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Darkfire bow aquisition discussion

PixelRunnerPixelRunner Member Posts: 104
in Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition
i have a huge problem with this - to get the bow, you are supposed to kill the mercenary captain in Amkethran. but what if you want to play as good or neutral? then theres no real reason to kill him and so you miss out on a really powerful item. also, its random and non deductive, theres no hint or indication in the game that could suggest thats the way to get the item, or that you get a good item if you kill him.

Comments

  • atcDaveatcDave Member Posts: 2,597
    A lot of items (and quests, and recruitable NPCs) are shut off by RP choices you make, that’s part of the fun of the game! Maybe it’s more apt to think of it like what items/quests etc are *enabled* by the RP choices you make…

    It will never be *everything* on the table for any given playthrough. So much replay potential!
  • PixelRunnerPixelRunner Member Posts: 104
    that would be fine, so long as all alignments (given that you actually act like your selected alignment) have equal chances in the game. but it seems to me this is not the case, so there is only one case in which you are most rewarded - that when you actually know all possible outcomes at every moment, every dialogue etc and instead of role playing as the alignment you chose, you just react so you get the best loot. which is not the point of the game, i think, its like you're bipolar somehow, helping here and killing there.
  • atcDaveatcDave Member Posts: 2,597
    That is *wholly* on you. Play your character, and not just the loot. That is how I try to play, and I find it most rewarding. And honestly, I have never acquired the Darkfire bow, and it makes no difference to me. I like playing the good guy, there’s a lot of evil things I’ve never done, and items I’ve never acquired.
  • jmerryjmerry Member Posts: 4,065
    So, the Darkfire bow. A tiny resistance bonus, no damage bonus, a bunch of THAC0, and a 1/day Improved Haste activation. To make best use of it, activate the Improved Haste and then switch to a weapon that's actually useful in a fight.

    I've generally do pick it up - that guy's a serious jerk - but I never bother using it.
  • PixelRunnerPixelRunner Member Posts: 104
    that improved haste looks incredibly powerful for my solo pure assassin, especially for hard fights where invisibility isnt an option due to true sight and such. that 23 rounds duration on the improved haste is awesome - compare it with the ring of gax, that gives haste for 10 seconds.

    btw, maybe i should create a new topic, but ill drop this here: is there any way to become truly invisible against foes that see you when you hide in shadows, even with non-detection cast on you? thinking mostly "boss" monsters, like dragons, liches, demogorgon, that kind of thing.
  • jmerryjmerry Member Posts: 4,065
    No. If the enemy can see through invisibility, that's it. No way to hide from them.
  • DinoDinDinoDin Member Posts: 1,639
    PixelRunner wrote: »
    that would be fine, so long as all alignments (given that you actually act like your selected alignment) have equal chances in the game. but it seems to me this is not the case, so there is only one case in which you are most rewarded - that when you actually know all possible outcomes at every moment, every dialogue etc and instead of role playing as the alignment you chose, you just react so you get the best loot. which is not the point of the game, i think, its like you're bipolar somehow, helping here and killing there.

    People don't seem to think this logic all the way through. If *every* kind of playthrough gave you equal access to every type of gear, there would be no reason to commit to different replay choices. Those choices would be merely cosmetic. They would have no gameplay consequences.

    It's precisely because you cannot get everything on any single playthrough of the BG games that the games have extra replay value.
  • PixelRunnerPixelRunner Member Posts: 104
    to be honest i dont consider any D&D game to be replayable, compare it to games like Diablo, Path of Exile - now these are really replayable. in BG2 and similar games, i see more of a beautiful story, or book, that you go through and when it ends, it ends. other than some dialogue choices here and there, maybe a different item or two, the main story is the same, so, idk.. i can see myself maybe playing again after a few years have passed, but not like right after i finish.
  • atcDaveatcDave Member Posts: 2,597
    To me, that “beautiful story” actually enhances its immediate replayability. Even if I’m only doing minor tweaks as I go. And I love trying different things with character builds, sequence of events, and role playing choices. All told, I’ve finished both the whole BG saga and IWD over 50 times. And it’s in spurts, I’ll do ten or more run through then play something else for a few years.
  • PixelRunnerPixelRunner Member Posts: 104
    another thing for me is the huge difficulty in battles, im on Legacy of Bhaal and playing solo assassin. i mean there are tough monsters that i cant hit except for critical strikes, and i think thats unfair, it makes the game almost impossible. right now im banging my head against the wall for the battle with Tahazar in Watchers Keep, im really pessimistic about it :(
  • DyonisDyonis Member Posts: 9
    Uhm... isn't Legacy of Bhaal supposed to make the game almost impossible? On a solo run no less! Sounds to me like you got exactly what you asked for. :p
  • PixelRunnerPixelRunner Member Posts: 104
    well, theres a difference between very hard and unplayable. whats the point if its impossible?
  • DyonisDyonis Member Posts: 9
    I mean the previous difficulty level is called insane, traditionally that is the term for highest difficulty for the vast majority of games. I think there are plenty of warnings as well for activating Legacy of Bhaal. That mode is really supposed to be ridiculously hard and near impossible, if you get past encounters in just a few attempts, a few hours or even a few days, then the Legacy of Bhaal mode doesn't do it's name justice.

    Bang your head, break your teeth, get desperate and enraged and reload infinite times but don't give up. Only then will you eventually taste the sweet sweet nectar of victory after defeating an enemy that seemed impossible to defeat. That is what this mode does for you if you want it. ;)

    I was contemplating to start my next run on Legacy with SCS and all that stuff. But I'm not sure, I naturally handicap myself and I don't min-max + I will have to reduce XP due to tons of quest mods. It's really hard to tell now if legacy would be enjoyable... but hey, one can always start a new game. :)
  • TrouveurTrouveur Member Posts: 856
    PixelRunner wrote: »
    well, theres a difference between very hard and unplayable. whats the point if its impossible?
    What's the point of playing a difficult setting means to be almost impossible if it isn't fun for you ? Just do a run on insane difficulty.
    Seems like IMHO you're complaining about your own choices.

    LoB was never meant as a standard difficulty setting, it's more a gimmick than anything else and most players stay away from it.

    Those who find insane too easy either play no reload or use difficulty mods like Sword Coast Stratagem or Tactics Remix.

    Also, it's a game allowing 6 characters in the party, so solo will also be harder.
  • PixelRunnerPixelRunner Member Posts: 104
    well, i wanted to see if i can do it on LoB. maybe the answer is "not all of it". i got this far tho, finished SoA and advanced quite a bit in ToB. i thought i might take on Watchers Keep, its just that i got to the fight with Tahazar which i think its impossible for me - those guys even have infinite dispels lol.
  • DyonisDyonis Member Posts: 9
    Given that you don't have the versatility of a whole party, it would be strange if you didn't have to "run away" every now and then. From a role playing perspective it's pretty realistic.

    I'm actually thinking to leave quest xp as is and reduce xp from creatures dramatically. That way I'd develop a sense of not wanting to fight creatures if I can avoid it. Pretty realistic approach imho.
  • PixelRunnerPixelRunner Member Posts: 104
    Im ok with not fighting something or someone who doesnt seem evil or a threat, but when you are forced to fight, its a really bad feeling to know you cant win.
  • DyonisDyonis Member Posts: 9
    Well, Watchers Keep is optional so you might just not be able to do that bit of content. It's much like the issue with the bow, not everything is meant to be seen and explored. Of course you can try but this game (especially modded) is so vast that the attempt to see every bit of content in one run is a bit futile. That said, I understand the need to fight everything, explore everything and see everything... I'm struggling with that myself.

    To fully appreciate and enjoy a game like this you'd probably have to do some expectation management and really understand what it is you want to get out of the experience. If you want to see as much content as possible you will probably have to cheat. If you want to have the toughest fights you will have to accept that some battles can't be won or at least that you might have to retreat and come back later when you are stronger. If you want to live a story then you should probably learn to let go and let the game take the lead.
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