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I've never been a fan of multi-class characters. Believe it or not, despite having played BGII on and off ever since its original release, I've never played a mc character. Why? The 'jack of all trades' approach is simply not as appealing as strong archetypes... the warrior, the wizard, the master thief. This may be because in 'real' life, people who focus on one skill or pursuit, and really dedicate themselves to it, are far more interesting and compelling than those who dabble in 'a bit of this,' 'a bit of that.'

Sure, at very high levels a multi-class character may be infinitely more powerful--players who know a lot more than I do about the game can tell you precisely how much more--but it shouldn't be about power. It shouldn't be about doing 6000 points of damage, etc., and turning every stone over, often by cheating. The story should be the priority--struggle, loss, exploration, etc.

People just getting into BGII now... and there are still a few newcomers, apparently... would do well to follow my advice. Instead of playing a half-elf swashbuckler/mage who dual-wields or a bloody kensai/mage due to this combo's ultimate statistical superiority... be a warrior. Swing a big sword. Get back to basics, to purity. Be a wizard, but a proper wizard, not some multi-multi-plus this-plus that clown.

In fact, even the game's premise--godlike status--is too much. I try to ignore the Bhaal aspect, and simply enjoy the game itself. 'Low' fantasy is so much more fun than dealing with gods.
Haven't we lost the plot? Simplicity... epic storylines... struggle... mystery.
These are the things that matter.

[QUOTE=kolchinsky]This may be because in 'real' life, people who focus on one skill or pursuit, and really dedicate themselves to it, are far more interesting and compelling than those who dabble in 'a bit of this,' 'a bit of that.'[/QUOTE]

Whilst I agree with you in game terms, I general play a single class character through-out, I must disagree wholeheartedly with this comment. Some of the most interesting people I have met in life have not been focused on 'one' thing but rather have dedicated their life to following what ever individual pursuit attracts them at that point in time. This is not to say they are not focused, just that their focus may continually change over a period of time. I can understand if these are not the people you are including in this 'bit of this, bit of that, bit of the other' phase, I just felt it was a bit sweeping.

Anyway, sorry to go off the point, had to get it off my chest.

I have to agree with ruscavo. Anyone that only knows about one thing is boring as heck. Someone that has traveled and knows a little of everything is far more interesting and is able to speak with a much more diverse crowd of people.

Regarding your comments, a MC character is not a "Jack of all trades" unless you are referring to a triple class character. A MC character is versed in only 2 areas and still need assistance from others that are knowledgeable in the areas the MC character is not.

So long as you enjoy your game that is all that counts.

I agree with much of the spirit of kolchinsky's post. I have played BGII through to the end a half dozen times and I like to try to construct good roleplaying parties. Much of the appeal of "power builds" eludes me. I get easily bored if the game offers no challenge.

Suffice it to say that everybody's different - some folks like to play munchkin characters, others like a balanced approach, and still others like to play the game from a pure roleplaying standpoint and use archetype characters.

My fighter/thief is definitely not a "power build" and the game has certainly offered me a lot of challenge and caused me to approach a battle with strategy.

I definitely do not have the luxury of just rushing into a battle unprepared and coming out fine. The Load Game option is probably my most used function!

Because my character doesn't level up that quickly I still have to find others to fill in the thief skills I do not have as well as the fighter and magic skills. This is great because it causes me to choose my NPC's that can help rather than just selecting someone to keep my company.

I agree about everything except about how people that know more than one thing are more boring than people that know one. It reminds me of School; you would have this really boring Math teacher who lectures all class and then you would have this cool Geography teacher who has been places and knows a bit about everything (so to speak). Thus, you find the Geog. teacher more interesting (unless you like boring Math lectures ).

I do, however, agree about Single-Class characters being more fun to play (about a bizillion times more). Now while a [sarcasm] super powered Kensai/Thief with eyebeams retractarms tentacles and kai using dual wield katanas and lightsabers ZOMGWTF [/sarcasm] might be most powerful, it is boring as hell. I tend to play a character like a Monk, Assassin(!!!!), and Undead Hunter. You will level up much quicker, and get HLA's quicker etc. Though being a Kensai with spells or UAI is powerful it takes forever to get HLA's.

BTW what are you doing ignoring the fact that you are the son of Bhall????? The storyline is where BGII shines! The story brings you in and you choose your destiny, I have never played a better game in my life, forget a game that has a better story.

I prefer a party of single class characters but unfortunately BGII has no pure thief except for Yoshimo. They have only an evil pure cleric. No monks. No Barbarians. No sorcerers. No single classed fighter who isn't evil. The only single classed mage is evil. You have a retarded ranger, a paladin who is on Geritol, a crabby fighter/druid, a whining fighter-cleric, a whining cleric-mage, an annoying midget thief/mage and the list goes on... I think BGI had a better NPC pool to choose from.

[QUOTE=Pellinore]No single classed fighter who isn't evil.[/QUOTE]

Although I agree with you that BG1 had better NPCs to choose,you're forgetting Mazzy.

[QUOTE=Pellinore]I think BGI had a better NPC pool to choose from.[/QUOTE]
Even with that I still went through BG1 with my own custom characters and likely will do the same with BG2 once I go through it with the in-game NPC's.

[QUOTE=Pellinore]You have a retarded ranger, a paladin who is on Geritol, a crabby fighter/druid, a whining fighter-cleric, a whining cleric-mage, an annoying midget thief/mage and the list goes on...[/QUOTE]

But that's the beauty of it, They all have their own unique personalities and that's what makes it so fun to play. What would baldur's gate be without Minsc or Jan Jansen.
But still I agree that they could have made more npc's to choose from.