Need advice on new class

Markfaster · Post by **Markfaster** » Sat May 29, 2010 2:37 am

I'm finishing this game for the first time as human sorcerer (just staked Bodhi for good) and am forward looking to my second runthrought. I try to not look at walkthroughts unless I'm stuck.

I'm thinking that my party will be made up of following:
Mazzy Fentan
Jan Jansen
Korgan
Viconia (romance)
Edwin

I want to have lots of in party dialogue (like in my current game Viconia telling Valygar to get bath or Korgan vs Yoshimo discussion on books).

Myself I want to have some sort of melee hero since there is just too many cool weapons lying on the ground, with maybe some priest spells to support it. So I'm torn between berserker/cleric dual and ranger/cleric. As I've read on forums multiclass ranger/clerics can only cast 3 spells/level after 3rd spell level it's kind of minus, can it be countered via dual class and still get druid spells of high levels? Also what level should berserker dual? Looking at classes on my current game I'd archieve parity on levels around underdark if I dual at 13. Any ideas on other character to try or change some follower?

Also since both of these revolve around flails where I can find this Defender of Easthaven people on this board talk about?

Edar Macilrille · Post by **Edar Macilrille** » Sat May 29, 2010 3:27 am

Kensai/Mage or Kensai/Mage/Thief, you will pwn averything.

Dunno about the other classes, but there are some that will.

Markfaster · Post by **Markfaster** » Sat May 29, 2010 3:50 am

Not extremely hot on another arcane spellcaster protagonist after sorcerer thought it would make certain spells very uselful like tenser's transformation (second biggest mistake I made on my game was to pick it up on my sorcerer, the biggest was ditching Korgan to make room for Valygar). Besides the party already have a main spellsplinger in Edwin and support with Jan.

Does booting party members to read scrolls cause their intra party conversations to stop or such?

Edar Macilrille · Post by **Edar Macilrille** » Sat May 29, 2010 4:33 am

I am not certain I understand the last question.

To me, a K/M/(T) is logical (their skills look much like what Danish Jaegersoldater learns today), whereas a Berserker should not be dualled as a berserker's speciality is mindless rage to the exclusion of everything else.

Ranger/Cleric is presumably very powerful, but I dunno about its justification RP-wise.

Tenser's a mistake on Sorcerer? Not if you solo or play with small party... Longshot claims Sorcerer is so powerful it is almost cheesy, and that Tenser's should always be a part of the spell selection AFAICR. I do not use it on my sorcerers, but I also always play with full party for the banter.

Markfaster · Post by **Markfaster** » Sat May 29, 2010 4:46 am

Mostly I want berserker since he can make himself immune to just about anything with one button click.

I want full party for banter too but maybe I just haven't figured out how to utilize it correct, I just seem to be able to hit anyting and when I selected it it was choice between protection from magical energy and tenser. I just find shooting web a much better way to accomplish to neutralize enemies ( with your cleric casting free action on those in melee range.

And yes I like sorcerer much better than mage too its more flexible than any mage, annoys me to no end if my sorcerer got some domination effect and can't breach/lower resist/greater malison with other party members enought due usually just memorizing one or 2 extras on aerie and imoen.

But any poster has options on berserker/cleric. They just seems strong with flail of ages/grandmastery/selfbufss to me. Or maybe archer and ditch Mazzy for that weirdo bard at Five Flagons.

Lopov · Post by **Lopov** » Sat May 29, 2010 5:11 am

To get Defender of Easthaven, you must download Bonus Merchants Mod, available here:

Baldur's Gate II @ GameBanshee

It's third on a list.After installation a merchant named Joluv will appear in Copper Coronet and you can purchase weapons from him.I think, another merchant named Deidre will appear in Ribald's place, but the Defender is available from Joluv if I remember correctly.

kmonster · Post by **kmonster** » Sat May 29, 2010 6:32 am

Ranger/cleric multi- or dualclass can cast exactly as many spells per day as a pure class cleric of the same level. So a ranger/cleric with 14 cleric levels can cast level 7 cleric and druid spells.

If you play SoA only the XP Cap is 2,950,000, so a multiclass ranger/cleric will be inferior to a human ranger7-8/cleric in all aspects, he will hit and cast worse (only 7 instead of 10 layers of ironskins and +4 instead of +6 stat boost with DUHM, ...)

If you choose a berserker/cleric the only benefit a berserker13/cleric15 gets over a berserker9/cleric20 is teh extra half attack per round. But I doubt it's worth loosing 5 casting levels, 6 hitpoints and enduring an extremely long dualing period.

Markfaster · Post by **Markfaster** » Sat May 29, 2010 1:35 pm

This sorcerer is turning into cheese, I just beat that black dragon within timestop-imploved alacrity-5xlower resist-3-4 Abi Dhazim's within and the dragon was dead as soon as the timestop ended.. and that was from project image! Only hell to go now. I could aswell finish this game without any party now, they don't make enought difference. I do indeed have ToB install but I want to see the game from different angle aswell before I start working on it.

kmonster: I meant as how many spells I can cast from spell level 4 upwards, I read somewhere that no matter what level I am I can't cast more than 3 level 7 3 level 6 spells etc.

With ranger/cleric I could get whirlwind attacks which would make up inability to gain grandmastery in weapon. Berserker dualed at 9 sounds really sweet now alhtought I lose a little bit on attacks per round but I guess Impoved haste before combat works just as good as whirlwind attacks.

Edar Macilrille · Post by **Edar Macilrille** » Sat May 29, 2010 5:38 pm

That is why most of us love the tactical mods, but try a clean runthrough first. Then have a go at them...

Rancid Sushi · Post by **Rancid Sushi** » Sat May 29, 2010 11:34 pm

If you want a fun melee class that isn't too overpowered, pick a bard or paladin. Both classes can tank pretty well at high levels, the Blade especially. Inquisitor is good for tearing spellcasters to shreds, but I'd choose Undead Hunter or even Cavalier if you're looking for something a bit more interesting. Carsomyr is a great weapon, and there are even more powerful two-handed weapons in ToB.

Markfaster · Post by **Markfaster** » Sun May 30, 2010 8:47 am

Irenicus is dead

To great disappointment I have decided to go evil elf mage/thief multiclass with following party.

Haer'dalis
Aerie
Anomen (romance and sacrificed on selfishness)
Viconia
Edwin

I replace Anomen with Sarevok in ToB (played it a little bit see him join right away), have to remember pick up that evil 2 hander sword in underdark for him. I suppose this party will have some interesting conversations throught the game. I read that Haer'dalis and Aerie have romance plus they're great NPCs even without, just can't take Korgan since he apparently hates Aerie making her leave.

Ode to a Grasshopper · Sun May 30, 2010 5:34 pm

Just so's you know, the Haer'Dalis/Aerie romance only works if you're romancing her yourself. If you want Korgan too the Happy Patch stops inter-party fighting, but also stops the Aerie/HD romance from happening. Apparently IEP Extended Banters allows PCs with a high Charisma from stopping NPCs leaving/fighting due to party conflicts, but I haven't tried it myself.

Personally, I'd rather a Happy Patch option that just stops NPCs leaving due to reputation and allows the inter-party conflicts, or even just the Aerie/HD romance, but no-one seems to have made one so far...

kmonster · Post by **kmonster** » Mon May 31, 2010 4:11 pm

With a mage/thief you'll play like with your sorcerer.
I doubt you want to play your second game like the first, just weaker and unable to cast spontaneously.

Clerics can cast far more than 3 level 7 spells per day when they reach high enough levels. Just look at the spell tables in the ToB manuals.

Markfaster · Post by **Markfaster** » Tue Jun 01, 2010 1:17 pm

Thanks for the insight again kmonster. Been busy now so I didn't even have time to more than circus on that mage/thief. I only wanted the added benefit of good traps and better melee. I also noticed Viconia getting more than 3 lvl 7 spellslots in ToB I played a bit on my sorcerer (who is now just disgustingly powerful with 6 lvl 9 spellcasts a day). Thought I won't myself be able to cast more than 3 lvl 7 spells for a long time due multiclass but if I'm tanking what do I care?

So new party:
Me (ranger/cleric multi)
Haer'dalis
Aerie (romance)
Jan
Mazzy
Edwin

I've only had Aerie of those in the last game so lots of new banter for sure. Is Mazzy a bad choice? Se doesn't have stone/ironskin so takes beating a lot and does she have any interesting dialogue? If not Jaheira sure does have a lot with other party members. And any suggestions how I don't become overly dependant on Edwin later on?

Only think I know for sure is that I'm never using Valygar again for banter. He only popped 3 banters himself over my last game.

Sir Redweed · Post by **Sir Redweed** » Tue Jun 01, 2010 1:35 pm

Undead Hunter

Greetings. It has been a while and I see this will continue to be debated. You should always try a run through as an Undead Hunter. The story is designed as to be appealing to this type of Hero making his quest after Bodhi. The Ranger/Cleric is a good choice but try with the Paladin the greatest of all classes.

Mazzy is a choice that could be improved on. If you haven't played with Minsc it is a must. Use him as your ranger/cleric and create an Undead Hunter as the hero.

Markfaster · Post by **Markfaster** » Tue Jun 01, 2010 2:41 pm

I fail to see how paladin can be that great, only inquisitor seems any decent. Also with paladin I wouldn't have lots to do as his spellcasting is limited at best and any cleric can do everything undead hunter can far better. Before sorcerer I tried a bit as monk and was very bored as he could only hit stuff with nothing else to do.

I haven't played much with Minsc since I hate Boo squeeking every time I commanded him, plus he seems to hit random party members while berserk and was very much against Edwins offer to join me, apparently killing him eventually. As a sidenote he and Sentient Sword would make a great pair - two idiots merged into one. Maybe instead of Mazzy use him.

I'm intenting to side with shadow thieves this time since I was working for Bodhi on sorcerer.

If it helps anyone to suggest me a good party here is what I had with my sorcerer:
Me
Jaheira
Aerie (romance but scewed it by sleeping with her)
Valygar (ditched Korgan for him)
Imoen (Yoshimo)
Viconia

Sir Redweed · Post by **Sir Redweed** » Tue Jun 01, 2010 2:46 pm

I had actually just posted on the Minsc vs Edwin in BGIII forums. They hate each other as Edwin killed Minsc's love from BGI

Rancid Sushi · Post by **Rancid Sushi** » Tue Jun 01, 2010 11:56 pm

Inquisitor is a great class because it can crush anything relying on magic to defend itself. However, since you seem to be bent on a class that can make good use of magic itself, I still recommend a Blade or Jester. Sorcerer may be the greatest class, but being the greatest class is boring.

Markfaster · Post by **Markfaster** » Wed Jun 02, 2010 8:55 am

I like casters a lot

But doesn't mean I want to play as sorcerer on my next game since I already have one.

I'll see Haer'dalis performance as bard on my next play so I'll propably settle on the group I posted earlier, miniature giant space hamster sees action once I make an all good party one at some point.

Pellinore · Post by **Pellinore** » Wed Jun 02, 2010 2:15 pm

Undead Hunter is great. My first runthrough was with an Undead Hunter.