Archer or Paladin

Mr Vegas · Post by **Mr Vegas** » Fri Dec 19, 2003 4:06 pm

ello all. I have started bg2 many times and often get about to the 3 chapter and realize how i cant stand my character. i have found that my 2 favorite chars are the archer and the
paladin(cav or inq). I dont want to start another game only to quit it again... which do you all like best and why? thanks

IVIr \\//ega$

nephtu · Post by **nephtu** » Fri Dec 19, 2003 5:12 pm

Well..

I don't really like either - Paladins give me hives (ok, I hacked Minsc into an inquisitor for this go-round, and that's actually fairly cool, but still...), and if I'm going to kill things with weapons instead of spells, I want to do it up close and personal.

That being said, why not do both? Have two player controlled characters, or hack an NPC into an archer (or two) and/or Paladins(s) in case you don't want an inquisitor....

Mr Vegas · Post by **Mr Vegas** » Fri Dec 19, 2003 5:42 pm

Hmm...

what do you suggest instead of hackin/paladin/archer?

Galuf the Dwarf · Post by **Galuf the Dwarf** » Fri Dec 19, 2003 5:57 pm

Well, Mr. Vegas...

First of all, welcome to GameBanshee, Mr. Vegas.

It depends most upon YOUR personal taste above all else.

The archer is best if you prefer to keep your character more to the back of a confrontation, and providing ranged support with bows (your choice whether he uses Longbows, Shortbows, Crossbows, etc.). If you're more of a Melee type, I would not exactly suggest this kit, since they can only have basic proficiency (as in 1 star) in melee weapons. Elves are most often made into archers because of their inherent damage bonuses to Longbows and Longswords.

Paladins have their strong points and their weak points as well.

First of all, they have innate abilities to heal (which grows as Paladins level; though the Inquisitor and Undead Hunter kits cannot Lay on Hands), detect evil-aligned creatures & characters (which may help when checking for monsters in an unexplored area, or searching for characters bent on malign purposes), and for the Protection against evil spell (saves a few spell slots for Wizards, Sorcerors, and Clerics, if you ask me). They also can equip a certain Two-Handed Sword in Shadows of Amn that has gotten the reputation of "must-have" due to its usefulness. They're dependency for high Charisma also makes them great negotiators for shop prices and other Charisma-related issues (dialogue, especially).

When it comes to Paladins as class or kit, your best bet may be either the Cavalier of the Inquisitor, depending more on your personal choice. If you like a Paladin that doesn't use ranged weapons, is immune to poison and fear (and may cast "Remove Fear" on allies), and has damage bonuses against demons and evil dragons (chromatic ones: red, black, etc.), then go with a Cavalier. If you prefer to detect illusionary magic (mainly invisibility or magics meant to trick you), Dispel magic (a stronger version than the Cleric/Mage spell), but not use cleric spells or the Lay on Hands skill, and is immune to hold and charm (if those are more of a problem than poison or fear), then go with the Inquisitor.

Overall, it's really up to you, so whatever sounds the most worthwile to your playing style should be what you should use. If you need further clarification, let us know.

Good Luck.

Mr Vegas · Post by **Mr Vegas** » Fri Dec 19, 2003 6:07 pm

Paladin/Archer

thanks for the information, i'll try em out and see what goes

Elemental ZOOT · Post by **Elemental ZOOT** » Fri Dec 19, 2003 7:01 pm

i would get an Elven Archer
Cause you can get an Inquistor
Spoiler 2 find out where and the best 2 Handed Sword 4 paladins
Spoiler 1 to find where the "Inquistor is"
Spoiler 3 to find another great 2 Handed Sword
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Temple Sewers near the Unseeing eye and after those group of attackers
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Get the Carosymr (Can't rlly spell it) in the Windspear Hills byy killing the red dragon whose actully a human.
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AND u can get a great sword called the Lilacor (i think) from entering the Copper Coronet passage way and solving a riddle.

Shin Jaon · Post by **Shin Jaon** » Sat Dec 20, 2003 12:11 am

(MINOR SPOILER)Ahh... the Lilacor, he's right on the location, a certain puzzle you must do, that's all I'm saying, oh and thaco +2. Makes for interesting conversation, a sword of cheap laughs

. You really should try the undead hunter, despite his ability for lay hands his very usefull. I suggest you try this, screw around with leveling up NPCs, or find a new kit/class, I rather enjoy the Kensai very much, especially when I was doing 25 AP per hit, on average sometimes 50 if I was really lucky, REALLY LUCKY. Good luck anyways. And and yes go after the read dragon, you'll find out why.

FilipeTeles · Post by **FilipeTeles** » Sat Dec 20, 2003 4:09 pm

Archer are a lot more funny and powerful.I soloed twice with archers with short-bow.Gensen Bow is great!!!!

muds · Post by **muds** » Sun Dec 21, 2003 10:49 am

personally id stick with the paladin, just for personal roleplaying reasons. as a bhaalspawn and leader of heroes id expect the pc to get up close and personal with the bad guys rather than skulking around in the background in his/her studded leather merrily shooting away. yeah i know the archer is really powerful if u like that sorta thing but here i just think its wrong sorry thats just me.

although overall i like the monk as a pc, the lawful good, leading and charismatic nature of a paladin makes him, for me, a good second choice as PC, AND paladins get the best weapon in the game.

As for the kit, yep theyre all pretty good, dont go for the normal paladin. i quite liked the cavalier originally, but i think a lot of people agree that an inquisitor is overall is the most useful, and his powers come into thier own in Throne of Bhaal. plus again for roleplaying reasons, the main baddy is an evil wizard in shadows of amn, and an inquisitor has dedicated his life to destroy evil practicioners of magic and so it just fits all in2 place . . .

FilipeTeles · Post by **FilipeTeles** » Sun Dec 21, 2003 7:20 pm

I soloed so almost everytime the enemy get close to me so I'am not hiding at the background.Also about role playing I think the sorceror is the best.You have a innate ability you don't stuied to have it and trained like mages and paladins.You have power in your vains.As for the best weapon there a lots of weapons good too this is personal.crom Fayer is very good in SoA.In ToB you have Agurvandal,Axe of Unyielding,Flail of the Ages +5,Rune Hammer also lots of Two-handed weapons..............

UserUnfriendly · Post by **UserUnfriendly** » Sun Dec 21, 2003 10:39 pm

there is actually a lot of disagreement on pally kits...some people say the inquisitor is the best, i disagree...

undead hunter fan, myself...

Shin Jaon · Post by **Shin Jaon** » Mon Dec 22, 2003 11:22 am

I was beginning to feel alone,

nephtu · Post by **nephtu** » Mon Dec 22, 2003 11:28 am

Re: Hmm...

Originally posted by Mr Vegas
what do you suggest instead of hackin/paladin/archer?

Actually, I don't suggest any particular combination, play what appeals to you, as Galuf said.

As I said, I'm highly inexpert on both, having never used an archer, and only screwing around with a Paladin (Inquisitor) for the first time now. My first party was a Wizard slayer with atrocious weapon skill choices, plus Minsc, Jaheira, Imoen, Yoshimo, Nalia and Aerie. If that mismatched assemblage can make it through, anyone can

Good gaming!

UserUnfriendly · Post by **UserUnfriendly** » Mon Dec 22, 2003 12:58 pm

Originally posted by Shin Jaon
I was beginning to feel alone,

why the undead hunter is the best kit...

ok, inquisitors rock, but they miss out on the single spell that makes paladins such utter killing machines...draw on holy might!!! boost to dex and str...with holy avenger, and str belt=dead dragons...

the dispell is nice, but try having your mages prepared with a spell sequenced remove magic triple...party buff friendly, and unless your mages are incredibly low level, its as effective as inquisitor dispell...

chavalier is nice kit, but fear immunity is not that impressive...or the charm immunity...remove fear lasts a LONG time, and incredibly easy to get helm of charm protection is just as effective...now items to protect you from level drain is hard to get until near the end of chapter 2, so the negative plane protection of the undead hunter is better...

the penalty to chavalier is pretty bad...cannot use ranged weapons...urg...sure you can use ranged magical axes, however, no ranged weapons means you cannot equip a chavalier with heavy crossbow of searing and plain-non-magical arrows...

that combination absolutely kills mages...punches right thru the protection from magic weapons, and the fire damage will go right thru stoneskin, spell disrupting them, and eventually killing them...

so as you can see, chavalier and inquisitor are both good kits, but the undead hunter has NO real disadvantages...

i typically make minsc an undead hunter, or mazzy...both seem appropriate, since mazzy and minsc both hate undead...undead killed mazzy's boyfriend, and minsc's racial enemy is vampires...

UserUnfriendly · Post by **UserUnfriendly** » Mon Dec 22, 2003 1:02 pm

Re: Re: Hmm...

Originally posted by nephtu
Actually, I don't suggest any particular combination, play what appeals to you, as Galuf said.

As I said, I'm highly inexpert on both, having never used an archer, and only screwing around with a Paladin (Inquisitor) for the first time now. My first party was a Wizard slayer with atrocious weapon skill choices, plus Minsc, Jaheira, Imoen, Yoshimo, Nalia and Aerie. If that mismatched assemblage can make it through, anyone can

Good gaming!

archers are incredibly powerful...archer minsc made improved battle and tactics mod survivable...here is a naughty, naughty trick...called shot, at higher levels, the penalty to save STACKS...so a few twangs of the long bow, and a spell trigger of lower resistance, and a feeblemind...drooling dragons...

nephtu · Post by **nephtu** » Mon Dec 22, 2003 1:13 pm

Archers..

I'll cheerfully believe that Archers are all kinds of powerful. They just don't appeal to me. The same, really with Paladins, though Minsc is at least a funny Inquisitor.

It's been a reach for me, really, to go sorceror heavy, as my preferred approach is melee galore and just beat the tar out of anything I fight, although I'm well aware that is hardly an optimal tactic in these games.

Good gaming!

Mr Vegas · Post by **Mr Vegas** » Mon Dec 22, 2003 8:37 pm

Yo Yo Yo

yeah, i once started with inq but everytime i used dispel mag it removed all magical items that dude was carrying, it might have been a bug or mayb just thats what it does.. not sure so please correct me on this matter...

kinda a redirection of this topic but ive played with the archer and i dont like running everytime an enemy gets close, kinda as muds was saying about the whole rpg scheme, your the son of a god of murder, comon... I was looking at mages and such and which do you guys find is the best out of these:

fighter/mage, kensai/mage, mage/thief, sorceror, or just plain mage?

ive already made my cav, and am on my way to get carsomyr, but id just like to hear/ or read rather your opinions

I

Shin Jaon · Post by **Shin Jaon** » Mon Dec 22, 2003 9:20 pm

Kensai/mage is your best bet, I believe. Neither class can wear chain mail, plat, and such. Plus the attack bonuses are incredible, especially when you are getting about 50 per hit, I remember 45 for every hit, I was rather high in proficency with my Kensai though.

Mr Vegas · Post by **Mr Vegas** » Mon Dec 22, 2003 10:01 pm

i see

ok, which brings me to my next ?

how do i dual? i've heard you grand master in the sword of choice, play it out as a fighter, and then dual at lvl 9

nephtu · Post by **nephtu** » Tue Dec 23, 2003 11:20 am

Well..

Kensai/mage is a nice combo (though kensai/thief is pretty cool, too) - but for sheer power, a single class sorceror is a far better choice, IMAO, especially once you get to the higher levels. That being said, play what you like, though none of them are really great frontline fighting choices - if frontline fighting is big for you, fighter/mage or kensai/thief may be best, since you can wear good armour with those choices (Bracers, elven chain, etc. on ftr/mage, all kinds of stuff with UAI on kensai/thief).

When dual classing, you generally want to switch at levels where you get some new abilities - fighters get new ability stars at 9 and 12, so those are logical level to dual at - 13 is a possibility also, as I believe you get an extra half attack per round. The higher the level you dual at, the longer it takes to get to that level plus one, when you will be able to use the old class abilities - at 9, you'll get to 10 as a mage pretty quickly, but dualling at 12 means quite a long period before you come out of the restriction on your kensai abilities.

You must have suitable stats, of course (16 STR, 17 INT, IIRC), and all dual class combos must be valid multi-class combos (no Paladin/monks, ranger/mages or what have you without heavy fiddling in SK or such).

As to the weapon skills to pick as a Kensai - hmmm.... going GM staves and 2* in two handers might be cool, or you could go with a dual wield style of choice - katanas might be good, as you could use Celestial Fury/Da'akon Zerth to pretty good effect, but it's a flavour to taste choice.

Have fun!