Best protagonist

Bruce Lee · Post by **Bruce Lee** » Sun Nov 11, 2001 1:47 pm

What do you think are appropriate classes for the pc with the background he/she has?
I think that human is the preferred race since both Imoen and sarevok are human. Could be a fighter but not a kit casue they don't fit in with the background IMO. Mage would work fine considering Gorion was a mage. Monk could also work pretty well. But I feel that a human blade or swashbuckler is what feels most right for me.
What do you guys think?

Craig · Post by **Craig** » Sun Nov 11, 2001 2:06 pm

Mage or monk

Silvanerian · Post by **Silvanerian** » Sun Nov 11, 2001 3:02 pm

As for race that's a bit tough. In the prologue of BG1 it states that your 20 years old, but you were still able to be a elf...seemed to me back then that the programmers had made an error.
Also in the end when you've defeated Sarevok and you see the movie when his essence return to Hell, you see a lot of other statues resembling all kinds of races - even ogres. And on ToB we have a Firegiant, a drow and a (half)dragon!)

But regarding to class I have the feeling that you're a bit more "resticted". I mean from whom did you learn matial arts? (the monk) All the "monks" in candlekeep were old priests barely able to stand at their feet if not they had a staff to support them.
A mage is obviously a possibility with Gorion. A priest is also very likely as most if the old keeps inhabitants were priets.
A fighter comes natural with the watchers ans so does the paladin (combining the fighting skills with all the priests)
All the new classes and kits in BG2 stuck me as a bit misplaced. I mean spending all of your life in a library and them you're a Barbarian?!
I can accept the ranger and the druid with the nearby forests and wilderness. And even the sorceror (the "innate" ability and comprehension of magic) with Gorion and the fact that the protagonist is a bit "special".
The rogues are a wildcard. I suppose if you have a natural talent for the things thieves do, you can practice that "art" anywhere. Imoen started out as a thief.
But still...I think it's streching it a bit.

I've always imagined that a person growing up in a place like candlekeep would be some sort of fighter/paladin or a mage/priests with a high wisdom. I've had numerous characters starting out as priests or mages to duel very early to a fighter and vica versa.

But I suppose I'm a bit oldfashioned that way. I've never used a katana in BG2 either. Where would my character have learned to use such a weapon?

Just my thoughts.

-Silvanerian

Ode to a Grasshopper · Mon Nov 12, 2001 4:56 am

Bards are a possibility, what with Gorion being an influential member of the Harpers.

Doesn't Imoen say at the beginning of SoA that she learnt her thieving skills from Winthrop, not Gorion?

As far as race goes, I read in a post a while ago that during the course of ToB it is revealed that Gorion was in love with the PC's mother. I haven't gotten that far yet, so apologies if I'm wrong. If not, presumably that rules out half-orcs, dwarves, gnomes and quite possibly halflings as well.
Apologies in advance to anyone who has a thing for Mazzy

vlos · Post by **vlos** » Mon Nov 12, 2001 6:10 am

All the long lived races, Dwarfs elves etc, would be mere children at age 20. Personally i have to agree wit you that anyone who has lived in the Libary of Candledeep would be a high wisdom mage/cleric/paladin. Then again Imoen lived there too and she was a thief, i bet she was popualar with the monks.

Bruce Lee · Post by **Bruce Lee** » Mon Nov 12, 2001 7:10 am

I think a normal thief or a swashbuckler is possible. Sort of like a rebellion against your poor childhood. Assassin would be stretching it too far. Still I think that bard suits the story really well.

vlos · Post by **vlos** » Mon Nov 12, 2001 7:48 am

The idea of a mage or priest is the best i reckon, indoctrination into your where you live and "following your adoptive fathers foot steps", for all that however i have never played a pure mage in the game.

[ 11-12-2001: Message edited by: Kruin ]

Raidri · Post by **Raidri** » Thu Nov 15, 2001 11:23 am

I agree mostly with Silvanerian.
A pure fighter, mage, cleric or thief would be the "logical" hero.
A paladin is a bit difficult. As you learn in "Shadows of Amn" most paladins start as a squire in an order. I don't think that anyone of the inhabitants of Candlekeep knows much knighthood, strong discipline and a strict ethos.

Coot · Post by **Coot** » Thu Nov 15, 2001 11:36 am

In Candlekeep there's a buiding where you can practice working in a team. The team consists of a fighter, mage, paladin, thief, etc.
Either one of those of those guys could have trained you: the paladin could've trained you as a paladin, the thief as a thief, etc.
So IMO it's not weird if your PC is anything other than a mage or fighter.

Xyx · Post by **Xyx** » Thu Nov 15, 2001 12:21 pm

Originally posted by Bruce Lee:
<STRONG>Assassin would be stretching it too far.</STRONG>

Would that not be a very appropriate class for the future Lord of Murder?

Despite all of his good intentions, Gorion may not have been able to get the desire to stab people in the back out of your blood.

Obsidian · Post by **Obsidian** » Thu Nov 15, 2001 4:03 pm

I always think a Kind of monk/sorceror would be the way to go. You have the blood of a god in your vains, I think that counts as Innate magical ability.

sigurd · Post by **sigurd** » Fri Nov 16, 2001 12:17 pm

Ask me and i would say a human dualclassed mage cleric thief or fighter would be appropriate, as he havent seen a lot of the world but then experiences many things that changes him, probably a thief or fighter would suit him the best, as magic and cleric powers takes time to understand.

A full mage or Priest sounds very suitable as well

WizardSlayerFanatic · Post by **WizardSlayerFanatic** » Sun Nov 18, 2001 3:32 pm

Druid would be better choice look at the surrounding's

Curdis · Post by **Curdis** » Sun Nov 18, 2001 6:27 pm

I think you can probably come up with a compelling role-playing arguement for any class including Assassin. You do start from 0 exps - so the good old 'Wizenned Sith Muppet came to the keep and gave your initial training in Jedi Puppet control', works.

However I must agree with Silvanerian, the "K" word is definitely not right. - Curdis

Xyx · Post by **Xyx** » Wed Nov 21, 2001 2:49 pm

<rant>

Oh, get over it already!

Who cares if it's 5" longer than most swords and has a bit of a curve? It's a bloody sword! You grip it by the blunt end and whack people with the sharp end. How hard is that?

</rant>

Curdis · Post by **Curdis** » Wed Nov 21, 2001 7:05 pm

@Xyx -

<flecks of foam around mouth>
I didn't bring it up. You can't prove it. I never even said the 'K' word. I made my vow and I've kept it. *Rainman voice* Not a sword, definitely not a sword.*rocks gently but continuously at a moderate to fast tempo*
</flecks of foam around mouth> - Curdis

Silvanerian · Post by **Silvanerian** » Thu Nov 22, 2001 5:55 am

To Xyx: you're somewhat right. If my fighter finds a nice Katanasword he might want to use it. But IF I he desides to use it, it will be without proficiency enitially. He definitely haven't seen one before (BG1) so how can he become a grandmaster in it at the beginning of SoA?
It's against my role-playing logic.

(And to all you Katana lovers: That doesn't mean YOU can't be a grandmaster in the use of Katanas, it's just my way of playing the game.)

-Sylvanerian

RPGeek · Post by **RPGeek** » Thu Nov 22, 2001 7:46 am

Narrowing it down, first, we can disclude all kinds of evil priests, since none would want him to ascend to godhood (*ahem*).
'sides, people fear him enough already.

Second, he's got no place to hang around if he wants to be a ranger or druid, though I'm sure Gorion would have approved.

Thus, we are down to
Fighter, or subclass --discluding barbarian, and perhaps also monk.
Thief, no subclass. (In that case, he'd probably change to that kit AFTER he left Candlekeep).
Paladin or good cleric (most likely of Torm, since that's the primary god of Candlekeep).
Any kind of mage/sorcerer.

Take your pick.

Gruntboy · Post by **Gruntboy** » Thu Nov 22, 2001 9:31 am

Anything.

You start at 0 XP, level 1. You choose your class and earn a tiny amount of XP before leaving CK. So why argue? The protagonist, though locked up in a dusty library, might be budding tree-hugger, back-stabber or uncouth youth (Barbarian).

As a child of bhaal, it seems you can turn your powers to just about anything. As for godhood, its not just priests with godly powers - every class gets bhaal powers.

I think the races are a little restricted however. How could a half-orc survive Baldur's Gate? How can a dwarf/elf be 20?

But that's not say you can't roleplay as anyhing. Face it, Gorion gets snuffed out at the start of Ch1 in BG and I forgot about him pretty quickly (even though he has the annoying habit of coming back

).

So play your dual katana wielding gnome wizard slayer for all I care.

RPGeek · Post by **RPGeek** » Thu Nov 22, 2001 2:38 pm

Fully agreed, except for the fact that even level 1 characters have had quite alot training.

On the other hand, there's not much to roleplay on BG1/2 either, is there? Whatever you do, you're basically constantly left with 2 choices. Be a mindless paladin, or a chaotic evil berserker dwarf. There's no in-between. If you're good, everyone rewards you, but Jaheira complains constantly.
Evil, you're in trouble all the time, and Jaheira complains constantly.

Also, on BG1, when you talk to the woman named after a tree, you say "Ha-huh!?"
Can you imagine that? How do you say "Ha-huh!?"...?