Which class should I choose for a BGEE playthrough to import into BG2EE?

Elendar

Noticing that BG2:EE has a release date of November 15th, which is only 20 days from now, I realized that unless I want to start a character from scratch at the beginning of SoA that I'd better make sure to have one ready to go from the end of the first game. I chose to go the route of playing through BG:EE once again because its a lot more fun to start a character at level 1 and progress it all the way to the godly levels you reach in ToB.

The only classes that I've completed SoA and ToB with are a plain fighter and a generalist mage (noobish, I know!). I've otherwise played around with a variety of other classes that I just never saw through to the very end and have even done a solo sorcerer up until entering the Underdark.

This first playthrough of BG2, however, I plan on going through with a group of NPCS (because solo gets kind of boring :P ) Also specify whether or not you would use a kit or not!

Elendar

Can't see if anyone voted without voting myself.. :P

O_Bruce

The one you enjoy playing the most. And using generalit mages isn't noobish.

shawne

Given that Fighters and other melee types are largely reliant on weapons and you start BG2 with an empty inventory, I'd suggest a mage or sorcerer - you'll have an easier time starting out (especially since your starting NPCs are melee-oriented anyway).

Wilbur

Thief/Mage (multi) is a really fun class.

doomdoomdoom

Choose whatever seems fun to you. If you don't know which is fun, pick randomly.

Alternatively, decide which BG2 NPCs are going to be in your party, and pick a build which would make the most sense to add to that particular group.

Elendar

At the moment I'm actually leaning towards playing as a Gnome Cleric/Illusionist, which seems like it would make for a very interesting and versatile character. :P

etagloc

something with a Thief. The only class you really "need", but a pure Thief is kinda boring.
If you got this covered you can pick up any NPC you find interesting.

LordRumfish

Wilbur said:

Thief/Mage (multi) is a really fun class.

That's a good suggestion, but I humbly posit the jester kit. You get all the identify and pickpocket goodness, a neat offensive song (which I used only rarely but I anticipate more use from it in BG2), you get a high caster level quickly mixed with a not inconsiderable amount of spells (and your dispels will remain more potent than a mage's for the whole story), and if you feel like being as ridiculous as me, you can specialize in big weapons. For BG:EE, I took Longbow* (Deadshot +2), Halberd* (Chesley Crusher), Two-Handed Sword* (Spider Bane +2 and/or The World's Edge +3), and Two-Handed Style*. By the end of BG:EE I felt like a badass in this awesome-looking chainmail +3, and I could take it off if I wanted to enter a spellcasting throwdown with enemy mages. By level 10 my pickpocket was at 100.

If that doesn't suit you... how about swashbuckler?

wampa

Elendar said:

At the moment I'm actually leaning towards playing as a Gnome Cleric/Illusionist, which seems like it would make for a very interesting and versatile character. :P

Gnome C/I can be an interesting and ridiculously powerful character, especially if you import from BG1 so you can get those 3 WIS tomes. The combination of Arcane and Divine spells gives you unparalleled protection; using Cleric spells with Mage Spell Sequencers and Contingencies unleashes all sorts of fun possibilities, including things like Polymorph/Shapeshift melee strategies. A holy trinity'd (champion's strength/holy power/draw upon holy might) Mind Flayer is truly a lolpwn thing to see. Less-considered spells like the lowly Polymorph Self (lvl 4 mage spell) start looking pretty incredible too, as Spider form's poison ability and 4APR combine very nicely with the holy trinity as well - plus you can do things like give your character free action and stick a doom/web combination in a minor sequencer so all your attacks auto-hit... you get the idea.

Wolk

Become a palladin, specialise in two handed swords, take minsc and Butt kicking for goodness!

Or do what you like, it's even more fun

Corvino

I keep meaning to run a Gnome Cleric/Illusionist after an abortive multiplayer run with a friend of mine who was new to the game. You get so many spells, and can spam great disabling spells like Command, Sleep and Glitterdust that turn tough foes into soft targets for your tanks.

Gnome C/I + Ring of Wizardry + Ring of Holiness + Wisdom tomes. So. Many. Spells.

Xar105

kensai+Mage or fighter+thief (assasin)

wampa

Corvino said:

I keep meaning to run a Gnome Cleric/Illusionist after an abortive multiplayer run with a friend of mine who was new to the game. You get so many spells, and can spam great disabling spells like Command, Sleep and Glitterdust that turn tough foes into soft targets for your tanks.

Gnome C/I + Ring of Wizardry + Ring of Holiness + Wisdom tomes. So. Many. Spells.

Pretty much, yeah. Loading up on disablers in BG:EE when enemies don't have great saving throws is definitely a winning strategy, especially in conjunction with lots of ranged weaponry. My personal favorites spell-wise are Sleep, Blind, Hold Person (cleric level 2), and Web. With Hold Person and Web, it's worth remembering that attacks on held enemies automatically hit, so abusing this in combination with high APR or weapons with poison/elemental damage bonuses can be particularly nasty.

Not a huge fan of Command (short duration), Glitterdust is nice but I tend to fill its slots with Web - Web is a stronger negative effect, lasts for longer, and has a saving throw penalty. That said if you're heavily melee-based it's definitely the safer option.

Corvino

Yeah @wampa, I generally stick with Glitterdust due to running with pretty melee-heavy groups. One of the best things about Command is that 5HD and below enemies get no save. At all. And that is a surprising amount of enemies in BG1. I'm pretty sure you auto-hit sleeping foes as well, so while it's brief it does guarantee a full round of hits against them.

Southpaw

I've always found multi-or-dual classed Thieves the most fun.

meagloth

Sorcerers are the best.
And lots of fun if you don't know the high level spells:-)

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Night_Watch

there's a multi class mage/sorcerer?!

I'd say go F/M/T. it's a lot fun (so much variety) and the low leveling up makes the game more challenging.

nano

You have fighter and mage. All you're missing is cleric and thief. So I recommend... cleric/thief!

Alternatively, you can just focus on the cleric part and make the most kickass divine caster you can. Ranger/Cleric or Stalker>Cleric (I really like this one) are good choices.

ChildofBhaal599

Anything with thief

jhneoh

Swashbuckler dualed at 11 to Cleric. Solves all your thieving/healing/tanking needs, thus you can choose any NPC that you want.

elminster

Night_Watch said:

there's a multi class mage/sorcerer?!

I'd say go F/M/T. it's a lot fun (so much variety) and the low leveling up makes the game more challenging.

Clearly the mage/sorcerer listed here is just due to a limit of 10 options being allowed in polls

rexreg

go w/ what makes you happiest
i like Cleric/Mages...a spell for every situation

zerckan

Seeing the change of your Mage over time is priceless.
From ''I cast my magic missile for today. See you tomorrow and plz don't let them hit me ''
To "You will suffer you will all suffer! Understand this as you die ever pathetic ever fools''

pigfly83

In my opinion , Assasin 13 / Mage is a good class .

Eudaemonium

pigfly83 said:

In my opinion , Assasin 13 / Mage is a good class .

Melf's Minute Poisoned Meteors

Kaltzor

All of the classes?

Lore

pigfly83 said:

In my opinion , Assasin 13 / Mage is a good class .

Why is that ? would a theif/mage not be better ? seems you have to wait a lot time when you dual at level 13 to get your assassin skills back.

forktheworld

The first time I played BG2 was as a monk, and I had an absolute ball with it. With the addition of the class to BG1, you would be in for a pretty significant challenge in the first game, but they become pretty darn powerful by BG2. This way, you end up with a good amount of challenge and also the fun of being an extremely powerful character with little gear needed by midway through SoA. Additionally, you can probably create a better monk than the only monk NPC option.

Aron740

Try a dwarven defender, you will have a fun time looking for items and it's great fun to charge head first into battles