What makes the best tank, in your opinion?

Klorox · 05-18-2006, 11:30 PM

If you could make one super-tank, how would you do it?

Try to keep the character completely legal according to the Baldur's Gate II rules.

Personally, my vote goes for the multiclassed Cleric/Ranger. DUHM and Stoneskin are great while dual-weilding the Flail of Ages and the Defender of Easthaven.

timothy trotter · 05-19-2006, 01:16 AM

Klorox i totally agree. Cleric/Ranger has been the most sucessful for me. I do also use DUMH, and i think all my lvl 2 spell slots are usually packed with this spell. And I belive you mean Ironskin, not stone skin btw

Dual weilding is a good option, and I like the flail of Ages and the crom feyr (sp)? The reason for this is they get a large boost to strength, which will give them a lower thac0. Granted a tanks job is usually to soak damage, and the defender of easthaven fits this role well, but for damage, crom gets my vote. UNTIL! you reach a lvl when your strength bonus from DUHM is 25, then crom becomes obselte, and your better to use the defender of easthaven.

Dundee Slaytern · 05-19-2006, 05:37 AM

Just to get one thing clear... are you asking for the best DEFENSIVE tank, or something else? Dualwielding is not the best option for defensive tanks.

Armen · 05-19-2006, 06:50 AM

an off-hand strategy based on DoE that reduces physical damage is wasted on a character who's ironskins prevent any damage - much better to have a shield, reduce hits, and extend the life of your ironskins

parro · 05-19-2006, 07:54 AM

I just finished SOA with a C/R in a party of six.

Wow, what a great time I had. I did not do Watcher's Keep, but everything else was much more manageable than my previous run-throughs. All of the buffs, boots of speed, insect plague, turn undead, etc. made many of my previously tough battles near walks in the park. I dual wielded DoE, Skullcrusher, MoD, or Crom (main hand) and FoA (off hand) for most of the game. Occasionally, I threw up a shield (Saving Grace, I think) but that was rare. This character has all but eliminated my need for cheese items and tactics. No shiny cloaks needed!! [img]smile.gif[/img] I was even able to finish off a boat load of Beholders without a certain shield...for the first time!!

In case you are wondering, I had Minsc (Silver Sword and Elven Court bow), Keldorn (various two handed swords then Carsomyr...possible cheese), Haer'Dalis (dual wielding long swords, short swords, scimitar: Belm, the Drinker, Cutthroat, Daystar...darts of wounding for those pesky mind flayers; and, of course, bard song), Imoen (Gesen Bow, Tuigan Bow), and Aerie (Sling of Everard).

If I ever decide to try a solo run, this will be the character. Until now, a Kensai->thief I played on my last run through was the most versitile and powerful character I had played. I also had a high-level monk a while back that became very powerful, but this C/R has them both beat for all around power (in my opinion, of course. I am more of a melee kinda guy as opposed to an offensive magic user for my main character.)

I'm off to start TOB this weekend with this party...woohoo!

Klorox · 05-19-2006, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by timothy trotter:
And I belive you mean Ironskin, not stone skin btw

Oooops, yeah thanks! [img]smile.gif[/img]

Quote:

Originally posted by Dundee Slaytern:
Just to get one thing clear... are you asking for the best DEFENSIVE tank, or something else?

I dunno. Whatever you'd like to place in your tank position. Let's assume a combination of both.

Quote:

Originally posted by Armen:
an off-hand strategy based on DoE that reduces physical damage is wasted on a character who's ironskins prevent any damage - much better to have a shield, reduce hits, and extend the life of your ironskins

This is an excellent point, something I hadn't thought about. Perhaps that shield that prevents all of the mind attacks is a better choice.

True_Moose · 05-19-2006, 09:44 PM

Of course, if you're a C/R, you have access to Chaotic Commands, meaning that a lot of the time, even the Shield of Harmony is superfluous. Shield of Balduran (though cheesy) and Darksteel (for the resistances) would both be more useful, I think.

Dundee Slaytern · 05-19-2006, 11:04 PM

If you have the patience, and have a party size no more than four members, do consider the Wizard Slayer->Thief dualclass( 25->27).

Once you get the UAI ability, it is very easy to tweak the WS->T to become immuned to various types of damage and magic.

AC and Stone/Ironskins are nice and all, but nothing beats undispellable immunities( and healing from physical damage is always amusing). [img]smile.gif[/img] Of course... this tank only starts to shine and dominate in ToB, since you need to level him up first and get some of the quest rewards.

For an end-game ultimate tank, the WS->T definitely gets my vote. Even if you restrict him to only default game mechanics.

If you allow WeiDU mods... the WS->T will simply blow the competition away.

For a tank that is tankful from start to finish however, then it will be the C/R multiclass.

timothy trotter · 05-20-2006, 01:58 AM

just a small question, how much magic resistance does the ws gain on each lvl up?

05-18-2006, 11:30 PM	#1
Klorox Symbol of Cyric Join Date: August 21, 2004 Location: USA Age: 48 Posts: 1,168	If you could make one super-tank, how would you do it? Try to keep the character completely legal according to the Baldur's Gate II rules. Personally, my vote goes for the multiclassed Cleric/Ranger. DUHM and Stoneskin are great while dual-weilding the Flail of Ages and the Defender of Easthaven. __________________ Baruk Khazad! Khazad ai-mênu! "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."-- Edmund Burke

05-19-2006, 01:16 AM	#2
timothy trotter Drizzt Do'Urden Join Date: December 29, 2004 Location: south australia Age: 42 Posts: 603	Klorox i totally agree. Cleric/Ranger has been the most sucessful for me. I do also use DUMH, and i think all my lvl 2 spell slots are usually packed with this spell. And I belive you mean Ironskin, not stone skin btw Dual weilding is a good option, and I like the flail of Ages and the crom feyr (sp)? The reason for this is they get a large boost to strength, which will give them a lower thac0. Granted a tanks job is usually to soak damage, and the defender of easthaven fits this role well, but for damage, crom gets my vote. UNTIL! you reach a lvl when your strength bonus from DUHM is 25, then crom becomes obselte, and your better to use the defender of easthaven. __________________ Nobody expects the Spanish inquisition!<br />You will stay in the comfy chair until lunchtime, with only a cup of coffee at 11!

05-20-2006, 01:58 AM	#9
timothy trotter Drizzt Do'Urden Join Date: December 29, 2004 Location: south australia Age: 42 Posts: 603	just a small question, how much magic resistance does the ws gain on each lvl up? __________________ Nobody expects the Spanish inquisition!<br />You will stay in the comfy chair until lunchtime, with only a cup of coffee at 11!

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05-19-2006, 05:37 AM	#3
Dundee Slaytern Ironworks Moderator Join Date: June 10, 2001 Location: Pasir Ris, Singapore Age: 41 Posts: 11,063	Just to get one thing clear... are you asking for the best DEFENSIVE tank, or something else? Dualwielding is not the best option for defensive tanks.

05-19-2006, 06:50 AM	#4
Armen Symbol of Cyric Join Date: February 11, 2003 Location: UK Age: 54 Posts: 1,375	an off-hand strategy based on DoE that reduces physical damage is wasted on a character who's ironskins prevent any damage - much better to have a shield, reduce hits, and extend the life of your ironskins

05-19-2006, 07:54 AM	#5
parro Elite Waterdeep Guard Join Date: August 17, 2004 Location: Earth Age: 54 Posts: 10	I just finished SOA with a C/R in a party of six. Wow, what a great time I had. I did not do Watcher's Keep, but everything else was much more manageable than my previous run-throughs. All of the buffs, boots of speed, insect plague, turn undead, etc. made many of my previously tough battles near walks in the park. I dual wielded DoE, Skullcrusher, MoD, or Crom (main hand) and FoA (off hand) for most of the game. Occasionally, I threw up a shield (Saving Grace, I think) but that was rare. This character has all but eliminated my need for cheese items and tactics. No shiny cloaks needed!! [img]smile.gif[/img] I was even able to finish off a boat load of Beholders without a certain shield...for the first time!! In case you are wondering, I had Minsc (Silver Sword and Elven Court bow), Keldorn (various two handed swords then Carsomyr...possible cheese), Haer'Dalis (dual wielding long swords, short swords, scimitar: Belm, the Drinker, Cutthroat, Daystar...darts of wounding for those pesky mind flayers; and, of course, bard song), Imoen (Gesen Bow, Tuigan Bow), and Aerie (Sling of Everard). If I ever decide to try a solo run, this will be the character. Until now, a Kensai->thief I played on my last run through was the most versitile and powerful character I had played. I also had a high-level monk a while back that became very powerful, but this C/R has them both beat for all around power (in my opinion, of course. I am more of a melee kinda guy as opposed to an offensive magic user for my main character.) I'm off to start TOB this weekend with this party...woohoo!

05-19-2006, 09:44 PM	#7
True_Moose Gold Dragon Join Date: June 18, 2002 Location: Wolfville, NS / Calgary, AB Age: 36 Posts: 2,563	Of course, if you're a C/R, you have access to Chaotic Commands, meaning that a lot of the time, even the Shield of Harmony is superfluous. Shield of Balduran (though cheesy) and Darksteel (for the resistances) would both be more useful, I think.

05-19-2006, 11:04 PM	#8
Dundee Slaytern Ironworks Moderator Join Date: June 10, 2001 Location: Pasir Ris, Singapore Age: 41 Posts: 11,063	If you have the patience, and have a party size no more than four members, do consider the Wizard Slayer->Thief dualclass( 25->27). Once you get the UAI ability, it is very easy to tweak the WS->T to become immuned to various types of damage and magic. AC and Stone/Ironskins are nice and all, but nothing beats undispellable immunities( and healing from physical damage is always amusing). [img]smile.gif[/img] Of course... this tank only starts to shine and dominate in ToB, since you need to level him up first and get some of the quest rewards. For an end-game ultimate tank, the WS->T definitely gets my vote. Even if you restrict him to only default game mechanics. If you allow WeiDU mods... the WS->T will simply blow the competition away. For a tank that is tankful from start to finish however, then it will be the C/R multiclass.

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