@Oxford_Guy: Axe, especially throwing axes. It just fits my image of a skald the best.
:-) It's a pity throwing axes don't get any strength bonus to damage in BGEE, though I doubt my Skald will have more than 12 Strength anyway, the points are probably more useful elsewhere.
Oh, how I wish it would be possible to play an Barbarian/Skald in BG:EE... that's like a wet dream for Viking Metal fans!
:-)
I'm currently playing a BGEE gane with a NE female elf fighter/mage, but am thinking of doing a parallel run with a male (so I can romance Viconia in BG2) half-elf Chaotic Good (for fairy dragon familiar, got to love Invisibility 10' radius) and ability to use Azuredge axe in BG2) Skald.
For starting proficiencies am thinking of crossbows (for light crossbow of speed and/or heavy crossbow of accuracy) and axes. Why axes? Well, for starters they're quite a "Skald" (think Vikinghs) weappn and I think I will give most of the best melee weapons to more melee-oriented NPCs and not many (of the Good-aligned ones, anyway) use axes, and some of the throwing axes (given that I wil will mostly using ranged weapons) are quite fun, especially Azuredge (which you have to be good to use) in BG2. Crossbows, because elves and other NPCs are better with normal bows and crossbows are actually pretty good in BG2 as well as BGEE (unlike long/composite bows).
Halberds could be interesting too, though, as there's a very good one in BGEE, though you're limited to one attack (which Bards are anyway) and would allow me to keep a bit of a distance behind the main melee NPCs. For BG2 will definitely take Katanas, though, for the extra spells from the Zerth blade.
Spell focus will be on those which scale well, as because Bards level very quickly, they will be the highest level casters in the game (albeit limited to level 6 spells).
I don't think I will need more than 12 (for heavy crossbows) or 13 (for halberds) starting strength, possibly just 12 and increase to 13 with a tome.
@Oxford_Guy: Axe, especially throwing axes. It just fits my image of a skald the best.
:-) It's a pity throwing axes don't get any strength bonus to damage in BGEE, though I doubt my Skald will have more than 12 Strength anyway, the points are probably more useful elsewhere.
Oh, how I wish it would be possible to play an Barbarian/Skald in BG:EE... that's like a wet dream for Viking Metal fans!
:-)
I'm currently playing a BGEE gane with a NE female elf fighter/mage, but am thinking of doing a parallel run with a male (so I can romance Viconia in BG2) half-elf Chaotic Good (for fairy dragon familiar, got to love Invisibility 10' radius) and ability to use Azuredge axe in BG2) Skald.
For starting proficiencies am thinking of crossbows (for light crossbow of speed and/or heavy crossbow of accuracy) and axes. Why axes? Well, for starters they're quite a "Skald" (think Vikinghs) weappn and I think I will give most of the best melee weapons to more melee-oriented NPCs and not many (of the Good-aligned ones, anyway) use axes, and some of the throwing axes (given that I wil will mostly using ranged weapons) are quite fun, especially Azuredge (which you have to be good to use) in BG2. Crossbows, because elves and other NPCs are better with normal bows and crossbows are actually pretty good in BG2 as well as BGEE (unlike long/composite bows).
Halberds could be interesting too, though, as there's a very good one in BGEE, though you're limited to one attack (which Bards are anyway) and would allow me to keep a bit of a distance behind the main melee NPCs. For BG2 will definitely take Katanas, though, for the extra spells from the Zerth blade.
Spell focus will be on those which scale well, as because Bards level very quickly, they will be the highest level casters in the game (albeit limited to level 6 spells).
I don't think I will need more than 12 (for heavy crossbows) or 13 (for halberds) starting strength, possibly just 12 and increase to 13 with a tome.
Have just realised, you have to be NG, LN, TN, CN or NE to be a bard, so no fairly dragon :-(
If I want to use Azuredge in BG2 I'd have to be NG, which has the pseudo dragon familiar, which is "meh", so might forgo Azuredge and go CN (for the scouting abilities of the cat) or NE (for Glitterdust/Glass Dust0 for the Dust Mephit...
Str 13 (so can use heavy crossbows and halberds, plus 120lbs carry weight, will mostly be ranged, not melee anyway) - NPC can use the strength tome Dex 18 (max) - will increase to 19 with the Dex tome Con 16 (max HP) - an NPC can use the Con tome Int 17 (good enough for scroll writing, number of spells/level and +7 lore bonus, will increase to 18 with a tome) Wis 10 (to avoid lore malus) - NPC cleric can use all the Wis tomes Cha 15 (minimum, will raise to 16 with the tome, so will give 18 with algernons cloaks, 22 with the friends spell)
Looks good enough, without being excessive powergaming to me, but perhaps could be worth trying to roll better?
Have gone for starting proficiencies in axes and crossbows, alignment neutral good, half-elf make
Str 13 (so can use heavy crossbows and halberds, plus 120lbs carry weight, will mostly be ranged, not melee anyway) - NPC can use the strength tome Dex 18 (max) - will increase to 19 with the Dex tome Con 16 (max HP) - an NPC can use the Con tome Int 17 (good enough for scroll writing, number of spells/level and +7 lore bonus, will increase to 18 with a tome) Wis 10 (to avoid lore malus) - NPC cleric can use all the Wis tomes Cha 15 (minimum, will raise to 16 with the tome, so will give 18 with algernons cloaks, 22 with the friends spell)
Looks good enough, without being excessive powergaming to me, but perhaps could be worth trying to roll better?
Have gone for starting proficiencies in axes and crossbows, alignment neutral good, half-elf make
Maybe I shoud've tried for 18 Con, so that I could use the Claw of Kazgaroth, or is this over-rated? Also, perhaps higher Charisma? Not bothered about more strength, really
Str 13 (so can use heavy crossbows and halberds, plus 120lbs carry weight, will mostly be ranged, not melee anyway) - NPC can use the strength tome Dex 18 (max) - will increase to 19 with the Dex tome Con 16 (max HP) - an NPC can use the Con tome Int 17 (good enough for scroll writing, number of spells/level and +7 lore bonus, will increase to 18 with a tome) Wis 10 (to avoid lore malus) - NPC cleric can use all the Wis tomes Cha 15 (minimum, will raise to 16 with the tome, so will give 18 with algernons cloaks, 22 with the friends spell)
Looks good enough, without being excessive powergaming to me, but perhaps could be worth trying to roll better?
Have gone for starting proficiencies in axes and crossbows, alignment neutral good, half-elf make
Maybe I shoud've tried for 18 Con, so that I could use the Claw of Kazgaroth, or is this over-rated? Also, perhaps higher Charisma? Not bothered about more strength, really
I think you're good with 15 CHA. Remember that the level 1 spell "Friends" grants +5 (or maybe 6) to CHA, which will allow you to get at least 20 CHA, which grants you the highest charisma based discount on store prices. I often forget to cast it while shopping, but am always make sure I do cast it when it comes to buying big ticket items.
Str 13 (so can use heavy crossbows and halberds, plus 120lbs carry weight, will mostly be ranged, not melee anyway) - NPC can use the strength tome Dex 18 (max) - will increase to 19 with the Dex tome Con 16 (max HP) - an NPC can use the Con tome Int 17 (good enough for scroll writing, number of spells/level and +7 lore bonus, will increase to 18 with a tome) Wis 10 (to avoid lore malus) - NPC cleric can use all the Wis tomes Cha 15 (minimum, will raise to 16 with the tome, so will give 18 with algernons cloaks, 22 with the friends spell)
Looks good enough, without being excessive powergaming to me, but perhaps could be worth trying to roll better?
Have gone for starting proficiencies in axes and crossbows, alignment neutral good, half-elf make
Maybe I shoud've tried for 18 Con, so that I could use the Claw of Kazgaroth, or is this over-rated? Also, perhaps higher Charisma? Not bothered about more strength, really
I think you're good with 15 CHA. Remember that the level 1 spell "Friends" grants +5 (or maybe 6) to CHA, which will allow you to get at least 20 CHA, which grants you the highest charisma based discount on store prices. I often forget to cast it while shopping, but am always make sure I do cast it when it comes to buying big ticket items.
That was my thinking too for Cha, Friends gives +6 Cha according to the melee and magic manual, though that's not always reliable...
About the Con and Claw of Kazgorath, is it worth trying to get 18 Con to make use of this?
Str 13 (so can use heavy crossbows and halberds, plus 120lbs carry weight, will mostly be ranged, not melee anyway) - NPC can use the strength tome Dex 18 (max) - will increase to 19 with the Dex tome Con 16 (max HP) - an NPC can use the Con tome Int 17 (good enough for scroll writing, number of spells/level and +7 lore bonus, will increase to 18 with a tome) Wis 10 (to avoid lore malus) - NPC cleric can use all the Wis tomes Cha 15 (minimum, will raise to 16 with the tome, so will give 18 with algernons cloaks, 22 with the friends spell)
Looks good enough, without being excessive powergaming to me, but perhaps could be worth trying to roll better?
Have gone for starting proficiencies in axes and crossbows, alignment neutral good, half-elf make
Maybe I shoud've tried for 18 Con, so that I could use the Claw of Kazgaroth, or is this over-rated? Also, perhaps higher Charisma? Not bothered about more strength, really
I think you're good with 15 CHA. Remember that the level 1 spell "Friends" grants +5 (or maybe 6) to CHA, which will allow you to get at least 20 CHA, which grants you the highest charisma based discount on store prices. I often forget to cast it while shopping, but am always make sure I do cast it when it comes to buying big ticket items.
That was my thinking too for Cha, Friends gives +6 Cha according to the melee and magic manual, though that's not always reliable...
About the Con and Claw of Kazgorath, is it worth trying to get 18 Con to make use of this?
I don't know if I've ever used it to be honest, because in the past I always played warrior classes who would actually suffer from losing the 2 points of Con. I'm actually doing a playthrough with a blade with 18 Con right now with the plan being to use the Claw, but I haven't gotten far enough yet.
Comments
For starting proficiencies am thinking of crossbows (for light crossbow of speed and/or heavy crossbow of accuracy) and axes. Why axes? Well, for starters they're quite a "Skald" (think Vikinghs) weappn and I think I will give most of the best melee weapons to more melee-oriented NPCs and not many (of the Good-aligned ones, anyway) use axes, and some of the throwing axes (given that I wil will mostly using ranged weapons) are quite fun, especially Azuredge (which you have to be good to use) in BG2. Crossbows, because elves and other NPCs are better with normal bows and crossbows are actually pretty good in BG2 as well as BGEE (unlike long/composite bows).
Halberds could be interesting too, though, as there's a very good one in BGEE, though you're limited to one attack (which Bards are anyway) and would allow me to keep a bit of a distance behind the main melee NPCs. For BG2 will definitely take Katanas, though, for the extra spells from the Zerth blade.
Spell focus will be on those which scale well, as because Bards level very quickly, they will be the highest level casters in the game (albeit limited to level 6 spells).
I don't think I will need more than 12 (for heavy crossbows) or 13 (for halberds) starting strength, possibly just 12 and increase to 13 with a tome.
If I want to use Azuredge in BG2 I'd have to be NG, which has the pseudo dragon familiar, which is "meh", so might forgo Azuredge and go CN (for the scouting abilities of the cat) or NE (for Glitterdust/Glass Dust0 for the Dust Mephit...
Stats rolled (best of 10) are:
Str 13 (so can use heavy crossbows and halberds, plus 120lbs carry weight, will mostly be ranged, not melee anyway) - NPC can use the strength tome
Dex 18 (max) - will increase to 19 with the Dex tome
Con 16 (max HP) - an NPC can use the Con tome
Int 17 (good enough for scroll writing, number of spells/level and +7 lore bonus, will increase to 18 with a tome)
Wis 10 (to avoid lore malus) - NPC cleric can use all the Wis tomes
Cha 15 (minimum, will raise to 16 with the tome, so will give 18 with algernons cloaks, 22 with the friends spell)
Looks good enough, without being excessive powergaming to me, but perhaps could be worth trying to roll better?
Have gone for starting proficiencies in axes and crossbows, alignment neutral good, half-elf make
About the Con and Claw of Kazgorath, is it worth trying to get 18 Con to make use of this?