Half Elf C/M or Gnome C/I???

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Ok I'm getting ready to run through the whole saga This will be my first time using Tutu and playing the whole saga with 1 PC. After much thought I have decided to do some form of cleric/mage multiclass, but I can't make the final decision of which I want of:

Half Elf Cleric/Mage
OR
Gnome Cleric/Illusionist

Each have their advantages and disadvantages and I'm having trouble deciding which to take.

The Gnome gets +1 mage spells per level, get INT 20 & WIS 20, better saves versus spells(I believe), but losses out in necromancy, has a hideous avatar(I hate how the BGII gnomes look like dwarves on the main screen), and he wouldn't get as great of a choice for Romances once I reach BGII. (I don't think a party needs 2 C/M...Aerie)

The Half Elf is more pleasing to a roleplaying perspective, has more romance options, looks better on screen, can have INT 19 & WIS 21 coming into SoA.

I know I'm missing some stuff that would definitely sway me. Remember I'm taking this character from the very beginning. Right now I have a Gnome C/I made up with the avatar changed to a half elf, but I don't know how long I can be happy with this arrangement.

Also if anyone has some party suggestions for BG1 would be helpful.

PS What weapon proficiencies should I give him?
-Thalyr

 

The gnome cleric/illusionist is far superior, he gets better saving throws and the extra spell per level makes a huge difference in power and fun, especially in BG1.

As for weapon profiencies: I'd start with sling and warhammer and add mace and flail later.

 

Sling and Hammer. Missile weapons rule BG. You can find a magical hammer very early in the game.

If you are willing to change the avatar, you can also change your half-elf to have a specialty. Or, better still, give yourself the any romance mod -- which allows your character to romance without racial restrictions (or make the changes yourself -- it's very easy).

Personally, I like the cleric/thief -- there are enough good mages in the game.

 

If you are playing BG1 your Gnome Illusionist/Cleric could end up with a Int 20 and Wis 20. Nothing wrong with those stats.

 

I think I'm going with the gnome. After playing around with colors and gnome avatars, the gnome looks fine except as a cleric in leather armor, which he won't be wearing too much anyway.

Changing the avatar is one thing; it has no effect on the game except visual, but conforming the rules to fit my Power gaming desires is too much for me for this run through. I'll see about the romance mods when I actually get to SoA.

Any suggestions on stats?

 

High INT, WIS, CON, and CHA in that order (especially if you plan to use the Wish spell in the BG2 portion of the game). If you don't play it solo, you can hide behind your teammates until you get the Gaunts of Dex from the gnoll fortress. You could probably get away with using DEX as a dump stat, at least down to 9. STR could also be used as a dump stat down to 9. During the BG1 portion of the game, if you absolutely must melee, you'll have the 2nd-level Mirror Image and Strength/Holy Might spells to help you out. In BG2, you'll get the broken stuff, like Tenser's, to carry you through melee if you want it that bad.

 

I almost made it through the whole series in a no reloads game with a Gnome C/I. They're very very good.

Romances take away from the BG2 experience IMHO, the storyline is better without trying to get some.

 

I have to state that when you create a Gnome Cleric Illusionist the lowest your DEX score can be is 16; prerequisite for Illusionist. If you are playing BG1 first you can roll a very stat high character before any stat increasing tomes.

Below is what I rolled in under 30 minutes…

STR 18 (19)
DEX 18 (19)
CON 15 (16)
INT 19 (20)
WIS 17 (20)
CHA 9 (10)

See how powerful the character is… I could have lowered STR to increase CHA but my preference is if I need to whack something I want to make sure I can hit it really good. As for CHA there items and spells in BG2 that raises this score that it is almost pointless to have it above 9; the same can also be said of STR, but in BG1 I believe STR is very important if you go solo.

 

You don't need high charisma in BG -- you'll find a ring early on which will help even the most lowly character.

Also remember if you are playing ToSC with BG there are THREE tomes to increase wisdom (as MB shows). Granted, you want wisdom as high as possible, but only an 18 is needed in ToB. High strength is unnecessary for a C/M (you're really not thinking of joining the melee are you?), by the time you are high enough level to actually join the melee you will have sufficient spells and items to aid you.

I'd say strength is your main dump stat -- take it as low as you're comfortable (my low level is ~12), then start lowering charisma (you'll find other rings you like more). Start with:

INT: 19
WIS: 17
DEX: 18 (or 17, the extra +1 to missiles is not required)
CON: 15

 

I read somewhere that Gnomes get a bonus to saves vs spells for every 3.5 Con or something like that? But I can't find that anymore, is it true? If it is is it worth it to have a 17 (18 after tome) Con or just do the standard 15 to 16?

 

The extra bonus is such a waste by the time you reach the higher levels.

 

You're correct about the saving throws (at least by the rules -- I don't know if it was implemented in the game). You just need to decide if whether an additional +1 to those saving throws is more important than 2 ability points somewhere else. Usually, I opt for increased stats.

 

I check and it is implemented into the game (assuming lower saves are better), but the difference seems negligible considering its already so low with 16 Con and being a double caster. So I went with

STR 18 (19)
DEX 18 (19)
CON 15 (16)
INT 19 (20)
WIS 17 (20)
CHA 9 (10)

that Munchkin Blender suggested.
I've already taken my Gnome, Fib, along with Imoen through a slew of adventures including taking down Bassilus, all of Beregost, and slaying Drizzt Now that he's 4/4 I'm trying to decide on which NPCs I want to take through the game. My 2 person party won't survive too many hard encounters later in the game and now I'd like to flesh it out with power and fun. Any suggestions?

 

I would go with a mage group...

Charname - Gnome - C/I
Imoen - Theif / Mage (Specialist if you wish)
Edwin - Best Mage in the game
Xan - He has a cool moonblade
Xzar - I like his antics
Quayle - Your evil or good twin

You could replace Edwin with Dynaheir, but that requires Minsc...

Here is another group to think about...Clerics...
CharName
Brawen
Viconia
Yeslick
Jaheria
Imoen to be your thief

Instead of leveling up first I would pick up the NPCs to improve the NPC's HP and skills if applicable.

 

There's at least one sling I remember using that adds in STR. Great when you're not casting a spell!

EDIT: BTW, you may as well up the CON to 18. The saving throw bonus might actually save your hide, but CHA just doesn't matter in this game unless you're the lead character doing the talking (and you shouldn't be).

[ August 31, 2007, 04:19: Message edited by: Klorox ]

 

This is correct...in BG2.

In BG1, if you plan to make heavy use of shops, you might want to go bigger on CHA, though Friends will also help here. Regardless, CHA isn't as important as WIS, INT, DEX, or CON for either class.

For party members, you will need some good tanks to hide behind throughout most of BG1 unless you want to be melted by ankheg acid or poisoned to death by hobgoblin arrows. Either that or you could make a rush for the wand of monster summoning and lean on it...heavily.

You'd probably want an archer or two (Kivan and/or Coran) if your CHARNAME will be too busy tossing spells or using wands.

In BG2, melee is so powerful (both in terms of bonus attacks and STR bonuses, and also in terms of available weapons and gear), you'll want to take some solid melee characters. Keldorn, Korgan are the two obvious powerhouses; you could also add Anomen and/or Minsc as backup tanks.