Neverwinter Nights

[duke o' york]

Well I am going to "reroll" this evening so I'm looking to talk builds now. Bear in mind that I'll instal HotU too, so you might want to recommend aiming for some epic classes, and where to start from, and which feats/skills to choose. I reserve the right to ignore all you say mind you, and to level up with new abilities I think will better help my game, but all help will be gratefully accepted.
Although this is my first time through, I don't think I'll go with a straight fighter because I want to make things a bit different. I've already got a fair idea of the game mechanics, but if someone could tell me how to change your henchman's weapon then I'd be much obliged. Can you use them as a pack animal too or are they likely to use/keep stuff?

[Skanky Burns]

Originally posted by duke o' york
[edit] Skanky, is your niece called clea? Because the letters are someway apart on the keyboard, and it'd be tough to hit that combination at random so many times.

Yeah. Most four year olds can't even write their own name. Mine can type hers.

I might make myself another dwarven fighter, but this time with some charisma as well.

[DrSpike]

You can't in NWN, but in the expansions you can alter their stuff by right clicking them and finding inventory.

As for builds, well what sort of character do you want?

[duke o' york]

Basically just one that'll be fun to play. Oh, and not a bard.
I'd like one that I could take through all three games and end up with an epic class, but I know next to nothing about the epic classes because I didn't get a manual with the HotU disk, and even if I had, then it would have been in Thai. Which epic classes are the most fun anyone? (bearing in mind that I want to start playing this evening and will only be here for another couple of hours )

Skanky, you should really teach her how to use the spacebar. And how to get an account at 'poly. And then how to post in OT. And then you can sit back and laugh.

[DrSpike]

It doesn't work like that. HotU is balanced to continue the character from SoU, and the OC is standalone, though you could take the OC character into HotU. Taking him/her into SoU is not a good idea, since it is balanced for characters starting at level 1.

You will only reach level 15 in the OC, so no need to worry about epic level.

Do you fancy a wizard/pale master for Sou/Hotu? That sounds fun.

[Jamski]

Ah

Say "hi" to Clea for us, she's learning the Art at an early age.

Character builds, character builds....

The path to power is paved with BUFFS and cheesey multiclassing. A simple Cleric with a couple of Fighter levels and a few buffs is an awesome force, for example, or a Rogue with Wizard levels. The trick is to look for classes who require the same ability scores.

Elven Rogue/Wizard is a favorite. Go heavy on the wizard, but take at least 7 Rogue levels before 20th level (to get 3 attacks/round) and before going ANYWHERE cover yourself in Stoneskin, Shadowshield, Spell Mantle, Cat's Grace, Improved Invisibility, etc etc. Put all the buffing spells in quickslots f1-f12 and "play a scale on the piano" to do them all fast.

Or more cheezy... the scythe Weaponmaster. Starting with a Fighter, take only the feats needed to get to Weaponmaster, then take 7 WM levels. Max out STR. At level 13 you'll be doing criticals most of the time and for well over 100 damage. So cheezy

What will get you through the original game with no problems is a straight Fighter, Ranger or Paladin. For all of these (except some Paladin builds) you want to max STR, because one day you want that Devastating Critical feat, right?

The NWN stat buying system encorages ruthlessness on character building. A 50% of fighters will have 13 INT (to allow some feats) and the rest will have 8 INT.

But experiment and have fun! A lot of the appeal of the game is the crazy character building plans you can conceive. How about a Druid/Monk? (yes, Monk abilties work when shape-shifted) Or a Paladin/Blackguard (gotta turn evil at some point for that one, but you can Smite Evil AND Smite Good, which is funny)



-Jam

[DrSpike]

I prefer single class for SP. I know some cheesy multiclasses are probably more powerful though. I don't consider the Fighter/WM build I did cheesy though.

If you go fighter take 13 int (and 13 dex) for disarm and knockdown.

I did the OC with a wizard. With Daelan tanking and summons also taking damage well (and both dishing it out) I was able to stay back and use a crossbow, which does decent damage with bolts of piercing or something else with a damage bonus.

Then later you get cool damage spells and everything dies fast.

[duke o' york]

I smite neutral too! I'm not that picky.

I'll probably just fiddle around this evening then - although it is tempting to skip OC, like Spikey did, and move straight to SoU.

[Skanky Burns]

Played Folderol a bit. Died.

[Arnelos]

Multiclassing is sorta odd in 3rd Edition/NWN. My three characters so far in Folderol:

1. A Lawful Neutral Rogue/Cleric specializing in buffs, stealth, and sneak attacks with the dual-weapon feats (2 short swords, in particular).
2. A Lawful Good Wizard/Paladin (primarily a Wizard, only a few levels in Paladin) with buffs and a longsword. Primarily stands back and uses the improved evasion feat while casting various area effect wizard spells, but can use his buffs along with his paladin levels to run in and fight in the melee if he doesn't want to waste spells or is out of attack spells.
3. My humor character: A Lawful Good Sorcerer/Paladin with the "High-strung Evangelist" voice set (which is rather amusing). Uses Paladin and Sorcerer buffs to enhance a primarily melee-focused character.

I have yet to make a chaotic character or an evil character in Folderol... might eventually do either of those for a change at some point. For now, I'm mostly playing the Wizard/Paladin.

[Jamski]

Played Folderol a bit. Died.

Damn, I missed you - I was on as DM all day - we could have had fun

-Jam

[DrSpike]

*Jamski spawns large dragon behind Skanky*

[Skanky Burns]

I had plenty of luck getting myself killed without any DM help. But I guess dying to a dragon would have been less embarrassing than dying in a fairy-grove.

[Dis]

I can't believe you died in the fairy grove. Those things are easy! That's the easiest way to gain exp.

[Skanky Burns]

Well, in a cave off the fairygrove. It was a nisbit burglar or whatever those things are called.