Fighter dueled to assasin or straight halfling/elf assasin?

[pgroves]

Fighter dueled to assasin or straight halfling (or possibly elven??) assasin? BTW I won't be soloing...

I'm thinking dualing a fighter to an assasin for my next game of BG II (either that or playing a straight halfling assasin LOL!), do think this would be a good idea? I'm thinking it would allow me to use most weapons, give more weapons proficiencies (and more attacks?) and probably more HPs. Any other bonuses? I guess early on would have a better THACO than a straight assassin, though I presume at some point a straight assasin would catch up. The armour issue is not so big, as I intend to use the character as a sneaky back-stabber most of the time, so will be in leather or studded leather only (though being able to use a shiled when not theiving, would be nice).

On the downside (compared to a straight halfling assasin) - will be slower to get to the higher assasin levels (and the higher backstab multipliers, nastier poisons and high-level abilities), will probably have less dex (halfling can have 19 - v.useful for move silently/hide in shadows bonuses), and won't get the halfling capabilites (increased magic and poison resitance, possibility of infravision, good thieving bonuses, espc. move silently/hide in shadow, plus small size (both a good and a bad thing)).

If I do go for the duel fighter/thief I'd like to change classess to assasin pretty quick, so what would be a good Fighter level to change at - Level 9? 10? Where's the best cut-off?

thanks

Paul

[Ravager]

If you were soloing a Fighter/Assassin would be more useful as it covers more roles but seeing as the character is going to be in a party I would go single-class. Elven Assassin to get the 19 DEX.

Maybe you could later on dual to Fighter. In fact I don't think you can start Fighter and go to Assassin as you cannot select kits. You are going to have to select Human race if you want to dual-class though, the other races can only multi-class.

[pgroves]

[QUOTE=Ravager]If you were soloing a Fighter/Assassin would be more useful as it covers more roles but seeing as the character is going to be in a party I would go single-class. Elven Assassin to get the 19 DEX.
[/QUOTE]

Why elven not halfling? Same dex bonus, but halfling has better move silently/hide in shadows bonuses, on the other handing elves have +1 in long sword and bows, can use larger weapons and don't suffer -1 STR (but do suffer -1 CON). Which would be more fun to play (e.g. more romanbce options)?

[QUOTE=Ravager]
Maybe you could later on dual to Fighter. In fact I don't think you can start Fighter and go to Assassin as you cannot select kits.
[/QUOTE]

Ah, that rather squashes that idea then... I

[QUOTE=Ravager]
You are going to have to select Human race if you want to dual-class though, the other races can only multi-class.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, I was aware of that, but not the kit limitations...

Thanks

Paul

[Berethor]

You could ask me those questions bud, I beat the game with a half elf assassin. its not the best choice for race, halfling is, but i dont like looking like a midget. i dont even think you can dual to fighter from assassin. when i created my character my stats were:

Strength-18
Dexterity-18
Constitution-18
Intelligence-10
Wisdom-10
Charisma-10(you get ring of human influence later)

those are good stats to have for an assassin and a fighter, but i dont know if you could dual class an asassin, but it would be cool if you could

(human thieves look like women with their hoods )

[pgroves]

[QUOTE=Berethor]You could ask me those questions bud, I beat the game with a half elf assassin. its not the best choice for race, halfling is, but i dont like looking like a midget.
[/QUOTE]

Wouldn't an elf have been better than a half-elf?

[QUOTE=Berethor]
i dont even think you can dual to fighter from assassin. when i created my character my stats were:

Strength-18
Dexterity-18
Constitution-18
Intelligence-10
Wisdom-10
Charisma-10(you get ring of human influence later)

those are good stats to have for an assassin and a fighter, but i dont know if you could dual class an asassin, but it would be cool if you could

(human thieves look like women with their hoods )[/QUOTE]

[Ravager]

Why elven not halfling? Same dex bonus, but halfling has better move silently/hide in shadows bonuses, on the other handing elves have +1 in long sword and bows, can use larger weapons and don't suffer -1 STR (but do suffer -1 CON). Which would be more fun to play (e.g. more romanbce options)?

Are you sure halflings get those bonuses? It's been a while since I played it, but I don't remember all the benefits. I would say elven has more options as you listed and any skill bonuses can easily be recouped as you level up. If halflings can also choose 19 DEX then I suppose it evens them out, but I really don't remember any skill bonuses- are you confusing it with the later rule edition games such as Neverwinter Nights?

Wouldn't an elf have been better than a half-elf?

I would say it was, unless you wanted the multi-class options- I think Half-Elf has the best selection.

You can still start Assassin and dual to Fighter. You will regain the Assassin abilities when the Fighter reaches the same level. Take the 19 DEX option if you do go for a elven (or halfling if poss.) assassin, the better AC is worth it

[pgroves]

[QUOTE=Ravager]Are you sure halflings get those bonuses? It's been a while since I played it, but I don't remember all the benefits. I would say elven has more options as you listed and any skill bonuses can easily be recouped as you level up. If halflings can also choose 19 DEX then I suppose it evens them out, but I really don't remember any skill bonuses- are you confusing it with the later rule edition games such as Neverwinter Nights?
[/QUOTE]

Nope, see:
http://www.planetbaldursgate.com/bg2/character/races/

I think they also get a CON bonus to savings throws, like Dwarves and Gnomes do

[QUOTE=Ravager]
I would say it was, unless you wanted the multi-class options- I think Half-Elf has the best selection.

You can still start Assassin and dual to Fighter. You will regain the Assassin abilities when the Fighter reaches the same level. Take the 19 DEX option if you do go for a elven (or halfling if poss.) assassin, the better AC is worth it [/QUOTE]

But only humans can dual class?!?!

Paul

[Lonelypilgrim]

It is wrong for elves to steal and kill people for money,it is not in their nature and just wrong.
Halfling is the poorest choise in my opinion,becouse you are really small and it is umcomfortable to play with such a charecter,for me atleast.
A human dual class is coniderabely weaker in theieving arts,the i don`t like dual classing much anyway.With the human you will also have to start as an assasin and then continue into fighter.An assasin is more like 'for tough battles' char,while the fighter is a strong melee class.


So i voted for elven assassin,because he is the best of them all,although it isn`t right.

[pgroves]

[QUOTE=Lonelypilgrim]It is wrong for elves to steal and kill people for money,it is not in their nature and just wrong.
[/QUOTE]

Yeah, but if that bothers you you could think of some background story that would explain why your elf character has taken that path...

[QUOTE=Lonelypilgrim]
Halfling is the poorest choise in my opinion,becouse you are really small and it is umcomfortable to play with such a charecter,for me atleast.
[/QUOTE]

Doesn't being small mean that some enemies get a minus to hit when attacking you? I'm not too fussed about the character looking small, espc. as halflings have some great racial bonuses to bring to the assasin kit

[QUOTE=Lonelypilgrim]
So i voted for elven assassin,because he is the best of them all,although it isn`t right.[/QUOTE]

Okay cool

[Deadalready]

You people are silly, halflings are cool! I love halflings, they're so unique and small. All the other characters frankly don't look different, Elf, Human, Orc and Half - Elf all look the bloody same, not the halfling! (Gnomes and Dwarves don't count since aren't they aren't cool)

Besides looking at my (often wrong and poorly edited) manual it says on page 232 that

Elves Gain
Pick Pocket: 5%
Open Locks: -5%
Find Remove Traps: 0%
Move Silently: 5%
Hide in Shadows: 10%
Detect Noise: 0%

Half Elves Gain
Pick Pocket: 10%
Open Locks: 0%
Find Remove Traps: 0%
Move Silently: 0%
Hide in Shadows: 5%
Detect Noise: 0%

Halflings Gain
Pick Pocket: 5%
Open Locks: 5%
Find Remove Traps: 5%
Move Silently: 10%
Hide in Shadows: 15%
Detect Noise: 0%

There's a small bonus in difference but that's quite a big amount when playing as an Assassin. Additionally you should consider that Halflings have higher saves vs spells and poisons, Elves on the other hand have higher saves vs charm and sleep spells, Half - Elves are worse than full Elves when it comes to save bonuses as well.

Finally more than 16 constition won't make any difference to any class other than a fighter.

Halflings are the coolest for thieves if you're seriously considering that path, to me Elves have become so overused they're more generic than humans.

[pgroves]

[QUOTE=Deadalready]
Finally more than 16 constition won't make any difference to any class other than a fighter.[/QUOTE]

Being pedantic, this is not entirely true - Dwarfs and Halflings receive a bonus to saves vs. Magic & Poison (Gnomes receive a bonus just to saves vs. Magic) based on Con . With a con of 18 (or 19) this adds +5 (only +4 at 16) . Very handy early game when you have mediocre saves.

Halfling & Dwarf:
+1 bonus for every 3 1/2 points of Constitution to saving throws vs. wands, staves, rods, and spells
+1 bonus for every 3 1/2 points of Constitution to saving throws vs. poison

Gnome:
+1 bonus for every 3 1/2 points of Constitution to saving throws vs. wands, staves, rods, and spells

i.e. saving throw bonus progress like this:
i.e.
3-6 +1
7-10 +2
11-13 +3
14-15 +4
18-21 +5
21-24 +6
25 +7

Paul

[Deadalready]

Well I'll be damned, do learn something new each day.
Still it further cements that a Halfling is an excellent choice for a class.

[pgroves]

[QUOTE=Deadalready]Well I'll be damned, do learn something new each day.
Still it further cements that a Halfling is an excellent choice for a class.[/QUOTE]

I agree, though one limitation of halflings in BG2 is that some of the female characters are racist as far as the romances go:

Jaheira will only romance Humans, Elves, and Half Elves; Viconia will only romance Humans and Half Elves, and Aerie will only romance Humans, Elves, Half Elves and Gnomes.

The Ease-of-Use-Mod contains a "All races/all genders"-Fix for the romances.
http://www.weidu.org/ease.html but I'm not sure if this is Mac compatible (I have a Mac...)

Paul

[Rav]

[QUOTE=pgroves]Yeah, but if that bothers you you could think of some background story that would explain why your elf character has taken that path...[/QUOTE]I've got a good idea. What would you say about the background story of having the god of murder's blood running through your veins...

Anyway, fighter dualing to Assassin is out: only your primary class can have a kit. So the option is Assassin or Fighter/Thief. Personally, I really like the extra number of attacks a fighter has, as well as the possibility to dual wield, and the extra HP. if you really want to see those backstab numbers go through the roof though, go for the assassin, as the Fighter/Thief will be maxed at x5 backstab, whereas the assassin will be able to reach x7.

Rav

[pgroves]

[QUOTE=Rav]I've got a good idea. What would you say about the background story of having the god of murder's blood running through your veins...
[/QUOTE]

LOL! You have a point!

[QUOTE=Rav]
Anyway, fighter dualing to Assassin is out: only your primary class can have a kit. So the option is Assassin or Fighter/Thief. Personally, I really like the extra number of attacks a fighter has, as well as the possibility to dual wield, and the extra HP. if you really want to see those backstab numbers go through the roof though, go for the assassin, as the Fighter/Thief will be maxed at x5 backstab, whereas the assassin will be able to reach x7.
[/QUOTE]

The poison ability is useful too...

[Berethor]

Like I said, half-elf wasnt the best choice, halfling would have been best for a thief.

Assassin dualed to thief would prove to be a disadvantage, as when you get to the high levels you wont get the ALL-MIGHTY spike traps. If id were up to me, I would say make a Halfling assassin.

[Berethor]

[QUOTE=Lonelypilgrim]It is wrong for elves to steal and kill people for money,it is not in their nature and just wrong.
Halfling is the poorest choise in my opinion,becouse you are really small and it is umcomfortable to play with such a charecter,for me atleast.
A human dual class is coniderabely weaker in theieving arts,the i don`t like dual classing much anyway.With the human you will also have to start as an assasin and then continue into fighter.An assasin is more like 'for tough battles' char,while the fighter is a strong melee class.


So i voted for elven assassin,because he is the best of them all,although it isn`t right.[/QUOTE]
Thats what I said about the halflings. They do get good theiving bonuses but I cant stand playing the game looking like a midget. And What if you did it with Aerie as a Midget(Halfling or Gnome, she likes both!)? the baby would probably be like 6 inches tall at birth! but thats off topic. Elves have the dex bonus but thats probably because they use bows. Choose a halfling if you are a power gamer, or choose a half-elf if you are a role player and you dont want to risk a 6 inch baby

[Curdis]

Late to the party but why not a Half-Orc assassin? They have the possibility of a strength of 19 which really kicks with the 7X backstab multiplier. It also circumvents most roleplaying objections, although there is no unmoded romance. - Curdis !