Tome of STR

Solobear

Is there a tome of +1 STR in BG? I'm rolling a kensai mage and can't roll a 18/00 str for the life of me.

Jalily

Yes. You don't find it until Chapter 6 though.

Solobear

Another question, can you wield a Halberd once you've dualed to mage? I want single weapon use for the bonus to AC.

Awong124

It's available near the end of the game when you return to Candlekeep. It's in the catacombs when you're escaping.

the_spyder

Solobear said:

Is there a tome of +1 STR in BG? I'm rolling a kensai mage and can't roll a 18/00 str for the life of me.

What race? Only Humans can have 18/00. Edit: I am guessing human if you are dual.

Solobear said:

Another question, can you wield a Halberd once you've dualed to mage? I want single weapon use for the bonus to AC.

You should be able to. But only once your mage level exceeds your Fighter level. Till then you are restricted to those weapons usable by wizards (Staff, Dagger, Dart, Sling).

Solobear

the_spyder said:

What race? Only Humans can have 18/00.

Human, I'm dual classing.

Madhax

Halberds don't work with the single-weapon specialization. Single-weapon only works with a 1-handed weapon. If you want to make use of single-weapon specialization, try a sword or dagger.

You can use a halberd (or a 2-hander, or a longbow, etc.) after dualing to mage, once you've regained fighter levels. A mage's weapon restrictions are only due to their lack of weapon training, so a fighter/mage can make full use of any weapon a fighter could use, or a thief/mage can use thief weapons.

moopy

@Solobear

If you want to crank your AC on a Kensai make him good alignement, 18 dex, points in scimitars and single weapon style.

Get Twinkle from drizit and wield that in your main hand, nothing in the off hand.

That should give you 10 - 4(dex) -2(Kensai) -2(Twinkle) -2(Single Weapon 2 points) for 0 AC before any buffs or armor.

Dual him to Mage and give the robe of the good arch magi and he should have -5AC

Erg

Also consider that even if you choose a mage weapon, like dagger, when levelling up as Kensai, the proficiency will be temporarily lost until the Kensai levels are regained.

Daelric

If you don't roll 18/00 str at the beginning of the game, a tome will only give you 18 strength not 18/xx

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moopy

I believe he is taking about rolling a 18/01-18/99. Not a 17.

Using a strength tome on a 18 / XX (anything) will give you 19 strength.

Guigui_le_Yoyome

Hello,

the_spyder said:

What race? Only Humans can have 18/00. Edit: I am guessing human if you are dual.

I think this is wrong : exceptional strength is related to class, not to race. Every race without STR penality can have exceptional strength and reach 18/00, provided the character has a warrior class. What you say was true in 1st paper edition of AD&D, not 2nd.

And I agree with moopy : with a natural score of 18 (non-warrior class) or 18/XX (warrior class), the new strength score will be 19.

Guigui

PS : not an english native speaker, sorry for my bad english

ReadingRambo

Guigui_le_Yoyome said:

Hello,

the_spyder said:

What race? Only Humans can have 18/00. Edit: I am guessing human if you are dual.

I think this is wrong : exceptional strength is related to class, not to race. Every race without STR penality can have exceptional strength and reach 18/00, provided the character has a warrior class. What you say was true in 1st paper edition of AD&D, not 2nd.

And I agree with moopy : with a natural score of 18 (non-warrior class) or 18/XX (warrior class), the new strength score will be 19.

Guigui

PS : not an english native speaker, sorry for my bad english

U are correct, it's class dependent, not racial. Dwarves, elves, half elf can, Ihalflings can't tho, not sure about gnomes

TJ_Hooker

moopy said:

Dual him to Mage and give the robe of the good arch magi and he should have -5AC

Kensais can use robes? I thought they weren't allowed to wear anything in the torso slot.

Erg

TJ_Hooker said:

moopy said:

Dual him to Mage and give the robe of the good arch magi and he should have -5AC

Kensais can use robes? I thought they weren't allowed to wear anything in the torso slot.

@TJ_Hooker

They can use robes, but no armours or bracers.

ZanathKariashi

Well....actually...in PnP, any class or race can achieve 18/??. But only through Wishes. It doesn't let you go from 18 to 19, it makes you wish your way up the Ex Str table, 1 point/wish at a time (Not to mention the fact it takes 10/wishes per point from 16-18, then 100 wishes for 18/00, then 20 wishes for 19 (And each use of wish, no matter the result, takes 5 years off the casters life....have fun with that)).

Where as the str manual just goes directly from 18 to 19. And always gives +1 point regardless of how high your stat is (of course they're also RIDICULOUSLY rare, unless your DM just likes throwing artifacts at you for fun).


As far as BG goes, even Halfling fighters can get Ex Str, even though they technically shouldn't, it just requires getting them to 18 str. Any Multiclass Fighter, or Dual that starts as a fighter, can eventually get Ex str once they hit 18. The only time you don't is when your first class is a non-fighter, then you'll never get it.


Also, you'll need 2 handed weapon style for a Halberd. Both single and 2 handed styles give +1 crit-range (aka +5% crit) for the first point. 2 hd adds some extra damage and weapon speed, while single weapon just adds AC...aka, useless. A Kensai doesn't need AC, they need more damage and weapon speed, and/or extra attacks (and boots of speed, potions of speed, or haste spells (or invisibility in a pinch), as soon as you're able also help immensely). So Dual-wielding or 2 Handed style is the way to go.

Solobear

Anyone know what level I should dual to mage? Guides written on this matter are written for BGII.

Jalily

Level 7 if you want to reactivate kensai without going over the XP cap. It's also when fighters gain another 1/2 attack.

TJ_Hooker

Here are some of the benefits for dual classing at several levels:
At level 3: you get another proficiency point, and it won't take long to regain your fighter levels
At level 5: highest you can go and still be able to get to level 9 as a mage (for level 5 spells)
At Level 6: another proficiency point
At level 7: get an extra 1/2 an attack per round, highest level you can go and still be able to reactivate your fighter

the_spyder

Guigui_le_Yoyome said:

Hello,

the_spyder said:

What race? Only Humans can have 18/00. Edit: I am guessing human if you are dual.

I think this is wrong : exceptional strength is related to class, not to race. Every race without STR penality can have exceptional strength and reach 18/00, provided the character has a warrior class. What you say was true in 1st paper edition of AD&D, not 2nd.

And I agree with moopy : with a natural score of 18 (non-warrior class) or 18/XX (warrior class), the new strength score will be 19.

Guigui

PS : not an english native speaker, sorry for my bad english

I can't say for sure with the BG game mechanics, but going strictly on 2nd edition D&D, 18/00 strength is ONLY on HUMAN Fighter/Ranger or Paladin. Even Dwarves only get 18/99 as their max. Now Half-Orcs can get 19, but that is a separate matter.

1st edition was D&D. 2nd was Advanced D&D. I am absolutely positive that this rule was in effect for Advanced.

Edit: Just checked and I might be wrong about that last bit. But I can say absolutely that BG was based on Advanced, not 2nd edition. As such, the first bit is (supposed to be) accurate.

Edit: Edit: Ok, maybe even that is wrong. Going back to playing. Nothing to see here. Move along.

Guigui_le_Yoyome

Nothing more to say... ;-)

Quartz

the_spyder said:

What race? Only Humans can have 18/00. Edit: I am guessing human if you are dual.

Nah bro they all can have 18/00 (except Halflings, of course), the rule you speak of is true in old tabletop manuals/books but not in Baldur's Gate.