GameBanshee Forums

Hello everybody! This is my first time playing Baldur's Gate, and I'm really enjoying it so far. Even got the 4 in one box set. This site seemed ok, so I decided to try it out.

So I started playing as a Fighter/Druid, specializing in Quarterstaffs, Slings, and Scimitars for some reason. I'm enjoying him quite a bit, as I really wanted a "nature warrior", the kind who can use plants and wildlife to fight.

That said, I got the sudden itch to play as a Ranger (till I found out it was a rash). They have nature spells, plus they fight in melee, which is a bonus. So I have a few questions regarding them


I've read that Ranger/Clerics are godly, but how are Pure, single classed Rangers? I started to roll a Ranger/Cleric alt, till I found out that you have a very limited set of weapons (worse than F/D to me), and I really wanted him to use Bows, Long Swords, and Quaterstaffs (I like that weapon). Are pure Rangers any good?

I know that pure Rangers don't get their spells till late. They get it at around level 8. But do they get all the druid spells, or just a few? I am itching to use Insect Swarm, Nature's beauty, and Energy Blades, and will be slighty dissapointed for them not to get it. And if he doesn't get the Juciy stuff, do I have to be a Ranger/Cleric to get it?

Just to point out, I am not using the Tutu mod. I want my first game experience to be vanilla, though I have Tales of the Sword Coast installed as well.

Thanks, and hello to all.

Pure ranger gets spells up to lvl 3 and as far as power goes he is pretty much a fighter with the ability to use Armor of Faith. Ranger/Cleric is very strong because you get access to both all druid and cleric spells (you shouldn't be naturally but that's how it works).

Dang it, so I gotta choose between high level spells or the ability to use a sword and bow? Great.

Thanks though, I guess it's Ranger/Cleric for me. Or should I go Ranger now, and dual to Cleric later?

In Baldur's Gate II, flails provide a VERY solid choice and I end up using them anyway, even with fighters who have an array of other weapons available.

Nature's Beauty and Insect Swarm and only available to Druids and Ranger/Clerics in Baldur's Gate II. Energy Blades is a High Level Ability and is only available at a level up AFTER you hit a total of three million experience points.

I would suggest that you try the Ranger/Cleric multiclass, over the dual class, mainly because it's a very good balance of both classes and there simply is no need to dual class (unless you want to develop your spells faster and be able to cast them more often, at the cost of a melee presence and the high level abilities of a fighter). Ranger/Clerics get ALL cleric spells and ALL druid spells (except for two druid-related high level abilities).

Many people say that using ranged weapons is the way to go in the first Baldur's Gate game. I personally like melee, but I know for a fact that a character using ranged weapons can solo the game, so playing with a party should be easier. When you hit Baldur's Gate II, you'll notice that the system changed and that there are much more weapons at your disposal and also, you will notice that your Ranger will be able to choose from three new kits from the class (or stay as a Ranger). The kits are Stalker (a stealthy ranger who can backstab and has access to a handful of mage spells), an Archer (who can gain Grandmastery with Bow or Crossbow, as well as become extremely deadly with any ranged weapon, but at the cost of becoming weak when it comes to melee combat) and a Beast Master (that can summon animals to his aid, but is unable to use any metalic weapons or armor).

Ranger/Cleric is a good choice if you're going to continue to BG2 with your character, but druid spells are pretty useless in BG1 so if you're not gonna import your character in BG2, don't choose this class.