What exactly does CHR/INT do?

Lord Gnome · Post by **Lord Gnome** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 10:14 am

I've just reinstalled BGII, after about 2 years, and I'm thinking of playing it through as a Sorceror, (since in previous playthroughs I was always someone bulky, as they're easier to keep alive).

I've long since lost the manual, but I just want to know what exactly the CHR/INT modifiers do for a sorceror.
Is a Sorcereor with 18 INT or CHR significantly better than one with 16 INT or CHR, or should I put those points in meat-based attributes to help him keep alive, and are INT and CHR relatively as imortant as each other, or is one better?

Thanks.

Timepirate · Post by **Timepirate** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 10:23 am

You should find a sorcerer really easy to keep alive! specialy with stoneskin and mirror image(sorcerer has long been my favourate) and personaly i give my character CHR 3 (thats means charisma right?

)
SPOILER(?) Cos of the Ring of Human Infulence you get straight after leaving the first dungeon SPOILER(?)

southafrica · Post by **southafrica** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 10:39 am

I never understand the logic of a 3 in char, much better to spend a few minutes rolling and get at least a 10 in all stats and 4+ 18s. Why waste a ring slot, expecially with a mage(arcane caster)when you can get better rings... wizardly, acuity, just to name a few...

-SA

(Wis is good to have a 18, as it affects wish)

Ravager · Post by **Ravager** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 11:38 am

I'm not sure if any of the races get 19 CHA, if so I'd go for that. Otherwise it depends whether you solo or not. You may want to use the ring slot for something better if you're soloing (something better than the Ring of Human Influence).
A higher Charisma may net more spell casting possibilities.
There is definitely at least one race that can have 19 INT and that increase spell slots for mages, I'm not sure about the effect on Sorcerer's though.

FireLighter · Post by **FireLighter** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 12:55 pm

Int and CHR does absolutely nothing for a sorcerer spellcasting or otherwise. It was never added into the game although it does modify their casting abilities in dnd rules IIRC. Besides the ways NPCs interact with you charisma has no use for a sorcerer, although if youre like most people they like to keep it at least at 10. Some things are enhanced with a higher charisma (money rewards mostly). I know in BG1 if you had a charisma of 18 than the guy who you buy bolts for also gives you a dagger +1.

Sytze · Post by **Sytze** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 12:55 pm

[QUOTE=southafrica]I never understand the logic of a 3 in char, much better to spend a few minutes rolling and get at least a 10 in all stats and 4+ 18s. Why waste a ring slot...[/QUOTE]
Complete agreement. Deciding between the Ring of Gaxx and the Ring of Human Influence isn't that hard. If you're going with the second, you're only weakening yourself. Besides, giving yourself a charisma of 3 isn't exactly what I'd call role-playing. unless you went as mister-ugly through the game, of course.

Timepirate · Post by **Timepirate** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 3:07 pm

[QUOTE=Sytze]Besides, giving yourself a charisma of 3 isn't exactly what I'd call role-playing. unless you went as mister-ugly through the game, of course.[/QUOTE]

I did it for a half-orc barbarian once...that kind of fitted well...

Also in BG1 this guy you protect from a bear will either give u 50gc or the Boots of the North depending on your charisma...I had no idea it helped with spell casting at all.

FireLighter · Post by **FireLighter** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 3:19 pm

[QUOTE=Timepirate]I had no idea it helped with spell casting at all.[/QUOTE]
It doesn't I said in dnd rules it does but was never implemented into the game.

lompo · Post by **lompo** » Wed Oct 05, 2005 2:55 am

Int. doesn't affect a sorc., apart thet you need 10+ to cast from scrolls.
Char only affect some dialogue and prices at the stores (the higher the better).
Wis. can be usefull becouse of 2 spells that depend on Wis. for their effects (the higher the better)
Str. isn't important (your sorc isn't going to melee anybody), you need it only to carry stuff.
So my suggestion is: Str 10+, Dex 18-19 (if elf), Con 16, Wis 18, Int. 10+, Char 10+ (with preference to Char. to be high).

Rav · Post by **Rav** » Wed Oct 05, 2005 6:15 am

I am reasonably sure you get 10% bonus XP from having a 16+ in your prime stat.

I'll test that now with a solo sorc and fighter, then I'll edit this post.

edit: yes it does: after killing the mephit behind the golem, I had 89462 experience: 42 more than the 420 that had been awarded to me for killing the mephit plus the 89000 you start with.

This works for both the fighter and the sorcerer.

Rav

fable · Post by **fable** » Wed Oct 05, 2005 6:37 am

Wis. can be usefull becouse of 2 spells that depend on Wis. for their effects (the higher the better)

It will only be useful if you actually use those spells. Otherwise, WIS is less useful than CHA, which at least lowers prices at merchants.

Rav · Post by **Rav** » Wed Oct 05, 2005 6:43 am

[QUOTE=fable]Wis. can be usefull becouse of 2 spells that depend on Wis. for their effects (the higher the better)

It will only be useful if you actually use those spells. Otherwise, WIS is less useful than CHA, which at least lowers prices at merchants.[/QUOTE]I think a certain "guardian" is pursuadable only by a character with high WIS. But that means any character with high wis can speak to him and get him to give up the goods he's guarding, so not really necessary for it to be your own character.

Rav

fable · Post by **fable** » Wed Oct 05, 2005 7:19 am

Correct, Rav. That guardian doesn't need to be spoken to by your PC.