Baldur’s Gate Saga SCS Completionist Playthrough (by Mivsan_NT)

1:00: There are already 2 lesser known things in Candlekeep’s Inn.

1:50: Firebead Elvenhair’s easter egg to gain 300 gold pieces by talking 30 times with him.

3:07: There is a trap left of Winthrop, but it doesn’t trigger or do anything. But as a Thief you can detect and disable it for some experience.

3:42: Charming the nobles in the lower floor gives you some insight into them, and the male will even give you 20 gold pieces.

4:48: The option and outcome when talking to the nobles that is only given if you have 18 Charisma: they put some valuables upstairs, so you can have a chance to steal it.

5:48: The container with the very rare (and valuable) Potion of Clarity.

6:00: A very special locked chest in Candlekeep. Inside there is a Star Sapphire (worth 1000 gold), and if you managed to convince the nobles downstairs, they would put their valuables: a Pearl Necklace (500 gp) and a gem (250 gp). A total of more than 2000 gold pieces just at the start of the game!

7:00: The unfortunate downside is that to get that lock opened, you would either require a Thief with 57 in Open Locks, or be a Barbarian that can increase from an already high Strength score with the Barbarian Rage to bash it.

8:10: The other chest that can be bashed opened with just some initial high Strength, but it is in front of a noble that can call the guards if you loot it…​ If he sees it.

8:42: You can switch to your fist, and do non-lethal damage to the noble till he gets knocked out, then loot the chest without consequences!

10:15: The effects of the iron crisis, and how you better have some spare weapon.

12:35: Hull is satisfyied with just one bolt! You can keep the rest for you.

12:58: Hull’s better reward that you can get with 18 Charisma: a +1 enchanted Dagger.

14:43: Carbos, being an Assassin, is able to use the Poison Weapon ability due to SCS.

15:57: Two outcomes of the conversation with Karan if you solo, or you come with a party. The one with Kiranai in the party is done at 19:29.

23:02: How to use the temples for increasing the reputation, and how at that point in the game is optimal to gain a reputation point. The initial reputation (alignment based) is in the middle ground, which is when is cheaper to buy one reputation point. Since reaching high reputation sooner helps getting the highest discounts sooner, the investment is worth it.

25:30: The encounter with Shank, similar to the one with Carbos. Again Poison Weapon and again a monk, Parda, who has the same line as Karan if you have a party, but a unique one when you play normally (shown at 27:01).

28:10: Tethtoril, and how he is a very powerful character in the lore (protected by 3 deities at the same time: Oghma, Mystra and Deneir).

29:20: "This is one of the million reasons why Baldur’s Gate is so great". Showing and hearing the Chanters that sing the profecies of Alaundo.

31:24: The first opportunity to show the CTRL+J trick to move quicker without having to waste time watching the characters move without doing anything useful.

33:06: A priest heals you when leaving Candlekeep. An EE fix, because originally Gorion did it, and being a Mage he should not be able to.

34:11: The EE also did a different fight of Gorion versus the armored figure.

36:19: Imoen introduction. The alternative portrait and her stats, quite well min/maxed (allowing dualing to Thief, good thieving abilities, and even being the "party leader" for improved reaction and shopping prices). The required score for early traps to be disarmed being low.

40:30, 42:10, 44:43, 47:47, 50:11: First BG1 NPC Project interjections from Imoen. Including a "you don’t talk much lately" instants after she has joined the party. In 46:37, the conversation goes on IMHO for too long, without adding much.

45:10: It’s recommended to talk to NPCs, even the ones with generic names like "peasant" or "noble".

47:45: The hidden diamond in a tree, in the very first area.

51:56: Belt of Antipode looted from Gorion (not identifyied). How it’s not really useful due to the vulnerability to fire.

0:58: The Old Man gives you a hint of the hidden stash if you pick the right conversation option (note: probably not in vanilla but from BG1 NPC Project).

1:58: The hidden stash with a Ring of Protection +1, and how the item can be used unidentified.

2:48: Eldoth available early on due to the BG1 NPC Project component.

5:50: The "can’t die in one hit as a level 1 character" rule. Montaron got hit quite badly, but did not die because he was level 1 and uninjured before the hit, so he remained at 1 HP.

7:25: How for some items, while the are the subject of a quest that has to be handed to be completed, can be still nicely equipped for the benefit that it gives.

10:52: Another hidden stash with the Ring of Wizardry, worth it 9000 gold, which doubles the number of spells per day.

16:09: Miv comments on Imoen’s BG1 NPC Project-added interjections, which are quite often at the beginning. Imoen is going to have one more after looting Tarnesh.

17:17: About splitting the NPC pairs that are not supposed to be split.

20:15: Imoen has yet another conversation about adventuring and her nickname, followed immediately by the one that Miv was expecting about Tarnesh’s spellbook, and her interest on magic.

21:30: The BG1 NPC Project makes Imoen say "Manos, potentis, pah" (instead of "Manos, potentis, paro"). Miv explains how that is one of the sentences that mages pronounce when casting spells, depending on the school.

22:18: She will be able to create an item to buff Dexterity by 1.

27:08: With a dead Montaron, one of the ways to split the pairs of NPCs.

29:55: Jaheira has some different stats that in vanilla because of the mods, but those match BG2, as the NPC had different stats across the games. Also, she is modded to Neutral Good, as fits her a bit better.

33:03: Looting, and how Imoen is not yet too useful because of her low Open Locks score, but Kiranai is more useful because of her great Strength. And how there is a retry mechanic, so trying more than once is worth it if you happen to be on the border of succeeding or not.

35:22: The noble who hands the Golden Pantaloons has special dialog and reward if you have high Charisma.

36:00: Landrin, again giving extra reward if you have high Charisma.

2:25: The first Flaming Fist mercenary appears. Miv explains what the organization is.

3:12: The situation with Viconia with the Flaming Fist. How we don’t know for sure if the mercenary is right about Viconia, or she’s innocent of what she’s accused. The mercenary can be charmed to make him disclose more information about the farmers, which somewhat matches what we later can discover about her in Shadows of Amn (though it doesn’t match exactly, so there is some doubt that can leave the door open to speculation).

7:21: Viconia’s portrait in Miv’s installation is from BG2, which for most people is much better.

7:48: Viconia worships Shar, which is not an improvement from Lolth.

8:40: A brief introduction to Drow Elves.

9:38: The -2 to reputation when recruiting and dismissing Viconia.

13:27: Viconia’s stats.

19:25: Firebead Elvenhair’s trick for 300 gold can be done again.

25:05: The Composite Longbow +1 at Feldepost’s Inn, which is probably the best longbow in the game.

26:03: Glitterdust, and how it’s a good spell, but even better for a specialist Mage (a conjurer in this case, like Edwin).

26:28: The significance of the History of the Fateful Coin, and how Firebead Elvenhair might have chosen it with intention.

28:05: How the BG1 NPC Project somewhat ruins the subtlety of Firebead’s choice of words and choice of actions (giving you a book with some suspicious meaning).

29:35: The lore behind History of the Dead Three, the book handed by Firebead.

40:02: Neera’s gem bag, and addition from the EEs, and the utility of the item.

45:47: How you can loot Thunderhammer Smithy if you come at night, and get a Bastard Sword +1.

46:09: Beruel’s Retort, throwing axes +1 which can be used on melee.

47:38: The good bonuses that Full Plate Mail has against all weapons, except crushing damage.

53:58: How Kiranai has such great stats compared to Khalid.

57:53: A brief mention of the Morale Failure mechanic.

2:11: The small amount of experience that you can get in BG1 for lock picking was brought by the EE. And how in BG2EE you actually gain a lot more. Likewise with scroll scribing.

4:58: The Belt of Antipode. Only some potential situations to use it, but rarely worth the effort (better sell it).

8:56: Splitting the pairs with the option added with the mod.

13:04: Garrick/Silke have a higher offer if you have high reaction, or lower with bad reaction.

18:32: Garrick and some NPCs will disappear if don’t join when they ask, so if you want them for later, you need to add them for a second, then dismiss them.

18:56: Basic overview of Garrick and the Bard class. He has a bad morale break value, but his initial Pick Pockets score is good enough to steal Algernon’s Cloak buffing him with a potion.

20:18: Algernon and his special cloak. How it has changed from the original game, and how it can be pick pocketed early on, even though you are only supposed to know about his special item via a quest giver in the city.

29:28: The Stupefier, and how it was immensely good (in EE 1.x, later it was well toned down in EE 2.x).

33:28: Funny lines if you charm Kagain before recruiting him.

35:50: Kagain overview and his strenths and weaknesses.

43:25: The Quick Loot feature.

47:05: The Flaming Fist mercenaries that question you and think that the party are a bunch of bandits can be killed for some XP and some Plate Mail armor.

48:00: A Gibberling Champion arises! The first and only time of the playthrough where Senashira was killed, and only to a lowly opponent.

9:04: Jewelry doesn’t depreciate like other items.

14:44: Recruiting Kivan. Miv says that in the unmodded game he’s one of his favorite characters. But with the NPC Project his personality doesn’t line up with Miv’s expectations. Also covering his stats, strengths, etc.

17:20: Senashira and throwing daggers, how she’s still capable besides not having the proficiency for them.

17:53: Perdue’s short sword looking the same, only having a different name, which is easy to overlook.

20:17: The weight of throwing daggers is small in BG, but it’s zero on IWD.

21:15: How Permidion Stark hints you at the entrance of High Hedge on the Flesh Golems. The EE moved them towards the rear, so even if they are hostile initially, you have time to speak to Thalantyr and make them neutral.

24:15: The Wand of Sleep in Thalantyr’s goods. How nice it is, as it can be used by anyone.

22:37: The problem with the "not usable by" in the descriptions, how it’s kinda confusing to read, instead of saying which ones can actually use it.

27:18: It’s very important to be armed with a melee weapon when someone attacks you in melee (never unarmed or with a ranged weapon), as you get a lot of penalties attacking yourself and enemies get a +4 bonus.

27:40: Kivan’s banter from the NPC Project, and how Miv doesn’t like it very much.

3:35: First explanation of SCS’s component "better calls for help". Which makes groups of enemies smarter, in that they won’t just fight on their own, but will "call" other enemies to fight you.

6:50: Bassilus preparation starts. He’s a level 12 cleric. He typically starts with a Hold Person. Miv mentions the issue with the first spell being specially hard to interrupt, but not consistently.

10:33: Depending on the conversation with Bassilus, the skeletons "die" and Bassilus has to fight alone.

16:46: Bassilus' loot. The big price is Ashideena, which is going to be Senashira’s main weapon for a long part of the whole saga. Ashideena deals one point of electricity damage, and will be able to go through a mage’s Stoneskin, and interrupt them.

17:55: Miv explains that to succeed at Melicamp’s quest, he might need to reload, given that when finishing the quest there is a random chance of failing.

27:03: Giving a look to Thalantyr’s inventory. The wand of fear not being as useful with SCS as is in vanilla, due to enemies having protection against fear much more often.

27:43: Why consumables make a big difference, and why Miv favors buying them. Specially at that point of the playthrough where Charisma is already the maximum that grants discounts (20) and reputation is high enough (17).

30:33: Imoen achieves level 3. Miv commits to 75 in Open Locks so she’s able to tackle the majority of the locks.

0:39: Jaheira should soon start to complain about not going to Nashkel.

1:28: Jaheira actually complains about going to Nashkel. :-) This is just the second reminder.

3:15: A very nasty pack of wolves (including two vampiric wolfes) lures in the top-right corner of the area east to Beregost.

5:46: An NPC added from the BG1 NPC Project mod for a future quest.

5:58: Anomen’s voice actor also gives voice to Kelddath Ormylr.

6:44: Lathander’s lore in the realms.

9:23: Bub Snikt, a simple ranger that appears on one of the roads is a reference to Wolverine.

28:40: Kivan getting too "elf-y" with the BG1 NPC Project phrases. Miv explaining that he’s not a fan of it, but not being a big deal. And Miv not being a huge fan of elves.

2:30: A Jaheira banter from the NPC Project makes Miv (humorously!) mad. He explains that he did not like Jaheira at all initially.

3:07: Some cool things on Nashkel’s graveyard, including an easter egg battle (that will be done much later), and a name coincidence with a future enemy to be found later in Shadows of Amn.

14:54: Miv says that Karp might have something to say about the hidden Ankheg armor…​ But he was misled by Baldurdash.

18:20: The hidden Ankheg Plate Mail, and its qualities. How it’s a tiny bit worse than Full Plate Mail, but how it’s lighter. Plus it got changed in the EE, as it’s not supposed magical (and what some protective magical items are incompatible between them).

24:06: You can get the guard summoned, but still flee the area and then don’t suffer any consequence.

26:06: You can pickpocket The Great Gazib for some scrolls, but not too remarkable.

27:08: Vitare, the thief that picks your pockets on sight, and who can be killed if you manage to do it fast enough (otherwise he disappears) for a Potion of Master Thievery.

1:47: Some merchants sell you magic items at a suspiciously low price, but the one in the carnival is more or less legit. The potions do work very well, but have a significant downside. They are very useful nonetheless.

3:17: How the Red Potion is very useful to do a scribing session.

3:57: Take the potions from the chests and run without the guards being spawned.

4:51: The insanely broken mage in the tent which has a hugely powerful saving throw of 3.

6:46: Now Jaheira, if you use the BG1 NPC Project, is able to get for free the scroll of Stone to Flesh from Zeke.

8:36: The plan for Imoen: removing her from the party when she’s not yet level 4, to be able to be used as level 4 Thief on the mines, then dual to a Mage.

15:57: The One Gift Lost (Necklace of Missiles). How it’s "fireballs for everyone", and a level 0 spell that goes through Minor Globe of Invulnerability.

18:26: Quayle, being available sooner thanks to mods. Miv having some fun with Quayle’s lines, and showcasing how he can reply differently being spoken by a character with low Charisma.

25:36: The first dream sequence. Miv explains how are different for evil characters, but not based on alignment, but on reputation, and how one gets one per chapter start. At 26:31 we can see how the NPC Project adds some post-dream banter if Imoen is in the party.

28:36: Recruiting Minsc.

29:46: Kivan’s timed quest. This is something not always well known/documented, but Kivan gives you 21 days if recruited in Chapter 1, but the time given is less if you recruit him at the subsequent chapters.

30:25: The "ToB-style NPCs" mod feature on Minsc. How it allows to customize things like proficiency points and thieving skills. Followed by Minsc’s biography, stats and how he’s a nice versatile character with different choices.

2:22: The very small stash where there is a the very powerful Cloudkill spell.

4:33: About the battle with Sendai’s party. How they are a pretty decent challenge for the level of the party, and why them go "all in".

6:34: Sendai shows an arrogant attitude, and Miv explains she can reveal her family name in some conversations, which is the name of an actual noble family in BG2.

7:05: First mention of the "Armageddon Tactics". Using tons of fire tools to do a massive first blow to the enemy.

8:06: An interesting fact about the difference between the Wand of Fear and the Horror spell. The wand grants an undocumented +2 bonus to enemies' save, while Horror grants no bonus nor penalty, so the spell is better. During gameplay, Miv got right that the spell is better, but not why (he said the spell imposes a penalty, but it’s more like the wand grants a bonus). In the editing he amended himself, and then in a comment he corrected himself again.

8:56: The devastating effect of Armageddon Tactics.

12:12: Miv found a mistake on the "lore" of the end of Rufie and Albert quest. Albert mentions the Nine Hells in his line, but that’s the plane of devils, while Albert has the appearance of a Tanar’ri, so a demon. Devils and demons are different, and enemies between themselves. This is addressed by the Enhanced Edition Fixpack mod.

13:00: Major upgrade in a Kensai life. Achieving level 3 gets you the Kensai bonuses improving by one, with the possibility of adding the third proficiency point to one weapon. A total of +4 to hit and +2 to damage.

14:33: The plan of Kirinai: she will get the third point in dagger, but it will be the last in her case, for now.

20:07: The special ability learnt after a dream. The Cure Light Wounds gained on the protagonist doesn’t have a casting time of 5 as mentioned on the description, but actually it’s just 1. That makes it much better in combat, as it has less chance to be interrupted.

20:26: The Kai ability of a Kensai. Not that useful in the early game, but will be very nice for doing backstabs with Kirinai.

21:55: The famous encounter with Larry, Darryl and Darryl, who give you their autograph, is a reference to a series called Newhart.

24:17: On the Dryad of the Cloudpeaks quest, there are different rewards depending how you approach the dialog.

31:30: The encounter with Ingot, that the BG1 NPC Project changes so Minsc interacts with him, and triggers his unique Berserker rage. Miv explains the issue of losing control of him, which later on is shown (34:44, versus a pack of gnolls).

1:39: The terrible selection of level 2 Druid spells.

3:06: The "Rest Until Healed" option. Miv has it disabled as it makes things easier in a subtle way: the game decides if your sleep is going to be interrupted once, then allows to rest as many hours as needed. If you rest manually, each attempt has a chance of being interrupted by enemies.

6:09: "By your command" voice from Jaheira is supposed to be a reference to the cylons from Battlestar Galactica.

15:25: A quest that has best rewards with high Charisma. Jared will give a pair of Boots of the North if you save him from the bear.

16:53: How good the Blindness spell is.

16:53: Also at this time is when Neera triggered a Wild Surge that caused the area to be explored automatically.

1:23: A nice referece (or perhaps coincidence) in Imoen’s first lines about the dagger of bone, which was Bhaal’s signature.

3:27: An exploit in the original Shadows of Amn that the EE fixed: a way to get all the inventory imported from Baldur’s Gate in the first cutscene, by accessing the inventory via a hotkey while the screen was black.

13:15: Start of Jaheira introduction. Several interesting thoughts about her options during the playthrough, like in spell availability, weapon proficiency and role in the party.

17:07: Weapon choices for Druids vs Clerics.

19:23: The issue with Jaheira’s 10 Intelligence vs Mind Flayers.

20:45: Minsc introduction. Updated stats, class, proficiency points and weapon choices that give him so much versatility.

23:15: Imoen introduction. How she is now a Thief dualed to Mage at level 7, instead of 4, like in the imported saved game from Baldur’s Gate.

24:29: Imoen’s misterious belt is going to protect her from ever dying, as she will have be present in a cutscene later on.

26:00, 32:30: Using shapeshifting on Jaheira, how to equip her and get the most of the shapeshifted form (like the benefit of the shield despite being in bear form), and the stats of the brown/black bear.

27:29: There is a unique conversation from Imoen in the initial dungeon. You see it only when resting the first time, which is the only time that you can rest if you install SCS (the vanilla game allows to rest as many times as wished).

30:55: Armor of Faith on Minsc. Miv mentioned that Minsc would have 10% resistance with it, and soon reach 15% due to reaching level 10. This is not correct (at least, not on the 2.x releases), as Rangers start at casting level 1 when they are level 8 (so, like a penalty of 7).

38:44: Miv chuckling at the sight of a bear with Jaheira’s voice lines.

2:01: How nostalgic the initial dungeon is to Miv (and of course so many other players!). Followed up at 32:00.

4:36: The "big" healing potions, the Potions of Extra Healing, which were not present in vanilla Baldur’s Gate (but SCS added them), and which are gonna be very common in Shadows of Amn.

8:35: The improvements to the AI done by SCS, with ranged attackers going away to user their weapon more effectively, and finally switching to melee when there is no recourse.

17:17: Boo is moved to the inventory thanks to the mod component, and with the squeak sound fixed.

18:54: The vulnerability of the two Kensai characters in the early stages, without potions, items, or the possibility to use helmet or armor.

29:33: The Sword of Chaos, which on the Enhanced Edition is on the Cambion trapped by the machine. On the originals it would be later.

32:00: A mention of the Dungeon Be Gone mod, which makes the initial dungeon fully skippable, receiving all the loot and experience at the end of the dungeon instead. Miv of course finds it not to his liking, as the initial dungeon is very good, and gives a lot of nostalgia.

40:46: Miv finds that something does not add up about the room of Irenicus' love interest. She would not live underground in such a place. A conversation on the YouTube comments (including Miv) mentions some theories, including how the room could have been teleported instead.

0:23: When freeing Nalia from Isaea Roenall, during the quest a note found hinted at some slaver operations on Athkatla. Miv uses that as a justification to investigate in a "suspicious state" in the Temple District.

1:32 and 5:23: The first encounter on the compound can be trivialized by Death Spell, specially in the unmodded game. SCS makes Death Spell (and Death Fog) a bit less powerful, by making Genies not considered "summoned", but "gated", and hence exempt of being instant killed by Death Spell.

20:40: The most notable loot from the Guarded Compound is Celestial Fury, which in the EE gained a description (in the classics it had the description of a regular magic katana). Miv explains that it is very good, and that some people even consider it boring because it makes some fights too easy, due to the stunning effect.

29:23: To be able to make some time pass for the Mage and Fighter strongholds, Miv goes to visit Cromwell for the first time, the dwarf that can forge weapons from components. As the character says, he only works on commissions. Miv forged the armor from the scales of the Shadow Dragon and Red Dragon.