Yet another bleeding BG thread *sigh*

[Dis]

as for my status I have 2 parties in Baldur's Gate (I still have a few in BG2 as well, but I'm not currently playing that game).

My good party: Minsc, Adjantis, Branwen, Imone, myself (Human Bard), Dynaheir. currently in the eastern part of the great city of Baldur's Gate. Kind of inactive right now as I've been having so much fun with my evil party, and want to get them caught up.

My evil party: myself (half-elf fighter- most of my points in bows), Kagain, Montaron, Viconia, Edwin, Xcar. Currently in the area east of the temple which is east of Beregost. dumby me, I forgot about the mage spell: protection from petrification. Now I have casted that, things are very easy. I'll probably do that firewine bridge and dungeon, clear out a couple more areas in the east and then head up to the bandit camp. After that I may get those areas along the coast. I remember them sirenes being tough, so I'll get myself a little stronger.

[Dis]

My Baldur's Gate 2 parties vary widely. I've played several.

Minsc is an all time favourite. I use him alot. Almost every time. And I always use him at the beginning. I usually end up equipping him with Lilacor (the sentient sword), but I really should dual weild him. Next time I will.

Edwin I used to use even in my good parties. But lately I try to roll play a little better, and not mix alignments so harshly. But Edwin is so powerful...

For the same reason I used Viconia. Although Anomen is a capable cleric (pluse he is multiclassed with fighter I believe- so he should have a better thaco). But you have to make sure Anomen passes his test. I won't spoil it, just remember he aspires to be a paladin, so make sure he doesn't do anything un-paladin like. If you use Viconia give her the Crom Faer or something to raise her pitiful strength.

I sometimes us Jan as my thief and second mage. Although as I said before I prefer fighter/thieves. I never backstabbed with him, but he can easily get his thieving skills high enough to find, disarm traps, and unlock doors. I usually use him in evil parties. In good parties I will use Yoshimo/Imoen.

Lately I've been trying to use Aerie. Although she's kind of annoying, and real weak to start. People have been telling me she can develop into a powerful character, we'll see.

I don't like Jaheira at all really. I can't even bother to complete all her quests (esp. since on of them takes like 100 days or something). I should just let her die of that disease she gets.

Korgan is very powerful to use in evil parties. I almost always use him in evil parties.

And there is also another evil guy you can use, but only in the expansion. I will not list the name though, as that would be a spoiler. He's evil though (but can be swayed). Probably the most pwerful fighter in the game.

[Jamski]

Viconia. Hmmm...

Nice character, hot babe.... BUT.

But she's just so weak. She has a crappy STR, crappy Thac0, and can only get 1 attack per round, not to mention that simply adding her to the party gives you a -2 rep, so you need to drop her and re-add her every time you buy something (I mean 20% savings here, folks)

Anomen is better - very good STR, can get better stats by passing his test, levels only as a cleric, since he's a dual class, so no slower than Viconia, but has more attacks and better Thac0 than Viconia, so he can actually be of some use. Sure you can give Viccy the Crom Faeyr, but she'll still only swing it once every 180 clicks (6 seconds on normal speed) which is crap, basically.

Jaheria the same, although she's a Druid, so not quite as good because of the huge 1,5000,000 EXP needed for levelling 14 -> 15, this is kind of balanced by the fact she can get the Fighter HLAs which are rather good (unlike the clerical ones) and Nature's Beauty is a great spell

Airie is the 4th choice for a cleric, and even she is better than Viconia. Sure she's a bit fragile too, and her Thac0 and attacks/round are no better than Viccy's - not to mention that she'll be a level behind, but unlike Viconia, she can stay out of melee and actually be very useful. In fact, once she gets a few levels she's a casting powerhouse, simply she has too many spells. With a small party you can rely on her to cover buffing, healing, disabling and nuking all on her own. Sweet

So, of the clerical choices in BG2, I'm not sure why you think Viconia is the best. Single class clerics are rather poor.

-Jam

[Dis]

I like single class clerics. I played one in BG2. Cleric stronghold was okay, but I was hoping for a little more. I hate waiting forever to get Raise Dead. I'm too cheap to pay for raising my dead party.

and I would never drop Viccy just to save 20%. that is just an exploit.

[Jamski]

Heh, too cheap to pay for raise dead, but rich enough to shell out 20% extra for only having an 18 rep

I have to admit to never casting (or even memorising) ressurection spells. Its such a pain when the dead character has to pick up all their stuff from the floor. Better to not let anyone die, eh ?

-Jam

[duke o' york]

I have no idea what you're talking about, but BGII sounds cool! I can't wait to do all the odd things that you're all on about.
I get the impression that some of you are referring to Viconia as an early character in BGI. Have I got the wrong end of the wrong stick here? Have I missed her completely so far, or have I not yet reached her yet?

[Dry]

I voted for dual late.
In my very first BG1 game (this was a long time ago) I had a fighter/mage elf.
Multi-class are ok in BG1 because you stay below level 9. In BG2 they are a little bit a waist of XP. Dual-class are more powerfull.

After that, I tried a fighter dualing to mage at level 4 (8,000 XP).

I think if you start with a fighter, go at least to level 3 to get the fifth weapon proficiency (and 4000 XP is nothing) and, why not, grand mastery in one weapon. 6th level is a little bit late. You got the proficiency, but 32,000 XP is too much. And I'm not sure you already got the extra 1/2 hit per round.

Now, what I try is a fighter who will dual very late (9th). He will probably stay a fighter all BG1 long and will dual only for BG2.

[Dry]

Oops, I didn't see the question was about Imoen.

Errr, Imoen... pure thief.

[Dry]

Originally posted by Drogue
Thief, easily. Low level thieving abilities really aren't enough, especially with Tutu. I would dual about level 8 though, if she wasn't already in BGII.

Key levels for thieves are (iirc) 1, 5, 9 and 13 were the backstab damage multiplyer changes.
For THAC0, thieves change every odd level (iirc), so changing when you are on a even level is not ... 'effective'.
For those reasons, 4, 8 or 12th levels are - from my pov - worst choices to dual.

In the case of Imoen, if you want to dual her, I think 5 is a very good choice.

[duke o' york]

Are you trying to ljcvetko this thread Dry?


I meant to dual at 5, but forgot.
I like the idea of taking three levels of fighter so that you get the five stars in whichever weapon you choose, and then moving on to another class. It's a bit like the levels in Morrowwind really, but a good powergame way of approaching the game, if a bit poor from a roleplaying perspective.

[Jamski]

Key levels for thieves are (iirc) 1, 5, 9 and 13 were the backstab damage multiplyer changes.
For THAC0, thieves change every odd level (iirc), so changing when you are on a even level is not ... 'effective'.
For those reasons, 4, 8 or 12th levels are - from my pov - worst choices to dual.

In the case of Imoen, if you want to dual her, I think 5 is a very good choice.

This is why I dual Imoen at 4. At level 5 she gains no Thac0, and she's never going to be a decent backstabber with a STR of 9 is she?

The advantage of dualing at level 4 is you get the thief skills back faster. The aim is, of course, to make a mage who can use a bow, with an ok Thac0, and 100% stealth for perfect fireball/web/any area spell usage.

If you want someone with decent thievery skills and good backstabbing, then the game offers enough Fighter/Thieves, which are more suited to the task.

-Jam

[duke o' york]

Originally posted by Jamski

The aim is, of course, to make a mage who can use a bow, with an ok Thac0, and 100% stealth for perfect fireball/web/any area spell usage.

This applies if you have memorised the position of all the traps in the game, but I need 100% find traps more than stealth.

[Dry]

Originally posted by Jamski
Viconia. Hmmm...
...
So, of the clerical choices in BG2, I'm not sure why you think Viconia is the best. Single class clerics are rather poor.

Vicconia is my second choice.
Anomen is certainly the best, but he is too much, too powerfull ( DoY). And he is not funny to play.
Anomen is an AH, and you need alot of patience until he fullfils his quest, so he calms a little bit.
Vicconia is the only other choice for a pure cleric, and she is not as weak as you seem to say.
Her 65% MR helps A LOT. I remember, even a zone spell casted on her (web? gas?)... resist... no effect.
19 in Dext gives her a good AC and a good sling shot.
For a balance between fun and powerfull character, she is the best.

[Jamski]

This applies if you have memorised the position of all the traps in the game, but I need 100% find traps more than stealth.

There's much better characters to fill that role. A fighter/thief can max out traps and locks, then wear boots of Stealth and Shadow Armour to be pretty sneaky too. One thing BG1 (unlike BG2) is not short of is thieving little bastards

For a balance between fun and powerfull character, she is the best.

Well... if by balanced you mean neither fun nor powerful She has to be buffed up with spells/items before she even has the STR to wear her armour or hold a mace or flail. God knows how she managed to get those proficiency points in weapons she's not strong enough to use... So that's either waste a STR item on someone that's only going to swing once a round, and probably miss, or continually buff her. So, she can't be risked in melee, as for ranged attacks, the best slings are those that add the STR bonus (whoops) and even then, they're only slings, pretty craptastic weapons really... or you use her as a caster, running about chucking spells, although since Anomen can cast all the same spells while also fighting in the front line...

Well, you see my point. Clerics in 2nd Edition are nice to have in the party, but noone ever wanted to play one.

-Jam

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Jamski


This is why I dual Imoen at 4. At level 5 she gains no Thac0, and she's never going to be a decent backstabber with a STR of 9 is she?

The advantage of dualing at level 4 is you get the thief skills back faster. The aim is, of course, to make a mage who can use a bow, with an ok Thac0, and 100% stealth for perfect fireball/web/any area spell usage.

If you want someone with decent thievery skills and good backstabbing, then the game offers enough Fighter/Thieves, which are more suited to the task.

-Jam

I followed Jam' s above advice the one time I played through BG, but i dont think I know enough to vote. I may play BG again.