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Hows this build for a new player?

jnorjnor Member Posts: 6
edited December 2012 in New Players (NO SPOILERS!)
First time player here, so I have gathered that Berserker is a solid class for a first timer?
Here is my stats, will they work?

Human.
STR: 18
DEX: 18
CON: 18
INT: 4
WIS: 18
CHR: 3

Comments

  • MadhaxMadhax Member Posts: 1,416
    Wisdom doesn't effect will saves in the BG games like it does in IWD2. I assume that's why you've maxed your wisdom. You can drop it.

    BG has a lot of conversation, and some conversation results will be impossible to get with such low intelligence and charisma. Since a berserker doesn't need them for fighting, you can get by with such low scores, but you might miss out on some content. For example, I know that some NPCs won't join your party with such low charisma.

    As for the class itself, berserkers are solid and tend to be the fighter kit with the most upside for least downside (A kensai, for example, gets some great offensive capabilities but needs to be played differently than a normal fighter). However, I personally find them boring, especially for the main character. The majority of your fights will simply be clicking on whoever you want to attack, and occasionally enraging. I prefer a main character with a more in-depth influence on any given battle, like a fighter/mage or fighter/cleric.
  • jnorjnor Member Posts: 6
    edited December 2012
    I see! Well, I don't want to play anything boring :) Actually I tend to play more of a mage type character, just thought a mage would be too squishy for a new player. Could you recommend me a damage dealer mage type of build by any chance? There are so many options and I'm afraid to make some poor choices :P Also I love playing evil if that makes any difference in regards to the build, and would prefer to play as human.
  • MadhaxMadhax Member Posts: 1,416
    I really enjoy the Fighter/Mage multiclass for a main character, though you wouldn't be able to be human. Mages are quite squishy in BG1, but a fighter/mage should alleviate some of that issue by having access to helms/shields, defensive spells, and better offensive weapon skills. Plus, you can cast Find Familiar right off the bat and have the highest HP out of any level 1 character in the game!

    Another possibility would be to go with something similar to your original Berserker, but then dual-class him. I've never played a berserker->cleric, but I've heard they're quite powerful and your original stats would work for that build. A Kensai->Mage is another powerful build, as you'll wind up wearing mage robes anyway so the Kensai's downside is negated leaving only bonus AC and weapon skill.
  • jnorjnor Member Posts: 6
    Thanks for your advice, I'am a bit intrigued by a Kensai->Mage build, now I can't wait to play much longer so this will probably me by first guy :)
  • FrostyFrosty Member Posts: 190
    Start off has a Human fighter duel to Mage at L6 that way you can have 4 pips in your chosen wepon.
    and a lot more HP once you become a mage you use a find familar scroll for more HP. if you want to use a ranged wepon has A fighter I would chose base fighter but if you want to use a melee wepon buserker would do well. Kensi is a populer choice but are hard to level for new players and you wont be abel to get to level needed to get the most out of Kensi
  • MadhaxMadhax Member Posts: 1,416
    That is true, Kensai are quite weak initially due to lack of armor. You'd probably be heavily reliant on your party members up until you've regained the kensai levels post-dualclass at Kensai6/Mage7, and that's most of the game. Might not have been my best suggestion for a new player, my apologies. Plus, as Frosty alluded to, the "sweet spot" for dual-classing a Kensai is during BG2, at around level 13.

    Being a new player to BG, you might be better off going with a berserker, dualed at 6 to mage. That way, you've got a solid fighter in the early game, a weaker mage in the middle game (but with plenty of wands and scrolls to make up for your lack of levels!), and a powerful fighter/mage late game.

    Here's some info to consider: With an XP cap of 161,000 in BGEE, a multiclass fighter/mage can reach level 7/7. A dual-class fighter-> mage will reach level 8 by the end of the game, regardless of what level they dual over at. You could potentially dual at level 7 (level 7 for a warrior-class gets you an extra 1/2 attack per round), the only downside would be missing out on 32,000 xp worth of time with both classes active. Reaching level 8 only really gets you slightly stronger spells, though, as you wouldn't unlock a new level of spells until reach level 9 mage.

    The problem with dual-classing is that it's a very long-term plan. In the long run they tend to be better than a multiclass, but the tradeoff is not having both classes active until the second class surpasses the first. A kensai7->Mage8 is better than a fighter7/mage7, but that fighter/mage was fully-functional the whole game, while the kensai->mage only got good towards the tail-end of the game.

    Sorry for rambling, you may have picked up on the fact that I was revising my final recommendation constantly while writing that =\. If you're intrigued by the fighter/mage combination, my ultimate recommendation is to simply multiclass it, and save dual-classing the PC for the sequel. Remember that you can edit your character with Shadowkeeper to make him appear human, if that's more to your liking.
  • jnorjnor Member Posts: 6
    edited December 2012
    Many good advice's :-) Where should I put my proficiency points for kensai/berserker -> mage? Haven't decided on which one I'm going with yet haha!

    In my mind dual class sounds much cooler than multiclass, but your point seem very valid.

    Should I also take BG2 into consideration? Maybe I would want to import my character at some later point
  • FrostyFrosty Member Posts: 190
    Kensai I would go Halbreads, Since the Kensai speed bonus can make them very leathel. For berserker, I would go with long swords or flail/morningstar with a shield. Has a eveil character you wont have any compition with your NPCs for wepons that way, the fist +2 wepon you can get is a long sword
  • bonnejo3bonnejo3 Member Posts: 2
    OK - so I am in the same boat here. I just picked up BG:EE on iPad -- and thinking that I was going to start with Human Fighter Beserker and then dual class later into mage -- however, now I am thinking multi-class upfront (fighter/mage)? If so, which race is best? Can you wear any armor as a fighter/mage even while casting spells? Finally, I assume you need 18's in everything except Charisma and Wisdom? Can you have wisdom at 3 or whatever lowest is without anything going wrong? What about Charisma lowest?

    Finally -- what proficiencies should i use out of the 4?

    I heard bows/range weapons are really important in BG1, but can the NPCs cover this angle or does my PC need these too?

    Thanks for all the help!
  • FrostyFrosty Member Posts: 190
    I like Gnomes since thay become fighter ilisionists, there only race that can be a spicialist mage whil multi classing. and thay can get 19 INT. You lose necromancy. for stats Low STR is ok since you can buff your STR, low dex is ok since you get the guantles of DEX early in the game. 16 con is good. but I would max INT, CHA should be 8 or so to prevent negitive modifyers to prices and NPC reactions
  • FrostyFrosty Member Posts: 190
    edited December 2012
    No you can't were armer and cast spell but you get shield and mage armer spells at L1. much better protection spell has you level up there are a few good archer NPCs but rember a NPC can be raised from the dead your chracter can not so it is often a good idea at first to keep you charater at range latter on it will be so strong in can waid right in to melee, You can also use a shield has a fighter mage.
  • MadhaxMadhax Member Posts: 1,416
    You really don't need 18s in all vital stats. I mean, it helps, especially for a new player, but BG and BG2 are meant, at least on some level, to be roleplaying. I personally like having very high stats in all vital areas, but I never drop a stat below 8-9. I can't think of specific issues with low wisdom or charisma except for the occasional lost dialogue option or party member refusing to join you, and of course terrible prices in stores, but I still wouldn't recommend cutting them so thoroughly.
  • Time4TiddyTime4Tiddy Member Posts: 262
    bonnejo3 said:

    Can you have wisdom at 3 or whatever lowest is without anything going wrong?

    Wisdom of 16 is needed for the Necromancer or Diviner mage specializations, Wisdom of 15 is needed for Abjurer. Otherwise, it doesn't matter too much in BG1.

    In BG2, should you import your character, the Wish spell is the main consideration for Wisdom. Wisdom lower than 9 means your Wish will only produce negative choices. The higher your Wisdom, the more and better the positive choices. It's the difference between Wish lowering your stats to 3 or draining your entire party of two levels vs. raising the whole party's stats to 25 or giving everyone full rest and spell memorization instantly. You can always drink a Potion of Insight, but you may not want to have to do that every time you cast.

  • NazadNazad Member Posts: 55
    For a new player I'd recommend an elf fighter/mage with two points in longswords and two points in bows who knows the shield and sleep spells at the start of the game and then learns and uses blur and mirror image, followed by ghost armor and then spirit armor. Keep the best shield you can find for when you need to swing your sword. Otherwise, stay out of melee and fire arrows. If the defensive spells get boring, memorize glitterdust and web for level two spells instead of blur and mirror image. At level 3, check out haste and skull trap.
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