The Best Tank

Ned Flanders · Post by **Ned Flanders** » Wed Jun 13, 2001 6:25 am

Reigns of power says to Xyx:
A Swashbuckler cannot use ANY Item, he cant even use a two handed sword!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I believe what Xyx is referring to is the ToB special ability for thieves to use any item, that is any item. Apparently, it's for real. How about a 40th level swashbuckler wearing red dragon scale wreaking havoc with Celestial Fury and Crom Faeyr. Who needs fighters?

Lucian_Garland · Post by **Lucian_Garland** » Wed Jun 13, 2001 7:13 am

that swashbuckler would be better off using the improved flail of the ages +5
2 elemental damage from each head
33% chance of slowing target each hit without any saves
and free action while equipped

Ned Flanders · Post by **Ned Flanders** » Wed Jun 13, 2001 7:35 am

True...True. Agreed then, our thief shall make his grand entrance sporting his shiny red dragon scale whilst brandishing FoA in the left and Crom Faeyr in the right. We'll name our agile party member Andre the Giant

Disco Stew · Post by **Disco Stew** » Wed Jun 13, 2001 8:02 am

well, considering that a paladin can use the amulet of power..they where intended to, and it will be fixed in tob. i find it robs the undead hunter of his best selling abilitiy
and you get more abilities with a cavalier.

You're right about one thing, Lucian. The ability to wear the amulet of power does make the cavalier a little less cr@ppy than they are initially.

As I have stated before, why waste the amulet of power when you can have a kit that does the same thing so you can better equip your party members? The cavaliers immunities are nothing compared to the undead hunters. Hold is so much more common than fear that it's not even funny. 20% resist to a couple elements is okay, but you can do better with a good amulet (not amulet of power).

Cavalier is nothing compared to it's fellow overpowered paladin kits, although with coarsomyr you could justify any paladin being the best tank. Note, however that this will change in ToB when more weapons like corsomyr come into play.

My vote goes to dwarven berserker. 5 bonus to save vs spells and wands, berserker rage, and grandmastery make him my fav tank. Try out korgan and see what I mean.

Lucian_Garland · Post by **Lucian_Garland** » Wed Jun 13, 2001 8:27 am

well, the cavalier i have now is using

crom faeyr
flail of ages *will become +5 in tob and gain free action*
red dragon scale
helmet of defence
amulet of power
ring of gaxx
ring of protection +2
and with the bonuses from the good path in hell, my saves are so low that it takes a greater malison AND a spell with save penalty to make a chance of loosing to a spell.
paralyzation, poison or death -4
wands, rods or staves -5
petrification or polymorph -5
breath weapons -10
spells -3
and once the flail is upgraded, i gain some sure movement imunities, compared to the undead hunter's hold that doesnt protects against slow or stun
granted the ring of gaxx gives poison imunity too. but with the cavalier's inherent bonuses, the red dragon scale, the hell reward and the helmet of defence i get 110 fire rest. and that is a good thing to have as many special spells are fire based and very damaging

[ 06-13-2001: Message edited by: Lucian_Garland ]

Xyx · Post by **Xyx** » Wed Jun 13, 2001 8:49 am

Agreed then, our thief shall make his grand entrance sporting his shiny red dragon scale whilst brandishing FoA in the left and Crom Faeyr in the right.

Perhaps he can be dualled to Cleric or Mage right after getting his ridiculous "Use Any Item" ability and still regain his first class abilities (Thieves level up rather quickly, after all).

With Stoneskin, Mirror Image and Tenser's or Armor of Faith and the zillion THAC0 enhancing priest spells, I doubt any "real" warrior could tank better.

If only he had Hit Points...

TheDude · Post by **TheDude** » Wed Jun 13, 2001 11:54 am

best think in my opinion:

Ranger/Cleric:

Crom Feayr / updated Flail of Ages,
Red Scale Armor,
Boots of Speed,
Ring of Gaxx,
Cloak of Mirroring,
Helm of Balduran,
Amulet of Power,
Belt of Inertial Barier,
Ring of Prot+2

And a great number of spells like:
IRON SKIN
Blade Barrier,
Draw Upon Holy Might,
Defense Harmonie,
Chant,
Armor of Faith,
and maybe something like Shield of Archons,
or for some real killing Prot from Evil rad.10 ==>> GATE!!

ok so that last one isn't really for my tank himself but it would really eat German and russian tanks for breakfast

Lykwid · Post by **Lykwid** » Wed Jun 13, 2001 1:10 pm

Id say a monk is the best tank with all his immunites and the HUGE 83% MR he can get not includeing the tear of baal, that MR makes the monk an awesome tank , not to mention the hide in shadows for scouting.

At the end of the game my monk had -9 ac 83% magic resist, 4 attacks per round with each one being 14-36 damage with plusses. Also had 125hps (max) i did max hps since i was doing the monk solo. I cant imagine any other class kickin as much ass as the monk does in melee.

sigurd · Post by **sigurd** » Thu Jun 14, 2001 2:20 am

A monk? you gotta be kidding, with the poor AC and low HP.

If it is possible, dual a berzerker to thief at level 9, and you will have the best tank, and even better, a kensai, if the use any item ability works even with the kensais restrictions.

ReignsOfPower · Post by **ReignsOfPower** » Thu Jun 14, 2001 2:30 am

Best TANK = Barbarian

Highest Hitpoints and Barbarian Rage ability.

Period.

Case Closed.

ReignsOfPower · Post by **ReignsOfPower** » Thu Jun 14, 2001 2:30 am

Ofcourse lets not forget the Half - Ork Barbarian. NOW THATS A TANK!

sigurd · Post by **sigurd** » Thu Jun 14, 2001 5:06 am

I disagree.
A berzerker has but 18 less hitpoints at most, but much better armour, and enrage, which is better than rage for tank purposes.

RA · Post by RA » Thu Jun 14, 2001 6:31 am

An half orc the best tank? you must be kidding. A dwarven berserker is the best because they have better saving throws.

Dexterity can be fixed with the bracers if you want to, and strenght with a girdle so orc half orc sucks(you can also increase it in hell).

Xyx · Post by **Xyx** » Thu Jun 14, 2001 7:29 am

Are spells included in the equation? If so, dual and multi fighters will tank the best by far. Preferable dual, since they get more Hit Points and Grand Mastery, and get to level higher in their second class (thus more Stoneskins etc).

Disco Stew · Post by **Disco Stew** » Thu Jun 14, 2001 7:39 am

crom faeyr
flail of ages *will become +5 in tob and gain free action*
red dragon scale
helmet of defence
amulet of power
ring of gaxx
ring of protection +2
and with the bonuses from the good path in hell, my saves are so low that it takes a greater malison AND a spell with save penalty to make a chance of loosing to a spell.
paralyzation, poison or death -4
wands, rods or staves -5
petrification or polymorph -5
breath weapons -10
spells -3

Lucian, could you please stop bragging about your equipment! We all have awesome tanks with awesome items, if you wanna brag then start a new thread!

Keep in mind that the undead hunter or inquisitor can wear all those items as well and be just as powerful. Since the undead hunter doesn't require the amulet of power he can wear a more useful amulet that is designed for combat, not a backliner cleric or mage.

The amulet of power is an awesome item for a mage or cleric, but it doesn't make sense to put it on a frontline fighter.(use mace of disruption if you want to rock undead)

Keep in mind also that hold is always saved against by the time you are high level and have that FoA anyway. I like the immunities for the early and mid game when you haven't accumulated a ton of magical items.

Oh yeah, german tanks were better than russian ones, but the russians had more because any russian who wasn't fighting in the war was building tanks.

slenz · Post by **slenz** » Thu Jun 14, 2001 10:28 am

Hmm, I must say, the best tank depends on your fighting style.

And how he's equipped.

Overall, the best game I've had in BG2 yet was using a well-rolled Half-Orc. With 19 Dex, he's got some great natural AC.

I equipped him with Armor of the hart, helm of defense, girdle of frost giant str, boots of speed, and gave him options for using two handed swords, axes, and one slot for the war hammer. Through the entire game, he never once died. Never had to cast neg plan protection on him either, as I used my amulet of power wearing fighter cleric as a meat wall, and had him throw the azure edge at vamp's and other undead from range. Undead never died so quickly.

Plus, he proc'd the Silver sword alot. Although, this changed once I gave him the warblade +4. He would do crits of 60+ at times. Simply amazing.

Of course, your tank is only as good as his backup, but, with a well balanced party, the half-orc makes a great High HP meat wall (mine got up to 130+ hp's when he hit 19), holding back mobbies while the rest of the group cleaned house.

TheHellion · Post by **TheHellion** » Thu Jun 14, 2001 11:56 am

An elven kensai/mage/swashbuckler/bard/barbarian/druid with an amulet of resist everything and a Hackmaster +10?! You've got to be kidding, right?! That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard! My ferret berserker would totally kick your stupid character's ass. He's got 25 in all stats, -20 saving throws, a 20mm hand-held auto cannon, a light saber +15, and a temper like me before I've had my coffee. I'm importing him to ToB, and I'm gonna beat it solo. Your characters won't make it out of the Abyss. So there! And stop bragging guys, it's getting really annoying.

[ 06-14-2001: Message edited by: TheHellion ]

Craig · Post by **Craig** » Thu Jun 14, 2001 1:17 pm

Barbarians; d12 (times 2 over fighter) asome rage fast best amour isn't the plate only sucking thing is that they a)Can't duel and, b) 2*'s only done 26 damage non critical normal halbred imagine if it had been the wave /dragoons breath !

!

Lykwid · Post by **Lykwid** » Thu Jun 14, 2001 2:11 pm

Again i have to say monks

AC -9
HPs 125
Dam 14-36 x 4/round
MR 83% (almost no spells hit)

I didnt think monks were all that great either , but after playing through the game several times with various sized parties and diff characters i decided to try the solo monk i read about in the stratagy section.

I found the monk kinda sucked till about 15th lvl or so , at which point they really start to come into their own. At higher lvls they do more damage then any other melee class with any weapon , crits up to 72. I was also suprised to see my monk kill the lichs so easily , none of them took a second attempt.

I think the monk is very underated, but i encourage people to try one, they might get a big suprise like i did.

-Lykwid

Irenin · Post by **Irenin** » Thu Jun 14, 2001 2:25 pm

Monks rock but they are overpowered. I think a beserker or a monk probably makes the best overall tanks. Kensai good too.