Hi all,
Ive finished SOA three times and now just finished TOB for the first time.
It only just came out on mac so please excuse my tardiness!
Now a couple of points and a couple of questions please. This thread may contain some SPOILERS perhaps, so please beware if not wanting to read about them.
1) Ive just purchased BG 1 and TOSC and am about to play through them, with the intention of importing through SOA and TOB the same characters. Can anyone give me some advice re doing this?
2) My 3 characters so far have been:
: a Neutral Evil half-elf Fighter /Thief (level 19/23 - completed TOB)
: a Lawful Good human monk (level 20, completed SOA)
: a Lawful Neutral Human Evoker (level 17, never quite completed SOA).
: a Neutral Evil Half/Orc Beserker (level 19, completed SOA only)
What would you recommend I select for doing the entire series from BG I. I realise the kits are out (im not using any mods). Im looking for a different play experience to what I have tried so far.
Ive considered a fighter mage (perhaps a half-elf or gnome), a druid (human or half-elf), a cleric (perhaps a multi-class). Im open to suggestions though!
3) Ive heard heaps of people knocking anomen in these forums. Ive just finished TOB with him as a level 32 cleric and i thought he was awesome. I let him become fallen, and earnt him over time the crom fahyer and the +5 upgraded warhammer form ToB (cant remember name but it slays undead big time).
He was really cool, with high HP, wearing blue dragon scale, and a +4 shield. Also his spell set was just as good as viconia really (less spells at lower levels but it evens out later on).
Id like to try graduating him on the good path as I believ his wisdom is boosted which would be great.
Thats all for now folks. Look forward to your replies.
Play the whole way through - advice please
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chimpmaster
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Okie dokie...
Welcome, chimpmaster! Sadly, no summon chimp spells are available in the BG series (though you can summon Cows if you cheat)
Let me answer 3) first - Anomen performs very well, he can really put the hurt on (though his initial weapons proficiencies are dismal). Some people find him ever so slightly annoying, however, which is usually what they complain about. He'll never be as good a "pure" cleric as Viconia, but his fighter skills + cleric buffs make him scary in melee.
You can't pick kits for a play-through character, it's true (though you could tweak them in with Shadowkeeper, if you were inclined), unless you play with the BG Tutu, which converts BG to the BG II ruleset. I wouldn't recommend that for a first playthrough, though.
Your class selection is really a matter of taste - the only caveats I would apply are that single class mages are really weak for the first few levels (you could quite easily end up starting with ONE hit point and AC 10!), and that single class druids are generally pretty lame. My first (and only) playthrough character was a dwarven fighter/cleric, which was a lot of fun, but different dual, multi or single class characters can all do well. When you switch to BG II your weapons proficiencies will be avaialable for reassignment, so don't sweat how they'll map (long sword and two handed sword are the same skill in BG, for example).
Of the choices you've listed, I'd go fighter/mage or fighter/cleric - in single class clerics you can already have Viconia, who is simply insanely good. In druids, Jaheira is already a solid fighter/druid, and, as I've said, single class druids strike me as rather lame, though they have some whizzo spells at higher levels.
Still, play what you darn well please, and have fun!
Welcome, chimpmaster! Sadly, no summon chimp spells are available in the BG series (though you can summon Cows if you cheat)
Let me answer 3) first - Anomen performs very well, he can really put the hurt on (though his initial weapons proficiencies are dismal). Some people find him ever so slightly annoying, however, which is usually what they complain about. He'll never be as good a "pure" cleric as Viconia, but his fighter skills + cleric buffs make him scary in melee.
You can't pick kits for a play-through character, it's true (though you could tweak them in with Shadowkeeper, if you were inclined), unless you play with the BG Tutu, which converts BG to the BG II ruleset. I wouldn't recommend that for a first playthrough, though.
Your class selection is really a matter of taste - the only caveats I would apply are that single class mages are really weak for the first few levels (you could quite easily end up starting with ONE hit point and AC 10!), and that single class druids are generally pretty lame. My first (and only) playthrough character was a dwarven fighter/cleric, which was a lot of fun, but different dual, multi or single class characters can all do well. When you switch to BG II your weapons proficiencies will be avaialable for reassignment, so don't sweat how they'll map (long sword and two handed sword are the same skill in BG, for example).
Of the choices you've listed, I'd go fighter/mage or fighter/cleric - in single class clerics you can already have Viconia, who is simply insanely good. In druids, Jaheira is already a solid fighter/druid, and, as I've said, single class druids strike me as rather lame, though they have some whizzo spells at higher levels.
Still, play what you darn well please, and have fun!
I have given up all lesser evils as inadequate to my purpose.
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chimpmaster
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thanks for the advice
Yeah,
Im leaning towards a fighter mage, or perhaps a gnome illusionist/fighter.
Mainly because looking at the npc's in bg2 and TOB, there are so few mages to choose from. Edwin is cool but im thinking of going through as a good character this time, making him a poor fit. Jan jansen, well.... Imoen is cool however.
Speaking of which thieves are really scarce in BG2 also.
Im thinking of the following goal party at the moment.
Myself
Minsc (human ranger)
Jaheira (half-elf fighter/druid) or cernd (human druid)
Amoen (knighted fighter/cleric)
Imoen (thief/mage) (and probably jan jansen (illusionist/thief) in her absence)
& Keldorn/mazzy as a main fighter
So to suit a party like that, I really need a mage right? Fighter/mage or mage/thief i guess. Another option would be a bard.
Any thoughts on this? Ive played through several times as an evil character now so its time for a change. I guess another option would be to omit jaheira, have imoen and jansen as steady members (with imoen replaced by say cernd or jaheira during her absence), and playing a fighter/cleric.
I wonder if you can romance jan if you are a female gnome???
Yeah,
Im leaning towards a fighter mage, or perhaps a gnome illusionist/fighter.
Mainly because looking at the npc's in bg2 and TOB, there are so few mages to choose from. Edwin is cool but im thinking of going through as a good character this time, making him a poor fit. Jan jansen, well.... Imoen is cool however.
Speaking of which thieves are really scarce in BG2 also.
Im thinking of the following goal party at the moment.
Myself
Minsc (human ranger)
Jaheira (half-elf fighter/druid) or cernd (human druid)
Amoen (knighted fighter/cleric)
Imoen (thief/mage) (and probably jan jansen (illusionist/thief) in her absence)
& Keldorn/mazzy as a main fighter
So to suit a party like that, I really need a mage right? Fighter/mage or mage/thief i guess. Another option would be a bard.
Any thoughts on this? Ive played through several times as an evil character now so its time for a change. I guess another option would be to omit jaheira, have imoen and jansen as steady members (with imoen replaced by say cernd or jaheira during her absence), and playing a fighter/cleric.
I wonder if you can romance jan if you are a female gnome???
I dont feel u need another mage. I did just fine with 1 in BG1,SOA and TOB. You might go for a cleric/mage. Id do a bard though , since imoen or jan wont cover all the thief skills. I played the bard (Garrick I think was his name) in BG1 and loved him. Perfect for buff spells, little extra fireballs, and can put in the back with a ranged weapon (light x-bow of speed). Looks like u got the fighter part covered.
For a more Powerful Char, id do multi class. Pick a combo that is valid in BG1 (no kits) will be the factor. Cleric/Ranger is good. If i rember right multi class fighter/xxxx can only spend 2 points in weapon proficiencies in SOA, so u might as well do a ranger. Do a half elf also if u do pick ranger/cleric.
For a more Powerful Char, id do multi class. Pick a combo that is valid in BG1 (no kits) will be the factor. Cleric/Ranger is good. If i rember right multi class fighter/xxxx can only spend 2 points in weapon proficiencies in SOA, so u might as well do a ranger. Do a half elf also if u do pick ranger/cleric.
you seem to lean towards a spellcasting warrior. this is of course achieved by dual- or multiclassing (and to lesser extent by paladins and rangers). in your situation (starting from BG1) multiclassing seems to be of better fit, as at both "ends" of the game (low lelvels and ToB) multiclass are more fun to play and more powerful - at the beginning you will get the fighting and the spellcasting abilities togrther, and at the end you will be able to chose from two pools of HLA's. plus, you don't have the odd "i-have-been-a-fighter-for-years-but-now-i-must-forget-how-to-hold-a-sword-since-i'm-trying-to-learn-the-new-class" the 2ed AD&D imposes on dual-classed chars.
that being said, you can pick ANY combo you feel like - all are both fun and powerfull. here's a couple of my favorites in this category:
an elven fighter/mage - the Bladesinger to elves is what paladins are for humans! plus, ther's not a cooler avatar in the game than an elf in elven chainmail holding two longswords!
a half-elven ranger/cleric - be what jaheira always wanted to be! a self-powering duel-weilding crushing protector of nature that will end up casting level 7 druid spells BEFORE HER!
these will have tha same "feel", but are single-classed:
stalker - just what a martially oriented fighter/mage/cleric/thief would have fel like, all in one! with two very usefull spells (armour of faith that combines with Hardiness and items for a great damage reduction and Haste that will free your mages 3rd level spell, and still enable you to haste your mordenkainen swords) and a backstab that will seldom leave a mage alive.
archer - just something a little bit different.
paladin (any kit) - and you can try to roleplay him, if you like!
and you can always become the Jedi Knight of BG2 - a dual-class kensai-mage.
that being said, you can pick ANY combo you feel like - all are both fun and powerfull. here's a couple of my favorites in this category:
an elven fighter/mage - the Bladesinger to elves is what paladins are for humans! plus, ther's not a cooler avatar in the game than an elf in elven chainmail holding two longswords!
a half-elven ranger/cleric - be what jaheira always wanted to be! a self-powering duel-weilding crushing protector of nature that will end up casting level 7 druid spells BEFORE HER!
these will have tha same "feel", but are single-classed:
stalker - just what a martially oriented fighter/mage/cleric/thief would have fel like, all in one! with two very usefull spells (armour of faith that combines with Hardiness and items for a great damage reduction and Haste that will free your mages 3rd level spell, and still enable you to haste your mordenkainen swords) and a backstab that will seldom leave a mage alive.
archer - just something a little bit different.
paladin (any kit) - and you can try to roleplay him, if you like!
and you can always become the Jedi Knight of BG2 - a dual-class kensai-mage.
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chimpmaster
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Thanks very much for the advice guys.
In the end I've gone with a half-elven, male Bard (NG).
I intend to specialize as a Skald or Blade when I import to BG2, which will be cool.
I figure the role playing experience will be cool, especially in SoA.
Paladin would have been my second choice, this time around.
Mirk, you have given me some fun ideas for next time though!
The only thing that concerns me about my choice is my alignment. Can I really keep to NG as a pilfering, beer swilling bard? I suspect I will be CN before long hehe...
In the end I've gone with a half-elven, male Bard (NG).
I intend to specialize as a Skald or Blade when I import to BG2, which will be cool.
I figure the role playing experience will be cool, especially in SoA.
Paladin would have been my second choice, this time around.
Mirk, you have given me some fun ideas for next time though!
The only thing that concerns me about my choice is my alignment. Can I really keep to NG as a pilfering, beer swilling bard? I suspect I will be CN before long hehe...
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chimpmaster
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- Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2004 5:40 am
- Location: Australia
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Hey thanks so much for the warm welcome. Seems like a great community here. I realise the BG games are a little old and there are a lot less people playing them now, but I am hooked personally
One final question on this PC.
Should I specialize as a skald, blade or jester in bg2?
Jesters dont look that good but it could be fun nonethless, and a good excuse to wear that multicoloured jester's armour +4 which I found last time through.
Any advice would be appreciated. The blade looks best from all the faqs, but Ive had haer-dalis in my evil party for the whole of bg2 and tob and i thought a change for myself might be cool?
What do you think?
The jester is IMHO the weakest of the bardkits. His only advantage (the confusion bardsong) isn't very helpful most of the time.
The skald has the best song because it gives your party nice advantages and the song gets beter when you level up. But that obviously isn't any help if you solo.
A blade has the offensive spin ability which has saved my bards butt many times, especially while wielding two weapons. His pickpocketskill isn't as good but since you'll level up pretty fast in a sologame that's not much of a problem.
I used a lot of protection- and charmspells, equiped him with the best weapons the game has to offer (at least a bard can use most weapons). Also (and I realise this is cheesy), I memorised a lot of wizardspells above my level because it gave a lot of easy xp. I had a lot of fun with the blade.
The skald has the best song because it gives your party nice advantages and the song gets beter when you level up. But that obviously isn't any help if you solo.
A blade has the offensive spin ability which has saved my bards butt many times, especially while wielding two weapons. His pickpocketskill isn't as good but since you'll level up pretty fast in a sologame that's not much of a problem.
I used a lot of protection- and charmspells, equiped him with the best weapons the game has to offer (at least a bard can use most weapons). Also (and I realise this is cheesy), I memorised a lot of wizardspells above my level because it gave a lot of easy xp. I had a lot of fun with the blade.
She says: Lou, it's the Beginning of a Great Adventure