Just installed BGTutu and plan to play the entire saga; opinions on character

[Nerull]

Ok, I installed BGTutu, and it works with all of the mods that I have installed. So, I am wondering which character I should take all the way through the saga. I am planning to play a full party of 6 on Core Difficulty with no Tactics, etc. (not looking so much for challenge as much as playing from 1st level; I do have the Generic Archer installed, though). Here's what I've knocked it down to:

• Cavalier: did one of these before in SoA, but not from 1st level. I imagine it will be hard lugging around throwing axes/daggers in the "missile friendly" BG1.
• Holy Liberator (Oversight Mod): Chaotic Good version of the paladin (i.e. Robin Hood type). Loses Lay on Hands, Spells, and Disease resistance, gets a Subversion ability (mass Chaotic Commands affecting all allies and enemies on the screen). Tested one out, but never stuck with it (do that a lot... ).
• Half-Orc Barbarian: never did one of these. Looks pretty interesting.
• Totemic Druid: the summons might be way too powerful for BG1, but I've wanted to try out the class at least once.
• Monk: very challenging, but doable (probably have to use weapons for a good part of BG1).
• Swashbuckler: I usually do not play thieves (don't usually like them much), but I am determined to one day just play a thief to see if I can learn to like them (don't know why I don't like them; I just never have even in PnP).
• Halfling Generic Archer (Tactics Mod): using the sling as his missile weapon. Would be interesting.
• Wild Mage (ToB): would also be a challenge.
• Sorcerer: yes, you can cast more spells than a mage, but the first few levels would still be tough. Cake walk later, though.

Any suggestions? Whichever one I start, I'll do my best to not just "start and forget", as I plan to go through the saga all the way. And I have interest in each of these choices, so I know the regular advice would be "play what you want to play" but not helpful in making my mind up.

[wally p]

Totemic druid would be quite overpowered I imagine...

the spirit animals make it a slaughter in BG2, and it seems they would be absolutely immune to *everything* in BG1 (though please note I haven't played BG1--but unless it's just dripping with enemies that have magically enchanted weapons...)


The wildmage, as well, probably would be less challenging and more on the scale of frustration. Once able to cast dweomers, the majority of your time will probably spent loading and reloading quick saves in an attempt to successfully wild surge summons, after which the battle will be a slaughter [img]smile.gif[/img]

but then again, these are just my gut feelings, so please take with a biiiig grain of salt (the size of a salt lick) since I'm basically relying what I've heard of BG1.

[Nerull]

Originally posted by wally p: Totemic druid would be quite overpowered I imagine... the spirit animals make it a slaughter in BG2, and it seems they would be absolutely immune to *everything* in BG1 (though please note I haven't played BG1--but unless it's just dripping with enemies that have magically enchanted weapons...)

There aren't that many enemies with enchanted weapons in BG1. Max xp normally is 161,000xp with Tales of the Sword Coast added. That is 9th level for a mage, pretty much about as powerful as you start BG2. While I'm not looking for a challenge, I'm also not looking for a ridiculously easy time, either. Probably eliminates the Totemic Druid.

Originally posted by wally p: The wildmage, as well, probably would be less challenging and more on the scale of frustration. Once able to cast dweomers, the majority of your time will probably spent loading and reloading quick saves in an attempt to successfully wild surge summons, after which the battle will be a slaughter [img]smile.gif[/img]

Actually, I wouldn't do that. I would cast my spells like any other wizard, and if I ended up with a wild surge that screwed my game (polymorphed into a squirrel at 1st level, etc.), then I would reload. That's what would make it challenging (Wow! I finally got enough gold for that one item I really needed! Wild Surge just zapped all my gold! That sucks!).

[Andraste]

I did this recently and, just for the hell of it, played myself. I was inspired by one of the threads about your 'real life' stats. Having, as honestly as I could, decided on what my stats should be, the best class and race match was a half-orc cleric/mage. (ugly but smart)

[Nerull]

Originally posted by Andraste: I did this recently and, just for the hell of it, played myself. I was inspired by one of the threads about your 'real life' stats. Having, as honestly as I could, decided on what my stats should be, the best class and race match was a half-orc cleric/mage. (ugly but smart)

I take it you used Shadowkeeper, then? Half-Orcs cannot be mages.

[drew_jarvie]

Go monk. Definately. They are such an interesting class, with interesting restrictions and pros and cons.... a challenge with a slow climb down the difficulty ladder, due to great missile deflections and quivering palm later on [img]smile.gif[/img]

Evn better if you solo him [img]smile.gif[/img] Someone has a thread about this in the classics thread methinks so go see it .

[Andraste]

Originally posted by Nerull: QUOTE]I take it you used Shadowkeeper, then? Half-Orcs cannot be mages. [/QB]

Yes. I knew exactly what stats etc I wanted. They weren't particularly high and would have been easy to roll, but the whole process would have been a pointless charade, plus as you say, I couldn't have been a mage/cleric. I judged that this bending of the rules was purely aesthetic and conferred no unfair advantage (and why can't a smart half-orc take after his human parent and learn magic?)

[Nerull]

Originally posted by Andraste: quote: Originally posted by Nerull: QUOTE]I take it you used Shadowkeeper, then? Half-Orcs cannot be mages.

Yes. I knew exactly what stats etc I wanted. They weren't particularly high and would have been easy to roll, but the whole process would have been a pointless charade, plus as you say, I couldn't have been a mage/cleric. I judged that this bending of the rules was purely aesthetic and conferred no unfair advantage (and why can't a smart half-orc take after his human parent and learn magic?) [/QB][/QUOTE]In 2nd edition it does matter. Of course, that's part of the reason I like 3rd edition better; any race can be any class or combination of classes. But hey, if that's what you wanted to play, then knock yourself out. The more I think about it, I originally stated that I wanted to play a wild mage way back when, so might just be worth my time to at least start with that (I can always change my mind later...). I'm thinking Chaotic Good or Chaotic Neutral (or play a Necromancer and go evil...).