Baldur's Gate E: you can steal the nymph cloak quest reward from the magic shop - why bother with the quest, eh? Get the tome of wisdom (requires accepting the thief quest - as I had 80K gold at this point I could evenafford that ring of invisibility!)
Brevlik also has a quest reward: a lightning wand (strange, I know no other of this kind). Well, steal it, that's cheaper. First he'll "give" a cursed ring, just throw that away.
If you want to avoid the "shopkeeper recharges my wands" technicality you could kill the four mages in the magic shop.
Also, there's the
I'd mention all the reputation-quests too if I could kill Drizzt, but as I can't...
Check the NE section to be threatened, than go to the S section.
Baldur's Gate S: There's an NPC Desreta who has a companion. Run away from Desreta (she has Gaunlets of Ogre Power, but who needs those) and steal 2 spell and a wand of fire from the co, than just reject the offer (of shredded to entropy = being killed). Than they disappear.
Leave the Iron Throne for now.
There're 3 reputation to gather here if you need it (how I wish I could kill Drizzt!).
Baldur's Gate Central: as we MUST pass this to reach more relevant areas I suggest to do the thief quest. I suggest to turn invisible and leave the girls alive. Oh, to let you know the door of the house is locked, and I don't know how much STR you need to open it, but 14 definitely not enough. So either try a potion of STR if you feel lucky, or cast a Knock (hope you have it memorizes). By the way I forgot how strong the questor mage is, so I did not risk it, and used the wand of paralysation I just stole from him to prevent any mischief.
Oh, start Lathander's Gease quest to avoid any future trouble!
There's 1 extra reputation to collect here if you need (you'd need if you could kill Drizzt).
Baldur's Gate W: do the Nymph quest. It demands only a short talk, and gets rid of a mage who'd get in the way to get a Tome, so just hop in. Of course this door is locked too...
Baldur's Gate NW: start the helm/cloak of balduran (not that you'd rly have use of 'em, but think upon BG2, k?). Yes, here the door is locked too.
Go to the twins' house, and start the quest. But don't mind it, just be a bard who always step in, gets her/his way (sexual suggestion here), and steps down. I mean steal that wand of polymorph which'll is an excellent way to get rid of the Priestess of Umberlee.
There's also an extra reputation. Meh.
Baldur's Gate NE: talk out the ogre attacking you, and solve your poison-problem. Marek is a minor mageling, so try Bala's axe.
Baldur's Gate N: There's a Tome here, but that's it. time to go dealing with the Seven Sun.
EDIT: Don't bother the Balduran shield/helm quest, just steal the cloak and get the helm!
The Seven Sun is a minor thing where they can't even really hit you (unless natural 20), so the 3 offensive spin is way more than enough to eliminate everyone.
The Sewers is pathetic if you buy the Ogre Mage Slayer Arrow from the mage shop in the East district (you only have 1 chance, so save).
The Iron Throne given they are only on the top floor, and a bard has way enough CHA to bluff her/himself until that is not that threatening. I entered improved invisible, used up 2 potion of firebreath, and 1 charge from the wand of frost (I'm starting to run out of charges from that). Fortunately noone got desintegrated, 'cause one of them has tons of spells.
Buying spells: I bought in a temple here a scroll of luck. I suggest buying Detect Evil, Melf's Acidic Arrow, Monster Summon 1, Polymorph Self, Slow and Vampiric touch from the mage-shop in the east quarter 'cause those can not be bought outside.
Before speaking with the duke I strongly suggest moving all your useful stuff to the Friendly Arm Inn, while holding tight some very specific equipment you want to have with you for Candlekeep.
Candlekeep: this place is darn straightforward (we're heading towards the climax u know). Climb to the top floor (you might check all the shelves for spells you possibly still not have), get arrested, arrive in the dungeon where you'll need 2 knock spell (sleep as needed) to get both tomes (also get the ring of fire prot and wand of fire - means you need 2 free equipment slot for this go). Against the solo doppelgangers I say use defensive spin (so they can only hit you with critical), and against any group blast fireballs or whatever you have in mind (and clear the rubbles with arrows).
You'll have to pass some basilisk, so you either had to carry a potion, memorised the counterspell - or simply turn invisible.
Baldur's Gate again:
E: talk with Tamoko, buy any spells you still not have (for me they were Shocking Grasp and Skull Trap), change your arrows to ...of Piercing
S: enter the Iron Throne, climb it, take Diary of Sharevok (after a short fight). I concentrated on the human woman, and let her go. This caused the ogres to self-destruct(?).
NOTE: if you'd want to do things proper you should talke to Tamoko in the SW section before this, but NOT enter the FF-HQ!
N: just to do everything proper come here, and go EAST to find an allied Fist soldier. He won't be fisting you (pun intended), but send to the Flaming Fist HQ. Oh, you better stash away all your armor and stuff, 'cause you'll have to carry a body!
SW: talk with Tamoko and rescue the Duke (-> S). Carrying out the body is not that simple though. First, when you enter all guard and whatnot will start casting spells, so prevent that with a fireball (wands, wands, wands!). Next run to the upper floor where make everyone following sleep. If a single opponent still comes you must decide what to do - hopefully will be Near Death, so you can risk activating offensive spin and win w/o armour (also helps to kill the sleepers). Finally there's the medic/doppelganger. Initiate the fight, than just paralyse it. Heck, I have so many wand of paralysation I feel awesome.
NE: to kill the two assassin in the Undercellar first lure the speaker away - then paralyze him. Even then hitting him will be hard, so cast Offensive Spin. For the caster get close until she terminates her invisibility, then cast aganzanar's scorcher from wand of fire. That prevents her castings, and won't accidentally damage innocents, like the local Ilmather-temple's priest, who won't heal you if you visit him, just lets you avoid to pay the 20 gold onetime fee for the Undercellar. There you go: a real priest. Healers are medics in hospital. Priests are
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The Dukal Palace...
First, you are NOT ALLOWED to cast Olulike's Resilient Sphere on the dukes. Because reasons. I mean then everyone would turn hostile, thus you'll be f*ed.
Second: preparation. Summoning 5 monsters definitely sounds a solid idea. Then cast every single spell you can come up with. I casted Improved Invisibility, Mirror Image, Blur and Protection from Evil. I was still clvl 11. Save now (to prevent frustration of recast), and cast Offensive Spin.
Third: attack. The question is - with what? I found the most cheesy way here shooting arrow of dispel to any ganger who looks blurry (removes their haste, and anything else they have giving you time), and whenever timing allows use Wand of Paralyzation. Those charges only work occasionally, but are awesome.
Now, I'm not sure about the winning condition for the fight. I though both dukes must stay alive, but last time Belt, the male one died for me, the female still acted like both being alive (or just used royal plural?). Whatever.
The final branch outside the final fight is almost pathetic. You can unload on 'em anything you want: extra cloudkill scroll, fireball charges, or whatever.
The final fight is much more problematic.
As Boot of Speed no longer stacks with Oil of Speed keeping distance from Sharevok is a nuisance. His goonies are also problematic for only appearing when you see Sharevok EVERY SINGLE RELOAD. They also get the y spells kicked in every single reload.
Finaly that stupid mage who's so behind is ridiculously impossible to lure out to only have to deal with Sharevok himself.
The archer-dude on the left of the screen is voulnerable to saving throws, so you can paralyze him then kill with piercing arrows.
The assassin/stealthing Tazok will hit you no matter what, but is slow. He has bloody high saves, so just use arrows.
The mage likes to cast charm (= instant game over because of bad design, and BG2 engine instead of BG1 engine).
To deal with the mage you need the Ring of Invisibility! Let Sharevok notice you and run to the faraway corner where activate the ring. Go back to the throne, and blast there a fireball or something so Angelo(?) will start acting. Shoot him with arrows while pressuring with Aganzanar's Scorcher, and he's toast! YEAH%
Sarevok himself:
ONE thing DO work against him:
Step 1: you might as well remove your armor in case you have some damage-spells (lightning) just in case
Step 2: quaff a potion of resistance for fire + potion of absorption in case someone activates a trap. Traps are inconsistent and do not deatcivate by stepping on 'em. Bah.
Step 3: I long carried a Potion of Power, but a replacement can be bought at certain shops. Drink it.
Step 4: you were able to find and/or buy Wands of Monster Summoning. Summon some monsters. Monster summoning rule: if you have 1 melee monster left summon a new doze of monsters. If you have 2 ranged monster (hobgoblins) left, summon new monsters. Otherwise wait.
Step 5: attack Sarevok with Piercing Arrows.
I needed 12 charges of summoning to win. The wands I had had 8 and 5 charges originally (never used this kind of wand until now in this adventure)
