I've tried stuff like no reloads before. It's a lot of fun!

Somebody suggested on the Bioware website a "minimum stats" game. I'm trying this now with a self made party of 4 characters, and I'm having a blast! When was the last time you found a good use for Mauler's Arm?

I'm playing with the following party:

Elf Stalker
HalfElf Cleric/Ranger
Gnome Thief/Illusionist
Elf Sorcerer (protagonist)

It's a lot of fun restricting yourself. Has anybody else done anything similar?

My personal way to make my game harder/fun is trying the hardest mods possible... Though some restrictions are cool to have, I generally have to use all I have to beat some pretty tough fights.

I love your no reloads games though, Klorox, IIRC you had a gnome who was killed in ToB portion of the game first and very last time. That's quite an accomplishment, I think.

I like race based parties like only elfs or dwarfs. That's the only restriction I ever played with

The last time I found a good use for the Mauler's arm was my latest 6-person perty game, when I had Aerie. I always give her the Mauler's Arm, since I love my lvl 2 slots and don't wanna waste them on spells like Strength. And unfortunately, all my NPCs carry a lot of load, so strength of 17-18 or higher is important to each of them.

The Minimum Stats sounds good, though I wouldn't try it. A solo-noreload-insane is more like it. Unfortunately, once I build my solo character, I usually give up those too...the game is too easy...still waiting for IA 4.3...

Mauler's Arm is proving quite useful for Viconia in my latest game...

Of course, this is the game where I decided to play an evil Jester with whatever stats I rolled with physical dice, no rerolls. Which were distinctly average, best stat 14.

No reloads is my prferred style of play these days. I also try to minimize making use of my near-omnicience. Fights I think I can get through without pre-buffing I don't buff for, fights I know are nearly impossible without buffing I do. Its a bit of a head game, bit its the way I play...

I try my best for no-reloads, every so often I 'cause a glitch or problem that's unrelated to choices or dieing, so I HAVE to reload, (usually way far back from where the problem was caused).

I did a few minimum stats games and even some alignment/actions restriction, where my party was chaotic evil and only included people who wanted bloodshed or a lawful good party hunting all that is evil (detect evil ;) ).

I also never pre-buff unless it's a buff that lasts the entire day (ie: mage armor/sequencer/contingency). Lastly I try to do things I have never done before, which might include picking a race or alignment I haven't picked before or just dialogue options I always avoid (thusly accept bad mojo :) )

A few restrcitions that make the game a lot more challenging:

- you only carry around what is realistic: no more longswords, full plate armor in the backpack sort of thing. Basically you have a couple wepons on you, some scrolls a potion or 2 and some munition and that's it
=> not only does it make the game that much tougher cause you have to make wise choices on equipment, but you will have a lot less gold as a result (can't sell what you can't carry)

- realistic stealth: don't backstab unless you're out of ennemie's sight (comming from behind, etc..), no more hiding in the shadows in broad daylight, etc...

- no more prebuffing unless it's warranted (entering a dragon's lair, your scout saw a zone with ennemies, etc..). Avoid prebuffing before "surprise battles"

- rest only when tired: no sleeping in the room right next to the room with the tough ennemies to get the spells for example.

Ive tried the no reloads once or twice, but i usually have a romancalbe NPC in my party so i dont want them to die and screw up the romance.

so yeh ill try avoid a reload but if they die, im all ok thats my one reload, and this time i mean it!!


[I dont play much so i still havent figured out all the buffs and how to get all godly and stuff yet. i should have picked up on it by now just by reading the forums here but i havent]

Restrictions? Hmm, only a few. I sometimes try to keep my main Fighter/Thief out of some of the really tough battles in the game, because he´s so Über...

I always remove armor, helmets and shields when walking around a town or city, leaving them at the inn where my characters are staying. The only exception would be leather armor (all my tanks keep a spare set for city walk). This makes some of the 'unexpected' fights a bit more difficult, but more realistic. I can't imagine adventurers going for a drink wearing full plate and a tower shield.

Resticted myself from using certain Elemental Spheres, and only using a certain one, eg. Fire, Air/Lightning, Acid/Earth, Water/Ice

mmh sometimes I try to (unless IA is installed^^):

- never use Stoneskin
- rest as few times as possible..ala trying a fight 3 times and after that I rest and try again
- use no potions
- only fight with ranged weapons
- play without resurrection/ reanimation
- is solo playing strange?
- no reloads I never did so far (becaue of Tactics improved random encounters)
- err ... only mages party
- kill everything during timestop..*cough

Strange not really, but I rigorously roleplay alignments. This means Feebleminding a dragon and whacking him dead is fine, but sacrificing to daemons or evil deities is not. Stealing is neither. Certain compromises won't happen. No necromancy, no evil-looking spells even if they don't affect alignment. Etc etc. Oh, and realistic gameplay also means saving Imoen as early as possible, not resting so much when in a big hurry to save someone or something (urgent quests). I always play this way, not just select few games. And I never play evil or chaotic anyway. Always LG and paladin for the protagonist unless I'm either bored or looking forward to trying something new.

No reload is the only way I've enjoyed that game. It is really challenging with a Wild Mage and it can be frustrating when an NPC in which you have invested a lot of XP gets chunked and dies horribly without any possible resurrection... :lol:

Knowing that you can't afford to be unlucky and reload you have to be extra careful at some points. My characters are somewhat paranoid (can't blame them though). Also it really feels like taking chances (when you actually take chances).

And I no longer play uber fancy classes like Ranger/Cleric, Blade or Inquisitor (never liked Sorcerers in BG2 so I'm fine without them).

As to restricting stats, there are too many stat enhancing items to counterbalance that restriction. I avoid min maxing (and I sometimes max out WIS which is not that useful for a character who is not a divine spellcaster). Considering alignment, I like to take them in account so that my games can be different whether I play an evil bard or a lawful good cleric.