Is there anything like the Claw of Kazgorath in BG2?

Oxford_Guy

Hi - I was wondering whether it's worth trying to go with Con > 16 on non-fighter, non-dwarf/halfling/gnome (as they get an extra -1 save at 18 Con) player characters in the long run, or whether the points are better used elsewhere? Specifically, in BG1/BGEE there is the Claw of Kazgorath that gives AC and Saving Throw buffs (apart from a malus to the Death save), at the expense of -2 Con. Is there anything similar in BG2 or any other reason for a non-fighter non-shorty to need 18 Con in BG2? If not, and it's only BG1/BGEE where there is any help, I might use the points elsewhere on character creation instead.

MERLANCE

Well the Claw is one of the items that imports into BG2 if you don't have the Helm of Balduran in your inventory when you import.

Oxford_Guy

MERLANCE said:

Well the Claw is one of the items that imports into BG2 if you don't have the Helm of Balduran in your inventory when you import.

@MERLANCE - thanks! That's extremely useful to know, is the Helm better to carry-over, though? They're both good, I suppose it's really down to whether CHARNAME can make the most of the Claw (i.e. non-fighter/shorty with 18 Con)

sandmanCCL

There's a lot of other good helmets that give +1 AC, but there's also a ton of good rings eventually. It's a toss-up if you ask me.

The claw I found was best for Aerie or better yet, Haer-Dalis.

Oxford_Guy

sandmanCCL said:

There's a lot of other good helmets that give +1 AC, but there's also a ton of good rings eventually. It's a toss-up if you ask me.

The claw I found was best for Aerie or better yet, Haer-Dalis.

I was thinking of using it for a CHARNAME Skald in BGEE...

MERLANCE

Its a tough call. It can be worn with magical armor, or non magical armor and the Cloak of Protection +2 or the Ring of Protection +2 or +3. As a bard I would expect you to be wearing the Melodic Chain which is +3 elven chain that you can cast spells in, then probably the +4 Bladesinger Chain when you get that, so the Claw of Kazgaroth and the Ring of Earth will be the only rings you can wear that increase your AC while wearing magic armor. At least the only ones that come to mind.

And no, theres not "A lot" of AC raising helms. Theres a few. Most helms give things like elemental resistance or charm immunity. Two Ioun stones, the helm of Balduran, The Helm of Glory, and Vhailor's helm.

You can increase all your stats by +1 in Watchers keep too, and the Deck of Many things would give a bard +1 dex as well. At the end of the game, You can either gain +2 to strength (and permanently change your alignment to evil) or +1 wisdom and charisma too. Also at one point you have to permanently lower one of your stats by one point, and at another you either lose a point of dex or permanently become evil.

Oxford_Guy

MERLANCE said:

Its a tough call. It can be worn with magical armor, or non magical armor and the Cloak of Protection +2 or the Ring of Protection +2 or +3. As a bard I would expect you to be wearing the Melodic Chain which is +3 elven chain that you can cast spells in, then probably the +4 Bladesinger Chain when you get that, so the Claw of Kazgaroth and the Ring of Earth will be the only rings you can wear that increase your AC while wearing magic armor. At least the only ones that come to mind.

And no, theres not "A lot" of AC raising helms. Theres a few. Most helms give things like elemental resistance or charm immunity. Two Ioun stones, the helm of Balduran, The Helm of Glory, and Vhailor's helm.

You can increase all your stats by +1 in Watchers keep too, and the Deck of Many things would give a bard +1 dex as well. At the end of the game, You can either gain +2 to strength (and permanently change your alignment to evil) or +1 wisdom and charisma too. Also at one point you have to permanently lower one of your stats by one point, and at another you either lose a point of dex or permanently become evil.

Thanks! I don't necessarily mind being evil :-)