I have so many questions about this bear! But mainly i was curious to any special abilites he recives at high levels, is he actually good at a high level???
Basically the problem with Wilson is that he has three really big weaknesses.
1) His AC is terrible and it doesn't improve after level 24 (without additional help from other party members expect it to be around -4 with his enrage active at level 40). 2) He can't use items other than healing potions, so he can't use anything other than HLA's or other characters spells to make up for this terrible AC. 3) His attacks don't do elemental or magical damage. So he lags behind other warrior characters when it comes to mage disruption.
Also he has no helmet so critical hits are going to be an issue (no using the Mask of King Strohm III on him either).
For a core difficulty runthrough he is fine, but I suspect that in an insane difficulty run he would take a pounding. Especially when he takes a critical hit.
But at the end of the day he is a warrior, so (like frankly any warrior) by end game he can dish out an absurd amount of damage either way. At level 31 (5750000xp) he would do an average of 249 damage/round with 10 APR (256 with a hug attack). By level 40 that is 269 average damage/round (276 with a hug attack).
His kit description is as follows
GRIZZLY BEAR: A fairly common omnivorous mammal, bears tend to avoid humans unless provoked. Exceptions to this rule can be most unfortunate occurrences.
Bears are, in general, large and powerful animals found throughout the world's temperate and cooler climates. Dense fur protects them from the elements and powerful claws protect them from other animals. Bears are the true rulers of the animal kingdom in areas where they are found.
Bears are fairly intelligent animals that can be trained to perform in a variety of ways, particularly if captured as cubs. Bears can thus often be found dancing in circuses or accompanying "mountain men" in the wilderness.
The brown bear, of which the infamous grizzly is the most well known variety, commonly has a very aggressive disposition. Grizzly bears will often bring down large game such as deer and elk.
Advantages: – Natural Weapons: A grizzly bear can attack enemies with its powerful paws and teeth. A bite attack inflicts 1d10 points of piercing damage and can be made only once per round. A paw attack inflicts 1d6 points of slashing damage and can be made two or more times per round. – Hug: Whenever the bear's paw attack hits the target, there is a 15% chance that the bear will hug its target, dealing additional 2d6 points of crushing damage. Incorporeal or especially large and massive creatures, such as shadows, mists, elementals, giants, golems, or dragons, are unaffected by this ability. – Natural AC: Starts off at 6, and then decreases by 2 every 6th level, to the minimum of -2 AC at the 24th level. – Natural Weapon Proficiency: A bear starts off proficient with natural weapons. – Regeneration: A bear can slowly regenerate sustained wounds at the rate of 1 HP per turn. – Perfect Two-Weapon Fighting: A bear fights equally well with both paws, suffering no THAC0 penalties for the off-paw. – Able Drinker: A trained bear can drink healing potions from a bottle. Bears do not enjoy the taste of other magical potions, however. – 1st level: A grizzly bear can enter an enraged state once per day, receiving a +2 bonus to THAC0, damage, and Armor Class as well as immunity to charm, fear, confusion, hold, stun, and sleep for 1 turn. For every 6 levels thereafter, a bear gains one extra use of this ability. – 7th level: Natural weapons become +1; specialization in natural weapons. – 8th level: +1 bonus to Strength; regeneration rate increases to 2 HP/turn. – 13th level: Natural weapons become +2; mastery in natural weapons; bear can make three and a half attacks per round. – 16th level: Additional +1 bonus to Strength; regeneration rate increases to 3 HP/turn. – 19th level: Natural weapons become +3; high mastery in natural weapons; bear can make four attacks per round. – 24th level: Additional +1 bonus to Strength; regeneration rate increases to 4 HP/turn. – 25th level: Natural weapons become +4; grandmastery in natural weapons; bear can make four and a half attacks per round. – 31st level: Natural weapons become +5; bear can make five attacks per round. – 32nd level: Additional +1 bonus to Strength; regeneration rate increases to 5 HP/turn. – 40th level: Additional +1 bonus to Strength; regeneration rate increases to 6 HP/turn.
Disadvantages: – Cannot use any equipment. – Cannot speak Common.
I was disappointed by this. I though he was going to get special grizzly HLA s.
Also, some of his item restrictions don't make any sense at all. I don't see ant reason he can't equip necklaces, cloaks, and ioun stones, or drink antidotes at least. The excuse for him only drinking healing potions is that beats "do not prefer the taste of other potions", which is pretty weak. Also, a custom suit of bear armor from cespenar wouldn't be out of order, would it? At least a helm, people. Come on.
You'll get by, however. I just finished a run with him today. He does take a lot of damage, and some enemies are resistant to him, but you do get by. He is some fun. I just wish he had more banters.
I was disappointed by this. I though he was going to get special grizzly HLA s.
Also, some of his item restrictions don't make any sense at all. I don't see ant reason he can't equip necklaces, cloaks, and ioun stones, or drink antidotes at least. The excuse for him only drinking healing potions is that beats "do not prefer the taste of other potions", which is pretty weak. Also, a custom suit of bear armor from cespenar wouldn't be out of order, would it? At least a helm, people. Come on.
Maybe if his name was Iorek?
This really wants a mod... Mini quest given by Cromwell, gives armour, helmet & gauntlets... Later upgradable by Cespenar.
Edit: Maybe delay it until after the underdark by requiring a specific type of ore found only in Small Teeth Pass?
Also, a custom suit of bear armor from cespenar wouldn't be out of order, would it? At least a helm, people. Come on.
At least doing some kind of magical or elemental damage with each attack would have gone a long way to making him a better character to use. Even just additional damage caused by some kind of wounding effect would have been good.
Comments
1) His AC is terrible and it doesn't improve after level 24 (without additional help from other party members expect it to be around -4 with his enrage active at level 40).
2) He can't use items other than healing potions, so he can't use anything other than HLA's or other characters spells to make up for this terrible AC.
3) His attacks don't do elemental or magical damage. So he lags behind other warrior characters when it comes to mage disruption.
Also he has no helmet so critical hits are going to be an issue (no using the Mask of King Strohm III on him either).
For a core difficulty runthrough he is fine, but I suspect that in an insane difficulty run he would take a pounding. Especially when he takes a critical hit.
But at the end of the day he is a warrior, so (like frankly any warrior) by end game he can dish out an absurd amount of damage either way. At level 31 (5750000xp) he would do an average of 249 damage/round with 10 APR (256 with a hug attack). By level 40 that is 269 average damage/round (276 with a hug attack).
His kit description is as follows
GRIZZLY BEAR: A fairly common omnivorous mammal, bears tend to avoid humans unless provoked. Exceptions to this rule can be most unfortunate occurrences.
Bears are, in general, large and powerful animals found throughout the world's temperate and cooler climates. Dense fur protects them from the elements and powerful claws protect them from other animals. Bears are the true rulers of the animal kingdom in areas where they are found.
Bears are fairly intelligent animals that can be trained to perform in a variety of ways, particularly if captured as cubs. Bears can thus often be found dancing in circuses or accompanying "mountain men" in the wilderness.
The brown bear, of which the infamous grizzly is the most well known variety, commonly has a very aggressive disposition. Grizzly bears will often bring down large game such as deer and elk.
Advantages:
– Natural Weapons: A grizzly bear can attack enemies with its powerful paws and teeth. A bite attack inflicts 1d10 points of piercing damage and can be made only once per round. A paw attack inflicts 1d6 points of slashing damage and can be made two or more times per round.
– Hug: Whenever the bear's paw attack hits the target, there is a 15% chance that the bear will hug its target, dealing additional 2d6 points of crushing damage. Incorporeal or especially large and massive creatures, such as shadows, mists, elementals, giants, golems, or dragons, are unaffected by this ability.
– Natural AC: Starts off at 6, and then decreases by 2 every 6th level, to the minimum of -2 AC at the 24th level.
– Natural Weapon Proficiency: A bear starts off proficient with natural weapons.
– Regeneration: A bear can slowly regenerate sustained wounds at the rate of 1 HP per turn.
– Perfect Two-Weapon Fighting: A bear fights equally well with both paws, suffering no THAC0 penalties for the off-paw.
– Able Drinker: A trained bear can drink healing potions from a bottle. Bears do not enjoy the taste of other magical potions, however.
– 1st level: A grizzly bear can enter an enraged state once per day, receiving a +2 bonus to THAC0, damage, and Armor Class as well as immunity to charm, fear, confusion, hold, stun, and sleep for 1 turn. For every 6 levels thereafter, a bear gains one extra use of this ability.
– 7th level: Natural weapons become +1; specialization in natural weapons.
– 8th level: +1 bonus to Strength; regeneration rate increases to 2 HP/turn.
– 13th level: Natural weapons become +2; mastery in natural weapons; bear can make three and a half attacks per round.
– 16th level: Additional +1 bonus to Strength; regeneration rate increases to 3 HP/turn.
– 19th level: Natural weapons become +3; high mastery in natural weapons; bear can make four attacks per round.
– 24th level: Additional +1 bonus to Strength; regeneration rate increases to 4 HP/turn.
– 25th level: Natural weapons become +4; grandmastery in natural weapons; bear can make four and a half attacks per round.
– 31st level: Natural weapons become +5; bear can make five attacks per round.
– 32nd level: Additional +1 bonus to Strength; regeneration rate increases to 5 HP/turn.
– 40th level: Additional +1 bonus to Strength; regeneration rate increases to 6 HP/turn.
Disadvantages:
– Cannot use any equipment.
– Cannot speak Common.
Also, some of his item restrictions don't make any sense at all. I don't see ant reason he can't equip necklaces, cloaks, and ioun stones, or drink antidotes at least. The excuse for him only drinking healing potions is that beats "do not prefer the taste of other potions", which is pretty weak.
Also, a custom suit of bear armor from cespenar wouldn't be out of order, would it? At least a helm, people. Come on.
This really wants a mod... Mini quest given by Cromwell, gives armour, helmet & gauntlets... Later upgradable by Cespenar.
Edit:
Maybe delay it until after the underdark by requiring a specific type of ore found only in Small Teeth Pass?
....... wait this isn't Bethesda? nevermind then.
Disclaimer: I actually like Bethesda Software.
They say Wilson is now available at $29.95 in smorkin’ and non-smorkin’ editions: