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Baldur's Gate seriesFavourite BG character builds.(30 posts)(30 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted February 07, 2011
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MarcoMp: Dual human Fighter 3 / Specialist Mage.
Unless you use a game editor to cheat in a mage kit (specialisms are treated as kits in the BG2 engine), you can only dual-class to a specialist mage if you play vanilla BG 1. In BG 2 (the game the OP was about) or Tutu or BGT installs of BG1, you cannot dual to a specialism.

My favourite classes ('build' is a 3E, not 2nd Edition AD&D term) are Blade and elven Fighter/Mage.

Blade for the extra abilities you get, like offensive spin has you whizzing about the battle-field dealing maximum damage with every hit (though you don't get extra attacks/round, you can get an additional attack with dual-wielding and with the Rogue Rebalancing mod you get *** in dual-wield for free:
"Blades now automatically start with maximum proficiency (3 points) in Two Weapon Fighting style as described in the 2E AD&D "Complete Bard's Handbook" supplement.),

Great about Blades is their versatility (for example, you can't specialize in a weapon, but you can be proficient in a lot of them, so it's easy to pick another weapon for the occasion) and their high levels: with spells where the damage done is level-related, they do even more damage than a single-class Mage because rogues do level up faster. And the enemy gets nice saving throw penalties if you have the 'Add Save Penalties for Spells Cast by High-Level Casters (BETA)'-Tweak from the Gibberlings' BG2 Tweakpack installed.

Fighter-Mages on the other hand are great for their weapon specialization, eventually more than 3 spell level slots per level (which the Blade is limited too, unless items add spell-slots) and the extra attacks/round, that being a fighter grants them at higher levels.

'Blade or Fighter-Mage' is a question that has often been debated through the years and I personally made up my mind slightly in favour of the Blade, not being sure if they're more powerful, but they're more fun, I think. But still, in another parallel campaign, a Fighter/Mage PC follows my Blade PC in his footsteps. And my first AD&D character ever, some 16 years ago, was a Fighter-Mage.

Either way, it has to be 'Swords and Sorcery', or as I call them, a 'Spellblade'. And Thievery is for my favourite NPC's: Imoen, Alora, Coran, Jan Jansen. I could never make a more enjoyable Thieving character myself.
Post edited February 07, 2011 by DubConqueror
Posted February 07, 2011
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MarcoMp: Dual human Fighter 3 / Specialist Mage.
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DubConqueror: Unless you use a game editor to cheat in a mage kit (specialisms are treated as kits in the BG2 engine), you can only dual-class to a specialist mage if you play vanilla BG 1. In BG 2 (the game the OP was about) or Tutu or BGT installs of BG1, you cannot dual to a specialism.

My favourite classes ('build' is a 3E, not 2nd Edition AD&D term) are Blade and elven Fighter/Mage.

Blade for the extra abilities you get, like offensive spin has you whizzing about the battle-field dealing maximum damage with every hit (though you don't get extra attacks/round, you can get an additional attack with dual-wielding and with the Rogue Rebalancing mod you get *** in dual-wield for free:
"Blades now automatically start with maximum proficiency (3 points) in Two Weapon Fighting style as described in the 2E AD&D "Complete Bard's Handbook" supplement.),

Great about Blades is their versatility (for example, you can't specialize in a weapon, but you can be proficient in a lot of them, so it's easy to pick another weapon for the occasion) and their high levels: with spells where the damage done is level-related, they do even more damage than a single-class Mage because rogues do level up faster. And the enemy gets nice saving throw penalties if you have the 'Add Save Penalties for Spells Cast by High-Level Casters (BETA)'-Tweak from the Gibberlings' BG2 Tweakpack installed.

Fighter-Mages on the other hand are great for their weapon specialization, eventually more than 3 spell level slots per level (which the Blade is limited too, unless items add spell-slots) and the extra attacks/round, that being a fighter grants them at higher levels.

'Blade or Fighter-Mage' is a question that has often been debated through the years and I personally made up my mind slightly in favour of the Blade, not being sure if they're more powerful, but they're more fun, I think. But still, in another parallel campaign, a Fighter/Mage PC follows my Blade PC in his footsteps. And my first AD&D character ever, some 16 years ago, was a Fighter-Mage.

Either way, it has to be 'Swords and Sorcery', or as I call them, a 'Spellblade'. And Thievery is for my favourite NPC's: Imoen, Alora, Coran, Jan Jansen. I could never make a more enjoyable Thieving character myself.
Blade fighter mage isn't possible, but how about kensai blade?

make a kensai, use cheats to level 40, then change to blade, 0 hit points and level 1.

kensai affects (don't worry about it, unless you do a lot of editing) are preserved after class change. Thac0 and damage bonuses are in 27 affects in shadowkeeper...13 Thac0, 13 damage bonus, and one AC boost. You inherit them using this technique. And any high level bonuses you choose...critical strike, GREATER WHIRLWIND, hardiness, g deathblow, etc.

Once you hit use any item, you can have a blade in offensive spin, with holy avenger +6.

Oh, and once you get enhanced bard song, you may cast mislead several times, and your mislead clones can use enhanced bard song. Use helm of simulacrum to have 10 mislead clones, and boost your combat ability to godlike levels. (they STACK) best of all you can move your mislead clones away from combat area, as songs affect entire party and all over the map.
Post edited February 07, 2011 by EdwinJanssen
Posted February 08, 2011
Fighter/Mage, Blade & other Bard kits make for really fun playthroughs, and from a roleplaying perspective, they are characters who are extremely dedicated to their crafts, having worked to use their physical prowress to master martial combat, and their mind to master arcane magics. Like the NWN2 manual states for Eldritch Knights (3.5e Prestige Class for Fighter/Mages), they are extremely driven individuals.

But when you think about it, all other classes that can be equally as good, if you know what you're doing. Like a cleric who knows how to use stealth through Sanctuary, employ mage-disabling magics, martial buffs (like Draw Upon Holy Might & Rightious Magic), and Area of Effect spells can become as powerful as a F/M, Blade, Barbarian, Inquisitor, Shapeshifter, Assassin, Sorcerer or any other class or kit that folk like to play the series as, perhaps even more so. In fact, Clerics have a major edge defensively, what with having more spells per level than mages (think about having Sanctuary 4-5x/day, vs arcane spellcasters having to balance Invisibility w/the other great spells), and having Chaotic Commands & Regeneration in BG2. Arcane spellcasters need alot more preparation than clerics to get the same things done. But its all worth it, when once you're able to place a well-timed Fireball, and much later on a well-timed Horrid Wilting, straight at your enemies feet! Of course Clerics have their own Area of Effect damage spells too, like Holy Smite in BG2.

But I think a Cleric/Mage who knows how to use their spells is absolutely ultimate. So yeah, Quayle in BG1 & Aarie in BG2, FTW!
Post edited February 08, 2011 by bladeofBG
Posted February 08, 2011
I'm not very adept in quoting with this forum's software, but in reply to EdwinJanssen:

'Kensai-Blade': the method you describe is definitely cheating: exploiting the engine of the game to do something the AD&D rules don't allow. To my knowledge, dualing to or from a Blade is not allowed in AD&D 2nd Edition rules.

Secondly, I regard having Mislead Clones's sing Bard Songs as cheese: exploiting the engine to something which perhaps is not against the rules, but still an engine exploit to make the game more beatable. Disabling that possibility is one of the tweaks from the aTweaks pack I always use.

To me, AD&D is about playing within the rules, and I'm more into rule-abiding then powergaming. You may bend the rules and exploit the engine if you want to. People should play the game in a way that's fun for them, but cheese and cheats are no fun to me. So it's plain Blades for me and he (or she, if I'll start a game with a female bard) will be the only one doing the singing, no Clone exploits (or Simulacrum's using quickslots for that matter - also turn it off with aTweaks).

@BladeofBG: You are absolutely right about the power of Clerics. The reason I like arcane casters is to me not because they might be the most powerful. The reason is I like slinging magic, I just don't like worshiping a god. I'm not a very good roleplayer in that respect: my dislike for God(s) in real life usually keeps me from playing Cleric's (Gods are evil beings, in my opinion, the way He/She/It/They in all His/Her/Their might let us suffer this much). Only once I played a Cleric because I like the idea of a 'Painbearer', because I feel like a bearer of pain in real life (Candlemass had a song about it, appealing idea to turn your depression into something 'useful'). I did play a Ranger/Cleric and Cleric/Mage though.

BTW: I haven't played any character above 12th level yet, none of my campaigns has advanced that far yet, but reading about the possibility of using clones and images of an arcane caster in that way and the option in aTweaks to turn it off, turning it off immediately appealed to me as preventing cheese.
Post edited February 08, 2011 by DubConqueror
Posted February 08, 2011
DubConqueror,

In order to quote on this forum, move your mouse to the top-right of the post you want to quote (in the same line that says how long ago a post was made), and the option to quote should appear as "Reply."

Yeah Kensai-Blade is total cheese! LOL!

I don't think using a Mislead Clone to sing is a cheese tactic though, or an engine exploitation. It's not like the clone is fighting, as per the 8th level SImulacrum spell (which I don't feel is cheese; you gotta be a really powerful magic user to be able to cast 8th lvl spells).

I prefer 2e AD&D to the other AD&D rules editions, but its not perfect. So while I'm not a powergamer, I tend more to favouring the 2e rules, but with the understanding that its not perfect. Yeah cheese & cheats are good for laughs, but not for roleplaying, for me anyways.

Oh yeah. To each, his own, regarding what you wanna play as, and what you wanna believe. I don't believe its God making folk suffer, so much as it is man making folk suffer.

Never played past 12th level? I take it this is your 1st time playing BG2 then, eh? I've played through the series a few times, and during the Throne of Bhaal part, I think you might reconsider your current stance on the usage of Project Images & Simulacrums, especially if you employ some the mods that make the game even more challenging than it already is!
Post edited February 08, 2011 by bladeofBG
Posted February 08, 2011
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bladeofBG: DubConqueror,

In order to quote on this forum, move your mouse to the top-right of the post you want to quote (in the same line that says how long ago a post was made), and the option to quote should appear as "Reply."

Yeah Kensai-Blade is total cheese! LOL!

I don't think using a Mislead Clone to sing is a cheese tactic though, or an engine exploitation. It's not like the clone is fighting, as per the 8th level SImulacrum spell (which I don't feel is cheese; you gotta be a really powerful magic user to be able to cast 8th lvl spells).

I prefer 2e AD&D to the other AD&D rules editions, but its not perfect. So while I'm not a powergamer, I tend more to favouring the 2e rules, but with the understanding that its not perfect. Yeah cheese & cheats are good for laughs, but not for roleplaying, for me anyways.

Oh yeah. To each, his own, regarding what you wanna play as, and what you wanna believe. I don't believe its God making folk suffer, so much as it is man making folk suffer.

Never played past 12th level? I take it this is your 1st time playing BG2 then, eh? I've played through the series a few times, and during the Throne of Bhaal part, I think you might reconsider your current stance on the usage of Project Images & Simulacrums, especially if you employ some the mods that make the game even more challenging than it already is!
Well, since I'm all about cheese, :)

Blade is correct, trying Tactics Mod is an excersize in frustration. If I recall correctly, when you hit Small Tooth Pass, you get ambushed by 2-3 dragons. Improved liches use spell immunity abjuration, spell shield, death spell, protection from magic weapons that last for minutes, and improved invisibility. All scripted.

No summons, no spell strike, no breach, no hope. (unless you use the naughty improved azuredge cheese)

Improved Kangaxx you start off facing 2 high level liches and a mess of vampires before you can even enter Kangaxx's lair. Improved Azuredge cheese is needed just to survive.

Improved Ascention, you're facing the entire five and assorted demons at the end. Without project image cheese, and summoning 10 planetars, this battle is short and painful.

Tactics mod can make people cry. :)
Posted February 09, 2011
And those are juss some of the awsome mods out there!
Posted February 09, 2011
I always felt Clerics really shined in NWN1. Godly buffs at mid level.

One thing I love about Clerics in BG is making vampires explode with Turn Undead. Oh fun days :D
Posted February 09, 2011
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bladeofBG: DubConqueror,

In order to quote on this forum, move your mouse to the top-right of the post you want to quote (in the same line that says how long ago a post was made), and the option to quote should appear as "Reply."
Well, thanks. However I already understood that one, but what I'd like to master is:
your quote
text I enter
someone else's quote
text I enter

and manage to put quote's within quote's eventually, not to create an hourglass, but to clarify what I am saying to whom

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bladeofBG: Never played past 12th level? I take it this is your 1st time playing BG2 then, eh? I've played through the series a few times, and during the Throne of Bhaal part, I think you might reconsider your current stance on the usage of Project Images & Simulacrums, especially if you employ some the mods that make the game even more challenging than it already is!
I discovered Baldur's Gate around 2008, but BG 1 kept me busy and happy for the first years. I play lots of campaigns in parallel and only last autumn I finished with 3 of them. Three BG1 PC characters now made it into BG2, but all are stil in chapter 2 and not far advanced yet. I have just yet get to know the 6th level divine spells, none of my arcane casters have yet the level to cast the 6th and higher level spells they already know. But I'm really looking forward to it. It's a complete different way of playing though, with all that magic (I was impressed with 9th level Xan or 9th level Dynaheir made Sorceror in BGTutu, but it just starts of there in BG2).
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EdwinJanssen: Tactics mod can make people cry. :)
SCS II is enough hurting for people who don't use cheese.

But you made me understand why SCS's readme says Improved Anvil, Tactics and Ascension make use of cheese and cheats: it's made for people who like to use cheese and cheats themselves.

I do like our Dutch 'young ripe' (jong belegen) cheese though!

And I just found out posting post with one p's quote after a post with another p's quote is a good way to achieve what i wanted! Cheesy forum software exploitation! :)
Post edited February 09, 2011 by DubConqueror
Posted February 10, 2011
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Nick_Cymru: I always felt Clerics really shined in NWN1. Godly buffs at mid level.

One thing I love about Clerics in BG is making vampires explode with Turn Undead. Oh fun days :D
Aerie at high level, if she survives, can blast liches, and chaincontingency implosion. Better known as "dragon killer".
Post edited February 10, 2011 by EdwinJanssen
Posted February 10, 2011
I personally like Ranger/Cleric Multiclass, fighter/druid/cleric all in one. Whoops mucho asso
Posted February 11, 2011
Despite what I said about not liking clerics, I dó like Ranger/Clerics too, as well as Cleric/Mages. One of my favourite characters was a half-elven Ranger/Cleric in Chainmail +2, that could stand her ground easily up front, with whom I just finished BG 1 and started off in BG 2.

In my BG 1 games I have Quayle start at the Nashkel Carnival. He is fun to have around and it's great to see him start quite weak (low hp especially) and see him grow in power. He never reaches the might of single-class mage but a Cleric-Mage is a very versatile secondary caster. What bugs me about Aerie though, is having so many spells to choose from, each time when resting. And it takes a lot of clicks to find the right spells in combat.
Posted February 12, 2011
I like Ranger/Clerics for this reason:
Draw Upon Holy might, Iron Skins, Armor of Faith, Chant, Bless= One helluva front line fighter.

And not to mention several of the summons he has b/c of his druidic spells, summon Fire elemental? Yes please. Can raise dead, I could go on and on... lol
Posted February 16, 2011
try a ranger archer... :D

only slings, but rocketh. :D
Post edited February 16, 2011 by EdwinJanssen
Posted February 20, 2011
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DubConqueror: But you made me understand why SCS's readme says Improved Anvil, Tactics and Ascension make use of cheese and cheats: it's made for people who like to use cheese and cheats themselves.

I do like our Dutch 'young ripe' (jong belegen) cheese though!

And I just found out posting post with one p's quote after a post with another p's quote is a good way to achieve what i wanted! Cheesy forum software exploitation! :)
http://www.sorcerers.net/Games/BG2/SpellsReference/Stuff/Cheese.htm

Muwahaha....:)

there is one insane build, tempted to try again.

wildsorceror

add wildmage spells to sorc via shadowkeeper. you now get wildsurges, spam NRD like a sale expiring (no latency, triple chaos shield via sequencer, and limit wish infinite spells) and generally make a complete fool of yourself giggling.

awesome, awesome build. typical sorc plays out casting more than normal mages. Typical builds include offensive and party buffs, the stuff you cast all the time. Resist fear, polymorph to squirrel. ^_^

number of battles repeated, many. Number of times Imoen had sexchange, many.(two sorc party with Nalia. )
Post edited February 21, 2011 by EdwinJanssen
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Baldur's Gate seriesFavourite BG character builds.(30 posts)(30 posts)
(30 posts)