Don't Know what to do.

[Ariexedes]

Sorry, not sure if this goes here exactly or not, still fairly new to Baldur's Gate server/community. A friend (Kiran) bought me the game for some rp's make new friends and the like and I'm really enjoying the community already, but I'm still not sure 'how' I want to fit into it so to speak. All these class's look like so much fun to play, but I don't understand the number/details of how to be some of the ones that I think I would really enjoy.

So guess really asking the community what I should try, currently a 10Cleric / 6 Hospitaller (picking up Hierophant) sort of off tank self-caster buffer, some might know her Rhonea. A friend is really helping me out with this, thanks Kiran for putting up with newbishness this long.

But not exactly feeling it as much as I was hoping, guess am not really a tank player even an off tank in really any game I play I'm usually a rogue, heal/support heal, or a mage depending how a caster works in that game more of a dpser than a tank.

So been looking around and I've come across a few that I really think I might enjoy being more of the hybrids of a sin/mage such as the spell blade, arcane archer/trickster and like classes. My original idea what Kiran helped me with was going to be a heavy pale master but think what would have happened was what's happening with cleric I don't really like heavy.

So then am thinking maybe a shifter druid will be fun PvE and rp hopefully, but then am like I kinda liked the sorc building into the pale master, but am not used to the 'spell per day' am used to a mana bar but I like the casting class's here. What puts me back to maybe a AT or spell blade having both sin and mage.

Then am back to I have ZERO ideas how to start or build up a character like this as AT is a prestige class so how to build correctly to this. So guess really just looking for suggestions of what class am thinking/fits what am looking for, and how to build it. Looking for something fun to rp but still usefull in a pve group.

Sorry for the wall of text.

[chad878262]

Well, no one can tell you what will be fun to play as that is very much different from one player to the next. I'll try to give you some general details of the mechanics for what I think you're saying you like in your post... Then you can clarify if I've misinterpreted anything and hopefully we can narrow down what you might enjoy.

The easiest thing is where you say you've enjoyed playing roguish types in the past. They can be pretty frustrating solo if you don't have a really good grasp of how to play them, but they are also very rewarding for this reason. Again, different folks are going to tell you different things as some will say well built sneaks are the 'easiest' to play while others will say they are the 'hardest'. The reality is it is simply 'different'. Most classes that don't use HiPS (Hide in Plain Sight) simply run around bashing or blasting everything in to a fine powder. Sneaks take a bit of strategy to learn using HiPS defensively, as opposed to just as a 6 second clicky to get your 1st flurry damage boost. There are many ways to build a viable sneak, some for ultimate glass canon offense, others with a bit more circumstantial defense. No matter what though, if you are looking for a striker, this is a solid group of build types.

You also mentioned 'mana bar' and Sorcerer, and this is not far from the truth. You pick your spells and you can cast a set number of those spells per day. However, if you have 5 spells on a spell level and can cast them 5 times per day, you can pick as you go which of those 5 spells you'll cast, until your 5 / day is up. Cleric, like Wizard must plan and prepare their spells ahead of time whereas a Sorcerer (or a Favored Soul or a Spirit Shaman or a Bard) can only learn a limited number of spells, but can cast those spells on the fly without needing to prepare ahead of time. This takes a bit of knowledge of the server, especially as related to custom spells, but if you're interested in this type of caster I'm sure you can get some help in spell selection that you will enjoy.

As to Healing/Support...Well, it can be rewarding, but it is a very particular type of play that requires your party to play along. Unfortunately healing is fairly easy to come by in multiple forms so if players are constantly chugging pots/using kits/wands/what-have-you and not letting you fulfill your roll it will probably get frustrating. However, if you have a good group of mates with you that allow you to sit back and play the healer while they do the fighting and trust you not to let them get sent to the fugue (or bring them back if they do) then it can be fun.

So again, I think we need to narrow down what you want to play...and then folks can start sending you endless strings of various builds to accomplish the role you are interested in playing.

[Ariexedes]

Sadly been playing most of the game solo, Kiran has given me some gear to help me through the basics of graveyard - hilltop ruins - goblins - to where I currently am in Xva village where I pick up a group sometimes but up to that point been mostly soloing, though been assured going to be playing with him a little more often in a loosely pre-set team hopefully once events come to a close on his side. He's said the exact same thing rogues are hard as well as mentioned the hipa and usually how sin is supposed to play, but same breath I play more weirdly as a defensive sin, I know weird so I've been told I enjoy stealth and popping stuff, hence the mention of just going assassin with their spellbook idea. So yes a striker class.

With Rhonea vs my 1st char Sorc I think I got the basic idea that you put spells in the spell book 1 slot = 1 cast stack the slots with a spell to use that spell more often mostly fine with that as Rhon mostly buffs herself and pet if I need it just feels rather dull of walk up click swing a million times and a few hit here or there for lackluster dps, kinda wanting a more interactive lively class that does more then just click swing get hit move onto the next one.

Why I don't think healing is really going to be my thing in this game, much as a few of the class's look like they do more than just sit back and heal, but as mentioned I don't like tank am really not a toe to toe why I find I like assassins, but I like the casting system here.

I've done some reading up on both arcane (AT/Archer,Elemental Archer) and like class's like the dagger spell and that other I can't think of the name now...blade singer I think it was that seems to take both what I want to play I see the potential amusing live rp with the community then my current serious duty heavy cleric. As what I've read up these class's are sort of fill in for a group set up more then solo, if a rouge sneaky is needed a AT can fit in but not like a pure rouge same with the mage side. As they rock at higher levels with the right gear, but currently if I were to rcr it would only be to 16.

But at the same time I've read up and the Ranger and Druid, Druid having great rp potential but not as beefy pve. I've thought about a place or necro but then am like I really can't play an evil or evil-like char as I'me neutral most of what I do and just role with the rp. Why Kiran's said again and again and again to get into a rp guild, but if I can't pick what I want to be it's hard.

[Theodore01]

What about a Favored Soul17/Rogue3/Blackflamezelout10 ?

FS are easy to play and not gear dependant. BFZ brings some sneak attacks and more spell power. Chose any weapon/deity you want, get him basic CHA16, that's all he needs

[chad878262]

Sadly been playing most of the game solo, Kiran has given me some gear to help me through the basics of graveyard - hilltop ruins - goblins - to where I currently am in Xva village where I pick up a group sometimes but up to that point been mostly soloing, though been assured going to be playing with him a little more often in a loosely pre-set team hopefully once events come to a close on his side. He's said the exact same thing rogues are hard as well as mentioned the hipa and usually how sin is supposed to play, but same breath I play more weirdly as a defensive sin, I know weird so I've been told I enjoy stealth and popping stuff, hence the mention of just going assassin with their spellbook idea. So yes a striker class.

The 'standard' build here that you might enjoy is R16/A9/IB5. INT should be 16 or more (20 after a cast of Fox's Cunning from Assassin) and DEX should be MAX (26 or 28, depending on Race). You aim for Perfect Two Weapon Fighting, Expose Weakness and Epic Dodge so it is a bit feat starved, but will be a great striker with decent AC. As with all Rogue/sneak types your fortitude and will saves will be terrible without having awesome gear so you need to pick targets carefully and avoid opening yourself up to casters (take them out first) as well as avoid getting in to a situation where you might be surrounded/knocked down before you can go in to HiPS (once you get it).

I've done some reading up on both arcane (AT/Archer,Elemental Archer) and like class's like the dagger spell and that other I can't think of the name now...blade singer I think it was that seems to take both what I want to play I see the potential amusing live rp with the community then my current serious duty heavy cleric. As what I've read up these class's are sort of fill in for a group set up more then solo, if a rouge sneaky is needed a AT can fit in but not like a pure rouge same with the mage side. As they rock at higher levels with the right gear, but currently if I were to rcr it would only be to 16.

Note that after level 10 you lose an increasing percentage of XP based on level, so if you are currently level 16 you will probably be somewhere around 14 when you RCR.

That said, there are many ways to build an arcane trickster and/or daggerspell mage, but the first question you have to ask is if you want to be mostly a caster with a bit of roguishness or mostly a rogue with some amount of caster? The baseline would be one of the following 2 builds:
R10/W7/AT10/SD3 - Get's HiPS, 8d6 sneak dice which apply on RTA spells, level 9 wizard spells, but Caster level is only 21 (with practiced spell caster) so dispels will wreck your day.
W14/R3/AT10/SD3 (or W15/R3/AT9/SD3) - Gets CL 28, HiPS and more mage spells so dispels are far less a concern, but it gets only 5d6 sneak dice and no epic precision to apply sneak damage to crit immune enemies.

But at the same time I've read up and the Ranger and Druid, Druid having great rp potential but not as beefy pve. I've thought about a place or necro but then am like I really can't play an evil or evil-like char as I'me neutral most of what I do and just role with the rp. Why Kiran's said again and again and again to get into a rp guild, but if I can't pick what I want to be it's hard.

Dragon Druid is very strong in PvE and PvP. It is one of the top tier builds on the server and really difficult to screw up. Ranger is one of the most balanced classes on the server and can handle most PvE if built intelligently and can also be pretty good in PvP depending upon player skill.

[Ariexedes]

@ Theodore01

Black flame zealot? I can say never heard or seen it before, guess I'll do a quick research exactly what that is... So it's kinda like an unholy/fire sin cleric it sounds neat what I guess builds of the favor's holy'ness as well right? as well as the stealth from rouge so I think I kinda get the idea. Though what's getting me is ' They served as the eyes, ears, and hands of Kossuth in Thay ' aren't thay related class's dm permission only or am I just over thinking it?

[chad878262]

Custom classes can be found here:

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=49035

[Ariexedes]

@chad878262

Super derping out, am sorry am not sure I get the prefix's of R, A, IB's presuming R is Rouge A is assassin and IB is something. Or really any of the other ones. Dispells I've seen as a concern before till level 10 lesser dispell can ruin a lot of the buffs they get. I'm honestly thinking more rouge- y personly. Why I keep coming back to druid the dragon looks like it could be fun in pve and mostly the rp aspect as I've seen quite a few druids rping shifted though can say I've seen wolfrayn as the dire wolf shifted, seen a dragon once for a split second. Would presum a wood elf would be best for druid here?

[chad878262]

IB = Invisible Blade gives INT to AC up to your IB class levels (so up to +5), yes R= Rogue, A= Assassin.

W/R/AT/SD = Wizard/Rogue/Arcane Trickster/Shadow Dancer.

[Ariexedes]

so we're thinking R16/A9/IB5 or R10/W7/AT10/SD3 if am reading it right
What would be a suggested race for one of these? I can see tons of rp potential with really either one of these if am understanding of them I already have a few tiny ideas. But I keep coming back to the AT as I can kinda see this person being a laid back carefree person where I can see me wanting to play. the IB I see more leaned to more of a merc sorta idea do some dirty job, so for the rp aspect leaning toward the AT one.

or half interested in Favored Soul17/Rogue3/Blackflamezelout10

but the knit pick with favored is as friend said the rp of it is a little off as people don't want to get involved with you cuz 'your gods chosen ' or however the way he said it was. What would this be race wise suggested armor/wep. I can see some rp potential here but this 'devoted to said god' reminds me of my cleric already.

[aaron22]

play around on the builder here.

i am a lot like you when i started and i played a few classes before i found out what i liked. funny thing is the more you play with the one the more you will want to try variations of other things and learn about those. and this is all possible with this server. make some builds try them out and have fun. if you have a build you want to try, post it in character build help and let some of the experts look it over. the builder is crazy fun though so be mindful of that.

[Ariexedes]

Well came across this one in searching
http://nwn2db.com/build/?13892
Rogue11/Wizard8/ShadowDancer1/ArcaneTrickster10

though it's not the same as the
R10/W7/AT10/SD3
Chad has listed. But I think I sorta have the idea

[Theodore01]

@ Theodore01

Black flame zealot? I can say never heard or seen it before, guess I'll do a quick research exactly what that is... So it's kinda like an unholy/fire sin cleric it sounds neat what I guess builds of the favor's holy'ness as well right? as well as the stealth from rouge so I think I kinda get the idea. Though what's getting me is ' They served as the eyes, ears, and hands of Kossuth in Thay ' aren't thay related class's dm permission only or am I just over thinking it?

Here is the most accurate description of our class: http://bgtscc.wikia.com/wiki/Black_Flame_Zealot
No specific deity required.

[chad878262]

Well came across this one in searching
http://nwn2db.com/build/?13892
Rogue11/Wizard8/ShadowDancer1/ArcaneTrickster10

though it's not the same as the
R10/W7/AT10/SD3
Chad has listed. But I think I sorta have the idea

Note that this server requires you to take 3 levels in each class by the time you reach character level 20. thus Shadow Dancer 1 is an illegal build. Rogue 11 is likely to get 1 more sneak attack die, but in case of this server you need to take a level from rogue and wizard to get SD to 3.

[Ariexedes]

Hmk I couldn't quite recall it I knew you needed all your class chocies by 14, good to know. Any feats that I would need for this idea, can't seem to figure it out, I would presume empower and extend.