Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance/Walkthrough

Starting characters
You start off with a choice between three unique characters (you can unlock a fourth). For the difficulty of using the characters, it would be put from easiest to hardest based on strength, health, experience and charisma.

Vahn is good for beginners. You have an easier time taking down enemies and also the experience goes up fairly easily. On easy mode, if you have a supply of health potions, you're less likely waste them if you upgrade Vahn's defense. Also the items cost should be reasonable for beginners who want to buy and sell their items.

Kromlech is pretty much a standard character. His strength is a touch higher than Vahn's, but he acquires experience slower than anyone (just below Adrianna). Again, when playing on easy mode, you're less likely to use up health potions if you focus on defense early on. The cost of items is a bit higher than Vahn, so really think wisely about getting a good deal.

Adrianna probably works best for veterans. Her strength is weak but her magic makes up for it. The experience is a bit quicker than Kromlech. On easy mode, you should upgrade her constitution to make up for her lack of HP. Also, upgrade her defense so you won't waste health and magic potions. Since her weight is very limited, you'll be lucky to get items at the cheapest price and not have to worry about saving up gold.

Drizzt is also best for veterans. Like Adrianna, his strength is weak but can easily gain experience far quicker than Vahn. It's recommended that you start at normal difficulty. You just need to upgrade the strength, constitution and defense so you'll save yourself from wasting health potions. Also like Adrianna, the price of items is nice and cheap but a bit higher so consider being lucky. A special note, you have to change character when you start a new game right off the bat.

Saving your game
You will encounter pedestal with a book as a save location. The save files will go in order from the most recent time to the least recent time. The biggest importance is to save frequently, especially when you reach terrifying puzzles like jumping over round platforms or you ran into an overwhelming number of enemies.

Throughout the walkthrough, there will be places in which you get a chance to save yourself from trouble and be able to take a breather between sections of the level. So pay attention to your map as you uncover the area and keep a good memory over where the puzzles are and where the enemies are going to attack.

Max up your experience
All except Drizzt start out with no experience. To really max up the experience, you should search the whole map of each area of each dungeon section and take out all the enemies until there is no one left. That's if you're approaching it as your first time uncovering the map.

If you approach the forest to the ice cave after beating the Evil Sorceress in the Mining level, try to keep a good memory of what places you've already gone to, because the map is already revealed and it will be hard to max up your experience if you haven't cleared the area of enemies.

Also, the sidequests will give you additional experience on the first act only. Lastly as an option, for every three levels, you can upgrade wisdom to speed up the time it takes to go up another level.

Starting difficulty

 * Easy: For people who are new to the game. It would be wise to start any new character in this difficulty because the enemies strength is weak, they are easier to kill and you'll have an easier time going through the game.
 * Normal: People who are familiar with this game but are not ready to get pounded should choose this. The enemies should be well balanced. Also, you might want to use a hit and run tactic so you can recharge before you attack again.
 * Hard: Enter this difficulty at your own risk. The enemies are much tougher and harder to beat. You really need to think about the way you approach the enemies so you can survive with minimum effort.
 * Extreme: Take no chances against the toughest enemies you'll ever face. You must really pace yourself and try to limit a number of enemies you'll attack because they'll be ten times harder than on easy. Also as a special note, this mode will use the preowned saved character at the start.