So I want Druid spells and I would like a decent Fighter too...

dracostrike

As far as I know my options are:
-Fighter/Druid Multi
-Fighter->Druid Dual
-Ranger/Cleric Multi
-Ranger->Cleric Dual

I am running EE on Steam and would like to take this character through every part of the game, no mods. I found that I don't get access to lv4 and higher Druid spells when I used a C/R Multi which made me really sad No Insect Plagues or Iron Skins so that class is kinda flopped for me.

I would like access to high level druid spells yet still equip heavy armors and be a decent fighter.
Suggestions as to which I should pick or more options? (Sidenote: Ranger->Cleric Dual, does it also not give me level 4 or higher Druid spells? If so, )

joluv

The current default is that Cleric/Ranger dual and multiclass characters only get level 1-3 Druid spells. You can change this by editing your Baldur.lua file. Find the line SetPrivateProfileString('Game Options','Cleric Ranger Spells','1'), and change that 1 to a 0.

dracostrike

I don't wish to change it Thanks for telling me though, if it were unintended then I would try to sort it out.

So I am left with Dual or Multi, any idea which I should use?

MMMMK

I'd stick to a multi-class, personally. If you're playing into ToB then you'll want the (awesome) fighter HLAs and you wont get those if you dual out of the class. If you want to be relevant in melee at that point you really need the fighter HLAs to do it, and there is some cross-class synergy there (Harm + Critical Strike, Whirlwind + Elemental Transformation, Hardiness + Armor of Faith + Defender of Easthaven ect.)

That means, for me, the only real choice is F/D multi. Jaheira already fills that niche, though, so for the sake of variety you might not pick her up.

*Forgot to add that one problem with F/D multi is that the druid class has a very weird level progression table, so you'll be stuck in the druid mid levels (around 12 or 13 I think) for quite a while, which can be a bit off putting.

dracostrike

I noticed that delay though the pay-off is huge. The thing is it's almost exponentially increased when you multi-class as to pure/dualling.

So let's see...
Berserker->Druid (Greatest Optimal Dual Class):
Berserk Rage x2/3
GM Prof in 1 weapon
The delay can be dealt with within SoA (Whereas that delay takes you all of the way to ToB for multi)
More spellslots though it's minimal overall

Multi Fighter/Druid:
Half Elf Racial Bonuses
Fighter HLAs (Druids have some decent ones but fighters outclass them)
No downtime for fighter levels over BG1:EE/SoD

Also I noticed you wrote Defender of Easthaven, I thought Druids couldn't use Flails?
Did I miss anything else btw?

Tenrecc

I'd say both are quite viable. I always run Multi because I hate spending half of the game with a gimped character, but Dual sounds pretty good for druids. Half Elf racials are pretty bad and can be overlooked, you'll likely only use one weapon proffs anyway (Scimitars), Zerk rage can be quite useful, and there's a huge cap in spell casting between level 14 and 15, which means that as a multi-class druid your spell casting will only take off at 6M exp, and with dual it's 3M+Zerker levels.

I would recommend a pure druid or shaman over a dual-class though. Cleric makes for way better multi-classes due to their spells being mostly healing/buffing. A druid will have little "downtime," just like a sorcerer, in actual combat.

dracostrike

Is there a better scimitar than the Spectral Brand for druids mainhand?

I personally like Insect Plagues due to how destructive they are against nearly all opponents ^^
I forgot about Shamans actually and there is nothing on the Wiki, how do they fare against Fighter/Druids and what are their specs?

kensai

If you want best dual you can try berserk>druid. an enjoyable build
if you want ultimate but cheesy fun you can try make shapeshifter\fighter multi via keeper with scs shapeshifters. It's fun to instantly transform to huge werewolf and back

dracostrike

joluv said:

The current default is that Cleric/Ranger dual and multiclass characters only get level 1-3 Druid spells. You can change this by editing your Baldur.lua file. Find the line SetPrivateProfileString('Game Options','Cleric Ranger Spells','1'), and change that 1 to a 0.

Btw how do I open that file? Just curious.

A Werewolf Fighter would be fun but I don't think it's what I am looking for ^^

dracostrike

Update: I actually need to find the file, since I am using steam, any idea how?

dracostrike

Update: I changed the engine file within steam, and reimported my guy. He's regained Druid spells that surprisingly made it through SoD, which is weird that he had them in the first place.

Zilber

You could make a char with high dex, 16 con and 18 strength, by the time you have the strength tome, your strength bonus (3 thaco 7 damage) will be high enough to mitigate differences with most npc warriors. Take scimitars, kill drizzt, wear Ankheg with a +2 large shield and gountlets of weapon expertise.

dracostrike

Thing is I would not have Fighter HLAs if I took Druid Pure Also this guy will be going through to the end at ToB so he will get all of the bonus stats ^^ Like 24 Wis!!!

DevardKrown

i only see 5 options here.

-fighter 3/Druid Dual
Needs just a dribble of XP to become dual'd (just 11500 XP)
reaches max Druid fastest and gets 2 LVL 5 Spells (and continues to get spell levels fastest)
THAC0 is the second best progression there is so Fighter THAC0 gets redundant anyway.
Can Grand master Scimitars in BG1 and has a spare * in Clubs and Sling also ** Dualweapon fighting.
(can also grand master clubs and spend a 3rd * in dual wield until max level)

downsides he wont get fighter HLA's and misses out half a APR and some spare HP


-fighter 7/Druid Dual
Needs way more XP then the first even with Basilisk farming you wont unlock your dual for a while.
only caps out at druid 9 and gets one lvl 5 Spell
THAC0 will be the same as Above (14)
Should also be able to Grand master (would have to test that)
has half a APR More than above.

downsides he wont get fighter HLA's and your half of the BG1 run one or the other.


-fighter9/Druid Dual
aint really worth it , you just get 4 HP more for being a pure fighter in BG1 and the THAC0 benefits are blown away by the druid progression too.

-fighter13/druid Dual

nononononono , don't , half a APR for being one class or the other until TOB

-and Druid/Figther Multi
No Dual Time
Spells from the Start
No Grandmastery but half/full extra APR from fighter 13 once you get it (cancels each other out but grandmastery gives an overall better THAC0 and weapon speed factor so you miss out on that.)
slowest druid spell progression since fighter levels soak xp. noticable after BG1. and very much so at the magic 13+ cap





Honestly , go with the First ... Fighter3/Druid druids themselves would be okay Combatants if they hadn't armor restrictions no dualwield to speak of and their limited weapon selection.

the 3 Fighter Levels beef all those points up add an Extra APR and some extra THAC0 with the grand mastery, give you Plate Armor and 4k XP are nothing.


if you choose berserker put a * in dagger instead of Slings so you have a range option , you never know.

Sids1188

dracostrike said:

Is there a better scimitar than the Spectral Brand for druids mainhand?

I personally like Insect Plagues due to how destructive they are against nearly all opponents ^^
I forgot about Shamans actually and there is nothing on the Wiki, how do they fare against Fighter/Druids and what are their specs?

My shaman has gone from Candlekeep to the Underdark now. I find their spellcasting vastly better than regular druids (I've had both Jaheira and Faldorn/Cernd in my party the whole time and I'm well above them as a caster).

Their fighting abilities are about on par with a single classed thief - light armour, decent weapon selections, mediocre thac0. As a half-orc, they can handle themselves up forward (in SoD, I was front lining beside Dorn) but don't expect them to be you're main fighter. They have enough spells that that isn't really a big deal, but if you really want to fight, F/D is much better - more apr, better thac0, better armour.

You can pretty much ignore the dancing. I've used it a few times, and it can be ok, but there are usually better things to do in a fight - I've still found it more useful than a rangers charm animal, or druids shapeshifting, so it's not so shocking to have a "useless" class feature.

Francois42424

DevardKrown said:

i only see 5 options here.

-fighter 3/Druid Dual
Needs just a dribble of XP to become dual'd (just 11500 XP)
reaches max Druid fastest and gets 2 LVL 5 Spells (and continues to get spell levels fastest)
THAC0 is the second best progression there is so Fighter THAC0 gets redundant anyway.
Can Grand master Scimitars in BG1 and has a spare * in Clubs and Sling also ** Dualweapon fighting.
(can also grand master clubs and spend a 3rd * in dual wield until max level)

downsides he wont get fighter HLA's and misses out half a APR and some spare HP

Trying that in my current playthru. Just shy of last fighter level but I'm not used to play pure fighter. Looking forward to finally unlocking some good spells. Which ones would you suggest to be the best for BG1 ? I know there's insect swarm but I haven't had the chance to cast that once in BG1.

This character is so out of my comfort zone, I don't really know what I'll be doing lol. Am considering making another game where I kill Dritzz just to send myself those scimitars of him.