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I do not think the protagonist was "intended" to be some specific race. I guess I saw it written even inside th game on some scroll, or may be was said by the guy who talks between chapters, that Bhaal knowing he would be killed went on a ,um..., let say "mating spree".Gorion was definetly was a friend or lover of the woman impregnant by Bhaal, and I do not see why she could not be human, elf, half-elf.

based from the BG novel the main character is male fighter...but dunno whether that's what the developer intended

Originally posted by henhen:
<STRONG>based from the BG novel the main character is male fighter...but dunno whether that's what the developer intended</STRONG>

The developers of this game intended to leave the character type as flexible as possible and they have done well. We can argue about it for a long time, but the truth is, that the protagonist really chooses his path, when he gets out of Candlekeep, because he's had an easy life behind the safe walls of Candlekeep and when he's all alone, then he chooses, which faction or group he should follow.

Actually, a lot of training and preparation are required BEFORE level 1 (not in the game, in D&D world), and the protagonist starts off with a certain class before leaving Candlekeep...

I don`t think the cleric is a good option, but in the cleric biography in BG1 they mention a rare case of cleric that doesn`t receive his powers from any god...fits.

Anyhow, I think the best fitting classes are Sorcerer (Gorion & Irenicus) and Monk (Candlekeep & fighter-like hints)

@reignsofpower

If I recall correctly, Gorion (in ToB) explains that he decided to run off with you instead of Sarevok as a Child, AND his 'once lover' (your mother) was HUMAN (look closely when she appears in ToB in the Plane).

I'm not sure, but I think this changes according to your protagonist's race: my character's (half-elf) mother looked suspiciously like the female elf/half-elf avatar to me...

At one point in the debate about race, the designers blew it though.

In BGI in the very prologue the texts says "you spend your first 20 years in Candelkeep..." It plays the same text whatever race you are.

I for one found it odd as my first character (elven ranger) was fully grown at the age of 20...hmmm...

-Silvanerian

Originally posted by Ulfen:
<STRONG>I think 'Neutral Good' alignment cant really be disputed.</STRONG>

Surprise! The games (BG1 and BG2) advocate Chaotic on numerous occasions. "Chaos will be sown in their footsteps.", "You were quite the hellion as a child.", "creature of chaos"... Off the top of my head.

The Good part is pretty obvious. 90% of the quests require you to do the "right" thing.

My opinion:
Race: Human or Half-elf
Alignement: Chaotic good
Specialist mage

For me it's no other for the following reasons......in the beginning, when leaving Candlekeep, Gorion says to meet with Khalid and Jahiera....so if you were supposed to be so powerful in the beginning he would have said something like: if you want, you can meet.....
Moreover when you leave Candlekeep it's the first itme you find yourself without a guide....it's difficult that you start going around killing monsters and enemies. IMO you will learn how to live during your travels, developing you powers and abilities. In fact mages in the beginning are really weak and need party members to stay alive....but when time passes they becomes really powerful. I said specialist because i think that every person develops some kind of attitude....so i think that the PC would specialise in a certain school.
About the he\she problem...i really don't think it matters.

Let me know what you think of it...

I disagree slightly.

Alignment? I still say neutral-good. For one thing, that is Imoen's alignment, and look at her! For another, while some quests *do* encourage doing the chaotic thing, a number encourage doing the lawful thing. In general, you are ok doing the *right* thing (which is pure N-G)...and N-G can be hellions....as I said, look at Imoen.

Class? I have to strongly disagree. Having played BG-1, the game, quests, and Initial NPCs are *clearly* designed with a fighter protagonist in mind. This is not so for SoA (which is why I think the pro is a F/Mu dual), but even in SoA, it is clear that Irenicus' dungeon was designed around the idea that you would have 2-3 fighters, a theif, and a Mu. If you play anything but a fighter type in Chapter 1, Imoen (who you MUST TAKE) is redunant (except perhaps if you play a cleric...which is almost as good as a fighter type at 7th level).

-Polaris

I would have to say a nuetral good sorcerer. The whole essence of Bhaal thing fits perfictly with a sorcerer. You are provided with plenty of good fighting NCP's to keep you alive until you can embrace both your magical and god powers.

I have two problems with the sorcerer idea:

1. That was unavailable in BG1.

2. The quests and storyline fit a fighter so much better.

Now if you could dual INTO a sorcerer, then I'd agree (you can in 3rd Ed btw).

-Polaris

FWIW, my two copper pieces:

Alignment: Definitely Good - BG is epic, heroic fantasy. The theme of fighting not to lose yourself to the all-consuming taint of your sire, combined with the "shadier" quests (can you say Shadow Thieves?) seem to favor NG and CG over LG stick-in-the-muds.

Race: Human or half-elf make the most sense IMO, even though you could rationalize elves (who normally aren't considered adults until about their 100th birthday!) by saying that the divine heritage put you through severe grow-spurts to ensure you'd be ready for the big Event. As for the half-pint races ... sorry, I just have trouble taking them seriously.

Class: MC or DC fighter/mage types. As others have pointed out, BG1 up to and including Sarevok is really made for warriors, and while mages own SoA, ToB swings the balance back to an extent. All in all, a fighter/mage can stand up to Sarevok, Irenicus and anything in between. Not only is she incredible versatile, but mage and fighter abilities complement each other really well. Besides, the combination of magical power and the ability to kick ass and take names in melee makes for a much more believable Bhaalspawn IMO ... especially since the PC is supposed to be the most powerful of the brood!

How about bard? human neutral good bard? this is the class i would choose for my protagonist for roleplaying purposes since they can fight, cast spells and thiev without being 3 classes and also because i imagine that the pc would have alot of stories and stuff to tell and stuff

I've read some interesting arguments from all!
So, I'd like to add my opinion/preference.

Alignment: almost all agree, good,good,good!
Not Lawful Good, (read: Stupid Good), I feel that NG
perfectly fits in the storyline. In my actual game
I try even to avoid unnecessary kills (opposing to the
Lord of Murders!). There are many ways to accomplish this,
for example, in ToB when you are accused and sentenced,
you should slaughter a lot of good people... or just
have someone cast Mass Invisibility and go on.
(Losing a nice sword, I know.)
Really I complain that I couldn't save the clone in the
beginning of the game! I managed to knock her down with
fists, but you can't pickpocket the key!
(The only way I found was to "CTRL-Q" her, take the key
and reform party)

Race: Human, half/elf or elf, in this order. As for the 20-aged
thing, I think you can consider this a sort of "text bug"!
After all it couldn't be adapted 'couse a voice had to read it!
The other races seem not enough heroic to me. Just think
about the actual forces of the realms: Elminster, Drizzt...

Class: I agree that bg1 is more suited for a fighter. When you
escape from Candlekeep you have to face more "mundane"
perils... so you learn some basics, fighting skills.
Then in bg2 you realize that it's time to gain access
to the real power to preserve your life... time to dual
to a mage!
(I guess you all have the needed stats!! We're speaking about
a god's child!)
So in the end you can be a credible hero of the
realms, capable of defeating every enemy face to face!

Sex: Well... the game seems to propend for a male (as this is the
sex of most players!). Romances do prove it. But this time
I've taken a female, and found it more intriguing: you know,
the prophecies are always fulfilled in the strangest way...
Sarevok thought he was the one, how could he be more wrong?!
The prophecies spoke of a female, a sweet girl who refuses violence when possible!!
And Gorion had to choose, so I think he would have chosen
the more helpless of the two!
So I've taken a female kensai (girls hate armours).
.......
Ok. Forget all these arguments. I just love the pic of the
female elf dressed in green.
(and I was forced to consider her human!!!!! There are not enough pics in this game! What if I wanted a FEMALE HALF/ORC?!?!?!
Well, I have a human mother with 10% elven blood)
And most of all in the italian edition we have a truly
beautyful voice set!!!!! Must hear it!

With all of these elucubrations I think to have demonstrated the opposite of what I intended! After all you can justify any char
you want!!!!!!!

IMO...the pro is any of the abouve and all not mentioned...reason? Welp...he is battling an inner battle that can change alingment or class...plus it's a rpg so pick your fav and rpg away

Personaly, Im a big fan of the Monk Sorceror theory, a fighter, can draw from godly powers, and can cast spells from innate power flowing through thier veins, tell me how this doesnt make sense

I'm with FudD. The game premise and story line is flexible enough for very varied role-play. There is a bias towards playing good, sure, but there are some satisfying moments for the evil player.

What's all this about the PC's age being twenty? Is that stated in BGI, because I don't recall seeing reference to the protagonist's age anywhere in SoA.
And to all of you who don't take the "little people" seriously, well, I hope you don't run into Korgan with those words on your lips....

Haven't tried it myself, but watching a friend play a CG dwarven barbarian made me dizzy. Basically, the other 5 in his party seemed to be along just to take notes and learn something on how to smash evil.

Don't really know why, but monk just seemed to fit for me. They are fighters based on a divine essence, and Balthazar, the second most powerful bhaalspawn, was a monk as well. It makes sense, and makes for a REALLY cool fight with Balthazar, with two insanely talented monks duking it out mano a mano in the throne room.