Race and profession, please. [SPOILERS]

[fable]

Let's assume you're buying or have bought the game. Let's further assume (bug jump, here) that you intend to play it. Now, what race and profession will you choose, and why? Don't just tell us "oh, an orc and a tenament owner." Give us the background to understand why you made that decision. Got it? Good!

For myself, I'm still unsure. One possibility is a human/sorc, simply because I like magic casters, the mechanics of having to select spell choices before sleeping always seemed to me insanely ridiculous, and humans may be stinky, but they get an extra feat. On the other hand, a Duergar dwarf who's a divine champion or a dwarven defender is a distinct possibilty, since it gets into melee, and the direct control you have over the rest of your party in NWN2 means no more of that messy henchman spellcasting that resulted in ridiculous, even deadly choices. Or possibly a human warpriest, because it seems like a specialist cleric and has less of the feel of taking away something to receive something, which I get from some of the other specialists. Or simply a druid, given DW's comments about the fun she had roleplaying this.

Oh, as for sex, if a spellcaster, male, if a melee type, female. Only because I enjoy bucking stereotypes, especially in as thoughtlessly, casually stereotyped a genre as RPGs.

Over to you. Remember, race and profession, and explanations for both.

[JudgeU]

I picked up the game during my lunch break and I soooo can't even think of doing work right now. I've been flipping through the instruction book and they've added so many choices for your character - it's great!

I'm the opposite of you though, I love having a melee character. I'm thinking of using a human/fighter to start off with *duel weild. And I know I want to add a prestige/multi class, but have no idea what area to go in. Duelist intrigued me at first, but the more I look at it, it looks like its for a wizard that wants to improve their fighting ability. Maybe I'm wrong though, any suggestions?...

If I was to go the magic route first Warlock looked different and fun, I might have to check that out too.

[Siberys]

The first thing I will prolly do is create my own race and class from the DND books that I have. I don't like playing as really anything that's too over used, even the "Half Dragon" is a bit cliche for me now.

So the first thing I would most likely create is the Shifter Race from the campaign setting, Eberron. Reason being, I feel that they are a generic enough race that it doesn't have to be eberron specific, as well as they do have much more versatility than most races.

As an elf, you get set specific abilities, low light vision, immunity to sleep and resistances to enchantments. That's kinda boring to me.

Shifter however, there are abilities you can choose from that can be pretty useful at first for any first level character. Shifters are basically half lycanthropes. They get a shifting ability to give them slight bonuses at the start of a campaign. Later on, those bonuses are worthless, but lets say I wanted a sorcerer. Sorcerer's and other spellcasters are kinda hard to play at the start of a brand new campaign, they can't take a hit and they have limited spells. Adding shifter to that can give me either running bonuses (Longstrider), constitution bonuses (Beast Hide), or a melee attack with claws (Razerclaws).

I've always found the beginning of a campaign to be a bit tough at first, especially with how I do my characters, so that little nudge of power that is good at first helps me move on with the storyline of a campaign without the endless revive and go back to original location, rinse and repeat.

[smass]

I just made my first character and I went my usual route: Rogue/Ranger

I know this combo is a bit of a cliche but I like to play stealth characters with some combat ability. I also like to have high charisma for good interactions and bluffs. I also Here are my stats:

Human Rogue/Ranger

S-14
D-16
C-12
I-12
W-10
Ch-14

I am a cronic re-starter so I will probably roll up 10 more characters over the next week or so. I really just use the single player campaign as a tutorial before moving on to multiplayer and persistent world play. In PWs I usually play some combination of Rogue/Fighter or rogue/sorcerer. I like to roleplay intelligent characters with good stealth ability and charisma based skills. My characters tend to be "scout" types and usually specialize in ranged combat.

[Fljotsdale]

I don't have the game yet, but I always liked Tieflings and Halflings.

And I like sneaky types with ranged weapons and spells.

[DesR85]

If I do get my hands on this game, I would very much prefer to choose a human melee character (can't quite recall the classes as it's been a while since I last saw this game in action) since I am more comfortable with melee compared to ranged and magic attacks. As for the human race, it's my favourite.

[smass]

I don't have the game yet, but I always liked Tieflings and Halflings.

And I like sneaky types with ranged weapons and spells

Sound like the prestige class "Arcane Trickster" might be right up your alley. A halfling or Teifling character would make a great arcane trickster. The new prestige classes look cool - I am really enjoying the character customization options in this game. They have included all the prestige classes from NWN1 plus added seven new ones:

Arcane Trickster
Divine Champion
Duelist
Eldritch Knight
Frenzied Berserker
Shadow thief of Amn
Warpriest

This is in addition to the new Warlock class. I also like the way they have done the Ranger class. Now at level two you choose between two combat styles: Archery or two weapon combat. This leads me to a new build:

Ranger/Divine Champion
- This character will take Ranger to level 7 and then move to the Divine Champion prestige class. She will be an elf and she will be loyal follower of a nature god. She will focus on archery. Divine Champion will give her some Paladin-like powers and she will be a "guardian of nature" warrior. Team her up with a half-Elven druid companion and you have a good PETA friendly tag team.

[Fljotsdale]

My game is shipping to me in the next couple of days, but I won't be able to play it until my games computer comes back from the makers (It went KKRAAAKKK!!! a few day ago and is dead as a dodo. Power supply apparantly) - so I will just read the manual (it'd better be a PAPER manual!) and dream...

I'll check out that Arcane Trickster, smass.

[Lucita]

Female Moonelf Fighter/Thief later to become a Shadowdancer

Stats:

Str 14
Dex 17
Co 14
Int 12
Wis 12
Cha 12

I liked the flirty background and gave her the sexy female voice.

Fighter feats so far ( just finished the tutorial, now Ftr2/Rog1 ): Two Weapon Fighting, Two Weapon Defense going with my whirlwind impression of the character.

[swcarter]

Fighter feats so far ( just finished the tutorial, now Ftr2/Rog1 ): Two Weapon Fighting, Two Weapon Defense going with my whirlwind impression of the character.

Just a note: If you're actually aiming for the whirlwind feat, then you'll need 13 int for it.

I'm playing a fighter / rogue as well, but I'm taking the weaponmaster route. I always like fighter / rogues because they're versatile. They get lots of skills and dialogue options, they can unlock all the doors, and they're fine in combat.

SWC

[fable]

Just a note: If you're actually aiming for the whirlwind feat, then you'll need 13 int for it.

I'm playing a fighter / rogue as well, but I'm taking the weaponmaster route. I always like fighter / rogues because they're versatile. They get lots of skills and dialogue options, they can unlock all the doors, and they're fine in combat.

Don't you lose the ability to add all those nice fighter feats every two levels when you become a weaponmaster? And don't you tend to lose the more, still, when you dual or multi with another class, in a 20 level system? I'm not trying to tell you how to play the game; you're on expert on number-crunching in any case, from what I've seen. But with 20 levels, any movement into another class is bound to have a pretty heavy impact.

[swcarter]

Don't you lose the fighter feats when you become a weaponmaster?

You don't get the bonus fighter feats any more, if that's what you mean. That might be more of a penalty in NWN2 than NWN, because NWN2 has a lot more feats.

And don't you tend to lose the more, still, when you dual or multi with another class, in a 20 level system? I'm not trying to tell you how to play the game; you're on expert on number-crunching in any case, from what I've seen. But with 20 levels, any movement into another class is bound to have a pretty heavy impact.

My first time through a game, I don't really try to analyze it or come up with the most powerful character build. I just create a character and see how it goes. Fighter / rogues are fun because they can do a lot of things, but if you're more interested in maximizing your damage or something like that, then I'm sure there are better paths.

But at least so far in the game, the battles are not difficult, and my character is more than capable. Obsidian seems to have taken the KOTOR route as far as difficulty goes.

SWC

[fable]

But at least so far in the game, the battles are not difficult, and my character is more than capable. Obsidian seems to have taken the KOTOR route as far as difficulty goes.

In other words, make it so easy a brain-damaged gerbil could finish it with a little thought. Or even a 10-year-old. I was afraid of that.

But thanks for the reply, in any case.

[Fljotsdale]

Gosh, I hope it's not too easy.

Though most games ARE easy once you've got the hang of them... That's why it's so much more interesting with your very first character and run through; at least you don't know what to expect.

[der Moench]

The short answer: male human CN cleric.

The longer answer: I play any of the following regularly: male human cleric; male human CG ranger; female human LG paladin; male human LG monk. Those are my favorites, and they fit my play style pretty well - I tend to be a bit of a goody two-shoes and I like to be able to go melee more than spellcasting. (For some reason, I've never really gotten the "knack" of spellcasting. Seems like I am always incinerating my own henchmen and whatnot.)

On the other hand, if the game is very easy (and I have heard some indications that it is, I may try a female asimaar CG sorcerer, or some type of wizard.

Never much liked rogues. Barbarians and fighters leave me flat. I don't care much for multi/dual classes as they feel too power-gamey. Just IMO, of course!

I tend heavily towards humans 'cos I like the extra feat, and I feel like I have more open-ended characteristics with humans.

My game arrives on Monday.

[Lady Dragonfly]

Oliver Silvers, a dashing human rogue, strong, dark long hair, blue eyes.
Neutral good (just like me). Background: ladies' man .
Human because I am a proud human myself; rogue because I am not.
Diplomacy, good manners, high intelligence, no pickpocket (a good guy).
Martial weapons, magical trinkets.

Rogues are fun to play; it is the most versatile class.

[Lucita]

And don't you tend to lose the more, still, when you dual or multi with another class, in a 20 level system? I'm not trying to tell you how to play the game; you're on expert on number-crunching in any case, from what I've seen. But with 20 levels, any movement into another class is bound to have a pretty heavy impact.

A level 20 fighter will have more powerful feats and better fighting abilities then a level 10 fighter/10 rogue or like my goal a fighter8/rogue7/shadowdancer5, but my character will be more versatile.

Rogues get a lot of skills and skillpoints while fighters tend to be on the low end of that. The rogues Sneak Attack ability offers nice chances of taking an enemy down, especially combined with additional fighter feats, additionally you are getting a lot of evasive feats ( and the additional skill points in tumbling and parrying come in handy too ), that combined with a high dexterity gives you a nasty fighter.

Multiclassing isn't that bad with the 3rd edition rules ( or 3.5 ) compared to the older 2nd edition AD&D rules Baldur's Gate is based upon as you decide which class you are leveling up and don't have to split experience points between the classes anymore.

[Stilgar]

Race: Moon elf
Why elf...good question, i like elves, for their looks/background, also, i wanted to play a classic castercharacter, and i dont like gnomes/humans. And i can't realy immagine a dwarfencaster.

Profession:Sorcerer
What can i say, i'm a caster fan, and certainly when i saw the spelleffects of this game I just couldnt resist. Also, i like talents like diplomacy, so thats why i picked the charismatic class. I usually play my sorcerer roguelike, full of trickery and deceit.

Allignment: Neutral
I wanted to start Neutral, and just take RP choices, see where I turn out.

[m0rb1d]

My first time through most RPG type games I go with either the most well balanced class, or the strongest melee. I fly through the game my first time through it, and want to make the transition as smooth as possible. 2nd time around, I start messing around with other classes/races.

As it were, I am currently a level 9 Tiefling Fighter.

[Tricky]

Woodelf, Monk. High dex and high str (+ racial dex/str bonus), no constitution, normal wisdom and a little charisma. Since she won't be using weapons I figured she'll might as well invest heavily in potions instead. No use for constitution if you can replenish your HP a lot. I plan on getting a few more wisdom points for the AC bonus, that's about it.