Bounty Hunter or Swashbuckler?

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Arizael

I would go with Swashbuckler. Since you played stalker a lot, no backstabbing would be actualy nice change. Swashie levels up with thiefspeed and is pretty skilled in meele.

FredB

Those two offers a big difference in gameplay. As a bounty hunter, you will be much more a support character trapping around which is awesome against the hardest fight in the game or to give you the edge after you scouted around an area and you know the enemy location. The smashbuckler is basically a fighter with thief's skills. He is one of the most powerful class past level 20 and keep getting better all the way through. He is an obvious choice for power playing, but not necessarily what you are looking for!

Corvino

I reckon playing a Swashbuckler is actually quite difficult early on due to lack of weapon proficiency points. Starting with a mere 2 means you're pretty bucker-dependent until at least level 4, and that's if you *didn't* specialise in your weapon of choice. Swashies do scale very well though - the continual -1 AC, THAC0 and damage every 5 levels really does add up. They end up with some of the best ACs, THAC0s and +damage modifiers in the game, and can exploit UAI to full advantage.

Bounty hunters do have the added advantage of unique traps that don't require traps skill to place. They're certainly an interesting class, and still get access to backstab to top it off.

TwoWayFinesse

I always think about Swashbucklers, but then say why not a Fighter/Thief Multi.
Bounty Hunters have plenty of skill points to set those traps!

CrevsDaak

I've played with a Swashbuckler and despite of the 1 APR it was a killer kit, the damage bonus goes up and up, I've reached lvl16 in BG:EE and dual classed to Mage.
I didn't care much about BG2 since it was so OP that it was somehow boring. Now I'll give her another try

Wolk

You like traps? Play bounty hunter!
You like backstabs? Don't play a swashbuckler!
You don't like either of those? Don't play thief!

Arizael

CrevsDaak said:

I've played with a Swashbuckler and despite of the 1 APR it was a killer kit, the damage bonus goes up and up, I've reached lvl16 in BG:EE and dual classed to Mage.
I didn't care much about BG2 since it was so OP that it was somehow boring. Now I'll give her another try

Try dualclass it into fighter. It ain't as powerful as a mage, but still Fighter Thac0, grandmastery combined with swashie bonuses creates a very potent dual wielder.

CrevsDaak

Arizael said:

CrevsDaak said:

I've played with a Swashbuckler and despite of the 1 APR it was a killer kit, the damage bonus goes up and up, I've reached lvl16 in BG:EE and dual classed to Mage.
I didn't care much about BG2 since it was so OP that it was somehow boring. Now I'll give her another try

Try dualclass it into fighter. It ain't as powerful as a mage, but still Fighter Thac0, grandmastery combined with swashie bonuses creates a very potent dual wielder.

I've tried that and I think it isn't worth it, after missasigning my Two Weapons style first point over SWS (this happened to be MANY times) I thought that, but I went for Mage anyway.
Oh, and I gave her back the points into TWS, so now she is ultra-op.

Skaffen

Bounty Hunter is great in the beginning but for me looses all appeal when he gets the disabling traps. Yes, they can be helpful in very tough fights against multiple enemies but let's face it, that's not so many. Using them is an exercuse in patience waiting for the enemy to re-appear... so after level 16 or sonething you're just another thief with less skill points.

Dualling before that on the other hand...

elminster

Corvino said:

Bounty hunters do have the added advantage of unique traps that don't require traps skill to place.

Both kits get the HLA trap's that don't require trap skills to place. The bounty hunter's special snares however do require them to have a sufficient Set Trap skill in order for them to be placed.

Arizael

CrevsDaak said:

Arizael said:

CrevsDaak said:

I've played with a Swashbuckler and despite of the 1 APR it was a killer kit, the damage bonus goes up and up, I've reached lvl16 in BG:EE and dual classed to Mage.
I didn't care much about BG2 since it was so OP that it was somehow boring. Now I'll give her another try

Try dualclass it into fighter. It ain't as powerful as a mage, but still Fighter Thac0, grandmastery combined with swashie bonuses creates a very potent dual wielder.

I've tried that and I think it isn't worth it, after missasigning my Two Weapons style first point over SWS (this happened to be MANY times) I thought that, but I went for Mage anyway.
Oh, and I gave her back the points into TWS, so now she is ultra-op.

Single weapon style becomes VERY powerful when combined with mage. Black bade of disaster+improved haste+strenght+tensers and go wheck the enemy with extra crit chance and AC.

Quartz

A year ago I would've said Bounty Hunter without question because of the way powergamers (ab)use the Swashbuckler. But really, the Swashbuckler can be quite fun to play. Both are awesome of course. I love thieves.

My advice to you on Swashbuckler, to maximize enjoyment:
> DON'T dual-class
> If you're starting off in BG:EE, do the usual melee + ranged that you would do with a thief to start off. I wouldn't even start dual-wielding until BGII:EE, but it works good by late BG:EE as well. Many people would argue this is "wasting a pip" to put a pip in a ranged weapon at the start of BG:EE. I say BS. If you use that pip for, what, ~ 6-9 levels, that pip is well spent.
> Pick whatever race you darn well please and do what you want!

golingarf

I'm more in the powergaming crowd, but I'd say that the above advice is pretty spot-on. Dual-classing out of thief is pretty tough and liable to take a painfully long time. I've never played a swashbuckler though and I don't really see the reason to pick it over a fighter/thief. Bounty hunter on the other hand looks more interesting to me - it actually adds some new abilities rather than the same old stuff you are used to with fighters and thieves.

fighter_mage_thief

Sorry, but I like to backstab.

abbadaba

I recently finished a full run through the series with a Swashie and really enjoyed it.

I feel having a rogue as the party leader makes so much sense - I always like to have a scout / trap finder on point. Also I personally associate rogues and especially swashies as having a higher charisma score which makes sense for a party leader. With UAI and a speedy weapon they can have unreal AC, THAC0 and damage.

They do start out fairly weak in BG1 though.

jackjack

Do what you want cause a pirate is free.

Schneidend

Backstab.

KidCarnival

Swashbuckler, because you would get something really different to a stalker. Not having the option to backstab makes the difference.

Corvino

From a roleplaying perspective you've got a very divergent path here. If you go with the stereotype (and why wouldn't you) then you need to take very different dialogue paths with these two.

Swashbucklers must take every smartass, glib, flippant or funny dialogue option, regardless of the outcome or seriousness of the situation. This is an inflexible rule. No matter how much trouble you will cause, you must mock and jest at any opportunity. All possible members of the opposite sex (or the same sex, if they're hot) must be hit on, no exceptions.

Bounty Hunters need to be badasses. You know who Boba Fett is? What would he say? It doesn't matter that you're a weak-as-a-kitten rogue, you must use your formidible intimidation skills to bend targets to your will. "Sarevok, are you going to come quietly or do I need to get nasty?". See how that one works out

After writing this I kind of want to play as a Swashy - I only fear that there aren't quite enough silly options to keep it good.

CrevsDaak

Arizael said:

CrevsDaak said:

Arizael said:

CrevsDaak said:

I've played with a Swashbuckler and despite of the 1 APR it was a killer kit, the damage bonus goes up and up, I've reached lvl16 in BG:EE and dual classed to Mage.
I didn't care much about BG2 since it was so OP that it was somehow boring. Now I'll give her another try

Try dualclass it into fighter. It ain't as powerful as a mage, but still Fighter Thac0, grandmastery combined with swashie bonuses creates a very potent dual wielder.

I've tried that and I think it isn't worth it, after missasigning my Two Weapons style first point over SWS (this happened to be MANY times) I thought that, but I went for Mage anyway.
Oh, and I gave her back the points into TWS, so now she is ultra-op.

Single weapon style becomes VERY powerful when combined with mage. Black bade of disaster+improved haste+strenght+tensers and go wheck the enemy with extra crit chance and AC.

Yeah, I know, but she already has -8 AC without SWS and I thought she was short in APR, besides that she'll also use the Staff of the Magi, so... She'll have even more bonuses with THWS and the Staff of the Magi.

JuliusBorisov

@thespace

I've been following your BG habits and can see you like to use backstabbing a lot, just as I do too. For this particular reason I haven't tried a swashie yet. Instead, I find a bounty hunter to be an interesting and somewhat different character to play as - just try to use traps when you can, try to approach the fights you already know with his traps and you'll get a fun and new experience, I guarantee that. You'll get used to traps and it will make your all-game habits and tricks more valuable.

So, playing as a bounty hunter you'll manage to save everything you like about your previous character and in the same time to acquire unique experience of traps that can one-shot even Elminster himself.

abacus

bengoshi said:

@thespace

I've been following your BG habits

I think *somebody* likes to play as a Stalker...

chickenhed

I love Bounty Hunters. Love them. Traps are super great and people still don't realize how powerful they are. Especially when you start facing backstab-immune enemies. Obviously swashies are more "powerful" when you dual class, but don't dual class. Classes are fun BECAUSE of their weaknesses. But I digress.

Oh and READ THIS http://www.gamefaqs.com/pc/470765-baldurs-gate-ii-throne-of-bhaal/faqs/27550 if you haven't yet. This should be required reading for anyone playing a thief, let alone a Bounty hunter.

Love Bounty Hunters.

CrevsDaak

Lol, 50/50 now...

Quartz

@chickenhed Thanks for the read, pretty good guide.

TBH though with the Bounty Hunter, I really wish I could keep the Slow effect. I like Slow. Maze isn't bad don't get me wrong, but in-between Slow and Maze is a couple of trap effects that basically blow.

Arizael

Pretty balanced poll. Wow.

Still i kidna don't like placing traps. Trapping in the battle seems weird and pre-trapping battles I should not know about is even worse.

Quartz

@Arizael I'd say scouting ahead justifies traps quite well.

Arizael

Quartz said:

@Arizael I'd say scouting ahead justifies traps quite well.

If you lure enemy to them yeh. And don't put them over rest limit.

AnimusRex

I say go with Bounty Hunter. Their traps are ridiculously powerful, and a great way to start off a big fight by weakening your enemy first.

I would scout ahead while stealthed, then place as many traps as I could just out of their view range, then start the fight with a fireball in the middle of them. Then they all come running right into my traps, which almost always kills or at least Badly Injures/Near Deaths just about anything.