Thoughts on my next character for BG-2 SoA & ToB

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I think about starting a new game of BG-2 SoA and ToB for the begin of october. I am not yet sure what class and race my character should have.
Among the classes that attract me, I haven't yet played a monk, barbarian, archer, mc fighter-mage-thief (only in BG-1), sorcerer and kensai. The only kensai I have played yet was choosing the kensai kit for my first class when importing my old bg-1 dc fighter-thief to BG-2 so I did not really try out this classes abilitries to the full extent ...

So, I have the coice:
-sorcerer: the incredible spellcaster .... attractive since it allows a pretty large number of spells, but the have to be chosen carefully ....

-monk: the invulnerable killing mashine .... hmm, maybe it plays too much like a fighter-thief

-barbarian: the master of brute force .... interesting class, especially when considering the armor restriction, rage and resistances. Definitely of dwarven race. Very flexible in terms of weapons ... maybe dualwielding flails ??? As for the rage: I always found a cavalier with draw upon holy might more impressive.

-kensai: the sword saint .... very sophisticated swordmaster (hmm, I admit: shura-influenced). Weapon proficiencies would develop as follows: katanas *****, single weapon style **, scimitars *****, two-weapon style ***, daggers *-rest. Possibly human race.
I also play with the idea to create a halfling kensai dualwielding shortswords or scimitars and daggers, but maybe I need to come off my saving throw trip

-archer: the kensai's nightmare and ranged weapon counterpart .... of course of elven race, proficiencies in longbows and supposedly all melee weapons.

-mc fighter-mage-thief: the universalist, summing up all classes I like to play. Maybe I go soloing then. Probably elven race.

Since I am notoriously undecisive here, I'd be thankful for some input and I'd like to hear your opinions on the possible choices, especially advantages and disadvantages (if possible a little more elaborate than "MONX ROX !" )

[This message has been edited by Ragusa (edited September 21, 2001).]

 

I'd say sorcerer, cool roleplaying being child of a god and that sort of stuff. Also the spell side is really cool, though it requires some planning every time you choose.(though that topic has been up and running more than once)

The F/M/T sounds good, I know it will get Extremists vote
and since you have ToB you can get pretty high levels in SoA due to the cap increase


[This message has been edited by Lokken (edited September 21, 2001).]

 

Well... I myself is still wondering what to play... (Berserker or Barbarian)
So if you are not going to play Berserker, play Barbarian. Dwarf.
I think that Bers and Barbs. are cool as hell!
Plus: The best thing in this game is finding cool equipment for your character. A sorcerer get's powerful, but there isn't many cool things to find for him
//Zaragoth

 

[As I said, if I see ToB mentioned in the SoA forum, I will simply delete it - BTA]

[This message has been edited by Blackthorne TA (edited September 21, 2001).]

 

Thanks for the hint Arek, I will consider this when coosing my char. I think high level abilities might be pretty useful later

 

I love the Archer and played through SOA twice with one (and stupidly erased both of them for some reason so have never used one in TOB.) My Archers were great at doing things that I was surprised at, like killing dragons. Arrow supply of course can be a hassle occasionally but if you devote only your Archer as the only party member to use a bow (and you really don't need another) they are no problem. The thing that is really nice about them though is that they are surprisingly strong in melee. My Archers were every bit as effective in getting up close and personal as say Valygar and Keldorn so they do become extremely versatile. They were a blast to use as scouts. Hide in shadow, hit and fade tactics, drawing your weakened enemies into an ambush -- actually somewhat similar to my Assasins tactics but ranged. The only negative is that it seems to me an Archer as a ranger should dualwield. I don't see any roleplaying reason they couldn't but with a bow you'll have to click to the inventory and switch out your bow with a melee weapon and that gets old. So, I would highly recommend the Archer.

I started playing a monk but quit because I came to the following realization: I like stuff. It's great being the Archer and getting quest armor or a shiny new bow or sword but with the monk you lose out on a lot of that. I know you can steal some NPC armor but it just isn't the same.

I have a sorc I took from SOA and is in TOB right now and along with my Assasin and Archer is also the most enjoyable class I've played. It is also my first magic user though so that may play into it. I would think it is more fun than a mage though because of the added excitement of character creation in knowing that you're choices are set in stone. Plus my sorc can throw around 20 more spells than Imoen right now who is only a couple levels behind me which is nice but I think overrated, how often do you want to use 60 spells without resting anyways?

So, an incredibly long winded caffeine induced way of wholeheartedly recommending the Archer or sorcerer.



[This message has been edited by Laches (edited September 21, 2001).]

 

Halfling kensai dualling shortswords?! GO FOR IT! I created one once and played with it for a while, but stopped because I had so many other games going. It was extremely fun to watch the little bugger beat up everything that opposed him... The halfling kensai may not be as powerful as a human or half-orc dito, at least not until you've bought a certain girdle, but it matters little since it's plain fun. And since you're so fond of halflings... And use
some proficiency slots for daggers, as there's a few good around, especially throwing daggers (yes kensais can throw 'em, I've tried!).

So, my advice would be the halfling kensai using two shortswords, and occasionally a throwing dagger.

 

Ragusa, I recommend you to play a fallen halfling paladin, that'll be very cool...

 

Lol Laskol, somehow I think he's not going to go for that suggestion. Well I'm sure you thought the same, man you gotta love these new smileys, especially that ha...ha...err one

I vote for a sorcerer Ragusa.

 

I find that a sorcerer is a really cool class and might in some ways make it too easy for someone who is familiar with the game and experienced. A sorcerer was my first character and it was most times in fights my front line characters were there just to act as a buffer so my PC could torch them. (I missed all of the good weapons, so my NPCs were really lacking in the offence department)

I would recommend either kensai or archer. I think these are really cool to roleplay (esp. a katana single wielding kensai whom I just started playing) I've noticed that you really have to be careful since he has a high AC in the beginning but is a load of fun to play.

As far as archers go, they are pretty fun as well. Just don't run out of arrows!!! The hide in shadows is really useful as well since you can't wear heavy armor. I would agree with you and go the longbow route and resist the urge to master shortbow because of Gesen and Tansheron. I just can't see a grandmaster elven archer with a dinky little short bow.


P.S. I hate being a goblin, a watcher was so much cooler.

 

The current status:

(a) the kensai: Actually I have some concerns about AC when playing a kensai. The poor AC would force me to do the planar sphere quest early to get in possession of a pair of boots of speed. Should I play a kensai it wiould probably be a halfling one using long- or shortswords singlehanded, later adding daggers to his armory. Maybe I go on to develop dualwielding later.

(b) the archer: Playing an archer is a nice choice since he as the benefit of beeing able to compensate his poor AC with stealth *and* missile weapons. Anyway, the boot of speed thing applies to him as well. I am curious about the melee qualities BTA mentioned, since he just has *.

(c) The sorcerer: Quite nice to play since he has the ability to choose appropiate spells (and the high number of them) to protect himself. Additionally he can wear bracers and robes and doesn't need stupid rings to cast more spells, freeing his two slots for a ring of protection and ring of gaxx.

(d) the fighter-mage-thief: Still a very interesting class. Since I would solo for the largest parts of the game with him, he would level up rather quick.

I already excluded monk and barbarian from my list of characters since they are imo less attractive than the four others.
The monk would play too similar compared to the fighter-thief and the barbarian is a medium hack'n'slash character with good punch but a silly AC: So in my eyes the kensai is way more consequent and more demanding to play.

[This message has been edited by Ragusa (edited September 24, 2001).]

 

Ragusa, if that is it I'd suggest archer.
It is in fact best newbie class - but it is still interesting to develop it.

 

I'd still go for the halfling kensai, but archer sounds good as well. Just don't take any proficiency slots in shortbows.

If you haven't done both strongholds (fighter, ranger), I'd suggest that you take the one you haven't done. But I'm sure you've already thought of this.

 

He only misses out on +1 THAC0 and +2 Damage in comparsion to the other Rangers, so that's hardly a point. I would get Grand Mastery in Long Bows and Proficiency in Long Swords (Elves prefer Long Swords as melee weapons) and then start spending other points in whatever you want.

Mana Bow +4 is great for Archers.

 

Thank you all very much for your ideas. Finally I decided to choose the archer to be my new main char since I never did the ranger stronghold quests before.
I have played the fighter-stronghold several times, just like the paladin, mage stronghold and the thief stronghold so something new for a change will be nice.
He will be backed up by an old BG-1 mc fighter-mage.
More here: http://www.sorcerers.net/ubb/Forum2/HTML/003814.html
Well, now my decision is made this topic can be closed (to avoid untimely resurrection)

 

BTA, isn't dual-wielding a bit out of joint for an archer? You have to unequip his bow for that, no?