Who are your NPC tanks?
hummer010
Member Posts: 95
So, I've almost always played BG as a fighter, or a multi-classed fighter. I've usually been the tank. I decided to try something different for the first playthrough of BGEE. Initially I was a swashbuckler, but then by the time I made it to Nashkel, I wasn't happy with some of my choices in terms of party, or my character, so I'm now running a half-elven blade. I'm really enjoying it.
Early on, it's tough though, there are no real tanks, and it's really made me change the way I play things.
The trouble is, I haven't found a NPC tank that quite fills the role as well as my PC always did.
Who do you run as a NPC tank?
Early on, it's tough though, there are no real tanks, and it's really made me change the way I play things.
The trouble is, I haven't found a NPC tank that quite fills the role as well as my PC always did.
Who do you run as a NPC tank?
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Usually: Yeslick, Minsc, Khalid
I hate making CHARNAME (your PC) the tank, because if he/she dies it is game over. I prefer to make it a character I can just raise dead later if they mess up at tanking.
Without the gauntlets of Dexterity, Khalid and Montaron are probably your best tanks. Good dexterity, good constitution, ability to equip heavy armors. Check on all 3. They also join pretty much right away.
With the Gauntlets of Dexterity, Ajantis, Yeslick and Kagain are amazing. Kagain can absorb a ton of punishment, while Ajantis will rarely get hit especially when you bolster his defense with his Protection from Evil ability. Yeslick takes a bit more work because you have to go get him in just about the worst spot for an NPC but again, great HP, ability to wear heavy armors, and can use cleric buffs to jump his strength and constitution to crazy levels.
Honorable mention to Dorn and Shar-Teel. Great dexterity, great strength. Just can't really absorb a lot of punishment.
Well sometimes
Any of them can do it with Gloves of Dexterity and plate armor. I like to use Jaheira wearing the Ankheg armor, because I think she looks really good in green, and it makes sense for a druid.
Minsc using his bow and greatsword proficiencies really makes more sense as a second-line fighter, because he can thrust the greatsword from behind the frontliners. Jaheira and a staff can also thrive on the second line.
Khalid with two pips in longsword and using the +2 sword you get from Greywolf, makes a great frontliner, but he either needs to have a Remove Fear spell active, or else keep a high-charisma character in the leader's position, so his morale won't break.
If you want a tank who also does good dps (that's two separate things, and finding a tank who is good at both is a little harder), I'd go with Minsc, ankheg or full plate armor, Gloves of Dexterity, and either greatsword or mace and shield, so you can take advantage of that 18/93 strength.
The next best, strength-wise, is Ajantis, having 17 strength. Most of the rest are so-so on strength, and Branwen is downright lousy with only 13. I'm not sure what Shar-Teel's strength or proficiencies are. Use of Strength and/or Draw Upon Holy Might spells can even the playing field a bit.
So, good strength, great dex, no bonus HPs. I've never used her in Tutu or BG:EE, so I am not sure what her proficiencies are now.
EDIT: Actually, that low constitution might be an issue. I didn't see that at first.
Oh, and I completely forgot about Dorn! He's probably a no-brainer for an evil party tank.
If only Paladins were immortal. However, (if not an Undead Hunter) level drain, liches, and (if not a Cavalier) dragons in BG2 have killed my Paladins before. Only twice per paladin, but still possible
Viconia is in
Also, I am considering using a neutral/evil party that I haven't used before: namely Viconia, Tiax, Eldoth, Shar-Teel, and Skie. Will Shar-Teel and my PC Fighter/Mage suffice as tanks?
I'm not sure how to do spoiler tags soo...
~~~***XXXSPOILERXXX***~~~
Shar-teel is in the Basalisk area east of the Beregost Temple zone. When you zone in simply go north a ways and you'll find her without running into any Basalisks. Be ready though since she will challenge your strongest male character to a 1 on 1 battle before joining your cause.
And I have also never tried Kivan, he is going on my next good playthrough team for sure: Me (monk), Kivan, Branwen, Quayle (never tried him, could be interesting), Garrick, Xan (even though I hate the little bugger, his sword looks so cool).
Thank you! Definitely will grab her for sure. Any idea what her proficiencies are so I can plan?
Thanks for the tip on spoiler tags!
Kagain is pretty much objectively the best tank in the game, even counting the player character: even the PC can't have 20 in constitution at the start (only by using the tome, which doesn't count because it could give Kagain a score of 21, which is even more), which not only gives him more hit points than anyone else, but also guarantees that he's at full health whenever you rest or even switch areas.
Tank generally means damage-soaker, but is also commonly used to mean the Fighting type (physical DPS) in Baldur's Gate from what I have noticed. Also, the PC can have 20 Constitution if you start with 19 as a dwarf or half-orc and read the Constitution+1 tome. Plus, you could have your PC start with 18 Dex, saving the gauntlets for someone else (if AC is a factor in tanks for you).
EDOT: W00T my 100th comment! I feel like I am a part of this forum officially.
However, if we're going to talk about Shar-Teel, she is one of the better archers for an evil party. If you dual-class her into a rogue, she gets nasty backstabs and she gets to open locks.
But why must Kivan be "typically in the back?" He has a higher strength than dex. He is a better frontliner than ranged support.
I find, in my experience, that AC is more important for a tank than hit points. Afterall, if you are hit less often it doesn't matter if you have less hit points, no? Also, in the late stages of the game you will be hit and hit very hard by some enemies. With all the healing potions and spells in the world no tank can stand up to the kind of damage 3 greater wyverns, the demonknight, or Aec'letec will do. Having frontline characters who dish out a lot of damage and end the fight earlier are more important than having a lot of hit points in those particular match ups.
Don't get me wrong, Kagain is great and probably one of my favorite characters but he's not the ideal choice if someone wants to play a good aligned party. Personally I prefer the killing power of Kivan and Minsc to the extra hit I can take with Khalid.
She really was designed to dual-class into thief.
EDIT: Though I suppose if her base was 14, you could tome her...
Generally, giving Kagain the Dexterity gauntlets makes him a savage tank--his one flaw is AC and a simple early item fixes that. It is hard to make up those HPs for high Dex characters. I agree that AC is very important for a tank, but HPs (which are harder to get when such a simple Dex item exists) are also important.