Classes

ChromeXu

Hello,

I've only purchased Baldurs Gate: Enhanced Edition off the 75% Steam sale, looking to have a game to play this summer. I will be playing alongside one friend, who is looking to be an archer. What is the best class for me to choose to be most effective?

Thank you,
ChromeXu

BJMJD

Take any classe you want, you will find enough NPC to fill the lack. But if it is the first time you play, I would recommend you to play any fighter (except Kensai and wizard slayer), any ranger or paladin, and I don't recommended you to play a mage (it is very difficult kind of character).

Any way, take something you make fun with and enjoy it .

Neonfisk

I'd suggest a Cavalier (Paladin kit). Gives you immunity to fear and the ability to remove fear from others while being a good front-liner.

Very effective and hard to do wrong.

ZanathKariashi

Kensai can be quite fun, but it's very challenging for a beginner due to a lack of armor, especially since HP totals are so low till mid-late game.

Thieves or fighter/thieves are also pretty nice, though a bit more advanced as well. Stealth in, backstab a vulnerable target like a mage, and then have your friend throw out some suppressive fire as you fade to re-hide and return.


A F/C mutli-class is a pretty solid character. Easy to learn, synergizes well, and focuses on the melee aspect or disabling spells, leaving your friend to handle ranged. As well as given you a primer to the magic system without being as reliant on it, as a F/M or mage is.


Though you can play whatever....there's NPCs of pretty much any class, barring kits, and can easily be used to learn the other systems.

bbear

You cant go wrong with a fighter. Try Berserker kit for the special ability and temporary immunity to all those nasty effects.

FinneousPJ

Paired with an archer the suggestion for cavalier sounds very good.

zur312

he will be archer probably ranger-archer or fighter with max bows so you can get
really easy characters
fighter/cleric dwarf
ranger/cleric
fighter/thief dwarf - finding traps is the most usefull but 100% no more
cavalier
paladin
barbarian
berserker
fighter

so you will be fighting in close combat

elminster

Dwarven defender. Great health, damage resistance,and a great beard are all benefits

Quartz

Fighter/Thief or Fighter/Cleric. They are solid warriors with enough other abilities to experiment with and keep you very interested throughout the game.

Khyron

Like others here have already said, Cavalier is a very safe bet.
Much more fun than your standard fighter, and is a hell of a lot better suited for BG1 than any other melee class, due to some very nice passive abilities.

My 2nd choice would be Fighter (Berserker kit) and Paladin (Undead Hunter)

JuliusBorisov

Quartz said:

Fighter/Thief or Fighter/Cleric. They are solid warriors with enough other abilities to experiment with and keep you very interested throughout the game.

Couldn't agree more;-)

My last character is a multi fighter/thief and he's great. With him you don't need any additional thief (you may take another if you want to roleplay it, though) - the number of thieving points is very big (especially considering you get bonuses from races as it's a multiclass). And this game can seem hard without thief (constant traps here and there with nasty effects). The combination with a fighter gives this character a solid THACO so that he can hit more often than not - something that can be problematic with a singleclass thief. For those fights when thieving skills are not needed he can put on the heaviest plate and enjoy additional attacks per round.

Taking into account ChromeXu's friend is looking to be an archer, a fighter/thief will provide the very useful cover for any situations where you need a strong melee fighter, an invisible backstabber and a skillful trap disarmer and even a trap setter.

A Fighter/Cleric is also a very natural and strong character. With his cleric buffing spells he'll be next to an invincible fighter with exceptionally high STR, DEX and CON. You'll always have healing spells that can help you after and during fights.

Moreover, I tend to like multiclass characters more - they give you a possibility to manage two different classes and thus two different gameplays simultaneously - this can be a big part of keeping you interested.

I can also suggest a cleric/thief who can be nearly as much effective as a fighter/thief and have buffing and healing spells.

However, if you like magic, you may take a mage/cleric - an arcane/divine powerhouse, a fighter/mage or a blade - they can be very effective, versatile and fun.

FinneousPJ

Mage/cleric might be quite tough for a first time player.

zur312

i think fighter/cleric dwarf and fighter/thief dwarf/elf is the best in terms of power for new players
3rd will be fighter/druid

cleric and druid are part spellcasters with heavy armors and good melee

fighter/thief is heavy thief that will remove traps and could easy hide and backstab with long swords

SpaceInvader

Be a man, play a mage. Rule them all.

DreadKhan

Halfer fighter thief is pretty easy. Your thief skills will be boss, and your str isn't the most important thing in the world. You don't need another thief if you maxed dex.

If you want a second thief, you can instead use a half Orc fighter thief as a backstabber. Beast in melee! But not a shortie, thus softer as a tank.

franco

For a player just getting to know the game, the Fighter is the most naturally intuitive, and easiest to manage while getting all the rest of the mechanics right. The Cavalier (Paladin) is also very tempting as a solid fighter who comes with certain natural magic immunity. The game makes many NPCs available, so you can always get a pretty capable and balanced party. If you want to get practice managing thieves and spell casters, then turn the AI off sometime, and manage those NPCs yourself. I've always done that from the start because I want to feel I'm in control of the party's tactics during an encounter.