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Some Tips for a first time player

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  • Oxford_GuyOxford_Guy Member Posts: 3,729
    and about the bows: why should a short bow be better, is it faster than the others? from previous rpgs i played, short bows were the weak ones you got at the start and the big longbows later on
    Normal longbows (and even more so with composite bows, though you need 18 Str to able to use one) *are* stronger than shortbows. In BG1 there are good maguc bows of all types, but in BG2, if relying on a bow as your main weapon, shortbows are a better choice, as the best magic ones are quite a bit better in the later game, for various reasons, though I don't want to give too much away...

    BTW elves get +1THAC0 with all bows that aren't crossbows (and +1 THACO with swords, currently *all* sword, though it should only be with long and short swords, so they might restrict this is BGEE), so totally rock as archers.

    As @reedmilfam said, though, crossbows can be used equally well be archers too, and there are some good crossbows in the game (in both BG and BG2).
  • Oxford_GuyOxford_Guy Member Posts: 3,729

    @Daywalker - the Archer kit is limited in melee. You are limited to light weapons,

    That's not quite right, Archers are *not* limited in choice of melee weapon, compared to "normal" rangers, but can only out one proficiency point in them, instead of 2. They can also only wear non-metal armours, so can be weak in melee. Anyway, they're *archers*, so should be used as such.
  • DaywalkerDaywalker Member Posts: 37

    1) There are multiple save slots. Unsure how this will be implemented in EE versus vanilla BG

    2) It has to do with the magical bows you get later. There are only so many magic items, and certain ones are better represented. That said, I don't think I care; I'll go long bow because I love long bows

    Why it matters: as I remember, the proficiency points are applied to either long or short bows. Since you have a limited number of proficiency points (4 plus one every 3rd level), you want to be careful with how you allocate them. Focus on the weapon (bow/xbow) of choice first, as the hit and damage bonuses help a lot. One-shot kills are awesome!

    Purely looking at an unmodified bow, the composite long bow is the best (not talking crossbows). Also, it's worth noting that archers can be crossbow specialists, instead (if you want to RP that way). That's why it's so important to have a feel for what you want your character to be.

    Hope this answers your questions!

    is does, thanks alot! you have been a really good help! :)

    and thabk you aswell @oxford_guy!

    i think i understand how my archer is going to work now, i would have some serious problems if i hadnt started posting here ;)
  • Oxford_GuyOxford_Guy Member Posts: 3,729
    @daywalker - if you do want you archer to have *some* melee capacity, I'd make him an elf and give him proficiences in longswords (to be on the safe side, as regards how BGEE might nerf the elf sword bonus) and perhaps the third pip in two-weapon fighting (mostly so you can benefit from the off-hand secondary bonuses, like magic resistances and extra attacks in BG2, actually for that reason a point in shortswords could help too, as there are some useful ones for the off-hand in BG2), though apart from the first pip in longswords (for melee emergencies, like ambushes when travelling), I would wait until you've put 5 points in your chosen bow before assigning points elsewhere.
  • Oxford_GuyOxford_Guy Member Posts: 3,729
    Also, I think BGEE is implementing a fix so that you can't place more than 2 points in a single proficiency at character creation, so that might be a good time to take longswords and the extra pip in two weapon fighting (unless it doesn't let you place the third pip there at character creation) then, and 2 points in the bow of your choice, of course
  • Oxford_GuyOxford_Guy Member Posts: 3,729
    LOL! I just rolled up an elf archer to check things, and managed get this on my *first* roll:

    Ste 18/98
    Dex 19
    Con 17
    Int 9
    Wis 14
    Chr 8

    Why does that never happen when rolling-up a "real" character? I think it's partly because the combination and elf and ranger gives you the highest minimum starting stats, though
  • Oxford_GuyOxford_Guy Member Posts: 3,729
    If you want tips on good choices for racial enemy, let me know, though the best choices are different in BG1 and BG2. Actually, does anyone know if rangers get an extra racial enemy pick in BG2?
  • reedmilfamreedmilfam Member Posts: 2,808
    I always pick the strongest enemies for racial enemies. Dragons, demons and the like.

    I didn't remember being able to use heavy weapons, so I re-looked it up. The only limitation is only proficiency in melee weapons - a reason to stay away from melee weapons IMO.
  • DaywalkerDaywalker Member Posts: 37
    i didnt even know that i could pick a racial enemy, lol. do i get bonus dmg vs them or how does it work? btw @oxford_guy, im gonna play a human since elves would need me to multi/dual class and i want to avoid that in my first game!
  • CaptRoryCaptRory Member Posts: 1,660
    Humans Dual Class. Everyone else MultiClasses. And you only need to if you want more than one class. If you just wanna roll a single class guy you don't need to dual or multiclass.
    Daywalker
  • Oxford_GuyOxford_Guy Member Posts: 3,729
    CaptRory said:

    Humans Dual Class. Everyone else MultiClasses. And you only need to if you want more than one class. If you just wanna roll a single class guy you don't need to dual or multiclass.

    Yes, you don't have to multi-class non-humans (and *only* humans can dual-class).

    Racial enemy gives you +4 bonus to attack roles and a -4 penalty reaction penalty with that race. Demons and Vampires are good in BG2...
  • Oxford_GuyOxford_Guy Member Posts: 3,729
    BTW if you want to read a spoiler-free guide, the best is probably: http://www.pocketplane.net/volothamp/bgguide.htm

    Lots of useful tips and information there
    Daywalker
  • Eldoth_KronEldoth_Kron Member Posts: 18
    About saving, I usually dedicate saves as follows:

    Slot 1 (Game generates autosave upon area transit)
    Slot 2 (My active quicksave)
    Slot 3 (Upon entering a city/town/populated area, BEFORE the game overwrites autosave, in case something went wrong)
    Slot 4 (When leaving a city/town/populated area, BEFORE the game overwrites autosave, in case something went wrong)

    I have had so many crashes on many different games ( not just BG original release ), that I have become autosave paranoid/delusional/distrustful and have to make ABSOLUTELY sure that nothing goes wrong ever again.

    Save early, save often.

    swnmcmlxiDaywalkergorgonzola
  • DaywalkerDaywalker Member Posts: 37
    ah, my mistake then. i understood something wrong about the classes then.
    this is getting really complicated^^ but im up for the challange!
    that guide is really usefull, thanks a lot! going to read through that in the next days :)
  • JuliusBorisovJuliusBorisov Member, Administrator, Moderator, Developer Posts: 22,714
    As Oxford_Guy told me I ask here.
    Does racial enemy +4 damage bonus apply to bows?
  • moody_magemoody_mage Member Posts: 2,054
    Daywalker said:

    ah, my mistake then. i understood something wrong about the classes then.
    this is getting really complicated^^ but im up for the challange!
    that guide is really usefull, thanks a lot! going to read through that in the next days :)

    It'll be much easier to wrap your head around when you have the product in front of you. There is only so much good that text can do for a game you've never seen.

  • DaywalkerDaywalker Member Posts: 37
    yeah, actually playing will help a lot, i agree. but still its nice to get *some* information about the general idea before :) going to make life much easier!
  • WolkWolk Member Posts: 279
    bengoshi said:

    As Oxford_Guy told me I ask here.
    Does racial enemy +4 damage bonus apply to bows?

    No, it applies to every single weapon you use against your favored enemy
  • JuliusBorisovJuliusBorisov Member, Administrator, Moderator, Developer Posts: 22,714
    @Wolk
    But in the thread "Ranger: Hated Enemy" some posters say that it applies to bows.

    "kilroy_was_here
    One of the most broken things I found in BG2 was taking the archer kit for the ranger and selecting dragon as the favored enemy. At higher levels they get more ranged attacks/round than a fighter, because of their skill with the bow and the to-hit bonus they will almost never miss, and +4 (non-magical) damage PER ARROW? :) That's not even going into the death arrow ability and things like that. "


    " sandmanCCL
    Yeah, archers with dragon favored enemies turn dragon encounters into jokes. It's probably the safest way to kill the stupid blue dragon dude in Throne of Bhaal. I forget his name. He's the wizard one. Easily the most difficult encounter because of his absurd damage and borderline immunity to spells. Equip the bow that shoots extra arrows per round, get some Arrows +4 or +5, and goodnight. All she wrote. GG Dragons."


    So, we have two different points of view here. What's the truth, I wonder...
    lolien
  • swnmcmlxiswnmcmlxi Member Posts: 297
    Wolk means 'single weapon' as in 'each and every weapon', 'all weapons', 'any weapon'. It has nothing to do with single weapon style.
  • JuliusBorisovJuliusBorisov Member, Administrator, Moderator, Developer Posts: 22,714
    @swnmcmlxi
    Thanks a lot!)))
    lolien
  • WolkWolk Member Posts: 279
    @bengoshi My bad, i read does it only apply to bows, sorry ^^' it does apply to every weapon you use
  • Oxford_GuyOxford_Guy Member Posts: 3,729
    bengoshi said:

    As Oxford_Guy told me I ask here.
    Does racial enemy +4 damage bonus apply to bows?

    I meant try asking here:
    bengoshi said:

    @Wolk
    But in the thread "Ranger: Hated Enemy" some posters say that it applies to bows.

    "kilroy_was_here
    One of the most broken things I found in BG2 was taking the archer kit for the ranger and selecting dragon as the favored enemy. At higher levels they get more ranged attacks/round than a fighter, because of their skill with the bow and the to-hit bonus they will almost never miss, and +4 (non-magical) damage PER ARROW? :) That's not even going into the death arrow ability and things like that. "


    " sandmanCCL
    Yeah, archers with dragon favored enemies turn dragon encounters into jokes. It's probably the safest way to kill the stupid blue dragon dude in Throne of Bhaal. I forget his name. He's the wizard one. Easily the most difficult encounter because of his absurd damage and borderline immunity to spells. Equip the bow that shoots extra arrows per round, get some Arrows +4 or +5, and goodnight. All she wrote. GG Dragons."


    So, we have two different points of view here. What's the truth, I wonder...

    There are no +5 arrows or bolts in BG and no +4 ones either, unless you count arrows of piercing, also no +3 ones until ToB and none of these add +x damage on ToB, just to hit bonuses, though its possible this may change in BG2EE. Magic bows in BG2 don't add +x damage either, though crossbows, slings and bullets do, strangely.
  • HeasHeas Member Posts: 54
    Daywalker said:

    Thanks for the help everybody, i really appreciate it!
    Nice to see that so many answered, really looking forward to this game and asking in the forums :)
    About the party members: Do you recommend playing with the full 6 memebrs or for example only use 4 or 5 to level up some characters and then add the rest of the party? When i can choose if a NPC joins my party, can i exchange him for another NPC later on and then swap between some characters, or do i "delete" them by kicking them out of my party?

    Once again thanks for the help, you been really helping me out!

    I am so jealous of you, To think... That you have never played the game..
    Everything is going to be new and exciting.. I wish it was me.
  • FatherofTwoFatherofTwo Member Posts: 4
    Thanks allot for these tips guys I am just about to start up a blind lets play and I wanted some knowledge with no spoilers. I really appreciate this resource. I am excited to go record, I have always loved D&D and rpg's but never have I had the ability to play this game. I have heard nothing but good things and I am super excited. Just linking my page at the bottom so you can know what I'm all about feel no obligation to click on it. Again thanks sooo much guys really helpful especially the tab thing. Took me forever in Dragon Age Origins to figure that one out. Cheers!!!

    FatherofTwo Plays https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2AagplT1A_fqztyqDY8msQ
    Nimran
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