Skald bonus

ruscavo · Post by **ruscavo** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 4:29 am

Hope this is in the right forum as I'm actually playing through a tutu game at the mo but the question was about a BG2 kit.

I'm playing as a skald (for rping reasons) and in the kit description it says "gets +1 to hit and damage for all weapons" but in my char information my THAC0 never seems to indicate this (when using a weapon I'm proficient in it's 20 or not proficient 24). Does any know if this bonus is applied or if there is anyway of finding out if it is having it's effect? Ta

Crenshinibon · Post by **Crenshinibon** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 5:53 am

Like the Kensai bonus, it's already applied and is reflected on your THAC0 table. I'm sure that if you make a bard, with the exact same stats, level and equipment, you will see a difference in their THAC0 values.

ruscavo · Post by **ruscavo** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 6:43 am

Cheers for the response but I'm not sure I'm seeing it. This was for a lvl 1 skald with standard equipment so I would have though the THAC0 should have started at 19 but it displayed 20. I will try creating a pure bard comparison, aswell as a Kensai/fighter comparison aswell.

Berethor · Post by **Berethor** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 9:36 am

It's calculated as soon as you create your character. Also, remember that it's a one-time bonus, so you won't see an improvement over time.

Keep the skald on the back lines with high dex and a bow when you need to fight with him, and sing for your group when you can. It makes up for the lack of offensive skills skalds have.

ruscavo · Post by **ruscavo** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 10:46 am

Berethor wrote:It's calculated as soon as you create your character. Also, remember that it's a one-time bonus, so you won't see an improvement over time.

I get that it won't improve but I'm just unsure if it's having any effect at all. The base THAC0 and THAC0 appear to be identical for a vanilla bard. Is there some way of seeing the calculated rolls in BG2 to see if it's taken into account then?

Berethor · Post by **Berethor** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 2:16 pm

When you created a vanilla bard, did he have the same amount of strength as the Skald?

If they had identical stats and their THAC0's were the same with a certain weapon, your game may be bugged.

Not sure how I can help you. If a vanilla bard is created with a base THAC0 of 20, then the Skald's THAC0 should be 19.

ruscavo · Post by **ruscavo** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 2:01 am

Right, I think I've cleared this up now. I went to game options > feedback settings > display attack rolls and created a new skald with strength 15 (i.e. no bonus to hit or damage). Whilst attacking Shank in Candlekeep my attack rolls were displayed as x + 1 = y.

I then went back and created a vanilla bard, also with strength 15, and attacked Shank again. This time my attack rolls showed x + 0 = y. So it appears the bonus is applied but rather than lowering your THAC0, it's taken into account during your attack roll.

Couldn't check if it was affecting your damage though as these rolls were not displayed but I assume it must be.

Interestingly I notice that a Kensai at lvl 1 recieves no bonus to their hit and damage. The first bonus must come in at lvl 3.

Anyway, I'm satisfied. Hope this is of interest to some people. Laters.

Berethor · Post by **Berethor** » Sat Oct 11, 2008 12:40 pm

Personally, I haven't played BG1(sadly), so I don't know if the calculations are different than in BG2.

Might be worth it to try the same experiment in Irenicus's dungeon on the little mephit near the jailkeep golem.

EDIT: Tutu, If I'm correct, runs BG1 together with BG2 using BG2's engine, so I guess it would be the same result regardless.

Ignore what I said if that's the case.