Lack of evil clerics in BG
Thomasw
Member Posts: 18
So I have recently got BG:EE on steam and I had a good alignment playthrough recently with a Fighter/Cleric character. I was trying to use characters which where not part of my usual canon party adventure. So I used Coran, Alora, Dorn, Xan and Neera. It was a great team in the end and I had a blast trying out the new characters.
My next playthrough I decided to do something I have never done in an infinity engine game, and that was to try out an evil team. I have a problem though, and that is if you don't like Viconia, you are a bit stuck for divine casters. I am using Branwen but I feel she doesn't really fit in with the tone of the party (Montaron, Xzar, Safana, Eldoth, and Blackguard PC). I might replace her with Tiax when I reach baldurs gate, or Quayle, but they are both multiclass and really I have enough rogues and spell casters in my team already.
Essentially I feel that an evil single/mult classed cleric or fighter cleric, would be a great addition to Baldurs gate. Does anyone know of a mod that adds a new character compatible ? Or should I just suck it up and use Viconia.
My next playthrough I decided to do something I have never done in an infinity engine game, and that was to try out an evil team. I have a problem though, and that is if you don't like Viconia, you are a bit stuck for divine casters. I am using Branwen but I feel she doesn't really fit in with the tone of the party (Montaron, Xzar, Safana, Eldoth, and Blackguard PC). I might replace her with Tiax when I reach baldurs gate, or Quayle, but they are both multiclass and really I have enough rogues and spell casters in my team already.
Essentially I feel that an evil single/mult classed cleric or fighter cleric, would be a great addition to Baldurs gate. Does anyone know of a mod that adds a new character compatible ? Or should I just suck it up and use Viconia.
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Faldorn also works for an evil party, but Xzar is by far my favourite.
EDIT: Ninjaed by a @Worg! These accursed lupines...
Worg and Eudaemonium, this is a good idea I might try it out when I get to BG. I could then use a different arcane caster, maybe Edwin.
she gives lotsa good feedback when you have 16 rep..
but still there might be few pure evil thiefs in Bg1
The NPC population is heavy on the Thief and Mage side, light on the Cleric side. It's really odd that both she and Jahira are technically Neutral, since Faldorn talks like she's Evil, but leaves your party like she's Good-lite.
Viconia is just too versatile to pass up for me. Give her that spiffy Warhammer/Stupifier/Mace+2, Gauntlets of Ogre Power, some heavy duty armor, and she's a paper tiger kinda' tank. She's good at throwing rocks when that's not advisable, and she keeps your party clean and healthy. What's not to love?
I can't get on board with Xzar. That dude's too crazy for my ass. I think it's his picture. Looks like he's trying to rip his lip off or something.
Another thing about him rolling into a Mage/Cleric, is lack of HP, and the biggy, no armor other than Elven Chain. Sure, he can cast Ghost Armor and Mirror Image but, if he's hit with a Dispel Magic, he's toast in SCS. I guess you could throw on armor before battle but, I don't want to be arsed with that.
I actually use a different portrait for Xzar, but I get what you mean about his default trying to eat his own hand. I use the one from the PaintBG mod, which gives him the air of a far 'quieter' insanity in my mind.
Xzar's low hit points really don't bother me. He has better con than Shar-Teel (9 con, Xzar has 10), who used to be THE frontliner in vanilla. There's nothing she can wear that Xzar can't in his downtime (and if you don't need his arcane spells, you can keep him in heavy armor later - for example, if you use him as utility caster only, with Identify and Knock). Xzar works the same way - avoid to get hit with good dex, plus he can buff himself and ends up as a decent frontliner who does decent damage. 14 strength is pretty good for a mage, and there's always the gloves to bring it to 18/00. Except, for Xzar it isn't as crucial as for Viconia; he can wear shields and armor without the gloves.
Making him a cleric also makes him more of a necromancer - he gets undead summons much sooner than as mage, and the "turn undead" fits the theme, too. I usually give him Stupifier and Ashideena, a Large Shield +2 (or later the shield you get in BG for the Umberlee/dead boy quest), Robe of Evil Arch Magi, Ring of Sune, (second) Evermemory, at first Amulet of Spell Wielding (from Kryll), later the necklace for extra level 2 spell, strength gloves, Protection Cloak, and Kiel's Helm or Helm of the Noble.
I actually like his normal portrait because it's such a big contrast. He looks batshit insane, yet his voiceset - compared to the arrogant, grumpy casters (Edwin, Baeloth, Eldoth, Quayle) - is kinda positive and friendly. The others permanently insult you/your intellect, plot to overthrow you and want you to leave them alone - Xzar compliments you, vows to defend you with his life (his city line) and tries to entertain the party with stories. He is insane, sure, but he's also the most social and optimistic evil NPC.
That is a different complaint entirely. I may not like Minsc or Kivan but that doesn't mean there aren't any good aligned rangers in the game.
For Ranged on the evil side you have Viconia ( Sling+1 in Beregost, a Sling+2 in Durlags, and another Sling+2 somewhere else ), you have Dorn that can use Poison Weapon with a ranged weapon, Eldoth with Gauntlets of Dexterity, and fan favorite, Shar-Teel after a level or two.
You have options.
But yeah, rangers being restricted to good causes a bit of a lack for the "typical" ranged evil option, as there is no counterpart to that class. Shar-Teel and Viconia have good dex, so they work well enough - and their low con isn't such a problem. Monty is pretty good with slings, too. Evil doesn't lack a ranged NPC, just a bow-using archer.
Depending on when you get Shar-Teel, you could build her as such. Pick her up in the early game, then use the two remaining Prof. Points for a Longbow or Crossbow.
There are bracers that boost ranged weapon THACO. You can easily obtain them well before Eldoth. Additionally, EE has a second pair of Weapon skill bracers available.
Because of this, I tend to save the dex bracers for clerics.