Question on learning spells

[TelexStar]

I've just decided to go thru BG2 again (after a long time out ) and i chose the core ad&d differculty (i thought this was the same level that I played on the first time round) I got Imoen to learn a spell in Irenicus' dungeon and it said that she failed to learn it. I checked her stats and it says that the chance of her learning a spell is 75, is that in %? also does this stat get raised thru the game as mages increase in level?

lastly, What exactly is the difference in rules between the 'Normal' differculty and 'core ad&d rules'?

any suggestions are welcome

Thanks
Telex

Your chance to learn a spell doesn't get raised by gaining experience. You can drink potion and things like that to raise your chance to learn a spell.

And in the Gameplay menu you can see what the difficulty levels do, but IIRC the enemies just do more damage.

[This message has been edited by antoine (edited May 02, 2001).]

[Volar Blackmane]

The higher your intelligence, the higher the percentage to learn a spell. See your manual for a table. And yes, it is in %, it gets screwed up a bit if you're a specialist mage though.

And the differences in the difficulties are that in normal difficulty you automatically learn spells, gain maximum hit points and your character can't get blown to small chunky hero-shaped bits in a fight.

[TelexStar]

LOL

right, so let me see if i've got this. . .

In normal differculty, you still roll to see if you get a hit on your target, but if u do, you inflict max damage from your weapon. right?

[Big B]

I play core rules and trying to learn a spell can be a pain sometimes. Even Edwin, who is hailed as the best mage in the game, has failed to learn a spell for me five times in a row! Oh but Haer'Dalis and Imoen have been the worst in the past. I think it was Imoen who failed seven times in a row. And then they will start learning spells again like nothing happened. Weird. It's the only part of core rules I don't like. Some spells there just aren't enough of, for my characters to be throwing them around like candy wrappers.

[TelexStar]

maybe quicksaving before each time you try to learn a new spell would work!

[TIN_MAN]

I think that normal difficulty = core AD&D rules.!?

[Igneous]

No, no, Telex, that's not what he means. He means that everytime a char levels up, you get the maximum possible amount of hitpoints added to your total. In the official ad&d rules, with for example a fighter, you get 1d10 hitpoints per level up. With normal rules you will always get 10 hitpoints (and of course your constitution bonus) added.

[Grovflab]

In my oppiniom, the normal rules is just the core rules made more usefull for a computer game. What is fun in PnP isn't necesary that on screen. For instance, I hate in Icewind Dale when you can't raise elves, but have to get them resurrected. Ugh.....

[TelexStar]

Igneous, Thanks for clearing that up!

So, is the only difference between the Normal and the core rules differculty that in Normal you get the 10 hit points automatically (without having to roll) and the spells are *always* learnt?

[Zorac]

Yes.

[Lysendor]

I think the other reason for failing to learn spells is that there is a penalty for attempting to learn spells which are beyond your ability level to use. This penalty increases as the spell level increases beyond your current maximum spell level you can use.

Yikes!! does the above make sense?!?!?!

[Big B]

That would be good, except for the fact that they sometimes miss Lvl 1, 2, and 3 spells. I guess that is one appealing thing about a sorceror, not having to memorize the spells.

[TelexStar]

OK, i'm able to change the differculty mid game right?

[Taluntain]

Yes, at any point in the game.