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Class you feel thata re a no brainer in BG ?

I realised that everytime I play this game I use the same meta to build my party. its always that one

2 tank (paladin,fighter or barbarian), 1 thief (pure or not), 1 druid toolit, 1 cleric toolkit and either a conjuror or an illusionist.

Now that I have player kinda all the class kit composition possible with that meta I'm wondering which meta you follow and found funy ?
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Comments

  • LapaLapa Member Posts: 73
    Well I usually play BG1 with 3 warriors, 1 wizard, 1 cleric and 1 thief. But in BG2 when spells are more powerful I usually play with many multiclass characters. In last game I had charname fighter/mage, keldorn, valygar, anomen, jan jansen and aerie. 3 arcane casters is pure awesomness.

    But if you want to know which class is a real no-brainer, my vote would go to archer. Just point with mouse and click = dead monster.
  • atcDaveatcDave Member Posts: 2,387
    I like to mix it up, a little. I usually have at least one of the professions and usually only one thief; but other than that...

    Two, three or four tanks. One or two mages (sometimes a bard instead). One or two clerics (or Druids). And then mix and match with singles, multis, duals...
    I love the variety.
  • MadhaxMadhax Member Posts: 1,416
    Depends if you're playing only BGEE or the whole saga. Warriors are powerful early on, but tend to lose out in favor of casters, particularly arcane casters, towards the end.

    I personally find warriors to be dull. Paladins and Rangers at least get some goodies at higher levels, but pure Fighters and Barbarians are one-trick ponies. They occasionally find their way into my party (Kagain, in particular, is a nice asset in BG1), but I avoid them as PCs.

    My base requirements for a party are:

    1 warrior, preferably a Paladin
    .5-1 thief. I usually can't stand pure thieves, so this slot is usually Imoen in BG2 or my PC as a multiclass.
    2 arcane casters-- Too good and too fun to not have two. A mage and a sorcerer paired up is preferable, but usually not possible in BG.
    ~1.5 priests - Most of my good parties have both Aerie and Anomen in them, which I find to be an effective amount of clerical magic. I usually never use druids.

    That mix often leaves one slot open, allowing me to either mess around with more specialized folks like Valygar or Haer'dalis, or to keep open for the ToB NPC.
  • IkMarcIkMarc Member Posts: 552
    Half-Orc fighter of any kind (with 19str)
    Elven archer or Elven fighter with bow (with 19dex)

    Both are simple builds that are vastly overpowered.
  • ChowChow Member Posts: 1,192
    A thief to deal with locks and traps, a divine caster to heal, an arcane caster to blow up, and nearly always also a bard to identify and support and occasionally pick pockets. The rest varies.
  • GallowglassGallowglass Member Posts: 3,356
    You certainly don't need two pure warriors. Sometimes I do use two pure warriors, but it's no tougher to win with only one pure warrior and your second front-row slot filled by a multiclass or dualclass warrior/something. In BGee, even a pure cleric (with suitable equipment) is pretty effective in the front row (although I reckon that's a more difficult situation in BG2).
  • MillardkillmooreMillardkillmoore Member Posts: 150
    BG1:

    3 Warriors (occasionally dual or multicalssed)
    1 Single-classed Thief
    1 Single-classed Cleric
    1 Mage or Sorcerer

    BG2:
    3 Warriors (occasionally dual or multiclass)
    1 Thief (Single, dual, or multi)
    At least 1 Multi or dual-classed Cleric
    1 Multi or dual-classed Mage
    1 Single-classed Mage or Sorcerer

    My parties almost inevitably end up in this format. I find that it is the most balanced. As thieves gain levels and max out their skills, there becomes less and less of a point to using a pure thief. Thus, I prefer to get dual or multi-classed ones in BG2. Clerics plateau midway through BG2 and thus, I like dual or multi versions of them in 2. Arcane casters become very powerful in 2 and I like to use 2. I take free up space in my party by switching to dual and multi-classed thieves and/or Clerics.

    My Current party in BG1 fits the format quite well:

    BG1:
    Half-Orc Barbarian CHARNAME (Warrior)
    Rasaad (Warrior)
    Ajantis (Warrior)
    Imoen (Thief)
    Branwen (Cleric)
    Neera (Mage)

    My party in BGEE will be:
    Half-Orc Barbarian CHARNAME (Warrior)
    Rasaad (Warrior)
    Keldorn (Warrior)
    Anomen (Cleric, but dual-classed for extra fighting ability)
    Imoen(Thief/Mage)
    Neera (Mage)

    Poor Bards and Druids...I never have any use for either class.
  • DJKajuruDJKajuru Member Posts: 3,300
    I always play human or half elf - and I always take Imoen along .

  • Oxford_GuyOxford_Guy Member Posts: 3,729
    For powergaming, a gnome fighter/illusionist/ is pretty awesome (as is illusionist/thief)- shorty Con-based save bonuses, extra spells, 18 starting Con etc., though you do lose out on Necromancy spells.

    I prefer elf fighter/mages (19 Dex, +1 THAC0 for all swords and bows, 90% sleep/charm resistance, can cast Necromancy spells), though, but mostly for RP reasons - same thing for half-elf Blades, which are great fun, not as powerful outright, but offensive/defensive spin is fun to use, they can pickpocket, identify items with high lore and use Bard-specifc items (which are otherwise wasted, though there's only one of these in BGEE, there's more in BG2, though) and I think the rogue HLAs are more fun than than the fighter ones (especially Use Any item and Spike trap!). I tend to avoid any dual-class builds for CHARNAME.
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  • Oxford_GuyOxford_Guy Member Posts: 3,729
    Bhaaldog said:

    Halfling Wizard Slayer

    Haha!
  • OzzyBotkinsOzzyBotkins Member Posts: 396
    Most redunant class
    pure vanillla fighter ,I guess
    but I try dufferent combos when I can
    Garrick, Eldoth, Skie and Quayle
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  • varlakvarlak Member Posts: 15
    Lemernis said:

    I gotta be honest that I'm not even sure what the OP's question is.

    its either my poor english or probably the word "meta" that give you trouble ?

    If its my english sadly I can,t do much its not my usual speaking.

    As for meta its kinda refer to the "gameplay" "class role"the game has been balanced around.

    lets say you play World of Warcraft the meta for 5man group is 1tank,1healer and 3 DPS.

    So basicaly my "meta" in BG1 are usualy 2 tank, 1 thief, 2 healer and 1 arcane damage dealer.


  • mlnevesemlnevese Member, Moderator Posts: 10,214
    I think I understand what the OP means. I believe his question is what is the usual strategy you use when choosing who will be part of your group, in his case he usually uses 2 tanks, 1 thief, 2 healers and 1 arcane caster.

    I usually go for three front liners and three ranged characters, at least one tank and two flankers. I keep the thief, healer and wizard as ranged attackers, unless I have a good opportunity for a backstab, but I don't really go out of my way to backstab anyone.
  • LemernisLemernis Member, Moderator Posts: 4,318
    edited February 2013
    Okay, thx, got it.

    At least two meleers (front line). Preferably three. I mainly want them to be able to deal a lot of damage. But of course they must have AC low enough not to constantly require tons of healing or be perpetually at risk of getting killed.

    To the rear spellcasters and any characters that use ranged weapons.

    Exceptions to the rule of spellcasters in the back row for me are dual-classed and multi-classed characters such as Fighter/Mage or Cleric/Thief. I will usually have them melee and often have them cast spells in the midst of battle.
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  • CorvinoCorvino Member Posts: 2,269
    I'm trying a bit of an alternate party at the moment with Garrick, Eldoth, Skie and Xan for the various Banters. This lot are bloody squishy and it's a good challenge keeping them alive.

    I guess one route to keeping playthroughs interesting is using slightly unsuitable characters. Faldorn as your only divine caster maybe? No Mages, only Bards? Anyone tried a no-tank playthrough?
  • LemernisLemernis Member, Moderator Posts: 4,318
    edited February 2013
    Corvino said:

    I'm trying a bit of an alternate party at the moment with Garrick, Eldoth, Skie and Xan for the various Banters. This lot are bloody squishy and it's a good challenge keeping them alive.

    I guess one route to keeping playthroughs interesting is using slightly unsuitable characters. Faldorn as your only divine caster maybe? No Mages, only Bards? Anyone tried a no-tank playthrough?

    Yes. Back in the day I played a BG1 game with six characters of my own creation:

    Conjurer
    Illusionist
    Enchanter
    Necromancer
    Cleric
    Mage/Thief

    and it was one of the funnest games I ever played.

    To add to the challenge, each specialist mages cast spells only from his or her own school. So starting out the Conjurer cast Grease, the Enchanter cast Sleep, the Illusionist cast Blind, and the Necromancer cast Larloch's. No spells from any other school but their own.

    I've played a lot of games with offbeat party compositions. I like doing it because it forces you to learn how to get the most of out of the weaker characters and classes. I've had just as much fun playing those games as with the A List NPCs and popular power builds for PCs.
  • IkMarcIkMarc Member Posts: 552
    Corvino said:

    Anyone tried a no-tank playthrough?

    I could see this working in MP with a custom elite archer team heheh ^^
  • KidCarnivalKidCarnival Member Posts: 3,747
    @Corvino - I'd be interested in reading about that run. I'm toying with the idea to go with Garrick, Eldoth and Skie, too, just wondering how two bards fit in and who else to take along.
  • CorvinoCorvino Member Posts: 2,269
    I'm still at Cloakwood mines at the moment, so I haven't got Skie yet, or the Elven chain. I'll post something once it gets going.

    According to the "party for good banter" thread this lot should be good value!
  • KidCarnivalKidCarnival Member Posts: 3,747
    That's why I want to try that combination, too. I like bards, but two seemed a bit much, plus I'm prone to play thieves or bards myself. What class is your charname? I'm considering something to tank, because the party is rather squishy, or go all ranged (very maybe).
  • LemernisLemernis Member, Moderator Posts: 4,318
    edited February 2013
    For offbeat parties, with the SCS:EE mod now available you can also relocate most of the out-of-the-way NPCs right into chapter 1. You can also more easily separate NPCs pairs.

    Post edited by Lemernis on
  • CorvinoCorvino Member Posts: 2,269
    @KidCarnival - I've gone for a Dwarf Fighter/Cleric CHARNAME in order to fill both divine caster and tank roles that are missing in the party. I reckon you need two tanky characters to offset the general squishyness, so Dorn's the second non-banter choice.
  • PawnSlayerPawnSlayer Member Posts: 295
    2 melee

    2 ranged

    2 casters.

    1 thief

    Basic combination of 6, usually with overlap. For example, in BG1 I'll always be either a Sorceror or an Archer. If I'm the former, my other caster will be Dynaheir/Neera, the ranged fighters will be Imoen (doubles as thief obviously) and Kivan. Melee fighters are Ajantis and Minsc/Rasaad. If I'm the archer, Kivan is redundant so I'll use both listed casters, Ajantis and Minsc.

    In BG2, Keldorn, Jan and Anomen are always in the party. Anomen dual wields Crom Faeyr and the Flail of Ages, and Keldorn gets Carsomyr, so they serve as my melees. Jan is, again, a ranged thief and caster. If I'm an Archer, Aerie serves as a second mage and cleric, as well as providing a romance, and I use Minsc for more melee power, which lets Anomen focus on his spells.

    If I'm the Sorceror, Aerie becomes redundant, replaced with Jaheira for the romance along with druid spells and melee capacity. Mazzy replaces Minsc as she's a far better archer, meaning Anomen does more tanking.

    I tend to reload if anyone dies in a battle, so the cleric's healing is less necessary.
  • LuigirulesLuigirules Member Posts: 419

    That's why I want to try that combination, too. I like bards, but two seemed a bit much, plus I'm prone to play thieves or bards myself. What class is your charname? I'm considering something to tank, because the party is rather squishy, or go all ranged (very maybe).

    Why not just change one of the bard's classes?

  • KidCarnivalKidCarnival Member Posts: 3,747
    First, because I'm no fan of changing NPC classes. I don't even like changing their weapon profs. The only thing I sometimes edit are thief skills if I take a late game NPC along.

    Second, I can't see Garrick in any other role. He sounds as bardy as one can sound. Eldoth would probably work as a thief, personality-wise a swashbuckler, ability-wise assassin, but I'm going to take Skie along and then I have 2 thieves. Doesn't solve the problem of having a squishy trio of which none stands out for particular good fighting skills.

    @Corvino: With the 3 neutral NPCs, Branwen would fit in as a cleric and she could tank a bit. That would leave charname with Dorn's role, fighter or possibly paladin to have a bit more healing. Multi fighter/cleric sounds like a good idea, too.
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