I've actually only got one guy dedicated to range in my BG1 playthrough right now, but I've also got 2 characters who tend to not do much in a regular fight. My guy (fighter), Branwen and Tiax are slapping things in melee range while Coran whittles away with arrows. Xan and Imoen kind of sit there and twiddle their thumbs because I'm too lazy to stock up on arrows at this point.
Most fights are Imoen flinging a web, my guy running in with free action and murdering everything. Everyone else is kind of along for the ride, really.
Only area I've struggled with is the Isle of Balduran.
As I said, it'll definitely be good, but unless you engage in good choke points, your archer can still get attacked. Not to mention a few other areas. Granted its not often, but if for some reason something DOES get to them or they do get ranged attacked, well. It won't take long for you to be looking at the reload screen..
Also I made my FMT recently, knowing I wouldn't need to go to Nashkel anytime soon since its for soloing. I started the game with like 70 Stealth. And your archer still won't be able to detect, much less disarm traps.
Good? Yes. Will make the game slightly easier for that party? Yes.
I still don't think they're anywhere near the same spot as Skalds and Totemic Druids however.
Frankly I'd rather they fix the broken kits (Wizard Slayer and Beastmaster come to mind) before worrying about the nerf hammer. I do seem to remember them stating in the AMAA, that they were examining some of the kits on how they performed early.
Like @Kortok saying "Coran Swashbuckler, Montaron Assassin!" Dude seriously? They're multi-classed, that would be an awful thing to do! But other people would say it's an awesome idea, so yeah. Like I said, too much fighting over it amongst the community so I'm glad it's staying as it is.
Seriously dude! Honestly though I don't care one way or another; just what I would do if I were in control.
Like @Kortok saying "Coran Swashbuckler, Montaron Assassin!" Dude seriously? They're multi-classed, that would be an awful thing to do! But other people would say it's an awesome idea, so yeah. Like I said, too much fighting over it amongst the community so I'm glad it's staying as it is.
Seriously dude! Honestly though I don't care one way or another; just what I would do if I were in control.
I can't tell if you're mocking me, or if you're offended by the fact that I have an opinion, or something else entirely.
I love to mod my BG1, so here is what I do. First, there are slight changes to alignments and then kit them up as shown below. First note is for Edwin who gets his amulet to add 1 spell per level for all levels, but makes him just a regular mage. I make long bow 16 Str and composite long bow 18 Str as my second note. Final note is that you'll need to use Level 1 NPCs to move the 4 that can be moved for best results. I have extreme balance which is what I like or aka perfection:
"Restore the Balance" -hehe edit: I modified a bit - the idea is not to over-kit, but to create NPCs that you'll want to try in place of others and also group them so you can play evil, good, or neutral and not have a too-weak-of-link in each group. I put a ton of thought into this, so have at it!
Comments
Also, didn't see your recent thread when I mentioned the +2 throwing axe. Funny, eh? Like you, I have zero memory of that thing in the game!
Most fights are Imoen flinging a web, my guy running in with free action and murdering everything. Everyone else is kind of along for the ride, really.
Only area I've struggled with is the Isle of Balduran.
As I said, it'll definitely be good, but unless you engage in good choke points, your archer can still get attacked. Not to mention a few other areas. Granted its not often, but if for some reason something DOES get to them or they do get ranged attacked, well. It won't take long for you to be looking at the reload screen..
Also I made my FMT recently, knowing I wouldn't need to go to Nashkel anytime soon since its for soloing. I started the game with like 70 Stealth. And your archer still won't be able to detect, much less disarm traps.
Good? Yes. Will make the game slightly easier for that party? Yes.
I still don't think they're anywhere near the same spot as Skalds and Totemic Druids however.
Frankly I'd rather they fix the broken kits (Wizard Slayer and Beastmaster come to mind) before worrying about the nerf hammer. I do seem to remember them stating in the AMAA, that they were examining some of the kits on how they performed early.
NPC --Alignment--Class--Kit
Ajantis--LG--Paladin
Alora--CG--Thief
Branwen--CG--Cleric
Coran--CG--Fighter/Thief
Dynaheir--LG--Mage--Conjurer
Edwin--LE--Mage
Eldoth--NE--Bard--Jester
Faldorn--N--Druid--Avenger
Garrick--CG--Bard
Imoen--NG--Thief
Jaheira--N--Fighter/Druid
Kagain--LE--Fighter
Khalid--LN--Fighter
Kivan--NG--Ranger
Minsc--NG--Fighter
Montaron--NE--Fighter/Thief
Quayle--CN--Cleric/Illusionist
Safana--CN--Thief--Assassin
Shar-Teel--CE--Thief--Bounty Hunter
Skie--N--Swashbuckler
Tiax--CE--Cleric/Thief
Viconia--NE--Cleric
Xan--LN--Mage--Diviner
Xzar--CE--Mage--Necromancer
Yeslick--LN--Cleric
Then:
NPC--Str--Ext--Dex--Con--Int--Wis--Cha
Ajantis--17--0--13--18--12--13--18
Alora--8--0--19--15--14--8--10
Branwen--14--0--16--15--9--17--10
Coran--16--0--20--12--14--9--15
Dynaheir--11--0--13--16--17--15--10
Edwin--10--0--10--16--18--10--10
Eldoth--16--0--15--15--13--11--17
Faldorn--10--0--15--9--10--16--15
Garrick--14--0--16--15--13--14--15
Imoen--9--0--18--16--17--11--16
Jaheira--18--5--17--17--10--15--15
Kagain--18--58--12--20--15--11--8
Khalid--16--0--17--17--15--10--9
Kivan--18--12--18--14--10--14--8
Minsc--18--93--16--16--8--6--9
Montaron--16--0--18--16--12--13--9
Quayle--10--0--15--15--17--15--6
Safana--14--0--17--15--16--9--17
Shar-Teel--18--0--17--15--14--7--11
Skie--12--0--18--16--15--8--13
Tiax--11--0--16--16--11--16--9
Viconia--12--0--19--8--16--18--14
Xan--13--0--16--7--17--16--14
Xzar--14--0--16--10--17--16--10
Yeslick--15--0--12--17--7--17--10
"Restore the Balance" -hehe
edit: I modified a bit - the idea is not to over-kit, but to create NPCs that you'll want to try in place of others and also group them so you can play evil, good, or neutral and not have a too-weak-of-link in each group. I put a ton of thought into this, so have at it!
BUT...assuming they were working correctly...
Faldorn would be an Avenger.
Ajantis would be a cavalier.
Kivan would be a stalker.
Minsc would be a Barbarian, rather then ranger.
That's about it.....everyone else is either fine as is, or the kit they'd be best suited for isn't implemented.
Eldoth would be Charlatan.
Garret is a Jongleur.
Alora MIGHT be an Adventurer (it's a very close, but not perfect fit).
Safana is a Swindler.
Viconia would be an excellent Nightbringer of Shar.