Best Feats

[Zolt]

Has anyone considered taking 1 level of ranger and then continuing as fighter? That way all the dual feats will be covered and there wont be any exp penalty since he is human.

[Mincer]

I'm sure I read something about a 20% XP penalty if any multiclassed chars had more than a one level difference.

[fable]

Originally posted by Alvin
I'm playin an elven wizard (7th lvl). I use Tom as a henchman and I find him a pretty good tank (atm anyway). But I also use a summoned dire wolf and my pet panther as tanks, so I've not had many probs so far. Both Tom and my familiar use *Sneak attack* wich is quite effective.

Can't summoned critters be dispelled? In the early levels of the game I wouldn't think you'd encounter that, but from experience in BG2 and IWD, I know it happens repeatedly. Of course, they're not running 3E rules, but still...

[THE JAKER]

Originally posted by Kull
[BIn third edition, the best fighters use two-hand weapons. The sword and shield can be useful. The two weapon route is simply not the best any more.
[/b]

hmmm, well I don't really see how that's borne out by the numbers - for instance my early level, 1 normal attack fighter with his double sword and 14 STR (had to put points into DEX and CHA) does up to 19 points of damage per round, the same stats using a greatsword would do up to 15, not including criticals. The two handed weapon does not even have a better critical range (well you know what I mean, the double sword is also a two handed weapon). When power attack is activated (which it usually is ), the disparity gets worse.

This trend gets worse at 10 level when the two-weapon fighter gets their 2nd off hand attack, but at the highest levels when both are getting four regular attacks the 2 weapon fighter does a very small amount less damage (60 max instead of 58) - of course going to power attack or greater power attack eliminates that small advantage, and feats like knockdown or disarm have more chances per turn of succeeding as well for the two-weapon fighter. I don't think that is enough to declare the 2 handed weapon fighter superior.

Of course, I do not know what magical weapons are available in the game as I've only played the early part, this can make certain weapon proficiencies more attractive that others.

[Crosswind]

As a druid, I -love- the metamagic feats.

Now, let me be honest. I love lightning. I love calling it. It's what being a druid is all about: laying down the WRATH.

But I look at spell selection for levels 5 and 6, and I don't see much! A few OK things, but nothing that compares with the WRATH.

So what can I do? In addition to having 5 call lightnings at 3, I stick 3 empowered call lightnings at 5, and 2 maximized call lightnings at 6. Can you say 60 damage to all enemies (not friends!) in a large area? I knew you could. HAR HAR HAR.

And I still have the space to have stoneskin, plenty of flame lashes, (I rely on heal skill and lots of kits for healing), entangle, etcetera.

Druids rule.

-Cross

[Zolt]

Mincer: Humans don't receive that exp penalty, their highest lvl'ed class doesn't count when comparing the class levels.

[Alvin]

Originally posted by fable


Can't summoned critters be dispelled? In the early levels of the game I wouldn't think you'd encounter that, but from experience in BG2 and IWD, I know it happens repeatedly. Of course, they're not running 3E rules, but still...

Well I haven't encountered that problem, but I'm sure when I do, my wiz will be alot better an should be able to handle that

[Kull]

@The Jaker
As I said the computer game is different from pen and paper. I will get around to trying those feats in this computer game. My comments were based on my personal experience as well as the popularity of those feats as I have witnessed at gaming conventions.

For instance, power attack is a feat that is used with restraint at conventions. It's much more important to hit than to do a few extra points damage.

In the pen and paper game, the two hand weapon has the advantage of no penalties to the to hit roll, strength x 1.5 damage, high dex not required so you can make strength higher, you can get cleave and other important feats sooner. It's most important that you hit! Even when you have massive to hit bonuses at high level, I would prefer that ALL my multiple attacks hit. It seems to me that the creatures are much easier to hit in this computer game (thus far), than I have experienced at pen and paper gaming conventions.

I don't have my rule book in front of me, but in AD&D, I don't think the Drizzt style (2 weapons) even get the strength bonus for the off-hand weapon! That's probably not so for double bladed weapons, but that's another feat (exotic weapon proficiency) if I recall the AD&D rules.

As I said, this isn't pen and paper. If using two weapons or double bladed weapons is more effective in this game, I'll jump on the bandwagon.

[THE JAKER]

Originally posted by Kull
For instance, power attack is a feat that is used with restraint at conventions. It's much more important to hit than to do a few extra points damage.

true, but dual wielders get more chances to hit per round. Ah conventions haven't been to one since....oh 1985 or so....hmm that would be fun. My experience with 3E pnp is limited to messing around with it some to get a feel in preparation for NWN.

In the pen and paper game, the two hand weapon has the advantage of no penalties to the to hit roll, strength x 1.5 damage, high dex not required so you can make strength higher, you can get cleave and other important feats sooner.

The higher STR bonus for 2 handed weaps is included in NWN. The Dex thing is true but for instance my fighter - I started with 15 STR and DEX - now I could've dropped DEX down to 12 but I would get 4 points for that, enough to raise STR one point, but not quite 2 (because of point buy weighting). So there is not actually a huge difference. I just raised STR to 16 when I got to level 4. As per getting other feats quicker, also true but fighters have so many feats.....so I gave up 2, my human fighter still has plenty. At 4th level I have power attack and cleave and other important early feats I just don't have Weapon Focus yet.

I don't have my rule book in front of me, but in AD&D, I don't think the Drizzt style (2 weapons) even get the strength bonus for the off-hand weapon!

DONT SAY THAT NAME!!!!!!! I can't stand words that start with D have 6 letters 2 z's and five consonants. It's called "dual wielding" and the dark elves didn't invent it, Errol Flynn did I think Maybe it was the 3 musketeers. Anyway I don't know what the AD&D rule is, not sure how that matters - the 3E rule is the offhand attacks get 1/2 STR bonus - so you see it's even - 2H weapon gets 1.5x STR bonus, dual wield gets 1x main hand, 1/2x off hand.

If Greater Cleave was in NWN then I could see a point for 2H weapons, as it is my char is carrying a 2H Greataxe for bashing chests, and so I can hotkey back and forth and see which is more effective in a combat.

[Kull]

Which does the most damage, a 2 handed weapon or 2 weapons (dual wielding)? This is a simple answer for mathematics (probability). It has already been calculated and reported in Dragon or Dungeon (one of those RPG mags). The answer is that the 2 handed weapon usually does more damage against opponents with "higher AC", generally throughout the game (not XP level dependent). The primary reason being that it hits more often.

Maybe someone out there has the full reference to the article I am referring to?

If the monsters are easier to hit in the computer game, this would make the use of 2 weapons (or double-bladed weapons) more interesting.

Whether to dual-wield are not is a very important decision to character creation as it will require the investment of several FEATS (thread topic) to be good at it.

[cjdevito]

TheJaker mentioned...
Errol Flynn

Y'know, my entire Neverwinter Nights experience would be improved considerably if they replaced the entire game soundtrack with the theme from "Captain Blood"

[fable]

Originally posted by cjdevito
TheJaker mentioned...
Errol Flynn

Y'know, my entire Neverwinter Nights experience would be improved considerably if they replaced the entire game soundtrack with the theme from "Captain Blood"

Ah, Erich Wolfgang Korngold raises his head, again. Fine composer. And yes, it wouldn't be a bad idea if some modern game score paid as much attention to him as John Williams did.

[Kull]

Conserning dual-wielding:

I have posted the question in the local RPGA LG territory, the Gran March. We have been playing under third edition rules for quite sometime. Based on the replies, there are numerous reasons why dual-wielding is not prefered, when all the third edition rules are employed. These reasons include: (1) limited feats, you must choose many feats to make you really good at dual wielding; furthermore, feats like weapon focus, weapon specialization, improved critical etc. may have to be taken for two weapons (long and short sword, for instance); (2) limited spells(spells like greater magic weapon would have to be cast on two weapons for maximum benefit); (3) if you move more than 5 feet, you've lost that extra attack afforded by the second weapon; (4) even with all the feats, it is easier to miss with two weapons (even after considering the 1 extra attack) when the AC is "high"; and (5) limited/expensive magical weapons (not likely a factor in the single player computer game, but a big factor when all the third edition rules are followed).

As I have repeatedly stated, I realize that there are many differences in the single player computer game and pen and paper convention gaming. Therefore, I can not say that dual wielding is inferior in this game, until the feats have been properly evaluated. So far, The Jake has said dual wielding is much more effective for him. I may try dual wielding in the computer game when my schedule allows.

I have noted that in the first chapter there are many soft targets (such as naked prisoners). In this case, a stong guy dual wielding would do better. I expect that the targets will get harder (higher AC).

[Crosswind]

Concerning the sound.

You know, in the background, when it's being kinda quiet, and you'll get the scratchy noise music? "wicka-wicka-wicka-wicka whick whick whick", etcetera?

Listen carefully to the first 3 seconds of it.

Then go play the first 3 seconds of Stevie Ray Vaughn's version of Voodoo Chile.

They're the same, I say!

-Cross

[Mathurin]

Originally posted by Wyvern
Yeah, first of all note that I don't have the game so I don't know how these feats are implemented. But, wouldn't a rogue with ambidexterity and two handed fighting equiping daggers (which by the way offer less penalties) rock? If you make it human, you can get both feats at the first level. The real beauty is that the next feat you choose would be weapon finesse, so a high dexterity rogue will be really very good. Of course, consider the sneak attack advantage as well.

Of course, after that you can specialise in daggers and get improved two handed fighting...

Couple problems with that. Until you get weapon finesse, your penalties to hit are gonna suck, but granted youll be 3rd by the time you leave the prelude. Secondly with rogue BAB you wont qualify for Improved two weapon fighting until 12th or 13th level(I dont have the book open in front of me). If its 12th level ok, if its 13th youll have to wait until 15th level to recieve a feat slot for it. Lastly Rogues cant specialize, only fighters of 4th level or higher receive that.

Now from my point of view, a ranger/rogue(gets imp 2 weap fighting for free) or fighter/rogue(can specialize and meets the requirements for Imp 2 weapon faster) is the way to go but thats just me.