I can't bring myself to play a fighter. Some kits are interesting though. I don't know why, but it feels so "meh, whatever", roleplay-wise.
I'm also not a big fan of triple-classes, that feels too all over the place for me. Though, I got the taste for being all over the place with a jester in BGEE, so I might try one day.
I never played a ranger or paladin because I'm not one for good alignment. The closest I got was playing a druid kit in BG2, and staying neutral did take some fun out of it for me.
I do like mages, but never played one because there are two great evil mages as NPCs, and now also a great sorcerer. If I was playing good or neutral, I would probably play as mage, but being as attached to evil as I am, my arcane needs are covered.
I'm absolutely no fan of monks, so I never played one.
Played everything at least once. Though my least favorite is the C/T because of the thief skill icon getting pushed into the special abilities tab. Followed by the wizard slayer and shapeshifter, but only because they're getting horribly screwed by the game, either by shoddy implementation of their rules, or having the abilities they should have nerf'd for sake of "balance".
Played everything at least once. Though my least favorite is the C/T because of the thief skill icon getting pushed into the special abilities tab. Followed by the wizard slayer and shapeshifter, but only because they're getting horribly screwed by the game, either by shoddy implementation of their rules, or having the abilities they should have nerf'd for sake of "balance".
Seriously, when are we getting the game enhanced with a IWD2 interface for buttons and weapon sets.
Or at least some comment on if this is in the works.
I never liked 2nd ed druids, the whole neutrality thing always bugged me. 2nd Ed paladins are also pretty boring to me, not as good as a fighter and not enough advantages to offset that, plus the slower level progression. Did some great cheese in nwn2 with a sorcerer/paladin/red dragon disciple/eldritch knight, though.
No triple classes, either, progression's just too slow. I could see the point if you're soloing it, but I'm just not that masochistic. Plus the party banter and reactions is always a big draw for me with bioware games.
Most specialty mages too. I don't like the blocked schools. I did have a really fun playthrough as a gnome illusionist/thief named Max Maximus that was loads of fun, though. Wild mage sounds like it could be fun.
Single class thieves or clerics just aren't worth it to me, either. There's so many thieves in the game anyways. Some of the kits do look like they could be fun, so I might have to try them sometime.
@DrHappyAngrey well the good thing about there being so many thieves (in BG anyway, BGII there's hardly any) is that you can do an unusual thief and have another theif pickup the slack in terms of locks and traps... I could really see doing an assassin totally focused stealth and setting snares while a thief/mage or something handles all the locks and traps.
Trying a run as a bounty hunter being the only thief in the group... with 20 points per level it should be doable, just means I'll be reliant on items and magic for stealth for quite a while... wouldn't recommend it with an assassin who only get 15 per level.
The swashbuckler is... an interesting kit, basically a fighter/thief on full thief progression. Trade the ability to backstab for increased weapon skills, THAC0 and AC and in ToB can take Whirlwind Attack.
Personally, never tried a druid and probably never will. Must be something to do with me being a big city person. Never played a cleric or a bard as well, since they just don't seem a protagonist material to me.
This might be a bit cliche but a spotlight position in my mind is always reserved for a fighting type, followed closely by an arcane caster who if not a protagonist might be his/her best friend/lover/relative.
Played everything at least once. Though my least favorite is the C/T because of the thief skill icon getting pushed into the special abilities tab. Followed by the wizard slayer and shapeshifter, but only because they're getting horribly screwed by the game, either by shoddy implementation of their rules, or having the abilities they should have nerf'd for sake of "balance".
Seriously, when are we getting the game enhanced with a IWD2 interface for buttons and weapon sets.
Or at least some comment on if this is in the works.
It isn't in the works.
No significant changes to the BG interface. This was stated when the EE was anounced.
Also, no rights for IWD cointent. Also in the archive.
for all those who haven't played a straight/kitted cleric...they are AWESOME!
or at least a Cleric of Lothandar is. it can easily become your back-up tank/damage dealer
three simple buffs: holy power>boon of lathander (self stacking)>(improved)haste
will give strength 18/00, thac0 of equal level fighter, +1hp per level, +1 to hit and damage, +1 apr, +1 saving throws and then haste will increase your APR even higher!
even a single weapon wielding CoL can get 6 APR by level 10 and 10 APR by level 40!
I agree with @mjs, clerics are awesome. I like Priest of Talos as tank and after-battle healer. The stormshield and call lightning abilities are very useful, too.
This. I've tried making a F/M/C but I just don't see the point. A M/C can cast tensors transformation, and cleric buffs that are like that so why the fighter levels.
Force multiplication. A Mage/Cleric gets one attack per round. A Fighter/Mage/Cleric gets all such combat buffs, whilst getting multiple attacks per round and specialisation benefits, multiplying the benefits accordingly.
This. I've tried making a F/M/C but I just don't see the point. A M/C can cast tensors transformation, and cleric buffs that are like that so why the fighter levels.
Force multiplication. A Mage/Cleric gets one attack per round. A Fighter/Mage/Cleric gets all such combat buffs, whilst getting multiple attacks per round and specialisation benefits, multiplying the benefits accordingly.
Also, more hit points (18 con compared to 16, and a d10 thrown into the mix)
@pantalion but the buffs give your m/c the bonuses of a fighter of the same level. therefore an m/c with the same amount of exp as a f/m/c will hit better
@pantalion but the buffs give your m/c the bonuses of a fighter of the same level. therefore an m/c with the same amount of exp as a f/m/c will hit better
The bonuses of a Fighter of the same level does not include APR. A Fighter/Mage/Cleric will attack 2.5 times per round with a specialised weapon, a Mage/Cleric will attack once. Mathematically you are more likely to hit with multiple die rolls than you are with a moderate attack bonus.
@pantalion but the buffs give your m/c the bonuses of a fighter of the same level. therefore an m/c with the same amount of exp as a f/m/c will hit better
The bonuses of a Fighter of the same level does not include APR. A Fighter/Mage/Cleric will attack 2.5 times per round with a specialised weapon, a Mage/Cleric will attack once. Mathematically you are more likely to hit with multiple die rolls than you are with a moderate attack bonus.
Bard (human and half-elf only) -Blade (Bard kit; human and half-elf only) -Jester (Bard kit; human and half-elf only) -Skald (Bard kit; human and half-elf only) Dexterity minimum 12 Intelligence minimum 13 Charisma minimum 15
Thief -Assassin (Thief kit; Lawful Good restricted) -Bounty Hunter (Thief kit; Lawful Good restricted) -Swashbuckler (Thief kit; Lawful Good restricted) Dexterity minimum 9
Wizard (human, elf, and half-elf only) -Abjurer (Mage kit; human, elf, and half-elf only) -Conjurer (Mage kit; human, elf, and half-elf only) -Diviner (Mage kit; human, elf, and half-elf only) -Enchanter (Mage kit; human, elf, and half-elf only) -Illusionist (Mage kit; human, elf, half-elf, and gnome only) -Invoker (Mage kit; human, elf, and half-elf only) -Necromancer (Mage kit; human, elf, and half-elf only) -Transmuter (Mage kit; human, elf, and half-elf only) - Wild Mage (Mage kit; human, elf, and half-elf only) Intelligence minimum 9
Clerics and druids. I've never been much into divine magic, either in games or tabletop, and although I always keep someone around to heal my characters and cast all the cool divine buffs, I'm not interested in playing one myself. Bards are also usually out, though not so much on the tabletop: here it is largely because I nearly always have either Garrick or Eldoth (or Haer-Dalis in the sequel) in my party, so myself playing a bard as well would be somewhat redundant. It's also probably because I like to play functionally powerful characters, mighty warriors or spellcasters, and the tricky cunning playstyle of a bard isn't something I would be clever enough to handle to its full strength.
I usually go for some combination of fighter, mage, and/or thief, either dual- or multiclassed. Sorcerer is also a common choice, but specialist mages I never go for. Any fighter kit outside of kensai I typically do not touch on, and of the thief kits I only ever pick assassin. I sometimes play an archer, too, but pure rangers and the other kits are not anything I have chosen or have plans for. Monks are common if I use the multiplayer trick to have two player characters, but otherwise I don't often go for them - especially in BG1, where they're woefully weak. I think I've played a barbarian through all games once. I also don't play pure paladins, but all other kits have seen some use, at least over one playthrough each.
@Lemernis Aren't some of the Mage specializations restricted to certain races? Just tested, Elf can only be Diviner, Echanter, and Wild Mage. Half-elf adds Conjurer and Transmuter to that list. Also, I think some of the kits have alignment restrictions (Berserker can't be Lawful, for example.) Otherwise, rather helpful list :-D
@toanwrath Thanks for the input. Yeah, I'm sure the list is far from perfect yet. Further refinements still need to be made. Others may report more omissions/oversights/errors, so I'll wait a bit to amend the list accordingly. Thanks again!
There's so many I haven't gotten around to yet. Back when I played a lot from '00-'07 I mainly played BGT and it took about 3-4 months to complete the entire saga. I'd do that about twice a year, with some single games of BG/ToSC (either via BGT or Tutu) or BG2/ToB sprinkled in.
Anyway, I'm not a fan of dual-classing for the saga to the optimized result. Too much 'downtime' for my taste. But for just a one-shot BG:EE game, in my next game I'm looking forward to trying an entirely dual-classed party using 5 of the NPCs for which that may be done, and a Berserker 3/Cleric main character. I'm going to dual all characters around level 3 or 4. To me, that seems like a fun departure and an interesting tactical challenge.
There's a whole lot of kits (Barbarian is technically a class, but still feels like another Fighter kit to me) that I still have yet to try. I've yet to try
Barbarian (I have one now in the Black Pits for my first go at that adventure) Wizard Slayer Beast Master Archer (currently have one in the Black Pits) Stalker Undead Hunter Blackguard (which is new, of course) Priest of Helm Totemic Druid Shapeshifter Avenger Jester Skald Assassin Bounty Hunter Swashbuckler Abjurer Diviner Invoker Transmuter Sorcerer (currently have one in the Black Pits)
Just about all of the multis I've yet to try. Best I can recollect, to date I've only had a go at Fighter/Thief, Fighter/Cleric, Cleric/Mage, Cleric/Thief, and F/M/T.
You know, even after all this time playing BG I've never gotten very far with a druid character (other than shapeshifter). Some times I tried making an avenger because I'm intrigued by the concept of a druid who can cast wizard spells, but somehow I never got too far. I should probably remedy that, one of these days.
Also I've been planning to start a stalker for years but haven't yet gotten around to it.
@kidcarnival does stormshield give 100% elemental protection?
my only problem with evil clerics is that it's pretty well covered by Vic in bg:ee and bg2. have you rolled a PoT in bg2? what was your party?
It does, plus protection from normal missiles. Which isn't worth much on higher levels, but minions are less likely to interrupt longer spells.
In BG2, I almost always play thieves due to the complete lack of evil thieves. I have played through as druid, but being neutral isn't really for me. My problem with the evil clerics is... Viconia annoys me with her stupid weeaboo voiceset. I know she's oh-so-powerful, but I just can't stand her, so I rarely take her in my party and if so, I don't keep her around for too long. In BG1, I rather take Branwen if I'm no cleric myself, or dual Xzar as soon as possible. In BG2, I either fail Anomen's quest and try to ignore his attitude or take Cernd, who has no personality that could annoy me.
for all those who haven't played a straight/kitted cleric...they are AWESOME!
or at least a Cleric of Lothandar is. it can easily become your back-up tank/damage dealer
three simple buffs: holy power>boon of lathander (self stacking)>(improved)haste
will give strength 18/00, thac0 of equal level fighter, +1hp per level, +1 to hit and damage, +1 apr, +1 saving throws and then haste will increase your APR even higher!
even a single weapon wielding CoL can get 6 APR by level 10 and 10 APR by level 40!
One of these days I'll roll a straight cleric. Or I'll wait for the Gavin mod to be ported to BGEE...
Wait, Boon of Lathander stacks with itself? That's kind of ridiculous. I admit I have heard good things about Seeking Sword too.
@kaigen the seeking sword is great for bg:ee (it's a frickin +4, set at 3 APR!) , but scales HORRENDOUSLY into bg2. you can't cast while the ability is active too, which isn't too bad, because a lot of the time you buff and wade in and don't worry too much about casting spells till your buffs wear off.
BUT there are better than +4 weapons in bg2 for clerics (crom faeyr, Flail of Ages) and that's before we get into the ridiculous ToB territory. and if i remember rightly (read the small print!) your seeking sword is SET at 3 APR, which means you can't increase it with (improved) haste (i'll happily be corrected if someone knows better). true sight special ability is cool, but you can get that with keldorn/pc inquisitor anyway...
BUT there are better than +4 weapons in bg2 for clerics (crom faeyr, Flail of Ages) and that's before we get into the ridiculous ToB territory. and if i remember rightly (read the small print!) your seeking sword is SET at 3 APR, which means you can't increase it with (improved) haste (i'll happily be corrected if someone knows better). true sight special ability is cool, but you can get that with keldorn/pc inquisitor anyway...
@mjs I was just testing this in BGEE. Seeking Sword doesn't stack with Haste or Improved Haste. When you use it, you get 3 APR, no matter what. Interestingly, while you don't get a damage bonus with it, you do get +4 to hit (either a bug or a bad description), and the spell is unaffected by proficiency. I'd imagine you can still get respectable damage out of Seeking Sword in BG2, since you still get the Str bonus, and Clerics can hit 25 Str easily with spells like Righteous Might (which also maximizes the damage roll). 22 damage per hit with 3 attacks isn't bad for a non-Fighter. It's actually quite competitive with a Hasted, Righteous Magic'd Cleric wielding any of the endgame blunt weapons (though only because you can't haste with FoA +5). Of course, that's only looking at pure damage and ignoring any special effects that you can get from the likes of Storm Star and Runehammer.
Edit: In case anyone's wondering, Seeking Sword plays just fine with Single Weapon Style/Sword and Shield style.
Boon of Lathander does stack with Haste/Improved Haste, but only if you cast the Haste spell first, which sounds like a bug to me, though it could go either way, since the description doesn't say anything about BoL being a haste effect or not stacking with the same.
Edit2: Strike that bit about BoL not stacking with Haste. Faulty testing, move along. Rather takes the wind out of the Priest of Helm's sails, give that a Hasted Priest of Lathander can equal his APR and do it with a real weapon with good damage bonuses.
Druid, I don't know how they work, shapeshifting's a joke (IMHO) and "what do you mean 'I can't cast Raise Dead/Ressurect'? What's divine back-up for anyway!?".
Bard: if you wan't to pickpocket, cast spells and slap some enemy in melee, be a decent Fighter/Mage/Thief!
Conjurer: What do you mean 'I can't cast Evocation-spells'? What else do wizards do? (OK, that one may be IWD only, but still..., all mages excluding Evocation are 'light' versions of the cannon they are supposed to be).
Comments
I'm also not a big fan of triple-classes, that feels too all over the place for me. Though, I got the taste for being all over the place with a jester in BGEE, so I might try one day.
I never played a ranger or paladin because I'm not one for good alignment. The closest I got was playing a druid kit in BG2, and staying neutral did take some fun out of it for me.
I do like mages, but never played one because there are two great evil mages as NPCs, and now also a great sorcerer. If I was playing good or neutral, I would probably play as mage, but being as attached to evil as I am, my arcane needs are covered.
I'm absolutely no fan of monks, so I never played one.
Or at least some comment on if this is in the works.
...I never dual-class...
/thread
No triple classes, either, progression's just too slow. I could see the point if you're soloing it, but I'm just not that masochistic. Plus the party banter and reactions is always a big draw for me with bioware games.
Most specialty mages too. I don't like the blocked schools. I did have a really fun playthrough as a gnome illusionist/thief named Max Maximus that was loads of fun, though. Wild mage sounds like it could be fun.
Single class thieves or clerics just aren't worth it to me, either. There's so many thieves in the game anyways. Some of the kits do look like they could be fun, so I might have to try them sometime.
Trying a run as a bounty hunter being the only thief in the group... with 20 points per level it should be doable, just means I'll be reliant on items and magic for stealth for quite a while... wouldn't recommend it with an assassin who only get 15 per level.
The swashbuckler is... an interesting kit, basically a fighter/thief on full thief progression. Trade the ability to backstab for increased weapon skills, THAC0 and AC and in ToB can take Whirlwind Attack.
This might be a bit cliche but a spotlight position in my mind is always reserved for a fighting type, followed closely by an arcane caster who if not a protagonist might be his/her best friend/lover/relative.
No significant changes to the BG interface. This was stated when the EE was anounced.
Also, no rights for IWD cointent. Also in the archive.
or at least a Cleric of Lothandar is. it can easily become your back-up tank/damage dealer
three simple buffs: holy power>boon of lathander (self stacking)>(improved)haste
will give strength 18/00, thac0 of equal level fighter, +1hp per level, +1 to hit and damage, +1 apr, +1 saving throws and then haste will increase your APR even higher!
even a single weapon wielding CoL can get 6 APR by level 10 and 10 APR by level 40!
my only problem with evil clerics is that it's pretty well covered by Vic in bg:ee and bg2. have you rolled a PoT in bg2? what was your party?
Fighter
-Berserker (Fighter kit)
-Wizard Slayer (Fighter kit)
-Kensai (Fighter kit)
Strength minimum 9
Ranger (Good only; human, elf, and half-elf only)
-Archer (Ranger kit; Good only; human, elf, and half-elf only)
-Stalker (Ranger kit; Good only; human, elf, and half-elf only)
-Beastmaster (Ranger kit; Good only; human, elf, and half-elf only)
Strength minimum 13
Dexterity minimum 13
Constitution minimum 14
Wisdom minimum 14
-Paladin (human only; Lawful Good only)
-Cavalier (Paladin kit; human only; Lawful Good only)
-Inquisitor (Paladin kit; human only; Lawful Good only)
-Undead Hunter (Paladin kit; human only; Lawful Good only)
-Blackguard (Paladin kit; human only; Evil only)*
Strength minimum 12
Constitution minimum 9
Wisdom minimum 13
Charisma minimum 17
*Blackguard:
Strength minimum 12
Constitution minimum 14
Charisma minimum 14
Barbarian
Strength minimum 9
Cleric
-Priest of Talos (Cleric kit; Evil only)
-Priest of Helm (Cleric kit; Neutral only)
-Priest of Lathander (Cleric kit; Good only)
Wisdom minimum 9
Druid (human and half-elf only)
-Totemic Druid (Druid kit; True Neutral only; human and half-elf only)
-Shapeshifter (Druid kit; True Neutral only; human and half-elf only)
-Avenger (Druid kit; True Neutral only; human and half-elf only)
Wisdom minimum 12
Charisma minimum 15
Monk (human only; Lawful only)
Dexterity minimum 9
Constitution minimum 9
Wisdom minimum 9
Bard (human and half-elf only)
-Blade (Bard kit; human and half-elf only)
-Jester (Bard kit; human and half-elf only)
-Skald (Bard kit; human and half-elf only)
Dexterity minimum 12
Intelligence minimum 13
Charisma minimum 15
Thief
-Assassin (Thief kit; Lawful Good restricted)
-Bounty Hunter (Thief kit; Lawful Good restricted)
-Swashbuckler (Thief kit; Lawful Good restricted)
Dexterity minimum 9
Wizard (human, elf, and half-elf only)
-Abjurer (Mage kit; human, elf, and half-elf only)
-Conjurer (Mage kit; human, elf, and half-elf only)
-Diviner (Mage kit; human, elf, and half-elf only)
-Enchanter (Mage kit; human, elf, and half-elf only)
-Illusionist (Mage kit; human, elf, half-elf, and gnome only)
-Invoker (Mage kit; human, elf, and half-elf only)
-Necromancer (Mage kit; human, elf, and half-elf only)
-Transmuter (Mage kit; human, elf, and half-elf only)
- Wild Mage (Mage kit; human, elf, and half-elf only)
Intelligence minimum 9
Sorcerer (human, elf, and half-elf only)
Intelligence minimum 9
Charisma minimum 9
Multi-classes (non-human only)
Fighter/Thief (multi-class; any non-human)
Fighter/Cleric (multi-class; humans, elves, halflings restricted)
Fighter/Druid (multi-class; half-elf only)
Fighter/Mage (multi-class; elf and half-elf only)
Fighter/Illusionist (multi-class; gnome only)
Fighter/Mage/Cleric (multi-class; half-elf only)
Fighter/Mage/Thief (multi-class; elf and half-elf only)
Cleric/Mage (multi-class; half-elf only)
Mage/Thief (multi-class; humans, halflings, dwarves, half-orcs restricted)
Illusionist/Thief (multi-class; gnome only)
Cleric/Ranger (multi-class; half-elf only)
Cleric/Thief (multi-class; gnomes and half-orcs only)
Dual-classes (human only)
Prime ability in original class must be at least 15, and prime ability in the new class must be at least 17.
Fighter/Cleric (dual-class)
-Berserker/Cleric (dual-class)
-Wizard Slayer/Cleric (dual-class)
-Kensai/Cleric (dual-class)
Strength minimum 15
Wisdom minimum 17
Fighter/Mage (dual-class)
-Berserker/Mage (dual-class)
-Wizard Slayer/Mage (dual-class)
-Kensai/Mage (dual-class)
Strength minimum 15
Intelligence minimum 17
Fighter/Thief (dual-class)
-Berserker/Thief (dual-class)
-Wizard Slayer/Thief (dual-class)
-Kensai/Thief (dual-class)
Strength minimum 15
Dexterity minimum 17
Fighter/Druid (dual-class)
-Berserker/Druid (dual-class)
-Wizard Slayer/Druid (dual-class)
-Kensai/Druid (dual-class)
Strength minimum 15
Wisdom minimum 17
Charisma minimum 17
Ranger/Cleric (dual-class)
-Archer/Cleric (dual-class)
-Stalker/Cleric (dual-class)
-Beastmaster/Cleric (dual-class)
Strength minimum 15
Dexterity minimum 15
Wisdom minimum 17
Cleric/Fighter (dual-class)
-Priest of Talos/Fighter (dual-class)
-Priest of Helm/Fighter (dual-class)
-Priest of Lathander/Fighter (dual-class)
Wisdom minimum 17
Strength minimum 15
Cleric/Mage (dual-class)
-Priest of Talos/Mage (dual-class)
-Priest of Helm/Mage (dual-class)
-Priest of Lathander/Mage (dual-class)
Wisdom minimum 17
Intelligence minimum 17
Cleric/Thief (dual-class)
-Priest of Talos/Thief (dual-class)
-Priest of Helm/Thief (dual-class)
-Priest of Lathander/Thief (dual-class)
Wisdom minimum 15
Dexterity minimum 17
Cleric/Ranger (dual-class)
-Priest of Lathander/Ranger (dual-class)
Strength minimum
Strength minimum 17
Dexterity minimum 17
Wisdom minimum 17
Druid/Fighter (dual-class)
-Totemic Druid/Fighter (dual-class)
-Avenger/Fighter (dual-class)
-Shapeshifter/Fighter (dual-class)
Wisdom minimum 15
Charisma minimum 15
Strength minimum 17
Mage/Fighter (dual-class)
-Abjurer/Fighter (dual-class)
-Conjurer/Fighter (dual-class)
-Diviner/Fighter (dual-class)
-Enchanter/Fighter (dual-class)
-Illusionist/Fighter (dual-class)
-Invoker/Fighter (dual-class)
-Necromancer/Fighter (dual-class)
-Transmuter/Fighter (dual-class)
Intelligence minimum 15
Strength minimum 17
Mage/Cleric (dual-class)
-Abjurer/Cleric (dual-class)
-Conjurer/Cleric (dual-class)
-Diviner/Cleric (dual-class)
-Enchanter/Cleric (dual-class)
-Illusionist/Cleric (dual-class)
-Invoker/Cleric (dual-class)
-Necromancer/Cleric (dual-class)
-Transmuter/Cleric (dual-class)
Intelligence minimum 15
Wisdom minimum 17
Mage/Thief (dual-class)
-Abjurer/Thief (dual-class)
-Conjurer/Thief (dual-class)
-Diviner/Thief (dual-class)
-Enchanter/Thief (dual-class)
-Illusionist/Thief (dual-class)
-Invoker/Thief (dual-class)
-Necromancer/Thief (dual-class)
-Transmuter/Thief (dual-class)
Intelligence minimum 15
Dexterity minimum 17
Thief/Fighter (dual-class)
-Assassin/Fighter (dual-class)
-Bounty Hunter/Fighter (dual-class)
-Swashbuckler/Fighter (dual-class)
Dexterity minimum 15
Strength minimum 17
Thief/Cleric (dual-class)
-Assassin/Cleric (dual-class)
-Bounty Hunter/Cleric (dual-class)
-Swashbuckler/Cleric (dual-class)
Dexterity minimum 15
Wisdom minimum 17
Thief/Mage (dual-class)
-Assassin/Mage (dual-class)
-Bounty Hunter/Mage (dual-class)
-Swashbuckler/Mage (dual-class)
Dexterity minimum 15
Intelligence minimum 17
I usually go for some combination of fighter, mage, and/or thief, either dual- or multiclassed. Sorcerer is also a common choice, but specialist mages I never go for. Any fighter kit outside of kensai I typically do not touch on, and of the thief kits I only ever pick assassin. I sometimes play an archer, too, but pure rangers and the other kits are not anything I have chosen or have plans for. Monks are common if I use the multiplayer trick to have two player characters, but otherwise I don't often go for them - especially in BG1, where they're woefully weak. I think I've played a barbarian through all games once. I also don't play pure paladins, but all other kits have seen some use, at least over one playthrough each.
Aren't some of the Mage specializations restricted to certain races?
Just tested, Elf can only be Diviner, Echanter, and Wild Mage.
Half-elf adds Conjurer and Transmuter to that list.
Also, I think some of the kits have alignment restrictions (Berserker can't be Lawful, for example.)
Otherwise, rather helpful list :-D
Anyway, I'm not a fan of dual-classing for the saga to the optimized result. Too much 'downtime' for my taste. But for just a one-shot BG:EE game, in my next game I'm looking forward to trying an entirely dual-classed party using 5 of the NPCs for which that may be done, and a Berserker 3/Cleric main character. I'm going to dual all characters around level 3 or 4. To me, that seems like a fun departure and an interesting tactical challenge.
There's a whole lot of kits (Barbarian is technically a class, but still feels like another Fighter kit to me) that I still have yet to try. I've yet to try
Barbarian (I have one now in the Black Pits for my first go at that adventure)
Wizard Slayer
Beast Master
Archer (currently have one in the Black Pits)
Stalker
Undead Hunter
Blackguard (which is new, of course)
Priest of Helm
Totemic Druid
Shapeshifter
Avenger
Jester
Skald
Assassin
Bounty Hunter
Swashbuckler
Abjurer
Diviner
Invoker
Transmuter
Sorcerer (currently have one in the Black Pits)
Just about all of the multis I've yet to try. Best I can recollect, to date I've only had a go at Fighter/Thief, Fighter/Cleric, Cleric/Mage, Cleric/Thief, and F/M/T.
Also I've been planning to start a stalker for years but haven't yet gotten around to it.
In BG2, I almost always play thieves due to the complete lack of evil thieves. I have played through as druid, but being neutral isn't really for me. My problem with the evil clerics is... Viconia annoys me with her stupid weeaboo voiceset. I know she's oh-so-powerful, but I just can't stand her, so I rarely take her in my party and if so, I don't keep her around for too long. In BG1, I rather take Branwen if I'm no cleric myself, or dual Xzar as soon as possible. In BG2, I either fail Anomen's quest and try to ignore his attitude or take Cernd, who has no personality that could annoy me.
Specialist Mage
int 9 minimum AND:
Conjurer 15 Con
Abjurer 15 wisdom
invoker 16 Con
enchanter 16 charisma
Diviners, Necromancers 16 wisdom
Illusionists 16 Dex
Transmuter 15 dex
If dualing into specialists worked, like it does in original BG1, you'd also need to meet the 2ndry stat requirement as well.
Blade
Wizard Slayer
Pure Cleric
F/M/C
Wait, Boon of Lathander stacks with itself? That's kind of ridiculous. I admit I have heard good things about Seeking Sword too.
BUT there are better than +4 weapons in bg2 for clerics (crom faeyr, Flail of Ages) and that's before we get into the ridiculous ToB territory. and if i remember rightly (read the small print!) your seeking sword is SET at 3 APR, which means you can't increase it with (improved) haste (i'll happily be corrected if someone knows better). true sight special ability is cool, but you can get that with keldorn/pc inquisitor anyway...
Edit: In case anyone's wondering, Seeking Sword plays just fine with Single Weapon Style/Sword and Shield style.
Boon of Lathander does stack with Haste/Improved Haste, but only if you cast the Haste spell first, which sounds like a bug to me, though it could go either way, since the description doesn't say anything about BoL being a haste effect or not stacking with the same.
Edit2: Strike that bit about BoL not stacking with Haste. Faulty testing, move along. Rather takes the wind out of the Priest of Helm's sails, give that a Hasted Priest of Lathander can equal his APR and do it with a real weapon with good damage bonuses.
Bard: if you wan't to pickpocket, cast spells and slap some enemy in melee, be a decent Fighter/Mage/Thief!
Conjurer: What do you mean 'I can't cast Evocation-spells'? What else do wizards do? (OK, that one may be IWD only, but still..., all mages excluding Evocation are 'light' versions of the cannon they are supposed to be).