Best solo fighter

Bruce Lee · Post by **Bruce Lee** » Fri Nov 29, 2002 8:26 pm

I have been wanting to go through the game with a solo fighter but I am undecided... which class/kit should I use. I was thinking of a vanilla fighter but it sounded a little boring. Paladins can cast some spells which can be useful. The berserker has rage, rangers have stealth etc.
I have tried a kensai but it was to hard really. Wizardslayer got stuck at the marching mountains after dying alot there... it was easy through SoA with both kensai and wizardslayer though.
Now I am thinking of a stalker.
What do you guys think is the best for solo and which have you soloed with?
Since 10 is the maximum number of options I will exclude the beastmaster kit because I am not going to play it

I will instead have the monk as an option.

VonDondu · Post by **VonDondu** » Fri Nov 29, 2002 9:12 pm

I have never soloed the game, but if I had to pick one on your list, it would be an Inquisitor. Dispel Magic, True Sight, and Summon Deva would really come in handy. A Stalker or a Berserker would also have some advantages. I can't figure out how you would win some of the battles, though.

Bruce Lee · Post by **Bruce Lee** » Fri Nov 29, 2002 9:20 pm

A stalker would make sense roleplaying wise quite well, sounds like a guy travelling alone to me. I understand what you mean about about winning some battles... I am leaning towards stalker myself at the moment.

Baldursgate Fan · Post by **Baldursgate Fan** » Fri Nov 29, 2002 9:52 pm

Hi Bruce:

I have soloed twice with a monk from SoA through ToB. He's tough to protect in the initial stages (up to about level 14). But after that, he's a cinch. He actually killed dragons single handedly! My kind of guy.

Archer - I gave up halfway. Too tough. I spent too much time running away from enemies.

Berserker - Once. After I get my hands on Celestial Fury and Flail of Ages, it's all over. IMO, he is not as easy to solo as the monk with the resistances.

Barbarian - Once. Inspired by Sarevok in ToB.

Inquisitor - Gave up half way.

Beastmaster - Not on your list, I know, believe me; it's the toughest! Gave up on him in Chapter 2.

Hope that helps.

Bruce Lee · Post by **Bruce Lee** » Fri Nov 29, 2002 11:47 pm

Monk is tempting but the lower hps and the fact that you are not doing elemental damage seems like too big a handicap when soloing... also no helmet means imprisonment will tough to handle.... still it would be cool.

ARcheR_S_ · Post by **ARcheR_S_** » Sat Nov 30, 2002 3:23 am

ARcheR al the way!!!!

Second would be Monk, third Kensai........

Craig · Post by **Craig** » Sat Nov 30, 2002 5:38 am

Kensai Sleek stylish, but the abilities are all or nothing, kai and it hits, excellent, miss and it doesn't, the blade gets this but gets +2 damage and thaco

Berserker Loses it basicly because when he fights he loses it, takes a penaslty after wards, and can't use ranged weapon.(Can dual-class!!)

Wizardslayer Better then you think, if you attack with a bow. The 3rd erdtion forsaker does a better job)

Cavalier Not many dragons and few demons, the resistances are very cool and the immunities, but this could be achieved by a spell. Still decent with what it loses.

Inquisitor Great bonuses but the downfall was overshot.
Undead Hunter A VERY good choice at the start, and leading to the end aswell. On so cool if soloed. Lay on hands isn't essential.

Archer Spinny effects with called shot.

Stalker One of my favoutites, sneak back stab...

Barbarian ROCK ON! My favourite class Gains more then the berserker I believe, my barb had a main thaco of -3 and an off hand of -1, i don't know how often that hit but his max damage was 58 and he attacked 3 times.

Monk Excellent soloer resistantces, attacks etc. Not as much good as in a party

Blade Offensive spin and defensive spin, says it all. I once got down to -18 AC with out much outside help, no armour. Did 3 attacks a round at 22 damage.

Avenger/fighter( BG 1

) I see why they made it impossible for this to happen....

Stalker/Cleric See above.

Rataxes · Post by **Rataxes** » Sat Nov 30, 2002 8:32 am

Inquisitor, how one can handle some of the tougher mages as a solo fighter without the Inquisitors dispelling abilities is beyond me. True Sight is also a godsend, it renders those bloody backstabbing thieves harmless.

VonDondu · Post by **VonDondu** » Sat Nov 30, 2002 10:41 am

Craig, a Stalker/Cleric is not a legitimate class. You have to cheat to create one. I've played one before, and she was awesome.

It wouldn't have been very hard to solo the game with her.

That brings up an interesting point, though. A character who can cast spells will generally have an easier time than a character who can't cast spells. That's one reason why a Stalker has an advantage. Rangers can cast a few spells, you know. Even Minsc can. I don't know how many players actually take advantage of that. The stealth also helps a lot. But even with spells and stealth, I don't know if I could solo the game with a Ranger.

The Stalker's backstabbing is nice, but I think the Archer's sniping ability is even better. In melee, one proficiency point doesn't make much difference, so I don't know why an Archer would have to run away from a battle when a Stalker wouldn't have to. I once played an Archer with a full party all the way through Shadows of Amn, and my Archer had by far the most kills. But if you're planning to continue playing the same character through Throne of Bhaal, I wouldn't play an Archer, due to the nature of bows and arrows. I simply prefer melee and spells.

That brings up another question: which character would you solo with in Throne of Bhaal? A Ranger/Cleric looks better and better.

garazdawi · Post by **garazdawi** » Sat Nov 30, 2002 11:47 am

I only tried to solo with one fighter type class, Undead hunter. I got as far as the last battle in TOB(couldn't beat Melissaan once

) Since then I've soloed with sorcs and clerics (dual classes) only. From the list above I would go with a monk. Tried it once and it was a breeze up to Irenicus. After that I don't know as I didn't have TOB then...

Fallen Angel · Post by **Fallen Angel** » Sat Nov 30, 2002 11:59 am

Soloing

If you try to go it alone either the stalker or the inquisitor would be the best, IMO. Each has a special ability that allows them to deal with more powerful opponents (who are almost always mages). While the inquisitor will make a better toe to toe fighter (Carsomyr and full plate), the ranger has a number of abilities (sneaking and spells) that allow for more finesse and stragey. So it comes down to what type of game you want to play.

You might also what to consider which stonghold is better.

Baldursgate Fan · Post by **Baldursgate Fan** » Sat Nov 30, 2002 12:19 pm

@Craig and VonDondu:

Interesting posts regarding Stalker/Cleric. I have not tried creating a monk/sorc, which would be too powerful even for ToB. Suffice to say that it rocks in IWD 2 - my favourite solo class!

@garazdawi

I have taken a solo monk right up to the end boss battle in ToB (without Ascension) and he did great. I could not finish the battle and the game with Ascension going solo. Perhaps, better solo-ists here could give me a hint or two?

@Fallen Angel

I have not played a solo Stalker so I can't give fair comment. I do agree with your point that the Inquisitor is a good tank one on one (with Casomyr). And after completing the Fighter Stronghold so many times, gaining the Paladin Stronghold was a refreshing change. The only prob with Inquisitor is the low magic resistance and personally, I was disheartened that he couldn't even get pass the adventure group in Trademeet, which the monk was able to do. Please share your strategy if you had done so successfully with a solo Inquisitor.

bullions27 · Post by **bullions27** » Sat Nov 30, 2002 12:31 pm

If you have the patience, the Monk is one of the best solo fighters in the game if, and it's a big if, you know how to play the class. This goes for every other class as well.

Bruce Lee · Post by **Bruce Lee** » Sat Nov 30, 2002 5:12 pm

What is the adventure group in Trademeet?
The Inquisitor has killer saves and with Carsomyr the MR is respectable no?
Still I would like to have stealth so maybe Monk or Stalker.
It will be alot harder than my solo swash/mage which was a breeze...
But I want to try a non-caster singleclass next. I cannot however see how a monk can win the last battle.

bullions27 · Post by **bullions27** » Sat Nov 30, 2002 5:19 pm

Given the right equipment the Monk can wipe the floor with Irenicus easy. His speed, movement, atks, and magic resistance will go a long way.

Of course any solo class that don't have access to any sort of Mage spells will be extremely difficult. That's where their innate abilities come into play and IMO, Monk's are good, if not better than Paladin kits becuase of the number of attacks per round.

Bruce Lee · Post by **Bruce Lee** » Sat Nov 30, 2002 5:29 pm

I was talking about ToB final battle... I have soloed a Monk through SoA and it was easy. But there is some tough melee in ToB where a Monks weaker hps will be a drawback IMO... I might give it a try though.

bullions27 · Post by **bullions27** » Sat Nov 30, 2002 5:34 pm

The Monk has a pair of bracers and an ioun stone in ToB that will solve that.

Impaler987 · Post by **Impaler987** » Sat Nov 30, 2002 7:22 pm

Originally posted by VonDondu
The Stalker's backstabbing is nice, but I think the Archer's sniping ability is even better. In melee, one proficiency point doesn't make much difference, so I don't know why an Archer would have to run away from a battle when a Stalker wouldn't have to.

Actually, there's practically a night-and-day difference between one and two points in a weapon. Well, ok, that's exaggerating a little, but it's definitely noticeable. The extra half-attack per round and the quantum leap in hitting and damage goes a long way. Too bad the same can't be said about the difference between 2 points and 5 points (unless you patch it, which I don't).

Anyway, I'm nearing the end of ToB with my solo, demon-killing stalker -SPOILER (highlight to read)- I have Balthazar, Nalmissra and cronies in Watcher's Keep, Demogorgon, Ravager, and Melissan left to fight. I don't foresee any problems with Balthazar, but any advice on Nalmissra, Demogorgon, or Melissan would be appreciated. -END SPOILER- She was actually quite easy to solo; SoA was a breeze, as was much of Watcher's Keep and ToB. I actually had an easier time soloing a stalker than an archer (a pervious archer solo of mine ended around the middle of ToB).

The only single-class warrior I've soloed to completion is a cavalier. The only problem I ran into early on was undead and their level drain. However, levels rise quickly in a solo game, and soon my Turn Undead was so powerful that it didn't matter. Dragons and demons fell like flies, he tore a path of righteous destruction through ToB and even sacked the ToB final boss pretty easily. With healing abilities, sick bonuses and immunities, a high amount of HP, and certain key defensive and support spells (and of course that lovely Holy Avenger), I think the cavalier is actually the best warrior class to solo with.

Originally posted by bullions27
Monk's are good, if not better than Paladin kits becuase of the number of attacks per round.

Unlike monks, paladins can be improved hasted (Ring of Gaax), rendering anywhere from 6-8 attacks per round for an extended period of time (depending on whether you wield Carsomyr or dual-wield Purifier/Angurvadal). And Greater Whirlwind renders the character's base number of attacks useless anyway.

UserUnfriendly · Post by **UserUnfriendly** » Sat Nov 30, 2002 11:12 pm

let me recast my vote,,,,
much like impaler, i chose chavalier, but in reality, the undead hunter is better....

the ability to use long bow makes all the difference...and while both get cleric spells, i think to level 5, right??? the righteous magic, draw on holy might and chaotic commands makes both almost equal in killing ability, stack all of them for major boost in killing power....

but the chavalier is limited to throwing axes, and its not until you get to tob you get the best general purpose throwing axe in the game, the one you get in amkethran....

azuredge is too undead specific, and to get the rifthome axe you need to side with bodhi...

but the undead hunter can get crossbow skills and use it, which is so nice...

garazdawi · Post by **garazdawi** » Sun Dec 01, 2002 3:39 am

Originally posted by UserUnfriendly
i think to level 5, right???

A paladin of level 20 has three level 1,2,3 and 4 spells