GameBanshee Forums

Sometimes I amaze myself. I peered into the future and it has come to pass. In 2007 on these very boards I predicted I would finish the game in 2009. Holy crap, I was [url="http://www.gamebanshee.com/forums/baldurs-gate-ii-shadows-of-amn-9/when-do-minsc-and-jaheira-start-being-useful-86013-p2.html#post928514"]right[/url]!

I finished the game off a week or so ago and I've been goofing around looking for ideas on how to re-play it and have a different experience when I stumbled back on my own thread. The funny thing is that I actually finished the game with Minsc and Jaheira and my major PC was a sorc - and that thread I linked to is all about me complaining that I couldn't keep my sorc alive with Minsc, Jaheira, Jan and Aerie. (All I can say is RPG Guy was bang on with his assessment of the sorc's ass-kickery)

My amazing powers of foresight aside, does anyone have any good ideas on which way to go now? I tried to load up NWN, but it just looked disappointing and I didn't bother moving past the tutorial. So now I'm back to re-playing BG2, let me ask the following questions:
1) I'd love to play a half-orc barbarian, but I want to try the romances. Is there a mod that allows a half-orc to get some lovin'?
2) What is it that makes the ftr/thief a badass?
3) Is there more to playing an evil PC (and having the 'evil experience') than being rude to people?
4) How many hours does ToB tack on?

1.) Viconia will romance half-orcs. I believe that a dwarf or halfling would making a better Barbarian due to high saving throws.

2.) A Fighter/Thief, or a Kensai/Thief, can put multiple points into its' proficiencies, thus gaining extra attacks per round and doing more damage. The latter of the two, will do insane ammounts of damage on every hit, while having a great defense after Use Any Item comes along. The former has less damage, but can take certain abilities like Assassination multiple times.

3.) No, not really. You do have an option to side with Bhodi instead of the Shadow Thieves if you so choose.

4.) I'm not sure if I'm correct on this, but I think that the main campaign is only ten hours, however, in my opinion, the biggest addition to the game is Watcher's Keep, some twenty to thirty hour (back in the day) optional quest.

Also, that's a part of the Tweak Pack that removes the race requirement for the romances if you don't want to feel bound to a certain character when you'd rather play another.

1-3)

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but you can't side with Bodhi if you're any kind of thief, right?

Some other side quests can end differently if you roleplay evil. I can't remember how many, but you might as well switch it up for your sophmore run. Lower the rep, hang with the evil NPCs, and romance bad-girl Vic as a half-orc. And remember, roleplaying evil isn't just about being chaotic or rude. You can be charming and handsome, yet devilish and deceitful, all at the same time. I say silent scheming hidden evil is the best kind.

Regarding classes and NPCs: over the years, there have been many compelling arguments as to why each and every class and NPC are powerhouses. It all depends on equipment, and how far you expoit their strengths and defend their weaknesses. Depending on the flexibility of your playing style, I say there is no bad class or NPC. And since you've been through the game already, you may find things too easy if you run with a "powerhouse" character.

4)

Hard to say how many hours ToB adds exactly, but when you consider the awesome Watcher's Keep side quest, the game-engine enhancements, the new wild mage class, high-level abilities, and the fact that this closes the Child of Bhaal saga... I can't imagine not having ToB. In a way, BG1/BG2/ToB is like Star Wars. Would you watch Empire Strikes Back, albeit the best one, without watching A New Hope and Return of the Jedi?

May the Force be with you, HandsomePadawan.

You might want to check out the Valen NPC mod. This basically makes Valen, Bodhi's assistant, available to you as a party member. And Valen takes a very active role in your affairs, sometimes jumping into make decisions (with a strong ethically evil bias). Has quite a bit of dialog, and doesn't get along at all well with some of the "good" party members, like Keldorn or Aerie. Definitely powerful, perhaps bit overpowered. Well worth a look, however.