Just ran into the NPC Coran. Went to the threads and tried to read all I could about him. There was a lot of comparing him with Kivan as a archer and using him as a tank and so forth.
Here's my question. Will he improve the party I now have and if so who should I let go. I value all your expertise. Here's my present party.
MY NPC LG Fighter Lv6
Minsc Lv6
Kivan Lv6
Imoen Lv7
Branwen Lv6
Dynaheir Lv6
I don't have any problems with this party, except I'm a little disappointed with Branwen. What I would like to know, will replacing someone with Coran help me with whats still ahead in the game.
Also I tried, just to see how it worked, to duel class my NPC fighter to a thief but the only choice I got was Mage Specialist. Does that mean he has to be a higher level for thief to be an option.
Thanks in advance for any and all help.
Need some advice.
Need some advice.
They turned me loose from the nervous hospital. Said I was well. 
Coran is better with a bow than any other NPC. His thief skills can also supplement Imoen's skills if you feel that she is lacking. He can also backstab, but only with a maximum multiplier of 3x.
If Kivan doesn't do anything but use a bow, you could replace him with Coran. Kivan is a better melee warrior than Coran. However, you might already have enough "tanks" in your party with your main PC and Minsc, so maybe you could add Coran's ranged weapon expertise to great effect.
Branwen is not quite as good in combat as Viconia (another single-class Cleric), simply because Viconia has higher Dexterity, which gives her better Armor Class and a better missile weapon bonus. Single-class Clerics don't really shine at low levels; their main benefits are their healing spells, protection spells, and a couple of summoning spells. You can meet a good-aligned Fighter/Cleric a little later in the game, and you might consider replacing Branwen with him. He's a little better in combat.
Your Fighter can be dualled to a Thief at any level past 2nd level as long as you meet the minimum stat requirements: Strength 15 and Dexterity 17. That must be the problem. If you could dual your Fighter to a Thief, I don't think you would need Coran in your Party, since you could divide thief duties between your main character and Imoen--he could specialize in finding traps, and she could specialize in opening locks. Before he regained his Fighter abilities, Minsc and Kivan would have to serve as your "tanks", which makes Coran less attractive during the transition period. But maybe that's a moot point.
If Kivan doesn't do anything but use a bow, you could replace him with Coran. Kivan is a better melee warrior than Coran. However, you might already have enough "tanks" in your party with your main PC and Minsc, so maybe you could add Coran's ranged weapon expertise to great effect.
Branwen is not quite as good in combat as Viconia (another single-class Cleric), simply because Viconia has higher Dexterity, which gives her better Armor Class and a better missile weapon bonus. Single-class Clerics don't really shine at low levels; their main benefits are their healing spells, protection spells, and a couple of summoning spells. You can meet a good-aligned Fighter/Cleric a little later in the game, and you might consider replacing Branwen with him. He's a little better in combat.
Your Fighter can be dualled to a Thief at any level past 2nd level as long as you meet the minimum stat requirements: Strength 15 and Dexterity 17. That must be the problem. If you could dual your Fighter to a Thief, I don't think you would need Coran in your Party, since you could divide thief duties between your main character and Imoen--he could specialize in finding traps, and she could specialize in opening locks. Before he regained his Fighter abilities, Minsc and Kivan would have to serve as your "tanks", which makes Coran less attractive during the transition period. But maybe that's a moot point.
As Vondondu has pointed out, you need 17 dexterity to change to a thief, if your dexterity is 16 there is a book you'll find that will permanently raise it to the necessary 17. If not you could consider changing to a mage eventually, however, if you're intending to continue with the character in Shadows of Amn I'd strongly recommend not dual classing until you start that game, to mage or thief.
Personally I'd stick to the party you have now, it looks pretty well balanced to me.
Personally I'd stick to the party you have now, it looks pretty well balanced to me.
[QUOTE=Darth Gavinius;1096098]Distrbution of games, is becoming a little like Democracy (all about money and control) - in the end choice is an illusion and you have to choose your lesser evil.
And everything is hidden in the fine print.[/QUOTE]
And everything is hidden in the fine print.[/QUOTE]
Well, I guess I'm up the creek with out a paddle on a duel class for my PC fighter. His dexterity is only 14. Have him wearing the Gauntlets of Dexterity but apparently that don't count.
So far I've never used Kivan as a melee fighter, only as an archer. So knowing that, what would your thoughts be on replacing Kivan with Coran?
Thanks guys.
Sonny
So far I've never used Kivan as a melee fighter, only as an archer. So knowing that, what would your thoughts be on replacing Kivan with Coran?
Thanks guys.
Sonny
They turned me loose from the nervous hospital. Said I was well.
Dualling:
As mentioned previously, to have the option to dual to a particular class, you need 15+ in your original class's main ability score (Strength for fighters), and you need 17+ in your new class's main ability score (Dexterity for thieves).
Also, thieves cannot be Lawful Good. Your fighter's alignment of LG would also prevent the thief class from being an option when dualling.
And I agree with galraen: if you want to dual to a new class, then wait till BG2 to do it. To explain why... well, it would require an essay on numbers-crunching with the many tables found in the BG1 and BG2 manuals. Maybe the simplest reason would be that BG1 is geared towards the fighter class being the most effective, which your main dude already happens to be. BG2:SoA is more geared towards wizards, imo, and ToB reverts back to fighters (that do lots of damage very quickly) being the most effective... but I digress to your issues at hand.
Kivan versus Coran:
- Both will give you a great bow.
- Kivan will give you better melee combat.
- Coran will give you more thieving options.
They are both effective at what they do. Both bows will rain death on hostiles. One can compliment your tanks, the other your thieving. Both will prove useful, no matter what's goin' on.
Abilities aside, I say the determiner should be: who do you *like* more?
Disappointment with Branwen:
Again, BG1, imo, is geared towards fighters and missile weapons. After that, everyone else runs the risk of becoming either a lockpick, a wand of fireball, or a healing potion. If Branwen seems lacking, try using her in a different role within your party. If Branwen's typical role is to rumble next to Minsc and Boo and heal when needed, then revisit Branwen's list of spells, and see how else she might be able to contribute.
(This "revisiting" and understanding your spells and abilites will serve you well in the long run, especially when you make it to BG2, where magic makes conflicts feel like a chess match.)
Or, if you just want a cleric that is able to rumble, then be on the lookout for a cleric with a little *fighter* in 'im.
Or you could just drop Branwen for another tank, and buy more healing potions.
Again, I say keep who you *like* the most.
As mentioned previously, to have the option to dual to a particular class, you need 15+ in your original class's main ability score (Strength for fighters), and you need 17+ in your new class's main ability score (Dexterity for thieves).
Also, thieves cannot be Lawful Good. Your fighter's alignment of LG would also prevent the thief class from being an option when dualling.
And I agree with galraen: if you want to dual to a new class, then wait till BG2 to do it. To explain why... well, it would require an essay on numbers-crunching with the many tables found in the BG1 and BG2 manuals. Maybe the simplest reason would be that BG1 is geared towards the fighter class being the most effective, which your main dude already happens to be. BG2:SoA is more geared towards wizards, imo, and ToB reverts back to fighters (that do lots of damage very quickly) being the most effective... but I digress to your issues at hand.
Kivan versus Coran:
- Both will give you a great bow.
- Kivan will give you better melee combat.
- Coran will give you more thieving options.
They are both effective at what they do. Both bows will rain death on hostiles. One can compliment your tanks, the other your thieving. Both will prove useful, no matter what's goin' on.
Abilities aside, I say the determiner should be: who do you *like* more?
Disappointment with Branwen:
Again, BG1, imo, is geared towards fighters and missile weapons. After that, everyone else runs the risk of becoming either a lockpick, a wand of fireball, or a healing potion. If Branwen seems lacking, try using her in a different role within your party. If Branwen's typical role is to rumble next to Minsc and Boo and heal when needed, then revisit Branwen's list of spells, and see how else she might be able to contribute.
(This "revisiting" and understanding your spells and abilites will serve you well in the long run, especially when you make it to BG2, where magic makes conflicts feel like a chess match.)
Or, if you just want a cleric that is able to rumble, then be on the lookout for a cleric with a little *fighter* in 'im.
Or you could just drop Branwen for another tank, and buy more healing potions.
Again, I say keep who you *like* the most.
Why is it that whenever I finally get around to playing a new game for the first time,
I feel like playing Baldur's Gate for the second time...
I feel like playing Baldur's Gate for the second time...
Keep in mind that Coran has a quest. If you don't finish it in time, he'll go away. Since the way from the later Cloakwood maps to the next temple or arrow shop is very long this can happen, especially if you use a temple instead of powerword:reload when a party member dies.
You could replace Imoen with Coran if you don't mind being unable to disarm traps for a long time until his trapfinding skill has been raised enough. (not fun)
The next weakest choice for replacing is Minsc, if he dies Dynaheir will stay.
Kivan is better than Minsc, it's only worth replacing him if you want to use Coran's thieving skills.
The game is much harder without a cleric in the party. Animate dead is extremely powerful. You'll find other clerics later, but if you replace her now with Coran you'll have a difficult time without healer and face the same problem when you find a replacement cleric. If you happen to find a druid she can act as replacement for a short time until you find another cleric.
You could replace Imoen with Coran if you don't mind being unable to disarm traps for a long time until his trapfinding skill has been raised enough. (not fun)
The next weakest choice for replacing is Minsc, if he dies Dynaheir will stay.
Kivan is better than Minsc, it's only worth replacing him if you want to use Coran's thieving skills.
The game is much harder without a cleric in the party. Animate dead is extremely powerful. You'll find other clerics later, but if you replace her now with Coran you'll have a difficult time without healer and face the same problem when you find a replacement cleric. If you happen to find a druid she can act as replacement for a short time until you find another cleric.
OK, guys here's what I did. Finished the area Coran is in before talking to him. Saved a game.
Had Kivan drop all his stuff and put him in the cabin. Then went and got Coran.
Plan on keeping him until I finish his quest and by that time I should know if I like him or not.
Now that brings up this question. If I go back where I left Kivan, will he rejoin, or will I have to reload the saved game.
The reason I did not drop Minsc, is I like the big dufus and he makes me laugh.
Thanks
Had Kivan drop all his stuff and put him in the cabin. Then went and got Coran.
Plan on keeping him until I finish his quest and by that time I should know if I like him or not.
Now that brings up this question. If I go back where I left Kivan, will he rejoin, or will I have to reload the saved game.
The reason I did not drop Minsc, is I like the big dufus and he makes me laugh.
Thanks
They turned me loose from the nervous hospital. Said I was well.
Thanks, glad to hear that, although, unless I'm just imaging it, Coran seems to be getting off more shots then Kivan did. In a couple of fights, before my PC and Minsc could get there to use their swords, Coran had aced the bad guys already.Curry wrote:Yes he'll rejoin you
I'll just keep watching and see how it goes. Although he doesn't talk as much as Kivan. I do miss that.
They turned me loose from the nervous hospital. Said I was well.
Yea, now I understand what you meant by "who do you *like*more". It would take a lot for me to drop Minsc. And although I miss Kivan's laid back comments, Coran so far seems to be a much better archer, so maybe I'll keep him around for a while.CFM wrote:imo, that is the A#1 best reason to keep a character.
I don't know if it's just me, but I seem to be attached to the characters in this game. I never felt that way in the 2 Wizardry games I played. Maybe it was because they were just in the party, there was never any talk. Or maybe I'm loosing it and need to get a life.lol
They turned me loose from the nervous hospital. Said I was well.
imo, with the right equipment, most (if not all) of the joinables will be effective. Might as well keep the ones with the most entertainment value.sonny wrote:Yea, now I understand what you meant by "who do you *like*more". It would take a lot for me to drop Minsc. And although I miss Kivan's laid back comments, Coran so far seems to be a much better archer, so maybe I'll keep him around for a while.
You're not losing it, it's a main reason that BG is such a standout game.sonny wrote:I don't know if it's just me, but I seem to be attached to the characters in this game. I never felt that way in the 2 Wizardry games I played. Maybe it was because they were just in the party, there was never any talk. Or maybe I'm loosing it and need to get a life.lol
And just wait till you get to BG2...
Why is it that whenever I finally get around to playing a new game for the first time,
I feel like playing Baldur's Gate for the second time...
I feel like playing Baldur's Gate for the second time...
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Excalibur_2102
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Yes, alot of the characters are very likeable. Even the evil ones can have at least a certain likeability. Its annoying. Ive become attached to Jaheira and Khalid, even though they arent the best characters as far as building a strong party goes. At the moment my party goes like this:
My PC: Paladin
Khalid
Jaheira
Imoen
Minsc
Dynaheir
I had Coran in my party for a while and he was a GREAT archer, and I also liked the character in general. I just couldnt bare to drop any of the other characters for him, lol.
My PC: Paladin
Khalid
Jaheira
Imoen
Minsc
Dynaheir
I had Coran in my party for a while and he was a GREAT archer, and I also liked the character in general. I just couldnt bare to drop any of the other characters for him, lol.