The topic refers to my chronic character generation...I can't pick a single character to play through the game with [img]smile.gif[/img] To make this easier, I am asking for opinions on which character is the most interesting to play, not the strongest. Reasons would be appreciated. In either 15 posts or 2 days, I will tally the results and make the character. Obviously, this won't work if there are no posts, so please make a suggestion...who knows, it might make me leave you alone for a month or two :D

1. Assassin (dual wield daggers or daggers and short swords)
2. Priest of Talos
3. Mage/Thief
4. Fighter/Druid (most likely Impaler and/or the ToB spear)
5. Cleric/Mage

I think that's it...help if you want.

Assassin I think.

ASSASSIN? Mr. I-can-do-one-thing-really-well-and-that's-it? For an intriguing life, try a Cleric-Mage. A dizzying array of potential!

I'd prefer something unique, though.
Feel free to suggest variations on the builds. Something that has never, or seldom, been done before [img]smile.gif[/img]

Why dont you try a solo avenger with these stats:
Str: 3
Dex: 3
Con: 3
Int: 10
Wis: 18
Cha: 3

Should be fun, you'll need to get several items to bump up your stats if you want to fight anything outside of your shapeshifted form... this class is very fun, i had a blast playing with this.

Ever try a kensai/druid? They're wild. Very limited range of weapons and equipment, and takes most of the game (and probably a bit of ToB as well) to get powerful.

want hard, nay, impossible? solo with a diviner and limit yourself to only magic of that school. i died in irenicus's dungeon.

lol! I didn't even die in Irenicus' dungeon the first time I played, and that was with abyssmal stats. If you did, I need to bet Jim/Dundee/Alson/Six etc. to solo it :D I'm insane, yes.

I can't stress that I want something original enough. As I said, like a Kensai mastering darts...he is supposed to be the ultimate melee fighter, but he uses ranged weapons that bear no resemblance to swords. The idea is interesting. It's very powerful, however, especially with the Crimson Dart, so I don't want to use it.

I don't like Kensais, however. I like being able to make combinations out of equipment, and even though they have extremely good melee bonuses, I don't think that it's worth it.

The game doesn't give much leeway with this kind of thing, does it? Bah.

I could try to make a Stoner (hahah)-use Flesh to Stone on everybody-but it takes some time to get enough of the spell for the tactic to be effective, and there are a lot of enemies who would make the save, especially in ToB.

I still like my themes idea...maybe a flaming mage? (These get better and better, don't they?) The Priest of Talos (lightning theme) is nice, but I have already soloed the class.

I need help.

<font color=cadetblue>Why don't you set up a poll? I'd go with the Priest of Talos. That was my very first game and I've played a couple with it after. Very fun character.</font>

This is a poll.

As I said, I have soloed the Priest before, and unless there is an interesting theme I can use, I don't think that I'll use him again.

I want to use daggers, for some reason. The Longtooth is pretty [img]smile.gif[/img]

With the choices you've listed I would say Cleric/Mage. Hands down, no competition. Why, cuz of all the options you have at your disposal. Wouldn't it be more interesting to go through the game challenging enemies with a different style each time. No using the same tactics over and over again. You can cast mage spells. You can cast cleric spells. You can use summons. You can equip Flail of Ages and the Mace of Disruption then cast Imp. Haste, DUHM, Tensor's Transformation and go in bashing skulls. You can wear armor. You can not wear armor. You can turn undead and have them fight for you if you're evil. One of the cool things to do with a mage is try different spells in sequencers, triggers and contingencies. With a C/M your possiblities just doubled. I would say try a C/M and see how many different ways you can beat opponents before using the same tactic twice. How's that for interesting? [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ 08-19-2003, 01:56 AM: Message edited by: SpongeBobTheDestoyer ]

Assassin: Always interesting, definitely worth playing if you have never had a PC thief. As there's a lack of NPC thiefs in the game but there are lots of nice thief-items around this one is the perfect completion of the party. Also with the right proficiencies (Long Sword, Katana) the Assassin can be extremely deadly in backstabbing (septuple!).

Priest of Talos: Interesting for an evil party but if you've played the game sometimes already I assume you won't find a lot new in handling a cleric unless you never used Viconia or Anomen. Also evil clerics only get to charm undead which can be really annoying while good clerics can just destroy them.

Mage/Thief: I assume you re talking Multi-class here. This is basically Jan Jansen. Not a bad choice to play but not really interesting. Nothing new.

Fighter/Druid: Can be really interesting because Druid and Bard are the classes most seldomly chosen. Therefore many people do never get to see their strongholds. Just make sure you don't take the keep if you decide for this one.

Cleric/Mage: Nice choice if you want to improve your magical knowledge. A cleric/mage is great to try out the combinations of clerical buffs and magical attacks.

So after all I'd suggest the Assassin if you've never used a thief as PC he is a must.
If you've always played thieves and fighter-types I'd suggest you get your proper magic dosis form the cleric/mage.
And if you're in for something less normal go with the fighter/druid.

The Keep is better than the Grove, as you have a place to store your items...although statues look better in the Grove, covered in ivy.

I was only pointing out that many people never play druid and thereofre miss the grove while almost everybody tries a fighter some time.

Cleric/mage followed closely by a fighter/druid [img]smile.gif[/img]
I found the assasin to be rather boring ( backstab, run .. backstab . .pick up Boots of speed .. backstab, run real fast .. backstab ) after a while.
Priest you already solo-ed once and a mage/thief doesnt do anything but either create a mage that hides in shadows or a thief that goes invisible more often.

So Cleric/mage or fighter/druid IMHO. And Cleric/mage taking the cake.
Fighter/druids will probably end up mostly fighting with some buff-spells and summoning stuff on occasion. The Cleric/mage has the oh-so-wonderfull ability to be a mage and a cleric at mage-casting-speed ( important with Robe of Vecna etc. ) and once in a while be an untouchable tank ;)

You know hwat would be interesting? Assasain->Druid! But i think that Assasain`s cannot dual class to Druids. But it would be unique.

I think a solo shapeshifter-druid would be fun.....

Hey, you get to run around in werewolf form all day. What could be more fun? [img]smile.gif[/img]

It's your choice. Maybe a solo enchanter (no evocation spells) who can only charm enemies and use summons..... Could be interesting, but not necessarily fun.

Cheers,

Moiraine Sedai

Great minds think alike: on Pyrenk's other similar post I suggested Assassin->Druid too thinking it would be interesting. But, I checked and you cannot dual to Druid (unless there is a way through using SK).

However, I would think an Assassin that only uses clubs would be unique. What assassin would use a blunt weapon? And there aren't any overpowered clubs that I know of. If soloing, the Club of Detonation might be pretty powerful, but very interesting. Could you imagine backstabbing with it and then setting a fireball off? [img]smile.gif[/img] (you can backstab with a club, right?)

Hmm, maybe the problem is that for dualing to a druid you need TWO stats at 17, charisma and wisdom. This forces you to drop dexterity or constitution, cause you need 15 for strength as well.

I've already mentioned that I want an Thief/Druid a few weeks ago, but as it isn't possible, why discuss it? [img]smile.gif[/img]

For a theme, I'd like to try a Chaotic Neutral Wild Mage. Psychotic little bugger [img]smile.gif[/img] What else could I do to make him fit the theme?

ADD-Other than use spells like Chaos and hang around Xzar :D

Quayle, Safana, and Garrick would fit nicely.

[ 08-19-2003, 11:36 AM: Message edited by: Pyrenk ]

If you are up for looking outside the game for inspiration, I would think creating a swashbuckler like Jonny Dep's character in Pirates of the Carribean to go with your Wild Mage would be fun.

<font color=deepskyblue>Lots of good suggestions so far. I am enjoying my Assassin that I'm playing now...and one of the reasons is the roleplaying opportunitities.

MINOR SPOILER AHEAD
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
When my assassin was granted De'Arnise Keep, he went back for his first "follow-up visit" to see how things were going (AND to collect the 500gp from the Keep). I arrive to learn that a local merchant is demanding an audience with me. Alright, send him in, this could be fun.

In comes some irate bald guy with a sour attitude and positively NO RESPECT for my position. He whines that his caravan was attacked by bandits and he demands...DEMANDS....that I pay him restitution for his lost wares. :eek: He informs me that the merchants that travel back and forth to the Keep depend on the roads to be safe and that he may convince his colleagues to boycott my land if I refuse to pay him for his loss. I look him over for a moment and resist the urge to shove my dagger through his throat right there. Then I reply "Why don't I just have you killed instead as an example to your fellow merchants as to what happens to those that make unreasonable demands of me?" Naturally, his attitude changes immediately and he is practically falling all over himself apologizing. Then he asks if I could cover half his expenses, and says "Surely you understand the importance of keeping good business relationships." "I explain that I do NOT understand the importance of keeping his business and that I've already told him my decisions." The last I see of him, my Keep guards are dragging him screaming out the door.

That's one of the things I like about the assassin, you can be "sugar-cane-sweet" to somebody's face, then turn right around and - literally - stab them in the back.</font>

[ 08-19-2003, 01:17 PM: Message edited by: Cerek the Barbaric ]

Heh, I see you're enjoying yourself. How did you get the stronghold, the ЕоU mod?

ADD-What are his proficiencies, alignment, and stats?

[ 08-19-2003, 01:26 PM: Message edited by: Pyrenk ]

<font color=deepskyblue>I did indeed get the Multiple Strongholds from the Ease of Use Mod. I had downloaded strictly for the stacking of arrows, bolts, and other ranged weapons and completely forgot about the Multiple Strongholds. When I cleared the Keep and was talking to Nalia afterwards, she mentioned the problem she was facing and asked if I could help. Using the "subtle" approach, I asked if she wanted me to help her problem "disappear" and she agreed. {Just for giggles, I re-loaded and offered to simply kill her fiance' - THAT didn't go over very well at all and she retracted her offer for the Keep}.

His proficiencies are in the dagger, katana, and crossbow and his alignment is Neutral Evil. I cheated his stats to straight 18's (using CTRL F4 or something like that), but I adjusted several of them down a few notches.

My original plan was to get the max backstab multiplier (AND the HLA of Use Any Item), and then to dual to a mage (why Hide in Shadows when you can just do Improved Invisibility and stab them in the face :D ).

This is only my second trip through BG2, so I'm nowhere close to trying to solo...but I AM having a lot of fun with the party.

I have Korgan as my tank, Viconia for healing, Edwin for spellcasting, Yoshimo for scouting ahead (why risk MY neck when he will do it), and Jaheira as a back-up tank, healer, and sleeping bag companion (I've also downloaded the Mutliple Romance pak). Viconia and I have already "done the deed", now I'm just trying to win Jaheira over. If it takes too long, I'll just send her packing and be satisfied with the wenches I pick up through the Thieve's Guild.</font>

A bit [img]graemlins/offtopic.gif[/img] Cheat is CTRL+8

<font color=deepskyblue>I just went over to GameBanshee (which is finally FREE AGAIN!!! [img]graemlins/yippee.gif[/img] ) and looked over the various classes. My first BG2 character was a Wizard Slayer and I really enjoyed him. He was patterned after my 1st Edition PnP barbarian (who were notorious for not liking mages).

Since you're considering a fighter/druid, how about trying the Beastmaster Kit. You get Ranger fighting abilities (dual wield), weapon specialization, druid spells, extra Animal Summoning spells, and lots of other goodies. I know you like the Shadow scale, but there are some nice suits of Leather armor available fairly early in the game.

Armor of the Deep Night +4 (purchase from Ribald)
Skin of the Ghoul +4 (+3 bonus to Save vs Paralyzation/Poison) - found in Cult of Unseeing Eye
The Night's Gift +5 (+20% Hide in Shadows) - Reward from Minister Lloyd in Umar Hills for defeating Shade Lord
Shadow Armor +3 (+15% Hide in Shadows - found in Mae'vars Guild

All of these would help your Ranger with his Stealth skills. Then use Tuigan's Bow to attack opponents from a distance while your animal companions get "up close and personal" to them.</font>

<font color=deepskyblue>Thanks, <font color=white>Xen</font>, I couldn't remember the right combination. This was the only time I've used it.</font>

Things I don't like using:

1. Beastmaster kit
2. Druid kits
3. Vanilla bard, paladin, fighter, ranger, thief
4. Wizard Slayer and Inquisitor kit
5. Specialist mage [img]smile.gif[/img]
6. Non-themed Sorcerer
7. Carsomyr
8. Celestial Fury
9. Crom Faeyr

Nice list, eh? There are more, I just can't think of them atm.

I will, however, change my mind if there is an interesting theme to use with either of them. I love roleplaying [img]smile.gif[/img]

ADD-Btw, you forgot Aeger's (sp?) Hide. It's better than the Night's Gift, imo.

[ 08-19-2003, 02:41 PM: Message edited by: Pyrenk ]

Beastmaster can rock with Fulcrum from The Item Upgrade Mod.

I know, Xen, but I don't like using clubs. People named "Ugg" use clubs.

Can they(Beastmasters) use Spears?

Spears are tipped with metal.

They can only use Clubs, Quarterstaffs, Bows, Darts and Slings.

Solo Beastmaster VS.Imp Johnn Boy:
Come if you dare puny wizard!
You will fall under my Baseball Bat. My father gave it to me you know. :D

At least BioWare put some really nice Slings and Bows in the game. IMHO instead of "Charm Animal"(have you ever charmed a Dragon? :rolleyes: ) they should have:
Create Sharp Spear Of Wood +3 or something like this. But it`s just me.

[ 08-19-2003, 03:03 PM: Message edited by: Xen ]

Create sharp, pointy stick.

Skewer a dragon! Roast an elf! Terrorize the neighborhood!

[ 08-19-2003, 04:11 PM: Message edited by: Pyrenk ]