Current Events > Funnest Baldur's Gate class to play through both games wit?

(+) Yeah! (+)

Ill likely only ever play through BG 1 and 2 once, so whats a really fun class to play, including race, stats, proficiencies, etc.?

Bump

I'd like to know too

Btw are you doing the original games or enhanced?

Zikten posted...

Bump

I'd like to know too

Btw are you doing the original games or enhanced?

Enhanced.

I have never finished the series. But Kensai seem cool. They are a subclass under Fighter. Basically samurai. You do a lot of damage but can't wear armor

An Elven Archer (Ranger kit) will stomp through the first game and the first half of the second. The Inquisitor will do well through both games once you learn to aim Dispel Magic well
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I ended up going with a chaotic good Elf Fighter/Mage.

My fighting style will be dual-wielding and I have proficiency in scimitars.

Ic3Bullet posted...

I ended up going with a chaotic good Elf Fighter/Mage.

My fighting style will be dual-wielding and I have proficiency in scimitars.

Long swords would have been a slightly better choice, because elves get a +1 THAC0 bonus with them, but you can get a nice +3 scimitar from pickpocketing a certain famous hero you run into fighting a bunch of Gnolls. You may want to put a point or two into katanas once you get to BG2 for Dak'kon's Zerth Blade in the off-hand for some extra spell slots, but Belm is also a pretty good scimitar for your off-hand.
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Ic3Bullet posted...

I ended up going with a chaotic good Elf Fighter/Mage.

My fighting style will be dual-wielding and I have proficiency in scimitars.

I was going to suggest Cavalier or Inquisitor if you like Paladins or Sorcerer if you like casters (you'd want to read up on the spell choices before you play Sorcerer though), but Fighter/Mages are cool too.

My favorite class kit is Cavalier.

I don't know if you want any comments on your character build or just to play it by ear.
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So while Im playing BG1, is there any reason to NOT use a stat-raising time, and would it make sense to use one on any character besides my charname? I figure none of my partys ability stats will carry into BG2, so it seems like a waste to me.

Paladins are easy, but not necessarily fun.
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The majority of BG1 is played at low level dnd, which means no class could make that fun
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EnragedSlith posted...

The majority of BG1 is played at low level dnd, which means no class could make that fun

2 is vastly superior.
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Dwarf Fighter / Cleric Multiclass

Warhammer **
Flail **
Two Weapon Style **

18/XX
17
19
10
18
8

From level 1 to max level, powerhouse
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@Ic3Bullet posted...

So while Im playing BG1, is there any reason to NOT use a stat-raising time, and would it make sense to use one on any character besides my charname? I figure none of my partys ability stats will carry into BG2, so it seems like a waste to me.

It depends.

If you are using the Trilogy model, which imports the BG1 campaign into BG2 and turns two separate games into one much longer game, then it makes sense to use some tomes on characters who appear in both campaigns that you plan to use the whole way through. But that may require some planning ahead that you might not want to do if you want to go in blind.

If you are just playing the games unmodded, then it only makes sense to use them on your protagonist because you can carry him over to BG2 with his endgame level, class, and stats intact. Unless you don't want to carry him over for some reason.
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if your PC isn't a martial class the tomes are fairly irrelevant anyway

also sorcerers > all
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Darkman124 posted...

if your PC isn't a martial class the tomes are fairly irrelevant anyway

also sorcerers > all

Not recommended for new players but you're right.

With knowledge of spells, Magic is absurdly over powered.

Sorcerers are really only better than Mages because they have no actual stat requirement and have more casts of useful chosen spells per day, however a Mage is way more versatile and is still broken as fuck later in the game
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DuranOfForcena posted...

btw, Elf is a decent choice for Fighter/Mage, but Gnomes are really much better because you can roll a max of 19 on their Int instead of 18, and Gnomes automatically get to spec as an Illusionist, even as a multiclass, instead of the base Mage class. that means that, as a specialist mage, they get to memorize an extra spell per spell level compared to a base Mage, and get bonuses to spells from the Illusion tree. the tradeoff is that they can't memorize spells of the opposite school, which for Illusion is Necromancy. not a big loss there.

the 19 Int will give you a better lore modifier and will enable you to write more than 18 spells per spell level to your mage spellbook. and Gnomes being a short race get the shorty saving throw bonus. Gnome Fighter/Illusionists really are a powerhouse.

19 Int isn't really that great, you can just use potions of Genius for scribing spells, it's about the only real use for them, and being able to learn more than 18 spells per spell level is completely useless when anybody who knows what they're doing won't ever memorize most of them.
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DuranOfForcena posted...

synth_real posted...

DuranOfForcena posted...

btw, Elf is a decent choice for Fighter/Mage, but Gnomes are really much better because you can roll a max of 19 on their Int instead of 18, and Gnomes automatically get to spec as an Illusionist, even as a multiclass, instead of the base Mage class. that means that, as a specialist mage, they get to memorize an extra spell per spell level compared to a base Mage, and get bonuses to spells from the Illusion tree. the tradeoff is that they can't memorize spells of the opposite school, which for Illusion is Necromancy. not a big loss there.

the 19 Int will give you a better lore modifier and will enable you to write more than 18 spells per spell level to your mage spellbook. and Gnomes being a short race get the shorty saving throw bonus. Gnome Fighter/Illusionists really are a powerhouse.

19 Int isn't really that great, you can just use potions of Genius for scribing spells, it's about the only real use for them, and being able to learn more than 18 spells per spell level is completely useless when anybody who knows what they're doing won't ever memorize most of them.

yeah, that's obviously the least useful benefit of going Gnome Fighter/Illusionist, but literally everything else about it is great.

Actually, in the Enhanced Edition, Illusionists also have to give up the Abjuration school, which is a really big deal in BG2. No Breach, almost no protective spells, almost nothing to strip enemy mages of their protective spells. A fighter/mage that can't cast Protection From Magical Weapons is no bueno. If you don't have the EE, then you don't have this problem
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synth_real posted...

DuranOfForcena posted...

synth_real posted...

DuranOfForcena posted...

btw, Elf is a decent choice for Fighter/Mage, but Gnomes are really much better because you can roll a max of 19 on their Int instead of 18, and Gnomes automatically get to spec as an Illusionist, even as a multiclass, instead of the base Mage class. that means that, as a specialist mage, they get to memorize an extra spell per spell level compared to a base Mage, and get bonuses to spells from the Illusion tree. the tradeoff is that they can't memorize spells of the opposite school, which for Illusion is Necromancy. not a big loss there.

the 19 Int will give you a better lore modifier and will enable you to write more than 18 spells per spell level to your mage spellbook. and Gnomes being a short race get the shorty saving throw bonus. Gnome Fighter/Illusionists really are a powerhouse.

19 Int isn't really that great, you can just use potions of Genius for scribing spells, it's about the only real use for them, and being able to learn more than 18 spells per spell level is completely useless when anybody who knows what they're doing won't ever memorize most of them.

yeah, that's obviously the least useful benefit of going Gnome Fighter/Illusionist, but literally everything else about it is great.

Actually, in the Enhanced Edition, Illusionists also have to give up the Abjuration school, which is a really big deal in BG2. No Breach, almost no protective spells, almost nothing to strip enemy mages of their protective spells. A fighter/mage that can't cast Protection From Magical Weapons is no bueno. If you don't have the EE, then you don't have this problem

And on top of all that, you have to play ad a Gnome.

Sorry but GNOpe
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PhazonReborn posted...

synth_real posted...

DuranOfForcena posted...

synth_real posted...

DuranOfForcena posted...

btw, Elf is a decent choice for Fighter/Mage, but Gnomes are really much better because you can roll a max of 19 on their Int instead of 18, and Gnomes automatically get to spec as an Illusionist, even as a multiclass, instead of the base Mage class. that means that, as a specialist mage, they get to memorize an extra spell per spell level compared to a base Mage, and get bonuses to spells from the Illusion tree. the tradeoff is that they can't memorize spells of the opposite school, which for Illusion is Necromancy. not a big loss there.

the 19 Int will give you a better lore modifier and will enable you to write more than 18 spells per spell level to your mage spellbook. and Gnomes being a short race get the shorty saving throw bonus. Gnome Fighter/Illusionists really are a powerhouse.

19 Int isn't really that great, you can just use potions of Genius for scribing spells, it's about the only real use for them, and being able to learn more than 18 spells per spell level is completely useless when anybody who knows what they're doing won't ever memorize most of them.

yeah, that's obviously the least useful benefit of going Gnome Fighter/Illusionist, but literally everything else about it is great.

Actually, in the Enhanced Edition, Illusionists also have to give up the Abjuration school, which is a really big deal in BG2. No Breach, almost no protective spells, almost nothing to strip enemy mages of their protective spells. A fighter/mage that can't cast Protection From Magical Weapons is no bueno. If you don't have the EE, then you don't have this problem

And on top of all that, you have to play ad a Gnome.

Sorry but GNOpe

When it first starts out, you'll say to yourself "Maybe they're short and a little eccentric, but they look like fun, right?" Next, you'll find yourself tinkering with everything in sight. Eventually, it will be too late for you as you start whoring yourself out for turnips.

Gnomes. Not even once.
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dwarf and human are the only high T races
half orc is ok I guess
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DuranOfForcena posted...

lol i see how it is, no love for the shorties?

i say, better a gnome than a skeevy knife ear

I am a Dwarf fan. Shorty, but with attitude and a penchant for ale
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PhazonReborn posted...

a Mage is way more versatile

honestly no

there are not enough great spells in BGII+ for magi to be worth it over sorcs

the slot flexibility is just absurd, esp mid-late game when you can start cheesing with improved alacrity+robe of vecna.

also the "lack of stat requirements" you mention means you can run with 18 WIS and cast wish repeatedly to refresh your spell slots, basically stop resting around midway through BGII on a solo playthrough
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DuranOfForcena posted...

one of these days though i think i'm gonna do a human Priest of Lathander dualed into Fighter. should end up pretty beastly with Boon of Lathander on top of all of the Grandmastery bonuses and such.

It's kind of a wonky dual-class, because you only get an extra casting of Boon every 10 levels. Level 11 would give you 2 uses per day lasting a turn plus a round, but then you're limited in your usefulness as a Cleric. Getting 5 APR along with casting Righteous Magic to get 25 Strength and deal max damage on every hit is pretty sweet, but you'll only be able to get 2 turns of that before having to rest. I'd rather just go with a fighter/cleric multi for all the extra HLAs, grab the Staff of The Ram and use Greater Whirlwind
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DuranOfForcena posted...

PhazonReborn posted...

I am a Dwarf fan. Shorty, but with attitude and a penchant for ale

dwarves make for great Fighter/Clerics, it's true.

one of these days though i think i'm gonna do a human Priest of Lathander dualed into Fighter. should end up pretty beastly with Boon of Lathander on top of all of the Grandmastery bonuses and such.

Did you ever finish that BG2 run from a while back?
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DuranOfForcena posted...

you should use stat tomes on your main character in BG1 and no one else, as long as you plan to import your character from 1 into 2, because your main character will be the only character whose stats, augmented by the tomes, will be carried into 2. the only exception you might want to make is if you don't really need Wisdom all that much since you are a Fighter/Mage, you might want to get give a wisdom tome or two to whoever you have in your party as a Cleric, so they can memorize more spells. but then again, there is the Wish and Limited Wish mage spells to consider, which has better outcomes if you have higher wisdom. so yeah.

Cool. Kind of what I thought. Is there a limit for how many tomes I can use on a single character?

Will Edwin leave my party if I dont Kill Dynaheir?

Ic3Bullet posted...

Will Edwin leave my party if I dont Kill Dynaheir?

I think so, he wants to kill her
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WelPhazonReborn posted...

Ic3Bullet posted...

Will Edwin leave my party if I dont Kill Dynaheir?

I think so, he wants to kill her

Welp, she dead now. I feel like such an ass. LOL! Do I have to complete Dorns quest for him to stay in my party, too?

Ic3Bullet posted...

WelPhazonReborn posted...

Ic3Bullet posted...

Will Edwin leave my party if I dont Kill Dynaheir?

I think so, he wants to kill her

Welp, she dead now. I feel like such an ass. LOL! Do I have to complete Dorns quest for him to stay in my party, too?

I never used the EE characters like Dorn or whatever. They all sucked. Can't help you with that question sir.
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PhazonReborn posted...

Ic3Bullet posted...

WelPhazonReborn posted...

Ic3Bullet posted...

Will Edwin leave my party if I dont Kill Dynaheir?

I think so, he wants to kill her

Welp, she dead now. I feel like such an ass. LOL! Do I have to complete Dorns quest for him to stay in my party, too?

I never used the EE characters like Dorn or whatever. They all sucked. Can't help you with that question sir.

Same, and I felt like they were forced upon you. BG1: Myself, Imoen, Jaheira, Minsc, Edwin, Viconia. Sometimes I change it up, but that's my party forever. BG2 is pretty similar, though my locks are usually just Imoen, Minsc and Jaheira, with the last two slots filled with people that I'm just "feeling" during that playthrough.
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My canon good party though the Trilogy is:

PC
Imoen
Minsc
Jaheria
Khalid
Dynaheir

Into BG2:
PC
Minsc
Aerie
Imoen/Nalia
Keldorn
Yoshimo
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My party for BG1 is typically the canon party:

PC
Imoen
Jaheira
Khalid
Minsc
Dynaheir

Because it makes to transition to BG2 make more sense.

My group for BG2 usually looks like:

PC
Jaheira
Jan Jansen > Imoen
Minsc > Mr. ToB
Aerie
Keldorn/Viconia/Anomen
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After all these years I still have not even tried an evil playthrough
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DuranOfForcena posted...

in BG1 i liked my Fighter PC, Minsc, Coran or Imoen, Kivan, Yeslick and Dynaheir. in 2 when i last left off i think i was going for a party of my PC, Minsc, Imoen, Anomen, and i'm not really sure beyond that, but this time around i think i am gonna round it out with Mazzy and either Neera or Aerie. or maybe Nalia.

Everyone shits on Nalia but shes probably the third best straight NPC Mage in the game, behind Edwin and Imoen.

Her personality isn't even that bad. I sometimes just use Nalia and forget about Imoen because they are basically the same in Mage prowess, Nalia just isn't as good of a thief. If you have Jan or your PC is a thief you dont need another one.
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Zikten posted...

I have never finished the series. But Kensai seem cool. They are a subclass under Fighter. Basically samurai. You do a lot of damage but can't wear armor

IIRC the Kensai had some anti-magic/mage stuff in its kit, right? I remember one of those fighter subclasses was pretty vulnerable right out the gate but properly geared could quickly become a wrecking ball in standup fights harder than a regular fighter while basically eating enemy spellcasters for breakfast due to the kit. Despite initial vulnerabilities by the late game you're fucking unstoppable.

I might be thinking of a different fighter subclass. It's been a while.
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DuranOfForcena posted...

there is Neera, but i dunno if i want to put up with the wild surges.

Unless you cast Nahal's Reckless Dweomer, wild surges aren't very common, and you should be quicksaving frequently anyway. Chaos Shield will protect you from the worst surges. There's also a wild surge that drops a cow on the target of the spell, that alone is a good enough reason for me to like wild mages.

DuranOfForcena posted...

dualing into Thief is also considered pretty deadly, since they get the High Level Ability Use Any Item, which completely negates the no armor drawback.

The Kenthief dual is a lethal backstabber, and not wearing armor isn't a major drawback in BG2 because you can just cast Spirit Armor or Barkskin on them instead.

VectorChaos posted...

Zikten posted...

I have never finished the series. But Kensai seem cool. They are a subclass under Fighter. Basically samurai. You do a lot of damage but can't wear armor

IIRC the Kensai had some anti-magic/mage stuff in its kit, right? I remember one of those fighter subclasses was pretty vulnerable right out the gate but properly geared could quickly become a wrecking ball in standup fights harder than a regular fighter while basically eating enemy spellcasters for breakfast due to the kit. Despite initial vulnerabilities by the late game you're fucking unstoppable.

I might be thinking of a different fighter subclass. It's been a while.

You might be thinking of the monk
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synth_real posted...

The Kenthief dual is a lethal backstabber, and not wearing armor isn't a major drawback in BG2 because you can just cast Spirit Armor or Barkskin on them instead.

those are funny words that aren't protection from magical weapons

i do not understand them
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I've never liked the idea of Dual classing. You spend most of the game being a loser that can't do anything until way late in BG2 then suddenly you're a God. 75% of the game is over and you're finally able to contribute meaningful abilities to combat.

Multiclass let's you at least be effective throughout the game and you're arguably more powerful in epic levels anyway
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Darkman124 posted...

synth_real posted...

The Kenthief dual is a lethal backstabber, and not wearing armor isn't a major drawback in BG2 because you can just cast Spirit Armor or Barkskin on them instead.

those are funny words that aren't protection from magical weapons

i do not understand them

Yeah, that's what really made a Kensai so overly powerful. I had a level 20+ one and fucking hell lol. THey're a blender of death.
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