Magic Resistance & Stacking

Novos · Post by **Novos** » Mon Dec 05, 2011 7:49 am

Hey all,

I've been wanting to create a Thief character for a while now. I've been pondering a few builds and one that was listed on this site caught my eye... Word for word, here it is:

"Race: Human

1st class: Wizard Slayer to level 15

2nd class: Thief to level 38

Ok here's how it works: Since the expansion pack now allows you to go to 8 million experience points, you can go to 15 as a wizard slayer for 15% resistance AND still have room to get to 38 as a thief. The great thing about thiefs are the high level class ability "use any item". That skill OVERIDES your wizard slayer restrictions that doesn't allow you to use magic items. In fact it overides ANY item restrictions. In other words you can use the 2 handed wonder Carsomyr!! So add another 50% magic resistance to your 15 and you have 65, add the ring of gaxx and you have 75. And since your a thief and should use leather armor, add the evil leather with +20 magic resistance and you have 95. And of course the amulet of power for a whopping 100% MAGIC IMMUNITY and level drain protection. PLUS you can backstab at *5 the dammage, set traps ( about 9 i believe ), and steal some nice scrolls that you can cast... improved mantle anyone? With that combination nothing can harm you. You can even be REAL cheesy and equip the staff of magi ( automatic invisibility ) and backstab without even having to get away from enemies. When your invisibility is blown just go to the equipment screen and re-equip it. Only problem with this is it makes the game a bit too easy... o well ;-)"

In the first few lines, author states that you need 15 levels for 15 magic resistance... This is inaccurate right? The wizard slayer kit clearly states you get 2% magic resistance per level. So essentially I can cut the wizard slayer levels to 8 and still be able to execute this build perfectly right?

I was also a little bit skeptical about the 100 % magic resistance. Do all those bonuses stack?

Lastly; the thief levels... Should I stick with thief or go with one of the kits for an effective solo game.

Thanks again people,
- Robby

QuenGalad · Post by **QuenGalad** » Mon Dec 05, 2011 7:57 am

Okay, first things first : Use Any Item does NOT allow you to backstab with Carsomyr. It only allows you to wield it in normal battle. Backstabbing is only possible with the weapons usable by vanilla thieves - otherwise you get "inappropriate weapon" message. This includes any 'special' restrictions, such as someone's 'personal' weapon. I don't know why do people constantly get this wrong.

Secondly, I don't remember clearly, but I did this Wizard Slayer -> Thief thing once and the MR was strangely low. The bonuses do stack, though, so if you get the percentage to add properly, it's doable. However, I also remember that soloing with that character was damn difficult and I had to cheat a few times.

Novos · Post by **Novos** » Mon Dec 05, 2011 8:30 am

QuenGalad wrote:Okay, first things first : Use Any Item does NOT allow you to backstab with Carsomyr. It only allows you to wield it in normal battle. Backstabbing is only possible with the weapons usable by vanilla thieves - otherwise you get "inappropriate weapon" message. This includes any 'special' restrictions, such as someone's 'personal' weapon. I don't know why do people constantly get this wrong.

Secondly, I don't remember clearly, but I did this Wizard Slayer -> Thief thing once and the MR was strangely low. The bonuses do stack, though, so if you get the percentage to add properly, it's doable. However, I also remember that soloing with that character was damn difficult and I had to cheat a few times.

Oh I knew you couldn't backstab with Carsomyr, but thanks for the heads up anyhow.

I wasn't so much concerned with fighting casters though... more with fighting melee enemies, especially golems. Any tips?

Thanks again

- Robby

QuenGalad · Post by **QuenGalad** » Mon Dec 05, 2011 9:13 am

Right, you were quoting. Sorry about that.

The biggest problem I had (apart from the MR being weirdly low) was not fighting enemies, but healing. Since I couldn't wear the ring of regeneration and suchlike, it was quite difficult, especially in places where no temples are available. I don't recall any specific problem with golems - blunt weapons for the clay guys were a bit annoying since I avoid bashing stuff whenever possible, but apart from that it was more or less the same as with any other enemy - fight, run, try to heal if you have to etc.

The biggest problem I had in the whole game was the Baalor in the Underdark, and in the end I just bypassed it. Good thing I was roleplaying evil, that's all I can say.

Novos · Post by **Novos** » Mon Dec 05, 2011 10:52 am

QuenGalad wrote:Right, you were quoting. Sorry about that.

The biggest problem I had (apart from the MR being weirdly low) was not fighting enemies, but healing. Since I couldn't wear the ring of regeneration and suchlike, it was quite difficult, especially in places where no temples are available. I don't recall any specific problem with golems - blunt weapons for the clay guys were a bit annoying since I avoid bashing stuff whenever possible, but apart from that it was more or less the same as with any other enemy - fight, run, try to heal if you have to etc.

The biggest problem I had in the whole game was the Baalor in the Underdark, and in the end I just bypassed it. Good thing I was roleplaying evil, that's all I can say.

Interesting! So do you think 8 levels of Wizard Slayer would be sufficient? And would you be able to wear that ring with Use Any Item? Im kinda worried about the ademantium golems... I guess I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.

ZENDINGO · Post by **ZENDINGO** » Fri Dec 09, 2011 12:15 am

I use a similar build from time to time. If this character is going to be your PC, you can forgo the wizard slayer levels altogether and make up for it with the tear of bhaal that gives 10% MR to the PC. There's also 5% MR to be had from the machine of Lum the mad and by wearing the ring that clerics get at high lvl, so 100% MR is easily achievable.

You could then take any other kit such as kensai if you like. My personal preference is a multi-class fighter/thief so you can get GWW to use with Carsomyr, in addition to UAI (this is as a half orc, to get massive natural str & con).

Novos · Post by **Novos** » Thu Dec 15, 2011 8:30 am

ZENDINGO wrote:I use a similar build from time to time. If this character is going to be your PC, you can forgo the wizard slayer levels altogether and make up for it with the tear of bhaal that gives 10% MR to the PC. There's also 5% MR to be had from the machine of Lum the mad and by wearing the ring that clerics get at high lvl, so 100% MR is easily achievable.

You could then take any other kit such as kensai if you like. My personal preference is a multi-class fighter/thief so you can get GWW to use with Carsomyr, in addition to UAI (this is as a half orc, to get massive natural str & con).

Thats pretty much what I was thinking. Wow I haven't rolled an orc since my first BG2 run like 10 years ago... fun stuff!

Thanks a bunch fo the help.

- Robby

Stworca · Post by **Stworca** » Thu Dec 15, 2011 8:51 am

The only great use for Wizard-Slayer/Thief would be an archer, but for that you need the unofficial fix that adds miscast on ranged attacks.

Other than that, WS levels are - as pointed by ZENDINGO - useless, even when it comes to MR. Miscast is the only strength of the kit.