this is my first (and i hope last) new topic :)
ok, so whats the problem, all of you nerds know baldurs gate series (if not, go back to workshipping EA and GTA4,F3), two days back i was cleaning my shelf with games and found BG 4 in 1 collection. So I installed them all. And Shadows over Soubar, check the bodies, tortured souls and few more other megamods and finaly Baldurs Gate trilogy.
I have played BG many times, I just loved minsc and boo, and other not so interesting NPCs. But now i want some chalenge. I know it is possible to play throught BG2 with one char (mage or thief) but I want to beat this game with one char from BG1 till the end of BG2:ToB and I cannot decide what character to play.
single class hero ? gets XP cap fastest, strong in beginning but little limited
dual class (kensai - mage, thief - mage) - weaker in start but stronger in end, but i will have to survive few levels of second class to get levels for activating first one
multiclass (mage/thief - fighter/mage/thief or cleric combo) strongest in my eves, but really slow beginning of the game
I think that mage is essencial due to protection spells (fear, petrification, hold...) and he is powerhouse on higher levels, or thief with his Use Any Item HLA ?
I would appreciate any powergaming advices, any advices on classes and your opinions overaly :)
Just to clarify this mission imposible:
only main character
beating game from candlekeep to hell
no cheating
normal or core rules
any mods installed :)

BGT, supports more mods (tortured souls, check the bodies, shadows over soubar and others)
what i remember, TUTU is more like support platform for mods.
check spellhold studios forum - www.shsforums.net

Go for BGT. ;)

I decided to go with TUTU mostly because the mods don't interest me. I never finished BG1 or TotSC or ToB... Which also means that I won't be Solo'ing - at least not BG1 as I don't have previous knowledge of the story. As I have completed SoA before I might solo that.
Now I have to decide between Shapeshifter or Kensai.
Karl

shapeshifter is interesting, kensai is killing machine :)
and if i am right, BGT have better support than TUTU, think about it again, you don't have to install those mods (they do not change BG1 or BG2, they just add more adventures)

Okay... 3 informed votes to 1 uninformed vote wins. I'll try BGT. Partly also because I'm having some graphical flickering in TUTU and also a crash to desktop.
Thankfully TUTU doesn't actually alter the BG1 or BG2 installations. I'd hate to have to install 8 cd's again.
I've used Kensai before (last time I played BG2 - a couple of years ago though I didn't get far) and mostly enjoyed it. However I've noticed that Greater Werewolves take more killing that is really justifiable... Hence my indecision.
The Wild Mage also appeals :)
And has anyone tried the widescreen mod?
Karl

I don't like the shapeshifter nor Kensai, however I think Wild Mage it's a very sweet choice. Also, you should try the Bard, is a very enjoyable class (specially the Blade sub-class).

i am using widescreen mod without any problem, works nice :)

Damn... It is very nice. I can't believe how good the game look with the old art/engine at a higher resolution... Yay for Black Isle :)
Karl

one more important think for BGT, install worldmap mod, looks better and sometimes BGT have problems with map what i have read. worldmap mod is on spsforums

Another potential strategy is to take one class all the way through BG1, then start your dual-class upon importing your character to BG2.

I made it to Sarevok in a Ranger/Cleric, however he doesn't seem to be up to par with the final challenge.

Stats: lvl9 cleric/lvl8 ranger, 2 skills in twin weapons and using 2 warhammers +2.
Can cast up to lvl5 cleric spells.

Unrelated: are there any cleric weapons that can hurt Mendas/Seelad?

Thanks!

I sort of did this with a warrior (made kensai upon entering BG2) (I did go on as a kensai in BG2 for a while though). I found it surprisingly easy to solo Baldur's Gate with one. Archery is super powerful, especially with those explosive arrows, and as long as you keep a decent stack of good potions, you can pretty much kill everything in melee as well. The last battle was ridiculously easy. Just down some potions, charge in, everyone but you dies.

In BG2 you dual to a mage (I preferred to dual at level 13. Other good options are 8 and 10) and become the most OP character you can be in the BG series (in my experience). The hard part is unlocking your warrior abilities again, but luckily you get to keep the hitpoints.