Help me decide my next build!

GawainBS · Post by **GawainBS** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 9:04 am

I've played through the OC and MotB as a Bard already.
Now, I'm in doubt between a Monk, Druid, EldritchKnight, Melee Ranger or Paladin. I'm using Kaedrin's PrC pack.
Which would you choose, and why?

Thanks in advance!

Stworca · Post by **Stworca** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 9:43 am

I first played as Monk, and can recommend it easily. Insane AC and roundhouse kicks for everyone.

Druid will stay "Fresh" the longest though. All the others have limited possibilities.

GawainBS · Post by **GawainBS** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 9:52 am

Indeed, that's my biggest fear: getting bored with it. I'll take a good long look at the Monk, thanks!

Scottg · Post by **Scottg** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 4:11 pm

GawainBS wrote:Indeed, that's my biggest fear: getting bored with it. I'll take a good long look at the Monk, thanks!

The (purist) Monk is just another melee'r.. It gets old fast..

This makes it more interesting:

Sacred Monk | NWN2 Character Builder

It should be good for both, but it's better for MOTB. Warlocks are also well designed for both campaigns, but they can get a little "old" too. (..and technically speaking the Warlock is probably the best class for MOTB.)

My favorites so far have been:

OC:
http://nwn2db.com/build.php?id=8397&version=1
(.its OK for MOTB with crafted wands and scribe scoll - if a little tedious to produce them.)

MOTB:
http://nwn2db.com/build.php?id=37595&version=1
I would NOT recommend this build for the OC.. it's not bad, but it just isn't that good for much of it. It is however a LOT of fun in MOTB.

GawainBS · Post by **GawainBS** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 4:19 pm

I was more or less trying to avoid something that requires extensive buffing, but thanks for the suggestion. (Yes, I know, I did mention Eldritch Knight.)

Scottg · Post by **Scottg** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 4:34 pm

GawainBS wrote:I was more or less trying to avoid something that requires extensive buffing, but thanks for the suggestion. (Yes, I know, I did mention Eldritch Knight.)

The Sacred Monk doesn't actually need any buffing except at early levels. It's there if you want it.. The offensive spell casting at higher levels makes it more interesting. MOTB is the better campaign choice for this build though.

However despite all that (and having played just about every type of class combination).. I'd still highly recommend my favorites above in their respective campaigns. They both give a fairly different "flavor" to the game.

GawainBS · Post by **GawainBS** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 4:44 pm

Both link to the same build. I'd never play an Assassin, I'm always a goody two-shoes.
The build would have to be viable without frustration throughout the OC and MotB, though.

Probably going to stick to a straight-up Monk, though. A Sacred Fist would get me endlessly frustrated how stupid NWN doesn't let Greater Magic Weapon work on Monk Unarmed Strikes.

Scottg · Post by **Scottg** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 4:51 pm

GawainBS wrote:Both link to the same build. I'd never play an Assassin, I'm always a good two-shoes.
The build would have to be viable without frustration throughout the OC and MotB, though.

Probably going to stick to a straight-up Monk, though. A Sacred Fist would get me endlessly frustrated how stupid NWN doesn't let Greater Magic Weapon work on Monk Unarmed Strikes.

I fixed the link.

The sorcerer is viable throughout.. the assasin is as well, it just doesn't *work* as an assasin for a substantial amount of the OC.

GawainBS · Post by **GawainBS** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 4:56 pm

Neither is of particular intrest to me. They look well-built, though.

Scottg · Post by **Scottg** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 5:10 pm

GawainBS wrote:Neither is of particular intrest to me. They look well-built, though.

That's OK (..and thanks!)

I hope you get more out of the Monk class (fun-wise) than I did.

The Druid is of course always a good suggestion.. Good spells and Shape-change. The shape-changing is however more or less a "buff" and it still ends-up as a melee'er (when shape-changed).

Scottg · Post by **Scottg** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 11:58 pm

I just perused the classes in Kaedrins via NWN2 Builder site..

OMG.

There are several classes in there that absolutely break game balancing. The worst offender is the Swiftblade IMO, but there are several others that come close (Eldritch Disciple, etc.)..

There is a LOT of "potential" with several of the Druid prestige classes, which all seem to stack (..and for the most part makes a pure Druid class seem stupid).

Anyway - if you are interested I highly recommend the "Builder" site for experimentation.

GawainBS · Post by **GawainBS** » Sun Apr 24, 2011 2:05 am

I use Kaedrin's Pack because it brings more D&D to NWN.

A Druid/Lion of Thalisnid/Nature's Warrior is also high on the list, yes.

Stworca · Post by **Stworca** » Sun Apr 24, 2011 3:11 am

There is actually a Swiftblade mod for NWN? :laugh:

I must warn you about the whole "getting bored with a class" thing. I've had a sorcerer (and i love sorcerers, right?) and it still got boring midway MoTB.
It's true that non-spellcasting classes get boring in first chapter, but NWN2 combat system is overall unexciting.

Regards

GawainBS · Post by **GawainBS** » Sun Apr 24, 2011 4:29 am

Yes, but the Swiftblade in NWN is a bit lackluster. It lacks the things that make it awesome in Pen & Paper.

Stworca · Post by **Stworca** » Sun Apr 24, 2011 7:19 am

Monks in the later stages are equally good. One has to score a 20 to hit them.
On the other hand carefully made rogues get epic dodge late in MoTB.

Still, my point is : I'm playing for the umpteenth time through the entire BG sage and IWD 1 with a sorcerer, and i already know i will be doing this again in the near future (i got TuTu working at windows 7!)
I wrote a tactical guide that uses sorcerer as core character. I record movies with sorcerer. I'm as sorcerous as it gets.

NWN2 sorc bore me. It still was the most interesting character in the game for me (rogues are AWESOME, but undead are immune to stab, criticals and everything a rogue can do.. So are spirits in half the MotB)

You will eventually grow tired of repetitive battles. Spell variety can help you only so far.

GawainBS · Post by **GawainBS** » Sun Apr 24, 2011 9:20 am

Monks in the later stages are equally good. One has to score a 20 to hit them.

That's about Monks in NWN2, I presume?

Maybe I should combine a Monk with a Druid, and solve my problem that way. ;-)

Scottg · Post by **Scottg** » Sun Apr 24, 2011 1:04 pm

Stworca wrote: On the other hand carefully made rogues get epic dodge late in MoTB.

NWN2 sorc bore me. It still was the most interesting character in the game for me (rogues are AWESOME, but undead are immune to stab, criticals and everything a rogue can do.. So are spirits in half the MotB)

You will eventually grow tired of repetitive battles. Spell variety can help you only so far.

..a Dexterity based Monk can get Epic Dodge as well (..with 5 levels of SD).

There are some things I liked in Kaedrin's - one of them was the Skullclan Hunter that at least partially addresses sneak attack immunity, and in a moderately balanced solution!

Unfortunately there is precious little for most Rogues to do beyond opening chests - BOTH campaigns are pretty bad for Rogues, leaving sneak attacks their only real "perk".

I still really liked the Sorcerer in the OC - it progresses well, but once you've gotten to MOTB progression essentially stops and it's pretty much a "been there done that" sort of thing.

Scottg · Post by **Scottg** » Sun Apr 24, 2011 1:10 pm

GawainBS wrote:I use Kaedrin's Pack because it brings more D&D to NWN.

A Druid/Lion of Thalisnid/Nature's Warrior is also high on the list, yes.

Try looking at the Daggerspell Shaper.

(..and ditching Natures Warrior.)

GawainBS · Post by **GawainBS** » Sun Apr 24, 2011 1:32 pm

I'm not too fond of the Daggerspell Shaper. Way too many hard prerequisites, which offer virtually no benefit. The PrC also barely offers anything worthwhile, apart from a better skill list.

Scottg · Post by **Scottg** » Sun Apr 24, 2011 3:59 pm

GawainBS wrote:I'm not too fond of the Daggerspell Shaper. Way too many hard prerequisites, which offer virtually no benefit. The PrC also barely offers anything worthwhile, apart from a better skill list.

IF Dagger Claws doesn't stack with Greater Magic Weapon then I might agree, otherwise Dagger Claws is quite a substantial benefit in the overall scheme of things.

EDIT:

I just tested it out.. and I'm afraid I have to agree. Unless the enhancement bonus is greater than whatever level of Greater Magic Weapon you have, it doesn't offer any benefit. Of course Greater Magic Weapon tops out at +5 and you can go as high as +8 enhancement (..potentially +10 with Mr. Stabi), so there *can* be a benefit - but one that really isn't worth it in terms of the campaigns.

Besides.. Intuitive Attack rocks for Attack Bonus.

I'll also note that Monk vs. Ninja for first level is a better deal with Monk. (I needed the sneak attack 1d6 for the Dagger-Spell Shaper, and I got that with the Ninja class.) Both the Monk and the Ninja have the wisdom AC bonus, but the Monk gets an extra attack (if resulting in a -2 penalty) via Flurry. So yeah, Monk/Druid/Nature's Warrior/Lion of Talisid..