Newbie char. creation help!

Bloodtalon · Post by **Bloodtalon** » Tue Dec 04, 2001 7:32 pm

Hi I just got the game, and am planning on installing both SoA and ToB.
I'm going to play one PC and have the rest NPCs for the most rpg value.
I was wondering if anyone could help me with advice on my PC character creation. I'm looking for a character that will give me above all fun, and then after that...beat-down, practical ability.
I'm considering these dual-class options:
1) Berserker / Cleric
I like to kick ass, but theres something of the goody-two shoes in me that wants to be a cleric. Is this just stupid and gonna get me a boring game? Or are clerics actually useful...cause I'm reading all these posts about the unpracticalness of cleric heals...maybe for their buffs or undead atks?
2) Kensai or Wiz-Slayer / Thief
First of all, I can't decide between which fighter kit to start out with...
I've heard about this one too...is this any good? Maybe I should be this one cause Anomen is a fighter/cleric anyway right?...i dunno...help!
3) Any other fun and then practical characters I could be? I heard dual-classes kick major ass, so thats why i was considering those two above.

And other newbie questions:
1) At what level should I dual up?
2) What exactly is core, insane, normal etc, like what makes them different?

If anyone can answer any of my questions, I"d be most grateful.
Thanks!

koz-ivan · Post by **koz-ivan** » Tue Dec 04, 2001 8:07 pm

easy questions first:

most dual from a ftr class at level 9, since it's reached quickly it's the last level of large hit point gains, and a wpn proff slot is awarded.

monsters ger tougher and do more damage as the level is increased.

now who do you want to be?

most people prefer a ranger / cleric combo to the ftr cleric.

it's hard to go wrong with the dual classes:
ftr - > anything makes for a very powerful char. you will be very tough, be able to fight well and have the skills of a second class to fall back on.

i'm rather bland on the kensai, it's a very good class, but does not have enough toys for my tastes. id's rather have a warrior all decked out in armour and dripping w/ magic gear. (the kensai theif can do this but it'll take a while) same w/ the wiz-slayer.

berserker should not be overlooked to fill the "butt kicking for goodness (or evil)" factor.

then sky's the limit mage, cleric or theif. i like ftr / thieves the most since i don't like the npc selection of thieves.

final vote:

berzerker / thief.

rest is up to you, enjoy

The fallen one · Post by **The fallen one** » Tue Dec 04, 2001 8:07 pm

Originally posted by Bloodtalon:
Hi I just got the game, and am planning on installing both SoA and ToB.
I'm going to play one PC and have the rest NPCs for the most rpg value.
I was wondering if anyone could help me with advice on my PC character creation. I'm looking for a character that will give me above all fun, and then after that...beat-down, practical ability.
I'm considering these dual-class options:
1) Berserker / Cleric
I like to kick ass, but theres something of the goody-two shoes in me that wants to be a cleric. Is this just stupid and gonna get me a boring game? Or are clerics actually useful...cause I'm reading all these posts about the unpracticalness of cleric heals...maybe for their buffs or undead atks?
2) Kensai or Wiz-Slayer / Thief
First of all, I can't decide between which fighter kit to start out with...
I've heard about this one too...is this any good? Maybe I should be this one cause Anomen is a fighter/cleric anyway right?...i dunno...help!
3) Any other fun and then practical characters I could be? I heard dual-classes kick major ass, so thats why i was considering those two above.

And other newbie questions:
1) At what level should I dual up?
2) What exactly is core, insane, normal etc, like what makes them different?

If anyone can answer any of my questions, I"d be most grateful.
Thanks!

I think any of those choices will be just fine. When I play I like more of the pure classes. So I would say if you want a fighting kit why not maybe look at the Barbarian. Another reason to be pure is that there is going to be lots of npcs to choose from.
And as far as therules core is just like the reat AD&D rules and insane is harder easy is what it says.
And welcome to the board.
And maybe one more kit to think about is a undead hunter. I will not say why but they do come in handy.

Bloodtalon · Post by **Bloodtalon** » Tue Dec 04, 2001 9:23 pm

ivan, but when I dual up to a thief, I'll end up having to wear leather again until I get use any item anyway right? So wouldn't it be better to just play the wiz-slayer or kenzai with their equip restrictions, and then make the easy transition to leather armor, instead of having to drop from plate back down to leather....or do the fighter restrictions last even after I dual up and I'll have to wait till any item to wear plate (for the kenzai for example)?

General · Post by **General** » Tue Dec 04, 2001 9:41 pm

I believe you keep the armor restrictions for a kensai

Astafas · Post by **Astafas** » Wed Dec 05, 2001 2:04 am

Why not try a Bard? You get some of everything:

1) Can cast wizard spells and use wands
2) May use all kinds of weapons
3) Gets a familiar
4) Can use instruments
5) Knows (enhanced) bard song
6) Can lay traps (high level ability)
7) May use any item (high level ability)
8) *** in dual wielding (if Blade)
9) Can pick pockets
10) Has high lore (for identifying items)

Feel free to add to my list. The Bard makes an awesome PC!

[ 12-05-2001: Message edited by: Astafas ]

Aubrey · Post by **Aubrey** » Wed Dec 05, 2001 4:14 am

There's also the option of an elf multi-class, fighter/mage/thief. At high levels they are able to use any item, they create scrolls and potions (random choices, however), they set some formidable traps, they're good fighters and they cast spells.

Maybe this choice would be also ideal for soloing BGII, I haven't tried it though. Not just yet.

Aegnor · Post by **Aegnor** » Wed Dec 05, 2001 5:42 am

I advise against the wizard slayer for your first playthrough as the restricitions on magic items can be frustrating.

NPC's available offer a wide selection of fighter types, also a number of cleric/druids. There are no monk, sorceror, assassin, kensai or archer NPC's (to name a few), and only one bard (blade). Many on this board feel the selection of thieves available as NPC's rather limited, so if you really like thieving maybe a thief or thief kit for your PC?

Yes dual classes are really powerful, once both classes are active. With a good dual-class PC you won't need to max your party at 6 members and thus more exp for each as you go...

PDF · Post by **PDF** » Wed Dec 05, 2001 5:52 am

Originally posted by Bloodtalon:
ivan, but when I dual up to a thief, I'll end up having to wear leather again until I get use any item anyway right? So wouldn't it be better to just play the wiz-slayer or kenzai with their equip restrictions, and then make the easy transition to leather armor, instead of having to drop from plate back down to leather....or do the fighter restrictions last even after I dual up and I'll have to wait till any item to wear plate (for the kenzai for example)?

There are VERY good thief armor in Soa and ToB and ... - you can wield heavy shields also even if dual weapon is more effective !
I play a Ftr/thief straight from 1st level in BG, 26th now

, his AC is the best of the group at -11 .

This is a very good class to play, the guy scouts, hits hard, disarm traps or set them

, and can do pretty anything with UAO

.
It is most powerful till 13th level, after that it dwindles somewhat because he can't par with straight fighters, but is very enjoyable anyway !

koz-ivan · Post by **koz-ivan** » Wed Dec 05, 2001 11:44 am

Originally posted by Bloodtalon:
ivan, but when I dual up to a thief, I'll end up having to wear leather again until I get use any item anyway right? So wouldn't it be better to just play the wiz-slayer or kenzai with their equip restrictions, and then make the easy transition to leather armor, instead of having to drop from plate back down to leather....or do the fighter restrictions last even after I dual up and I'll have to wait till any item to wear plate (for the kenzai for example)?

as pdf said there are very good theif armours. also the ftr / thief (dc) can wear plate once the thief level is higher than the ftr level, they don't have to wait until use any item kicks in.

also as others have said the kensai restrictions stay once you dc until you get use any item.

it's hard to really go wrong here, all of the classes have cool abilities, and some restrictions. imo the berserker's limitations are not as great as the wiz-slayer or kensai and are simply easier to play. and they tend not to have the pain in the tail restrictions, for example there are a few cool items for thieves that kensai won't be able to use such as the stealth armours or pickpocketing gloves. the idea of nursemaiding an armourless theif for 3 mil xp does not appeal to me much. but it's a high risk high reward concept. a kensai / thief with use any item is crazy powerfull, sick backstabs, well armoured, and very adept at handing out melee damage.

bbbrisco · Post by **bbbrisco** » Wed Dec 05, 2001 1:23 pm

I'd avoid dualing from a fighter if you intend to play on to TOB. The high-level fighter abilities (GW et all) make all the difference in being a decent warrior. Dual class used to be the much better way to go, but I think multi-class is a much better option now, assuming you want to actually act like a fighter, as opposed to grab a few extra HP's.

Also, benefits from level-gains above 20 are pretty meagre, with the exception of extra high-level class abilities (which multi's get at lower levels), so the fact that a multi F/T is 20/24 won't be a problem, and he'll likely be much more useful than a F9/T40 or whatever, IMO.

Of course, you can't then have a kit, but other than berserker and swashbuckler most of them don't provide a huge benefit.

Minerva · Post by **Minerva** » Wed Dec 05, 2001 3:58 pm

My advice is, just pick one which you are interested in playing, and play the game.

There are many ways you can play this game, and I'm sure you will play it over and over again. What we think the best is not necessarily what you will enjoy the most.

I restarted the first three chapters dozen times to find the best (for me) character. And I know I am not the only one.

I agree that pick NPCs for the rest of your party is good idea, particularly in your first few runs. As I said, you will start this game again immediately after you completed.

Enjoy! Oh, and welcome to GameBanshee.

Bruce Lee · Post by **Bruce Lee** » Wed Dec 05, 2001 4:04 pm

A really useful class with loads of potential and also quite original is the half-orc cleric/thief multiclass. You wont be disappointed in this guy.
I have to say that if you are going to play this guy through ToB then you shouldn't dual, you should play multi instead if you want two classes.

ernme4vr · Post by **ernme4vr** » Wed Dec 05, 2001 4:37 pm

Aegnor,

I find alot of people complain about the NPC class spread from BG1. Too many feckin' theives.... too many. Wanna kick 'em.

NOW! I think that Black Isle is makin' the mistake of trying to level out that mistake. What I am pissed about is there are not many good SINGLE class players!

Grrrr......

- King of Hearts

FudD · Post by **FudD** » Wed Dec 05, 2001 7:01 pm

@KoH....i disagree

wizard
paladin
ranger
bard
monk
barbarian

all are great single classes to play

Aegnor · Post by **Aegnor** » Thu Dec 06, 2001 4:37 am

@KoH - I'm not sure what you mean by "single class players"

If you mean single class NPC thieves, I'd agree. And the fact that both Nalia and Imoen come with just enough ability in Open Locks and F/R traps means you can get away without a thief (one that continues to improve) in SoA.

Currently i am discovering just how great a thief Jan makes. I use him as a backup mage so I tailored his spellbook to compliment thieving abilities - lots of invisibilities, etc. Works well, though he still can't backstab very effectively. (I have a stalker for that though.)

Astafas · Post by **Astafas** » Thu Dec 06, 2001 5:09 am

Originally posted by Bruce Lee:
A really useful class with loads of potential and also quite original is the half-orc cleric/thief multiclass. You wont be disappointed in this guy.
I have to say that if you are going to play this guy through ToB then you shouldn't dual, you should play multi instead if you want two classes.

I wasn't aware of that Half-Orcs could dual at all.

Bruce Lee · Post by **Bruce Lee** » Thu Dec 06, 2001 9:06 am

They can't, which is why my advice was the half-orc cleric/thief multiclass...
Try him/her, you might like it.

Astafas · Post by **Astafas** » Thu Dec 06, 2001 10:16 am

Originally posted by Bruce Lee:
They can't

That was exactly my point.

(Sorry Bruce, given my profession I just can't help myself)

[ 12-06-2001: Message edited by: Astafas ]

WizardSlayerFanatic · Post by **WizardSlayerFanatic** » Thu Dec 06, 2001 2:36 pm

Be a straight Priest of Talos or Avenger Druid, or Wizard Slayer/Thief.