New char. Would like input :)

Khyron

So! I am on the verge of going for another playthrough and completing most of BG1 before SoD gets released, then I will continue into BG2 and ToB.

But I am having trouble deciding which char to use, fearing my choice will be a boring one.
(I am not going to solo, i enjoy having 2-3 companions along for the banter and wider tactical choice)

Human Kensai (9 or 12) -> Thief.
Would be going for Carsomyr and Purifier - Or dual longswords.

Human Berserker (7,9 or 13) -> Cleric.
Would be going for Crom and FaO + shield. (I like shields, i know they're a poor choice)

(Half?) Elf F/M or F/M/T.
The FMT would allow Carsomyr and some equipment, but with Imoen along I don't need a thief.
I suppose backstabs would be nice, but not too important.
I have played a FMT builds in the past and while they have a wide range of approaches, I often find them a little lacking in terms of buffed melee specialists due to ridiculous amounts of incomming dispells/spell thrust etc.

Human Cava, Carsomyr.
I like the paladins, but their woefully crap spellcasting means they're really just crap substitute Berserker/Wizard Slayer -> Thief.. right?

Half-Elf Fighter/Druid or Human Berserker->Druid, Scimitars.

Blade I have done in the past, but it's far too reliant on buffs and becomes a chore to manage.


If Druids and Clerics could use regular swords, no doubt i'd use a F/C or F/D.
I just really don't like blunt weapons..
Not too much of a fan of treehugging hippies either though.. I just wish werewolf form didn't suck so much

Of all of these, which do you reckon would be the craziest melee powerhouse?
Buffing is fine, but needing buffs all the time just to measure up to others is a big no.
Nor is it fine to rely so heavily on buffs that if struck by a series of dispells i go all Magikarp and use "splash".

Also it doesn't have to be the ultimate munchkin char.. just damn powerfull on it's own, and FUN.
I am afraid my lack of imagination is stopping me from seeing how to use these types of chars, finding balance between buffing chores and just auto attack script.

Philhelm

If Druids and Clerics could use regular swords, no doubt i'd use a F/C or F/D.
I just really don't like blunt weapons..

Darn, I was going to suggest the Berserker/Cleric.

On the other hand, I'm not all that conceptually fond of the Berserker/Cleric as opposed to a Fighter/Cleric (unless the Cleric's deity is Tempus, or something similar). I would be interested in seeing a Wizard Slayer/Cleric, and wonder if the commonly used Cleric buffs could mostly overcome the Wizard Slayer's restrictions.

PK2748

Wizard Slayer/Thief seems more fun but as a ranged character with traps. Sadly dual class and humans both bore me

Khyron

Still not sure what char i want to play..
I'm just so afraid of being too buff reliant, or the exact opposite just auto attack.

Is F/C or F/M truly the only middle ways to go?

I need some inspiration it seems

Philhelm

If you don't want to rely too much on magic/buffs, but don't want to merely auto attack, then I think that a Fighter/Thief multi or perhaps a Kensai 7/Thief dual would do the trick. The physical attacks are point-and-click, but you would also be able to use stealth in order to backstab. In addition, you would be able to scout, pick locks, remove traps, set traps, and pick pockets, so your character would have much more to do within the game than auto attack. On top of that, you could use wands to supplement your attacks and when you get UAI, anything goes.

Alternatively, you could go with a pure Swashbuckler, since I think they at least get the weaker version of Whirlwind Attack, unlike a Kensai/Thief.

That's the closest that I can think of for a balance between too much micromanagement vs. auto-attack. In fact, BG is the game that made me love Thieves, since they had much more to do than with the first character I created, which was a Fighter.

Khyron

Going with kensai 9 -> thief, I guess.
UAI will be the big cherry on top for armours and carsomyr.

Seems the best choice for utility/diversity while also avoiding buff management.

abacus

If you're planning to play SoD, I'd caution against any high level duals... You'll essentially be playing through the new content with a gimped character. I'll be playing either single class or multi (probably both!) to ensure I'm up with the curve for the new stuff.

Khyron

I might just stop lvling up and just gather up the xp

Elendar

heh... I've always kind of wanted to try a Kensai --> Mage but I find the idea of playing through the first BG:EE with a fighter that can't wear armor to be a bit too horrible to deal with. I'd personally just do a Fighter/Thief multi which can be fun throughout the entire saga.

Fighter/Illusionist is even more powerful though :P

Yamcha

I dont like the kensai/thief idea. The armor class of a thief is bad enough as it is, wearing no bracers and armor, helmets if giving up on a lot of useful slots.

Pure fighter thief, or a multiclass would be preferable.

DevardKrown

Yamcha said:

I dont like the kensai/thief idea. The armor class of a thief is bad enough as it is, wearing no bracers and armor, helmets if giving up on a lot of useful slots.

Pure fighter thief, or a multiclass would be preferable.

the idea behind a Kensai>Thief is to use the Shield Amulet , Negating the No kensai Armor Entirely (RK4/RK2 against missile) and being actually better as what a thief could wear.

and Once you hit that sweet 3 Million XP you grab use any item and just slap all armor, helmets, bracers and shields you fancy on..


as for the Topic if you want a Melee Powerhouse right of the bat go with a Half Orc Fighter/Thief Multiclass , that 19 Strength wrecks shit up, with 19 Constitution and the 1000 gold of the Star Sapphire in Candlekeep you can directly buy Bucklys Buckler in the Friendly Arm and get free Health during Map Travel and Resting (and later with the book you can dual wield or something)

Since you want to use another thief you can fully focus on Sneak and Walk Silent , Pick Long swords or Katanas and just open every fight with a Murder Back Stab watching your first enemy Possible explode

Ardul

@Philhelm both druid/Fighters and cleric/Fighters cab use swords if you install item revisions by @Demivrgvs. It also changes most items, balances a lot of them and make all more interesting. There is also Spell Revisions that does the same for spells.

I can heartily recommend both. They are absolutely essential for me.

Khyron

I eventually went for a EEKeeper munchkin.. Kensai/mage/thief multiclass.

Will be using carsomyr, magic protections and sneaky stuff.. and some weapon for backstabs.

Won't need the buffs, but got them for extra oomph and has all the utility i could want.

I've completed the games so many times playing within the rules, i no longer care if i break them a little hehe

kansasbarbarian

Go Dwarven defender or Half orc barbarian or berserker you wont need buffs or magic.

mashedtaters

I find that my favorite Charnames are ones that I can't relate to, or immerse myself in. I have a hard time relating to powerhouse metagaming tactics, although that is still fun and has its place.
I love Rangers, all of them (except for beastmasters). Fighter/thieves are also fun to get into. Best one of all, though, was a fighter who found faith later in life dualed to cleric. That was wonderful, but lost my game after I got to ToB.
Any character with just about any stats can beat the game with the correct tactics (unless you're doing difficulty increasing mods). Choose one that you like because you think it's cool, not because you wonder if may not be powerful enough.
And if you think uber-powerful is cool, then choose that!

Khyron wrote: »

I might just stop lvling up and just gather up the xp

Btw, when you dual class, you lose your spare XP. So don't stop leveling up hoping that XP will cross over into your secondary class.