One thing being changed I do have issue with is Kits, any attempt at changing them for BG:EE will reduce their use in BG2:EE which I don't like as it's an attempt at balance when balance isn't needed.
@Amardial Its perfectly possible to change kits at low levels and leave them the same for BG2EE levels. That's basically what was done with the Totemic Druid.
One thing being changed I do have issue with is Kits, any attempt at changing them for BG:EE will reduce their use in BG2:EE which I don't like as it's an attempt at balance when balance isn't needed.
@Amardial Its perfectly possible to change kits at low levels and leave them the same for BG2EE levels. That's basically what was done with the Totemic Druid.
...also the changes in familiars between SOA and TOB, in fact familiars are another thing that should be in BGEE, but toned-down from SOA/BG2EE
@Oxford_Guy There's actually a much greater bonus from putting another pip into two handed weapon style & that's (if I recall correctly) increasing your chance to score a critical hit. So I'd advise you put 2 pips on it.
There's also another character come TOB who is highly skilled with two handed swords/halberds - So really you're better off leaving halberds to... no spoilers & forsaking your pips in it. There's a fantastic staff that would suit your character so focus on that, forget about halberds.
@Oxford_Guy There's actually a much greater bonus from putting another pip into two handed weapon style & that's (if I recall correctly) increasing your chance to score a critical hit. So I'd advise you put 2 pips on it.
The second pip in two-handed weapon style just gives -2 speed, you get the increases crit chance and damage bonus with the first pip. Was just thinking it might be better to wait for the -2 speed until later, unless this is really needed to deal with mages etc.
There's also another character come TOB who is highly skilled with two handed swords/halberds - So really you're better off leaving halberds to... no spoilers & forsaking your pips in it. There's a fantastic staff that would suit your character so focus on that, forget about halberds.
Okay, thanks, makes me feel better about not taking them, would this still apply with an evil CHARNAME?
So - what do people think, would shortbows be better in the long run (i.e. into BG2) than longbows for CHARNAME, due to some shortbows (and crossbows, but wouldn't get the elf +1 bonus then) having built-in unlimited magic ammo etc. in BG2? I'm not going to be taking both proficiencies, so its one or the other... I'd rather have a non-optimal setup in BG1, if it means a better experience in BG2...
My thief (probably Imoen) can use crossbows instead, if necessary.
Anyone? I have quite a bit of experience of BG1, but not much in BG2, so am not sure how well longbows would work....
Sorry, I wasnt following this thread. Shortbows for your ranged choice are solid in both BG1 and BG2 - Eagle Bow, Tugian Bow (3 shots per round), and Gesan Bow (unlimited lightning arrows).
Many hardcore players consider Short Bows to be the strongest ranged option in BG2 for the Tugian Bow, if possible putting that on an Elven Archer with 5 points in shortbows would just mow through everything.
@Oxford_Guy My bad. It applies especially to evil PCs.
To add to what @Mungri said the Tugian bow is fantastic but you'd encounter the aforementioned issue. It's far better used by a character solely engaging the enemy through ranged combat. If however they've changed the weapon setups in EE so it's like IWD 2 you'd be able to use a bow & then switch to twf, which would be a boon & the prefered option for bow users wanting to wade into melee.
Yea the Tugian bow is best kept on a ranged focused character, either a thief or archer.
I want to mod an NPC archer into BG2 with all points in Shortbows + Longbows, but I dont know how to do that .... yet. I'm not too interested in modding, but if BGEE is a lot more mod friendly and has improved modding tools I'll start looking into trying more modding.
To add to what @Mungri said the Tugian bow is fantastic but you'd encounter the aforementioned issue. It's far better used by a character solely engaging the enemy through ranged combat. If however they've changed the weapon setups in EE so it's like IWD 2 you'd be able to use a bow & then switch to twf, which would be a boon & the prefered option for bow users wanting to wade into melee.
CHARNAME will be using two-handed swords and staves for melee, so swapping from a bow should be less of an issue in any case...
Yea the Tugian bow is best kept on a ranged focused character, either a thief or archer.
So, I guess maybe just longbows would be okay for my fighter/mage, who will likely just be a support archer, as will be in melee and/or using spells more often than not by the time they get to BG2, so won't use as much magic ammo as my main archer, and therefore may not need an auto-reload bow, and if they don't have arrows of higher enough enchantment to hit a foe, can wade into melee instead. Does this sounds a reasonable set of assumptions, or am I missing something?
@Oxford_Guy Less of an issue only if your character is largely ranged, otherwise you'll have the splitting your focus issue. If you plan to use two handed melee weapons/be in close combat more than ranged use a crossbow so you can take full advantage of whirlwind. There's also a fantastic crossbow with magic ammo available early in BG2 (though it is expensive).
There are some great short bows in BG2 but there's also NPCs to use them & engage largely in ranged combat. While you can (as you mentioned) divide your time between melee & ranged more effectively with a crossbow set up (though it's a non issue for most of the game).
Make a ranger (archer kit) next time & use bows.
Or if you're really set on the idea... use bows on this PC. It does suit your character more. What alot of help I've been - Do this, or don't. My previous fighter/mages have always been TWF so they can take full advantage of improved haste.
@Oxford_Guy Less of an issue only if your character is largely ranged, otherwise you'll have the splitting your focus issue. If you plan to use two handed melee weapons/be in close combat more than ranged use a crossbow so you can take full advantage of whirlwind. There's also a fantastic crossbow with magic ammo available early in BG2 (though it is expensive).
Do you mean so I could use a crossbow with a Whirlwind attack? I didn't realise you could, but for Whirlwind crossbows would hit harder than bows, as they would get the same number of whirlwind attacks. I wouldn't get the +1 elf THAC0 bow bonus.
I will be using two-handed melee weapons (swords and staves, maybe spears or halberds later)
There are some great short bows in BG2 but there's also NPCs to use them & engage largely in ranged combat. While you can (as you mentioned) divide your time between melee & ranged more effectively with a crossbow set up (though it's a non issue for most of the game).
I'm not sure I understand what you mean here, could you clarify?
Comments
Its perfectly possible to change kits at low levels and leave them the same for BG2EE levels. That's basically what was done with the Totemic Druid.
There's also another character come TOB who is highly skilled with two handed swords/halberds - So really you're better off leaving halberds to... no spoilers & forsaking your pips in it. There's a fantastic staff that would suit your character so focus on that, forget about halberds.
Many hardcore players consider Short Bows to be the strongest ranged option in BG2 for the Tugian Bow, if possible putting that on an Elven Archer with 5 points in shortbows would just mow through everything.
To add to what @Mungri said the Tugian bow is fantastic but you'd encounter the aforementioned issue. It's far better used by a character solely engaging the enemy through ranged combat. If however they've changed the weapon setups in EE so it's like IWD 2 you'd be able to use a bow & then switch to twf, which would be a boon & the prefered option for bow users wanting to wade into melee.
I want to mod an NPC archer into BG2 with all points in Shortbows + Longbows, but I dont know how to do that .... yet. I'm not too interested in modding, but if BGEE is a lot more mod friendly and has improved modding tools I'll start looking into trying more modding.
I noticed one of the best ranged weapons in BG1 missing on your list. The Composite Longbow +1.
Stats:
+2 Thac0
+3 Damage
Compared to Longbow of Marksmanship:
+3 Thac0
+2 Damage
Once you get into mid to late BGEE the Thac0 difference between the two doesn't hurt anywhere near as much. So I tend to use both.
There are some great short bows in BG2 but there's also NPCs to use them & engage largely in ranged combat. While you can (as you mentioned) divide your time between melee & ranged more effectively with a crossbow set up (though it's a non issue for most of the game).
Make a ranger (archer kit) next time & use bows.
Or if you're really set on the idea... use bows on this PC. It does suit your character more. What alot of help I've been - Do this, or don't. My previous fighter/mages have always been TWF so they can take full advantage of improved haste.
I will be using two-handed melee weapons (swords and staves, maybe spears or halberds later) I'm not sure I understand what you mean here, could you clarify? Nah, I want to use magic, but be able to fight too