Just curious what kind of characters you guys play when first running through either the OC, SOU or the premium modules. I didn't really include HotU since it kinda turns in to a hack/slash munchkin fest. Anyways, when I start a new module I usually go with a cleric 1 (healing and animal) druid X just to feel things out. The healing spells still get the empowered feat and the animal spells are affected as well. You get full access to all the druid spells pretty much, clerical armor, and you can still summon a bad arse animal companion while having kick butt summons. Basically this guy can last a long time without resting and has a ton of options available. You have a bunch of feats to choose from to customize your character. I actually went with an orc once and worked strength and said Be Damned to the exp penalty. It ended up being a blast. Wielding a (improved critical) scimitar and shield, heavy armor, a dire wolf and a panther by his side we tore through just about everything. You still have access to the druid spells as well and they can be pretty potent, plus being able to use cleric items like scrolls and stuff helps. I dunno, I know it isn't a "power" build, but I have so much fun with this one since you can go so many ways depending on play style. Anyways, this is getting long winded, so post your favorites and why you like them.


Sly

My all time favorite char was a Bard/Assassin/Arcane Archer. She was born in Z's mod, back when it was still local vault, and she's just plain lucky, is the only way I can describe it. She was great to role play with, which was her main strength, that, and she was a fine shot with a long bow.

I enjoy playing (and tend to last the longest) with tank builds. My favourite would probably be a Fighter->Dwarven Defender to run through the OC/SoU/HoTU with (fighter to level 7 to get the required DD feats, and the other usual offensive ones). My last one had starting stats of 15/13/18/13/9/7, and goes for the Battleaxe combined with tower shield approach - the result is an excellent armour class, good melee skill (weapon specialisation, blind fight, improved knockdown, expertise to name a few of the more potent feats), masses of hitpoints (thanks to the D12 of the DD combined with Toughness and an unbuffed 18 CON) and when in defensive stance mode can take down pretty much any melee foe. Spellcasters aren't too much trouble using (improved) knockdown and blind fight (to punch through any possible concealment). When getting to epic levels, the DD Damage Reduction combined with the damage reduction feats can lead to over 20/- points of damage being shrugged off each hit by the end of HoTU! Quite a simple build, but a tank in every sense of the word. I'm thinking of using this build for my first run through NWN 2.

I'm currently playing through SoU and HotU with a high-dexterity, shortsword dual-wielding Barbarian/Bard. He's quite good.

Other than Bard multiclasses I enjoy playing Monks and Druids, usually single-class.

I will start almost all games with a Ranger or a Druid and go from there. I have an AA right now that is pretty good and fun. I am going to try a cleric assassin build in the next game.

I like playing CHA based Paladins, maybe with a level of Cleric (with Sun and Healing domains) to improve my undead turning. With strength enhancing items, the melee capability is good, and I take divine might / shield plus extra smiting. Works well in HCR modules with low magic as well (extra healing is very beneficial), not so well in Undermountain. I can't smite anything in the proving grounds.

I'm going through with a monk/rogue, and he's just kickbutt. With the robes of haste, an insane dodge and flurry of blows, he gets a ton of attacks per round. Use the stunning fist and/or improved knockdown, and all of his attacks are sneak attacks. I'm only in chapter 2 of the OC, and after a stunning fist I can do shloads of damage. Circle kick is pretty good, too, though you have to keep redirecting him to your main target.

Yep, Circle Kick is kinda broken. I don't take it anymore.

Yeah, I positively hate that about circle kick. It's not so bad against lesser mobs, or if the attack kills and leads to a great cleave, but when you have a mob around the main boss, and he's hitting you, it really sucks.

Yes, even more so if he's a powerful spellcaster or have sneak attacks. I've actually been killed a few times by sneak attacks when I Circle Kicked some random enemy around me.