I have played IWD for 2 years and just bought BGII. Couple questions? 1. Does adding the expansion improve the spell list like IWD. I have found that druid’s spells choices are pretty weak in SOA. 2. Any options on single class Fighter kits. I picked the Undead hunter for my first run through and am not that pleased. I haven't run into that much undead ( on Chapter 2 so far) I wanted to get that keep and the NPC would give it to me because Paladin is not considered a fighter class? Let me know your thoughts.

(::hopes she's the first to respond::)

1: Adding ToB adds three new spells for mages, a slew of special spells for all spellcasters, and the ability to scribe 9th level spells. I recommend ToB because it adds great combat and wraps up the Baldur's Gate saga.

2: Undead Hunter is the weakest of the three fighter kits, IMO. Why get bonuses for battling undead when a high level cleric or paladin could turn or convert them or a ranger could pick difficult undead as a preferred enemy? (Believe me, you'll run into difficult undead in this game! :D )

Fighters aren't the only class who can get the keep.

If you wish to start a new game, I suggest playing a cavalier (paladin kit) or berserker (fighter kit) as a PC. Also--I'm assuming you're an IWD veteran here--this game is heavy into magic and light on combat, the opposite of IWD. Might want to pick a class with some sort of magical abilities to get familiar with things.

[ 09-30-2003, 01:02 PM: Message edited by: Pirengle ]

Ummm I hate to break to you guys but Undead Hunter isn't a Fighter kit. Its a Paladin kit.
Fighter kits include:
</font>

• Wizard Slayer</font>
• Berserker</font>
• Kensai</font>

Paladin Kits:
</font>

• Cavalier</font>
• Inquisitor</font>
• Undead Hunter</font>

SoA seems to be the most undead ridden game in the BG series. Not that there's enough to warrent the Undead hunter as a must have asset. Though the natural immunity to level drain could prove quite useful on many occasions. But hey, theres items and spells that can handle that as well.

if u like a more magic dependant character, i suggest a sorceror, but if u like a more fighting oriented character chose a Kensai or a Beserker. If u want both, then maka kensai, level him up to around level 9 and then dual him into a mage ( has to be human to do this and has to have 18 intelligence) [img]tongue.gif[/img] .

oops...nm the sroceror comment, but the kensai is definately the most versatile and best strength oriented character in BGII SoA and ToB. Also the high level abilities in ToB make him/her even stronger. Kensai cant wear armor so u can dual him to either a theif or a mage, so they can use their abilities any time(thief abilites and mage spellcasting are disable while wearing armor)

One comment here--do NOT attempt to play a Mage or Sorcerer on your first run through the game. Trying to understand the Wizard spells will drive you <u>insane</u>, I kid you not. Instead, build a bad-ass Tanking character (Fighter, Barbarian, Paladin, pureclass Ranger) for your first game, to give yourself some time to get used to things.

One comment here--do NOT attempt to play a Mage or Sorcerer on your first run through the game. Trying to understand the Wizard spells will drive you <u>insane</u>, I kid you not. Instead, build a bad-ass Tanking character (Fighter, Barbarian, Paladin, pureclass Ranger) for your first game, to give yourself some time to get used to things. </font>[/QUOTE]Actually Six my first character was a Mage and i did teh job just fine...
Maybe I was just lucky? [img]tongue.gif[/img] Who can tell? [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[ 09-30-2003, 04:05 PM: Message edited by: Xen ]

I didn't say that playing a Wizard in your first game would <u>kill</u> you, I said it would drive you <u>insane</u>.

Hmm.. I am still quite normal as far as I can tell. [img]tongue.gif[/img] But you are correct... You just have to <u>know</u> the game and spells...
So therefore:Spell Reference to the rescue

...some folks would beg to differ, Xen. [img]tongue.gif[/img] (Oops, did I say that? [img]graemlins/blush.gif[/img] )

This game will teach you spellcraft. I remember playing BG1 and getting so upset that my mages kept dying in one hit and kept getting chunked by wolves. Bought BG2 ~8 months or so later, played a few games, went back to BG1, and figured out how to keep mages alive with the limited BG1 spell arsenal. Then my thieves kept dying. But that's another story.

Ashsays, if you know IWD, you're pretty good at combat. There's nothing in the BG series that feels as good as a party full of non-spellcasters beating the snot out of a mage. ("I bet they don't make Protection from Complete Buttkicking, you spell-shooting wiener!" [img]graemlins/evillaughter1.gif[/img] )

Instead of making a mage PC, why not pick up an NPC mage to practice spellcraft? That way, if something doesn't work and the mage dies, you don't have to reload the game. (Or, with the more annoying spellcasters, you can invent interesting ways for spells to backfire, like casting Summon Fiend without casting Protection from Evil first. [img]graemlins/evillaughter2.gif[/img] )

Oh yeah, begin used to the BGII tactics enemies, my mages are monsters, something the BGI gnolls dont expect when Xan hits them with another sleep spell or color spray. And boy, are those spells suddenly STRONG in BGI :D

Thanks for all the good feedback. I restarted with a plain fighter. I do have one comment about "this game is heavy into magic and light on combat, the opposite of IWD." A more acurate statement is the spell list in IWD has more combat related spells(Druids have there own list of area of effect spells Example: Spike stone and some thorns spell) From what limited exposure I have to the Druids in BG2 I would say they are best for summoning woodland animals for target practice.