New Player - Character Concepts, The Game and Several other Questions

[HraTaika]

To begin with, I find that you have a really nice community here, as it is clear, simple to use and contains a huge amount of information and good forums.

Job well done people.



But that is not my whole point here, but rather, some questions concerning my first gaming experience. As I am.. how to say it.. fond of good experiences when I do something, I find that I need to get the 'optimal' gaming experience on the first time I play the game. And to receive it, I usually consult some forum about it, cause life takes it's part from my gaming time. (so bear with me please ^__^) Also, I find the game manual EXTREMELY lacking.

First of all, about the character creation and concept. As I know somewhat little about the mechanics of D&D 3.5 in this current game, I find myself hard pressed to find a character to suit the ~60h of playing. What kind of character works in the game? For example if I want to make a Summoner, is it playable or does it fall into a death spell like in BGII? What about the animal companion of the cleric (Animal Domain) is it the same level like the druid or few levels after you like the ranger one? Or perhaps I want to make an Undead Hunter, cleric. Is there enough undead in the game to make it worthwhile? Or perhaps a dual-wielder? Simple fighters are rather ‘too easy’ to play, so I’d say they’ll be out of this ‘first game list’?
Hmm.. Maybe in the end the right question would be, which one has the most to give (quest and play wise) during the game?

Then I began thinking about the game itself. How many NPC:s can you have in your party? (5 I presume?) What are these “free members” I hear talking about? Is there lots of “broken” stuff and are there big bugs from which I should be aware of? (The current patch is 1.03, right?) I also understand that the xp amount is limited? I also hear that there is “Unique Weapons” in the game, are they part of a special edition or something? I understand that there is a some sort of an “influence meter” for the NPC:s? Is this correct? I assume it might turn people against me if I haven’t influenced them enough? In the final battle perhaps? Also, are there romances in the game like in BGII?

Now, now, now, I think I’ve made a (too)long list of questions and I apology for it (and stop before this goes on too much). But I would be really glad if somebody has the time and patience to answer some of my noobish questions. Thanks in advance!

Cheers,
HraTaika

[kyle]

What kind of character to make for this game? Well, what's your favourite comic book character? Seriously. My favourite playthrough came when I tried to create as Magneto-esque a character as possible (a white-haired Lawful Evil Aasimar Cleric, with Air and Fire Domains for the offensive power, able to wear heavy armor and fight on the front lines). Sorcerer might have worked as well, but nope, Magneto's gotta be armored and helmeted.

A fighter can be fun in the game, especially when you take them down the weapon master route and start dishing out loads of damage on critical hits.

Warlocks can be... well, verdict is still out on that one, afaiac.

Creating a summoner-style character works well, summoned creatures are extremely effective in this game and you can find good strategies on these boards for using them in tough battles. I found it very rare - if ever - for them to be dispelled; not enough for me to remember anyway.

Sometimes you're limited to 4 NPCs, sometimes 5, sometimes you get even more for short periods, not gonna give you any spoilers. Think 4 for the first half of the game, 5 for the last half.

Influence matters in different ways for different NPCs. Some of what you suggested is correct on this topic.

XP: it isn't difficult to get to 20th level for non-xp penalized races (humans, half-elves, etc.). This transfers into a cap of 19th level for Aasimar/Tiefling, maybe 17th or 18th for Drow, etc...

[Cyrinn]

Hi there!

First off, did you read through the characters, classes and such in the NWN2 walkthrough section? I would start there.

About builds, you can make those builds you mentioned in this game it just takes some planning and familiarization with all the feats and rules to do it right. All you can do to this end is to read the specs on the feats and spells and skills and decide what you like then build a character around that. I usually do this first then think about what feats/skills/spells I thought were cool or fun then went from there.

There are MANY good character builds that I could recommend, but there are so many choices you would have to pick a style to even begin to narrow it down.

IMO, the fighter/wizard/eldritch knight build is by far the most powerful and fun to play. You can fight *almost* as well as a pure fighter in melee AND cast up through level nine spells Too powerful, for me, so I played a bit more challenging builds.

My two favorites so far are a dual-wielding warlock/rogue and a greatsword wielding evil bard/blackguard.

I found that if you do most of the side quests you can make level 20 with a 1 level adjusted race and 19 with a 2 level adjusted race. I read where one person claimed to make it to 20 with the latter, but I haven't really tried myself.

That's the tricky thing about this game, it takes quite a bit of time learning all the in's and out's but you can play a wide variety of characters and play styles that it's well worth it. And yes, there is influence, and undead, and summoning spells (oh my!).

[Lord of Cheese]

And if you want to play as an Undead Hunter, I hear they come plentyfull in some parts, won't tell which by for what I was told...

"Gods! They where everywhere! Creeping and lurching and oozing and smely like really old moldy cheese around. I Hate Cheese! It's was Horrible it was like a Sci-Fi Convenction but for lawyers and deputies and, and *shudders* TAX-Collectors! The horror... "