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Hello all!

I'm new to this game and therefor have probably some newbie questions I've read a bit about NWN2 (without MotB for now) and the NPCs you can add to your party. The main problem for me is that I'm used to play the Infinity Engine games like BG and IWD and therefor am not really satisfied with just 3 companions along my main char.
When I think now about a 4 player party, I cannot ignore the 4 basic classes that every party should include: Melee tank (Paladin, Fighter, Ranger, Barbarian), Healer/Buffer (Cleric, Druid), Caster (Sorcerer, Wizard) and Rougue. I wonder now if I could play a bard as my main char and so leave Neeshka as a rougue out of my party. Disarm Traps and Open Locks are cross-skills for a bard though and I dont know now if a bard can replace a rougue in the party? I read already that a pure-rougue (like Neeshka) is not necessary in NWN2, but is a bard enough to fill this hole or would he suffer from it in his bard-abilities?
Along with that I have another question. I used to play a male Drow bard in IWD II and really liked him. Later on I added wizard levels, as it is the favourite class of male drow. IWD II had no prestige classes though and I wonder now: If I create a drow bard in NWN2 now and level him up to say level 10, could I then add prestige class levels without suffering from xp penalites, as none of the chosen classes were his favourite one (wizard)? Or is it no good idea to create a drow bard? It worked in IWD II and I for my part like it because as a drow you get +2 on DEX, INT and CHA, but I've no experience with NWN2 and it could be different there.
I hope you can help me with these questions. I hope they are not already posted somewhere on the forum. I searched a bit around but couldnt find answers so far.

You can make a drow bard with prestige classes.. Prestige classes don't give ANY penalties..

Aside from drow a good bard could be rogue 1 bard 18 fighter 1 and it would have to be human (or gnome lol) and use able learner. Bard has 6 skills per level which with a decent intelligence and in particular human +1 skills is going to give you enough rogue skills. Plus have Legionaire's March. Another option is Rogue 2(3) Fighter 2 Bard 12 Neverwinter Nine 4(3) which gives sneak/evasion more feats and aura + BAB 4 attacks in return for loss of Legionaire's March...

Thanks for the quick reply, Claudius.

I'm glad that a bard can work as the main rogue in NWN2. So I can throw Neeshka out as soon as I get another good char to include. I only need to decide now if I play a drow bard or a human one. Your bard looks pretty good, especially with the one extra skill point each level. I just wonder, are these skill points necessary for a bard to be a good rogue and a good bard at the same time? I know that drows advance slowly in levels, but their magic resistance is something I am very fond of.

The more skills the better...drows have easy access to 16 Intelligence so you could still be a drow. The essential is to have able learner.

Able learner is just the right feet for a bard working as a rogue and just what I was looking for. Thanks very much once more.

After reading more about prestige classes and several character builds including bard, I'm back with some more questions regarding my drow bard.
In IWD II I used to maximize Intelligence and Charisma and Wisdom aswell, making a fine roleplaying character but with poor stats on Strength, Dexterity and Constitution (I think it was something like 8,10,10,18,16,20 at the beginning). The Bard didnt have to fight though with a decent balanced 6-man party and with a Rogue included aswell I could neglect his Dexterity stat.
However, as I now want to use my bard as the primary thief, I thought about having a bit more Dexterity. I also read that I wouldnt need a high Wisdom score as a bard's will save will be high enough even with a Wisdom score of just 10.
I wonder now if Wisdom as any influence on talking options with other characters like it had in PC Torment, where a high Wisdom score was essential. And helps a high INT score in talking or does it just matter if your intelligence is below 10?
I for my part came up with the following stats now (assuming that WIS plays no role for talking options):
ST: 10
GES: 16 (+2 racial bonus included)
CON: 10 (-2 racial bonus included)
INT: 16 (+2 racial bonus included)
WIS: 10
CHA: 18 (+2 racial bonus included)

CHA is high enough and can be raised further, INT of 16 should be fine for enough skill points and GES 16 for opening locks and disarming traps. If I calculated correctly I should have 2 more points to spend, but I'm not sure where to put them. WIS, ST or CON up to 12 or rather INT or GES up tp 17?

Furthermore I'm not sure, which prestige class I shall choose. I looked at some character builds posted on the NWN2 wiki, but they mostly included blackguard and were therefor of evil alignment. I for my part would rather play somewhere between chaotic neutral and neutral good, so blackguard is no real option for me. I liked the ShadowThief of Amn class, as it gave me sneak attack abilities, but it has the same saving throw focus on Reflex and the same BAB progression. It would add something to the character, but maybe a prestige class with a high BAB progression and a focus on fortitude saving throw would be wiser.

Any recommendations for a prestige class choice?