Another class help discussion
Bobblehead
Member Posts: 4
Hello, everyone.
Just picked up BGEE I & II and am about to go through my first Baldur's Gate play through ever. Once again I am stuck at the class selection screen (all these classes look awesome). So my first question, how important are class choices throughout the entire series? I am not really into the whole power gaming scene but would like a class that can hold its own while still being somewhat challenging, has other uses beyond run up and hit things, and that requires some thought.
A couple of classes that looked interesting to me are the Monk, Blade, Swashbuckler (though Blade looks a bit cooler), and Shadowdancer. Monk looks pretty interesting though I am worried that since I am new to the game it might be a bit too unforgiving. Shadowdancer also looks cool but I am worried the game fights will turn into hide>hit>hide>hit with no real thought. Apologies for another one of these threads, but I would prefer to settle on one class before I start as I hate restarting the game to try new ones.
Just picked up BGEE I & II and am about to go through my first Baldur's Gate play through ever. Once again I am stuck at the class selection screen (all these classes look awesome). So my first question, how important are class choices throughout the entire series? I am not really into the whole power gaming scene but would like a class that can hold its own while still being somewhat challenging, has other uses beyond run up and hit things, and that requires some thought.
A couple of classes that looked interesting to me are the Monk, Blade, Swashbuckler (though Blade looks a bit cooler), and Shadowdancer. Monk looks pretty interesting though I am worried that since I am new to the game it might be a bit too unforgiving. Shadowdancer also looks cool but I am worried the game fights will turn into hide>hit>hide>hit with no real thought. Apologies for another one of these threads, but I would prefer to settle on one class before I start as I hate restarting the game to try new ones.
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First, very important information - there is a wide variety of NPCs of almost all classes and kits, so you will get to experience the kits and classes via them, even if you haven't chosen the class for your main character.
Second, very important information - your main char will probably turn out a bit tougher and meaner (eg - more powerful), than an NPC.
The question is - what would you like to do the most? You have suggested 4 kits, so let's take a look at them.
Monk - interesting twist to the "Fighter" class. Less equipment-dependant and with more variety. Important - quite weak first few levels (half of BGEE), gets better and better afterwards and hits "awesome" status shortly after starting in BG2EE.
Swashbuckler - basically a hybrid between a Fighter and Thief. Can to almost anything ... thieving skills, fighting, trap setting, scouting in shadows - later in BG2EE also casting spells from scrolls or wear heavy armour. One of my most favourite classes. Also - once you choose a Swashbuckler, you won't really ever need another Thief in the party so you can fill the party with other, interesting classes.
Blade - "Jack of all trades, master of none". Blade is basically a Fighter-Mage who can steal a little bit. Can't stand in for a real Thief. Can't stand in for a real Mage in BG2EE (can, in BGEE). Very versatile. Can get very deadly. A bit squishy though. Runs purely on "cool factor".
Shadowdancer - special Thief, who (especially in BG1) in order to be viable in fight sucks at actually being a Thief. Needs a buttload of micro-management - as you have noted. My opinion - nice niche class, but gets old quickly.
If you're looking for someone who can do more than run up and hit things, consider the Fighter/Thief multiclass, available to all non-human classes. In a way, it plays similar to the Swashbuckler, but it retains the thiefy ability to backstab. Like a warrior, you'll have higher health and the ability to get a benefit from having more than 16 CON, can use heavier armor and weapons, along with getting some extra attacks. Like a thief, you'll be able to pick locks, find and disarm traps, pick pockets, stealth, and even set traps. You do need to limit the armor you wear if you want to constantly use your thiefy abilities, but Studded Leather's not that bad, and you can throw on a large shield on top of that!
If you're looking for a bit sturdier, consider the Paladin. You can wear all armors with ease and wield all weapons. Eventually you'll even get some divine spells for healing and protection. Sure, it's pretty much a run-up and smack things, but you do have other abilities.
In a similar vein, consider a Cleric, maybe one of Helm or Lathander (there is pretty much no reason to use a base cleric at all.) While you're a poorer fighter, you can still hold your own thanks to good armor and shielding. You can buff up your allies, heal wounds when/if needed, and when not, there is a particularly powerful buff, Draw on Holy Might, which can turn you into a powerful front-line fighter.
If you are looking for a shoot-from-the-hip response without any further info. Play an Elven Swashbuckler with longsword and shortbow. If you want a little more nail-biting, edgy action forget the shortbow and put 2 pips in longsword.
(and don't forget to tell Imoen to take a long walk off a short plank when she joins the party).
Doing quick math, at the normal 25 points per level, which Swash's get, you'll get 975 points to distribute through your whole career. More than enough to get 100 points in everything. There are only 9 thief skills after all.
A party always needs one thief, for finding traps and opening locks. Having more dilutes your offensive and defensive pool.
And it's exactly as you've put it - you can have 2 Thieves in the party and specialise. (in BG1 - it's recommended)
So if you want to have an utility Thief who will be able to pick locks and disarm traps, you can get that to 100% around level 6 with a Swashbuckler / kitless thief (like Imoen). But he/she will still quite suck at other things, like trap setting (underrated and VERY deadly skill) or hiding in shadows.
I did play a lot of Thieves and usually with 2 strategies in mind:
1) Utility-thief - max Open Locks and Find traps and then focus on Set Snare (for example). Can't scout in the shadows much, but you don't need another Thief. Swashbuckler kit is good for this, as it's only con is to not to be able to backstab, for which the stalking in shadows is a pre-requisite.
2) Combat-Thief - max hiding in Shadows and Set Snare...scout for enemies, backstab away. In this case, you WILL need another Thief to pick the locks and disarm traps. (Fighter-Thief multiclass/Assassin/Shadowdancer kits)
NOTE #1: Thieving skills get bonuses based on your Dexterity. Keep in mind, that you will get a +1 Dexterity Tome in BG1 (+5% to all skills) and there's a buckler that grants another +1 Dexterity (another +5%). Which means, don't invest more than 90-95% into your skills before you get the Tome.
Draw Upon Holy Might spell, which you can get later in BG1 also ups your Dexterity and provides additional bonus, in case there is a particularly difficult chest that won't buckle with 90-95% lockpicking.
NOTE #2: You don't NEED 100% in all skills - especially not in BG1. You can do away with around 70 lockpicking for 95% of the chests in BG1 (and all the important ones). Find Disarm Traps is similar. Unless you'd want to go to the Durlag's Tower, where a 100 is necessary. Also - there are potions that will give you +20% and more bonus and there's a plenty of them.
Class is quite important as everyone has already stated. A lot depends on the type of class you actually feel like playing.
There are of course classes that are a bit more difficult (classes all have pros and cons) at first to play but any class can finish the game it all depends on how you play it.
Monk - is difficult to play at first - but if you take the monk class into BG2 it begins to shine. During the early game in BG1 the monk is quite weak in many ways - so stay armed for a few levels and use missile weapons - keep monsters away from you - of course with the monks speed that should not be too difficult to do. Have a reliable team that support you and you will survive the difficult levels. Some
mirco-management is needed for this class.
Thieves and all its kits - some are better than others - and so are more enjoyable to play - it depends on what you like and what you are looking for. Thieves require some micro-management to fully be able to use their abilities. The higher the skill levels in certain areas like hide etc the easier some of the unique skills the thief are able to show. Again in the early stages some help is needed.
One of the best classes to go through the game is the multi-class option. Being a fighter/ something - means you have two classes - one of which brings the melee power that your other class will lack but the other class will bring that something special to your character. Favorite classes tend to be either fighter/mage or the fighter/thief - to go through the entire game. Both are enjoyable to play as both have unique abilities that will develop as you level up.
Fighters - and all its sub-class - are melee fighters - good for combat of any form - they tend to be the strongest melee fighters of all the classes. Its relatively easy to use without a lot of the micro-management that certain other classes have - you start the game with the least difficulties - meaning you have the most HP, the most weapons ability, the best armor and shields (if you can afford to buy it) and the best chance to hit your foes. You can't really go wrong with a fighter but a kit adds some flavor to the vanilla fighter and can be fun.
Bards and its kits - are entertaining - you are a jack of all trades - the kits are specialized and can prove fun to play. The bard classes/kit makes certain aspects of the game a little bit easier. In general, because you are a jack of all trades you have bits and pieces of everything - you can fight (not great but you can fight nevertheless), you can use missile weapons and wear armor and shields - you can pick pocket - you can cast arcane spells, use scrolls and wands - you have amazing lore (to identify things) and you have the bard song to help your team or hinder your foes. Because you can do bits of everything - means you are only average at everything - unlike the pure classes - but you add to the team with your unique set of skills. It is always nice to bring a bard along for the adventure.
Pick the class you like best and then if you want to experience the other classes - many of the NPCs in the game will represent those other classes and some kits - there are bards, paladins, fighters, blackguards, sun monks, sorcerers, mages, clerics, druids and a ton of thieves, and even a few multi-class combinations -- there are also dwarves, elves, half-elves, drows, halflings, gnomes and half-orcs along with humans.
Enjoy.
I did write a guide about it. ( https://forums.beamdog.com/discussion/34607/theft-robbery-and-occasional-murder-or-a-short-guide-to-thieves-solo-or-in-group )
There's a bit where it describes the way each kit feels, check it out. Might help you.
Truth be told, for a charname, I prefer a fighting thief, not an utility one. I like my main characters to be strong and powerful and wreak havoc. A Swashie or Fighter-Thief can be a decent utility thief while also capable of a fight. Other thief kits need to sacrifice their utility for deadliness.
(Assassin/Shadow Dancer for hide in shadows and set snare, Bounty Hunter for set snare)
1: pick dwarf
2: look at possible classes for dwarf
3: pick fighter/cleric
4: choose the picture with the biggest beard
5: name your dwarf something with alot of K's, G's and a weapon and/or lightning, ie Kroggadin "Thunderbeard" Hammersmash
6: win the game