XP: What to do?

Vassago · Wed, 13th Oct '04, 4:02pm

Ugh, I'm frustrated. I knew this was going to happen didn't expect it to happen so soon. My party of three have made it to just outside the Ice Temple. The problem is I noticed after killing most of the Aurelites that I didn't receive any xp from them. I know this is because I have a small party with too high of levels, but I'm really disappointed. I'm trying to figure out what option(s) I should take so that I can gain xp again. Here is my party's levels:

Ravaatra Gellantara
Female Deep Gnome Lawfully Evil
Monk of the Old Order 10

Marros Droverson
Male Human Lawfully Neutral
Monk of the Old Order 1/Fighter 2/Druid 8

Crueak Arborshate
Male Drow Chaotic Evil
Rogue 2/Ranger 1/Fighter 2/Wizard 7

Total Party level: 33 / 3 = 11
Add another member: 34 / 4 = 8+

I had planned on squating as much as possible, but I wanted more 3rd level Wiz spells and more 4th level Druid spells. I know adding another character would help and I'm considering adding a Female Drow Monk 3/Fighter 4/Cleric X (Crueak's sister or cousin).

Bloodtitan · Wed, 13th Oct '04, 6:56pm

you can download a tweaked xp table here:
http://www.sorcerers.net/Games/IWD2/index_editors1.php

also check weimers ease of use mod for iwd2, i think it also has the option "always get some xp".

Shrikant · Wed, 13th Oct '04, 8:44pm

Why dont you add a pally[1]/Sorc[x] ?
So long as he stays out of the way he can remain at the pally level.

If you want these 3 to do most of the work with the new addition playing only minor support, you could go for a bard with the singing bard AI. And never give any orders except to move around.

And while calculating average party levels, the answers are rounded down. So...
34/4 = 8.5 ~ 8
So you can give the Druid another level without affecting your XP gain.

Cernak · Thu, 14th Oct '04, 8:01am

I downloaded the Weimer mod. It's not especially generous in its awards, but at least you don't feel like you're playing for nothing, a very frustrating feeling.

Shire · Thu, 14th Oct '04, 1:36pm

Yeah, I didn't like the idea of getting 0 xp for kills either. Weimer helps, haven't tried the tweaked table, so could someone who has, tell how much it affects?

Vassago · Thu, 14th Oct '04, 7:14pm

Well, I decided to backtrack a little. I loaded the Auto Save game from when the airship first crashed. For some reason, I didn't level up my characters before leaving Targos. This is what I've got now:

Ravaatra Gellantara
Female Deep Gnome Lawfully Evil
Monk of the Old Order 7
77959 xp = +2 levels (+3 at 78000)

Marros Droverson
Male Human Lawfully Neutral
Monk of the Old Order 1/Fighter 2/Druid 7
68798 xp = +2 levels

Crueak Arborshate
Male Drow Chaotic Evil
Rogue 1/Ranger 1/Fighter 2/Wizard 5
73715 xp = +1 level (+2 @ 78000)

Total Party Level: 26
Avg Party Level: 8

So I'm going to add another Drow and make her a cleric (Cureak's sister). That'll change TPL to 27 and APL to 6. Not much of a difference but I'm sure it'll help compared to where I was at. Originally when I started playing Chapter 2, I advanced everyone which seem to put my APL too high to get xp. Now I'll think I'll squat them until I get to the Battle Squares.

Another question. What's the harm in standing beside the beetle nest slaying beetles instead of killing off the nest immediately? With my new party member, I'm getting 300 xp per beetle was as before I was only getting 125 xp (after advancing everyone). I'm thinking to bring my new member up to speed, I could just sit outside the nest slaying beetles until I get bored.

Crom the Powerfull · Fri, 15th Oct '04, 9:02am

You have taken the levels too early. If you kill the whole bunch, but refuse to level up, your levels will remain low. I beated the ice temple with all level 5 characters and got a whole lot of experience.

Only thing is, that once you DO take the levels, you have to take them all at once and then you are stuck with the same problem again, just a bit further in the game

Vassago · Fri, 15th Oct '04, 2:28pm

That's the problem I have with this game. If you take fewer characters to gain more xp quicker, it bites you in the hiney because you'll level up to fast to continue getting decent xp. On the plus side, if you were like level 10 going into Chapter 2, I would imagine that it would become to easy to play. Danged if you do and danged if you don't. I guess the question is how do you balance a small party with level squatting? At what point(s) should you level up?

Shrikant · Fri, 15th Oct '04, 5:42pm

Dont levelup everyone at once. I only levelup one charecter at a time depending on what I need to win the current battle.

In my current game I started off with a beserker and a high AC charecter.
While the DeepGnome has to take a few levels before she can level squat in her monk levels, the other can stay put until L9.
Since I know these guys will have to take level-ups at approximately L9 I will be adding another charecter before I go to the Horde Fortress.

I guess the main places where you might be forced to level-up are when facing Virec Vileclaw, Yukog, Sherincal, the river cave Dragons. Among others.
If you fall to the charms of being able to cast higher levels earlier, you wont get much XP now. If you stave off that and only levelup 1 or 2 people only, then you should never have to not gain XP.

Cernak · Mon, 18th Oct '04, 7:00am

To answer Shire, I did try try the tweaked xp table, didn't like it much, and switched to Weimer, which is decent and also has much other good stuff which you can take or not take.

For Vasago: a solution I've read about but not tried is to create a "drone" character that you never level--and never get anywhere near combat--to keep your party's overall xp down.

Bloodtitan · Mon, 18th Oct '04, 9:10am

lol and near the end of the game he gets his lvls ?
like *slaps forehead* now i understood what we did ... babababommmm! here's your new elminster.

Crom the Powerfull · Mon, 18th Oct '04, 5:26pm

Quote:

lol and near the end of the game he gets his lvls ?
like *slaps forehead* now i understood what we did ... babababommmm! here's your new elminster.

Lol yeah, Im playing in HOF mode now. Didnt ever level up since it wasnt needed ( I have a party with 6 level 17 chars ) since my summons slash trough all with ease.

Im at the ice temple now and got 14400 for killing an ice golem that could touch my zombie lords, but they got damage bonusses when they hit the golem.. Im having 6 levels stocked now, so if this continues this way , Ill be level 30 before Im in the underdark hehe

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Wed, 13th Oct '04, 4:02pm	#1
Vassago Gems: 5/31 Latest gem: Andar Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 140 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 636 Level: 8 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 96.24% Daily Activity 2.55% Weekly Activity 0.73% Monthly Activity 1.73% Achievements	Ugh, I'm frustrated. I knew this was going to happen didn't expect it to happen so soon. My party of three have made it to just outside the Ice Temple. The problem is I noticed after killing most of the Aurelites that I didn't receive any xp from them. I know this is because I have a small party with too high of levels, but I'm really disappointed. I'm trying to figure out what option(s) I should take so that I can gain xp again. Here is my party's levels: Ravaatra Gellantara Female Deep Gnome Lawfully Evil Monk of the Old Order 10 Marros Droverson Male Human Lawfully Neutral Monk of the Old Order 1/Fighter 2/Druid 8 Crueak Arborshate Male Drow Chaotic Evil Rogue 2/Ranger 1/Fighter 2/Wizard 7 Total Party level: 33 / 3 = 11 Add another member: 34 / 4 = 8+ I had planned on squating as much as possible, but I wanted more 3rd level Wiz spells and more 4th level Druid spells. I know adding another character would help and I'm considering adding a Female Drow Monk 3/Fighter 4/Cleric X (Crueak's sister or cousin).

Wed, 13th Oct '04, 6:56pm	#2
Bloodtitan Gems: 8/31 Latest gem: Skydrop Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Germany Posts: 270 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 1,001 Level: 10 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 95.51% Daily Activity 2.55% Weekly Activity 0.73% Monthly Activity 1.73% Achievements	you can download a tweaked xp table here: http://www.sorcerers.net/Games/IWD2/index_editors1.php also check weimers ease of use mod for iwd2, i think it also has the option "always get some xp".

Wed, 13th Oct '04, 8:44pm	#3
Shrikant Gems: 27/31 Latest gem: Emerald Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Bombay,India Posts: 2,615 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 5,875 Level: 23 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 75.63% Daily Activity 2.55% Weekly Activity 0.73% Monthly Activity 1.73% Achievements	Why dont you add a pally[1]/Sorc[x] ? So long as he stays out of the way he can remain at the pally level. If you want these 3 to do most of the work with the new addition playing only minor support, you could go for a bard with the singing bard AI. And never give any orders except to move around. And while calculating average party levels, the answers are rounded down. So... 34/4 = 8.5 ~ 8 So you can give the Druid another level without affecting your XP gain.

Thu, 14th Oct '04, 8:01am	#4
Cernak Gems: 12/31 Latest gem: Moonstone Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Pennsville, Ohio Posts: 457 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 1,444 Level: 12 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 87.41% Daily Activity 2.55% Weekly Activity 0.73% Monthly Activity 1.73% Achievements	I downloaded the Weimer mod. It's not especially generous in its awards, but at least you don't feel like you're playing for nothing, a very frustrating feeling.

Thu, 14th Oct '04, 1:36pm	#5
Shire Gems: 4/31 Latest gem: Sunstone Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Deepest level of Pain Posts: 86 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 498 Level: 8 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 3.49% Daily Activity 2.55% Weekly Activity 0.73% Monthly Activity 1.73% Achievements	Yeah, I didn't like the idea of getting 0 xp for kills either. Weimer helps, haven't tried the tweaked table, so could someone who has, tell how much it affects?

Thu, 14th Oct '04, 7:14pm	#6
Vassago Gems: 5/31 Latest gem: Andar Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 140 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 636 Level: 8 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 96.24% Daily Activity 2.55% Weekly Activity 0.73% Monthly Activity 1.73% Achievements	Well, I decided to backtrack a little. I loaded the Auto Save game from when the airship first crashed. For some reason, I didn't level up my characters before leaving Targos. This is what I've got now: Ravaatra Gellantara Female Deep Gnome Lawfully Evil Monk of the Old Order 7 77959 xp = +2 levels (+3 at 78000) Marros Droverson Male Human Lawfully Neutral Monk of the Old Order 1/Fighter 2/Druid 7 68798 xp = +2 levels Crueak Arborshate Male Drow Chaotic Evil Rogue 1/Ranger 1/Fighter 2/Wizard 5 73715 xp = +1 level (+2 @ 78000) Total Party Level: 26 Avg Party Level: 8 So I'm going to add another Drow and make her a cleric (Cureak's sister). That'll change TPL to 27 and APL to 6. Not much of a difference but I'm sure it'll help compared to where I was at. Originally when I started playing Chapter 2, I advanced everyone which seem to put my APL too high to get xp. Now I'll think I'll squat them until I get to the Battle Squares. Another question. What's the harm in standing beside the beetle nest slaying beetles instead of killing off the nest immediately? With my new party member, I'm getting 300 xp per beetle was as before I was only getting 125 xp (after advancing everyone). I'm thinking to bring my new member up to speed, I could just sit outside the nest slaying beetles until I get bored.

Fri, 15th Oct '04, 9:02am	#7
Crom the Powerfull Gems: 3/31 Latest gem: Lynx Eye Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Netherlands Posts: 73 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 509 Level: 8 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 10.87% Daily Activity 2.55% Weekly Activity 0.73% Monthly Activity 1.73% Achievements	You have taken the levels too early. If you kill the whole bunch, but refuse to level up, your levels will remain low. I beated the ice temple with all level 5 characters and got a whole lot of experience. Only thing is, that once you DO take the levels, you have to take them all at once and then you are stuck with the same problem again, just a bit further in the game

Fri, 15th Oct '04, 2:28pm	#8
Vassago Gems: 5/31 Latest gem: Andar Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 140 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 636 Level: 8 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 96.24% Daily Activity 2.55% Weekly Activity 0.73% Monthly Activity 1.73% Achievements	That's the problem I have with this game. If you take fewer characters to gain more xp quicker, it bites you in the hiney because you'll level up to fast to continue getting decent xp. On the plus side, if you were like level 10 going into Chapter 2, I would imagine that it would become to easy to play. Danged if you do and danged if you don't. I guess the question is how do you balance a small party with level squatting? At what point(s) should you level up?

Fri, 15th Oct '04, 5:42pm	#9
Shrikant Gems: 27/31 Latest gem: Emerald Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Bombay,India Posts: 2,615 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 5,875 Level: 23 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 75.63% Daily Activity 2.55% Weekly Activity 0.73% Monthly Activity 1.73% Achievements	Dont levelup everyone at once. I only levelup one charecter at a time depending on what I need to win the current battle. In my current game I started off with a beserker and a high AC charecter. While the DeepGnome has to take a few levels before she can level squat in her monk levels, the other can stay put until L9. Since I know these guys will have to take level-ups at approximately L9 I will be adding another charecter before I go to the Horde Fortress. I guess the main places where you might be forced to level-up are when facing Virec Vileclaw, Yukog, Sherincal, the river cave Dragons. Among others. If you fall to the charms of being able to cast higher levels earlier, you wont get much XP now. If you stave off that and only levelup 1 or 2 people only, then you should never have to not gain XP.

Mon, 18th Oct '04, 7:00am	#10
Cernak Gems: 12/31 Latest gem: Moonstone Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Pennsville, Ohio Posts: 457 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 1,444 Level: 12 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 87.41% Daily Activity 2.55% Weekly Activity 0.73% Monthly Activity 1.73% Achievements	To answer Shire, I did try try the tweaked xp table, didn't like it much, and switched to Weimer, which is decent and also has much other good stuff which you can take or not take. For Vasago: a solution I've read about but not tried is to create a "drone" character that you never level--and never get anywhere near combat--to keep your party's overall xp down.

Mon, 18th Oct '04, 9:10am	#11
Bloodtitan Gems: 8/31 Latest gem: Skydrop Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Germany Posts: 270 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 1,001 Level: 10 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 95.51% Daily Activity 2.55% Weekly Activity 0.73% Monthly Activity 1.73% Achievements	lol and near the end of the game he gets his lvls ? like slaps forehead now i understood what we did ... babababommmm! here's your new elminster.