What's best: 19 in con or dex??

If you play as a warrior of cause?

Con: The extra +2 (+5) hitpoints

or

Dex: The extra THAC0 -3, AC -4

[Radek]

It's hard to say. The CON bonus gives you additional 25 HP. This matters in BG2. Therefore, if you are creating the character then I would vote for CON. On the other hand, every "-1" to THAC0 is worthy as well. It increases your chance to hit by 5%. You must decide yourself whether the 5% is or isn't more valuable than 25 HP.

[Fiend]

I think it depends on what class your playing and what your party will be. IIRC dex only affects missile weapons. it also depends on what race your char is. It also depends on what your other stats would be if you chose 19 in one of them 2. Personally i would choose con but others on the forum would probably choose dex as i think it was Dundee who that most if not all bosses will be able to hit you no matter what the ac. Con (IMHO) will allow you to survive longer as the extra hp will take some time to take down.

Good points.

Won't cheat but some classes get +1 (and -1) in different stats. Depends on the roll.

Lets say I'll play as a berserker warrior. Party still unknown.

[Morgeruat]

A berserker warrior probably won't be too missile weapon heavy, making the diference between 18 dex and 19 negligible (it's only an additional +1 to hit), whereas the extra hp's from a 19 Con will definitely be useful as you get the bonus hp's until lvl 9 (at lvl 10+ you receive 3 hp's at every lvl up)

[ 02-28-2003, 06:45 AM: Message edited by: Morgeruat ]

[Legolas]

Well, let's think about it. +5 hitpoints per level means that, on average, you'll have marginally less than 3/2 your normal hitpoints. Having +4 AC means enemies will be at an additional -4 to hit you, so you'll avoid part of the blows directed against you. In most cases, you'll live longer with the extra HP than you would with the extra AC, especially at higher levels as the HP bonus is cumulative (up to 10th level I think) whereas the DEX bonus is fixed. On the other hand, lost HPs need to be regained, whereas the extra AC is permanent.
You also get a bonus on ranged attacks with your higher DEX, and in some cases avoiding damage is better than taking it (for example, some blows may slow you or cause level drain). But, a con of 19 means you're only 1 point away from having regeneration abilities (1 hp per round I think it was), obtainable by using the right magic items.
It mainly depends on whether you want to specialise on ranged combat or melee. For most non-fighter classes, DEX is better as the CON HP bonusses are much lower.

[Rataxes]

19 CON definitely. That's an 9 extra hit points for you. Now what does 19 DEX grant you as opposed to 18 DEX? A measly -1 THAC0 Bonus with missile weapons, thus useless for a tank!

There really is no choice between high DEX or high CON. A good warrior must have both, period, though having 18 DEX and a -4 AC bonus IS less important than 45 extra hit points.

Thanks everyone.

I'll go for a high con.

[ 02-28-2003, 08:16 AM: Message edited by: Jan ]

[Indemaijinj]

Hey, this is not what people used to say half a year ago??

Perhaps dwarwes will be the next big thing.

[SixOfSpades]

Dwarves have been big all along--take a look at Korgan. (Or Kagain, if you want to reach back into the mists of BG1.) He has the most HP, the best Saves, a kickass THAC0, and his AC's nothing to sniff at either.

For a Warrior, +1 to CON means 9 extra hitpoints (and perhaps better Saving Throws if you're one of the short folk--as if they needed it).

For everybody except Rogues & Priests, going over 18 DEX is almost useless: Your AC only improves by 1 point for every 3 points of DEX. The THAC0 bonus with Ranged weapons is indeed substantial, but Warriors won't need it anyway, it'll only make a difference with THAC0s in the "middle range," such as Rogues & Priests. If your Tank has less than 18 DEX, however, it won't hurt to bump him up a notch of AC.