Best Melee Solo
Baron_Bathory
Member Posts: 46
Hey all!
Seems like a great community, thanks for all the great posts and content.
So I've playing this game pretty much since launch, can't seem to get enough of it. Probably my favorite of all time. I've done all kinds of run throughs and all that jazz. I have a massive affinity for solo runs.
So I've done the Kensai/Mage and my favourite and most powerful thus far, straight Elven Sorcerer.
I'm getting the itch to replay again and I feel the need to do a melee solo. If I could I would like to stay away from the Kensai Mage as I've already done it. Anything else is good. I want my character to eventually be an unstoppable God once he gets his target equipment, much like the sorcerer. I won't be playing through BG1 so that's not an issue.
I'm reading alot of fun sounding ideas. Fighter/Rogue, Fighter/Cleric, Straight Paladin, etc. I've done an SoA solo with an undead hunter, but never went to ToB with him.
You guys got any ideas? Please include dual or multi and best in slot equipment. I pretty much know virtually every item and where it is so just a quick note would be nice.
Thanks all!
Seems like a great community, thanks for all the great posts and content.
So I've playing this game pretty much since launch, can't seem to get enough of it. Probably my favorite of all time. I've done all kinds of run throughs and all that jazz. I have a massive affinity for solo runs.
So I've done the Kensai/Mage and my favourite and most powerful thus far, straight Elven Sorcerer.
I'm getting the itch to replay again and I feel the need to do a melee solo. If I could I would like to stay away from the Kensai Mage as I've already done it. Anything else is good. I want my character to eventually be an unstoppable God once he gets his target equipment, much like the sorcerer. I won't be playing through BG1 so that's not an issue.
I'm reading alot of fun sounding ideas. Fighter/Rogue, Fighter/Cleric, Straight Paladin, etc. I've done an SoA solo with an undead hunter, but never went to ToB with him.
You guys got any ideas? Please include dual or multi and best in slot equipment. I pretty much know virtually every item and where it is so just a quick note would be nice.
Thanks all!
5
Comments
BG2 Complete (SoA & ToB)
Official ToB Fixpack
Gibberlings 3 Fixpack
I don't typically use anything else.
Thanks again for all the replies
If you're feeling crazy, a higher level Kensai to Thief is a real powerhouse by abusing UAI, and a very high level Assassin to Cleric (get UAI before dualing...) Is very solid in melee due to self-buffs and UAI. If you have Rogue Rebalancing, your Assaasin can put 3 points into TWF, which makes this even more reliable. DW speed weapons most of the time, even if they are normal off-limits for a cleric. Using scrolls can allow you to drop some comically high damage backstabs.
All else fails, a multiclass gnome illusionist is also ridiculously good, and straight forward.
I'd dual wield Flails (Flail of Ages with the already mentioned Defender of Easthaven), keep a Sling at the ready for cases where ranged is prefereable, and come SoA you could place a pip or two in Maces.
Barbarian gets nice physical resistances as well, a bit like the Dwarven Defender, but I think Berserker might be an even better melee solo'er thanks to their more encompassing rage. It pretty much makes you immune to magic (except magic damage and a few other spells).
You'd probably want to use the same weapons and maybe Axes, Scimitars and/or Short Swords for extra attacks in BG2. A Bow could be useful in BG1, even if you want to melee as much as possible.
Finally there's the Fighter/Thief. They're slightly less hardy than the other classes but with the best gear, they'll do fine in melee combat. Besided in mid-SoA, UAI will allow them to cast protective spells from mage scrolls. You'd probably melee a bit less with a F/T though, just because backstabs are so rewarding, and traps as well.
In all cases I'd recommend you to pick a Dwarf. They're the superior race thanks to their high CON saving throws bonuses at virtually no disadvantage. (Halflings have the same saves bonuses but can only start with 17 STR, which is more a drawback for a melee character than the Dwarf's 17 DEX.)
FMT is more subtle, but is a great backstabber and can deal with traps etc reliably. Less juggernaut, more cinematic.
Could you guys give me a quick crash course on 'I win' spells along the lines of Time Stop + Shape Change: Mind flayer, or project image + 50,000 skeleton warriors/panetars? I know clerics aren't quite as cheesey, I just wanna have some red buttons in case I run into a tough fight.
There is a lot of great ideas here for builds. I can't decide between Barb, fighter kit, rogue kit, or FMC. Argh! Anyone have experience with all of the above to tell me whats the craziest?
One last thing. Best in slot gear. You guys were mentioning dual wielding FoA and Defender of East haven. I'm not familiar with the second, looked it up and found you can only have it with pre order edition? Is there any other way to get it or is this a job for shadowkeeper? Regardless is Crom Faer not better than both of them? I thought it second only to carsomyr.
For armor I'm assuming Red Dragon Armor, amulet of power, bracers of AC3, belt of intertial barrier, ring of gaxx, ring of free action. Im not sure what to do for helm and cloak as I'm pretty used to arcane casters.
Again thanks a whole bunch for all the help. You guys are gold.
FMC is the most powerful of the melee stuff you listed, due to magery being unbalancedly good later.
EE versions include all the pre-order extra stuff by default.
BTW, armor and bracers of armor do not stack.
F/M/C will give you more options in this respect with nice Spell Triggers and Contingencies. You'd have not only a true melee powerhouse, as @DreadKhan correctly pointed out, but also lots of arcane options (even without Mage HLAs).
The BG2Tweaks mod allows you to import Joluv and Deidre, two merchants that sell bonus items (including the Defender of Easthaven) into the game.
If you're going to kit your character using Shadowkeeper, Swashbuckler/Cleric could be a very nice multi, basically a Fighter/Thief/Cleric that only needs to split XP between two classes. And with UAI, which since you're going solo could become available in Chapter 2, you can also cast arcane spells from scrolls and use wands to come close to being a Fighter/Cleric/Thief/Mage. Besides you'd get to use the Robe of Vecna (another bonus item from the same mod) for faster divine casting, (bladed) speed weapons, and the Swashbuckler's Whirlwind Attack HLAs. I've only finished BG1 with one once, but it's in BG2 and SoA that a Swashbuckler/Cleric should really shine. I'd still go with Dwarf for the great saves they get.
OMFG the bracer info blew my mind. I've always been wondering why certain characters benefited from AC bracers and others didn't! Thanks for the tip, maybe I'll take the dex bracers instead to save some ability points.
Oh I'm well aware of the Robe of Vecna being as it is arguably the best armor in the game let alone best mage armor. For some reason, most versions of the original game (im using GOG) include Deidre, but not Jorun.
You guys are awesome thanks again for all!
Mages are strong late, but a well run Cleric is far better early on. Thief traps and poison weapon are very strong too, but they are harder to get the most out of.
Jk. Don't ever do that.
In truth, losing 1/2 apr is gonna be crummy, but less of an issue as you'll likely use GWW over Critical Strike, assuming you can't readily cast Improved Haste. If you CAN cast Improved Haste, thr extra 1/2 apr is indisputably better mechanically.
Things get complicated for the Berserker to Cleric dual, but since you can never use speed weapons, can't use warrior HLAs, and can't cast Improved Haste, you will need apr however you can get them, so 13th is probably a good call here too. Extra use of Berserk is extremely handy too, as it can't be dispelled.
I ended up going with the Dwarven Fighter/Cleric Multi. Mages are insane but I've played it so much I kinda want a break from arcane. I have yet to experience the power of Divine Magic and from what I hear it hits like a truck.
In character creation I ended up maxing out strength, Con, and wisdom. I put dex at 16 and figured I can grab gauntlets for the rest and ring for 18 charisma. I put 2 points in flail, dual wielding, and warhammer.
The little guy was dishing out some great damage, but taking alot as well. I dont know how I'm gonna do Ilyich and friends, I also really wanna try taking out the vamp near the end of the dungeon. Should I be making him a bit differently? I read earlier that armor of faith is a great spell to take into battle. Anything else I should be buffing with?
Thanks again guys!
Clerics get access to some fun aggressive spells early, though they are less potent in BG2 than they were in BG1. Command is very overpowered in BG1, but in BG2 it is still useful... it casts so fast it has little impact on your fighting for that round, and if they fail the save (wouldn't bet on it, but they will eventually) you get auto-hits. Hold Person is very effective, especially if you are using a wall of Skeletons to impede enemies. Silence forces a save at a penalfy, meaning you have a reasonable chance to silence some casters.
Look for spells that boost damage or attack bonus, either by buffing strength or just a +1 or +2. Aide is excellent to have on for hard fights, RM helps, Chant, Bless, etc. Protection From Evil is handy too, and Strength of One iirc will buff the str of your skeletons, making 4 or 5 much more dangerous. If you buff up your skeletons and yourself before the fight, should go well.
I'm not sure if things have changed in EE, but back in the day I used to keep hold of a wand of resurrection on my solo runs, when used on a living character it would still fully recover all HP!
Add in greater whirlwind for a ton of attacks, and you'll have a really strong character.
Or go Cavalier. You get some cleric spells, immune to fear, bonuses vs dragons and demons, some elemental resists, and for ranged use a throwing axe.
Plus the image of a lone knight walking alone into a dragon's lair is great.
@Baron_Bathory If you're looking for an additional challenge, either soon or in the near future, I would definitely highly recommend some difficulty mods. The vanilla game is very easy to stomp into the ground, which can become boring quickly. Mods like SCS will keep it fresh and you on your toes. I couldn't imagine playing without them, and you strike me as someone who may find enjoyment there, too.