Monks are easily the most powerful class in the game. They start off very weak, but by the time you hit BG2 your Monk will be able to solo faceroll the whole game.
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Baldur's Gate: Siege of Dragonspear |OT| Tales of a Sword Coast Legend
- Thread starter MisterShine
- Start date
Monks are easily the most powerful class in the game. They start off very weak, but by the time you hit BG2 your Monk will be able to solo faceroll the whole game.
CrichtonKicks
Member
This isn't the case at all. Pretty much every returning character has characterization consistent with how they were portrayed in BG1 and 2.
Spacejaws
Member
Thank you for making that thread. Now we can use this thread to talk about the game and not the fabricated controversy
Another tip to those starting Baldur's Gate for the first time: avoid early damage spells for your mages in favor of CC spells like sleep or blind. Early mages contribute almost nothing to damage in a battle early on and you don't want to waste valuable spell slots on 4 damage magic missiles that can be better spent on a sleep spell that disables every enemy in a fight.
Especially important for sorcerors, otherwise you'll have a 20 level sorceror who can cast a whole lot of Colour Spray.
AWizardDidIt
Member
I'd say Mages have a bit of a leg over Monks when played correctly but it's definitely close (and Monks can just faceroll over stuff whereas a powerful Mage still requires a pretty good knowledge of abusable spells).
That's not to get started on multi/dual class characters that simply outdo single class characters on every level. Kensai dualed to Mage... hooo boy.
Controversies aside, this is the first time I'm playing BG1 since I originally finished the trilogy ten years ago and this game feels so good! Picking anything else than mage for my main character felt wrong, so I went with that (despite realizing I'll get stuck with the Planar Sphere again in BG2).
MisterShine
Member
Better than Tales of the Sword Coast by a mile . I'm only about halfway through and I think I'm pretty solidly going to land on "yeah, pretty good". Pretty good story and quests, petty good new dungeons and encounters, pretty good new characters.. If you don't already love Baldurs Gate though this certainly won't change your mind.
All the mage multi class combos are fun.
F/M: arguably the strongest class in the game with wiz buffs
T/M: loads of utility in one character and the spells mesh well with the thief abilities
C/M: a boat load of magic, speaks for itself really.
AWizardDidIt
Member
I said it earlier but I sincerely think this is the second best piece of content produced in the BG series (just behind BG2, pretty well ahead of BG1/TotSC/ToB) and really shockingly better than Beamdog's previous EE output.
This coming from someone who first played Baldur's Gate at the age of 14 and considers it their favorite game series who replays the saga every few years.
This is true, but Monk doesn't need to mess with any of that dual classing stuff. Just be a monk and win. Kensai/Mage and lots of other dual class characters are the reward you get for figuring out how to work the system. The reason people just suggest dual classes is that there has been 15 years of thought on the systems in AD&D and how to best game them.
If this system were brand new I wonder which classes people would be calling overpowered.
Basileus777
Member
The reviews are tainted by gamergate, you can safely ignore the averages or top reviews, most of the complaints are a smokescreen for bigotry.
Elaugaufein
Member
The broken stuff was identified really fast because it's pretty close to the same stuff that was broken in regular AD&D2e. AD&D2e had something like 16 years of supplements and min maxing by the time BG2 came out.
(The monk / sorcerer / barbarian less so because although monk and barbarian existed in 2e the BGII versions are far more 3e Backports than they are the 2e classes and sorcerer was new at the time. Siege of Dragonspears Shaman is another backport (it's the Complete Divine (?) class) )
Count of Monte Sawed-Off
un33dab@dpu$$y
It is. At the very least it's better than Tales of the Sword Coast and Throne of Bhaal. I have some issues with it, but nothing major.
Ignore the reviews at this point on Steam. GG fuckwits have struck and clouded the system with their tired agenda. No doubt some genuine opinions may paint the game unfavorably here and there, but its no longer really determinable amidst the quagmire of immaturity and immoral hate.
That said, the overall impressions and reviews have been very positive outside of this mess, including members of this forum. Seems very safe to buy and enjoy if you wish for more BG.
Anoregon
The flight plan I just filed with the agency list me, my men, Dr. Pavel here. But only one of you!
I think I might try the evil kit monk, Blur and mirror image is pretty rad.
I kind of want to try a berserker/druid dual class run but im not all about that 94+ reroll life at character creation.
I kind of want to try a berserker/druid dual class run but im not all about that 94+ reroll life at character creation.
AWizardDidIt
Member
Not happy with anything but straight 18s.
Anoregon
The flight plan I just filed with the agency list me, my men, Dr. Pavel here. But only one of you!
When I go that fast I end up passing 92+ rolls before I can stop myself from clicking reroll like every single time.
Spacejaws
Member
This feels like half my life condensed into a gif.
Giolon
Member
This is why these days I just say "fuck it" and give myself the stats that I want w/ EE Keeper.
I so much prefer point buy systems.
AWizardDidIt
Member
I usually reroll for about 5 minutes until I get something half-way decent.
And then I just EE keeper my stats to about 90~ total anyway (Fuck if I'll let my kid sister have better stats than I have!).
Dsyndrome
Member
I don't remember how long it took for me to roll a 93... but it wasn't trivial.
Count of Monte Sawed-Off
un33dab@dpu$$y
Finished it last night. Pretty damn good. I have some complaints about their selection of companions, and some story issues, but overall it was good. I'd definitely be up for a BG3 from them.
Unfortunately I don't know if we'd be seeing Baldurs Gate 3 from them for awhile yet. They have said that Icewind Dale 2 won't be done for awhile because of the changes it brought to the engine, specifically the upgrade from Advanced Dungeons and Dragons 2nd Edition to 3rd Edition D&D. That brought about all sorts of changes to spells, stats, and other mechanics.
And further, I don't see Wizards of the Coast, who own D&D, licensing a brand new game using 2nd Edition or 3rd Edition rules, not when they just released 5th Edition last year and are trying to heavily market that. An expansion for an existing game was able to get the license, but an entirely new game? I'm unsure, especially with Wizards being dickbags. If I am wrong I will be very pleasantly surprised.
MisterShine
Member
I believe they've more or less confirmed they're not going to do IWD 2 EE, due to the changes in engine that you have discussed. Also I imagine the market just isn't there for IWD2, the series just doesn't have the reputation that Baldur's Gate does.
For this, if they DID do a BG3, I feel like it would be perfectly fine to do a 5E game since they'd pretty much have to do a new character anyway. Baldur's Gate: The Next Generation! I grew up with 2nd and I love it (even all the stupid parts) but I'm okay if they want to move forward.
AWizardDidIt
Member
Yeah, it seems like IWD2EE isn't really on the table which is fine by me. It's the only infinity engine game I haven't beaten at all (and I've beaten every other one of those games at least 2 or 3 times each). Not because it's a bad game or anything but there's something about it that causes me to drop out half of the way through any time I try. I doubt an EE version of that game would really attract me for another dropped playthrough.
As an aside though, a modder is working on converting parts of IWD2 into the EE trilogy of games so that's something to look forward to you if you want your IWD2 fix when it releases (not any time soon).
AWizardDidIt
Member
Oh shit that's a thing? Ok, that would actually be awesome.
I'm totally imagining
Bhaal, Bane, and Myrkul
Yup. I can't find any actual info on the when, what and where in my 5E sourcebooks, but it is definitely a thing. There was a playtest adventure for 5E called "Murder in Baldur's Gate" that played it with it though:
It ends with a very aged Duke Abdel Adrian (yeah I know...) and Viekang (the teleporting Bhaalspawn) duking it out in the streets of Baldur's Gate with the winner transforming into The Slayer which proceeded to go on a rampage through the city which in turn had to stopped by the player characters.
Also, Coran apparently still lives and there was a statue of Minsc in Baldur's Gate.
Also, Coran apparently still lives and there was a statue of Minsc in Baldur's Gate.
Count of Monte Sawed-Off
un33dab@dpu$$y
IWD2 is the only IE game I never beat either. For me, I just never got into 3e rules and so it feels overwhelming. I'd love for a potential BG3 to be 2e since that's what I know, but that is probably unlikely. But I'd take a BG3 any way I can get it, I just hope beamdog can create some better original companions.
Unfortunately this is exactly what I was going to say, you beat me to it. I don't believe Beamdog is very big and to date, as far as I am aware, has only ever worked at updating some old games with some new features, up until Dragonspear. Dragonspear is their first foray into designing brand new content, but it is still being slotted into one of those old games and engines.
If they could get approval to develop a new game within the framework of Infinity and its 2nd edition rules that would be very interesting, but is so very unlikely.
The only upside I can see towards them making a Baldurs Gate 3 is that a third title would likely have a lot more draw than a Icewind Dale 2: Enhanced Edition. Perhaps enough to warrant the work required to either transition Infinity to 3rd or 5th Editions, license Obsidian's work on the Unity Engine they did for Pillars of Eternity, which Torment: Tides of Numenara and their upcoming Tyranny game are using, or create their own. In my opinion licensing Unity and Obsidian's work on it would be best and quite fitting, considering Bioware developed Infinity under Interplay and shared that tech with Black Isle for Icewind Dale and Planescape: Torment. Circle of life!
Ahhhhh, good old times..
chaobreaker
Member
What's wrong with later editions of DnD? I'm not versed the the intricacies of them beyond what I learned of 2e for Baldur's Gate.
2e and before and 3e and beyond are radically different systems. 4e is nothing like any of the others. 3e and 5e are sorta similar.
chaobreaker
Member
How so? Did they simplify the mechanics? Removed thac0 or armor classes?
It's too complex for me to really go into at 4 am when I haven't slept.
Elaugaufein
Member
They inverted THAC0 (now BAB) and AC (and Saves) so they increase with level. They also changed proficiencies into skills which work similarly. The net effect is that higher is pretty much always better on a D20. Saves were also simplified into 3 types : Fortitude , Reflex and Will which are far more self-explanatory and consistent as to what they effect than the previous groups.
3e also made some major strides to make PCs and monsters use the same rules which was really nice from a DMing / Design perspective since you could eg have monsters with class levels much more simply and making more powerful versions of a monster was much easier. Unfortunately 4e abandoned that part entirely and 5e isn't anywhere near as good as 3e was. I wish they'd gone a step further and had monster skill and feat acquisition follow the PC pattern.
3rd edition also simplified and expanded statistics, getting rid of the old 1-25 system and bonuses that only kicked in at 15 or higher in most cases. Now, for example, every 2 points of Strength above 10 gives you +1 on melee weapon hit rolls and +1 damage. It worked like this for all stats, give you +1 for every 2 points you put into the stat above 10. Stats also have no upper limit, with things like Great Wyrm Dragons having stat scores in the 30's to 50's.
You also got a increased stat point every 4 levels.
In addition they added in a feat system, a Prestige Class system, and more. Every 3 levels, or at certain levels for some classes, you'd get a feat. Think perk in Fallout, or other similar games. A special thing you could take, based on class levels/stats/skills/etc that allowed you to improve something. Prestige Classes replaced kits, only you didn't have to choose them at the start for the character. Each one had special unlock requirements, some mechanics based, like ability to cast seventh level spells plus X ranks in Knowledge: Arcana, and others character history/story-based, like "Must have singlehandedly destroyed an undead creature of equal or higher level."
3rd edition was a fantastic gaming system that saw a 3.5 update to its mechanics and was in use for quite a few years before Wizards of the Coast moved on to 4th and now 5th Editions. 3rd Edition lives on in the Pathfinder system, which expanded upon the open source material and is widely regarded as D&D 3.75 Edition.
You also got a increased stat point every 4 levels.
In addition they added in a feat system, a Prestige Class system, and more. Every 3 levels, or at certain levels for some classes, you'd get a feat. Think perk in Fallout, or other similar games. A special thing you could take, based on class levels/stats/skills/etc that allowed you to improve something. Prestige Classes replaced kits, only you didn't have to choose them at the start for the character. Each one had special unlock requirements, some mechanics based, like ability to cast seventh level spells plus X ranks in Knowledge: Arcana, and others character history/story-based, like "Must have singlehandedly destroyed an undead creature of equal or higher level."
3rd edition was a fantastic gaming system that saw a 3.5 update to its mechanics and was in use for quite a few years before Wizards of the Coast moved on to 4th and now 5th Editions. 3rd Edition lives on in the Pathfinder system, which expanded upon the open source material and is widely regarded as D&D 3.75 Edition.
Pilgrimzero
Member
Been playing this here and there and I'm not very far. I've recently started helping dwarves fight undead in a cave.
Anyways, why do I feel so over powered? Does it even out eventually? It's a new PC, I didn't import. The group slaughters everything, no problem.
I was ready for a real slot like the original BGate so far it's a cake walk.
Anyways, why do I feel so over powered? Does it even out eventually? It's a new PC, I didn't import. The group slaughters everything, no problem.
I was ready for a real slot like the original BGate so far it's a cake walk.
AWizardDidIt
Member
Push up the difficulty to hard or insanity and then toggle the option to remove enemy bonus damage. Higher difficulty levels add new enemies to each encounter and changes their AI to be more aggressive and I felt it was a decent challenge
BG might be less hard than you remember it. The base game without AI enhancing mods is kind of a cakewalk outside of that first level where you might get randomly one shot.
Strife In a Teacup
Member
Sarevok
Anoregon
The flight plan I just filed with the agency list me, my men, Dr. Pavel here. But only one of you!
Decided to give rolling a berserker (for future dual class to druid) another go, and got a 90 roll. Is there any reason to have an int score between 3 and 9? If I'm going to be below 9, and thus unable to use scrolls, is there any reason NOT to just fully dump it to 3 to get all my other stats to 17+?
Strife In a Teacup
Member
I was going to say low int changes dialogue, but after looking I don't think it does. I forget which game it does that in? Maybe the old Fallouts.