Bringing Dorn, still want to make my own blackguard, weapon issues
Dragonspear
Member Posts: 1,838
As the topic says, I'm making an evil party for BGEE and BG2EE, and I'm going to bring Dorn along for the ride. The problem is, that I'd like to play a blackguard myself.
I realize that an assassin would fit my party better, but I'm very much a paladin at heart. Thus, playing a corrupted version of myself would be fun. The other issue here, is that I was going to run it at the same time as my own new paladin. That paladin is going to run Sword and Shield through ToB, (I've done DW paladin before and beaten the game. I felt like I cheated because of doing it. Just didn't fit flavor wise and I'd EEkeepered it). So I was going to make my own blackguard the opposite. 2h weapon, full damage, has a ranged weapon etc.
Then I remembered I wanted dorn, and realized that I would literally be fighting him for every piece of gear I wanted.
HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!
(For the record, the assassin's mirror will likely be the NG blade that I'm playing in theory).
PS: I do intend on running a blackguard eventually at least. I'm going to try to match @Blackraven and @bengoshi and turn into the forums Paladin Master/Expert. So these runs will likely be no-reload as well. I haven't decided on SCS yet =/
I realize that an assassin would fit my party better, but I'm very much a paladin at heart. Thus, playing a corrupted version of myself would be fun. The other issue here, is that I was going to run it at the same time as my own new paladin. That paladin is going to run Sword and Shield through ToB, (I've done DW paladin before and beaten the game. I felt like I cheated because of doing it. Just didn't fit flavor wise and I'd EEkeepered it). So I was going to make my own blackguard the opposite. 2h weapon, full damage, has a ranged weapon etc.
Then I remembered I wanted dorn, and realized that I would literally be fighting him for every piece of gear I wanted.
HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!
(For the record, the assassin's mirror will likely be the NG blade that I'm playing in theory).
PS: I do intend on running a blackguard eventually at least. I'm going to try to match @Blackraven and @bengoshi and turn into the forums Paladin Master/Expert. So these runs will likely be no-reload as well. I haven't decided on SCS yet =/
2
Comments
You say you want to go 2h weapon. What if your Blackguard looked more or less like this:
Would that solve your dilemma? Dorn could be a swords man (bastard swords, 2h swords) and your Blackguard a halberd-wielding grim reaper. He or she could also use bows for range attacking. Alternatively you could keep Dorn as a sword-and-board warrior and your Blackguard as a two-hander who also uses 2h swords. The slight problem with Dorn is that with 16 Dex and 14 CON, and no Paladin-style Protection from Evil Dorn isn't very resilient. A guy like Kagain (or in BG2, Korgan) with his crazy HPs, Dwarven saves and optimally benefiting the Dex gloves, fits that role much better. Despite his 19 STR, which suggests a melee role for him, I've had the best experiences with Dorn in BG1 using him as an archer with the Light Crossbow of Speed: poison weapon with 3 APR is very effective. Never used him in BG2; he might be a better tank there (with more HPs, and items like Shield of Harmony, Dragon armors etc).
Apart from the question of roles and weapons, I think there are more than enough suits of enchanted armor, helmets, necklaces etc. to properly outfit a party of four to six warriors, so having Dorn, Kagain/Korgan and your Blackguard in one party shouldn't lead to brawls over items.
If you want make your own blackguard with a 2h weapon, full damage, a ranged weapon etc., then you're free to do it. If you pick Dorn as soon as possible, you can still give him 2 pips in BG1. Or you can even change Dorn's proficiencies with the EE-Keeper so that your main character uses the weapons you want and Dorn uses different weapons.
P.S. Fixed the blackraven's post fo fix the page
GEAR:
Armor: There are plenty of full plate mails in the game, which is the best armor on BG1 coupled with ring or amulet of protections.
Helmets: There aren't alot of good helmets, but just use what you find and replace whenever you find helmet of defence, glory, balduran's and charm protection etc.
Belts: One can use vs crushing, the other vs slashing/piercing. Don't use vs piercing with boots on the same char, split them out so you get one each. There are alot of archers in BG and weilding a twohander it's good to have high AC vs missile/Piercing.
Gloves: There are two gloves of weapon skill you can use, but not really needed since you will both have high THAC0. Dorn can use dex gloves, but I guess someone else need them more. You can use the Gauntlets of Weapon Expertise when you find them.
Boots: ..of avoidance for Dorn (he prolly has less HP than your CHARNAME), boots of speed/grounding/north for you.
WEAPONS
Two handed swords: Dorn can use his own sword for a long time while you run and get spider's bane. Then you can use the +3 one (from Durlag's), and give spider's bane to Dorn late-game.
You can use sword and board and use Dorn with twohanded swords, or vice versa.
You can use army scythe with poison or give it to Dorn and use a bow yourself.
So, IMHO, there really isn't an issue with running two blackguards. It's really not that different than having ie Minsc + a Paladin Charname.
Edit: Poison stacks, so having two might be overkill. I've coupled an assassin with Dorn and that was pretty good. Not sure if aura of despair stacks though? Anyone knows? Would be pretty good if it did.
Have fun!
//Skat.
I think my PC will run S&S with Korgan, and have dorn right behind us. It'll also allow me to have Kagain DW in BG2.
And that means my cavalier will likely use 2h weapons (poor Keldorn might have to stay with his family)
I definitely plan on using FoA with my blackguard. And blackrazor once I get it. Those I think will be my main 2 weapons in BG2/ToB
I think you're sorta on the right track there. Honestly with just flails and longswords, even the blackguard should be set for the entire saga. The cavalier is going to be a bit more interesting. Looks like I'll either be running my own inquisitor or an undead hunter for actual 2h weapons later on
Mainhand: Blackrazor (super evil longsword. +3, so it can hit most things. But more importantly, +1 HP every 5 seconds, Immune to charm and fear, 15% chance to drain 4 levels from enemy and heal, haste, and raise strength of weilder by 3)
Offhand: Belm (+2, which isn't that good, but...+1 APR!)
Add in the gauntlets of extraordinary specialization for the extra 1/2 attacks per round...and you will rip anything apart. The poison has no saving throw, so spellcasters will quickly die. Heck, anything will lose a big chunk of their HP from the poison alone. But on top of that, you will consistently be draining their levels, healing yourself, increasing your strength and regenerating health on top of that.
S22 naturally (tome from BG1, Hell trials, lum the mad), which turns into Str25 with the sword. With that, Dorn will cry in envy of Charname's abilities.
Train your guy in halberds and THW. In TOB Let Dorn have Agur-what's-it+5, while you grab Ravager. Upgrade it to it's ridiculously OP +6 form (note: you need the serpent staff from WK to do this). With Ravager and GWW you can kill anything in 1 round.
You get the +4 version of Ravager from the dead body of an elemental prince of fire. Note that if you have Wave (also a Halberd!) you can kill him in one shot.
But I'd agree that it is utterly pointless from SoA-onwards.
On the other hand, Blackguards are limited to specialisation only... so unless you want to invest in dual-wielding (powerful, but often down to taste Rp-wise), you'll be rolling in proficiencies before long.
That said, other games I play (coughdragonagecough) only give warrior types the options of 2h or S&S. And more to the point, I like the flavor of it. Sure, I'll be missing extra attacks (or offhand weapon abilities), but I can still take whirlwind to make up for it.
So ya, going S&S is just for flavor.
Arrows of Detonation + poison weapon in BGEE is ridiculous fun, but you might want to designate Dorn for that, since he'll get to reset proficiencies when you jump to SoA, where Arrows of Detonation are harder to come by.
I'll second people saying to avoid SnS style. It may feel like you have more proficiency points than you could ever need, and maybe you do, but your slower level-up rate means it can take longer than you expect to get the next two points you need for that weapon you want to use. After all, it'll take all your proficiency points under the BGEE level cap to do main weapon + blunt alternate + ranged option.
Plus, you have the opportunity to tailor your proficiencies to whatever works best in each game. You can start BGEE with Longswords and Darts, pick up Flails along then way, and then nab Dagger proficiency in BG2 for when enemies stop failing saves against the special darts and you get tired of having them clogging up your inventory. At that point, you won't specialize another weapon until you start getting HLAs.