The BG2 report... SPOILER WARNING

LoLth

Well, we finally got it together and got started.

After a bit of panic when I couldn't find IRC (thanks PHB for shecking the board and putting me right).

Well, Rev set up the game, myself , whitelancer and PHB joined.
Cast of characters:
Rev: Jahanar, a human(?) of quite dodgy disposition

myself: Ral'kar, a big, stupid half-orc fighter, specialised in longsword.

White: Pax: A half-orc fighter, big, not as stupid and a fetish for pointy objects. (wizard slayer I think)

PHB: PHB: A mage.. unfortunately we didn't really get to know him well before he went tits up...

Nearly all characters were created a few minutes before the game. With Mr. max (you know who you are) being the only exception.

So, as th game begins, we all get treated to the spectacle of Jahanar (aka Reverend Hellfire) getting toasted, shocked, and several other nasty things done to him... I'm sure there was a cavity search and rectal probe in there somewhere... by an eeeeevil mage. For those of you not familiar with the BG chronicles, the primary character of BG is a son of a god. Now, what gets me about this scene is the evil mage actually casts entangle on Jahanar.. why? That's not going to cause pain and suffering!
Anyway, mr. mage is called away by one of his golem servants becasue of "intruders".
As he leaves, the Annoying One herself (yes, Imoen) enters and frees the prisoners.

This is where the fun starts, PHB and Whitelancer cannot see each other move, or hear each other speak, despite being on the same ISP. Myself (eircom) and Rev(oceanfree) are fine. We get weapons in a side room, and free minsc and Jaheira (Khalid, jaheira's soulmate is chips and she wants revenge), Minsc is his usual nutter self.

Thus the band of heroes prepares to leave...hold on, whitelancer has already left and is butchering things! We run to the rescue, well, we run in to loot the bodies left in Pax's wake.. meanwhile white and PHB are still worrying about each other who, as far as they can see, are still in their cages.

In the lightning room, Jahanar disarms the generator. Imoen is promptly told where to go and after a bit of whining actually does.. now Imoen is central to the plot, but not actually necessary to have as a party member, so given the choice, I fully support the party's decision to kick her into touch, the sarcy wench.

PHB talks to a genie and gets praised for his stubbornness.

Then, it's through the crystal room (a big room with crystal formations) and into a corridor defended by goblins. The little green git rejects from a spiderman casting session are no match for the party and quickly become the source of curious stains on the dungeon floor. A bit of heroic looting later and the party moves on. We enter a room filled with tubes and huge donjons, some containing creatures still barely living, the few mephits in the room are quickly squished but Jahanar falls foul of a steam trap that hits PHB, jahanar and Ral'kar when it goes off. Jaheira starts making "wee-waa, wee-waa" noises and arrives to heal the injured (no problems with hospital beds in this world... definitely fantasy).

By now the party has kitted themselves out quite well and even has a few item for selling later. We still need a shortsword for Jahanar though.

After a few disconnection and reconnection problems (reconnect requires a game login, which puts everyone out to the start screen, and then everyone reconnects). White and PHB couldn't see each other, or interact. Actually, White was actually walking through PHB at one stage!!

We continue on, ignoring a door, we turn west into a side passage, a room containing two golems (inactive thankfully) is left alone. Personally, Ral'kar reckons we should have stitched the golems there and then rather than risk them coming up behind us later (an area affect spell into the room, or missile weapons and force fire should do it) but we decided not to in the end. Our fearless leader, went North to do some almost fearless leading, returning a few minutes later in true Indiana Jones/ Han Solo style, being chased by a lump of goblins (less than a load and more than a few). This is where disaster struck.
The goblins ignore Ral'kar as they charge past to get Jahanar, Ral'kar emanwhile goes for the archers who also go for him. PHB cast burning hands, not the spell he wanted, but enough to get their attention. A few seconds later, he's a non-living person. Jahanar and Pax, clean up the gobbos, Ral'kar finishes the archers abut is badly wounded. Wee-Waa wee-waa noises are heard once more.

PHB drops and reconnects, he is given Minsc to control.

Onward! More goblins in a corridor, Pax and Minsc hold them off while Ral'kar goes north.. intercepting the archers who were moving for a flank attack.. Loot Ahoy!

A quick rest and reheal is followed by a retrace of steps. Pax goes off and talks to a miserable thing in a test tube. He pulls the plug at it's request ( I really think that poignant moment was lost on us!) and knackers the duracell. Off we go back to the tube room...now, what happened here I'm not sure, we were supposed to awaken the creatures in the room so that they can take their revenge on Mr. Evil (did we do this?)

Seeing as we're back here we go through that door we skipped earlier. Minsc tricks a golem into opening the way out for us, and while he's off doing his duty, we steal everything not nailed down.. Jahanar finds a magical longsword which he gives to Ral'kar, Ral'kar accepts but he's not really interested in a relationship right now but it's the thought that counts.

Up North we go, to ransack a library. New mephits (a smoke and a fire) are encountered, studied, documented.. well, no, they are hacked into little bits and poked at for loot, as well as a band of goblins. The Library turns up a nice selection of spells, a potion of healing and a flask of oil of speed (great for fighter and archers! as it doubles your move and attack speed, can you say Moulinex?)

Out of the library, Pax finds the guardian of the dungeon.. well it finds him anyway, an Otyugh, big, ugly, three tentacles, big mouth and poison bite. While a plan is being formed to deal with this creature, Pax has already engaged.. and plastered it, though a lot of damage was taken, Minsc, in a beserk rage contributed most of that! The last of the healing is used for that day and the looting commences! (safely, thanks to Jahanars find/remove traps ability).


Further on through the corridors Jahanar returns to inform us on some dwarves up ahead. In a well planned and tactically sound charge.. ok, we rush in and start smacking.. the Duergar (evil underground creature related to dwarves and just as ugly and short) get butchered along with their priest (another round of healing commences).

More items are , ahem, appropriated and Jahanar shows us how to bypass a particularly large pressure plate in a corridor. At teh end of the passageway, a large apparatus of some description (but it looks very Evil and ma***) can be seen.

Will the Heroes enter the room and get stitched? Will they form a cunning plan and then ignore it as they charge headlong?
Will they meet something that doesn't end up dead and looted?

Tuuuuunne in Neeeext weeeeeeeek...

well, planned for Wednesday (but I'll be out getting twisted that night ).

The group wouldn't mind ditching Minsc or Jaheira (I think, it's under discussion) in favour of a cleric or druid character. We just have to see how this would work with respect to the game permissions etc.

Basically last night was a "getting to know you" and getting used to the game. we didnt get a whole lot done, but we got it started anyway.

Personally, I think it's a pity that we've played this before as we eitehr know, or have an idea about what is coming up. Perhaps we should refrain from playing the sequel in single player, and continue the multiplayer in that when we finish this adventure? All players playing it for the first time?

I must say though, that NWN really needs to improve the multiplayer interface and mechanics if it is to be the success they hope it will be. BG2 seems very limited in comparison with some other multiplyer RPGs. (I know, it was designed as single player).

Celt

To sum it up, i knew where we were going, i killed 3/4 of the enemy, and im a beast of a 1/2 orc (105 health)

Rev Hellfire

I've not actually played that much of BG2, so its all pretty new to me.

As for the next game we can wait until such time as you're about.

LoLth

White, it's fair enough that you're massacaring the enemy. However, you are also soaking up the healing.

That leaves less for the rest, especially in times like PHB's death.

Rev. Would Thursday be OK? Or Monday again?

I'm assuming peeps don't wanna play on a friday or saturday, and Sunday is out for myself and Draco.

Rev Hellfire

Thursday is fine for me

Celt

Really LoLth, there was no need for a mage to be anywhere near the front line

anichon

if you're ever in need of an extra player, give me at shout at my email address
(see my profile).

I wouldn't mind getting a campaign going when
the expansion pack comes out.

Celt

As long as 3 of us(incl rev) are around, i think we should play, its a long campaign so we need all the time we can get.

DrunkLeprachaun

I wouldn't mind the occasional game neither.

---

If there's one thing I hate, it's people.

Rev Hellfire

Well pop into #hiv on thursaday at 8:00, and if there are spare slots jump in

you'll need the patch btw

PHB

I died
But ill be back to rape you all. Were keeping me until we can get to a temple or jaheria advances which wont happen that soon.

Celt

As soon as we get out of irenicus dungeon there is a temple.

LoLth

Thursday is cool for me

Rev, any idea what chopping and changing the group will do? Will it reset the game?
Can players change characters if they want, PHB could bring in a new mage that way..though that would be cheating.

White, just a suggestion but, if we get someone playing who isn't too familiar with teh scenario.. perhaps those of us who are could refrain from giving too much away. That way, they get more enjoyment . Personally I would much prefer an adventure that no-one has played before.

Icewind Dale would be interesting.. next on the cards??? (I've played the first bit of it though. Then lost my saves because of a reinstall )

Rev Hellfire

TBH I have no idea, extra players is no problem. But as to adding or changing the existing ones, no idea, I might give it a go on one of the earlier saves.

Celt

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by LoLth:
Thursday is cool for me

Rev, any idea what chopping and changing the group will do? Will it reset the game?
Can players change characters if they want, PHB could bring in a new mage that way..though that would be cheating.

White, just a suggestion but, if we get someone playing who isn't too familiar with teh scenario.. perhaps those of us who are could refrain from giving too much away. That way, they get more enjoyment . Personally I would much prefer an adventure that no-one has played before.

Icewind Dale would be interesting.. next on the cards??? (I've played the first bit of it though. Then lost my saves because of a reinstall )</font>

I have IWD on DVD, never played it.
BTW, i havent played BG2 in 7 months so i dont know spoilers etc.
Seriously, whenever rev and 2 other people are able to play, we should play.
Im always available

Hobbes

Let me know when you guys get Throne of Bhaal.

Celt

Oh well....

PHB

Soz i couldnt make it tonight, had other engagments. How about monday?

Celt

The page keeps ****ing up and i cant see anything below my last reply