[twillight]

Ok, I did it. I finished the fifth lvl of Durlag's Tower. Not that Ivolunteered by free will, but because after I entered lvl 4 I could not leave the place anymore (gates closed behind me, no idea if that's some bug). Man, how much I had to sleep to pump back my health!

I went in for Bala's Axe stealthed. For the four elements the phonix guards were nothing, but the baby-wyvern was too much without a potion of speed – what lasted until the chessboard. I also used a potion of heroism here what I had enough. Again thx to pure luck I just had a package of fire arrows to kill the slime.

The chessboard turned easy, because I always carry a Potion of Absorbtion. I just got stealthed, and runned up&down before the opponent's figurines until they were dead.

The fifth lvl was kinda disapointment after the reallife years I last went down there. The slimy part though was maddening me, as where the talking ghoul is were a large group of enemies right behind the door of the room. Also one Greater Ghoul there always respawns. I used 2 potion of freedom until I managed to cut myself through on the entire area and anther oil of speed and a STR19 potion as well as some scrolls I've found (I think defensive harmony and champion's strenght, but really, just use everything you could lay hands on).
The only thing I had to cheat in was a STR 24 potion, what can be bought in BG's entry area to get access to Flame Tongue. If I could have go backwards, or knew this requirement beforehand, I not had to do this. And I don't know if after the Durlag lady sends you out can you go back again (you have to be teleported to the chessboard what has the requirement of killing the elemental monster – from the ice ones only the bear).

Bugs: - did you notice when you reload you hp rises?
- I again got the potion of freedom bug. This time I needed a potion of speed to bypass it.
- one point of „bad design” in the game that when you reach Cadlekeep's 6th floor you're sent down to lvl 5. BUT when you just arrive to lvl 6, you get arrested. Bummer.

Strangely the city of Baldur's Gate, neither Candlekeep offers nothing interresting in battles, only stories of the main plot. Oh well. At least I have all the statbooks.

The Werewolf Island with all the nifty equipments on one warrior-type character makes that quest easy too. I would be curious how a spellcaster could do it - but really there is little reason for that anyway.


Now I'm at the final part of BG1, namely the only remaining field is the metropolis itself. As there are plenty of god things to consider keeping, I wait a day with trying finishing it (so this night I'll try my luck most probably - wish me success).


Oh, and a chart to analyse when to dualclass ranger/cleric:

- lvl 7: you can regain ranger abilities at the end of BG1.
- lvl 9: the last level you gain HPs by diceroll.
- lvl 11: you can still reach lvl 39 with your cleric.
- lvl 12: you can reach lvl 38, but gain another proficieny point. Considering how restricted a priest is on the weapon side, I doubt it worth it.
- lvl 13: you gain +0.5 attack because the ranger class, but loose casting power of the priest. For the reasons I won't choose this possibility, but it is a matter of taste of course.