What build/class/kit is LEAST capable of soloing the game?

SSoG · Post by **SSoG** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 5:04 am

Hey all, I'm new here but very old-hat to the BG series. I recently got nostalgic and reinstalled, and found that the game really was as easy as I remembered it. Since I tend to be anti-mod, I like manufacturing my own challenges and then trying to deal with them.

So with that out of the way, the big question is which character class is *LEAST SUITED* to soloing all of SoA? Some favorites, I would think, would be the Druid, Avenger, Beastmaster, or Jester. Feel free to get really sadistic with me, because like I said, I'm an experienced gamer here. I once solo'd Icewind Dale with a Halfling Fighter with racial/class minimums in every statistic, and another time did it with a Specialist Mage who didn't cast a single offensive spell.

Whatever the thread consensus is after... oh, let's say a week... I'll create and take all the way through SoA.

Raven_Song · Post by **Raven_Song** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 5:07 am

So you're definitely going with no mods what so ever?

Onkel Bob · Post by **Onkel Bob** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 5:17 am

Fallen Beastmaster.

SSoG · Post by **SSoG** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 5:34 am

Raven_Song wrote:So you're definitely going with no mods what so ever?

Other than all of the Baldurdash bugfixes and Dungeon-Be-Gone, no mods. I do have ToB installed, although I know several classes are quite incapable of soloing it, so I'm not even going to try.

Onkel Bob wrote:Fallen Beastmaster.

No fallens. Fallen classes aren't even classes, they're non-classes.

VonDondu · Post by **VonDondu** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 6:13 am

A character who can't do anything but attack his enemies with a stick would never make it through Shadows of Amn and Throne of Bhaal. If you consider any class that has a realistic chance of success, no such class is really all that bad. But some would be more challenging than others.

I nominate the Abjurer (Specialist Mage). No spells from the school of Alteration such as Stoneskin, Haste, Time Stop, Tenser's Transformation, Shapeshange, etc. would complicate most people's solo playing style and create difficulties with defense. Even so, with the use of spells from other schools such as Illusion, Enchantment, Conjuration, and Necromancy, an Abjurer would still be formidible.

Deadalready · Post by **Deadalready** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 6:16 am

Maybe a fighter or a Kensai? Any casting character is already more than suited to beating SOA in my opinion.

Using a fighter means very little means to defeating mages and magic protected character. Kensai has the damage to defeat melee enemies but hasn't the armour to back itself up.

Crenshinibon · Post by **Crenshinibon** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 10:20 am

A Kensai can easily solo SoA and ToB, with the right equipment. It's all in the equipment, mainly potitons. Not healing ones, but those that give you a certain effect. Also, a certain cloak makes any type of fighter capable of holding their own in meele, even against a dragon.

Rhûn · Post by **Rhûn** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 2:10 pm

Deadalready wrote:Maybe a fighter or a Kensai? Any casting character is already more than suited to beating SOA in my opinion.

Using a fighter means very little means to defeating mages and magic protected character. Kensai has the damage to defeat melee enemies but hasn't the armour to back itself up.

I solo'd a dwarven beserker, completing the game for the 2nd time. It was pitifully easy

I solo'd the shadow dragon at level 12 or 13, Firkraag at (?)15/16 and killed every single drow in Ust'Natha without losing so much as 20hp.

Jedi_Sauraus · Post by **Jedi_Sauraus** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 2:25 pm

I'd say an assasin would be a good expierience I'm bound to try it one of these days

your capable of passing the game but you have to plan every fight expect multiple reloads

if you want the absolutly weakest class then a beastmaster the similar capabilities in combat but the jester has songs wchich grant him immunities to nasty effects

Thrifalas · Post by **Thrifalas** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 4:28 pm

Jester? Druids? Are you kidding me? :< Any bard class/caster class can solo the game quite easy. No, it has to be something with restrictions. Not the kensai ones, cause he gets tremendous advantages on the other hand.

I can't seem to figure out many classes which fits into the cathegory, so I'll have to follow the flow and say Beastmaster. Regular fighter with a heavy disadvantage will be though against some of the stronger casters/special fights in the game.

On a side note, VonDondu's idea was really terrific. Always one way to get some variaté into ones gameplay without feeling that you're not using your full capability. Thanks for that one, mate =)

Onkel Bob · Post by **Onkel Bob** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 5:39 pm

Possibly the Wizard SLayer, but I have an idea that he may be capable of some really nasty tricks.

Crenshinibon · Post by **Crenshinibon** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 6:54 pm

Soloing with an Assassin is a walk in the park, especially now that shadows actually give you a bonus to hide. They're good against casters and, well... they shouldn't pose to much of a problem.

Using about the same methods as with a Kensai, I'll have to say that the Beast Master is capable of soloing. I believe that each character can solo the game easily.

Pe Ell · Post by **Pe Ell** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 2:30 am

Onkel Bob wrote:Possibly the Wizard SLayer, but I have an idea that he may be capable of some really nasty tricks.

Yes, the wizard slayer is indeed difficult to solo with. Biggest problem is the fact that he can't use healing potions nor magical items like the ring of regeneration. Healing for them is a b*tch. I remember there was a thread about this waaay back (possibly it was at the old BG Dungeon forum) when someone soloed a wizard slayer. As I recalled he used the Sword of Chaos to beat up weaker enemies for hp's.

Ian Kognitow · Post by **Ian Kognitow** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 10:06 am

Since the Icewind Dale game you mention specified game stats, how about a little spin on VonDondu's suggestion: The Idiot Transmuter: take Intelligence and Wisdom down as far as possible (Abjurer unfortunately requires 15 Wis). You won't be able to memorize spells without potions. Wishing would be bad. And the loss of Abjuration spells I think would make a solo game more difficult than without Alterations: No dispel/remove magic, no prot. magic weapons, no spell immunity, and no breach. I certainly don't think I could win such a game, if it's possible.

Rav · Post by **Rav** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 3:52 pm

"No Breach" settles it for me. Specialist Abjurer. And you have to take your first stat roll of course

Rav

Reso · Post by **Reso** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 3:57 pm

Beastmaster or Wizardslayer are the worst for soloing. All spellcasters are better for soloing than these two, unless you set yourself limits such as first stat rolls or whatever. I actually also think the Archer is a poor class to solo. I know that a few have people have done it, however I think it's probably the most one-dimensional character there is in the game. They're only good for parties. Once you find an enemy who isn't effected by arrows you're screwed.

VonDondu · Post by **VonDondu** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 4:29 pm

Ian Kognitow wrote:how about a little spin on VonDondu's suggestion: The Idiot Transmuter: take Intelligence and Wisdom down as far as possible (Abjurer unfortunately requires 15 Wis). You won't be able to memorize spells without potions. Wishing would be bad. And the loss of Abjuration spells I think would make a solo game more difficult than without Alterations: No dispel/remove magic, no prot. magic weapons, no spell immunity, and no breach. I certainly don't think I could win such a game, if it's possible.

In the past, when we've talked about the lamest characters and the lamest parties we could think of, I always nominated the Transmuter. I guess that particular specialty class exists just because that particular school exists. I can't imagine why anyone would want to play a Transmuter unless they're looking for a special challenge.

Reso wrote:I actually also think the Archer is a poor class to solo. I know that a few have people have done it, however I think it's probably the most one-dimensional character there is in the game. They're only good for parties. Once you find an enemy who isn't effected by arrows you're screwed.

Archers are nearly as good in melee as an ordinary Ranger. If you can't solo an Archer, then you probably can't solo any Ranger.

Reso · Post by **Reso** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 4:44 pm

VonDondu wrote:Archers are nearly as good in melee as an ordinary Ranger. If you can't solo an Archer, then you probably can't solo any Ranger.

They have both worse armor options and weapon proficiencies and the plain Ranger is hardly the best tank in the first place. Compare all of it's advantages to those of the Fighter and Paladin kits and also the Monk and Barbarian. Obviously you can solo the game with any character, but I struggle to think of a harder class to do so with than an Archer, Beastmaster and Wizardslayer.

Crenshinibon · Post by **Crenshinibon** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 5:04 pm

I thought that the Archer was incredibly easy to solo.

I myself have soloed an Archer without much trouble at all.

A Wizardslayer isn't too difficult to solo either. All you have to do is find yourself two draining weapons and anything that can give you Improved Haste.

You're all set after that.

The only problem that I see with a Beast Master is that he can only use wooden weapons.

The armor restriction isn't that bad, although the ending of ToB might cause a problem...

Onkel Bob · Post by **Onkel Bob** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 5:33 pm

Crenshinibon wrote:A Wizardslayer isn't too difficult to solo either. All you have to do is find yourself two draining weapons and anything that can give you Improved Haste.

So where do you find that? PLease spoil me.