Effect of the different attributes

ZachL · Post by **ZachL** » Sat Jul 07, 2001 5:19 pm

Can someone here tell me what the effect and usefulness of the different attributes are? Thanks for the info.
Horatio

cheesemage · Post by **cheesemage** » Sat Jul 07, 2001 5:25 pm

in your bg2 book that comes with the game explains them

WAYNEO · Post by **WAYNEO** » Sat Jul 07, 2001 11:21 pm

But the book doesn't explain very well. Or rather, comprehensively. For example, I was playing as a monk, and couldnt get my armor class better than -1 or -2. Fortunately, someone replied to my posting "What's your Dexterity rating? 13??? Gee, I'm surprised you got that far." I put Gauntlets of Dexterity on him, and my AC went to -8.

In my new game, I have a high dexterity and only moderate strength.

beaver_cheese · Post by **beaver_cheese** » Sun Jul 08, 2001 1:33 am

Very roughly, strength affects not only how much stuff you can carry (always important, unless you care to leave tons of stuff behind), but also your ability to hit someone in melee combat. Exceptional STR can also give bonus damage. If you feel you can survive in the game till you can get your hands on a belt of XXXX giant strength, then don't worry too much about this stat. Dex is used in determining your base (and subsequently your overall) AC, as you've discovered, and also to determine your char's skill with ranged weapons. Keep this as high as possible, regardless of what class you are, "primary stats rules" be damned. Constitution is only of a concern to fighter classes. A higher constitution gives you bonus hit points per level; fighter types get better bonuses, so they should max it out. For other classes, 15 or 16 should suffice for the most part. Int and Wis are only of a major concern to wizards and clerics/druids respectively. If you're playing either, then max out the respective stat (gives you more spells). High Int also gives you better lore values, and high Wis gives some bonus to your magic defense, but only consider this if you have the stat points to spare; there may be better places to spread out your points. Charisma isn't all to important except when you're shopping. At any rate, you'll get the Ring of Human Influence quite early in the game (in the circus tent), so no worries. If you need to buy something, just slip on the ring for the duration of your spree. If anything here's not clear enough, then feel free to ask away. Hope this helps, though this info can be extacted from the manual, seriously.

aVENGER2k · Post by **aVENGER2k** » Sun Jul 08, 2001 2:09 am

Originally posted by beaver_cheese:
Charisma isn't all to important except when you're shopping...

There are also a few NPC dialogues that check your charisma value.If it's high enough you get to pick some more/better responses.

Xyx · Post by **Xyx** » Sun Jul 08, 2001 2:49 am

Keep in mind that these (computer) games tend to be very combat oriented. Quick summary:

Strength: Hit more often and do more damage. 8-15 does nothing, 16-18 gives puny bonuses, 19+ gives huge bonuses.
Dexterity: Get hit less often. 8-14 does nothing. 15-18 gives -1 to -4 AC bonus.
Constitution: 8-14 again does nothing. 15-16 gives +1-2 bonus Hit Points during your first 9 levels. 17+ gives more, but only if you're a Fighter, Ranger or Paladin (including multi or dual).
Intelligence: 18 enables Mages to scribe level 9 scrolls. Not important; can also be done by drinking a potion that raises Int. Int 16 or so enables you to learn more spells per level than you'll need.
Wisdom: Gives Clerics a few low level bonus spells. 12- gives Clerics a chance for spell failure. No real use.
Charisma: Lowers prices in shops. Not needed in this game if you have the Ring of Human Influence, the spell Friends or have money to spare...

All in all, the last three stats are next to worthless for warriors. They have hardly any effect on the game, and serve a "cosmetic" purpose mostly.

beaver_cheese · Post by **beaver_cheese** » Sun Jul 08, 2001 10:06 am

The manual says that wisdom gives some sort of magic defence adjustment, but I have no idea how that works (affects the save vs. value, maybe?). Since I didn't to extensive testing on it, I can't say if it works. Can anyone confirm/deny it's application?

ZachL · Post by **ZachL** » Sun Jul 08, 2001 11:39 am

My character is a Half-Orc Fighter and I am currently doing the DeArnise Hold quest - gonna finish it when I finish posting here. I thank everyone for there replies but have another question to ask after what you've told me: You get more stat points to distribute as the game goes on? I have not once gotten to distribute stat points to my characters, only weapon proficiency points. Thanks for the replies,
Horatio

Xyx · Post by **Xyx** » Sun Jul 08, 2001 3:21 pm

Originally posted by beaver_cheese:
The manual says that wisdom gives some sort of magic defence adjustment, but I have no idea how that works (affects the save vs. value, maybe?). Since I didn't to extensive testing on it, I can't say if it works. Can anyone confirm/deny it's application?

Kevin Dorner said the Magical Defense Adjustment is not implemented. Wisdom sux.

Originally posted by Horatio_Ironfist:
You get more stat points to distribute as the game goes on? I have not once gotten to distribute stat points to my characters, only weapon proficiency points. Thanks for the replies,
Horatio

Stat increases as a result of levelling up only happens in the D&D3 system...

*** SoA SPOILER ALERT ***
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Near the end of the game you may gain some stat points, depending on the choices you make.

*** ToB SPOILER ALERT ***
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ToB also has several ways to gain a couple of stat points.