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Wish or not?

Discussion in 'BG2: Throne of Bhaal (Classic)' started by Maertyn, Nov 17, 2002.

  1. Maertyn

    Maertyn There's nothing I cannot embrace! Veteran

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    [​IMG] I'm progressing into ToB now with my sorcerer and thought about 9th level spell picks:

    CHAIN CONTINGENCY
    TIME STOP
    SPELL STRIKE

    are set in stone for me.

    Leaving one slot open... WISH and SHAPECHANGE catched my eyes. His WIS score is 16, INT 17.

    And btw: What do you think of this tactic: Casting SHAPECHANGE then SIMULACRUM and change the simulacrum to a Greater Wolfwere? Is this worth it?

    [ November 18, 2002, 21:11: Message edited by: Taluntain ]
     
  2. Dhirngulin Gems: 3/31
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    Shapechange Absolutly:
    A very good strategy with shape shifting is to cast it before a battle and then when the battle commences cast time stop. Quickly shape change into a MIND FLAYER and since every attack hits and mind flayer has intellegence drain your enemies die after 2-4 hits. This strategy works wonders against Fire Giants who have quite a low intellegence.
     
  3. Beren

    Beren Lovesick and Lonely Wanderer Staff Member ★ SPS Account Holder Resourceful Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

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    From my experience, Wish is not all that its cracked up to be. Far more often than not, when my protagonist had a wisdom of 19, I ended up having to choose between a very mildly beneficial effect and a disastrous effect.

    I was wondering, are Sorcerers allowed to choose from those special Quest spells for TOB? If you are, Comet is definitely a good choice.

    Imprisonment is actually really powerful when used correctly. Sure, it has a slow casting time and you have to get right up to the enemy. But ... if you make it part of a Time Stop sequence, it becomes THE best way to take out even really powerful foes, no saving throw, no magic resistance.

    Hope it helps.
     
  4. Taza

    Taza Weird Modmaker Veteran

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    Do NOT use wish.
    Shapechange is not so good, but it is way better than wish with wis of 16.
     
  5. Spelladonna Gems: 14/31
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    I agree - don't waste a slot on Wish. Far too random and if you have low Wisdom, then you're just asking for trouble. For that matter if you have a mid to high Wisdom, you're not always guaranteed a decent choice.

    Shapechange is a good choice. Another good one, if you like to occasionally go hand-to-hand is Black Blade of Disaster. Creates a +5 sword, gives you the THAC0 of a fighter 1/2 your level, and make you a grand master (5*) in the weapon for the spell duration. Also the target must save vs death or be disintegrated. There is also a random chance (20%, I think) that scoring a hit will heal you 20hp and drain 4 levels on the target.
     
  6. Earl Grey

    Earl Grey Mmm... hot tea! Veteran

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    [​IMG] For my non-solo sorcerers I have this list for 9th level spells, but that's with both Wis and Int at 18 or more:
    Level 9:
    - Chain Contingency --- (18)
    - Wish --- (19)
    - Time Stop --- (20)
    - Shapechange --- (25)
     
  7. dmc

    dmc Speak softly and carry a big briefcase Staff Member Distinguished Member ★ SPS Account Holder Resourceful Adored Veteran New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!)

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    Don't bother getting wish, just hold onto the scrolls. What you do is put them in quickslots and cast simulacrum and/or project image when you want to use wish, no mess, no fuss, no lost scrolls. Also, you get the special 10th level spells, so you don't really need damaging ones from the 9th level list.

    Next, imprisonment has one major down-side, which is why I never use it -- the imprisoned enemy takes his stuff with him. I'm greedy.

    Also, you didn't indicate if you're soloing or not. It may make a difference as I would focus on different aspects of the game depending on my backup.

    As a final note, I find that improved alacrity can make time stop less important, as you can empty your spellbook in a hurry with no down time between spells, even if you've cast project image and/or simulacrum beforehand.

    All that being said (on a long-winded basis), to answer your original question, take shape change of the two.
     
  8. Dhirngulin Gems: 3/31
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    BTW: With imprisonment and freedom you can get infinite tears off Sarevok. :)
     
  9. Enthasius Gems: 8/31
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    I HATE Wish, I find that its usefulness is nearly naught, and that its efectiveness is somewhat pathetic. Shapechange everytime.
     
  10. Maertyn

    Maertyn There's nothing I cannot embrace! Veteran

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    [​IMG] Thank you very much! Especially thanks to dmc for the trick with project image!
     
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