What does one do? Where can one go? Am I really going to be stuck at half power for 75% of the game?

I'd go to the underdark but I've got no idea how to get there or where to go once I'd get there.

Look for some folks in Darkhold, make contact with the Zhents (they are the Banite faction after all). With some careful RP you may also be able to find other like-minded individuals to adventure with... using the hide function in the scry tool ensures no one finds you unless it is truly organic (ie they don't meta your location). That way you are less likely to run in to an epic while adventuring in a CR 10 dungeon.

It is really hard mechanically because most of surfacers are playing boring righteous paladins/noble wizards/kind fey warlocks, so they shall just attack you if you summon undead (but using a Sword archon as a pet dog is pretty fine for those people). On the other hand, it constantly provides you with an interesting roleplay. You won't be able to hide your powers forever, so you just need to find some evil/chaotic neitral/giving no shit characters and reveal your powers to them in order to play with them with no restrictions. And yes be prepared to have lots of enemies (unless your toons is a pretty good liar).

As a level 10 cleric, you should have access to a level 4 spell called Divine Power. It is a bread and butter leveling spell for all clerics. You get BAB that matches your current HD, and +6 strength. Then you just combine it with Magic Vestment, Greater Magic Weapon, Shield of Faith, Bear's Endurance, and some regeneration spells and you can basically just pummel through the mobs on the server. If you can align your weapon as good you will also get +1 magic damage against most mobs.

It also helps if you keep your eyes open for some weapon with 1d4 or 1d6 extra damage on it in the consignment store. You can turn a +1d4 cold damage weapon into a +5 EB +1d4 cold damage weapon.

Also, in my experience, the North of the server, the areas around Soubar tends to be far less populated than the vicinity of Friendly Arm Inn.



So the most generic advice is to just stick to playing like a melee cleric for now. It is what I have done with my DC based cleric. It tends to work best on this server.

Fair enough advice, Is there some way to tell the creature levels of an area without going into the area and rolling the dice? I've only ever been to the surface area, never gotten around to exploring soubar either.

You are either gonna relish the excitement of being weak and evil in a good world or you are not. I play evil on the server and love it. Love BEING EVIL when low level and pushing these boundaries. I do not think this is for everyone though.

as you journey in your evil ways. you will find very poor RP and very good RP. embrace the good RP and forget the bad stuff. It is not only a survival game of your character, but a survival game of your patience.

try to have fun and if you are not remember that playing evil was your choice and that is it right there.

aaron22 wrote:You are either gonna relish the excitement of being weak and evil in a good world or you are not. I play evil on the server and love it. Love BEING EVIL when low level and pushing these boundaries. I do not think this is for everyone though.

as you journey in your evil ways. you will find very poor RP and very good RP. embrace the good RP and forget the bad stuff. It is not only a survival game of your character, but a survival game of your patience.

try to have fun and if you are not remember that playing evil was your choice and that is it right there.

Good advice. I probably am canning my own enjoyment by not pushing the line and playing it safe. What's the worst that could happen, I guess?

one might think it would be the 300 damage smite evil, but it is not. it will be when the evil mage hits you with a save or die wail while standing next to the pali because it is easier to RP good than to actually be evil all the while calling it neutral and everyone is ok with that.

maybe that is just me though..

The advice to buddy up is good. With all the good pcs clutching their pearls at the things my good pc says I can not imagine being legit evil.

The Coven seems to be another good choice for an evil guild.

Abox18 wrote:What does one do? Where can one go? Am I really going to be stuck at half power for 75% of the game?

Soubar is a hub for low-level entry into the Sword Coast, and especially for those Characters that have unlawful alignments, and based on the number and type of NPCs of VERY EVIL background—*cough* Mind Flayer *cough*—roaming in the town, for the Evil alignments.

You can say and do what you want, but gotta back that attitude/Life up with...dare I say it, Might?!?

The fields south of Soubar are a good leveling spot, and the Ant Cave in that Area as well. Bugbears in the direction of Baldur's Gate is also good low level leveling. When you are mid-levels, you can do the Water Crystal Cave, but make sure you try it out with a small group, to make sure your Build can take it.

The Staff made a decision many years ago to develop the Northern areas of the Server as a "Lawless Lands" that exists outside the OOC NPC control of the Flaming Fist/Dukes. Nowadays, one probably would be more IC worried about "what they do" aligns with the Zhent influence, especially coming into Corm Op (an Area that as well, has some interesting mobs to grind).

Your big problem will be finding open Evil characters to speak freely, act openly around. Its just really hard, on BGTSCC, to have an Evil Fun Party Campfire going on. Many Players that play Evil see more opportunity in playing Sly Evil, because they just don't want to get PAWNED all the time, being open Evil.

That said, there are PLENTY of groups around that are REALLY Evil, and want partners in Evil. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, it to find a good IC way to make their acquaintance!

soubar is a good place to let your evil out. but just know that a lot of evil is there and you could be killed/beat up not for having your skels out, but because the guy you just walked next to is a psychopath.

Hey! That only happens in the middle of the night, and only every ten days or so!

Sun Wukong wrote:Hey! That only happens in the middle of the night, and only every ten days or so!

its the middle of the night somewhere.....

aaron22 wrote:

Sun Wukong wrote:Hey! That only happens in the middle of the night, and only every ten days or so!

its the middle of the night somewhere.....

in some Orc den somewhere......

and every minute of every day/night/whatever its called there in the UD tunnels.