Help me choose...

Jagged

I know this is a common topic but I truly can not decide which class to play. I have started over at least 10 times and I could use some advice.

I like my protagonist to be powerful and require some micromanaging. I will run with a full party and I'd like a character that is strong from the keep to the throne. I generally prefer some sort I caster.

I have narrowed it down to these five classes. I'm looking to hear which you think would be the most fun.

Half-Orc - cleric/thief. This is one combo I have never chosen and it seems like it might be interesting. However it seems more like a utility class than a poweful leader.

Cavalier or undead hunter - my only experience with a paladin is keldorn. I think the priest spells in TOB would be good plus an awesome tank in bgee.


Elf Fighter/Thief - I like that I can be neutral or evil here and eventually swing carsomyr while wearing the human leather armor. Cast from wand and scrolls in TOB is also a big plus. Backstab seems like it might be a bit too powerful though in bgee though.

Elf Sorcerer - there's no doubt the sorcerer is a powerhouse but how fun are they in bgee? I also think I might want a bit more of a fighter.

Ranger/cleric. This class seems awesome but a bit of an exploit with all of those Druid spells. In its defense thorugh I know it won't compete with a mage in the long run.

I would also like to add my only full playthrough years ago was as a blade. So while I love that class I don't want to repeat it. Also, a fighter/mage just seems a bit generic.

Thank you very much if you made it this far. Any advice is truly appreciated!

Southpaw

@Jagged - that is a loaded question mate. And the worst you can ask on these forums. These arguments brought only sorrow and destructions throughout the whole history of mankind.
Have you seen the movie 300? No, the plot was not whole truth. In reality, the Spartans and the Persians got into a big argument, which is stronger- specialist mage or a sorceror? True story.

But I will try to answer it...

Cleric/Thief is quite fun, but it indeed is a supporting character. (mainly suffers from low THAC0) You won't be an avatar of destruction when being a C/T.
Cavalier is good. Try a Blackguard. I find him even stronger.
Fighter/Thief is my personal favorite here. A classic.
Sorceror is always cool, but needs another mage in group to cover the spells you don't have.
Ranger/Cleric is akin to the Cleric/Thief, but a bit better in combat. Still mainly supportive character, but not a bad tank.

Since you said, you like casting...I would humbly try to propose an order/priority of the classes you suggested based on how much fun it can get:
1) sorceror
2) cavalier/blackguard
3) Fighter/Thief
4) Cleric/Thief tied with Ranger/Cleric

...and don't feel bad for starting 10 runs and not being able to choose, which to pursue as main...we all do.
OMG, WE ALL DO!

Starlily

Jagged , Elf fighter/Thief is my personal favorite. Though I've never used backstab. High ST & Dex, composite bow and longsword. Lovely.

SCARY_WIZARD

If you want to deal obnoxious amounts of damage, you could take a Fighter/Thief and give them specialization in staves, so when you get the Staff of Striking (that staff is a good one), you backstab things so hard that they explode into what looks like joints. For added funsies, you can get a bard (hi Garrick) to shoplift invisibility potions for you so you don't need to put points into pick pockets! By the end of the game, your kidneys will be invisible! You'll be the Fighter/Thief with No Kidneys! Even though you do have kidneys, they just sucked up too much invisibility juice and are now permanently invisible.
Could be even more fun if you were to dual from Fighter into Thief, for some degree of Mastery in staves. I prefer darts, because it's fun to throw a large amount of them in a short period of time and ding stoneskins down. More fun with the elemental darts in BG: EE, and here's to hoping that those get put into the sequels.

Jagged

Lol thanks for the input Southpaw. You're suggestion for a sorcerer is truly appreciated. I like the idea of casting a couple webs then unleashing spider spawns.

Scary and Star, the fighter/thief does seem awesome. I'm all about cracking someones skull with a big stick. I'm concerned it will trivialize some of the fights in bgee though.

Of course I'm still undecided. I'm anxiously awaiting more opinions!

[Deleted User]

The user and all related content has been deleted.

SCARY_WIZARD

Samus said:

Assign numbers to your choices then roll a dice... Let the Fates decide your destiny...

http://decider.skizzers.org/
http://random.org/

Southpaw

@Jagged - a random pick is also a quite good idea. To try to make ends meet with a class you have never played with (or is regarded as a not-OP class) can be interesting and rewarding.
Or try to "not powergame". I as well played with powergame-y characters at first, but then started to make them more real and had a better time. (eg - no "all-18" stats etc. not underpowered, yet still better than normal people, just not ungodly OP)

A little variety to your choices - I hear Wild Mage PC can get very funny with all the wild surges and stuff.

As I said, "restartititis" is quite a common disease among the BG fans. What I do to battle this pest is - I am running 2-3 games alongside and play with that class that I just feel like at the moment. It takes 3 times more time, but you will end up enjoying every minute. And in the end - the class you finished the game with first will be the one you liked the most.
Backup your old saves, wipe the save directory and start 3 new games with a sorceror, paladin kit and a F/T in the meanwhile. This approach helped me, when I've created 10 CHARNAMEs and could not decide which to play.

Jagged

Thanks South, I definitely like the idea of a character with 'realistic' stats. I'm nervous about the wild mage because I play minimum reload so losing all my gold or some other calamitous roll would be a problem for me.

Any love for/ advice about a cleric thief?

Southpaw

Agree, Wild Mage can get "unlucky" during minimum reloads/no reloads games.


As for Cleric/Thief - I am sorry, I don't have a real experience, this combination never appealed to me. (Thief and Cleric alone are awesome classes, but together they fit like ketchup to a coffee. To me.)

But think-tank theorycrafting and things I've seen others mention ...
- a Thief/Cleric should go for Staves + two handed weapons proficiency to get the most of back-stabbing.
- DUHM (Draw Upon Holy Might) gives you a big push and is advised to be used before backstabbing. Clerics do have easy access to DUHM. But so does any CHARNAME, when you have higher reputation (10 or more) in 3rd and 4th chapter. (or 4th and 5th...not sure atm). A F/T can get 2xDUHM/day.
- Sanctuary can help your C/T get away after a backstab.
- Summoning skeletons is very useful in BG1&2. Not so much in ToB.

KidCarnival

I like clerics, I like thieves, but the combination doesn't interest me at all. It certainly can be good, but I don't see the appeal. Maybe it's the concept. I can't come up with a thief who is deeply religious, and I can't see a priest bothering with lockpicking while following a higher calling. Other class combinations make more sense to me.

As for Wild Mages destroying all your gold - you can "invest" in gems or valuable spells and carry those in the containers; and only sell if you need to make a purchase.

Tinter

For me, wild mages just get on my nerves. I'd think carefully about your playstyle. It sounds like you like the PC to have some extra abilities for you to manage, so I think paladin might not be for you; its a straightforward class. Cleric/Thief has fans, but most people don't find it to their tastes.

Fighter/Thief is fun if you like managing the hiding-running behind- stabbing people, but they do also have a bit less variety.

It sounds like you might be looking for a caster, really, in terms of how you've talked in the thread.

Obviously, Sorcerer does what sorcerer does- raw arcane power. Ranger/cleric is nice buff-and-bash class, you've got the spells but you also get the hitting, its strong all the way through.

In terms of suggestions, Cleric/Mage is a nice choice in that it gives you a lot of options- theres always something for the PC to be doing. If you are patient, F/C/M is a lot like a ranger cleric- a bit slower to get going (but still fine as can fight) but eventually becomes a really fantastic spellsword- you lose some top level spells, but those aren't the ones you need for buffing so it actually works fine.

Lemernis

I love Cleric/Thief! Hands down, one of the all-time funnest classes I've tried. That's my personal taste of course.

The mix of Thieving and Cleric spells is a rich combo.

Myself, I prefer going with a half-orc for this class for the 19 Str, backstabbing with a powerful stave such as Aule's Staff or the Staff of Striking.

It actually isn't too difficult to RP such a class in a way that feels credible, including good-aligned. I've come up with a number of character concepts for C/T that are all very satisfying (again, at least to my taste).

Jagged

Thank you all! I took South's advice and I started a sorcerer and a cleric/thief. I built him just as you suggested Lem. Ill give them both to about the bandit camp then ill make my final decision.

Koson

Since this topic already exists I'll jump in - was thinking to roll & role-play a CN dwarven fighter/thief which most likely will end up romancing Dorn (thus the alignment, can't see a dwarf otherwise interested in a half-orc ).
I'm looking for advice about weapon proficiencies, keeping SoA/ToB EE in mind for when the time comes - the cookie-cutter build is ofc dual-wielding long swords + (composite)longbow, but these seem somewhat off for a dwarf. I'm also not a great fan of backstabbing, powerful as it is, so most likely won't go for staves either. Any other weapon set-ups (melee and ranged) that would do reasonably well in both BGEE & the sequel, while also fitting the character concept?

SCARY_WIZARD

Tinter said:

For me, wild mages just get on my nerves. I'd think carefully about your playstyle. It sounds like you like the PC to have some extra abilities for you to manage, so I think paladin might not be for you; its a straightforward class. Cleric/Thief has fans, but most people don't find it to their tastes.

Fighter/Thief is fun if you like managing the hiding-running behind- stabbing people, but they do also have a bit less variety.

It sounds like you might be looking for a caster, really, in terms of how you've talked in the thread.

Obviously, Sorcerer does what sorcerer does- raw arcane power. Ranger/cleric is nice buff-and-bash class, you've got the spells but you also get the hitting, its strong all the way through.

In terms of suggestions, Cleric/Mage is a nice choice in that it gives you a lot of options- theres always something for the PC to be doing. If you are patient, F/C/M is a lot like a ranger cleric- a bit slower to get going (but still fine as can fight) but eventually becomes a really fantastic spellsword- you lose some top level spells, but those aren't the ones you need for buffing so it actually works fine.

Agreed. I love those two on the bottom for their spell sequencer and contingency funtimes.

PugPug

I restart so much that I preordered this game and haven't gotten to chapter 3.

Eudaemonium

In all fairness, it's possible to do like, at least 70% of the game and probably hit the level cap before you reach chapter 3.