tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post8789908987246184954..comments2024-03-29T10:21:29.354-04:00Comments on The CRPG Addict: Might & Magic II: MagicCRPG Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-70911390730819179302024-02-23T13:36:50.550-05:002024-02-23T13:36:50.550-05:00Is it failing? Or do you not have enough spell poi...Is it failing? Or do you not have enough spell points? I don't remember Enchant Item failing (though I didn't really use it much). However, if I tried to cast Enchant Item without enough spell points, it would say * Spell Failed! *<br /><br />It costs 50 S.P. to enchant an item from +1 to +2, 100 S.P. to get from +2 to +3, 150 S.P. to get from +3 to +4, and so on. Even if you rest between castings, you would not be able to enchant a +12 item to a +13 unless one of your casters had more than 600 S.P. total (which is unlikely unless you've been farming Cuisinarts to raise your level).Static4444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-83772735872303882282022-12-27T08:58:32.868-05:002022-12-27T08:58:32.868-05:00You don't have to log in. Use Name/URL.You don't have to log in. Use Name/URL.POnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-19612533605914547702022-12-27T07:49:37.649-05:002022-12-27T07:49:37.649-05:00The spell you are referring to is, I believe, Guar...The spell you are referring to is, I believe, Guard Dog.Ken Brubakerhttps://kejabrsoftware.wixsite.com/kejabr-softwarenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-88902416495508888752022-12-26T17:43:10.689-05:002022-12-26T17:43:10.689-05:00I wish I could log in. You can call me “unlogger”...I wish I could log in. You can call me “unlogger”<br /><br />Wasn’t one of the spells stealth or some such, which avoided any random encounters? I found it useful when I was bored or in a hurry . . . Or if I wished to drink from a fountain that gives 200 abilities for one battle and wanted to see if I could beat 250 demons protecting a petal at the end of a long dungeon . . .Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-17613009061446219412014-02-21T14:53:35.596-05:002014-02-21T14:53:35.596-05:00Add WIDR and you have my 99% used list...Add WIDR and you have my 99% used list...Crunchy Froghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13374503102551745902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-5235384582571360752013-05-18T21:18:38.682-04:002013-05-18T21:18:38.682-04:00You should have a look at what Pathfinder has done...You should have a look at what Pathfinder has done with customization, it now adds a lot more then just spell restrictions, with special abilities and such. Sorcerer specializations aren't even school based, they are bloodline based. Canageekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03770924810559440307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-19744056198547481272013-05-18T00:21:20.615-04:002013-05-18T00:21:20.615-04:00Fair enough. I don't remember that, but it is ...Fair enough. I don't remember that, but it is a decent enough clue if it's there.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-91035049590425797912013-05-12T18:26:31.574-04:002013-05-12T18:26:31.574-04:00Ditto the spontaneous casting! This is why I enjoy...Ditto the spontaneous casting! This is why I enjoy IWD2, in fact. <br /><br />If I were ever designing a magic system, I would completely overhaul the specialist mage system currently in place. It's more like choosing an anti-class than a class, as implemented in BG (and D&D in general).<br /><br />Instead, I would make it so your mage can spontaneously change to any spell of that specialty (perhaps 1 level lower to better balance it), but couldn't learn about half of the spells in the game...so there are always some big spells you are giving up. That makes it more like someone who specializes in a certain school so much it is their bread-and-butter, but the extra 10% of knowledge in that specialty forces them to ignore a basic level of knowledge in 50% of the other schools....much like real life...that PhD lets you get a little deeper for a lot of work, and a lot of very focused study, which takes a lot of time and dedication.<br /><br />(Yes, I am going through M&M2 again...played this game when I was young, and love it!)Samhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13431741012966569454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-22275175455908105302013-05-12T18:16:13.859-04:002013-05-12T18:16:13.859-04:00There is a tip in the game--although I don't r...There is a tip in the game--although I don't recall where off the top of my head--that says "Nature's Day is Day XX" (I think it's Day 93, going from memory). It's not unreasonable to have someone piece together casting Nature's Gate on Nature's Day, and giving them a pretty nice reward for solving that side quest.Samhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13431741012966569454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-12215774368994634462012-05-07T22:46:35.394-04:002012-05-07T22:46:35.394-04:00I liked that in the 3rd edition D&D rules, cle...I liked that in the 3rd edition D&D rules, clerics could "convert" memorized spells to healing spells, making it more sensible to not just memorize "cure light wounds," "cure moderate wounds," etc. I wish they'd given a similar ability for mages to convert any memorized spell into raw energy (i.e., magic missile).CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-58339455377920664922012-05-07T18:35:05.706-04:002012-05-07T18:35:05.706-04:00Make that 'narrowed down to what they will use...Make that 'narrowed down to what they will use IN COMBAT' --It is rather lacking for those of us who play role-play and problem solving heavy games.Canageekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03770924810559440307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-39648489126387232292012-05-07T18:30:50.056-04:002012-05-07T18:30:50.056-04:00I'd say that this is an issue with RPGs in gen...I'd say that this is an issue with RPGs in general, particularly when you have ones that require you to memorize spells ahead of time. The rest of the party's probably going to be pretty upset if your mage uses that spell slot for Comprehend Languages instead of Magic Missile....<br /><br />(D&D 4th ed. reflects this in its comparatively limited spell lists, getting narrowed down to what players are actually likely to use.)<br /><br />CRPGs face a special problem in that they don't have the flexibility of a real-world game--creativity is rarely possible unless it's forced (e.g. in the Infocom games). Grease can be a great spell in a live game; not so much on a computer.<br /><br />(Just found the blog a month ago or so--great read so far! Thanks for doing this!)Mishanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-35364097948343199702011-09-30T21:21:46.975-04:002011-09-30T21:21:46.975-04:00I really appreciate all your follow-up comments on...I really appreciate all your follow-up comments on this game. I never get a chance to explore all of a game's features, and it's nice to get supplemental info from my readers.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-48430733952414094132011-09-27T15:29:45.286-04:002011-09-27T15:29:45.286-04:00"I honestly don't know how you defeat Pha..."I honestly don't know how you defeat Phase Spirits if you don't manage to kill them all in the first round."<br /><br />Phase Spirits is why having a Cleric with high Speed is important. The only sure way to kill them is Holy Word. They are immune to Fire, Ice and Electricity, but Dancing Sword works. Sadly not even when both my lvl 25 Archer and ditto Sorceror cast it did they do enough damage to kill them. Energy Blast also works, so you can use Ray Guns to kill them once your spell points are gone.<br /><br /><br />Some comments on spells:<br /><br />I found that Sleep is only effective on low level creatues.<br /><br />Web, Hold and Paralyze can be effective against low to mid level humanoids, but are useless against animals or fable creatures. <br /><br />I use spells like Bless, Holy Bonus, Shield, Invisibility and Power Shield, but frankly I don't notice much difference. Power Shield is supposed to halve damge from _any_ attack, not just physical. Hero definitely works, but is most effective on a fighter who will gain an extra attack due to his extra levels.<br /><br />I never got Enchant Item to work.<br /><br />Entrapment would have been nice for me against the Queen Beetle, as she ran away from me, even though I was only about lvl 26. <br />Revisiting the map did not bring her back.<br /><br />Prismatic Light can be nice since it only uses 7 SP. Sometimes it kills 10 enemies outright.<br /><br />Finger of Death is useless as long as you have Disintegrate. Disintegrate can be extremely useful against monster with lots of HP, and is also a cheap way to kill mid level monster quickly without spenind too much mana.<br />In a recent battle I faced some low level creatues and 80(!) Rocs. Now Rocs are mean creatures that will slice up your party quickly if given a chance. So I cast Sleep and Hold on the low level creatures, so that only two Rocs could attack each round and my Sorceror and Archer killed 6 Rocs each round thanks to Disintegrate. Disintegrate sometimes even instantly kills Golems and Armoured Dragons, so it's one of my favourite spells.<br /><br />Implosion and Fiery Flail can also be useful, since they often kill an enemy outright at a small price. <br />And Mass Distortion can also be very useful against monster with 500+ HP.<br /><br />Mega Volts and Inferno are generally useless since most high level creatures are resistant to Electricity and Fire, while Dancing Sword I think is a combo of magic and physical and has a much greater chance of doing damage.PetrusOctavianusnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-34032518295052977252011-05-22T01:12:38.931-04:002011-05-22T01:12:38.931-04:00Power gamers are also a strange breed and there ta...Power gamers are also a strange breed and there tactics are not for us mortals. I did wince to see someone using his wizard as an attack caster in BG, as that is the intuitive thing to do, but also one of the least effective, doubly so at low levels.Canageekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03770924810559440307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-84064864872264272042011-05-21T20:29:34.755-04:002011-05-21T20:29:34.755-04:00"Practically any fight could be solved by jus..."Practically any fight could be solved by just reloading enough times and bashing my head against it." This is precisely why I limit my saves in most games, forcing myself to restore from the last autosave rather than saving before every battle.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-853739664395886362011-05-21T06:56:48.752-04:002011-05-21T06:56:48.752-04:00The thing with magic in CRPGs is that a lot of the...The thing with magic in CRPGs is that a lot of the time, doing anything fancy just doesn't seem worth the trouble. To use Baldur's Gate series as an example, I spent most of my Cleric's spell slots for healing spells, yet the consensus among powergamers is that's pretty much the least useful thing you can do with a Cleric's spell slots. You can get health from potions and rings of regeneration, while you can get a wide variety of massive combat bonuses, one-shot shutdown effects, disposable tanks etc. if you use the spell slots intelligently.<br /><br />But the thing is, there never seemed to be much reason to. Practically any fight could be solved by just reloading enough times and bashing my head against it, again and again, so why bother?<br /><br />In order to successfully encourage creative tactics, the fight shouldn't be just somewhat tougher without them - it should be impossible. like the fight against the nasty demon at the end of BG: Tales of the Sword Coast - it's practically speaking no even possible, even at max level and with all the best gear, unless you prepare carefully for it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-56530125406319489052011-05-20T17:20:09.565-04:002011-05-20T17:20:09.565-04:00I stand corrected, Ziad. But it would be pretty la...I stand corrected, Ziad. But it would be pretty lame to try "Nature's Gate" every day and carefully note where it lands you, so practically speaking, it's random!<br /><br />I never got that message, but it appeared in Schultz's walkthrough. Maybe the DOS version just assumes that if you HAVE the spell, you've cast it.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-75080560755833892912011-05-18T11:47:17.947-04:002011-05-18T11:47:17.947-04:00A couple of things. Nature's Gate doesn't ...A couple of things. Nature's Gate doesn't teleport at random - it teleports to a different place every day, but the destinations are preset. Of course since everyone finishes the game within a year the spell's not terribly useful, except if you want to get Starburst the "proper" way.<br /><br />As for the Transmutation spells, I remember a "You are not of this element. Begone!" message if you try to get into the elemental planes without it. Unless this only happens in some versions of the game.Ziadnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-65802947583638553592011-05-18T11:06:40.393-04:002011-05-18T11:06:40.393-04:00Tristan: I know. You can just picture some n00b sa...Tristan: I know. You can just picture some n00b saying, "Infravision! That sounds cool! I'll be able to see in the dark!"<br /><br />Aelfric, I tried not to go to the Cuisinarts too often, because it seemed to take a lot of challenge away (more on that tonight). I was around Level 22 when I tried to do the bulk of my enchanting, so perhaps I should have given it another go at a higher level.<br /><br />I think the larger point is that I didn't really need the enchantments. I won the game handily at Level 40 without any buffed equipment or the dragon cave hit point bonus.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-12356262707390376902011-05-18T10:42:33.853-04:002011-05-18T10:42:33.853-04:00CRPG Addict--Hrmmm. This must be one of those pla...CRPG Addict--Hrmmm. This must be one of those places where the genesis port differed. I never saved that often, as enchanting very rarely failed me. What level are you? Did you abuse the cuisinarts for experience and items?Aelfricnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-71436137379486621232011-05-18T10:34:05.936-04:002011-05-18T10:34:05.936-04:00I'd like to meet the poor sap who chose "...I'd like to meet the poor sap who chose "Infravision" as an early spell for a mage in Baldur's Gate. Bonus points if their character was a half-elf, elf, or some other race with natural infravision.Tristannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-48657632683926721812011-05-17T22:36:28.715-04:002011-05-17T22:36:28.715-04:00"is this common among CRPG players?"
Ye..."is this common among CRPG players?"<br /><br />Yes, I think so. At least I know I do it. What would be interesting to know is if/how the particular spells of choice differ by player (as Georges mentioned). I don't recall what my favorite M&M spells were, but Bard's Tale consisted mostly of YMCA, MIBL, REST and the occasional APAR.Keirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13382356416935293139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-30139852580469789512011-05-17T19:48:01.632-04:002011-05-17T19:48:01.632-04:00Georges, your "skill testers" option see...Georges, your "skill testers" option seems sensible to me. I did a lot of experimentation with spells towards the beginning of the game, and it was only through that experimentation that I found the handful I felt were really useful.<br /><br />Aelfric, I imagine that to enchant an item up to +255, you'd have to save and reload a lot, and that's against my rules. I used enchant a few times when I already had, say, a Fire Spear +12 and I found a Fire Spear +11. I'd see if I could enchant it twice to get me a +13 and, if so, see if I could enchant the +12 to get a +14, and so on. But the enchant failed for me about 1/3 to 1/4 of the time, so I didn't ever get very far.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-83168834263981980412011-05-17T16:39:43.571-04:002011-05-17T16:39:43.571-04:00Nature's Gate, as you earlier surmised, gets y...Nature's Gate, as you earlier surmised, gets you to that spot in the dead zone where you can learn Meteor Shower--but only when cast on Nature's Day. And while enchanting an item once may not be all that worth it--in my younger days, I was known to enchant many items up to +255 (and then duplicate it!). Yes, I know, I'm a dork. Thanks. Did you ever get the big bonus is the dragon cave? Glad to see you're back.Aelfricnoreply@blogger.com