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[twillight]

Anomen will use a sword (there are many good swords, but only 1 good hammer), Korgan will use axes.

When you hire up Viconia around that time you should have Crom Faeyr too, so I don't understand your problem. And that time is around when I'm finished with the nonwanted character's quests, so it isn't at the end or something.

Anyway, Anomen sucks hard (he's almost as bad as Cernd in human form, and no items helps on that), and the goal is to have +5 weapons in all characters hands. 2-3 meeleing character also way enough, the rest should stand back and cast spells or summon things (or in case of BG1 shoot projectiles).

Now onto Skull Trap: you need 5 at one place, so with 8 spell you'll lack 2 trap. Pure and simple: Edwin is NOT ENOUGH. Also don't forget that tehere are other spells of that level you want to store.
And why to bother? To avoid dying of course, avoid laggs, freezes, and 30 minutes of suffering for that stupid battle - that's why.

[Wicky]

I guess you want to play on his own, so I wish you good luck Yoga!

If you need any tips on creating an alter-ego capable of becoming the ultimate killing-machine, then say it. I've beaten BG1 and TotSC and later Icewind Dale 2 in Heart of Fury difficulty. This was meant for characters who already have beaten the saga! But instead of bringing in level 30 heroes, I've started Heart of Fury with level 1 guys. All but one of them were shield-dwarves with max constitution and would not survive a single hit, but I kicked their asses anyway, hehe

[kmonster]

You could try putting CD2 into the drive before the game asks for it.
If you do a full install the game shouldn't ask for CD switching.

In order to narrow down your problem we need more information. Something like

What are your computer specs ?
Which windows version are you using ?
Which game version did you install ? Did you make a full install ? Are you using the CDs or an CD emulator ?
Did you also install TotSC ? Which game version are you playing ? Did you install the latest patch ? Did you install any inofficial mods ?
...

[Eagle of Fire]

I also have to disagree with Clerics being a bad choice. Not only most of the early loot is cleric friendly but you do happen to be able to dish out a major amount of healing on your other party members when needed. Some high level spells just dish out incredible damage and, as an extra perk, your char usually stay back and hit with long range weapons or move around to heal. This mean that you are rarely on the front lines and that your own character is rarely nearing death.

If you do play a cleric then do yourself a favor and accept the two evil chars you will meet on your way (this is scripted), then instead of following the road east and north go south to the hidden mage retreat. Then a little further south you will meet a crazy cleric/necromancian which is not really hard to kill even at level one or two (since you have nice cleric spells plus turn undead, right?) and you'll net yourself a nice +1 hammer right off the bat.

Yes, playing a cleric is nice when you know what to do.

[twillight]

@kmonster
You really called 25 STR "low"? Where r you live in? Viconia also have big saving throws against magic, and can be used to summon things like Fallen Deva, lifting up weight from the mages.

Now "highlevel priest spells" is actually "flame strike" (stronger enemies are immun to it) and "bolt of glory" first and last. And swapping a potion is much more easy and fast and class-independent (and potions are plenty) for healing purposes.
And to mention the AI is not that stupid, and enemies usually comes from all sides, so BG is not some pen&paper shit where the priest "hides in the back". And even if it can heal 1 character, usually more then 1 is suffering damage.

For me safe areas were plenty. I don't know what you did, but most probably you did something wrong.

Bards work this way: very-very minor effect on the party IF it is not hit/targeted/etc. by anything, requires constant overwatch, totally passive, have very low stats itself. I still vote against it unless playing BG2.

+1 hammer? R U serious? I instead go to the secret money-making spot, and buy some Sword +3 with 2 more attributes in that certain shop what sells it... Oh, the loosy priest can't carry a sword?

Lastly I see you have no idea what the use of Skull Trap spell is... I bet you never killed higher rank demons INSTANTLY with it. With only Edwin that won't work!

[kmonster]

@twillight
Viconia has 10 str, not 25. That's not even enough enough to carry proper cleric armor without help from spells or magical items you don't have for most of the game. She doesn't get a bonus to saving throws, she gets MR.
Priest spells are useful, but any priest can cast them.
That (emphasized by you) enemies can attack your priest is a reason to take a priest who has the strength and endurance to walk into melee and survive instead of her.

You can of course just reload until your rest is not disturbed or spend time travelling across the maps to the next inn, but that's really annoying.

It's actually a +2 hammer which you can get early in the game and the swords you can buy aren't better than +1 and the best one is +2. TotSC adds additional swords, but it also adds additional cleric weapons which aren't worse. Clerics can use powerful melee weapons, their weakness is ranged since slings are worse than bows. But at least slings are 1-handed and allow to wear a shield.

Bard songs add surprisingly high damage, five fighters with a singing bard have a higher damage output than 6 fighters. And bards can use a composite long bow to attack twice per round for 3-8 damage each even without magical weapon or ammo if you don't like supporting. They don't have low stats or need special overwatch.

Skull traps can be powerful in BG2 (bards can 1-round kill better with it since they level faster, a high enough level fighter/mage multiclass doesn't need a spell for a 1-round kill), but so can other spells too. The extra spell per day and level helps all the time.

[twillight]

Originally Posted by kmonster

@twillight
Viconia has 10 str, not 25.

You can of course just reload until your rest is not disturbed or spend time travelling across the maps to the next inn, but that's really annoying.

Bard songs add surprisingly high damage, five fighters with a singing bard have a higher damage output than 6 fighters. And bards can use a composite long bow to attack twice per round for 3-8 damage each even without magical weapon or ammo if you don't like supporting. They don't have low stats or need special overwatch.

Skull traps can be powerful in BG2 (bards can 1-round kill better with it since they level faster, a high enough level fighter/mage multiclass doesn't need a spell for a 1-round kill), but so can other spells too. The extra spell per day and level helps all the time.

As I said you know nothing about the game. Viconia will have 25 STR with Crom Faeyr, a weapon only she will have proficiency in.

Noone will use 5 fighters.
Also eg. having +1 mage (instead of bard) means +1 fireball per round, +1 magic missile per round etc.

You simply have no idea how Skull Trap (or traps in general) works.