BG1 -> ToB Questions

mrdeluxe · Post by **mrdeluxe** » Thu Dec 10, 2009 12:03 pm

Hi everyone,

Yesterday I started a run through all of Baldur's Gate saga with a Elf Fighter/Thief multiclass. I rolled some pretty good stats (as you can see for yourselves: [url="http://img.skitch.com/20091210-pti3243mkngur8rxsddxpnnhef.jpg"]http://img.skitch.com/20091210-pti3243mkngur8rxsddxpnnhef.jpg[/url] ).

However, and thinking about my party going forward, I'm starting to have some doubts:

1. I never truly played a Thief, but I like the idea of hiding in shadows and explore / disable traps / pick lockets / etc. myself and not really on an NPC, especially since there's a lack of a true Thief in the game. Also, I really want to try UAI and wield Carsomyr!

But I was afraid of getting bored of not being able to be on the front-line, so I gave myself a Multiclass. However I'm not certain if a Fighter/Thief is a good choice for a front-line fighter.

Looking towards the future, Fighters are the most common NPCs: Minsc, Keldorn, Jaheira doubles as one, Mazzy, one very cool that joins in ToB… and I'm afraid a Fighter/Thief could be redundant.

There is a shortage on good mages. I don't know if Imoen's the best choice for the main mage, or if I should take Edwin with me as well.

Also: how good is Haer`Dalis as a backup mage? I have played a Blade before (and liked it a lot), but I would mostly buff myself and help as a second fighter.

Finally and considering ToB: Is a party consisting of a Fighter/Thief, Minsc, Jaheira, Imoen and the new NPC (won't spoil) a good one or is it lacking magic power? I've never truly played ToB so I don't know what will be expecting me.

One final thought: How viable is a F/M/T with a party of 4 or 5? I was thinking I could play one and alternate between what I needed most.

Thank you for your help!

Nightmare · Post by **Nightmare** » Thu Dec 10, 2009 4:25 pm

If you want mage power, Aerie is a tremendously powerful Cleric and Mage multiclass, as she can add cleric spells to contingencies and spell triggers. There's also a ton of excellent NPC mods that add some great mages to the game.

I like playing a Rogue, as backstabs can be quite useful in a number of fights. I usually opt for a Fighter/Rogue dual class, but a multiclass will mean that you will be able to be more of a frontline fighter. It IS a little redundant, because there are better fighters in the game (and several thieves that can accomplish Open Locks/Find Traps, the more necessary rogue skills). If that's what you want to play, though, then do it!

fable · Post by **fable** » Thu Dec 10, 2009 5:32 pm

As this thread really pertains to ToB, I've moved it there. But I've left a stub in BG1, so you'll keep getting comments from that forum, too. Boo says: two for the price of one!

Edar Macilrille · Post by **Edar Macilrille** » Thu Dec 10, 2009 5:57 pm

Kensai-Mage or Kensai-Mage-Thief is a massacre on enmies.

There was a lot of debate a year or so back about what class was most kick-behind. I think many could benefit from it and encourage a search.

I would say go for it, melee dishes out more damage anyway, so a F/T is not a bad idea. As long as you have a priest for healing and a mage/sorcerer for debuffing enemies, buffing the party and handing out some nasty spells you are fine.

Personally, as can be seen elsewhere I prefer characters that can do a bit of magic and a bit of melee/missile, one a healer, and then some tanks. You do not actually need a super thief, but it is nice to have for picking locks, traps etc. The ingame thieves are good enough for that, but you should play what you want- any character can be a killer if played right. I am rambling, it is late and I am tired... nite.

mrdeluxe · Post by **mrdeluxe** » Fri Dec 11, 2009 4:22 am

Thanks for the replies!

Last night I fought the impulse to start a new character and proceded to Beregost where I fought that dwarven bounty hunter on the Red Sheaf Inn. He was kicking Khalid's a** so, after realizing I had a potion of invisibility on my inventory, I tried my first backstab in the game. It was awesome! I didn't killed him (I used a staff +1 and I have no proficiencies with it), but I got him to Badly Damaged or Near Death and he got morale failure, started running from me and got cut down by the rest of the party.

I think I'm in love with the thief now! I can't wait to level up some more and put more points in Hide in Shadows and Move Silently.

Now I just need a really good tank to divert the enemies attention. I'm thinking Kagain, but first I'll do the Nashkel Mines quest with Jaheira and Khalid. I want to keep my party small and with rotating NPC's!

mrdeluxe · Post by **mrdeluxe** » Fri Dec 11, 2009 4:25 am

fable wrote:As this thread really pertains to ToB, I've moved it there. But I've left a stub in BG1, so you'll keep getting comments from that forum, too. Boo says: two for the price of one!

Thanks man!

mrdeluxe · Post by **mrdeluxe** » Fri Dec 11, 2009 5:40 am

Edar Macilrille wrote:Kensai-Mage or Kensai-Mage-Thief is a massacre on enmies.

There was a lot of debate a year or so back about what class was most kick-behind. I think many could benefit from it and encourage a search.

I would say go for it, melee dishes out more damage anyway, so a F/T is not a bad idea. As long as you have a priest for healing and a mage/sorcerer for debuffing enemies, buffing the party and handing out some nasty spells you are fine.

Personally, as can be seen elsewhere I prefer characters that can do a bit of magic and a bit of melee/missile, one a healer, and then some tanks. You do not actually need a super thief, but it is nice to have for picking locks, traps etc. The ingame thieves are good enough for that, but you should play what you want- any character can be a killer if played right. I am rambling, it is late and I am tired... nite.

On my previous runs through BG1, TotSC and BG2 SoA I never thought of the game that hard (on Core Rules), and most really tough mosters, except for the final bosses, are optional, so I'm not really looking for the end-all, be-all character, but one that will be fun to play through all game(s), with enough diversity so I won't get bored and it will complement nicely the NPCs in the game!

This Fighter/Thief has been fun to play, so far. I always loved Coran and this is my chance to play a similar character as the PC all the way through ToB.

So now I'm thinking of my party(ies) through the game. What do you think of this:

Baldur's Gate 1

Protagonist (Fighter/Thief, longbows, two-handed swords and staves for backstabbing)
Imoen (dueled to a mage at level 2, not so certain it was a good idea, now.)
Minsc (tank)
Kivan (archer)
Branwen (main cleric)
Dynaheir (mage)

Kivan and my character are the main ranged artillery, with Imoen and Misc for support when needed. Branwen heals, Dynaheir and Imoen casts. I'm thinking I might use one less magic caster and one more ranged fighter. Maybe rent Imoen a room on the Friendly Arm Inn and get Shar-Teel instead.
I'm also thinking I could lock Khalid on a second floor somewhere (and role-play that he got called for harper duty), send Jaheira to the frontline packing a full plate and a big shield and use Minsc as a second bow.

Baldur's Gate 2

This is a little trickier! I love almost all of the NPCs in BG2.

Protagonist (same as above)
Minsc Tank, dual-wielding Flail of Ages and a Mace/Hammer/Axe as needed.
Jaheira Big shield, Scimitar and start to get her some proficiencies in Spear. Main healer and Summoner, back-up tank.
Edwin Main caster (it's going to be difficult to keep him and Minsc together, thought).
Imoen Back-up caster.

I'm also considering on taking Haer´Dalis (never have for longer than the his quest), make Imoen the main caster and having him do the back-up everything (ranged, caster, pickpockets, lore, even melee if needed to).

All the others I'll be rotating in and out as needed for their specific quests.

Finally: ToB

SPOLEIRS, select to read!

Spoiler

Protagonist (same as above, but with extra fun due to the UAI)
Sarevok (main fighter, wielding a halberd)
Minsc
Jaheira
Imoen

Since I never played ToB, what am I missing? I think I have more than enough firepower on the melee side, but am I missing some magic? If so, who should I take: Edwin, Aerie, Jan or Haer´Dalis again and have him sing the Enhanced Bard Song?)

Sorry for the extremely long post. Thinking about the game makes the working hours go faster

Nightmare · Post by **Nightmare** » Sat Dec 12, 2009 12:38 pm

Personally, I'd want another mage for ToB, mages are very dominant at high levels and you'll want them for the bigger fights.

mrdeluxe · Post by **mrdeluxe** » Sat Dec 12, 2009 8:37 pm

Thanks for the advice, whom do you recommend? Aerie? Edwin?

fable · Post by **fable** » Sat Dec 12, 2009 8:52 pm

mrdeluxe wrote:Thanks for the advice, whom do you recommend? Aerie? Edwin?

Aerie. Think: mage and clerical spells embedded in spell triggers.