dual classing bg1 or bg2 , other info

[Denarth]

Hey… (skip to questions if you dont want backround ) I’m new to bg1 and bg2, actually a first time rpg’er ( tend to have stayed in simulations, [have pilots license], and strategy rts genres). But I’m a big lotr fan and the recent movie has rekindled an old love… so I checked the game reviews and decided on bg2 and ran out and bought it. Only to find out I can’t start a player from scratch, so… I found bg1 original saga which includes ToSC (didn’t know if this edition makes a dif or not). enough of that…… ive been doing my homework but being new I have lots a questions so I will try not to be to verbose.
My intent was to take a PC from bg1 thru to bg2 ToB (and beyond ?) as a ‘not –evil- aligned-party’. Play single player and pickup game given npc’s. I decided on PC as NG, human, fighter who I will dual-class to mage later. Rolled up a natural str18/47, dex18, con18, int18, wis10, chr 4. probably goofed on the last 2 abilities but I read somewhere about a ring of hum infl. And imoen has decent chr for dialogue. Prof. ++large sword, +bow, +blunt, had no idea how to select these.

Selection of my pc/class based on loads of reviews that a kensai/mage kicks a$$ and it seemed a good choice to carry thru.

Q
1. will I be dualing in bg1 or bg2? Can I even dual in bg1? I’m assuming the game will prompt me to dual when it becomes available? Can someone confirm this as I haven’t seen any greyed out selection to dual in bg1.
2. if I dual in bg1 as fight/mage, when I get to bg2 will I be able to get the kit to be a kensai/mage? Or am I stuck with (generic fighter)/mage
3. what if I don’t dual in bg1 but wait til bg2, can I get a fighter kit then, any problems waiting til bg2? like having too weak a mage or anything?
4. Do my XP go to zero when I elect to dual or is it displayed as class1xp/class2xp.
5. as a dual fight/mage who has leveled up completely i.e. benefits of both classes, can I wear armor and cast spells?
6. if I can’t be a kensai/mage in bg2, should I go with my first love character, a half-elf multi either thief/mage or fight/thief/mage or mage/thief. Any thoughts on this? I tend to like mage spells and thieving abilities . also I thought first time thru I would use the fighter/mage no cheats. Then next time thru use my multiclass and hack the XP so my multi attains some powerful spells. thoughts on that?
7. whats a munchkin tactic refer to? is it a hack? or considered a cheat?

Thanks,
newbie but eager , hope my first post wasn't too long

[Chips_40285]

you can start a new player in bg2!

1. will I be dualing in bg1 or bg2? Can I even dual in bg1? I’m assuming the game will prompt me to dual when it becomes available? Can someone confirm this as I haven’t seen any greyed out selection to dual in bg1.
-dual in bg 2 so you can dual at lvl 9 or 13 (personal favs)

2. if I dual in bg1 as fight/mage, when I get to bg2 will I be able to get the kit to be a kensai/mage? Or am I stuck with (generic fighter)/mage
-dont know

3. what if I don’t dual in bg1 but wait til bg2, can I get a fighter kit then, any problems waiting til bg2? like having too weak a mage or anything?
-im not sure about having a kit selection but you do select new weapon profs. if you dual at 9 in bg 2 you can get to the max mage lvl in ToB (31) if you dual at 13 you can reach lvl 27 both of which are VERY powerful

4. Do my XP go to zero when I elect to dual or is it displayed as class1xp/class2xp.
-class 1 xp is where it is when you dual, class 2 is started as zero. this does nothing to the xp cap

5. as a dual fight/mage who has leveled up completely i.e. benefits of both classes, can I wear armor and cast spells?
-only elven chain like any other mage and are restricted to mage stuff besides weapons

6. if I can’t be a kensai/mage in bg2, should I go with my first love character, a half-elf multi either thief/mage or fight/thief/mage or mage/thief. Any thoughts on this? I tend to like mage spells and thieving abilities . also I thought first time thru I would use the fighter/mage no cheats. Then next time thru use my multiclass and hack the XP so my multi attains some powerful spells. thoughts on that?
-definently beat it w/o the xp cap remover first. multi class are different but good in their own way, but i havent played a f/m/t or a m/t

7. whats a munchkin tactic refer to? is it a hack? or considered a cheat?
-just something that works real well (if your referring to the char creation strategy guide)

[Curdis]

Welcome to the forum(s)Denarth.

Q1. will I be dualing in bg1 or bg2? Can I even dual in bg1? Yes, need to be human AND have the stats. I’m assuming the game will prompt me to dual when it becomes available? Can someone confirm this as I haven’t seen any greyed out selection to dual in bg1. The game doesn't prompt you (as such) in BG1 you have to be at least level 2 before the option becomes available (the button is on your character sheet)

Q2. if I dual in bg1 as fight/mage, when I get to bg2 will I be able to get the kit to be a kensai/mage? Or am I stuck with (generic fighter)/mage You get to choose your first class kit when you import into BG2. They have fixed the dualling to a specialist mage in BG1 and importing cheat with the latest TOB patch.

Q3. what if I don’t dual in bg1 but wait til bg2, can I get a fighter kit then, any problems waiting til bg2? like having too weak a mage or anything?Dualling from a fighter to a mage I'd wait until bg2, when the d10 H.P. rolls stop is considered the best place to dual.

Q6. if I can’t be a kensai/mage in bg2, should I go with my first love character, a half-elf multi either thief/mage or fight/thief/mage or mage/thief. Any thoughts on this? I tend to like mage spells and thieving abilities . also I thought first time thru I would use the fighter/mage no cheats. Then next time thru use my multiclass and hack the XP so my multi attains some powerful spells. thoughts on that? You can be a Kensai/mage in bg2. The F/M/T is a good choice too.

Q7. whats a munchkin tactic refer to? is it a hack? or considered a cheat? A Munchkin is a player who is more concerned about whether they have a +4 or +3 bonus than whether it is 'realistic' that an elf specialises in dwarven thrower. It comes from Pen & Paper AD&D (PnP) where such a player is considered to have widely missed the point. In CRPG it is a more individual experience so such tactics and attitudes are usually referred to as 'power gaming'.

Thanks, newbie but eager, hope my first post wasn't too long Your welcome. I've seen longer with less content - Curdis

[ 01-17-2002: Message edited by: Curdis ]

[Denarth]

thanks illumen and curdis for the quick responses.. good info.