Best Paladin kit for IWD:EE?
Rik_Kirtaniya
Member Posts: 1,742
I'm quite sure that if this question was asked in the context of BG2, Inquisitor would win outright, but it seems that there is not much use for it's True Sight and Dispel Magic in IWD, while lack of Priest Spells and Turn Undead leaves it at a complete disadvantage in a game that is literally flooded with Undead hordes.
Blackguard is powerful in it's own right (especially with its Poison Weapon ability), but cannot use a certain very nice weapon.
Cavalier has many nice immunities (including Poison immunity), and inability to use ranged weapons is a small price to pay for that. However, both the Blackguard's and the Cavalier's immunity to fear speciality is made redundant by the Divine Courage ability that Paladins gain by default at Level 3.
Undead Hunter has an immunity to Hold (not considering Level Drain since I haven't found any enemies using it in IWD) and it's bonus against undead creatures is pretty significant from the beginning to the end of this game.
And then there's the vanilla Paladin.
My question is, which one would you recommend for IWD:EE: (1) when playing with a party, (2) when playing solo, and (3) when playing as a good-aligned character?
(Poll choice is just for the best option.)
Blackguard is powerful in it's own right (especially with its Poison Weapon ability), but cannot use a certain very nice weapon.
Cavalier has many nice immunities (including Poison immunity), and inability to use ranged weapons is a small price to pay for that. However, both the Blackguard's and the Cavalier's immunity to fear speciality is made redundant by the Divine Courage ability that Paladins gain by default at Level 3.
Undead Hunter has an immunity to Hold (not considering Level Drain since I haven't found any enemies using it in IWD) and it's bonus against undead creatures is pretty significant from the beginning to the end of this game.
And then there's the vanilla Paladin.
My question is, which one would you recommend for IWD:EE: (1) when playing with a party, (2) when playing solo, and (3) when playing as a good-aligned character?
(Poll choice is just for the best option.)
- Best Paladin kit for IWD:EE?47 votes
- Cavalier34.04%
- Undead Hunter51.06%
- Blackguard2.13%
- Inquisitor2.13%
- Un-kitted Paladin10.64%
3
Comments
Solo might be tough in IWD though because they're not allowed to use throwing weapons at all, unlike BG or SOA/TOB. I still think I'd try a cavalier for solo first, but it might turn out that no ranged ability makes it too much of a grind. In that case I'd go with Undead Hunter or vanilla instead...
I actually like the vanilla Paladin the best for IWD, with the Undead Hunter being a very close second (perhaps even tied). IMO, the vanilla's immunity to fear and cleric spells at level 6 (big upgrades from the BGs) make the cavalier a bit redundant in some ways, and the cavalier suffers from losing the ability to use even thrown melee weapons.
The basic premise of my party composition is low magic, tactical combat. This means both strong melee and ranged capabilities. My preference is for the longbow, both for their effectiveness and the absolute wealth of good ones available. This eliminates cleric and thus the paladin takes healing duty.
The first test was a Cavalier and four other mixed bowmen (bowpeople?). Workable and strong, but as SharGuidesMyHand has stated, suffers from lack of ranged option. The tenor of combats change completely with one character rushing forward to tank. By that I mean change for the worse. If you have never run a ranged party before I recommend giving it a go. It can be eye opening.
On the second go, I cut down to four chars total because pathfinding shenanigans and made everyone both bow and melee. I remain convinced that this is the optimal party size in all IE games. The independent variable here was the paladin itself; do you even need one? Started out with the lead a vanilla fighter (and the Archer a vanilla bow focused fighter as well), played it a bit and was tactically satisfied, but really wanted a bit more healing so restarted with same party but with Undead Hunter as lead. Eventually got the sparse spells, but missed that Lay on Hands healing. Also, with a bow in hand, he tended to use it over things like trying to hold undead etc.
The third run I hit the sweet spot. Eliminated my last kit ( dual wield stalker at number 2), and wound up like this: Paladin, Fighter, Fighter, Fighter/Thief. All used bow and a melee/shield combo. I rarely rest my parties in the field, so really liked Lay on Hands of the vanilla, especially later. The Defender Longbow is the perfect weapon early for a char on point who will draw the missile fire and then later Kaylessa's Bow for the non-elf archer.
Party style is party style. Mine is not for everyone. Interesting that after all these years, I prefer a party that I could have built (and prolly came close to building) lo those many years ago.
https://forums.beamdog.com/discussion/65524/favorite-paladin#latest
Short answer: IWD doesn't favor stealth or dual wield as much as BG, so third pip fighter with higher AC is generally the better option, though Elven Chain will mitigate a bit of that. I consider dual-classing to be a BG pastime as well.
Dual class all the things. Except the bard.
Now, discussing dual classing can be interesting, but within a context that acknowledges party roles and specific objectives. My ideals are the opposite of the power gamer. I strive for the simplest party that is most effective at the task. I believe the task, taken as a whole, in IWD is better served by pure combat tactics than by illusions or wizard slaying effects for example. Occam's razor eliminates, for me, builds as you suggest. You may note that in my original post, the three party builds get weaker on paper, but better in playability.
This isn't the case in BG ( BG 2 really). I happen to agree with you on interesting low level duals, because there are tasks that those builds may apply. That is all I meant in referring to such as a BG pastime. Well, that and IWD's linear structure. If you have to play without thief skills through a certain part of the game, for example, you are not being most effective at your task. Most powerful at end game is not my goal especially if it plateaus or crashes your fighting effectiveness curve. In BG this can be avoided. And again:
Party style is party style. Mine is not for everyone. Out of context my points lose their meaning - feel free to treat them as such.
Undead hunter, by far. Especially seeing as the kit is kind of underwhelming in BG in comparison.
I completed BG1 as Paladin Cavalier and working on BG2 now, I think i will always play this class in these games
Wish you all a bright light holy day!