If you like melee, then, yes. You become a killing machine, which is what I like! Similarly, the archer with Grand Mastery is a machine gun. Not saying it makes them the best class, but if you like fighters, it's a good way to go.
Think Sarevok - when you get him, he's a meat grinder. The reason for that is the Grand Mastery. By that point in the game, Minsc's lack of fighter proficiency points really limits him.
@ginger_hammer - I'll take a look at home. I think fighters get a proficiency every 3rd level, which means I can really boost AC with single weapon style (or 2H style) prof points and wait a little for Grand Mastery. The hit/damage bonus is good, but I think a Kensai needs AC help early on and hitting isn't going to really be a limiting factor.
If you plan ahead I would indeed recommend the 'true grandmastery' mod component of the BG2 tweak pack. Without that, grandmastery becomes largely useless when you transition to BG2. Since it's a tweak rather than a bugfix I'm not certain it will be included in vanilla EE - but you can just install the tweak pack if so.
@Shin I thought they were looking at Grand Mastery again as part of BG:EE. Hard to tell for sure, as I get lost between what people are discussing and what is really happening to BG:EE. Sometimes, the forum posts look legit - as in 'happening' rather than 'good ideas'.
@reedmilfam I guess it could well end up being included too - the call on what will be in at release day will likely have to be made very soon though as time is running out, and I haven't seen any fresh updates regarding what components will be in.
@Shin - It'll definitely be interesting at first. Lots of subtle changes that we'll spend a while getting used to. Still, looking forward to [gathering] my party before venturing forth.
Proficiency Slot Table: 1 slot: none 2 slots: +1 to hit, +2 to damage, an extra half attack per round. 3 slots: +3 to hit, +3 to damage, an extra half attack per round. 4 slots: +3 to hit, +4 to damage, an extra half attack per round, -1 to Speed Factor. 5 slots: +3 to hit, +5 to damage, one extra attack per round, -3 to Speed Factor.
@Tanthalas are you sure that table from the link is wrong? I know that you are only supposed to receive +1 APR for GM, and I think that is what is stated in the manual (and what will be implemented in BGEE) but I think in the vanilla game you actually got the +3/2 that the table lists.
Not that this was a big deal, seeing as how you couldn't actually get GM in vanilla BG, as you need 9 levels of fighter to do so and I believe you capped out at 8.
@TJ_Hooker - you get 4 proficiency points for 1st lvl fighter under BG2 rules - so you could be GM at level 3 if you so chose. That's the only reason I think it would matter in BG1. Anyway, fighters need all the help they can get later, so I'm all for it. Therefore, glad this is implemented in BG:EE
...24 days from now, I will Gather My Party Before Venturing Forth...
@TJ_Hooker - you get 4 proficiency points for 1st lvl fighter under BG2 rules - so you could be GM at level 3 if you so chose. That's the only reason I think it would matter in BG1. Anyway, fighters need all the help they can get later, so I'm all for it. Therefore, glad this is implemented in BG:EE
...24 days from now, I will Gather My Party Before Venturing Forth...
You can't put all your proficiency points into a single weapon type at character creation, you're limited to max of two. You can put as many as you want into fighting styles though.
@Tanthalas considering True Grandmastery being implemented in BGEE, i hope you are also fixing dualled characters (fighter->something) thingy so that they can't put more pips then their second class allows. Anomen with 5 pips in a proficiency as currently ToB allows is nice, but pure cheese... And does not seem too much compliant to the rules.
Comments
Think Sarevok - when you get him, he's a meat grinder. The reason for that is the Grand Mastery. By that point in the game, Minsc's lack of fighter proficiency points really limits him.
As the engine is BG2, use the BG2 one at the bottom of the page. The top table shows how the fighter gets proficiency points through levels.
On another note, this post makes
post for me! I talk too much
Heck. CHARNAME is the party!
Not that this was a big deal, seeing as how you couldn't actually get GM in vanilla BG, as you need 9 levels of fighter to do so and I believe you capped out at 8.
...24 days from now, I will Gather My Party Before Venturing Forth...
In BG1 you're limited to 2 stars in any single proficiency at the character creation screen.
jolly_bb has a point. Once you dual-class out of a Fighter you shouldn't be able to progress with Fighter stuff.