Actually, since I posted that, I managed to nail down what was causing a lot of the stuttering. Turns out Zonealarm and my popup blocker weren't playing nearly as nice with BG as they do with other games, turning them off reduced the stuttering from about once every four seconds to about once a minute (infrequent enough that I don't notice really notice it unless it happens when I try to click on something).
Now here's something else that you might be able to help me with: As a solo character, I've got a Ranger/Cleric that I'm just starting out on for BG to bide my time until Master of Orion 3. So far I've not had much in the way of trouble, the only enemies that have given me pause so far have been Silke, but I survived her one lightning bolt, and the mountain bear across the bridge near the gnoll stronghold map, for some reason he didn't want to roll lower than 19 on his save for any spell I could cast to make him easier than just standing there and whacking him with my mace for about four reloads. Oh, and that mage in the tent at the carnival, I never really had an answer for him, I just charmed him with Algernon's cloak and wasted all of his spells on himself to dispel his mirror images, then beat him down.
On the other hand, I don't see where the inherent overpowering would come from. Perhaps It comes at later levels or maybe I'm just not playing it as well as I could. My usual MO at this point of the game is to hold person the people, entangle whatever else if it's tougher than an xvart or gibberling, and then beat them down with sling bullets. If I feel like really cheesing things up I abuse Algernon's cloak (okay so I borrowed Garrick for a few seconds, but I figure the guy owed me one after I got rid of Silke). Right now, unless/until I find something better to use I dress this character up like a fighter, going for Ankheg plate +2, large shield +1, girdle of piercing, and some plain old helmet (for a grand total of AC -2, with significant bonuses to anything besides blunt damage), weapons being mace +1 (not ready for Bassilus yet or I'd be using his warhammer +2) and the sling +1. Levels Cleric 4/Ranger 3 mucking around Nashkel doing stuff until I feel like doing the mines. Stats are middling, str/wis/cha 16, con/dex 15, int 10, rather on the low end of the spectrum but I was planning on getting books to boost things up (especially that wis). I know you've got BG2 now, Doc, have you tried playing your R/C solo through that yet? Is it worth doing? I've got one with some much better stats rolled up that I would just grab the golden pantaloons and export for BG2...or maybe I'll pick up my Neutral Party again instead, I don't remember why I stopped playing those guys. Too much stuff to do, only my days off from work to do it
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