GameBanshee Forums

Without intending to, I got Dynaheir killed during one of those "you have been waylaid" travel events. It will cost 1000 to resurrect her, Xan is waiting back in Nashkel and I have just purchased shadow armor for my PC fighter/thief. While I still have the 1000 gold, I am hesitant to use it on her. Reading one of the other threads here about Xan's ability to control the battlefield, this has some appeal.

Since I am returning to BG after a 6 year absence, including several years playing EQ, any old strategy has been forgotten. The EQ enchanter's ability to control a battle by charming and mezmerizing enemies now has a great deal of appeal and I think Xan would be able to do this. On the other hand, there is something to be said in favor of just blowing them (enemies) away

While you can certainly play your game any way that you want, it sounds like you are familiar with Dynaheir and therefore may feel a bit more "comfortable" with her.

If nothing else, make a save of your game and then give Xan a try. If you don't like him, pick up the save and resurect Dynaheir.

If it was my game, I would go with Xan just to try something new.

BTW, welcome back to BG!

It became moot when I accidently saved a game w/o Dynaheir over the top of the game keeping her as a corpse.

RTFM always helps , I decided to read up on the spells Xan has for crowd control. It was disappointing to discover that the charm spell line doesn't work on big monsters. However it will still be interesting seeing how he can contribute.

Imoen got dualled at lvl 5 to general mage. I decided I didn't know enough about the game to make her a specialist, she may be hurt as far as number of spells she memorize at any time, but at least she can experiment with a wider range of spells.

I use alot of charm, sleep, and dire charm spells with Xan.
Also if you have a good ranged group greese is a great spell to slow up the enemy. Sleep is a pretty handy spell in BGI as it is able to effect a good percentage of the overal badies in that game. If you have Tails you will also get Hold Monster, emotional hopelessness and some other great ones.

SpitfireV wrote:Imoen got dualled at lvl 5 to general mage. I decided I didn't know enough about the game to make her a specialist, she may be hurt as far as number of spells she memorize at any time, but at least she can experiment with a wider range of spells.

By not being a specialist, Imoen will lose casting 1 spell per spell level per day. For example, if she is a 5th level wizard, and can cast 1st, 2nd, & 3rd level spells, then for not being a specialist she is shorted 3 spells per day: 1 1st, 1 2nd, and 1 3rd.

I dig dualling Imoen to a general wizard because:

- she can learn any spell (as you mentioned), allowing you to see more of what the game has to offer, and

- it promotes continuity with the sequel.

Btw, Xan cool to have in BG1, because BG2 has zero Enchanter spells above spell level 5.

Many think Xan's lack of evocation spells a big drawback, but I disagree. Just make sure he's got some Magic Missile scrolls and a Wand of Fire for when you need to dish out some damage!

Not legit but, turning Xan into a fighter/mage....hello killcount!! Gotta love that moonblade.

I'd take Xan over Dynaheir any day - he's a real asset to the party, but he's very squishy so be careful. You won't miss the evocation spells too much - he has summons

THE party of choice (for me):
PC - fighter/thief
Yeslick - fighter/cleric (Branwen or Viconia until you meet him)
Imoen - thief1/conjurerX
Kivan - ranger (archer kit, if using TuTu)
Xan - enchanter
Free spot - your choice. Don't have to pick a 6th party member by any means.

I just find Xan really irritating! I leave him in the tavern and take him back into the party to identify things, sleep, then boot him out again - saves paying for identifying items!

otherwise, I'm just not keen on him.

Rhûn wrote:Not legit but, turning Xan into a fighter/mage....hello killcount!! Gotta love that moonblade...

The Xan I have as a lvl 5 or 6 mage has only 17 hp, making him extremely squishy.

I noticed once I went dual class with Imoen, she stopped gaining hitpoints. Is this because as a lvl 5 thief she already had 35 or so which exceeds what a lvl 4 (her current level) mage would have? Or do characters stop gaining hp upon leveling once they become dual class?

SpitfireV wrote:I noticed once I went dual class with Imoen, she stopped gaining hitpoints. Is this because as a lvl 5 thief she already had 35 or so which exceeds what a lvl 4 (her current level) mage would have? Or do characters stop gaining hp upon leveling once they become dual class?

Your Imoen will gain 1-4 HP (+2 for her CON bonus), as per a regular wizard, when she hits level 6 (i.e. one level above her original class), and every wizard level gained thereafter (in BG1).