Halfling Slinger (Fighter)
JDow
Member Posts: 71
How do you guys rate having one Halfling slinger (Fighter) in your party. (I guess I'm assuming you play a pre-created team).
Worth it?
Obviously, in theory a Halfing Slinger (Fighter) shouldn't work because although very accurate, they can't (read on) leverage a Fighters 18/xx strength to do the damage.
However, when you consider strength potions, you end up in a situation where Halfling Slingers benefit massively from them. You have a character with the 19 dex/+1 to hit sling accuracy, and the massive damage modifier the potion brings. Then later you can get the gauntlets of Ogre strength for permanant 18/00 strength.
What do you think? A key team member, or too much hassle (messing around with potions) and stuff?
Worth it?
Obviously, in theory a Halfing Slinger (Fighter) shouldn't work because although very accurate, they can't (read on) leverage a Fighters 18/xx strength to do the damage.
However, when you consider strength potions, you end up in a situation where Halfling Slingers benefit massively from them. You have a character with the 19 dex/+1 to hit sling accuracy, and the massive damage modifier the potion brings. Then later you can get the gauntlets of Ogre strength for permanant 18/00 strength.
What do you think? A key team member, or too much hassle (messing around with potions) and stuff?
2
Comments
For a slinger, the racial bonus helps to hit, as you note. I would suggest the strength belt in BGEE or gauntlets of ogre power to counteract the starting 17 and then maximum 18 strength after the tome. Potions of course can fill in until said items can be obtained in/after BG city.
@Aerakar Good call on the halfling fighter dart specialist. Oddly enough I was thinking that through the other day wondering how good it would be. I started thinking about it when I picked up the gauntlets of weapons expertise +1 to hit/+2 damage (which for some reason I'd always though of it terms of melee weapons), and then it occurred to me that +2 damage would apply to each dart with r.o.f. 3). On that thought, what about an elf Archer dart specialist. As I read it, you could only specialise (not get to Master or GM), but on the other hand you'd get that +1/+1 every 3 levels and then get those called shot perks with a r.o.f. of 3.
Also, about halfling mages: I would totally shadowkeep one into a illusionist or cleric/illusionist and pretense it was a cleric of Brandobarris, or whatever the halfling god of Scoundrely and Highjinks was called.
No, thanks.
The best race to use a sling is Half-Orc undoubtedly.
A Half-Orc get's +6 damage over a halfling (assuming you max out their strength on character creation)
But, strength potions give a flat strength increase. So, as soon as you drink a strength potion (other than the 18 strength one), any advantage the Half-Orc had is lost for the duration of that potion.
And then there's the halflings shorty bonuses over the Half-Orc.
It seems to be much harder to make a Half-Orc more accurate with a sling than it is to make a Halfling stronger. As far as I know there's only one potion available, the potion of mind focusing, the Half-Orc can use to increase dexterity and that only makes his accuracy equal to a Halflings - using a sling.
So, overall, I'd probably go with the halfling. I suspect, in terms of game play, you're probably better off with the Half-Orc at the beginning of the game, but then with the halfling for the rest.
I'd suggest a Halfing Barbarian Slinger for kicks. While they miss out on high mastery, there is no shortage of Thac0 boosting items and spells in the game. The Barbarian Rage strength bonus really kicks the sling up a notch.
Assuming a Half-Orc Fighter with STR 19 and DEX 18.
He gains with a sling: +7 DMG and +2 HIT
During BGEE he may achieve STR 20 and DEX 19.
He then gains with a sling: +8 DMG and +3 HIT
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Assuming a Halfling with STR 17 and DEX 19.
He gains with a sling: +1 DMG and +4 HIT
During BGEE he may achieve STR 18 and DEX 20.
He then gains with a sling: +2 DMG and +4 HIT
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Saying that the halfling is a best slinger means to say that it is worth to give up of 6 DMG/bullet for a mere 5% extra in the hit (+1). Assuming that a Warrior's Thac0 gets better every level and the damage doesn't (unless you rely on items) it isn't worth it IMHO.
Talking about items: I even prefer to give my Half-Orc slinger Legacy of the Master (+1 Hit, +2 Dmg with any weapon) over Dale's Protector (+2 Thac0 with missile weapons only).
And when you have 4 great NPCs who need to rely on strenght potions (Ajantis, Khalid, Montaron and Kagain) I don't think it is wise to spend those on CHARNAME.
And talking about potions: Oil of Speed makes a half-orc slinger much more deadlier than a halfling with a Storm Giant Potion. And I don't need to say witch potion is more common.
For this +1 of difference in the hit you can receive Luck, Bless, Chant, Bard's Song...
And here I'm ignoring gears and DUHM, because both can have and use it.
That being said I don't see how can a halfling overcome a half-orc when we are talking about slings.
Now, you may say that the shorty's saving bonus worth it. But a half-orc may achieve 20 CON and gets regeneration. And saving throws progress with level, CON doesn't. Both in a long and in a short run the half-orc is better.
I'm actually putting together a Wizard Slaying Hslfling slinger now
I've ignored any and all gear and clearly stated this in my analysis. Anyone can be excellent with a nice equipment. Give Garrick the Big Fisted Belt, Potion of Agility and Legacy of the Master and even he will be amazing with slings.
It's too much hassle AND a bad team member as it takes resources that would be better used for other fellows.
Last I just defended my point for @JDow
In terms of DPR the half-orc wins.
Accuracy really don't matter in this comparison.
The big question in my head is: shorty saves or regeneration?
Saves gets better as you advance in level. Regeneration doesn't.
In BG1, where saves really matters, a 20 CON regeneration is really helpful. You won't give any trouble to your party healers. The priests and druids can focus in other things or direct the healing spells to other party members. Everytime you travel you'll be full healed (or something close to it).
But the point was: who is the better slinger? The way I see the best slinger is the one who can make best use of a sling. In other words: the half-orc.
I'll clarify this one
There are two different questions:
1) Who is the best slinger?
A: Half-Orc
2) Who gives the best overall advantages, despite the effectiveness using a sling?
A: IDK. Shorty saves are really helpful in early games, but so is regeneration.
@Artemius_I, yes barbarians are a good choice for a slinger, as you say good mobility, rage - and even rages -2 AC penalty isn't an issue for a ranged character (really). A good choice. But, they won't be as accurate as a Fighter who can Master the sling (+2 to hit, +1 damage) at level three. Rage won't increase a halflings saving throws - because they max out at 18 constitution I think - but obviously that's a non-issue because you get those wonderful immunities while in rage. Then, of course, you could even have a Half-Orc barbarian slinger - arguably better still because the rage immunities cover the half-orcs weakness of low saving throws.
@Raduziel, to me your comparisons seem a little unfair. I wouldn't give the tomes to a halfling slinger, because that makes no sense (there are no real benefits or doing so in BG:EE). I'd give them to the team members who will benefit the most from them. What I would give a halfling slinger is "the Gauntlets of Ogre Strength or Big Brawler Belt" as @PK2748 mentions - so his strength reaches 18/00 or 19. They are perfect for a halfling slinger. Basically, when making comparisons, you have to do so in a balanced way, but also a way that recognises that some items are optimal for some characters but not for others. In my team, I'd give the constitution tome to a melee fighter, because they're up front - so will take more damage. A slingers role is to sit back, so ideally they won't be taking the same amount of damage as one of your melee characters.